Sam poked her head out of hiding and surveyed the crowd already gathered at the gates of the Amity Park Cultural Center. Most of the attendees were already in their seats, but there were people who were at the ends of the temporary containment fence talking to each other. She noted that the Fentons and Foleys were already seated in the front row. Tucker was making small talk with Danielle while Danny had just arrived along with Jazz. If she did the calculations, there were no more than 70 people, journalists included.
She hid her head behind the stage they had set up for the ceremony and exhaled slowly through her mouth. The event was outdoors and the morning was cloudy with cool weather, but she couldn't help but sweat from every available pore on her body. She rubbed her palms on the dress she was wearing to dry them and took the paper containing her speech from the pocket of her dress. She mentally chided herself at the slight tremor in her hands as she held the paper.
The sound of footsteps behind her alerted her and she spun around.
- We start… - Hunter was silent when he noticed her nervous. - ... in 5. Are you okay?
Sam pressed her lips together in a line and tried to smile.
- No.
Hunter gave her a sympathetic smile.
- Take a deep breath and adopt an attitude as if you don't care. That will help you prevent any fluctuation in your voice. – He moved closer to her and put his hand on her shoulder. - Don't worry. You'll do fine. It's not the first time you've spoken in public.
- It feels like it is.
- Why? Because it's the first time you've done it in a dress?
Sam sighed.
- Because... it's the first time I'm giving something. – She looked away to the floor before meeting his eyes. – Yes, I am used to raising my voice to demand changes and improvements, but now I have to be on the other side and…
- Hey, calm down. This is your first time doing something like this. Making mistakes is allowed. No one is asking perfection from you.
- Don't you know my parents?
- Because I know them is that I tell you this. Although it is a cause that they couldn't care less about, they are delighted that you have shown initiative in putting this together.
Hunter gestured for her to look around her. His words managed to relax her and her gaze fell on the sculpture that was surrounded by thick black curtains that prevented people from seeing what was behind them. In front of the sculpture, there was the stage with another curtain that prevented attendees from seeing the covered sculpture and the entrance to the cultural center.
- Thank you. - She whispered.
Hunter smiled at her and patted her shoulder before turning and heading to the steps of the stage, ready to go on command.
Danny laughed at the story Tucker was telling them until the attendees behind them suddenly fell silent. Before asking anything, he watched Hunter climb the stairs to the stage and walk to the microphone on the podium. He gave the microphone two light taps that reverberated through the sound system they had set up for the occasion.
- Very good morning to everyone. On behalf of the Manson Family, it's a pleasure to have you join us today...
Danny stopped listening and leaned to his right when he heard Jazz whispering to him.
- I thought Sam was going to be the speaker.
- He's just opening for her. - He answered her discreetly.
They both straightened up in their seats to finish listening to Hunter's introduction, until Maddie patted Jazz on her arm and she leaned in to listen to her mom.
- He's single in case you're wondering.
Maddie smiled when she saw her daughter cover her red face with both hands and shake her head.
- ... well, please welcome Miss Sam Manson.
Everyone present gave a round of applause as Sam walked out from behind the stage and up the stairs. Hunter stepped back and gestured for her to take possession of the podium. The applause died down and Sam discreetly placed her sheet of paper on the podium and rested her hands on either side of the wooden surface. Hunter backed up to the curtain and stood at rest.
Sam looked up and began to panic at the attention of all those people looking at her, until her gaze fell on her friends. Tucker gave her a thumbs up and smiled at her, while Danny nodded at her with a smile. She immediately relaxed and began her speech.
- Hello everyone. My name is Saman…Sam. Sam Manson. A couple of months ago, Amity Park suffered the worst ghost crisis in its entire history. So many things happened those days that it will take years for us to get over them, if we can ever get over them...
Danny smiled as he watched Sam perform in front of the crowd. He could still remember what he had told her the first time he fought Undergrowth and she was under her control, and seeing her now was confirmation that Sam was made for it. Like Tucker, she was a natural when it came to commanding attention in front of a microphone. He focused on Hunter when he saw him move behind Sam, pulling back the blinding curtain and revealing…another curtain, but this one was cylindrical in shape around something that was easily seven feet tall and halfway up the main access to the cultural center. Curious, he returned his gaze to his girlfriend and this time he did pay attention to what she was saying.
