Hello dear readers! Welcome back to the story. Sorry for the long wait, but college and job hunting have made finding time to write a bit more tedious. Anyway, we are entering Season 2 of Miraculous Gamer Guild. It's just me today in the recording room, but things will be interesting. With that said, let's answer some reviews.
Njistar: It did turn out that way, didn't it? I had fun writing Rose letting loose and being violent. I felt that the Titans Go was long overdue, especially since I never used it in their debut chapter. Well I had to take care of that lying vrăjitoare to ensure that she wouldn't make another appearance in the story. I figured the best way to show a glass villain's total defeat would be a powerful voice, hence the ghostly wail.
P96822: I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Lila's akumatization needed to be something that would show the end of her story. I'm glad that I did better than canon! Tell Deadpool that she's currently living out her own personal underworld by being cursed to never fulfill her dreams. Ladybug's awakening is a design that I had fun coming up with as it encompasses her desire to be both Ladybug and Matinette at all times.
Rose was a little gremlin in this fight and I loved writing it just as much as you found her breaking Verregnée's legs satisfying. I understand your interest in a Danny X Marinette pairing and this would have been a good moment for that, but I feel that Danny X Juleka is the way to go here. Maybe I'll do a Danny X Marinette story some day, though I make no promises.
Fregreg: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Marinette had to discover what she needed to be, as well as who she wanted to be, before she could awaken. I figured that Verregnée would be a perfect way to cap off Lila's involvement in the story.
Gundoru: Wow! Thanks for the amazing response. This new arc is hopefully going to be just as interesting.
lilyofthestars: Thanks! I'm glad I was able to pull everything off so well. Ladybug definitely deserved the power boost. So far it looks like Adrien has both Nathalie and his bodyguard on his side. We'll just have to see what Nathalie does here.
Yeah I felt like that kiss was just meant to close out the arc. Juleka knows what she wants and is going for it. Let's just hope Danny has any brains left with his reaction, lol!
Classiccartoon27: Well thank you very much for the ovation. I enjoyed taking that brat down a peg. This chapter might not be as exciting as the previous one, but hopefully it'll still be good regardless.
Speedykitten1643: Thanks! I felt like shrinking her to such miniscule sizes was a good way to handle her defeat. We'll see if Danny's mind is alright or not here, lol! Well we'll just see what happens with Jack and Maddie Fenton. I will say that Adrien's awakening probably won't happen in this story, but I have planned it out in my head for a sequel. Now that Lila's gone, the antagonist position has indeed shifted to someone else.
Selenity84: Yup. Defeat and a mind break from YOURS TRULY.
The_Keeper_of_Worlds: Glad you liked it so much. I had to make sure that she would not come back in this story, or any other story unless it's to show how pathetic her life is going forward. An interesting guess as to who was wielding the Fox Miraculous there, though you'll have to wait and see on that one.
MarvelFan616: I'm glad the destruction of Lila's web of lies was worth such a long wait time. I heard that line in a video and thought it would be perfect to use here, lol! Danny and Juleka showed everyone who saw it that they are serious about this relationship of theirs.
darknessslayer: In the words of a certain Texan with a penchant for making turrets, "Another satisfied customer". I'm glad I could fulfill your hopes here.
satoshy12: I'm glad you like the Jellie, AKA Super Gheist, pairing. It is my intention for Ellie to be introduced to the Kent family someday soon.
Lila: Child… YOU DON'T GET IT. THE YOU OF THIS UNIVERSE IS DONE FOR. YOU HAVE BEEN CURSED TO NEVER FULFILL YOUR GOALS AND DREAMS. WAKE UP TO REALITY, FOR YOUR CONNECTION TO IT IS ALL YOU HAVE LEFT.
LunarCouncillor: Yeah I figured someone had to make sure she STAYED DOWN. Anyone more vile and evil than Gabriel deserves it and Lila had no further purpose in the story. Here's more for ya!
Fuyu_kanji: Wow! I'm glad you like it so much! I figured that Rose evolving into a chaos gremlin here would be interesting character development. I never thought that the kiss scene would get that kind of reaction out of a reader, but it's satisfying to know that the ship I started is working out so well. Hopefully this new season will be just as exciting for ya! (Also, interesting guesses you have in that one thread)
Blackchill00: I understand what you mean about Danny's strength. The one thing you have to remember is that I think he used a power suit in the fight against Pariah Dark. I will say though that his power is growing exponentially here. I enjoy having the image of Bunnyx and Clockwork having tea together. All we need is someone who's insane to complete an Alice in Wonderland reference, lol!
Jayster0125: An interesting guess my friend. We'll just have to see who the mysterious fox user is when she's revealed.
Rocky: I'm glad you found it satisfying. It's not that you made it harder to write. You just gave me more drama and even more reason to make my appearance in the story to shut Lila down.
Chase: I'm glad you liked the chapter. This new fox hero is indeed a mystery, though a popular theory is that she's Zoe. We'll just have to see who she really is when she appears.
That's all of them, so let's begin. I don't own Miraculous, Danny Phantom, Marvel, DC, or any other series that show up here. I do own any original characters, concepts, creatures, and places that work their way into the story unless stated otherwise.
Username List
Miraculous Gamer Guild
Moderator:
Mousegirl15- Marinette (Mouse/Mari/Nettie)
GhostWatcher- Danny (Watcher/Ghost)
NightwingFan- Dick (Nightwing, Grayson)
Paris People:
Mousegirl15- Marinette (Mouse/Mari/Nettie)
SeaMonkey- Kim (MK)
LadyTigress16- Juleka (Tigress/LadyT/Jules)
HoneyBee22- Chloe (Bee)
CyberPegasus- Max (Pegasus)
SpiderRose- Rose
Sk8terBunny – Alix (Sk8ter, Bunny)
HoundLover- Sabrina (Hound)
MajorScaless- Luka (Scaless)
Haunted Folks
GhostWatcher- Danny (Watcher/Ghost)
GQueen- Sam
BatTuck- Tucker (Tuck)
JazzyTime- Jazz (Blue)
Kids of America
NightwingFan- Dick (Nightwing, Grayson)
GothamEcho- Barbara (Babs)
BeastMan- Garfield (Beast/Gar)
Mr.R0bot0- Victor (Vic/Bot)
Starmoth03- Kori'ander/Starfire (Kori, Star, Moth)
EbonyRaven- Rachel Roth/Raven (Raven, Ebony, Rae)
Watchlist
GQueen- Sam
GhostWatchers
GhostWatcher- Danny (Watcher/Ghost)
GothQueen- Sam
BatTuck- Tucker (Tuck)
Miraculous Mysteries
BugFighter- Marinette (My Lady, Ladybug) & Tiki (Sugarcube)
Chataclysm- Adrien (Chat, Chat Noir) & Plagg
BeeFriend22- Chloe (Bee) & Pollen
Gotham Knights Communication
Oracle- Barbara (Babs)
DarkKnight- Bruce (Batman, B)
AgentA- Alfred (A)
Hood- Jason (Jay, Red Hood, Todd)
Robin- Damian (D, Robin)
Red- Tim (Red Robin)
Nightwing- Dick (Nightwing, Grayson)
Super Kids
BloodRobin- Damian (D, Robin)
NightFlight- Jon
PhantomChild- Danielle (Dani, Ellie)
PinkDragoon- Haley
Bat Boys
MrHood- Jason (Jay, Red Hood, Todd)
Mini-Bruce- Damian (D, Robin)
CoffeeLord- Tim (Red Robin)
CircusBird- Dick (Nightwing, Grayson)
War Room
HoneyBee22- Chloe (Bee)
SeaMonkey- Kim (MK)
LadyTigress16- Juleka (Tigress/LadyT/Jules)
CyberPegasus- Max (Pegasus)
SpiderRose- Rose
Sk8terBunny – Alix (Sk8ter, Bunny)
HoundLover- Sabrina (Hound)
MajorScaless- Luka (Scaless)
GhostWatcher- Danny (Watcher/Ghost)
JazzyTime- Jazz (Blue)
NightwingFan- Dick (Nightwing, Grayson)
GothamEcho- Barbara (Babs)
BeastMan- Garfield (Beast/Gar)
Mr.R0bot0- Victor (Vic/Bot)
Starmoth03- Kori'ander/Starfire (Kori, Star, Moth)
EbonyRaven- Rachel Roth/Raven (Raven, Ebony, Rae)
Other
BluePassion- Jazz (Blue)
Jay-Bird- Jason (Jay, Red Hood, Todd)
DrumSkull- Ivan
SmellyWolf10- Mylene
Voices
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
"YELLING!"
