Chapter 15: Not Alone
As it turns out, Danny does have telekinesis. And boy, oh boy, was he excited about it. It's telekinesis after all, mind over matter and all that.
And it's just so damn cool.
If before he died, someone asked what his premium choice would have been for superpowers, then without hesitation he would have chosen telekinesis.
Being able to move stuff with sheer thought alone made him feel powerful. Truly, it did. With just a thought, he could move a truck. With just a thought, he could bend steel. And with just a thought… he could grab the TV remote without moving from his spot on the couch.
Okay, so it was empowering him to be lazy. But really, couldn't that be called training as well? Instead of using muscles for a menial task like picking up dirty laundry, he could just think about doing it, and it happens.
Telekinesis, as it turns out, isn't terribly hard to use. So long as it's used on small stuff. Cars? Trucks? Anything reasonably heavy? Not happening, even in his ghost form it didn't work too well. Danny knew it was just temporary, it was all a matter of practice. Soon he would be moving heavy objects with his mind, bending matter to his will, and if Skulker ever showed up again, maybe he'd tear apart that suit without even moving.
Maybe even record it too, depending on how annoying the little snot got.
That was a long way off of course, but a boy can dream, and that was what Danny aspired for with that faceted power.
Right now though? Before leaving to his uncles, Danny was able to move fifty pounds as Phantom. Not a lot, true, but it was a start, and like all of his powers, practice made it easier.
And the best thing about telekinesis? It was so easy to use as a human. A lot of his powers were incredibly taxing to use in his human form. Some were outright impossible at the moment. Electrokinesis? A few sparks was all he could get at the moment, plus it was super flashy. Flight? More like a better jump height. Intangibility? Partial, sure, but full body phasing as a human was a no go, it was just too damn hard. And the same went for invisibility.
As for telekinesis, it wasn't easy to use it, per-se, but it was subtle and doable. So long as he hid his eyes, no one would know it was him. That was the main problem with using it as a human, his eyes glowed acid green like his Phantom form does, and it was very noticeable, especially in dark rooms.
So what does Danny find himself doing on this road trip? Playing with his newfound power of course. For once, the large and cumbersome custom RV was actually being used for its intended purpose: a family road trip. It's not often the whole family uses the vehicle, but long trips to visit family and friends were the exceptions.
As long as they weren't forgotten about when their parents left that is. It's happened before, not often, but it has happened.
The drive to Green Bay Wisconsin is about eleven hours from Amity Park. Amity is on the southern side of Illinois, and while there are a decent number of hills and fields, Amity is the only place with mountains around it. Those mountains actually add three hours onto the otherwise eight hour trip, not that Danny minds. Traveling is always fun, and with something to actually distract him, it's all the more enjoyable.
The RV, while heavily customized and weaponized- he still has no idea how that's legal- is rather spacious. Despite the sheer amount of firepower this thing can dish out, which is always increasing as the Fentons upgrade their tech, there are enough beds for everyone. Two bunks for Jazz and Danny, and their parents have a large full sized bed. It takes up a lot of room, but Jack's massive size demands it. The privacy curtains are great, and thanks to them it makes playing with his powers discreetly far easier.
While Jack and Maddie Fenton weren't the most attentive to any non-ghost subject, their children included, Jazz was the complete opposite. Especially if it has to do with Danny, and if his guess was right, she's been paying extra close attention to him since the ghost attack at school. For good reason, of course. He knew that for some, it would be a traumatic experience. A giant meat monster appearing out of nowhere, destroying stuff, spewing fire, lifting objects with thought, almost dying. If Danny wasn't half-ghost, or rather, if he wasn't used to fighting to the death, no doubt he might have needed counselling like some of the others.
But he's Danny-fucking-Phantom, not that many people know the name, but eventually word will get out. It may have only been a few months, but he's grown used to fighting things far larger than him, undead that would make people soil themselves. While the meat monster was bizarre, and hopefully he can reconcile with Lunch Lady in the future, the centipede was far worse in terms of fear factor, and packs of giant wolves, or RV sized bears were far more intimidating.
That's why Jazz's incessant nagging to talk to her was grinding his gears. It didn't leave anything but a bad taste in his mouth, and that's not because some of the meat made it there. It's mainly that he was so close to having a non-conflict encounter, only to have it ripped away and he was forced to fight an old lady. Well, she was probably in her forties or something, but 'old lady' fit her speech pattern and tone.
"Danny, are you sure you don't want to talk?" There it was again. It's sweet that she cares so much, at least someone in the family seemed to, but he's told her already that he didn't want to, or need to. He sighed behind the curtain, cancelling his telekinesis and letting the coins drop into his hand. After putting them away, he pulls the curtain open with a scowl.
"Jazz, I've told you already that I'm fine. I don't need to talk to anyone, nor do I want to. I appreciate it, but drop it." She frowns for a moment, before relenting and moving back. She has her psychology book in her hand, a new one by the looks of it. Great, that just made it seem like she wanted a test subject. It wasn't that only, obviously, but Danny was in no mood to be psychoanalyzed at the moment.
She moves the book to her other hand, a sign of discomfort if those very same books are anything to go by. "I'm just worried little brother. It's not every something like that happens, and it's not good for anyone to bottle feelings up."
The worry in her eyes is comforting, but the curiosity in it is just as trying. He adjusts his lying position, propping his head up with an arm and letting the other lay on his side. "Uh-huh, and that new book has nothing to do with it?" She has the decency to blush a little at the jab, but hiding it behind her back doesn't really do anything for her case but makes him smirk in victory.
Jazz opens her mouth to respond, but he puts his hand up to stop her. "If I was from a normal family, then maybe it would have affected me. But tell me, who are our parents?"
Turning her head to the front, the previously anxious expression goes blank. It seems that even if she is a genius, there's some things that slip her mind. When the flat look on her face is turned back towards him, he snickers at it. She sighs and rubs her temples, "Okay. I'll give you that. Considering we've been being attacked by glowing food all of our lives, maybe I overreacted."
Danny sits up and swings his legs off of the top bunk. When he drops on the ground in front of her, it's easier to see that her little brother isn't so little anymore. Taller than her now, even if only by a few inches, it makes her wonder if he's going to grow into his father's height. The younger sibling, now taller than the older, smiles warmly at her. "Yeah, you did. But that's alright, just try and chill a bit, okay? I wanna use this getaway to relax."
Still, Jazz wants to emphasize one point, if any. "I'm always here for you Danny. Just let me know if you want to talk about it, or anything really. I'm always willing to listen." Danny nodded and walked forward, towards the front. He dropped onto the couch-bench thing and kicked his feet up on the armrest. A quick peek told him his parents were too busy up front to pay attention, and Jazz had crawled into her bunk on the bottom. The TV remote glowed a dull green and flew over to him from the TV mount. The Halfa grinned as mind-numbing entertainment came on, more at the enjoyment of his powers than the actual show.
