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.

Thanks for your support and patience, enjoy!

zzz- normal separation

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

Mental thoughts or distant speaking

"The loneliest moment in someone's life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.

zzz

FarFrozen. 6:08 PM.

It was completely silent in the hallway as everyone stared at Norman and Danny. Danny was gazing at Norman with a mixture of frustration and slight hurt.

"What would Phantom have to do with this?" Danny asked calmly. The one thing about his secret identity that had helped him get out of so many problems in the past had been quite simple. It was one thing to notice or figure out that Danny Fenton was weird and maybe had some strange leftover effects from being shocked with ectoplasm, but unless one saw Fenton change into Phantom, it was hard for the mind to process the idea of a half-ghost. No matter how similar their names, their faces, their personality, if one looked close enough, it was the idea of a dead teenager and a living teenager being the same person that warded everyone's minds from the truth. The truth was always staring people in the face, but they were unable to fully accept it unless they tried. Lancer had been willing to test his theory and see if it was possible; he'd been intellectually capable as well as emotionally capable to consider the impossible, most everyone else was not.

Norman seemed to realize that problem or had hit that same mental blockade at that moment. "I… I don't know. Something's not right here though. You and Phantom are related somehow." Norman grit his teeth slightly in frustration and indecision. He couldn't even count the amount of emotions going through his head at the moment. "You can't just lead us through here and not tell us what's really going on."

Danny stared right into Norman's eyes and without true malice he spoke, "I can and I will." The Halfa paused for a moment before speaking again, "I'm going to lead you all to your rooms. We're going to sleep and rest. Tomorrow we'll make it home and then we'll go back to our lives. Got it? Good." Danny turned and started walking away. "This way."

Everyone followed in complete silence.

zzz

Ghost Zone. 7:23 AM.

The next morning the group gathered on the outskirts of the FarFrozen as the yeti ghosts granted them good luck and said farewell. The group excitedly walked on the path that would lead them to the Fenton Portal, the tension from last night temporarily forgotten. Norman was the only one that didn't seem as chipper and had a mixture of confusion, nervousness, and shame bubbling inside of him. He had noticed the hurt on Danny's face last night and wondered how he'd allowed his scientific mind and doubts to get so carried away. Danny was his friend, right? Friends normally don't corner each other like he'd done. Even though these were his most prominent thoughts, he still couldn't help but be suspicious. Brandon had told him a couple times that he was sure Danny would forgive him; Danny was too nice of a person not to, but Norman had to wonder that everyone had their limit, if that even was Danny anymore.

It was about an hour later that everyone arrived within a hundred yards of the Portal. Relief and joy were pulsing through the group, even if they were too tired to run the rest of the way.

"Oh, Papa will be so worried."

"I'll get to watch my Soap Operas again!"

"Technology, sweet sweet Technology. I was worried I'd start going through withdrawal."

"Clouds, the sky… I can't wait."

"We'll need to clear everything up with the authorities, but at least we made it."

Danny couldn't help but smile at everyone's talking, noticing even Valerie and Sam were somewhat excited to be getting back home, talking about what each girl would do when they made it. It was about five feet from the open portal that he froze. Everyone slowly came to a stop behind him. Dash was actually the first to speak.

"Uh, Danny?"

Danny blinked and then slowly looked over his shoulder.

Star frowned. "What's wrong?"

Danny frowned back at everyone and stared at the door again. "Something's… not right."

"What do you mean?" Freddie asked.

"The door's open."

And I'm feeling something's not right on the other side. Something's there. I wish I could sense individuals as well as Danielle can. I really need to have her help me with that. Danny sent mentally to his three friends.

"So?" Brad asked, honestly confused.

"It's almost never just open randomly like this, except if dad's demonstrating for someone and is opening and closing it rapidly."

Kwan hummed. "Maybe they knew we were missing and opened the door for us?" Kwan offered hopefully.

Some nodded at this.

"Well, maybe, but what would give them the idea that we're in the Ghost Zone?" Danny questioned back.

"Don't they blame everything on ghosts, Mr. Fenton? I distinctly remember them chasing me once for that same reason," Lancer offered.

Danny sighed in defeat. "Yeah… I guess I'm just being paranoid. Come on everyone."

And like that, the group walked forward together and slipped through the portal.

zzz

FentonWorks. 8:29 AM.

There were only two other times that Danny could remember that had filled him with such a massive sense of dread and fear. The first had been when he'd noticed the pushed button of the Ghost Portal under his hand that fateful day and the other had been when he'd seen his family bound to the Nasty Burger boiler, knowing what was supposed to happen next. It was an awkward and tense silence, even the hostages in front of the group didn't speak.

