Sorry this took so long.
Danny was still standing in the now vacant gym, trying to take in what Vlad and the ghouls had been planning.
A *whoosh* is followed by a faint light, and out walks a very smug-looking Vlad.
Vlad- Danny started, but was cut short.
How can I look good as the hero if you run away from the crowd? Someone has to witness me helping the less fortunate.
He said, "Danny wasn't sure if he was being serious or not."
You only ever play "hero" when you gain something. So what do the ghouls have that you so desperately want, Vlad?
I'm a man who has everything, Danny. What could cannibals offer me?
Care to enlighten me with the theory you have concocted?
Vlad stood idly, awaiting Danny's response.
But he was right; he had no idea what Vlad was up to.
He was just assuming there was an ulterior motive, like there had been in the past.
My, my, cat got your tongue, Daniel? It's a rather pleasant change of pace, Vlad said as he departed through the door.
I can't believe we went hunting and only managed to catch the Box Ghost.
"That's not even something I'd brag about, and that's saying something," Tucker said irritably.
Look next time you get into a fight with Danny, leave me out of it. I'd rather not play Doctor Phil for you guys.
Tuckered-Eyed Sam made sure she heard him.
I just wanted to show Danny that we could pick up the slack, while he does whatever he is doing. She trailed off, replaying their last conversation.
"You didn't think to ask Jazz if she knew something was up with him before you came in guns blazing?" Tucker said, irritated.
"Let's drop it," Sam said bitterly.
The room fell quiet; in truth, they both knew that they should have handled the situation differently.
*A week later,
Jack turned on the TV for background noise as he tinkered with his latest anti-ghost contraption, something he often did in the dining room, despite having a whole lab dedicated to it.
He rummaged through his toolbox, searching for what he needed to complete the gadget.
Maddie walked into the room and greeted her husband with a smile that quickly faded after catching a glimpse of the TV.
"Jack, turn around. You won't believe what they are doing," Maddie said with an annoyed tone.
As Jack spun around, he said something he never thought would happen.
They're giving the key to the city to a ghost?! Jack yelled in disbelief.
Maddie placed her hand on Jack's shoulder and turned up the TV to hear what the mayor was saying.
"It is with great honor that we, the people of Amity Park, present the key to the city to Plasmius. Due to his efforts in reigning in the ghouls and his multiple captures of ghoul-kind."
Plasmius shook the mayor's hand, accepting his award with a smile.
Thank you, as long as I'm around, I vow to keep Amity Park safe, said Vlad as he departed the stage, still basking in the attention.
The mayor grabbed the microphone and began to speak. Let's give another round of applause to the new hero of Amity Park.
A ghost?! Hero?! Are these people out of their minds? First, it was the ghost kid, and now this guy.
I mean, just look at him. His whole appearance doesn't give me the hero vibe.
Jack got more and more worked up by the second.
Jack, honey, we are just going to have to be there for the people when this ghost inevitably lets them down, "Maddie said, placing a hand on Jack's shoulder, trying to convince him to put his anger to better use.
I mean, Maddie, we devote our lives to stopping ghosts and trying to protect this town, and they-they put these things on pedestals? They idolize the very thing that has caused them so many problems. Jack stopped; he was breathing heavily from his rant.
Come on, let's go to the lab, Jack said, walking past Maddie. We've got work to do.
Danny mindlessly floated through the Ghost Zone, lately feeling like this place was his only way to get some peace from his problems.
This was something he had started doing often.
The more time I spend here, the less foreign this place feels, and the more it feels like home. I wonder what life would be like if I moved here? He pondered.
As he took in his surroundings, the endless number of floating doors. The Ghost Zone could often be a peaceful place, until it wasn't.
Danny opened his eyes and noticed that he was floating towards Skulkers Island.
He rolled his eyes. "I really don't want to deal with 'The Ghost Zone's Greatest Hunter,' " Danny said sarcastically.
Danny's thought made him let out a soft chuckle.
As he turned around and started to fly back towards the more vacant part of the Ghost Zone, a hand grabbed his leg and hurled him in the opposite direction.
"Where are you going, whelp?" Skulker said.