- For those of us who were on the battlefield… - She said, looking at the interim government board. – You'll know that victory didn't came with an easy price to pay. Many brave men and women gave their lives facing this threat… as did someone we all knew. Danny Phantom.
Sam took the microphone in her hands and pulled it away from the podium. Two members of the event staff immediately went up on stage to move it out of the way and clear the way for everyone to see what was about to be revealed.
- In the past, we called ourselves "Team Phantom". – She said looking at her friends. - But that day, we were all part of Team Phantom. The policemen who helped evacuate, all the medical personnel who treated the wounded, the firefighters who opened roads where there were none, the ghost hunting groups who helped in the fight, and the ghosts who joined our cause when our forces were insufficient. This is for all of them. For those who remain and for those who left.
At Sam's signal, Hunter took out a small device from his suit and pushed the button, causing the thick curtain to fall to the floor, revealing a sculpture. Danny was shocked when he saw a 2-meter-tall concrete Danny Phantom. He, like everyone present, stood up to look at it more closely. The sculpture's face was serious and its right hand was at chest level, holding what looked like a metal crown. On his chest, his symbol was made of the same material; the base of the sculpture was surrounded by a small garden and at each cardinal point of the statue there was a small metal plate.
- To commemorate their valuable sacrifice, this sculpture will stand in front of the Amity Park Cultural Center for our generation and those to come, as a reminder of the symbol of justice that we lost, and the hope that we received.
Danny didn't take his eyes off her as she spoke, and by the time she finished speaking, he noticed that the eyes of everyone present were now on him. He smiled awkwardly trying to get rid of the attention and looked back at Sam, who widened her smile.
- So, this is for you. On behalf of the city, thank you.
Another round of applause erupted from those present, and the brief ceremony was brought to a close. As part of the protocol, people did not leave the venue, but conglomerated to speak with Sam, the Mansons, the representatives of the interim government, the director of the cultural center and the most daring, with Danny. The others approached the sculpture to admire it up close and read what was engraved on the metal plates.
After a brief interview that had been done to him, Danny decided to step back a bit and lose the spotlight, unable to take his eyes off that sculpture. As the crowd moved into the cultural center for a tapas tasting, Danny finally stepped forward to get a closer look at the sculpture. He looked at the serious face of his concrete counterpart without knowing why he was doing it, since there were no facial features to analyze. The crown in his hand was an imitation of the crown of fire. Curious, he reached out his hand to touch the concrete part of one of the legs until a movement on his periphery caused him to turn his head slightly to the left to discover Sam walking towards him. The boy's serious expression changed to a warm one when he saw the worried face of his girlfriend.
- You sure know how to write speeches. - He teased her.
Sam ignored his comment and bit her lip.
- You hate it, don't you?
- What? No, no... it's just that... - He diverted his gaze to the sculpture. – It's still weird.
Sam nodded and looked down at the metal plate. Danny imitated her and read what was written.
Monument to the fallen.
Thank you for being our light in our darkest hour.
- I wanted to add the names of the Guys in White who… died, but operative O said that was classified information.
Danny just nodded.
- And the government forbade me to put Vlad's name on it.
- Makes sense. – He said in a low voice.
Danny's features hardened and he pretended to be remembering something from her speech, pointing towards the plate.
- I thought I was a superhero. – He relaxed his features with his joke and smiled seeing the tension leave Sam.
- Danny Phantom was just a symbol. - She said calmly. - You were the hero.
Danny smiled at her response after nodding slightly.
- Nice save.
Sam returned the gesture and moved closer to him when she saw him open his arms. She encircled his waist and buried her head in his chest while he held her close and rested his head on top of hers.
- So, you liked it?
- Of course… although I feel that the artist didn't do justice to my face.
Sam rolled her eyes and peeled off the boy's chest.
- In her defense, she only has photographs to work with.
- Well, I guess I can forgive that.
Sam patted him on the chest and straightened up beside him, holding him in a side hug. Danny paced the walk into the cultural center, but before moving away, he took one last thoughtful look at the sculpture. He returned his attention to Sam before she was aware of it.
- Hey, the others will come to my house for lunch later. Will you have time in your busy schedule to join us?
- Hmn... – She was silent for a few seconds. – I think I can make room for that.
Tucker and Danny moved the kitchen table out into the living room, where Jack was rearranging the entire place to make room. Jazz quickly appeared with tablecloths in hand and covered the table in the center of the room and the one the boys had left. Danny and Tucker went back to the kitchen to get all the dishes.
