Author's Note: Longer than most of the previous chapters and I feel like I'm missing something but I'm not sure what...damn. Well I am happy with some of it. But they finally are face to face in this one, w00t~ Vlad and Danny FTW. I have no idea what I'm talking about today I'm running on sugared cereralXD

"You can't be serious, Danny!"

After replying the broadcast and getting over his initial shock he had come to the only decision that made sense. Vlad wanted revenge and he already had money and status to help him. And though he would not admit to the small part of him that desperately needed to fight again, a small part of him was glad and relieved to see the fruitloop back.

As such he nearly tore his hair out with frustration at the blockade keeping him from leaving. Jasmine stood in front of the door a worried scowl on her face while Tucker and Sam flanked her the same expression on their face.

"Get out of the way, Jazz."

"He hasn't even done anything yet, he isn't even on the same continent!"

"Yet? Yet? You expect me to sit around and wait for him to—to—well I'm not!"

"I expect you to use your head!"

"Dude, listen to her. She's right you can't just…take off halfway around the world because he shows up on T.V."

"You don't understand."

"I do understand, I understand you can't handle the…the…peace that's settled here! You just want to go looking for a fight! You don't build a company overnight Danny, he's probably been here for months! He's not planning anything." Honestly Jasmine knew very well Vlad was probably up to something but she didn't want Danny to go. He was finally, finally becoming well, just Danny again. Sure there were fights but nothing like before. He finally had a chance at normalcy and he wanted to throw it away? He wasn't thinking straight and she was not going to let him leave like that!

"You're not in charge of me, now move."

It went back and forth like that, Danny eventually giving up and shifting to his ghost form and holding out his hand for his backpack, "I'm not a little kid anymore, Jazz. I'll leave with or without your consent."

Jasmine simply tensed her own hand inching towards her pocket where she had the Fenton Thermos sitting. If Danny kept refusing…

Sam had been quiet through the whole thing, a part of her blamed his rash reaction on herself, if she hadn't shown him the news cast…but she couldn't change it and truthfully she wouldn't. Coming to her decision abruptly she pulled the pack that Jasmine clutched in her arms away gently and handed it to Danny, her fingers touching his cheek softly before pulling back and smacking him across the face.

"Sam!"

Ignoring the cries behind her Sam kept her gaze on Danny's stunned face, "I don't like it. In fact, I think your being stupider than usual and that's saying something."

"Look—"

"Shut up!" Startled he let his words die out and Sam sighed before continuing, "But…I know this is something you need to do."

Finally raising her eyes to meet his she placed a kiss on his cheek, "Just come back in one piece, we won't be there to save your butt this time."

Grinning like a mad man he was gone, no goodbye, no whoosh of air he was simply there one moment and gone the next his parting words lingering on her ears.

"You…you let him go? Sam! Sam!"

Turning to face her two companions she smiled, "He would have just left eventually, at least this way we know where he went, we know he'll come back."

It had gone over better than he had thought. He ghost form was practically waiting for him with those idiots guarding it and he had be given 'pardon' as well as job for all the trouble caused to him. Now all he had to do was play the part, sneak out his ghost form and then it would be much easier to climb the ladder back to his former position. After that he would rebuild his home and from there…revenge? A new goal? That was the only thing he was unsure of, but he would not admit it, even to himself. He did not need a plan, he was Vlad Masters and he always got what he wished one way or another.

Even if he had no idea what that wish was.

Shrugging slightly to himself he set himself to work scowling at the mounds of paperwork on his oversized desk. They made them huge on purpose, specifically to shove more useless forms on it.

"Mr. Masters?"

"Yes?"

"Do you have those reports finished?" His gaze flicked towards the woman in an eerily slow manner before thrusting out the paper to her a small smile frozen on his face. "Good, good. I need the rest done before you leave, okay? Thank you."

When he received his powers once more she would be the first to suffer.

