Hey guys, finals are over. They sucked so please don't ask me about them. I've decided to update my ongoing stories tonight starting with this one so arn't you guys lucky? Anyway I got some new cover art by Djanubis on dA and didn't they just do an awesome job? Anyway so I know I left ya'll hanging so here you go!=^-^=
Disclaimer: Don't own copyright characters!
Ch. 12 - Titans in the Zone
The Titans watched from the disrupted streets as the strange swirling mass disappeared behind them. Silence layered in the group as the full implications of what had just happened was realized by all the Titans. Cyborg let out a whistle of disbelief at the whole situation. "I just want to clarify….. did all that really just happen?"
Robin put away his staff and punched his hand. "Yes! And we couldn't do anything about it!"
Starfire flew down to calm her boyfriend. "I'm sure that Danny knows what he is doing."
Robin ripped his shoulder from her grasp. "That idiot! He can't just take all of this on his own! He's part of a team!"
Raven then took a position by the still out of it Beast Boy. "He was right though." She leaned down and tried to snap him out of his panic. "Wake up Beast Boy!"
"I got this Raven." Cyborg kneeled down and pulled out a can of shaving cream. The other Titans looked on in curiosity as they also wondered where it had come from and why he was carrying it. He shook it up and shifted the aim towards Raven, making sure that Beast Boy could see.
He laid down a quick layer on the face of a very surprised Raven and the green teen quickly responded with a hoarse laugh. "D-dude that was funny!" Raven was unamused as she stood up and used her powers to remove the white substance from her face.
"Oh Beast Boy you are unharmed!?" Starfire looked down at her friend as he sat up.
Robin was looking at Cyborg in confusion. "How did you know that would work?"
"I figured it was like Mad Mod's hypno-screens. He was spaced out and all."
Beast Boy rubbed his face as he took in the fact that he was indeed back in his city of Jump. "I just had the worst nightmare ever!" He shook a bit as regaled but a small piece of it. "Everything was made of meat and ate meat even the plants!"
Raven replaced her hood on her head as she floated up towards the tower. "A dimension of one's worst fear sounds accurate then."
"Hey Raven, where are you going?" Cyborg inquired.
"Yeah…. Unless you have a plan?" Robin walked over to her. "I could only assume Danny told you about something. You said a minute ago that he was right didn't you?" The other Titans looked at her with questioning expressions.
Raven nodded as she turned back to the tower. "Yes… I'm sure you heard the ghost's threat?"
Robin raised his brow. "The one where he said he would destroy the city?"
She shook her head. "No he said he would send it into the ghost dimension. Danny gave himself up to prevent that from happening."
Robin traded glances with the other titans. "The ghost dimension? So that's where they went just now?"
She nodded as she started to move again. "And we're going after him."
Cyborg scratched his head. "And how do you plan to do that? The portal thing disappeared remember?"
"That's not the problem." She didn't say anything else before she took off towards the tower. Her comrades were more than a little confused but followed anyway. They didn't have any other leads to speak of and this was as good as any.
Back in the tower most of the Titans took a few minutes to regain themselves before meeting Raven in the Living room. Beast Boy, now looking much less terrified, was the last to enter and as soon as he did Raven got up. "Let's go."
Robin ran up and walked next to her. "What exactly are we doing?"
Without even turning in his direction she answered. "We're going to go get him."
That surprised everyone. "What!?"
"Yeah Raven. Did you forget about the portal disappearing again?"
She didn't turn to her cybernetic friend as she responded. "That doesn't mean there isn't another way in."
"Then this is a rescue mission for the rescue of fellow Titan Danny?" She nodded silently as they stopped in front of Danny's room. She opened the door without a word and the lights flickered on. There were a few surprised stares to scan the room upon entering.
"I didn't know Danny had all this stuff." Beast Boy made his way over to a shelf and began picking up a few various things one being another thermos. "Dude it's one of those soup thermoses he was wearing today." He took off the lid to look inside only to see it empty. As he inspected the container he found a button which when he pressed it displayed the word release. "oops…."
A blue figure emerged from the thermos. "Ah-ha! I am fee! You were foolish to think your pathetic cylindrical trap could hold me, THE BOX GHOST!"
Cyborg gave Beast Boy a knock in the head. "Look what you did!" The ghost didn't have time to do much of anything before he met the cynical glare of Raven. He instantly cowered and let out one last "Beware!" before phasing through the ceiling.
"Beast Boy stop touching things!" Beast Boy carefully placed the thermos back on the shelf before hunching over like a reprimanded puppy.
"What are we doing in here Raven?" Robin was very confused when she opened his closet. Cyborg peeked inside as the light came on. "That's funny… I thought this one was bigger."
