WoM- FFFFRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDOOOOOOOOOMMMMM! 'dancing her happy dance' No school 'til the thi-rd! No school 'til the thi-rd! Man, I am SO glad I finally got this break! Here's chapter five, enjoy!
"I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: "No good in a bed, but fine up against a wall.""
-Eleanor Roosevelt
Skulker groaned as he opened his eyes, a throbbing headache pounding at his temples. Someone had taken him out of his armor, a fact that irritated him almost as much as the fact that someone had captured him.
"See? He's getting up! Told you he was still alive!"
"He's a ghost, you nincompoop!"
"…Oh…" Skulker glared at the bickering vultures in annoyance.
"Plasmius sent YOU to find me?" He asked, seriously reconsidering his terms of employment. There Had to be other ghosts out there looking for an experienced hunter…
"Before the Haunters grabbed us," one of the vultures told him, nodding.
"You ought to be grateful for our company!" His companion said. Skulker sighed.
"Where's the whelp when you need him…?" He grumbled to himself.
"That's what we want to know," a feminine voice said from the shadows. The three ghosts turned to see a girl smirking at them as she leaned against a filing cabinet.
"Are you a member of the Haunters?" Skulker asked coldly. The girl ignored the question.
"We scanned your memories, and found some very interesting things about your little friend, Phantom," The girl told them, "Unfortunately, it can't tell us everything we need to know before making out move, so we need you,"
"And if we refuse?" Skulker demanded. He didn't like Danny, but he'd be damned if he let someone else catch the prize he's been eyeing for a good long time.
This didn't seem to bother the girl though. Quite the contrary, instead of getting mad, her pleasant smile widened into a rather sadistic grin.
"Want to find out how many of the rumors are true?" She asked in a soft, playful tone.
"Well? What are we gonna do now?" Ember scowled as she asked the question on everyone's minds.
"Calm yourself, girl," walker snapped, "The Hauntersare just a rumor! We've got nothin' to worry about…"
"forty-eight ghosts don't just vanish into thin air, Walker!" Bertrand said.
"Actually, they do," Youngblood pointed out.
"Keep quiet, kid!" Spectra snapped at him, "How about letting everyone over three feet tall handle this?"
"Yeah!" Johnny agreed, "So butt off and find a babysitter!"
"I can look after myself just fine!" Youngblood insisted angrily, "And you're not the boss of me, Loser!"
"What'd you just-!"
"EVERYBODY SHUT UP!" Ember yelled, successfully silencing the others, "Thank you. Now, we need a course of action. If the Haunters have regrouped-!"
"Who died and made you the boss?" Kitty interrupted.
"You got an idea?" Ember asked her coldly. Kitty scowled. "Well? Anybody?" Sullen looks all around, but no one offered anything. "Then, as I was saying, if the Haunters have regrouped, then they're probably resorting back to their old pattern."
"Research; Isolate; Capture; Examine; and Destroy," Sparta recited grimly.
"Since the abductions have been pretty random so far, I'm guessing they're still in research." Bullet added.
"Right, so we need to get a step ahead of them," Ember nodded, "They're under new management now, so whoever it is probably wants to prove themselves on someone big. Someone powerful and unique enough that they can really raise some eyebrows in the human world and scare all the ghosts into not trying anything funny."
"Question now is who…" Bertrand sighed, frowning thoughtfully. The answer seemed to hit everyone at once.
"PHANTOM!"
BLACKBIRD
Chapter 5; Clashing
"Well?"
'I'm gonna kill the others when I get back,' Raven promised herself silently, meeting Valerie's glare with one of her own.
"Do you always listen in on private conversations?" the Titan asked coldly. She was worried. She had no idea how much Valerie had overheard, or what she was gonna tell the Fentons.
"I do when my friend and his family are at risk," Valerie snapped back, "I don't know you, I don't like you and I know you're up to something. You might be in the clear with Danny now, but on incriminating word from me and your little game ends in a heartbeat."
"How much did you hear?" Raven asked, scowling.
"Why?" Valerie shot back, "Did you say something you didn't want others to know?" Raven glared at her. "What was with the Raven thing, anyways? Was that a code name or something?" Valerie's eyes narrowed. Danny's dad had told her they'd had trouble with the government before…
"What?" Raven paled.
"Raven. It's what the guy you were talking to called you, right?" Guy? As in singular? Raven relaxed slightly. She couldn't have overheard too much if she only caught Robin's voice. There was a chance Raven could still save this…
"It's my name, remember?" Raven said smoothly, "He was calling me by my full name, Rae Venn," Valerie blinked, made the connection, then blushed.
