This is Part 2 of a series of drabbles resolving mainly around Vlad after EG. This is Part 2. I recommend you read Part 1 first.

Enjoy!

Compromise Part 2

It was early the next morning, and Vlad was typing away at his computer mainframe in his lab. He had been reviewing his files and research revolving around the Realm of Nightmares; but no matter how much he looked at the data, he still could not figure out the same question that had already been plaguing him for months:

If the Realm of Nightmare did not exist in the ghost or human planes, then in what plane did it exist?

"Sensory Realm…," Vlad repeated out loud as he continued to read the same information he had been studying for months now.

"Where is that? Another world? Another dimension? Another time period? Where?!"

He slammed a hand against the table before pushing off the stool he had been sitting on and began to pace in front of his mainframe.

"How did Skulker escape the Realm of Nightmare? No… I know the answer. It's obvious how! He has somehow become the Spirit of Halloween! And only the holder of the Soul Shredder can move between the Realm of Nightmares and the Ghost Zone! But how? How did Skulker transfer Fright Knight's curse to himself? Was the knight destroyed? Or is he still in the Realm of Nightmares? Why now? And how?! Confound it! I don't know!"

He abruptly turned into Plasmius and floated back over to his mainframe and began to quickly type something in. He was getting nowhere! And he wouldn't get anywhere if he continued to ask himself the same questions! He needed answers! And the only place to get them was the Ghost Zone!

He needed to speak with Skulker!

His monitor suddenly beeped, and then a little square chip ejected from one of the mainframe's towers. Plasmius quickly floated over to it and grabbed the chip. He then stashed it in his inner pocket before commanding the lab, "Open the Ghost Portal!"

"Unable to open portal. Lab is not secure," his computer replied.

Vlad frowned. "What, how is it not…?"

"Because I am in the lab," a familiar voice suddenly said.

Vlad jolted and whirled around to find Stephanie standing next to the lab's entrance.

"Obviously you put some sort of lock on your lab so that the portal cannot open with myself present… And knowing you, you set the same locking mechanism for Annie or Dani," she continued.

Still in ghost form, Plasmius frowned. What happened with Stephanie, Annabelle, and Danielle last night quickly returned to his mind—not that he had forgotten. But he had been trying to focus on the matter with Fright Knight and Skulker at the moment.

But Vlad realized instantly that his feelings of guilt last night after getting angry at Stephanie and the girls had now mixed with another emotion. He was feeling bitter. Actually, he had been feeling bitter since this morning.

It was an emotion he had not felt for a while now, but it was there. Sitting heavily in his chest. He knew he could have handled the situation last night better, but had that truly warranted for Stephanie to treat him like she had?

Had he not told them to stay upstairs? And instead, they followed him and put themselves in danger? He had done what he had to in a difficult situation! But, somehow, all that happened last night was his fault! Somehow, he was the bad guy again! And worse, he didn't just get it from Stephanie, but from Daniel, too!

It was like no matter how much he tried he just couldn't meet anyone's expectations! And frankly, right now, he was sick of it.

"Of course, I put a safety lock on the lab! The last thing I would want is for the portal to be open and one of you to be attacked by a ghostly intruder!" Vlad answered, annoyed. "And clearly, what happened last night was not enough of a deterrent for you to stay away from the lab. How long have you been standing there?"

Stephanie crossed her arms. "Long enough to know you were on your way into the Ghost Zone without telling me."

"Why should I?" he challenged angrily. "I could be dead under a bridge right now for all you care—or not care, remember?"

"You cannot blame me for being angry with you. You threatened us! You scared the girls!"

"And you—and they—didn't listen to me!" he snapped back. "What part of 'wait here', did you not understand last night?"

"We were worried about you, Vlad!" she replied with aggravation.

Vlad scoffed. "And putting yourselves in danger did wonders for me."

Stephanie sighed deeply. "I don't want to argue again."

"Then, leave," he answered soberly.

The woman frowned deeply at him as she replied, "You cannot go into the Ghost Zone, Vlad! Not after what that ghost said to you! He could kill you!"

"I'll be fine. It's not the first time a ghost has threatened me. If you recall, I've been dealing with ghosts for over twenty years now!"

"You don't get it, do you?" Stephanie answered bitterly. "You are still stuck in the past, thinking you have only yourself to think about!"

The room's temperature abruptly went up by ten degrees as Plasmius hissed back. "Do not dare tell me I think only of myself, if everything I have been doing in these past months has been while thinking about everyone else BUT me! It is you who does not get it, Stephanie! You think dealing with ghosts is like dealing with some idiot businessmen at the office! You think you can just stroll in here like you did last night and talk them down and 'control' the situation! Well, wake up, woman! You are way in over your head! You cannot reason with a ghost! All they understand is power and whoever has the most of it is who comes up on top! You do not know a thing about ghosts or how to deal with one!"

"Because you have never told me!" Stephanie exclaimed this time. "You barely ever tell me anything related to ghosts! And the few things I know about Plasmius is because I've had to pry them out of you! Why are you so afraid of showing me?!"

"Have you not heard a word I just said?" Plasmius snapped. "It's dangerous!"

"It's dangerous because you keep me in the dark! If you're so worried about a ghost hurting me or the girls, then show me how to deal with them! Or, at the least teach me how to use a blasted ghost weapon! Anything, Vlad!"

Plasmius scoffed. "That is the most absurd thing you have ever asked me! What, next? You want me to turn you and the girls into my little ghost fighting squad? Call you all 'Team Plasmius'? Wouldn't that just be delightfully quaint!"

He glowered at her before he turned away with a flutter of his cape. "I do not have time for your nonsense, Stephanie. I have things to do."

"Some things never change, do they?" she muttered.

Vlad didn't know why the comment set him off, but he abruptly whirled back around, and growled, "You know what hasn't changed? You! You and your insufferable need to push me to the edge! You and your insistence of sticking your nose where it doesn't belong! If I keep you away from my ghost business, it is because it isn't any of your business! And if you cannot respect that, then maybe we need to reconsider our relationship!"

"You cannot be serious—!"

"Silence!" Plasmius yelled at her, effectively stunning the woman. "You want a lesson from me? Fine! Listen and learn well, Stephanie! I will always be Plasmius! Vlad Masters might be able to change and cater and bend to your will, but Plasmius cannot! Plasmius will not! He is not going to change no matter how much you insist on it! And you know why? Because none of us can survive without Plasmius! My ghost half is the only thing keeping the dangers from inside that portal from coming out here! Skulker is right! I've grown weak! And it's your fault! YOU! You and your cursed need to turn me into something I can never be! And I REFUSE to allow it any longer! Get out! I'm done with you!"

Stephanie just stared at him, but she didn't look angry. Just… hurt. But not finding anything else to say to him, she turned around and left the lab.

Plasmius' angry gaze faltered, especially when his sensitive hearing picked up the woman's quiet weeping as it faded away.

He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose to regain control of his emotions. But right then, his communicator on his wrist vibrated.

He lowered his hand and glanced at this watch, reading, 'Incoming call: Danny Fenton.'

Vlad immediately glowered at it. Daniel was the last person he wanted to talk to right now!

In his anger, he cursed their supernatural connection as he denied the call, and walked off towards the open portal.

He really did not have time for the drama.

He flew into the Ghost Zone with a specific destination in mind.

Skulker was going to listen to him, even if he had to tie him down to get him to do so!

It seemed everyone needed to be reminded of who Plasmius was—including himself.

Plasmius was not weak! Plasmius got things done! And Plasmius did not compromise!