Shifting his position just a little, he kicked back and started to relax again. Relaxation isn't something that he'll be getting often, and this trip was going to be one of the few times he'll actually be able to enjoy the once common occurrence. Danny really should find a way to thank Desiree, if not for her, no doubt his absence would have left the town attacked. Maybe a gift would be in order, not that he's ever been good at picking those out.
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Two Days Prior
"What the fuuuuck is this?" It's like the meat monster all over again. Seriously, what's going on with ghosts and food?
Down below, a swap-meet turned fair held every three months in Amity Park was in full swing. Or maybe, it would be called overdrive. Huge plumes of… "Cotton candy?" Yes, pink and purple cotton candy rolled through the public event like waves of water, sweeping up people in the tide of sugar. "Hmm… do I need to do anything?" This wasn't even that bad, and cotton candy wasn't exactly harmful. Except for the damage it'll do to some kids teeth, but he wasn't a dentist nor did he care if someone got cavities.
Still, this all required some form of investigation, and his ghost sense had pulled him here. Flying down and in full sight, his face is nothing but amusement and confusion. He had to admit this was all kind of funny. How come everyone was running in terror? It's only a pink sugar spun confection, even if there was enough to fill a length. A little lower and he's got a handful of the stuff, and sure enough, it is just cotton candy.
"Seriously, what's going on here?" Where was this all coming from? And why was it happening now? He had to pack damn it, not investigate the poltergeist of carnival foods.
A laugh catches his attention, deep, calm and smoky, and distinctly feminine. Coming from above, it doesn't take long to find the green skinned beauty that's making the enchanting noise. And beauty doesn't seem to do her justice. Exotic and sexy, even without legs, her blue and silver outfit does little to cover her skin. The only way to describe it would be a harem-styled genie outfit. Silver bangles and bracelets adorn her arm, and a jeweled headpiece rests carefully in her black hair.
Danny shakes his head to get rid of the green blush on his face, it's not the time to eye the most attractive woman he's ever seen. With a little more speed than necessary, he flies up to meet the green woman. Not exactly concealing himself, it's no surprise she sees him. The smile on her face is rather nerve racking, if only because he can't tell if it means harm or not. Maybe, just maybe, this won't end in a fight. It would be nice, but he brought the thermos around practically everywhere he went, and this was no exception.
The woman floats down to meet him, slow and calm, nothing like fast anxiousness he felt. Fuck all, he wasn't very good at talking to strangers, or pretty women. Or ghosts, if his track record showed anything. And this was all three.
Phantom cleared his throat, an action that felt necessary to ensure his voice didn't crack. "Uh- hey," He glanced down at the flood of cotton candy below, letting a small chuckle escape, "this your handiwork?"
She laughs again, but nods in affirmation. "Yes child, this is my doing. May I ask who I am talking to?" Danny straightens his shoulders and back, appropriate posture is important for first meetings and greetings. "Danny Phantom, ghost hero of Amity Park, nice to meet you…?"
Taking the hint, she does a small bow and introduces herself. "I am Desiree, the wishing ghost. Anything you desire, name it and I can grant it." His eyes opened a little wider at that, but another glance down seemed to tell him another story. Maybe those wishes come with a twist, one that Danny did not want to experience himself. The idea to wish this town ghost free vanished as soon as it appeared, no doubt the opposite would come into effect.
Even then, information is power. "A wishing ghost? Like a genie? Who wished for the Tsunami of sugar down there?"
Desiree shrugs her shoulders, "You just have to be careful what you wish for." The wishing ghost slowly moves forward, outstretching a hand towards Danny. "Now tell me, what do you desire?"
Feeling more alarmed than enticed by the action, he floats back in caution. "Whoa! Whoa! You're not gonna attack me are you?"
The confident smirk on the wishing ghosts face turns into a frown of confusion, "What do you mean? Why would I attack you?"
Although still on edge, the confusion on her face is a welcome change. "Well, every ghost I've met so far has attacked me. I mean, yeah, they're almost all just mindless monsters, but even the ones that can talk attack me."
Understanding dawns on her, but she's been around far too long to be swayed by just a few words. "I can see where your concern comes from, ghost child, but I'm not one to attack unprovoked. Although I will warn you, I have been known to be quite vindictive."
Uncomfortable silence. Danny rubs the back of his neck, trying to think of something to say. Desiree beats him to the punch instead, "Why do you protect people? Or more specifically, why are you a hero?"
Tapping his fingers onto the back of his head, Phantom chooses his words carefully. "It's not that I care for," His hand gestures to the people below, "these people. I don't like them, or this town specifically. If anything, I do hate this place. But that doesn't mean I want them to die. Ever since the ghost portal opened, ghosts from all over have been flocking in mass. Most come from out of town, but others do come from the portal. A lot of them are nasty, monsters and animals, but so far all have attacked me or caused mayhem." Feeling more comfortable and confident in his answer, he looks into her red eyes. "And I have the power. If someone's going to do it, may as well be me, right?"
The answer satisfied her, honest and selfless. It made her smile in appreciation, "That's very noble of you, Phantom." Danny blushes again, he's not used to receiving compliments.
"Do you mind if I ask you a question?" She nods her head in response, "Go ahead."
Wondering if it's too personal of a question or not, he throws caution to the wind. "Why do you grant wishes? And how does it work? I come from a science family, so the idea that you can just grant a wish if heard is really out there, ya know?"
Pausing in thought, she puts a finger to her chin. The action alone gives him relief, so far asking anything of a ghost is like walking a minefield. After a few seconds, she answered. "The wishes work by magic, the main power of my core. I do not know how it works scientifically, it's never been a subject I've cared for, but there's probably others you could ask for better answers." She hesitates for a moment, but seeing the curious look on his face, and thinking she has a good grasp on his character, decides to answer the last question honestly. "As for why… while it does increase my power for each wish granted, it is more compulsory. I have to grant any wish I hear. I must, there is no denying one if it is heard by me." At the end of her explanation, her expression is bitter and hateful.
That… wasn't what he was expecting to hear honestly. The power thing made sense, kind of. As far as ghosts went at least. The science thing doesn't surprise him, she looks like she's wearing clothes from a different era. As for the need to grant any wish… even he could see where that could go wrong. "Why do you have to grant any wish? Was it always like that, or…" He wasn't really sure what else to say.
She bristles and immediately looks far angrier. It puts him on edge, but the tired sigh she releases calms him slightly. "It's a curse. I wasn't originally forced to grant any wish, but when a particularly nasty witch demanded eternal youth, and I refused… well she decided to spite me for it. Spiteful bitch." She threw her hands up in the air in exasperation, "I can't even do that, not then and not now! Eternal life isn't the easiest damn thing to come by, even after all these years it is still impossible for me."
