DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN DANNY PHANTOM
Decisions Made, Debt Repaid
"Mental note: send request to have these guys reevaluated," Huntress sighed as she followed her former teammates Vid and Downroad. During the entire time she's been tailing them, they made no effort to hide their tracks or even check to see if they were being followed. Rookie mistakes that could cost you your life! "The prison? What could they want there?" she asked herself as she observe them breaking into the prison, rather sloppily she might add. Curious to what they are up to she snuck in as well only a lot more discreetly. Inside the two wasted no time, taking out the guards as quickly and quietly as possible. Again putting themselves and whatever their purpose is at great unnecessary risk when they could have just as easily snuck pass the guards unnoticed. "At least they're smart enough to wear masks," Huntress observed, although not the masks they normally wore. Soon the two were at their objective, the cells holding Freakshow's goons. "What the?" Huntress couldn't believe that they were going to break those criminal out. Yes, most likely Freakshow ordered them to do so but there are lines Hunters are not suppose to cross, even when in undercover! "Okay you guys I don't know what's going on here but you better stop!" Huntress demanded.
"It's the Huntress!" Vid yelled. Downroad skipped trying to pick the lock and just broke the door down! "Hurry get out of here! We'll hold her off!" Vid said. Snake Woman and Ball Man didn't hesitate and quickly ran off.
"Where do you think you're going!" Huntress said about to go after them only to be blocked off by Downroad. He quickly threw a punch at Huntress which she easily dodged, and was about to counterattack when Vid kicked her in the back! "Right there are two of you," Huntress groaned. One thing about the X-tremes is that even though they are not a expert fighters like her, they do have perfect teamwork. Covering each other so perfectly that Huntress kept getting hit no matter what she does! "Okay time for a change of strategy," Huntress said out loud as she got into a fighting stance. Vid came charging in first with Downroad following right behind her. Huntress manage to dodge Vid's straight kick but just as expected Downroad was ready to back her up with a punch to the face. This time, however, Huntress was ready for it and deflected his arm with her foot. Swirling around them, Huntress lined them up so perfectly that when she punched Downroad in the chest, he stumbled back and crashed into Vid. "Not bad kids, but you're no where near level yet!" Huntress bragged.
The two X-treme members quickly got up and drew a pair of short swords. "Okay that's different," huntress noted drawing out her own daggers. While swords and blades are a standard tool for hunters, the X-tremes are renowned for using the more hi-tech weapons instead, usually the more explosive the better. Vid and Downroad quickly charged with swords extending outwards pointing straight at Huntress. An amateurish move showing their inexperience with those weapons. Huntress easily parried and disarmed them with a simple flick of her wrists. Followed up with a jumping split kick, hitting Vid in the face and Downroad on the chest! Which resulted in her knocking off Vid's mask. "How do you like that...oh what have you fools got yourselves into," Huntress groaned. After unmasking Vid, she noticed that she had a blank stare in her eyes. A clear sign that she have been hypnotized, and most likely Downroad as well, which would explain their odd behavior. "Time to end this!" Huntress declared putting her daggers away. Now that she knew what's going on, she also had an idea how to deal with this. Vid and Downroad charged straight at the Huntress who quickly dodged their attacks, maneuvering right behind them. Then with surgical precision Huntress struck, jabbing her fingers at their necks just below the ear. A pressure point known to help people break free from a trance.
"Whoa, what happen? Where are we?" Vid asked shaking away the haze.
"Huntress, what are you doing here?" Downroad asked.
"I should be asking you the same thing! Seriously, getting hypnotized by Freakshow!" Huntress scolded.
"Freakshow? Right, that staff of his." Vid remembered. "That's how he's controlling everyone. He wanted us to break out his minions!"
"Wait you remember, then do you know where he sent he others?" Huntress demanded.
"No, wait, yes, it's coming back to me..." Downroad massaging his head. "The castle! He wanted the others to get some kind of jewel!"
"Oh great, I've got to stop them!" Huntress groaned.
"We'll coming with you!" Vid and Downroad said at the same time.