Before them, Danny's father, mother and two sisters were bound with rope, Dani with the ecto variety due to her powers. Jack had a bruise on his temple and various scrapes and a couple of large gashes, Maddie had a red mark near her throat and left side of her face, Jazz seemed to only be scuffed up slightly, and Dani seemed like she'd gotten the worst of it. It was obvious to Danny that his youngest sister had fought bravely, but ultimately couldn't stand up to her attacker and his experience. The other thing that made his blood run cold was the sight of a green ball of fur laying still in the corner of the room. It was Cujo and he was leaking ectoplasm from a hidden wound of some kind. The dog had fought for his family but ultimately lost.

The thing that confused everyone but a select few was the fact that Vlad Masters was standing in the center of the room, not trying to help his collage friends or their children from what had been obviously some kind of ghost attack. He was merely staring evenly at Danny. Everyone did notice however that Masters looked off. His white hair was still in a ponytail though there were a couple of strands loose, his eyes were ever so slightly bloodshot, and one hand was playing idly with the end of his suit coat as if he had a slight tick.

"Mr. Masters?" Brandon asked nervously.

Vlad didn't even look at the boy and continued to glare at Danny. Danny was still frozen in shock, not looking at Vlad, but meeting the eyes of his loved ones.

"Well then, what now, Daniel?" Vlad finally asked.

Everyone in Danny's group, but the privy, glanced at their mayor in confusion. He was asking a younger man what to do about this and there was something about his tone…

Danny clenched his fists and then glared at Vlad only to stop when he finally noticed his archenemy's disheveled appearance. "Vlad? Are… are you okay?"

Vlad flinched slightly as if surprised at Danny's concern, before it faded from his face. "Actually no, my dear boy. I'm not."

Danny narrowed his eyes slightly before they shot open as Vlad's black rings appeared around his waist and transformed him.

"Holy sweat-socks!" Dash shouted, obviously stifling some curse.

"What will you do now, Daniel?" Vlad asked with an eerie sense of calm.

"Vlad." Danny spoke stiffly. "Just leave them out of this."

"The time for that is long over, Daniel. You shouldn't have shown your family your little secret. I have no choice now."

"I probably wouldn't have shown them if you hadn't kidnapped me in the first place!" Danny exclaimed, losing a bit of his cool. He calmed quickly when Vlad gave him an even darker glare.

"If you'd only listened to me from the start…" Vlad hissed.

Danny took a deep breath. "Vlad, when was the last time you slept?"

Vlad paused as if confused by the question and a bit wary. "I couldn't tell you exactly…"

"Your obsession is starting to make your mind deteriorate, Vlad. If you keep this up, it'll only get worse," Danny spoke calmly and tried to get closer. He almost invisibly eyed a Fenton Thermos that had rolled up underneath a nearby table.

"My obsession? I've always been in control of myself Daniel."

"How do you know? Do you talk with your business partners about your behavior while in ghost form? Did you have a talk with Jazz or a psychologist? What about a secretary? Is there someone you've told your secret to and have had long conversations with?" Danny asked with a slightly accusing and sarcastic tone. "How do you know how you're fairing if you've got no one to trust with your deepest secrets? Because if you're basing this on only your own perspective, then I've got news for you…"

Vlad seemed to become incensed at Danny's analysis as well as the possible truth that laid within and practically riding on that anger, Vlad pointed a hand at Jack as ecto-electiriciry started to crackle around it. "Try to undermine your superior again, and someone may suffer for that smart mouth of yours, boy."

Danny froze completely in his inch by inch move towards the thermos. Everyone was holding their breath, too shocked or fearful to say much except to watch Danny and Vlad talk back and forth.

"Careful, son. Don't worry about me." Jack spoke quietly.

Vlad growled and made the electricity crackle more violently. "Shut up you pathetic excuse for a human being!"

Danny tensed his body, trying to make a decision. He needed to be in his ghost form if he had to dive in front of his father and take the hit. In human form he wouldn't be able to manage that electricity nearly as easily if at all. He glanced once over at Sam and she nodded softly.

Suddenly the room was lit was a bright light as Danny's white rings slid over his body and transformed him into Phantom. Norman immediately felt a wash of grief and shame come over him. Of course this would be why he didn't like being grilled. To say that he was the only one suddenly feeling guilty, ashamed and somewhat emotionally charged, would've been a lie.

"Stop, Vlad."

Vlad glanced at Danny.

"No one has to get hurt, Mr. Masters." Valerie added as she walked forward and let her suit form over her body. She aimed two wrist blasters at Plasmius as they whined.

Vlad merely smiled a slow and even more disturbingly calm and passive smile. "Oh but someone always does, Mrs. Gray. That's just how the cruelty of the world works, I'm afraid."

Vlad glared back at Danny and addressed him. "So, my opposing white king, with your other rook, bishop, and two knights held hostage, will you send out your remaining queen, rook, and bishop to oppose me? If you do, then you're only avoiding the inevitable checkmate. Shall you spare them from war and topple yourself, Daniel? Even your new pawns behind you shall eventually fall if you don't."

