Edit: 6/5/18: Next wave of grammar fixes and wording tweaks or some scenes altered to avoid cliches. Took out AN question and answer sections.

I hope you enjoy!

Oh, by the way, there are a group of easter eggs in this chapter. The three series off the top of my head refer to Harry Potter, Metroid series, and Elder Scrolls. Tell me what you see that's familiar if you can. ;) Maybe I'll think of some kind of reward or something if you can name all of them. Idk, it's fun either way!

zzz- normal separation

ooo- dream or vision separation (could be a past event of some kind)

Mental thoughts or distant speaking

"The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong." ~ Mahatma Gandhi, All Men are Brothers: Autobiographical Reflections.

zzz

Amity Park. 6:55 AM.

Jack couldn't remember the last time he felt so… troubled. Yeah, troubled seemed to be the best word to describe how he was feeling.

They'd been looking at all sorts of information, all legal of course, and couldn't find Vlad anywhere. He wasn't at his mansion, not even in Amity while in ghost form if the ghost detection system was working at near optimal accuracy as he and Maddie hoped.

Nothing.

The large man furrowed his brows and glared down at the floor. It had been a few months since they'd learned that their son was half-ghost. Though life seemed to have continued normally since then, well, as normally as could be claimed by their family, there were still those things that popped up from time to time and reminded him about all the changes to his reality. Of course, one of the biggest of those things being his son's general safety, health and happiness, but in second place… Vlad.

He'd loved the man as his brother, let him into his home, voted for the guy. And what did the jerk do? Try and seduce his wife under his nose and torment his son. The very idea of Jack letting the man into his home with him never knowing the other man's ulterior motives… and his poor son, forced to act civil around him, peering over his shoulder, making sure the man didn't try and murder his own father while he slept. A whole strategic battle going on right behind his back.

And all those times he'd seen the strange spike of fear and even anger that had come to his son's face every time he'd mentioned that they were going to see Vlad... Jack clenched his teeth and fists in barely controlled frustration. He'd thought that Danny just didn't like or care about his college years or some friend he'd known then. He'd thought Danny's reactions were just those of a teenager towards his 'uncool' father. If only he'd known…

It was one thing in particular though that had truly taken the hot fudge cake for Jack… Flirting with his wife was one thing, since Jack knew his wife loved him way too much to ever be swayed by such things and the man couldn't blame other men for trying. Antagonizing and even mocking Danny about his idiot father was even another thing…

But the day he'd learned about Danny being a half-ghost or Halfa… His son had been in a dark basement, with no windows, shackles holding him to a machine, burns and life blood scattered and smeared about his tired body, and his voice hoarse from screaming.

The man had tortured his son and that had been the only time he'd actually seen it. Who knew how many times Vlad had actually done something so… so…

"Unforgivable." Jack murmured. He briefly forgot that his newest daughter had enhanced hearing like her brother.

The young girl had been sitting on a stool while Maddie and Jazz poured over what info about Vlad's whereabouts they had gathered, trying to deduce where he could be. She was swinging her legs, waiting for Jace and Ash to arrive. The three were planning to search the city and patrol with Jazz soon, hoping to run across Vlad's human form; the Fentons were still having trouble creating a detecter for human-form hybrids. Hopefully if any of the more neutral and civil ghosts appeared, those specters might have an idea of where Vlad was.

So far, they were holding onto hope that Danny and everyone else would arrive back in Amity in a day and a half or so… if not, then Team Phantom had a pretty good idea who was responsible.

"What was that dad?" Dani asked softly, not catching Maddie or Jazz's attention.

Jack smiled slightly at his daughter and patted the couch cushion next to him. Dani floated over and plopped down. Jack wrapped an arm about Dani's shoulders and sighed.

"I was just thinking about Vladdi-" Jack caught himself with a bitter scowl. "Vlad. I was thinking about Vlad."

Dani dropped her gaze from her father's face. "Oh."

For a couple of minutes, they sat next to each other silently. Then Dani spoke again, "Danny told me that… Vlad used to be friends with you… like Tucker and Valerie are to Danny or Ash and Jace are to me." She looked up at his face again with a sad look in her blue orbs. "Is that true?"

Jack studied his daughter's face and nodded. "We were best friends… at least… I thought we were."

Dani sighed and then asked another question. "Dad?"

"Yes, Ellie?"

"Why do some people do good things like Danny, you and mom and stuff and then some people do bad things like Vlad?"

Jack had to stop himself from laughing out loud. It wasn't that he thought Dani's question was stupid or naive. He of course tended to be naive and foolish himself, by his own admission. It was just the simple fact that a young girl like Dani asking the single question in the universe that had never made sense to him as well, was funny. He smiled sadly at Dani's face.

"I don't know, Ellie. I don't think anyone really does for sure. There are many theories, but… some things just don't have an easy answer. Even if they should."

Dani seemed to soak up what her dad had said and nodded. "Yeah I guess I can understand. I mean sometimes I get mad, like most people and I know that getting mad can make people do things they normally wouldn't do… and I know the difference between anger and bitterness since Jazz explained it in this really complicated way that I somehow understood." Dani wrinkled her nose at the memory. "Bitterness is more permanent. It's like bad food or poison. Getting angry once in temporary but getting angry about something over and over starts to change a person… apparently."

Jack blinked in shock at his daughter's assessment. Leave it to a clone with an almost completely innocent view of the world to sum something like that up so well. A thought came to him and it caused him pause. He was worried Dani was going to ask him what he was thinking about, until the door rang.

"I'll get it! It's probably Jace and Ash!" Dani shouted and bounced off the couch before doing a flip over the back and running to the door.

Jack heard the two boys come in. Ash being excited and wanting to know what the whole situation was and Jace sighing in exasperation at his friend's actions. However, Jack was too busy thinking about something, actually, a couple somethings.