- Hey, have you thought about what I told you? – Tucker said opening the upper cupboard.
- Yes, but I'm not sure. I would prefer to invest my money in a car... - He said taking cutlery out of a drawer.
- I don't think we'll spend much in rent if we split it in half.
- But living at home is free.
- True. – Tucker said leaning against the bar while Danny took plates.
- Why the urge to live alone, anyways? - Danny asked, staring at him as he left the dishes on the kitchen bar. – You are not the type of person who splurges for no reason.
Tucker was silent, looking at the kitchen wall.
- I don't know. Custom, I guess. – He turned to see Danny. – I have been very independent in recent years and part of me doesn't want to lose that freedom, but…
- You hadn't thought about the expenses? – Danny said amused.
- I hadn't thought about the expenses. - He nodded smiling.
Danny laughed, set the silverware on the plates and took it with both hands. Tucker saw him and followed suit, picking up the stacks of glasses he'd put down and hugging them. They both walked out of the kitchen and began to set the table.
- And what car do you have in mind?
- Actually, I was thinking of a motorcycle.
Tucker's face scrunched up as he remembered his experience with Paulina's scooter, and Danny smiled when he saw that Jazz had made a face as well.
- Just don't let your mom hear you. – Jack commented smiling. – It will be better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
- Thank you.
Danny smiled at him and turned to see Jazz rolling her eyes. Tucker slumped into one of the seats and threw his head back.
- If I were you, I would set my eyes on a super-fast car, 5 doors, sports-casual style...
- You're describing Sam's car. - Danny interrupted him.
- And you would too if you had ridden that beast... - He leaned back on the table to look at his friend. - I'm telling you the truth; it changes your life. You don't even feel it...
He knew that, he had also ridden in her car as well, but before he could answer, the sound of the engine of his parents' truck announced the arrival of the food. Danny watched his dad and sister walk to the door to help with things, and before joining him he leaned back against the table.
- But I'll drive it before you.
- She wouldn't dare. – Tucker answered almost offended. - I won't let her do that.
- You just watch.
They both walked towards the door, where they saw Jack running towards the truck. Maddie got out of the driver's seat and Danielle opened the passenger door, handing Jack the bags of food. Danny leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest as he watched as his parents interacted around Dani. He smiled seeing her embarrassed by her as Jack offered his free hand to help her out of her. Jazz and Tucker walked to the trunk to get the drinks they had bought.
In that, a second car parked in front of his house. He smiled as he made eye contact with Sam, who unbuckled and grabbed something from the passenger seat before getting out. Danny stepped aside to let the others into the house.
- Why are you standing there, young man? – His mother scolded him. - Help your girlfriend!
Sam put her car keys in her pants pocket and smiled at Maddie.
- No need, Mrs. Fenton. It's just my food...
Danny took it as his signal to go downstairs and carry Sam, princess style. She cried out in surprise and began to kick in the air, but Danny held her tighter as he walked into the living room of his house. Inside, Danny lowered her down and quickly earned himself a blow to the chest.
- Don't do that. - Sam whispered to him.
Danny just smiled, the blush on Sam's cheeks and her ears giving her away.
- Don't count on it. - He whispered in her ear before kissing her on the temple.
Jack was placing the bags of food in the center of the table and Maddie quickly began removing the contents as the others took their seats. Dani and Tucker began to plate the food as Jazz passed them by. Sam took her food out of the bag and soon everyone was eating. The family meal passed quickly with laughter and talk about Danielle's new school year, Danny's and his friends' work life, the new normality of Amity Park and the treatment Jazz was now receiving at Stanford after all that had happened.
At one point during the meal, Danny was in a kind of trance watching the interactions between everyone and couldn't help but smile. Little by little things were putting themselves in their place and he felt at peace, able to leave behind all the recent madness. His friends were fine, his family was fine, and he was fine. But he still had a tiny, small, microscopic thorn sticking out of his mind. Noticing that he was silent, everyone turned to see him and pulled him out of his musings.
- What? – He said looking up at Sam, who was next to him.
- Wow, you were far, astronaut. - Dani mocked him.
- Sorry. – He said smiling. - I was thinking about...
He was silent for a few seconds, devising something to take the attention away from him.
- …about how good Jazz would look with Hunter.
The alluded dropped her cutlery and she hid her face with both hands, again, fully blushed. Laughter filled the dining room again.
- You too?! – She yelled at him from her seat.