"Oh." She said, feeling very foolish, "I thought…" Her blushed faded when she caught Raven's smirk, and she glared at the pale sorceress, "You know what? I don't have to explain myself to you!" Valerie turned, flipping her hair out of the way as she did so, "Oh, and for your information, I wasn't 'listening in.' Danny sent me up to tell you dinner's done."
And, without another word, Valerie headed downstairs. As soon as she was out of sight, Raven sighed in relief as she put her hand against her heart and leaned against the bathroom door for support.
'That was way too close,' She thought grimly. She made a mental note to tell the others to never call her unless it was a major, major emergency. And she should lay off the magic for a while, too. Valerie was suspicious enough as it was…
Frowning thoughtfully Raven went downstairs, trying to think of anything else she could do to throw Valerie off her trail.
'The sooner this mission is done, the better,' She said to herself as she entered the Fenton's kitchen.
"I still say I could make a decent meal if you gave me half a chance!" Maddie was saying to Jazz, who looked completely unwavering in her mother's arguments.
"After the hot dog thing? And that one Christmas? And last Thursday night?" Jazz said, "No thanks. I prefer food that doesn't try to eat you back. Besides, we have company, mom, do you really want to try one of your new cooking experiments on Valerie and Danny's new friend?"
"I'll just have to adjust the levels of ectoplasmic energies I-!"
"NO!" Danny and Jazz said as one. Valerie smirked at them in amusement. It faded when she saw Raven, though, in favor of a pointed glare. Danny saw this, too, and turned to grin at the girl.
"Hey, Rae," He said, "Would your parents mind if you stay for dinner?"
"I don't think so…" Raven said honestly enough, "But I really should be getting home."
"Oh, come on!" Maddie said in a friendly tone, apparently forgetting her argument from not three seconds ago, "The more the merrier, right?" Raven doubted Valerie shared the sentiment, from the way the girl's glower darken.
'Then again, why should she stop me from being able to get this mission done faster?' Raven thought suddenly, 'A few questions for the Fentons, listen into a few conversations at school, fight a few ghosts and I'll be back in Titans Tower in no time.'
"Well, if you insist…" Raven sat, trying some of the meal for herself. She blinked in surprise.
"…This is good…" She said to Danny. The blue eyed boy grinned back.
"Thanks," he said, "It's really nothing special, though. After all, almost anyone can learn to cook…" all the other occupants of the table turned red at that, Raven included as she remembered her own terrible cooking experience.
"So Rae," Jazz said, hell bound on having a normal dinnertime conversation for once in her life. "Do you like Amity Park so far?"
"Actually, I was expecting a little more excitement," Raven admitted.
"Stick around for another two hours or so," Danny said dryly. "You'll have all the excitement you can handle,"
Raven wanted very badly to doubt that, but Amity Park had already proven her wrong on far too many counts. Besides, as far as high school drama went, she was sick of that before second period.
'And growing more sick by the second,' Raven added mentally. Danny gave a sharp gasp suddenly, drawing the attention to him. Raven felt something prickle her senses a little bit, but it was so minor that she paid it no mind.
"You okay?" She asked Danny, an eyebrow kicking up.
"Fine," Danny said, standing, "I'm just full now. I'd better get started on Lancer's book report, too…"
"Huh?" Jazz looked confused for a moment before realization dawned on her. "Oh!" She laughed nervously, "Yeah, Danny, better start on that project!"
"I'll see you two at school tomorrow," Danny said, smiling as Valerie and Raven before disappearing upstairs.
"Anyways," Maddie said, unfazed by her son's quick exit, "Are you coming to the Camp Out this weekend, Valerie?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fenton," Valerie responded at once, smiling, "I can't wait, either!" Jack beamed at her while Jazz frowned into her plate. Raven's eyebrow kicked up.
"What Camp Out?" She asked. Jazz groaned at the question while Jack's grin widened.
"The Annual Ghost Hunter Family Three Day Camp Out!" He announced proudly, "Reserved out place last year! The two of us, plus four others all get to spend three days of camping out with our fellow ghost hunters!" Jack announced proudly. "Danny and Jazz are coming, and so's Valerie,"
"But we still have one spot left…" Maddie said, frowning.
"We could invite V-man," Jack suggested.
"I don't think that's a good idea…" Jazz said quickly, paling slightly.
"Besides, I'm sure Vlad already has an invite," Maddie added, sighing thoughtfully.
"What about your father?" Jack asked Valerie. She shook her head.
"Sorry, Mr. Fenton, he has work," She said.
"Well…" Mrs. Fenton sighed, "I can't think of anyone else who'd want to go…"
"But spots are $150 a piece!" Jack whined, "Completely non-refundable!" Raven frowned.
"I'll go," She said, drawing the attention to her.