"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity talking. Also, surprise at the end of a section."
"AUTHOR/GUEST/HIGH OR DEMONIC ENTITY YELLING!"
"Whispering."
"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity whispering."
Rand: Chat/text message
Rand: Chat/text message in irl sections
"Talking in game and out of character/Talking in flashback."
"YELLING IN GAME AND OUT OF CHARACTER/YELLING IN FLASHBACK!"
"Whispering in game and out of character/Whispering in flashback."
Paris, France
The sun rose on a fresh day in the city of Paris. Two weeks had passed since what quickly became known as the "Lila Destruction Plan" successfully removed the annoyance from Paris and revealed everything she was hiding. Things had become more peaceful ever since the defeat of the lying villainess. This was due to another apparent break Hawkmoth was taking, as well as the increased activity by the Justice League. These two factors working together had the city feeling more alive than it had ever been in years.
Marinette ended up enjoying it as well, seeing as the team sent by the League was taking up patrolling and dealing with small criminals during school hours. This left her time to just be a kid again and enjoy the fruits of her friends' labor. Every morning she felt more at peace than the last. It was honestly great to greet every day with the enthusiasm that she used to. Speaking of, the girl quickly put some clothes in a plastic bag as she tied it up.
"I have to hurry before everyone else starts without me!" cried the designer. "I've been so much better about school that I can't start being late again now!" Tiki flew into view, taking a bite of half eaten cookie she was carrying.
"What's the occasion Marinette?" questioned the little creature. "You seem excited." Her holder sent her a grin as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
"Rose got everyone to agree to a day on the beach since we couldn't celebrate Lila being gone while in school. Everyone in our class, Luka, and Kagami are going to be there. Now that this whole thing is over, I want to invite everyone to join the guild. It'd be so much fun to have all of my friends be able to talk to each other." The human girl watched as her kwami finished eating the cookie, smiling happily.
"I think that's a great idea, Marinette. I know that Nathaniel could definitely use the help." Marinette sighed as she nodded her head.
"Hopefully he shows up. He's only been talking to Alix and Rose, and even then they haven't been successful in getting him to join the guild." She felt something tiny softly touch her forehead, looking up to see her Kwami rubbing the area with a small arm.
"Well he's got the great Marinette Dupain-Cheng gunning for his happiness now! I'm sure that you and the others will be able to work together to help him!" This declaration made Marinette chuckle as she shook her head. She allowed Tiki to fly into her handbag, closing it quickly before rushing downstairs. She came to a stop at the door as she looked at her hard working parents.
"I'm meeting some friends at the beach! I'll be back before supper!" Marinette watched as her father looked her way with a smile.
"Have fun, Marinette!" cried the man. "Remember to beat the boys off with a stick!" Sabine looked towards her husband with a shocked look as smoke began to come out of the oven.
"TOM!" cried the woman. "The croissants!" The burly man suddenly gasped as he ran for the oven, using mitts to quickly pull out the tray of nicely browned goods. Marinette chuckled at the scene before running out the door. Tom placed the tray of croissants down on a stone surface with a sigh, only for his face to grow serious.
"Should we… tell her?" The question left the room extremely quiet, Sabine frowning as she looked at some fondant detailing she was adding to a cake. She let loose a deep sigh as she shook her head.
"Not right now. It's too soon after everything that happened. It can wait until after her birthday. Right now, all we should worry about is supporting her." She heard her husband sigh, turning towards him to see that he had a sad smile on his face.
"You're right. You know I won't be able to say no if she starts asking questions though." Tom watched his wife put the bag of fondant down as she walked over to him. He bent over to where his face was at level with hers, allowing her to kiss his cheek. He watched as she sent him the same sad smile.
"At that point she'll most likely be ready to know. That will be another day. Until then, business as usual." The couple embraced each other, the air in the room turning slightly somber. They knew that it was only a matter of time until this news of theirs would have to come to light.
Back with Marinette, she found herself close enough to the planned meeting spot to where she could walk the rest of the way. It was honestly nice to walk around and not have to worry about Lila popping up out of nowhere. It was almost like she never existed at all, everything being back to normal. Well, almost back to normal anyways. The mere thought of things as they were caused Marinette to think back to the last time she saw Alya.
Sazz, Give us a Flashback!
Marinette was returning to school on the third day after Lila was removed from Paris for good. Even more so than the present day, things just felt so right it was almost magical. She loved not having to worry about the liar showing her face or her class turning on her. Nothing could possibly ruin this new breath of life for her. That is, until she heard a huff behind her.
"What do you want, Cesair?" questioned Chloe. Marinette quickly turned around to find that Chloe and Sabrina were barring Alya from entering the building, her family's car waiting out on the road. "Last I checked our deal was that you leave Marinette alone after what you pulled. So why don't you get lost?" The reporter wannabe quickly held her hands together in a pleading sign as she shook her head.
"I just need to talk with her for a moment," begged Alya. "I don't know if I'll get another chance again. Please." Marinette felt conflicted on what to do, only to feel Tiki hug at her waist. She walked up to Chloe and Sabrina, putting her hands on their shoulders.
"It's okay, Chloe," reassured Marinette. The former problem duo looked at her with blank expressions. "You can stand nearby just in case, but it'll only be a moment." Her friends relented as they stepped to the side away from each other, allowing Marinette to step forward. It was clear that Alya didn't expect the "Everyday Ladybug" to be willing to talk as she took a deep breath.
"Hey, Marinette. It's been a while since we talked, which is understandable given everything that happened." Marinette crossed her arms as a small frown formed on her face.
"Is there a point, Alya? We have a class to get to." She watched Alya sigh as she leaned forwards.
