Disclaimer: I own nothing from Danny Phantom

(Updated 3/20/2025)

Chapter 29: Serious Repercussions

(Chapter inspired by Found by Citizen Soldier)

Danielle's POV

Once we made it safely back to the castle Vlad made a lot of major changes around the place. When I asked what they were Vlad said he's going to make absolutely sure that no one will be able to sneak past his security system again like Nocturne did. So one of the first things he did was install a special ghost shield in my room specifically that only authorized ghosts can pass through, similar to the castle's outer ghost shield and the lock Vlad uses on his ghost portal. Additionally, he perfected the new medicine, which I've started calling "anti-noct." In other words, there's now a version that works the same for ghosts, half-ghosts like us, and regular humans...

Speaking of 'normal' people, when we finally broke the news to Jace about my kidnapping, he really gave us an earful about being more careful from now on. Vlad and I agreed to keep the whole ominous future situation to ourselves; the last thing we wanted was for my brother to become as paranoid as I am, and dread the possibility of something horrible happening soon. Too bad Jace already has plans to go out on a road trip with his friends over the summer break before classes start. But at least he made sure to set some time aside the last week of summer to stay at the castle again with us. Maybe then I could finally have a real conversation with him without Vlad breathing down my neck.

I'm just grateful that things are slowly returning to normal, even though I still have a lot of big decisions to make in the near future not only for myself, but for Vlad and everyone else involved. I've been having a hard time sleeping though but thankfully Vlad's anti-noct medicine seems to be working. So if nothing else, at least I know my dreams are just dreams and not more dark premonitions of the future. Although I'm sure once I get my head back on straight I won't have them as often. Still, I can't shake the nagging feeling that something isn't quite right in the back of my mind. I can't pinpoint what it is, and I don't want Vlad to worry since it's probably just my frayed nerves acting up. I'm planning to keep my guard up regardless to avoid a repeat of what happened with Nocturne...

When we finally got back home, I was relieved to see that Leo was starting to act more like his usual silly self again, following me absolutely everywhere—even the bathroom. And the first time I looked at myself in the mirror since this whole nightmare started, I frowned at the sight of the ugly dark circles under my eyes. I was so tired of feeling, well, tired because I've been either unable to sleep at all at night or I suddenly wake up insanely early in the morning and can't get back to sleep. There's something else too. Whenever I looked at myself in the mirror, I'd see a flash of someone else with long glowing white hair replacing me in the reflection with a manic smile stretched across their face that made me recoil from the sight and that's when I decided something had to change before I lost my mind completely.

I wanted to feel like I was in control of at least a couple of things in my life so I transformed and made my way to the lab to see Vlad. He was busy all day ensuring we had a sufficient supply of anti-noct for our upcoming trip. I felt a bit guilty interrupting him during such a hectic time, but after taking a deep breath, I finally mustered the courage to ask if I could get a haircut soon—something I had been thinking about doing for a while now. I know it's a stupid thing to feel self-conscious about, but I thought maybe getting a hair cut would help me feel like a new person so I can get over what happened to me and finally move on. And I can't keep letting every setback make me doubt myself. Just like when I broke free of Nocturne's dream world, I need to break down these mental barriers that keep threatening to close my heart off from the people I care about just because I'm afraid of hurting them or being hurt again.

Pausing his work to regard me thoughtfully, Vlad nodded and smiled. "I believe that's a wonderful idea, my dear. You might be amazed at how a change in appearance can boost your confidence. I'll schedule an appointment with my stylist first thing tomorrow morning, before your friends arrive at the castle. By the way, have you thought about where you'd like to take them for our vacation? Keep in mind, Danielle, that you'll be quite busy once they head back home, so don't hesitate to plan something extravagant. You may not have another opportunity to indulge them in such luxuries later on."

