Author’s Notes: The last chapter! I know it’s been a while and I said I would finish this story before spring, but school’s been rough lately. I’ve also been immersed in two new fandoms, so I’ve been busy reading fanfiction and daydreaming about various story ideas for those fandoms. This has been my longest chapter so far, almost twice the size of the last chapter. Back to the point, I am happy to present to you the final chapter of Possessed.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Danny Phantom, Butch does. I do own

Chapter 9: Forgiveness isn’t Impossible

“This’ll be our little game to make up for the games I missed out on when I was a kid. And alive.” He laughed and more flames shot towards the halfa.

Danny flew out of the way. This wasn’t a good time to be on the defensive. Despite his reservations about fighting the ghost, he knew that there was no way to deal with Oran except to fight him. Touching the Fenton Thermos in reassurance that it had not been dislodged from his belt as he had dodged the flames, Danny turned around to look at Oran.

“You know, if you want friends, burning people isn’t the way you get them.” Danny stated before shooting a ball of plasma at Oran.

Oran’s hand flicked up, sending flames up into a type of shield. The shield flared briefly as the plasma hit it, but it stayed steady. Obviously, plasma attacks weren’t doing much at the moment. Before Danny could try something else, Oran sent the flaming shield towards him.

There was no chance to dodge. Danny felt the burning heat as the fire wall smashed into him. The tips of his hair were quickly blackened, but his ghostly resilience kept him from becoming roast like any other human would’ve. Boyish giggles from the other side of the room told Danny that Oran was currently in his more immature persona.

“Time to fight fire with ice.” Danny called out.

A ball of chilly air formed in both his hands and he threw it towards Oran. Oran had constructed another fiery shield, expecting that Danny would attempt to use plasma once more. To his surprise, the icy ball easily smashed through the flames. It had been going at a high enough force that only the outside melted. The rest of it was secure as it slammed into Oran’s belly.

Oran flew backwards, hitting the wall and leaving a dent in it. His eyes narrowed in shock. This was supposed to be his game! Danny wasn’t allowed to win, it wasn’t fair. The ghost peeled himself away from the wall.

Fire surrounded both hands and flowed out in two streams towards Danny. Danny raised his own hands, channeling icy energy outwards. Both energies smacked into each other and instantly began pushing in a battle for dominance of the other side. Pools of water were forming underneath as the fire wore through the ice though Danny could see that the flames were being doused as quickly as the ice was being melted. It looked like they were equals at the moment.

It wasn’t Danny’s interest to keep at this useless activity until one of the sides caved or they built up enough force to cause an explosion. He sunk down into the ground, letting the flames beat the ice and shoot past where Danny had been standing.

From Oran’s cheerful laughter, Danny could tell the ghost hadn’t been able to see the stealthy move. Most likely the ghost considered Danny eradicated with only ashes to mark his existence. What Oran didn’t know would certainly come back and hurt him in his laughing fit.

“See, I am stronger than Danny Phantom!” The boy gloated in-between his chuckles, “I have bested him. Fire is superior, I am superior.”

“Guess again?”

Oran turned to see who had disturbed his maniac speech, only to get a fist in the face as a result. The ice that had surrounded the fist felt painful against his burnt skin. All that coolness would once have been refreshing, but it was only a bane to Oran now. He screamed as he fell backwards. An icy beam followed the punch, driving Oran further into the ground.

Oran’s body was shaking now as he lay in the pit. If he had been alive, his breaths would’ve been shallow. Since he was dead, his chest only heaved in a mock display of hard breathing. No! This wasn’t how things were supposed to end. He was supposed to beat Danny Phantom and then take his leave to destroy his drunkard of a father. Certainly, that was the true course of life. Yet, here he was, lying in a pit, swimming in self-pity.

Danny had landed on the edge of the ditch that Oran had created. The ghost looked pitiful, lying there, but Danny wasn’t about to give the ghost another chance to rise. He was just like a wild animal now, a hurt one that would strike out if given the chance. Today Danny would not fall to that trick of helplessness. His hand went down to the Fenton Thermos. Time to end this. “Say hello to the other ghosts for me,” he stated before raising the device up to point at the fallen ghost.

“No! I will not allow it!” The inexpectant growl from the boy caused Danny to falter. That and the sight of the boy rising up. His eyes were almost completely black with only the slightest hints of red in them. This must be the angry personality that the boy often traded with his more childish one.

The slight hesitation on Danny’s part earned Oran enough time to charge towards the halfa. His gnarled hand lashed out, knocking the Fenton Thermos away from his hands. The nails on that hand appeared more beastly than before; they seemed to be claws ready to gut Danny.

With fire surrounding his clawed hand, Oran slashed towards Danny’s chest. Danny moved out of the way, quick enough to avoid full damage, but too slow to avoid Oran from making the slightest gash on his chest. Danny could feel green ectoplasm begin to ooze from the wound.

