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It was supposed to be a day of celebration, Danny and his two best friends, Sam and Tucker had just graduated from Caspar High. It was a long road to get to this day, having to juggle all of school, saving the day from ghosts, and becoming the next king of the Ghost Zone. But Danny was happy, he had finally told his parent about his coronation to become king of the Ghost Zone, and him adopting Danielle, his clone/daughter. His parents had been confused at first about who Danielle was, but after some explaining they came to love her like a she was their real granddaughter.

But the best part was that his parents knew his secret and had still excepted and loved him. He was with his family and friends and believed that the future was bright.

He was wrong.

Laughing as he watched Jack toss his daughter up in the air, Danny straightened and turning his head Danny looked at the front door.

Maddie noticed her son had gotten quite "Danny what's wrong?"

"Shhhhh," Danny whispers, as he got up and walked to the front door. He put his hand on the door knob and his body tenses up. Hearing the heart beats of several people outside, people he knew did not belong in front of his house. He turns toward his friends and family, yelling at them to run and hide.

But is was too late. The door, along with Danny, was blown away from the door frame and crashed into the wall on the other side of the house. Stunned the family inside the house reacted late as the GIW stormed the house blasting their lasers at anyone and everyone, not caring whether they where human or ghost.

Maddie and Jazz grabbed their weapons and started firing while Jack pushed Danielle behind him and did the same. Sam and Tucker ran over to Danny who was still underneath the door, disoriented from the blast. Looking up, Danny watched the fire fight through shocked eye.

Why? Why are they here? The GIW has never been this extreme before. Danny scrambled to feet, throwing the front door off of him in the process. The door fell to the with a loud crash, getting the attention of the GIW agents closest to him and his friends. GIW starts to shoot their blasters toward Danny, Sam, and Tucker backing them up into the kitchen. Suddenly the GIW scream in pain and fall over, standing behind them is Danielle in her ghost form.

"Daddy!" Danielle runs and jumps into Danny's arms. Danny in mid transformation into his own ghost form catches her and holds her tightly.

"What is going on? Danny do you know why they are attacking us?" Jazz yells over the noise of the fight as hers, Maddie's and Jack's fight with the GIW spilled into the kitchen.

Danny bent down putting Danielle on the ground behind him and turned towards the stand off happening in the kitchen.

"No I am not sure what's going on, but I have an idea on how to finish the fight. I need everyone to get behind me and cover your ears." Putting up a green shield, everyone scrambles to get behind Danny. With his family and friends safely behind him and their hands over their ears, Danny takes a deep breath, and lets loose his ghostly wail. His ghostly wail's impact on the GIW agents slammed them into walls and across the floors, some of the agent flew out the front door and into the lawn, all of them where knocked unconscious.

Worn out, Danny turns to make sure everyone is all right when he feels a prick at the back of his neck. Reaching behind him, Danny pulls out an empty syringe and looks at with disbelief. Danny turns his head and yells "RUN," as he collapses onto the ground, eyes feeling heavy. The last thing Danny remembered was his little Danielle shaking him and screaming his name, at least mom, dad, Jazz, Sam, and Tucker are safe, Dad will probably grab Danielle and keep her safe. With this last thought, Danny's mind slowly drifted into darkness.

What Danny didn't know was that would be the last time he would ever see his family and friends.

Six years later.

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6 years later

They never stop. Day after day, week after week, all he felt was pain, sadness, and rage......mostly rage.

Danny had his wrists and ankles chained to the walls of his cell, a muzzle over his face and a collar around his neck. A collar not for restraining, but to electrocute him every time he tried to use his powers or if he struggled to hard, trying to break free. But Danny found out long ago, him and his daughter Dani would never be able to break free.

Sadness welled up in his heart just knowing that his sweet little Danielle had been captured too. Locked away just across the hall in her own cell, chained, muzzled, and collared in the same way as himself.

Danny lifted his head looking towards the door, listening as the sound of foot steps came down the hallway towards his cell door. Great another day of pain and torment. He thought sarcastically when the door to his cell slammed open, and two GIW agents walked in smiling happily.

"Hey look at that Agent K, the filthy monster is already awake and ready for today." One of the agents said as he walked over and hooked a chain onto his collar.

"Yeah Agent O I see that, but its too bad I wanted to be the one to wake him up." Agent K said while smiling down at Danny. Danny flinched away from him remembering the last time they woke him up for his round of experiments. The agent saw him and back handed him across the face making land awkwardly with his hands cuffed behind his back, now no longer chained to the walls. Laughing at how he landed the agents dragged him out of his cell and down the hall to a room full with the "fun tools" they used to cause him and Danielle pain. Strapped in a new machine he hasn't seen before, Danny watched as they flipped a switch and all he felt was pain. Danny screamed and struggled as pure energy was pumped into his body, making his ice core pulse in time with his heart beat. The pulsing and Danny's heart beat sped up faster and faster, he could feel the pressure build in his body with no way out. Suddenly his screaming became piercing as his ghostly wail burst out from him and tore through the ceiling pushing its way up and out of the facility.

"Shut the damn thing off!" Screamed Agent K as held his hands over his ears trying not to pass out from the shock wave.

"I'm trying, the damn switch is stuck!" Agent O yelled back as he tried to put his whole weight on the switch to turn it off and keep his ears covered at the same time.

Finally shutting off the machine Danny slumped forward out of energy from the sheer force of power he used to create his ghostly wail. Astonished with being able to create a ghostly wail after such a long time of not being able to, he looked up and finally saw the damage he had done. In the ceiling was a giant hole, and in the ceiling above that was another giant hole and it continued until he could see sun light shining through. He hadn't seen sunlight since he was brought to this facility, was the last thought he had when he finally passed out from exhaustion.

What Danny didn't know was at that time he had put the GIW's facility on a certain bat's radar.

Chapter Text

An alarm sounded at Mount Justice, alerting the young team of hero's of a new mission. Robin, Kid Flash, Artemis, Aqualad, Miss Martian, and Superboy rushed to the bio ship as Batman's voice came over an intercom system. 

"Team, a sonic pulse has been detected on our radars. I need you to go and investigate and see what's going. This a recon only mission, do not engage." 

"Got it Batman, Miss Martian can to take the bio ship to these coordinates."  Aqualad said as he turned towards her, taking his seat on the ship. Miss Martian nodded and piloted the ship as everyone else took there seats. 

"Hey what do you think we are going to find? Another meta human or perhaps a mad scientist's experiment gone wrong." Kidflash look around excitedly, "I don't care what it is, I am just glad that we finally have another mission."

Robin looked over at the speedster, "Kid we went on a mission last week."

"Yeah I know, but that was so long ago." Everyone else groaned, while Kid looked around with a confused look on his face. 

The young hero's remained silent the rest of the flight, suddenly the ship started its decent. Looking out the windows the team gaped at what looked like a giant hole in the ground. Miss Martian landed the ship in a clearing about a quarter of a mile away from the hole.