You think I wouldn't notice you lurking around my home? Well, if it's a fight you want, ghost child, it's a fight you'll get! Skulker yelled as he unsheathed his ghost-blade and used his jet pack to propel himself towards Danny.
Before Danny had a moment to explain, he watched as the green-haired hunter came soaring towards him.
They clashed, exchanging multiple blows.
As they stood apart from each other, ready to go toe to toe again, Skulker spoke plainly.
What exactly are you doing in the Ghost Zone?
"Uh, it's pretty obvious I'm a ghost," Danny said, turning his head slightly at the question.
No, you're a halfa. We don't accept you as a ghost. Just an annoying pest, who gets in our way. An outcast in your world and ours. Skulker growled.
A look washed over Danny, one that for a moment shook Skulker's composure.
His eyes darkened; he became silent, his fist clenched and glowing with ecto-energy.
Danny flew towards Skulker, they clashed, each hit echoing through the Ghost Zone.
After a few more exchanges, Skulker managed to land a lethal hit on the back of Danny's head, causing him to lose consciousness.
When he finally woke up, he was covered in a green fluid.
"Ectoplasm?" Danny said aloud.
(I know Skulker and I fought, but this seems like a lot. The exchanges must have been brutal.) Danny thought to himself as he stood and checked his surroundings.
Nothing but a jungle in his sight, Skulker's idea of a home completely eluded Danny.
"Agh, my head," Danny said, running his hand across the back of his skull.
Danny wandered through the jungle for a while before something in the distance caught his eye.
As Danny made his way toward the foreign object, its shape became more clear with every step he took.
He stopped a few feet away, but close enough to know what it was and eventually who it was.
Skulker's body lay across the ground, lifeless. Danny finally got closer to the body or the battle suit that Skulker inhabited anyway.
"Skulker?" Danny said. He didn't move.
"Come on, Skulker," Danny said, reaching down and turning him over.
His suit was severely damaged and covered in ectoplasm.
My guess is that his suit took too many hits, and he had to bail. Still doesn't explain why there's this much ectoplasm.
Danny got lost in thought, hoping the bad feeling he had was just that a feeling.
So Danny did a quick flyover of the island and still saw nothing.
Deciding it was time to go back to the house, Danny made his way to the ghost portal.
Some time passed and Danny made it to the entrance of the portal. Turning invisible, he stuck his head out of the portal to check for anyone in the lab. Once he was sure the coast was clear, he stepped into the lab and turned back to Fenton.
He turned to the stairs and began making his way to his room; he had a lot to go over.
There were plenty of blanks in Danny's memory from last night, which were starting to eat away at his mind.
Hey son, can't talk. Got ghosts to catch. Jack said, practically running past his son.
"Bye?" said Danny.
Danny decided to go to the living room to check in with everyone. He had been away for a while, basically as soon as school let out, he headed to the ghost zone.
Turning the corner, he saw his mom and Jazz sitting on the couch in the front room.
Jazz's face was buried in a book, and her mom watched the news, with her tools and latest tech spread across the coffee table.
Hey guys, what's going on, Dad? He practically ran me over just a second ago.
Oh, well, the city has decided to deem a new ghost as its protector and even gave him a key to the city.
So you can see that kind of has your father pretty worked up at the moment. I'm sure he will calm down sooner or later. Said Maddie, giving Danny a soft smile.
A new ghost hero? What happened to the last one we had? Danny said, rather confused.
Jazz looked up from her book and slightly eyed Danny.
"Oh, I'm not sure, honey. It seems we haven't seen much of the other ghost. When this one stepped up to help with the ghouls, the city began fawning over him," Maddie said.
Here, take a look. They've been talking about it nonstop on the local news. Jazz said, grabbing the remote to turn up the TV.
*Out with the old and in with the new? Locals are wondering the same thing with the decline in sightings of Amity Park's Phantom hero.*
The TV then shifts to a picture of Vlad shaking the mayor's hand.
"You've got to be kidding me," Danny said in complete disbelief, storming out of the room.
Danny, wait! Jazz said, calling after him.
"Yes, Jazz?" Danny said, clearly not in the mood for talking.
Are you okay? It doesn't seem like you're taking the news well. Jazz asks, concerned about her brother.
"Okay?" I just found out that my archenemy is being praised by my town! Danny's voice rising with every word.
