Oh my gawd! It's almost the end! And it is almost Christmas! What I want for Christmas? Nothing much. What I want is to finish this story. And maybe some hot chocolate with ice cream on top. Well, enjoy the stories my fellow readers!
Also, as I mentioned in Phantom Leader I, the first story I made and the prequel to this story, that Reign Storm never happened.
Chapter 16: The Skeleton Key
The city was on fire; the sky was eerie green; people ran as skeleton soldiers attacked them. Phantom was on the ground, in his human form, weakened and beaten as he stared at the monstrous figure before him, his friends all disintegrated into ashes. He couldn't move, all the energy he had was gone that he was in his human form, weak and helpless.
"This world is mine!" the figure shouted as it clapped its massive hands, creating an energy blast towards Phantom. As the blast hit him, he saw an image of a glowing, green key opening a casket.
Danny woke up in cold sweat, a sheet of paper stuck on his face. He looked around the place, he was in his lab, fixing his project that Silkie ate. He looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was about five in the morning.
"What the heck was that…" he said as he rubbed his head before noticing the paper on his face. He removed it and saw that it the things he needed for his project. He looked at it, and grinned. The lower half was a pair of metal pants that were as big as Cyborg. The upper half was a bulky armor with a glass helmet and the 'spine' sticking from the bottom.
It was something in the blueprints his parents made, before their death. It was one of their best inventions, the Ecto-Skeleton suit. An invention used to increase the wearer's strength tenfold. He had a gut feeling that he might need this.
He suddenly remembered his dreams and grimaced. He stood up and stretched his limbs. He's been in his lab for almost a week trying to fix the Ecto-Skeleton, and all this fixing started giving him nightmares.
"I need food," he said to himself as he rubbed his eyes. In a flash of light, Phantom appeared and walked through his door. He then found himself in the kitchen. It was early, so everyone else was asleep.
"You are up already?" a voice said. He looked and saw Starfire walking towards him.
Except for Starfire. She always wakes up early, to start her daily rituals, which involves punching a sandbag for an hour, cycling for another hour and Tamaranean yoga.
"Morning, Star," Phantom said with a smile.
"It is nice to see you out of your lab, Danny," she said with a smile. "Are you done with your project?"
"Not yet," Phantom said as he turned on the stove to cook a big breakfast. "I just needed a break."
Lagging behind her was Silkie, wearing a purple collar with a tag on it. He walked towards his bowl and waited for food. The larva eats five meals a day. Thankfully, they managed to give him something to eat other than substitute zorkaberries. A mixture of pizza, tofu and Starfire's cooking seemed to be his favorite food.
Phantom made himself a big breakfast, since it's been a week since he had a proper meal. He cooked himself six ham and cheese omelets, a big stack of waffles, tons bacon and sausage, a jug of coffee and some fruits.
With his meal on the table, Phantom ate his breakfast ravenously, just like Silkie. Starfire watched him eat, leaning her head on her hands. She had a small smile on her face as she watched him.
"You want some waffles, Star?" Phantom offered as he gestured at the plate.
"Oh, no thank you," she said with a smile. "You need the nutrients more than me."
"I insist," Phantom said, pushing the plate to her. "Breakfast is fun to eat with more people."
"Well, since you insist," a voice said. The two looked and saw that it was the rest of their friends, plus Cujo, who had a DP tag attached to his collar. "It's a waste to not eat all this food."
"Morning guys!" Phantom said as he stuff some bacon in his mouth.
"So, you finished your project?" Robin asked as he took an omelet.
"Almost," Phantom said with a sigh. "I needed the power source to stabilize it. And the Nth core was ruined."
Nth metal, an alien mineral that was rare on Earth. He only managed a small sample of it by accident after they turned the Gordanian space ship into their base of operations. Using what he found, he turned it into a stable power source for the Ecto Skeleton, but now he doesn't have one.
Starfire and Terra chuckled apologetically before they eat.
"Well, it's not like you're going to need that thing," Beastboy said as he grabbed some tofu in the fridge to make his meat free breakfast.
