A/N: Greetings readers! I know I've been a little slack on updating, but I'm trying to get a grip on that.
I just had a few things to say about this chapter, and I didn't want any confusion while reading it.
1) I know that Vlad is from Wisconsin (Packers fan!) but his house was destroyed and he became mayor, which means he must have a mansion now in Amity Park? That was my thinking anyways, which is why the mansion is just on the other side of town. It also makes for easier travel though haha
2) Key fact for this chapter - Danny hates it when people put their lives in danger to help him. Remember that.
3) Lastly, just read it with a smile, and enjoy Chapter 28: The Long Awaited Confrontation
Thank you!
Kim and Danny walked into the house bearing freshly brewed Arabian coffee and hot, mouthwatering pastries for its inhabitants. The smooth, rich scent of the steaming cups, along with the indulging, sweet smell of croissants, muffins, and biscuits drew everyone into the kitchen, despite the early hour of 7 in the morning.
Mr. Possible was the first to enter the kitchen, and was immediately happy to see all the coffee brought in. His wife sleepily came in next and smiled appreciatively at the surplus of food. After all, both Kim and Danny entered the house with their arms full with boxes past their face. Tucker, not surprisingly at all, almost ran down the door and immediately began to stuff his face with the chocolate éclairs and cheese Danishes from the cardboard boxes. Ron hurried in as well, mimicking Tucker's motions.
Sam entered calmly with Jazz. Jazz looked at Kim and Danny as if knowing they'd been out the whole night, but decided to turn to the coffee and pour herself some into her mug. Sam gave the two a similar face that Jazz had given, only hers appeared meaner before she turned to the assorted foods.
Wade also entered the kitchen with eager hands to grab as much food as possible. Monique and Yuri entered together, both too tired to make much of a fuss about what pastry they got. Jim and Tim almost ran over them with their speed, and ran towards the donuts with outstretched hands – ready to grab. Team Go blew in as well, and while Hego tried to maintain his composure, the same could not be said for his brothers. The 3 younger brothers bustled in like many had before them, making sure there was enough food to go around. Of course, Danny and Kim had bought plenty.
Last to enter the kitchen was Shego and Drakken, who seemed to not be morning people. Shego for one took one look at the people gathered around the food, and left the kitchen immediately.
Danny thought she had a great idea. Danny turned intangible without speaking a word to anyone, and swiftly flew up through the ceilings of his home until he was safe in his bedroom. There, he turned back into the blue eyed boy. He was, in fact, still in those penguin boxers, so Danny walked over to his closet and grabbed his signature white and red shirt along with his light wash blue jeans. He went to his sock drawer, and grabbed a pair of socks, then went to the other side of his room and picked up his red all stars. He sat on his bed, pulled on the socks, and laced up the shoes.
He stood up again, and went over to the mirror. Did he always look so terrible? Danny hadn't showered in days. In fact, the last time he showered also happened to be his last real night of sleep. It was Friday, and he slept Tuesday night quite well. There was no sleep awarded to him Wednesday night because he had to track Kim through the ghost zone, and then there was no real sleep to be had last night because his mind was too restless. Danny was surprised his body had been able to keep going. He knew he'd have to rest in between the confrontation and the fighting, though. The last thing he needed was to fall asleep during the battle!
He closed his eyes, and willed the hazmat suit to overpower his human clothing. His hair glowed white and his eyes blazed green. He flew back down in the kitchen to find that everyone was still helping themselves. He made himself visible, and suggested they all go sit in the living room.
Once he had everyone in a circle on the floor of his den, Danny began to speak about the plan.
"Okay team–"
ding-dong
The hero's speech was soon interrupted by the sounding of the doorbell, and he swiftly stood up to get it. After hiding himself behind the wall that separated the front hall way from the living room, he quickly changed into Danny Fenton, knowing that whoever was at the door wouldn't understand Phantom answering it.
When the door swung open it was none other than the Red Huntress staring back at him.
"Valerie! What are you going here?" he said, both surprised and frightened. Maybe she hadn't taken last night's news very well…
"Let's just say I took what you said last night into consideration, and I changed my mind: I wanna help"…
Danny had somehow finally managed to let Kim persuade him into telling Valerie his secret. To this point, he still wasn't really sure why. Valerie didn't deserve to know. She would only be able to hunt him in both human and ghost form. Still, something clicked when Kim told him that Valerie had a crush on Danny Fenton, and that she might've liked Fenton more than she hated Phantom. This thought honestly hadn't occurred to Danny, but he was willing to give it a go.
