A/N: (hangs head in shame) I…I can't even begin to find the words to apologize for how late this is… I just… (sigh) How about I just move on to the chapter, maybe I'll feel better by the end…

Chapter Twenty
Red and Green

Danny stared in shock at the television, unable to pull his eyes away from the terror, the frightening reality it showed. There he was, his evil self, releasing what had become known as Phantom's signature Ghostly Wail at the nearby buildings and civilians with a satisfactory and twisted smile on his face while the people looked on in horror. The banner across the bottom of the screen simply read "Danny Phantom?" because that's all it needed to say. Even the continuous commentary from the anchorman was unnecessary; the wail and the symbol on his powerful chest were enough for the people to figure it out.

It was more terrifying than seeing his revelation on the television, more terrifying than knowing that the press conference starring him was watched on almost every television in the world. Now, the world saw what he had wanted to keep hidden from everyone, including himself, for so long. They all saw what he could possibly become, and everyone would soon feel the same way Dickens, his aunt, and the rest of his family felt in regards to him. They would all see him as an evil ghost, and this was all the proof they needed.

He couldn't pull himself away from the screen. He was mesmerized by the figure that had constantly haunted his dreams, the figure that sought to ruin his life, the figure that could kill everyone and destroy everything at the drop of a hat. The flaming white hair, the muscular build, the radiation of pure power, the malicious grin, the blood red eyes, all held him transfixed to the screen.

He wanted to wake up, to find himself asleep in his bedroom before he even heard the recording and knew Dan was behind everything. He'd even take finding himself napping on the couch while planning out their venture into the Ghost Zone. Dan would still be the cause, but at least then he wouldn't necessarily be free, harassing and destroying the town. He wanted everything to be a dream, but the longer he stared at the screen the more he realized he would never wake up, that this was reality, that this was actually happening, and that knowledge petrified him more than anything.

"Is…is that…him?" Maddie asked, the shared feeling of shock, horror, and terror present in her voice as well.

Danny turned around, seeing his entire family staring transfixed at the television screen, just as he was, their expressions mirroring his own. He merely nodded. He was actually confirming it. It was him.

"Danny, what are you going to do?" Jazz asked, tearing herself away from the television and looking intently at Danny.

"There's only one thing to do," he announced as he went ghost. "I have to stop him."

"Danny, you can't go rushing out there without thinking this through," Maddie warned. "I forbid it."

"I don't have any other choice. I have to save them and I have to protect them. I swore that I would."

"At least let us round up our allies like we had planned, that way you're not on your own," Maddie pleaded.

"She does have a point Danny," Sam agreed, feeling the same amount of worry.

"We don't have that much time," Danny argued. "If we wait too long he'll kill and destroy everything. I have to stop him before that happens, and he looks like he already has a pretty decent head start too."

"But Danny…"

"Look Mom, I know you're still getting used to this, but this is something I have to do. Make all the hero complex jokes you want, but I have to do this."

"But you don't have to do it alone," Jazz added. "You go now and distract him while we get everyone together and come and join you."

Danny looked around the room, at his family and closest friends, his face colored with hesitation. They all wanted to fight, he could tell. They all wanted to help him, as they always did, not caring for the consequences, but that was all Danny was thinking about; what could and quite possibly would happen to his family and friends if they went out there with him.

"Danny, don't even think about it," Sam warned, shaking Danny out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"Don't even think about telling us we can't go. I recognize that look. You were trying to find some way to tell us not to go, weren't you?"

"Well…yes, but—"

"But you've wisely decided that was a foolish decision and that we're going anyways."

"Yes-wait no! No, you guys can't go."

"And why not Daniel Fenton?" his mother demanded.

"Because."

"That is not going to cut it young man."

"Because I said so." As one all five of them crossed their arms and glared at him. "Look, you guys don't understand."

"Oh we understand more than you think," Jazz defended. "We're not stupid or reckless. We know what we're risking and what we're going up against."