Beast Boy squeezed by the large Titan to see for himself. "Are you kidding? This closet's bigger than mine!" Raven stepped inside and pressed another switch that opened up the back of the closet to reveal the DP emblem emblazed on the back wall.
Raven pointed to a panel on the side of the back wall. "Do you think you can get it open Cyborg?" Though still quite a bit confused by Raven's actions he stepped forward and opened the panel to reveal a key pad.
He raised an eyebrow as he looked it over. "What's this all about?"
Raven stood behind him with a look of determination. "He tends to be private about what he does in his room. I doubt he's told anyone about it."
Cyborg linked up with the panel and typed away at the interface on his arm. "About what?" As if on cue the doors opened and bathed them all in a swirling green light.
"Whoa….." Beast Boy's mouth dropped open and it was followed by that of Cyborg. Robin's eyes grew wide as he looked at the eerie light.
"Friend Danny has a most interesting storing room for the clothes." Raven took the lead as she stepped forward through the light.
The other Titans traded glances as they too stepped forward with Robin in the lead. "Let's go." When they stepped through the portal they all looked around to find they were inside some sort of cavern.
"Dude…. Where are we?"
Cyborg looked at his arm for some kind of confirmation. "I don't have a clue BB."
Robin turned slightly and his eyes fell on Raven who was heading towards another source of light other than the portal. He was a bit frustrated with all of the questions building in his mind. What was this portal? Did it lead to the ghost world? Did Danny tell Raven…. But why not us? He knew very well they were in a relationship, but he had no idea of the secrets they held with each other. Before he could question her on these questions, however, he heard a low growl. Beast Boy grabbed Cyborg in a tight hug as he cowered in fear of the red eyes glaring in their direction from the dark shadows. "Dudes! We're not alone!"
Starfire lit up a starbolt to reveal the large, vicious green dog that was now glaring down on them. "Uh…. Nice doggy….?"
Cyborg was now just as apprehensive as Beast Boy as he wrapped his arms around the green teen. "Uh Robin….. we have a problem over here." He lifted one of his arms to form his sonic cannon while Robin pulled out his quarter staff posed to attack.
"Wait!" Raven made her way to block their path to the dog. "Down Cujo!" The dog eyed her warily before it approached close enough to sniff her. His menacing glare softened into a happy pant as he licked her face, much to her displeasure. He sat down with his tail wagging letting out a few barks as he did so.
Beast Boy let go of Cyborg and looked at the scene in confusion. "Way weird… when did you get good with animals?" The giant dog looked at them in curiosity as Raven scratched his chin just like Danny had shown her before.
"He's not a normal dog." Cujo barked and shrank down to size, proceeding next to jump into her arms.
"He is adorable!" Starfire flew over with haste to greet the adorable little green dog. She moved to pet him but he growled at her before she could. "Eep!"
Raven laughed a bit. "He does that to everyone according to Danny."
Beast Boy gave her a perplexed frown. "What's with you lately? You've been way too happy and now you just laughed at a puppy!"
"Calm down Beast Boy, I don't think Raven's recent mood change is important right now."
Robin stepped forward with a serious expression. "Cyborg's right. We're supposed to be saving Danny not playing with a dog."
Raven set Cujo down and nodded. "He's right, let's go." Raven led them out of the cavern and all of their jaws dropped at the sight that was the expanse of the ghost zone.
"Whoa….. again." Beast Boy looked like he was going to pass out and cyborg couldn't have opened his mouth wider if he modified it to do so.
"So this is…" Robin started as he looked to Raven. "It's the Ghost Zone, where all the ghosts live."
Danny was let into the main hall of the observants by Fright Knight still baring the chains that held him captive. He immediately felt a swarm of eyes on him as he was guided into the center where another very familiar figure stood. "What are you doing here!?"
He gave a pompous laugh. "I would like to direct that question to you Daniel."
"Silence!" The chains were stripped from his wrists and a barrier was put up around them. "You are both here, accused of conspiring against the ghost zone as a whole!" The two captives traded glances as they took in all of the single eyed stares of their judges.
"Where are we going!?" Beast Boy cried as he morphed back to normal now that he found a piece of land to stand on. Raven looked around the area until she spotted the familiar door. "This way." She pointed towards it but none of the other Titans understood what she really meant. "Danny told me there was a library in this direction that held information on almost everything. If we look there we might find out more of who these Observants are and where they took him away to." Raven flew off in the direction keeping a platform up made of her magic for cyborg while Starfire held Robin.
"So how much do you know about this place?" Robin searched around at the seemingly endless void.
"To be honest…. Not much. He took me to meet a friend of his several weeks ago but aside from that I never left that cave entrance."