Unfortunate. Maybe that's the word, or perhaps cheated. As far as he knew, ghosts are immortal themselves. And for a curse to continue for so long, it must have been powerful, and clearly it pisses her off to no end. In that case… "Desiree."
She looks up from her glare, staring him in the eyes. His serious gaze makes her raise an eyebrow, but seeing that he has her attention, he continues. "I wish that your curse was removed and you can choose which wishes to grant."
Purple mist, her magic, flows from her hands, the same as the tears from her eyes. The lavender smoke covers her whole body, head to tail, and quickly the two lose sight of each other. Never before had someone been so selfless to her, so kind, and to actually remove her curse… The sheer relief that comes from her core is liberating. The damned curse that had been so heavy on her core, for every pulse since that day, for over a thousand years. The binding is shattered and destroyed, and the newfound sense of freedom that's been so long forgotten is intoxicating. She gasps in amazement and comfort, newfound power and freedom coursing through her body like an electrical current. It's like a high she can't come down from, everything is easier, every single action. Whether flexing her fingers or summoning her powers, it's all too easy now.
She tries and fails to blink away the tears, happiness and gratitude overflowing towards the young man in front of her and building to staggering amounts. Before he can even react, Desiree shoots out of the cloud of purple smoke and tackles him. Danny would have reacted violently, like any other encounter so far, but seeing as how he was nestled between her rather large and soft bosom, he figured it's better to just enjoy this.
Between sobs of happiness she manages to squeeze out words of gratitude. "Thank you! Thank you! I cannot thank you enough, Phantom! To have been so selfless, when you could have wished for anything with that knowledge, it shows magnitudes on your character. I will forever be in your debt, young man. If you need anything, please let me know." When she separates from him, the goofy smile and heavy green blush on his face makes her laugh. It's far more lighthearted than her previous one, less mischievous and with a lighter tone. It's a nice change, and he finds it suits her well.
"You don't need to thank me, Desiree. It was just the right thing to do." And he honestly believed that. After hearing that story, he can't possibly imagine why no one's ever done it before. It pisses him off that she even had the curse on her still, were people really that selfish that he was the only one to wish for that? It was so simple, why has it not happened till now? Besides, that hug felt fucking awesome. That was thanks enough in his opinion, but then again, he was a teenager going through puberty.
Respect, appreciation, admiration; all emotions that she rarely feels for people, much less men in general. And hearing that response only made them increase for the young ghost in front of her. "Still, I must do something for you. How does a twist free wish sound?"
Now that was enticing. What could he do with that? Money wasn't an issue, even if he thought the current allowance he got was rather meager. Power wasn't needed, he was constantly getting stronger and gaining more control. Wishing for a girlfriend just sounds pathetic as well, so that's out. Maybe…
"I'm going on vacation in a day and I'm hesitant to leave the town undefended. Do you think you could put up a barrier of some kind? All I need is two or three weeks." If Danny could leave the town without worry, it would make this vacation an actual vacation. One where he could relax, play with his powers with leisure, and not have to worry about being mauled by undead.
Desiree hummed in thought. The whole town? That would be stretching her powers quite a bit, even more so with that odd connection she feels. It wasn't readily apparent from that damn infernal bottle, but the sheer strength of the connection to the zone was astounding. It was almost as if there was a constant portal open between the dimensions. If it was before her curse was lifted, then it would have been impossible, but now that her restriction was released… maybe.
Purple smoke formed in her hand, the essence of her magic and reality altering sorcery. "The connection to the Infinite Realms is astounding, and truly strong. I have to test it first." A pulse flew from the smoke, with her hand as the origin point. It flew fast, going through Danny and causing him to flinch at the alien feeling. The pulse quickly scanned the whole town and even went past the city limits. What she felt made her eyes go wide in surprise and fascination. The whole town was almost seeped in ectoplasmic energy, and there really was a constant portal open. It was releasing, in the most accurate words, a beacon for all ghosts. Calling them and beckoning them home.
Astounding.
"It's not surprising this town needs a hero, that portal is like a lighthouse. Calling all restless dead from everywhere, this place will be swarmed in six to seven months, maybe a year." Danny's already pale ghostly complexion dropped another shade. Swarmed? As if this wasn't bad enough, bi-daily encounters were becoming a common occurrence, and even now more were showing up multiple times a day. Mainly at the wee hours of the morning, forcing him to get up before the crack of dawn even rears its bright head. That pushed his time table up significantly; if he had less than a year before shit really hit the fan, this whole hero thing might really be out of his hand.
The Halfa sighed into his hands, long fingers gripping strands of messy snow white hair. "Damn, damn, damn! It's already bad enough as is, how the hell am I supposed to do this? Even now, I barely got a hold on my powers!" He was starting to panic, even if it wasn't going to do any good in the moment. "Fuck!" And there's nothing that can be done either. The idea of destroying the portal popped into his head, but that could have unforeseen consequences. This was a bridge between dimensions, copious amounts of ectoplasmic energy was in constant motion keeping it opened. If it suddenly stopped working… what if it blew up? Sci-fi movies had explored this before, and the results weren't pretty. Those were just movies of course, but how far off could they be?
It would be best to ask his parents later, even if it got his father going about ghosts. If there was a bomb in his basement, it would be nice to know how bad the blast radius would be.
Desiree put a hand on his shoulder, startling him out of his thoughts. Frantic green eyes met sympathetic red, and it made her feel awful that Danny had to face this alone. "Calm down Phantom. It is still months off, you have plenty of time. Train, get better, but don't push yourself too hard. We ghosts may be hard to kill, but it doesn't mean we can't die again. Make sure you have enough time to recuperate, and I have enough confidence in you to believe that you'll do just fine." And she truly believed those words; the pulse that went through him had told her just how powerful the ghost was, and even now, he was slowly gaining more power. His core wasn't even fully formed yet! Ghost child truly was a rather apt description for him.
The reassuring smile calmed his nerves, and knowing that someone actually believed in him, especially a ghost of all things, made him feel much better. "Thanks. I needed that. What did your scan show you?"
She lets go of his shoulder, floating back several feet and regaining a more formal distance. "It should be doable, but this entire town is a hotspot for the dead. I should be able to place a barrier that can hold for close to three weeks, but that's it. Be warned though, the barrier will hold, but it will not stop the call. Most likely, there will be a large amount of ghosts just outside of it, waiting to enter."
Of course, nothings ever so easy for him is it? Danny groaned at the upcoming… invasion? Maybe, but not quite right. Still, this was the best he'd get for now. At least he could have this one last vacation before the pin was pulled on this grenade. When he gets back, it'll basically be hunting season in full swing. Just for ghosts.
