After much waiting, I present the next action-packed chapter.
"Thank you," said the blue skinned magician to the people cowering behind the counters and the guards tied up in the multi-colored handkerchief rope. "You've all been a wonderful audience." He had barely turned around when the front doors burst open and the Teen Titans rushed in.
"Show's over Mumbo," announced Robin as he drew a few bird-a-rangs and prepared to throw them. The other Titans were just slipping into their battle stances when a roar of laughter erupted behind them. Everyone turned to look at the ghost teen, who had tears streaming down his face and his hands over his stomach.
"This…this birthday magician reject is one of your villains?!" the ghost choked out before laughing again.
"I see we have another disbeliever here," replied Mumbo as he aimed his wand at the group. The Titans scattered almost immediately, except for Danny, who was just starting to calm down.
"MUMBO JUMBO!" A brilliant light fired from the end of the wand, enveloping the ghost in a bright flash of light just before contact. When the light faded, Danny found himself in a large steamer trunk that sat on its side to allow him to stand. He didn't have time to react as the large door shut on its own. Mumbo appeared from behind it and tapped the box once with his magic wand. The door opened again to reveal the ghost boy trapped in a straightjacket.
"Alright magic man," grunted the ghost as he tried to break free from the restraint. "I'll play your little game. ECCE PHANTASMA!" Mumbo and the hostages watched in astonishment as the white-haired teen vanished into thin air, the straightjacket falling to the ground. The mad magician rushed over to the front and picked up the restraint.
"How did he do that?" asked the magician as he examined the jacket for any damage. Behind him, Danny reappeared and aimed his glowing hand at the magician's back. Mumbo let out a sharp yelp as a ghost ray struck his behind and sent him flying into the steamer trunk, causing it to fall and the lid to shut behind him. The halfa forced his other hand in front of him, the blue beam firing from it creating a large claw of ice that held the lid shut.
"Wow, this is the first time I beat and humiliate the villain without any collateral damage," said Danny as he turned to look at each of the Titans.
"Not yet, kiddo." The hybrid barely had time to move his head when a small red ball struck his left arm, the explosion sending him flying through a counter and into a stone wall. Mumbo climbed out from the desk drawer he had popped out of and brushed himself off.
"Nice try kid. But leave the tricks to the real magicians."
"Good to know," smirked the ghost as a desk encased in black energy struck the magician, knocking him on his side. Mumbo quickly corrected himself and raised his glowing wand to attack when a bird-a-rang struck his hand, knocking the item out of his hand and into Beast Boy's. The changeling wasted no time in breaking the little stick, causing all the bindings and gags on the hostages to disappear and the blue-skinned magician to transform into an elderly man.
"You're act's just been canceled," said Robin as he put a pair of cuffs on the man. Danny slowly picked himself up and dusted off his costume as Beast Boy slapped him on the back.
"That was awesome!"
"Yeah," said Cyborg as he walked over to the hybrid. "It would have taken a lot longer if you hadn't distracted him as well as you did."
"Thanks." Even though he was smiling, Raven could sense the disappointment that was filling his mind. As Beast Boy and Cyborg walked to the car, laughing at the whole confrontation, the empath sidled over to the ghost and put a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't have to prove yourself to us Danny."
"I know," said the halfa, looking solemnly at the ground. "But I just feel like I'm not good enough to be a Titan."
"Says the guy who single-handedly destroyed Trigon using one attack," said Raven, causing the ghost teen to rub the back of his neck and give her a nervous smile. She gave him a small smile in return before walking towards the T-Car.
"Besides, if anyone should think they aren't good enough to be a Titan, it should be Beast Boy."
"Hey!" shouted the emerald shape-shifter from the car window as the dark sorceress got into the vehicle.
"All right ya'll! The bad guy's in jail and we've got a whole day ahead of us. Let's hit the park," Cyborg shouted, along with Starfire and Beast Boy's cries of agreement. Before Danny could respond, a cold shiver ran up his spine, followed by a wisp of blue mist that escaped his lips. The others gave him worried stares as he began searching around.
"Is something wrong Friend Danny?" questioned the Tamaranean, snapping the hybrid out of his stupor.
