*AN: What? A new Danny Phantom fanfic? in this day and age? That, my friends is because I'm chronically late to every fandom. Still, if there are people still interested, I hope they enjoy this fun little roller coaster of an AU. Comments and likes are always appreciated, but if you don't feel like doin that, just sit back and enjoy. Happy reading!

The boy felt as though he'd worked out for a week with no breaks and then slept for a full day after. His limbs were limp and sore, and his brain chugged along rather slowly even after he opened his eyes. When he did, heavy as his eyelids were, he noticed the room he was in was unrecognizable. A lush king sized bed engulfed him, making him weightless in the cozy sheets. Everything felt plush and tired, it was hard to focus on anything but the pull of his eyelids and the cool dimness of the room.

Man, he felt as though he could stay there forever.

Beyond the realm of warmth and comfort that was the bed, the room was mostly empty. It had one enormous window with heavy shades and light peeking just around the corners, a beige sofa with hardly any space for two people but plenty for one, and a gray haired old man on said sofa flipping through a book on moral philosophy.

The boy didn't know better than to be indifferent towards the stranger. He shifted in an attempt to escape the crushing blanket, but retracted once more when he was met by freezing air. The slight movement alerted the man to glance up with a smile. He had teeth that practically sparkled with brightness, heavy set eyebrows on an otherwise kind if not dignified face, and a sleek black suit.

"Ah, it's wonderful to see you awake, little badger." His voice sounded sleek--not quite soothing, but there was crispness to his consonants that hinted at familiarity. "How did you sleep?"

It took the boy a moment to realize the man was addressing him. He sat up against the bedpost but pulled his blankets with him, placing a barrier between him and the outside cold. "Good?" He wasn't sure what the status quo was for sleeping. He felt like he was still wadding through mud to sort his thoughts out, which probably meant he'd had a deep sleep. "At least I think so." He mumbled, shutting his eyes as a yawn came over him.

The man put his book to the side, tilting his head. "You have a wretched bedhead." He said lightly, casually. "Are you hungry, son?"

The boy blinked, evaluating how he felt. When he focused on his stomache area, he felt a dull ache longing for sustenance. "Yeah, I guess." He frowned. The way the man was acting, it was like this was part of a routine the boy should know. It confused more than alerted him that he couldn't remember anything before that thick and swirling sleep. He blinked a few times and looked at the man. "I should know you," he said uncertainly. He wasn't sure what he was trying to say, much less how to put it in words. "Why don't I remember?"

The man looked curious, lifting a brow to match his disarming smile. "Give it time, Daniel." Daniel. The boy's ears turned back reflexively at the name, and he knew that it was his own by how right it sounded. "For now, we shall focus on getting you some food. Are you able to get up?"

Groaning slightly in complaint, Daniel pushed his covers back to shiver slightly at the world's coolness. "Think so." He answered, sliding his feet off the bed.

"Daniel, please use full sentences." The man's voice had changed sharply, suddenly impatient. Then he smiled calmly and stood up. "Any son of mine will act his status."

Something the man said poked at Daniel's brain through the sudden shame, but he ignored it. "Sorry," he said, unsure of what else to do. He stood shakily and put his hand against a bedpost to stay upright. The sudden vertigo of standing told him he hadn't done so in a while.

The man crossed to Daniel and put an arm around his back, supporting him. "Ah, dear boy, I know this must be so new to you." Daniel nodded slowly. "Let's simply keep that in mind and you'll be fine. For now, how does pancakes and french toast sound?"

Daniel smiled, using the man for support as they headed out of the room. "That sounds good." He affirmed, though slightly surprised that he just knew what those were.

"Delightful. I can answer any questions you may have after breakfast."

Daniel smiled. "Yeah, after breakfast." He liked that idea, though he wasn't even sure what to ask. He wanted to know more about this man who seemed so safe and parental. He wanted to know where he was and why he was there. He wanted to know about the sleep he'd been in and why he couldn't recall any prior events. All of these things bounced through his mind as it slowly sped to what seemed like a normal pace.