Danny-Jazz started to speak but Danny cut her off.
I've risked my life for these people day and night. I save them always, putting everyone before me...I didn't ask to be a hero. Danny's voice died down for a moment.
I've given my all for them, and I have been ridiculed and hunted. Every battle I fought when the odds were stacked against me, I did it because they needed me, because my family needed me.
But that's no longer the case. I'm not wanted by the ghost, I'm not wanted by the humans. I'm an outcast to this world and that's fine.
Danny Phantom is done. Let the people save themselves because I'm done doing it, Danny said, walking away.
Jazz stood there, watching her brother leave.
(This is hurting him more than he will ever admit. Maybe I'll try to talk to him later when he's had some time to process this.) Jazz thought.
Hours passed and Danny was still fuming. He eventually found himself in the emergency op center above his home.
No longer pacing back and forth, he sat in a chair and zoned out, trying to compose his thoughts.
Sam called Tucker after seeing the news.
"Tucker, turn your TV to channel 39. You have got to see this right now," said Sam.
Ok, ok. I'm doing it. What could be so important that I'd have to willingly watch the news, Sam? Tucker said, slightly annoyed.
Tucker flipped through the channels before eventually landing on channel 39. He saw Vlad on TV. Tucker's mouth dropped.
"Are you seeing this, Tucker?" Sam yelled over the phone.
"Yeah, I don't think Danny is going to take this very well," Tucker said, scratching his head.
"How could they do this?" the guy looks like a discount Dracula, Sam. Tucker asked.
I don't know Tucker, but whatever Vlad is planning is going to mean trouble for Danny. I've tried calling Danny, but nothing. Do you think he's already seen this? Sam asked.
If he does, Vlad better sleep with one eye open. I don't think Danny is going to take this kind of thing lightly. I'll shoot him a text too. Tucker said before ending the call.
*BZzz *BZzz *BZzz
Danny picked up his phone. There was a missed call and text from Sam, and a text from Tucker.
"Not now, guys," Danny said as he placed his phone on silent and turned the screen over no longer facing him.
Danny leaned back in the chair, returning his gaze to the window. A dark silhouette raced by.
"What the?" Danny said loudly, jumping out of his seat.
With a ring of white light wrapped around his body, Danny became the Phantom and flew after the figure.
Danny floated above his home, canvassing the area for whoever or whatever passed his window.
A figure was jumping from rooftop to rooftop; Danny noticed and loosely followed.
Danny thought, ("Ugh, I can't seem to get a good look at what I'm following.")
Eventually, the figure stopped, still facing away from Danny.
The figure spoke: "I know you are there."
For a moment, Danny asked himself how she knew, but the thought left as quickly as it arrived.
Danny floated down to the rooftop below him, but he and the stranger were still a whole building apart.
Who are- Danny was cut off.
Have you ever wondered why some people turn their backs on what they once stood for?
Danny stayed silent.
How a good cop could go bad and eventually work for the very evil they once stood against.
"What are you talking about? How does any of that have to do with me?" Danny asked.
They'll never truly accept you, whether you are a ghost or a ghoul. Humans fear what they don't know and aren't fond of what they can't control.
We are outcast, doomed to roam this world under the heel of Ghost Hunters, Doves and whoever else thinks they are better then us but together we change this world.
The stranger glanced back at Danny, the moonlight giving him a glimpse of who stood before him.
They were wrapped in bandages from head to toe and wore a maroon-colored cloak with pointed ears.
"What makes you think I would ever join you?" Danny asked.
The stranger walked forward, now standing on the edge of the roof, turned to face Danny.
"Don't you want to save the world, Danny?" the stranger said as they fell backwards off the roof.
In an instant Danny took flight to catch them, but when he got there, he found no one. It was just him and straggling pedestrians still wandering through the night.
It had been a few months since Danny encountered the mysterious figure on that late night.
The ghoul attacks had become more frequent, but there was no sign of any red-cloaked ghouls. However, with the increase in attacks, the Doves became more involved.
Vlad was still putting on a show and 'saving' people from carnage. Vlad was praised on TV and the radio. No matter where Danny turned, he couldn't escape that.
Danny had stuck to his word; he turned a blind eye to people in need of help. He isolated himself entirely from everyone, barely making an appearance in his own home.