"No, we have no idea of the extent of Freakshow's control. You guys just wait for me back at the Axion Inn." Huntress ordered.
"Hey you can't just leave us out of this! They're our teammates!" Downroad argued.
"There's a new gadget I'm going to give you if you wait there," Huntress promised.
"See you there! And good luck with the others." they said excitedly before heading towards Axion Inn. Nothing they like better than getting a new toy.
Huntress quickly hurried along the rooftops! The castle was about five miles from the prison, so at full speed she should make it there in about a half hour or so, barring any complications. Hopefully she can make it before the other cause too much trouble.
At the Castle, Jazz and Dani were given an audience with the princess. "Greeting, Lady Fenton, you do realize that this goes against protocol, but since your family has served mine well I will allow it. So, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Princess Sam asked.
"Yes, we were wondering if you had any idea why members of Freakshow's troupe are still hanging around?" Jazz asked.
"Freakshow? I don't know if you've heard but he and his entire caravan, minus the two in my prison, left the other day. I even saw them off myself!" Sam insisted.
"Yes, well we saw just them here in the city, acting mighty suspicious," Jazz said.
"Look, I'm not sure what you think you saw but I'm not about to start a city wide manhunt based on a hunch, especially since they have yet to do anything illegal!" Sam said sternly.
"Thank you for your time your majesty," Jazz bowing rather disrespectfully. Just as she was about to leave, they heard someone scream, "INTRUDERS!"
"Guards!" Sam ordered. Responding to her command they guards quickly ran in the direction of the alarm. As per protocol, a few guards remain to escort the Princess and her guests to her room for their safety. "I want to know who broke in and their purpose!" Sam demanded while on route to her room.
Meanwhile Dani was struggling to get out of Jazz's protective grip so that she could participate in finding and maybe, most likely, beating up the intruders. "I can walk by myself!" Dani protested.
"Yes, but knowing you, you'll walk straight into trouble," Jazz countered dragging the girl along. Dani was tempted to just remove her hat and transform into the Phantom, but her talk with the Huntress taught her to study the situation and wait for an opportunity to present itself; and that opportunity came once they reached the princess's room.
"You and your friends will be safe here, Your Majesty," the guard said as he reached to open the door. As he turned the knob, the door burst open and three masked individuals came crashing out.
"We're going to have to discuss your definition of 'safe' after this is done!" Sam said cynically at the guard.
"Dani, we must get out of here!" Jazz suggested, slowly backing away after realizing that these masked individuals are the intruders. Seeing this as her chance, Dani broke free of Jazz's hold and ran off screaming like a scared little girl.
"Dani!" Jazz cried quickly giving chase.
"Hey it's the Princess!" One of the masked men identifying Sam.
"She must know where the treasure is!" Another suggested.
"Let's get her!" the third who turned out to be female ordered.
"Protect the Princess at all cost!" the guardsmen cried preparing to engage the intruders. Now the palace guards are well trained soldiers, but they are unaccustomed to the X-tremes unorthodox fighting style! Rather than facing them one-on-one, the X-tremes ganged up on one guardsman taking him down before attacking another.
"We have you now princess," one of the X-tremes chuckled grabbing her arm after defeating the last of the guardsman.
"LET HER GO!" Danny's voice roared as he came running in and smacking the assailant in the face with his walking stick. Even though his leg has been healed, Danny felt naked without his stick.
"Danny! Your leg!" Sam gasped with joyful disbelief. She never thought she'd ever see her longtime friend standing on two legs again and was overjoyed to see him healed. Secretly hoping that seeing her in danger is what miraculously healed him.
"You can thank Val, for that!" Danny said fending off the intruders with his walking stick. The happiness drained from Sam's face after hearing that.
