Chapter Thirty-One: Eulogy

"Hi, Vlad." Dan greeted, walking up to him with Valerie.

"Dan, there you are!" Vlad nodded. "I see you've met Miss Gray."

"Hello, Mr. Masters." She smiled, then looked at Dan. "Uhm…you can let go of my hand now."

He nodded, releasing his grip so she could do the same. Looking a tad flustered, Valerie went to join her parents. Vlad watched her go, then turned to Dan with an amused expression. "What was that?"

"She was lonely. So, I gave her some company." Dan replied.

"I imagine you were feeling a little lonely yourself." Vlad nodded. Dan didn't reply, just averted his gaze. "Did you enjoy your walk with her?"

"It was pleasant. Did you enjoy your time with the Fentons?" Dan replied.

"…Not so pleasant." Vlad sighed. "Jazmine was almost convinced that I was the one who hurt Daniel, but Jack spoke in my defense and said I wasn't involved and how could she even think I would hurt Daniel."

"How ironic." Dan muttered. Vlad noticed, but chose not to address it.

"Vlad?" Jack's voice spoke up. Dan stiffened up and glanced towards him. He was dressed in a black suit and tie, and his expression was softer. "We're ready to start. Will you…speak for Danny? I've asked others to as well, but I thought…you might want to."

Vlad nodded, and then Jack walked away. He looked at Dan and smiled. "Do you want to?"

"What?" Dan frowned.

"Do you want to do a eulogy?" Vlad clarified.

"…Would it be right? I hardly know him, remember?" Dan hesitated.

"If you feel uncomfortable about it—"

"I'll do it." Dan sighed. He'd failed to be there when Danny passed away, the least he could do was give him a proper send-off.

He moved forward with Vlad, watching and listening as one person after another spoke about how Danny was in life, and their despair at his death. Finally, Vlad got up and did his speech. It was polite, loving, and broken-hearted. And yet, it didn't feel like it was enough. Not to Dan.

Vlad stepped down to polite applause and gestured to Dan, who stepped up to the microphone. He heard people whispering questions about who he was, why he was here, and wrapped his cloak around him protectively before looking at the casket behind him. 'Danny…' He thought, then turned to the microphone, one hand slipping out to grip it.

A silence fell over the crowd as he started to speak, his voice echoing through the speakers. "I never met Danny Fenton. I only know that my godfather loved him, as did all the people before me now. I know that he was taken from you far too fast, too soon." He paused, licking his lips to wet them before he spoke again. "I'm a newcomer, an outsider, but I took one step into this town and from then on all I heard was about Danny Fenton. How he used to be. How his friends viewed him. How his enemies viewed him. And I have drawn my own conclusions about him based on what I have heard." He gripped the microphone tighter. "Daniel Fenton was gentle. He had the power to fight back against bullies, but he never did. He cared for others above himself, and never had a selfish thought. He loved this city, even if only a third of it actually cared about him while the rest ridiculed him or averted their eyes from his pain." He closed his eyes, calming himself before he spoke again.

"Daniel Fenton wasn't overly remarkable. He wasn't special in any way, but he was special to those who knew him best. From the moment I moved into my godfather's mansion, I was filled with knowledge about Danny." He bowed his head. "The room that he gave me to live in what meant for him. My godfather wanted him to live with him, be with him as a son instead of with his own family. He felt he could love him better, teach him better, I suppose." He raised his head again. "I never met Daniel Fenton. But, after hearing everything about him, how gentle and caring and selfless he really was…I wish I did. I-I wish…I'd come to Amity Park sooner, and met this unremarkable but wonderful boy, and known him like you all did."

He looked towards the casket. "He was taken from you too soon, far too soon. He had dreams, but they were snuffed by whatever it was that attacked him on that fateful day. I've heard many theories; ghosts, wild animals, even the Guys in White having a grudge match with his ghost-hunting father. But however it happened, WHYever it happened, is not as important as the fact that…it happened. And I can feel your pain from here, and now that everyone who knew him is the lesser for his loss." He looked back at the silent crowd. "…Our only solace is that he's no longer experiencing the same pain he did in life. May he rest in peace, free from the chains of the world. Thank you." He stepped down from the stage, passing by Jack as the man started to go up.

Jack felt a shiver run down his spine as he caught the teen's sharp, green eyes and climbed up onto the stage, swallowing before speaking. "Is there…anyone else who would like to speak?"

