Bad news, guys. There's no easy way to say this so I'll just blurt it out: the Live On universe is being put on indefinite hiatus. I really, really hate to do this, but I've completely lost my motivation for this story, and I honestly just want to retire this whole fanfic universe. Now, this is not saying I'll never come back to it, in fact, I might rewrite Live On in the future. Thing is, I'm not promising anything.

I don't want to leave you all with nothing but bad news, though, so here's chapter one of the little bit I did manage to write of the sequel. It really has no bearing on the plot, other than a character introduction. I hope you enjoy this and again, I'm really sorry to have to cancel the sequel.

-Vi

Hey guys, sorry I couldn't keep her motivated, but when you lose your grove it's hard to get going again. Don't worry, though, the second she gets her mojo back I'll be making a fuss about it. That's a promise. ~L

(Who should I throw out the window for throwing off my groove? ...Okay in all seriousness don't expect anything even remotely soon. Well, nothing Live On related, at least.)

Sarcastic Danny

"Daniel, why is it would have not called me for two years?" Vlad yelled. I held the payphone receiver away from my ear. "We had an agreement—"

"Aww, you were worried about me, weren't you?" I cooed, pulling the phone back to my head.

"Daniel," Vlad's voice warned.

"Sorry," I said, completely sincere. "When I started living in the Ghost Zone I kind of fell into a slump." That was an understatement.

"For two years?"

"No, for one year. I kind of forgot to call. Then Clockwork sent me to another dimension—"

"And why couldn't you call before or after this happened?" Vlad asked.

"Because, Fruitloop," I stressed the word to show my irritation at being interrupted, "I was depressed. Besides, I was only there for five weeks or so." I leaned against the payphone, twirling my finger around the cord. I'd been talking to Rogue (now my girlfriend) about my past in the week since Christmas. It reminded me of my agreement with Vlad, so I was now in Amity Park, finally calling him.

"And after that?" Vlad prompted when I paused.

"The Ghost Zone war," I said. "Surely you're not so out of the loop that you had no idea it was happening?"

"I knew of it, but elected to stay out of their affairs. I'm not a full ghost; I have no obligation to participate," Vlad defended.

"So you don't know about the new king?" I straightened. Could he really not know?

"I do not know his identity; I had planned on paying him a visit tomorrow, after the holiday."

"Oh really? Well, he's not at his castle right now," I informed him. I was enjoying this.

"Where is he, then? And how would you know that?" Vlad's tone said he believed I was messing with him.

"In Amity Park."

"Why would h—"

"Down the street from FentonWorks," I continued, undeterred.

"Daniel—"

"On a payphone—"

"Please—"

"Talking to a loopy cheesehead," I finished. There was a very quiet moment. Not even the sound of breathing emitted from the receiver.

"Daniel, are you telling me that you—"

"Defeated Pariah Dark in single-combat and am therefore the new king, as crowned a year ago?" I finished for him. Vlad was quiet yet again.

"Well," he finally said, "I suppose I can cancel that meeting, then."

"Aww, but Uncle Vlad," I teased.

"Since you are in Amity Park at the moment," Vlad changed the subject. I pouted. "I assume you would like to visit FentonWorks? I took care of all the paperwork for you; it remains in your ownership."

"You did that for me? Thanks," I said. I was continually stunned by Vlad's attitude one-eighty. I had thought about visiting my house, but I wasn't sure I could handle the memories. I also couldn't be sure, until I heard what Vlad just said, if some family hadn't moved in during my four-year absence.

"Valerie's been taking care of it for you," Vlad continued. My chest tightened. Had she gone into the lab? I stumbled over a quick goodbye to Vlad, mind racing, and hung up the phone, flying to FentonWorks.

Floating there, all the pain I thought I'd gotten past crashed over me like a wave. I saw a woman walk up to the door. I cocked my head to the side, wondering if it was Valerie. Her hair was short. I turned invisible and followed her into my old home. A small satellite popped out of the woman's watch, spinning around and beeping. She turned around in surprise.

"Who's there?" she asked. "Show yourself, ghost, I know you're here."

"Valerie?" I asked, dropping my invisibility. She looked different, though after four years, she should.

"Phantom? Is that you?" she startled. "I-I mean...are you really back...Danny?"