He'd recalled a simple fact. Vlad was the reason that Danielle was here, alive, and in some backwards way, living a happy life and giving joy to the people who loved her. He even recalled Danny saying that Danielle had been the only thing that he'd believed Vlad to have done right, when they'd been informed that they had another daughter, a cloned daughter, but a daughter nonetheless. All this boiled down to one last thought before he heard Maddie call him over and offer him some fudge, which brought a smile to his face against his will.

Dani had defined in her own way what she'd learned was the difference between anger and bitterness, Danny had talked about obsessions and what they can do to a half-ghost and full ghost, and even Jazz, according to Maddie, had come up with a physiological theory about how anger, obsession, and emotion affect a ghost's appearance and actions.

Bitterness was a poison and thinking back on some of his earliest memories of Vlad in college, even before Maddie had transferred there… Jack Fenton couldn't help but wonder…

Was what Vlad had done, unforgivable, or had his college buddy been poisoned?

zzz

Ghost Zone. 5:30 AM. Same Day.

Running away from his student, went against every oath he could remember taking and even his very own moral compass; he almost felt as though he was failing in some horrendous way… or maybe it was that it felt like he'd already failed.

Lancer cursed himself in his own head over and over as he jogged as fast as he could behind the large group of students and Mrs. Tetslaff. Valerie had finally noticed him and had fallen behind him to make sure he wouldn't be snagged by a random ghost… or perhaps she thought it made sure Lancer didn't see anything.

Too late for that, the teacher thought bitterly. He'd seen it with his own eyes. He'd seen the shy, kind, but still troublesome, Danny Fenton, whom had kept the older man up many nights with worry about what the boy was doing to his future, turn into Danny Phantom. The young man was somehow given the powers of a ghost and his dual existence, or however that worked was what the ghosts had meant when they called him a Halfa. Regardless…

How much of a fool he felt. How much shame and horror lingered in his heart and mind. In the past, Lancer had seemed to get the idea somewhere along the way that whatever was the mysterious reason that Daniel had to go to the bathroom and miss class was something more complicated than simple laziness or irresponsibility, so the teacher had pretty much gone easy on the boy for quite some time. It had been a stretch for Lancer to have not ultimately expelled the boy, considering the fact that he had no proof of what Daniel had actually been doing all the times he'd missed class. While he was sure, that most would commend him for being so sensitive to his students and knowing when to not break them, like he truly could've and had had the authority to with Danny and assure him that he'd done a good job… he couldn't help but think it wasn't enough and that it would never be enough.

The test grades, the absences, the sleeping in class and, by the fathers of Classical Literature, the wounds! He felt sick to his stomach and he wasn't sure if it was because he was running on a hungry stomach or because he felt guilt crushing him.

ooo

He saw a light in Danny's eyes, like the beginning of some truth coming to the surface as if Danny wanted to say something before it dimmed and Danny shook his head. "They were both just flukes, Mr. Lancer. There's nothing special about Danny Fenton."

ooo

Of course, Daniel had been using his double alias as a way to state a lie within a truth. Lancer believed, in retrospect, that he'd been close to having a confession from Danny himself that day. All this time the young man he had known to have had the potential to do anything after seeing his records from middle school, had sacrificed everything for everyone but himself. His dreams of a normal future, his grades, his sleep, his health, his happiness, his time, everything…

And what had Amity Park done for the longest time? Shunned him. Shot at him. Ostracized him. In return? He'd kept protecting them.

Within these moments, Mr. Lancer made a decision. He'd somehow figure out who knew the boy's secret and if at all possible he'd help keep it, if discreetly so. Not only that, he'd find the times to tutor Daniel which were convenient for the boy. Finally, he wouldn't even bother to figure out if Daniel was the TheEidolon or not. Was that so much to ask from a teacher who knew he owed his life to his student? No. If fate allowed it… or demanded it… he'd take the secret to his grave.

Coming up with a plan like this gave Lancer a small bit of peace in his heart. Another thing that helped satisfy him was that his philosophy had been proven correct. There was something special about every person… and definitely there was something extraordinary about a certain Danny Fenton. Hint, it had nothing to do with the fact that he was half ghost.

Lancer's thoughts were stopped abruptly by the echo of thunder that raced down the corridors and caused several surprised people in the group to shout or yell out in fear and surprise.

zzz

Walker's Prison. The Courtyard. 5:30 AM. Meanwhile…

Walker was one of those enemies that Danny had never truly fought often with. He'd tricked Walker to escape prison when they'd first met, Walker hadn't actually wanted to destroy him the second time since he had wanted Danny to flee to the Ghost Zone from the ridicule the 'kidnapping the mayor' fiasco caused, and the third time in the woods, again with his class, Wulf had swooped in to help. At present? It was strictly Danny fighting with Walker since Wulf was busy chasing off prisoners and taking out massive amounts of guards.

Danny immediately had to split into three separate duplicates in order to watch his own back and fight at the same time. Walker had started teleporting all over the place and firing beams of pink ectoplasm at Danny. At one point, Danny flared out a pulse of ice energy that ended up freezing a few guards on the outer edges of the courtyard but had unfortunately missed Walker entirely thanks to yet another teleportation on Walker's part.

Walker's face wasn't filled with sick pleasure like it normally was when he fought with Danny, instead it was twisted into a snarl. Danny almost got struck with a blast of pink energy when Walker had surprised him and started to talk in Latin.

"Et cessare faciam tibi. Hic tibi reducam." (I will end you. I will end you right here.)

Danny growled realizing just how serious Walker was; the hate coming from Walker was almost primal, edging on desperate. Danny let out a breath as he absorbed his other two copies, since he was getting weaker. Normally he could've kept four up for quite some time and recently even five if he tried hard, but after being tortured and not fed, Danny was weak and he knew he was fading fast. He had to find a way to get Walker off their tails for a while though. At least until Wulf could maybe take the group out of the Ghost Zone. First, he had to dodge another pink blast.