"Yeah…" Phantom said before his mind flashbacked to the dream he had. There was something about that key that was bothering him. He shook his head and thought that it was probably nothing before he continued eating breakfast with his friends.
At least, he hoped it was nothing.
Ghost Zone…
Vlad Plasmius flew through the deepest parts of the Ghost Zone, the Skeleton Key in hand. Finally, after years of research he found the source of ultimate power. With it, he could finally rule both worlds and no one can get in his way.
He flew through the eerie skies before spotting the Keep. He landed on the floating Keep. It was bigger than his mansion, he could feel something cold within these ancient walls. He walked through the gates like he owned the place.
"Aah, Pariah's Keep," Vlad said as he looked around the place while flying through the halls. "Home of not only the Fright Knight, but of the legendary King of Ghosts."
He spotted a jack-o-lantern with a sword stabbed on it. The Fright Knight. He heard that Phantom fought him a long time ago. He then looked around before spotting what he was looking for. A green ring with a black skull on it inside a green glass container that was locked.
With a smirk, he inserted the Skeleton Key in the padlock. The padlock clicked and the glass opened.
"Finally, the power of the Ghost King is mine!" he put on the ring and flew to the air, lifting it in the air. He waited for a few seconds before realizing nothing happened. He looked at the ring before remembering something. "Of course, the Ring of Rage is nothing without its brother, the Crown of Fire."
He floated towards the deeper parts of the Keep and soon found himself in the throne room, with dead torches on the pillars and royal purple banners attached to the ceiling. On the place where the throne was supposed to be was a black sarcophagus with ancient drawings around the image of a red eyes monster.
"And now to take the Crown of Fire," he said as he looked at the image of green fire on the sarcophagus. He inserted the Skeleton Key on the keyhole and turned it, only to find that it was stuck. Confused, he kept twisting the key, but it wouldn't budge. "Impossible! The Skeleton Key is supposed to open anything in the Ghost Zone."
He looked at the sarcophagus before he noticed three circular holes around the keyhole. He touched the smooth holes and studied them.
"Plasmius, what's the situation?" Slade's voice from their communicator said.
"Just a little set back, my friend," Vlad said as he realized what the holes are. "And I know who can help us. It's time to see how Daniel is doing."
Titan's Tower…
Phantom was in his lab, looking for a suitable replacement for the power source for his Ecto Skeleton. He tried to find a substitute power source, but nothing came close to the Nth metal core. He sighed as he scratched off another mineral.
He looked at the suit and sighed. Without that Nth power core, using the Ecto Skeleton would kill the user, draining their energy.
Phantom sighed as he rubbed his eyes. He could always ask Batman for help. He could get in contact with Hawkman, an old acquaintance of theirs. Or maybe Hawkgirl would be willing to spare some Nth metal, if she wasn't in her usual rage moods.
Before he could think some more, he heard some knocking. He looked at the door and opened it. It was Starfire.
"What's up, Star?" Phantom said as she entered the lab.
"I was wondering if you would like to do the hanging out with me," Starfire said as she twirled her hair with her finger. "It has been awhile since we hang out together."
"Um…sure, why not," Phantom said with a small smile. Maybe hanging out with Starfire can help him relax for awhile.
"Glorious!" Starfire said as she grabbed Phantom's hand and pulled him out the lab. "Let us go fly around the city!"
Phantom just chuckled as Starfire eagerly pulled him out of the lab and out of the Tower. He didn't know Starfire was reading girl magazines, and she read that 'a girl should make her man spend time with her without him knowing'. With help from Terra and a reluctant Raven, they made a plan to make Phantom hang out with her the whole day.
It counted as a date, even if he doesn't know it. At least, that's what the girl magazine said.
The two flew around the city and did what Starfire wanted; they went to the mall and did the 'shopping of windows', looking at dresses and stuff toys. Then they went to eat some 'cream of ice', but this time they got cones, not sundaes. He didn't want another "Say 'ah'" moment. Not that he didn't like it. He just didn't want people picturing it, like a pair of certain friends.
The two were then sitting on a billboard, finishing their ice cream and looking at the city bustling and doing their daily routine.
"You know," Phantom said as he ate the last of his waffle cone. "This is what I like about being a hero."