"Actually, that's part of what I want to talk about. Look, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness at this point. Goodness knows everyone on the Ladyblog said I didn't after they found out. I just wanted to let you know that I really am sorry for going off the deep end. You tried to stop me and help me see things as they were, but I was too set in my mind to listen."
Marinette couldn't help but let her frown soften a bit as she saw the girl that used to be her best friend hold her hands behind her back. "I understand if you don't forgive me, let alone if your trust in me is gone. I just figured that I would settle things with you before the flight." This bit of news caused all three girls in front of the blogger to widen their eyes in response. Marinette let her arms fall to her sides as she processed everything that was said.
"Flight? Alya, are you saying that…?" The baker's daughter couldn't even finish her sentence as Alya nodded her head.
"Yeah. We're leaving Paris. My sister is staying to keep up her boxing career, but my folks figured it would be good for me and the twins to have a new environment. We're going to America, some small place that doesn't get much media attention. I'm hoping that the change of scenery will help me to actually develop the skills required of a good reporter, or to at least find something new if I'm blacklisted from the news scene."
Alya decided to drive her point home as she held her hands together in front of her legs. "I know you deserve an apology and much more. I know the idea of us being friends is not possible at this point, but I hope we can at least be acquaintances. Goodness knows that's probably more than I deserve." It looked like the blogger was about to walk off then and there, only for Marinette to release a sigh.
"I really shouldn't forgive you after what you did. You hurt me in ways that I don't know if I can fully recover from, Alya. That being said, I can't bring myself to hate you. I can let things be in the past, but our friendship and my trust can't be salvaged." This response caused Alya to sigh as she looked down.
Marinette fought her urge to stay still as she put a hand on Alya's shoulder, causing the girl to look up. "I have friends in America who will hear about you coming. They will be keeping an eye out for you. If you really mean to make a change, they'll know better than I do. If you want any hope of having my trust back, you'll earn theirs."
Marinette took her hand back like lightning, surprised that she actually went for the shoulder grab. "Do you understand?" Alya smiled softly as she nodded her head.
"I do. Thank you for at least giving me a chance to start over. This time, I won't let you down." A honking noise came from behind her, causing her to turn. She saw that her mother was pointing to her watch while her father was waiting at the wheel.
Alya quickly nodded her head before turning back to the group. "Make sure you girls take care of Marinette." Chloe crossed her arms with a frown.
"Better than you ever did, that's for sure," grumbled the former mean girl. Alya took this as her welcome expiring as Sabrina mirrored the blonde's pose. The reporter wannabe turned to Marinette with a sad smile.
"I guess this is goodbye. I really hope that everything works out for you, Marinette." The baker's daughter didn't have time to say anything in response as Alya returned to her family's car. The vehicle sped off towards the airport, leaving the trio alone at the entrance of the school. That was the last anyone had heard of Alya Cesair.
Back to the Present!
Marinette shook her head, knowing that she couldn't dwell in the past. Both Alya and Lila were gone, so she had nothing to fear from her class now. Well, except for if any of them became akumatized. That would be a standard procedure kind of thing though. Otherwise, life could mostly go back to what it was before the day the vrăjitoare came to town.
She noticed the others waiting for her at the entrance to the pier, increasing her stride. There was a mix of excitement and anticipation in the air as the group looked out over the beach. Alix quickly looked Marinette's way as the bluenette waved at them, the skater grinning at the sight.
"There she is!" cried Alix. The group of friends looked towards the bakers' daughter with growing smiles. The hidden rabbit hero slung her arm over Marinette's shoulders with a big grin. "Cutting it close at a minute late." The call out had Marinette chuckling in embarrassment as she rubbed the back of her head.
"I had to pick something good to wear," explained Marinette. "I'm trying to go for a new me kind of look." She watched Juleka smile as she stepped forward, a dark green sun hat with a black rim and a black band on her head.
"I know exactly what you mean," revealed the girl. "I'm going to wear something different from my normal swimsuit. I was hoping Danny would be here to see it, but I'm thinking about sending him a picture to get his opinion." The other girls quickly cooed at her as they leaned closer to her. Juleka tried to use her hat to hide her embarrassment when a limo suddenly stopped in front of them.
"Thanks, George!" cried the voice of Adrien. The others watched as he and Kagami stepped out of the vehicle, the boy's bodyguard rolling down the driver-side window to send them a nod. "Message me when you get back to pick us up. If that doesn't work, then you can do the honking." The burly man sent his charge a thumbs up before driving off.
He and Kagami quickly ran over to the group, each carrying their own intensity of smiles. "Sorry we're late! Father was insistent about giving me some rules for this beach trip. They shouldn't get in the way of us having fun though." Kagami looked at the group as she bowed slightly.
"Thank you for allowing me to come along," thanked the traditional girl. "I figured this would only be a class outing, but Adrien was insistent." Nino tipped his hat to her with a smile.
"No sweat, dudette!" cheered the wannabe DJ. "Juleka brought her brother with her to join in on the fun. Plus, you're Adrien's girl. We're always happy to have you on board." Kagami looked over to Marinette for confirmation of this, the former Adrien stalker nodding her head with a smile.
"That's enough standing around!" cried Kim. "Let's get to the changing rooms and hit the beach!" The prank loving guy let loose a cheer as he rushed for the sands. The others quickly followed after, Adrien holding Kagami's hand along the way. Since there was one guy's stall and one girl's stall, the group took turns getting changed.
Sabrina stepped into the girls' stall while Ivan stepped into the guys' changing area. Sabrina was the first one out, earning some cheers from the girls. She was wearing an orange bikini top with dog prints on the large side bands, a pair of orange and white swim shorts, and sandals that had a blue flower pin on the band. Ivan stepped out of the guys' stall soon after, wearing a sleeveless one piece swimsuit with a white skull on the front. He blushed as Mylene looked him over, nibbling her finger lightly.
Chloe stepped in right after Sabrina, Nino doing the same on the guys side. Nino was the first out this time, wearing a green tank-top and a pair of blue swimming trunks with turtles on the sides. Chloe quickly stepped out while striking a pose, flipping her hair like the diva she technically still is. She wore the bee miraculous in her hair, a yellow one piece bathing suit with black lines that had no sleeves and no leggings, and a pair of white sunglasses. Nino ran past her and chest bumped Kim, the boy running in next.
The boy was out just as quickly as Rose ran into the girls' stall. He was wearing a black and red mankini, a light blue headcap, and a pair of dark blue goggles. He flexed for the group to see, only for the girls to look away in embarrassment while some of the guys laughed at him. Rose suddenly burst out of the girls' stall, letting loose a cheer. She was wearing a short sleeved and short legged pink one piece swimsuit that showed off her upper back, a pink sun hat with a cartoon pig face on the front, and a white sash with a bow on the back around her waist.
"Tadah!" cheered Rose. "Isn't it so pretty!?" Everyone's response to this was to take in the imaginary light beams washed over them.
"There's the lovable, wholesome Rose that we know and love," sighed Sabrina. "You look great, Rose." This acknowledgement made the happy blonde cheer again as she ran towards the group. Adrien and Kagami smiled at each other as they each went into the separate stalls. Chloe grabbed Marinette's shoulders as she stood behind her.
