IMPORTANT: If you were reading this story before, start over! I am revamping this bitch and getting rid of some useless crap! Thank you!

Fallen Phantom

Chapter Four: Fading Tattoos of Memories

He'sheretofightformeandyou!

Danny slept peacefully. Vlad watched. Vlad frowned. Danny had no idea.

Turning away, Vlad walked down the hall and into his library. He flopped into an armchair—awkward for a man of his status to do, but he didn't care right now. Danny had no idea what was happening, and he wished he could tell him, but then… Vlad shook the thoughts from his mind, choosing instead to think on how he should proceed. Carefully, of course, but if what he had been told was true, then he wasn't even sure how long they had.

Slipping the syringe from his pocket, he stared at it; it was filled with an odd purple fluid. The limited supply he had managed to develop was very nearly depleted. He would need to make more soon. Should I tell Danny about this? He wondered, studying the needle. If I want him to trust me, I should at least tell him he has to take this. He deserves that much.

But what if he refuses to take it after that? he thought, dropping the syringe onto the table next to him. I could tell him, but if he refuses to take it, that will be no good. I can't even explain to him why he needs to take it. And if I lie to him and he finds out…

There were too many ifs and maybes. If this, if that, should have, would have, might have, but can't.

And he himself wasn't even sure what would happen.

He would just have to lie to the boy, and hope the younger halfa didn't find out. But he will, won't he?

Gottacatch'emall'causehe'sDannyPhantom!

The newspapers were on it almost at once. Danny Fenton, son of Amity Park's best and only ghost hunters, had disappeared. That's what the head lines were saying. In school, the kids wondered where he could have gone, and if any of them could be next.

But the only ones who didn't seem to mind where the ghosts. Because with the disappearance of Danny Fenton, there came the disappearance of Phantom. But only Danny's best friends and sister knew why their disappearances seemed to correspond so well. And with the ghost boy gone, even Valerie couldn't really control their attacks for long.

So along with the news of Danny's disappearance, the newspapers quickly took note of the town's superhero going AWOL. The newspapers jumped on that as well, and pretty soon, Danny's disappearance was second page news. And after two months, his disappearance wasn't even speculated about in the news, which instead focused on the raised crime level.

Gottacatch'emall'causehe'sDannyPhantom!

Danny awoke to find himself in an unfamiliar room. He was in a soft, king size bed with red silk sheets and a red comforter. The room was big, the walls covered in wallpaper with a red and white design. A desk and wardrobe stood in a corner. Two doors, which probably led to a bathroom and a closet, were directly opposite of the bed.

He swung himself out of the bed, touching red plush carpet. It was soft, and felt good to his bare feet. He wore a white shirt with a red oval on the front and baggy blue jeans.

He exited the room, and found himself in a hall decorated almost exclusively in green and gold. This is… Vlad's castle? he thought, wondering why his memory seemed so fuzzy. He could just remember bits and pieces clearly. Vlad's Castle… Isn't Vlad friends with my dad? Why am I here?

Did my family die? They died in am explosion, I think. Danny frowned, looking down at the green carpet. His family was dead and he didn't even remember why, really. Just something about an explosion. And his friends.

Forcing his feet into motion, he walked down the hall, coming to a staircase. Descending it while looking around, he wondered why he felt so happy at the memory of the explosion. If his family and friends had died in it, shouldn't he feel sad? (1)

When he came to the bottom of the staircase, he was greeted by the sight of a huge hall, leading to equally huge doors. Beside the doors stood a man in a black suit with silver-gray hair pulled back into a ponytail. "Vlad Masters…?" he called, getting the attention of the man.

Gottacatch'emall'causehe's… Danny Phantom!

(1) I know it seems weird, but he's thinking back to the Nasty Burger explosion. Remember, he was aware of two separate timelines. He knew that in one, his friends and family had died, and that's why he thinks they died. But in the timeline he was in, they were saved, so he has the conflicting emotion of happiness.

This chapter was also revamped in a big way. Originally, Vlad had evil intentions, but to fit my plot, he has to help Danny and try to do what's best for him. Oh, and this chapter title is kinda based on a line from the song by Green Day called "Time of Your Life."

Well, hope you liked it! Blah, blah, whatever, you know.