Disclaimer: I own nothing from Danny Phantom

Note: Warning, mentions of character death and crippling depression in this chapter. But to be fair I've kinda already hinted at it sort of since we've now officially created a Dan-like future for Danielle so I may have to add some new character tags to this story. This should be interesting though since I for one have never seen anyone try to pull off a genderbent Dan equivalent before apart from visually a few times in some artwork cause I mean we already love him the way he is!

(Updated 2/17/2025)

Chapter 27: Silence Is Its Own Burden

(Chapter inspired by Again by Flyleaf)

Danielle's POV

When Vlad brought me down to the caverns beneath the castle, I was taken aback to find my friend Wulf waiting for us. It had been ages since I last saw him, not since the whole Walker incident when he painted me as the villain in the eyes of everyone in Amity Park. But even though Wulf was obviously relieved to see me in one piece, he growled protectively at the sight of blood on my lips, hissing something in Esperanto to Vlad in a very aggressive tone while extending his claws. If I had to take a wild guess, Wulf probably told Vlad he wanted to go tear Nocturne to shreds. It was strangely endearing in a way and I thought it sweet of Wulf to offer to help fight for me too when we still barely even know each other. Once Vlad managed to calm him down, Wulf softened, his ears drooping in concern as our eyes locked. Then, with Vlad's permission, he stepped closer, gently licking my cheek and, in broken English, expressed his happiness that Vlad had rescued me from such a powerful foe.

I wanted to cheer Wulf up and tell him that everything would be alright, but to be honest, I'm not sure I believe that myself anymore. Not to mention I couldn't really say anything even if I wanted to because my throat hurt like hell after overusing that insanely powerful new power of mine at least three times in total when I broke out of that dream world and defeated Nocturne. I was also feeling lightheaded, struggling to catch my breath due to the searing pain in my chest and throat, making it difficult to stay conscious. So talking was definitely out of the question. But the fear of reliving that terrible vision of the future that Nocturne had shown me in my dreams was the only thing keeping me from succumbing to my exhaustion after overexerting myself. I would much rather endure all of this physical pain than become consumed by that overwhelming despair and dread again...

Since Wulf already had his claws out, he opened a portal to bring us back to our world, and Vlad carried me through it. Then I think Vlad spent the next few minutes explaining to Wulf what had happened with Nocturne, because of course he just happens to be fluent in Esperanto, while I'm still struggling to learn it so I can communicate better with Wulf—or at least I was before I left Amity Park. Which is weird because according to Trish someone someone fabricated the entire thing back in the 1800's, so it kind of makes you wonder where he picked it up from in the first place when there aren't many people around who use it for anything other than secret nerd code. Bet there's an interesting story behind that.

Anyways, since I could barely understand what they were saying, I tried to focus on keeping my eyes open even though my head was spinning and I felt short of breath. I even resorted to the same trick I had used before with my powers to help Jace cool down when he had a fever, using my hand as a makeshift ice pack. Too bad I couldn't maintain it for long since I had pretty much used up the rest of my energy fighting Nocturne. Speaking of which, that other new power of mine definitely needs a name, but I think I'll have to only use it as a last resort from now on.

Sadly, while I was absentmindedly rubbing my throat, I accidentally triggered another painful coughing fit so Vlad hastily told Wulf in English that he would reach out later to thank him properly for his assistance. But Wulf being Wulf shook his head and replied in broken English, flashing a big toothy smile at me, "No. My friend is safe now so I am happy. I visit her soon, yes? She is hurt, so I will go home to hunt and help make her strong again—"

"While I'm sure she appreciates the gesture, I don't think it's necessary," Vlad quickly responded, shooting me a meaningful glance. "I'll take care of erm...'hunting' for her so you don't have to. As for paying a visit...well I suppose you've earned that privilege. But for now, Danielle needs time to recover so your next visit will have to wait. I'm sure you understand."

