Author's Note: Another fun Romp. Welcome to Chapter 1. You didn't have to wait long, now did you? My goal is to give you guys a new chapter every Saturday. Hopefully, I can succeed. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Lost and Found Chapter 1: The More Things Stay the Same…
Life was good.
Danny was never a fan of using old clichés, but in this case he had to admit: life was good. If you had asked him only a few weeks ago how his life had been fairing, he would have told you otherwise. Before, he was in a perpetual state of angst and turmoil. He was never happy and the only satisfaction he got was from hunting ghosts, though even with that, it wasn't as filling as he would have liked. He kept everyone, his family and friends, at arm's length, in foolish attempt to protect them. All of that changed, however, when his parents took a job to track down ghosts in Jump City and took his sister and him along for the ride. It was then that he met the person that he could thank for his current, nearly euphoric state: Raven.
The half ghost was currently in the Titan's training room, doing a light workout. After two weeks or so of being bedridden after his last battle, he had finally been able to leave the medical bay… or rather, he had decided bust himself out. Truth be told, he felt restless being in bed twenty-four seven. He felt that every day he lost there was another day for him to get soft. Although he had changed recently and he wasn't as obsessive as he was before, his reason for training was still there: Danny wanted to be at his best, so that he would be able to protect the best he could.
He currently was working on the new punching bag the Titans had installed, re-enforced chain and all. The last one had suffered an ill fate, being viciously assaulted by Danny back when he was what Tucker referred to as his "emo" state. This time, however, he wasn't beating it senselessly while he battled internal demons. Instead, he used it as a way to clear his head, which it often did. He thought about how much he had actually changed in only a few weeks time: he wasn't depressing or gloomy (how Beast Boy described him) anymore, though he wasn't the naive boy he used to be, either. He couldn't necessarily go back to that; times had changed. He needed to be focused on his heroic duties yet at the same time, he knew now his true strength lay with his family and friends.
Speaking of his friends, he thought about Sam and Tucker back in Amity Park. The two had called him nearly every day, providing him much needed support as he recuperated from his injuries. He was glad that he was able to patch up the friendship he nearly destroyed with his ignorance and stupidity. Both of his friends were worried about his injuries, Sam more so than Tucker, though she furiously denied it. Danny could tell though, as her voice always faltered slightly whenever he fell victim to a coughing fit (as a result of the strain of the massive ghostly wail he had used in the last battle). Tucker brought a refreshing lightheartedness that Danny had missed a great deal. They joked and kidded like it was the good old days, though Danny knew things weren't necessarily the same. Speaking over the phone was one thing; meeting face to face when he headed back home would be another matter.
Though his friends provided him with much encouragement, the one who helped him on the road to recovery the most was Raven. He audibly sighed as his thoughts went to the sorceress he was smitten with. Thanks to the damage she had sustained, she, too, was laid up in the medical bay along with Danny, providing much needed companionship for the halfa. The two used the time together to their advantage, getting to know one another. The budding couple was still reluctant to let the others know about their relationship, so whatever communication that did occur between them was done in secret. This, of course, was complicated by Jazz, who seemed to make it a hobby of teasing them. They eventually found a solution to peacefully converse: often times, the Titans found the two reading in silence; though in reality they were holding conversations via psychic link.
"There you are," a familiar voice called from the door way. Danny turned to find Raven, who entered the room as the doors swooshed shut behind her, "You know, you didn't have to sneak out of the medical bay. We were going to discharge you today, anyway."
"I know," Danny replied with a playful grin, "Just wanted to catch up with all the training I've missed while I was out of commission." He noticed immediately the stern look that sprung from Raven's face, "And no, I'm not overdoing it. I'm taking it easy, like you ordered, doc."
"Good," she said in an approving manner, her expression softening. "I worked pretty hard at fixing you up. Don't be in a hurry to get hurt again."