Danny swallowed hard.

"If you aren't too difficult then perhaps we can all get away from this without or secrets being let out, ever. On the other hand, portals do have a tendency of exploding. That would be a horrible tragedy, wouldn't it? Not a single… survivor, except a boy that was visiting his dear uncle Vlad."

Danny clenched his teeth as his eyes started to glow a deep and dark green from Vlad's hidden meaning. He could feel his hot core starting to try and break through, but Danny would not allow himself to lose control again like he had with the GiW before. Slowly his power dissipated to the point that he transformed back into Fenton.

Sam, Tucker, Lancer, and Valerie stood tense as Danny raised his face to look Vlad in the eyes. "Just don't hurt them. I'll go, just leave them out of it."

"Sweetie, don't!" Maddie cried out.

"Danny wait, we can figure something out!" Jazz shouted.

"Don't, Danny!" Dani wailed as tears started to fall down her cheeks.

"Danny?" Sam asked and reached for his hand.

All of you…

Everyone except Vlad, stopped themselves from flinching when they thought they heard Danny's voice in their minds.

"Mr. Fenton?" Lancer asked briefly.

Yeah, it's me. Listen. Vlad's unstable right now. He's let his obsession take control of his mental state, that's why he looks like a wreck. Danny spoke as he slowly walked towards Vlad. I need you to trust me. He could practically feel everyone slowly mentally nod.

It was then that he reached Vlad. Vlad reached out his own hand and Danny went to grasp it, only for the older Halfa to grip his wrist, tightly.

"You've made a very smart choice, Daniel."

Before Danny could reply, ecto-electricity thundered through his body, making him spasm and cry out in pain. He fell to his knees as Vlad continued to hold on and pour more volts into his enemy.

"I heard from a little bird that you learned how to use electricity with your hot core. I'm surprised. You need more tutelage in that department though. I can do a much better job than that Pandora any day! I will mold you into the perfect half-ghost son!" Vlad practically screamed over the Danny's cries of pain.

Danny knew he only had one shot at this. All he could do was to hope for the best and pray that time and fate were on his side. With a burst of power and a cry of excursion, Danny transformed, turned him and Vlad intangible, and pushed them through the house using his telekinesis to speed them up enough to where Vlad hardly knew what had happened.

Everyone was safe…

Valerie, immediately glanced at Tucker and Sam before darting up the basement stairs, trying to find the two half-ghosts. Sam, Tucker, and eventually everyone else ran forward to start untying the Fentons. Everyone that had just learned of the half-ghosts were oddly calm and didn't ask many questions for the time being. When Sam cut Danielle free, she screamed in fear, rage, and worry before transforming and darting through the house the same way the other Halfas and Valerie had gone.

"I don't understand…" Dash muttered.

Lester immediately turned to the other Nerds. "I told you guys! Superhero in disguise!"

"Not now, Lester," Mikey stated, more worried about the situation rather than the fact he had been wrong about anything.

"We don't have time to explain now. We need to stop Plasmius before things go horribly wrong," Sam stated urgently.

"Well so long as we beat the Plasmius dude, there shouldn't be a problem, right?" Dash asked with a slightly worried frown.

Tucker grimaced. "We used to believe that too, until the reality gauntlet incident. There was a reality that existed where Danny's secret had been blown on live TV, don't ask, and the Guys in White still hunted him. Those dudes don't care if Danny's half-human, they see him has a ghost and nothing else. Danny, Vlad and Danielle's lives are a stake and Vlad's gone too crazy in the head at present to care it seems."

"Half-human?" Star questioned.

"Not the time to explain, except that Danny is still Danny. He just has another side of him now," Sam stated simply.

Maddie was grabbing up equipment while Jazz had scooped up the whimpering Cujo in her arms. He had a large gaping hole in his side that was trying to close, even if it was slow going.

Jazz rubbed the ghost dog's head. "He almost hit your core you silly thing. You brave and silly dog." Cujo merely whined again before nuzzling Jazz's chest tiredly.

"Hun," Jack started when he saw his wife rummaging through weapons and gear. "Hun?"

"Not now, Jack."

Jack walked over and slowly put his hands on her shoulders finally making her stop. "Mads, we need to think this through. I know I normally don't say that, but Danny-boy had a point about Vlad's obsession. He's… he's…"

"Volatile?" Jazz inputted.

Jack nodded. "Right, what Jazzy-pants said. Vlad might end up hurting Danny really bad if we corner him. Bring what you need but try to take control of your emotions."

"But Jack! He has our baby-boy!" Maddie cried out and turned around to face her husband. "Our sweet boy is fighting outside for our lives and his own. That putrid excuse for a friend is trying to kidnap our son. He even threatened to kill us all, Jack, innocent kids that had nothing to do with this!"

