Disclaimer: I own nothing from Danny Phantom

(Updated 2/25/2025)

Chapter 28: Irreplaceable Moments

(Chapter inspired by If Only by Dove Cameron)

Vlad's POV

It's been a little over a week since I rescued Danielle from Nocturne's lair and we began our impromptu mini-vacation in the Rockies. Technically, she saved herself; and I was just there to ensure her safety once we escaped that nightmare. While her throat has completely healed under my care, unfortunately, it seems Danielle has lost her voice for an entirely different reason. Initially, I thought her silence stemmed from how despondent she had become to the point of only speaking when spoken to, but eventually, she lost both the ability and the desire to speak altogether. That's when I realized it was her spirit that remained wounded, not her body...

I've done everything I can to support Danielle, and I can tell she's trying to dispel whatever dark thoughts have been haunting her. But whenever she smiles at me, it no longer reaches her eyes. They've grown distant and lackluster. During meals, she barely touches her food unless I insist she eats at least a little for my sake. The most troubling issue, though, is the nightmares. I know for certain that Nocturne hasn't been able to invade our dreams since we started taking the medicine I created to counter his influence. Yet, Danielle seems to have developed a severe case of Somniphobia, the fear of sleep. Throughout the day, she does everything she can to stay awake for as long as possible, because she's been waking up every night in tears, tormented by memories of whatever Nocturne put her through.

I've woken up multiple times to the sound of Danielle crying, and once, after a particularly distressing nightmare, she climbed into my bed like a scared child, curling up next to me in a fetal position. This can't go on, but the emotional trauma and her fear of discussing what happened have made it difficult for me to ask what's been bothering her. It's incredibly frustrating because all I want to do is help! Just the other day, I got so angry that I threatened to go to the Ghost Zone to confront Nocturne and force the truth out of him. But the horrified look on Danielle's face when she heard me say that and begged me not to is the only reason I didn't go.

Either way, Danielle will have to confront her fears eventually and I need to be able to understand what happened so we can be better prepared if any other guardians come after her, mistakenly thinking she's a threat to the planet. After I calmed down and assured her I wouldn't enter the Ghost Zone without her, I made it clear that I would only do so on one condition: she needed to share everything she remembered about what Nocturne revealed to her and clarify what she meant by this new power belonging to her future self.

I felt a pang of guilt for giving Danielle an ultimatum like that, however, for her sake I have to know what she's so afraid of so she doesn't have to carry the burden alone anymore. I've already promised to protect her from harm, and knowing what this so-called future holds will help me prevent it from happening. If she won't share that with me, I'd rather not resort to drastic measures like trying to erase her memories of the time she spent with Nocturne. I can't let those memories continue to torture her to the point where it almost feels like I've already lost her...

Afterward, Danielle took me aside and, with considerable effort, wrote down her account of what had happened since she still couldn't trust her voice. I suppose that was the best I was going to get until Danielle got over her fear of reliving the memory of whatever nightmare Nocturne subjected her to. As expected, Danielle clearly omitted a few key details, but once I had a general idea that helped put my own mind at ease at least somewhat.

According to Danielle, Nocturne employed various strategies to unravel the thread woven into her dreams while keeping her ensnared in a state of secondary sleep. Initially, he attempted to mislead Danielle into believing that her abduction was merely a figment of her imagination. He did this by imitating reality and our original plans, conducting a medical examination, and testing her abilities. However, Danielle began to sense something was amiss when she noticed that I had nothing negative to say and that she was performing too perfectly. This realization was compounded when Nocturne made an error in mimicking my way of speaking to her. In response, he forced Danielle to forget the dream and plunged her into an even deeper slumber. Following that, Danielle admitted the specifics grew increasingly unclear, as Nocturne had effectively brainwashed or enchanted her into willingly delving into her memories and dreams with him, all while assuring her that he would safely return her home once they found what he was looking for. She could barely remember her own name which concerns me, while navigating a snowy landscape, Danielle was suddenly torn away from Nocturne and thrust into a vision of the future he had no intention of actually showing Danielle.

It was then that Danielle attempted to tell me the rest because she couldn't bring herself to write it down. Her hands trembled so violently that the pen fell from her grasp, so I gave her a few moments to collect her thoughts and articulate her feelings. But I soon regretted it when she finally revealed what she had seen. The truth rendered me as speechless as she was, and I had to rise from my seat for a moment to process the shocking revelation.

