Sins

Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom or Teen Titans or anything DC related. If I did then it wouldn't be as popular as it is.

Story written & developed by Nightmares Around Winter. Story based on 'The Forgotten Hero' by TheWhiteTitan.

Author's Note: I...LIVE...AGAIN! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay serious now, Leaf Ranger has run into some hard times so they won't have as much time to BETA read these chapters as well as my other stories. So please give him your support. Other than that, same old same old: please leave a review telling me what you think and if you have suggestions for potential harem candidates then please tell me via review or PM and those who give detailed reasons will be given special consideration. Other than that, hope you enjoy!

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Demonic/out worldly voices or thoughts"

(Author's Note/Translation) The ANs that are numbered are at the bottom.

Chapter 9: Prodigal Son

Valerie Grey stared down at the Earth from the observation deck of the Watchtower station. She still couldn't help but wonder how exactly she came to be here, among all these other individuals up on this global station. She was just a girl from a rather unremarkable city, but then she became a ghost hunter gliding through the air blasting back fiends and specters from the Ghost Zone. Now she's the sole expert on going after ghosts for the Justice League, advising other superheroes. It was still a lot to take in full even though most of her time was spent going from group to group on Earth and warning them of some ghost-based threat. She still had one group to go to but before she went she was asked by one of the founding members of the League itself for something.

Valerie had her arms crossed as she eyed the area where Amity Park would be located; she did wonder what she could have been if she had taken a different path. There was a time when she could have possibly lived a normal life free from this but then again...she could have lost it all in an instant regardless. "Valerie Grey," a voice called out to her. She turned to see Hawkgirl coming towards her. "Thank you for showing up." The winged woman said.

Valerie merely waved it off. "It's fine."

Hawkgirl nodded slightly. "Alright, I understand you just have the Jump City team left to share whatever you can on ghosts. Is that right?"

Valerie nodded. "Yes, the Titans right?" Valerie noticed the focused look on the woman's face. "Is there something wrong?"

"You got your start in Amity Park, correct?" Hawkgirl asked back.

Valerie gave her a concerned stare. "Yes."

"Then...you know a young man that went by the alias 'Danny Phantom'?" Hawkgirl asked.

Valerie couldn't help but form a small smile at the name. "Yes...though he wasn't called that till later. Most people called him," she couldn't help but make a small crack, "Inviso-bill."

Hawkgirl gave the human a deadpanned look. "Yeaaaah...I've seen the newspapers from that area...no offense but you humans can come up with some TERRIBLE names."

Valerie couldn't help but chuckle at the statement. "Can't say I blame you, I was lucky that most people took to calling me 'Red Huntress'." She stated but the look on Hawkgirl's face grew more downtrodden. "Why do you ask?"

Hawkgirl merely sighed as she turned towards the planet. "I found Danny Phantom some years ago near Star City." Valerie's eyes went wide at that statement. "He got our attention when we saw some video feeds of petty crooks being stopped by some invisible force. Supergirl and I were sent to look into it and we discovered him."

Valerie noted the distant tone in her voice. "I take it you and he were close?"

Hawkgirl nodded at that. "In a sense. I saw a sad poor child who lost his place in the world but still wanted to do some good. So I took him under my wing, and made him an official member of the League but...he disappeared and hasn't turned up since...I convinced him to join the Titan's group in Jump City."

Valerie's eyes grew wide at that statement. "And they didn't say why he disappeared?" She asked.

Hawkgirl shook her head in response. "No, they said he just left around Christmas Day. Not a word or a reason, there one day and gone the next." She turned to the girl. "Were you on good terms with him?"

Valerie opened her mouth but then closed it again; she nervously looked to the side as she tried to come up with words. "N-No...the whole reason why I became a ghost hunter was because I wanted to destroy him." She shuddered as the older woman sent a harsh glare at her. "M-My father worked in the R and D Department of Axion Labs, a large facility specializing in high-tech devices. It was a good job, we lived in an upper-class neighborhood, and with my mom out of the picture, it was our only source of income. Until Phantom came in riding a giant ghost dog, getting past all the security measures my father had developed. He got fired and got a job being a security guard and we were forced to sell our house and move into a tiny apartment."