Rubbing the back of my neck with a slight blush on my cheeks, I explained, "Well...about that. See, after our little day trip on your yacht, I started to think about the cruise option you suggested much more seriously. And I mean, the likelihood of encountering any ghosts out on the open sea is pretty slim, right? Plus, there are so many cool activities on a cruise ship that I think everyone would enjoy—"

Raising his hand to stop me and looking pretty unhappy with what I just said, Vlad interjected sternly, "While it's true that the chances of encountering any ghosts is low, I don't want you to make your decision based on the fear of potential dangers, Danielle. I know I failed to foresee the remote possibility of a ghost such as Nocturne using the ability to overshadow people, creatures, or objects to bypass my defenses, but I promise you that won't happen again. Moreover, even if we do encounter any ghosts, you and I will be more than capable of handling them. So I will not tolerate you letting what happened to you control your decisions moving forward. This isn't just about choosing the safer option; it's about pursuing what you want to do that seems the most enjoyable."

Feeling a surge of irritation at Vlad's equally sour demeanor, my eyes glinted a vivid green as I glowered. "If you're not happy with it, why don't you just make the decision for me? That seems to be the pattern around here when it comes to me. You clearly know better, considering I always seem to make the wrong choices. But hey, what else is new? As usual, I can't do anything right."

"Danielle, that's not what I—" Vlad started, giving me a piercing look. In response I angrily shook my head, perched myself on the edge of his workbench, and unleashed my frustrations on him.

"No Vlad, you don't get it! Can you even imagine what it's like to know that you're destined to ruin the future and hurt the people you care about, all while feeling powerless to prevent it? It's torture to second-guess every single choice, always fearing that one of them might trigger a complete disaster. I've been doing my best to not let that vision weigh me down, especially since none of it has happened yet, but...I still saw the consequences of one of my biggest mistakes firsthand!"

Gripping the edges of the counter I looked away from him and blurted out defensively, "In that vision I saw hundreds of innocent people who had frozen to death, including my parents. But how many others did I lose? Did I lose you too? My brother? My friends? And more importantly, just how many lives did I ultimately destroy? I have no idea which is why all I'm trying to do is make sure I'm more careful from now on and keep my guard up. And I never should have let down in the first place because anything that has to do with ghosts are always going to end up screwing up my life no matter what I do! Besides, I thought you said you'd be happy as long as you're with me no matter where we go! But you know what? Whatever. Looks like this decision isn't any good either even for the high and mighty Vlad Masters so why do I even bother trying...?"

Rather than replying immediately, Vlad rose from his workbench, placed a hand on my shoulder, and gently lifted my chin with the other. Looking deeply into my eyes, he spoke with conviction, "Little badger, you know that's not what I meant. And I understand your frustration a lot better than you think. All I'm trying to say is that you need to have more faith in yourself. It's beneath you to let this one experience undermine all the progress you've made to get here because I know you're stronger than this. Don't choose the easy way out out of fear of not being able to protect the people you love because you've already done it countless times before without so much as batting an eye."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Vlad suddenly cupped my cheek with his other hand, his thumb softly brushing over one of the dark circles under my eyes. The warm yet sad look in his eyes made me feel guilty for snapping at him. And deep down I know it's not fair for me to take out my anger on him, especially after everything he's done for me, but I'm just so tired, confused, and more than a little scared. Scared of failing, scared of losing the people I care about, and worried that if I let my guard down even for a second, I might lose everything because of more ghost-related bullshit. After a moment, Vlad finally let go of me then leaned back and put his hands behind his back as he calmly instructed me to try and get some sleep. He also added that if this really was my final decision about our vacation he would make all of the necessary reservations and travel arrangements.

I dreaded the thought of going to bed, just as I have for the past two weeks. Still, I nodded and turned to leave when I heard Vlad mutter something under his breath about how things couldn't continue like this and I felt a sharp pang in my chest. It made me wish I never said anything and kept my big fat mouth shut. He has enough to worry about and right now without me burdening him with this. That's how I know I'm not a hero anymore—I'm just a villain in the making, someone who only knows how to hurt others and push away those who care about me the most...