After leaving their soft little patch of grass under the tree, Danny grasped Kim's hand and flew the two of them throughout the city. He had a feeling he knew exactly where Valerie was. Only, she'd be the Red Huntress since she'd be stationed outside of her dad's lab as usual. Ever since her dad was offered a second chance, she waited out there, night after night, to make sure no troublesome ghosts broke in. Being that she was assuredly in her Red Huntress outfit, the situation was made much harder. But he had to give Kim's instincts the benefit of the doubt, so he continued to fly to Axion.
When he got to the lab, he saw her floating on her hover board, a ways away from the entrance. Kim turned to Danny and whispered, "You said she despises Vlad, right?"
Danny nodded, "The only time she's ever shown me mercy was when she had just realized all his lies to her."
"So I'm not the first…" Kim realized.
"Far from it," Danny confirmed.
Danny left Kim behind a tree for the time being, and flew right in front of Valerie, and called to her, "Valerie! We need to talk."
"You," she said as her eyes narrowed. She hurled one of her ghostly blades, and began to slash the air between them – trying to intimidate him. Danny wouldn't let it work.
"I said we need to talk, Valerie," he repeated.
At the second mention of her name, she froze, "How do you know my name?"
Danny tried his best to explain, well, everything, "Because I know who you are behind the mask, and you know who I am behind mine."
"Just because I go easy on you once doesn't mean we're friends, okay? Now I don't care how you stalked me because I can assure you it was the last thing you'll ever do."
She pulled out a metal box from her belt, and then expanded it by unfolding and disconnecting until he appeared as a giant bazooka.
Yikes! Danny thought as she loaded the gun up.
"Say goodbye…" she muttered to herself. Having not realized that Danny heard her, she was surprised by Danny's response:
"Actually, that's the problem." He immediately pulled up a green wall of ectoplasm to protect himself and spoke through it. "See, I can't say goodbye until I've said what I need to say. Now, do you promise to put down your weapons so we can actually talk?"
"Why should I trust you?" she spat.
"Ugh! You seriously need to see a therapist for your trusting issues. Now, if you don't mind, I need your help."
"Help? You need my help? For what, exactly?"
"Defeating Vlad for good."
At that, Valerie slowly put down her ray. "Okay Ghost Boy, you've got my attention, now what." Danny smirked, and turned around, "Kim!" he called.
He heard Valerie raise her bazooka behind him again. Turning around, he spoke, "Again: Trust. Issues. Relax: she's human. In fact, I think you know her."
Kim came whipping around the tree, and ran over to Danny. Seeing her did indeed make Valerie relax.
Danny took a deep breath, and said, "What I'm going to tell you may seem a little crazy."
"Crazier than a bratty ghost boy ruining my life? Try me," she snickered. Danny for one didn't see the humor.
"Okay… you already know that Vlad Masters is Vlad Plasmius, right?" he started.
Valerie nodded and the memory of that scheming son-of-a-bitch changing into his ghost form appeared in her mind.
Okay… you know Danny Fenton? Well, like Masters equals Plasmius… Fenton equals Phantom…" he tried.
"Come again?"
"We – Danny Phantom and Danny Fenton – are the same person. Two years ago when we were freshman, I stepped into my parents' portal and I became half ghost."
Valerie's response was to only laugh. She clearly didn't believe him.
"No listen! I know you don't think this, but I'm a hero. I protect this town from the evil ghosts, like Plasmius, and I've been doing it longer than you have! We're actually quite similar – you and I. We're both regular, school-attending teenagers by day, and ghost hunters by night."
Valerie chuckled, "Except for that whole 'ghost thing' differentiating us!"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you! I'm not the villain. I help the city from ghosts, too. Why else have you never beaten me?"
"Uh, because I'm better," she said, matter-of-factly.
"Then why have neither one of us captured the other yet? You haven't been able to capture me, and I don't want to hurt you!"
"You're really bad at gaining sympathy, Phantom." Valerie said, narrowing her eyes.
Danny slapped his forehead. "It's true!" Kim told her.
Valerie narrowed her eyes at the ginger. She flew down and got her red-tinted glass head-guard level with Kim's face. "Stay out of this," she ordered through gritted teeth, poking Kim's chest. Kim swatted her hand away, annoyed.
"Show her," Kim said, turning to Danny.
Speaking softly enough so that Valerie couldn't hear, but loud enough that Kim could, he spoke, "I don't have clothes on in human form, remember?"
Kim sighed, "I don't see another choice."