"Desiree," he started, "I wish that a barrier would be placed over the town for the next three weeks. No ghosts in or out, except for you and me." She raised an eyebrow, not expecting her to be a part of the exclusion. Still, she was grateful. This would give her unrestrained access with no interruptions, allowing for a boost in power and a fair bit of fun. Especially since she hadn't been in the mundane world for who knows how long.
The wishing ghost raised her hands, alight with purple light and smoke trailing along her fingers in contrails. "So you have wished it," green and purple energy crackled between her fingers and hands, before she slammed them down to her sides. "So it shall be!" Similar to the pulse from before, but on a much larger scale, a ring of lavender energy shot out from her as the epicenter. This time though, a slight purple haze followed and stayed as cover; the barrier, presumably. The magic kept going, encompassing the entire town in its protective glow. It didn't go unnoticed by the populace, but it was gone before anyone could question it. Not that they knew who to ask anyway.
Danny lifted his arms, swinging them a little, but not feeling anything different. The pulse was tingly, like pulling a piece of prank gun and getting a shock. "Did it work?" He asked.
A dry harrumph escaped her nose, "I'd appreciate it if you had some faith in my abilities, but to answer your question: yes, it worked. This town will be ghost free- barring you and I- for the next three weeks." Danny blushed in response, feeling a tad bit ashamed from her jab, but he figured if she believed in him, then he can do the same for her. "Sorry, not quite used to having such a friendly encounter, much less one that works in my benefit. Still, thanks Desiree. I really do appreciate it."
She smiled and waved it off in response, "Nonsense. After you released me from my curse, this is the least I could do. Let me know if you need anything in the future. For now, I believe I'll rest. I haven't used magic that powerful in hundreds of years."
Before she took off though, Danny grabbed her attention one last time. "Ah wait!" He flew up to her level, "I wish that no ghost hunters would be able to find or track you. Trust me, while my parents aren't exactly the best, they are ruthless to those they catch, and I don't want that experience on anyone."
Another surprise for sure, she'd have to ask him what he meant by his parents later. Still, she found the gesture heartwarming. "So you have wished it, so it shall be." More magic flowed from her hands, this time encompassing her entire being. It lasted for a few seconds, but left no trace of anything being particularly different.
"Well then, young man. I shall be off. It was truly a pleasure meeting you, and I look forward to meeting you again next time." With that, she disappeared in a poof of lilac colored mist.
Blinking away his shock at the casual use of teleportation, it took a little to actually process that he didn't make another enemy. When it finally caught up, he pumped his fist in victory several times. "YES! YES! A friend! Someone or something who's not trying to kill me! And she's hot as hell to boot! This is great, and I can actually go on a vacation! HAHA! I'm gonna have to go to these swap meet things more often."
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"Dann-o wake up! We're here!" The booming voice of his father jostles him awake, causing him to nearly fall off the couch in a startle. Jazz giggles at his shock, walking forward towards the front. Using his quick reflexes, Danny sticks his foot out just a bit in front of his sister. It catches her leg and causes her to stumble forward, though she catches herself on the wall of the vehicle. She glares back at her little brother, who was trying and failing to hide his snickering.
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Danny gets up, swinging his legs out over the couch and letting momentum bring himself up. Jazz blinks her eyes at the display of… what's the proper word? Bodily control? Possibly acrobatics? She had never seen her brother so nimble before. It's a startling difference to how clumsy he's always been.
A knock on her head later, and her attention is now refocused on her little brother again. "You okay there? You're kinda spacin' out." Jazz shakes head, but takes the outstretched hand he offers. She picks up the book she dropped and rolls her ankle, satisfied at the popping sound it makes. "It's rude to trip people you know."
"And it's rude to laugh at other peoples misfortunes," He counters, "but hey, we're only human." A barking laugh follows his final words, and to the older sibling, it almost sounded sarcastic. Danny walks past her, going straight for the entrance while scratching the back of his head. It doesn't take long for Jazz to become the sole occupant of the weaponized recreational vehicle. "That was weird." She sighs in defeat, something that doesn't normally happen with word games between her brother, but eventually follows her way out through the door as well.
The sight that greets the Fenton family is one that still confuses and amazes both siblings. "I'll never understand why he lives in a castle." Danny said, mainly to himself, but his father hears it and offers his two cents. "Well, when we were in high school, Vladdie always said that he wanted to own a castle one day." His father looks it up and down, before looking out to the surrounding area. On the outskirts of Green Bay Wisconsin, on the westmost side of the city limits lies Vladimir Masters private castle. "No idea how he got it out here, but oh well." He shrugs it off with his usual airheadedness.
The castle didn't seem like it belonged here, or anywhere near the state. The surrounding farmlands made the fortress-turned-home look even more out of place. Apparently it was built here over one-hundred years ago, an unnamed royal who was nicknamed the 'Dairy King', but it's hard to tell when Vlad is bullshitting someone. He's a very good liar, and a younger Danny could never tell the difference. Still, the Halfa was pretty sure that his uncle was telling the truth about the place at the time.
The large fortified estate's yellow roof and green flags hanging literally everywhere, were an homage to his favorite football team: the Green Bay Packers. Honestly, his uncle took fanaticism to a whole new level by decorating the interior and the exterior with the team colors. What used to be a drawbridge was replaced with large double doors, and any arrow slits were gone for reinforced windows. Ramparts and battlements were tiled over with gold plates- not actual gold, just gold colored. Probably. The main keep was tall, probably over six stories, and a tower jutted out from both sides, adding further to the strange majesty of the place.
"It's way over the top like usual." Jazz was right on the money this time, even Danny couldn't deny that.
He couldn't help but ask, "Why does he need something so big? Is it because he just has that much money?" His parents chuckled at the question, but mainly because that was probably the actual answer. Still, he's been here enough times to not be intimidated by the castle, even if he thought the Packers themed castle was obnoxious.
Jack walks up to the door, giving it three hard knocks with his massive hands. They didn't have to wait long, which is surprising given the size of the place. Just before the doors fully open, his ghost sense goes off, instantly putting him on alert. Now? Here? Of all the fucking time! Danny looks left and right, but finds nothing. The pull isn't telling him anything, so the ghost is either too far or too close.
The doors open up without a sound or creak surprisingly, revealing world famous billionaire Vladimir Masters, looking around with a hint of suspicion and caution. Vlad is a tall man, towering at the same height as his father, but with a far normal build. Lean and chiseled, in his mid-forties Vlad is the same as Bruce Wayne. A handsome man with way too much money in his wallet. The long grey and white hair only enhances his good looks, and as a man of etiquette and class, his beard is well trimmed and colored the same as his hair. The dark suit no doubt costs as much as a new car.