"Be prepared, Nettie," informed the hidden bee hero. "Just because Adrien is taken, doesn't mean that we can't appreciate a good looking guy. Just relax and enjoy the show." Marinette looked at Chloe like she wanted to argue against the idea. This argument died in her head as she watched Adrien walk out of the men's stall.
The model boy was wearing a black tank top with a green cat design on the front, the cat being made up of several diamond shapes with a purple butterfly resting on its nose. He also wore a pair of black swim trunks that had the same striping as his usual shirt. Both Marinette and Chloe sighed as they leaned on each other, looking at the boy like he was a figment of their wildest dreams. Sabrina quickly shook them before Adrien looked their way, causing the duo to smile normally at him. He waved at them before walking over to fist bump Nino.
"Behave, girls," ordered Sabrina. "You can look, but no touching." Marinette and Chloe took these orders seriously, the former chuckling in embarrassment. The girls' stall opened mere moments later. The guys were all shocked by what they saw, Adrien included.
Kagami was wearing a white Japanese styled swimsuit with a red turtleneck connecting the straps and red at the bikini bottom area. The way her chest was exposed like that of the standard Japanese swimsuit seemed to be what majorly had the guys' attention. Adrien turned red at the sight of his girlfriend in such a suit, his heart beating faster. Upon noticing the way he was looking at her, Kagami sent him a smirk. She walked past the group while stretching her back, drawing more attention to her suit.
"If anyone needs me, I'll be getting something to drink," informed the fencing prodigy. "Would you like to come with me, Adrien?" She watched as the blonde boy nodded his head and closely followed behind.
"Sounds 'purrfect,'" commented the boy. Marinette furrowed her brow at Adrien as he and Kagami passed her by. That sounded familiar to her.
"Did he just…?" began to question Marinette. Chloe seemed to share her sentiment as she nodded her head. Rose quickly ran over to Marinette, pushing her towards the stall and breaking her concentration.
"Your turn, Marinette!" cheered the hyper blonde. "Show us what you got!" The bakers' daughter put her concern behind her as she rushed into the room. She didn't see who ran into the guys' stall, but she had to be fast. It took her next to no time to walk out of the stall, noticing that Kim and Nathaniel were blushing as they looked at her.
She wore a red strapless swim top with a black ribbon that left her stomach exposed, a blue bikini bottom with a black line pattern, and a pink waistcloth with black polka dots. She pulled her hair back into the same style she had in her new Ladybug form, allowing some of her hair to fall down as to frame her face. She smiled shyly as she looked down.
"Well? How does it look?" Most of the girls sounded their approval while Ivan nodded respectfully. It honestly made Marinette feel good about her choice. She couldn't help but notice the evil grin Chloe had on her face.
"I think it looks nice," complimented the bee themed girl. "It perfectly shows off your new CRUSH ON SPIDERMAN!" This callout had Marinette blushing. She completely forgot about how Chloe saw her design table the day she became Honey Bee. Her friend ran along the beach as she began to chase her.
"No fair, Chloe! You know that was for designing Rose's Halloween costume! Get back here and apologize!" Chloe quickly returned to the group as she playfully hid behind Sabrina, sticking her tongue out at Marinette. The baker's daughter growled like a serious fight was about to commence, only for the boys' changing stall to open.
"I hope you can take your time away from your argument so that I may acquire your approval," stated Max. Everyone looked his way as he stepped into view. He was wearing a pair of black rimmed glasses that were more round than his usual pair, a wetsuit with a green and red technological pattern depicting a horse near his chest, and a pair of black sandals. "Thoughts?" Kim grinned as he sent the nerd a thumbs up.
"Looking great, Max!" cried the prankster. "You might be able to find a girlfriend as nerdy as you are in that!" This idea caused Max to roll his eyes, though he still smiled at the compliment. Luka was up next for the guys while Mylene nervously stepped in for the girls. It took them a bit of time, but Luka was the first to exit his stall.
The boy was wearing a pair of black swim trunks with cyan cobras designs running up both sides, the snakes having yellow eyes. His look was completed by a pair of beige sandals and a shark tooth necklace. This time most of the girls had a hard time looking away, though Juleka was smiling normally as Luka was her brother. The door to the girls' stall opened, Mylene nervously stepping out.
"Ivan?" questioned the skittish girl. The big guy looked her way, only to have a similar reaction to the one Adrien had over Kagami's appearance. His girlfriend was wearing a one piece bathing suit with a white and pink checker pattern, the sides having missing strips that exposed her skin. "I think I ordered my suit in a size too small." Ivan quickly slapped himself to regain his composure as he sent her a thumbs up.
"It's perfect," stated the big guy. "You look beautiful." This fast response earned him a smile as Mylene ran up to him, tackling him in a hug. He smiled as he reciprocated the embrace, earning coos from the girls. Alix cracked her knuckles as she let loose a grin.
"My turn!" cheered the pink haired girl. "Someone go get our wayward lovebirds and Juleka's up after me. She wanted everyone's opinion after all." Kim decided to be the one to run off as Juleka sent Alix a nervous smile. With an encouraging pat on the back from Luka, Nathaniel walked into the guys' stall at the same time Alix walked into the girls' one.
Nathaniel was the first to step out, seemingly more nervous than Juleka was about the whole display ordeal. He was wearing a tank-top that was brown with a gray stripe that had a black ram logo in the center, a pair of gray swim trunks, and a plain pair of gray sandals. He had his hair pulled back into a ponytail, not wanting it in his face when he got wet. He looked to the others, blushing slightly as they clapped and sent a few whoops his way. He didn't feel like he looked impressive, not being like the other guys, only to hear a whistle. He turned around, only to blush at what he saw.
"A…Alix!?" cried the artist. The girl in question was wearing a white bikini with blue detailing, the bikini top completely covering her chest as it led to a turtleneck. The way she was looking at him made him blush brighter than any of the guys before him.
"For a skinny guy, Kutzberg, you sure know how to pick a good outfit. I wouldn't mind if you set your towel up next to mine. That is, if you want to." Nathaniel nodded his head dumbly, earning knowing looks from the guys and girls present. Soon realizing that it was her turn, Juleka took a deep breath.
"Okay," sighed the tigress hero. "Here I go." Kim returned with Adrien and Kagami just as she stepped into the stall. Juleka felt embarrassed as she began to undress, looking down at herself. She felt the urge to call it off when she heard clapping.
"Juleka~," chanted Rose. "Juleka~." She was soon joined by the others, the group trying to give her courage.
"Come on, Jules!" cried Chloe. "Just pretend Danny's here! You wouldn't wanna leave him disappointed, do ya!?" This outcry made Juleka smirk as she got to work. Soon the door to the stall opened, the group giving her a round of applause.
She wore the panjas bracelet on her hand to keep Roarr close to her at all times. She also wore a black tankini that had transparent purple material draping from the bikini part. Down lower she was wearing a black bikini bottom with a dark green sash that also grew transparent the further down one looked. Upon her right foot was an anklet with a frosted rose much like her earrings. The look was completed by Danny's tiger pin secured to the band of her hat.
