This story has hit two milestones: it started on a Leap Day, and it ended on Danny's twentieth anniversary. Wait, three milestones! It's a story about his birthday party! That was a total accident! XD

Happy birthday to our friendly neighborhood ghost boy! Here's to twenty more years!

Epilogue: Vlad

These pesky Gargoyles refuse to let me into their master's lair. I'm forced to stand on the front lawn while surrounded by grotesque humanoid beasts seemingly made of stone. I would have expected them to point weapons at me, but I suppose their oversized teeth, claws, and muscles are weapon enough. One of them went inside to call their master. That was some time ago, or it at least feels like it.

A spasm wracks my chest. I tense up but won't let my pain show. Not in front of the Gargoyles. Seeing as they work for an Ancient, even I would have trouble fending them off on my own, should it come to that. With my core in this state, I wouldn't stand a chance.

Finally, a large portal slowly opens up. Someone else must have made it, as Reaper's energy is silver, not green. The Gargoyles in front of it move aside. A few moments later, the Master of Death steps through, and the portal disappears behind them.

"Forgive my rudeness, Vlad Plasmius," they say in place of a greeting, "but I do hope that this is important. I have a prior engagement, you see."

Oh, spare me. I caught a glimpse of the news before I came here, and I have a hunch. "May I assume this 'prior engagement' is just you attending your imprint's birthday party? When it isn't even his birthday?"

The Gargoyles bend slightly, prepped to pounce. One of them flexes their claws and snarls, "You will speak to Master Reaper with respect!"

Reaper rests their hand on the guard's head. All relax at the gesture.

To me, Reaper says factually, "My private life is none of your concern. Why have you come here, Vlad Plasmius?"

There's another flare in my chest, and I swallow a cry of pain. "It's about Danny Phantom's reckoning. It's only three months away, and I fear the preparations he is making will not be enough."

"My understanding," Reaper says, "is that Danny Phantom's preparations include the most advanced technology that the human realm can provide. And, I do not know if you are aware, but the child can use Portal Creation now."

That surprises me, though I have seen him swinging a scythe through the air a time or two. I had assumed he was merely experimenting with weaponry. It must have been Daniel who made the portal that brought Reaper here.

"That's all well and good," I say, "but what I want to know is why he must make preparations at all. I asked him why he wasn't going to stay with you that day, and he refused to tell me. I let it go at the time, but the closer we get to July 23rd, the more I crave answers."

The answer I receive sends knives through my chest, the sensation causing a small noise in the back of my throat that I hope no one hears. I refuse to show how weak I've become.

"If Danny Phantom has chosen to withhold this information from you, then I shall do the same."

No, my core hisses. No the boy not again not to him no.

The pressure in my chest makes me bold. Or, perhaps stupid. "Let me see if I have this straight. Someone of your caliber, one of the most powerful ghosts in existence, is taking the lead of an awkward seventeen-year-old?"

The Gargoyles growl and crouch again, and I fear that I've gone too far.

Fortunately, Reaper spreads their hands, signaling for calm. "Leave us," they command.

The Gargoyles glance at one another before obeying and heading back inside.

When it's just the two of us, Reaper says with a thinly veiled warning, "I have told you before to leave Danny Phantom alone. I will not ask nicely a second time."

"I am only trying to help him," I explain. "I know what the reckoning is like. I know about the horror and guilt that comes with it." My temper leaks out. I point up at Reaper and almost shout, "And, I know that you will do nothing to prevent such destruction!"

As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I regret them. Reaper did come to me when the final day of my own reckoning drew near. My best friend (and only real friend at the time), Hutch, had assured me that Reaper was trustworthy, but I had been hesitant to follow the word of an all-powerful being who was casually referred to as the Master of Death. I didn't have access to the Infinite Realms yet. The few ghosts I had seen were either ghouls, dangerous creatures with no thoughts beyond "attack," or Hutch Blairman, who is overly affectionate at worst as long as he likes you.

Reaper may not have stopped me in time, but I suppose I am also to blame for not accepting the portal they offered to me.

I'm also glad they sent the Gargoyles away. After my last comment, I don't think I would be standing here otherwise.

"I accept part of the blame, Vlad Plasmius," Reaper says honestly, "but I am hardly the only one at fault."

"I know," I admit. I fly up to their level. "Please, Reaper. Tell me why Daniel is so insistent on guarding the town from himself when he has multiple means of getting at least to this realm if not directly to your lair." The boy has a Ghost Portal in his basement, and I would happily let him use my own if that wasn't an option for whatever reason. Beyond that, one of his imprints can use Portal Creation. So can his girlfriend, and even he himself can apparently do it now. "What is it that you aren't telling me?"

"My response has not changed," Reaper states. "I will follow my son's lead."

Not again not to him not to him.

I resist the instinct to press my hands to my chest and moan. I cannot control the slight strain in my voice. "You're trying my patience. Let me spell it out for you. I am a halfa who has already gone through his reckoning. I have the experience. Therefore, only I can properly guide him. If I feel this strongly about it, as someone whom Daniel considers an adversary, what does that say about you, as the demon who is supposed to be a parent to him?"

