Broken Hearts

Chapter Four

Aftershock Phantom

"It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake."

~Frederick Douglass~

Downtown Jump City 1600 Hours

"Why couldn't you just stay a cat?" Phantom asked annoyed as he was squished between Beastboy and Starfire.

"Because I have a bunch of funny jokes," he answered with a grin as everyone looked at him annoyed. "And I want to make Raven laugh."

"O joy," Raven mocked. Phantom smiled as Beastboy grinned at her.

"Okay, okay, I got one," Beastboy exclaimed as he looked around. Phantom winced as Starfire shifted.

"Star, can you not do that again?" he asked as a pain shot up his side. She looked at him worriedly.

"I am sorry. Are you okay?" she questioned reaching her hand out to him.

"Just…don't jab my side. It still hurts," Phantom mumbled gently putting a protective hand over it and sending Beastboy a glare for not just sitting on his lap in cat form. It would have saved him so much trouble.

"Why are ducks so funny?" Beastboy asked shaking his head. Phantom was safe, and at the moment he felt like entertaining them. "Because they're always quacking jokes," he answered himself laughing. Phantom looked at him prepared to just over shadow him to make him stop. Everyone else just gave annoyed looks of disappointment.

"Pull over, I think I'm gonna be sick," Raven deadpanned annoyed with the green changeling. Beastboy looked at her with wide eyes while Starfire tried to figure out the joke. Phantom felt like slapping him.

"I see how it is humorous, it is because ducks lack the large brain necessary for the telling of jokes," Starfire answered. Phantom blinked wondering why she was even trying.

"Actually, Starfire, it just wasn't humorous," Robin stated getting a grin from Phantom.

"Because Beastboy lacks the large brain necessary for the telling of jokes," Raven stated monotone causing Phantom, Robin, and Cyborg to start laughing. Beastboy looked at her annoyed.

"Come on, Raven, you know I'm hilarious," he defended with Phantom trying to contain his laughter. "And I'm not going to give up until I get you to smile. Okay," he exclaimed getting another joke in his head. "Why did the aardvark cross the road?"

"To beat up the idiot telling jokes about him," Raven stated getting Phantom, Cyborg, and Robin to start laughing again. They stopped at a red light while they laughed. Starfire looked at them confused.

"Please, an aardvark is some form of duck?" she questioned. Phantom looked at her with a sad smile.

"Don't look into it. An aardvark is…" he began only for the vehicle to be hit by a huge boulder causing it to roll a good twenty feet before stopping. Phantom held his sides feeling his soreness come back full force. He really didn't need to be in an accident at the moment, and now he wished he had just stayed at the Tower. The car had landed right side up. Starfire kicked the door off knowing that Phantom was probably hurting.

"Friend Phantom, are you okay?" she asked as he got out. He nodded and looked up as did the rest of the team.

"Terra?" Beastboy questioned looking at their previous teammate. Phantom gulped getting a bad feeling about what was getting ready to happen. He didn't think he was ready for a fight at the moment.

"Hey guys, miss me?" she asked raising her arms getting ready for an attack. She struck damaging the T-car even more while the Titans moved. Phantom disappeared into the ground. He flew though the ground and appeared back behind Terra. She suddenly picked up a giant rock and completely destroyed the car once more. Robin narrowed his eyes and silently gave Phantom a quick nod.

"Titans, go," the leader ordered, and they all prepared for battle. Phantom shot an ecto blast right as Terra lifted off the ground. He destroyed the rock she had gotten, but she quickly shot more rocks at him before getting another and taking off.

Phantom turned intangible and the rocks sailed right through him harmlessly. He smiled and watched as Terra took down Robin and Cyborg. Then she threw bigger rocks at Raven and Starfire slowing them down. Beastboy turned into a bird and headed straight for Terra. He landed on the rock prepared to tell her that this was unnecessary and that they were her friends. She kicked him off, and Phantom flew down and grabbed him.

"Are you okay?" Phantom asked as he set the changeling on the ground. He groaned and glared at Phantom.

"You find it funny," Beastboy growled. Phantom backed away not knowing why he suddenly became hostile. He just wanted to know if he was hurt.

"No, I didn't…" he stuttered as Terra threw another rock at them. Phantom reacted quickly by putting up a shield while Terra pelted the outside with rocks. Phantom began struggling to keep the shield up. "I can't keep this up."

"Terra!" Raven shouted throwing a car at her and stopping her attack on Phantom's shield. Phantom panted as Terra started attacking them.

"Phantom, I'm sorry," Beastboy apologized gently placing a hand on Phantom's shoulder. "I didn't mean to get angry; it's not your fault."

"We should probably find a way to beat her," Phantom stated ignoring the changeling. He would deal with it later. He took off into the sky and started painting a picture for a distraction as Terra threw more earth at him before striking Terra to the ground. She quickly got back up and headed for Robin with a smirk after shooting Phantom out of the sky. He hit the ground roughly and started coughing from the force. He knew he wasn't ready to fight anything, but they needed him.

Robin groaned as he heard someone hit the ground, but the only person he couldn't see was Phantom. Terra took two big rocks and put them over Robin's head prepared to kill him. Phantom looked over and noticed and shot three high powered ectoblast while Raven gathered her own energy and tried to take over the rocks. She failed as Terra took back control, but Phantom's shots destroyed them. Terra took two more rocks and each headed for a different opponent. Phantom covered himself with a shield while Raven dodged. Terra smirked as Raven picked up more cars.

"Don't make me hurt you," the half demon warned. Terra's smirk grew wider.

"Don't make me laugh," she mocked while throwing more rocks at her and Phantom. Phantom kept his shield up, but he knew he wouldn't have the energy to keep fighting. He looked around at the bruised Titans and knew that they had lost this fight even when it hadn't begun. Robin started in hand to hand combat with Cyborg against Terra, but they were both beaten away. Phantom flew back into the ground and went directly under Terra and shot an ectoblast causing her to fly up. She quickly made a piece of earth come to her before she could hit the ground. Robin growled and went to go back after her until she created a wall between her and him cutting him off from anything he could do to help Phantom who was still on the other side. He thought quickly and placed an explosive on the rock and ran back.

