The mist is rolling in...
"Sometimes legends make reality, and become more useful than the facts."
Salman Rushdie
Titans Phantom
Chapter 11: The Dragon and the Demon
I
It was a war that started between the gods and the demons. When one creature, with blood red eyes and powers that could burn civilizations to the ground, wished to find his destiny. He broke into the Heavenly realm and stole the Ancient Scroll, and with it, the battles ensued. Their fights trampled across the Heavens. One brave Dragon fighting to protect his people: his strength, speed, power, and heart rivaled even the Demons. So in one final attack, the Demon dragged their battles to the Mortal World in a great green storm. The Dragon, dazed and confused fell fast, his powers to great to control, fled. As he and his two warrior companions struck the unforgiving land. And so the war in the our world began, the Demon beginning to conquer all of Japan.
II
As the storm passed, the people in the hidden village of Shiro approached the fallen gods. The once great Dragon transforming into an unearthly mortal before their very eyes. His form the color of snow, the great scales fitted tightly to his skin, the god's eyes the color of the Earth's soul in spring. Yet every living thing knew he belonged to Death.
His second in command was the Goddess of Chaos. She was a silk Black Panther, her eyes the color of stone purple gems in firelight, her form always moved with a grace no geisha could match. The Black goddess was strong, agile, and unyielding, even to her mate the Dragon. Who irrevocably loved her, and she held the same. Both fought with a passion in all they did.
The last warrior was the Dragon's closest aid and friend, the knowledgeable Bear. But he did not hold the colorings of black and white. No, he saw the world in the array of colors equal to his great brown fur. The Dragon and the Bear were as close as brothers, and while the death god fought, the Bear would always plan, finding a way to support. His mind thinking five steps ahead, his stamina able to withstand the harsh winters and long months of emptiness, made him invaluable to the Dragon, who won so many battles with him by his side.
These were the gods turned human. The ones who would fight to save us all.
Raven paused in her reading, her delicate fingers turning the next page in the scroll. The Titans all silently waiting for her to go on. Each one enthralled in the story. She read, her normally monotone voice moving through the story in lilt and pitch, making the tale come alive.
III
The people of Shiro were first afraid. For gods had been known to be as unforgiving as the demons that trampled across the land. But these three were not, and the Dragon was humble, bowing to the peasants asking to serve them. In a show of gratitude, the people of the hidden village invited the gods to a great feast. It was a day none would forget. Dressed in the finest robes Shiro could offer, the gods were happy, they danced and sang with everyone from the children to the elderly, never thinking of their status. The Bear giving his knowledge too all, while the Panther danced, her flowing robes contouring perfectly, the other women joining in creating a song just for her. The Dragon watched on, smiling at his comrades, the whole time joining in the feast with his witty mind and silver tongue, and when the festivities were nearing the height of the night, a runner from the castle city Naka burst through the gates in panic.
"Our city has fallen! A great Demon has laid us to siege. We beg the help of your finest warriors."
The gods instantly straightened, getting up and following the man, who at first scoffed that these three young warriors were in fact gods and not children in training. But at the glare from the Dragon, he was silenced. Requesting to go, the headman agreed but ordered his ten finest warriors to accompany them. With this they left, still clad in robes of happiness. The journey lasted half the night, dawn peeking through the sky when they arrived at the city. Its roads were broken, the buildings burning in purple fire.
The town was dead, bodies thrown out in the street. The Dragon managed to find survivors. His comrades helping while the runner from the city wept at his lost wife and child. It took two days for the Shiro warriors to bury the dead and offer them pray rights. Two nights that the Dragon stood high up on a hill, his roar reaching the heavens, power trying to spill out from his mortal body.
It was then the warriors knew they had to help the god. So once home and settled around the indoor fire of the main hut, the council and the gods listened to the destruction of Naka from the survivors. Who when the Demon first arrived in the village, they believed him to be a god, so in honor, they forged a samurai sword, one that yielded his powers with ease. It was then he turned on them. The Dragon sat in silence at this, his mind turning; it was many moments before he spoke and told them why he was here.
IV
It was called Heaven's map. Its power infinite, allowing the reader to traverse through this world and the next by doorways and storms. The map could cross all eras and show you your destiny. It could take you anywhere you wished to go by speaking aloud, and it had been guarded for millennia, before the Demon learned of its whereabouts and stole it.
The Dragon had tried to reason with the Demon, but the creature was only interested in power, and now until the Bear could locate the Demon, the three gods were stuck and would never be able to return home to the sky. Upon listening to the Dragon's story, the headman felt sympathy for the god and asked the craftsman from Naka to redeem his mistake and design a sword to rival the Demon's. The man agreed and while he turned to his fires, the Shiro warriors rallied together and taught the god the ways of man and sword. The Dragon was a quick learner, his long years of fighting with green fire and claws made it natural for him to hold such a refined weapon.
