Disclaimer: I own nothing from Danny Phantom

(Updated 1/15/2025)

Chapter 23: Sweet Dreams Little Phantom

Vlad's POV

Danielle appears to be gradually adapting to her new life with me, but I've learned not to overwhelm her with too many extravagant gifts given the fact she's not used to a life of luxury. This is understandable, considering my little badger once struggled to have enough clothes for each day, let alone access to other things she might want or need. However, I'm confident that in time, she will become more comfortable with this lifestyle and will accept my gestures of affection more readily. With that in mind, I was truly thrilled to see Danielle enjoying my latest gift. I believe that giving her a small furry companion will significantly boost her mental health, especially since she really misses sharing and discussing her daily experiences with her friends more than I initially thought...

Danielle is the type of person who thrives in the company of others, but when she finds herself alone with her thoughts, feelings of anxiety and loneliness often creep in. To help her avoid overthinking about her current situation, she needs something or someone to distract her. That's why I firmly believe I made the right choice giving her the opportunity to adopt a cat. Although I didn't expect Danielle to decide on one so quickly, the mix of amazement and hope in her eyes made it all worthwhile. It's evident that Danielle has always wanted a pet, so it felt rewarding to give her something her parents never did. While I understand that pet ownership comes with a lot of responsibility, I'm surprised that Jack and Maddie never considered the potential benefits of this idea themselves.

But we're not here to discuss THEM, we're here to discuss Danielle's present and future happiness. True, it may be taking longer than expected to organize Danielle's personal records and medical files, even with my considerable resources and influence, but I'm glad that everything is slowly falling into place. Unfortunately, the adoption process requires time, as the state must ensure that prospective parents meet eligibility criteria, and there is a mandatory waiting period. Despite these challenges, I consider Danielle my daughter and have introduced her as such during our outings to address various formalities. In contrast, adopting Jason was a much more straightforward process since he is already a legal adult; it simply required mutual consent from both parties. And so I am delighted to announce that he has become the first new member of the Masters family, and his name has now been included in my last will and testament.

While it may be premature to worry about these things, I prefer to be ready for any eventualities just in case. Honestly, I'm still uncertain whether half-ghosts like Danielle and I can even die from natural causes, and that's a theory I have no intention of exploring. On the topic of preparations, my first priority is to help Danielle obtain her driver's license. I believe this will provide her with a newfound sense of freedom, similar to what her brother experiences. I highly doubt she wants to rely solely on flying everywhere, including to town, or riding in the limo. That being said, I need to establish some ground rules to ensure everyone's safety. But, unlike Jack and Maddie, I can be forgiving if Danielle is only a few minutes late for curfew, as long as she keeps me informed. I trust her, but given the number of adversaries she has, I prefer she doesn't travel alone without some extra protection. Therefore, we'll need to make some modifications to her car, just as I have done with all my personal vehicles.

I would really like to see Danielle focus on completing her high school education and reestablishing a normal routine. It's important for her to acclimate to being around everyday people again. Even now, she hasn't fully realized that she no longer needs to hide from the world; she is not just Dani Fenton the runaway—she is my daughter. I want to help her learn how to reintegrate into society as a fully functioning individual. Most importantly, I want to witness her grow up in a safe, loving environment, surrounded by a family that genuinely supports her hopes, dreams, and aspirations.

Of course, I want to protect Danielle, but that doesn't mean I want to coddle her or isolate her from the world in a protective bubble. I am incredibly proud of her; in just over six months, she has made remarkable progress in adapting to her new ghost powers. She has worked diligently to learn how to confront powerful ghosts of all shapes and sizes on her own, without any guidance. Moreover, Danielle has endured terrible living conditions at home, facing neglect and the dangers posed by overbearing ghost hunters—situations that would have left most teenagers in her position completely overwhelmed. She deserves to recognize her own strength and achievements. Danielle should hold her head high, as she has overcome significant challenges that no child her age should ever have to face.