"And you do such good work, too," Danny complimented as she finally reached him. Grinning, he bent down and kissed her full on the mouth. She responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, enjoying every moment. Their lips parted, both of them with a breathless look on their face. "The coast is clear, right?" Danny asked after clearing his head, "I mean, the last thing we need is Jazz interrupting us. Again."
"I've already suggested to you a solution to that problem," Raven replied in subtly playful manner.
"Somehow, I don't think my parents would appreciate if their eldest daughter started clucking like a chicken," Danny deadpanned, "Let's keep that as our backup plan, though. Seeing my sister laying eggs would be fun to watch."
"I keep that spell memorized, just in case the boys act a little bit too rowdy in the tower," Raven sardonically replied.
"Speaking of the others," he said, "Although the whole sneaking around thing is exciting and everything, you do realize we're going to have to tell the others about us. It is only a matter of time that they find out, if they haven't already."
"I know," she replied as they held each other close, his arms around her. "Trust me, I know. I don't think Starfire can last much longer keeping it to herself. Robin probably suspects, though I'm surprised that he hasn't mentioned anything. Cyborg and Beast Boy are going to have a field day once they find out."
"They can't be as bad as my sister," Danny retorted.
"Your sister, I can handle. Those two take teasing to a whole other level. They had a field day when Robin and Star finally got together."
"Still, we can't keep this a secret forever," Danny stated. Raven simply nodded in response. She looked like she was deep in thought on the matter. Suddenly, her face changed, as if she remembered to do something. Pulling away, she grabbed the halfa's hand and began to drag him towards the door. "Hey! Where are we going?"
"Just follow me," she answered cryptically. She ended it there, failing to elaborate further. Danny simply shrugged while being led by Raven through the tower.
JPJPJPJPJPJPJPJPJPJPJP
"Good Morning, Jump City!" a cheery anchorman greeted, "This is Geoff Johns."
"And I'm Tara Strong," his partner interjected, in an even more cheerful manner than him.
"And welcome to 'Jump City Today'," they said in unison.
"Here is what's happening today," Tara continued, "Much of Jump City is still recovering after a string of ghost attacks threatened the city. The attacks culminated in two weeks ago, as what appeared to be a large dimensional portal that blotted out much of the city sky."
"The plans of the ghosts in question, which still remain a mystery, were stopped by our own Teen Titans, with help from an unlikely source: the enigmatic ghost known as Danny Phantom," the male announcer resumed. The scene changed on screen, as they showed a stock footage of Phantom in action. "The heroes were also helped by renowned ghost specialists Jack and Maddie Fenton from Amity Park, Oregon. Though there have not been any supernatural occurrences since the incident, the Fenton's have decided stayed in Jump City at the moment to ensure there isn't another outbreak."
"The damage sustained during the rampage of the spectral deviants was extensive, with much of the downtown area still in shambles. Work has already begun on the affected areas, though city officials have said that there would need to be extensions in the emergency budget. In other news…"
The TV continued to drone on about the local news, though few commuters gave notice as they rushed through the busy bus terminal. A few overnight buses had arrived early that morning, brining in visitors to Jump City. Some were there for business, but many were merely tourists, hoping to view the sights and sounds that the city had to offer; most notably, to catch a glimpse of the world famous Teen Titans in action. Few of them seemed perturbed by the recent supernatural in the city; in fact, it seemed to excite them even more. Many of them were even curious to see the enigmatic ghost boy, Danny Phantom.
One person in particular had been paying attention to the previous story avidly; a single figure amongst the crowd. It was short, and petite, standing out of the way of traffic. Though the clothing probably used to be baggy and loose at one time, it now seemed to be a few sizes too small and very worn down; the sleeves ending abruptly a few inches before the wrists. The hood of the sweatshirt they wore was worn tightly, mostly hiding their face; though a tuft of raven black hair could be seen sticking out. The size and contours of the body suggested that the figure in question was female; one that was just budding into pubescence.