My feelings of animosity towards Jack and Maddie have grown immensely after what they did to both me and Danielle. I'll admit there have been moments when I wished for their demise. However, the fact that Danielle witnessed their cold, lifeless bodies in her vision made me realize that, despite living with me now, she still cares for them deeply and doesn't want to see them harmed. Even though she made the choice to leave them behind, the sight of their deaths in the future is why she often wakes up in the middle of the night, sobbing. She feels torn between mending her relationship with them to alter the future and staying with me, which she clearly wants more. And while Danielle mercifully didn't actually see her future self in that vision, she felt something awaken deep in her core that told her she was the one who had unintentionally caused their deaths. This realization has gnawed at her heart day by day, burdening her with guilt for a crime she has yet to commit. The weight of her sorrow is compounded by the fact that it wasn't just her parents who perished; others in Amity Park also succumbed to the cold after the entire city—perhaps even the world—was trapped in ice, transforming it into a frozen wasteland...

Since I needed to handle the situation with care so as not to alarm Danielle, when I sat down next to her again, I gently took her hand and reassured her that she shouldn't worry about hurting my feelings by expressing her desire to see her parents again. However, given my suspicions about what those two might be up to, I made it clear that Danielle could not visit them alone under any circumstances. I even offered to accompany her if it came to that. For now, as I've told her many times, the future isn't predetermined, and I'm resolute in proving to her that by searching for the legendary Infimap together. But first, after comforting Danielle, I encouraged her to take some more time to heal before making any drastic moves to prevent this troubling future and to concentrate on the present.

Fortunately, reassuring Danielle that I had no plans to cancel our visit with her friends—despite her silence over the past week—finally brought a genuine smile to her face. She expressed her gratitude for my understanding and patience, and then softly whispered three words in my ear that brought tears of joy to my eyes. It was the first time she had openly shared those feelings with me. She simply said, "I love you." While it may seem like a small gesture, those words meant the world to me. They are the reason I've been doing everything I can to keep Danielle close. I want her to love me as a father, just as I love her as a daughter. Though there's no rush, I hope that one day she will come to love me even more than her parents, freeing her from the burden of worrying about them, who seem to bring her nothing but heartache.

Danielle's POV

Sharing at least part of the truth with Vlad turned out to be exactly what I needed to finally pull myself out from the dark place I've been in ever since we got here. I still felt this horrible dread in the back of my mind, but thankfully it isn't as intense anymore once I finally told him what I've been dealing with. It made me realize all over again that even though I still feel alone sometimes, I'm actually not. Vlad's on my side and he's not going anywhere. It won't be long until I get to see my friends again either and hopefully, Sam and Trish will have some ideas that will help me figure out what to do about this whole mess.

We're going to be heading back to Wisconsin soon too on Vlad's jet since he decided against teleporting us, believing it would save us time and energy compared to flying. But at least now I can finally enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautiful wilderness we were in now that I didn't feel like shutting myself in my room anymore, staring blankly out the window like some kind of zombie. I could tell Vlad was relieved about that too when he stopped looking at me with that concerned, pitying gaze he had when I was feeling down. I mean, I still felt pretty crappy and spent the next day or so getting used to using my voice again, but once I did, Vlad and I chatted about plenty of topics that were totally unrelated to ghosts.

For starters Vlad told me his parents used to take him camping out here when he was young, but sadly the campsite they went to has been closed for years. After he made his first millions, he purchased the land and donated a portion of it to a local nature preserve to improve his public image, which sounds very much like him. When he mentioned having a yacht on the lake, he generously offered to take me for a ride before we left the Rockies so I decided to take him up on that since I could use the fresh air. Not that we didn't have that in the woods too, but being out on an open lake beats feeling closed in by a bunch of gnarled trees. I just don't like feeling trapped, especially not after what I've been through.

Thankfully Vlad's ghost pilot was still there on standby since he flew here on the jet, but unlike Cedric and Isla, this guy wasn't easy to talk to. He only cares about his job and he was polite to me and all but yeah, he's definitely not the friendliest ghost in Vlad's employment. Oh well, at least he knows his way around a helicopter which we flew over to the yacht on. Shortly after we landed, Vlad mentioned that we would be spending our last day here before heading back home first thing in the morning. That was fine by me though since I was finally starting to feel a bit better about everything. Besides, despite everything that's happened, I really missed Leo and was excited to show him to Sam, Trish, and Vallen.

Coming here also gave me a couple of ideas for where we might want to go for our vacation since Vlad gave me several different options. One of them was pretty similar to this where we would go on a cruise together and possibly stay on one of Vlad's private islands for a few days. Another suggestion was to head to a ski resort in the mountains, but after witnessing the world covered in ice, I'm not as enthusiastic about that idea anymore. The third option involved a stay at a luxurious mountain resort sort of like this one but with rich-people activities like horseback riding and various exciting outdoor adventures. Lastly, Vlad even offered to take us on a road trip to visit several destinations tailored to our interests, which honestly doesn't sound like a bad idea.