Dani quickly ran down the hall and entered the first door she could find that wasn't locked. Making sure that there's no one around, removing her hat and placing her crown on her head, transforming her into the Phantom! She then flew as quickly as she could to where the princess and the intruders were. Shortly afterwards Jazz passed by looking for her wayward cousin. "Dani! Dani! Where are you?" Jazz called out hoping to find her. "Well at least you're out of danger," Jazz said to herself trying to calm herself down. "But where did you go? I should have found you by now unless you went back?" Jazz froze for a minute as that thought sunk in. "No, she wouldn't do anything that stupid...oh who am I kidding!" Jazz quickly double back, praying that this is one of those rare times that she is wrong!
"Get away from her!" Dani demanded as she arrived back to where the princess and the X-tremes were, only to see a new player has joined the game. "Danny, when did you get here?"
"Oh about three seconds ago," Danny answered picking up one of the swords from one of the fallen guardsmen after his stick broke.
"Hey isn't that the Paladin's familiar?" one of them asked.
"What? No, I'm his wizard partner!" Dani insisted.
"Impossible, wizards can't fly," another else said.
"Really?" Dani feeling confused.
"Really. The only way wizards fly is by riding things like broomsticks and carpets and you're not using anything." the female intruder explained. "So for you being able to free-fly, that means you're either a spirit or elemental."
"No wonder everyone thinks I'm just the Paladin's familiar," Dani griped. It always bothered her that she wasn't getting as much recognition as Danny does. "Anyways, you guys better get out of here or face my wrath!" Dani threatened firing some small fireballs from her hands. Nothing too big, just a simple sparkle spell, harmless but very intimidating looking. As expected the X-tremes began dodging the shots as if they were lethal moving them safely away from Sam and Danny.
"Hah, is this the best you can do?" one of the masked men taunted.
"Nope, this is!" Dani fired a standard fireball at some tapestry overhead, causing it to fall on top of all the intruders."Wow this strategy thing really works," Dani amazed at what she accomplished. Yesterday, Dani would have just charged in throwing fireballs everywhere; but today she's following the Huntress advice of using low level fire spell to lure them into a trap. "Got to thank Huntress when I see her again."
"Nice move there, Phantom." Danny complimented, with a hint of curiosity of where did she learn a trick like that.
"That's it! Play time is over!" the masked girl yelled after she and the other members managed to cut their way out of being tangled in the tapestry. She then pulled out a small knife and threw it at Phantom, who easily dodged it.
"Missed me," Dani taunted sticking out her tongue.
"Wasn't aiming at you deary," she said with a smile.
"Say what now?" Curious, Dani glanced behind her to see what she was talking about. "Oh poop," Dani cursed as another tapestry fell on her!
"What goes around comes around," the intruders laughing at Phantom struggling under the tapestry. Now turning their attention to Sam. "Now, let's end this!" they gloated.
"Couldn't have said it better my self!" the Huntress yelled as she came crashing through the window; and again with surgical precision, struck the pressure point under their ears, which also caused them to collapse. "That should do it," Huntress said. Dani was amazed at how quickly the Huntress took them down; making her feel inadequate, realizing that she still had a long way to go before she's ready and able to face the Huntress again.
"Huntress what is going on here?" Danny demanded.
"Yeah can you please fill us in too," Thrash asked shaking the haze of the hypnosis off.
"You fools went and got your selves hypnotized, attacking the palace and the prison! You're lucky I just happened to be in the area!" Huntress explained. "So do you have any idea why you were sent here?"
"Uh let's see, oh right, we were instructed to fetch something called the Sapphire of Fantasy," Thrash said remembering Freakshow's commands.
"Good luck finding that. I lost that jewel three years ago." Sam laughed, causing everyone present to facepalm themselves. Suddenly they all heard a strange ringing sound coming from the X-tremes. "What is that?" Sam asked.
"Uh-oh," the X-tremes gulped.
"Oh no you idiots didn't," Huntress groaned.
"Did what?" Phantom asked. She didn't have to wait long for an answer, because at that moment several explosions occurred around the palace!
"EVERYBODY FOR THEMSELVES!" Adrenaline yelled as she and the X-tremes began making their escape. The others were about to make their escape as well when they heard Jazz screaming in terror.
"Jazz!" Danny turned towards the direction of his sister's voice and saw that she was about to be crushed by a collapsing wall.