Luka smiled as he gave her a supportive nod, noticing how the other guys all carried a blush this time. Chloe grinned as she raised a fist in the air. "Slay, girl! Give us a turn around!" Juleka giggled at the attention as she slowly turned around, the other girls whooping and catcalling playfully.
"That's our Jules!" cried Alix. "If Danny didn't know what a catch he had before, he's about to find out really quick!" The added praise caused the tigress hero to grin as she walked towards the group with a sway in her step. The rest of the guys had finally gotten out of their stupor as they gave their own ovation. Marinette walked up to Juleka with a huge grin of her own.
"You look so amazing, Juleka!" cheered the designer. "I honestly have so many ideas for things you could wear! You've got my idea brain going!... And I just realized that I said 'idea brain' out loud." Marinette began to mentally panic, only for Juleka to poke her fingers together.
"I… if you want, I could model some of them," offered the hopeful model. "You have some amazing designs and it is my dream to be a model so…" She watched as Matinette's grin widened, her eyes seeming to sparkle at the idea.
"I'd love to! You'd get proper recognition and compensation! Ooh! We could start a fashion blog for the website! I still remember some tricks Alya showed me about making and running a blog and…"
Juleka got lost in Marinette's conversation as she smiled, feeling good about this newfound courage she felt. These were going to be some big changes. Chloe gently pushed Marinette out of the way as she held up her phone.
"Enough business talk!" cried the mayor's daughter. "It's time to celebrate! I'll be getting all kinds of pictures to commemorate a day we will never forget! A day without Lila Rossi, Cerise Grazia, or whatever the heck she wants to call herself ruining it! Everyone, gather up for the picture, Marinette and Juleka in front!"
The group gathered as instructed, Alix standing next to Nathaniel as she wrapped an arm around his shoulder. Chloe grinned as she set her camera on a timer, moving to selfie position as she held up a peace sign. "3…2…1! Say 'Goodbye Lila!'" The group moved closer together as Rose raised a fist into the air.
"GOODBYE LILA!" cheered the group. As soon as the picture was taken, the group got to work having fun in the sun. Chloe collected several pictures throughout this excursion. Moments such as Max and Ivan burying Kim in the sand, Kagami and Adrien relaxing together in a pair of lawn chairs, Juleka and Marinette playing a volleyball match against Sabrina and Mylene, and Nathaniel nervously laying on a beach blanket next to Alix were amongst the highlights of these photos. Using Juleka's phone, they also took various pictures of said girl posing to find the best picture to send to Danny.
Juleka was in the midst of another photoshoot where she was bending over a rock with one of her legs kicked up a bit as Nathaniel was still relaxing beside Alix. He was nervous about coming out here with the group, though he would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the experience. He didn't really feel like he could do well with the various activities that the others wanted to do, something that had him upset at first. With how everyone was genuinely trying to keep him included and checking up on him, however, he couldn't help but feel the connections he had with them before growing back stronger. He was brought out of his people watching as Alix pulled at the leg of his swim trunks.
"Yo Nath?" questioned the bunny hero. The art boy looked her way, blushing as he realized that the back clasp of her bikini was unlatched and sprawled on each side of her. "Mind rubbing sunscreen on my back? I don't wanna burn." Nathaniel nodded his head in response to the request as he gulped.
"Y…yeah," agreed the boy. "S…sure thing." He squeezed some of the lotion onto his hand, rubbing it with both hands before he began his massage-like application. He heard Alix moan as he rubbed the sunscreen into her back, something that boosted the manly pride he didn't know he had. Alix looked up from her laying position as she sent Nathaniel a smile.
"Sacre bleu. I didn't know being an artist makes you so good with your hands." She watched as the redhead nodded his head with a strong blush.
"Y…yeah. There's a lot of muscle memory involved." He was so distracted by his explanation that he failed to notice that his thumbs pressed hard into a certain part of her back. Alix gasped as she jolted a bit, causing Nathaniel to stop his movement. She looked back at him with a surprised expression.
"Do that again!" She took in the shocked look on his face, waiting for him to act on her demand. He put his hands back on the same area as he rubbed his thumbs around it, earning a deeper moan from the girl. "Pride and Prejudice! That feels great!"
Nathaniel felt that the sunscreen was settled enough into her back as he stopped his movements. Alix clicked the clasp back into place, securing her bikini top as she rolled over to a sitting position. "That was amazing! You have the magic touch, Nath!" Nathaniel was surprised by this news as he looked down to his hands.
Realizing that she made the situation awkward, Alix coughed into her hand to try and get the boy's attention. "So, how have you been coping with everything? You know, Lila being gone and getting your life back together. It sounded like you had it pretty rough for a good while." She watched as Nathaniel cracked the first big smile he had in a while as he looked up to the sky.
"It feels pretty good, being here with everyone. I guess I just needed time away from everything to really find myself again. I still feel like part of what she said might be right, but I'm trying to be better about it. I just don't know if I'm doing everything right." Alix placed a hand on his shoulder, sending him a small smile.
"Well you could always join the guild I told you about. Most of our friend group is in it, as well as a lot of Nettie's American friends. They helped her recover after the slap and deal with Lila. We'd all be happy to help you with anything you need." She watched as Nathaniel sent her an unsure smile.
"I don't know. I don't wanna bother anyone with this. I could always use the experience in making a comic or something." This dismissal made Alix frown, the girl trying to think of some way to help the boy. She suddenly got an idea as she sent him a devious smirk.
"Tell ya what? You hop on and try it for a week, interacting at least three times a day. If you can last the whole week, whether you stay on it or not, I'll do whatever you want. Pose for one of your drawings, post an embarrassing photo, buy you an art set or something…" She watched as Nathaniel rolled his eyes with a chuckle, turning back towards the ocean and their active friends.
"What I'd really like is a candlelit dinner for two. Like that'll ever happen." Having heard the boy's words in spite of his muttering, she quickly wrapped her arm around his shoulders.
"Sure thing, Devinci!" She watched as he looked towards her, shock and a huge blush plastered on his face. "Your week starts tomorrow so don't keep a girl waiting~. I gotta go get a drink." She quickly got up without giving him time to respond, walking away with a saunter in her step that Nathaniel got a front row seat to. The boy looked away when he realized he was staring, his body completely red as he resigned himself to this fate.
Back with Juleka, the girl was looking over the photos everyone took of her in frustration. None of them felt right to send to Danny. In her eyes they were either in bad lighting, too provocative for her taste, or missing something in general. She became especially flustered as she looked at the one she took bending over a rock. She groaned as she tossed her phone carefully onto her towel, planning on taking a seat next to it. She yelped as she felt a hand smack her rear.
"Hey there, babe," greeted a stranger. He was a boy her age, though the look in his eye gave her the impression that he did not have the same qualities as the boys in her class. "You're looking mighty fine. How about you and I go for a ride?" The jerk's bad attitude caused Juleka to let loose a growl in anger.
"I have a boyfriend, so get lost," ordered the girl. "I'm not some floozy you can pick up whenever you like." She tried to walk away, only for the guy to forcefully wrap his arm around her shoulders and place a hand on her hip.