I suppose that's why it's been difficult at times for me to remain patient when it comes to anything related to Danielle,especially now that I'm so close to finally being able to call her my own. It's still surprising to me how much meeting Danielle has transformed my life. For years, I dealt with my own emotional and physical struggles, convinced that seeking revenge on Jack Fenton for nearly taking my life and stealing Maddie from me was all that mattered. Like Danielle, I needed something to give my powers purpose and meaning. But thanks to my little badger, I not only feel like there's finally a worthwhile reason to be the richest man in the world, but I also feel like the luckiest man alive because she has given me something that no amount of power or influence could ever buy—

Love.

Thanks to her, the cherished family I've always desired is right here with me, and I feel incredibly lucky to have met Danielle and her brother. And things will only get better from here because I will see to it that Danielle will be able to enjoy life to the fullest again in EVERY regard. For now, however, my priority is to stabilize Danielle's mental health. She has endured a truly challenging year, especially considering everything that has transpired since her accident with the Fenton Ghost portal, which ultimately led her to me. Now that she is in a better place, at least for the most part, I have been seriously contemplating the best ways to help her train and harness her powers more effectively. Additionally, I believe she could benefit from a distraction, given all that has been weighing on her mind lately.

Don't get me wrong, Danielle still very much enjoys going out for a flight almost every evening, but it would seem that it's no longer enough to take her mind off of everything or burn off her pent-up ecto-energy anymore. Additionally, since flying doesn't require much energy in the first place, we definitely need to tackle this issue before it escalates, similar to what happened when her ice core started malfunctioning prematurely. Personally, I'm quite impressed by her flying abilities—she's a natural at it. I'll need to remember to measure her top speed when we start testing her ghost powers to see just how skilled a flier she really is when pushed to her limits. And yes, as much as I'm ashamed to admit it, nowadays I hardly think about the nuances of flight anymore ever since I discovered my ability to teleport. But that said, I'm quite eager to explore the full range of Danielle's abilities. That way I can compare her arsenal of ghost abilities to mine, although she'll probably uncover even more hidden talents as her core matures.

I can't wait to see how strong you'll become one day, my dear, I thought to myself with a smile as I sorted through paperwork. Meanwhile, Danielle was back in her room, helping Leo settle into his new surroundings, likely playing with him and wearing a smile as bright as mine. I'm also glad you've discovered that being half-ghost has its perks that we can enjoy beyond just fighting. And I sincerely hope you're looking forward to training as much as I am because rest assured I'm going to do everything in my power to help you unlock your full potential so that no one will dare oppose or harm you again. That I promise you.

Greeting Danielle when she transformed back into her human form after her flight and joined me for dinner, I asked casually, "Welcome back, Danielle. Did you have a nice flight, my dear?"

"Mostly, yeah," she replied with a half-hearted shrug, settling into the chair across from me as we waited for Cedric to bring our usual meal.

Running her fingers through her long, raven-black hair and leaning back in her seat, she let out a heavy sigh of frustration and suddenly exclaimed, "I also did the workout you gave me and played with Leo, but even after doing all of that I still feel so antsy and I don't know why! It's really starting to piss me off. Seriously, Vlad, I feel like I'm going to burst from all this ecto-energy I've built up, no matter how far or fast I fly. I've even been having a hard time sleeping lately because of it."

With another sigh, Danielle looked me in the eye and continued in all seriousness, "Look, I understand you want to take it slow with my powers because you're concerned about my PTSD or whatever, but I'm telling you I'm ready! Even if we just start with some target practice, I'd really like to finally be able to DO something with my powers again besides just fly around in circles every night. So while I don't want to sound like I'm being demanding, I'm really at my wit's end here. Hell, I even considered sneaking into the Ghost Zone to see if Skulker would be willing to set aside our differences for a truce so we could spar. And this is the same ghost who once wanted to mount my head on a wall, for crying out loud!"

A bit surprised by her unexpected outburst, I composed myself, crossed my legs, and replied, "I've noticed you've been feeling anxious lately, but I thought it was just because you were looking forward to going back to school and seeing your friends this summer. Would you mind telling me when exactly it got to this point? Specifically, when your flights stopped being helpful?"