Reacting quickly, Huntress brought out her bo staff and threw it at wall, bracing it just long enough for her to push Jazz out of harms way. "We've got to get out of here!" Huntress said after making sure that Jazz, who passed out after that near death experience, was alright.
"Why are they destroying my castle?" Sam demanded.
"First rule of thievery, don't leave clues behind," Huntress explained. "So you either clean up your messes..."
"Or destroy the evidence!" Danny finished. "Phantom, please take the princess to safety," Danny ordered. Dani nodded flying the princess out, under royal protest from Sam. "You should leave too and please take care of my sister," Danny said to the Huntress.
"What are you planning Danny?" Huntress asked.
"Not planning anything really," Danny joked. "But I've got to try. Oh and can you deliver a message to Skulker for me." Huntress nodded after receiving the message, picking up Jazz's unconscious body, she ran out as quickly as possible.
After everyone had left, Danny took out the Ring of Rage and placed it on his finger. Materializing his sword in hand and enchanting it with his anger at the senseless destruction happening around him. "How dare they! How dare they destroy this palace with all my happy childhood memories!" Danny spat as he slammed his sword onto the floor, sending out a massive energy wave that not only disabled the remaining bombs, but also putting out the fires that resulted from the explosions! After he finished, Danny sat down trying to calm himself so that he can take the ring off. For some reason when he's angry, he can't bring himself to remove the ring.
-Later at the Axion Inn-
"Yo Huntress, you promised us some new gadget," Vid reminded her.
"It's right here," Huntress said after going through her inventory, handing them a set of eye glasses with tinted lens.
"Hey these look cool!" the X-tremes said at they tried on their new accessories.
"Those do more than look pretty, they also protect you from most visual hypnosis charms." Huntress explained. "Hopefully that will keep you from becoming Freakshow's lackeys."
"Thanks, but I was hoping for a, you know, a new toy." Downroad sulked. "You know like the one Skulker brought with him from Sanctuary."
"Yes the one Huntress is suppose to be protecting!" Skulker said angrily as he entered the room.
"Oh look at the time we've got to be going," the X-tremes said as they hurried out.
"Now my apprentice, I can tolerate a little disobedience here and there," Skulker said in a soft and yet scary tone. "But to disobey my direct orders, especially one as important as this!"
Huntress gulped, she's never seen him this angry. "But Master, I noticed that the X-tremes were acting weird and..."
"Our business with them has concluded, what they do afterwards is no concern of ours!" Skulker extended his blade and held it at her neck. "So you better have a good excuse for me not to punish you." he threatened.
"I have a message from the Paladin, he wishes to meet with you tonight," Val said taking off her mask.
Skulker gazed into her eyes and saw her sincerity in them. Retracting his blade back, he said, "Return to the Fenton house and this time stay there until the sword is repaired or else I won't be the only one with artificial limbs. I will meet with the Paladin as requested."
"But Master, you cannot face him alone! Especially not without the sword!" Val argued. While she didn't believe that Danny would ambush Skulker, she didn't want to leave the two of them alone together.
"Then you can have the honor of knowing that you just sent me to my death!" Skulker said as he left the room.
Huntress made her way back to the Fenton Manor. While she wanted to go to the meeting, she didn't have the stomach to disobey Skulker a second time, and not just because he threatened her! Heading down into the secret basement, she saw a welcome sight of Jack Fenton slicing his anvil in half with the sword!
"Yes! It's perfect just like me!" Jack gloated waving the sword in triumph.
"The sword, it's fixed!" Huntress asked.
"Better than fixed, I've improved it!" Jack boasted going into a self-congratulatory rant.
"Yes we've made some modifications on your generator arm, increasing it's power and efficiency as well as giving it extra armor for when Skulker uses it for battle." Maddie explained since her husband was still preoccupied with patting himself on the back.
"Thanks," Huntress said taking the sword and arm.
"I heard how you helped save my children today, you have my gratitude." Maddie thanked.
"How are the kids?" Huntress asked.