Vlad clearly put in a lot of effort into his research, as the itinerary included visits to Cape Canaveral Space Center in Florida, The Comic Book, Sci-fi and Fantasy Expo in San Diego, Gothapalooza in Nevada, and a final stop in New York to explore all the major attractions, including a tour of one of his largest businesses, Dalv Corp. We were definitely going to have a hard time deciding, but to me, the most important part of all this is getting the chance to see my friends in person for the first time since they testified against my parents during the custody battle. I've been checking in and talking to them as often as possible online, but I've only been able to ask Trish and Sam privately how Vallen is doing as far as the ghost hunting end of things. Vlad doesn't know about this, but I've been debating on whether or not to tell Vallen the truth about me since we were never actually enemies when I was still going around fighting ghosts as Dani Phantom. I know it's a risk, but I hate having to keep him out of the loop on certain topics-

"There you are, my dear! I've been looking for you everywhere," Vlad said with a smile, leaning against the railing as he gazed at me. "I was starting to worry that you might have gotten lost."

Smiling weakly in return I admitted thoughtfully, "Nah, I'm just lost in thought..."

Giving me an odd look Vlad sighed and after putting a hand on my shoulder he asked, "You look troubled, little badger. Is there anything else on your mind that you'd like to discuss? It might help."

I shook my head and let out a sigh before saying, "I just have a lot on my mind, that's all. But don't worry, it's not about that thing you're thinking of. I'm just trying to figure out where we should go once summer vacation really kicks in, and I'm still getting used to being able to talk again. I was in a pretty dark place, Vlad. I haven't felt that terrible since the Spectra incident and that one time when Walker turned almost everyone in Amity Park against me. Sometimes I still wonder if they were right and if I really was just a menace to the town..."

"Danielle, if you were a menace to anyone, they likely had it coming," Vlad said with a frown, letting his hand drop before straightening up and brushing off some nonexistent dust from his shoulder. "But I digress. Your room is ready, and I wanted to show it to you before dinner. The weather is supposed to be quite pleasant this evening too so perhaps you'd like to join me for a swim?"

"Sure," I answered offhandedly, my mind drifting a bit again as I listened to the waves crashing against the side of the yacht. In response, Vlad gently placed his hand on the small of my back, guiding me inside while attempting to mask his concern. Not that I blame him, I still have a long way to go before I can put this all behind me...

I'm just glad I'm not alone.

My mood definitely improved after we ate dinner and I ended up asking Vlad for his honest opinion on where we should go on this vacation with my friends. And while we were on the subject Vlad reminded me that he still wanted to begin my training after they head home so we started talking about that too and he carefully brought up the topic of the other medical exams he had planned to do before I got kidnapped. According to him, my powers have actually recovered much more quickly than he anticipated, even after I exhausted myself by using that new attack twice in a row. It also turns out that the damage to my throat wasn't as severe as we initially thought; my inability to speak over the past week was mostly psychological.

In fact, Vlad told me even with the boost in my regenerative powers thanks to that ointment he makes with his special hybrid Blood Blossoms, my base powers seem to have grown a lot stronger lately on their own without either of us noticing which is kind of insane actually. And after Vlad told me how impressed he was after seeing the way I held my ground against a ghost as ancient and powerful as Nocturne, I can't tell you how encouraging it was to hear that I had impressed someone who has had his powers much longer than I have. It made me feel a lot better about myself honestly since I've been so worried I might be losing my edge due to the fact I'm not facing down ghosts on a daily basis anymore.

Once we finished talking and went outside to enjoy the outdoor pool and Jacuzzi after getting changed into our swimsuits and...oh god I think I'm going to be scarred for life after seeing Vlad in those swim trunks only models usually wear that fit snugly against the skin. I think they're called jammers? Not really sure. I've gotta admit though, Vlad has definitely been keeping in shape since he has a noticeable eight-pack and swims like an Olympic champion.

Personally, I'm not a fan of bikinis, so when we went swimsuit shopping, I made sure to pick out only one-piece suits. At first, I felt a bit self-conscious when I joined Vlad, but that quickly faded when he playfully pushed me into the water with a mischievous glint in his eye. In response, I used my ice powers to throw a snowball at him from behind, freezing his ponytail in the process. We both burst into laughter and then decided to play a friendly game of water volleyball after he activated the net which swung over the pool. It felt nice doing something more active again instead of just flying around, though for obvious reasons we agreed not to use our powers to keep things interesting and to see if I could beat Vlad legitimately.

Unfortunately, I'm a bit out of practice and not as fit in my human form so Vlad wiped the floor with me, but I had a great time, and it helped distract me from everything for a while. After we dried off by phasing the water off our bodies, we decided to grab some dessert and settled in to watch a movie in his private theater, which the yacht also had. We ended up watching that Sherlock Holmes film, and it was entertaining to see Vlad's reactions to certain scenes. He kind of reminds me of that Blackwood character in a few ways, always seeming to be three steps ahead and knowing how to play the cunning villain when necessary. The only reason that doesn't unsettle me anymore is that I know Vlad is on my side, and I can trust him.

