The Boiling Witch Trials

Chapter 3

It was night time at the boiling isles. Danny and Tucker would sleep downstairs while Luz and Eda agreed to let Sam and Jazz have their beds respectively while they slept on the floor, using covers to sleep with of course while on the floor.

Luz was quietly making another video for her mom.

"Hey mom. I have to be a little quiet because I have someone here sleeping behind me. Think of what's happening right now as like a slumber party. Today was a day that was out of the ordinary. Out of the ordinary for me anyways. I got to meet a real-life superhero! His name is Danny Phantom! You've probably never heard of him. But he's got some cool powers. The powers of a ghost, with lasers, cloning and other stuff. Why is he here, you ask? Well, it turns out he needs the help of me and my friends stopping an evil ghost lady. One of them had some trust issues, but they've made up. I think. If you're worried about me, I'll be fine. Trust me. With Danny Phantom around, I think we'll all be in good hands. I hope to see you again soon." Luz paused. She was about to say more, but she thought she heard something.

She stopped the video for three reasons: 1. To not make it seem like she was worried about something in the video. 2. To listen in on what was happening, as it sounded like Danny. And 3. To make sure that no one heard her. If it was the ghost or someone else that was bad news, Danny might need help.

Vlad was wandering the Boiling Isles searching for Danny. While he was also trying to get his bearings in regards to where exactly he was, his main priority was finding Danny first. He would take care of finding a way out afterwards, as that would be the second issue.

After searching for what it seemed like ages, he finally found him sleeping in a house. He phased through. The sudden landing of feet alerted Danny. When he saw Vlad, his first instincts were to fight.

"Vlad? I don't know why you're here, but something tells me it's not to say hi." Danny said in a low voice, trying not to wake anybody.

"Relax, Daniel. I didn't come here to fight. As hard as this is to believe I actually came here to get you out." Vlad said calmly.

"Yeah? What else? What's the catch?" Danny asked. He expected Vlad to add some reasoning or conditions for him helping.

Vlad simply shook his head. "No catch. I'm only doing this as a favor to Maddie. And... to an extent Jack."

"So it's just a PR stunt then. Get on their good side to get something you want." Danny said still skeptical, talking a little louder.

"I asked for nothing in return, Daniel. And to be quite honest, I gain absolutely nothing from doing this. In fact, I would actually gain more by just leaving you here and lying to your parents about me not being able to help find you. But I did it because I made a promise. And I aim to keep it." Vlad said with a straight face.

Danny was no longer ready to fight Vlad, but he was still suspicious. "Hasn't stopped you from being manipulative and a liar before." He said.

Luz was eavesdropping on the conversation. While she was listening on them and heard some of it, she walked down the stairs to get a closer look. Trying very hard not to make any noise. She was able to get a good view on the person Danny was talking too. From the suit to his cool and calm voice to Danny and Vlad's conversation, she had guessed that he was a genius super villain, taking a more strategic approach to take down Danny. Before she made any conclusions, she waited to see what would happen. If she did something now, it would hinder Danny more than help as he now has a bystander to protect too.

"You're right. But think about it. If I'm here I'm in the same situation that you're in. I have no way out of here. Even if I did have something to gain, I wouldn't be able to reap the rewards because I'm trapped here. The best thing we can do right now is help each other find a way out of here." Vlad said.

"As great as an offer that is I can't do that. There's a ghost here that I have to stop first. She's the reason why I'm even here in the first place." Danny said, the first sentence about Vlad's great offer being a little sarcastic.

"Alright. I help you find this ghost, capture her and then we'll find a way out. Do we have a deal?" Vlad asked, extending his hand.

Danny took it and they shook. Both of them looking man-to-man, eye-to-eye. "Alright. But don't think this automatically makes us friends when we get out of here."

"Of course. A temporary alliance. But perhaps, this will be a way for us to bond. Who knows? You may change your tone later on. The most unlikely team-ups can create positive relationships." Vlad said.

An unlikely team-up between a superhero and one of his enemies created by the need to survive! The fanfic ideas are brewing! Minus the survive part. Luz thought.

Danny dismissed that last comment by Vlad. After what he has done, he would never consider himself to be on good terms with Vlad. In fact, he still doesn't fully trust him now. It would take seeing Vlad in an entirely alternate timeline or dimension as a good person for him to see the possibility of any real good in him. And he doesn't see either of those happening any time soon.

Vlad had promised he would help find Danny and he agreed to help find a way out for both of them. But that was it. He never promised that Danny would make it back safely. But that didn't mean that Vlad would be the one to see to it that Danny wouldn't make it back in one piece. And he never said anything about forcing Danny to come back with him. They would find the ghost and then a way out or vice-versa. Whichever comes first. Whether or not Danny comes with him when they do is up to him.

"The next issue. A place to rest. You don't mind if I stay here and rest for the night do you?" Vlad.

"Well, it's not my place. You'd have to ask-" Danny said, before he got interrupted by Luz on the stairs.

"He can stay here!" Luz answered.

"It seems we had a fly on the wall." Vlad stated.

"What's one more guest in the Owl House Inn? I'm sure Eda won't mind." Luz said.

"I appreciate the hospitality. Ms. ...?"

"Luz Noceda." She shook hands with Vlad.

"A super villain and a superhero in one day? And a team up? It's like I'm in a TV series crossover!" Luz said excitedly.

"Even your name sounds evil! Vlaaad." Luz says before trying to do her best impression of him.

She tried lowering her voice tone to impersonate his cool demeanor. "I am Vlad. I use my cool, charismatic voice to fool others into doing what I want. Yes, it seems dumb, but in reality it is actually quite genius. Something that I am as well. A genius."

Danny couldn't help but chuckle a little.

"She certainly has some spirit." Vlad noted.

"You'll get used to it." Danny said, smiling.

"I've got my eyes on you too Vlad!" Luz said.

"They say the biggest bad guys are the ones that wear suits! Try to do the typical 'villain double crosses hero' trope and I'll see it! I'll see it coming from a mile away." Luz continues before doing the "watching you" gesture a few times before walking back upstairs. And then coming back down a few stairs to do it again.

"Again, you'll get used to it." Danny told him. But she does have a point. While Vlad was in no condition to double cross him now, who's to say it can't happen later?