Hello all you lovely people out there! I would just like to say very quickly, (again!) a big thank you to everybody who is following/favouriting/reviewing or even taking time to read No Second Chances. I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive reception to this story, and your support means a lot so cheers everyone!
I give you…chapter three!
()()()
Vlad Masters was all too familiar with the concept of being 'the bad guy.' Normally, he couldn't care less how others perceived his actions. However, even he felt the aversion of towering over an injured, grieving child in a cold and empty graveyard in a threatening manner. As always though, Vlad didn't doubt what he had to do. He was convinced that Danny was not in a stable mind-set, and was sure he had been blinded by his grief. Vlad was prepared, by any means necessary, to return Danny to the hospital. His priority right now was to keep his young rival safe. He had promised Maddie that much.
Danny Fenton glared up at him angrily, his eyes still shiny from tears. He didn't think he had felt more hatred for Vlad Masters before than what he did at this minute. How dare he come here and try prevent Danny from saying goodbye to his loved ones? Did the man truly lack such basic moral decency? Danny wiped his eyes with his arm and forced himself to his feet. He then then looked the older man straight in the eyes, only inches away from his face. Vlad raised his eyebrows, clearly intrigued.
"Leave. Now." Danny said to him coldly. Vlad was more than shocked at the teen's words and actions. Wasn't it only a few moments ago that the same boy had been huddled on the ground sobbing his heart out with grief? Now he was stood up straight making demands, in an almost threating tone. Vlad leaned back slightly, putting some distance between himself and Danny. He would have to be careful with how he would handle the situation, for he didn't want the boy to become uncontrollably angry and end up doing something which could consequently lead to another injury. Now Vlad would consider himself a charismatic man, but how was he going to convince a stubborn teenager who despised him, to say the least, to leave the graves of his recently deceased family members and return with him to a hospital?
"Daniel, I-" Vlad was cut off mid-sentence, due to being met by a green ecto-blast strewn by Danny. The attack knocked Vlad backwards a few feet, but did little other than stun him. Vlad could tell that the blast had been weak, which did not reflect well on Danny's physical health.
"I said leave, Plasmius!" Danny told him more forcefully, "I don't wanna hear anything else you have to say. Just go!"
Vlad looked over to the boy, but stayed kneeled on the ground. He hoped this would help him come across as less intimidating. He could tell that Danny was unsure of actions, of what control he currently had of his powers. He could see the uncertainty in the boy's eyes, it was almost a mild expression of fear. Vlad knew Danny couldn't hold out much longer, his body was begging for rest. He had to make him see sense.
"Get this straight Daniel, I am not leaving here without you." He told the teen firmly. Danny scowled at him, not caring for this response. He visibly squeezed his fists in anger.
"Then I'll make you!" He cried, throwing two more ecto-blasts at the man. Naturally, Vlad was prepared for this and easily protected himself by forming an ecto-shield. Danny's blasts had hit it with hardly any force, the younger hybrid took in a quick gasp of panicked air upon seeing this.
Vlad evaporated his shield and said to his charge, "Daniel can't you see that you are not strong enough for this? Keep it up and you're going to pass out from exhaustion! Now please, stop making things difficult for the both of us and let's go."
"No! I told you I'm not going with you I'm staying here. With them…" He said, turning back towards the graves. Vlad had noticed that his voice was shaken with emotion this time. It sounded like the boy was going to cry once more. Vlad sighed, he really didn't want to see Danny become upset again. He watched fearfully as the teen carelessly dropped himself down beside the family plot, and began to rearrange the flower displays. Intrigued by this odd behaviour, Vlad stood up and slowly walked closer to where Danny was sat.
"Little badger, what exactly are you doing?" Vlad asked, in a much softer tone.
"I thought I told you to go away!" Danny snapped back, ignoring the question.
"And I thought I told you that I came here to take you back to the hospital." Vlad retorted sharply, although he was bemused by Danny's unusual deed. "Can't this wait for another time? When you're feeling better?"