Cyborg rubbed his chin. "Kinda makes me wonder how this place works….." He took a good look around. "I can spot like 5 natural laws its breaking without even really looking."
"It is a most interesting place….. is it where Danny lived?"
Raven shook her head. "I don't think so. He lived in the human world for sure." Raven stopped when she noticed the building coming into view. "I think this is it."
Beast Boy crossed his arms. "It better be after you nearly bit my head off for opening one of those doors." Raven turned to glare at him and he whimpered a bit while transforming into a hawk. Raven arrived at the stone steps of the literary building first, letting Cyborg off as she landed.
He scrutinized the building. "It looks so normal for a building floating in a green void."
"That's not to say it's normal on the inside." Starfire let her boyfriend down and took a spot next to him. Just as Raven was about to open the door they all started to hear a low motorized noise. As they searched the area they traced it to just behind the building and it seemed to be heading in their direction. Seconds later a motorcycle could be scene over head as it had just jumped over the building and was headed for a stretch of land several yards away. Boy dodged in midair almost colliding with the vehicle as it launched through the spectral sky. "Johnny! Watch where you're going!"
"The bird can get out of the way first!" The bike skidded to a halt as it turned the side on the long stretch of rock it landed on. Johnny looked at Kitty and directed her attention to the strange intruders with a nudge of his head. The Titans watched as the two assumed ghosts stepped off the bike with looks of curiosity.
Beast Boy morphed back into his humanoid form and broke the ice as it were, mostly due to the fact he was mad about almost getting run over in the air. "Hey! Watch were you drive that thing!"
Johnny smirked at him. "You got a problem pipsqueak?"
Beast Boy was taken aback by his attitude while mumbling under his breath. "Pipsqueak?"
Johnny laughed at him. "This is my territory, my road and anything on it is gonna get run down!"
Robin approached the two ghostly teens. With a calm composure often found in his negotiations he spoke to them. "Just hold on a second. We weren't trying to muscle in on your territory, we're only here because we're looking for someone."
Kitty pat Johnny's back to try and get him to back off. She was usually the more sensible one of the couple never really out to terrorize unless she was in a bad mood. "Calm down Johnny." She turned to Robin. "You're going to have to excuse him. You said you were looking for someone?"
She had a pleasant demeanor and Robin took it as a sign she was not hostile. "Yeah, were looking for the Observants. They took away a friend of ours."
She looked at him a bit confused until she finally got a solid look at him and was shocked. "You're from the human world aren't you?"
Johnny cut her off before she could get her answer. "That's obvious if they're actually looking for those jerks."
She gave him an agitated glare before turning back to the Titan. "Though he's not too nice about it, he's right. You have to be from the human world. The Observants have their own realm and entry is restricted to a chosen few."
Johnny rolled his eyes. "They consider themselves in charge. What a load of crap. They're so full of it ever since the ghost king was sealed up the first time."
His girlfriend scoffed at him. "Like you've been around that long?" She then turned back to the Titan again. "Anyway, getting there is even more impossible for humans."
"This friend of yours must of really pissed them off if they went to the human world to get him."
Johnny laughed a bit as he said that getting a rise out of Starfire. "Friend Phantom has done nothing wrong! The Knight of Frights is a horr-"
"Whoa, Phantom?! You guys are friends with Phantom!?" Johnny wore a sour look as he asked his question in shock.
Raven was instantly interested in what he was insinuating. "You know him?" She approached with her standard poker face.
"Yeah I know him! He trashed my bike last time I went through his portal." He crossed his arms wearing a scowl. "I've been wanting to get him back but the portal disappeared a few months ago."
Kitty sighed at his one track mind. All he ever cared about was that stupid bike of his. "Actually it was turned on again. Ember told me she thought she saw him when she went through it a few hours ago."
Johnny turned to his girlfriend in a pinch of anger. "Why didn't you tell me!?"
"What? So you can go out and flirt with human girls again." She snubbed him and turned away.
"Oh come on Kitty, you know you're the only girl for me." She rolled her eyes at his overused defense.
Raven was getting a bit impatient with their stupid couple antics. "Where is this portal?" She was calm but her words still sounded razor sharp.
"If you want to look yourself it's that way. You can follow Johnny's riding track and it goes by pretty close. It's a big metal frame." Raven seemed pleased at the information but didn't show it on the surface. She flew off along the road and the other Titans immediately followed.
Johnny hopped back on his bike and Kitty took a seat behind him. "Those must be the friends that Ember and Skulker were talking about." Kitty responded while thinking back. "Considering how plastered he was I'm surprised he turned out to be right."