"What do you mean?" Starfire asked as she cleaned the cream off her face. Phantom gestured below them, at the people living their lives in peace.
"I'm just…happy that we can protect them," Phantom said. "Being a hero is an occupational hazard, but seeing them living peacefully, well it's worth it."
Starfire looked at him before at the city below and smiled. When she first came to this world, she was scared and confused. She thought that this place was worse than her home planet, which was ravaged by war.
But then she met Danny and the rest of her friends, and they taught and showed her the wonders of the planet. Before she knew it, she became one of the planet's heroes, learning and protecting her new home.
She then remembered the tips from her girl magazines. She scooted over Phantom's side, acting innocent. It wasn't until their shoulders bumped that Phantom noticed how close she was. He blushed as he saw how she was looking at him with half-lidded eyes. His ghostly heart was thumping as she moved her head closer, her intentions clear.
They hadn't been this close after he kissed her in his lab. He felt vulnerable, and she was there to make him feel better. When they kissed, he felt closer to her.
And now he wanted to become closer than before.
He closed his eyes and leaned towards her face. Just as their lips were about to touch, the billboard suddenly exploded.
The two were on the roof's ceiling, disoriented from the sudden explosion. They heard some footsteps and saw Slade looking at them. Phantom looked around and saw a dozen Sladebots surrounding them.
"So sorry to interrupt such a tender moment," Slade said as he aimed a red Ghost Thermos at Phantom. "But I'm going to borrow your friend."
Phantom quickly realized what happened and quickly sprang into action. He kicked the thermos out of Slade's hand, jumped to the air and pulled out six Ecto-rangs, throwing them and hitting five Sladebots while Slade jumped out of the way to dodge projectile. The Sladebots that got hit were suddenly electrified before exploding into small bits.
He then helped Starfire up before flying to a safe distant away from Slade. He suddenly felt a sharp pain behind his back before his world blacked out. Starfire quickly kept them in the air and supported Phantom.
"You always did make things difficult, Little Badger," Starfire looked and saw that it was Vlad. She quickly fired Starbolts at Vlad, who made a shield to block it easily. "Don't even bother trying to fight, alien. You are simply outmatched."
Starfire glared at Vlad with glowing eyes as she held on to the form of her unconscious friend. She knew she couldn't fight both Vlad and Slade alone, especially with Phantom unconscious. All she could do is delay them and hoped her friends heard the explosion.
With that, she fired at Vlad before turning to fire at Slade before flying up at full speed. She was a few feet away before she felt something hit her leg. She looked and saw that it was a metal disc before getting shocked.
She screamed in pain before she fell down, along with Phantom. Vlad caught them by the arms and threw Phantom towards Slade, who aimed the thermos at him, sucking him into the device. He then threw Starfire to the ground, making a small crater on the street.
"We got what we come for, let's go before the other children appear," Vlad said as he floated next to Slade, who looked at the thermos.
"Then let's go and complete the objective," Slade said before following Vlad, his Sladebots following him.
Later…
Starfire slowly opened her eyes before she remembered what happened. She quickly sat up, but the sudden movement made her dizzy.
"Easy there, Starfire," Raven said. Starfire looked around and found herself in the infirmary. "You got a nasty shock."
"Where are the others?" Starfire asked as Raven helped her up.
"They're looking for Phantom," Raven said as Starfire stood on her feet. "What happened?"
"It was Slade and Plasmius," Starfire said as she rubbed her head. "They ambushed us and took Phantom."
Raven looked worried about that. She immediately pulled out her T-comm and contacted the others.
"Something wrong, Raven?" Robin asked as he drove his R-Cycle through the streets.
"Starfire's up," Raven replied. "She said Slade and Plasmius took Phantom."
"That is not good, dudes," Beastboy said as he transformed from bird to human, landing on a water tower.
"Why would they want Phantom?" Terra asked in a confused tone, flying over the city on a boulder.
"Don't know," Cyborg said as he looked around the place where the ambush happened. He then spotted something. "But I think I know how to find them."
Ghost Zone…
Phantom fell to the floor, groaning. He felt stiff, since he was trapped in the thermos for half an hour. He looked around and he saw himself in a familiar place.