- I've been telling her that too! – Maddie exclaimed excitedly.
- Well, you're in luck because he's single. – Sam added smiling.
- Why are you helping them?! – Now she spoke to Sam.
- Well, it's you or her. - Tucker intervened. – And she always chooses herself.
- I don't even like him!
- If you go out with him, that might change. - Maddie commented.
- Who knows? He might have a thing for redheads. – Sam added.
The rest of the meal ended pleasantly. Sam was the first to leave and Dani took the opportunity to go with her. Tucker followed a few minutes later, and the Fentons began to pack up. Jazz picked everything up and gave it to her mom to wash, while Danny and his dad moved the dining room back to its place and set up the whole living room again. When finished, Jazz went up to her room and his parents to the emergency ops center. Danny sat in the living room while he searched for things on his phone. After a while, he got bored and decided to go up to his room. However, he stopped for a few seconds when he passed through the door that led to the lab.
After the end of the crisis, the Guys in White had made an agreement with the Fentons: they would let them act independently as long as they shared the control of the now only portal to the ghost zone. The Masters' Blasters had been assimilated into the organization as they needed new blood now more than ever. And since then, no one had access to the portal without prior authorization.
But there he was, with a question that he had to resolve.
He landed on his feet in a large and unknown garden. He scanned his surroundings for anything familiar but only observed tropical vegetation and a luxurious mansion. The weather and humidity were starting to make him sweat and he had no choice but to open his jacket to try to ventilate. He closed the Infimap and stuffed it into the back pocket of his pants and went on high alert as he headed onto the property.
He moved from the garden towards the front door of the mansion he had landed at. Hearing no noise from any watchdog, he entered the mansion and marveled at the interior design. The outside was great, but the inside was incredible. He wandered through the vast living room, scanning the art on the walls and the luxurious furnishings of the house. He entered a corridor and was able to give them a look at several rooms. A guest room almost as big as the living room in his house; a bar that had stairs going down to a cellar full of wines; an audiovisual room with a screen that took up at least half the wall and a pool table; and something that he could only define as the most luxurious bathroom he had ever entered.
He returned to the main hall and walked to the end, where he slid open the door that separated the interior and the backyard. He opened his mouth in surprise as he took a few steps outside and saw a huge pool with crystal clear water in front of him; then he looked to his right, where there was a small outdoor living room buried in the shade of several trees with room in the middle for a small fire. As he got closer, he noticed that there were embers in the fire. They weren't burning, but you could tell they had been put out a few hours ago. He returned his gaze to the mansion, scanning each of the 3 floors quickly with his eyes to try to locate the owner of the house through the windows.
He narrowed his eyes in an attempt to detect any movement, but gave up seconds later. He turned around and finally noticed the beautiful postcard in front of him: with slow steps he dodged the pool until he reached the edge of the property, where there was a metal railing with glass partitions through which he could admire the beautiful view of the sea. and they prevented someone from falling down the rocky hill on which he hadn't noticed the property was founded. He leaned against the railing to take in the afternoon sun, the relaxing sound of the waves, and from time to time, the seagulls that flew over the coast. He noted that there was a wide strip of sand between the edge of the rocks and the sea, creating a small private beach below him that had a wharf where a boat stood. What drew his attention was a human figure moving inside the cabin of the boat and out to tie up the boat.
He broke away from the railing and looked down it until he found the small door that led to a set of rock stairs carved into the side of the hill. He ran at a moderate speed down the stairs to catch up with the person, staring at where he put his feet. He hopped down the last step and ran across the beach, filling his shoes with sand. Arriving at the wooden structure, he slowed down so as not to scare the person he had seen.
He got as close to the boat as he could and checked it without getting into it, but he didn't find the person. He turned around and noticed that the boat was tied to the wharf with a very bad knot. He took two steps forward, trying to see someone on the beach or up the stairs he had just come down. He shielded his face from the sun with one hand as he surveyed his surroundings, until the sound of a gun behind him caused him to freeze. He raised both hands in the air and his heart began to pound like crazy.
- This is private property.
Danny frowned as he recognized the man's voice speaking to him. Against his common sense, he decided to turn his head slowly to face him. Noticing the movement, the man placed the barrel of the gun on his back to discourage Danny.
- Who are you and what…?
The man fell silent as his blue eyes met the blue of Danny's.
- Vlad? – The surprised young man whispered.
