Disclaimer: I own nothing from Danny Phantom
(Updated 12/14/2024)
Chapter 18: A Not-So Bitter Reunion
Jason's's POV
Earlier that day after his call with Vlad...
"Jeez, what an asshole. Are you sure we can trust him?" Sam asked irritably, but I was beyond pissed myself that he decided to show up unannounced along with Trish and interrupted such an important call! Vlad had just mentioned he might have a lead on Dani's whereabouts, and now I'd have to wait for him to call me back to get any answers!
"Hey, you're the one that started insulting him before even introducing yourself so I don't blame him for getting pissed off. Vlad's a busy man but he's been tirelessly helping me look for my sister so I really wish you had kept quiet and let me finish my conversation with him first. Especially since you two and Vlad are the only ones I can trust right now. Does that answer your question, or are you just here to waste time?" I answered bluntly, slipping my phone back into my pocket after Vlad hung up, feeling uncertain about what to do next. I know Sam and Trish mean well; they're just as worried about Dani as I am. But they need to realize that we need Vlad's support if we have any hope of finding her—she could be anywhere right now!
Then I suddenly remembered them mentioning some sort of 'secret' about Vlad. I had a vague idea what it was but I thought it might be a good idea to find out for sure so I asked Sam and Trish directly. "By the way, what were you talking about earlier, Trish? You know, the part about Vlad having some kind of big secret? Do you guys know something I don't? I have my own theories about why he accepted the truth about her so easily, but if you know something that might help me understand the situation better, can't you just tell me? Please?"
Sharing a concerned look with Sam, Trish hesitantly replied. "To tell you the truth, Dani hasn't shared the full story with us either. Judging from what she did tell us though, it's clear she was really shaken by whatever went down between them. Especially since Vlad was initially a real manipulative bastard, so obviously we just assumed the worst of him. Once we found out he started actually started taking steps to fulfill his promise to help her out, Dani mentioned she might be willing to give him a second chance. Of course, that was before everything went south with your parents and she had to leave town in a hurry. So yeah, all we really know about Vlad at this point is that, according to her, he REALLY despises your dad because of something that happened back in college, and he's kind of half-ghost too."
Although Trish kinda mumbled the last part, I definitely caught what she said and couldn't believe I was right about that last part of my theory. It explains why Dani felt an instant connection with him the first time we met Vlad. Unfortunately, I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I didn't really notice what was happening around us until the very end of our trip. I already knew dad's theatrics were rubbing Vlad the wrong way from the moment we stepped inside his castle, but once I saw how much Vlad had warmed up to Dani I was so relieved that our trip hadn't turned out to be a total disaster after all that I stopped thinking about his weird behavior altogether.
"So much for not spilling the beans." Sam sighed, then begrudgingly continued. "But it's true—at that reunion, Dani found out that Vlad's been half-ghost for the last twenty years of his life ever since his accident with the ghost portal prototype he and your parents created back in college. Apparently, he's also the one who gave Vallen his ghost hunting equipment so Dani has someone else around to indirectly help her hunt ghosts since Trish and I can't fly."
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, processing all this, I nodded to myself and said, "Now it all makes sense. I knew there had to be another reason Vlad accepted the truth about Dani so easily apart from the fact that he's studied ghosts too and knows they're real. I had a feeling there was a lot more to him than meets the eye, but this, this really takes the cake."
Looking up at Sam and Trish I told them confidently. "I think I know where Dani has gone. If she's not in Amity Park, the only other possibility is Vlad's castle. We've checked everywhere else we thought she might be hiding and if she really was being controlled like all the other ghosts in town we would have seen her by now. Either way my sister's safety comes first so as soon as I find out for sure exactly where she is I'm leaving."
Softening my stern gaze when I saw how sad they looked, I clasped my hands together in my lap and continued calmly, "Look, I know how much you both care about Dani, but the best thing you can do for her right now is try to figure out what's going on with the ghosts around here. Vlad's right, Dani needs to focus on herself right now and we also need to make sure our parents can't reach us. I know it's hard, but can you promise to let me deal with the rest on my own until this whole thing blows over?
"I need to concentrate on supporting Dani and staying under the radar until Vlad gives us the all-clear. I trust him because he's been very understanding of our situation and even helped me calm down after everything went spiraling out of control. While I may not know him that well personally, but I believe Vlad's feelings are sincere and he genuinely cares about Dani, especially considering the fact that they're both half-ghosts due to one of our parents' mistakes. Moreover, if we do manage to find her, it will only complicate things more if you two go missing too and have to give up your home like we did."