"That's the problem though," Danielle confessed, her shoulders slumping. "I have absolutely no idea! Everything has been such a blur since Jace left, and even though we've only been back for a day, I can't stop thinking about all those court hearings we had to face. I keep questioning whether it's okay for me to feel good about myself and where I'm at now even though I played a huge part in damaging my parents' relationship with Jace. Don't get me wrong; I know I made the right decision and I genuinely thought once we won the case I would start feeling better, but if anything I still feel lost. Like I have no idea where to go from here. So at this point, I think...I just need to just come out and tell you what's really been on my mind lately."

Looking positively dejected now, she averted her gaze and murmured, "I'm so tired of feeling like I can't handle my own problems anymore, Vlad. Thankfully, I'm not the same naive girl I was when we first met, but after everything I've experienced, it feels like I'm back at square one. I don't even know who I am or what I want from life anymore. And you've gone above and beyond to show me how much you care, doing things I never expected, which makes me feel awful that I can't find a way to repay you. Plus getting Leo for me today made me so happy that I really wish there was something I could do to show you how much you mean to me. But what can I possibly offer you that you don't already have or can't just buy with the billions of dollars you have in your pockets?!

"I know you've told me a hundred times that I don't need to repay you because you're just happy that I'm here living with you. But sometimes I worry that someday you'll wake up and realize just how broken I really am. Even though I know I shouldn't think this way, I can't shake the feeling that I'm nothing but a burden to everyone. And sometimes it feels like without ghost hunting I don't have anything left to offer anymore! That's why I feel so completely useless!"

Resting my hand over hers when I realized she was becoming a bit hysterical, I hushed her and said, "Shh, it's alright Danielle. You don't need to prove anything to me. Please don't hesitate to share your true feelings and concerns because that's exactly what I'm here for. In fact, I really want you to be more open with me moving forward. I can't help you as much as I want to if you don't let me know what's bothering you."

"I've noticed that you've been feeling quite anxious lately, which is why I wanted to talk to you about starting your training as well. Your ghost powers seem to be growing stronger every day, and according to what you've just told me your flights alone aren't enough to manage all that ecto-energy you're generating. So, I believe that providing you with an additional focus until we can resume your formal education might help you regain your confidence. The truth is, Danielle, you DO have something to offer that would truly make me happy: the chance to fight alongside you as we explore the Ghost Zone together."

Danielle's eyes sparkled with excitement as she leaned in and exclaimed, "Really?! So you're finally going to let me train with you? That's great! When can we start?"

With a gentle chuckle, I gave her hand a few light pats before pulling it back. I nodded as Cedric arrived, signaling for Danielle to step back, which she did with a faint blush. After dismissing him, I said, "Alright, settle down, little badger. Even if we dive into training right away, we won't have much time to cover everything in just two weeks before your friends arrive. For now, we'll focus on the basics. That means I'll need to conduct a thorough medical examination to ensure both parts of you are developing properly. I've been meaning to do this anyway, since I know you haven't been eating much lately which isn't healthy. Isla and Cedric informed me you've been skipping breakfast a lot, and jokes aside, that really is the most important meal of the day. If this continues, I might have to take the small fridge out of your room to encourage you not to rely on snacks and drinks to get you through until lunch."

"You should probably start getting used to waking up early in any case since you're going to have to once your instructor arrives and your friends return home. I admit I may have been a bit too lenient in some areas, but now that things have calmed down, I believe it's time to establish some ground rules. I know you're a responsible and disciplined young woman so you're more than capable of abiding by them. And unlike your parents, I am willing to hear you out in most cases should those rules be broken because I trust you, my dear. Now that you're free from your previous responsibilities, I'd like to introduce new ones that will help you grow, as I know you have the capability to achieve them. Of course, this is contingent on your motivation to push yourself to become stronger again, which you already seem to possess."