Vlad's POV

The moment Danielle walked out, I made a vow to do whatever it takes to help her overcome this, even if it meant taking drastic measures. I can't stand to see her trapped in such fear and self-doubt. That bastard Nocturne will pay for this dearly! She did not deserve to shoulder such a heavy burden of being responsible for the fate of the world and knowing about any part of this dark future. For all he knows he's actually brought that future closer to coming true after backing Danielle into a corner to the point where she's second-guessing everything she does, hoping and praying that her next decision won't lead to the untimely death of her loved ones.

Opening the tome of ancient ghost lore on my workbench which I had been consulting while developing what Danielle now calls anti-noct, I began to scan the pages for any references to memory manipulation. My hope was that I could at least help her forget the vision she had experienced. After all, according to Nocturne, she was never meant to witness it in the first place; revealing it to her was a foolish mistake on his part, as he had unraveled her dreams and memories in an attempt to understand what he too had foreseen. I didn't need to erase all her memories—just the one of that vision, so it would no longer haunt her every waking moment.

I can tell she's still struggling to keep herself together, and if I'm not careful, Danielle might snap and reflexively try to fix everything herself when she's in no condition to face her parents or Nocturne again. And I suppose she's not wrong to assume another ghost could potentially come after her, especially now that Nocturne's actions may have drawn the attention of the Observants. According to legend, the Observants are a sort of high council in the Ghost Zone, tasked with watching over and protecting both realms. However, they are forbidden from intervening directly, which is why the ancients chose these seven guardian ghosts—or perhaps they were the very ancients who defeated the Ghost King, Pariah Dark.

That's my hypothesis, at any rate. The creation of the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep seems like something Nocturne would have helped construct to contain a ghost too powerful for any of them to defeat, one that once tried to conquer both the Ghost Zone and Earth. It's remarkable to think they might view Danielle as an equally formidable threat, which makes me curious about the future version of herself that she fears becoming. However, my primary concern is the present Danielle; her safety and future are what truly matter to me. Anyone who poses a threat to her will face my wrath. That said, I only left Nocturne unconscious because I didn't want to jeopardize her trust in me by destroying his core right in front of her.

Oh but how tempted I was to go through with it anyway, and if she hadn't intervened, I would have acted after teleporting from the mountain chalet to here. There may come a time when I won't seek forgiveness for doing what's best for Danielle. Unlike her parents, I actually give a damn about giving her the freedom to live out the rest of her life as she so chooses. I'm the one who made it possible Danielle to step away from being the sole protector of Amity Park, and I've taken her out of the toxic environment she was in—literally, as those Blood Blossoms had made her gravely ill. I've provided her with a safe home, ample food, clothing, and, most importantly, my unwavering trust, loyalty, and love.

I don't easily share those last three things with just anyone, especially after Maddie left me and showed me what a poor mother she has become. I always knew Jack was a fool, so I'll never understand how they ended up with such wonderful children. They certainly don't deserve someone like Danielle. I've done everything I can to prove that I DO deserve her, but I can tell that Danielle is having serious doubts about whether or not she made the right choice to live with me and...well I must admit that does sting a little. However, I am fully aware that these doubts stem from a deep-seated fear so it's not that she doesn't trust me, but rather that she's become so fixated on doing what's best for everyone else that she's willing to sacrifice her own happiness, forever.

And I refuse to let that happen.

"I've come too far to lose Danielle now," I murmured to myself as I closed the book and transformed into my ghost half. "And you know what they say, 'better to ask for forgiveness than permission.'"

After activating the castle's outer shield and injecting myself with the stronger form of that anti-noct serum, I ordered Cedric and Isla to keep a close eye on Danielle and make up a plausible excuse for my absence. As for where I'm going, let's just say there's someone who owes me some answers. And once I have them...I will be able to remove at least one threat to my little badger's future.