Nodding, Wulf wagged his tail and gently patted my head with his large paw and promised smugly, "Ok. Until we meet again I will patrol outside his dark castle so Nocturne will know to stay away! And Plasmius is a strong warrior, he will keep you safe."

I smiled gratefully at Wulf since I didn't have the energy to do much else and rested my head against Vlad's chest once more as we turned to leave. And after Vlad said goodbye to him for me, Wulf flew back through the portal into the Ghost Zone and closed it behind us. I could barely process where we were now and felt really stupid about how Vlad had to carry me to safety. But as a small consolation I'm proud of myself for figuring out how to escape from Nocturne's dream world on my own, defeating that shadowy bastard, and thoroughly kicking his ass long before Vlad showed up. So it looks like I've still got some fight left in me after all...

"Danielle..." Vlad began suddenly, his tone serious. As another wave of dizziness washed over me, my eyelids grew heavy, but I fought to keep them open and looked up at him as he continued. "I know you're exhausted, but there's something we need to take care of first so I'm going to have to set you down for a moment, alright? Easy does it."

It was only when Vlad eased me onto a large, comfortable sofa that I finally registered we were inside of a building I didn't recognize. Then I watched in a disoriented daze as he pulled out a syringe from his belt, which normally would have freaked me out, and Vlad carefully explained. "I know Nocturne is probably too weak right now to attempt any of his dream-walking tricks, but I wanted to ensure he can't invade your dreams again. That's why I've created this serum to counteract his telepathic dream abilities. It's a blend of what I can only describe as a unique combination of magical ghost alchemy and science, designed to shield you from his influence long enough for you to get the rest you need. This is a more potent version of the medicine I initially intended to use to wake you up before you managed to break yourself free from his sleep spell. Wulf and I have already taken a dose of this in pill form, which I would offer you instead of an injection, but considering the pain in your throat, I don't want to risk further irritation by asking you to swallow anything. Please wait here for a moment while I grab the first aid kit."

Transforming back into his human form, Vlad promptly exited the room after first draping a faux fur blanket over me. Alone again at last I blearily turned my head, attempting to take in the rest of my surroundings, but it was hard to make out much of everything since my vision kept blurring in and out of focus. Plus the room was pretty dimly lit, thanks to the curtains being closed. From what little I could make out, it looks like we were in some kind of hunting cabin adorned with deer antlers and various other woodland-themed decorations.

Good thing there weren't any wolf heads mounted on the walls though or Wulf might have taken it personally. Either way, we clearly weren't back at the castle so...could this be the mountain chalet Vlad had mentioned wanting me to visit before my parents kicked me out of Fenton Works? The fancy one he secretly has tucked away in the middle of the Colorado Rockies...?

I tensed up as a vivid flashback of that dream I had about Fenton Works and all of Amity Park being frozen in ice surged through my mind, causing some mild irritation in my throat. I gritted my teeth, determined to suppress another nasty coughing fit. Thankfully I wasn't left alone with my thoughts for too long because Vlad returned a few minutes later with the first-aid kit, placing it on the floor beside the couch before sitting down next to me. He reached for a small alcoholic towelette to clean my arm in preparation for the shot then began examining my throat closely with a gentle, practiced touch...

Nocturne has to be wrong about Vlad. No matter how bad things get, I can't imagine Vlad ever doing anything that would push me to my breaking point or hurt me like he has in the past. Even then, I know he was trying to protect me, unlike my parents, who, to be fair, didn't know who they were targeting while I was still out there battling ghosts as Dani Phantom. But they definitely had every intention of taking me down. Then again, maybe it's because Vlad cares about me so much that it makes him a potential threat in the future. I really don't want to doubt him again, especially after how far we've come together, but it's hard not to worry about what might happen after someone shows you your two closest futures—whether it's my parents trying to interfere with my ghost half or Vlad himself.

