"Well, that didn't go as well as I hoped." Clockwork sighed, feeling older than ever. Things were rapidly getting out of hand. Trigon had finally escaped his prison and the ghost zone was under siege. He dearly wished he could help Danny in Jump City, but he would have to fight this battle on his own.

"Any more ideas, Clockwork?" one of the Observants demanded. "It won't be long before Trigon destroys us all! True, he is badly weakened from his journey, but that will not last long."

"I admit, for once in my life, I find myself at a bit of a loss." Clockwork replied, still in the form of an old man. He was curious as to why he did not shift forms, but they had other things to worry about at the moment.

"But we cannot simply give up." Frostbite insisted. "If we can overthrow Pariah Dark, we're perfectly capable of withstanding Trigon's attacks.

"At least with Pariah, we knew what we were dealing with." one of Frostbite's soldiers sighed. "Trigon is completely off the map. I believe I advised you to destroy the portal so this would not happen."

"Plasmius had already attempted such a maneuver, and without success." Clockwork refuted.

"Are you sure he did not have something to do with this?" Frostbite wondered. "It sounds like something he would do: unleash a powerful demon, and manipulate the situation to his advantage."

Before Clockwork could reply, Dora and Poindexter flew in, both looking very frightened. "Clockwork, they have destroyed the realm of aragon!" He exclaimed. "It won't be long until they come after us!"

"I never liked my brother, but he did not deserve such a fate." Dora added sadly, lost in grief. "What are we going to do? Danny Phantom isn't here to help us this time."

"All we can do is give Danny and Plasmius a chance." Clockwork eventually said. "They will have to work together to defeat this new threat. If they can manage it, I see a new era of cooperation."

"Can you not speak in riddles, Clockwork?" Poindexter requested. "It's the last thing we need right now."

"If you wish, I will send my forces to aid Danny and the Titans in Jump City." Frostbite offered. "I imagine they are badly in need of assistance."

"No, send me!" Vortex laughed, speaking up for the first time. "I'm far more useful than those (breath) pathetic yetis of Frostbite!"

"Enough, Vortex." Clockwork intervened before a fight could break out. "Whatever we decide, it must be quick. I am beginning to lose my powers, and it is only a matter of time before they are destroyed."

"What does that mean?" Dora inquired. "I've never heard anything like that happening to you before."

"I believe it means that Trigon's rule is spreading rapidly." Frostbite sighed. "We may have to resort to desperate measures. I don't like this, but we may not have any other choice."

"Are you mad, Frostbite?" Poindexter demanded. "Do you know what the consequences will be?"

"I agree with Frostbite." Dora spoke up. "It's the lesser of two evils. I hate the idea, but we are out of options. Our power is not sufficient to hold off Trigon."

"We cannot take such an action!" The observant warned. "Do you recall the results of our last emissary? They were slaughtered without hesitation!"

"Well, you fools had better make up your mind!" Vortex exclaimed, annoyed by the lack of action. Couldn't they see they needed to take the offensive. "I intend to destroy these (breath) annoying demons before they do the same to us, and I suggest you do the same."

"Okay, who do we know that has the ability to stand up to Trigon, and have a chance at survival?" asked Poindexter.

"Out of us, only Vortex, and even he will not be victorious." The observant replied. "My people are ready to fight, but we have no illusions about the futility. If we fall, we intend to go down fighting."

"Danny Phantom and Vlad Plasmius." Frostbite replied to Poindexter. "Both have gotten themselves out of impossible situations, but I fail to see how they will survive this time."

Ember, Johnny 13, and Kitty flew into Clockwork's tower. All three looked exhausted and wounded. Many ghosts had followed them, with similar expressions. "They're coming!" Kitty exclaimed. "They found us!"

"Good! Now they will feel the full power of (breath) Vortex!" Vortex laughed, charging up lightning in his hands.

"They'll be here in a matter of minutes!" Johnny informed them. "We don't have the strength to fight them."

"He's right." Frostbite confirmed. "I will head back to my people, and prepare them for war. All of you are welcome to join me. We are going to need all the allies we can get to survive this dark time."

"We have to hurry, dipsticks!" Ember warned. "I don't feel like being barbequed by these idiots!" They flew out, one after the other. Frostbite and Clockwork led the others, while Vortex brought up the rear in case the demons tried to attack them from behind. The third quadrant of the ghost zone was lost.

"Is there any others who would be willing to help us?" asked Dora. "Many are fleeing to the human world, thinking they will find refuge."

