Chapter Two

Gearing Up

His vision had darkened entirely and he was unsure of what had happened, but that didn't stop the sudden and harsh meeting with the rooftop of Teen Titans tower any less jarring.

Slade groaned as his vision began to come back and the sounds of battle over him cluttered his hearing. His throat burned and throbbed in pain as he struggled to move, to open his eyes wider to see what was happening. He couldn't stay on the ground, not with the sounds of battle happening over him like they were.

His arms were shaky and unstable but he was able to push himself up anyways. He forced his eyes open and blearily looked around to rooftop in confusion. "Wha…" He gasped out but then coughed, his pained him terribly and he knew he'd be unable to talk for a while.

He blinked quickly to clear his vision and soon he was looking at a sight he had wished he'd never see in his life.

There was a battle of power, cunning, and teamwork happening in front of him. Flashes of attacks and powers blinded him with their intenseness and power. The speed of which all moved with he could barely keep up with and he could tell that the battling group could barely keep up with the pace they were setting up as well.

In simple terms the battle was awe inspiring and gut wrenchingly terrifying all in one.

Slade had only ever heard about the teamwork between Batman and Superman. He had never seen them actually in action. Not even on TV as he hadn't cared for them…his plans didn't involve them after all. That didn't stop him from researching them of course and finding out their secret identities.

But now he regretted that as he watched the two watch each other's backs, moving fluidly and precisely between each other…as if reading the other's mind. The famous red and black capes almost mixing together as they continued to move around both Plasmius and Dan, pushing the two away from Slade and further off of the roof.

Plasmius and Dan were working together as well, clumsily but effectively as they switched back and forth between blasts to land attacks with their fists and feet as well. Their own capes of white connected almost so well that Slade wouldn't have been able to tell where one started or the other ended if it wasn't for the color difference of the inside.

"Why don't you pests just give up already?" Plasmius snarled angrily, shooting out a blast of lightning that Batman dodged away from but blew a hole in the roof they stood atop of. "You're only going to die anyways."

"I wouldn't count too much on that." Superman said as he fired the red beams from his eyes, landing a hit on Plasmius and pushing the half ghost further off of the building. "Batman, to your left."

"Got it." Batman replied as he swung a glowing green bo-staff, slamming the end of it into the side of Dan's head and sending him flying into Plasmius. "You two can't win." He stated as he stood on the edge of the building with the bo-staff held tightly in his hands, eyes narrowed in annoyance as he prepared himself for another attack.

Dan sneered at the two while his eyes flashed in anger. "I've defeated you and your league before…I can do it again." He stated demonically before squaring his shoulders and widening his stance as he took a deep breath.

Slade's eyes widened in horror as he recognized the stance instantly and he moved before he even realized it, hands sliding into the utility belt. He threw two beads that Phantom had given him before they had entered into the Portal what felt years ago. "Out of the way!" Slade tried to yell but only a whisper came out.

Superman heard though and quickly moved himself and Batman out of the way just as the beads flew where they had stood and into a wide open mouth with pointed fangs.

Dan's eyes flew wide open as the beads lodged themselves into his throat and only widened even more as green smoke began to emit from his nose and mouth. He gurgled in pain as he held his throat and clawed at it intermittently. He looked at Vlad as the once billionaire stared at Dan in horror.

Slade smirked as Dan disappeared with a puff of red smoke while Vlad turned to glare at the Justice League members and The Master Mind. "This isn't over." He stated as he eyes glowed horridly. "This is only the beginning." He stated with a smirk and then disappeared.

Only moments later the sounds of engines sounded from above. "Looks like Flash was able to drive here without too much of a problem." Superman said as he looked up at the jet.

Batman scowled at that as he looked at the red caped hero. "You let Flash drive? I'm surprised the jet is even still intact."

Superman just chuckled at that as the jet landed on the roof and the door opened. "Someone ask for a teenage hero delivery?" Flash questioned with a smirk as he walked out of the jet with Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg right behind him. "What I miss?" Flash questioned next as he looked at the burnt and battle worn rooftop.

"Another battle you would have been useless in." Batman replied before looking at Robin. "What happened?" He questioned his once upon apprentice.

"They were possessed." The Boy Wonder replied with a scowl. "I had to attack my teammates to save them…most of them."