~••~

Breakfast had tasted delicious. The ashlike dryness that had lingered since Daniel woke up melted into sweet syrup and powdered sugar. Now that he'd gone through a small stack of pancakes and two pieces of french toast, he felt much more energized than earlier. His limbs actually felt like they could hold his weight now, which was more than he could say before.

"Now, Daniel," The kind man said once both of them were clearly finished, "I know you must have questions. Now would be the time to ask me." He smiled at Daniel as though he were a long lost treasure he just uncovered. It made the boy feel important. Cared about.

"Okay then." Daniel sipped his orange juice. "First... what's your name?"

"Vlad Masters," Came the reply. The man, Vlad, was smirking with no small amount of amusement.

"Okay. Um... what's my name?"

"Daniel Masters."

Daniel nodded. So he was right about that part. "How do I know you?"

Vlad tapped his chin. "Before I answer that, I'd like to ask you a question, if that's alright." He waited for Daniel's nod of agreement before continuing. "How much can you remember before this morning?"

"This morning?" Daniel repeated. "Before I woke up?" Vlad nodded, waving for him to go on. "Well, I think... I can remember sleeping. I think I was sleeping for a really long time. And before that... I don't know."

"You're sure you recall nothing at all before this... sleep?"

"Nothing," Daniel confirmed.

"I see." Vlad smiled and sipped his orange juice calmly. "Well, then. I suppose I have a lot to catch you up on. You have some prior knowledge, or you wouldn't have been able to have a normal conversation with me this morning, so I have one more question before I answer yours. What do you know about ghosts?"

"Ghosts?" Daniel furrowed his brow.

"Ghosts."

"Well, I know... they're these glowing green... ecto...plasmic... beings," it took Daniel some time to stitch together the words. He knew he knew more about ghosts, he just couldn't drag the information out so quickly. "They live in the Ghost Zone, this... world... parallel to ours... that consists of mostly open space and lairs. They have unique powers and abilities... but every one can go, um, intangible... and float." Daniel could have stopped there, but when Vlad didn't speak, he used the opportunity to add on. Though what he said next was painful and confusing to get into words, and he wasn't entirely sure about it. "I think... I think there can be hybrids between humans and ghosts. Like... not dead, but also not entirely human? They can sort of, um, kind of... switch between them... and... they're usually stronger than normal ghosts or humans?" Vlad raised an eyebrow, and Daniel was quick to add on, "but I don't know if that's true, I just said what popped into my head."

Vlad just smiled, clearly not even mildly angry. "Well, you're right about all of that. Daniel, you and I are both hybrids. Halfas, who can become ghostly at will and return whenever we please."

Daniel frowned, considering. Where anyone else might be amazed or in disbelief, Daniel took in the information as easily as he did his own name. He had no reason to think it was out of the ordinary, but he was glad he was right about ghost hybrids. Or... Halfas. "Can... can you show me?"

"One thing at a time, little badger," Vlad smiled. "I still have quite a few things I have to tell you. You asked how we know each other. It has to deal with us being half ghost. You see, you were orphaned at the age of five in an accident that made you this way. By fate, it seems, I learned of your unusual situation and took pity on you.

"Adoption papers were signed, you took my last name, and this mansion became your home. It was a wonderful change for the both of us. You had a mentor you could safely be a ghost around, granting me the perfect son in the process. I homeschooled you, tutoring you in academics and your ghostly half. You were--and are to this day--my son.

"Unfortunately, there was a bit of an accident a few days ago. Your powers... they reverted to how they were before my training--wild and difficult--and you hit your head when your foot went intangible and you tripped. You've been in a coma for three days, and apparently can't remember any of this."

Danniel took this all in with wide eyes. "You're telling me... I was an orphan, then you took me in, then you taught me about my ghost powers, and then," he paused, considering how to word this, "that sleep, I just forgot everything?"

Vlad sighed in sympathy. "I'm sorry to tell you this, Daniel, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Consider this a new beginning of sorts--I'll help you through this as much as I can, dear boy."

Daniel shook his head. This was too much. The large amounts of sweets he'd eaten seemed to twist in his stomach. "Oh." He looked down. "That's... I... I just forgot my entire life?"