Surviving the Titans
By GhostAnn

Chapter Twenty-Five: Vortex

Valerie's eyes were wide as the sky began to glow an unearthly green. Robin was shaking as energy rolled off of him. "Get back!" Cyborg yelled limping toward the limp form of Raven. The others stood still gaping up at Robin. Valerie could fill Danny's arms shaking as well.

"St-" Robin stuttered his body twitching. "STOP!" He screamed energy shooting up into the sky as his form fell to the ground. The two villains were snapped out of their argument as they looked to the limp figure of Robin.

"What happened?" Slade snarled.

Vlad frowned as he studied the figure a green mist oozing out of him. Robin's body was still and unmoving. "It looks like the ghostly energy backfired on itself…" Vlad said sounding intrigued.

"Backfired?" Slade growled "Than what of Robin?"

Vlad shrugged. "Who knows? He could be having a negative reaction. Self destructing."

As the words left the man's lips a green blast hit him, sending him flying. "Do not lie!" Starfire yelled, tears were in her eyes as she rushed forward. "You will pay!"

Slade stood still as the enraged alien rushed toward him. Before she reached him, however, a large body of green fell from the sky enveloping him as he laughed. "You think I'm done just because Robin couldn't hold his spirit together?" The man's voice echoed all around them. "Think again."

Everyone, including Vlad stared up in shock at the large pillar of swirling light. "What is that?" Beast Boy asked.

Raven slowly shook herself awake, and with her face full of fear looked up at the swirling tower. "Ghost." She whispered. "It's a pillar of ghost."

Danny let Valerie go and she turned to look at him shocked as he gripped his head practically collapsing in on himself. "No." He murmured. "No."

"Danny?" She asked as he began to scream. His body began to warp getting pulled toward the spinning vortex. "Danny!" She moved forward and she grabbed his face pulling it to her so she could look at him. "Danny! Focus! Remember what you told Robin in the cell! You control the ghost powers! Not the other way around! Focus Danny!"

"It hearts! I can't… I don't know what's happening!" Danny cried his form fluctuating in her hands. "Sam…" He said tears forming in his eyes. "Sam. I'm so sorry. I- I…" His hand reached up to touch the side of Valerie's face lightly, and she looked at him surprised as he leaned in to kiss her. She fell into it for a moment, not minding the cold, when she remembered that not only was he not seeing her, but he was also still falling apart. Her heart hurt as she realized he couldn't see her, and she pulled back from the kiss and slapped him. He gasped, his body instantly stabilizing, he stared at her, confused. "Valerie?"

"Are you back?" She asked, barley keeping a tremble out of her voice. "We need you here Danny!"

He blinked. Looking around his face paled. "What is that?" He whispered.

"That… is just the beginning of our problems." Valerie said. "You and Robin did a number on the Titans and your friends. I don't know what's happening but I'm sure we'll need all the help we can get, but Robin's not moving."

As she spoke Danny's eyes moved around him taking in the damaged surroundings, his sister sitting against a wall looking dazed, Sam kneeling next to Cyborg, whose body was sparking. Tucker who was sitting next to Beast Boy both looking equally shocked up to the ghostly pillar, Raven shakily standing right behind them, and Starfire, who floated in front of it looking livid. His eyes fell on the still form of Robin and his hand went to his head as the flashes of their fight rushed through his head. He trembled and licked his lips as he took in a shaking breath. "We…" He glanced at Valerie his heart pounding in his ears. There were so many things he wanted to say. To apologize for, and so much he didn't understand, but as the howl of the vortex began to die down and a large ghost appeared from it, his mind shoved all of that back. "We need to regroup!" He said sharply flying up to his friends. "Hury! Into the castle!" The others nodded as he flew down and picked up Robin's limp form. Quickly the group rushed inside.

"Glad to see you back on our side." Tucker said.

Danny nodded. "Glad to be back." He paused unsure. "Sorry if I hurt you guys…" He whispered looking away.

"We know it wasn't your fault." Sam said placing a hand on the side of his face. Their eyes locked for a moment and Danny looked away blushing slightly. His head foggily remembering that they had kissed. Yet… He looked to Valerie who was watching them, when their eyes met she looked away her hand gripping her arm tightly. He blinked his mind aching. Wasn't Valerie the one who snapped him out of his fogy mind?