“Okay, you want to play like that? Fine, we’ll all degenerate into savage ghosts.” All Danny received for his words were a roar and a few mangled words that sounded like, “You shall lose,” though Danny couldn’t be entirely sure.

The two began a more grueling battle than before. Flames flew, striking objects that instantly burst into colorful flames. Yet the two continued to parry, mostly oblivious to the fire raging around them. Blue and red, punch and kick, it was difficult to follow their movements. Finally a decision was made as to who would be the winner of this bout.

Danny had sent a hailstorm of ice shards towards Oran. The ghost had failed to dodge, ending up in his skin being reopened as well as newly wounded. Blood flew in sticky globs, dotting the floor. Oran had fallen to his knees. His body trembled, a mixture of helplessness, anger, and the slightest edge of fear. Danny quickly retrieved the Fenton Thermos from where it had fallen before returning to stand in front of Oran.

“Stop.” A stern voice commanded.

Danny let out a sigh of aggravation. Would this day ever end? He supposed not, most days tended to be full of labor for the halfa whether it was a difficult homework assignment or fighting with one of the Ghost Zone’s nastier residents. Danny turned his head to look at what this new challenge would be.

This ghost was even less solid than any ghosts Danny had seen, if that was possible. The specter was that of a woman, clothed entirely in white. Her skin was pale and if it wasn’t for her black hair, she would’ve looked entirely white. She was transparent as she hovered there, watching both boys. To Danny’s surprise, the woman did not wear a look of malice. Instead her face was warm and gentle, the look of a loving mother.

While Danny’s attention was on the woman, Oran rose to a slouched sitting position. His arm rose up as a sadistic grin painted his face into a grotesque mask. The perfect time to deliver a finishing blow to the halfa had finally come. Flames surrounded his arm, ready to spear the halfa’s vulnerable back.

“Don’t.” The woman’s voice echoed through the warehouse. To Oran’s surprise, the flames disappeared as white bands surrounded his arms.

Danny shifted, flying to a location where he could watch both ghosts. What was going on? This woman was obviously not on Oran’s side if she had helped Danny. But she would’ve allowed Danny to suck Oran into the thermos if she had been on his side? Whose side was she on? Danny’s eyes flickered back and forth between the two, mind spinning at this latest development.

“Who are you?” He asked at the same time that Oran demanded, “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Her eyes, Danny decided that they looked sad and nostalgic, glanced between the two before sighing, “I am Karena.” Oran let out a small gasp.

“You?” Oran’s words were choked as he spluttered them out, “You’re… Mom?” His body was shaking now as he stared at his mother whom he had taken for long-gone so many years ago. “But… If you were a ghost, why didn’t you ever come back to me? Why?” His voice had reverted to a small whine.

“You’re his mother?!” Danny looked surprised. The two ghosts hardly resembled each other, with Oran appearing as a ragged corpse while Karena looked so pure and heavenly. However, as Danny peered closer, he could see the same gleam to their raven-black hair and their eyes were of a similar shade.

A small smile graced her face before she held out a hand for Oran. “Oran, come with me. You should not be causing such trouble in this world and to good people such as him.” Her tone was motherly, kind, everything that Oran had longed for all those nights when his father beat him. The emotion showed on his face, in his smile and in his gleaming eyes. However, he hesitated to grip her hand.

“But… I can’t just get away. I want to hurt these people for everything. I want to kill daddy and watch him scream like I screamed.” Oran’s eyes were glazed over, revenge playing out in his mind. He looked to his mother, searching for understanding as he spoke, “I can’t just forget everything and live happily in the Ghost Zone. I need to feed this desire for vengeance.”

“I’m not going to Ghost Zone. Can’t you see how my form is already dissolving?” Karena gestured to her feet where the change was most obvious. It was as if she wasn’t even there, her feet were so faded. The rest of her was fading as well. “I can’t hold my ghost form like you can. I’ve only done so to this point because a fortune-telling ghost told me that I must.”

“But…” Oran hung his head, trying to hide the forming tears behind his messy bangs. “I can’t lose you again.” Danny felt a stab of pity towards the boy. Yes, he was a violent boy with the worst intentions, but it would hurt anyone to have to lose their mother twice.

“You won’t. You can come with me and you’ll never have to think about revenge again.”

Oran’s eyes shifted downwards in shame. “You say you can’t hold your ghost form well. It’s because you don’t have anything to do, nothing to avenge?” With a nod from Karena, Oran continued, “But I do. There’s too much anger for me to just let it all go. I can’t leave until I’ve eliminated all those who deserve it.” His fists clenched as he glanced towards Danny.

“Let go of all that hatred, son.” Karena out-stretched her hand, placing it gently on to one of Oran’s shoulders. He flinched, unused to such a gentle touch, before relaxing into it.