Danny was angry, but knew she was right. He turned his attention back to Valerie. "Okay," he began. "I'm gonna prove that I'm half human. Then, maybe you can remember me as Danny Fenton, and know that I'm here to help."
Valerie rolled her eyes. Meanwhile, Danny looked hopefully at Kim, who smiled encouragingly. He shot his fists into the air, and screamed, "I'm going ghost!"
Immediately, that familiar white hoop appeared at his lower abdomen. It hovered for only a moment before it split into two separate hoops. Both hoops slowly dissipated the black spandex, revealing the rather pale skin beneath, until the northern hoop reached past his head and the southern hoop descended into the dirt.
"What on earth? You… you're like Dani. But… how?" Valeries whispered.
Danny decided to then change back into his ghost form, which happened to not be half naked, and he turned to Valerie with blazing green eyes.
Danny had forgotten that Valerie knew about Dani. Now, he couldn't see a reason that she wouldn't trust him.
"I was involved in an accident, and came out with these powers. And you were right. I'm just like Dani… or she's just like me… we're both half ghosts – like Vlad."
Kim was utterly confused on this "Dani" person, but she figured she'd have to ask later.
"So you believe me now? That Danny Phantom is the same good person as Danny Fenton?"
"Yeah I believe you, you're just not the sweet kid that I thought you were…" she told him, darkly.
"What? No, I am! My ghost side is the same as my human side! We're both here to help!" he tried to persuade her.
She flew down, getting right in his face, and spoke with dark and angry eyes, "Get out of my way, before I make you."
"So you won't help us fight Vlad?"
The only response she gave was a grimace and a frown, so Danny grasped Kim's hand and pulled both of them away from the clearly angry girl.
…
"Great! So you're really gonna help us?" Danny smiled. His blue eyes shining with happiness.
"Not for you. I'm only here to put an end to Vlad Plasmius. He's a villain that needs to be stopped."
"Fine with me! I'll take all the help I can get. We have quite a team built up, and you came just in time. I was about to go over the plan. But, before I show you in, I'm gonna need you to promise me something."
"What?" she asked.
"Please don't tell anyone my secret. The only people in there who know are Jazz, Sam, Tucker, and Kim. Please keep it that way."
"Yeah, whatever, fine," Valerie rolled her eyes.
"Great!" Danny spoke, and quickly changed into his ghost form. The usual belt of energy only lasted a few moments this time, but Valerie pushed past him. "Never expect me to get used to that."
Closing the door and smiling, Danny said to himself, "Don't worry, I won't."
Danny awkwardly grabbed Valerie's arm, and led her towards his living room.
"Everyone," he announced. "This is Valerie. She's gonna be helping us for the big fight today."
Sam shot him a what-the-hell-do-you-think-you're-doing look, while Tucker only seemed concerned for Danny's safety, as he proved with his face of worry. Jazz – who didn't know very much about the Red Huntress – smiled at the familiar face. Valerie tried smiling, but didn't really like any of these people here. There was of course Kim. They'd grown pretty close through their hatred of all the A-List people.
Valerie gazed around the room at all the strange people before her. She hadn't seen any of them before. Some people wore stranger suits than Phantom. Others looked much too young or old to be fighting Vlad Plasmius.
She flipped her head around to face Phantom when she felt a slight nudge under her rib cage. "What?" she whispered harshly.
"Say something," he urged.
Valerie turned her attention back to the circle of people, and smiled sweetly – but still fake. "Hey everyone, the name's Valerie, and I'm here to help kick Vlad's ghostly butt."
Everyone smiled and waved at her, and Danny awkwardly told the group. "So can we go around the circle, and, uh, say our names for Valerie. I'll begin: I'm Phantom."
Danny then took a seat next to Kim in the circle, and Danny urged her to be the next to speak. "Kim, but you knew that," Kim smiled friendlily.
"Jazz," Danny's sister smiled, even though Valerie obviously knew her, Sam, and Tucker.
"Sam." "Tucker."
And thus ended the names that Valerie had previously associated with.
The next person to speak was a young black girl with beautiful curly hair, "I'm Monique."
Valerie nodded her head in response, and she continued to nod after every person said their names:
"Wade."
"I'm Yuri."
"Hey Valerie! I'm Ron!"
"My name's Ann. Ann Possible."
"You can call me Mr. Possible," the older man said defiantly.
"He's Tim."
"And he's Jim." Two identical boys laughed maniacally.
The next man was someone dressed in all blue. His blue lab coat actually made his face look blueish and his hair had a blue-black tint. There was a long, overdone pause between the Possible boys and finally he crossed his arms and looked down at Valerie, even though he was sitting down. "Naturally, you know of me."