My fists shook with a mix of anger and heartache as I bit my lip and said, "You didn't see their faces; they were so contorted with fear and hatred that it was like they couldn't recognize what was right in front of them. Dani was terrified for her life when those Blood Blossoms started hurting her, but she still apologized to mom and dad for doing what she had to to protect herself in the end! And my bitch of a mother wouldn't listen to me when I first tried to tell her without specifying the reason why Dani was allergic to them to get rid of them. As for my dad—sure, he has a short temper, but if I hadn't stepped in, he wouldn't have thought twice about incapacitating my sister until they figured out what to do with her. It was as if they genuinely weren't sure if she was even worth saving after finding out she's half-ghost..."
"Hey, it's going to be alright," Trish said with a reassuring smile, placing her hand on my shoulder. "We've seen Dani in action, and she's incredibly strong! She'll get through this! Plus, she can always rely on us, right Sam?"
Nodding, Sam smirked and said, "Damn straight!"
"Thanks guys," I began gratefully. "I can see why you're considered Dani's best friends and I'm sorry for getting on your case before, its just that that call was really important. Still I'm sure he'll reach out to me again soon and this time I promise to keep you updated if I learn anything new about Dani. In the meantime, could you both dig a little deeper into that Freakshow guy? I have a bad feeling he's behind all the unusual ghost activity because the timing is just too perfect. To make things worse, his circus has been set up on the outskirts of town for much longer than we anticipated, and I can't shake the feeling that he's still waiting for a certain SOMEONE to arrive so he can exert his mind control over them."
"You're talking about Dani, right? I had a feeling that's what Freakshow is after too, which is why I mentioned it to Vlad in the first place." Sam agreed, crossing his arms. "If Vlad's really only trying to help Dani then I guess I shouldn't have been so quick to piss him off like that. After all, if she does trust him enough to stay in Wisconsin, he can't be all bad, even if he is definitely still a wealthy snob."
With an eye roll and a playful nudge, Trish remarked. "Oh, please! Like you're in any position to judge! Your parents are just as filthy stinking rich as Vlad is but unlike him they prefer to keep a low profile by living in a modest home with your grandma and sending you to Casper High instead of some elite private boys' school."
"Ugh don't remind me," Sam said with a scoff before turning to me again and offering an apology. "Anyway, I'm sorry for messing up things with Vlad. I think we're all feeling the pressure and are just as anxious as you are about Dani so I really hope you're right about her heading to Vlad's place. If we're lucky, she'll show up there sooner rather than later, or at least we can let him know we think she is since it's probably the safest option for both of you."
"Yeah," I nodded, staring down at my hands. "I really hope that's what Dani is up to because the thought of her being manipulated by some random lunatic and taken away to live as a ghostly slave is just too awful to imagine. Especially since he could easily get away with kidnapping her because to everyone else it might look like Dani ran away to join the circus like so many other kids her age who have been kicked out of their homes. We may have lost our parents, but Dani will always have me, just like she will always have you two. She's not alone, and I never want her to feel that way again."
Danielle's POV
As I stretched my arms after waking from my nap, I couldn't help but feel the strong urge to drift back to sleep since I was so damn comfortable. And the funny thing is even when I sprawled out on the bed, it was so spacious that my feet were nowhere near the edge when I looked down. I know it will take some time to adjust to all of this, but after finally letting go of my hesitation to accept all these gifts from Vlad beyond just the clothes I felt much better about treating myself a little more...
To start with, I opted for a simple outfit: a baby-blue blouse with short sleeves that ends at the shoulder, paired with dark gray leggings, and some slip-on shoes to wear after my shower. Technically I had already taken one before we left to go shopping, but in the spur of the moment I decided to go ahead and take another quick one since there's something super refreshing about slipping into a set of clean clothes afterwards. Ideally, I would have preferred a long bath since it's easier to wash my hair that way, but after accidentally freezing the tub water last time, I'm not too eager to push my luck again.
Vlad said it should be okay for me to tap into my ghost powers now, and I'm relieved to feel more like my old self again. However, there's also this strange underlying sense of an irreversible change inside of me, like I'll never be the same. To be honest, it's a little unsettling. After everything I've been through, I can't quite figure out if it's because my ghost core finally maturing, as Vlad suggested, or if something else is not quite right. I'm just not sure if I can trust my gut instincts at the moment.