"I-what-you've never called me Danny before," I said. Not as Phantom.

"Well, that's because I didn't know until after you disappeared," she said quietly.

"Didn't know what?" I asked.

"That you're Fenton."

"You-I-but-how?" I spluttered in surprise. How did she find out?

"Vlad Masters asked me to look after your house, in case you ever came back. I don't trust that man, ever since I found out he was lying to me and nearly killed Danielle, but I agreed for you."

"You know about Vlad, too?"

"I discovered his secret right after we saved her. That's not the point, though. When I went to clean your parents' lab I-" she cut off.

"You saw," I squeaked. My chest felt tight. She nodded.

"I read their research."

"So why aren't you attacking me?"

"Because I realized that anyone who could do such things to their own son, ghost or not, was not in their right mind."

"So you're...okay with this?"

"I've known for four years, Danny. I forgave you a long time ago," she said. She crossed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that."

"I'm alright, Val," I smiled and hugged her back. "I'm actually pretty great."

"Really?" she pulled back with a questioning look in her eyes. "You seem different but, more importantly, you need to come back to my house."

"Why?" I asked.

"There's someone who's been looking for you," she replied.

"Who?"

"You'll see," she smiled at me before dragging me out the door.

"But-"

"I will tie you up in Fenton fishing line if I have to," she said. The tone in her voice brokered no argument.

"Fine, but we're flying," I said, picking Valerie up, and flying off in the direction of her house. I was grateful to have found her, not only because I missed her, but because this was a nice distraction from my house. It helped to know Valerie had cleaned the lab of the evidence of their...experiments.

I phased though the side of Valerie's building and set her down in front of her door. She unlocked the apartment and led me inside.

"Wait here," she instructed. I muttered an agreement, standing there awkwardly. It occurred to me I was still in ghost form, but Val hadn't said anything so whoever this person was must know. Who could possibly...?

An object slammed into my chest at high speeds. The wind was knocked out of me as I hit the floor.

"Danielle?" I asked as I recognized the blur. She'd grown up so much in the last four years. I was a little taken-aback at the sixteen-year-old Dani hugging me tightly.

She grinned up at me but didn't get off my chest "Hi Danny! Your hair's longer." It was kind of an odd comment, but since it had grown to the point that I now kept it in a ponytail, I guess I looked different. "What's with the crown?"

"I'm the new ghost king," I answered matter-of-factly.

"You are?" Valerie asked, giving me an odd look.

"Remember when Amity got transported to the Ghost Zone? That big ghost with the crazy green hair we fought was Pariah Dark, King of All Ghosts. Apparently I became his successor when I defeated him," I explained.

"Oh," she said, a look of understanding crossing her face. "Well, so much for me being 'most likely to succeed,'" she laughed.

"What does that make me?" Dani wondered, her eyes wide. It's not every day you find out your long-lost (well, four years) big brother (eh, close enough) is King of the Dead. I thought about her question seriously for a moment.

"I'm pretty sure you'd be a princess," I concluded.

"Nice," Dani said with a smug look on her face. "Does Vlad know?"

"I actually just told him; it was quite fun. Guess I have a lot to explain to you two," I said, "but first...will you get off of me, Dani?" My little sister laughed and climbed off. I ruffled her hair a bit before standing and helping her up. "When I left Amity Park, I traveled around the world for two years, staying in various places, before I decided to pay a visit to Clockwork..."

-o-

"So, Dani, what do you want to do?" I asked, biting into my Nasty Burger. After leaving Valerie's, we stopped for lunch before I brought her to the Keep. I don't think she's ever been to the Ghost Zone.

"What do you mean?" Dani tilted her head at me as she sipped her chocolate shake.

"Do you want to live at Phantom's Keep with me?" I asked. Dani's face was shocked, but slowly spread into a wide grin.

"Can I?" she asked in excitement.

"Of course you can, little sis," I assured her.

"But I can come visit Valerie, right?" Dani's smile fell, her gaze wandering to the huntress sitting next to her.

"I'll reopen the ghost portal," I said. The two girls had reminded me-with frightening anger, I might add-that Vlad had shut it down and hidden some essential components when I left. "You can also stay at FentonWorks any time you want."

"You're the best, Danny!"