Phantom created a small shield as Terra started throwing more earth at him. She smirked, but the wall was blasted causing her to lose part of her balance before knocking Robin out of the way. Cyborg ran to help only for another wall to appear.

"The Titans only took you in because they felt like they needed someone to fill my place," she gloated hoping to get the ghost off track. She believed she could get mind games to work with the hybrid. "Once they knew who you really are, they won't want you anymore, and you'll turn out just like me. Thrown to the side."

"They never threw you to the side, you betrayed them," Phantom growled as he watched Starfire pick herself back up from her previous fall. Phantom looked back at Terra. "Besides, I have many dark secrets, but I wouldn't betray my friends."

"Please," Terra grinned as she suddenly built a wall around him. "You would have fallen to pieces if they decided not to help you."

"No, I would've died," he stated not caring what she was saying. She was terrible at the mind games. He knew she thought that she was getting somewhere, but she was really only annoying him, until he looked at Robin and knew why she began playing them. They might not have worked on him, but Robin was another story. Robin looked at her angrily.

"They just needed another stray to take in and clean," she mocked as Robin grew angrier. Phantom suddenly was smacked back to earth by Terra's distraction. She threw both Robin and Cy into the sky only for them to land on opposite sides of the street on the roof of the buildings. Phantom groaned as pain began in his sides and back. He really couldn't take any more hits without seriously hurting himself farther. He had to get out of the fight. Terra had other plans as she raised a rock above his head. Suddenly Starfire appeared and held it up with her super strength. Beastboy ran to the hybrid's side and helped him up while Star threw the rock back at Terra only for her to stop it. She then shoved it back at Starfire who shot her star bolts at the rock destroying it. She then shot lasers out of her eyes hitting Terra and throwing her back into her own wall.

Beastboy dragged Phantom to the sidewalk.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a small smile. Phantom shook his head while pain exploded everywhere.

Starfire flew over to Terra worried about what she believed as her friend. "Terra," she called. Terra grinned and shot Star into the sky with a column of earth coming out of the ground.

"You always were easy to fool," she taunted as the Titans gathered up. Phantom was floating behind them knowing that this was a losing battle. The Titans were too close to her in order to fight at their top, and he wasn't in any condition to fight at his top. Suddenly Terra growled as the earth beneath her turned yellow, and suddenly Phantom realized who it was that messed with the Titan's computers. Her aura grew brighter as he stretched his senses.

The earth grew out as two monsters roared to life. Terra looked at them confused for a moment before a growing smirk appeared. Robin looked at his team, and he noticed how Phantom wasn't moving around a whole lot. He knew Phantom had to of been hit, and Phantom was already sore from previous injuries.

Terra slammed her fist on the ground causing it to loosen while the monster disappeared under the ground. Robin and the team backed up while Phantom floated a little higher. A monster appeared behind the Titans and while Cyborg went to hit it, the other knocked him into a building. The first one grabbed Phantom and threw him into Starfire who caught the injured ghost. The Titans' attacks were only going past the monsters as they hid back in the ground. Phantom tried to turn into intangible, but whatever Terra had done had caused him to be unable to go through what she was controlling. He thought he could, but apparently she had just thrown the rocks at him the first time and wasn't really controlling them. Now he knew he was in trouble as the monster held him tighter. He could feel his body beginning to give. Robin jumped on its back and hooked an explosive to it and jumped back off. The monster let go of the hybrid, and the explosive went off over the ground. Phantom put a shield up to protect himself from the blast. He looked around again and noticed that every Titan was being beaten by the monsters. Robin looked around with him and realized the same thing he had. They were losing.

"Titans, fall back," Robin ordered throwing smoke bombs at Terra before the team reunited. Cyborg was helping Phantom to stand, and he could feel the ghost shaking in pain. Once the team was together Robin threw smoke bombs on the ground to give them cover as they ran. Cyborg making sure Phantom wasn't going to get hurt. Beastboy was the last one to leave giving Terra one last look as she rested on top of a column of dirt she had created in order to get out of the smoke.

Titan's Tower 1800 Hours

"Phantom, are you okay?" Robin asked feeling slightly guilty for bringing the ghost into this. He wasn't expecting Phantom to really fight, but the ghost had. And he was glad, otherwise things may have turned out a lot worse, but the hits Phantom took were hard, especially because of his condition already.

"Yeah, just really sore," Phantom stated as he rolled his shoulder. The burns were slowly fading due to his fast healing. It wasn't like it used to be, but it was getting there. Robin noticed that the ghost seemed slightly skinner than this morning. Phantom had used enough energy fighting Terra for his body to start eating at itself again.

Cyborg was cleaning the dirt and rocks that had found places in his suit. He looked up at Phantom as Phantom let his cloak hide him again. Robin leaned against the wall as the atmosphere grew heavy.

"Why didn't I blast her when I had the chance?" Cy sighed putting down the tweezers he was using.

"I should have hit her with everything I got," Raven stated angrily.

"Why did I perceive to let her fool me again?" Starfire mumbled dejectedly.

"Why couldn't we bring her down like every other criminal?" Robin growled.

"Because she was a Titan, she was our friend," Beastboy answered sadly. Phantom looked at all of them knowing that they felt terrible. He really didn't know what to do. He didn't know Terra all that well.

"Terra was never our friend," Raven stated glaring at the green changeling. "She is a spy and a trader: trained by Slade to come and destroy us. She's evil."

"She's not evil," Beastboy yelled back glaring at the dark Titan.

"Dude, she wrecked my car, sounds pretty evil to me," Cyborg put in sadly.

"She works for Slade," Robin stressed only for Beastboy to growl and turn to him.

"When you were working for Slade, did we give up on you?" Beastboy challenged causing Robin's eyes to narrow. Phantom wanted to do something to break the tension because he really couldn't handle everyone yelling at the time. He was barely able to stay calm at the mall.

"She gets one more chance. We have to break Slade's grip on her," Robin ordered as the alarms went off causing Phantom to jump three feet in the air.

"Trouble," Star exclaimed surprised. Phantom shook as Robin looked around. Robin typed up on the computer that came out of the wall.

"We have three escaped criminals attacking three separate targets. We have to find out what Slade's doing," Robin stated looking at the screen. "Raven, Starfire, take Overload. Cyborg, Beastboy, find Plasmas. Phantom, we're taking Cinderblock."