He should have taken the portal. Really. But Sam finally giving him that chance to escape and the hope of a half decent battle made any rational thought fly out of his head. He had simply flown out of the house before Jazz could shove him in the Fenton Thermos and force him to stay by telling their parents.

His parents.

Damn. He'd almost forgotten about them. What would they say? He hadn't even given an excuse, he had just taken off. Would they put two and two together? Did they know Vlad was back? Were they still angry about the asteroid?

The asteroid. When he thought about it, it was Vlad's fault that the world had been almost destroyed but what he couldn't understand was why Vlad had done it. No matter what he said and grudging part of him could admit that Vlad was indeed stronger and at the time he could have easily shoved the world under his thumb with brute force. Not that that he was one to use brute force; he was all about over complicated plots and choices. And speaking of choices why had Plasmius suddenly wanted the world? Why had he stopped wanting Danny and his mom? What changed?

The pieces didn't fit. Even if Vlad had owned the world he had to of known his mom would never look at him that way. It confused him and annoyed him. The stupid fruitloop had allowed himself to be defeated and it wasn't even by him! He was Danny's enemy dammit and he should act like it!

Shaking his head as if to throw the thoughts out he focused on how much farther he had to go. It would have taken ten measly minutes by portal but no, he had to fly. Sometimes he really could kick himself.

The shabby apartment he had be given upon 'turning over a new leaf' was positively atrocious, he could hardly contain his urge to get his ghost form immediately and gain back his wealth but he couldn't, not yet. It would not be so easy.

From what he read on the reports he had stolen from his 'job'—how he loathed that word—his eviler half was in a highly classified location and heavily sedated as well as guarded. It would be easy enough for him to hack the systems and let his other half run free but then he had no way to catch him before he inevitably would go to the Ghost Zone.

Sighing slightly he glanced around the room not bothering to hide his disgust at the small living space. It was plain and it would have been more…inhabitable if the paint was not peeling, the carpet didn't smell like wet dog and the water came out clear when you first turned it on not two minutes later. But he was tired he did not have time to dwell on the horrors of his 'house'. He needed to plan and sleep and…he eyed the paperwork in his hands, and finish his damned work.

Danny was amazed he had made it without too many stops but he had to admit his ghost form had way more stamina than his human form. It was a little creepy to be back in Wisconsin, to be honest neither he nor his parents or anyone really talked about what happened or where he had been during the asteroid incident. In fact, they only seemed to honor Danny Phantom around most of the world but his family acted like nothing had happened. Life moved on, he supposed but it was still strange.

Shifting forms he casually allowed himself to slip into the thin crowd moving down the streets. It was quiet here. Even quieter than Amity but everyone had something to do and no one was paying attention to the kid randomly popping up in the street.

He had to admit it was nice though, the stores were smaller but all the people inside seemed to take this time or were at least more pleasant than some people he had met at his job—Oh shit. His job. Slamming his palm into his forehead he let out a loud groan. He forgot about that, figures. Already this was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth, he should have just let Vlad do whatever diabolical, completely crazy scheme he had cooked up then go stop him.

He hated it when Jazz was right.

Dragging his hand down his face he realized another problem, Vlad couldn't possibly be in his castle, he had seen the remains on the rest of the news broadcast, how was he going to find him? How do you even started a search for someone like that?

Then again a man who almost destroyed the earth shouldn't be too hard to find.

Vlad scowled as he stared at the clock. He was almost becoming used to this…this—this pathetic life! Not since he had awoken had he once thought of how to get his ghost form back, in fact, he had nearly forgotten it while trying to get paperwork filled out. Paperwork! He now understood how the common mind was so easily dulled, how most succumbed to what is everyday life without a second thought. It was distressing that he had almost fallen into the same fate.

A low growl filled the room and he was tempted to shred the papers and light them on fire before lighting the whole building on fire. But no. He was here to keep an eye on his ghost form, why else would he be working at ghost t.v. show station? Calming himself he folded his legs and turned to face the window, it was small but the gesture reminded him of a time when he was mayor in Amity. Hm. Funny. He now realized why his secretaries hated him all the pointless forms were enough to drive the sanest person batty.

