Disclaimer: I do not own Danny Phantom…bla bla bla… Or Pacman…bla bla bla… or joust… blah blah blah… They all belong to their respective owners… Blah blah blah.


Upon opening his eyes, Danny really didn't find himself anywhere in particular. Well, if you don't count standing on a floating island surrounded by empty space that reminded him eerily of the ghost zone.

He lifted one white gloved hand to push back his hood, when neon green letters flashed above his head, counting down. The phantom could feel his emerald mount stiffen slightly below him, feathers fluffing out as its legs bent in preperation for something. Danny quickly grasped the reins, glancing up in time to see the quickly fading 'GO!'

Around him, other floating islands materialized, bringing along several other green birds with riders. Most of them were in blood red armor, without a cape. A few of them turned their heads to look at him quizzically before urging their mounts into flight, randomly soaring around the dark area.

A strange, rippling sound came from below his island, and he nudged the bird's ribs, getting it to slowly step forward. By craning his head, he was able to see a pale blue bird fluttering below, with a rider garbed in brilliant gold. The rider looked up, and he waved down at it, unsure if he was 'player 2' or just another rider to shove off to win the game.

The sapphire bird spread its wings, shooting upward faster than imaginable. Danny yelped, yanking back on the reins and squeezing the bird's sides roughly.

It squawked in alarm, whipping around and sprinting off the edge of the rock island, wings snapping open. Danny yelped as the bird plummeted a few feet before jerking upward, flying quickly toward another floating rock.

His cape flapped behind him, glowing eyes flicking back and confirming the bright blue bird pursuing them. The golden rider's jousting pole was lowered as it and the bird rushed at him, the wind searing across their feathers quite loud in danny's ears. He urged his own green mount to fly instead of just gliding, finally getting it to flap hard and soar upwards.

The gold followed, his bird snapping at their tails. Phantom clenched his teeth, bending low and urging his mount to go faster. The response was pleasing to him, for its wings slammed down multiple times with a strange suctioning sound, jolting forward faster than the other could follow. They wove through the half dozen red riders, his muscles tensed so hard that his hands shook slightly. He turned around, wind whipping at his snowy hair, tugging the hood back to fall about his shoulders. A sharp gasp was drawn in as he saw the sapphire bird lash out at a red rider passing below it, the talons sinking into his shoulder and back before a flash of white light turned him into a faintly glowing green egg.

His own emerald eyes watched as it fell quickly downwards, spinning slightly. It hit the edge of a floating island with a sickening crack, rolling into a pit of lava. A small bubble popped in its wake, and he vaguely noted that the fallen rider's mount had flown away, dissipating slightly until it was no more.

He was jerked out of his horrified thoughts by a loud shriek from ahead, eyes widening as he saw the blue bird rip another rider out, this time, snapping up the egg into its beak and swallowing it gracefully, turning its eyes to Danny. He could have sworn it just grinned at him.

Phantom yanked on the reins, turning his bird about and launching them both at a fast pace away from the enemy. The wing beats of his mount synchronized for a few moments with his heartbeat, everything going quiet.

He was the last one still flying. Everyone else had been wiped out in the blink of an eye, and he hadn't noticed. The wind still lashed at his face, his white cape billowing behind him, a clear beacon in these dark skies.

Slowly, he looked back, mouth opening slightly to take in a breath. The golden rider was just behind him, red eyes shining gleefully behind his helmet, an aura of malevolence coming off him in waves. His sapphire bird slammed down its wings, talons raking forward…. He was done for….

NO!

Danny ripped himself away from the image, yelling at his own flying creature to move faster. He leaned forward, closing his eyes to shut out the image from his mind, unwittingly causing the bird to dive.

He recognized the sensation, glowing orbs snapping open in time to pull back on the reins, watching fearfully as a few feathers were scorched from its chest. Below him was the lake of magma, orange and reds filling his vision, tongues of flame licking up around them, hungry for his body. The fiery lights were reflected from gleaming feathers, highlighting his own pale face, shining eyes full with new determination.

In the heat that whirled around him, Danny urged the bird to fly lower, careful not to singe it like he did last time. He carefully dipped his jousting pole into the magma, watching as the strange thing glowed red before blazing white with heat.

The blue one was behind him again, attempting to recreate his stunt, flying low and fast over the molten rock. Danny turned his bird around, having it hover in one spot with his jousting pole aimed at the rider. The fire around them hurt his eyes, image of the white pole tip burned into his retinas…just a few more seconds…

The blue swooped forward, screeching shrilly at Phantom, who simply glared back in response.

Wait for it…

"NOW!"

Danny yelled, jamming his heels into the bird, making it shoot strait upward, the blue blinking in confusion as its prey disappeared. Unknown to it, the 'prey' only needed that short burst of flight, jousting pole coming down from above to plunge into the sapphire bird's back, talons of green ripping the golden rider triumphantly from his seat, changing into a white egg.

It soared upward with momentum from the strike, being caught in one of Danny's gloved hands. His bird glided tiredly toward a nearby island, ruffling its feathers slightly in relief of the lack of heat.

Danny stared at the white egg for a few minutes after landing, wondering what to do with it. Eat it, like the bird did? Or toss it into the lava…

His question was answered for him, as a bright light flashed from the egg, surrounding him, and sending him back to the 'between' place.

His bird squawked loudly at the light, glaring at the egg's broken fragments.


Back in between, Danny groaned in annoyance.

How many old games would he have to go through?

Though the last one would have been fun to play, had it not betted his life, but still….

Amused laughter sounded from his right, and he whipped around to face it. A glowing screen smiled at him, the face of Technus plastered across it. Phantom automatically growled low in his throat, shifting to a battle stance.

"My my, ghost child, I think you just gave me an idea!"

Danny paled at his, dreading whatever could give the 'emotion hating' ghost such a broad smile.

"But be warned…this one may be a bit tricky even for you! No flying, after all..."

"WAIT!"

The screen faded away, the ghost's echoing laugh still ringing in his ears. He clenched his fists in anger. Technus was only playing with him! There wasn't any REAL plot behind this stupid challenge!

"AARRRGHHHH!"

Danny fell to his knees, screaming angrily at the sky, launching an ecto-blast upward for good measure. He punched the ground, the darkness not letting him know that he left a sizable dent. White creeped in over his vision, and he growled again, closing his eyes and letting the next game commence.

Darn that spirit.

Mentally, Danny wrote an 'IOU' for the electrical specter. Danny now owes the dude 'two weeks in the newly ghost-proofed fenton stockades, as well as a good beating.'

As soon as he got out of this dratted place, anyway.