"That's just the thing, you don't!" Danny yelled. "You have no idea! He isn't like all the other ghosts I fight! Sure they're dangerous, but they aren't like him at all! They'll hurt you for messing with their plans; he'll kill you for just standing there, for just looking at him, and he'll do it with a smile on his face. He kills for pleasure and thinks nothing of it, and he'd have no greater joy than to kill the five of you. You can't go near him."

"Danny, we know," Jazz comforted. "Like I said, we know what we're risking, and we're still there for you, one hundred percent. We'd never let you take him on alone."

"Besides, you were fine with us going before," Sam reminded him.

"That was when there was a possibility he was in the thermos. Now that he's free…everything's changed."

Jack and Maddie walked over to their son, placing their hands on his frigid shoulders.

"Sweetie, nothing's really changed," Maddie comforted.

"That's right son. We all suspected that he'd be out of the thermos."

"Even though we didn't say it aloud, we were all thinking it, and still we were willing to help you, no matter what."

"But what if you get hurt, or die?" he asked, voicing his concern.

"What if you get hurt or die?" Sam asked. "There's always that possibility when you go off to fight, but that doesn't stop us from letting you. We know that's what you have to do and we have confidence in you. You just need to have the same in us, and yourself."

"But still, this is different. I'm safe in this fight. He wants to turn me into him and he can't do that if I'm dead. But killing you, that will only make me miserable, which is what he wants."

"Danny, I know there's a good chance that something'll happen, but we're willing to risk it, and you should be too," Jazz added. "We let you have the chance to risk your life to save the town and us, why can't we return the favor?"

Danny looked down to the ground, not really knowing what to say. He really did want their help, and he knew it would be helpful, but he'd rather fight by himself and be an inch near death than risk the lives of those he loved. But he also knew how stubborn his family and friends could be and if their actions over the past few days hadn't been enough of an indication, their attitudes now were. All of them wanted to help him, all of them felt shunted that they'd be forced to stay home when they could be helping him, getting back at the ghost that had caused him so much pain. They wanted to hurt him as much as he did, and he was trying to stop them. As much as he feared to admit it, they were right.

In a strange way he felt honored and loved that his family would risk so much, including their lives, just for him, to bring him some peace in his life. They were by his side without a doubt and had been since the beginning. They had been by his side through everything, from the first cameramen appearing on the corner to managing the press conference, from helping him through the mad crowd of fans to surviving his first day of school, from dealing with the awkward family reunion to guiding him out of his depression. They had been there, with him, through everything, and he wanted to cut them out of the ending. This wasn't just his battle anymore, this was all their battle. They were all involved, all affected by his evil self's plan, and they all deserved to partake in the final showdown.

Danny looked up at them and smiled. "You guys are right, like always. This is just as much your battle as it is mine, and you all should be there. You've been there for everything else, might as well be there for the end."

The rest of them smiled as his mother gave him a warm hug.

"That's good, because whether or not you gave us your permission, we were still going to come," Tucker informed him with a smirk.

"Yeah, I kinda figured. You always were insanely stubborn," Danny teased.

"So, new plan of action?" Jazz asked.

"I head off to meet and distract my evil self while one or two of you find Plasmius and the rest of you get the weapons and stuff ready," Danny instructed.

"But what about Valerie?" Tucker asked.

"She won't help," Danny replied sadly.

"How do you know?" Jazz asked.

"Because the jury's still out on her opinion of me, and if this doesn't show her that I'm evil even though I lied and swore that I wasn't then I don't know what will."

"But if we can convince her…"

"We don't have enough time and I don't want to risk it. I know she'd be helpful, but with all the explaining and convincing…it would take too much time, time we don't have."

"But Danny—"

"No buts. You may have changed my mind on the other topic but I'm staying firm on this one. She just now started giving Danny Phantom a chance because I went to visit her and swore to her that it was all a misunderstanding and that I'm really good, but his appearance contradicts all that. She's going to be confused about me and it'll be a waste of time. Just get the stuff together and come as soon as you can. I don't know how long I'm going to be able to distract him without directly fighting him."

"I just have one more thing," Jazz stated.

"What?" he asked annoyed as he saw yet another building go down on the television due to his future self, something he should have been there to stop.