Vlad stayed in that position for a few seconds, studying the young man in front of him before huffing, rolling his eyes, and lowering the gun. When he stopped feeling the pressure of the gun on his back, Danny released the breath he was holding and lowered his hands, raising one to his heart. He turned to face him fully and saw him tuck the gun into the back of his pants. He was dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt and pants of the same color, with sandals and a hat that covered his face from the sun.
- Now is Alistair Pinault III. - He said seriously, looking around looking for someone else.
- I thought you were dead.
- That was the idea. – He wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand.
- But Dani saw you...
- She saw what I wanted her to see.
Danny paused, noting how Vlad surveyed his surroundings, clearly anxious. He decided to use that to his advantage.
- How?
– You and I had similar ideas that day, Daniel.
- How? - He insisted again.
Vlad looked at him with some irritation, but looking into his eyes he saw the boy's determination. He wasn't planning on leaving without answers.
He turned to see the gloves and then to Vortex.
- Hey!
Vortex straightened up on the floor and turned to face him, one hand on his abdomen.
- You want revenge?
- What do you… have in mind? - He said recovering his breath.
- In the past, I electrocuted you so you would obey me… - He said putting on his gloves. – Now I need you to return the favor. Throw him the most powerful lightning this world has ever seen and I'll hold him still.
- How?
- With this. – Claws came out of the tip of each finger of the glove.
- Vortex did his part and before doing mine, I took a detour to the outskirts of Amity Park. There I separated from my ghost half. – He paused as he remembered. - And so, Masters fled and...
- Plasmius died. - Danny concluded.
- Just like Phantom.
- How do you know that? – He asked defensively.
- I have television, Daniel. – He raised his eyebrow. - Your face flooded the international news some weeks ago.
Vlad turned and went back to the boat, picking up the things he had thrown onto the deck floor to hide from the intruder. The young man followed close behind as Vlad entered the cabin and began to collect some things.
- How did you run away? All the streets…
- Money, Daniel. – He turned around to look him in the eye. - You'd be surprised how easy it can be to disappear when you have it.
- But why?
Vlad smiled bitterly.
- You said it yourself. Our lives ended the moment our identities were revealed. If we somehow made it out alive, you would be greeted as a hero and lifted up on everyone's shoulders. But I would not run with the same luck...
- And you chose to die like a hero instead of facing the consequences of all your actions… - Danny said seriously.
- And what's wrong with that? – He answered seriously.
Vlad pushed Danny aside and went back on deck. Danny followed close behind.
- Why am I surprised that you chose the most selfish option? – He asked rhetorically.
Vlad laughed and got out of the boat with a few things, stopping at the knot that kept his boat parked on the wharf.
- To be honest, that has been one of the few unselfish decisions that I have made in my life.
- Really? And other than you, who benefited from that decision? Because if I remember correctly...
- Danielle.
Vlad interrupted him and earned the young man's silence. He set his things on the wooden frame and bent to tie a proper cleat knot.
- Let's think about the "what if" for a second. – Vlad took off his hat for a second to pull all his hair back and put it back on. – If I had fled at that time, the result would be the same as now, that is, to retire in any part of the world where money could buy me anonymity. But I would be a fugitive, hunted internationally and would have to constantly live with a target on my back, watching out for every interaction I had...
- That story doesn't help you seem less selfish.
- And that's where Danielle comes in. - Vlad stood up. – As my daughter, she would be interrogated 24/7 to try to figure out my whereabouts, possible allies, places where I might have money or properties… her life would be kidnapped in an attempt to catch me and the life she had grown accustomed to would disappear. My life had become an obstacle to hers. But I love mine too much to sacrifice it in such noble fashion as you were willing to. – He smiled. – So, I had to find the middle ground.
- And you think your death wouldn't affect her? – He asked cautiously, trying not to give him too much information about the girl's current state.
- Not as much as you think. - He said a little more seriously. - My death would take the target off her back and free her from the weight of my reputation.
Danny processed the answer in silence. There were certainly selfish tendencies, for that was Vlad's nature, but he couldn't deny that it all originated with Dani as the point of origin.
- In addition, the rent of her apartment is paid for the remainder of the year, as is her registration for the next school year. For everything else, she has your parents.
- Did you use us as your plan B? We are not a bank...
- No Daniel, it's just logic. – He said bored. - With my death, Jack would probably feel obligated to take care of her for being "my daughter" and Maddie would not complain about it based on a mere maternal instinct awakened by the unconscious recognition of the genetic similarities between her and her two children...