"The Fright Knight's castle?" he said as he stood up.
"Close, but's actually named Pariah's Keep," a voice said. Phantom turned and saw Vlad and Slade in front of him. He got in a defensive position before he saw that he was surrounded by Sladebots.
"What do you want?" Phantom said as he kept his guard up. He knows these two, they wouldn't just kidnap him without getting something he has.
"We want your clothes," Vlad said.
Phantom paled before he gave Vlad a look of disgust. "You sick Fruitloop! What's wrong with you!"
"Not like that!" Vlad exclaimed in anger. "I want your Phantom's Emeralds!"
Phantom looked surprised by that. He looked at the three gems in his outfit. Why would they want it?
"What it is, I won't let them have it," he thought as he quickly pulled out some smoke pellets and threw it to the ground. The pellets exploded, covering them in smoke.
He then turned human and dive to the floor. When the smoke cleared, everyone saw that he was gone. Vlad just smirked, not bothered that Phantom was gone.
"You can run, Little Badger, but you can't escape," he said as the Sladebots dive through the floor.
Phantom landed on the ground and started running through the halls. It's a good thing he remembered that small tidbit about the Ghost Zone, where everything from the Human World phases through here.
Suddenly, Sladebots fell from the ceiling and landed around him. He cursed as he realized that the same work against his enemies. He pulled out his tonfas and prepared as the Sladebots jumped at him.
Titan's Tower…
The Titans were in the Ops Room, with Cyborg studying a Sladebot's head. It was lucky he managed to find it. He connected it to the Titans' computer and started scanning it.
"There, now let's hope I can use this head to search for its owner," Cyborg said as they waited to finish scanning.
Starfire was pacing around, worried for Danny. Terra tried to calm her alien friend down. Everyone else was wondering why Phantom would get kidnap.
"I say they're going to brainwash Phantom," Beastboy suggested. "Or, they're going to take his brain and place it on a Ghost-powered Sladebot and turn him into their robotic slave!"
Robin and Raven gave him deadpanned looks as Beastboy held a crude drawing of a Sladebot with a brain taped on its head. Raven was thinking whether or not to magically tape his mouth when the computer beeped.
They looked and saw Cyborg typing on the computer. The screen showed that the signal was coming from the Tower.
"That can't be right," Cyborg said as he retyped, only to get the same result. "The signal is coming from the Tower."
"Which part?" Robin asked. Cyborg typed the computer, showing a diagram of the Tower.
"It's…coming from Phantom's lab," he said. Confused, Cyborg downloaded the signal to his scanner before they rushed towards Phantom's lab. They entered the room, following Cyborg.
"Woah," Beastboy said as he saw the Ecto Skeleton. "Dudes, this is so awesome."
"The signal is coming from the Ghost Zone," Cyborg said and they all looked at the Ghost Portal.
"They're in the Ghost Zone?" Robin said, not really looking forward to going there, after his first time visiting the place.
"Looks like it," Raven said.
"We must go then," Starfire said in a determined expression. "Danny is in danger, and he needs us."
"I couldn't have said that better myself," Cyborg said with a grin. Everyone else was grinning as well. "I'm gonna open up the portal."
He pressed the button and the portal opened up, lighting the room with green light. Raven told them to gather around her, which they did, and she covered them in a black bubble. They then entered the Ghost Zone.
"Wow…" Terra said as she looked around the place. "It's beautiful."
"Trust me, it's not," Robin said.
Meanwhile, Phantom was surrounded by destroyed Sladebots as he kept breaking more. He dodged a kick, grabbed the leg and threw it to a group of Sladebots before throwing a disk grenade, causing them to blow up. He then punched one that was trying to tackle him, knocking its head off.
"How many trashcans does he have!?" Phantom exclaimed as he used two Ecto-rangs and slashed four Sladebots' chests open. "Seriously! Where are they coming from!?"
If memory served, he probably destroyed a hundred of them, plus twenty, so where are they coming from? Does he have a Sladebot toy factory?
He stabbed the last one on the head and panted for air. He heard some clapping, so he turned around and saw Slade calmly walking towards him, looking at the destruction he caused.