"So here are the teams, Superboy, Kidflash, and Miss Martian you are on recon. Explore the facility as fast as you can without being seen and contact us if you guys find anything. Robin, Artemis, and I are going to locate the data base to see if we can find anything for Robin to hack and download to the bio ship. " Everyone nodding that they understood, Aqualad turned and lead the team to the edge of the hole and jumped, the rest flowing suit.

In the facility everyone paused, looking around noticing the damage and how extensive it was. Doors hung from broken hinges and there was parts of the walls all over the floor. Most of the light bulbs looked to have been blown out, and what was left of the lights flickered, some dying, some staying lit. Nodding to each other the team split up and went down different hallways, careful not to be seen by anyone. 

Kidflash speed down the hallways and checking rooms at breakneck speeds, while Superboy and Miss Martian followed behind at a more reasonable pace. Losing sight of Kid, Superboy frowned slightly and turners toward Miss Martian, "you set up the mental link right?"

Yes Conner, Miss Martian confirmed through the mind link giving him a small smile. Superboy's frown deepened and rolling his shoulders a little, tried to shake off the discomfort of having someone in his mind. As they continue down a hallway Miss Martian suddenly gasps in pain, clutching her head and tears streaming down her face. 

"Megan what's wrong? Are you okay?" Superboy reached out gently, grabbing her arms and tugging her down, slow placing her on the ground.

"I feel someone's pain and fear. And rage, so much rage, it hurts I can't think." Miss Martian kept her eyes closed while she spoke, still holding her head in her hands. 

Kid stop playing around and get back here, somethings wrong with Megan. Superboy turned and looked at the end of the hallway, or at least what he could see since most of the lights were broken. 

Alright I'm coming back. What's wrong with Megan? 

I don't know, she just started holding head in pain and crying. She says she can feel someone's pain. Just get back here already! Just as Superboy thought this a yellow flash raced down the hallway.

"Relax I'm here, and what do you mean she felt someone's pain I just checked like three floors, and I can't find any body. It's like they all deserted this place in a hurry." 

Superboy sent a glare towards Kid, then turned to Miss Martian, "can you locate this person, they might need help?" Miss Martian shook her head at first, then looked up at Superboy and nodded her head. Slowly she floated down a side hallway, leading the way as Superboy and Kidflash followed behind. Turning down another hallway, Superboy noticed that there were no rooms.

"Is it just me, or do you also notice that there is no rooms or doors down this hall. Miss Martian are you sure you are going the right way?" Glancing around nervously Kidflash turned and noticed the Miss Martian had stopped and was slowly drift to the ground still clutching her head but no longer crying. Slowly she pointed down the hallway to one of the only two doors in the long hallway. 

"There, that is where I feel these emotions." Miss Martian slowly sat on the ground leaning her back against the wall. Running over to take a look, Kid notices that the door in question was locked with a key pad on the wall beside the door. Inspecting the door more closely, Kid saw that there is a small bared widow. Looking through the window, Kid's eyes widened slightly.

"Hey guys, I think I found the person who is giving Miss M. a major headache."

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"Robin are you sure we are going the right way?" Artimas looked up and down the side halls as they ran passed, an arrow notched and ready in case they where spotted. "This place is giving me the creeps."

"Yes Artimas, I have a lock on there server room. We are almost there, just don't freak out and let loose one of your arrows." Turning to look at Robin, Artimas glared and tightened her grip on her bow. 

"Enough bickering you two, and lets get to the server room." Robin nodding that he understood, picked up his pace to a door at the end of a side hallway. The door slide open as they approached, making sure no one was inside, the slipped in and watched as the door slid closed behind them. Turning back around the young hero's found a giant computer facing them, moving closer to the screen they looked behind the computer and saw a least a dozen severs all connected to the back of the computer. 

"Robin you start hacking that thing while Artimas and I watch the door." A grin spread across Robin's face as he dramatically cracked his knuckles and got to work. Aqualad and Artimas turned and watched the door as they listened for any signs of someone approaching. Ten minutes later Artimas and Aqualad heard a sharp intake of breath behind them, whipping their heads around to see what was wrong, they saw Robin with his mouth gaped in horror as he stared at the screen. They both glanced up at the giant computer and watched the video that was playing across the screen, their eyes slowly widening in horror as the video continued. 

"How horrible, why would someone do those things?" Artimas moved her hand to cover her mouth as she turned away from the screen, unable to keep watching. 

"Robin continue to download all the files and include those video files as well, we have to show Batman what was going on here." Aqualad faced away from the computer with a look of disgust  and turned back to the door to keep watch. Robin, disturbed with what he had seen, quickly finished his part of the mission and joined the other two at the door.

As the team left the server room, on their way back to the giant hole that had lead them into the underground facility, they received a message from Superboy through the mind link. 

Guys we have a problem, can you to head our way, we found something. One second after the message was said, Kidflash stopped in front of them with a serious look on his face. With a 'follow me' wave of is hand, Kidflash turned back down the hallway he'd came and lead the others where Superboy and Miss Martian where waiting.  

"Kid, what's going on? What did you find?" Aqualad asked as he and the others followed behind. Kidflash shook his head and continued to lead the others down the hallway. Suddenly a banging sound could be heard from further down a side hallway. Picking up their pace, the four young hero's turned the corner to see Miss Martian sitting on the floor with her head resting in hands and Superboy struggling to open a very sturdy looking door. 

"Superboy what are you doing and is Miss Martian okay?" Aqualad kneeled next to Miss Martian and put a hand on her shoulder. 

"I'm okay, my head just hurts a little. The reason that Superboy is trying to get through that door is the same reason for my headache, someone is in there and I can feel how much pain they are in. We have to get them out." Miss Martian lifted her head and looked up at Aqualad. 

Aqualad nodded and turned towards Robin, "see what you can do about that door."

"Got it." Robin turned towards Superboy, who had finally stopped trying to break down the door. Looking more closely, Robin noticed that there wasn't a single dent in the door. Raising an eyebrow, Robin moved closer to the keypad next to the door and pointed to it looking at Superboy, eyebrow still raised. Superboy frowned at Robin and mumbled under his breath "shut it."

Smirking Robin turned back to the keypad and removed the front. After fiddling with the keypad and working his tech magic, Robin heard a loud click signaling the door was now unlocked.

Aqualad, Robin, Artimas, Miss Martian and Kidflash all stood in front of the door as Superboy grabbed the handle and pulled open the door. 

Chapter Text

Danny's pov:

Groaning in pain, Danny pulled himself into a sitting position careful not to move the collar around his neck. His whole body was aching and he had a massive headache that wouldn't go away. Getting himself as comfortable as he could with being muzzled and chained to the wall, Danny slowly opened his eyes. Ah, that's right I put a giant hole in the ceiling, that's why I feel like crap. Danny chuckled to himself, I bet the GIW guys are running around like chickens with their heads cut off. 