Reaper jumps in before I can say anything else I'll regret. "It seems that we are trying each other's patience. Do not assume that my lack of direct involvement means that I do not care. I will do what I can to prevent what happened with you from happening with him." They fold their hands in front of them. I get the sense that, beneath that hood, they are gazing at me as if I am a fly that must be swatted. "It is in my nature to protect. This includes," they step forward and lift one hand, letting a small red fireball form in it, "disposing of threats."

I should know better than to pick a fight with an Ancient, particularly this Ancient, but the agony in my chest is making me forget myself. "And, I suppose I am one of those threats? I'm the good guy here!" Reaper makes a few little noises in their throat. "Are-are you laughing? What about this is so funny to you?"

"Forgive me," I will not, "but your lack of awareness is…somewhat amusing."

The flimsy hold I have on myself breaks. Before common sense can take over, I fire a ghost ray. Reaper doesn't move, but a silver shield appears to block my attack.

"It is my turn to spell things out," they say, dissipating the shield. "Danny Phantom is not to be trifled with. I do not say that as his parent. I say that as a wielder of the Healing Touch."

An exceedingly rare power that allows the user to transfer their own life force into another to heal wounds and cure illnesses. "And, this is relevant, how?"

"Because, Danny Phantom also possesses this ability."

So I've heard. "And…?"

Reaper simply regards me for a moment. "For all of your talk, you are…rather ignorant." I'm about to argue when they add, "Vlad Plasmius, only a certain type of ghost can acquire the Healing Touch."

A certain type? They couldn't mean halfas, could they? I instantly dismiss the idea. Reaper is not, nor were they ever, a halfa, and I've never obtained such a power.

Could they be referring to their and Daniel's good natures? It's said that the Healing Touch can only be learned by someone with pure intentions, or some such drivel. But, that wouldn't be exclusive to a specific type of ghost.

Reaper is waiting for me to figure this out. I won't look like a fool. Surely, I've learned something about this over the years.

What baffles me is that Daniel and Reaper are not the same type of ghost. Daniel is a halfa and will become a spirit when his human body dies. Reaper is a demon, a being who has always been a ghost, as well as…

As…

No, that can't be right.

"What are you saying?" I ask cautiously.

"If you are so knowledgeable," Reaper says, "you tell me."

My head is spinning. My core claws at my bones. Willpower alone is keeping me airborne. "But…but, that cannot be! Daniel is a halfa! A half-ghost can't be… It-it isn't possible!"

"Correction," Reaper says, "it has never happened before. A ghost is a ghost, Vlad Plasmius. Half or whole."

My god… I fist my hands in my hair, trying to process this new information. "Does he know?"

"I plan to tell him after his reckoning is complete and his ghostly form has altered." Reaper points at me. "Before you argue, let me remind you which one of us is the expert on such matters."

The boy tell him protect him the boy the boy.

I lower my head so that Reaper thinks I'm considering this. In truth, I'm biting down against the pain until my teeth ache. Ectoplasm fills my eyes. I hope it's seen as emotion and not weakness. Lately it feels as if my core is trying to finish killing me.

"Shouldn't he know before then?" I ask.

"I had considered this," Reaper says. "But, I believe the child has enough on his mind. There is no hurry, and at the end of the day, it will change nothing about him or his life."

"Yes, it will!" I shout, throwing out my hands. "Do you have any idea how rare your kind are?"

"I am fully aware, Vlad Plasmius. The knowledge will come as a shock to him, but it truly will change nothing." I open my mouth. Reaper raises a hand. "Enough. The only reason I am telling you this is that I do not want you interfering with Danny Phantom any more than you already have. I have told you before to leave him alone. If this revelation does not convince you," they speak slower and with an edge, "I will find another way."

Reaper summons their scythe and opens a portal, no doubt one that leads back to Daniel's party. Once they're gone, I take off into the atmosphere until I can't stand it anymore and collapse on to a floating landform that's just big enough to fit my pathetic self.

I pray that no one sees me as I curl up and cry and moan as my core has its way with me. It is as if flames are slowly burning me from the inside out, until my entire being is engulfed.

The pain has been on and off for two weeks and is steadily getting worse. When the feeling tapers off, I lay on my side and whimper like the sad sack I've become. My chest still hurts, as does the rest of me from my less than elegant landing, but the worst of it has passed for now. This is the worst it's been, and I have a terrible feeling that this is not the worst it will be.

The boy, my core screams.

My conversation with Daniel's teacher/imprinted mother plays in my mind. She all but stated that Daniel is afraid of his human parents, and why wouldn't he be? They hate ghosts with a passion, and one of them is Jack Fenton. But, Daniel loves them too much to leave. I always knew that heart of his would be his downfall.

Daniel needs to be protected. Now that I know how serious this is, I'm more certain than ever that he needs me. If he's going to be so insistent on staying in Amity Park, then he needs a proper guide.

The boy.

It has to be me.

The boy.

I scream at another brutal spasm.

The boy the boy the boy.

I hope you enjoyed Danny's break because, as you can see, it's over now. Thanks as always, and I'll see you in Part Ten!