If she discovers the truth later, I can always deny any involvement and say that Nocturne simply couldn't fully recover after his battle with Danielle, as he requires dream energy for regeneration, not just ecto-energy. While Danielle might feel a sense of guilt for his downfall, I'll be there to reassure her that it wasn't her fault and to remind her that he was, after all, our adversary. If Nocturne had genuinely cared for her well-being, he would never have put her through such psychological torment. He would never have allowed her to bear the weight of a vision where she inadvertently harms her own parents and many others in an effort to protect herself from a terrible fate they intended for her.

It was clearly an act of self-defense; Danielle never intended to freeze the people of Amity Park—or the world, for that matter. So, I can't fathom why Nocturne thought he could get away with kidnapping her here in the present. If he had really understood her at all, Nocturne would have attempted to reason with her first and offered a warning to help her avoid whatever traumatic event triggers this future. Ironically, he may have inadvertently pushed her toward that path while trying to prevent it. Now, she feels compelled to return to Amity Park to confront those two hypocrites who claimed they would love her no matter what. I have my doubts about whether reconciliation with Jack and Maddie is even possible at this point, but if that's what Danielle wants, there's no way in hell I'm going to let her face them alone.

She has me now, so Danielle will NEVER be alone again. If she ever thinks about running away due to some misguided idea of protection, I will track her down and bring her back, no matter how many times it takes. This is her home now! We're a family, and I refuse to lose anyone else! I've finally been given the opportunity to be a father, and I won't let some ghost take that away from me! I will eliminate anyone who tries to stand in my way because I'm done playing nice. Being nice is what allowed Nocturne to kidnap Danielle in the first place, and his demise will serve as a warning that the next ghost—ancient or not—that comes after my little badger won't survive to try again.

I will make sure of it, personally.

I was actually thankful for it once I realized that Wulf had likely left Nocturne's castle spire to go hunting, making my timing impeccable. I certainly wouldn't want him to rob me of the pleasure of being the one to inflict the most pain on Nocturne. However, I knew I might have to contend with the Fates if those three choose to rise up in his defense. While I appreciate the warning they provided and their previous indifference, that doesn't necessarily mean we're allies. If they side with him and attempt to shield Nocturne from my wrath, then they will automatically be considered my enemies as well...

This time, I didn't bother sneaking through the caverns beneath the castle spire. Instead, I teleported directly to the top of the tower where Danielle had once fought for her freedom, and I couldn't help but smirk at the sight of it still unrepaired since our last visit. Nocturne lounged on a throne carved from the same black marble that adorned the castle's interior. As soon as his drowsy gaze landed on me, he rose to his feet, although I could almost sense how weak he still was, and Nocturne only went as far as the bottom of the steps before stopping under a single shaft of moonlight.

"I have been expecting you, Vladimir," Nocturne said in a calm, resigned tone. "Although I haven't been able to enter your dreams or those of the child, an old friend told me you would come. Beyond that, I can only assume your goal is to eliminate me."

"I'm pleased to hear that the new drug is effective and that you can no longer invade our dreams, Nocturne. Consider this your final lesson not to underestimate me as you did with Danielle," I said coldly, channeling ecto-energy into my hand. "She may have spared you when her strength couldn't hold out while using that strange new vocal power of hers, but the irreversible damage you've done to her spirit is something I cannot forgive so easily. You held her captive, threatening to make her suffer if I made any missteps, then promised to remove her memories of your encounter so that she wouldn't as long as I stayed away, which you knew was never going to happen. Because of you, she now lives in constant fear of what the future may hold, even though it hasn't come to pass. That is why I cannot allow you to remain a threat to her; it's only a matter of time before you attempt to infiltrate her dreams again. However, before I bring about your end, I will give you the opportunity to share your final thoughts with me even though nothing you say will change my mind about ending you here and now."