Closing his eye to keep the room from spinning anymore than it already was, and Danny decided to fall back to sleep. With the giant hole he had left in the ceiling of the facility, he didn't think the GIW would be coming to visit him an time soon.

Not ten minutes later Danny could hear voices coming down the hallway, Great I thought I would be left alone for awhile, guess not. Sighing loudly, he looked up at the little barred window expecting to see his friends in the the white suits, but instead Danny saw a boy with red hair looking at him. Danny's green eyes glowed brighter as he locked eyes with the boy and then suddenly the boy was gone. Danny lifted one eyebrow pointedly, looked around the room and then back at the little window. What the hell was that? 

Closing his eyes, Danny sat a little straighter and tried to listen to the voices on the other side of the door, but all he heard was muffled noises. The door it self was reinforced carbon steel mixed with a little ecto-ranium. Along with the chains and collars, it was all specially made to keep him and Danielle locked up tight with no way to escape. 

Danny's eyes flew open as a loud banging came from the door, like someone trying to get through. To no avail it would seem, as the door did not move from its place in the wall, but who ever was trying to get in..........kept trying.  As the banging continued, Danny had slowly shifted as far as his chains would allow away from the door and whoever was on the other side just in case they did manage to break the door down. 

Suddenly the banging stopped and more voices could be heard on the other side of the door. I guess they finally noticed the keypad on the wall next to the door. Danny looked back at the barred window, expecting to see the boy with red hair, but instead the door slowly slid open to reveal six teens in colorful costumes. Who the hell are they?

One of them, a girl with green skin slowly floated closer to him with a sad look on her face. We are not here to hurt you, we are here to help. 

Danny's eyes widened in surprise, then he glared at the green skinned girl and tried to move farther away from the group of heroes, as much as his chains would allow. Danny did not know who they are or why they are in his cell, but he did not like having anyone other than himself in his own mind.

His sudden movement caused one of the other teens to focus on Danny's restraints. With Danny's attention still on the girl with the mind powers, he didn't notice that a boy with black hair had slowly moved closer to him. Trying to take a better look at the collar around Danny's neck, the raven haired boy reached out, and touched the collar.

Then there was only pain.  

Chapter Text

"Boy Wonder don't!" Superboy grabbed Robin by his collar and yanked him away just as a muffled scream echoed throughout the cell. All the teens backed away and watched in horror as the collar around the man's neck shocked him over and over again. A few minutes later the collar stopped and the man slumped heavily against the chains binding him.

Kid turned to Robin, "Man, what did you do?"

"All I did was touch it," Robin shook his head slowly, an guilty look on his face. "I didn't know that was going to happen."

"That's not the problem right now, the problem is how do we get the collar off if we can't touch it?" Aqualad looked at the man still breathing heavily, eyes closed.

"I don't care what you do, just don't touch the collar again." Everyone turned and looked at Ms. Martian, who was looking at the man as she spoke. Ms. Martian turned and looked at the others, "He also says that if we want to get the collar off without killing him, we have to hack it through a wireless signal." She turned to look back at the man, who was now looking at the young hero's, one eye brow raised.

Aqualad was the first to speak, "Robin can you do it?" Everyone turned to look at him, including the man still chained to the floor.

Robin, looking at the man, nodded his head. "I think so, it will take a second to link my system to the collar. I will also need the serial number that is probably on the collar." Walking forward towards the chained man, Robin knelt down and slowly moved his hand out to the collar.

Artemis reached out and grabbed Robins wrist, glaring at him, "what are you doing, are you trying to hurt him again?"

Yanking his arm out of her grip, he glared back, " of course not, but I do need to move his hair out of the way so I can get the serial number, remember." Reaching back out Robin carefully moved the man's hair away from the collar. Robin looked, but could not find the serial number. "Where is it?" he mumbled to himself. "It couldn't be underneath the edge of the collar, could it?"

Robin turned to the others, "guys, we might have to touch the collar."

Chapter Text

What did this child hero say? Danny turned his head slightly and stared at Robin (he figured out his name, because that's what the others kept calling him) looking him in the eye. Danny did not know what he was looking for, but he did know what he saw, guilt, pity, anger, and maybe a hint of fear. What is he afraid of? 

Danny watched as Robin walked back to the others to discuss how to locate the serial code so they can remove the collar. Tired from the stress of the situation and still weak from making the giant hole in the ceiling of the facility, Danny relaxed the tension of his muscles in his arms, neck, and back, letting his head fall forward. Now looking at the floor, Danny closed his eyes blocking out the young hero's discussion that was now rising in volume. 

Are you ok?

Danny tensed, Get out of my mind child. My thoughts are not for you to rummage around in. 

Sorry.

Danny relaxed, letting his mind drift. 

Are you asleep?

Danny opened one eye to look at her, Not anymore, what did I just tell you? The green girl sheepishly looked down, still hovering off the floor. 

I apologize, I can feel people's emotions, their pain, and yours......... 

There was a very audible pause. Danny, now with both eyes open, gives her a pointed look, Yes? 

Is very loud?

Why does it sound like you are asking a question? Shaking his head, Danny closed his eyes once again. I'm not going to get any rest, am I? Fine, but it's my turn to ask a question, why aren't you helping your fellow super friends in brightly colored costumes?

You are not being very nice. Danny could hear the attitude, even though she didn't speak aloud.

Hmm, I wonder why. It couldn't be because someone keeps talking in my mind, even though I told them not too. 

Silence.

As Danny's curiosity got the better of him, he looked up to find all six of the young hero's looking at him with scary looks of determination. He turned to look at Robin, one brow raised in a questioning look. Robin stepped forward.

"So we think we found a way to find the serial number on the collar, hopefully without killing you." Robin walked around and positioned himself kneeling behind Danny. The kid with red hair joined him, while the others stood around Danny, ready to help if needed. 

Danny quickly turned to look at the girl with green skin, What are they doing? What are you and your friends not telling me? Realization dawned on Danny, That's why you wouldn't leave me alone, you where distracting me! They are going to touch the collar again. Danny's toxic green eyes glowed brighter as he screamed the accusation in his mind. She looked away, shame written all over her face.

Danny strained against the chains binding him, trying to distance himself from the two behind him, when he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders to keep him from moving. The boy with black hair and black shirt knelt in front of Danny and looked him in the eyes, "You can't move, if you move to much then it will take longer for Kid to find the serial number and for Robin to hack the collar."

Shaking with rage Danny's eyes glowed even brighter as he stared down the boy in front of him, until the he looked away, however the boy did not let go of Danny's shoulders. 

Danny suddenly felt one of the boy's behind him gently move his hair out of the way, leaving the collar in full view. Panicking, Danny glanced back and saw both Robin and the redhead staring at the collar with determination.

"Okay Kid, on three."

"One."

Danny whipped his head back around and looked at the girl with green, who was still looking away from him. You have to stop them. She shook her head still looking at the ground.

"Two."