"And Phantom's Café is open to you, as well," I added. I always got there through the Bond of Worlds, so I really didn't know how I could get Dani there unless I brought her with me, but we could figure that out later. "I have an extra room I haven't done anything with."

"So Danny," Danielle started, "I'm happy you're here, but…why did you come back?"

"I was telling my girlfriend about Vlad, which reminded me he'd asked me to call him once a year. I came back so he could yell at me for not calling for two years," I laughed.

"You have a girlfriend?" Dani shouted at me, standing up.

"Yeah," I flinched. "Remember when I told you about Rouge? We started dating last week."

"Well, I'm gonna have to meet her," Dani said, crossing her arms and giving me a look that could make Pariah Dark cower. I glanced around to find that most of the Nasty Burger's customers were staring at us.

"Sorry everyone," I apologized as Dani sat down in a huff, not the least embarrassed.

"Hey," a male voice called, "is that you, Fenton?" I turned my head in the direction of the sound and saw a tall, buff blonde man.

"Dash?" I asked.

"Hey, where ya been the last four years?" Dash asked, walking towards us.

"Pretty much everywhere but here," I shrugged. "I thought it was time to come back."

"You're not so scrawny anymore," Dash said. I assumed it was as close to "it's good to see you" as he'd ever get and smiled, standing up to shake his hand.

"You're not as tall as you used to be," I observed. I was only a few inches shorter than him. Dash scoffed.

"I'm six-three you doofus. You got taller," he said.

"Huh, I suppose I did. So you still play football?" I asked.

"Got a full-ride scholarship to college," Dash beamed, puffing his chest out in pride.

"That's awesome, man, congrats," I said. It was weird to talk so casually with the guy who used to bully me. The lack of insults and stupid nicknames spoke to his maturity, though, so I supposed he deserved the benefit of the doubt.

"What have you been doing?" he asked.

"Oh, you know, travelling..."

"Oh yeah?" he looked ready to pose another question, maybe ask about the places I'd been, when something behind me caught his eye. "Hey, who's that girl who looks like a mini you?"

"Oh, this is my little sister Danielle," I introduced.

"You have a little sister?" Dash asked, confused. He'd only ever met Jazz. "And her name is Danielle? How original."

"It's a very long story, Dash, and lay off the name," I defended. I gave him a look that said "drop it," but was nowhere near as frightening as I was capable of.

"Alright," he shrugged it off, looking a little unnerved, "nice to meet you, then." I nodded in approval.

"We should probably head out, though, lots to do. Nice to see you again, Dash. Good luck with college," I said. I grabbed Danielle's hand, leading her outside to a secluded area where I could make a portal to the Keep. Danielle looked pretty wary, having never been to the Ghost Zone before, but I did finally coax her into the swirling vortex.

"Welcome to Phantom's Keep," I said to sister when we arrived. Dani looked around in awe at the entry hall. The white walls, the pure black floors, the black banners with my symbol in white on them, ectoplasmic green vines curling up the edges.

"King Daniel!" the Fright Knight exclaimed, walking into the room. "You're back."

"Yeah, and I brought a guest," I gestured for her to come forward. "This is my little sister Danielle." Fight Knight bowed in front of Dani.

"I am glad to finally be meeting you, Princess Danielle."

"Sweet," Dani reiterated her earlier reaction to the title. She was sure to enjoy castle life. "Uh, I mean, nice to meet you too." I summoned one of my skeletal servants (I could give them simple commands with my mind, how cool was that?).

"Prepare a bedroom for the princess," I ordered. The skeleton nodded-they couldn't actually talk-and disappeared with Dani's backpack and box of souvenirs from her travels. "We'll introduce you to everyone tomorrow if you want; later if you'd prefer."

"I...Do I have to?" Dani asked.

"Yep," I replied curtly.

"But not yet?" she looked at me with hope in her big, blue eyes.

"Not if you don't want to," I laughed. She'd been excited about being a princess a minute ago. "Why don't we go pay the X-Men a visit before you decide?"

"Yay!"

"Fright Knight, tell no one of the princess until we make a decision," I ordered.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" he bowed. "Safe travels." He left and I created a portal to Phantom's Café, turning back to Dani.

"Shall we?"

"Let's."