Batman frowned at that but didn't question it for the moment. Instead he settled a hand on the teen's shoulder and squeezed before releasing him and motioning towards the door to the tower. "Let's get inside and fix everyone up. It looks like you three could use it." He stated and watched as the teens walked inside while Superman walked over to a slowly standing Slade.

"What's going on Bats?" Flash questioned with a frown on his face that proved how worried he actually was. "The town is in ruins and I can't see any civilians anywhere. The only movement I saw was the kids walking around, nothing more." He informed seriously.

Batman frowned at the information before sighing and nodding towards the door where Superman had just passed with Slade. "Get inside and we'll talk. Where are the others?"

The speedy hero shrugged his shoulders. "John and J'onn are out in space somewhere. Shayera and Diana have gone off as well…I don't know where. None of them are answering their communicators."

The Dark Knight grunted as he led the other into the tower. "Guess we'll have to handle this on our own." He muttered.

"Fun." Flash said next before he smirked. "We even get to work with Mini Bats! This'll be a great chance to get to know the runt." He stated elatedly with plans to torture Robin as much as possible before the end of the current crisis.

Batman made sure that Flash couldn't see the small smirk on his face. 'Oh Robin, you are in for one hell of a time.'

TeenTitans

Pain.

That was all she knew at the moment. The constant throbbing and painful spasms that wracked through her body as she breathed. Even twitching a finger hurt more than she would have expected.

There was a scent in the air…blood…but with a…familiar scent of musk and ruggedness…it was safe though…warm and surrounding her all around. She wouldn't leave it anytime soon. It was safe and the red eyes wouldn't be able to reach her there.

She whimpered as she remembered the red eyes and the musk seemed to move around her…moving closer to her and that's when she realized she was surrounded by fur. It brushed against her legs and hands with a coarseness she hadn't realized could exist. It was a comfort though and so without a second thought she sunk deep into the coarse fur and the warmth it offered her.

She didn't hear but felt the reassuring growl reverberating through the body surrounding her as she slipped into a deep sleep.

TeenTitans

"So you called on the Justice League to come and help out?" Cyborg questioned as he looked at the three members in front of him while working on the damages to his body once more. He was hoping to have most of his systems at least halfway fixed by the day's end.

Batman nodded his head as he changed the bandages on Robin's body. The wounds had scabbed over but very little else had happened since Phantom had damaged the body. "Yes. The city is in ruins and the fires are still raging. I'm surprised the entire place hasn't fallen to the ground in ash."

Robin grimaced at a particular wound on his arm was wrapped. "Yeah. The real question though is where the civilians and the criminals are as well. I saw the jail and it was in just as much disrepair as the rest of the city."

Slade scowled as he moved to talk but stopped as he coughed harshly before waving off an obviously worried Superman. It was obvious that his throat was inflamed and most likely damaged from the confrontation with Plasmius and Dan. He'd have to use a different avenue of communication to get his point across. With that in mind he walked over to Robin to try and get the boy's attention or even the bat like hero that sat in front of the Boy Wonder.

The Titans ignored the Villain Master Mind as they all worked on fixing up their injuries as Batman began to explain to his two teammates what had been going on the last week since he showed up in Jump City.

Superman just nodded his head at the tale while Flash's jaw hit the floor and was left gaping at the Dark Knight. "You have to be kidding me! Ghosts? Like actual Ghosts with the whole haunting a person and saying Boo?" He questioned incredulously.

Robin turned towards Flash at that with an amused smirk on his face and shook his head. "No, not quite like that." He interceded. "These ghosts are much more dangerous and can cause more damage. They can touch you and kick your ass if you aren't prepared for it. They can disappear and reappear whenever they want and some of their abilities are just insane." He stated as he remembered the wishing ghost.

Batman nodded his head in agreement. "Robin is right. They are some of the most dangerous things I have encountered so far but they also have a sensible mind when talked to. They're smart Flash, so don't underestimate them." He growled out at the red suited hero.

The speedster scowled at Batman before nodding his head in understanding. "Then how are we going to fight them? We don't exactly have the ability to touch them whenever we want like they do after all." He said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

That was about the time when a loud slap was heard and a yelp. "What do you want!?" Robin exclaimed as he looked at Slade with irritation, rubbing the back of his head.

Slade glared at the boy before making motions with his hands in a rapid fire way, confusing all but three in the room. "He's got what we need?" Flash asked skeptically as he looked Slade over with a critical eye.

Slade looked at the speedster with a curious look while Batman and Robin stared at Flash with equally incredulous looks. "You can read Sign?" Robin asked with wide eyes.