Last time I treated myself like a freak, Vlad completely lost it, so I really need to change my mindset. My parents may have turned their backs on me, but Jace hasn't, and neither have Sam, or Trish. They must be incredibly worried, but until we sort things out with Jace, I don't want to drag them into this mess. Still, I couldn't help but wonder how they're doing over in Amity Park. Once I finished getting dressed, I placed my laptop on the bed and powered it on, admiring the backlit keyboard and smiling at how thoughtful a gift it was, especially after being stuck with my dad's dinosaur of a desktop for so long.
Unfortunately, since this was a brand new laptop, I had to go through the entire setup process, which included creating a username and password. Just as I finished the tedious task, a loud beep startled me, indicating that someone was calling my room on the video intercom. I quickly jumped to my feet, accidentally dropping the towel I had draped over my shoulders, eager not to keep them waiting. Out of breath, I asked, "Y-yes, what is it?"
"Forgive me for interrupting you at an inopportune moment, Milady," the ghost chef said with a gentle smile. "Lord Plasmius has requested that I inform you he has been delayed by a pressing issue, so he has entrusted tonight's menu to your discretion. Is there anything in particular you would like for dinner this evening?"
Flustered, I unconsciously started to smooth my slightly damp hair as a distraction while thinking of an answer. After a brief pause though, I asked, "I'm not sure. What kind of food does Vlad typically have for dinner?"
"It depends on his mood," the chef replied, clearly having moved beyond the earlier awkwardness when I called him out on adding extra vitamins in my mango lemonade. "However, my lord has a special preference for certain types of fish when they're in season, particularly during the summer. His tastes are quite refined, but every now and then, he asks for something he calls 'breakfast for dinner,' which still puzzles me. On that note, we just received a fresh delivery of meat and dairy today, and Lord Plasmius expressed a desire to increase your protein intake. Would you like me to suggest something along those lines?"
I never imagined Vlad as someone who would enjoy seafood, but considering his wealth, he's likely tried caviar at some point—those fancy fish eggs you often see in movies. Personally, while I don't mind fish, it's not my favorite. My dad has a knack for overcooking it whenever we brought some home from our fishing trips, and for some reason, my mom wouldn't cook it for us either. With that in mind, I definitely wanted to avoid seafood. I thought of a few dishes I might like, but I wanted to make sure Vlad would be on board too. So, I asked if the ghost chef could prepare some fried ravioli with red sauce. As a side, I requested rice and steamed carrots, knowing Vlad would probably be annoyed if I skipped my veggies, especially since he's so dedicated to playing the role of my new father...
My mood darkened a bit as I reflected on my parents and compared their parenting methods to Vlad's, who has obviously shown me a lot more consideration in the short time I've known him than they have throughout my entire life. Shoving those feelings aside, I placed my dinner order with the chef, then picked up the towel from the floor and returned to the bed to finish setting up my laptop. I still wanted to catch up on the latest news from Amity Park. I just hope things haven't spiraled out of control since I left, because I... I can't go back.
Perhaps one day I will, but for now, I'm slowly starting to accept that my new home is here. Vlad has welcomed me into his home just like he promised with open arms, even going so far as to redecorate an entire room for me. Still, a part of me yearns for my old life, if only a little. And now that I'm here, I can't help but wonder... who am I? Does anyone in Amity Park need Dani Phantom anymore? Or has everyone at Casper High already forgotten that Dani Fenton was once a part of their lives too? Do my parents...regret abandoning me?
Taking a deep breath through my nose, I gazed at the laptop screen for what felt like an eternity before finally deciding to shut it down again. As much as I wanted to stay informed, I knew that if the situation was as dire as serious as I dreaded, it would only heighten my anxiety and push me to prioritize the town's problems over my own. But my parents are ghost hunters too, right? So why can't they handle their ghost infestation problem for a change instead of leaving it all to me?
I already knew the answer to both of those questions, yet they still left me feeling uneasy. To maintain my own peace of mind, I decided that the best thing I could do was take a step back for the time since I can't do anything to help them right now anyway. I'm the one in need of moral support, which might come off as selfish, but as Vlad pointed out, it's the reality of the situation.