Jack furrowed his brows. "I know, Maddie. Believe me. I know, but just try and think about what I said, okay sweet cakes?"

Maddie deflated at one of Jack's pet names for her. "Okay, honey."

Jack didn't smile like he normally would but he nodded with a hint of relief. "Let's go get'em."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Mr. Fenton." Tucker nodded before grabbing up and Jack-O-Ninetails and slipping it through his belt loop. He then grabbed a wrist ray as Sam nabbed a Bazooka and Jazz snagged the Peeler. Cujo was standing wobbly at first before he stabilized himself and healed the last part of his side, which now had a large light green scar there. He grew to his larger size before growling.

"Good boy," Jazz nodded.

"Wait a sec!" Dash declared. "What about us?"

Sam glanced at them. "What about you?"

"What I believe he means, Ms. Manson, is that we would like to help pay back Daniel for his kindness," Lancer expressed.

"Yeah, he's been helping us since like, forever!" Dash nodded, showing that Lancer was spot on.

Everyone else from the school trip nodded as well.

Maddie sighed. "I guess." She looked at Jazz. "Think you can get them the right gadgets for their skill level, Jazz?"

"You got it, mom."

Maddie, Jack, Sam, Tucker, and Cujo then turned and made their way out of the house as Jazz started to retrieve things for the others.

zzz

Amity Park. 9:45 AM.

Maddie, Jack, Sam, Tucker, and Cujo ran outside to come across nothing short of a disaster area. People had fled their homes, in fear that the two ghosts' fighting would collapse the buildings with people inside; however, they all were mostly hiding in the alleyways and worriedly watching as Danny Phantom and the vampire ghost, which was yet another name that the people of Amity Park generally referred to Vlad as, fought viciously. Even Sam and Tucker were surprised at how hard both Halfas were fighting. Valerie and Dani were trying to get in between them and help, but Valerie was afraid of hitting Danny and Dani wasn't sure if she could time her shots right. Danny and Vlad were in close quarters, trading punches, blasts and elemental moves, mostly countering each other at the same time. Danny would roar in effort with each throw and Vlad was snarling. Danny managed to take a dive and swing up behind Vlad to deliver a powerful punch the sent Vlad crashing into the ground to create a small crater. Vlad attempted to retaliate only to be zapped in the back by Jack's bazooka. The elder Fenton had a dangerous look in his eyes as his old collage buddy turned to glare at him, while letting smoke lift from his back. The crazed man didn't seem to notice or care that his once love was nearby when he went to toss a large arc of electricity at Jack; said electricity would easily harm Sam, Tucker, Jack, Maddie, and many other pedestrians at the same time. Knowing this, Danny soared towards them and planted his feet on the ground in time to get a large shield up. Danny strained against the shield as Jazz and the others jogged out; most of them ended up freezing in slight awe and fear however.

It was when Vlad got tired of Valerie zapping him with quick stun shots, that things went from bad to much worse. Vlad roared as he continued to fire his electricity at Danny's shield, trying to weaken the younger half-ghost. "I've had enough!" Vlad glared over his shoulder at the Huntress. "Shut down protocol N4GH2. Second command: 012046982637!"

Valerie froze in midair as her suit went back into her against her will; she then started to plummet, unconsciously, to the ground. Dani screamed and raced to catch her before gently placing her on the ground. Cujo suddenly ran towards the two and stood in front of them since they were outside Danny's shield.

"What did you do!?" Danny yelled.

"Your second rook has been executed, Daniel. How many more should go?" Vlad said calmly.

Danny felt the air leave his lungs as a strangled cry from Tucker, behind him only added to his guilt. Said techno-geek raced over to get behind Cujo and see Valerie.

"Vlad." Danny suddenly growled.

"Your anger will do nothing but cause more death, Daniel."

Danny cried out suddenly when Vlad cracked Danny's shield, using a hammer-shaped ectoplasm construct. Before Vlad could swing at his rival, Danny let out a Wail, unable to warn everyone. Most everyone fell to their knees in pain from the sudden onset of the loud sound waves, while Vlad was flung against a nearby building. The waves continued for a while until Vlad Plasmius became Vlad Masters.

It wasn't until after the attack was done though that the crowd truly got a hint at what had happened. Their mayor, was a ghost.

Danny gave a quick glance to Sam and his mom telling them mentally to check on Valerie, Tucker, Dani, and Cujo while he would deal with Vlad. He also asked the others to stay back through his telepathy so that they wouldn't get struck with ecto-electricity if Vlad wasn't done.

Danny cautiously walked towards the seemingly unconscious Vlad, while he heard the sounds of police cars, and ambulances pulling up and Tucker and Sam having some sort of heated and emotional argument.