"I think you need to talk to Plasmius. The Ghostly Vow is between the two of you, so he could and most likely would refuse any request anyone save you made. You have to talk to him, before you leave."

"Fine," Danny agreed, grabbing the phone and preparing to fly up through the ceiling to his room.

"Danny, why are you grabbing the phone? Don't you need to find him in the Ghost Zone?"

"He…has his own line in Vlad's house," Jazz quickly lied to cover for him. "He likes to keep on top of things in the world of the living."

Jack and Maddie looked at each other and then back at Danny. "Well that sure is strange, I've never heard of a ghost having a phone before," Maddie contemplated as Tucker and Sam exchanged a quick glance with Danny while Jazz smiled nervously. "Well, guess there's a first for everything. Go call him."

Danny nodded and flew through the ceiling into his room, dialing the number that he had the misfortune of having committed to memory.

"Yes?" Vlad's voice announced.

"Hey Vlad, watching the news?"

"Yes actually, I am. I am surprised not to see you there, well, the you that's talking to me at the moment at least."

"Very funny. I'm sure you're just enjoying this."

"Au contraire dear boy. I may believe in destruction, but only for a purpose, and destroying just to destroy it is not a justifiable enough purpose. Though I am a little wounded that you never told me what a terror you grow up to be. I'm actually slightly proud."

Danny's eyes glowed brightly as one of the fan blades in Danny's room exploded. "Watch it Vlad."

"Not of what you're doing, but of your progression, and the loss of a little of your annoying righteousness. But we digress. I doubt you called me to discuss what's being showcased on the television."

"Remember that Vow thing where you said you'd help me when I asked?" Danny reminded, jumping right to the point. "Well, I'm asking."

Vlad sighed. "Yes, I was afraid of that."

"I'm going off to fight him and I could really use your help."

"I shall do whatever you ask," Vlad responded in a defeated tone, clearly regretting ever forming such a vow with the evil ghost magnet that was Danny Phantom.

"Meet Jazz in the basement as soon as you can and she'll fill you in on what's going on. And no, my parents still don't know."

"Ah, wishing to blackmail me on a later date?"

The silence from Danny's end of the phone line indicated that he was through with the jovial joking. It was time to get serious.

"I shall of course head out. But if you don't mind me asking, what about you?"

"I'm going to distract him from destroying the town until everyone's set up and you're all going to join me and then the real fight will begin."

"Well Daniel, I wish you luck, and I shall be at your house shortly."

"Good," Danny responded as he hung up, flying back downstairs. "Alright, he's on his way, which means I need to be on mine."

Jazz ran over to him, giving him a large hug. "Be careful Danny and don't be stupid. Just keep him talking and keep him away from destroying the town and yourself until we come. And don't' believe anything he says to you. He's just going to try to bring you down, so don't believe a word of it and remember who you really are."

"I will. Don't worry about me. Remember, he can't kill me."

"You he won't kill you," Jazz countered. "There's a difference. If he wanted, he could kill you easily."

"Relax Jazz, I'll be fine."

"I know, but still, be careful."

Danny nodded in return as she pulled away, leaving room for his parents. Jack scooped him up in a bone crushing hug.

"We're so proud of you son!" he yelled. "Know that."

"And we're with you and rooting for you one hundred percent," his mother comforted as she scooped him up immediately after Jack put him down. "And we love you, so very much."

"I know. I love you too."

Danny walked over to Tucker and Sam and smiled at them as they smiled back.

"Well, here we are again," Danny remarked.

"Just like with Pariah Dark," Tucker added.

"Well, the same promises still stand," Danny informed them. "I'll be fine, and I'll be back."

"And so will we dude, we'll see you soon," Tucker promised as he clapped his hand on his shoulder while Danny smiled.

He turned to Sam and she smiled as he returned it. "Good luck Danny," she wished awkwardly, wringing her hands.

"Thanks. Um, you too."

He turned to face his family, taking one final moment to quiet the rampaging thoughts running through his head, narrowing them down to the simplest point: he was going off to distract his evil self and then, he was going to fight him and win, by any means necessary.

He narrowed his eyes in determination and with a final nod to his family bent down, ready to fly through the roof and towards the city.