"Quod futurum est, Walker!" (That's not going to happen, Walker!)

Danny strafed to his right to avoid the attack only to see a second one come flying towards him. Too weak to take the brunt of the attack's momentum through a shield, Danny focused hard and swung his arm. A ripple of invisible telekinetic energy echoed out and completely obliterated the attack. Danny then called on more power from his cells and increased his speed, dramatically.

Walker roared in pain and fury as Danny started to flash from place to place around the warden and follow the ghost whenever he tried to teleport away from with punches and kicks.

"Non habent ipsorum morte. Dare volui furcas Iamne mortem tardus!" (You will not have a painless end. I tried to give you the gallows, but now your end will be slow!)

Walker screamed as he missed Danny again. The teen hero appeared several yards away from Walker, panting. He was fading faster and getting closer to his limit. Not that that stopped him from bantering.

"Habes primum consequare Walker." (You have to catch me first, Walker.)

Danny then took another stabilizing breath and disappeared in a flash of speed once more. Walker growled under his breath as he dodged a ray of ice energy that seemed to appear from nowhere.

"Veniam autem cito ad." (Oh I plan to very soon.)

The warden then turned to green mist again to avoid a slash of ice claws that had formed over Danny's hands. The warden recalled that he'd been informed recently that the Ghost boy had picked up some new tricks… however… the boy being weakened already would be his downfall.

Walker cried out in anger once more and whipped out his restraining cane. With a spin, he positioned it in his hands and then thrust it into the ground. A wave of pink energy scattered across the floor in a field around Walker and just as the warden had hoped, the fast Phantom's ankles were immediately ensnared by the restraining energies.

Due to the speed Danny had been moving at, he tripped and crashed into the ground before sliding a bit. All it had taken was Danny to put his foot down once to make a turn towards Walker to attack again and he'd been snared. Another flash of light and his arms were bound to his sides tightly. He wheezed when Walker stepped on his back.

"Nunc iterum, moriemini." (Now, you shall die again.)

Walker leaned down to whisper this message, causing Danny's eyes to widen in slight fear. Danny knew perfectly well what Walker meant by those words and why he was whispering them. He was going to kill him via electrocution. He was going to make Danny truly relive his half-death.

Before he could even reply, Walker had yanked out a baton from his belt and had jabbed the now electrified object in between Danny's shoulder-blades, seeing as he wasn't wearing the collar anymore.

Danny's body was engulfed in electricity and Danny let out a soul-shattering scream of agony as he spasmed on the ground, under Walker.

Danny's sight was going fuzzy, his sense of smell started to fade, his nerves were in overdrive and all he could hear was Walker laughing like a maniac.

Danny could feel his ice core start to melt and he panicked, switching subconsciously to his hot core. It was this action that saved his half-life.

ooo

"So, wait… if I have my cold core active and then mix it with my ectoplasm rather than using my ice directly… it makes a stronger construct?" Danny asked, cocking his head in thought.

"Exactly, Great One! You see a construct made of ice is weak and will break if you strike something that is too hard. Even purely ectoplasmic constructs have a weakness that can be exploited."

"Okay… so what about these ecto-ice constructs, Frostbite?"

"They are the most durable kind and are used by the masters of Cyrokinesis. There are very few things that can break them."

"Gotcha, thanks for the lesson, Frostbite!"

"Of course! Anything to help the Great One!"

ooo

"It would be best if you didn't try to superheat your Pryokinesis in your attempts to manifest lightning. You'll only burn yourself repeatedly, that way." Hakan finished and looked over at his student to see Danny sucking on various parts of his burnt hand. The boy blinked and Hakan sighed.

"Ectoplasmic made lightning is best formed from the mixture of one's ectoplasm and their hot core." Hakan continued and looked up to watch as Danny tried the new method. Sparks exploded around Danny, nearly blinding the young man. He rubbed his eyes. Hakan snorted but couldn't remove the amused smile from his face.

"Such things takes much practice and much concentration. You'll simply have to keep trying. Once you figure out the right amount of ectoplasm and heat to mix then you'll have it. Lightning is much more complicated than trying to make ice constructs like Frostbite has been tutoring you in. There is much more freedom in how much ectoplasm you wish to use with the constructs, it simply alters how sturdy the constructs are. Lightning is, on the other hand, very precise."

"Now he tells me."

Hakan simply smiled. "You aren't giving up, are you?"

Danny sputtered indigently. "Apparently Clockwork didn't tell you as much about me as I thought. I'm not exactly the guy to give up on anything… even when it's detrimental to my health." Danny mumbled the last part.

"Well then, try again. You won't be leaving my lair until you've, at the very least, temporarily blinded yourself."

"Ha ha… and I thought you weren't a ghost with a sense of humor, Hakan."

This made Hakan laugh heartily.

ooo

Danny could feel the electricity jumping about his hot core, leaping like solar flares as more and more watts were pumped through his body. Then he felt the electricity stop burning and frying him. His core was pulsing slowly like his human heartbeat and he waited for a split second, timing it to where he released the energy just as the pulse of his core echoed out.

Electricity leapt like a lithe creature from his body in arcs, also reversing its course up Walker's baton and electrocuting the warden. He cried out, stuck in Danny's web of light and plasma before he was able to throw himself away.

Now with Walker away from him and the bindings that once held him, nothing more than vapor now, Danny stood up. Electricity sizzled around his body, causing the smell of ozone to form in the air.

The courtyard got very silent, especially since Wulf had practically taken down all but a small group of guards.

"Non facile descendunt, Walker." (I won't go down that easy, Walker.)

Danny growled his declaration out loud enough for everyone to hear, before he unleashed another wave of lightning which ripped through the air and latched onto Walker, creating a loud clap of thunder in the process.

"Ego autem non. Non exieris. Quotiens ego sum ut omnes qui iter semper!" (I will not bow. I will not surrender. How many times do I have to show everyone that I will always find a way!)