"Of course I can! I like to talk! Even if I don't talk with my mouth I can talk with my hands if I really need to." Flash explained cockily before looking at Slade once more. "So you have ghost fighting equipment at your base huh; will you be able to teach us how to use it?" He questioned next while Batman got back to wrapping Robin's injuries back up.

Slade nodded his head as he signed once more. Flash translated for the rest who couldn't read sign easily. 'Of course. I taught Robin a good amount of techniques that he still uses today. I'll be able to teach the rest of you Neanderthals without too much of a problem…except maybe you.'

"Not cool dude!" Flash exclaimed as he scowled at the other angrily. "Who the hell are you even? I don't think I've ever seen you or heard of you before." Flash questioned a moment later, suspicion sinking into his eyes and body language.

"He's right. I haven't seen or heard about a man with a mask like yours." Superman cut in as well, obviously prepared to attack Slade if needed to. "Mind telling us exactly who you are and how your mixed up in all of this?"

'The name is Slade and I have provided…a challenge for the Teen Titans here. I've also trained Robin in several different forms of Martial arts in the past.' Slade stated carefully as he looked at the three Justice League heroes. He'd be able to escape even with red caped hero's x-ray vision, but he would rather have them as allies at the moment than enemies.

"He's the most intelligent and powerful human villain that I've ever had to fight against." Robin easily ruined all of those plans. "I don't know what his aim is or what he really wants but everything he has done has harmed another in one way or another." He explained as he sent a glare to a stoic Slade.

"No kidding." Cyborg said as he stretched out a leg to see how it moved before smiling happily at it before moving onto the other leg. "He's stuck nanobots in our bodies once just so he could keep control of Robin. Just about killed us in the process."

"He has also assisted in the release of a great demon by the name of Trigon." Starfire added in, her head tilted to the side as she too glared at Slade. "It ended with the end of this world and all turned to stone."

"Let's not forget about Terra as well. If he hadn't of preyed on her desire to control her powers then she wouldn't have tried to kill us and ended up turned to stone when she tried to save us at the end." Robin also put in.

"Whoa, so this guy is as bad as Luther huh?" Flash questioned as he came to stand directly in front of Slade with his hands on his hips and a glare that would have put enemies six feet under if it had been on Batman. "Why should we trust you then, huh?"

Batman finished bandaging Robin and went to stand next to Flash, Superman coming up on the other side of the speedster as well, leaving all three to glare at the Master villain. "How do we know that you are here to help us stop these…ghosts?" He questioned stoically. Anger would get them nowhere at this point and they needed all the help they could get.

'I want him back.' Slade signed angrily as he glared at the Dark Knight, knowing that the bat would know what he meant.

"Who's he talking about?" Flash questioned as he glanced at Batman before returning to Slade. "Who does he want back?"

"His apprentice. A boy by the name of Phantom and the one that took Robin and I into the Ghost Zone so the two could get their bodies back." Batman replied as he frowned at the villain. "He disappeared just as we reappeared here in the human world on the Tower. I'm still unsure of how we got here."

'I want my Apprentice back. It is getting annoying having to search for him all the time.' Slade signed quickly before turning to Robin. 'We will need to work together to take care of Plasmius and that other one as well.'

Robin scowled at that but looked at the three Justice League members. "What do you guys think? Wanna team up and take care of these two ghosts and find the civilians?" He questioned. A part of Robin wanted no help from them as he wanted to prove that he could handle this but another part of him knew that he needed help. That was the part he listened to at the moment and so he looked at the three people he had grown up knowing as a kid. He needed their help and he needed it desperately as one of his teammates had run off and the other was…

Robin stopped himself from continuing on in that thought and watched as the three Justice league members all shared a glance and then looked back at him and nodded. "We'll help." Superman stated with a smile at Robin. "Besides we couldn't leave one of our own to deal with something so dangerous alone."

Robin smiled and nodded his thanks.

DannyPhantom

"Are you sure you want to do this Skulker?" Ember questioned from her place on the bed, her hair surrounding her in gentle lapping waves of flames while her emerald eyes shined with worry.

Skulker grunted as he finished getting into his suit and getting it back into working order. "Yes…despite everything we have put each other through, despite all the pain and injuries caused, and despite the help I lent Plasmius in destroying his family and hunting him down after he ran…he came and helped us…you and our child when we needed it the most…that is something I will never be able to repay him." He explained calmly and confidently.