"What about Terra?" Beastboy asked.

"We'll have worry about her once this is over," Robin stated. Everyone took off to their targets.

"I…" Phantom began wanting to say that he might not be that great of help.

"Phantom, I don't want anyone by themselves, and if I leave you here at the Tower that will open the doors to Slade attacking here as well," Robin warned. "Let's go." Phantom nodded and picked up Robin and headed in the direction of where Cinderblock was attacking.

Laboratory Outskirts East Jump City 2000 Hours

Everything around the villain became covered in black as it tried to take the giant machine. Raven and Starfire appeared glaring at the villain upset that it caused them to come out of the Tower and away from their team.

"So, Overload, think you can handle a total black out," Raven growled as she used her powers to shield herself from Overload's attack. She shoved her shield into him causing him to the hit the wall. Starfire powered up her star bolts and fired slamming Overload back farther into the wall. He got up and dodged all of their attacks. Overload drove into the floor and headed for them and hit them both into the other wall. Raven grew angrier.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos," she yelled causing Overload to slam into the opposite wall with the force.

South Side Labs: Jump City 2025 Hours

Beastboy and Cyborg walked into the lab hoping to figure out what Plasmus was doing. Beastboy glared at everything. Suddenly they heard something and turned around thinking it was the weird blob. Suddenly the thing jumped out of the container and screamed causing Beastboy and Cyborg to turn around and dodge his slime. They watched as the computer that was shot melted and fell. Cyborg dodged all the acid. He landed behind several air vats.

"Dude, now he spits acid?" Cy asked annoyed. Beastboy growled.

"Let's just get this over with," he muttered turning into a pterodactyl and picking up Cyborg to begin their fight against the acid spitter. Beastboy took a page from Phantom's fly book and missed all the acid being thrown at them while Cyborg changed up his arm cannon and shot a hole through the monster. Beastboy let Cyborg go, and Cy jumped through the hole he created. He turned around and noticed BB was trapped inside one of Plasmus's eyes. Beastboy tried to break the bubble, but he was having trouble. He narrowed his eyes and turned into a T-Rex successfully getting out of the monster's eye. He turned into his human form, and Cyborg caught him. The monster roared as both heroes looked up at him.

North East Construction Site: Jump City 2030 Hours

Cinderblock threw a truck at Robin causing him to shoot a rope up at the crane and hauled himself up there to avoid it. He turned and kicked Cinderblock in the face. Phantom charged up an ectoblast and fired causing the monster to slam into the wall. He shook his head trying to clear the rocks out of it. He screamed and heading for them again. Phantom disappeared into the ground while Robin jumped back to avoid the hit. Robin smirked as Cinderblock headed for him only for Phantom to appeared again and shot him into the crane and causing the steel supporters to fall on him.

"Why is he attacking here?" Robin asked watching as Cinderblock got back up and roared. Phantom let his eyes became blue as ice chased the ground causing Cinderblock to slip and fall back down. Robin blinked. "You can do that?"

"I just did. Like I said, I usually can't remember my powers until I need them," Phantom grinned nervously rubbing the back of his neck. Cinderblock slammed his fist on the ice scattering it. The monster picked up one of the steel supporters and slammed it on the ground where Robin and Phantom once were at. Robin jumped out of the way while Phantom just turned intangible. Phantom flared his hands up with ecto energy and let it pulse in the night air causing Cinderblock to see stars. Robin blinked realizing just how much power Phantom was using. Robin jumped up and slammed his foot onto Cinderblock's head.

"What's here to do?" Phantom asked knowing that this was almost pointless. It was wasting energy he didn't have at the moment.

"I don't know what Slade's up to." Robin stated. Cinderblock came back up to them as Phantom's eyes turned white and green and blue surrounded him causing the monster to slowly freeze solid. Phantom dropped to the ground on his hands and knees. "Phantom, are you okay?" he asked worriedly kneeling next to him. Cinderblock's form shimmered in the night.

Raven glared at the electric monster and narrowed her eyes as she concentrated on the water pipes. Starfire broke a few and aimed them at the monster. She let them burst though the walls and hit Overload causing him to become powerless.

"What is your mission?" Raven demanded as the water became brown, and she was shot into the wall. Starfire went to see her went she was shot as well.

"Hello, does the word decoy mean anything to you?" Terra asked making the dirt in the water harden so she could stand over it. "We had to find some way to coax you cowards out of hiding."

"Terra," Raven growled.

"Raven," Terra mocked.

"Traitor," Raven shot her eyes glowing white.

"Witch," Terra growled her eyes turning yellow. Starfire was at a loss at what to do. She attacked only for Terra to drag her down to the bottom of pit and keep her there while she fought Raven who wasn't paying attention to her friend. Raven shot at Terra while Terra came to her, and they started fighting. Raven kicked Terra back into the pit causing her to become completely covered in mud. Terra growled and shot back at Raven, and they fell back into the pit. Raven pushed Terra farther under hoping to keep her there only for Terra to create a giant bubble that exploded and sent Raven into the air. Terra glared at her with yellow eyes making harder rocks to throw at Raven. The dark Titan quickly took a panel from the wall to protect herself. She sent it at Terra who created a dome around her. The dome was destroyed as Terra created a giant hand from the earth that was flying everywhere. She sent it at Raven who cut it in half to avoid her. Terra decided to try another approached. "I never liked you."

"I never wanted to know you," Raven growled back. Terra grinned as she took the mud off herself mockingly. "You may have fooled the others, but I always knew you were a liar."

"It that why you let me live in your house and steal all your secrets?" Terra asked mockingly. "Or was I just someone like Phantom who needed somewhere to go and you opened your doors. You don't trust the ghost, and after what happened, I can see why. He'll betray you just like everyone else."

"No, he won't," Raven growled shooting at her only for Terra to create a hole in the mud to avoid her.

"You aren't getting angry, are you, Rae? Better be careful, Beastboy told me all about your anger problems," Terra provoked. Raven growled and shot at her only for another hand to come up and grab her in midair.

"Anger is pointless my emotions are under control," Raven denied knowing that they were going to get out of control very soon.