I don't have enough energy to withstand another shock from the damn collar! She gasped and looked at him, eye's wide in shock. If you don't stop them now I might not survive!

She rushed forward, "guy's wa..."

"Three."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

Chapter Text

It took Kid Flash less than a millisecond to find the serial number that was hidden on the inside of the collar. That one millisecond was all it took for the collar to register that an outside source was tampering with it..............the collar then electrocuted the man who was wearing it. The man's muffled screams filled the room as the collar he was wearing continuously shocked him over and over again. 

Surprised by the sudden screaming and the fear of being shocked by the collar, both Kid Flash and Superboy jerked away from the man now thrashing against his bindings in pain. Superboy quickly stood up and walked over to stand with Aqualad, Artimas, and Miss Martian who had moved closer in case anything was to go wrong. Kid Flash on the hand hadn't moved an inch, he couldn't move, he was frozen in fear as he watched in horror at the scene front of him. Robin quickly, but gently reached over and placed his hand on Kid's shoulder, "Kid, I need the number or I won't be able to hack it!"

Kid whirled his head around so fast, the others thought he might have given himself whiplash, and looked at Robin. Looking but not really seeing. Robin frowned and placed his other hand on Kid Flash's remaining shoulder, he was about to shake the life out of him when silence rang through the room. Both Robin and Kid turned to look at the man who had stopped screaming and struggling his body now slumped against the chains. Miss Martian gasped covering her mouth with her hands, she glided towards the unconscious man wanting to help him. "Don't," Superboy said gently, grabbing her arm and tugging her away. She turns around angrily, about to say something, but pauses when Superboy shakes his head and points towards the immobile man. 

Everyone's eyes widened slightly as they turned and watched the electricity that was still being generated from the collar, start to burn the man's clothes and skin. "DP04032004" Kid Flash said quietly, scooting back further away from the man. 

Robin immediately got to work hacking the collar as the rest of the young heros waited and watch. Miss Martian clenched her firsts, "This is my fault, I should have said something. I should have been quicker." Landing on the floor, she walking away from the others head down and her hands still clenched at her sides. 

Chapter Text

Miss Martian walked away, fits clenched in frustration, upset about the situation. Superboy walked over to her, "why do you think it's your fault?" He questioned, lightly putting a hand on her shoulder. 

"Because I talked to him through the mind link and I kept him in the dark about our plan. If I told him what we where going to do and how to do, he might not have had to be in that state. I mean look at him, he is unconscious and the collar is still shocking him!" Shaking off Superboy's hand she waved one hand in the direction towards the man slumped in the chains, a grimace on his face even while unconscious. 

Kid Flash quietly walked around Robin and the man, over to where the others were standing. "If anyone is to blame, it would me. I am the one who had to touch the collar." Kid's eyes widened as he remembered the electricity from the collar burn the man's skin and clothes. 

"No one person is to blame. We all agreed to the plan together." Aqualad putting his hands on both Kid Flash and Miss Martian's shoulders. 

Artimas nodded her head is agreement, moving closer to the group so Robin has room to breath while he hacks the collar.

It wasn't much room........the cell was small. Artimas looked around, she was surprised all of them could fit in the cell in the first place.

Everyone was lost in their thoughts when a loud bang echoed around the room, and turning everyone looked to find the collar on the floor in front of the man. Robin stood up from his kneeling position and stretched, slowly walking over to his team. Miss Martian floated over to the man making sure he was still alive, while Kid ran over to Robin, "man what took you so long?" 

Robin rolled his eyes, "let's see you try to hack that thing while making sure it doesn't send any signals that it's being messed with. Seriously, I don't know who designed it but that collar was not any easy thing to hack." Robin looked over towards Miss Martian, "please tell me he is still alive."

Miss Martian nodded her head slow, "yes he is still breathing but I can't get him to wake up."

"We don't have time for him to wake up, we have been here for to long. Miss Martian, Superboy see if you get those restraints off. Kid, I need you run to the entrance and make sure the path is still clear and that no one is around to stop us from getting out. Artimas, I need you-"

*clank*

"Ahhhh, finally."

Chapter Text

Danny stared down at the muzzle he had phased off, now on the floor next to the collar and raised his head to look at the chains still binding his hands and feet to the walls and floor of the cell. Using the chains that bound his wrists as leverage, Danny slowly got to his feet.

"No." Danny turned to look at the green girl, now known as Miss Martian, as she had moved closer to try and help him stand. Hurt flashing across her face, she backed away slightly. 

"I'm sorry, but we don't have the time to wait we need to get you free and then get out of here. Superboy help him get out of the chains." A boy with bleach blond hair and what looked to be gills on his neck stepped forward and nodded to the boy with black hair and a black shirt on. Frowning slightly, the black haired boy, now known as Superboy, reached out to grab the chains only to have Danny move them out of his grasp.

Danny sighed loudly, "there is a reason why I told you no. These chains are made of a special kind of metal that is nearly impossible for you to break." 

"Great then how are we going to get you out of here, it already took forever to get the collar off, and now this!" Kid looked at the collar still on the ground to the chains and then the muzzle. "Wait how did you get the muzzle off?" Kid Flash tilted his head questioningly. 

"The collar didn't drain me of my powers it simply suppressed them and drained my energy to use them. Taking the collar off means my powers are slowly coming back one by one. I am not at one hundred percent yet, I need time to rest, and you....." Danny nodded his head towards the boy will gills.

"Aqualad." 

"are correct we don't have time to waste. We need to get out of here and fast." Danny swayed slightly, both Robin and Miss Martian reached out to try and help, but Danny shook his head signaling for them to step back.

"So how exactly are we going to get you out of here if we can't get the chains off," A girl with blond hair in a ponytail stepped forward, hands on her hips.

Danny quirked an eyebrow, "I said you couldn't break them, I didn't say anything about myself." All the teen heroes looked at him as Danny's face broke out into a sly grin. 

Reaching up Danny wrapped his hand around the chain and pulled hard, a minute later a loud snap echoed around the cell as some broken chain links and half of the chain fell to the floor. With one hand now free, Danny reached over and grabbed the other binding, but instead of the chain he grabbed the cuff and broke it in half. After breaking the cuff that was around his other wrist, Danny bent down to work on the cuffs around his ankles. 

While he was doing this, Danny watched from the corner of his eye as Superboy reached down to pick up a length of chain. He walked back to the others placing the chain in the pocket of his jeans. 

Chuckling slightly, Danny finished freeing himself and straightened up grabbing the collar along the way. Once fully standing he noticed the young heroes staring at him.

"What?" 

No one said anything, so Danny simply shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the cell. Only to stop in front of a door located directly in front of his cell. 

The teen heroes hadn't noticed that Danny was not following them until they were halfway down the hallway, when they heard a loud screeching behind them. Turning they saw that Danny had ripped the door out of the wall and walked into the room, minutes later loud metallic snapping and crunching sounds could be heard coming from the room. After a beat of silence Danny walked out of the room carrying a girl in his arms, she had white hair and was unconscious with a collar, the same as Danny's, around her neck. 