Ember frowned but nodded her head in agreement. "Alright then…Desiree will be here with me if anything happens…" She trailed off there as Skulker walked over to her and leaned over to plant a kiss on her lips. "Be safe and come back…our child deserves to meet their father after all." She stated with a worried smile on her face.

Skulker smirked as he stood. "Of course I'll be back! I'm the Ghost Zone's Greatest Hunter after all! Nothing will keep me from returning to you Ember…not even someone like Clockwork would be able to stop me." He informed before turning serious once more and meeting the eyes of the Wishing Ghost. "Keep her safe for me." He stated.

Desiree nodded her head in agreement as she held her hands out. "You know how to phrase it properly…and only this time Skulker will I not intentionally mess with it." She informed seriously.

Skulker nodded his head in understanding. "I wish for you to protect Ember and the child with everything you have until I have returned to do so myself."

"So you have wished it…so shall it be." Desiree stated as her energy began to form around the three of them. "Now, be gone Skulker and do what you must." She ordered.

Skulker nodded and soon took off from his Island. "Now to gather some allies in this." Skulker decided as he took off in the direction of some of the most well-known and powerful ghosts in the Ghost Zone.

Teen Titans

Slade stalked back and forth on top of Titan Tower as the rest of the group were downstairs talking about how to better handle the situation and how to get to Slade's lair without being detected.

The master villain knew that the talks were necessary, as were the plans, but he was impatient and anxious to get started. He wanted to find his student…his apprentice…his son he quietly admitted to himself, and bring him back to where he belonged.

Slade remembered when he had first found Phantom. A scrawny teenager covered in what seemed to be blood and green glowing goo, screaming as electricity ran over his skin and apparently through him. He remembered forcing that same boy to stand and follow him and then how he had carried the teen to his lair when it was obvious the boy was too weak to go much further.

He had been impressed to see the boy continue to fight to live and continue on despite his injuries. He became awed by the boy once he had gotten the full story and then protective once he realized the hell the child had gone through. He had never felt like that before, not with Terra nor Robin.

Slade huffed as he stopped and looked out towards the still burning city, obviously done by a ghost since most of the buildings were still standing even though they were burning viciously for hours. He was sure that Phantom would have been able to tell him how that was possible and then how to stop it if he was here now.

But the boy wasn't there at the moment. He was somewhere that Slade couldn't get to him because the Master didn't know where he was. He needed to find the boy before something happened to him.

"You will see him again." A voice intoned from behind him, causing Slade to whip around with the ecto-bo-staff in hand. "I have come to inform you that Danny Phantom is safe and protected where he is at the moment."

Slade blinked at the purple robed ghost in front of him. The blue skin, red eyes, the strange staff that resembled a sort of clock. Then he watched as the youthful form of the ghost changed into that of a ground man. He recognized this ghost from descriptions that Phantom had given him before. Then he registered the weight against his chest and looked down at a gear like medallion that held a CW on it. 'Clockwork…the ghost that is the guardian of Phantom.' Slade thought as he glared at the ghost.

Clockwork smirked at the human in front of him as he floated over to the edge of the tower, his form changing into an old man. "I have come to inform you that there is a decision in the time line that will affect what will happen to Danny." He stated as Slade came to stand beside the ghost cautiously.

Slade looked out over the land once more, taking in the fact that everything seemed frozen while he was still able to move. Obviously this was what Phantom meant when time stopped when Clockwork appeared. 'Must be serious if he's here as well. That's the only reason he ever showed himself to Phantom in the human world.'

"I cannot tell you exactly what will happen but I can assure you and give you advice that will help with what is coming." Clockwork said, not completely unaware of what was going on in the man's head. "Phantom is safe and is traveling on a path that is needed for him to become stronger and able to handle the battles that are coming. Battles that will decide the fate of both the Human world and the Ghost Zone." Clockwork changed into the youthful child again as he continued. "He will return once he has gained his powers back at full strength and when his allies are ready to attack."

Slade nodded his head in understanding, going to speak but stopped when his throat throbbed at the attempt.

"Your voice will return in time…when it is most needed…but for now know that revenge can be sweet but will destroy all…while love can be bitter but save all." Clockwork explained as he changed into an adult. "Do not forget that when the time comes to make a very important decision…exactly how important is Danny Phantom to you Slade?" With that everything seemed to slow and then the medallion disappeared from his chest and the Time ghost was gone.