Danny shouted loudly as the attack struck. The warden groaned before falling over, unconscious. Danny then fell to his knees and transformed back into Fenton.

After taking several deep breaths he turned to see Wulf sitting there with his back facing Danny. The Halfa sighed. "Dankon, amiko." (Thanks, friend.) He whispered in Esperanto to his ally.

"Ĉiam por amikon." (Always for friend.) Wulf replied in a rumble before bounding away with Danny mounted on his back. They disappeared into the corridor that would lead them out and to freedom.

Walker groaned in pain from where he laid. "Modicum Bastardus…"

zzz

Ghost Zone. 6:01 AM.

"What the heck do we do now?" Dash asked worriedly from the group's hiding place. Everyone had hidden behind part of a large island like structure connected to one of the rocky paths in the Zone. Walker's Prison was in the distance.

"We wait for Danny," Tucker answered calmly.

"But… He… I mean he can't be still…" Alroy stuttered.

"He can't be what!?" Sam suddenly snapped and made her glare pierce the jock's gaze, daring him to continue.

"You don't think Fenton's… gone?" Kwan gulped.

"Fenton's got to be toast," Dash grimaced.

"He went down a fighter. A hero!" Mrs. Tetslaff declared with a slight frown.

Lancer blinked and shook his head at the irony in Tetslaff's words, though anyone could believe he was merely grieving his student's death.

Sam merely scoffed, drawing everyone's attention again. "I shouldn't have expected anything less. It's not like most of you really know Danny." Her gaze flicked back to the dusty road. "You don't know him like we do. Danny won't give up."

"Danny's too hardheaded to let something like this stop him," Valerie agreed.

"He kinda bounces back from anything. That's one thing he has in common with his dad. You just keep knocking them down and they'll just keep getting back up," Tucker added with a nod of his head. He gasped when his eyes caught something.

Everyone looked up and saw Wulf running towards them. Danny was leaning heavily on the beast's back with his eyes closed.

Surprising everyone but the nerds there, Tucker started spouting things in Esperanto.

"Wulf! Kiamaniere Danny? Ĉu li bonfartas?" (Wulf! How's Danny? Is he okay?)

The large beast surprised everyone by actually replying.

"Ĝi estas bone, amikino. Li dormas." (He is fine, friend. He sleeps.)

Wulf rumbled softly and let his back muscles ripple, gently vibrating against Danny's face. The boy opened his eyes blearily and blinked once and then twice before looking down at Sam.

"Salve Sam." (Hello, Sam.)

Sam smiled and patted Danny softly on the cheek. "Danny, I haven't learned Latin yet. English, please."

Danny moaned slightly and nodded. "Sorry, Walker was speaking Latin when we were fighting."

"Oh yeah? He was serious then?" Tucker questioned.

Danny, Sam, and especially Valerie turned and gave their friend and boyfriend a slight glare.

"Stupid question huh?" Tucker asked.

"I don't know, do you think the torture or the almost successful execution tipped you off to that?" Sam asked sardonically.

"Okay okay… I was there you know."

Danny merely smiled and then tiredly slid himself off the large furry beast. He looked into Wulf's eyes. "Ĉu vi povas preni nin el la Fantoma Zono?" (Can you take us out of the Ghost Zone?)

Wulf blinked and then drooped his ears. Sadly, he brought up one paw to show Danny something he hadn't noticed while they'd been fighting together. Wulf's claws were cut down to nubs.

Danny barely kept his eyes from flashing green against his will and he growled. "He cut your claws!?" Dany yelled out in fury. "How dare he!?"

"Mi pensas post mi prenis vin ĉi tie. Li ne volas ke mi eskapi post mi servis tiucele." (I think after I took you here. He no want me to escape after I served purpose.)

Wulf whined before Danny wrapped his arms around the ghost's furry neck. Tucker walked over and laid a placating hand on Wulf's shoulder.

"Pardonu, amiko." (Sorry, friend.) Tucker murmured.

"Ili kreskos reen eventuale kaj tiam via potenco revenos." (They will grow back eventually and then your power will return.) Sam spoke up.

Valerie nodded, knowing they were saying comforting things to the ghost.

"Iru trovi lokon por kaŝi de Walker… Mi vetas Ekstrema Frozen estus agrabla loko. Diru vian la Granda Unu, amiko." (Go find a place to hide from Walker… I bet the Far Frozen would be a nice place. Tell them you're the Great One's friend.) Danny said and patted Wulf on the head.

"Jes. Neniu bezono helpo al protekti de Walker?" (Yes. No need help to defend from Walker?) Wulf asked and nudged Danny's torso softly.

"No. Ni estos bona." (No. We will be alright.) Danny replied and gave the ghost a final pat on the head. In return, Wulf licked Danny's face. He then looked at the others. "Adiaŭ amikoj. Ni estas liberaj!" (Goodbye friends. We are free!) He then turned and bounded away.

"What language was that?" Star asked.

"Esperanto," Mikey answered. "It was supposed to have been used as an international language but died out."

"So, wait, you all can speak Esperanto and Latin?" Stan asked.

"Me and Tucker can speak Esperanto. Danny's the one that can speak both," Sam answered calmly.

"I haven't learned yet, but I plan to," Valerie added.

Danny shrugged. "Some ghosts don't speak English, so Esperanto and especially Latin are the only ways to talk to practically any ghost. They're dead languages."

Norman sighed. "I didn't think that's what that phrase meant…"

Danny shrugged again only this time he caused a slight spasm in a muscle in an area that was heavily bruised. He visibly grimaced.

"Dude, we need to get to Pandora's and then check on you. They can porbably do something for me and Dash too," Tucker spoke.

"Yeah, I guess that's a good idea," Danny agreed. "I think it'll take a few hours to walk to Pandora's from here and then we have to go through the Maze to get to the Acropolis."

"Acropolis?" Lancer asked.