Danny looked up from staring at the girl's face and turned to the teen heroes, "Now we can leave."

Chapter Text

Not wasting anytime, Danny followed the heroes through the hallways and to the large opening that was made in the ceiling of the complex. Each of the teens used their own ingenuity to get out of the gaping hole, only to look back and realize they had left Danny, still holding the girl, down in the facility. He looked up at them with one eye brow raised. 

"Oosp, sorry man, do you need help getting out?" Kid yelled down.

Artemis cut her eyes toward Kid Flash and frowned, "Just because we haven't seen anyone does not mean no one is here." Kid Flash frowned back at Artemis.

"Enough you two, Miss Martian I need you to assist them up here, we can't stay here much longer. The League needs to be informed on what, or rather who, we found." Aqualad turned to look at Miss Martian as she let go of Superboy's hand allowing him to land lightly on the ground.

Miss Martian looked to Aqualad, nodded and turned to start her descent back down the hole, but then stopped. 

Standing right at the edge of the opening in the ground with the unconscious girl held gently in his arms, was Danny.  With him finally out of the facility and into the open fresh air Danny slowly walked forward, away from the hole, away from the facility, away from the pain and fear that he and Danielle went through. He just walked away took a deep breath and stopped, looked up at the night sky and just stared at the stars. 

Kid walked over to Robin and whispered, "How did he get out of the hole?"

"He flew," Robin said back as the teen heroes also walked over to Robin. "while you guys weren't paying attention, this guy's legs disappeared and turned into this wispy thing then he floated up to the edge."

Artemis folded her arms, "Didn't the muzzle he was wearing fall off of him too. So he can fly, move through objects, and change his shape. Could he be a martian?" Everyone turned to look at Miss Martian, except for Danny. He was still looking at the stars.

Miss Martian shook her head and spoke softly, "No he's not a martian. I would have known when I talked to him through the mind link." 

"She's right, I am not from outer space, although I would love to go to space some day. I am also not exactly human either." Danny had a small smile on his face. He was still looking at the night time sky. 

"Then what are you?" asked Superboy.

"Who are you?" demanded Aqualad.

"Why are you looking up at the sky?" Kid Flash inquired curiously.

Danny ignored the first two questions, not wanting to bother explaining anything, but he did answer the last one. With a tired look he turned towards the group of young heroes and said wistfully, "if you had been locked up underground for, well I don't know for how long we were down there, but wouldn't the first thing you would want to see is the sky?" 

While the rest of the group turned to look at each other, two of them annoyed that their questions went unanswered. Danny simply returned his gaze back up to the sky, happy to see the stars shining brightly after a very long time in the dark.  

Chapter Text

"BOOM"

"BOOM"

"BOOM"

Everyone turned and watched, except Danny who had turned back to gaze at the stars, as a series of explosions went off inside the complex. One after another, and soon enough the hole leading into the facility started to cave in, as the structure of the complex was destroyed. 

"Did we do that?" said Kid Flash as he watched the ground slowly sink in. The rest of the young heroes shook their heads in answer, all quickly backing away from the entrance. 

"Oh that was me. Yeah I couldn't leave it alone, not after all the horrible things they did to us. I can't believe the collar had that much fire power though, kind of scary that that thing was around my neck all this time." Danny's hair, which had grown long and unruly while he was locked up, fell over his face when he turned to look at the heroes again, casting his face in shadow. The heroes could only see his toxic green eye shine brighter and brighter.

The others started getting nervous, between the destruction of the facility and the unfazed look in the man's eye, giving Danny a wide birth as they surrounded him. Danny noticed the encirclement and tightened his grip on Danielle, figuring his time was up with the youngsters and that he needed to make like a ghost and disappear. 

Noticing the change in the man's demeaner, Aqualad stepped forward, "Why did you destroy it? There might have been people still in the building." 

Danny shrugged and looked over at Aqualad with a leveled gaze, "it made me feel better, knowing that I destroyed the place that kept her and I imprisoned and experimented on for several years. We have been kept underground for so long I don't even know for how long. Day in and day out, over and over again, nothing but pain and screaming. Cut off from EVERYTHING!" While Danny had been speaking he slowly started to walk towards Aqualad, his voice rising in volume as he walked until he was standing face to face with the young hero. 

Danny was taller, so he leaned down slightly and gave Aqualad a withering look full of pain and hatred. Aqualad stood his ground and did not back down but could not make direct eye contact with the man. 

As the man walked toward their leader, the other young heroes, keeping the encirclement had walked closer, not knowing if Danny was a threat or not. They might have rescued him but they knew next to nothing about him. Only that he was strong and a potentially dangerous person.

Danny noticed that the others had started to close in, but kept his gaze on Aqualad as they approached. "So forgive me for finding closure in destroying the source that had taken away a portion of our lives." Danny straightened up and turned away from the stunned hero shifting the girl in his arms into a more comfortable position. He started to walk away but stopped and looked back at the group of heroes. "Thank you for helping us out of that place, painful as it was."  His toxic green eyes landing on Robin and Kid Flash briefly before turning back around to leave.  

Aqualad reached out in order to stop him, but it was to late. 

Without making a sound, the Man and the girl disappeared into thin air. 

Chapter Text

Danny had only one place in mind to go after leaving the young heroes and the destroyed lab behind. Still invisible, Danny's grip on his daughter tightened as he flew faster towards his home, to where his parents died.

Where his sister died.

Where his friends died.

Back to Amity Park, and hopefully the portal back to the Ghost Zone.

Unfortunately, Danny honestly did not know where he was, the lab had been in the middle of know where and he and Dani had certainly not been privy to information such as the facilities location while they were held captive by the GIW. All he could see was a dense forest and huge lake off in the distance, no road or landmarks he could use to identify where on Earth he was.

Danny came to a stop, gently floating in the air, eyes closed and took deep even breaths. Both halfas had been captive for many years, how many neither of them knows for how long (just that it was a long time for them) but throughout that time both the older and the younger ghost had had their powers sealed away from them, only able to barely use their healing factors to withstand the torture that he and Dani had gone through by the hands of scientists, by humans. Without it, they would have perished long ago.

Now that the collar had been removed, Danny's full powers where slowly but surely coming back. It is with that fact, that Danny knows which way to go to get back to his home, his haunt. A ghost will always know the way to where they belong, a ghost's haunt is sacred place.

Feeling a slight pull from his core, Danny changed directions and flew as fast as possible, and without breaking the sound barrier. He didn't need any more attention on him than he already does with the GIW and the little colorful heroes he had let behind.

It takes Danny about three hours before he sees the "Welcome to Amity Park" sign, warning people that the town was the most haunted place in the state of Illinois. The sun is starting to rise over the horizon as Danny approaches the town, staying invisible he slows his flying, taking notice that the town itself has not really changed all that much while he was held captive. There where small changes yes, a new store here or a new building there. The only big difference Danny could see while flying into town was that the roads had finally been fixed.