Danny continued on in silence, having not responded to Vlad's questions and overall trying to pretend that he wasn't there. Vlad stayed beside him for a few minutes, simply watching what he was doing. Never had he seen such strange behaviour from Danny. At least now he could say he was safe and wasn't going to put himself at risk. Vlad was relieved when he saw the teen's movements getting slower and his eyes getting droopy, at least Vlad now had a window of opportunity to get Danny out of the cold. He smiled triumphantly.
"Come now, Daniel." Vlad said, gently catching the boy's wrist, "That's enough, it's time to leave." Danny looked at him miserably, realising he had no energy left at all to fight against this proposal.
"No." He called out, as Vlad yanked him to his feet. Danny swayed slightly, his leg muscles struggling to hold him. Vlad watched him as he practically dangled off his grasp, wondering if he would have to carry him as they flew. Vlad changed into his alter-ego, Danny automatically pulled back.
"Can you change Daniel?" Plasmius asked.
"I don't want to." Danny replied stubbornly, "I want to stay here".
Plasmius sighed at his obstinacy, "Whether you want to or not is irrelevant. Now change into your ghost half or I'll simply drag you back to the hospital myself."
Danny yanked his hand away as a final statement of his defiance, almost sending himself to the ground with the force from his movement. Plasmius glared at him.
"Have it your way then!" He snapped, grabbing Danny quickly around the torso and hauling him over his shoulder. Before Danny could get the chance to protest, Plasmius proceeded to fly. It took just over a minute to reach the hospital at the speed Plasmius flew at, although it seemed much longer to him with Danny trying to kick and squirm with objection. It seemed longer again for Danny due to his degradation regarding the whole thing. When Plasmius entered Danny's hospital room, he gently dropped the struggling boy on to the bed and changed back into his human form. Danny scowled at the older man angrily, his face flushed.
"Who do you think are? You had no right to do that!" Danny yelled, whilst trying to pull off Vlad's coat. This proved to be quite difficult due to Danny's left arm being contained in a cast. Vlad leaned forward to help him, only to be rebuffed by the mortified teenager.
"I think you will find that as your legal guardian I do happen to have a right to inflict certain matters upon you." Vlad told him smugly, "From transferring you to a safer, more contained environment, right down to punishing you within reason."
Danny threw the discarded coat forcefully at Vlad in anger, "I don't care what that crack-pot lawyer says! You will never have any claim to me, legal or otherwise!" With that statement Danny threw himself back on the bed in a sulk and turned away from the older halfa. Vlad rolled his eyes at the boy's dramatic outburst.
Danny had fallen asleep within a matter of minutes, of which Vlad had predicted as much. He felt a pang of guilt as he watched him sleep, he really hadn't wanted to distress Danny so much earlier. It was rather frustrating when the boy refused to believe that he had simply been trying to help. Vlad had become really concerned with how Danny had acted in the cemetery, his behaviour seemed to go above and beyond that of normal grieving. His response to Vlad was one thing. Vlad fully understood that Danny had a strong dislike towards him and his reactions to him were quite normal. However, the older man could not understand at all what on earth Danny had been thinking when he was moving the lilies and jasmines.
()()()
Skulker grinned triumphantly as he exited Axon Labs late that same evening, having successfully obtained all the components necessary to begin updating his weaponry. It had been the first time in a long time were he had completed a heist without being delayed by ghost hunters, the Guys in White, or more importantly the incredibly aggravating Danny Phantom. Skulker couldn't believe his luck really, he had made a note that as of recently Amity Park had appeared to have let its guard down in relation to combatting against ghosts. That didn't concern him much however, what pleased him was the fact he was on track to improve his game.
"Excellent." He stated with emphasis whilst rummaging through his sack of stolen loot, "I can finally increase the firing force on my ecto-ray gun.
"Forgive me for interrupting, but wasn't that your intention when we last spoke Skulker? Dear dear, you are falling behind!" Called a mocking voice.
Skulker looked up with a glare to meet the individual who insulted him. However, this quickly changed into a menacing smile. "Ah, Plasmius. Come to get your fill as well? I would recommend any looting you are planning you do it now, that wretched ghost whelp appears to be slacking these days." Skulker said to his half-hybrid employer, referring to Danny Phantom.
"I am well aware." Plasmius said, as he flew closer to the mechanical ghost.