Hawkgirl's glare softened. "And so you blamed him for what happened?"

Valerie nodded. "I was young so I was so certain that all ghosts were a menace. It wasn't until later after he disappeared that I realized that not all ghosts are dangerous or mean harm. Some just want to be left alone and others may even be helpful." She looked down at the ground. "I still regret not saying I was sorry for the problems I caused him."

She blinked, a thought coming to her as she looked up at Hawkgirl. "And so, you want me to see if I can pick up his trail from Jump? See if I can track him down?"

Hawkgirl shook her head. "No, I want you to make sure the Titans really don't have any idea where he could have gone or if they had a direct hand in his disappearance. There is something in what they told us that hasn't made much sense. I may be paranoid but...I just wanted to be certain," she answered. "It was my choice that sent him there and it kills me not knowing if I could do anything to help him."

Valerie nodded. "I understand, I'll do what I can."

Hawkgirl smiled softly. "Thank you."

Meanwhile

Danny stared at the manor; it was large made with a Victorian style making it stand out among the tall trees of the deep, Northern Canadian forests. It was so far out from people and civilization that no one would even begin to think about finding another person, least of all such a large home, out here. "We are ready on your orders sir," Frans said. He looked at the officer before turning his back on the small detail of ten men behind him, all wearing black with no signs or markings on them, hiding their affiliations. To his left was Blackfire, who seemed eager to enter the building.

Danny turned fully to the group. "Remember: we aren't dealing with guys in tacky white suits armed with weapons to specifically counter ghosts. I don't have any idea what is in that building and I only have an idea of who could be in there. We are dealing with someone like me, so keep your wits sharp and your eyes open for anything out of the ordinary. Your job is to take anything I would find interesting or useful and then torch this place when I say we are done. Good luck everyone."

"Yes sir," several of them whispered as he turned towards Blackfire.

"That goes for you too," he told her with a hint of worry. "Leave when I say leave. I don't want to risk losing you."

Blackfire merely smirked. "You know I can take care of myself, lover."

"I know," he said softly, "but still, Vlad is a conniving rat that will take any door open to him. So I want you to be careful."

Blackfire nodded. "So ready?"

Danny nodded as he turned to the building. "On my orders, storm the building," he said as his hand became encased in red energy before firing at the building. The beam connected with a pale blue wall of pulsing energy but it soon gave way, forming a small hole in the center. "GO! GO! GO!" Danny shouted as the armed men and Blackfire followed him through the hole in the force field.

The alien girl flew towards the top of the building as two turrets appeared with a loud click as whatever cloaking device was hiding them was shut off. The two automated weapons pointed at her, but before a clip could be fired Blackfire destroyed them with two lilac blasts before targeting a small tower. With a smirk she fired another blast decimating it, and causing the force field to fade. "The Barrier is gone!" She shouted.

Danny instantly flew towards the manor just as his soldiers breached the door and crashed through the windows. Danny merely phased through them, starting to scour the building, looking for his old enemy as the soldiers began to sweep the area looking for whatever valuables that could be found. It wasn't long till Danny came to a large vault hidden away behind a bookcase. Danny stared at the vault door as his lips curled into a hateful grimace. 'Vlad is already hiding in the most secure place like the coward he is,' he thought as the bookcase was blown away as Blackfire joined him.

"Think he's in here?" She asked.

"Didn't see him anywhere else," Danny answered. "Time to pay him back for six lives and then some."

"Let's go," she said as she placed her hand on his shoulder as he and her phased through the vault door. On the other side was a large laboratory; as Danny and Blackfire looked around the only signs of Vlad were a well-used cot in the corner, and an active portal swirling with an all-too-familiar green energy. "He seemed to have spent most of his time here," Blackfire stated.

"Yeah," Danny agreed, "but the better question is where in the hell is he?" He growled till he noticed that there was a large black box on a pedestal. As he looked at the box he noticed that the inside had a hole in the shape of a crown that for whatever reason filled him with a sense of dread and when he got closer he noticed that some parts of the metal box looked to be burned in some places. Then the realization dawned on him. "Noooo...he isn't!" He said as he turned towards the portal. His eyes grew wider. "That goddamn idiot!" He shouted as he ran towards the portal.