"The girls are sleeping in their rooms, I think the excitement wore them out. Danny is still at the castle, trying to help out." Maddie reported.
"They are good kids," Huntress complimented.
"So are you, but I do wish you consider leaving the hunters, they are not what you think." Maddie warned.
"If the hunters organization is as corrupt as you say, then someone has to so something about it; and I don't think hiding in this hole will help anyone or change anything," Huntress argued. "Farewell." With that she left, leaving the senior Fentons to wonder if they did the right thing.
-At the campsite for the Circus Gothica-
"Well you fools really made a mess of things!" Freakshow scolding the X-tremes along with Ball Man and Snake Woman.
"But Boss we manage to break them out just like you told us too!" Vid argued.
"I told you to handle it discreetly! Not take out every prison guard! And you!" Pointing to the other group. "Did I say to blow up the castle? We're lucky that they're not sending their entire army against us!" Freakshow huffed. "And worse you didn't get me the jewel!"
"But boss, it was nowhere to be found. The princess herself said that she lost it," Thrash pointed out.
"Actually," Ball Man started punching himself in the gut until he barfed up a small round light-bluish jewel. "I found it behind some cabinets during my tussle with the Paladin. Hid it in my gut for safe keeping." he said patting his stomach.
"That's it! I knew there was a reason why I keep you around." Freakshow praised cleaning the jewel off.
"So boss, what's so special about that rock?" Adrenaline asked.
"I'm glad you asked," Freakshow pulling on one of the candle holders on his desk revealing a secret compartment on the wall behind his desk. Inside was a golden gauntlet with several jewels incrusted on it. "This is the legendary Reality Gauntlet, one of the 7 Relics."
"An artifact of the Wizard King," Vid gasped pretending to be surprised. "So why aren't you using it?"
"Because it is useless in its current state," Freakshow explained as he inserted the Sapphire of Fantasy into one of the slots on the gauntlet. "It's power comes from the many jewels that once decorated it."
"You mean the jewels you had us steal?" Snake Woman asked.
"Precisely, and just by mere coincidence, the next town we are scheduled to perform in has another gem." Freakshow said sarcastically. Closing the hidden compartment, he then pointed his staff at his performers. The orb at the end of the staff began swirling as did the eyes of anyone looking at the orb. "Now go back to your trailers and prepare for our next show. Oh and also forget everything you heard about the Reality Gauntlet. Can't have any of you trying to steal it after all." Freakshow commanded.
"Yes master," they all responded blankly before leaving.
As they left Freakshow's trailer the members of Team X-treme all grinned and winked at each other, giving themselves the thumbs up. Not only did the glasses protect them from Freakshow's staff, thankfully Freakshow didn't question to why they were all wearing tinted glasses, but now they know the location of their target and how to get to it. Best of all, they also learned that the Gauntlet is currently powerless, meaning that stealing it will be a snap!
-At the Meeting Place-
Huntress hurried to the rendezvous point where Skulker waited patiently. "I thought I told you to stay with the sword!" Skulker scolded.
"It's right here along with your new arm," Huntress said presenting the items.
"Well it would seem that luck is on our side," Skulker grinned. "Quickly, attach my arm so I can face the Paladin!" he ordered. Huntress got to work removing his battle arm and replacing it with the generator arm. Once she was done Skulker activated the generator, testing its settings. "Hum, it's working better than ever. Those Fentons still got it." Skulker praised.
"Skulker!" Paladin called out as he arrived. "And Huntress."
"Paladin, it is quite rare that my quarry would invite me. So you have my respect. Shall we?" Skulker picking up his sword and getting into a battle stance. "Don't interfere, but keep your eyes out for the Phantom." Skulker instructed. Huntress simply nodded expecting him to say something like that.
"Before we begin, I just have one thing to say," Paladin materializing his sword and planting into the ground. A customary sign that he just want to talk. Skulker looked at him curiously, but gestured him to go ahead. The Paladin then took three paces forward, leaving his sword behind, and lifting his arms before saying, "I surrender!"