Wincing slightly after being called out for not sticking to the meal plans I had set for her and for sleeping in too much, Danielle sighed again. But this time, it was out of relief and she nodded, "If that's what it takes to get me back to using my powers regularly, then I'm all in. I didn't realize how much I had been relying on ghost hunting to blow off steam until now so when just flying around here stopped helping I knew something needed to change. And playing with Leo doesn't exactly require a lot of energy."

With a gentle smile playing on her lips as she sliced into her beef pot roast, Danielle wore a slightly puzzled expression and asked, "By the way, are all cats like that? I swear, when I was talking to him earlier, it felt like he understood everything I was saying. And when we were at the breeder's house I felt something strange pass between me and Leo after hearing how his previous owner passed away. It felt almost like my ghost sense going off, but not quite. You mentioned that cats are particularly attuned to supernatural things, right? So, is the same true for ghosts? Can we sense things normal people can't, like a psychic does, or is it more like having a sixth sense?"

Fascinated by this new piece of information, I pondered aloud, "Interesting. I have heard of this phenomenon before with mediums and witches, but it seldom proves to be genuine. As for his ability to understand you, it's worth noting that most animals can grasp human cues, so there's nothing particularly supernatural about that—unless, of course, we're talking about the rare ability of certain ghosts to telepathically communicate with animals or plants. Additionally, after a sudden passing, remnants of a different kind of ghost energy can sometimes cling to items of great significance to them, like a beloved object or pet, leaving behind a sort of spiritual thumbprint. If it concerns you, I can investigate to find out who the previous owner was."

Shaking her head, Danielle insisted, "No it's ok, I was just wondering that's all. I'm really glad you got him for me; he's such a sweet and affectionate cat. But I have to admit, I felt a bit—well, I'm not sure 'unsettled' is the right word. It was just a really strange feeling when I chose Leo, and that's why I asked. I wanted to know if it's a new power or something all ghosts feel around cats and vice versa. In Egyptian mythology, aren't cats considered guardians of the underworld or something like that?"

"They are, although I'm surprised you know that," I said with a playful wink, which only prompted Danielle to roll her eyes at me.

"Uh, hello?" she laughed, throwing her arms up dramatically. "My best friend Sam is a goth, so of course he's going to know about things like witchcraft, black cats, and things like that. He knew about Freakshow's magical ghost-mesmerizing staff remember? One time Sam helped me figure out the story behind this armband thing that belongs to a ghost named Prince Dorian that turns you into a dragon if you get angry. And then there's the time Sam helped me stop the Fright Knight after I um...borrowed his sword the Soul Shredder to make my haunted house room scarier to avoid Mr. Lancer giving me detention. The list goes on when it comes to how much he knows about the supernatural or magical."

"I have to admit, Samson does seem surprisingly well-informed about things of that nature," I conceded, though I couldn't shake off a twinge of jealousy that she had picked up more about ghosts from that insufferable teenager than from me. "However, you'll soon discover that distinguishing fact from fiction is not as straightforward as it seems. That's something I'll be teaching you when we start exploring the Ghost Zone together. To be honest, Samson has just been lucky so far, while I possess ancient texts written by the ghosts themselves, sharing their stories, legends, and, most importantly, valuable clues on how to acquire powerful artifacts."

"Really? Like what?" Danielle asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Patience, little badger," I said with a smile, unable to resist the temptation to draw her in with the promise of uncovering the mysteries of the Ghost Zone from someone far more knowledgeable than her little goth friend. "Now, regarding your earlier question, it's possible you did pick up on something. As I mentioned before, death tends to leave a kind of ecto-energy fingerprint behind that most normal humans can't detect unless there's a significant amount of that energy attached to a creature, object, or concentrated in a specific area, making the boundary between our world and the Ghost Zone very thin.

"You often see it when people recklessly enter a haunted house or stroll through a graveyard, only to experience an eerie drop in temperature. These are precisely the kinds of places where natural ghost portals are more likely to appear. But I digress. Regardless, I hope this indicates that, despite their passing, that person was happy and had a fondness for Leo, which is why you feel a similar connection to him—it's a reflection of their past emotions. This raises an important point about our earlier discussion regarding your training. I'm eager to explore the extent of your abilities, so it shouldn't be too difficult to assess any clairvoyant powers you might be developing. Personally, I look forward to discovering whether you can replicate your form the same way I am able to."