But his thoughts did not stay there for long because Amity reminded him of his bigger troubles, like getting his ghost half back. There were many ways to do it but he wanted one that would cause the least amount of panic, oh panic was fun and all but he needed quiet until he was good and ready to unveil himself to the world once more.

Glaring at the papers his eyes dully scanned the writings only half taking in the information until he seen his name.

Plasmius.

Status: Contained.

Transport: To be transported to high end security prison in Wyoming.

A slow smile spread across his face—if one could call it that—and he hurriedly finished the last of his work. He did not need to go to his ghost form, it would come to him. All he had to was write up the report.

He suddenly had a new respect for the tedious work.

Two hours later Danny wished he had never come.

It was hot.

It was boring.

And he was lost.

Grinding his teeth as he once more found himself in the same place he was before he threw up his hands letting out an angry shout.

"Lost, kid?"

"No duh." The older man laughed at the child's anger and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.

"Where ya headed?"

"I don't know." The anger drained out of him at the simple sentence, he didn't know. Hell, he didn't even know where to start. The man laughed once more and Danny suddenly realized he was very lost, with a very strange person hold his shoulder. Trying to make it appear casual he slunk away from the man's touch and glanced at the nearest building. A radio station. "Never mind. I found it."

The creep had the gall to look disappointed before stepping back a slight grin on his face, "Go on then."

Oh yea, definite creep. Trying to look confident Danny strutted across the street and shoved the door roughly and promptly ate shit. "Damn revolving doors."

Straightening himself out he glanced back and seen that the man was still there. Ew.

"Can I help you?" The woman at the desk looked friendly enough, well more so than the weirdo outside.

"That guy is following me." He sounded like a lost kid and a large part of him wanted to go ghost and beat the jerk up but he couldn't take the chance of losing his element of surprise. Immediately the woman gestured to the chairs littering the office a pitying smile on her face.

"You can call the cops if you want…"

"Nah, I'll just wait him out."

Nodding she returned to whatever it was she was doing before and Danny wondered how the hell he was going to find Vlad.

"…Masters has truly turned over a new leaf."

"That is the topic of discussion as of the late but for right now, just listen to this lovely little bit, compose by a lovely little lady."

Danny froze and sat waiting for the radio to say something else but only soft music played in the waiting room. Jerking himself upright he practically ran to the desk once more.

"They are talking about Vlad, right? Vlad Masters?"

The woman looked almost guilty, "Sad really. The guy was possessed and he's plastered everywhere, I feel bad for the invasion of privacy but it's a small town and—"

Che, yea. Because Vlad so hated the spotlight, Danny gave a small snort and interrupted the woman, "Do you know where he lives?"

"No one does. But he works for our sister company. The t.v. station down the street? It's about two miles from here in that direction." A small manicured nail pointed to the left but Danny was already outside and nearly running down the street before he spotted an alley way. Flinging himself in the secluded area a small glow erupted from his waist and he pushed his feet off the ground.

He almost had him!

To say Vlad was surprised was an understatement. He was truly and thoroughly frozen with shock. Though it only lasted for a moment before a small smile flitted across his features. This would be most interesting.

"Daniel."

"Plasmius!" Vlad then proceeded to ignore the half ghost standing a bit awkwardly in the middle of his office. This was not exactly how Danny had planned this happening, he had expected to find Vlad taking over people, jumping up to fight him, not…doing paperwork? "Is that—"

Vlad cut him off, "What brings you here, my boy?"

"I don't know what game you're playing but I'm done with it." He shot a warning blast near Vlad's head but the older man did not so much as flinch, only a smile flitted across his face once more. He needed to keep the boy calm, he did not want to chance him finding out that Vlad had no ghost form, how was he going to make the boy leave?

"Game?"