"Come on, Raven. What stings the most? That I tricked you, that I nearly wiped out your team?" Terra questioned hoping to get the reaction from Raven she wanted. "That everyone on your team liked me better than you?"

"Stop it," Raven growled feeling her emotions get out of control while Terra taunted her.

"Or is it that deep inside your really believed that I was your friend," Terra taunted. Raven looked up at her with four red eyes.

"I trusted you; we trusted you. We gave you everything and you treated us like dirt," Raven shouted as her powers started throwing everything at Terra. Terra stared worried that she wouldn't be able to get out. She was backed into a wall, and so she created two arms to grab Raven and drag her back down. She had to create two more in order to drag Raven under the pit.

"Who's in control now?" Terra gloated as Raven disappeared under the mud.

Phantom shook as his energy slowly started coming back. Robin put his arm under Phantom to support him and walk him to an area where he could sit. Phantom stopped, feeling something, and moved them both out of the way of a giant rock. Phantom rolled away from Robin, but stopped before hitting the cliff.

"Phantom!" Robin called as Phantom wasn't moving. He looked up as Terra laughed and took Cinderblock away. He cautiously made his way to Phantom only to find that the ghost wasn't breathing, and suddenly the ground shook causing Robin to fall on the ground, and Phantom to fall off the cliff. "No," Robin whispered as Phantom fell. He didn't want to lose the ghost. He knew it was their only chance to fight back. Phantom had to help them, and there was no way he was gone.

Cyborg got ready to shoot Plasmus and leave when the earth shook and cracks formed in the ground. The cracks grew under him got bigger before he completely fell into one. He shot his hand only for the earth to give. Beastboy held on to the side watching as his friend fell. He looked up to see what once had been his friend and possible girlfriend.

"Hoping you're not expecting a goodbye kiss," Terra taunted.

"Terra, you can't," Beastboy whispered worriedly. He suddenly seen her as the monster Slade created.

"Watch me," she answered as her eyes grew yellow, and the earth began to close over Beastboy.

"Terra!" Beastboy called realizing that there was nothing he could do. She was gone.

South Side Labs: Jump City 2200 Hours

Terra was walking from the building with a smirk on her face when Robin on his motorcycle suddenly appeared above her head. He jumps off and tackles her to the ground angrily.

"Do not move," Robin growled hating her for everything she has done to the team, and to Phantom who had nothing to do with her in the first place.

"What's the matter, Robin? Feeling lonely since I exterminated all your friends," Terra gloated as Robin held her down.

"They were your friends, too," Robin shot back.

"I don't need any friends," Terra growled back.

"What did we ever do to make you hate us so much?" Robin questioned wanting to know what happened. He really hoped that Phantom didn't hate them for those same reasons, but Terra's answer told him it didn't matter.

"You were born," she growled her eyes turning yellow as the ground beneath them exploded. Robin back flipped away from it and her while Terra regained her balanced on the ground.

"I promised Beastboy I would give you one last chance, and this is it," Robin warned pulling out his weapons and heading for her. He got to her and started punching at her hoping to keep her from using her powers. She blocked or dodged most of them while trying to find her own opening. She attacked only for Robin to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder. She growled and used her powers to kick him across the yard. He landed on his feet next to the chain linked fence. Terra ran up to him and started punching him only for him to block everything she threw. She had powers, but her entire form was sloppy. Robin grabbed her arm and threw her against the fence before she could register what was happening. "Look at yourself, Terra. Is this really what you wanna be?" he asked pinning her against the fence.

Terra grinned and flipped them around so she was holding Robin against the fence. "I'm just never going to be good enough for you, am I?" Robin growled slightly and ran up the fence as Terra tried to smash him between two rocks. He jumped away. As she turned to fight back again, she created a huge column of earth so she could look down on Robin. Robin looked up knowing that he wouldn't be able to do anything do to the fact that she had powers. He took off running as Terra chased him with the column.

Robin jumped away as the column caught and threw an explosive at it causing Terra to lose her balance and fall to earth. She hit the ground hard. She stopped all the rocks that were falling towards her, and she held her arm as she got back up.

"You don't belong with Slade," Robin tried to knock some sense into her. He needed her to see what she was doing, but it was pointless, and he was starting to get that.

"You don't know anything about me," Terra growled not wanting to deal with him. Terra sent the rocks at him while he took out his staff. He destroyed a couple before jumping up on them and heading straight for Terra. He hit her away causing her to slide across the ground a few feet.

"It doesn't have to be this way, Terra," Robin stated hoping to get her to come back to them, to stop this fighting. "I was Slade's apprentice once. I got out, and so can you."

"I don't need you to save me," Terra growled at him.

"You can only save yourself," Robin told her. She glared at him.

"I don't need saving," she shouted shoving the boy wonder off her. He back flipped away not wanting to get caught. "I'm not some sad, little girl sitting around waiting to be rescued. I wanted to be this way. I wanted to work for Slade. I wanted to annihilate you and your pathetic friends." She released gas pressure causing Robin to fall. He tried to get up only for her to hit his arm and cause him to go back down. She shot a rock at him causing him to flip away, but he was unbalanced and fell back on the ground while she strutted closer to him. "And now I never want to see your face again." She slammed the rock on him causing him to fall into the ground. She grinned knowing she just won.

Jump City Caves East Side 0100 Hours

"You see, my dear apprentice," Slade began knowing he had just won this fight. "Now that you belong to me, the city belongs to us." Terra looked up at him and smiled.

Beneath Titan's Tower 0300 Hours

"No more chances," Cyborg growled.

"No more trust," Starfire stated.

"And no more mercy," Raven vowed.

"She's just another criminal," Beastboy stated knowing that there was nothing he could do to save her.

"And we are going to stop her," Robin promised looking at his team. "No matter what it takes."

"Where is Phantom?" Beastboy asked hoping that the ghost was still there. Robin didn't say anything just led the way to the emergency area of the cave beneath the Tower.

"He's gone. Terra made sure of that," Robin growled slamming the door open. "There was nothing I could do."

"Awe, come on. I'm usually not that hard to find," Phantom grinned appearing behind them. "I'm just always late to these kinds of things." Robin stopped and turned to the ghost.

"I thought you were…" he stated not believing that the ghost was healthy and there. He was so sure.