"Pandora, you know, from Greek legend? She lives and rules over an Acropolis," Danny answered. When the Box ghost had taken Pandora's box, Danny had seen merely one of the guard houses in Pandora's domain. The empress had been looking for clues practically anywhere then. Since then, Danny had visited again and actually seen Pandora's true home. It was impressive.

"How many things about ghosts do you know?" Tyson asked in slight shock.

Danny glanced at Sam, Tucker, and Valerie and they chuckled. "Alot." They all echoed at the same time.

"Ya think you know a guy," Brandon laughed.

Danny only smiled.

"What were you asking about Wulf's claws for? And who's the Great One?" Mikey asked.

Tucker flinched, remembering suddenly that most of the nerds knew Esperanto. Duh.

"Wulf can slice a hole between the Ghost Zone and the Human Realm and Phantom is the answer to your second question. There are some groups in the Zone that hate him… then there are others that see him as well…" Danny started before Sam interrupted.

"A hero. A protector and savior," Sam replied smirking at the slight irritation on Danny's face.

"So, you guys do know Phantom," Dash pressed.

"I do know that we need to get moving. Walker will snap out of it eventually and start looking for us," Danny replied.

"What did you do to him?" Dinah asked, eyes wide with a strange knew respect for the former loser.

Danny blinked. "I hunted him. Basically, I just stunned him. I don't destroy anything I fight, save the spare Ectopus or two. But they usually turn back into ectoplasm eventually anyways and form new creatures."

"How'd you stun a ghost?" Kwan asked.

"Trade secret. Who's hungry, cause we gotta move to get it." Danny spoke briskly and started walking.

Sam, Tucker and Valerie came up beside him as everyone followed behind, their grumbling stomachs answering his question.

At that moment, Danny linked up to his friends.

So, what did happen? Valerie asked.

I used some of the telekinetic power I've been training with to move really fast. It was very helpful in battle. Danny answered.

And….? Tucker pressed.

He tried to make me relive my half-death for starters. Danny continued.

Sam frowned and clenched her fists.

So, I zapped him right back. There was a silence over the connection.

Wait so you mean…? Tucker asked.

You learned…? Sam continued.

Lightning control, check. Danny replied through the link, pride ringing through the four's emotional connection.

That's amazing, Danny. Good job. Sam praised which got a smile from her boyfriend.

I still don't see why you don't just use your Ghostly Wail to demolish that prison. Valerie almost growled.

I… Danny paused. Doing that kind of thing would give the Observants a reason to hate me more than they do… I have to leave it be. Even telling everyone that Walker broke his own rules won't do much. His men will probably be threatened to not spill the beans and the Observants won't rat him out since at least two thirds of them are corrupt and hate my guts for being a Halfa. It's better not to get involved.

Well crud. That almost makes me hate ghosts again. Valerie grumbled.

You like Wulf now though, right? I mean you can't not love that guy. Tucker grinned.

Hmph. Valerie pouted.

You totally do! I know it! Tucker declared teasingly.

Maybe a little. Valerie replied begrudgingly.

That's great, Val. I bet you'll like Pandora a lot. Danny spoke up.

They would've continued their talk if the others hadn't interrupted them.

"So, uh, Fen-Danny… Where will we get food?" Dash asked with a slightly begrudgingly humbled look on his face. The young man was trying, even if he was weary of it. He was also still favoring his hurt foot.

Danny nodded and then answered. "Well if you can't wait until Pandora's we could keep a look out for food along the way. The Ghost Zone has few things that can be eaten safely, but you need to ask me, Sam, or Tucker, first."

"Yeah or it might get a meal instead of you," Sam said and gave the others and mischievous grin. Danny nudged her in the ribs softly.

"Aw quit scaring them, Sam."

"But it's fun."

zzz

An hour or so passed and everyone was starting to get tired. Even Danny was wheezing a bit because of the energy he'd used and his wounds were still healing. At present, his wounds were halfway healed and his few open wounds were merely weeping. Sam however, was getting nervous about the color of the liquid coming out from Danny's wounds and was worried he was getting an infection.

Tucker stated silently that most infections can't deal with ectoplasm well, though Sam reminded Tucker that Danny had gotten the common cold before. Sam stated it was probably only a matter of new illnesses evolving to deal with ectoplasm, like the common cold evolved too fast for there to be a cure made.

It was moments later that someone shouted happily.

"Hey look, are those Watermelons!?" Melanie called out.

Danny blinked and looked up to see Tyson and Freddie wander closer to the patch of fruit. He blanched when he noticed the color of the grass around the melons.

"Guys, stop!" Danny yelped out and the two boys halted.

"What's the problem, yo?" T.J. ask honestly.

Danny gave a worried and sheepish look. "Those are vampire melons. They eat flesh."

Tyson and Freddie cried out in a less than manly manner when one of the said melons split in half to show rows upon rows of sharp teeth. It growled and lunged at the two and missed them barely, due to being held back by its vine planted in the ground.

Tyson and Freddie scrambled backwards towards the group as the rest of the melons started snapping their jaws at the humans.

"Melons found near Blood grass are often Vampire Melons," Sam stated.

"Blood grass?" Brad asked and looked at the reddish grass growing near and around the patch.

"It can be used to make invisibility serum. It's super temporary though, so not much use comes from it," Danny added. He turned and started leading everyone away from the patch and continued down the road. "You wanna tell them some basic things to look out for, Sam?"

Sam nodded. "Better than letting them kill themselves." Sam took a deep breath. "Okay so you saw the melons and the grass… There's also Bloodflowers, which spit acid, Lotus tree fruit which are supremely addictive in a bad way, even if it doesn't hurt you to eat them, Man-eating trees, and Alihotsy which can induce hysteria if you get too close and especially if you eat it."

"Geez is there anything you can eat?" John asked.

"It is the Ghost Zone for a reason," Sam replied and rose a brow.