"They would be wrong." The observant sighed, shaking his head. "Jump City has been taken by Trigon, and it will not be long before other human cities fall as well. Danny Phantom is beyond our help now. All we can do is wish him luck."

"I suggest we go to my realm." Frostbite stated. "We are experienced fighters, and have one of the strongest armies in the ghost world."

"On the contrary, I have another idea." Clockwork smirked. "I was considering that we go to the Green City. It's the most secure place in this country. Well, the dimensional equivalent of the country; you get what I'm trying to say. It's also the only area where there is peace."

After a brief argument, they agreed to go. That is, except for Frostbite, who decided to warn his people instead. All of them knew the Green City would be besieged, but prayed they had the strength to withstand the assault. Trigon's forces were spreading fast, and none of them knew what his true power was.

None of them realized that the evil Phantom was plotting his escape.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

"We can't just sit around." Cyborg complained. "Raven is counting on us. Why else would she protect us against Trigon's spell?"

"That may be true, but we can't fight right now." Maddie sighed. "I'm coming up with a plan, but it'll take time to use. Do you know of any weakness Trigon has?"

"No, I'm afraid not." Robin replied. "Raven knew far more about her father than we do."

"And you didn't bother to enquire?" Vlad demanded. "You may have just doomed us all because you figured she had a right to privacy. We knew little about Trigon, and our fight will likely be futile."

"You mean we're going to die?" Tucker asked. "No one said we were going to die!"

"It's a risk you take when you're a hero." Jazz sighed. "You will always have enemies."

"I'll find a way to take him down!" Jack promised. "There's never been a paranormal being that can stand up to Jack Fenton!"

"Yes, we cannot let Trigon destroy the world!" Starfire agreed, flying up in her excitement.

"But in terms of power, he outmatches us." Danny warned. "We need to find a way to weaken him. Mom, do you still have the spector deflector?"
"Yes, I brought it with us." Maddie replied. "I have the Fenton Peeler, Fenton Bazooka, and the gliders."

"And we have experience on our side." Beast Boy cried out. "When we face Trigon, he better watch out!"

"But you said these things work against ghosts." Danielle stated. "Do they work against demons as well?"

"That's true; I didn't think of that." Maddie admitted.

"We can test them on his minions." Vlad suggested. "If they work, we go after him. I have the Plasmius Maximus: Version 2. It shorts out powers of both hybrids and full ghosts."

"This will be the hunt of my afterlife!" Skulker yelled gleefully, before being quieted by Fright Knight.

"We can't let Raven down." Sam insisted. "I finally found someone that I can relate to."

"With all our minds working together, we'll find a way!" Jack exclaimed. Robin nodded in agreement, a black beam firing out of his hand. "Whoa, what was that!"

"Raven must have given us some of her power." Robin realized. "This provides us with another weapon."

"After we recover, we'll go after them." Tucker smirked. "Do you have any extra copies of the Fenton Peeler?"

"Yeah, I made one for each of us!" Jack replied, handing him one. "Be careful; I wasn't able to bring spare ammunition on the plane… something about it being flammable."

"Where did your dad have the time to build so many?" Cyborg wondered, surprised at his skill.

"He's good at what he does." Danny replied. "Sure, his inventions don't always work, but he's got endless ideas. My dad builds the inventions, and my mom makes sure there are no bugs."

"Maybe your parents can help me enhance my baby." Cyborg suggested. "I'd like to see what kind of ghost-fighting abilities it would have."

"Your 'baby' is nothing but rubble, as is the rest of the tower." Robin reminded him and he groaned.

"Yes, thanks for pointing out the obvious." Vlad replied, rolling his eyes. "This discussion isn't helping us. Next time we fight Trigon, we have to have some sort of plan. We're wasting time simply sitting here."

"Perhaps the soul shredder with work on him." Fright Knight suggested.

"No, it won't do anything." Skulker growled. "You tried that when Trigon overcame Raven's mind and it didn't work. What makes you think we'll have any better luck with the real thing?"

"I have a feeling the key to victory is Raven." Danny stated. "All we have to do is find her."

"Dude, did you see what happened to her?" Tucker exclaimed. "I doubt she's even alive!"

"Daniel has a point." Vlad cut in. "He's an evil dictator and Raven is a valuable weapon. She's alive, in one form or another."

"I'm not sure about that." Sam replied. "Isn't she too much of a danger to keep around?"

"Don't talk about her like that!" Beast Boy demanded. "She was much more than a weapon. She was our friend!"