"Vladdie! Good to see you!" His attention is brought back to his uncle and father. Jack wraps his giant arms around Vlad, giving him a rather brutal bear hug. "I-it's good to s-see you too Jack. N-now, let me go!"
Jack complies, but continues patting the coughing billionaires back. Vlad's nose crinkled in annoyance, "Must you do that every time, I very much enjoy breathing and having unbroken bones." Laughing it off is all too easy for Jack, mainly because he's been doing this since college. Vlad dusts himself off and straightens his now wrinkled clothes. Turning to Maddie, he smiles and offers a hand to shake. "It's good to see you again, Madeline. How was the trip?"
His mother shakes the hand in return, "It was fine. Traffic was easy, and with Jack at the wheel we made it in record time." It's amazing how his father still doesn't have a ticket to his name. Highway Patrol for both Illinois and Wisconsin are downright inept at their jobs if they've somehow missed Jack Fenton on the road for so many years. There's whole departments that need to be fired.
Attention turns to the Fenton children, and Danny and Jazz are all smiles. "Daniel, Jasmine, it's been too long. I wish you two would visit me more often." Jazz walks up and eagerly hugs him, and he responds in kind. Danny does the same, it really has been a long time since he last saw Vlad. When he's released, Vlad puts a hand on Danny and Jazz's shoulder, guiding them inside with their parents following.
"Come inside everyone, come inside. It's much more comfortable, especially with the autumn winds blowing about at the moment." Was it really that cold out, even though Danny's wearing a long sleeve and jeans, he didn't even notice. Did that have anything to do with his ghost half?
Following behind Vlad, the family is greeted to a sight just as extravagant and fan-obsessed as the outside. A comfortable forest green colors the bricks on the walls, and numerous Packers memorabilia lines the walls and display cases. Door and display frames are colored gold and embezzled with white lines, the same color as the tiled floor. At the end of the foyer is the same gold and green double staircase he always remembered, with a large door in between the two ascensions. Pictures of famous players line the walls, such as Ray Nitschke and Brett Favre. The only reason Danny even knew those names was because Vlad would have a hissy fit about it if he didn't remember them.
"Your place is great as always V-man." Jack looks around for a moment, before his eyes land on a signed football in a glass case underneath a framed picture of a player with the number 66 on his jersey. Jack walks up to it and taps on the glass, "Hey, what gives? How come it's in a case? Don't you wanna throw the old pigskin around?"
Vlad sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance, "No Jack, I don't know how many times I've told you, but that ball is not for throwing. It's autographed, and irreplaceable."
Moving on, Vlad turns to face the rest of the family. "While I would normally have guests stay on the first floor, the guest rooms are being renovated currently, so you'll have to stay on the second floor." Vlad leads the group up to the next story, and Danny's eyes land on the frames picture of a rather portly fellow in a robe. The crown of cheese on his head is just as ridiculous as the first time he saw it. "Vladdie, you sure you don't want me to look for this Dairy King guy? You never know what a ghost could do!"
The billionaire turned his head, looking over his shoulder, and scoffed. "Please, Jack. Even if he did actually haunt the place, what would he do? Choke me with cheese? Give me diabetes?"
The two siblings giggled at the jokes, but the blatant sarcasm seemed to go right over their parents heads. The white haired man sighed, but continued further down the hall. After a few minutes of ghost blathering from his parents, the host of the house- castle really- stops in front of a set of doors. Unfolding his hands from behind his back, the man turns to address the Fenton family. "This will be your room Jack, Maddie." Vlad turns to the two children, arm held out further down the hall. "Daniel, Jasmine, your rooms are right around the corner on the right. They are right next to each other." The two nod in conformance, and the rich man refocuses back onto the family as a whole.
"While normally I would try and spend time with you, I am rather busy organizing the college reunion and… juggling some of the issues my company is having at the moment. You all are free to do what you want, free reign of everywhere but the basement." Vlad eyes Jack specifically, "That mainly means you Jack. I've had an indoor pool installed recently if any of you want to try it, and dinner will be at 7:30. Make sure not to miss it, it's going to be great tonight." After straightening his tie, Vlad begins walking off back the way he came, leaving the family to unpack and unwind by themselves.
His parents get to work right away, entering the large room and going straight to the dressers to unpack. Danny shrugs his shoulders and moves to his designated room. Jazz takes the one just around the corner, and Danny quickly moves to his room. He was tempted to unpack, but since they're only staying two weeks, he figured there's no reason to. Instead, he effortlessly tosses his suitcase and backpack onto the bed. After rummaging around, a phone and sketchpad is produced from the pack. A quick look told him that he had about two and a half hours till dinner. Really, why unpack? It's a waste of time, especially when he could be doing anything else.
Like exploring the castle with his ghost powers. How could he not? Even when Danny's visited before, there was always an air of cautiousness, mainly because he wasn't the greatest when it came to directions. But now, he could just go through walls if he got lost.
Upon exiting his room for the next two weeks, Jazz is the first to greet him. Danny raises an eyebrow, "Goin' to the library?" His sister nods in affirmation, no shocker there, and it prompts him to say, "Gonna wander. See what I find. See ya at dinner."
The original plan was to wander around aimlessly, but the painting of the Dairy King popped up in his head, and thus a new goal was born. "Time to find the Dairy King!" Danny stops in his tracks, replaying what he just said.
"That sounded way less embarrassing in my head." He mumbled.
After finding a secluded hallway, which wasn't hard, Danny lets his ghost half come to the surface. As ectoplasm bleeds through, Danny's invigorated by the spectral energy now coursing through his veins. As usual, being a ghost makes him feel far more powerful than when he's a human, and ironically enough, he feels more alive when he doesn't have a heartbeat.
Now standing as Phantom, he quickly floats up and phases through the ceiling. Figuring he can start from the top and work his way down, Danny makes his way to the attic, going floor through floor to the top of the keep.
"This place is seriously way too big for one person."
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It was time for dinner before he even got past the three top levels. This whole stronghold may as well be a Packers museum, not a home! There was so much of the green and gold teams memorabilia, it wasn't even funny anymore. The entire attic had a picture of every single player to be put on the team, with their numbers above them and signed jerseys and footballs below the pictures. This place was practically a shrine to the Packer gods at this point and Danny decided that he needed to have a chat with his uncle about just how much was too much.
Because the foyer by itself seemed like it was too much.
"Ah, Daniel. Glad to have you join us. Your parents should be here soon." When he entered the dining room, Danny was greeted by his uncle at the head of the table, with Jazz on his right. It should be noted that the table was large enough to dine over thirty people, and the room itself had a ceiling high enough for a football goal post to be comfortable. "Hey Uncle Vlad. What's for dinner?" He walked over and sat next to Jazz, who was reading a book as usual. Food hadn't been served yet, most likely because all guests weren't currently present. Perhaps that's what the bell next to Vlad was for.