"Clairvo-what?" Danielle blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion as she tilted her head slightly.

"Telepathy, my dear," I replied calmly. "These abilities encompass a range of powers, from encasing objects or foes in ecto-energy and moving them through the air, to reading minds and catching glimpses of the past and future in your dreams. Telepathic powers primarily originate from the mind rather than your ghost core, which is why even humans can occasionally develop these abilities. Personally, I've only encountered two genuine individuals, as opposed to the con artists who exploit grieving parents seeking to communicate with the spirits of their children or a significant other."

"The first was a blind elderly man who had the remarkable ability to see through the eyes of his service dog. The second was a little girl I encountered at the hospital; she brought me a flower and told me not to be sad because I would be leaving in two days at exactly 10:18. Naturally, I was skeptical until it actually happened. The following day, I sent her a bouquet of bluebells as a token of my gratitude for giving me hope for the first time in two years about finally leaving that place."

"Aw..." Danielle cooed, cupping her hands on her cheeks and teasing, "That's so sweet! Who knew you were such a softie?"

I felt a slight blush creep onto my cheeks and cleared my throat into my fist before laughing softly. "Oh, come now, Danielle. You know how much I've always wanted to be a father, so is it really that surprising?"

"Not really, but it was still really sweet of you," she replied. "And I can't believe you've actually met normal people with powers—that's pretty wild." With that, Danielle nodded to herself and went back to finishing her meal while I did the same.

Dabbing my mouth with a napkin once I finished everything on my plate I added thoughtfully, "Yes, but mind you these encounters were few and far between. As I said, when I actively looked for people who claimed to have insights about ghosts or similar topics, most of them turned out to be frauds pretending to possess telepathic abilities, and they were quickly exposed."

Glancing over at her once she finished her meal as well and we both stood up more or less at the same time, I put my hand on Danielle's shoulder and said, "At any rate, I have another assignment for you. Before you go to bed tonight, I'd like you to think carefully about which of your existing powers you want to demonstrate in the training room so we can assess their strength. Also, remember to set an alarm to help you wake up early enough to have a healthy breakfast each day. Either way I hope to see you bright and early tomorrow so we can get started. In fact, I'm looking forward to it too."

Brimming with excitement, Danielle hugged me tightly and beamed, "Oh hell yeah! I can't wait! Oh my god, Vlad you just made my day! Just you wait, I'm going to show you exactly what I'm made of and it's going to be freaking epic!"

Before I could utter another word, she suddenly released me and transformed, flying straight to her room even though it was far too early to call it a night. Still, I couldn't help but appreciate her enthusiasm. I must admit, her excitement was infectious; I, too, am eager to witness Danielle in action firsthand instead of relying on my surveillance cameras or secondhand accounts. I'm also relieved that she has finally acknowledged the impact her restlessness has had on her, which is why I firmly believe this will help Danielle channel her energy into something constructive until turn our attention back to completing her high school education.

Truthfully I should have seen this coming. For the past six months, battling ghosts has been huge part of her daily routine, so without it, Danielle hasn't been able to adjust to her new life as well as I had hoped. Understandably Danielle's still not used to living in a home that's completely safe where she doesn't have to fear for her life or that of those she loves. It seems that freedom comes with its own set of challenges, but I'm please to see Danielle has regained much of her own self-worth. And I couldn't ask for a better ally to fight alongside me as we explore the Ghost Zone together than the famous ghost fighting heroine Dani Phantom herself...

Danielle's POV

The second I made it back to my room after my excitement got the better of me, when I shifted back to my human form Leo greeted me with a cheerful rub against my leg. Grinning like an idiot, I scooped him up, spun around, and laughed, "Hey Leo, guess what? Vlad is finally going to let me train with him! Or, well, I guess for now I'm only going to be showing him what I can do so he can jot down notes about my power levels or whatever, but hey, it's a start!"