As my thoughts raced in every direction, Vlad remained focused, keeping himself occupied. Eventually, he retrieved a bottle of the now-familiar glowing ointment and began to gently massage it around my throat. His expression was carefully neutral and concentrated, which honestly felt a bit unsettling. I couldn't even begin to fathom what Vlad was thinking or feeling in that moment, but I wanted him to know how grateful I was that he came to rescue me so with what little strength I had left to move, I placed my hand on his knee to try to silently convey my gratitude...

However, once he finished giving me that injection, I found it impossible to keep my eyes open any longer, and my head slipped onto his shoulder. Thankfully, I was soon enveloped by a blissfully dreamless sleep, allowing me to briefly escape the horrible nightmare I had witnessed with my own two eyes—one that was forced on me by some selfish asshole who claimed to be 'saving' me from an even worse fate looming just around the corner. And if we don't do something soon to stop it, that nightmare will become real.

Vlad's POV

As I kept a close watch on Danielle, gently adjusting her position on the sofa to make her more comfortable, I found myself lost in thought about the devastating new ghost power she had just unleashed—one that far exceeded anything I had previously witnessed her use. With my hands pressed against my forehead, even I struggled to fully comprehend the whirlwind of events that had transpired since Nocturne's arrival. First of all, it would seem he really IS one of these seven so-called guardians of the Ghost Zone, just as it was written in an ancient tome I acquired from a reliable ghost I often trade information with many years ago. And those three mysterious spirit maidens I encountered in Nocturne's lair, who referred to themselves as the Fates, seemed to possess a wisdom that suggested they might be even older than Nocturne himself. This could explain their neutrality and reluctance to take sides—a commendable trait that Nocturne, as the Ghost of Sleep, should have have been adhering to as well.

And the Fates I'm referring to are indeed the same ones that originate from Greek mythology, that would explain why Nocturne's summoned minions also resemble young maidens wearing Greek sandals and long flowing gowns. Additionally, it would shed light on why these three figures seem primarily focused on interpreting the threads that compose the 'Tapestry of Fate,' which, as I understand it, symbolizes the existence of every ghost, spirit, and living thing on the planet. Furthermore, it seems that the Fates, along with Nocturne, can occasionally be granted special visions of the past and future of others through these threads, weaving them into a unique type of dream to share those insights or premonitions with others, thereby guiding or warning them indirectly...

With that in mind, it's deeply concerning that Nocturne chose to spy on us and abduct Danielle right under my nose, rather than using his dream manipulation abilities to send her a warning. I recognize Danielle's immense potential and her skills as a fighter, but what I witnessed in Nocturne's lair was something I never want to experience again. Seeing Danielle lose herself to the point of screaming through her tears while she fought back against Nocturne and pushed her limits was heartbreaking. Nevertheless, I hope Nocturne has come to understand that Danielle is not someone to be underestimated. Despite injuring herself by straining her voice to tap into that new power, I am incredibly proud of her for standing her ground against such a formidable opponent for as long as she did.

At any rate, I've come to realize that bringing Danielle here instead of back to the castle is somewhat pointless. No matter where we are in the world, we will still dream. However, if we both start taking this new anti-ghost medication regularly, I'm hopeful it will make it harder for Nocturne to infiltrate our subconscious and pry into our memories. As for Nocturne himself, if I can't uncover why he perceives Danielle as a threat to the world, I might have to pay him another visit. If that happens, he better be ready for the fight of his afterlife, because I won't hold back if he so much as HINTS at having any further intentions of interfering with my little badger's life.

I can't even express how furious I am about everything that's happened. Danielle was so eager to show me her ghost powers, free from the fear of using them against an enemy like she did back in Amity Park. Then, out of nowhere, a new threat appeared in the castle and took her to the Ghost Zone against her will, subjecting her to who knows what kind of torment in her dreams—all under the guise of 'good intentions.' As much as I dread reopening those wounds, I need to uncover exactly what happened to her while she was Nocturne's captive and how much she remembers, especially since he seems to have the ability to manipulate the memories of his victims.