"Danny, wait!" Sam shouted, causing Danny to pause. He turned to face her and saw a black and purple blur as she rushed towards him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. Danny, though initially shocked, returned the hug, holding their embrace for a few seconds before Sam pulled away, her cheeks somewhat pink, but a warm smile crossed her face. He smiled back and knelt down, pushing himself into the air and turning intangible as he flew through the roof, soaring towards the center of the destruction and his evil self.

Danny saw the green sonic waves emerge from over the top of a building, knowing that on the other side lay his evil self. Once he flew over those buildings he would see his evil self, face to face, unlike on the television. He would actually, physically be there. But the screams of the people below as they dove for cover from the falling wreckage awoke Danny out of his stupor and he shook the trepidation out of his head, knowing that he had to save them. He took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes in determination, and flew over the buildings, seeing the carnage portrayed on the television in real life. And there, in the middle of it, was his evil self.

He was the same as he had remembered him, the same commanding figure, the same chilling presence, the same frightening and demeaning visage. He radiated power and wore malevolence like a cloak. The sight of him sent chills running up Danny's spine. There he was, right in front of him, in person.

"It's Danny Phantom!" someone cheered as they saw him in the sky, the looks on everyone's faces brightening slightly to see their ghostly savior there to protect them from the ghost. Of course their cheer also brought the attention of his evil self to him, burning red meeting fiery green as their eyes met.

"Well well, if it isn't Danny Phantom coming to 'save the day' as usual. Took you long enough," he taunted as he shot an ecto-blast at a nearby building, the top crumbling and falling to the ground, watching in delight as the people below ran for cover. "Tell me, why the delay? Were you afraid to face me? Did you stare at the television in shock at seeing my face, the face that's been haunting your dreams since our last meeting?"

"Don't flatter yourself," Danny mocked, floating closer, his eyes narrowed in hatred. "My delay had nothing to do with you."

His evil self grinned. "Which means that it did. What were you thinking about I wonder? Were you trying to build up the courage to come face me, or were you more concerned with what the precious town was going to think of you once you left the sanctuary of your house? People aren't stupid Danny, they would have seen the resemblance, and they know I'm you."

"You're not me. You're nothing like me," Danny spat back.

"You're right. Why I would find it insulting to possess as much humanity as you do. But what you fail to realize is that I'm much better than you. I'm you perfected, purified of all those useless human emotions. And though you're not like me now, in your future, you will be."

"I'm never going to become you," he lashed back.

"Please, you can't expect me to fall for that. You're forgetting, like before, that as long as I'm still here, you will still become me."

"That's not true. You exist outside of time, so whether I become you or not has no effect on you."

"Oh, did your overbearing idiot of a sister tell you that? Or maybe your all knowing and yet manipulative guardian Clockwork? Can't you see Danny, they just said that to make you feel better, to comfort you, as they always do. Always telling you what you want to hear, but never the truth because the truth is too hard for you to handle."

A window shattered on a nearby building from Danny's upswing in anger, but he kept a level face as he remembered what Jazz had told him. He was just trying to get under his skin, make him mad. Unfortunately for Danny, he knew more than anyone exactly how to get under his skin.

"Look Danny, look all around you, look at all the people that have shown up for our duel," he sneered, gesturing with a broad sweep of his powerful arm at the crowd surrounding them. "All of them came here with one thought in mind, to see what your future is like, and that future is me. You may have some delusional hope that I won't happen, that you won't become me, but that's all you have: hope. They, however, have concrete evidence of your future, as exemplified by my presence here.

"So do you turn into me? Of course you do. Everyone here believes it. Just listen around and you'll see, not a single reporter is reporting it otherwise because they know what you try to forget, what you try to deny."

