Hello there.

Firstly, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. I've been thoroughly blessed during this virus' spread and I'm very thankful for that.

I will be replying to reviews/messages in the next chapter, to hopefully clear up some things you've been wondering/wanting to know more about. If you have any questions not already answered on my profile please PM me or leave a review.

Without further ado,

RECAP:

As the anticipation for Vlad's party grows tensions build between the two halfas. Danny is hell-bent on proving Vlad is hiding something and turns to pranks and mischief to get the truth. Meanwhile Vlad schemes with Walker (against Godfrey's advice) to attempt to rescue Maddie with a complicated new thermos. But before he executes his plan, Danny Masters must make his debut.

The Life We Fight For

Chapter 31: Suspicious Activity Part I

Danny sat atop the roof of the Masters Mansion, eyes fixed on the sky. His arms curled loosely around his jumper-clad knees while a light breeze tickled him as it raced by.

It was nearing noon, and the sun was shining brightly on the young half-ghost's face as he started at the sky. He'd missed it, feeling the lazy peacefulness that came with being so high up only birds could see him.

The sound of a door creaking open swiftly pulled Danny's gaze downward, to the pristine front lawn. Faster than the blink of an eye he turned invisible. Brisk, short footsteps rapped against the marble stairway, perfectly audible to the super-powered teen.

Within seconds Vlad Masters was within view. Danny watched silently as he walked to a waiting limousine and disappeared inside.

He didn't take a breath until the expensive car pulled away, taking Vlad with it. Danny stood and dropped his invisibility, the smallest of smiles tugging at the corners of his lips. Vlad was finally gone.

The manor was his.

The young halfa stretched, enjoying one last minute in the sun before he dived through the roof of the mansion. The floors whizzed past him as he flew deep beneath the earth to Vlad's laboratory.

'Alright' Danny thought to himself, brushing imaginary dust from his suit. 'If I were a fruitloop, where would I put a cross-dimentional communication device?'

He knew Vlad had some way of communicating with his allies in the ghost zone, but really had nothing more to go on. Hacking into the computer was out of the question, as Vlad had done countless upgrades to its security since Tucker had gotten through. So where was he to start…?

Danny flew around the room opening cabinets and searching through shelves. His hands clenched against his sides in frustration when he came up with nothing.

With a shout he slammed his fist against the wall behind him, hoping for a satisfying bang. Instead, he heard a hollow 'clang!' and jumped.

With a raised eyebrow he reached into the wall, arm tingling as it turned intangible. His hand suddenly bumped against something small.

Danny grabbed the device and smiled. As he pulled it out of the wall his eyes lit up with a mischievous gleam.

Finally, he had a way to get Vlad's attention. One way or another, he'd teach the man not to keep secrets from him!

If restlessness, boredom and melancholy were fused and personified, they would create Jazz Fenton in her current mood.

All the books in Vlad's many libraries were no longer enough. She missed school, and people, and her family.

Jazz wandered the halls, as she found herself doing often these days, lost in thought. She'd set out looking for Danny, but even he seemed too busy for her.

It wasn't all bad though, with their new guest…

Dora had been a welcome addition. Another woman in the mansion would do everyone good, she thought. Dora was also one of the few gentle ghosts she'd met...when she wasn't in dragon form, of course.

A maid had told her Dora was in the main ballroom, assisting in the party set-up. So there she wandered to, chatting with the help along the way in an effort to stir her mind a little.

She desperately needed a new hobby.

As she came into the ballroom it wasn't surprising to her that it looked closer to a construction sight than a party venue. Vlad's team was working tirelessly to realize the grand ideas the billionaire had for this event. Jazz had only heard a few details from his staff, but anyone who'd met Vlad Masters knew he didn't serve anything half-baked.

Dora was near the center of the room, alongside Godfrey. The two had easily taken charge, calling out instructions to waiting decorators and builders. As Jazz approached, Dora gave her a warm smile.

"It is good to see you, Jazz." she said, stepping away from Godfrey after a short nod his way.

"Yeah," said Jazz, "looks like you've been busy."

Dora pulled her away from chaos with a laugh, leading her around a large in-progress ice sculpture of a swan.

"This is a scene I am used to," Dora explained. "It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of a ball."

"Vlad does know how to throw a party…" said Jazz, observing the decorating team debate over column styles.

"So," Dora said, her tone turning business-like. "You're worried."

Jazz bit at her lip, eyeing the people around them. Dora motioned for the girl to follow her away, and the two left the loud buzz of the ballroom for the nearest sunroom. With the distracting noise now gone, Jazz felt she could articulate her thoughts.

"I just don't know what to do," she said, slipping into a plush chair by the windows.

"About your brother and Plasmius?" Dora clarified.

"I'm so used to knowing what to say or do, but I keep coming up with absolutely no way to improve their relationship." Jazz dropped her face into her hands. "I think Vlad is good for Danny, but they are both so stubborn! There's a lot Vlad needs to change to gain Danny's trust, yet he constantly backslides into his old ways…"

Dora nodded solemnly. "And likewise Danny isn't willing up control of his life to Vlad."

"Exactly!" Jazz lifted her head. "I've run out of things to say, at this point I'm losing hope that they'll ever be true allies."

With her piece said Jazz sighed and sunk into her chair. Her time in the mansion had given her many an opportunity to go over her thoughts on the situation, but still it gave her a headache.

"I understand. Your brother is important to you, it's only natural you'd want to help." Said Dora. The dragon queen sat down opposite Jazz, gathering herself.

"But you mustn't push." She continued. "They will not change until they want to. And it must be a welcome change, something they both desire. We cannot force them to see what we believe is good for them- men are like that- but we can be there for them along the journey they must take to understand."

Jazz sat back in her chair, sighing. "I wish they'd just see reason."

Dora laughed, fingertips to her lips. A tender moment passed, Jazz and Dora both pondering their situations. Jazz spoke first.

"How do you have such faith that everything will work out?" She asked.

Dora's lips lifted into a mature smile, an aged expression that didn't quite fit her eternally youthful face.

"Danny Phantom is a symbol of hope, something we can always have even in the darkest of times. I believe that's why he continues to succeed. If we do not hope for a better future, we will never get one."

Next Chapter: Danny's plan is put in action. Vlad is tested on what it truly means to be a parent.

Super short, I know. I'm working on getting back my mojo. Stay healthy, people!-P