He's the one who taught me that crucial lesson, which is what's helped motivate me to train harder in order to strengthen myself and deepen my understanding of my ghost powers. I have to take a step back and set aside some time to explore who I am and decide what I want the rest of my future to look like. My top priority right now though is to let Vlad do his thing so he can get my brother to safety and then we can figure out a way for me to reach out to my friends so they know I haven't completely turned into a ghost and abandoned my lifeless body somewhere. I owe them that much, even if I won't be able to return to Amity Park anytime soon...
Assuming I'll be able to at all.
Vlad's POV
After allowing Danielle some time to herself to settle into her new bedroom and get some much needed rest, I seized the opportunity to perform a comprehensive background check on the ringleader of Circus Gothica. Frankly, I'm amazed that no one else has pieced together the clues until now, especially considering how there've been so many mysterious robberies in every major city he has visited. Yet, those petty thefts are nothing compared to the large-scale heists he has orchestrated in Amity Park over the past few days, particularly with Danielle absence making them all too easy to pull off thanks to the small legion of ghosts at his disposal.
Through my research, I've uncovered that the man known as Freakshow, or Frederich Isak Showenhower, was named after his great-grandfather and possesses an artifact that can mesmerize any ghost that looks upon it, compelling them to follow his commands. Even viewing an image of his staff sent a slight tingle through the dark corners of my mind, suggesting its power seems to specifically target ghosts. Fortunately, I'm not someone who can be so easily swayed. Nevertheless, it's evident that Freakshow is patiently waiting for the opportunity to turn Danielle into his most prized puppet. Unfortunately for him, he will never have the chance to meet her let alone exert any sort of mind control over her, as I intend to dispose of that relic very soon.
If I play my cards right disclose that I'm the one who supplied Vallen Gray with ghost hunting equipment, he could prove to be a valuable ally in this situation. Since he's not a ghost, he won't be vulnerable to Freakshow's mind control—unless Freakshow somehow gets a ghost to possess him, but Vallen's battle suit should offer protection against that. Furthermore, I might be able to convince Skulker to let me add a remote control feature to his robotic exoskeleton. This would enable him to operate his battle suit from a safe distance, using its weaponry to thwart Freakshow's plans. As long as he avoids direct eye contact with that staff or any images of it, he won't fall under its hypnotic influence.
I have a few other options to consider, but to regain control of the situation and advance my own plans, I first need to break Freakshow's control over the ghosts in Amity Park so that they can go back to wreaking havoc, thereby forcing Jack and Maddie to do their jobs and actually hunt ghosts, rather than leaving it to two teenagers. Speaking of which, when my chef informed me that Danielle had chosen her dinner and was keeping my plate warm, I decided this was a good place to stop for now and left to join her. I teleported to save time and was pleased that Danielle didn't flinch this time, indicating she's becoming accustomed to my ghost signature. With some training, she'll soon be able to differentiate between my ghost signature and that of a duplicate, which is simply an extension of myself.
Upon seeing Danielle, a smile spread across my face as I remarked, "You look absolutely lovely, my dear. Those new clothes really suit you."
"Thanks." Danielle smiled gently in response just as our food was served. It seemed she had waited as long as possible for me, and I genuinely appreciated her thoughtfulness.
She seemed much more relaxed, and the color had returned to her cheeks, indicating that Danielle had finally shaken off the last residual effects of those Blood Blossoms. The dark circles under her eyes had disappeared too, but I knew she would still need plenty of rest in the coming days to fully replenish her ecto-energy. Although she was still deeply concerned about her brother, I remained hopeful that we would be able to get through this rough patch eventually.
"Vlad?" Danielle asked suddenly, glancing up at me. "Are you alright?"
Clearing my throat, I gave a brief nod. "Yes, I'm fine Danielle. I just have a lot on my mind as I'm sure you do as well. I'm also very glad to see that you're looking much better now and I do apologize for staring for so long. I sincerely didn't mean to trouble you, little badger."
As Danielle settled back into her seat, she began uncertainly. "That makes sense considering you've been doing so much to help me and working almost non-stop for days. And after what happened earlier in the limo, it made me realize that you know a lot about me, but I still barely know anything about you. That's why I wanted to ask you something. Do you...think we could train together when you have some free time? Then maybe afterwards we can kinda just hang out for a while."
"I would be delighted to, little badger," I replied with a friendly smile, but then my expression shifted to a more serious tone. "That said, it may take a little while since I still need to address your parents and a few other matters. For now, let's focus on getting your brother here, okay? Once that's taken care of we can begin to establish a daily routine."