Danny snarled at him, but he couldn't help hearing the reporters, all of them referring to him as "Danny Phantom's evil self" or "Danny Phantom's future." He was right, they did all see it.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is Lance Thunder reporting to you in the middle of an epic battle between Danny Phantom, also known as Danny Fenton, and his evil self from what we assume is the future who, for the sake of ease, shall be called Dark Danny and—"

"Actually, it's Dan," he interrupted, smoothly sweeping his arm out and charging an ecto-blast in the direction of the reporter. "Danny just sounds too naïve." He released the blast, the green energy roaring towards the reporter. Danny saw the attack and concentrated, using his telekinesis to send a mailbox in front of the reporter to take the blast for him. Surprisingly enough it came easily, probably because of all the emotions raging through his body. He didn't even need to concentrate on a feeling, they were already on the surface and powerful enough for him to use.

Dan turned towards Danny blasting him in the chest, sending him to the ground as Danny groaned, his chest smoking from the blast. "That was cute Danny, really cute," Dan taunted. "But play another trick like that and our fun shall end far too quickly."

"Who said we were having fun?" Danny asked sarcastically as he got up and floated back into the air, trying to act like nothing had happened though his chest burned from the blast.

"Ah, the witty banter. I forgot you were still juvenile enough to partake in such things. I'm used to getting right to the killing, but I might as well indulge you, if only for the petty feeling of nostalgia."

"Hmm, and here I thought you didn't care about that."

"I don't. When I referred to nostalgia I simply meant the nostalgia of those few lucky enough to survive my slaughter of this city as they look back on this fateful day, the day their city was destroyed, as well as the pure Danny Phantom they've always known, or thought they knew at any rate."

"That's never going to happen," Danny thundered. "I'm not going to become you and you're not going to destroy the town."

"Oh, and who's going to stop me? You? Hardly. You and I are both aware that it was simply luck that trapped me in that thermos the last time we battled. Are you hoping you'll get lucky again? I highly doubt that. I've had a long time to think about this day, this moment, while in the confines of that infernal container, and no amount of luck is going to stop me from getting what I desire this time."

"Yeah, well maybe I don't need to be lucky this time to beat you."

"Oh my, why am I unafraid?" he mocked before glaring at Danny, shooting another ecto-blast at his chest, sending him backwards before he caught himself in the air, gritting his teeth from the pain before flying back, shooting his back with an ecto-blast. "Oh please," Dan replied, his face bored as he created an ecto-shield that easily absorbed the blast.

"You're not a threat to me; you never have been. I'm the threat. I'm the one with the power, I'm the one with the experience, I'm the one that tarnished your reputation, I'm the one that makes you check the mirror every morning just to make sure your eyes are still green, I'm the one that can kill everyone you care about in an instant, and I'm the one that revealed your precious secret to the entire world."

"You make it sound like all those things bother me," Danny replied, which was a flat out lie and he knew it, but he had to say something. He had to keep him talking until the rest of them got here. It shouldn't be long now. He just had to keep him talking.

"Danny, don't lie, least of all to me, the one that knows you more than even your friends. You can't lie to yourself. I've ruined your life, made your worst fears a reality. I set everything up for your secret to be revealed. I hired the cameraman, I influenced the events, I made you miserable and I watched in ecstasy as it happened. But while I'm not sorry, I'm going to try to make it up to you, out of respect for our past. Skulker, bring me Danny's gift."

Movement to Danny's left caught his attention as he chanced to turn his attention away from Dan. Skulker flew out of the crumbling building, Andrew Massey in his mechanical grip, his face deathly pale, his normally cheerful eyes wide with worry and terror as he beheld the ghost that held his fate in his hands.

"You should feel special Danny, I rarely do favors for others," Dan taunted as he grabbed Massey from Skulker, his powerful hands wrapping around his neck as he dangled him above the ground.

"Put him down," Danny demanded fiercely, his eyes glowing brightly as another window cracked. It was one thing to keep him talking but it was another to bring someone else into the banter.

"What, you don't like my gift Danny, even after I told you how rare this is? Oh come now, that's not polite, and you don't even know what my gift is. I guarantee you'll like it once you hear it," Dan goaded, a malevolent smile crossing his face.

"See, you think I'm the one responsible for your desolation, and while I am proud to have that honor, I fear I cannot take all the credit. Really, this man here is the one responsible. I merely gave him the opportunity, but he's the one that took it and made it a reality. In all actuality it's his fault, and you know this, but you still choose to blame me because you know that if you place the blame on me you can take all your rage and hatred out on me with no moral repercussions. But were you to do it to a human, well, that wouldn't be very moral of you, now would it, and you would become the very thing you've sworn never to become, me."

