Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom… sadly :( Butch Hartman does.

16. The Ultimate Decision

6 pm, city hall…

A giant crowd gathered in front of the city hall, all waiting to make the ultimate sacrifice to save their hero. The time had come for the decision and as the clock tower's second hand moved to the last number a ghostly pink mist appeared on the stage. Everyone held their breath when Vlad Plasmius and Danny Phantom stepped out of the smoke. The older ghost wore his usual smug grin as he dragged Danny forwards by his bound wrists. The teen just looked around nervously in response as if searching for something. He, indeed, was looking for his family. If he was about to die, he wanted to see them one last time… to feel their love… his strength… He didn't want to die, though! His hometown and probably the whole universe would surrender for nothing! But he couldn't tell them that what they were doing would lead to everybody's doom! His cousin's lives were at risk!

Nervously, Tucker went up the stairs to the stage. Blast! Vlad just successfully blocked their course of action by bringing Danny with him! It would have been much easier to just free the captured teen backstage…

Shaking Vlad's hand, Tucker began to talk.

"Welcome, sir. It's a pleas-"

"Cut the chit chat! I don't have all day, child! Just tell me I've won!" Vlad cut the young mayor off impatiently.

"A-alright… err… well" Tucker replied, clearly taken aback. "We, the people of Amity Park, have decided on this day to make you our new mayor. Congratulation."

"Yes!"

"NO!"

Danny's scream immediately caught everyone's attention, letting every eye fall on him. He had never felt so panicked. Well, actually he did; when he had fought his older self. He had thought for sure he was going to die back then. And now it seemed to happen again… Vlad would kill him… he couldn't do a thing about it. His powers didn't work, he had no weapons… he was out of options. This was his end. He fought back the tears that threatened to run down his face. No, he wouldn't give his arch-enemy the satisfaction of seeing him cry like a little, scared boy. He was going to stay strong. But it was time for him to say goodb-

BOOM!!!

Suddenly everyone started to scream and run… the chaos was perfect. An explosion on stage, Vlad's furious shouts and a panicky crowd. What more could go wrong?

"Mom! Dad! What are you doing here!?" Danny shouted, half worried, half happy.

"Duh, we're here to rescue you, of course!" Sam said annoyed.

"But you won't rescue him today!" Vlad's deep, foreboding voice interrupted seconds before he appeared behind Danny, a knife in his hands.

He held it at Danny's throat, threatening to hurt him if his family didn't do what he said. All of this went so fast that no one knew what was going on until the smoke cleared, revealing Danny once more in Vlad's grasp, Vlad holding the knife and Danny's friends and family on the other side of the stage, clearly unsure. The young ghost boy squirmed a bit but as he felt the knife pushing further into his soft skin he quickly stopped.

"Alright. Since I am the new ruler now" Vlad spoke up, "I order the police to arrest these people! Now!" He shouted impatiently when he saw that nobody was moving.

Then carefully some officers approached the Fenton's, Sam and Tucker before handcuffing them and leading them away. A thick silence followed.

By now tears had begun to leak out of Danny's eyes. He had never felt so helpless. He just wanted to shrink away from sight, to disappear and be left alone…

"Now you shall all see what happens to those who dare to oppose me!" the older ghost shouted, getting everyone's attention again.

The still mute crowd could only watch as their hero was pulled up, the knife pushing more and more into his throat…

Yeah, I know. I haven't uploaded this story since… *goes off to see the last update* July ^^' I just don't know what to write… sorry, you have to be patient. It might take awhile, but I'll finish this story. I promise! Still, I have the feeling that barely anyone wants to read this anyway.

If you do please Read and Review!