"That's totally understandable," Danielle replied, though I did not miss the hint of disappointment that crept into her voice as she let out a sigh. "I had a feeling you'd say that, but I wanted to ask anyway because I don't know what else I can do to show you how much I appreciate what you've done for me or how to start to make it up to you for getting so hysterical the other day."
"That reminds me." I interjected before she could say anything else. "I also wanted to apologize for my earlier behavior when I implied that you were the sole source of happiness in my life. It was unfair of me to place that burden on you. And I only lost my temper like that because it pains me to see you degrade yourself like that when I know you are an exceptionally kind, brave, and selfless young woman, Danielle."
After taking a deep breath and standing up, I clasped my hands behind my back and said, "Regardless, we should contact your brother before it gets too dark, as he's eager to hear what I have to share about my 'search' for you. If you're done eating, I suggest we take care of that right away."
And hopefully this time there won't be any more...interruptions. I added silently to myself as I patiently watched Danielle rise from her seat to follow me to the lounge area to speak to her older brother together at long last.
Jason's POV
Waiting is always the hardest part when you're worried about someone you love. And having to rely on someone else to help them when you're powerless to do it yourself feels even worse. But I've done everything I can, and I couldn't risk confronting a madman alone who is practically controlling an army of ghosts right now. Things are much more dangerous around here without my sister here to protect us and the fact that no one else has done anything to stop them is a testament to that. I had hoped my parents would at least try to intervene when the ghosts began threatening people, demanding to know where Dani Phantom is after they had stolen nearly everything of value in this town. I feel terrible about the thought of leaving Amity Park to fend for itself, but my sister will always come first, no matter how selfish that may seem.
Since leaving Fenton Works, I've hardly slept at all, no matter how hard I try. Every time I close my eyes, I see Dani's hurt and terrified expression, mirroring the fear and anger in my parents' eyes. I can't shake the image of her crying alone in the dark, wondering what she did to deserve this. But none of it is her fault. It actually could have been partially my fault this happened because I wasn't being as supportive or attentive as I should have been as her big brother. That's why I've made a promise to myself: the second we find her, I will hug my sister as tightly as I can and never leave her side again—at least not until I know she's safe.
I've already officially pulled out of school with Trish's help since she let me borrow her laptop, which thankfully I can do now as a legal adult without too many any legal repercussions. Besides, the only reason I stayed in school an extra year was so I could take care of my sister for a little longer and earn a few extra college credits. Unfortunately, I can't do the same for Dani since she's still a minor, and my parents still have the original copies of her school records and birth certificate. However, maybe Vlad can help me with that, even if it means pulling a few strings. He's good at that sort of thing, right? If Sam and Trish are telling the truth and he really is half-ghost, he might have used his powers to get ahead and make a quick fortune too, which would explain a lot.
Everything feels so surreal to me right now—or perhaps it's just my dizziness playing tricks on me—because I never would have guessed that Vlad Masters, of all people, would turn out to be our greatest ally during this difficult time. But even Vlad's patience has its limits which is why he lost his temper with Sam, still, at least it he's already hard at work trying to find my sister. As for Dani, I can only hope she's already on her way or that Vlad has managed to locate her himself, as he hinted earlier. That would certainly put my mind at ease...
Just as my eyelids began to feel heavy, I was suddenly jolted awake by the sound of my phone ringing. When I saw it was Vlad calling, I eagerly picked up on the second ring, hoping he had some good news to share that would allow me to relax tonight until we find my sister. "Hey Vlad, I'm really sorry about earlier. I didn't expect—"
"Jace it's me, Dani. I'm...I'm here with Vlad so you don't have to worry about looking for me anymore." My sister's voice trembled on the other end, her voice thick with emotion, and I instantly snapped to full alertness. "I'm so sorry, I wanted to tell you sooner but I..."
"Dani, you're—?! But how did...? Wait, when did you even get there?!" I exclaimed. "Is Vlad on the phone with you right now? Are you okay? Are you hurt or sick? Please, I need to know you're alright!"
"Yes, I'm right here, Jason," Vlad said calmly, even though Dani was clearly emotional after hearing my voice again for the first time since I had tried beating the shit out of our dad to protect her. "And I promise I'll explain everything, but first I have a confession to make. The truth is Danielle arrived here moments before you first called me after flying for two days straight. She was very weak at the time but I've already taken care of her condition, and she's been recovering well. However, she wasn't in a state to talk to you, so I kept that information to myself until now. I hope you can forgive me for deceiving you."