Massey's eyes darted around the scene, looking from Skulker, to Dan, to the crowd, to Danny, his eyes fearful and pleading, hoping that he'd make it through, regretting everything he'd done, realizing how he came to be in such a position.

"So here's my gift to you, Daniel Fenton, I'll right what's been wronged to you. You're too righteous to do what needs to be done, but I'm not. I'll satisfy your desires for you."

Dan inhaled deeply, closing his eyes in what appeared to be bliss. "I can smell the panic, the terror, the dread, radiating off his body like an intoxicating aroma. Does this please you Danny? Does this satisfy your need for revenge? To see him suffer in fear like this? To see him watch as his meaningless life passes before his eyes? Or do you wish for more? Do you crave more? I can't have you the slightest bit unsatisfied with my gift." An evil smirk crossed his face. "But I think I know just the thing that'll finally please your lust for vengeance.

"I know you want to make him suffer, make him pay for what he did to you, and who knows better than I? I can see what you want to do, what you long to do, and while the precious humanity you cling to so tightly may prevent you from enacting upon those desires, it, fortunately, isn't stopping me."

"No!" Danny cried, unable to do anything to save him, their eyes briefly connecting before Dan quickly jerked his hand, effortlessly snapping Massey's neck as a loud, wet crack echoed down the street, reverberating off the buildings, as Danny watched the light die from the innocent reporter's eyes.

Dan dropped Massey's dead and limp body carelessly to the floor, his eyes shining with sadistic pleasure as the body crumpled beneath him, landing on the hard cement.

Danny froze, his face drained of the slight bit of color it had left, his eyes wide in shock and terror, unable to move or do anything save stare at the crumpled and motionless body that had once been talking, smiling, living.

"Why Danny, you don't look pleased. What's wrong? Did you really wish to do it yourself? Then I feel I must apologize, but I think I know just how to make it up to you, another gift."

Dan floated down to the ground, picking up Massey's body by his shirt, his appendages flapping lifelessly around his dead body. He threw him impassively to Danny as he would a ball, Danny catching it as it wilted over his arms. He looked down at the lifeless form, seeing the look of horror on his pale face, his eyes still wide and empty. There was no movement, no beating heart, no soft rising and falling of the chest, it was completely still. Glowing tears leaked out of Danny's eyes, falling onto the shirt of the body as he continued to hold him, not knowing what to do or even how to act as he still stared in shock at the corpse.

"There, now you can do with his body what you please. It won't be the same of course, it never is, but desecrating his body can be just as pleasurable and, of course, you must remember that in actuality you did murder him, since you and I are indeed synonymous."

Danny finally lifted his gaze from the body and looked at Dan in revulsion, the tears still falling from his eyes while Dan looked ecstatic at the pain he was causing Danny. He looked back down at the body and then at the crowd around him, staring at him and the lifeless body in his arms, the lifeless body that died because of him.

Danny shut his eyes, unable to look at the body any longer, unable to look at anything any longer. He dropped the body and took off, flying into the sky, away from the town, away from Dan, away from the cadaver, away from everything as Dan's malicious laughter echoed behind him.

A/N: Gasp, did I just do something evil, other than end it an awful cliffy? Did I just kill my first character ever…?

And I'm feeling much better now! There's just something about Dan that makes me really excited and happy.

So, as for the lateness, I'm sorry, and I can promise an update will never be this long again. I had no time to write this chapter since my life is totally crazy right now and I would write only little bits at a time because that's all I had time for. But thankfully those add up and now it's finished!

Also, funny story regarding the Dan scene. I was writing that at my sister's badminton game and there was this stupid jerk sitting next to me that cheered every time my sister missed the birdie because that meant her daughter got the point. Well, you just don't do that and I so totally wanted to kill her, but like Danny, my morality stopped me, so I put that into the Dan part. I just thought that was kinda amusing…

Here's hoping you enjoyed it! Now I have to get to class, which I should have left for five minutes ago….