Danny, after having his fill of nostalgia from playing spot the difference, feels the pull from his core again and heads in the direction of home.

Except his home is no longer there. All that is an abandon building barely held together with brick and mortar, all the Fenton tech seems to have been stripped from his home. Leaving an empty shell behind. And that is only the outside.

Landing softly on the front stoop, Danny shifts his hold on Dani, one arm under both of her legs and her upper torso leaning against Danny's chest, holding her much like one would hold a small child. Making sure his hold is secure, Danny reaches out and turns the doorknob of the front door.

Chapter Text

Danny grazed his fingers over the doorknob and watched with a raised brow as gravity did its job. That slight touch was all it took for the door to fall off its hinges and on to the floor, a plume a dust raising into the air from the impact.

"Hah Great, I can just let myself in then." Rubbing the back of his neck in agitation, he walked through the doorway.

Just like the outside, the inside of the house looked to have been stripped of all Fenton technology. Moving further into the building Danny noticed a lot of the furniture was either gone, probably stolen, or broken and in pieces on the floor. The walls and floor had holes of all sizes, some look to be from blasters, bigger and singed around the edges. The rest are smaller and obviously bullet holes.

Continuing past the living room and going into the kitchen, Danny stops and stares.

Danny bent down putting Danielle on the ground behind him and turned towards the standoff happening in the kitchen.

Taking up most of the kitchen floor is a large brown stain.

With his family and friends safely behind him and their hands over their ears, Danny takes a deep breath, and lets loose his ghostly wail.

Brown smears and handprints litter the walls and floor, one set leading toward the stairs.

Danny turns his head and yells "RUN," as he collapses onto the ground, eyes feeling heavy. The last thing Danny remembered was his little Danielle shaking him and screaming his name.

Blinking Danny noticed he was at the top of a set of stairs, brown spots and smears leading down into the basement. Standing there, Danny gently rubs small circles on Dani's back as she sleeps, gazing at the basement door. Humming softly, Danny turned and carried Dani upstairs instead. Passing room after room Danny stops in front of a door painted a deep blue with glow in the dark stars glued on. Taking a deep breath, he grabs the knob and pushes the door open.

The room looked to be frozen in time, there was no dust, all the furniture, and his clothes were still there, even the bed was still made from when he made it that morning they were taken.

Pulling back the covers, he gently laid his daughter down and tucked her in, sweeping a stray stand of hair from her face, Danny's lips thinned into a strained line. Straightening, Danny quickly moved to the next room, looking very much like his, untouched by time, he went to his parents' closet. Even though he had barely been fed in that hell hole, as well as being half dead, Danny was slow at growing. Danny had a surprising growth spurt while he was held captive, going from 6'2 to 6'7 in that first year. Being in his human form and the collar that sealed most of his ghost powers, gave his body enough incentive to finish growing all the way, and it seems Danny took after his father in the height department.

Rummaging around he found the smallest pair of jeans he could find, Danny got his fathers height but not his width, especially with being malnourished the past six years. Taking the jeans back to his room, Danny found a belt and one of his plain black shirts. Changing quickly in the bathroom, he took one last glance at his sleeping daughter and walked out of his old home, making sure the door was placed back on it hinges. Danny stuffed his hands in his pockets and started walking.

Chapter Text

In the early morning the town was quiet as Danny walked along the sidewalk, head down and hands stuffed in his pockets. Long and matted white hair fluttering in the breeze, Danny walked with no direction in mind. Just simply letting his feet guide him while his mind was pleasantly blank of all thought. He didn’t think about his next move or where to go from here, since Dani and him couldn’t stay at his old home. That would be the first place they would look. Danny didn’t worry about his daughter, and how broken her mental state would be once she woke up. Can’t really blame the girl, not with what they had to go through at the facility. Danny didn’t ponder as to why his and his families room looked untouched while the rest of his home had been ransacked and stripped of nearly everything. He also didn’t think about how he was still in his Phantom form and didn’t know if he could turn back into his human form.

Nope, no thoughts going around and around in his head, just an empty mind.

Breathing out a deep sigh that Danny could feel all the way down to his toes, he rolled his shoulders back and picked up his pace as he continued walking. His feet taking him through town, past the Nasty Burger and Casper High, and eventually out of town and through an iron gate. Danny blinks slowly when his legs come to a stop at a set of stones buried in the earth.

Legs giving out, Danny’s knees planted themselves firmly into the ground as he knelt in front of the three stone markers, eyes staring at clenched fists resting in his lap. Danny stayed kneeling, eyes downcast for a long time. He doesn’t know for how long he had stayed in that position, not moving an inch, only that by the time the sun had set, and the moon is high in the sky does the young man raise his head and faced the truth that sat in front of him.

Staring back at him is three tombstones, all with matching last names and the same death dates.

Jack Fenton

Madeline Fenton

Jasmine Fenton

Danny finally broke.

Gazing at his family’s final resting place with vacant eyes, the young man let go of all the anguish, the bitterness, and the hollowing sadness he had kept inside of himself. With the faintest of hope in his heart, Danny wanted to believe that his family was alive and waiting for them to escape, to returned to their side. To be honest, he never wanted to believe when the scientists or agents taunted the father daughter duo with the knowledge of their family’s brutal murder. Danny never wanted to acknowledge that his parents and sister had sacrificed their lives to try and protect him and Dani.

Danny knew that hope was in vain.

Here he kneels, facing the stone-cold truth of what he had been told all those years and Danny can’t hold back any longer. A broken sob escaped the ghost as he lurched forward and buried his face into the ground. Body shaking, Danny pressed his face further into the grass and dirt while he screamed and cried and screamed some more, his hands clawing and slamming against the ground. Not knowing what to do with the pain and emptiness he was feeling, he gasped brokenly for air only to wail back into the earth. His mind felt numb as tears streaked down his face and his body turned cold, his core pulsed painfully in his chest.

As the young man broke down in front of his family’s resting place, a thick fog spread though out the cemetery, laying heavily on the ground. Frost started to climb up the graves and trees nearby, and a light flurry of snow fell to the ground. As Danny cried, the temperature slowly fell one degree at a time, and glowing green ice spread out from were he lay on the ground.

Noticing the change in weather, Danny sobbed brokenly as he lifted his head and looked around at the ghostly winter wonderland he had created. Calming down slightly he rubbed his chest where his core is located and sat crossed legged on the grass, an occasional sniffle escaping him.

Danny sat and stared at the grave markers, no longer sobbing and screaming, just gazing as silent tears continued to fall down his face. Soon enough the moon disappeared, and the sun was peaking over the horizon. When the sun was fully in view and making its way into the sky did Danny decide that it was time to head back. Just as Danny was about to move to stand, the soft crunching sound of shoes meeting snow could be heard echoing through out the graveyard. Turning slightly in the direction of the noise, he wondered who would disturb him in his time of mourning if not the GIW. Standing now and fully turned towards the footsteps, Danny readied to defend himself. Only to come face to face with someone he never would have thought he would meet again.