"Impressive," he commented as he picked up a Sladebot head. "I see your skills haven't dulled a bit."
"And you only show up after your Sladebots do the work," Phantom said as he pulled out a Bo Staff and aimed it at Slade. "Still a coward hiding behind toys."
Slade threw the head, causing Phantom to moved his head before Slade jumped towards him and engaged him in close combat. Phantom used the Bo Staff to block Slade's punches before he countered with a kick, which Slade block. Phantom swung his staff to hit Slade's head, but Slade caught it and used it to lift Phantom in the air and throw him upwards.
Phantom let go of the staff and pulled out six Ecto-rangs, throwing them to Slade, who blocked it by spinning the Bo Stafff. When he stopped spinning, a disc grenade appeared in front of him. It exploded, sending Slade crashing to the ground, the black half of his mask destroyed.
Phantom landed on the ground and looked at the broken half before at Slade, who slowly stood up. Half of his face was white skin, white hair and goatee and an eyepatch.
"So, I finally get to see your face," Phantom said as Slade removed the other half, revealing his gray eye. From his appearance, he probably a man in his forties, despite the hair color. "Have to say, not what I was expecting."
"How about you take of yours?" Slade suggested as he picked up the Bo Staff. "After all, I already know who you are, Danny Fenton."
Phantom clenched his fists until they cracked. He stared at Slade for a few minutes before he removed the black domino mask, revealing glaring blue eyes. He then pulled out another Bo Staff and glared at Slade. The two looked at each other before they both charged.
The two weapons clashed, a resounding smack echoing in the castle. Smacks kept echoing in the halls as the two tried to hit the other. Phantom moved to the side and jabbed Slade on the side, causing him to grunt before he swung his staff, hitting Phantom on the head.
He quickly recovered and jumped up, lifting the Bo Staff over his head, shouting as he swung towards Slade, who swung his staff with a shout. The two weapons broke with a loud smack. Their weapons fell to the ground as Phantom jumped away.
"How do you feel, Danny?" Slade asked with a smirk. "No powers. No weapons. No masks. Just two men, fighting for dominance."
Phantom growled before charging, fists raised. He and Slade got into hand to hand combat. They kept throwing and blocking punches and kicks. Phantom then threw a punch to Slade's head, but Slade moved to the side, then grabbed Phantom's arm and judo throw him away. Phantom landed on his feet and was about to charge, when he felt someone grab his arm and threw him to the ground.
He looked and saw Vlad before he stomped on Phantom's ankle. He heard a loud, snapping sound and screamed in pain. He looked at his right ankle and saw that it was broken. He suddenly felt himself being dragged by the cape.
"Now, let's not waste any more time," Vlad said, dragging Phantom, with Slade behind them.
Phantom was thrown to the ground, he looked at his ankle and saw that it was slowly healing. Vlad must have noticed, because he stomped on it again, breaking it again.
"Don't even think about running," Vlad said before he ripped off the gem on his collar. "I want you to see this."
He then ripped off Phantom's gloves, removing the Phantom's Emeralds. He grinned as he held the three gems before looking at the sarcophagus. He walked towards it and placed the three gems on the holes, fitting perfectly.
"At last," Vlad said as he pulled out the Skeleton Key. "I will finally have the power."
Just as he was about to insert the key, he screamed in pain before falling on his knees. He looked and saw Slade holding a military grade Taser. He then aimed at thermos at Vlad, who glared at him.
"Thank you for showing me this, Vlad," he said with a smirk. "But now it's time to end this partnership."
He activated the thermos and it glowed before shutting down. Slade looked at the thermos in confusion before Vlad quickly flew up and created a pink saber. In one swift movement, he stabbed Slade in the chest, causing the man to gasp in shock.
"Did you really think I'd give you a Ghost weapon that could hurt me?" Vlad said as he smirked at the glaring look of Slade. "I know you Slade. You're ambitious, cunning, and the type to take everything of value and destroy anyone in your way. That's what I like about you Slade, we are truly alike. Thus it is sad that we must end our partnership."