Nocturne claims he would have made her forget the torment he inflicted upon her afterwards, but now that Danielle has escaped his sleep spell entirely, she recalls every agonizing moment of despair she experienced while trapped in that nightmare. She vividly remembers each painful memory he forced her to relive, memories she now very much wishes she could erase. To make matters worse, Nocturne may have even shown her a vision of the grim future that led him to abduct her in the first place, adding yet another heavy burden to Danielle's shoulders—one she never asked for.

For now, Danielle needs a secure place to rest, free from the fear of more of this lucid dream nonsense, as well as a change of scenery. While this may not be a complete solution to her problems, I hope that allowing her to believe it is will provide enough reassurance for my little badger to get through this, just like when she first came to me for help after Jack and Maddie turned her away. On a related note, as much as I want to avoid alarming Jason, I should caution him to stay alert because there's a dangerous ghost that has taken an interest in Danielle. To protect him from Nocturne's influence, I'll need to modify the new anti-ghost medication to ensure it's safe for him to use as well despite being entirely human. It's unlikely that Nocturne would target Jason's dreams, given his limited knowledge of his sister's abilities, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

After that, I need to ensure the chalet is fully stocked with everything we'll need to stay comfortable until Danielle's throat heals. We will still have to return to the castle before her friends arrive for their summer vacation as planned, but I have no intention of postponing or canceling their visit. Because Danielle desperately needs the company of her friends right now, as much as I loathe to admit I can only do so much for her through mine. It's unfortunate that Leo was secretly being overshadowed in the back of his mind by Nocturne when Danielle first chose him as her new pet, but I'm hopeful that he hasn't influenced the cat's behavior too much, seeing as she truly seems quite fond of him. And I don't want to be forced to return him when the whole point of getting Danielle a pet was to use him to cheer her up, not traumatize her through another harrowing experience just because I didn't realize sooner that the innocence of this little creature was in fact being used against us.

"What a nightmare..." I thought bitterly after leaving Jason a voicemail, since he appeared to be out for the moment which I suppose I should have expected. I then proceeded to make a few more calls to organize a fresh food delivery to the chalet via my private jet, along with some clothes for us to change into and other necessities. Everything else we might require should already be on-site.

While I was at it, I informed Cedric and Isla that Danielle is safe and instructed them to continue looking after the castle until we return. I've also configured my supercomputer to automatically forward any messages sent to the castle to my secretary, a precaution I established long ago for times such as these when I'm preoccupied with other important tasks. Fortunately, I had already cleared my schedule before venturing into the Ghost Zone to rescue Danielle for the next few weeks. I had intended to do this to spend quality time with her and get to know her better through her friends. However, I sense that this is just the start of a challenging journey ahead, so I can only pray I'm doing the right thing.

No matter who or what threatens us from here on out, I will continue to fight alongside Danielle and protect her because she's important to me. She has endured so much loss and made countless sacrifices, only to have some pretentious horned figure declare that her future is nothing but a dismal nightmare. I see how hard Danielle is working to rediscover herself and to genuinely embrace happiness, rather than putting on a facade to reassure those around her that she's okay when, in reality, she carries a heavy burden.

That said, no one knows what the future holds, nor should they since it can drive someone to madness. Ironically, Nocturne himself exemplifies the folly of worrying about an uncertain future. In fact, that's precisely why I have never bothered to search for any relics pertaining to divination since I'm perfectly capable of deciding my own fate. Then again maybe if I show Danielle how to find her true destiny, it will help her see that Nocturne's prophecy is nothing but him grasping at straws, or in this case, following a stray thread that leads nowhere...

Encouraged by the thought, I stood up and leaned down to kiss Danielle's forehead before heading over to the nearest bookshelf. I like to keep plenty of copies of various useful books in my vacation homes, with the rarer ones safely tucked away in a hidden compartment. And hopefully, I would easily find another copy of my ghost lore book stashed in there as well. If not, I could always access the same information on my supercomputer, as this chalet is one of the few places other than the castle where I've set up a fully functional laboratory—it's part of why this is my favorite getaways.