"Shame that you're looking so good for a guy who looks like he's not even here. Maybe I should show you what a real guy looks like." Juleka growled as she tried to find a way out of his grasp, the tiger pin Danny gave her beginning to glow. "I don't bite, kitty cat." Before anything else could happen, the guy gasped as someone picked him up by the back of his stained dress shirt.
"I do," growled a feminine voice. Juleka turned around to see her savior only to gasp as she saw the woman. Jen stood tall in her She-Hulk form, wearing a black bikini that seemed to be made from the same material as her leotard.
"Jen?" questioned Juleka. The woman sent the girl a smirk, as if letting loose a silent greeting. She then let her face return to a frown as she looked the young man in the eye.
"I'd drop the forceful act, kid. It's people who act like you that end up being among the guys I'm happy to throw in jail. I'm not the only hero in Paris either. One toe out of line and you're done for. You can either cut the crap and do something good with your life or ruin it trying to get lucky. Do you understand?"
The young man nodded, too scared to say a word. Jen dropped him on the sand as she continued to glare at him. "Good. Now get out of here." The boy quickly scrambled to his feet as he ran away, grabbing up his things and leaving the beach as fast as possible.
The woman sighed as she took a few deep breaths, slowly beginning to change back to normal. Thankfully the bikini shrank to match her change in size. Juleka was about to voice her gratitude, only to quickly notice the woman's more developed body. Jen smiled as she looked at Juleka, noticing the look on the girl's face. "Everything alright, kid?" Juleka quickly shook her head as she regained her composure.
"Yes. Thank you for sending him off." Jen smirked as she nodded her head.
"Hey, us girls gotta stick together. Besides, I wouldn't want your boyfriend to find out that his beautiful girlfriend got used by a creep." Juleka blushed as she was not used to others outside her usual friend group calling her beautiful. She was about to say something in response when they heard a cheer of excitement. The duo watched as Marinette ran over with an excited grin on her face.
"Jen!" cheered the designer. "You're here!" She skidded to a halt as the older woman let loose a chuckle.
"Hey there, Marinette. You look like you're in a much better mood than when I was here on vacation last time." The She-Hulk watched as the local bluenette held her hands together in glee.
"What brings you back to Paris? Are you on vacation again?" Both Marinette and Juleka watched as the visitor huffed with a roll of her eyes.
"I wish. I have some clients who need me in Paris and after mentioning this Hawkmoth mess to the Avengers they wanted someone to keep an eye on things. Who better than the person who can tell Hawkmoth no? So I'll be in Paris for a good while, living in a highrise paid for by Tony." Marinette let her hands drop to her sides as she nodded her head.
"That's incredible, no pun intended. That's another hero to help the Miraculous Heroes!" Jen smirked at this declaration as she crossed her arms.
"And a new client for MDC, if I have her identity right. I could provide the materials, if she's interested in doing a superhero's general wear that is." Jen watched as Marinette was nearly bouncing on her toes in excitement at this prospect.
"I'd love that idea! I can think of so many designs, like that track suit I promised you the last time you were here! It could even bring in more big name public heroes who need a new outfit! I can picture it now!..." The way the designer was rambling had both Jen and Juleka chuckling at her manic energy.
Marinette suddenly realized something as she turned towards Juleka. "Right! Did you pick a picture to send Danny yet, Jules? You've been looking over them for a while now." The designer watched as her friend sighed in exasperation.
"No, and that's partly what's frustrating me," revealed Juleka. "I can't find the perfect picture. Everything is either missing something or not what I want him to see. It's just so complicated." The tigress hero stewed in anger for a bit before feeling a hand on her shoulder.
"Then let's make it simple." offered Jen. Juleka looked up at the woman before she was led along the beach. The next thing she knew, she was laying down on her blanket with her back to the ocean. She was holding a rather alluring pose as She-Hulk carefully held her phone to get the best angle. Juleka couldn't help but sound her concern as she looked at the camera.
"Are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe I can just lay on my back and look up at the camera." Chloe, who was brought in to this by Marinette and had to be given time to control her freak out about a Hulk being in Paris, grinned as she looked over the pose.
"Oh trust me, Jules," reassured the blonde. "This is gonna be perfect. Hit it!" Jen smirked at cheer as she began to take pictures. Realizing that this wasn't going anywhere, Marinette decided to try something.
"Imagine that it's Danny taking the picture!" cried the designer. "Just think about the smile on his face when he says 'It's perfect!'" She watched as Juleka closed her eyes, trying to think about the scenario that was described. She suddenly not only saw Danny grown up, but two little ones and an older child smiling behind him. She opened her eyes as a happy, longing smile appeared on her face.
"Right there!" cried Jen. "Hold that smile!" With one final snap, the phone flashed as the sun was setting behind Juleka. "That's it! Come take a look!"
Juleka quickly shot up from her spot as she ran for the green woman. Her eyes widened as she looked at the screen, the image on it being more beautiful than what she had taken before. She couldn't help but smile as she retrieved her device from the large, green woman.
"It's perfect," sighed Juleka.
Amity Park, Illinois
Danny had his arms crossed as he waited impatiently in the back of Jazz's car, his luggage sitting next to him. He was riding with his sister to the location that would become their home for many years, a small house owned by Wayne Enterprises. Dick made good on his plan for them, setting Jazz up with a scholarship to her school of choice, as well as this opportunity. There would be enough room for Sam and Tucker to stay as well, but Sam's parents refused to let her stay in a home with a bunch of boys. Jack and Maddie were surprised that Danny would want to go through with moving away so soon, though he promised to visit from time to time.
This promise was to keep them from doing something stupid in the duo's absence, such as try to more avidly capture a ghost from the portal. It honestly both excited him that he was finally going to be free of their chaos and scared him that they were going to be home alone. Still, it was for the better of his own dreams and his heroic activities that he left Fenton Works at this point. It was time for a fresh start in a new home. Speaking of, Jazz snapped her fingers a few times to get her brother's attention.
"We're here!" cried the redhead. "According to the address it should be right… Danny, that is not a small house." She watched from the rearview mirror as her brother leaned forward to get a better view. His jaw dropped as he had the same amount of surprise as her.
What he thought was a small house was actually a small estate, a good amount of land surrounding it. The building was white with a black roof, a stained glass window depicting a bat taking up a huge space on the front. An awning stood in front of the door, stone columns holding it up. Small stone structures jutted out from the roof, a few having gargoyles on them. They came to a stop at the gate, where Tucker stood with his luggage in front of a small black car.
Instead of his normal shirt, he was wearing a long-sleeved light black shirt that showed off his newly developed muscles. He also wore a gray version of his cargo pants and black boots. His normal hat was gone, allowing his military hairstyle to be free. The first time Danny saw this new look upon returning home was jarring, but now it was a regular occasion for him. Tucker nodded to his parents' car before they drove off, quickly turning to the duo that just arrived.
"Hey guys!" greeted the buff geek. "I didn't wanna try going in without you. I know these places can be a bit uppity. Still, you said it was a small house." Danny stepped out of his sister's car with a small frown.