It's been months, and their words still echo in my head. Despite everything they stood for, the words moved me. Danny thought about the speech over and over since that night.
"Danny!" His father yelled from downstairs. Still staring at the ceiling, Danny was oblivious to his father's calls. "Danny!" His father yelled, sounding much closer now.
"Yeah?" Said Danny, rolling off his bed. His father opened the door to his room. "Didn't you hear me calling?" His father asked. "No, sorry. What's going on?" Said Danny.
"We are having a guest over for dinner, so help your mother set the table," his father said as he left the room. "Guest? Who is it?" He called, but his father didn't reply.
"Ugh, well, I definitely see how annoying that is," Danny said, mumbling to himself. Danny closed his bedroom door and began walking downstairs.
He turned the corner and barely made it to the dining table when a knock came from the front door.
Vlad Danny grumbled
What do you want? he barked.
What are you doing son? Come on in Vladdy Jack said escorting his guest to the dining room
Vlad shot Danny a smug look.
Danny followed his father and Vlad to, taking his seat across from his enemy.
Vlad leaned back making sure it was just the two of them before speaking.
Tell me how does it feel to know I'm a better hero than you are or dare I say were Daniel. I've got everything you could ever want from it in such a short time.
Yeah it's remarkable what you can do, when the games rigged Vlad. Danny shot back.
Whatever do you mean child? My offer still stands we could join forces. Only thing that could make it any better is for your mother to see I'm the better man. Vlad seemed amused with himself.
Gross. Danny blurts back.
Vlad rolls his eyes, now if you'll excuse me. Vlad stood and made his way down the hall.
Danny stood and walked to the kitchen. Spotting his mom he walks over.
What is he doing in our house Danny said bluntly.
Danny he is our guest, try to show some hospitality.
Your father ran into him the other day and couldn't help but invite him over to catch up. His mom said.
She didn't look exactly thrilled to have him over either, this brought some comfort to Danny. Still he left the kitchen dissatisfied with her answer.
Dinner went on, Vlad threw jabs at Jack/Phantom for better part of the evening. Subtle enough that only Danny would catch them.
But the cherry on top is when Vlad asked to turn the TV on, Oh would you look at that they're having a poll for who the favored hero is Vlad cast Danny a smile.
Danny slammed his fist on the table, I've had enough of this Vlad.
Danny! his family said in unison.
The cheap shots at my father, drooling over my mother. The complete disrespect for the town hero. For what? To make yourself feel better? What-
Vlad stood up abruptly and cut Danny off, I'm appalled by your accusations Daniel. Throwing on a hurt look, trying to really sell it to the room.
Everyone at the table was shocked, at Danny's outburst. No one expected this sort of thing from him.
All of this because of a little banter? The Amity Park Ghost was never a hero to begin with just a kid playing pretend, he was and still is well out of league.
At least now the town will actually be protected.
Tell me why are you so offended by a another ghost taking his place? Vlad said taking a seat.
Vlad knew he had stumped Danny, All eyes were on Danny awaiting his response.
Danny took his plate and hurled it along with its remaining contents at Vlad.
Vlad evaded it making it seem like a close call. A smile crept across his face.
Danny to leaped over the table at Vlad throwing hay maker after hay maker. Managing to get a few solid swings in before his father pulled his son away.
Danny! What is your problem? His father yelled.
Vlad stood up dusted himself off while still holding his eye and had a busted lip to match.
Danny shrugged his dad off and left the house slamming the door behind him.
Wait Danny! his father yelled after him.
Walking down the street he was rambling to himself. "A better hero" "A better ghost" who the hell does he think he is.
Careful you keep talking to yourself people are going to think you're crazy. A voice called leaning against the street lamp.
You! It's you from that night. Danny said walking towards the mysterious figure.
The stranger tilted their head, Danny couldn't tell due to their mask but he had a feeling they were grinning.
Let's take a walk, I think you are ready hear my offer now they said approaching Danny.
Danny pause briefly, then spoke I want in, you were right it is time for a change.
Glad you've come to your senses, so how about that walk? They asked .
So Danny and the stranger walked discussing matters of their new found arrangement.
By the way my names Eto the stranger said, Welcome to Aghori Tree.