Valerie's confused face indicated her emotions. "No, sorry."
"Informative doctor… I'm a genius…" Dr. Drakken said, trying to 'jog her memory'.
"I really don't –"
"Doctor!... Doctor D- Doctor Dr—Doctor Dra – Doctor Drakken!" he finally managed to spit out.
"Ookay… nice to meet you, Dr. Drak-ken," she spoke his name, emphasizing both syllables.
"This idiot's assistant: Shego," the greenish woman said with a sly smile.
"Hello, Ms. Valerie. I'm Hego the leader of Team Go! These are my brothers: Mego and Wego. That is also our sister, Shego, but she has long since –"
Shego hit him on the shoulder to get him to stop his talking. "Do you ever shut up?!" she asked him, exasperated. It had been a long time since she'd been with her brothers for so many consecutive hours.
Valerie took a seat in between Danny and Mego in order to complete the circle. Once she was situated, Danny began:
"Okay, guys, the plan is to warn Vlad first. It wouldn't be fair to go to his mansion, and start attacking. We're seriously out numbering him. Besides, he should be allowed to get his thoughts in order first. Once we're done discussing, I'll fly myself to his house, and tell him the plan. If he decides he doesn't want to fight, then we won't, and we'll call a truce, but if he wants to fight, then we'll be prepared."
"I'm going, too," Kim said, defiantly.
Danny was not in love with this idea. He knew that there was no way he was going to allow Kim to see Vlad. He was too dangerous and knew exactly how to toy with people's emotion. Danny had grown accustomed to it, and learned to tune the Fruit Loop out, but Kim didn't have the same experience.
"No, I won't let you get hurt before the fighting even starts. Vlad likes to play with people's mental side. You haven't had enough experience with him to know how to handle it."
"Danny, he brainwashed me and tricked me into hurting you. I need to go. I'm NOT taking no for an answer."
Danny looked at her for a moment, but nodded ever so slightly, and went on conversing with the others.
"While we go, you guys stay here. Sam and Tucker and Jazz will start going over the basics of ghost weapons with everyone," he said this as he stared at the three of them. They knew their role pretty well, so nothing else was to be said on the matter.
"We shouldn't be too long, but does anyone have questions before we go?"
"Where will this fighting be taking place?" Dr. Drakken asked.
"At Vlad's mansion way across town. It's totally secluded, and we can't afford to have any bystander's get harmed. Are there any other questions?"
No one spoke, so Danny stood, and helped Kim to her feet. "Okay guys, good luck to you. We'll be back soon."
Kim's suit began to spread around her limbs and torso, and soon both of them turned intangible and flew through the roof towards the other side of town where Vlad's new mansion stood proud.
…
Danny and Kim landed just past the entrance to the Fruit Loop's overly long driveway. It was connected to the road, and gradually turned into a pebbled way with dark trees towering over the sides. Danny gazed into the darkness, and turned back to Kim.
"I want you to stay hidden here," Danny told her, and set her down to the right of the driveway.
"What?! No way, I didn't come all this way for you to tell me I can't confront this bastard!" Kim argued.
"You're our secret weapon. As of now, he has no idea we're fighting together. When he knows that, we no longer have the advantage. Just trust me, okay?"
Kim did see the reasoning behind this, but she still didn't like the idea.
"Kim, this isn't an argument," he explained.
Kim was going to fight back, but what she saw in Danny's eyes was neither condescending nor a disbelief in her abilities. Instead, she just saw how much he cared for her. So, for this one time, she agreed to stay back.
Danny breathed deeply as he was entering the dark void, and changed into Danny Fenton. He always found Vlad most sensible when he was in that form anyways. Taking a look back at Kim, Danny entered the infinite driveway.
…
Vlad Masters sat in his large throne-like chair, stroking Maddie's fur and tail. He smiled as he pet his beloved cat, and gazed at his fireplace. The structure of the bricks inside where the flames burned was tarnished from its overlong use. But, a fireplace was one of the best ways to warm up from those cold winters. The marble that surrounded the pit of fire was an elegant white, and small roses were carved into the marble an inch down from the horizontal ledge as a kind of border. A top the mantle were some of Vlad's treasured possessions. He had his mother's ashes in an ornate urn to the left, and a picture of Maddie Fenton beside her. He always thought that if the two had ever met, they'd like each other. Beside the frame, there was a piece of history he'd kept with him since his college days; it was the very device of Jack Fenton's that had given him these cruel ghost powers.