On a more sentimental note, I also cherish the memories of the few times my family and I camped in this area, enjoying all the typical activities like hiking, swimming in the ravine, fishing, and catching lightning bugs in jars under the night sky. It's unfortunate that the original campsite faced difficulties and ultimately went bankrupt, but I ensured that the stunning landscape wouldn't go to waste. That's why one of my first purchases once I gained enough wealth and influence was the deed to this land. While it is now regarded as my private property, I have been known to occasionally treat my most valued employees and board members to all-expense-paid trips to the lakeside for a luxurious yacht ride. They are responsible for their own accommodations of course, but the Rockies offer plenty of options for tourists. Additionally, as a gesture of goodwill, I have even donated a significant portion of this woodland to help expand the local wildlife preserve. But even after doing so, unsurprisingly, I still have ample space to move about freely without the risk of been seen.

Regardless, it seems that Danielle and I will be enjoying some extra quality time together on this spontaneous family trip, allowing her to momentarily escape her troubles until she feels ready to share more about what happened. In the meantime, every good journey requires a map, doesn't it? And I for one would trust what I see written on a map over some random dream any day. In an effort to take my mind off the weight of our current circumstances, I chose to immerse myself in research about a legendary map I recently discovered. This map could help me demonstrate once and for all that Danielle isn't a threat to the world—only those who have already clearly made themselves her enemies by attacking first.

Danielle's POV

As soon as I opened my eyes, Vlad hurried over and asked if I was able to speak again without too much pain. I was tempted to shake my head and pretend I couldn't since I wasn't really in the mood to talk, but ultimately I decided to be honest. And to be fair my throat was still pretty sore...

My voice was weak and raspy, but I was able to say, "I...can't talk much yet, but I'm slowly starting to...feel better."

Nodding, Vlad carefully applied more of the ointment to my throat and said, "That's all I needed to hear. Thank you, my dear. However, you mustn't overexert yourself; you'll need to rest your vocal cords for the next few days to prevent any lasting damage. We'll also need to reapply this ointment every few hours as well since you did quite a number on yourself using that new ability prematurely."

"...it's...not premature." I began before I could think better of it and Vlad paused his work to reprimand me. But I really needed to get this off my chest so I forced myself to stubbornly continue, "Nocturne mentioned that it's...her power, so it's something only my...future self is meant to have. I don't think...I'm supposed to even have this power yet, maybe not at all. Not until-?!"

Gripping the sides of my head when my ears starting ringing, I clenched my eyes shut but it didn't help as another memory of that horrible vision of the future flashed before my eyes. Even with my eyes closed, I could still see it all so vividly. I could see my parents, their bodies frozen together in one final embrace, their faces etched with regret, sorrow, and fear in those last moments before they succumbed to the cold. I still couldn't piece together the exact events that led to their death, but deep down, I felt an undeniable sense of guilt and somehow I knew it was my fault.

In the future, my parents must have attempted to use some kind of claw-shaped device on me, but that's about all I've been able to figure out which explain the uneven gashes on the door to our ghost portal. I also noticed remnants of those claws scattered on the floor, covered in a layer of snow. As for the rest, I doubt even Nocturne knows the whole story and the only thing he told me was: That depends. I have seen two possible futures that lead to this moment. In one, your parents commit an unthinkable act in their attempt to save you from yourself, only to bring about your ruin. In the other, if Vladimir resorts to something equally horrific to protect you from them, his overwhelming fear of losing you will break something inside of you beyond repair. In either case you...will lose your humanity.

I stiffened when Vlad suddenly called out to me in a loud, desperate voice, snapping me back to reality. Our eyes locked—his filled with concern while mine were all wide-eyed and panic-stricken. Then he pulled me into a tight embrace and said, "Oh, thank god! For a moment, I thought you had slipped into a trance when you stopped responding! I'm sorry if I startled you, little badger; I know what happened is still fresh in your mind, but please...try not to dwell on it too much. That's all behind us now. So forget about Nocturne and whatever he showed you in those accursed dreams. The only thing that matters is what we do here and now. Nothing else."