Blackfire saw his reaction. "Danny what is it?!"

"He's going to awaken Pariah Dark!" He shouted back as he went through the portal.

"Who is that?!" Blackfire shouted as she soon followed after him into the portal.

Beast Boy was playing a fighting game, the green-skinned changeling was grunting and groaning to himself as he pressed the buttons quickly trying his best to beat some other player from China. "Come on! COME ON!" He said as he got his opponent into a combo. "Yes! YES!" He said excitedly as he was so close to finally beating him after losing several times, only to have the opponent break his combo and deliver a single final blow. "Damn it!" He growled as he tossed the control on the ground.

"See you're getting better." A sudden voice commented making Beast Boy jump slightly as he turned to see a black-clad man with a bluebird on his chest and a small smile on his face.

Beast Boy's face brightened up. "Dick?" He asked as he smiled. "Dude! It's been a while!" He smiled as he got up from his seat and gave him a small hug.

Dick smiled as he returned the embrace. "It's been a while. You look good BB," he commented. "Been working out?"

"Well more or less." Beast Boy said as he flexed. "Still what brings you here?"

Nightwing frowned slightly. "Have you guys been hearing about the raids on the GIW sites?"

Beast Boy frowned at that. "Yeah...not much though. Hawkgirl contacted us and said something about it."

"I see," Nightwing said. "Come, I have a few things to talk about with the others up on the roof." He started to walk. "Get the others but make sure Jinx and Argent don't follow."

"Okay," Beast Boy answered.

Nightwing opened the door just as Jinx came out of the weight room, wiping off the sweat from her forehead with a small towel draped along her shoulders. As soon as she spotted him the bad luck manipulator gave him a small smile. "Hey Boy-wonder, long time no see," she greeted.

Nightwing smiled back at her, giving a small nod. "Jinx, good to see you are doing alright. Been keeping out of trouble?" He asked, his smile turning to a stern glare.

Jinx's cat-like eyes shot him a sharp scowl. "Hey, I turned over a new leaf, okay? I'm doing my best to do good."

Nightwing nodded. "Sorry, anyway I'm just here to visit the others so I won't be here for long."

"Alright," Jinx added. "How's my boyfriend doing? He hasn't called me in a week."

Nightwing merely shrugged. "You know how Wally is. He is always in motion."

Jinx couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, guess so."

Nightwing smiled at that. "Yeah, well I've got to go. Good to see you're still on the right path Jinx." He said as he started walking towards the roof. Jinx wiped some extra sweat off her as Beast Boy came by.

"Got done working out?" Beast Boy asked.

"I did a few rounds with the heavy. Something up?" Jinx asked back.

Beast Boy merely shrugged. "Nothing you should worry about. Dick just wants to catch up on a few things. Can you and Argent check out the equipment in the basement though? Cyborg says that something has been acting wonky."

"Ye-Yeah...sure," she answered as Beast Boy gave her a thumbs up and walked away, most likely rounding up the other members. But as he did her eyes narrowed on him. Ever since they got news of some facilities being sacked the other Titans had been purposefully trying to keep her and Argent out of some discussions, almost as if they had some secret they didn't want her or Argent to hear about. She couldn't be certain of what, but she could tell that it had something to do with Danny Phantom.

Vlad was panting, holding onto the Crown of Fire as he flew through the Ghost Zone. The informant he had in the GIW informed him that Danny was alive and well and now downright murderous. When he went silent, Vlad knew that his involvement in that horrid incident would be revealed and Danny would make sure he would pay in blood. He never wanted anyone to die from his actions, all he did was tip off the ghost agency that the Fenton's had a portal and he expected them to be evicted and he would come in and offer them a place to stay, being a family friend. He would use this chance to get Maddie and Danny under his thumb once and for all.

What he got was an explosion that took several lives, wiped out a few blocks, and left him guilty of the fact that he lost the woman that he deserved and the son he wanted. Now that boy was going to kill him in the most painful ways imaginable. His back was against the wall, he had no opportunity, no hope. Only a hair-brained chance in hell of saving his skin from Danny's wrath. As he approached a great castle of red stone and blackened spires, he instantly dove into the castle's center chamber where on top of a long flight of stairs was a massive black sarcophagus.