"You can't really kill something that has already been dead," Phantom grinned as he walked closer. Everyone sensed something about him. He was more cheery and lively. His cloak fell away to show him fully filled out and ready for battle. "Besides, I know some people…er ghosts, who won't let that happen."

"How did you?" Robin began glaring at the ghost. If he had friends, then why didn't they help him when he was almost dead due to his condition? Why help him now?

"He's the Master of Time, and he helped me out a bit," Phantom smiled gently at them. "It's only temporary since he can't actually mess with the time stream anymore. He got in trouble last time."

"Why didn't he help you before?" Raven growled not trusting Phantom anymore. Phantom looked down.

"I've done enough stupid things on my own to get the Ghost Council involved, and they don't like Clockwork trying to help me. He can do what he can, but I won't be like this forever," Phantom explained looking at them. "Once Terra and Slade are defeated, chances are I'll end up back to where I was when she threw me off the cliff."

"You weren't breathing when she did that," Robin informed with a little worry. He didn't want to lose the ghost, but this was unbelievable. Phantom looked at him.

"I know, but I don't know what'll happen. This could really be my last battle, but Clockwork only told me that I had till the end of the battle in order to be like this. Back to normal, it feels great," Phantom smiled as he let his legs become a tail. Raven stepped closer inspecting the ghost.

"How should we know we can trust you?" she challenged. Terra had betrayed them, so why couldn't Phantom. Their team has been though enough. Phantom looked up at her.

"I wouldn't be here if you didn't. This is possibly my last fight. Why would I betray you?" he questioned looking at her curiously. He was risking everything right now. He had nothing left except for them. Raven looked back at Robin who really didn't want to believe it, but Phantom had a point. If he was going to be back to where he started from the moment he fell, then chances are this would be his last fight. Robin knew enough about Phantom's injuries that hopefully they could save him, but he could only hope not to lose the ghost that was willing to give them everything at the moment.

"Phantom, can you make enough cover of fog though the city?" Robin asked. He was going to get everything he could from the ghost. If Phantom can now fight at his top, then that's what Robin was going to ask. He wanted to test Phantom's powers to the fullest.

"I can do more than that," Phantom grinned as his eyes turned blue and the room temperature dropped. "Let's play." Everyone nodded and headed for the door. Beastboy stuck behind hoping to talk to Phantom who was last.

"Phantom?" Beastboy called as the ghost closed his eyes, and the room slowly warmed up again. He looked at the changeling with bright, glowing green eyes.

"Yes," he answered with a smile.

"Can this not be your last fight? Can you still fight once this is over?" he asked not wanting to lose his friend. Phantom was loyal, and that's what this team needed: someone whose heart and soul were in everything they did.

"I don't know. I can try, but I can't make any guarantees," Phantom whispered as his cloak blew in a nonexistent wind. Beastboy watched how Phantom really walked. There was confidence in every step while power swirled over his suit proving that the ghost was a valuable opponent and ally. "I was pretty bad when Terra threw me off the cliff, but I don't know what'll happen."

"You'll fight it, right? I mean…death?" Beastboy asked not wanting to lose Phantom. Phantom stopped and looked at the ground sadly.

"Beastboy, my entire family is gone, my home, my friends, and I can never go back," Phantom stated looking at him. "I don't have anything left."

"You have us," Beastboy informed with a sad smile. "Can you fight for us?"

"I think I can manage," Phantom smiled at the changeling and knowing that they were at least going to try to be there for him. He needed them. "I can do that."

"Great, now let's go," Beastboy exclaimed running up to his team. Phantom ran behind him a little slower.

"This is only a temporary deal, Danny," Clockwork informed the young hybrid. Phantom looked at himself and smiled missing the movements he could do without being in pain. "You help the Titans beat Slade and you can go back, but you will be back to the way you were before Terra threw you off the cliff. You can prove to the Titans that you're as loyal as you say, but you can't stay like this."

"Why?" Phantom asked looking at the time ghost worriedly.

"Because, I'm not supposed to really even be doing this. Because they may be the only ones able to save you from the destructive path you have taken," Clockwork explained without looking at the hybrid. He knew the young teen was going downhill, and that the only thing that would help him would be to have the Titans do that. Phantom still needed to learn many things, and being with the Titans is how he'll have to learn it. He wanted to make it so Phantom no longer had to go through the pain, but the Council wouldn't let him do that. Phantom had to start from his pain in order to heal completely. He needed it in order to learn how to trust again. Telling those heroes about his past wasn't enough; he needed them to take care of him in order for his mental pain to heal. He needed to know that they really were there for him.

"Why couldn't you stop the school from exploding?" Phantom growled letting his power flow though his hands. If Clockwork could heal him, then why couldn't he save his family? Was it because the worlds weren't in danger or because the Council wanted him to suffer? Didn't he suffer enough when they died the first time? Clockwork turned to him, and Phantom stopped breathing as all the pain and hurt came back. He hit the ground on his knees as Clockwork floated closer. Phantom looked up at him in fear.

"There are some things that cannot be stopped, young one. You have much to learn, but the death of your friends and family isn't your fault. Plasmius is the one behind it, you were caught in the middle of the war," Clockwork explained as a ball of light appeared in front of Phantom, and all the pain and hurt disappeared as the light turned into a stone. "Your trust and loyalty to the Titans can be proved, but only if you allow it." Phantom took the small ball knowing exactly how this was going to play out in the end, and he would end up with the short end no matter what happened. The ball turned into a beautiful stone with many different colors decorating the outside.

"So…what happens if he doesn't do anything with it?" Phantom questioned looking up at the ghost. He realized that no matter how this played out, even if it was the way he wanted, everything was going to come crashing down one way or another. Clockwork smiled.

"He won't, but it'll happen no matter what. There is nothing I can do to heal the pain you are in. Your mental pain won't let it happen, but the Titans can help you. You just need to let them," Clockwork explained. "They need you just as much as you need them. They are also in pain from Terra's betrayal. You aren't the only one that needs to learn how to trust again. It's time for you to go."

Phantom messed with the stone inside his pocket knowing that he had to give it to Robin at some point. It was the only thing that would be able to save him. The Titans has to want him to stay, otherwise he would disappear. There would be nothing left for him here and everything would go. He knew that they were now untrusting to him due to Terra's betrayal and their defeat.