"I guess that makes since… now that you mention it," Megan mumbled.

"There are Dirigible Plums, but don't eat too many or you'll float away. Trama root likes to grow near those trees," Sam spoke.

"Oh my gosh, look!" Star suddenly gasped and pointed.

Everyone followed her gaze to see a field of Blood grass. Goldhorn antelopes and flaming Unicorns were busy grazing there. The unicorns didn't look anything like the humans had imagined them and the goldhorn antelopes vanished in a flash of gold streams

"A Unicorn? Those exist?" Alroy asked and scratched his head.

"Lots of mythical creatures exist in the Ghost Zone," Tucker answered.

They continued walking somewhat peacefully after that, though everyone was still hungry.

"Will this Pandora lady even have food?" Lesley whined. "She is a ghost, right?"

Danny nodded. "Ghosts still eat food sometimes just for fun. They don't need it, since they don't have a stomach or need sustenance, but it's a pleasure they still enjoy."

Sam nodded and looked up at Danny to notice a fine sheen of sweat coating his skin. "Danny are you feeling feverish?"

Danny glanced at her and shook his head. "I'm fine." He smirked. "I was thinking that my parents should release the Hotdogs into the Ghost Zone. They might like the environment, seeing as there are semi-sentient melons here too."

Sam snorted.

"Hey is that it?"

Everyone looked forward and could see a large Acropolis surrounded by large amounts of foliage and walls.

"Yep. We just have to get through the Maze of Minotaurs-" Danny started.

"Wait WHAT!?" Dash yelped.

Danny was going to open his mouth and soothe the others when a breath of cold mist fled his parted lips.

zzz

Amity Park. 8:46 AM.

"So, I know this Plasmius guy is bad news, but how bad? Like uber-bad? Or just annoying bad?" Ash asked over the com link.

Dani, Ash, Jace, and Jazz had gone out to patrol, leaving the elder Fentons to look at leads for Vlad Masters. They didn't want Ash and Jace knowing quite yet that Plasmius and Masters was one and the same. They'd been calling Vlad the Wisconsin Ghost or simply Plasmius to hide this fact.

"He's very cunning and can be very cruel and manipulative," Jazz answered easily enough. "We're worried that he's gone after Danny and his classmates."

"Why?" Jace questioned.

"Well he doesn't like Danny much and he'd know that Danny wouldn't want to transform in front of his class. He disappeared from our radar about the same time Danny left for his trip," Jazz replied.

"I see. He really is cunning," Jace responded.

"Well then, we just need to find him then," Ash spoke up. "I haven't gotten any hits on my detection equipment."

Suddenly all four people met at a single place and sighed in exasperation.

Dani frowned in annoyance and pouted in midair. Ash put his arms behind his neck.

"Now what? The Youngblood kid with that large T-rex skeleton, playing archeologist in the park didn't know anything and neither did that Biker dude," The boy asked.

"I guess one more round and then we call it for now. He simply might not be in Amity right now and no one might have a clue what he's up to," Jazz answered.

Jace was very quiet and was thinking over something. He glanced up. "Why are we searching Amity anyways? Wouldn't he either be in Arkansas if he is planning on attacking Danny or just in the Ghost Zone not up to anything suspicious?"

Jazz and Dani's faces fell and they gave each other an almost invisible glance. Ash's eyebrows arched up and he looked at Jace.

"Is there something you aren't telling us? We can't help fully if you aren't being honest," Jace spoke.

Ash frowned deeply when he saw Dani start staring at the ground in obvious distress.

"Plasmius' full name is Vlad Plasmius," Jazz explained carefully and looked into Jace's eyes. She could see the gears turning in a slow and calculated way. Jace then glared at the ground.

"Our mayor's an evil half-ghost, huh?" Jace asked, but pretty much knew he was right.

"Whoa, wait what?" Ash rambled out.

"Danny Phantom and Fenton? Danielle Phantom and Fenton? So it only makes since, Vlad Plasmius and Vlad Masters," Jace explained to Ash.

Ash's eyes grew wide and he looked at Dani. "Really?"

Dani only nodded.

"I'll explain more to both of you once we get back to FentonWorks. My parents will probably be able to tell you more too," Jazz spoke. She then smiled half-heartedly. "Let's head back."

The other three nodded and turned their scooters or changed directions in the air to start heading back to FentonWorks. Hopefully… The elder Fentons had some news.

zzz

Pandora's Acropolis. 8:53 AM.

"Daniel?"

Everyone glanced over at the gate and several people screamed at the sight of a tall and powerful looking warrior woman.

Danny smiled. "Hey Pandora…"

"Wait, she's your friend!?" Mikey yelped.

Danny didn't answer and instead walked forward. "It's good to see you."

Pandora smiled brightly before she paused and noticed the dirt and other stains on Danny's clothes.

"You're wounded." The woman's face turned venomous. "Who did this? I demand to know! Was it these other humans!?" Pandora growled making everyone else pale and back up in fear.

"No Pandora. It's nothing. I'll be fine. We need a place to stay for a day though and something to eat."

Pandora's face became a bit more docile. "Who did this to you, Daniel?"

Danny sighed. "It was Walker."

The woman's face turned furious again. "I'll march on that fortress he calls a prison. Let me gather my men and the Minotaurs!"

Danny shook his head. "That's not necessary, please Pandora. Everyone got out alive and mostly well. That's what matters, plus the Observants will expect retaliation. We could get Phantom in trouble." He finished with a meaningful glance at the Empress and the ghost sighed.

"Very well. Come this way, Daniel and friends." Her bright smile returned again. "So long as your acquaintances don't go near my box, then we'll house you as long as needed." She kept walking along with the students and teachers following quietly behind. She asked a question. "Daniel… I was wondering…"

"Yes, Empress?" Danny replied.

Pandora arched an eyebrow at his formality but smiled and shook her head nonetheless. "Did the Phantom cousins ever get the bounty for turning in Undergrowth? I heard Walker and the Observants had collectively put his bounty to three million human dollars."