That last time he came here he tried to steal artifacts to increase his power, but after experimenting on the Crown of Fire he realized that he couldn't make any use of it whatsoever without getting the Ring of Rage locked away with Pariah. He never thought he would be here again to awaken the ghost king but...to fight a monster another one must be used. He held up the Skeleton Key towards the lock on the sarcophagus before pausing as a final thought about if this was the right choice, just as a wisp of blue left his mouth.

"VLAD MASTERS!" A defiant howl rang through the chamber as a chill ran up his spine.

Slowly, Vlad turned to face the voice and without knowing from a direct source that it was Danny he probably wouldn't recognize him. Those glowing red eyes fixing him in a hateful gaze secured his final choice. "Daniel...what happened to you?" He asked dumbly as he couldn't help but stare at the being before him. He looked to the side and saw a strange girl with him, her hands aglow with purple energy directed at him as if ready to blast him if he made a move.

His question seemed to anger Danny more as the temperature dropped. "You happened, Vlad. You killed my family...my friends and by an extension you killed me." He said as he made slow steps towards Vlad. "You took away everything I know and everyone I loved...all because you're a selfish entitled bastard who couldn't leave well enough alone!"

Vlad couldn't move as he stared at his imminent doom in the boy's eyes, locked in place. "I-I never intended for that to happen, not like that." He said weakly.

"There was a time...when I considered you to be my greatest foe," Danny said as he started to climb the stairs. "There was a time that I thought at the end, it would just be between you and me...now though," Vlad's heart was pounding in his chest so hard that he felt like it was in his very head as those red eyes and oppressive cold came closer to him. "You're just a bug to me."

"Danny come now, we can talk this over! Really!" Vlad said. "Surely, can-."

"No..." Danny stopped him as he was now at the top of the flight of stairs, the girl hovering close by still seemingly ready to blast him. "You're a parasite. An infectious little mosquito that sapped the old me dry and left me with nothing but misery." Danny gave him a smile that was filled with a sense of joy at whatever macabre was going to be in store for Vlad. "So I am going to take you apart...limb by limb...just so I can watch you squirm." Vlad's back hit the sarcophagus as Danny approached him; he looked behind him at the black stone box before shoving the key in. Danny's eyes went wide as he turned the key with a loud click. "Vlad, you bastard!" Danny shouted as the sarcophagus opened Pariah's eye opened slowly.

Blackfire's eyes went wide as a massive man stepped out of the box. "That...is Pariah?" She asked in shock and slight fear.

"Yes..." Danny answered her as the Ghost King grabbed Vlad's head with his great hand.

"You...I remember you..." He stated as he clenched his teeth in wrath. "A fool only makes the same mistake twice for a reason."

"Please! I freed you and I offer this willingly!" He said as he held up the crown for Pariah to see it. "In exchange, spare me and kill this brat and the girl and I will be your most loyal servant!"

"I have a better idea: I'll kill you three here and now," Pariah merely said as he closed his fist, crushing Vlad's head in his fist before taking the crown.

"Blackfire," Danny started.

"Yes?" Blackfire asked as the ghost king placed the crown on his head, the ghost king then turned his attention to the other two interlopers.

"Time for you to go..." Danny said as he fixed the ghost king in a determined glare.

"I'm not just going to leave you to face this thing on your own!" Blackfire shouted back.

Danny merely smiled at her. "I figured. I'm just making you." Blackfire gave him a confused look as he spoke again. "Klaatu Verata Nikto!" As he spoke a portal opened up next to her. As she turned to it, Danny flew to her and tackled her into it before closing it.

"You boy," Pariah Dark commented lifting his mace, "you should have followed after her."

Danny didn't answer as he closed his fists. "Maybe...but I know if I don't stop you here and now, you will go on to ruin the plans I have for the future."

Pariah laughed loudly. "You think you can stop me?" He bellowed. "What chance do you have against me child? I don't see the armor that you had before. Do you think you can best me here and now!? With my crown and ring back into my possession, this realm and the living world will be under my boot!"

"I'm not that same 'boy' that fought you before," Danny said he narrowed his eyes as red ectoplasmic energy covered his body. Pariah smirked as he leaped forward with his mace held high.