Robin and the team were planning everything out. Robin had noticed Phantom was playing with something in his pocket, but he didn't know what. He was going to find out though. After everything, he wasn't taking any chances with Phantom. He may have had trust in the ghost, but after Terra defeated them, he didn't want to get too close to Phantom and end up in the same position. As the team left to get anything they needed from the Tower, Robin grabbed Phantom's shoulder and pinned him to the wall reaching and grabbing what Phantom was playing with. He looked at the white crystal stone.

"What is this?" Robin demanded glaring at the surprised hybrid.

"The only thing keeping me in this form, it's all the pain and suffering I had before," Phantom explained as Robin's grip tightened. He narrowed his eyes at the hybrid waiting for more. "I got it from Clockwork, and I was supposed to give it to you once we were out of this mess. My life rests in your team," Phantom explained hastily. He didn't want them to think he was pulling anything. He was terrified of their decision and honestly didn't want them to know about any of it. But in order for him to heal, they had to.

"What does it do exactly then?" Robin growled out upset that Phantom hadn't told them earlier.

"It holds everything I have right now, which isn't much," Phantom answered terrified that Terra had ruined any and all chance of them even wanting him anymore. He didn't do anything, and Robin wasn't suppose to find the stone or have an explanation until after this was over when no one was stressed and when Phantom proved his loyally.

"You didn't tell us this before because?" Robin demanded shoving the ghost harder into the wall.

"You weren't supposed to find out about it until after this was over. Robin, I can't fight unless I have someone willing to back me up. My life now rests in your guys' hands, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. You decide whether or not I die right now," Phantom pleaded. He really didn't want to leave this world. He promised Beastboy he would fight. "You can't make a decision now anyway due to the fact that the fight isn't finished. Please, I was going to tell you after this. That's the only thing keeping me alive at the moment."

"You came here wanting our help," Robin stated looking at the ghost who was watching the stone worriedly. "You somehow end up in the middle of Terra's betrayal. Why is that?"

"Terrible timing," Phantom suggested causing Robin to slam Phantom back into the wall harder. "I was being serious."

"So was I," Robin demanded only for Beastboy to come down and see them.

"Robin?" he asked timidly. "What happened?"

"Phantom left some of his story out," Robin growled letting the ghost go. He dropped the stone on the floor trying to make a point when Phantom screamed and held his chest tightly as his breathing constricted. Beastboy ran up to the hybrid as Robin picked the rock back up, and Phantom's breathing slowly went back to normal.

"What did you do?" Beastboy shot glaring at Robin while Phantom breathed heavily knowing that the stone can't leave the leader's hands without all the pain coming back.

"Phantom," Robin stated recognizing the scream from the truck. Phantom looked up at him.

"I told you that it holds all my pain, and that the only way this works is if you are willing to let me help," Phantom stated. "That's why I couldn't tell you until after this is over. Once you have that, my life is now literally in your hands."

"Dude, Robin, why you do that?" Beastboy asked annoyed. He wanted Phantom to be okay, and he wanted the ghost to take Terra's place. He wanted him to fight death, and he knew Phantom was loyal. "Now you can't lose it."

"So this thing literally is all your pain," Robin stated looking at it closer. Green and blue danced in swirls around the outside while patterns of black and white disappeared and reappeared with every movement Phantom made.

"Yes. Clockwork had to put it somewhere, and that's what he decided to use," Phantom stated standing up without Beastboy's help. "It's also the only thing tying me back here in this world. If it gets destroyed, then so do I."

"Robin, you can't let it," Beastboy stated looking at him. Robin looked back at Phantom who shaking in fear of his decision. Robin realized that Clockwork couldn't save Phantom not because he didn't want to, but because the Titans gave him hope. Phantom's loyalty was a sign of what the hybrid was really trying to accomplish. He wanted the chance to break free from his past, his pain. The ghost may have been able to heal the physical wounds, but the ghost was hurting mentally as well, and in order to heal them, the physical wounds would be the proof that Phantom needed in order for him to heal.

"I won't, I promise," Robin vowed looking at the two. He put the stone gently into one of his pockets as Phantom gave him a small smile. "Doesn't let you off the hook for not telling us beforehand though."

"I figured as much," Phantom mumbled with a sigh. Robin nodded and took off as the rest of the team came down without knowing what just happened. Everyone followed Robin except Beastboy who stayed with Phantom.

"What happens after this is over then?" Beastboy asked afraid of the answer. He wanted Phantom to stay like he was. He seemed so much happier and pain free.

"I either end up dead or go back to how I was," Phantom muttered as he took off too. Beastboy sighed wishing that his friend didn't have to go though it again, that he didn't have to be in so much pain.

"I guess you ended up with everyone's bad luck," Beastboy mumbled as he headed out after everyone as well.

Downtown Jump City 0900 Hours

"Everything is clear in Section Five," Terra stated giving Slade an update. She watched the Tower amazed that she had taken the Titans down. "We did it. They're really gone."

Suddenly the two robots that were next to her disappeared into the fog. The fog thickened, and the air grew darker and more threatening. The sky turned a dark green and bright blue lightening began striking hitting three robots that were behind her. The robots that took their places were blown up with her rock that she had been floating on. She looked up with a surprised look.

"No, I destroyed you," she screamed as Slade tried to get her to tell him what was going on. She shot at them only for her to hit a random car. She looked around as a shadow came from behind and punched her. She turned to attack back only for a green light to hit her away. She looked up as the Titan's silhouettes appeared. She created a column only for it to be shot by another darker more dangerous green blast. Terra felt the cold fear creep up her spine from the power of the blast as she turned to face the Titans. She had landed on her feet, but she knew that the Titans now had someone more deadly, more powerful and dangerous. She waited for the next attack hoping for something to help her.

She heard Robin throw something, and she created a dome of earth right before Cyborg blasted her away. She could hear Slade trying to get her to fight, but she was filled with dread. Whatever the Titans had done scared her, and she had no idea what to do. Her mind went to Phantom, but he was no longer breathing when he went over the cliff, but he was the only one that was possibly the one creating the darker atmosphere. It was distracting her, and it was terrifying. Slade was telling her to get up and fight, but something was wrong. She could feel it. She stood up prepared for a fight. She looked everywhere prepared for anything but the attack from an invisible source.