Danny didn't get to answer before Brandon spoke out in confusion. "Wait, why would ghosts want money?"

Pandora smiled kindly. "I assume Daniel has explained that we ghosts do enjoy some humanly pleasures even if they do us no true benefit, like eat food?"

Everyone gave a collective, if not hesitant, nod.

"Well did you think we just went and stole large quantities of food?" Pandora smiled an even larger smile. "We have special ghosts that go into the real world and purchase things like food, commodities and medicine in large quantities and they sell them. One such ghost is the Dairy King. He specializes in all kinds of cheeses."

Danny blinked in surprise at that one, though that sort of made the ghost's obsession a bit more relevant. It ultimately made the Halfa smile.

Danny shook his head and answered Pandora's previous question. "No. They just told Phantom to stay out of trouble when he returned Undergrowth."

"Hmph the nerve of those old fools." Pandora grumbled.

"Why would those Observant guys or whoever not pay Phantom?" Brad asked.

"Yeah, not cool." TJ huffed.

Pandora frowned and glanced at Team Phantom before speaking. "They don't view Phantom as a true ghost and until recently the humans didn't like Phantom much either, which is why he hid his cousin for so long. It truly is a shame what tyrants those Observants can be."

Dash blinked in confusion as something formed in his head. "You mean… Phantom wasn't liked by anyone?"

Pandora shook her head sadly as the group walked carefully through the maze and Pandora waved off any Minotaurs that were on guard. "He is a good boy. He has a bright and lovely core, but those Observants don't care how much he and his cousin work to keep balance."

"Why do these, leaders, I guess, of yours not see the Phantoms as true ghosts?" Norman asked suddenly, making Danny and Tucker tense. Valerie and Sam did a bit better job at hiding their surprise.

Pandora stuttered slightly. "Well you see… it's…"

"It's because of their skin tone."

Everyone glanced over at Danny to see him looking into the green atmosphere in the distance. "They look human and they both like humans… that's why."

Mikey blinked and then looked up at Pandora. "But then why…"

Pandora nodded. "Many ghosts don't mind humans, like myself. I like good humans and can be impatient with unkind humans, however, I do not interfere in the matters of humans simply because my obsession does not require it. The Phantoms wish to protect humans directly. The Observants think humans are the cause of much strife between the Realms and within the Zone. This of course is supremely biased on their part. Most of us just want to be left alone really. We're all trying to reach the beyond and fulfill our obsessions in peace… well most of us."

Eventually they found themselves within a large room which housed a large dining table. A few servants appeared by the table and bowed to the guests.

"We will eat here and then you Daniel, will be looked at by our surgeon," Pandora expressed and looked at Danny sternly.

"Uh right, you got it." He glanced back at Tucker and Dash, before looking at Pandora again. "Tucker and Dash were wounded as well." Pandora nodded to Danny.

Somewhat quietly the group took their seats with Pandora and settled down to wait for an early lunch. It seemed everyone was still in some state of shock seeing as they had been facing death and despair merely a few hours ago.

zzz

Norman, Brandon, Mikey, and Lester's room. 1:23 PM.

"Something's not right."

At this simple sentence, three other nerds paused.

"What do ya mean, Norman?" Brandon asked and sat on one of the beds that had been provided. After the early lunch they'd enjoyed, Danny, Tucker, and Dash had been spirited away by two soldiers to see to their wounds. Tucker and Dash had returned early, without Danny present. Brandon was worried about Danny; he hadn't eaten much during the meal and had started to look a bit weary. He wasn't sure if Danny had eaten at all since they'd been kidnapped and his wounds hadn't worsened but hadn't gotten better. The others had been led away to other rooms to stay, minus Tucker, Valerie, and Sam. While the others were limited to the library, the dining hall and their rooms, the four others seemed to have free reign.

"I mean we're missing something here," Norman grumbled. "First thing's first… I don't think ghosts care about skin color… I don't know, it didn't seem right. I could see them not liking the Phantoms for liking humans… and then there's-"

"Whoa now. What are you rambling on about?" Mikey asked.

Norman took a calming breath. "Okay. I'm just saying that I don't think Danny and Pandora were being completely honest with us. When I asked why the Observants didn't see Phantom as a true ghost, Danny and Tucker tensed up. Also, why would Danny, Sam, Tucker, and Valerie, who are confirmed ghost hunters, have ghost friends? Why are they so close to Pandora that they can go wherever they like in her domain? There are just not enough answers here and too many questions.

Brandon nodded reluctantly and Lester nodded in full agreement. Mikey was silent before he looked up at his friends.

"Also… does anyone here have any idea what a Halfa is?"

zzz

Jocks' room. 1:23 PM.

"This place is pretty awesome," Kwan murmured as he walked around the room, looking at various paintings and pieces of decor.

"Beats a jail cell that's for sure," Tyson scoffed as he laid back on the bed he'd claimed.

"This Ghost Zone place is weird. I knew Fenton's folks were creepy," Alroy grumbled from a chair he'd found.

"Yeah…" Dash replied distractedly, staring at his foot which had been treated and properly bandaged for further travel.

Alroy and Tyson shared a glanced before shrugging. Kwan looked over at Dash in slight confusion and worry. The lead jock was staring at the ground near his feet as he sat on the edge of one of the beds.

Dash noticed at some point that the other three were ignoring him and having their own conversation. They could tell he needed space even if they didn't know what for. They really were good friends… really.

Dash refrained from letting out a sigh. Phantom had been bullied by ghosts and humans before he became famous rather than… what was that word Lancer's used… infamous? Yeah. The very idea that his hero had been picked on made him angry, but it also made him wonder. Why didn't Phantom just pummel anyone that had talked bad about him? Why hadn't he used his amazing power against those that didn't believe?