"I was under the impression that it was," revealed the ghost boy. Jazz decided to get answers by ringing the buzzer at the entrance. The speaker below it came to life as the call was quickly answered.
"This is Edna speaking," informed a woman's voice. "May I help you?" Jazz cleared her throat as she shook her head.
"Um, yes," began the redhead. "My name is Jasmine Fenton and I received the Studies of Tomorrow scholarship from Wayne Enterprises. I was given an address but didn't know if I had the correct one. I'm here with my brother and one other housemate." She listened as the old woman sounded her understanding, the gates clicking as they rolled open.
"Lady Jasmine! I have been anxiously awaiting your arrival! Please do come in. The valet at the entrance will take your car to the garage for you." Jazz motioned for the boys to get in the car, Danny sitting up front so that Tucker could sit in the back with the luggage.
The group couldn't help but marvel at the garden leading up to the estate, Jazz driving slowly to take in the sights. Danny noticed a second structure on site, a small parking garage. He hummed, noticing how convenient it was. He was about to comment on it when he heard a tiger roar. Jazz and Tucker looked around in shock, only for the ghost boy to grin as he pulled out his phone.
"Juleka texted me!" cheered the lovestruck boy. "I wonder what she…" Danny couldn't finish his sentence as his jaw dropped, his eyes widened. The way his blush rose told them something was up. Tucker unbuckled his seatbelt to lean closer.
"What's up, Danny?" questioned the geek. "What's got you all… HOLY COW!" Jazz had to slow down further as her curiosity grew. She shared the duo's sentiment as she saw the beach photo Juleka sent to Danny. It was clearly sunset where she was, giving the image a beautiful backdrop that accentuated her appearance.
Tucker quickly saw the message attached to the image. "'Celebrating two weeks without Lila and thought I'd message you. Hopefully it's not too early for you to enjoy my new swimsuit. What do you think?'" Danny tried his best to send a regular response as he moved the phone away from Tucker, but it mostly came as key smashing followed by hearts and several blushing emojis.
Jazz returned her attention to the drive ahead as Danny immediately set the image to his unlock wallpaper. Tucker put both of his hands on Danny's shoulders as he shook him in excitement. "Dude, you're dating a freaking supermodel right there! If you lose her, I will literally smack you across the back of your head." Danny ignored the threat as he put his phone away, trying to force his blush down as they approached the valet.
The trio walked away with their luggage shortly after leaving Jazz's car with the man. Jazz quickly knocked on the door, wanting to not waste time. An elderly woman in a maid dress opened the door, curtsying to the group.
"Welcome Lady Jasmine, Master Danny, and Master Tucker," greeted Edna. "I am Edna, keeper of the manor. Allow me to give you a tour. We'll start with the bedrooms so that you may become properly situated." The group nodded as they followed after the maid.
Jazz took to the master bedroom, reminding the boys that it is part of her scholarship. Danny, not wanting to reveal that it was partially his powers that had the estate included, took a room close by. Tucker took the room closer to the kitchen, stating that he wanted to be close to where the food would be. Once their luggage was in their rooms, Edna led them along to the rest of the building. It was very clear that Mr. Wayne went all out.
The first stop was the study, Jazz taking a particular liking to the large amount of books in the room. It would serve as a place for them to keep their personal collection of books, as well as a nice place to relax and study. Through a hall on the other side was the dining room, the kitchen being connected to it. Edna would be taking care of cooking most meals, though the group was welcome to cook themselves something if they so wished. This pleased Tucker as he could already think of the different meaty treats he could make for himself.
The next room they visited took them back through the prior rooms, also passing by the bedroom hall. Edna showed them to a living room area, some nice furnishings surrounding a television that hung above a fireplace. There were some shelves and some small tables around the room, one of said tables holding an old record player. A hall connected to this room led to a room filled with different arcade games and activities, including a pool table and another TV. Tucker and Danny smirked at each other, happy that they brought their systems just in case.
Back in the main hall, Edna took them through a door to a personal gym. There were different kinds of general workout equipment, as well as a mat that was clearly made for sports such as boxing or wrestling. On the other side of the main hall was a general restroom for guests, one of the few found throughout the building. She finally took them out back to the rest of the garden, a small inground pool laying in the midst of the field. The thought of swimming with Juleka in said body of water brought his mind back to his new wallpaper, blushing as he imagined her sitting on the steps.
They were finally brought back inside, where Edna stopped in front of the main door. "I'm sure that you've already seen the garage on your way here. There are more areas you will need to know about, though I have been instructed to let Master Jason show you the finer details of the estate. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall begin preparations for lunch." The woman left the group as she made her way to the kitchen, smiling knowingly as she heard the sounds of a revving engine.
The local trio turned to the front door as it was practically slammed open. Jason walked in while wearing a black leather jacket over a dark red shirt, the rest of his attire being his standard look. He removed his helmet as he shook his head, trying to carefully pop his neck. Danny quickly recognized him as one of the Wayne kids that showed up in Paris. Jason looked back the way he came as the valet sat down on his motorcycle.
"Not a scratch on it, Jeeves!" cried the young man. He shut the door before turning to the group in front of him. He laid eyes on Jazz, looking her over for a moment before nodding to the group. "I guess you must be the Fentons." Tucker quickly held up his hand to interrupt any further words.
"And a Foley too," corrected the geek. "Tucker Foley. I was invited by Danny to live here too. I figured it'd be good to branch out a bit." He earned a nod from Jason, accompanied by a smirk.
"I can respect that, Static Shirt kid." Tucker took a few steps back, surprised that a stranger had called him out. "Dick told us about your little training hazzard so that we could prepare any exercise equipment." He then turned to Danny with a grin. That grin faltered a bit as he took a closer look at the boy, earning crossed arms.
"What?" questioned the ghost boy. "Do I have something in my hair or…" He watched as Jason quickly shook his head in denial.
"Nope. I just feel like I've seen you somewhere before. Anyway, you must be Danny. A.K.A, GhostWatcher." The rageaholic watched as the ghost boy nodded his head.
"Yup. Over here is my sister, Jazz. I'm surprised that she didn't introduce herself first, seeing as she's the one with the scholarship." Danny watched as Jason turned his head back towards Jazz, only to watch the young man frown. He then felt Jazz push past him as she got a closer look at the new housemate.
"Jay?" questioned the redhead. Jason's eyes widened as he recognized her voice. He smirked as he crossed his arms.
"Well, well," began Jason. "Looks like we finally meet, Blue." Danny looked between the duo before his face twisted in shock, quickly pointing towards the Red Hood.
"You're the rage monster brother Dick told me about!? The one Jazz has been giving psychiatric help to!?" Tucker blinked multiple times, sharing Danny's surprise at this moment. The look on Jazz's face told the guys that her interest in Jason was a bit more than a surprise first meeting. Deciding to get things back on track, Jason nodded with his grin intact.
"I'm so gonna let him have it later for calling me that, but yeah. Jason Todd, at your service. Now I know how this whole "secrets in a new environment" thing tends to go, so I'm gonna cut out the middle part and get to the big stuff. Follow me, Team Phantom." Jason walked past the trio as Danny sent him a cold look, mentally counting down the seconds before the others turned on the ghost boy.