The moment TV had begun its report of the attack and Titans, she gave her undivided attention. She seemed almost mesmerized as she watched, especially when the ghost boy was mentioned. Once the news moved on the other topics, however, she lost interest. Her focus no longer captivated, she brought her arms up and began to stretch. It had been somewhat of a long trip, or at least it had felt that way in her 'seat'. Six hours hiding in the lower storage department of a bus was more than enough for her. She was more than relieved to be free from that cramped, coffin-like space and was surprised she had even survived the ordeal. Hopefully, it would have been worth it.
She suddenly froze as waves of pain suddenly overtook her fragile body. She would never get used to this, which was happening more and more frequently. Along with the pain, she could feel the more than familiar sensation of her body deteriorating. She didn't have to look down to realize that there was a puddle of green goo forming underneath her. She quickly shut her eyes and concentrated, her eyebrows furrowing under her hood. She focused as hard as she could on staying solid, the only way she knew how to combat this problem of hers.
Slowly but surely, the aching subsided, though it was a lot harder to subdue than the last time this happened. She opened her eyes cautiously and breathed a huge sigh; the lower half of her body was all there and there was no sign of any goo. Her gaze quickly turned upward, her eyes darting back and forth, to determine whether anyone had witnessed her predicament. Fortunately, everyone was too busy rushing to their destinations to notice. Tugging on her hood, she melded into the crowd, hiding among the sea of people.
She was determined now. She didn't know how many more times she could go through that before she finally disappeared completely. There was no time to waste now. She had to meet him: Phantom. He was probably the only one who could help her. No, that was wrong. There was another person, but she promised herself never to deal with him again; that and there was no guarantee he would help her anyway. Phantom was her only chance now. That is, if he was still here. It was a risk she had to take. She was too afraid to ever go ask for help when he was in Amity Park; that person would probably be watching. The Fenton's were still in town, so she hoped that held true for the ghost boy as well...
With her mind set, the girl pulled out a tourist map she had recently acquired before arriving there. It showed all the hot spots of the city, though one in particular caught her eye: the island with the giant T. If Phantom was anywhere, it would be there. And if he wasn't, she was sure the Titans would know where to find him. They were superheroes, after all. They would help her. After surveying her surrounding, she began her trek to the harbor, which was a good deal away, when she felt a chill at the pit of her stomach. Her mouth opened, revealing ominous blue mist. Her eyes scanned the area again. Darn it; she thought she had lost it a few changeovers back. How did it track her? Her feet carried her forward as fast as she could as she made her way to the exit.
Unbeknownst to her, four eyes glowed menacingly. They had been tracking their prey's scent for a long time now as it tried to elude them, though that didn't matter. Soon, it would be captured and the master would be pleased.
DPTTDPTTDPTTDPTTDPTTDP
"Come on, Rae," Danny began, "Where are we going?" The sorceress had been relatively silent during their trip through the tower. Whenever she did respond, she would answer cryptically, traces of a devious smile dancing across her lips.
"You'll know when we get there," she answered, finally arriving in front of the door to the common room. "Speaking of which..." Danny was going to pepper her with more questions, before being silenced by a single kiss on the lips, "You may want to transform," she suggested. She suddenly encased herself with black energy and phased through the wall, leaving the halfa dumbfounded. Shrugging, Danny went ghost, transforming into Phantom, before phasing through the doors himself.
Despite it being morning, the room was unusually dark; not only were the window shades pulled down, but no one had bothered to turn on any of the lights. The only source of illumination available was from the large screen, which currently displayed the Titan's logo. He squinted as his eyes adjusted to the unusual lighting. After a few moments, he could make out the unmistakable outlines of the Titans, as they stood in front of the view screen, their features masked by the contrast of light.
"Uh, guys?" the halfa asked attentively, "What the heck is going on?" The room remained deathly quiet for a few moments as he waited for some sort of response. It came as a spot light came to life, illuminating the floor in front of the Titans.