The ghost powers that always brought out the worst in him. The ghost powers that ripped Maddie away from him, and practically handed her to Jack. It was these damned ghost powers that ruined his life.
Still, it was his ghost powers that saved his butt multiple occasions as well. His ghost powers kept his face youthful and glowing. At age 55, he would normally not have any strength or stamina left, but his ghost powers kept the energy flowing and his bones healthy. Being the first of his kind, he had no idea when they would start wearing off – if ever – but that was the price to pay for science, he supposed.
People had been paying for science experiments since the birth of science. Take the poor Victor Frankenstein. Everyone around him died from his science experiment. First his brother, then his sister, then his friend, and finally his wife. They collapsed after being pulled into the violent vortex Victor had created.
The same occurred to Vlad – although fewer deaths did ensue. Where love and purity once filled his heart, hate and violence piled in. After all, being alone in his magnificent castle was no recipe for "warm-heartedness." It was his fate to forever be alone. Because who in their right mind could love a beast such as himself.
"Vladdy-poo! There's someone at the entrance of our driveway!" the hologram of Maddie told him.
Vlad turned his thoughts away from self-hate, and instead thought of who could be paying him a visit. "Let me see," he told the holographic woman.
Maddie turned into a large screen, and an image of Daniel Fenton began walking into the forest. Vlad's eyes darkened, and he immediately morphed into his alter ego of Vlad Plasmius.
He shot off through his home to confront Danny Phantom about what he was doing trespassing.
"Daniel," he greeted. "I would like to say this is a pleasant meeting, but it is quite unexpected. You are, after all, here without my knowing. Are you aware trespassing is a convictable felony? And even worse so when it is the mayor's property. Tell me Daniel, what are you doing here?" he inquired from the boy
"We need to talk, Plasmius," Danny told him.
"Oh, I do hate when you call me that. I prefer terms of affection and love. You're my dear nephew Daniel, not some pain-in-my-arse ghost kid, Phantom."
Danny growled, his blue eyes blazing green for just a moment. Vlad knew how to push every single one of his buttons.
"Temper, Daniel, you must learn to control it. Alas, you have failed to answer my question," he continued. "Why are you on my property, hm?"
"I'm sick of it Vlad," he began. "I'm sick of the scheming, and the lying, and the cheating, and the competitions with you. I'm done. All of that ends today."
Vlad was unmoved and did not respond to Danny's anger, so he continued.
"You have a choice: call a truce now that you'll be willing to abide by or fight. I'll be back tonight – with an army, ready to fight – if that's what it comes to."
"An army, you said?" Vlad asked, almost rhetorically.
"My friends have volunteered to put an end to your tyrant," the kid said definitely.
"The 'hero' Danny Phantom is declaring war on innocent me," Vlad faked swooning, then turned his exasperated face to one of horrid delight. "How exciting," his red eyes blazed vermillion for a moment, but his angry pose was soon replaced by his regal one.
"I'm surprised by you, Daniel," he told him.
"What do you mean?" Danny asked Plasmius.
"Well, nothing really, just that you've never been the one to let others fight your battles."
Danny was taken aback, "My friends wanna help…"
"Oh, I'm sure they want to die for you, too, right?"
Danny remained silent as he noticed what Plasmius was saying.
"You see, young man, this war is between you and I, and whether or not I call a truce will not change that. You will never see eye to eye with me, and likewise, I to you."
"Spit it out, Plasmius!" he snarled.
"I suppose I am 'beating around the bush'…" he said. "Very well, I will just come right out and say it: why shed useless, mortal blood for a fight they can never understand? Spare them, and fight me."
Danny gulped, realizing Vlad's exact thoughts. "You mean–"
"Come back later tonight without the help of your… posse, and fight me. I swear on my poor, late mother's grave that should you lose," Vlad paused, and stared Danny down at eye level.
"I will never harm them again."
…
"How did it go?" Kim asked eagerly.
Danny gazed into the knowing sage eyes of Kim, and sighed, "He… he said he wants a truce."
"What?" Kim asked, confused.
"Yeah, you know reasonable people like Vlad. He likes to weigh his pros and cons before making any decision, and the pros couldn't lie. It's just less useless bloodshed," Danny lied.
"I can't believe it…"
"Well believe it, okay? That's what happened, end of story," he snapped.
Kim gave him a dangerous look, and Danny calmed down a bit, and apologized, "Sorry, I'm just really tired – and grateful that we don't have to fight anymore – but mostly exhausted. Can we just go home?"
Kim nodded, and they both readied themselves for flight.
A/N: What has Danny done?!
R&R! :D