"Forgive you? Vlad, you did exactly what I asked, and you only lied to me to protect Dani, so of course I forgive you! I just can't believe Dani is really—" I paused, lowering my voice since I didn't want to add to my sister's anxiety. Returning my attention to her, I asked, "When we couldn't find you anywhere, I was hoping you'd gone to Vlad for help. But Dani, are you sure you're okay?"
After a long painful silence Dani finally replied, ""I'm at least in a better place than I was before. Vlad has been incredibly supportive, and he mentioned that you've disowned mom and dad too. I'm so sorry Jace. This is all my fault! You shouldn't have had to make a choice between us when I'm the one who caused this mess! I...I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I feel so lost, like I don't even know who I am anymore."
"That's an easy one." I told her confidently. "You're my little sister, and we're still a family despite mom and dad's bullshit. I've told you before that I'd keep trying to get them to be more open and understanding, but at the same time I know I can't always change how people think or feel, no matter how much I wish I could. They've made their choice, and I've made mine too because you're the only one in this family who truly matters to me, Dani. Plus, you're the coolest person I know, and you don't deserve any of this. The only ones to blame are our parents for refusing to listen."
"Well said, my boy," Vlad praised, and I could hear Dani trying to stifle her tears as she blew her nose. "I know you have many questions, but we're short on time," he continued, his tone turning serious. "As much as it hurts to say, Danielle's friends were correct—there's something troubling happening in Amity Park and it's no longer safe for you there anymore. Any ghost aware that Danielle is in fact only half-ghost could disclose that information to whoever is controlling them, and they might come after you to use you as bait to lure her back there. So, I need you to leave right away—"
"What the hell are you two talking about? And since when did you start talking to Sam and Trish, Vlad? You never mentioned meeting them! More importantly, what do you mean the ghosts in Amity Park are being brainwashed?" Dani asked, her voice tinged with anger.
Sensing the tension, I quickly intervened to clarify on Vlad's behalf. "It's ok Dani, I can tell you the rest." I then recapped everything I had done and explained how we discovered that the other ghosts were being manipulated after I 'borrowed' the Spector Speeder and how her friends and I were concerned about the possibility of her being affected too, which is why we decided to inform Vlad about it. From the sounds of it, he ended up actually looking into the whole Freakshow situation for me and if we're lucky Vlad might even be able to help us do something about him so we don't have to worry about that circus freak trying to enslave Dani's mind while she's already on the run from our parents.
Thankfully, once we explained ourselves Dani accepted Dani accepted our explanation. True to her heroic nature, she inquired if there was anything we could do to stop Freakshow. To which Vlad replied with a slight huff, "While I may not have much interest in that town beyond the two of you, I am exploring a few options to address this issue, I assure you. If Freakshow is indeed trying to draw you out of hiding, he's out of luck because I won't allow anyone to harm either of you. Now, Jason, are you ready to leave Amity Park as I requested? If so, let's establish a rendezvous point, and I'll meet you there as soon as I can. However, Danielle will need to stay here for now, just in case anyone tries to follow you. We can't risk her enemies or your parents discovering her location, who as I understand it are currently regrouping at Fenton Works, according to my sources."
I nodded and, without hesitation, grabbed my backpack—the only item I had on me since the rest was already stored in the Spector Speeder. Standing up, I said, "Yeah, I'm ready. But you don't need to worry about meeting me; I know the way. Sam and Trish helped me find a map to your castle, and since I won't have to deal with traffic I'll be there in no time!"
Directing my next words directly to Dani, I told her warmly, "I'm so glad you're safe and I promise I'll be there soon so wait for me ok? Everything is going to be fine, you'll see. Vlad's here to help us so we're not in this alone anymore. I love you, Dani."
"I love you too." Dani began tearfully as she forced out a joke as usual to calm her nerves. "Stay safe out there, otherwise, I'm going to have to personally come back out there to save your sorry ass!"
"I wouldn't have it any other way, Dani. Anyway, I'll be there as soon as I can and I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on my progress. But if I go quiet for a bit, don't worry—it's probably just a reception issue. And if anything supernatural does happen to occur, well, I've got the Spector Speeder and the Fenton Ghost Peeler to keep me safe! Oh, and by the way, Vlad—" I said playfully, having already accepted him just like I did with my sister. "—when were you planning on telling me you're also half-ghost?"