“It’s too hard. I can’t do it, I can’t.” He whined softly.

“Yes you can.” Karena looked over at Danny in surprise as the halfa spoke, “You don’t have to hate everybody. If you let it go, you’ll feel better. The only person keeping you from doing so is you.”

Oran was watching Danny except his gaze was not one of hatred as it had previously been, but a softer look of appreciation. After all this, the halfa was still offering help to him. He glanced down at the ground where his blood was pooling before looking at his mother. Could he let go of all those years of hate and pain? The only thing that had driven him was a desire to be better than his father, to eventually get vengeance. But with his mother so close, he could remember some of his old aspirations. None of them included hurting others.

“I-I-I don’t know how to…”

“Just remember life without the hatred.” Danny said, confidence brimming in his voice. He really thought that the ghost boy might be able to stop his path of destruction.

“Remember the toy fire-truck you got for your 7th birthday? Remember running around the house with it and the stories you created?” The soothing tone of his mother broke down old walls that he had cast around his happier memories. They had no place in his vengeful mind, so he had cast them away.

Oran’s mind flashed with images of fighting fires, rescuing people from burning buildings. It had been an old dream of his, to be a firefighter. To be able to don those heavy suits the firefighters wore and dive into danger for the sake of others. He had deserted that dream when his mother died and his father ceased to support his son’s aims. The boy could see it as it if it was yesterday, pushing that fire-truck around the whole house and having his toy firefighters save people from buildings? He let out a derisive chuckle. Oh, the irony.

Danny was watching Oran closely. He still didn’t trust the ghost entirely and he almost expected him to turn around and shoot flames at him. However, Danny also harbored a hope that the ghost boy would forget about his craving for revenge and go with his mother. It was possible; already Oran seemed far calmer and saner than he had been before.

“I don’t know if I can… I want to, but I need some help.” Oran’s voice broke the silence.

Danny couldn’t help grinning and he could see that even Karena’s face had broken out into a smile at her son’s choice. While it wasn’t conclusive, at least the boy wanted to be helped. At least he was letting go of some of that rage. However, how to get rid of the rest was a mystery to Danny unless Oran could suddenly forgive everyone.

Karena gave her son a quick embrace, but this proved to be a mistake. Oran let out a gasp before stating, “You’re barely there now. You can’t leave without me. You said you wouldn’t.” Tears glimmered in his eyes as he looked at the ethereal form of his mother. “You said you’d help me.” The tears were falling faster and Danny had to marvel that such a small boy had been so vicious a few minutes ago.

“And I will.” Karena turned to face the flames surrounding the room. “We can attempt to destroy your ghostly figure, but it’ll be painful and I can’t promise that it’ll work. You’d have to let go of your mastery of fire. And forgive your father.”

“I can’t!” At this, Oran was obstinate. How could he forget the father who beat him, who forgot that he had a son who required care especially now that his mother had died?

“You have to.” Karena’s tone was sharp, but not unkind. “You won’t truly leave this life until you can at least forgive your father a bit. You must understand that my death caused his heart to shatter. It’s no excuse for how he treated you, but he wanted to die after I died. But he couldn’t just kill himself. The knowledge that his son was still there kept him from that option. He wasn’t a bad man, but he was very confused and in need of an easy escape from life without actually killing himself. Thus the alcohol. Your father was never good when he was drunk. But you have to forgive him.”

Oran shook his head, “I can’t… He left scars. What type of father does that?”

“One who has lost his mind and the will to live, yet feels that he has to.” Karena nudged Oran towards the inferno that surrounded them. “Go on. If you do not wish to forgive, then we’ll have to see if you can burn away.” Her voice was unsure. Danny could tell that she didn’t want to inflict pain upon her son, but she needed the fastest way right now. “Your father did love you.”

Oran was unbelieving. “No, he didn’t.” It was a quiet mumble. “Maybe before you died, but not after.”

“He loved you. He grieves for your death.”

A ball of light levitated above Karena’s palm. It showed a foul-looking man. His black hair was unkempt and dirt smudged his cheeks except for two strips where tears had washed them clean. To Oran’s surprise, his father’s eyes were only red due to excessive crying none because of drinking too much. The man was pacing frantically, sobs escaping his throat.

Danny watched. Before he had felt like he had felt awkward, intruding on a mother and son’s confrontation. But now he felt even more so. To watch such a private issue as an intruder, Danny just wished that he could run to his own family. Yet, he had to stay and make sure that Oran made the right choices and left.

“Why? Why did I drink?” The man threw a full bottle of whiskey at the wall, leaving a stain on the wall as the glass shattered. “My son… He must’ve hated me.” A sob escaped the man, Oran’s father, as he slumped into an armchair. His shoulders were heaving as he looked upwards. “Please son, I know I don’t deserve forgiveness, but please… I love you, I never wanted to hurt you. I know that wherever you are, you’re better off than you were here with me. Please… Say hello to your mother for me.” At that, the sphere of light vanished. Karena had let it go, not wanting to watch her husband suffer anymore.