Vlad actually seemed to be down, but Danny's luck was never that simple. A couple of policemen practically made it to the half-ghost in a few strides before anyone, who'd been watching, could warn them to stay away.

Vlad's eyes opened, showing them to be fully red, even in human form. He growled before sticking his hand towards the officers and firing a blast of ecto-fire, more than hot enough to kill or seriously maim them.

"No!" Danny shouted before running over and pushing them aside roughly, just in time for the fire to rush over him and of course, unluckily enough for him, he'd been using his cold core at the time, so the fire wasn't absorbed, but hurt him, pretty badly. Before Danny could begin to register the pain, something that felt like a train, slammed into him bodily and he struck the ground, feeling his air rush out of his lungs. Then all he knew after that was the feeling of thousands of volts of Vlad's most potent ecto-electricity coursing through him.

"Danny!" Sam cried out, instinctively when she saw Vlad practically tackle her boyfriend and then start to electrocute him. She had no idea how much electricity Danny could handle or hope to redirect. Most likely not too much seeing as he just recently learned how and had only done it once. After Vlad was done, the horrible inevitability followed. The white rings of light around Danny's, now unconscious form, appeared and changed him from Phantom to Fenton. Everyone grew dead silent, the blue, white and red lights from the emergency vehicles washing over them all eerily.

Everyone was completely surprised when Maddie stood up from where she'd been squatting on the ground next to the unconscious Valerie. The huntress had seemingly looked dead but was in fact breathing barely. Dani had helped guide a couple of paramedics over and they were quietly trying to get her away, while still warily watching the scene before everyone, unfold.

"Vlad, stop. Take me instead."

Vlad glanced over at Maddie as Danny's limp form dangled from Vlad's clenched left hand. She knew he had been pining after her for a while and if she remembered correctly, then Danny had said that she was a part of his obsession. Perhaps he would be willing to trade if she went willingly. Jack didn't speak, knowing the unspoken understanding between the married couple that their children came before each other.

Maddie felt dread settle in her stomach when Vlad growled. "You think me a fool? I heard you Madeline. You called me a monster in front of you precious son. A monster. Did it ever occur to you that those words might have hurt your son's feelings? If I'm a monster…" Vlad paused. "Then what is Danny?"

"A Hero."

Vlad whipped his head around to see Jazz staring at him defiantly in front of the Fenton home. Vlad then laughed. "A Hero? Dear Jasmine, in real life there are no such things as heroes. They are an ideal and at the very least merely drones like police officers or fire fighters. The kind of hero you're implying is only possible in a fantasy world where people are trusting of mutated freaks and beings with world destroying power. Do you honestly believe that humankind could ever put their faith in monsters they'd have to trust? Well miss psychology major?"

Jazz frowned. "Maybe, but I'm not comparing Danny to comic book characters, because he isn't like them-"

Vlad interrupted her. "The real truth of the matter is that only I can make him feel safe. No one else! Not even that mistake of a daughter of mine could!"

Dani flinched as if struck before Jazz shouted.

"That's the problem though, Vlad! You keep saying that you know what's best for Danny because you and he are so much alike!" Jazz spoke, using a bit of sarcasm. "But what you fail to accept is that Danny is nothing like you! He may be a Halfa, but in every other part of his psyche, you two couldn't be less alike! You used your power to gain control over people and use them. Danny used his power to try and protect people even when they called him a liar and a menace! And the most important part was that Danny was never alone, but you ARE!" Jazz's eyes widened slightly at the end of her sentence and did even more so when she noticed the slight, almost invisible, change of posture in Vlad's stance.

"Well… I guess that won't be a problem anymore, will it?" Vlad said simply before hoisting Danny onto his shoulder. Maddie let out a cry of horror and Jack dashed forward right before they saw their son and their enemy disappear in a cloud of pink mist.

Immediately Maddie hugged Jack, burying her face in his large chest as he held her close and let her cry. Sam stood numbly for a moment and Dani started to tear up, before smashing her hands into her eyes to hide her tears. Lancer grew concerned, as well as some of the other students, when Jazz fell to her knees.

"Ms. Fenton?"

Jazz started to hold her thighs, watching her nails bite into her clothing. "I was so stupid. How could I have slipped up like that?"

"What do you mean?" Melanie asked softly.

"I said a trigger phrase of his. It had to have been. It makes since and the way his posture changed… How could I have been so careless?"

Jazz flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced up to see Sam looking at her. "We can't focus on what's done right now. People are going to start asking questions, my parents are going to kill me, Valerie is heading to the hospital with who knows what Vlad did to her, Tucker's emotionally freaking out and we have no clue where Vlad has taken Danny."

"You don't think…?"

"He had to have started to head far away. Thing is we don't know how many houses and secret buildings he owns. We only know of three and one is just a plot of land where his old Wisconsin Mansion used to be."

"Four."