"You did well." Vlad said softly, pulling Dan close to him as they stood back from the crowd. "It was a very nice eulogy."

With everything said, Danny was laid to rest in the ground, dirt thrown on top of his casket by everyone before it was completely covered by the dirt put in by shovels. Thunder crashed overhead and Dan looked up, feeling water droplets hit his face. "Oh. NOW it fucking rains." He muttered. Vlad heard and gave him a scolding glance.

"Vlad?" Sam walked over to them. "Can I…talk to you? Alone?"

Vlad looked at her. "Alone, Samantha?"

"Yes." She nodded. "I want to talk to you about…about Danny. Privately."

Vlad sighed and looked at Dan. "Why don't you go find Miss Gray? I'm sure she'd appreciate your cloak and your company."

"Right." Dan shrugged and walked off, heading towards where Valerie was trying to stay dry under a small shelter.

Vlad looked at Sam. "Alright, Samantha. We're alone. What is it?"

"Was that Phantom?" Sam asked.

Vlad blinked, then looked around to make sure they were really alone. "…You mean Dan?" He asked quietly.

She nodded. "His eyes…they're just like Phantom's. And right after Phantom escapes on his own, you have a godson who looks just like him, with red hair?"

"I'm guessing you intended to rescue him." Vlad said softly.

"It was Danny's last will." She looked down. "We went to get him out as Danny asked, but…the box was blown open and Phantom was gone."

Vlad sighed, looking towards where Dan was offering his cloak as shelter, Valerie shaking her head like she didn't want to trouble him. Dan looked annoyed and pulled her close, wrapping the cloak around her. "Yes." He said softly.

Sam looked visibly relieved. "Thank goodness."

"He's not coming back to be Danny Phantom." Vlad looked at her.

"I don't want him to be Danny Phantom." Sam said firmly. "Danny wanted us to set Phantom free. He's not free if he's busy saving the city all the time."

Vlad looked surprised. "Then, why ask?"

"I wanted to be sure he was safe, happy, and free." Sam nodded, looking over where Valerie was struggling to get out of the cloak Dan was holding shut, her head poking out and glaring at him. He laughed, even as she beat on his chest. "He deserves a bit of peace."

Vlad sighed, turning to watch them as well. "I can only offer solace and a home. Peace is something he will have to find on his own, I'm afraid."

Sam nodded, turning to watch as Valerie finally broke free and poked him in the chest, saying something with a "don't think you can mess with me" expression on her face. Then she stormed off, leaving Dan laughing in the rain. "He seems happy."

"He seems like he's getting a kick out of messing with Valerie." Vlad looked amused and walked over. "Were you jilted, Dan?"

He grinned, shrugging. "That was fun."

Sam came up behind Vlad. "Uhm…hi. Remember me?"

Dan blinked and nodded. "Sam. You were with Tucker last night."

She nodded. "That was a really nice speech. Thank you."

He nodded, then looked at Dan. "We should get out of the rain, it's getting harder."

"Let's take the car I rented, then." Vlad gestured to it. It was pretty fancy a rental car, and Dan narrowed his eyes at it before turning to Sam. "Do you need a ride home?"

"Uh, no. My parents are waiting." She apologetically and ran off.

After she was gone, Dan looked around and realized he and Vlad were the only ones left. Sighing, he walked back over to Danny's grave and knelt by his headstone, taking the cloak off. His soft glow shone through the rain, letting Vlad know where he went.

Vlad walked over and stood next to him, listening to him softly speak to the tombstone. "I'm sorry…" He was saying. "I'm sorry, Danny…I broke the promise…I left your side…" He clutched at the damp earth. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry…I let him kill you…" He threw his head back, sobbing. "I let him kill you!"

"Dan…" Vlad wrapped his arms around the sobbing ghost. He started to resist, thrashing, to escape his grip, and he changed into Plasmius so he couldn't slip away. "Dan, calm down! You're not alone! I'm here!"

"Danny…" Dan sobbed into the rain, slumping in Plasmius' arms. "I'm sorry…"

"You're not alone…" Plasmius held him close, cradling him like a baby. "I'm here, little Phantom. I'm here. Live. Live for Danny."

Dan tried to push away, but then gave up and clung to him, sobbing into his chest. Plasmius picked up the cloak and fastened it onto Phantom, changing back into Vlad. Then he walked to the rental car, cradling the trembling, sobbing teen ghost in his arms.