Soon on the fortnight of the massacre at Naka, the Bear located the Demon, and the Dragon was presented his weapon. The craftsman had named it Dragon's Gale, its stone white hilt filled with gold, a jade dragon wrapping around in design. It made no sound. The metal blade so sharp and thin it appeared almost unbalanced, but when held by the Dragon, the sword's core held the aura and strength of green fire the god so used. And when he swung the blade, it cut through the air so quick and deadly he looked like a true shinigami. With a final thanks to the people of Shiro and an apology to the survivors of Naka, the three gods set out to the temple guarding the palace.
V
The majestic temple was in ruins when the gods arrived. Once great red columns smoking, the beautifully carved golden roof melting off in certain spots. The heat from the Demon's flames were stifling, the warrior monks struggling to hold their ground in their own home. The Demon threw the last monk aside, a smirk on his face.
"I've defeated all of your warriors, now take me to your palace where my rule shall begin immediately."
The demon spoke, ignoring the looks of pure hatred the mortals were giving him, but they knew they had to comply.
"There is still one more you must vanquish."
The Dragon said, standing on the high archway clad in black. Sword glistening in the light, the monks were shocked. The Demon dragged his sword through the earth tearing it apart in purple flames destroying the arch, the Dragon jumped, and the fight began. As they fought in the sky, the Panther and Bear regrouped the monks, who waited for the gods to land, and when they struck down in the rubble, everyone surrounded the Demon who snarled angrily.
"You have dishonored our priceless treasures, we shall never obey you!"
A monk yelled, and for the first time the Dragon noted the destroyed pottery and jewels that were centuries old. He smirked, his silver tongue causing the Demon to yell out in frustration.
"Try as you might, Dragon, you will not stop me from achieving my destiny!"
The Demon snarled and using the Heavenly map, he tore through the sky and into the other living realm where the gods could regain their powers. The Dragon summoned his two warriors and together they followed through the time. Battles continued, until the day when in his greed, the map sent the Demon to a frozen barren wasteland. That was his destiny, and the Dragon claimed the scroll, returning it to its rightful place amongst the Heavens.
Raven rolled up the ancient scroll and set it on the table before she looked up to see her friends trying to process the story. Their faces mixtures of awe and confusion.
"The sword Danny used, it was the same one from legend. It's the Dragon's Gale, thought to be nothing more than a myth," she said, her voice now back to its monotone sound.
"How do we know it's not a fake?" Cyborg asked, although you could see he was trying to find another explanation. Raven shook her head.
"No. I'm sure, the sword held the white aura and was too narrow and unbalanced to be a regular sword. That belonged to the Dragon," she said firmly.
"O.k. so Danny has the Dragon's sword, how does this tie into Phantom?" Beastboy asked his face one of pure confusion.
"Because the Dragon is Phantom in the story," Robin said speaking up for the first time. The connections beginning to form in his mind.
"The map was the one he used to take us home from Frostbites, the Demon was the ghost at the theater, the one who called himself Plasmius, and for whatever reason, Phantom saw it fit to give his sword to Danny, the question is why?" Robin said frustrated as the connections fell apart, nothing made sense. Cy rubbed his temples angrily.
"O.k. made we're going about this wrong, how about instead of trying to put the facts together, we need to look at theories."
"Phantom could be an ancient spirit, and the war is still going on," Raven suggested.
"Perhaps Phantom is from our time and the ghost Plasmius stole the map here and used it to go backwards," Star said the Titans all agreed that was most probable.
"That still leaves out how Phantom is attached to Danny," Robin said. Leaning forward, his hands resting under his chin in contemplation, hesitantly Beastboy spoke up.
"Well, what if Phantom and Danny are related or have some other kind of connection."
Everyone froze understanding dawning on their faces.
"We need to see Danny," Robin said, no one argued as they headed for the door.
Danny paced around the lab trying desperately to control his anger, all the information on the chip being displayed on the screen. Silently, Fixit watched him, waiting for the teen to calm down. Although the robot was pretty pissed himself, he didn't want to add fuel to Danny's already massive fire. Especially since he was still wearing his black ninja suit, his deadly sword swinging at his hip.
"What do you plan to do?" Fixit finally asked when Danny stopped mid step and merely glared.
"Well, first I plan on sucking that fruitloop in the Fenton Thermos, give it a good shake until Vlad doesn't know what's up or down, then I plan on leaving him with Klemper chained at the waist in Antarctica and ask Clockwork to tell me whenever a portal there opens so I can randomly visit him and beat the deadly daylights out of him! What is Vlad thinking? Is he trying to get us killed?" Danny shrieked, and Fixit flinched not so much in fear, but at how creative Danny was. But looking at the raven haired teen Fixit knew something else was wrong.
"What else?" Fixit asked, although he had a pretty good idea what. Danny suddenly seemed to tremble, blue eyes wide with fear before he masked it with sarcasm.