Sam, Maddie, Jack, Jazz, and the other turned to see Tucker watching Valerie taken away emotionlessly. "I'd been looking through his computer files recently because I knew Danny had been getting more paranoid about when something like this would happen. There's a forth location in Montana. If we thought Colorado was out in the middle of nowhere, then this is like seriously out in the middle of nowhere."

"Excuse me."

They turned to see a few police officers.

Maddie sighed. "I guess the police would like an explanation first…"

The officer talking to them, nodded, while the other one with him, one of the ones Danny had saved, merely stared at the ground, distractedly. The other officer talked again.

"Yes, we had gotten reports from the Arkansan Police Department that this group of high schoolers and their two teachers were missing and then we suddenly see two people turn from ghosts to humans or something. We'll need you all to come with us. We'll also contact your parents so they can come and pick you up after we're done." The officer looked at Maddie and Jack. "And depending on what my supervisor tells me about what just happened with your supposed son-"

"He is our son." Jack stated simply.

The officer closed his eyes. "Then we might be able to start the investigation on his kidnapping… unless the GiW take over."

"You can't do that!" Jazz shouted suddenly. "Those people will hurt him!"

The other officer that had been quiet looked up in slight worry before his comrade spoke with a sad expression on his face. "I'm afraid that's not my call, ma'am, I'm sorry."

As this was happening and everyone at the scene was organized and told to go home or come to the police station, Dani and Cujo ran down an alley and disappeared from prying eyes.

zzz

Baxter residence. 2:34 PM.

The questioning had been totally exhausting in Dash's opinion and even coming home with his parents had been more troublesome than he'd hoped before everything had fallen through. Luckily the police hadn't asked him or the other kids about Danny being Phantom, mostly they focused on why they had gone missing. There had been a scare for his parents when they'd seen his bloody shirt and bandaged foot.

His parents had done the typical "Are you okay?" "Nothing hurt you, right?" and his father even threw in the predictable, "You didn't get injured too badly, right?" Dash knew he was wondering about whether or not his son could still play football. In all honesty though, Dash did like his parents even if they felt a bit distant. His mom eventually got around to asking him what he was thinking when he had taken one of those ghost weapons to use and after that she'd started passive aggressively suggesting that everything was all the Fenton's fault and Danny's.

It was after she'd started into that territory that Dash stopped listening and his parents figured he just needed to decompress after such a frightening experience, which the jock was happy for. It gave him time to think.

He should be happy to be getting home and putting things behind him. None of this was really his problem, but then again…

Danny had been kidnapped. The loser, the dork, the kid that everyone had thought would never amount to much had been secretly risking everything to make sure they could live safely. Guilt was nagging at Dash even after he'd gone through the whole process of trying to make amends in the Ghost Zone with Fenton and the other students. All the times he'd laughed at Danny for sleeping in class, his peer had been exhausted from fighting the night before. All the punches he'd thrown, he'd taken them without much more than a peep. Somehow the kid was dead and alive or half-alive or… He still wasn't sure how that worked. But, for once in his life Dash didn't really know what to do; Dash Baxter didn't have a game plan.

The only thing Dash did know was that Danny Fenton/Phantom had taught him what true strength was and he now knew that he was never as strong as he thought he'd been.

zzz

Sanchez residence. 2:44 PM.

Her Papa had immediately held her tight to him and it had taken several minutes before he'd let go so that they could get into the car with her Madre. When they had finally gotten home and talked about everything that had happened, Paulina was more than relieved to make it to her room and lay down on her bed.

However, the ex-A-lister was troubled. Both at the idea that someone she knew had been kidnapped and that she'd been in love with a name and not a person. A sort of sad realization came to her that Danny must've felt very confused for a while. She'd loved Phantom and not Fenton and the funniest thing was that she'd really liked Fenton and had never known it, even before her attempts to steal him from Sam earlier that school year. Phantom was brave, kind, self-sacrificing, a little silly and handsome and she'd been blind to the fact that Fenton was all those things, just because of a change of colors and a levitation act.

Paulina sighed before placing her hand over her eyes. There was also the strange thing that was Valerie. Had she been the Red Huntress all this time? She'd even attacked Danny until recently. Had she not known? What about when she and Danny had had a thing going there for a while? Had they both been oblivious to the irony?

She wanted to cry in frustration because at how complicated things had gotten so very suddenly. She felt utterly useless and she was certainly not used to that feeling. So, with that, she closed her eyes and before she knew it, she was asleep.

zzz

Hudson residence. 2:56 PM.

Unlike many, Star had indeed immediately noticed the strangeness of the little mini-female Danny. It didn't take much for Star to actually figure out that she had to be the little girl that the Fentons had adopted not long ago. She'd seen the youngest honorary Fenton walking about the school before; she and her own friends often sat at Danny's table with his friends. Valerie seemed to know her well enough and the young girl seemed hurt by an off comment the mayor had made, something about her being his daughter?