Skulker grinned menacingly at the hybrid, "What did you do to him Plasmius? I might have known you'd be behind it, so where is he? Chained to a table in your lab?"
"No you idiot! I've done no such thing to the ghost child." Plasmius snapped.
"Well someone has, Plasmius. He's gone. Along with his two pesky human associates and human family." Skulker stated, "Have they moved?"
"No Skulker you mechanical moron they've died!" Plasmius retorted angrily.
"Died?" Skulker cried out of shock, "What do you mean he died, how did he die? Who got him?"
"Not the ghost child Skulker, just his family and friends," Plasmius told him, "They were killed in an explosion a few days ago which was down to human error, surprisingly."
"That makes more sense," Skulker replied in an uncaring tone, "I wouldn't have thought that would've been enough to take down that stubborn ghost brat. What's going to happen to him now then?"
"He's currently in the hospital receiving treatment for his injuries."
"Is he now…" Skulker replied darkly, his eyes almost glowing with an evil hue. Plasmius watched Skulker carefully, already almost regretting his decision to tell the mechanical ghost anything. Suddenly Skulker flew off in a hyper speed. Plasmius sighed irritably, it didn't take a genius to guess where he was going. Plasmius flew after him and once in target range, fired an ecto-ball which hit the ghost hunter with extreme force and knocked him to the ground in an empty ally-way. Plasmius landed a few feet in front of him.
"Don't you dare even think about touching him Skulker!" Plasmius shouted at the ghost, "I didn't tell you all of this for you to respond in a free for all attack on the ghost boy."
Skulker picked himself up and glared at his employer, "What are you talking about Plasmius? The pup annoys you more than anyone, and as soon as the other ghosts find out he's dead meat anyway. At least I'll make it quick for him, the quicker the skinning the neater the result!"
"Forget it! And the others won't find out. I believe his ghost half will ensure a faster recovery for him anyway. At least that's what I can say from experience, and he is already showing good progress." Plasmius said, thinking of how fast Danny came around after the coma and head injuries.
Skulker gave the half ghost a quizzed look, "Why do you care if he recovers? Why did you tell me anything if you wish for him to recover at all?"
"Because I am your employer and I am telling you now that if you so much as lay a finger on Daniel, I will make you regret it for the rest of your afterlife." Plasmius threatened him, whilst playing with a ball of ecto-fire in his hand.
Skulker couldn't believe how crazy Plasmius sounded right now. He raised his eyebrows in disbelieve, "I don't get you Plasmius, we have dreamed for this opportunity for months and now you tell me to back off? What is going on? And who the blazes is this Daniel?"
"The ghost child, you idiot!" Plasmius roared at him.
"Oh. It's just the human children usually called him Danny, or 'dude.' Me, I generally prefer whelp!" Skulker chuckled.
"Will you shut up?" Plasmius snapped, "Now listen, I need you to do something for me."
Skulker smiled, "What's that then?" He enjoyed working for Plasmius, the tasks were simple and the rewards were immense.
"I need you stay around my castle in Wisconsin for a few days. I've had to attend to business here for a while and will have to continue to do so. I need you to protect my lab from intruders. You know yourself I have gadgets and maps in there which I do not want dispersed around the Ghost Zone."
Skulker nodded. He knew this all too well, as he had obtained or created many of the valued possessions in Plasmius' lab. They had cost the half ghost dearly! "I think I can manage that." Skulker responded, "What shall I do with any trespassers?"
"Whatever you like. Just keep those meddlesome ghosts out of my home!" Plasmius snapped. If there was one thing he disliked about the ghost universe, it was the fact that many ghosts felt the right to come and go wherever they liked and as they pleased. Naturally, he and Danny were no exception!
"Sounds like this could be fun!" Skulker grinned, his blade glowing. "Can I ask though, what exactly is your business here? This town is a little backwater for your taste isn't it?"
"It's not the town I have to attend to." Plasmius responded offhandedly.
"It's the ghost child?" Skulker prompted mildly.
"Hm."
Skulker pulled a face, "Plasmius, you need to stop with the whelp. He's not worth the effort!"