'What did he mean?' Slade thought as he watched the flames flicker once more and the waves lap at the shore down below. 'And why does he want to know exactly how important Phantom is to me…does it really hold that much importance to what is going to happen?'

"Slade! We need to get going." Robin called from the roof entrance. Slade just nodded as he looked at the city one more time before turning around and following the Boy Wonder back down into the tower.

'Phantom…I will find you…my son.' Slade thought as he listened to the plan that the group had come up with to get to his lair and his Ghost weapons.

DannyPhantom

"Are you sure of this Skulker?" Technus questioned as he looked the hunter over. "We know of the power that Plasmius holds, we cannot be going against him lightly."

Skulker scowled at his old friend angrily. "OF course I know that! I'm the one who knows that man the best after all! But he's done enough! He's hurt enough!" He stated irritably.

"But you have always wanted the ghost child on your wall and now you want to help him?" The white haired ghost questioned with a raised brow. "What is up with that?"

Skulker growled as he glared at the other before smirking and holding out his arm and pointing his gun at the technology ghost. "Either help me or I'll be hunting you from now on Technus."

Technus cringed at that thought before sighing and nodding his head. "Fine, who else are you going to get in on this? Not many will want to help save the ghost child due to all the trouble he had caused us in the past."

Skulker nodded his head in understanding before a smirk slid over his face. "Despite all the enemies that the Ghost child had…he also had many allies. All of which I know of and shall go and get. You will be getting the others that have gone against him and convince them to join in this fight…if they don't want to tell them that the fate of the Ghost Zone is at stake if we don't." He added in thoughtfully.

Technus nodded as he led the hunter out of his lair. "Where shall we meet and what time?"

"We'll meet at Plasmius's portal in a few hours. Bring as many as you can." Skulker stated as he took off.

Technus sighed as he watched the hunter take off for several moments before he too disappeared into the Ghost Zone. There was a lot to do with so little time to do it in.

DannyPhantom

"Mommy!" A little raven haired boy shouted out in glee as he ran towards a crimson long haired woman in a blue hazmat suit. "Did you see!? I jumped really high from the swings and I landed perfectly! Just like you taught me!" He exclaimed happily as he flew into the woman's open arms.

The woman laughed happily as she held the little boy in her arms. "Yes Danny! You did perfectly! You're a natural at the Martial Arts dear! You'll be a great fighter one day!" Maddie Fenton praised as she hugged her child close to her, laughing along with her son.

Danny smiled happily as well. He had always loved his mother and wanted to do anything and everything with her. That was how he had started Martial Arts training. It was because he had seen his mother practicing and had begged her to teach him. He only ever used it in training though, never in real life. "Can we get some ice cream mommy?"

Maddie smiled and nodded her head in agreement. "It is kinda hot out so let's go and get some to cool off. Then how about we go and check on Daddy and Jazzy?" She questioned next.

"Yeah! We can get them some ice cream too!" Danny exclaimed excitedly as he knew both his father's and sister's favorite flavors. He couldn't wait to surprise them.

"That's a great idea Danny. Come on, let's go and get that ice cream then." The mother said happily as she set the boy back onto his feet and then took his hand in her own.

"Yay! Ice cream! Ice Cream! Ice cream!" Danny sang happily as he walked with his mother down the street, eager to get some ice cream.

Mother and son laughed and chatted as they walked but both were forced to stop when several men stepped in front of them. The all wore black suits with black sunglasses with the same military buzz cut. "Are you Madeline Fenton?" One man questioned stoically.

"Uh…may I ask who's asking?" She questioned warily. She had pulled Danny behind her and was holding him there so that he would be hidden somewhat.

"My boss wants you to come with us." He explained with a freezing smile. "We have business with one Vlad Masters."

"If you have business with Vlad then that doesn't involve me. Now if you'll excuse me I have somewhere to be." Maddie stated coldly as she turned to walk away with Danny but was stopped by more men behind her and then she saw that she was surrounded on all sides.

"I'm afraid that you aren't going anywhere."

Danny could only stare in horror as his mother was rushed and he was ripped away from her.

TeenTitans

A.N. So second chapter done. What do you guys think so far? Good or bad? Wonderings what is going on exactly and how it'll all end….well so am I! Nah joking I got a plan. So review and tell me what you guys thought! Can't wait to hear!