"We know, Beast Boy, but we need to know for sure." Maddie intervened. "I suggest we send a few of us to search for her."

"What about Trigon?" Jazz wondered. "I doubt he's simply going to let us."

"How about we split into two groups." Tucker asked. "The first group will search for Raven, and the second group will keep him distracted. Guys, you said you received some of Raven's power, so that should be enough to keep him occupied."

"An excellent idea, friend Tucker!" Starfire exclaimed. "Trigon will pay for what he did to friend Raven!"

"Yes, I agree with the alien!" Technus. "I, Technus, will prove that ghosts are superior to his pathetic kind."

"I volunteer to go fight Trigon." Skulker. "There's only room for one hunter, and it will be me!"

"We finally have a plan!" Jack exclaimed. "I'll go with you ghosts, but don't think I'm going to stop hunting you once this is over."

"We already know your views, mortal." Fright Knight replied sternly. "You are prejudiced, as are most of your kind."

"We have other things to worry about." Vlad cut in. "I will help find Raven. She's likely our only hope."

"It figures you'd choose the safer path, Plasmius." Danny snapped. "Ally or not, you're still a coward! Raven will be avenged, I promise you that!"

"What do we do with the agents?" Tucker pointed to the three remaining, who as of yet had said nothing. "They should be part of this too."

"The majority of us should go and distract Trigon." Masters stated in his typical monotone. "It is the most important of the two tasks, and it will not take many to find Raven."

"Wait, where's Danielle?" Sam asked. "I haven't seen her anywhere." Danielle appeared, crashing into the ground. She was bruised, but capable of fighting as Slade appeared. All of them glared with hatred.

"You're going to regret coming here." Vlad snarled, transforming into Plasmius. He blasted Slade in the torso, knocking him aside, and duplicated into 4. The Titans and Fentons were ready to attack as well.

"Wait, I've come to help!" Slade exclaimed, actually afraid. He knew he was no much for Plasmius, much less the others. "We have the same goal!"

"Why should we believe you?" Danny demanded furiously. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't blast you out of existence!"

You're more like me than you'll ever know, Daniel. Vlad thought. He had ever seen him this angry, even during his fights with the younger hybrid.

"Trigon betrayed me, boy, and I do not plan on serving him any longer." Slade replied, now in his usual calm voice.

"You've done enough; now leave before I destroy you." Robin snarled, grabbing his bo staff.

"You can't survive without me, Robin." Slade replied. "You see, I know where Raven resides. She's your only hope for survival."

"Yes, we know that already." Jack laughed. "Now what's your point?"

"I know her exact location, and I can take you to her." Slade declared. "However, it may not be what you want to see."

"Fine, take me there." Robin replied, glaring at him.

"No, friend Robin! This is a trap!" Starfire protested.

"I know that, but we don't have a choice." Robin whispered. "I'll be back, I promise."

"And I'm going with you." Vlad declared. "I'm quite able to handle Slade alone."

"I suggest you let me go with you." Fright Knight offered. "I promised to defend you, Vlad."

"No; the others will need you." Vlad replied. "The only one I'm taking is Danielle."

"Thanks, Daddy!" She exclaimed, hugging him from behind. Afterwards, she blasted Slade, pushing him to his knees. He was about to jump into the action, but stopped when he saw Vlad's glare. Both transformed back into their human selves.

"You might want to make your move quickly." Slade suggested. "Trigon is recovering his strength, so now would be the time to attack. Come on; we've wasted enough time on farewells." He walked off, Robin, Vlad, and Danielle following.

"I hope they can handle themselves." Tucker worried. "Huh, never thought I'd care about what happened to Vlad."

"Enough talking!" Jack exclaimed. "It's time to teach Trigon what it means to mess with the Fentons!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Phantom laughed as he saw his chance. Firing his ghostly wail yet again, he managed to shatter the barrier surrounding him. Now what to do was another question. Tempted as he was to get revenge on his younger self, considering what he had heard about Trigon, that might have to wait. So that demon had finally gotten loose. Frankly, he was surprised that the cheesehead was not responsible.

Taking his time, he systemically destroyed Clockwork's already damaged home. That being done, Phantom flew out, wondering when he would get to be part of this. Even he felt a certain kindred with ghosts, and would fight against the invaders.

A few dozen demons came flying towards Phantom, all ready to tear him up. He simply put up a shield and they impacted. It was almost comical how they fell, like dominoes. Not wasting time with witty banter, he destroyed them with a single high-powered shot.

"Let's see who else I can destroy." Phantom grinned, and flew off into the ghost zone.