Chapter 14: Devil Inside
"I will have your pretty head mounted on my wall, ghost girl!"
Stephanie soared swiftly through Amity Park, the bounty hunter Skulker on her tail. She had met Skulker a long time ago through Vlad, though at that time, the hunter wasn't allowed to hunt her. Without Vlad's "protection," Stephanie had to fend for herself and so far she wasn't having a problem. Skulker was an "amateur ghost," which was term the female halfa used for ghosts not worth fighting.
He's really bugging me, Stephanie thought angrily. Besides, I DESPISE tail-gaters!
Stephanie looped upward and over Skulker's head gracefully until she was directly behind him. She laughed out loud.
"Who's hunting who, Skulker?" Stephanie taunted. "Trust me, I'm not enjoying the view."
Skulker glanced over his shoulder and his green eyes widened. He whipped around, ready to face the young halfa. "Then enjoy this one!" he cried. Rockets shot out of his back and flew at Stephanie with rapid speed. Stephanie gasped, then quickly went intangible. The rockets went right through her and were gone. Stephanie chuckled and returned her attention to the ghost hunter before her.
"Nice try, Skulker, but you have to try harder to catch me."
"Then try this!" Skulker pressed a button on his mechanical arm and a net shot out. Stephanie gasped as the net engulfed her and she fell towards the street below. But the bounty hunter caught her before she could slam into the hard pavement. "You're getting too cocky, ghost girl," Skulker growled, his face close to Stephanie's as he held her an arm's length away. "Just because you were trained by Plasmius himself doesn't mean you're better than me."
Stephanie gritted her teeth angrily. "We'll have to find out!" she shouted. Suddenly, she burst through her entrapment and flipped away from Skulker. Stephanie charged up a ghost ray and fired it at Skulker, who was pushed back somewhat from the attack.
"Just wait, Skulker! There'll be a new name floating around the Ghost Zone once I'm done with you!" Stephanie drew her hands back, charging and containing another energy blast.
Skulker halted to stare at the ghost child. He narrowed his eyes at her questioningly, yet almost challengingly. "And what name would that be?" he asked. Stephanie smirked.
"Just call me your worst nightmare." Stephanie unleashed the power ball she held in her hand and hit the bounty hunter in the chest. Acting quickly, Stephanie whipped out the Fenton Thermos she had borrowed and flipped the lid. "See ya in the Ghost Zone, Skulker."
The blue light erupted from the cylinder and engulfed Skulker, who grinned menacingly at Stephanie like he knew something she didn't.
"So Vlad was right...you are truly returning...my worst nightmare," he said. He laughed evilly as the light pulled him forcefully into the thermos in Stephanie's hands. Once inside, the halfa recapped her weapon.
Stephanie became less tense and stared at her hand. She was becoming more powerful, nearly more powerful than Vlad or Danny, even! It was a scary thought. Stephanie knew she would always grow to be powerful, but she was afraid it would go to her head and she would hurt someone dear to her. The girl's head jerked up in realization of this.
Danny...
If she became too powerful, Stephanie could hurt Danny–her one true friend left in this world. There had to be a way to lessen her powers or get rid of them altogether. That way, no one could be harmed at her hand. With this in mind, Stephanie flew off with thermos in hand.
Stephanie emptied the Fenton Thermos solemnly into the portal and set it back on the counter. She sighed and her head dropped in her hand in frustration and exasperation. She was confused; she didn't know what to do with herself or her powers. She didn't want to hurt anyone. It wasn't in her nature.
"But what can I do? I can't just wish my powers away," Stephanie said aloud.
"Oh, Stephanie. You're making this easier every moment."
Stephanie glanced up, her green eyes searching the basement carefully. She knew that voice anywhere and she couldn't deny who it was.
"Come out and show yourself, Vlad!" Stephanie snapped.
"Why? So you can destroy me with your ghost powers?" Vlad seeped out of the wall and stood before Stephanie with a smug grin on his face. "You said yourself you wished them gone."
Stephanie never moved her eyes from her evil uncle. "Only because you're the one who gave them to me," she snarled. "And they'll only hurt those I love."
"And who would that be?" Vlad pretended to think. "Oh, I see. You mean young Daniel, don't you."
It wasn't a question.
"I've been watching you, Stephanie...in everything that you do, wondering how I can take you back for my own. Then you go and befriend Daniel once again and now, you two are like little guards for each other, watching each other's back. Pathetic behavior out of one such as you."
"Just because you raised me to hate," Stephanie growled. "I know it was you who left the door to your lab open, Vlad. You wanted me to become what I am now. You knew Danny and I would want to investigate...and you got one of us." The girl looked away.
"Do you want me to take those powers away?"
Stephanie slowly lifted her head to face her uncle once more. That's exactly what she wanted. She wanted the powers gone, the threat gone, everything. She wanted to be normal for her friend's sake.
"Is it possible?" she whispered.
"Of course." Vlad smiled maniacally. "I can do it, dearest Stephanie. I can make that pain go away..."--Vlad placed his hands on Stephanie's shoulders comfortingly--"...forever." He walked away. "But, those powers that you have gained will go to me and I shall be the strongest."
"NO!" Stephanie shouted. "That will only make things worse! I won't do it!"
"How about a little persuasion?"
Stephanie and Vlad heard footsteps on the stairs. Vlad smirked.
"Right on time," he said.
"Steph? You down here?"
Stephanie gasped in fright and realization. "Danny," she breathed. Right as Danny appeared at the bottom of the stairs, Vlad formed a pinkish bubble around him. "Wait!"
"Stephanie!" Danny cried.
"Is that enough persuasion for you, my dear?" Vlad asked. Stephanie's face expressed pain as she looked between her friend and uncle. "Or must I do more?"
"Leave him alone!" Stephanie screamed, her eyes flashing dangerously. Danny and Vlad looked at her. "Don't touch Danny. You...you can take my powers. Just don't hurt him."
"Steph! No!" Danny pleaded, pounding his imprisonment.
"Finally," Vlad sighed. "Then follow me. We have work to do."
Stephanie lowered her head sadly. She should have known Vlad would do this to her, always manipulating her decisions in any given situation. Vlad rose into the air with Danny in the bubble still and flew out the ceiling. Reluctantly, Stephanie followed him...flying for the last time.
A/N: I thought that last part sounded a little like "The Little Mermaid", don't you think? I was thinking that to myself and thought it was pretty funny how that turned out...hoped you like this chapter and we'll see how quickly I can wrap this story up:) Thanks to all my AWESOME reviewers!