“If you don’t believe him, let me tell you that’s exactly how my dad says ‘he loves me’ when he’s being serious.” Danny added.

Oran stood, staring at where the orb had been. More tears had formed in his eyes. “I can never fully forgive him for hurting me, but I forgive him a little bit… I don’t want to kill him. I won’t kill Daddy.”

“Let’s go now.” Karena had a grim smile on her face as she grasped her son’s hand. Now the two of them were fading quickly. Karena looked at Danny, “Thank you for helping my son out… I don’t blame you for hurting him. I apologize that you had to hear all that.”

Danny waved the apology away. “It’s fine.”

“Danny.” Oran spoke timidly, eyes glued to the ground. “I want to thank you for being there. You could’ve sucked me into the Fenton Thermos right away, but you tried talking to me before you even fought me. I was just an idiot caught up in my ambitions to not see help when it was right in front of me. Forgive me.”

“Already forgiven,” Danny said with a small smile. “I don’t know if I can forgive you for everything you did, but this is what all this is about, isn’t it? Forgiving others. I guess eventually I’ll completely forgive you for all your crimes.”

“I’m sorry for all that.”

Danny shrugged. “It’s all just a part of being a hero.” Despite his nonchalant attitude towards it, Danny did appreciate the apology. He hadn’t been expecting one from the ghost.

“Good-bye Danny Phantom.” Oran waved before slyly adding, “And ask her out before it’s too late.” The grin on his face was the last thing to fade away as Karena and Oran, mother and son, left this world and the Ghost Zone behind.

Danny watched stunned before a small smile split his face. “Will do.”

--

It was the Monday after the big fair and the events. Nothing much had happened since then. Danny had explained the story to his friends and his sister after coming out of the burning building with an empty Fenton Thermos. They still felt some bitterness towards Oran, but things had quickly returned to normal, almost as if it had never occurred.

Danny had yet to tell Sam his feelings. He had meant to tell her after coming from the building, but after the storytelling, it had been late and they had all been required to go home before their parents got worried. His parents had been exuberant that Jazz was finally home and had taken the entire family on a trip to celebrate. Finally it was Monday and Danny was hoping to get some time to talk to Sam in private once he got to school.

At school, Danny desperately searched for Sam. He couldn’t find her, causing him to feel disheartened and a tad worried. Where was Sam? Danny sighed, hoping that she wasn’t sick. He had planned out exactly what to say, and now it appeared as if his efforts would go to waste. With a sigh, Danny trudged into his classroom.

Tucker stomped into the classroom just as the last bell rang. His face was covered in cream pie and Danny couldn’t help but laugh at the expression on Tucker’s face. Tucker’s eyes narrowed as he looked at Danny.

“Take a seat, Mr. Foley.” The teacher’s voice broke the staring match between the boys. Tucker sat to Danny’s right. The teacher added, “And here’s a napkin to get that stuff off your face.”

“This was your fault, wasn’t it?” Tucker whispered as he wiped at his face.

Danny shook his head, “Actually no it wasn’t… I know I said I would get back at you, but I’ve been too busy thinking about other matters. Whoever did this did an amazing job. How’d it happen?”

“I opened my locker and a pie slammed into my face.” Tucker grumbled, crossing his arms.

Just then, Sam jogged into class. “Sorry, I’m late.” She handed the teacher a late note before sitting down on Danny’s left. She glanced at Tucker and laughed softly to herself. “Liked your gift?”

“It was you!” Tucker’s eyes widened. As he opened his mouth to reprimand Sam about her practical joke, the teacher called for the attention of everybody.

Danny flashed Sam a thumbs-up sign for the joke. He needed to tell Sam that he needed to talk to her in private. He really, really needed to otherwise he’d probably explode right now. An idea dawned on Danny and he quickly pulled a sheet of paper and jotted down a note. He passed the note to Sam and watched as she read the messy scrawl that was Danny’s handwriting,

Meet me by the trees outside the school. I need to tell you something.

Danny

Sam smiled lightly before writing her answer. She passed Danny the note and he opened it, a smile stretching over his face.

Okay.

The End

A/N: And that is the end! I won’t be writing an epilogue, mostly because I prefer this ending to something else. I’d probably end up writing something bad if I actually write out their encounter. Anyway, I figured this was a good place to end. You can guess what will happen. As for Karena and the twist in this chapter, I wasn’t really expecting it to end like this. It just sorta happened. Well, I’ve appreciated all the reviews, favs, and readers! Thank you, a writer always loves when people take the time to review. Please review one last time to make for a very happy writer. Good-bye, it’s been a blast,

Twilight Phantom Dragon