Danny couldn't help but smile when he remembered that exactly that had happened.
- And if that's not enough, as my only legal heir, she will receive my unseized material assets when she turns 18. So, I would say that she came out on top in all of this.
Danny sighed and conceded. He lowered his gaze to the ground trying to decide how to continue with this interrogation, but the heat didn't help him. Vlad studied him with his eyes and then noticed his clothing, especially the thick black jacket that had him sweating.
- Why the hell are you dressed like that?
Danny looked at him somewhat uncomfortable and had no choice but to take off his jacket.
- I had no idea where I would end up. - Danny folded his jacket over his arm.
Vlad frowned and looked at Danny seriously, before turning back to his mansion.
- Didn't they tell you where they would come to look for me?
- "They"? - He repeated with confusion. - Who are you talking about?
- How did you get here? - Vlad asked.
Danny looked at him without understanding what was happening, so he just took the Infimap out of the back pocket of his pants. And then he understood the older man's reasoning.
- Wait... did you think I came with more people?
- Yeah! – He almost yelled at him.
- Why? - He said confused. - And what makes you think that I could afford a trip to… wherever we are?
- Then how did you know I was alive? – He said irritated and ignoring his question.
- I didn't know! – The young man defended himself. – Besides, I always thought that, if you ran away, you would hide in a cold and expensive country like Switzerland or Luxembourg, not in a tropical place…
- Then why are you here?
Danny stopped talking and reached into his pants pocket with his left hand and threw something at Vlad, who caught it with his right hand. He raised it to eye level and took the small object between his thumb and index finger. He turned it around to see it from all angles, then looked at Danny. The older man's confused face made Danny speak.
- It fell from the jacket I wore the day we fought Dan. I…have had it for weeks, but until now I decided to investigate why would someone give me this.
Vlad remained serious and tossed it back. Danny caught it with one hand.
- How come you have this? - Vlad asked.
- What are you taking about?
- I got rid of all of them years ago... I told you they weren't useful to me.
- Wait, you didn't…?
Vlad shook his head.
- I guess the map brought you here because I created it.
Danny was silent and stared at the object in his hand. Ever since he had found it in his room, he had been slightly curious as to how it had gotten onto his clothes. As time went by, the small object was occupying more space in his thoughts, until he ended up developing a small obsession that made him theorize about it in every free moment of his day. "I won't take more than 5 minutes." Was what he thought when he jumped into the ghost zone.
Bundled up and determined, he set out to visit Clockwork to get the answers. It took him 3 seconds to realize that, without his powers and the ghost ship, he was not going to be able to move through the ghost zone. He began to make swimming movements to try to move from his current location, but only managed to start spinning around. Out of nowhere, Cujo appeared in front of him with the infimap in his mouth. Danny reached out to take the map and pat the dog's head, who in return reached up to lick him. After this, the dog disappeared. Danny stared at utter nothingness before reacting and opening the map, but before he could think about his destination, the map started glowing and had led him to that garden.
Vlad calmed down a bit knowing he hadn't been found out yet, so he interrupted Danny's thoughts to make sure he would stay that way.
- So, what is your plan now that you found me?
Danny blinked at him to see him with his arms folded, his face serious and ready to act at the slightest provocation. He simply put the object in his left pants pocket.
- Are you going to give me up? Will you divulge that I survived so the government can hunt me down? Will you tell the Guys in White to come here for me?
- I don't even know where "here" is.
- So what?
Danny gave him a tired look and sighed, shrugging his shoulders for a few seconds.
- Do you have plans to take over the world?
Vlad raised an eyebrow at the question.
- What?
- You heard me. Just answer the question. – He said pulling the neck of his shirt to ventilate his body.
- Obviously I'm retired. – He said pointing to his boat. – Besides, I no longer have powers.
- You could always recreate the accident…
- Why do it? – He said bored. – You already know that I am alive and how to find me. You could always stop me.
- I have no powers. - Danny said.
- Now. But you could have them.
- Touché.
Danny was silent for a few seconds before answering, missing the small nod that Vlad made towards his pocket.
- Then no. I won't do… whatever you said I would do.
Vlad was surprised by the answer and waited for it to be explained in detail. Danny for his part, proceeded to take his shirt with both hands and wave it to blow on himself.