Cyborg hissed and bit down a curse as he checked the screen on his arm. "I took some serious damage out there. Only about %65 present of my systems are working, and only just barely."

"Okay…" Danny said shaking his head. He needed to focus, there was a pretty visions looking ghost out side. Setting Robin down next to Jazz he looked around. "How is everyone?"

Cyborg shrugged. "Okay, all considering."

Beast Boy nodded. "I'm alive." His voice sounded hollow as he sat next to Jazz, looking defeated.

"What are we supposed to do?" Starfire whispered looking down at Robin holding her arm as she floated. There was a since of dread and defeat in the air.

There was a roar of laughter as the ghost outside began to move. "Come out kiddy's! It's time to face the music! I'll turn you all into ghost and make you a part of my army!" The ghostly Slade laughed manically.

Danny shivered as he felt the darkness seeping back into his mind. He shook his head blinking the red out of his eyes. Fighting it, now that he was in control again, he knew he couldn't let it take over. "We need to hurry." He whispered. "I don't know how long I can keep… How long I can stay myself."

"How are we supposed to fight that thing?" Beast Boy asked. "I don't know that we can."

Danny looked to him surprised. "Are you giving up?" Beast Boy flinched and Danny looked around as the Titans looked down their faces uncertain. "I… I don't believe this."

"You guys are heroes!" Tucker snapped. "You don't give up!"

"No we don't." Cyborg said. "But we might have to retreat…"

"If we leave, that thing will just wreak havoc! He's going to turn people into ghost so he can control them!" Danny growled. "And the ones he doesn't the one's he can't- he's going to kill!" Danny felt the cold tendrils seeping in on him feeding off his rage. He shook his head. His body sagged against the wall as he felt a laugh slip through him. "You're all going to die." He sang.

"Danny." Sam touched his shoulder and he jumped shaking his head. "You okay?"

He looked to her worried face and glanced around as the others looked at him their stances suggesting that they were ready to fight him. "No…" He said honestly. "Still, I'm not giving up!"

"Robin." Starfire sobbed. "I don't know why, but I feel like without Robin, I cannot fight."

Raven took a breath stepping forward. "Danny's right." Raven said. "We can't just run. Who knows what he'll do like this. We need to stop Slade here and now."

Beast Boy bit his lip and stood. He placed a hand on Starfires shoulder. "Robin would kick our buts if he knew we were running from a fight like this."

Starfire closed her eyes a moment before opening them again to look at Robin's still form. She nodded, wiping her eyes. "You are right." She balled her fist.

There was a gasp and the group turned to see Maddie standing at one of the doorways coming into their little room. "What are you all doing here?" She asked looking surprised, her eyes fell on Jazz and she rushed forward placing a hand on the girls head. "Jazz sweetie! Are you alright?"

Jazz pushed her mom's hand away. "Mom, I'm fine." She swallowed. "We need your help."

"What's going on?" Jack asked stepping into their space. "Hey guys!" He looked around and his eyes went wide. "Phantom!" He pulled out a Fenton Bazooka, "Your reign of terror ends today!" He shouted charging the weapon.

Danny took a step back out of fear and suddenly there was a figure in front of him. "Don't!" The group gasped as the blast was fired.

AN: So... *waves meekly* I've been dealing with life... You know the usual... melodically, collage. My own folly's.
I have actually been dealing with the fact that I might have ADD... which means that I'm not lazy per say, but that all the issues I have are not going to just go away. It dose explain the source of my depression though. Maybe I can actually make progress in my life instead of getting so overwhelmed and frustrated that I just let everything fall away...
I have been trying to find out why I can't focus, why I'm forgetful, and why I get so frustrated all the time. I'm also working on fixing that. I had to deal with personal problems... but now I feel I'm stable enough to start posting again.
I hate this story... It need's to be redone, but before I even fathom that... I need to finish it. So... Her we go.
Oh... and I am so, so sorry to those of you who have had to wait. I know that can be frustrating... thank you for continuing to read. Thank you to those of you who are just now reading... Iwill be updating the last 3 chapters over the cores of the next week or two... depending on how long it takes me to edit them... hopefully they'll be better edited than this and all previous chapters...