"Oh nothing, I just thought one fruitloop was bad, now I have to worry about a psycho one who's not only interested in me, but I think he has it in for Robin, which just like Vlad, is a giant 'ew'," Danny said before he sank onto the floor, head falling on his drawn up knees. Fixit was about to move to his friend when the door bell rang twice. Groaning, Danny rose from the floor and composed himself before he and Fixit left the lab and headed up the stairs.
"Danny."
"Yeah?"
"You might want to stay behind the counter, you're still carrying your sword."
Danny turned scarlet before mumbling something along the lines of 'I never get any sleep' being the reason why he still looked like a Japanese warrior. Fixit merely chuckled and headed down the aisle where the Titans all stood outside, their faces serious, Robin's if not deadly. Opening the door, Fixit blocked their passage.
"Can I help you, friends?" Fixit asked the Titans, all a little surprised at how serious the robot looked, which was saying a lot with his already stoic face.
"We need to talk to Danny," Cy said his eyes earnest. Fixit's ocean blue eyes narrowed trying to discern if they were here to harm him. Fixit was sure they weren't, but at the moment he didn't want to take any chances. The robot jumped when he felt a hand on his arm, and looking down, he noticed Danny standing beside him, his eyes serious.
"It's fine, Fixit," Danny said, nodding, the robot moved out of the way allowing Danny to leave the store. The Titans trailing after him down the back alley of the building. The sky was overcast in clouds of gray, the sun beginning to set. Vaguely, Danny realized that it was Friday night, and the two nights of chasing the Titans all around the city was beginning to take its toll on him. Stopping at the dead end, he turned to face them.
"What do you want?" Danny asked trying to keep the exasperation out of his tone.
"We want to know your relation to Phantom," Robin said, Danny felt his nerves prickle.
"Screw you, I don't have to tell you anything," Danny snapped. Robin was about to yell back when Raven cut him off, sensing the rising tensions.
"Very well, can you at least tell us who gave you the Dragon's Gale?" She asked pointing to his sword. Danny shifted nervously, one hand coming to rest on the hilt.
"It's always been mine," Danny said.
"So you are related to Phantom," Robin stated his eyes narrowed. Danny's eyes hardened, his mouth thinning, he glared and refused to answer.
The boy wonder let out a yell of frustration. Before marching forward, getting up in the teen's face.
"Fine, if you won't answer anything about Phantom, then tell me why you saved us."
"I have my reasons," Danny growled out, glaring down at Robin, both of them seething in rage.
"Yeah, and I can tell your reasons are crap, you didn't follow me around all night just to destroy those chips. You went straight for Slade the second I was in danger, you were protecting me and my team. Even when you were fighting against Red X, weren't you?" Robin yelled.
Danny and the rest of the Titans were shocked at the outburst. Robin, who hadn't really known what he was yelling stood rooted to the spot catching his breath and realized that what he had said was true. A wall came up between Danny's eyes and his thoughts, his emotions skating on a razor's edge. He pushed past the teen, preparing to leave when what Robin said next made his blood run cold.
"I'm right aren't I, you're more than just some average street fighter, you're a hero."
Danny snarled and faced Robin, his eyes beyond angry.
"I am not a hero."
"Then why did you not kill Slade the first chance you got? Why did you look at me even as your windpipe was being crushed? Why are you always willing to help us? And why won't you tell us the truth?" Robin yelled, the other Titans surrounding Danny looking at him with the same expressions. Danny suddenly felt nervous, his mask beginning to crack. He didn't want this, they were looking at him the way Sam and Tucker once did when they were trying to get something past his clueless skull.
"I am not a hero," Danny repeated, only it sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than them.
"If so, then why did you help me when my sister betrayed me?" Starfire asked, for a long moment Danny only stared at Robin before he looked to the Tamaranean girl, and he felt like he'd been punched in the chest.
Because it was her forest green eyes, which were filled with confusion and such honesty...that for a second, Danny thought he was staring at his sister. And every defense the teen had built against the world broke down with every memory. Every scar and every power that hummed beneath his skin reminding him of what he was.
"Dude, are you o.k.?" Beastboy asked coming closer his hand reaching out. Danny shied away from it, his hair hiding crystalline blue eyes.
"Please, why can't you just leave me alone?" Danny whispered brokenly, causing everyone to draw closer in concern. The anger all but gone from the group. And half hidden in the shadows, his eyes closed, Starfire saw something that shocked her.
"Danny, are you…"
A metal clang was heard at the entrance of the alleyway all the teens turning to the sound.
"Who's there?" Robin asked walking forward taking a defensive position. The sound was heard again and the teens looked in horror at the grenade rolling down the pavement.
"Raven!" Robin shouted, but it was too late. It exploded releasing the gas that dragged Danny and the Teen Titans down into an unnatural slumber. Before unconsciousness fully claimed him the raven haired teen saw a shadow move, a flash, and a man approaching them, a red walking stick in his left hand. He could do nothing, and blackness took him.
AN: Read & Review
~Rin