Gently laying Leo on the bed, I nestled in next to him, clutching a pillow tightly to my chest. Then I continued enthusiastically. "I never expected to end up so excited about showing off my powers to Vlad. But I guess since I don't have to fight ghosts all the time anymore and he's not the same asshole he used to be, I feel like I can enjoy discovering more about my ghost-half again. Initially, I was just trying to make the best of a bad situation after the accident that changed me, but now it's such a huge part of who I am. I actually enjoy using my powers a lot more now too—at least when I'm not forced to depend on them for survival."

Lowering my voice as if sharing a dark secret, I confessed, "Don't tell Vlad I said this, there are times when I wish I didn't have to leave my friends and my parents behind. In Amity Park, I had most of my life figured out before all the family drama unfolded. Deep down, I know my parents aren't bad people; they just made some terrible choices. But I really hope they can learn something from all this and most importantly, I hope Vlad will finally receive a genuine apology from my dad for what happened to him in college—he deserves that much. As for my mom... I just want her to understand that I—"

Cutting myself off when I realized I was only getting all worked up again, I took a deep breath, adjusted the pillow against the headrest, and got out of bed to change into my pajamas. Meanwhile Leo trailed behind me for a minute until he unexpectedly stopped just shy of the bathroom door. I wasn't sure why he stopped, but at the same time I welcomed the chance for a bit of privacy. I've seen videos of cats that can open bathroom doors because they can't stand being away from their owners, so on the bright side at least this meant I wouldn't have to completely lock him out if I want some alone time...

Once I wrapped up in the bathroom, Leo was patiently waiting for me at the door and followed me back to the bed where I promptly laid down again, staring blankly up at the glow-in-the-dark stars scattered across the ceiling, muttering, "Looks like I'm in for another sleepless night, buddy. Hope you don't mind keeping me company."

Getting into a comfortable position under the covers, Leo nestled into the crook of my arm and I actually began to drift off thanks to the soothing sound of his purring. Just as I was about to fall asleep though I exhaled sharply and jerked upright in surprise when my ghost sense suddenly went off. I could tell immediately that this ghost was unfamiliar; I had grown accustomed to the various ghost signatures in the area, especially Vlad's, but this one felt different. With a groan of frustration at the unexpected visitor, I opened my eyes only to find a tall shadow looming over me, its thin, sleepy-looking purple eyes fixated on me. My first instinct upon seeing that ghost was to protect Leo, so I quickly wrapped my arms around him and phased us both through the bottom of the bed to safety-

That was the plan, at least, but I didn't expect to suddenly feel a bunch long tendrils go intangible too at the exact same time, wrap themselves tightly around my waist, and sharply yank me back up through the bed again so I was face to face with my mysterious new enemy. Instinctively shifting into my ghost form, I fought to break free while cradling Leo protectively against my chest with one arm, who for some reason was still fast asleep even after we were both jostled around so much. But when another dark tendril coiled around my wrist, my eyes flared a brilliant green, and I demanded furiously, "How did you get in here? Who are you? What do you want from me?"

"You shall come to know me well in due time, little phantom," an airy, almost distant-sounding voice replied, accompanied by a soft chuckle that sent a chill down my spine. Wrapping more tendrils around me to to hold me in place, one clawed hand reached toward my face while the other drew me closer, and he whispered softly. "But for now, weren't you about to go to sleep? Here. Allow me to assist you, my child."

The last thing I remember after he said those words was a swirling, luminous blue mist enveloping me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a brief glimpse of Leo being lifted from my arms, telepathically, as the shadowy ghost figure gently set him back on the bed, unharmed. Then my body went completely limp, and I was swallowed by pure darkness. But the worst part is I couldn't do anything to stop it. Obviously whoever this ghost was, he was dangerous and and clever enough to evade Vlad's attention to get to me. All I could do was hope that Vlad wouldn't fall for the same trick I did and would find a way to get me out of this mess. If not...well, let's just say our training plans would have to be postponed until I could escape from my kidnapper without him.