"Step forward," Robin asked neutrally, not showing any hint of emotion, whether good or bad. Getting a bad feeling, Danny gulped as he complied, stepping into the column of light "Danny Phantom," Robin continued, "We have a few matters to discuss."
"About…?"
"About your history as a hero," he replied ominously, "And whether you should continue to be one."
"Wait, excuse me?" Danny replied incredulously as his temper flared. Where did this guy have the nerve? "Where the heck is this coming from? Didn't I just…"
"You're impulsive," Robin continued, cutting the halfa off before he could say anything more, "You're reckless and cocky. You jump into situations without thinking things through and without any backup. Because of your hotheadedness, you put the lives of our team and our city at risk."
Incredibly enough, Danny stayed noticeably quiet during Robin's assessment, though his clenched jaw spoke volumes of his current state. His emotions boiled in his gut, building up pressure with each moment. He was angry that they could just pass judgment on him like this. He also felt betrayed; after all the suffering he went through, he still didn't hold up to their standards. At the same time, a part of him couldn't help but agree with what Robin was saying. The fact of the matter was, he was right. He was more or less a loose cannon. His lack of restraint put his friends and family in danger. Was he even fit to be called a hero?
"Furthermore," the boy wonder continued after a moment's silence, "You're courageous to a fault. You have a strong sense of loyalty for your family and friends. You are willing to give your all and then some to protect not only the people you care about, but everyone in the city." The sudden change in Robin's tone completely dissolved any fury Danny had been experiencing, replacing it with bewilderment, which clearly shown on the ghost boy's face. "With this said, I and the Titan's Network have no choice but to give you this." Robin stepped forward till he stood at the edge of the light, his hand outstretched with something the size of his palm. Danny looked down and stared at the piece of plastic and metal, a yellow T emblazoned at its center. It took his mind a few seconds to register what exactly he was looking at. He looked up wide-eyed as he realized what they were asking him.
"You want me to be a titan?" he asked, even more confused than before. "Are you sure?" At the back of his mind, he could feel worry and doubt worming their way into his thoughts. After all the trouble he had caused, they were still willing to trust him? What if he just screwed up again?
"We're sure," Robin assured him, the stern tone replaced with a more jovial one, "You have the makings of a great hero and you'd be a valuable asset to the Titan's Network. We couldn't have defeated those ghosts without you."
"I…I don't know what to say…" He still made no move to take the device from Robin's hand, looking at it warily as if it was a snake ready to strike him. His mind was in turmoil, unsure if he was qualified.
"Just take it already," he heard whispered at the back of his mind. He knew the voice immediately: Raven. He glanced over Robin's shoulder to where the other Titans were standing. He saw Raven's silhouette nod in approval and could almost make out a smile. "You deserve it," he heard her speak telepathically. Her encouragement had the desired effect as he let out a sharp breath, exhaling his torrent of emotions. His face changed to one he would normally use to fight off a ghost: one of determination. He confidently placed his hand on the device and lifted it from the titan's hand.
"I'll do my best," he said with conviction, staring into Robin's mask "I won't let you down."
"Alright!"Cyborg exclaimed in enthusiasm. The room's illumination changed once again, as the lights activated and the window shades pulled up, returning everything to normal. Each one of the Titans had a welcoming smile as they surrounded Danny, voicing their congratulations. "Welcome to the team!"
"This is truly glorious!" an exuberant Starfire cheered, "I shall look forward to do the kicking of evil's posterior with you!"
"Dude," Beast Boy piped in mischievously, "Since you're the newb, there is still the matter of hazing." The changeling held up a rubber chicken and a tutu for emphasis. Before Danny could reply, he found himself in the embrace of his mother. The Fentons had been standing on the sidelines during the initiation. Once the lights of the room came back, they quickly made their way to their son. Maddie turned Danny around and quickly peppered his face with kisses before giving him another hug.