"Says you!" Plasmius accused, "Skulker you've pined for him as a prize since day one!"
"At least I don't pine for him as a son." Skulker retorted, "Plasmius, just because he no longer has a family will not change his views about you. He is still going to refuse you as a mentor and a father."
"He doesn't have a choice this time Skulker!" Plasmius said with zeal, "His parents have actually signed a legal document stating that the boy be left in my custody in the events of their death. So I now have him where I want him. I win!"
Skulker smirked at Plasmius, "You don't think he'll fight you on this?"
"Of course he will." Plasmius smirked back, "He wouldn't be the same feisty teenaged half ghost if he didn't now, would he? He'll come around Skulker, I'm sure of that. I'm a very patient man."
"I don't know, Plasmius. I think the whelp is just more trouble than what he's worth." Skulker replied.
"Maybe so. But then again, he's not going to be worth your trouble ever again Skulker, is he?" Plasmius smiled.
"What do you mean?" Skulker frowned.
"Have you not listened to a word I've said? I now have a legal claim to Daniel. In human authorisation terms I now practically own him. That means Skulker, I am hereby warning you that he is off limits to your hunting and to any other malice ghost who doesn't wish to answer to me!" Plasmius responded fiercely.
Skulker sighed, understanding the implementations to Plasmius' threat. He was secretly disappointed, he got a real thrill at the thought of hunting down and claiming the ghost child as his prize. However, Plasmius was right, he had got there first and he had won. In some strange human loophole, he had won. But he knew that realistically, Plasmius probably had wanted it the most.
"So do we have a deal Skulker? Will you protect my castle during my absence?" Plasmius asked, changing the subject.
"Sure. When do I start?"
"Immediately."
Skulker scowled at this answer, so much for his plans not being delayed! Plasmius smiled at the mechanical ghost's expression.
"If you're too busy I could always find Fright Knight and see if he's available!" Plasmius quipped.
Skulker clenched his jaw. There was no way he was letting that suck up, posh excuse of a ghost take his employability credit! "I'll do it." He said grimly, "Consider your castle secure!"
With that last comment, Skulker fired up his jets and blasted off. Plasmius smiled as he watched him. That was one less problem he had to deal with. As he left to return to his hotel accommodation for the night, he thought about the other ninety-nine problems floating in his head. All of which had a key word in common: Daniel.
()()()
Danny felt a horrible, clenching fear within him. He was walled in, like a grey and white maze, unsure of where he was. He tried to go ghost, but his body denied him of this. It felt as though he couldn't muster the ecto energy together to achieve this. So he ran. He ran for what felt like forever, trying to escape this maze, trying to outrun this feeling of terror. He finally saw an opening, and he ran towards it. However, as he drew closer he saw something. There was a small group of people, and they were gathered around…a small tower? As he finally fully approached it the image became clear, much to Danny's horror: He saw the group of people take the form of his mom, dad, Jazz, Sam and Tucker, and lastly, Mr. Lancer. The small tower shaped itself into the overheated boiler from The Nasty Burger, and they had not been gathered around it, but were tried to it.
"Danny!" Jazz cried, "Save us!"
"Yeah man, hurry!" Tucker called out.
"Danny, please!" Sam shouted, before her mouth was magically gagged. No one else called out next because of this reason. Danny watched the warning meter arrow fall closer to the end of the red rating.
"No!" He cried, "I'm coming! I'm coming!" He ran as fast as he could, still desperately trying to call upon his transformation rings, but they would not appear. The arrow on the meter had reached its limit and was now jolting back and forth with pressure. Danny then heard an evil laugh, followed by, "You're too late to save them!"
"NO!" Danny cried seconds before the explosion took place before him. He watched as flames consumed his loved ones and teacher, his heart pounding fast and his eyes wide with horror. With last-ditch efforts some of them out reached their hands to Danny, Sam's hand actually started tugging his shirt. He looked to his mother who had fallen to the ground in weakness, she looked at him, her eyes sad. Her mouth was now free to speak as the silencer had been burned away.
"Help." She whispered with her last remainder of breath. Danny fell down with the shock of it all.
"No!" He cried.