Star slid into her chair after taking a shower and putting on her glasses in place of her contacts. She pulled out her diary from her bedside table and started to write everything down that she was feeling as well as her experience. She snapped her book closed and frowned as she glanced out the window. Both the teachers had been very quiet, especially Mr. Lancer. Brandon and Norman had seemed flat out depressed and everyone else was quite solemn.

Star couldn't help but wonder what she could do to help Danny and the others. She'd known for a long time that Danny and his friends were good people; she was pretty sure she and Kwan had accepted that long ago and only recently had they publicly supported the idea now that the A-listers were disbanded. Star was ashamed of herself for not doing something sooner and that pushed her even more to wonder what she could do. Danny didn't deserve to end up in Vlad's clutches only to be hunted by those government goons should he come back safe. Star hummed to herself before she opened her computer and opened up two windows.

A Search Engine search for: Federal Anti-Ecto Control Act, Article 1, Section 1, Sub-section A and her email. She sent a quick email to her older brother who was in law school at present. He'd already called the house to see if she was okay when he'd seen the news and thought she was missing, but this inquiry, she wanted to be kept between the two of them.

David?

Hey it's me. What do you know about Federal Anti-Ecto Control Act, Article 1, Section 1, Sub-section A?

zzz

Han residence. 3:12 PM.

Kwan stared blankly out of his window at home and listened to his parents murmuring about him and the Fentons downstairs. He felt twitchy and unsatisfied with sitting still at the moment, but there was nothing left to do, right?

Ping!

Kwan rose a brow and flipped open the computer on his work desk. It was an email from Star.

Guys, I was wondering…

zzz

Amity Park Miracle Hospital. 4:32 PM.

"So, they found some kind of nano machines in her blood?" Sam asked slowly.

"Yeah. They've made it to where they won't do any more damage, but they aren't sure how to get them out of her system safely and until then she'll stay in a coma," Tucker replied quietly.

Sam and Tucker were at the hospital at the time being. It had taken some real begging to let them leave the questioning and only Valerie's critical state had let them out. Sam had gone with Tucker and his parents to check on Valerie as well as escape her parents before they had come to the police station. At the present, Sam was trying everything to avoid seeing them or talking to them. She could only hope that her Grandma would majorly have her back later.

At present, Tucker's parents were eating quietly in the hospital's cafeteria and Valerie's dad was with his daughter, not speaking much. Tucker and Sam had snuck off a bit to talk as privately as they could.

"I thought Technus had made Valerie's new suit?" Sam questioned.

"He must've still used the little bit of technology that was in the old suit from Vlad to 'upgrade it' so to speak. Vlad must've had some way to know his nanobot things were still active in her." Tucker grit his teeth and looked down at his PDA, Debbie. He'd plucked her out of his parents' car door pocket on the way over to the hospital. "I should've scanned her."

Sam gripped Tucker's shoulder and shook him slightly. "Don't do that. You sound like Danny."

Tucker smiled only briefly before they both lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. The absence of their friend was palpable. Tucker looked up at Sam with seriousness. "Is it okay if I stay here? I want to help Danny, but I feel like I won't be much help after I show you guys where Vlad's secret house is. I also need to try and hack the nanobots in Valerie's blood-"

Sam snorted but then smiled. "I think that's a good idea. Valerie needs you and Danny needs me."

Tucker stared at her for a second before Sam glared.

"What?!"

Tucker just shook his head. "Never thought I hear you say something like that."

Sam sighed and rolled her eyes, only for them to notice the news on a hallway TV. Tucker noticed too and watched too as the reporters showed video of Vlad and Danny transforming.

"I love media of all sorts, but I wish they wouldn't treat Danny like an attraction," Tucker grumbled.

"It's only going to get worse."

Tucker suddenly laughed and Sam looked at him weirdly again.

"There we go. We needed some cynicism to come out of your mouth."

Sam cuffed the back of her friend's head. "Whatever. I've got to find a place to call Jazz. I'm thinking it's going to be the Fentons and me going for Danny, if the police will ever let them out…"

"I can't believe they think they abused Danny in some way," Tucker huffed.

"At least they don't have much evidence and Jazz is totally backing them up in only the way she can."

Tucker nodded before he furrowed his brows. "Do you know where Dani and Cujo went?"

Sam shook her head. "I'm sure they're fine. At least I hope so."

Sam felt a weight on her shoulder and saw Tucker was patting it. "Go get Danny back, okay?"

Sam nodded. "I won't come back without him."

Tucker realized just how much hidden meaning was in that sentence before he watched Sam jog away.

zzz

Somewhere in Montana. 6:44 PM.