Johnny couldn't help but smile as he thought about Raven. "Yeah and I got to say that spooky chick was interesting. Phantom sure has a type doesn't he?" Kitty laughed at his point, knowing all too well of his taste in girls.
The Titans followed the track just as Kitty said and were all equally surprised at the course it took, looping all around and through random rings. "This is one weird bike trail…." Beast Boy eyed the upcoming loops confusingly.
"That is unless your bike can go up vertical walls." Cyborg added in dryly. Robin followed the track while deep in thought.
"I wish to be paying one penny for your thoughts Robin." Starfire landed at his side and he turned to her with his serious expression.
"It's just…. Phantom. This whole ghost army has got me even more confused about him." Raven instantly caught their conversation but only listened just as the other Titans.
"Is there something you do not like?"
Robin shook his head, realizing he may have sounded a bit harsh about him. "No of course not. I'm just confused about him that's all." He looked up at the intrigued expressions of his fellow titans. "Whenever I ask him something I always get the feeling he's keeping something important to himself."
Raven spoke up. "I know it's your thing, but stop. I told you before, everyone has secrets."
Robin sighed. "I know. You told me before, I just can't help it. There are too many questions coming up about this whole situation. Why would these other ghosts be after him? Why did he have an inter-dimensional portal in his closet and why didn't he come back to the tower when he escaped?"
Raven stopped her advance and turned to him. "I'm not sure about the escape or the reason why the Observants wanted him, but he got the portal from Plasmius."
Robin's eyes went wide. "That's what he sent him?! Why!?"
Raven shook her head. "It's not for me to say, they have a very complicated relationship from what I can understand. Just ask him yourself when we find him."
Robin, though hesitant, nodded in understanding. He knew that he was very similar to Raven and that he kept things about himself secret. Danny deserved the privacy if he wanted him to fully trust the team.
Starfire didn't take it as well as Robin, however, as her face fell to a frown. "Danny does not trust us?"
Robin turned to console his girlfriend. "I'm sure he does Star, but Raven is right. Everyone has secrets, and if he wants to tell us he will."
She seemed happier but it was obviously still weighing on her mind. "Then we must find him." She stated with a smile as she pushed ahead.
"Don't know about ya'll but I'm way more curious to find out how he escaped by himself! I mean that guy had an army of the undead."
"Dude!" They all turned in the direction of Beast Boy. "Check out the ghost ship!" He pointed over to a separate floating land mass with an eerie, rundown green ship sitting lop sided on it. Beast Boy flew over and started his inspection. "This thing is way cool!" He reached out to touch it but was startled when his arm went right through. "Whoa!"
"What is it BB?" Cyborg shouted to his friend.
"My arm just passed right through the ship!"
Cyborg scratched his head. "Well it is a ghost ship, right!"
Beast Boy walked into it but came out after only a few minutes. "Too bad nobodies home!" He flew back over to the rest of them. "The whole thing is empty and there's a huge hole where it fell on a boulder."
Robin looked at the ship in thought. "If it could pass through you why not the boulder?"
Beast Boy shrugged. "Heck if I know."
Robin then started back on the path. "Let's go. I'm hoping Danny can fill us in on what's up."
After half an hour or so one of them finally spoted the metal frame that Kitty mentioned. "Robin I have located the door!" She floated next to the octagonal portal in a curious manner. Raven used her powers to create a platform for Robin and Cyborg to stand as she floated up to join the others.
Cyborg inspected the heavy metal doors. "How are we going to get in? There doesn't seem to be an interface on this side."
Robin took a minute to think while Starfire decided to knock. "Hello! Friend Danny? Are you within!?"
Beast Boy morphed to normal on Raven's platform. "Somehow I don't think it'll be that easy Star." He was proven wrong when the doors did opened much to the surprise of all but Starfire. She clapped her hands in delight as she flew through, followed quickly by the others. They found themselves in what appeared to be a cluttered lab.
Many of the machines within were draped in sheets and the tables had messes all over them. Dust was evident on closer inspection and it seemed under used in more recent days. "Who are you and what do you want!?" Their eyes fell on a figure of all too familiar appearance. His glowing eyes cut at them as he readied for a fight.
Oh yeah! Take that! Nya ha ha ha! It's cliffy I know but if ya'll really want to know what's going down as fast as possible you have to review! If enough come in I may even post again tomorrow! I'm not kidding cause I did it with my How to Train Your dragon fic 3 days in a row! Anyway I also want to apologize if Johnny and Kitty were a bit OOC. Well only see them really when they're causing some sort of trouble so I figure they might be pretty okay If in a more non aggressive position ya'know? Hope ya'll enjoyed the Titans delve into the GZ and let me know what you think. REVIEW PLEASE!=^-^=