- Like you, I am retired. – He said exhaling. – Besides that, I doubt that at this point you want to spoil all this… - He pointed to the house up the hill. - Where are we by the way? It's hellishly hot...
Vlad suppressed a laugh.
- I prefer not to tell you that.
Danny rolled his eyes.
- If that's all... I need to store all this away. – Vlad said pointing to the things he had taken down from the boat.
- Then… I think it's time for me to go. - Danny replied.
Vlad's eyes widened before he frowned slightly suspiciously when he saw Danny reach out to him. He raised his eyes to the boy, who was serious and waiting for him to shake his hand. He exhaled through his nose slowly and finally stretched out his right hand. He shook his hand hard and Danny followed suit.
- Goodbye Daniel.
- Goodbye... Alistair. – Danny paused briefly trying to hide the disgust he felt for what he said. – That is the most presumptuous name you could have chosen.
- It matches with my personality… or at least with the one I need to show here… - He smiled.
Danny rolled his eyes in amusement. He shifted his gaze to the landscape around him.
- I'm seriously considering coming here for vacation… - He joked.
Vlad didn't say anything and bent down to pick up his things. Danny stepped away from him and watched him pick up the load before walking towards the stairs.
- Should I tell Danielle? - Danny asked.
Vlad stopped walking halfway across the wharf in silence, his back to Danny. After a few seconds, he turned around and looked at the boy with a serious expression.
- I think it would be better if Vlad Masters remains dead.
Danny nodded and Vlad continued his walk towards his home. When Danny saw him reach the bottom of the stairs, he sighed, ready to go. When Vlad reached the bottom step, he turned and watched the young man walking the same path as him, pausing in the shade provided by the hill above the private beach. He looked down and shook his head, saying goodbye to him for the last time.
In the shadow of the hill, Danny watched the ocean and took out his phone to take a picture of the scenery. He stopped focusing on the phone screen and more on the postcard in front of him and sighed. "Maybe one day… ". He put his phone down and put it in his other pocket, staying silent watching the surf. Several seconds passed until he realized that his doubt had not been resolved.
He frowned when he remembered the little device and pulled it out again. He inspected it as carefully as he did the first time and closed his eyes, going over everything again. He had left behind the device that he had taken and Vlad had destroyed them all, also in the past. That left only one possible culprit: Clockwork.
He had traveled to the past with them and he had the freedom to do it again; besides that, he had been one of the ghosts that had been with him when he closed the sarcophagus. Clockwork had the means, the opportunity, but… what about the motive? What did he or Clockwork gain by having that "pokeball"? He inhaled deeply and relived all the memories of that night: him struggling with Dan, Dani trying to free him while the ghosts closed the sarcophagus, Sam pulling him by the waist while Tucker pointed the gun at him…
His eyelids closed more tightly trying to remember every minuscule detail of what happened next, as it was the only time his civilian clothing was exposed. He remembered Phantom ejecting him backwards, falling to the ground, and then watching the ghost half of him get sucked into the sarcophagus before his, Walker's, and Clockwork's eyes.
The memory of Vlad made him open his eyes slowly and fixate on the button of the small device.
- Blue…
Many emotions swirled inside him and forced him to act: he put the device in his pocket, put his jacket back on and extracted the Infimap. He only had to wait a few seconds before the map pulled him toward the ocean. Flying a little low, he got the tip of his shoes wet. He advanced several meters until the map made a sharp U-turn and began to rise slowly. Danny held on tighter to the map as the trajectory he was taking ended halfway up the rocky hill, where a portal opened before he crashed.
Although he knew that the portal would open, he closed his eyes almost out of inertia and when he opened them again, he was in the middle of the ghost zone. He continued like this for a few minutes until Clockwork's lair became visible in front of him. With a few more turns, the map landed him on the ground inside the ghost's lair. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, before exhaling slowly through his mouth and opening his eyes to start walking. Passing the main threshold, he identified the ghost he was looking for with his back turned.
- Clockwork.
He called out to him, hoping to catch the attention of the ghost who stood silently watching the rebuilt time portal. When the ghost didn't respond to his call, he took another deep breath to keep himself level and stepped closer.
- It's something beautiful... – He commented when he felt the boy behind him. - Time. It flows like a river, always in one direction and can give life to everything where it passes... or it can take it.
Danny raised an eyebrow, puzzled by the Clockwork's brief monologue.
- I expected you a little later. But I guess that illustrates the power of decisions.