"No, nothing's wrong," said Danny a little too quickly than he needed to. "I'll see you guys there. I've just gotta take care of something back at Tower." Before anyone could say anything to the ghost, he took off into the air and rushed off to the tower.
"Why did Danny not want to come with us for the fun in the park?" asked Starfire after said ghost teen disappeared from sight.
"Because he sensed a ghost," replied Raven, her eyes never leaving the Tower. A sharp gasp escaped the alien girl's mouth as everyone turned to stare at her.
"How could he?" shouted the changeling as Robin pulled up next to the T-Car to join in on the conversation. "Jump City isn't known as a haunted place."
"Just because the city doesn't have a history of being haunted doesn't mean there isn't the occasional ghost," replied the dark sorceress.
"Do we go and help him?" Cyborg asked the Titan leader, bring all of their attention on him.
"No. Danny can take care of himself. He knows more about fighting ghosts than we do, so we'll just end up getting in the way. Besides, he can call us on the communicator if he needs us." Cyborg started smiling again as he revved the car's engine.
"Well alright then! Time for a BBQ!" Starfire let out a small giggle as Beast Boy began his usual tofu rant. Raven continued to stare at the Tower as the T-Car started moving, unable to shake the foreboding feeling that was pressing down on her mind.
Danny phased through the broken window of his room and rushed over to his backpack. 'Why now?' he thought as he pulled the slightly swollen metal cylinder from the worn bag and left the Tower. He was honestly hoping he wouldn't run into anymore ghosts for a little while, at least until he could find a portal to the Ghost Zone. The Fenton Thermos he'd manage to salvage from the remains of the FentonWorks was, at the moment, holding almost every ghost he had ever fought as well as a few he'd run into while on the run. He was afraid that one more ghost would cause the little containment device to explode and unleash a horrible ghostly plague onto the city. 'Hope this thing can handle another ghost, otherwise I am so done for.'
The spectral superhero soared over the numerous buildings, looking around for any signs of a ghost. He scanned every shadow and dark area he could at the speeds he was going at when his ghost sense went off again. He stopped immediately and started searching for the ghost. It didn't take him long to see the cloaked figure floating just above an abandoned building. The figure looked up at him for the briefest of moments before quickly ducking inside the dilapidated warehouse. Danny didn't hesitate as he turned intangible and soared in through the roof, keeping his eyes open as he explored the ruins. In the corner of the large room, an eerie red glow began to grow, followed by two distorted shadows. The hybrid got into a combat stance, hands glowing green as he prepared for a fight. The moment the source of the glow was revealed, everything around Danny seemed to vanish into darkness, a red swirling orb the only source of light.
"How long does it take to catch a ghost?" asked Beast Boy as he tossed the football at Robin.
"He's only been gone for an hour and a half," replied the Titan leader as he climbed over Cyborg and ran towards the imaginary goal. "It took us two days to catch Danny back in Amity Park, and the Guys In White spent an entire year trying to get him." Robin managed to reach the goal and spiked the ball in victory just as all of their communicators went off, warning them of a crime in progress. Robin immediately opened his and read the data that was coming in.
"Robbery at the museum. Titans GO!" Robin immediately ran off to his R-Cycle while the others rushed into the T-Car. When they arrived at the museum a few minutes later, a man made entirely out of metal and a burning green Mohawk walked through the doors, followed by a green skinned lunch lady. Both of them were carrying brown sacks filled with could be assumed priceless artifacts. The team jumped right in front of them and got into their respective combat stances.
"Exhibits are for…" Robin began as a third person phased through the door. Whatever he had planned on saying was soon forgotten as a look of shock and disbelief appeared on their faces. Standing before them, gold necklaces adorning his neck and a jeweled crown sitting on his head, was none other than Danny Phantom.
Danny's downfall begins. Stay tuned for the epic battle that will inevitably go down.
And thank you everyone for all of the beautiful reviews. And to make sure you keep reviewing my story, I shall offer another deal. STOP GROANING!
If you guys can hit 225 reviews before the story's end, I'll make the villain in the next story Vlad Plasmius and have a big epic battle between him and Danny. If not, well... I'm sure a checkers match with Beast Boy will be just as entertaining.