We both have our secrets, but in the end, like he said, we're family, and I want to do what's best for both of us. That's why I want to see my parents as soon as possible, whether it's with Vlad or someone else. Because the sooner I can make sure my parents don't go through with whatever they're planning-such as trying to trick Vlad into letting them see me which let's face it won't be easy-and pulling off some harebrained scheme because they think my ghost half has brainwashed him and my brother, the better. For now, though, I promised Vlad I'd stay focused on the present, and that's exactly what I intend to do. The rest can wait a little longer since we still have plenty of time to figure the rest out.

At least, I hope we do.

Clockwork's POV

Even though I knew this would happen, seeing my old friend in such dismal condition after his encounter with the young halfa saddened me. I had already cautioned him against directly meddling in her dreams, as his reckless choice would lead to severe repercussions. He came to me in search of answers about the vision he had seen, fully aware that I cannot provide straightforward answers. Nocturne is well aware of this limitation, yet it clearly did not deter him from attempting to seek my counsel. As the Master of Time, my role is to observe the flow of time as it branches into various paths, shaped entirely by the decisions of those swept along its current toward the future. I can also contemplate the past, which remains as tranquil and still as a stagnant pool in a cavern, untouched by the currents—until someone disrupts it, casting a stone to create new ripples once more.

As inhabitants of the Ghost Zone, we are liberated from the limitations of time, existing as immortal entities that have either never experienced death or were never alive in the first place. We cannot truly 'die' unless our core is destroyed or we are completely drained of the energy required for our rejuvenation. In this sense, it seems that Nocturne is teetering on the brink of death, as he specifically requires dream energy to regain his strength. Therefore, for old times' sake, I summoned a version of Nocturne from the past to lend his current self some strength and simply advised him to have more faith in the inner strength of humans, for although they may lack powers, that does not render them weak.

Soon after, I sent Nocturne's past self back to his own time and settled in to wait for Nocturne to awaken, casually adjusting the mechanism of my time staff. While I could have accelerated time to just before his awakening, I sometimes prefer to relish the tranquility of this place rather than the incessant ticking I'm accustomed to in my tower. During this interval, I conversed with the Fates, who confirmed that they had indeed encountered the elder halfa as I had foreseen and delivered the warning I had sent them through a vision of my own. In comparison, my connection with the Fates stretches back much further than theirs with Nocturne, who often seems like a child who is still learning how to accomplish his task while retaining his neutrality.

We are as ancient as time itself and will likely endure long enough to witness its conclusion. Nocturne, though also ancient, resembles the new void that emerges after a star is consumed by a black hole. He has filled this void with his wisdom and mastery over dreams. However, it will take time for Nocturne to learn not to let his affection for humanity cloud his judgment, especially when it comes to exposing a young girl to the terrifying possibilities of the future. Throughout the centuries, I have witnessed many humans with the telepathic ability to glimpse the future descend into madness, often taking their own lives out of fear that their visions would come to pass. Thankfully, very few possess this gift in the present day, but it still occasionally appears in some individuals. This is why I take great care to support those who do, ensuring they do not repeat the mistakes of the past when the future remains unwritten.

As for the young halfa, that girl is truly exceptional. She possesses a range of powers that are quite rare, even among ghosts, making her a force to be reckoned with. Nevertheless, like Nocturne, I believe she will opt for a brighter future than the one that creature was born into. There may come a time when Dani Phantom must confront this creature and her deepest fears to demonstrate that she is stronger than she believes she is at present. The elder halfa can support his younger counterpart in this journey, as long as he avoids the mistake of being so determined to shield her from her dark thoughts that he strips away her freedom to choose by erasing her memories of these events, which would lead to disastrous consequences.

If Dani Phantom finds herself unprepared for the visions that are bound to torment her after glimpsing a future she wasn't meant to witness, she will likely become furious with him and flee in pursuit of the truth he has hidden away. Meanwhile, Plasmius's current mission to locate the Infimap may reveal that their future isn't as bleak as it seems, provided they maintain honesty with each other. As long as they collaborate, there is no adversary they cannot overcome, not even the dark entity that the young halfa has transformed into on at least two occasions in parallel timelines.

It now falls to them to ensure that neither of those two timelines comes to fruition. From the depths of my heart, I wish them the best of luck, because this journey will not be an easy one. And I do mean that literally because you see, I have a test prepared for them to determine whether Vlad Plasmius will utilize the Infimap correctly. He will soon discover that the map doesn't always lead to the desired destination, but rather to where one truly needs to go. As I mentioned, the young halfa may have to face her potential future again much sooner than either of them could have anticipated...