Chapter 19: Execution

A/N: Sorry if this isn't very great. The ending of this story really gave me a lot of trouble

Skulker cut the rope off of Danny and his family. "Stay here for a little bit. We'll keep Vlad from looking in the basement until one of us gives you the signal then we'll surprise him." Skulker said.

"Okay." Danny said. "But we left the thermos at our house."

Skulker nodded. "I might be able to fly to your house and be back before Vlad finds anything suspicious."

"You think so?" Danny asked. "Alright." Danny stuck out his hand for Skulker to shake. "Temporary truce?"

"Temporary truce," Skulker repeated, shaking back. "Wait down here for me to the get thermos and I'll send someone down when it's time."

Danny nodded. He watched Skulker and the others leave and lock the basement door behind them. Throughout his time as a ghost Danny had always been the one in charge of making sure the ghost hunt was a success. It felt weird to hand his power over to someone else especially since the people offering to help Danny's family were former enemies that Danny ordinarily wouldn't trust any more than if Tucker vowed to give up technology.

"What's wrong Danny? You should be happy. Things are going to go great." Jazz said, which snapped Danny out of his train of thought.

"I am happy it's just... Can we really trust them?"

"Of course we can." Maddie said. "If Vlad's making promises he won't keep the ghosts are bound to catch on sooner or later. Jack and I are very fortunate to have a lot of the same technology Vlad has so it's sort of a win, win situation."

"But what if Vlad actually gives the ghosts back their powers?" Danny asked. "How can we trust their loyalty then?"

"I don't know." Maddie confessed. "But it's our only hope."

The group fell into silence. They could hear Vlad and the ghosts talking upstairs. "Let me just check on the prisoners." Vlad said.

"No master Vlad. I-I mean you shouldn't!" The Box Ghost stammered. "How about you rest and I get you a drink?"

"Out of my way ghost, I'd like to see them!" Vlad snapped. They heard the door click from Vlad playing with the lock. There wasn't enough time to hide.

To Danny's surprise, even his usually level headed parents looked uneased. Jack stood up and grabbed a nearby golf club for protection. But Ember's voice stopped Vlad.

"What if they're waiting to attack you? Wouldn't you want Skulker around for extra protection?"

"I suppose." Vlad replied. Danny wondered for a moment what excuse Skulker used to sneak away.

They heard Vlad's footsteps moving away. Danny and the others were safe for now. Danny exhaled slowly. It looked like things were finally starting to look up for him and his family.

As expected, Vlad came in the basement a few minutes later with Skulker, Ember, Technus, and the Box Ghost by his side. He looked around but he couldn't see Danny or the others anywhere.

"Where'd they go?" Vlad demanded. He stepped away from the group to peak behind a stack of boxes.

This was his biggest mistake. Danny leapt onto Vlad and tackled him to the ground. Skulker fired his gun and trapped Vlad in a net. He tossed Danny the Fenton thermos which Danny used to absorb Vlad. At long last our heroes had finally won.

~ phantom130 5 (April 2014)