“Great Gatsby! Fenton is that you?”

Chapter Text

"So, you did know." It was more of a statement than a question, as Danny relaxed his posture.

Lancer smiled sadly, "Mr. Fenton, "

"Phantom."

Lancer started slightly, as he looked at the young man in front of him. He had known who was visiting the graves of the Fenton's before he had even stepped into the cemetery. It was the middle of summer so when the temperature of the area was usually cold, it seemed unnatural. Another reason is that there were only a handful of people who still visited the family's resting place.

"Yes, I knew that Phantom and Fenton were the same person. The grades you had before your accident was straight A's, after you were barely passing. You were always tired throughout the day, Phantom and Fenton were never seen in one place, and last but certainly not least you two looked the exact same except for the hair and eye color. I still don't see how you kept it a secret for so long."

Danny's smirk grew wider and wider as Lancer's eyebrows raised higher and higher while he listed all the ways he had figured out Danny's biggest secret.

Danny shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned his upper body forward, bending at the waist slightly. Grin still stretched across his face, "I knew that was why you were my favorite teacher, but that doesn't answer the question, how did you know it was me standing here and not someone else? I don't know how long I have been gone, but I do know that I most certainly don't look the same."

With a sad smile still on his face, Lancer shifted slightly and looked around at the ice that had not yet melted in the summer sun. "You have been missing for six years, and the reason I knew it was you, was because hardly anyone comes to visit your family's resting place anymore. It was either you or the old mayor."

Danny's grin vanished, his face carefully blank, "Vlad Masters is still in Amity Park? I thought he would have left town as soon as he realized that both my mother and I were gone. Since that was the only reason, he came to Amity to be mayor in the first place."

Lancer shook his head, "he is no longer the mayor; he went back to Wisconsin not long after the funeral. He used to visit every day, but now he only comes twice a month. Whenever I see him visit, he looks more and more lost. Haunted maybe."

Danny's lips twitched up slightly, "was that a ghost pun."

"No."

Chapter Text

“Can I ask what happened, where have you been all these years?” Once the question left his lips, Lancer watched as multiple different emotions flashed across Danny’s expression. The most prominent was anger.

Danny turned away looking back at his family. “You can ask, but you won’t be getting a satisfying answer. The short answer is hell. That is where I have been these last – Ancients! I don’t even know how long I was locked up!” Danny chuckled darkly under his breath at the incredulous situation his life had landed him. It just made his decision that much easier to make.

Nodding his head Danny turned towards Lancer, “I suggest you make sure you stay safe. Things will be changing soon. The GIW, the humans have made their opinions clear about ghosts and the Infinite Realms. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to hold them back anymore, they have dug their own graves.”

Lancer took a step back as Danny moved past him, walking towards the entrance of the graveyard. He could feel his heart pounding, fear curling in his gut and Lancer knew that if he didn’t say something, try to do anything, that it would be too late.

Lancer reached out to grab Danny’s arm, only for his hand to go through it. Surprised by the sensation and the cold, he yanked his hand back as Danny turned back to look at him.

“Danny—”

“Phantom.”

Lancer watched as Danny straightened up, shoulders pulling back, a carefully blank expression on his face. “I am Phantom. I am no longer Danny Fenton. I haven’t been him for a long time.”

“Phantom, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. If I remember correctly, you are half human, right? That is why you are able to switch forms? I can’t begin to understand what you went through, but please don’t do something drastic. We can come up with a solution together.” Lancer started to step forward, but stopped when Phantom held up his hand, shaking his head.

“There is a reason I am still in my other form, as you say, and have not switched back.” As Phantom paused Lancer noticed that the young man’s hair was indeed still white and not his usual black. His eyes glowed not the normal icy blue, but the toxic green color that hinted he was something other, something no longer human. Phantom’s gaze grew distant as he continued, “It is because I no longer can. And because of this, it has resulted in war.”

Phantom turned away and left the cemetery.

Lancer watched until he could not see him anymore, Phantom’s back fading in the distance.

Closing his eyes and lifting his face towards the sky, Mr. Lancer had only one thought on his mind.

What have we done.

--------------------------------

Danny quickly made it back to Fenton Works, phasing into the house, not really wanting to mess with the broken front door.

He quickly made his way upstairs, slowly opening the door to his room to check on his daughter. Knowing that she would not be waking up any time soon, but still wanting to be sure she was safe.

Seeing that she had not moved, Danny made his way back downstairs to the ground floor. He stopped at the top of the stairs leading down to the basement.

Taking a deep breath, Danny slowly made his way down the stairs. Trying very hard not to look to closely at the walls or the steps themselves. He did not need or want anymore flash backs right now. He needed to focus, get to the portal, go into the Infinite Realms and take his daughter to Frostbite. Everything else could wait until his daughter was awake again. He was not to worried that she had not woken up yet after their escape. Danny had preferred the coma like state she had forced on herself. He would never think badly of her wanting to get away from the pain the humans had conflicted onto Danny and his daughter.

Finally making it to the bottom of the stairs, Danny cringed at the dried brown blood that coated the door handle. Reaching out, he gingerly turned the handle and pushed the door open. The hinges squeaked harshly as the door slowly swung open. Danny reached out blindly trying to find the light switch hoping the backup generators would work. He bet the power was cut off long ago. Once found he flipped it and the lab flooded with light. Blinking the spots out of his eyes from the sudden brightness, Danny started to move into the lab only to stop and stare in horror.

“Fuck!”

Chapter Text

"Fuck!"

Danny just stared.

"How the fuck is it gone?!"

Danny stepped down into the room from the stairs, a look of utter horror plastered on his face.

In front of him was a giant hole where the portal used to be. The whole lab looked to have been ransacked from his late parents’ inventions. Every blaster, every ghost themed tech, even the Fenton creep stick was gone. Shelves torn off the walls, tables flipped over, papers scattered everywhere.

He bent down and picked up a paper from the floor trying to see what had been on it, but the ink was too faded to make out any of the words. Dropping it he walked further into what was left of the lab.

The closer he got to the hole in the wall, the more Danny could not believe it. His first thought was how the hell did they manage to get it out of the wall, much less the basement. His next was, what is he going to do now? He needed the portal to get to the Ghost Zone, to get Dani to Frostbite. 

Danny reached the hole and leaned heavily against the wall as he looked inside. It looked like the portal had been carved out of the wall itself. Wires and pipes were sticking out of the walls on the inside. Some of the wires were still sparking and a toxic green liquid dripped from the pipes. 

Danny sighed, rubbing a hand down his face, a migraine starting to form. He knew what his next move needed to be but was reluctant to take that step. Other than his parent's portal, there was only one other portal that he knew of, and he was not looking forward to talking to the fruitloop.  