He could feel the magnetic pull like feeling of ecto-cuffs holding his arms together behind his back as well as keeping his ankles together. He also was aware of the ecto-gag on his mouth, wavering a bit here and there but never leaving his lower face. He idly wondered if that was how Dan had learned to use ectoplasm constructs so masterfully and efficiently; was it by absorbing Vlad?

Covers were draped over his sore body and he was somewhat glad he was in a large fluffy bed instead of a cold hard floor someplace.

The door of the large and decorative room, which screamed Vlad, opened to reveal the silhouette of Vlad himself standing there.

"I hope you have a good sleep, Daniel. I too will be getting some rest."

Danny of course was too tired and gagged to respond.

"Tomorrow we'll get started and by the end of it, you'll be happy with me here."

The man with the slowly deteriorating mind paused before he spoke again. "Goodnight, son."

The door then closed and darkness was all Danny could see. At first, he drowsily considered trying all night to escape, but realized bitterly that the odds of that working out for the best was almost nothing. So, with a troubled mind, Danny let his tired body drag him into a deep sleep.

zzz

Clockwork's Lair. 7:00 PM.

"Will you tell me why for the love of the Infinite Realms, you keep humming to yourself?!" Dan roared after hearing Clockwork hum in thought for was seemed like the hundredth time that evening.

"Unfortunately, I can't tell you. I'm merely curious as to what will happen next."

"You're sick." The trapped ghost grumbled.

"I don't have much else to entertain myself with besides reading from my library. Would you rather hear pages flipping?"

Dan snarled in aggravation. "Whatever."

It was quiet for a long time before suddenly, Dan felt something odd. The thermos was being lifted from the pedestal. Dan begrudgingly felt a spike of fear and excitement. Why would the thermos be lifted? There was a blinding flash of light and then he blinked several times, noticing that he could see the inside of Clockwork's lair for some reason and not the wiring of the thermos. He stood dumbly for a few moments before it hit him like a sack of bricks. He was free.

Without even really asking why or seeing how, Dan shot through the wall and started to soar very quickly out into the Ghost Zone. After a minute, he stopped and looked all around. An eager and nasty grin crossed his face. He could destroy things again and find some of his old enemies to torment. Maybe that Malus guy that Clockwork had been yakking about to Danny would make for an actual challenge for him…

He started to fly off before he paused and slowly he felt a strange feeling overcome him. He hated it and it made him absolutely furious.

Indifference.

He found himself slowly becoming a bit disinterested in the idea of going to destroy something or torment someone at the time being. He sort of felt tired or at least drained. He let his eyelids slide halfway over his eyes as he worked to absorb the ecto-energy in the air around him. His red irises glowed fiercely. He finished and felt that had helped if not as much as he would've liked. A part of him thought it would be a better idea to practice somewhere isolated with his powers. He might be a tad rusty from being trapped for so long.

First thing was first though. He was actually a little confused as to how and why he'd been released. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Clockwork's tower. He had the slight concern that Clockwork would try to trap him again, but he flew towards the tower anyway.

He passed through the ceiling and landed on one of the bannisters above the main room in a squat. Clockwork was looking up at him blankly.

Dan narrowed his eyes. "Did you release me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't feel you are a threat anymore. However, I'm still your guardian and so if you can think of no place to stay for the time being. I have a room for you."

Dan snarled, barring his teeth and letting his tongue and hair flicker wildly. "What!? No longer a threat!?"

"It was not meant as an insult. I assure you."

Dan was quiet after that. Then he snorted. "Fine. I'm going to train after I rest. Then once I feel back into the swing of things… I'm going to earth to kill some people I thoroughly dislike."

Clockwork didn't say anything as he started to walk away. Dan snorted in slight offense from being ignored before floating down and following the older specter. He found himself in front of a small door. When it opened, there was a large bed, a bedside table with a lamp, and a single hard suitcase in the far corner. "I'll be outside in the main room like always if you need me."

"As if."

Clockwork then placed the dented thermos on Dan's table before quietly walking out and shutting the door.

Dan looked at the thermos for a moment before grumbling and walking over to the bed. He focused and two black rings transformed him into a somewhat more human version of himself. Truly the only human form he could completely copy perfectly was what his human form had looked like before he'd died. Though he was able to change his age as a psuedo-human, when not as his fifteen-year-old self, the two things that remained were his red eyes and his large canines. Dan huffed looking at his clothing in this false form and willed his boots to disappear. He then rested under the covers for a moment, staring at the ceiling.

He opted to try and go into a sleep trance so he could train later. Turning on his side, his eyes once more locked onto the thermos and he was face to face with well… his face. It was the first dent he'd ever made in the thermos. His completely rage filled face was permanently printed in the metal, showing him practically snarling.

And for some reason as he slipped into a trance, he had felt slightly bothered while looking at himself on that thermos.

So, what did you guys think?

Thank you all for your reviews, support, follows, etc!

I hope to keep you all entertained!

~NoSignal