"You will?" Jazz asked, surprised. Raven shrugged.
"It's not like I have anything better to do," She reminded Jazz.
"Great!" Jack bellowed, grinning, "It's nice to see kids getting into ghost hunting!"
"Now Jack," Maddie frowned severely at him, then she turned to Raven, "We'll be happy to have you along, sweetie Can you ask your parents about it tonight and tell Danny at school tomorrow?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fenton," Raven responded.
She didn't have to ask her parents, but it would probably be a good idea to clear things with the mayor and Mrs. Ishiyama before she took off anywhere. Now that that was all settled, she could take the time to notice Valerie's glower of pure fury.
'Oops,' She thought, belatedly realizing that the girl would be coming along. She couldn't dwell on this long, however, since her Communicator began to ring again.
"You're sure popular tonight," Jazz said, amused.
"Excuse me," Raven sighed, standing up and dragging her bag out of the kitchen. She shot Valerie a warning look as she left, and the girl glared back, unfazed. As soon as she was back in the upstairs bathroom, she turned her communicator on and glared into it. "This had better be good," She didn't appreciate nearly having her cover blown twice in one night.
"Thank goodness you picked up, Raven," Mrs. Ishiyama said in relief, in the background you could hear blasts going off, "There's a ghost attacking at Casper High right now! Phantom's here as well. You need to get down here and stop them before the school's torn apart! THAT'S AN ANTIQUE!" Raven's eyebrow kicked up, and she assumed this comment had something to do with the breaking glass sound she'd just barely caught.
"On my way," The Sorceress responded. Turning her communicator off, Raven pocketed it and headed out the door, Thankful that this time she didn't have an audience waiting to grill her.
She came back downstairs, and found Jazz and Maddie clearing the table, still arguing over Maddie's culinary rights as Jack went over a list with Valerie of what she'd need for the trip.
"Sorry to eat and run," Raven said, "But something came up,"
"We understand," Maddie said smiling, "It's still your first day in Amity, of course there's gonna be some problems until you settle in…"
"Want me to make you a list, too?" Jack asked, "Danny can give it to you tomorrow!"
"Thanks, Mr. Fenton," Raven said, relieved the Fentons were so compliant.
"Bye, Rae!" Maddie smiled, "And feel free to come back whenever you want. Our door's always open!"
"Almost literally." Jazz said dryly, sharing a smirk with Valerie.
"I should probably go, too, Mr. And Mrs. Fenton," Valerie said as she stood. "Thanks for having me over,"
"Any time, dear!" Maddie said sweetly. Raven frowned, but ignored Valerie the best she could as the two walked towards the door.
"Hey, Rachel!" Raven almost didn't respond to the name before she remembered to stop, turning to meet Valerie's glare with a sour look of her own.
"What?" She asked impatiently.
"Just wanted you to know that I'm watching you," Valerie smirked coldly, "And when I find out you're up to something, don't expect mercy," And, before Raven could protest, Valerie turned and started away.
'So stubborn…' Raven thought, annoyed. Still, on some level she had to admire the girl's determination. It was rare to find girls with so much courage nowadays…
Sighing, Raven turned and started for the alley, a black aura surrounding her as she altered to her fighting outfit as she went…
"Stupid Cyclops…" Danny scowled as he flew after the ghost, straining himself to go top speed.
As if overhearing him, the monster in front of the boy roared angrily, shooting a beam of ecto-energy out of his eye.
"Whoa!" Danny dodged, cringing as the wind from the blast mussed his hair. "Great, stupid, strong AND fast…" The halfa scowled, "I can never get a break, can I?" Sighing, the ghost-boy shook off his self-pity, flying off again as the ghost who seemed to be hell bound on making his recent life miserable started away as well.
The halfa groaned when his school came into view, especially when the ghost he was chasing kept heading straight for it.
"You've gotta be kidding me!" He complained, "What is it about the school that attracts every ghost in the continent?" Danny sped up, hoping to catch the ghost before he added to the damage caused to the school.
No such luck, though. The Cyclops out sped him easily, and fazed into the school from the wall that separated the gym from the outside. Danny followed, pausing in midair when the ghost disappeared from his sight.
"Hey, Where'd he-?"
'WHAM!'
'Stupid, stupid Danny!' The ghost-boy scowled as he shook the sting in his cheek away. 'You should know by now that whenever you can't see them, they're behind you…' Danny wasted no more time chastising himself, though, instead taking advantage of the Cyclops' lack of security to nail him with a powerful ecto-blast.
The ghost went flying through wall after wall, and Danny followed at his heels to avoid being caught by the same trick twice. Finally, the Cyclops lost concentration and became tangible again.