"HE KNOWS!?" cried Jazz and Tucker. Danny held up his hands defensively, hoping that Dick hadn't said anything about his secret identity. Jason stood by a grandfather clock as he turned to the group.
"You guys made it no secret that you work closely with Phantom. I figured it was only right to call you guys by that title." He watched as the civilian duo breathed a sigh of relief, Danny having the same reaction. "Let me show you where the real magic is at." He twisted one of the wooden nots on the clock, causing it and the wall behind it to slide to the side.
The local trio looked on in surprise as an elevator was revealed to them. Jason smirked as he gestured to the contraption. "Lady's first, Blue." Jazz looked between the boys before stepping into the room. One by one the others joined her, Danny looking at Jason in a judgemental fashion.
With a push of a button, the elevator began to descend below the estate. It took a minute or so for the machine to reach its destination, a catchy elevator tune playing along the way. Tucker couldn't help but hum the tune, feeling like he heard it from a kid's cartoon somewhere. A ding soon notified the group that they had reached their destination, the door opening as soon as the movement stopped. Jason stepped forward first as the others followed behind him, their jaws slacking in surprise.
What lay before them was a massive room half the size of the mansion, several structures in place to keep everything stable. A large ghost portal stood tall against one of the walls, a large computer close by it. Other objects of note within the room included a rack with various weapons, a lineup of tubes meant to hold something within, and a cave that had a motorcycle resting at the edge. Tucker ran past the group as he approached the massive computer. His eyes sparkled as he rubbed his fingers lightly atop the keyboard.
"Hello beautiful," sighed Tucker. "Where've you been all my life?" Danny groaned as he walked further into the room.
"Stop romancing the computer, Tucker," ordered the ghost boy. "It's creepy." The nerd took his hand off the keyboard in response to being called out, chuckling in embarrassment. Danny looked around the area as he took in the sights, only to stop as he stood in front of the ghost portal. While it was designed differently from the ones before it, being black with green lines instead of silver, it still gave him bad memories.
He turned to Jason as the Gothamite approached with Jazz walking by his side. "Please tell me you guys built this thing correctly." He watched as the young man nodded in response to his question.
"Didn't even let your folks touch it when we bought the designs from them," informed Jason. "No buttons on the inside and no faulty wiring. I'm sure you don't want any more halfas roaming around." Danny and Jazz froze at his comment, looking him dead in the eye. Tucker was a little slow to realize things as he was doing his best not to play with the huge computer.
"Oh yeah," agreed the geek. "Danny and Vlad are already too much for…" Finally realizing what had been said, turning around with a nervous expression. "I mean… what's a halfa?" Jason chuckled as he shook his head.
"Nightwing did his best not to give it away, but our current Robin is into researching the occult. When I saw you in Paris trying to cheer up that girl, who I assume is this Mouse that Dick mentioned, I and the others realized that you had to be Phantom. He did get one thing right though, you're definitely a good kid. I saw that firsthand when we fought Cerise Grazia's glass army." Danny's eyes narrowed in response to this claim.
"You were in the big fight?" questioned the ghost hero. Jason smirked as he pointed towards the tubes nearby. The group looked towards the containers, noticing that there was an outfit hanging in place. It was the Red Hood outfit, the helmet of the hero sticking out like a sore thumb. Tucker suddenly squealed as he clapped his hands together like a maniac.
"You're the Red Hood!" cried the geek. "The second pupil of Batman! I can't believe I'm meeting one of the Bat Clan in person! Is it true that you died and came back from the dead?" Jason was about to answer this when Jazz huffed with her arms crossed.
"You mean that near death experience you mentioned was actual death!?" cried the college student. "Answer me, Jay!" She watched as Jason was about to explain himself, only for the large computer to beep a few times.
"A story for another time," denied the Red Hood. "Right now, we have a quick meeting to attend to." He pressed the button on the keyboard, causing the screen to light up. Upon the image was Dick in his Nightwing costume, his face mask not present. The hero smiled as Tucker tried not to squeal again.
"Hello, Team Phantom," greeted Nightwing. "Welcome to your base of operations. I was hoping I could meet Sam, though I have heard about the situation with her parents. Hopefully she can visit the next time I call." Jazz blinked multiple times as she kept her eyes on Dick.
"Dick Grayson… is Nightwing," observed the redhead. She suddenly took a step back as she realized something. "Wait. Does that mean…!?" Dick held up his hand in an attempt to stop her.
"Yes, but could you not yell about it? I'm on the Watchtower and not everyone in the League knows." Jazz quickly made the zipping motion in front of her lips, a silent promise not to shout. "Thanks, Jazz." Danny decided to chime in as he gestured to everything around him.
"Please tell me this isn't a small house to you, Dick," begged the ghost hero. "Because I don't know how we'd keep up with the rent on this kind of place." The hero on the other side of the call couldn't help but chuckle in response to Danny's concern.
"Bruce tends to go overboard from time to time. I took some liberty in designing this underground area after the plans were okayed. Bruce will find out eventually, though at that point he'd probably already put together the truth himself. I have been putting the idea in his head that 'Phantom' is good so you'll hopefully have that going for you when he does." Danny shook his head in denial.
"I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing. Anyway, continue." Dick nodded his head as he remotely caused a few documents and even a logo of a ghost with Danny's insignia plastered on its chest.
"Snuck in legally under the terms of the scholarship, Wayne Enterprises bought the land for this estate. Once Jazz is finished with college, provided that you are still working with us, the land will remain for your team's use. Amity Park is not the only place where spiritual events take place. The League needs a fast action team to act in supernatural areas that they cannot legally enter. This is where your team comes in. As a legally independent group, you can act where others can't."
Dick made the documents go away as the logo was now at the same size as his portion of the screen. "Watched over by the Red Hood, your team has been officially funded by the Justice League. From here on you will be able to do more where as your prior circumstances hindered you. From here on you operate as Titans Dark. That is, if you're still interested of course."
Danny looked towards Jazz and Tucker, as if looking for their approval. Tucker was nodding his head eagerly while begging for approval while Jazz was waiting for his word on the situation. The ghost boy felt like calling Sam, but he knew that she would immediately be against it. Realizing what needed to be done, he clenched his fists. Danny looked towards Dick with a green glow in his eyes.
"Nightwing, it would be our honor to work with the League," stated the ghost hero. "We're in." Both Jason and Dick smiled at this, knowing that there was a long road ahead of this small team.
We have reached the end of the chapter. Things have gotten much better in Paris, to the point where Marinette can celebrate the absence of Lila with a beach day. Jen is also now taking up a temporary residence in Paris. Meanwhile, the Fenton siblings and Tucker find themselves living on an estate with a new roommate in the form of Jason. Together, the four of them and later Sam become a more formal team known as Titans Dark. This is only the beginning of how crazy things are going to become post Lila.
Anyway, what did you think about the chapter? Did you like the swimsuit designs? How about Juleka's photo she eventually sent to Danny? Will Sam blow a gasket when she finds out they made this decision without her?
…She probably will, all things considered. Anyway, let me know what you think down below, and I'll try to respond ASAP. This is Inkaliber, signing out.