Pushing off the wall, Danny took one last look around what was left of the lab and went back upstairs. Once he reached the ground floor, he quickly made his way to his bedroom. He opened the door slowly, not wanting the hinges to squeak. Even though Danny knew his daughter would not wake up from the noise, he didn't want to disturb her. 

They had been through enough already. 

Danny was silent as he walked over to the bed, sitting down gently beside Dani. He reached out and tenderly pulled her into his lap, wrapping his arms protectively around her. He buried his head into her dirty white hair, “I'm going to need to clean her up soon. Hell! I need a shower too. Don't when the last time I took one, if I am being honest with myself.”

Danny chuckled at that thought as he started to rock his daughter back and forth on the bed. He scooted further back on the bed, leaning on the headboard. He took a deep shaky breath as he tried to bring comfort to his daughter. Even in sleep.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said I'll never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

I remember you said don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and passed tonight

Danny pressed his lips to the top of Dani as he sang, hoping even though she was asleep, she would be able to hear him sing to her.

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Grabbing the blankets, Danny pulled them up and over both him and Dani, tucking them in tightly as he hugged his daughter closer to his chest. 

Don't you dare look out your window, darling, everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Hold onto this lullaby even when the music's gone

Danny closed his eyes, finally letting the exhaustion from all that had happened to him, take over. He might not need sleep, but he wanted it. He wanted to have happy dreams, now that Dani and he had escaped the GIW.

Just close your eyes, the sun is going down

You'll be alright, no one can hurt you now

Come morning light, you and I'll be safe and sound

Feeling content with his daughter in his arms, in the safety of his childhood bedroom.

Danny slept.

Chapter Text

Waking up did not come easily for Danny. It was to be expected, with the treatment he received in the loving care of the GIW. The aches and pains he collected over the years made themselves known as Danny slowly opened his eyes. Squinting slightly, Danny stretched, careful of the weight in his arms as a series of pops and cracks could be heard throughout his body.

Settling back into bed with a sigh, Danny planned. Without the portal and as weak as he is right now, getting back to the Zone was not feasible. At least not without help. And his only other option would have to be Vlad.

Danny growled lowly as a wave of rage washed over him as he thought of Vlad. He knew Vlad was not behind what happened to Dani and him, but for all the support Vlad had provided to the GIW, it certainly felt like it. His conversation with Mr. Lancer did provide vital information, information he could use against Vlad. If Vlad was showing guilt and remorse about what happened to his family, Danny would be able to use that to his advantage.

A sour feeling washed over him at that thought, but Danny shook it off. He couldn't go back to being the person he was before. He was to lenient, to soft. And because of this, humans had hurt his daughter. No, Danny had changed over the years, and now it was time for him to become a King. He was no long a hero, he didn't even know if he was still human. He hadn't changed into his human form in a long, long time. And after all of the abuse he sustained he didn't want to.

Shaking his thoughts from that downward spiral, Danny huffed and slowly got up out of bed. Careful not to disturb Dani, he tucked her back in and went to jump in the shower, fingers crossed that the water had not been turned off. Reaching the bathroom, Danny turned the knob and nearly jumped with joy as water came out. Not waiting for the water to warm up, Danny stripped and got in. Sighing, Danny stood there letting the water gently wash away the years of blood, grim, and other fluids that coated his body and hair. With disgust he saw the water turn nearly black as it went down the drain. Find shampoo and body soap, he got to scrubbing, and after many repeats the water finally ran clear.

Turning off the shower, Danny got out found a towel to wrap around himself and then started filling up the tub with warm water. Drying off quickly he went to find some clothes in his dad's closet. That wasn't an orange jumpsuit. Dressed and drying his hair in a towel, he returned to his childhood room to check on Dani. Mentally he knew his daughter would not wake up anytime soon, not after what she went through. But in his heart, he just hoped she would give him a sign that she would wake up at all.

Dropping the towel, he gently picked her up and back to the bathroom. Turning off the water, Danny phased off her clothes and after testing the water first, placed her in the bath. The water slowly but surely turned black as he washed his daughter's hair and body. Several washes later, Danny wrapped her up in a huge towel and went to steal clothes from Jazz's closet.

Both of them clean and in new clothes, Danny ventured back down stairs.

-------------------------------

It took over an hour of searching and Danny found, nothing. Absolutely nothing. Whoever, probably the GIW, gutted the house did it thoroughly. Not a research paper left, not a weapon hidden that was not found.

He finally admitted to himself that it was time to move on, that he needed to get back to his Realm and its people. Truly, he was only lagging due to the safety he felt from his childhood home.

The blood and bullet holes not withstanding.

Danny nodding to himself, flew up the stairs and grabbed Dani. Turning invisible, he flew them up through the house and up into the sky. He did a slow spin, reaching out with his core and locking onto the faint ecto-signature that he knew and held no love for. Keeping them invisible and intangible, Danny left his childhood home for the last time.

-----------------------------

The flight took longer than excepted, not wanting to go to fast and end up on someone's radar. When the mansion was in sight, Danny descended slowly eyes narrowed as he noticed the door was wide open. Still invisible, landed and cautiously walked up the drive to the door. Peering through the doorway, Danny straightened and with a raised eyebrow stared at the shadow of a man that stood in the entryway.

Vlad looked worse than what Mr. Lancer led him to believe. Vlad had lost weight, his already lean body now just skin and bone. His long gray hair thin and limp. Shoulders hunched and shadows in his eyes, Vlad watched Danny walk up to him like he could see Danny even through the invisibility. Danny had grown taller than Vlad these past few years, which pleased Danny greatly. No longer having the other man look down on him as he had done in his teenage years. Vlad dropped his eyes to the floor the same time Danny dropped his invisibility. Standing right in front of Vlad, Danny waited letting the silence grow heavy between the Halfas.

"Little badger -" A loud crack sounded through the air as Vlad's head snapped back by the force of Danny suddenly back handing him. Thrown off by the sudden hit, Vlad fell to the ground shacking slightly. Still not looking up at Danny, he lifted his hand to touch his bright red cheek.

Danny once again settled Dani in both his arms as he stared down at Vlad.

"Don't," said Danny no emotion in his voice. "I don't have the patience or the mind to deal with you. Do you still have your portal?"

Vlad stayed on the ground as he nodded.

Danny sneered slightly, walking past him heading to the basement. Not looking back he gave one command. "Follow."

Entering the basement, Danny motioned towards the controls, "Start it up, it is time we head home."

Vlad moved quickly, powering up the portal.

Once the portal opened, a swirl of toxic green glowing softly, Vlad stepped back. Risking a quick glance, he flicked his eyes Dani, still in her father's arms, then to Danny's face. Softly he said, "what happens now?"

Danny didn't answer right away. He moved closer towards the portal, not touching but enjoying the power that was flowing back into him after all these years without ectoplasam.

Finally Danny turned to look down at the other Halfa, "war."

*6 months later*