In Mrs. Ishiyama's office.
Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but Mrs. Ishiyama had apparently stayed late tonight, and screamed when the giant ogre fell onto her desk, crushing it.
"Now, are you gonna come quietly, One-Eye?" Danny demanded, "Or is this gonna be painful?"
The halfa's response was another blast he just barely dodged, the heat from this one brushing his cheek in how close it came. Then, with a furious growl, the Cyclops leapt up, tackling Danny into a bookshelf, which also got crushed.
The halfa scowled as he went intangible to escape the monster's grasp, not noticing the way his principal dived for her phone instead of the Fenton Ghost Alarms.
He turned tangible again just above his opponent, hitting him with a blast of energy that pinned him to the floor. In the background, he faintly heard Mrs. Ishiyama talking, but paid her no mind.
The Cyclops threw off an aura charge that sent the half ghost reeling, then telepathically lifted several nearby items, which all glowed green. He threw one at Danny, a rather ugly looking desk lamp. Danny instinctively turned intangible, and the lamp crashed against the wall.
"THAT'S AN ANTIQUE!" Mrs. Ishiyama yelled.
"Take it up with the giant one eyed ogre over there!" Danny shot back. Said ogre took advantage of Danny's momentary distraction to send them both through the wall behind the halfa. "Do you ever give it a rest?"
Danny was starting to feel drained now, and was running out of ideas. Luckily, The Cyclops didn't seem to be fairing any better.
'If only I could confuse him a bit…' Danny frowned. That's when an idea came to him.
Grinning, the halfa shot a small beam of energy into the other ghost's eye, making him roar in anger and pain.
"Catch me if you can, One-eye!" The snowy-haired boy yelled, taking off. The monster growled before taking flight as well, too furious to realize he was being led right to a trap.
Danny grinned as he maneuvered his way through the halls. It seemed a full year of avoiding Lancer and finding places to go ghost had finally paid off, as he now knew the school like the back of his hand. That was including the Teacher's Lounge, too.
The Cyclops out-sized Danny, and out-sped him, so maybe it was time to out-think him…
Coming to a stop in the storage room he was looking for, Danny turned invisible, waiting for his opponent to enter. He didn't wait long, and the ghost was plenty mad when he did come into the room. That didn't bother Danny though. Quite the contrary, it made things easier…
Danny inhaled loudly and let out a single ghostly wail. It wasn't powerful enough to do anything more then shake the room, but it was plenty powerful enough for what Danny wanted to accomplish.
Sure enough, over twenty different Flour sack babies all began to wail as one, making the Cyclops turn every which way in confusion before he put his hands on his head in an attempt to drown out the noise.
"Bye-bye!" Danny said happily, sucking the Cyclops into the swirling blue vortex of the Fenton Thermos. He grinned when he capped it, knowing that he wasn't going to miss this particular ghost any time soon.
"Danny? You there?"
"Yeah, I'm here," Danny answered his sister, "Just caught the Cyclops."
"What?" Jazz yelled, "Danny, I can't hear you over that… is that crying? Danny, where the heck are you?" The halfa sighed and used his telepathy to turn off all the babies, once again wishing he'd learned the power sooner.
"I said I just caught the Cyclops," Danny repeated, "And I'm at the school."
"What got broken this time?" Jazz asked in dry humor.
"Mrs. Ishiyama's office," Danny answered.
"Ouch…"
"Well, at least she doesn't know it's me…" Danny smiled, "And I've got the ghost, too. All and all, I'd say this was a pretty good-!" Danny saw the blast coming out of the corner of his eye, and only just dodged it.
He turned sharply to meet the violet eyed glare of a strange girl around his age in a hooded blue cloak. Shadowed obscured the top part of her face, and all the could see from the bottom half was that she was very pale. Paler then Sam, even.
"Hello, Ghost-boy," She said in a cool, wary tone that sounded vaguely familiar. Danny stiffened.
"Danny? Danny?"
"I'm gonna have to call you back…" Danny said to his sister, never taking his eyes off the girl in front of him.
'…Not good…'
WoM- Not good indeed… How will our heroes react to one another? Stay tuned to see! 'cackles demonically.'
Thanks to;
Anime Chick009
epobbp
Invader Johnny
Unit 1860
conan98002
Firehedgehog
lilnovelist
Ant Crown
phantomgirl07
Rosadina formerly Tima
Anne Camp aka Obi-quiet
Tetsukon
enigmatic penguin
IwuvMyKenshyPoo
I Brake For Ghosts
Crisis Haylo
My Eternal Facade
DannysGirlForever
Desighnergirl123
The Halfa Wannabe
Firefury
Inumaru12
Next update; December 24th
See you then!