Kudos to Half-hearted Shadow for guessing the right Fenton weapon (coincidentally this is my favorite Fenton invention and it really doesn't get used often enough).
Warnings: Blood, Violence, Torture, and Language
I apologize for taking so long. On the plus side, I am posting the final two chapters simultaneously.
I don't own Danny Phantom or Fullmetal Alchemist.
XxxLine BreakxxX
Secure in the knowledge that Valerie, Edward, and Jazz are on their way, I race ahead with the Fenton Finder. It will take Valerie some time to get suited up and I want a chance to scout the park first. If Freakshow decided to bring any unexpected guests to our meeting I want to know about it.
I found Lydia and Box Ghost patrolling the park's perimeter. Remaining invisible I searched for a hole in their defenses. While I was confident that we could defeat Freakshow's goons, I wanted to catch Freakshow by surprise if possible. Then I found the hole I was looking for, a small pond on the north side of the park. There's heavy tree cover in one corner. I should be able to carry Jazz across and Ed can ride behind Valerie on her jet sled. Thus, we should be able to bypass Freakshow's goons undetected.
That just leaves Ravager and Freakshow himself. Moving further into the park, I find Freakshow near the fountain in the park's central plaza. Presently, he's in the process of digging a trench with his incessant pacing.
I find Sam, Tucker, and my parents in some sort of animal cage on the south side of the plaza. Dad's propped up in one corner of the cage nursing a long gash on his forehead. There's a trail of blood stretching down his chin, but it's mostly dry now. He still seems a bit disoriented, and Tucker seems to be keeping an eye on him. On the other hand, Mom and Sam look like caged tigers. They continuously stalk around the cage methodically testing the bars, lock, floor, and ceiling for possible weaknesses.
It wasn't until I had fully circled the park that I finally found Al. He was strung up by his wrists to the central fountain. The water is shut off after hours, but if we don't rescue him before the park gates open at dawn, Al will surely drown. A thin line of blood trickled down Al's arms from where they had savagely bound his wrists.
Ravager was perched on the edge of the fountain toying with Al's throwing knives. A line of dried green ectoplasm decorated Ravager's face; there was a thin cut just under his right eye, no doubt caused by one of Al's little knives. Al came awake with a groan and began to struggle futilely against his bonds. The ropes cruelly cut into Al's wrist and blood flowed more freely down his arms.
"Little boys shouldn't play with such dangerous toys," Ravager cooed, fingering the cut under his eye.
Ravager walked away and counted off fifty paces. He paused, tested the weight of one of Al's knives, and then hurled it at Al. A scream tore its way out of Al's throat as the knife became embedded in his left thigh.
"Alphonse!" Mom screamed.
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God…" Tucker chanted.
Al thrashed erratically against his bonds for a few minutes. Taking a deep steadying breath he reassures Mom, "I'll be alright Mrs. Fenton. Ed will be here any moment."
Ravager laughed cruelly and threw a second knife. Al jerked as the knife grazed his cheek.
"Now we're even," Ravager taunted. "I wouldn't thrash too much if I were you. We wouldn't want you to bleed out before your precious brother arrives to save you."
I tensed, ready to fight, but realized that revealing my position now would only put them in greater danger. I have no choice but to wait for the calvary.
"Monster!" Sam yelled. She and Mom were crying freely now and Dad was struggling to his feet.
Al stifled another scream. "Why don't you untie me and fight me like a man!"
"Now where's the fun in that," mocked Ravager.
"Leave him alone!" Mom screamed. "He was just doing what we asked him to do. If you want to punish someone, punish me!"
"Oh, but I think watching this boy's suffering is punishment enough. Two birds, one stone." Ravager smirked and threw a third knife.
I didn't wait to see where the third knife would land. I flew back to the main road to find Valerie, Ed, and Jazz. As much as I wanted to free Al, I knew I couldn't get all five prisoners out safely by myself. Exiting the park, I frantically search until I find Jazz's car. I rush towards the car without thinking and Valerie points a gun at my head.
"No Valerie!" Jazz yells as she positions herself between us.
"Move Jasmine," Valerie growls. "What do you want, you filthy pile of ectoplasm!"
"You can hunt me all you want later," I reply. "Right now Al needs our help."
Valerie lowered her gun a fraction of an inch as Ed's face turned first red then purple. "Move woman," Ed orders, shoving Valerie aside. "Someone has to rescue Al and the Fentons. You guys are welcome to join me, but I'm leaving now."
"I found us a way past Box Ghost and Lydia. Do you think we can call a temporary truce?" I ask Valerie, holding out my hand.
Valerie gave a curt nod but refused to take my hand.
After a short trip across the pond we found ourselves just outside the park's central plaza. Jazz stifled a cry as she saw Al hanging unconscious from the fountain. Four knives now jutted from Al's body.
It took both Jazz and Valerie to hold Ed back. "Not yet," Jazz whispers. "We need a plan."
Ed slumped to the ground looking defeated. Turning to me he utters a single word, "Who?"
"Ravager," I answer. "We'll need a distraction. Valerie and Jazz, do you think you can loop around to the other side of the plaza; blow the lock on the Fentons' cage; and lead Ravager on a wild goose chase."
"No way, Ghost!" replied Valerie. "You were here with Freakshow for how long? For all we know, you could just be another of Freakshow's thralls. We can't trust you to lead this rescue and you're not leaving my sight."