The older businessman adjusted his tie and glanced at Jazz with slight annoyance. Didn't she know that it's bad manners to read like that at the dinner table… perhaps not, knowing her parents. He sighed lightly, before turning to his now seated nephew. "Nothing but the finest, my boy. Lobster, steak, turkey, fresh garden and caesar salad, just plucked fruit, and the best cheesecake in Wisconsin." Vlad flashes a toothy grin at the young children, careful to hide his fangs as usual. It's amusing to see Danny perk up at the list of fine cuisine, and Jasmine can try and hide it all she wants, but his niece wasn't as good at concealing her excitement as she hoped. He chuckled slightly, "You're going to have to try harder to hide your desires, my dear. I've been in this business too long to not be able to pick up something as simple as a teenager wanting fine food." Vlad laughed even further at her blush, but Daniel made no attempt at hiding how ready he was for the food.
It took another ten minutes for Jack and Maddie to arrive, and to their college friends annoyance, both were still in their hazmat suits still. "I must ask, you two do have an actual outfit besides those suits, yes? If not for casual wear, at least the party?" He was almost dreading the answer, mainly because he knew they didn't, but nobody ever blamed a man for hoping.
Jack's booming laughter came first, then he waved his hands back and forth in denial. "Of course not, V-man! Ya never know when a ghost is gonna attack, so we always gotta be prepared." Danny raised an eyebrow at that. What would hazmat suits do against an ecto-blast? Would it shield them from one of his more powerful electrical discharges? Probably not, seeing as how the one he wore never actually protected him from a damn thing. It's just a piece of clothing, and against normal chemicals and non-active ectoplasm, sure, it probably helped. But against a full powered ecto-ray, one which he had halved trees and dug deep into rock with, the Halfa was all too sure that it would do diddly squat.
His uncle seemed to share his opinion, because he scoffed in both amusement and annoyance. "My friends, if you haven't seen the news, which I have been watching, that glowing boy in your town no doubt has ample enough power to make your 'protective' suits useless." As his parents sat down, Vlad took a sip of his wine and continued his rant, "He's battled large monsters and other ghosts with ranging powers, and I have a very hard time believing your hazmat suits could stop anything the boy seriously sent your way."
Both parents frowned, this was their best friend and their biggest sponsor basically telling them they were outmatched. Feeling a little heated, Maddie raises a suspicious question. "And how do you know that Vlad? You're in Wisconsin, as are most of your businesses. How do you know what goes on in Amity?"
Vlad smiled wide and his slanted eyes gave off a predatory feeling, "I have businesses all around the world, you should read Time Magazine sometimes. I make it onto the front cover at least once a month." As a pause, he rang the dinner bell, alerting the catering staff to start delivering the fresh food to the table. "As for how I know? I do, in fact, have a business or two in Amity. Do you know Axion Labs?" Both older Fentons nodded at the question, though Jack was far more interested in the steak that was placed in front of him.
"Well I bought that company out over three years ago, and ever since I have kept up to date on the local events of the place. Plus, your family is there." The whole family paid more attention to him now, "As embarrassing as it is, I do not know many people as well as I do you all. This is the closest thing to a family I have, and I like to know of any potential dangers that may encroach."
All heat left Maddie, now both ashamed for doubting her friend, and happy that they had such a caring family friend. Jack was all too proud, and although he wanted to speak it, his wife had told him that if he spoke with food in his mouth one time on the trip, she'd ban ham and fudge from the house till the New Year.
There's no way that's going to happen. He'd die from withdrawal.
"Getting back on track, I'll have something prepared for you two. The reunion isn't for another three days anyway. Plenty of time to find something." Both parents nod in agreement, now put in their place by their friends' earlier comment. "I'll have my tailor come tomorrow to grab your measurements." Vlad turned his attention to the youngest in the room, "Are you two going to attend? I won't lie, it will most likely be boring for you two."
Danny looked up in thought for a moment, but Jazz already knew that she had zero desire to participate. "I'll have my measurements done, that way I know for future reference, but I don't think I actually wanna go. There's probably not going to be anyone our age there, is there?"
The older man shook his head, but smirked at his nephew's forethought. "Smart boy; you never know when that could come in handy. As for your other question… I'd be surprised if anyone else actually brought their children to this kind of event."
Danny nodded and went back to his meal, a rather hefty lobster and steak. Surf n' turf, as it's called. Jazz put her hand up, "I'll do the same as Danny. I don't know when I'll need it, but it'll be good to know."
Vlad smiled at her and resumed his meal. Jack was almost done with his, and his son was following close behind with an appetite fitting a growing boy. Seeing the need for more food, he rang the dinner bell again, and no later than ten seconds passed before more food was brought out.
Dinner passed as normal after that, as normal as a dinner with a billionaire can get at least. It was only the first day, and there were far more exciting things that were yet to happen.
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It was around ten at night, an hour after dinner was over. He felt stuffed and relaxed, and he couldn't help but feel that way. It's not often he gets to eat such good food, especially with the way his parents cook, if they even do cook. Jazz was okay, and he's decent at it, but neither of the two siblings actually liked the act of cooking. Both were in the opinion that there was plenty of other stuff they could do; Jazz and her studying, and Danny with his powers. Admittedly, his prior excuse was lacking to the new one, but video games were a far larger part of his life before he could fly and shoot energy blasts.
Even if he was feeling full, it was boring. Danny has so much excess energy that's normally spent fighting ghosts and recuperating from the damage, it's hard to fall asleep when he's running on full. Actually, it was even more than full. He hadn't had such a good and filling meal in years, and he was fully healed from any injury. The food was burning at a high rate thanks to his abnormally high metabolism.
So it took all of five seconds for Danny to fly out of bed, literally, and transform into his other persona. Now as Phantom, he takes off through the walls to begin exploring anew. First he had to find where he left off, not hard to do since he can just go through ceilings and walls.
It was an hour later, and almost two floors fully explored when he heard a voice behind him.
"What do we have here?" It unnerved him how hostile it was. The deep baritone was intimidating, and the echo that came off left him all too aware that it was a ghost behind him. Slowly he turned around, psyching himself up for a possible fight.
What stood before the young Halfa could only be described as a blue vampire. Not even the sclera remained in his full red eyes. Blue skin and fangs just as long, if not longer than his own rested in a large smirking mouth. Black hair was set up into what looked like horns, with a grey streak going through the middle. His full white suit did nothing to hide his muscles, though it was clearly armored. The white and red cloak with the tall collar made him look even more like a creature of the night. Which technically, he was.
But this ghost was in his uncle's home, and he was no Dairy King. If he was here to harm someone, even though he felt severely outmatched, he'd fight him if he had to.