Danny cursed under his breath as he created a force field just as the mace came bearing down upon him. With a deafening impact the barrier pushed against the mace, Danny growling as he tried to hold the barrier as Pariah swung his mace against it. Danny was losing focus as Pariah's assault wouldn't let up, he lifted up his mace for the blow that would shatter his defenses; Danny lifted the barrier for a chance to blind him with a blast.

Pariah blocked the beam with his mace as Danny took off from the ground with his fists up, his body covered in energy. Finding his mark in Pariah's chest, the force of Danny's blow sent the Ghost King crashing against the ground. With the Ghost King on his back, Danny flew to his face only to have Pariah grab him by his foot and slam him against a nearby wall and the floor of the castle. The Ghost King tossed Danny aside, as the young phantom became intangible, harmlessly passing through the castle walls and back into the rest of the ghost zone.

"D-Damn it...I gotta get an opening!" He hissed right as the castle exploded, Danny looked at it just as Pariah was right on him once more. His eyes went wide as the large ghost swung his mace at him. "Klaatu Verata Nikto!" He chanted as smoky black chains wrapped around the handle of the mace, preventing the swing. Pariah growled in frustration as he fired a blast out of his eye, knocking Danny back into a floating frozen wasteland.

Danny sat up but before he could get up he was crushed under the massive foot of Pariah. "Without that suit of armor, you're nothing more than another little speck to be brushed aside." He said as he raised his mace, readying to deliver a final blow. As the mace came down, Danny gritted his teeth as his fist basked in a hellish red, was raised against the mace. The mace was shattered against the power but his arm was broken beyond use as a shard of the mace flew into his left eye, splitting it open as he cried out in pain.

The force sent Pariah back he looked at his ruined weapon in shock as the crown was blasted off his head. "Klaatu Verata Nikto!" Danny chanted once more as black chains restrained the ghost king by coiling around his arms and ankles. Danny moaned in pain as blood flowed from his ruined eye and his right arm hung uselessly. "I don't need armor to beat you!" He shouted as he slowly approached the ghost king. Pariah struggled against the chains the tighter they became as they sapped his strength.

"W-What is this?!" He demanded. "What magic is this?!"

"A spell meant to bind spirits like you; I didn't think it would work against you with your crown and ring. I needed to create an opening and you gave it to me...at a cost." He said as he looked at his arm. "Now, look at me Pariah Dark." He demanded as the ghost king looked up at his face as the chains drained more of his power. For the first time in his life, Pariah felt completely powerless as those red eyes started to glow with a bright white light as he opened his mouth.

"W-What are you doing?!" Pariah Dark roared as his body was fading away into Danny's body.

"YOUR SOUL! YOUR POWER! THEY'RE MINE NOW!" Danny shouted in triumph as the only thing that remained of the ghost king was his ring and crown. Danny walked towards the items slowly, a full surge of power pulsing through his body...his chest was tightening as the pain from the fight was starting to overwhelm him. He picked up the ring and studied it, the green skull on it looking back almost as if tempting him to try it.

"You..." A voice called out to him. Danny looked up at the voice and saw what seemed to be a ghost wearing a tricorn hat and a red uniform. He looked around and saw an entire horde of spirits looking down at him, some were human while others looked more like monsters or beasts. "You...defeated Lord Pariah! Who...Who are you?" He said in awe.

Danny looked down at the ring and with ease he crushed the ring in his hand till it became worthless pieces before scattering it along the ground. "I am Fenrir," he said as he took the crown and placed one-half of it in his mouth, the heat hurting him for a brief moment before pulling it apart with his hand causing the flames to dissipate. The ghosts stared on in awe and fear as he broke the items with ease. "And I am your new King of All Ghosts."

END

So that's that. Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter and I am sorry for the long delay, times are just getting away from me. Anyway, please leave a review telling me what you think and what you want to see. Once again, if you have a suggestion for a girl to add to the harem then please leave a review or send me a PM just note that those who give more detailed reasoning will get special considering. Another thing that I should add that this story is set mainly in the DCAU/Young Justice Universe so if you have a hard time understanding how things are the way they are then maybe that would help you. Once again, thanks for reading and hope you enjoy and see you next time.