Slade couldn't help but smirk as the blade was pulled out of his chest and a glowing palm was aimed at him. Yes, these two were exactly alike.
"Goodbye…my friend."
Phantom watched with wide eyes as Vlad fired a giant Ghost Ray. Slade screamed as the blast slowly disintegrated him until nothing was left, only his eyepatch. Vlad looked at the scattered ashes before turning back to the sarcophagus.
"Now then," he said as he inserted the Skeleton Key. "Back to business."
He turned the key, and it clicked. Suddenly, Phantom felt a cold, dreaded feeling tingling over his back.
Outside the Keep, the Titans arrived and Raven suddenly gasped and fell backwards, the dome around them disappearing. Robin caught her as the ravens hanging on the dead trees suddenly cawed and flew away.
The sarcophagus slowly opened and Phantom saw a bulk of a giant in black, spikey armor and a worn out black cape that was red on the inside clasped by green skulls. Green, spikey hair maned on his head, horns poking from it, with the left one broken off. A red happuri on his bone white face. Black triangles were tattooed on his chin, a weird, triangular mark on his right and he an eyepatch on his left eye, a scar behind it.
But what Vlad was really looking at was the crown covered in Ghostly fire on top of his head. He grinned, thinking that he finally won as he took a step forward. Suddenly, the giant in the sarcophagus suddenly opened his right eye, revealing nothing but green filled with rage.
He stepped out of his sarcophagus, his shadow towering over the shocked Plasmius. The giant looked around before he roared, shaking the entire Keep, no, the entire Ghost Zone.
"I AM FREE!"
Oh my gawd! So many things happened! Starfire tried to kiss Danny, only to get disturbed by Vlad and Slade, Slade finally got unmasked, tried to backstab Vlad, only to get stab in the chest and blasted into ashes, and the Ghost King finally appeared!
Also, just a little reminded, Reign Storm has not happened yet. I'm sure I mentioned that in the prequel of the story, Phantom Leader. Look for it there, I'm sure I did, one hundred percent.
Oh, and before you guys say anything, Hawkgirl is a sidekick to Hawkman.
Well, while you guys looked, I'm gonna reply.
gamelover41592- Thanks, also since Terra is basically still new of the team, and it's mostly the new guys that break the rules.
SuperiorBatman1- Thanks. Hope you'll like the climax next chapter.
shadowmape- You are correct. Or are you? Let's find out next chapter.
JP-Ryder- Yup, the two knockoffs of Batman and Robin. And yes, Pariah Dark is coming to town. Get it?
Littlered951- Well, there was a moment, which was ruined.
scheffelman- After the epilogue, which is next chapter.
ShadowArbitor- Actually, like mentioned in both of my AN, Pariah Dark has not been freed before. So I can't really answer this.
ScarecrowReaper- Again, read AN.
Drift219- Yeah, everyone's favorite Ghost dog is back.
CrimsonKnight- Sure, some Ghostly tribal tattoos over his body. That sounds badass.
Kaybugg1- Yup, he's such an underrated character.
SPARTAN-626- True, Cujo is more useful. He could scare off intruders. As for training Beastboy, I already have that one planned. It'll happen in Season four.
KuriMaster13- Yup, Ghost Dog for the win. And thanks for the typo. I fixed it.
Dreams Come True 996- Thanks!
xflasher- You'll cry when this story is over! Or cry from laughter. Whichever comes first.
SoundVenom- Yeah, I won't do that to Danny. But we do need the lighthearted guy in the team, so that's him, but not too extreme, like Beastboy.
KnightReaper- Well, it won't be green. Maybe ghostly pale, like most Ghosts.
PhantomReaper- I will. And which movie are you talking about?
FrostHunter- Well, next chapter will be the last, and we have a lot of days before the month ends. Also, read AN, Reign Storm did not happen, yet.
InvaderGaz88- I'm more of a fanfic writer than a drawer. I only draw when I feel like it.
PhantomKhimera- I think Brucey is more like a pet name than the other names you just mentioned. But sure, I'll do that.
And there you go! Can't wait for your shocked reviews on what happened to this chapter! Next chapter, the Ghost King will storm into Jump City! How will the Titans fight this coming threat! See you later!