Clockwork finally turned around and gave him a smile. Danny blinked, remembering the reason for his visit. He took a few steps towards him as he took out the device in his pocket. Clockwork shifted his gaze from Danny's face to the device in his hand. He watched him in silence for a few moments before returning his eyes to the young man. Clockwork remained silent and completely relaxed, making Danny relax as well. He tried to find something in the ghost's gaze, but found nothing. Danny lowered his arm and fixed his eyes on the floor, thinking about how to approach the situation.
- Why?
He asked softly without looking at him. Clockwork relaxed at that.
- He... We both made the decision. - Danny spoke again.
- I know.
- Then? - Danny finally turned to see him.
- I followed your advice... - He placed his hand on his shoulder and smiled at his. - I was selfish.
Danny's mouth went dry as he remembered the last conversation he'd had with Phantom.
- But…
- Your fight is over, Danny. Take your own advice and be selfish.
- You don't understand… I… - Danny tried to collect his thoughts. - I have a different life now. I can't just go back to how…
Danny fell silent as he watched the amused expression on the ghost. Clockwork raised the staff and the device appeared floating in the space between them, before taking it with his free hand.
- The power is in you, not in your circumstances Daniel. – He returned the device. - Nobody is forcing you to choose… much less to do it now. Only you. – Clockwork tilted his head slightly to the right.
- But…
- Take your time. Trust me, you have a lot. – He paused. - No matter what you decide, there are no wrong choices.
Danny walked through the portal back into his home lab with his mind in a mess. He took 5 steps with his head down and when he picked it up, he bumped into his dad.
- That was an unauthorized entry into the ghost zone. – He commented seriously.
Danny focused on him and noted that there was no discomfort in him. Actually, he seemed to be expecting something from him.
- I… - He jerked his thumb toward the portal behind him. - Needed…
Jack relaxed and walked over to face him.
- Did you find what you were looking for?
Danny looked to the side for a few seconds before smiling weakly at him.
- I think so.
Jack smiled at his son and walked over to the portal controls, closing it. He walked back to him, patted him on the back, and they both started up the stairs.
- Will you report what I did? – He asked when they were halfway up the stairs.
Jack turned to see him with a smile.
- What did you do?
Danny smiled at him and they made it to the bottom of the stairs.
- Sam called a few minutes ago. – Jack said walking towards the kitchen.
- Did she?
Danny pulled out his phone and checked to see if he had any missed calls. "I was probably still in the ghost Zone." He thought not seeing any calls logged.
- Yep. – Jack came out of the kitchen with a spoon and a can of ice cream. – She invited us to eat tomorrow with her… and her parents.
- Oh…
- Don't worry Danno, Jazz said that she would make sure that we didn't say or do anything strange.
- That's not what worries me… - Danny sat on the first step and Jack imitated him.
- I know… - Jack put a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth. – But they will have to learn to deal with the heroes of Amity Park.
Danny smiled and his dad patted him on the back. Jack stood up and said goodbye to him, going upstairs eating his ice cream. Danny watched him disappear upstairs and looked down when he was out of sight. He rubbed his face with both hands vigorously and then put them to the side of his body, on the step. He looked up and stared at the ceiling, thinking about everything that had happened in less than 10 hours. He collected himself and wiped the sweat from his palms on his pants, leaving them on his knees.
He was silent for several minutes, processing every possible scenario that could occur to him and the potential consequences that would entail, positive and negative. After several minutes of deliberation, he removed the small device from his pocket and watched the blue light on the button. He ran his thumb over the button several times until his features relaxed. He bit his lip for a few seconds before holding back a laugh.
He closed his fist around the device and stood up. He imitated his father and went up to the second floor. He couldn't help but look down as his smile kept getting wider the closer he got to his bedroom door.
- Are you ok?
Danny looked up and noticed that Jazz was looking at him somewhat strangely.
- Yeah. - He smiled even more.
Seeing him smiling so much made her feel a little uncomfortable.
- Are you sure? - She said backing a little towards her own room.
- Very sure.
Jazz studied him for a few seconds and decided to let the subject die.
- If you say so…
Jazz turned and walked into her room, closing the door behind her. Danny just watched her run away from him and chuckled lightly.
- I've never been better… - He whispered.
This is the first fic I've ever written. It's originally in spanish but took the liberty to translate it to reach a broader audience so, I want to know your comments and thoughts about the story. Thanks in advace to everyone for following the story. Have a nice day.