"I wonder if you ever faced death," a cruel voice laughed. She barely registered it as Phantom's. It was darker than she remembered. It was more threatening and deadly. "Because I sure have and lost, and I'm not letting you hurt my friends any longer." She looked around, but the Titans were gone.

"They don't know who you really are," Terra shot thinking that the ghost didn't tell them anything for fear of rejection. "You're afraid, and I've been there," she tried to get under the ghost's skin only for him to appear directly in front of her. "They'll only pretend to like you before shoving you to the side."

"They know my past, and they knew what I have done, but I cannot say the same for you," he stated. Terra could see straight through him as the Titans' silhouettes reappeared. She growled and attacked as Phantom vanished into thin air leaving the air around her freezing. Cyborg punched her again while Raven picked her up in her black raven form. She shot a rock up getting herself out of that only for Phantom to fly and pushed her off the rock and back to earth and into the fog where she couldn't see very well. She landed to where Beastboy was a wolf and was growling at her. She backed away realizing how messed up everything was getting to be.

"Beastboy, Beastboy," Terra called worried. She knew she was in too far now. He wasn't listening, and she just wanted him to listen. "Stop, aren't you even going to talk to me."

"There's nothing left to say," Cyborg stated as each Titan appeared including Phantom who was by Beastboy.

"You attempted to annihilate us," Starfire informed harshly.

"Did you think we wouldn't take it personally?" Raven questioned angrily.

"It's over, Terra," Robin stated glaring at her. Beastboy just growled the entire time knowing he couldn't talk to her any longer. Phantom stayed silent knowing that his battle was only to make sure that the Titans were safe. Terra shot herself into the sky with a rock getting away from them as they appeared out of the fog, and Phantom let the thickness of it go. Robin glared at her retreating form.

"She seems quite scared," Starfire stated watching their former friend disappear.

"Scared isn't the same as sorry," Raven stormed glaring at Star.

"I don't care how she feels. Terra's a dangerous criminal that needs to be stopped," Robin informed looking at the small figure in the sky.

"She will be," Beastboy stated causing Phantom to jump at the sudden voice. Phantom knew that his body may have been healed, but his mind was still the same. "I'm going to make sure of it." Cyborg's arm started blinking as it found out where Terra was hiding.

"Got a lock. She's heading east," Cyborg informed his team as they headed out with Phantom taking in the back in order to watch them all.

They caught up to her, and Cyborg started punching her. She backed away and shot two more rocks at them. Cyborg punched one causing it to shatter while Raven took control of the other and threw it back causing Terra pick one up and use it to fly. Starfire and Phantom came from the sky and flew straight through it making Terra jump off and land back on the ground. Terra tried to pick up another one only for Robin to shoot a birdarang at her and bring her back down. She hit the ground hard, but got up and picked up more rocks and shot Robin away from her. Starfire started firing star bolts at her while Phantom took the other side and started shooting ecto blasts at her. Terra felt over whelmed as the blasts hit her. Star's burned while Phantom's froze her. She felt terrified every time one of Phantom's blasts came close to her. His were powerful, and much more dangerous. She started dodging them and then used rocks to shield her. She then threw them at both while Phantom simply created a shield and then shot at her full speed. She lifted up causing Phantom to miss. She went to take him, but he flipped in the air gracefully and redirected himself back to her like a homing missile without losing any momentum. She turned back trying to get out of the way, but Phantom destroyed her hold again causing her to plummet back to earth.

She shot at him only for Cyborg to smash the ground next to her and then blast her away. Terra looked up only for a bus to come crashing on her. She went underground and then took off in the sky behind Raven. Beastboy flew past her and then turned around taking one of Phantom's maneuvers and crashing into her causing her to fall back to the ground. Phantom looked at him pretty impressed with how well he did that. Terra got back up and then hit Beastboy into the ground and took off as Starfire chased her. The alien threw her star bolts as Terra dodged, and Phantom teleported in front of her causing her to stop and lose her balance.

"Slade, help, I can't do this alone," Terra cried flying away from them. Suddenly Cinderblock, Plasmus, and Overload appeared causing all the Titans to stop. Energy swirled around them and suddenly they started combining.

"Really?" Phantom asked, raising as eyebrow as his smirk grew. "This is going to be fun."

"The bigger they are," Robin started.

"The harder they fall," Cyborg finished while he turned his arm into his cannon. Phantom shook his head and lit up his hands with blue energy.

"Like I said, fun," Phantom gloated as the ground suddenly froze. The monsters stepped on the ice only to fall. The monsters slammed on the ground breaking the ice. A white light appeared around them as they finished their transformation and causing them all the cover their face from the brightness.

"Wow, and I thought they were ugly before," Cyborg commented seeing the strange monster that the three villains had created. An entire army of Slade-bots came up from behind the team as well as there being several behind the giant ugly monster.

"Titans, go," Robin ordered as they started attacking the monster. Phantom flew higher and let the surrounding air get colder. Everyone felt the sudden change and everything seemed to move slower. Phantom let his eyes close as he felt everyone and everything around him.

The giant monster roared and punched at the Titans only to miss. Robin glared and threw exploding bombs at it. Starfire threw her bolts at it while Raven picked up random objects. Suddenly a white light appeared again and the monster fell to the ground. Phantom appeared between them and the monster. His cloak was flying in the wind that was surrounding the area as the sky grew even darker, and the sense of something more dangerous came upon everyone in the area. Raven was starting to get creeped out by how different Phantom could make the atmosphere. Phantom's eyes were white as he charged up a powerful blast. He shot at the monster causing it to go flying into another building. One of the Slade-bots came up and tried to engage only for the ghost to disappear. Phantom appeared on the other side and destroyed it in one blast. Robin blinked surprised at the way Phantom fought. He was more of a one-man army than anything else, and it was like he didn't need a team. Robin remembered how Phantom's team stayed out of the public eye, so Phantom was pretty used to fighting without one most of the time. Phantom made sure though that he could see every Titan while he fought, and Robin noticed that every time he turned around Phantom would be on one side or another making sure that everyone was accounted for and okay.