Danny cleared his throat and fixed his posture, "Uh… what are you doing here?" Best one liner ever. Way to go Fenton.
The older ghost raised an eyebrow at the intruder in his home. That was the best he could come up with? Still, he didn't have all night, beauty rest and all that. "Most ghosts know to stay away from here, at least if they know what's good for them." He closed the distance in a slow hover, "What's your excuse for not knowing, boy?"
Phantom floated backwards away from the intimidating ghost, something deep within telling him that the undead in front of him was too powerful for him to fight. "Uh… I was just looking around? I didn't even know anyone was claiming this place? I haven't been dead for too long."
Plasmius paused in his approach, but left his face neutral. If he was as new as he stated, which he definitely looked and felt, he couldn't really blame him for not knowing. But then again, if he let anyone get away with breaking and entering like this, his reputation would go down the toilet. Still, it wouldn't do great for his image either if anyone found out he had attacked a freshy.
"I see. It's unfortunate you didn't know. As much as it pains me to do this, I can't have anyone, dead or alive, trespassing onto my home. Bad for the image and all that." The elder Halfas hands glowed pink, a different color that Danny hadn't seen before in ectoplasm. Although startled, he wasn't going to back down after hearing that. He'd at least fight back.
Phantom responded in kind, letting energy flow to his hands and forming a ball of ectoplasm. Electricity sparked along his shoulders and down his arms, an added bonus to help in what's looking to be a beatdown. "Look, I don't wanna fight you. Can we not do this?"
Vlad chuckled at the attempt at diffusion, but halted when he examined the ghost child further. "Aren't you the ghost boy from Amity Park?" Red eyes narrowed in suspicion, and that feeling of familiarity picked at angry emotions. "What are you doing here? You're far away from your haunt, now answer before I make you!" His own pink electricity danced off of his body, and his roar was accompanied by the glow in his blood red eyes intensifying.
Gulping in nervousness, Danny tried to think of anything to get him out of this situation. After what happened to Skulker, he was hesitant to reveal his Halfa status to anyone, living or dead, and revealing it one so powerful really didn't seem like a good idea. But what he said about this being his property didn't sound right, and it egged into his thoughts. "Really, can we not do this? I'm out here on vacation, I don't wanna fight anyone!"
"Really, breaking and entering as a vacation." He sneered, "You've got quite the idea of rest and relaxation." Without warning, Vlad launched a bolt of electricity at Danny, surprising the younger ghost. In a split second Danny pumped more ectoplasm into his arms and fueled electricity into his hands in an attempt to neutralize one energy with another. Green and pink met and clashed, conflicting with each other for several seconds. Wild arcs scorched the carpeted green floors, and even though he was able to suppress the more powerful attack, it left him with the occasional twitch and numb hands.
Plasmius raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed one so young could hold out against his attack. "I must say, I expected you to be on your back, not glaring at me." In response, Danny sent his own surprise attack down range. Two ecto-blasts flew at the older man, but a pink bubble shield wrapped around his body and absorbed the attacks. The explosion rocked the walls and tilted paintings from the concussive force, but the ecto-shield was none the worse from the attack. Phantom eyed the construct with glee, despite the situation. Now it was clear to him! He was doing it all wrong, and he now had a new trick, assuming it came out right.
Grinning with malice, the older Halfa scoffed at Danny. "Really, ecto-blasts. That's so year one." He cracked his knuckles by curling his fist, "How about a show you something a little more advanced?" Pink energy formed and expanded from his hands, coalescing into an actual construct, and to Danny's disappointment, it was a… "flyswatter?" The display was impressive, no doubt of that, but using it to make such a mundane object is more than a little lackluster.
Not that he can do it, but it could still be made into something cooler than a flyswatter.
"Shoo fly," Vlad winded up, and Danny's eyes widened, "don't bother me!" The swing was too fast for him to dodge, and in a last ditch attempt, he infused his body with ectoplasm to increase his durability. The swatter met crossed arms and launched Phantom down the hall. He bounced twice before meeting the wall, which he turned intangible for. He let momentum carry him until he was outside of the castle, now floating above the gold tiled roof.
Danny groaned in pain, his arms were pulsing and from the feeling alone, he could tell the bones were going to be bruised. Still, they weren't broken, and bruises heal far quicker than breaks. The older ghost appeared through the wall, following after the home invader. Deciding to take a page from the man's book, a seven foot rod formed in his hands, and modifying it just a little, he formed a hilt just above his hands. Now left with a six foot long sword, he could only hope his sloppy copy of a construct would hold up against a fucking flyswatter of all things.
Plasmius let his ecto-construct change shapes, forming into a sword to match the young ghosts. It was far more clean and neat, with details down to the pommel on the hilt. "Interesting choice, my boy. A little rough around the edges, but let's see if you have the skills to back up your creation!" He lunged at the younger ghost, swinging for his midsection.
As quick as he could, he brought the sword up to guard the strike. At the same time, he let his claws form on one of his hands. When the strike met, the clawed hand held onto the sword in an effort to hold his block. He grinned at the older man, who was smirking in turn. Danny lets the sword chamber off to the side to attempt a kick with his left leg. Vlad blocks with a knee, but he has to raise his ecto-sword to block his opponent's jab. Danny's grip is reversed with surprising dexterity, and the boy himself doesn't seem to notice it when his swing forces the older Halfa back.
Vlad sends a bolt of electricity at Danny, forcing him away. Charging his sword with electricity to counter the forign energy, he pushes forward and swings his sword. Green and pink sparks fly off in an arc of energy, surprising his opponent, but raising a shield blocks the attack with ease. Once more they meet to clash swords, "I must say, I am rather impressed that you've managed to hold out so long." Like nails on a chalkboard, the conflicting energies violently reject each other as they're pushed further into conflict, and the sound is deafening. If the wall wasn't as thick as a castle wall, literally since it is, no doubt the guests staying there would hear the awful noise.
Again, Danny forced electricity down the length of the sword at full power, hoping to at least catch the man off guard, but an ecto-blast to his back knocked his concentration out. The sword remained formed, but that was it, and with no strength to hold the guard, Danny was pushed backwards into the one who blasted him. In a split second, he was able to see a second vampire ghost, sputtering confusion to new heights. "What the fu-"
The second copy slammed two fists down onto the young Halfa, forcing him down into the courtyard and cratering the ground. From the hole, he could now see two of the opponents. If everything before didn't leave him in awe, this certainly did. Slowly, he got up from the whole, mouth open in shock.
Both Vlads floated down with smug smirks on their faces, the original chuckling at the expression his trespasser wore. "I'm guessing you can't do this, can you?"
Danny shook his head in response, but was able to find his voice the next second. "How did you do that?! That's so cool!"