"You don't know how proud we are of you, Danny," she wept in pride. Soon both she and Danny were engulfed by the Jack Fenton, who couldn't wait for his turn to congratulate his son.
"That's my boy!" he boasted loudly, grinning from ear to ear. They finally let go of Danny, who was now thoroughly embarrassed; a blush had made its way across his face.
"Guuys," he whined in protest.
"Mom, Dad," Jazz interrupted, "Are you guys trying to traumatize him?" She turned to her brother, winked and then hugged him herself. "Always knew you were a hero," she whispered before disentangling herself.
"Oh yeah, that wasn't too traumatizing," he exasperated.
"Congratulations," he heard from behind. He turned around to find a smirking Raven, who was clearly enjoying his discomfort.
"You could have warned me this was coming, you know," he carped lightheartedly.
"I know," she replied simply, "The look on your face was completely worth it, though. So is this…" continuing what she had started in the training room, the sorceress kissed Danny once again. The room was suddenly bathed in silence as Fenton and Titan alike stared in shock. The hush didn't last long, however.
"BOOYEAH!" Cyborg erupted as he shot a fist in the air, "I knew it!" He pointed an accusing finger at Beast Boy, "You owe me big time!" The emerald titan simply grumbled in reply.
"Glorious!" Starfire harped in gleefully. Both she and Cyborg engaged in a high-five, gaining an intrigued, but somewhat po'd expression from her boyfriend. "We have won the pool of betting, have we not?"
"We sure did!" Cyborg agreed. Their joy did not go unnoticed, as Raven broke off from lip locking (leaving a dazed Danny) and gave her teammates a cold glare.
"You guys are gambling on my private life?" she asked darkly.
"Starfire gambles?!" Beast Boy asked quizzically.
"It was more of a friendly wager?" the alien girl replied sweetly, a hint if mischief in her eyes. "I believe Robin needs to do the paying up now." The boy wonder cleared his throat in distress.
"Aw, man; Star played you, man," Cyborg crowed teasingly. The barbing, however, was abruptly halted as the alarm sounded throughout the tower. All six Titans put on their game faces as the main screen changed, showing a map of the city. A green dot began to flash near the south side. "Looks like some ecto-plasmic activity. Moving pretty fast, too. Not that strong, though. We probably don't all have to go." Robin seemed to weigh in his options before he turned to Danny.
"You think you can handle it?" he asked the halfa, who replied with a mock salute.
"No problem," Danny replied, "I've been itching for some action, anyway. I would probably need some back up, though…" He glanced innocently at Raven, who rolled her eyes.
"Oh, oh!" Jack exclaimed, holding up his hand as if he were a grade student trying to get the attention of a teacher, "Pick me! I'll go—oof!" A swift poke in the ribs from both Jazz and Maddie caused the large man to lower his arm.
"Come on, Casanova," the dark titan quipped as she walked towards the elevator leading to the roof, pulling her hood over her head as she went, "Let's see if you can keep up."
JCJCJCJCJCJCJCJCJCJCJC
She moved as fast as she could, ducking and weaving through the crowd as she tried to allude her pursuer. She couldn't see it, but the constant tingling sensation in her throat told her it was close; so close, it was practically breathing down her neck. No matter how far she ran, it felt as if she couldn't put any distance in between her and her unseen predator. Instead, the gap seemed to close faster and faster, as the cold sensation running through her body seemed to increase.
That wasn't her only problem; her evasion was taking a toll on her. She silently cursed that she didn't have time to eat something before this happened. Even now she could feel exhaustion setting in. Not only would this eventually lead to her capture, but it would mean she would be too tired to keep herself from melting away. Even now, as she ran, she was desperately focused on not falling apart, both mentally and physically. She hoped that hiding in the crowd would help protect her, though that plan could easily backfire, especially if it was willing to attack her in the crowd.