With a soft chuckle, Nocturne reflected, "You're right; I can only modify memories, not alter events that have already occurred. That power belongs to Clockwork who, unlike me, knows better than to interfere directly with mortals unless instructed otherwise by the Observants. And I have already been punished for my mistake since they have stripped me of my role as a guardian. Now, I am nothing but an old spirit left to languish alone with his regrets. But know this-"

Gazing up at the false moon through the gaping hole in the ceiling, Nocturne continued, "My desire to help her is sincere. As such, I will tell you what I told her. That I have foreseen two similar paths leading to that future, which is why I sought a way to help the ghost child escape her fate without sacrificing everything she cherishes, including her special bond with you. You mean a great deal to her, Vladimir, but I understand that you are set in your ways, and vengeance is all you know. If she discovers that you came here to destroy me, she will lose faith in both you and herself, blaming herself for your choices."

Shortly thereafter, the child will try to protect you from reverting to your darker tendencies by leaving you behind to resolve matters with her parents to prevent you from 'removing them' as a threat to her future entirely out of fear of losing her which will also lead to the loss of her humanity. Hold onto her too tightly or attempt to cage Dani Phantom for her own protection, and the child will escape and run back to Fenton Works, convinced she has already lost you and has nowhere else to return to. Either way, the end result is the same..."

Placing a clawed hand over his heart—or rather, his core—Nocturne sighed and admitted, "Humans are such complicated creatures. Even after all these centuries of observing your kind's dreams, I realize I've learned very little about how you see the world. You halfas are truly exceptional, even among humans, for your power and strength of will are unlike anything I've seen before. I was wrong to have doubted her strength since she managed to not only escape my most powerful sleeping spell, but she also resisted my attempts to make her temporarily forget about you and her previous life in Amity Park while seeking an answer to how to give that child hope that she can overcome that dark future. Yet, it seems the answer was right in front of me all along—I was simply too blind to see it."

"Are you done stalling?" I asked icily, charging my other hand with ecto-energy and slowly closing the distance between us. "Even if any of that is true, you know I can't let your actions go unpunished, whether I destroy you or not. If I don't demonstrate to everyone in the Ghost Zone that we won't be trifled with, others will be tempted to test their luck against Danielle's strength again, either for their own selfish motives or under the guise of saving a world I would rather see burn than allow her to shed another tear for those who don't deserve saving. I'm sure she'll understand if I take you down a peg or two as a warning to others."

"As for the rest, well, you already know what will happen if I catch you prying into our affairs again even without any other premonitions. And truthfully it is ONLY because of Danielle that I'm giving you a second warning because very few of my enemies even receive a first before I crush them either literally or metaphorically. After this, there will not be a third and I WILL end your miserable existence. But before we begin, I have one question."

"Ask what you will of me then and I will answer truthfully," Nocturne replied, his tone tinged with disappointment. It seemed he had hoped this pivotal meeting wouldn't escalate into conflict, especially since he clearly hadn't regained his full strength.

With a knowing smirk, I began, "Apart from you and Clockwork I know there are seven ancient guardians total who banded together to defeat Pariah Dark. I want to know who they are so that I know who else might threaten Danielle because of this absurd fear of a future that encases the world in ice. So tell me, Nocturne, now that you're not a guardian, who are the others? And that includes who might be replacing you assuming there must always be a seventh since I know that occasionally there is are ancient laws attributed to such things..."

Narrowing his sleepy eyes at me Nocturne asked in return, "And what will you do once I tell you?"

In response, I split myself into seven duplicates to emphasize my point, and we answered in unison, "Whatever it takes to keep Danielle safe, even if it means taking you all down one by one. As long as the other guardians don't interfere with our lives again, I have no qualms with them. However, if they choose to target Danielle, I will wage a war against them that will make Pariah seem like a minor threat in comparison. But you, Nocturne, are still my enemy which means you've already crossed that line and made yourself an enemy of Vlad Plasmius. And that, my shadowy friend, was a grave mistake."