"Yes, yes, flattery will get you somewhere." If there's one thing Vladimir Plasmius has, it's an ego far too big for his own good. And one of the few ways to get on his good side, is to stroke it, so when he looks down at the younger ghost clearly admiring his skills, he can't help but feel smug. He nods his head in satisfaction, and to take it a step further, splits himself into twelve more copies each.
Phantom gasps in awe and a slight amount of fear, but mostly awe. And Plasmius just can't get enough of the expression, but with twenty four enemies now surrounding him, Danny's quick to realize that this is the most dangerous situation he's ever gotten into.
"This, my dear boy, is called duplication." He curls his fingers and looks at his nails, all of the clones do, but they quickly stop when they realize that they all have gloves on. Luckily, the petrified ghost before him doesn't notice it. "It's a high tier ability not seen in a majority of ghosts. If you see another use this, that means that they're powerful. Very powerful. You'd do well to keep that in mind for the future."
Danny perks up a little, based on his words it seems like he'll get out of this alive. "So, uh- does that mean I'm getting out of this alive? Can we just stop this?"
All the copies chuckled in amusement, but their hands alight with pink ectoplasm. Ecto-blasts charge up in their hands, quickly lighting the area up in a magenta bask. "Oh no, one more punishment and I'll let you go." The hum of energy gets louder and louder, and deciding to just wing it and possibly avoid a painful experience, Danny comes clean.
"WAIT! WAIT! I was invited! My uncle lives here!" Vlad squints his eyes in disbelief. What was this child talking about? His uncle? The only uncle here is him, and he only has one nephew… no. "Daniel?" Eyes widen further than ever before, and shock, anger, guilt, sadness, too many emotions threaten to break to the surface and he doesn't know which to feel at the moment. The duplicates retreat and reform back into his body, bringing him back up to full power.
Phantom's nervousness at the situation is momentarily halted at the mention of his name. "Who told you my name?" He takes a step back when the intimidating man lands in front of him, slowly walking towards him. Vlad stops a few feet away, with a hand on his chin, deep in thought as he inspects the ghost claiming to be his nephew.
And the answer he finds isn't a comfortable one. He hadn't noticed before, mainly because the possibility was so far fetched it never entered his mind, but staring at the ghost in front of him now, he can only see the similarities. Same height, attitude, voice, mannerisms, posture, hair, facial structure… it can only be his nephew. The white hair and green eyes, along with the spectral glow would fool most, if not all. He bites his lips in frustration, how could this happen?
Before Danny can react, Vlad is in front of him and grabs his arm. He can't even blink before they're both teleported to the lab in the basement. When Vlad lets go, Danny stumbles back while holding his head and stomach. His vision is blurry, and Danny's feels like he's all of five seconds away from emptying his stomach onto the floor. Teleportation is a rough experience for first timers, and even though Vlad wants to laugh, this situation leaves him nowhere near in the mood to. Walking over to a large console, the older half-ghost brings up several programs and videos. Leaving them to run on their own, he sighs into his hands, suddenly feeling his age and gracefully takes a seat into the chair.
Danny recovers soon enough, shaking his head and he looks around at his new surroundings. The whole lab is silver, a distinct difference from his parents white color pattern. There's a door on the opposite side, but the clear glass on it gives view to what is undoubtedly an airlock. Possibly used to clean and decontaminate before leaving and entering the lab. Danny scans his eyes over the entire room; a neat and tidy workbench that has multiple different components to things he has no idea what they belong to. Shelves full of books, followed by equipment and weapons. And then his eyes land on the portal. Like his parents' portal, it's shaped like an octagon and very clearly on. Bulkier, and far more secure, it doesn't even feel the same. The swirling whirlpool of ectoplasm that leads to the Ghost Zone feels different to the one in his basement, the call that he's associated with the portal isn't there. If this is his uncle's house, how does he have a portal?
"Done looking around Daniel?" His head snaps back to the ghost he was just doing battle with. The menacing glare is no longer there, replaced with one of confusion and concern. He raises an eyebrow at the man, "Uh- where'd you take me? Actually, how did you do that? It didn't feel like intangibility."
Vlad smiles, but it's tired. Even though he hasn't experienced nearly enough action to make him feel winded, the mental exhaustion at realizing his nephew was like him… a hybrid. It felt heavy on his mind, far more than… he didn't even know. He just wanted to clarify what happened. To know how his only nephew became a Halfa like him. He knew very well what that meant; Daniel died at some point, most likely it was recent, but he still died. He stands up slowly, flexing his hand and disappearing in a puff of pink smoke.
Danny tenses, unsure of what just happened, and he visibly flinches when he feels a hand on his shoulder. It's not strong or rough, but gentle, and the voice that accompanied the explanation is far less menacing than it was before. "It's teleportation, Daniel. I would like to apologize for how I treated you, but you've had enough interactions with ghosts to know how they can be sometimes, no?"
Danny turns around to face the man, still on edge but he's able to see that he's not in immediate danger anymore. "How do you know my name?" He knows what he's talking about with ghosts, considering all his encounters but one has resulted in battle, it's not that ridiculous of a reaction.
Vlad walks around Danny, letting his arm off his nephews shoulder and clasping both behind his back. As he walks to the screen, his ectoplasmic coat tapers off, leaving Vlad Masters. When he reaches his seat, he takes it again and faces Danny. The younger Halfa has his mouth open in shock, and in his moment of absolute confusion, he reverts back to Fenton. There's an uncomfortable silence in the room, neither occupants knowing where to start on the touchy subject.
The silence is broken when Vlad, using telekinesis, brings over a kettle of tea and two cups. As he pours them, he gestures for Daniel to take a seat across from his desk. He complies, but he's still in a state of shock at the truth that his uncle, of all the damn possibilities, and against all odds, is the other Halfa. It's almost inconceivable, the sheer improbability that the only other being like him in existence, is someone he not only knows, but has a close relationship.
"What the fuck man?! You almost killed me!" Then there was that issue, and as his surprise boiled to anger, it only seemed to get worse when Vlad actually started laughing! "What's so funny?!"
The older Halfa wipes away a tear, but the laugh seemed to be just what he needed to get his mind back into his normal state. "It's nothing Daniel, I just found it amusing that of all things you say first after that bombshell, it's a complaint about me attacking you." His hand goes up to his neck to straighten his tie, a habit he's never been able to break, but stops when he remembers he's in his sleepwear.
"Well… yeah, I guess there's a bigger elephant in the room." Danny admits.
Vlad chuckles again, but stops after a few seconds. "Yes, you're right." He clears his throat and stares into his nephews sky ice blue eyes, clasping hands in front of his face as he leans forward. "Now speaking of the elephant; I believe we both have some things to explain."