Another blast was fired on the opposite side of his head, he was surprised no one had come into the room to check on the noise. Most likely because all secretaries went insane at some point during the day, he was sure that yesterday the woman across from his had broken a window…

Focusing on the problem at hand he let his gaze flick back to Daniel's face. It almost seemed nostalgic. Had it really been that long?

"Intimidation. I see my lessons have no faded in my absence."

"I didn't learn a thing from you!" Danny snapped. He couldn't stop yelling, everything in him was standing on edge, waiting for the inevitable retaliation, for the gloved hand to curl around his neck, his whole body was alive with the prospect of battle with his only true enemy.

"On the contrary. You storm in here, hoping to catch me off guard and weak and then easily take me out? It seems we are more similar than you think." It was almost sad how easily he was still able to manipulate the boy, both of them falling into old banter and arguments. He knew what buttons to push and the boy had not changed much. It was like falling back into a habit.

"I'm not like you! I didn't hurt people to be who I am."

"The ghosts you beat aren't good enough to be people then? That is an opinion you and I share then."

"I—Am—Not—Like—You."

"Not like me? Is that what this is about then? Is that why you came all the way here? Oh, Daniel, how wrong you are." He stood, carefully and gracefully moving around the desk before positioning himself to lean on the front of the desk in casual manner. He only distracting the boy from the fight he was obviously waiting for. He couldn't fight. Not yet at least.

"I'm not."

"Ah, ah, do not interrupt your elders, boy. Now, as I was saying, we are quite similar, if we weren't, well, you wouldn't be here would you Daniel? I crave power and so do you."

"I don't!"

"Your pathetic hero complex is just a cover, you crave power over those you defeat, do you not? Precisely. But that my boy is neither here nor there, so tell me, what have you come here for?"

"Because I know you're up to something and I won't let you do it!" Now that he'd said it out loud he could hear Jazz's point. It sounded moronic when it reached his ears, he really had no reason for being there. Damn. Well, it was too late to take it back and he hadn't been completely wrong, Vlad was up to something, he just wasn't sure what. There was a small smirk on Vald's face that only added to idiocy of the whole sentence.

"That is truly why you've come?"

"I know you're up to something!"

He was right, of course, but Daniel didn't know that. But the agitation that was so obvious on the boy's face was alerting Vlad to the fact that he would soon attack and this time there would be no missing, he needed to make him leave. Now.

And what better way than to crush him. He always said it took more than brute force to take down one's opponent. This would be the perfect example.

"Honestly, Daniel what makes you think you are important enough for me to plot against?" There was a slightly pitying look on Vlad's face.

For some reason that annoyed him. Seriously annoyed him. Like pissed. "I know you're up to something."

And the smirk was back.

"You poor delusional boy, I assure you my plans have nothing to do with your family, friends, pathetic little town or you."

Silence reigned. Danny couldn't wrap his head around it. He didn't want a fight? His ghost form fell away to reveal his human form, the confused expression still on his face.

"What?" For some reason it felt as if Vlad had sucker punched him below the belt. He felt a piece of his ego fall away, the muscles in his throat constricting around the words he wanted to say.

"I do not like to repeat myself, Daniel," Casually straightening his desk he waved his hand to the door, smirk still firmly in place, "Now kindly get out of my office."

The door didn't slam, in fact it closed rather softly and Vlad stared at the door for a few moments before a dark smirk settled on his face. He had been wondering how to go about getting back his better half without causing too much of a ruckus and here, right in this very building, was the perfect ruse. The perfect distraction, Daniel obviously didn't know he didn't have his ghost half and would thereby bring it to Vlad.

After all, he barged in so wishing for to see his ghost half plotting, so why not give him something to worry about?

Author's Note: Review, you must. I command it:P Yes, I know it's boring and they haven't fought yet but I promise the next chapter is all action...wait...can I even write actions scenes? Crap. Ah, well, you will get action...well, badly written actions scenes but there is action...it's coming...when I write it...eventually, haha.

~Chow