Chapter 15: Exposure
Valerie had been chasing after Danny for at least half an hour and still hadn't caught up with him. "Get back here Phantom! Or leave us all alone! You've done enough by just coming here!" Valerie called out to him.
"Fine! I'll leave!" Danny shouted back as he stopped in midair. Valerie stopped an inch away from her enemy and said: "Good! Now go!" "Fine!" Danny said.
He turned on his heels and flew off towards Fenton Works. "GET BACK HERE GHOST KID!" Valerie screamed flying after him again. "What? I thought you wanted me to leave!" Danny said stopping again.
"I won't let you hurt the Fenton's, not again!" Valerie hissed as she grabbed Danny by his collar. "I'm not going to hurt them, I wouldn't hurt my family!" Danny snapped.
"What?!" Valerie asked giving him a funny look. "What?" Danny asked. "Your family? They're not your family!" Valerie said.
"Uh, right! Not my family, no way! They're definitely, NOT my family," Danny said sweating a little. "What are you up to ghost?" Valerie asked pressing her nose against his, giving him a menacing look.
Danny sighed and pushed Valerie away from him. "I might as well tell you," Danny said. "Tell me what? What are you talking about?" Valerie asked.
"Valerie, I'm Danny…" Danny started "I know your first name ghost kid, I just prefer not to use it because it makes me think of…"Valerie started. "Danny Fenton?" Danny asked.
Valerie socked Danny across the face. "Don't talk to me about him!" she snapped. "Why not?!" Danny asked. "You killed him, that's why!" Valerie said almost starting to cry.
"I wouldn't kill myself," Danny said. "What?!" Valerie asked. "Valerie, I'm Danny Fenton, I always have been," Danny said.
Valerie stared at him. "You're lying!" she cried. "No I'm not, if I still had my human half, I could show you," Danny said.
Valerie stared at him in awe. He was kidding, right? There was no way that this, this ghost, was the guy she still loved.
Danny Phantom ruined her life, Danny Fenton wouldn't do that. "Come on Valerie, think about it, why do you think I've never tried to purposely attack you?" Danny asked.
"You did attack me once!" Valerie said referring to the time Danny had attacked her old suit. "You weren't in it! An evil ghost named Technus was! I was attacking him!" Danny said.
That did make sense, but Valerie still wasn't sure. "Well, if you really are Danny Fenton, you'd know stuff about me," Valerie said.
"Like how you're a ninth degree black belt, and that your favorite fruit is kumquat because it's a funny word?" Danny asked staring Valerie straight in the eyes. Valerie glared at him.
"But, you-you can't be Danny, I mean, you can't!" she said, shaking a little. "But I am!" Danny said still staring her in the eyes.
Valerie stared at him a little longer then said: "I don't believe you!" She was about blast Danny again when he grabbed her hand and stopped her from firing.
"I'm sorry," he said. Valerie stared at him again. "But…" she started. She stopped when Danny hugged her. "Let me go!" she cried. Danny didn't let go of her though.
Valerie finally gave in and said: "I'm sorry too, Danny." Even though Valerie didn't see his face, she knew he was smiling. She hugged him back.
As soon as thought occurred to her though, she pushed him off and said: "Why did you kill all those people?" Danny sighed. "I was, sort of being controlled," he said.
"So, you never really meant to hurt anyone, ever?" Valerie asked. "Of course not!" Danny said.
Valerie felt the guilt build up in the pit of her stomach but said nothing. "Well, I'd better get going," Danny said. He flew off. "Danny wait!" Valerie called.
Danny stopped. "What?" he asked. "I'm really sorry," Valerie said. "It's okay Val," Danny said smiling, and then flew off.
Valerie sighed. She felt a bit better, but she didn't know if she would ever see Danny again. She flew back to Axion Lab and noticed Vlad's car was no longer there.
As Danny got closer to Fenton Works, a glowing green net fell over him. "HEY! Let me go!" Danny cried. "I don't think so, I have some questions for you Daniel," came Vlad's voice.
Danny looked up at Vlad Plasmius and gritted his. "what do you want Plasmius?!" he hissed. "I want answers," Vlad said.