Dash clenched his fists. He just didn't understand it! He thought about it and thought about it. Why…? It was then that a novel thought wandered into Dash's mind… Phantom didn't like people being afraid of him. He liked people being friendly. Phantom didn't want to hurt people. He wanted to save them… Dash had made people afraid of him and had hurt them… For the first time in a long while, Dash was seeing the fruits of his labor for what they really were. You pummel people and they fear. You hurt them and they hate. Phantom hadn't wanted any of that so he hadn't pummeled or hurt anyone even when he could've and eventually… he was mostly beloved now.

Phantom's little quips about playing nice, staying in school, the responsibility behind power as well as Lancer's harsh, if needed, speech nights earlier were all massing together and starting to make sense… and then there was one more thought that was really confusing Dash the most and yet it applied just as much…

He'd sent Danny home worn and bruised on his worst days… and that Pandora lady had been ready to tear down an entire fortress after seeing Danny's wounds. Now his wounds were from torture, but the idea remained.

Why on earth had Danny never sent a creature like Pandora to hurt Dash in return?

ooo

"I said leave him alone, Dash. Find something better to do with your time than pick on people. You hit them, they bleed, it's a reliable outcome. Beating or wailing on somebody doesn't make you so great or strong in the end," Danny spoke evenly.

Dash laughed, "It does show that I'm stronger."

ooo

That memory rang in Dash's mind. It does show I'm stronger… stronger… stronger…

Did it? Dash wasn't so sure anymore.

zzz

Teachers' room. 1:23 PM.

Lancer sat silently on his bed. Tetslaff had wandered off earlier since the woman could hardly ever sit still. She was more of an action type person and found bliss in just accepting things. Though she was intelligent and resourceful, Lancer would hardly say she was much of a scholar so he was glad to have this moment of peace to think.

Firstly, he was thinking on his anger. He had learned briefly from the talk between Pandora and the group that Daniel had been treated poorly by the leaders of the Ghost Zone as well. The poor boy, since the age of fourteen, struck like a battered ping pong ball between two worlds and neither truly appreciated him. At the very least, it seemed Daniel had good friends in some of the ghosts in the Zone.

The second thought that had come more quietly into the forefront of his mind was a bit more of an enigma. Pandora had said Phantoms… and in plural and indeed Lancer remembered that Phantom had a cousin… that looked just like Fenton's adopted sister.

Lancer had a good idea that there was something more there, but for now he had nothing more to go on. He could speculate all sorts of things about how that had happened or what was going on, even something as ridiculous as the Fentons trying to form an army of hybrid clones.

Lancer almost laughed at the idea. For now, he'd continue to learn so he could help the best he could.

zzz

Danny and Tucker's room. 1:23 PM.

"Ow."

"Danny…"

"Ow. Ow. Ow."

"Danny…."

"Ow."

Sam stopped walking and smirked at her boyfriend. They had returned from Pandora's medical wing several minutes ago and were walking back towards the room Danny and Tucker would share. Tucker and Valerie had gone to the war strategy room to talk about everything they'd gathered about their situation; they still weren't sure what was going on and didn't even know who had saved Danny's life. Regardless, Danny was now in a cleaned shirt and his torso, and throat was wrapped in a few layers of bandages. The doctors had used a concentrated ecto-energy of some sort to zap the minor infection they'd discovered in Danny's system. He was weak and without as much adrenaline, his bruises and damaged muscles were getting sore. Sam knew Danny was milking it though… just a little.

"Danny, the pain killers will work soon. Stop being a baby," Sam remarked and rolled her eyes.

Danny merely spluttered as the couple entered the room and Sam helped Danny sit on one of the beds. "A baby!? I was electrocuted! and my throat started to bleed from my burns there!"

Danny immediately regretted saying those words when he saw a somber look consume his girlfriend's face. He realized that Sam, being Sam, had tried to make light of something that had very much bothered her, namely Danny's torture and near full death.

"Sam… I'm sorry."

"Please…"

Danny sucked in a breath when he smelt the smallest trace of saltwater and he knew she was trying to not get emotional.

"Please don't say you're sorry… it makes it so much worse." Sam heaved slightly as sobs tried to escape from her. Sam was one that would never cry in front of people if she could help it; the idea that she was upset for him was touching, though of course not wanted.

Danny silently pulled her closer to him and she hugged him gently in silence.

Sam was eventually able to control her self and looked at Danny's face.

"You are one of the last people in the world that deserves something like that," Sam spoke.

Danny gave a slight smile but didn't respond. He continued looking into Sam's eyes before he closed his own. "I didn't think I'd still be half alive today." Sam didn't get the chance to agree before his mouth descended on hers.

Completely forgetting everything around them, except for each other, Sam griped Danny's shoulders as they kissed. She ran her hands down his sides and was surprised when her actions caused her boyfriend to let out a light moan that echoed slightly. Sam was unsure if that was the ghost in him or the build of the room, but it didn't really matter at the moment.

She gasped slightly when Danny leaned forward and stared to kiss her on the neck. She hummed, pleased and looked to see green was glowing past Danny's eyelashes. It was in that moment that Sam started to wonder when this boy became so important to her. She hugged him close and cupped the back of his head gently for a moment in silence. Eventually they parted and sat on the bed, seeing as Danny was starting to get drowsy from the painkillers he'd been given.

They sat in lovely and blissful silence together for several minutes. Sam passed her had through Danny's hair countless times as they sat there, him laying down and her sitting up against the bed rest.

"I meant it you know."

Sam paused in her latest pass through Danny's hair at his sentence.

"I love you." Danny mumbled the last bit. Sam could tell the pain medication was starting to kick in and the Halfa's body was trying to sleep so it could focus on healing. If he rested he could have nothing but scars and some tender places by mid-morning tomorrow.

Sam sighed and let a tiny smile come to her face. She closed her eyes in rest before she replied. "I love you too, Danny."

Thanks for all your wonderful reviews and support!

~NoSignal