Unfortunately, it called her bluff as a howl rang through the street. The mass of people looked up to the sound and froze as they saw something resembling a two-headed translucent wolf descending the side of a building. She recognized it immediately: it was one of HIS creations. Both heads growled menacingly, sending the crowd into a panicked frenzy. Screaming soon filled the streets as people scattered from the strangeness their city had to offer. One of the heads sniffed the air and then yelped, pointing into the crowd with its snout. The other nodded in agreement as it shot forward. The mass of people parted, none of them crazy enough to stay in harm's way. The girl turned and made a break for it, pushing through the sea of people as the bi-headed lupus was in hot pursuit.
She was breathing heavily now, the fatigue taking its toll on her body. Despite that, she continued to push forward until she misstepped, falling face first onto the asphalt. She turned to find that the ghost was only a few feet away, eying her fallen form. It sniffed the air again and barked. This was its prey; there was no denying it. The master would be most pleased. Baring its teeth, it stepped forward slowly. Two bright blue eyes shone in fear from under the hooded sweater as the girl scurried backwards. The slow advance turned into a leap as it closed in on its quarry… that is, until a blast of green energy slammed into it, sending it sprawling.
"Bad dog," a voice quipped from above. Shaking off its confusion, the wolf looked up to spot its attacker. The beast was greeted with the cocky smile of the black and white wearing Danny Phantom, "Someone got expelled from obedience school, didn't they?" The ghost boy landed in between the ghost and its prey, his hand still glowing with ectoplasm, "And it looks like you won't be winning any dog shows anytime soon, by the looks of it; not unless 'most gruesome looking' is a category. Be a good boy and back off." The wolf bared both pairs of teeth in response, growling over being interrupted from its mission. One of the heads kept an eye on the girl, not prepared to give her up yet.
Deciding to take its chances, the creature bolted forward, heading straight for the halfa. Danny quickly retaliated, firing the charge that had collected in his hand. The wolf took advantage of its unusual speed, dodging left as it continued to close in. Danny continued to fire shots, each one of them whizzing by the wolf. Grunting in frustration, Danny decided to take the fight to it, flying top speed to intercept. Unfortunately, like his blasts earlier, the wolf dodged him as well, catching the ghost boy by surprise. With its target in reach, the wolf lunged again, causing the girl to scream in terror. Its attack was halted as it crashed into a black, translucent wall of energy. Raven appeared in front of the girl.
"Sit," she uttered, before extending a hand. A bolt of dark energy erupted, slamming into the furry beast with raw force. Swinging her hand, she conjured up a black claw, which promptly grabbed the creature by the tail and slammed it into the ground, its mind now in a complete haze. Before it could wake out of its haze, it felt an unfamiliar sensation of suction overtaking its body. Twin yelps could be heard as it was sucked into an awaiting Fenton thermos. Danny covered the top as the device's whine died down.
"That worked out pretty well," he commented as he made his way to Raven and their rescue. "Hey, kid, how are you…" he stopped as he noticed something familiar about the girl huddled on the ground. His suspicions were confirmed as she shyly removed her hood, revealing black hair tied into a ponytail and a pair of icy blue eyes staring back at him. His own eyes widened in shock as he realized who it was; she was different and older than when they last met but there was no mistaking it, "Danielle?"
AN: Hope you liked this one. I especially loved writing the whole initiation scene. It originally was going to make it in the last story's epilogue, but I decided to add it in here. Also, for those who wanted to know what was bet upon between the other Titans, stay tuned.
Thanks to all who wrote reviews. You can also post in the new Forums I created for the story, which you can get to from my profile page. I would love to hear your predictions and any story ideas you may have. I also have a request for the more artistic readers. I asked this before and I'm hoping I get more responses now. Does anyone want to do a Valara fanpic? I'd really appreciate it and I may give you something as a gift. Let me know if you're interested.