Taking a shaky breath, Vlad tenderly cradled my head and continued, "Remember what I told you before? The choice of where you want to go and who you want to become is entirely yours. And remember, Nocturne is NOT all-knowing, so don't let him or anyone else convince you otherwise.

"You must always keep in mind that Nocturne can only catch fleeting glimpses of the past and future through a magical thread that connects us all. He lacks the ability to see the complete picture, which is why that ghost abducted you in search of answers to questions he had no right to ask when your future is none of his concern. That is precisely why I've decided that once you've recovered your strength, we're going to go on a little field trip into the Ghost Zone again to find something very special. And once we find it, I'm going to show you how to use it to discover the path to your true destiny for yourself so we can prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are destined for great things. NOT for destruction.

"We're a family now, and I promise to protect you no matter what. That's because I love you, Danielle. I love you so much, my little badger. I know I haven't always put these feelings into words, but it's true, and it always will be, no matter where your future leads you. If you ever decided you wanted to watch the world burn, I would stand by your side to help ignite the flames. But if you want to save it, well, then I guess I'll have no choice but to play hero alongside you for once." Vlad offered a faint smile, but I could hear the sincerity in his words.

I wanted to tell Vlad I loved him too, but I couldn't find the strength to move, let alone speak. It felt as if all my words had suddenly vanished, leaving me to choke on this pathetic whimper that escaped my lips. Vlad responded to it by holding me tighter, trying to comfort me, but the weight of knowing I might be responsible for the destruction of the entire world was unbearable. It felt like everything I've done to prove I'm a good ghost to my parents and the people in Amity Park was completely pointless! I was always destined to fail and become something cold and dark. Sure, I can't pinpoint exactly how its going to happen, but I know the world is heading toward a future that will become a frozen wasteland because of me, and—GOD, this is so unfair!

All I did was dare to hope I can finally start to relax and do all of the things that I've always wanted to, like the small things that make me happy without having to worry about what anyone else thinks for once. But I guess that was too much to ask for because according to Nocturne even if I manage to avoid that awful future happening through my parents, I'm still destined to repeat the same patterns because of Vlad. In a moment of desperation, he might resort to something just as horrific to keep me from leaving him behind, and when that inevitably goes wrong, I risk losing myself in the process. So much for being allowed to be selfish huh? Now it seems I'm the only thing standing between the people I love and the end of the world if I make any more mistakes...

I think at this point, the only way I'm going to be able to save the future and everyone I love...is by going back to Fenton Works to reconcile with my parents before it's too late. I need to convince them to accept me as I am now—a hybrid—so they won't try to strap me to that lab table and do who knows what to eliminate my ghost half, which they still see as nothing more than a parasite controlling me. And Vlad...I...even though I want to stay with him I'm going to have to make a clean break so he won't get hurt do something that can never be undone. Right now, I can't see any other way to prevent that vision from becoming a reality. Even though I want to stay here with him SO badly and forget all about what I saw, I can't, not until I figure out a way out of this mess. And if neither of those options work, I may have to consider a third choice where I have to give up everything to save everyone. But since when has the right thing ever done anything but punish me for something I never asked for...?

Breathing shakily I suddenly remembered what Vlad told me the night I first saw him in ghost form during the reunion and couldn't help but feel crushed by the fact that he was right all along...let me give you a friendly word of advice from someone who knows the folly of such a naive notion. Doing the 'right thing' and sacrificing yourself for others is only going to tear you apart bit by bit until there's nothing left of you. It may even destroy you someday if you're not careful.

Closing my eyes and slipping into a depressed daze, I whispered softly, almost to myself, "I just wanted to be happy for once in my life. Is that...really so wrong?"

Little did I know, those would be the last words I'd say out loud for a really long time.