"Valerie has a valid point, Phantom," Ed states. "We left you alone for nearly forty minutes. We're not going to split up. Valerie, you're our ace in the hole. Freakshow's only expecting Phantom and I. I want you to stay out of sight. Find a good sniping position and cover our asses. Phantom, blow the lock on the Fentons' cage and herd them towards safety. I'll keep Ravager busy. Jazz, suit up and take advantage of all of the distractions. I'm trusting you to get Al out of there."
"After I bust open the cage?" I ask.
"Keep Freakshow distracted. I don't want him calling in any more minions," Ed answered. "Now, everyone get into position. We'll begin our assault in ten minutes. One last thing Phantom, if you feel yourself start to fall under Freakshow's spell, get out of there. I don't want to fight you too."
We split up. Minutes felt like hours as I silently crept into position behind the cage. With pinpoint precision, I shear the heavy padlock on the cage door. Luck was with us; neither Ravager nor Freakshow noticed the blast but Mom did. She nudged her cellmates awake and hustled them outside. As she passed me she whispered, "I don't know why you're doing this, but it better not be some kind of trick."
"No trick Ma'am," I whisper back and toss her a wrist laser.
My parents, Sam, and Tucker made it halfway to the tree line before Ravager snapped awake. He opened his mouth to shout a warning but was cut short by a sneak attack from Ed.
"No one messes with my little brother," Ed whispered as his right fist connected with Ravager's face.
Ravager scurried backwards. "I'd like to see you try that again, Pipsqueak."
"Who are you calling so small that he could drown in that fountain!" Ed ranted.
Ed's rant had no effect on Ravager but it did effectively wake up Freakshow. Spying the fleeing prisoners, he raised his staff towards Mom. I didn't wait to see what kind of effect the staff's powers might have on humans. I barreled into Freakshow and locked my arms around his waist. Together, we landed in a heap on the cold cement.
Seeing all of our enemies engaged, Jazz emerged from the brush clad in the Fenton peeler. She utilized a laser knife borrowed from Valerie's arsenal to cut Al free. Half carrying, half dragging Al, Jazz made her way back to the relative safety of the trees. There's a burst of laser fire and Box Ghost falls unmoving at her feet. Jazz lets out a yelp and then gives a friendly wave to Valerie.
Ed's fury was clearly evident as he continued to tear into Ravager using the Fenton Gloves. Ed gave no quarter as the two continued to dance across the plaza. Ravager, unprepared for Ed's ferocity, could do little more than block the blows. The fighters worked their way to the edge of the tree line and Ravager tripped over an exposed tree root. The green haired ghost fell flat and Ed placed his heavy left boot firmly on the center of Ravager's chest. Ed grinned manically and mimicked a tearing motion.
I realize that if I don't do something quickly, Ed really will tear Ravager apart, literally. Call me crazy, but I have something of an aversion to seeing a ghost being torn apart molecule by molecule. "Mo…Maddie!" I yell and toss a Fenton Thermos to Mom, praying she'll do the right thing.
Initially Mom glares furiously at the thermos, but seeing the look on Ed's face, she gives me a curt nod and turns to Ravager. "Say your prayers Ghost!" Mom shouts and sucks Ravager into the thermos.
"What the fuck!" shouts Ed. "Ravager was mine Maddie. How dare you?"
"You were about to do something that you'd regret for the rest of your life," Mom soothed.
Ed was still seething, but I didn't have time to dwell on it. Freakshow had long since recovered and was taking full advantage of my being distracted. I had to admit, the cretin did have some good moves and more importantly, he didn't hesitate to fight dirty. Freakshow brandished his scepter like a club and smacked me hard across the skull. Dazed, I punch him hard in the stomach sending him to the ground. Freakshow recovered far quicker than I would have expected, grabbing a handful of grit as he rose. He tosses the grit in my eyes and quickly moves away. He holds his glowing red scepter up and I can feel my control start to slip.
Ed, seeing what's happening quickly pulls a weapon from his belt and tosses it to Mom. "Mrs. Fenton, catch!"
Mom easily plucked the weapon from the air and turned it over in her hands. "The Fenton Anti-creep Stick?"
"I made a few modifications, but yeah," Ed answered. The bat was now covered in spikes and more closely resembled a club than a bat. Despite Ed's modifications the word 'Fenton' was still clearly emblazoned on the bat.
"It's not just a club. It's a club with the word 'Fenton' on it," Dad says enthusiastically. Mom hefts the bat and Dad continues, "Man that's hot!"
I'm having difficulties tearing my gaze away from Freakshow's staff. I raise one arm to blast Freakshow, but I can't get my powers to cooperate. Suddenly, my view of the staff is blocked by a club. There's a moment of intense pain and then sweet nothingness.
XxxLine BreakxxX
Stay tuned for the epilogue.
The idea for the Fenton Anti-creep Stick (Club) came from FMA Brotherhood episode 1. Ed throws a spear at the Ice Alchemist and as he picks it back up he turns it into a club.
I just got back from Dragoncon in Atlanta. I got to meet Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mercedes Lackey, Jim Butcher, S. M. Stirling, Brian Sanderson, Todd McCaffery, Christopher Golden, and Laurell K. Hamilton. I'm now broke, but it was so worth it. I even managed to get a picture of Stan Lee.