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
"No!"
"Daniel!" Someone called. Someone else was pulling at him.
"Daniel, calm down. It's alright." He heard, just above his screams. Someone was gripping his arms really tightly, but he refused to focus on this. He continued to scream over the horror he had just witnessed, he could still see the flames, even smell the smoke. Suddenly, he was met with a harsh slap across the face. Danny opened his eyes in shock from the impact. He suddenly saw that he was no longer in the debris of the Nasty Burger, but on the floor somewhere in the hospital. He only knew this when he saw the unfamiliar nurses and doctor who had surrounded him, for he wasn't familiar with this area of the hospital. How did he get here? The only thing familiar to him was a very tired looking Vlad Masters, who was leaning down in front of him. Danny could only presume he had been the one to slap him back into reality.
Danny desperately tried to catch his breath, but could not. His breathing was very fast paced, in and out, it was like he could not control his lungs. He heard the doctor speak brief instructions to the nurses, before they pulled him on to his feet and proceeded to slowly and gently guide him back to his bed.
Vlad Masters had watched the whole display in complete shock. Naturally, as Danny's emergency contact, the hospital staff could only think to inform him at four o'clock in the morning that his charge had been missing. When he reached the hospital he was then told that Danny had been found unresponsive, roaming around in the other side of the building in a fit of panic. Vlad could not understand what had provoked this behaviour, did the boy have some sort of illness or fever? He turned around to face the doctor who, up until this point had had nothing to do with this case.
"Doctor, have you seen this behaviour before? Is there something wrong with Daniel? Is he ill?" Vlad asked desperately, as he was at a complete loss as to what he was supposed to do in this situation.
"I don't want to say anything set in stone, Mr Masters. Not until Daniel has been assessed a psychologist." She replied simply.
"A psychologist?" Vlad questioned, "You're referring Daniel to a psychologist?"
"Yes. I'll see if there's someone available to come and see Daniel tomorrow. If you are happy to give consent to this Mr Masters?" She asked.
"Well, I suppose so yes. But why do you think Daniel needs to be assessed by a psychologist? I mean I understand he is grieving from the loss of his family, but surely what's happened tonight has been the result of a viral infection of some sort?" Vlad asked hopefully.
The doctor smiled reassuringly at Vlad, "I understand you're worried Mr Masters, and I don't want to make any calls on this as I am not qualified to make this judgement. However, I'm concerned that panic attacks and night terrors for someone of Danny's age who has witness a distressing event, are representing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder."
"What?" Vlad cried out in disbelieve. Not Daniel. Surely he could cope with this, it would simply take him a few days to come to terms with the deaths.
"Try not to worry about it anymore tonight Mr Masters." The doctor said gently, "Why don't you go and see how Daniel is? I'm sure he'll feel more reassured if he sees you."
With that comment the doctor turned away and left Vlad, to continue with her rounds. Feel more reassured when he sees me? Yeah right! Vlad thought, as he began to walk through the hospital to Danny's room. He may as well see that he hadn't given the nurses too much trouble at least before he left. Had the doctor forgotten that Vlad had given Danny a fairly hard slap across his face just moments ago? He shuddered to think what the medical staff who were present must have thought when they saw Vlad do that? Surely it wouldn't matter? He only did it to bring Danny round and it worked, that was the main thing right?
Vlad tried to shove these thoughts to the back of his mind when he pushed the door of Danny's room open, it was lit by only a dim lamp. The nurses who had tended to Danny had left, leaving him curled up in the bed. They must have calmed him down for his breathing was better, though still very heavy and shaky. Danny turned around to see who had entered the room. Much to Vlad's surprise, Danny didn't turn away again or ignore Vlad's presence.
()()()
Wow, one of my longer chapters! I know this has been quite a dialogue-y chapter, sorry if that put anyone off. I just always liked the potential that Vlad and Skulker could have had in the show! I thought they deserved a good chat and who knows, it might be fun to add Skulker to the story! He's one of my favourite ghosts!
Please don't forget to tell me what you thought, I aim to please and I don't know if I'm doing that if you guys forget to tell me where I'm going wrong! Thanks for reading!
xseriouslyx