One of the Slade-bots shot something at Phantom causing him to lose his air and fall to the ground. Several more came up and piled around the ghost while Phantom got antsy. His eyes turned blue as every one of the robots froze over, and then suddenly his eyes turned green and they all exploded as he tore out of there. Robin looked around and jumped up as another robot came to attack. The monster finally got enough of his bearings and balance back that he could fight. Raven started throwing random objects at it while Starfire shot at it. Everyone else was fighting the robots. Robin ended up back to back with Phantom as the robots surrounded them.

"Ya know I was still having people issues, and I don't think this helping," Phantom stated as three robots charged up their guns. A green shield surrounded them when it fired.

"It's not every day some villain succeeds in taking over your town," Robin quipped back as the shield dropped, and they went back at the robots.

"Well, it was in Amity…not succeeds so much as tries every day, and then I just had my off days like this one," Phantom grinned as Robin laughed a little. Robin dodged under one robot and sent an exploding disk at another while Phantom shot the one he dived under.

"Heroes have their moments," Robin responded as the robots grew in numbers. He looked around making sure that Terra wasn't going to attack them. He was sure that if she did then they would be overwhelmed. Phantom shifted as something felt off. He looked around and realized Beastboy was missing. He sent out his aura and tried to find the young hero before anything happened. Robin was thrown into a building Phantom felt the impact as Robin rolled over the stone in his pocket. That was one reason why Phantom wanted to keep it. He could keep it from hitting the ground a lot better than Robin, and that one mistake cost him dearly as another robot came up and shot him across the street. Cyborg blasted it and got to Phantom's side to make sure he was okay.

"I'm fine," Phantom mumbled. He didn't want them all to know the exact story until after the fight for fear of getting them distracted. That's mainly why he kept it a secret as well. "Nothing I'm not used to."

"Did you see BB?" Cy asked with a little more worry. "He was pretty ticked off about Terra disappearing."

"No, that's what I was trying to do before that one blasted me," Phantom answered standing up. "I don't want to leave you guys to try to find him though."

"We can handle it here," Cyborg stated and as to prove his point Raven destroyed half the robot army by slamming the first row into the rest. Phantom nodded and took off to find the young changeling. Robin watched him go terrified he just left them. He looked around as he realized that Beastboy was missing, and Cyborg was coming up to him.

"I told Phantom to find Beastboy. He went to find Terra by himself," Cy answered his unasked question. Robin let a small sigh of relief wash over him knowing that Phantom was only following Cyborg's orders. Phantom kept his loyalty and followed orders well, and Robin could only respect him for that.

"Let's finish this," Robin ordered as they all got back to together, and prepared to destroy the monster that was left. Raven and Starfire had destroyed the rest of the robots.

Jump City Caves East Side 1500 Hours

The little green rat ran across the floor trying not to grab anyone's attention. It turned into a small bird and flew up to the cameras to disable them. Then he turned back into his human form and glared at the door in front of him until he felt the room temperature drop. He quickly turned around and seen Phantom standing there looking at him curiously.

"Every time you change animals, your aura does this weird thing, and it gets confusing," Phantom smiled gently. "Hope you don't plan going in there by yourself, now are you?"

"How did you track me?" Beastboy stated as the first part went over his head. Phantom shook his head while he put a hand to the door.

"Your aura. That's how I know Terra was the one that messed with the Tower's system. I can track auras," Phantom answered and blasted the door opened. Terra was on the floor crying while Slade was busy somewhere else in the cave. Beastboy ran up to her.

"Terra?" he questioned worriedly with little hesitation. Phantom cautionly walked over to them feeling something off. Terra suddenly stood up and shot them both across the room. Her grin grew as her new plan formed.

"I thought you would learn your lesson sooner or later," she gloated as a rock rose above Beastboy and Phantom. Beastboy turned into a bird while Phantom teleported to the back of the room. Terra turned and started creating columns trying to get Beastboy down. He would change animals depending on what she was trying to use. Phantom got annoyed and blasted her to the other wall. She got up and shot a huge boulder at him while Beastboy tried to catch his breath. Phantom went intangible with a smirk. If she threw them, he could past though them, but if she was controlling them at the time then he couldn't. He could keep that in order. Terra growled and shot at him engaging in hand to hand. Her movements were choppy and unorganized. Phantom got annoyed and just turned back ducked and kicked her feet from under her. She fell to the ground as Beastboy walked up to Phantom. Phantom was suddenly out of it as his eyes turned red.

"Well, I did do some research on a man named Freakshow, and some of the things are quite interesting," Slade grinned as he walked out of the shadows. "Your friend is now in my control. Phantom, attack." Phantom turned to Beastboy and grinned while Beastboy slowly backed away fearing the evil red eyes of his friend. He knew that Phantom was no longer in control.

Danny: She actually had about another page after here, but that would have put her at twenty two

Me: Can't have that now can we?

Danny: That's your battle with Terra, there's still more, and I'm sure you were all wanting to see her see the point of why she shouldn't have worked with Slade...Well she changed some things there.

Me: No one really has done this episode yet, but I wanted to be the first...then there was another story that actually did, but I haven't seen it in a while...its newer but I don't think they finished it yet...This is pretty much the two episodes, only this time

Danny: She also got the Twoshot from Clocky...

Me: XD...she's working on it now!

Danny: Also don't forget to review, and newboy, you're vote is taken into consideration.

Me: I'm so glad you guys love this story, I enjoy writing it!XD

Danny: Keep it up to avoid her losing anything...

Me: I actually doubt I will, but reviews help me go faster, I'm not quite there in the next chapter, but that's because I'm also working on a ton of horse related thing right now as well, I'm in the zone though, so hopefully I'll get a jumpstart on the next chapter. It's started since I took that page out. And left you with a cool cliffhanger. I also got Fifth, Second, and First at the show!XD

Danny: So review

Me: And never hit a horse, they are ten times your size and can kill you...

Danny: She ticked because some person was trying to get their horse to do something and they hit it and it threw them off. They got all ticked and started jerking on it only for it to kick them and they ended up in the hospital because of their stupidity. She took the same horse and nothing happened...

Me: It's bigger, stronger, and more dangerous than you, treat it kindly.

Please review