(Hey all, this is just the first chapter to see how it goes- if it goes well, I will update more chapters, if not…well, then I won't! This story is kinda based off Beauty and the Beast …except with ghosts…and a more evil underpinning…well, I'll not waste anymore time- enjoy!)

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"AARGH!"

Danny fell to the ground in exhaustion and pain, just about able to stay in ghost form. Wisps of ecto-smoke were rising from his torched jumpsuit. Through tears in his outfit, bruises and deep cuts could be seen leaking green blood and his left wrist was broken- Danny Phantom, Amity Park Superhero, was in a bad state. He pushed himself up into a sitting position with his right hand while cradling the other close into himself, wincing in pain.

The ghosts he had been fighting floated down to him and landed on the ground, growling threateningly at him. They were different shapes and sizes and all resembled different species of carnivorous animals. They called themselves Claochladáin:Irish for transformers, but Danny being clueless didn't know that! Three of them stepped forward towards Danny with angry expressions on their faces. One was a large, male lion with a thick, black mane and four long dragon horns protruding through its fur- two from the top of his head and two from the sides. His arms had a spiked tattoo at the wrists and the colour around his eyes shared the same pattern. The tip of his muzzle had tufts of hair, giving the impression he had a beard. On his left was a slightly smaller, well-built tiger. The striped patterns on his back formed strange symbols and his right ear was pierced. To his right was a crocodile about the same height as the tiger and just as well built. Large spikes protruded from his back and shoulders and two small horns rested on his head. They looked very ferocious.

"The 'Great Danny Phantom'," spoke the lion.

His voice was gentle and deep, almost like a sigh, and commanded the attention of everyone around him. The tiger grumbled with his sharp teeth bared towards Danny.

"Somehow I thought you would have fought better than this, but I guess not!" he commented sadly while examining his claws.

Danny quickly shot towards the lion in an attempt to catch him off his guard, but the tiger beside him roared and jumped on Danny, pinning him to the ground with his claws. Despite the sudden action, the lion did not flinch once.

"Ah ah, Daniel! You don't want to lose that other hand now do you?" questioned the lion.

The tiger twisted Danny's right hand causing him to scream in pain.

"That's enough, Tíogar," ordered the Lion.

The tiger looked back at him solemnly and nodded. He obediently got off Danny and walked back to the group, standing behind the lion to his left and bowing his head slightly to him. Danny sat up once more and glared at him.

"Who are you?!" Danny demanded.

"I am Leon, the leader of this established…community! This is Tíogar and Crogall, my two very loyal friends."

He motioned towards the tiger and crocodile in turn who both nodded in respect at their opponent (Danny!). Leon's careful choice of words did not go unnoticed by Danny though- opting for 'community' as opposed to 'cult'.

"Slaves more like!" he muttered in disgust.

"Oh, they do as they're told," reassured Leon, "but out of their own free will, of course."

"Why are you here? What do you want?!" yelled Danny in frustration.

"We are simply here to give rogue ghosts the opportunity to join our community," answered Leon as he began to circle Danny, "I hate to see lone ghosts hating their after-life, don't you Daniel?"

"As long as they don't cause me or my town any trouble then yes, I do pity them."

Leon stopped before him and leant towards him.

"Would you like to join our cause Danny Phantom?"

"Why would I want to join a cult of ugly, bloodthirsty beasts?"

All of the ghosts, except Leon, growled and roared in anger at Danny's last statement. Leon narrowed his eyes at him and straightened himself as Tíogar and Crogall grabbed Danny's two arms, pulling him to his feet.

"We are not bloodthirsty beasts," said Leon calmly, "If you remember, Mr Phantom, it was you who first attacked us!"

All of the ghosts sniggered and nodded in agreement. Danny had in fact thrown the first ectoblast, mistaking them for a group of troublesome ghosts, out for a good time scaring the town's folk.

"Of every ghost present here Phantom, you seem most fit to be called the beast!"

All of the ghosts laughed and the grip on Danny's arms tightened.

"You're not even a full ghost! You're an inbreed; a halfa!" mocked Leon as the others agreed.

"It's better than being what you are!" spat Danny.

Leon grabbed Danny tightly by the throat, his claws scratching his skin.

"And what am I Phantom?! A ghost? An animal? A beast, as you call it?!"

He released his grip of Danny and allowed him to gasp for air while still being held by Tíogar and Crogall.

"We are transformers, Daniel! We can alter our appearance! Sure, we could look human if we wanted, but what's the point in that? We've lived our lives as humans and now, we take the form of what we imagine our true selves to look like."

Many of the ghosts looked on and nodded in belief and understanding in the 'truth' and 'wisdom' he was speaking of.

"Look at you Daniel…you're strong, willing, and intelligent (HA!)…but weakened by your flesh self- your human self…"

Leon leant towards Danny so he was looking him in the eye.

"This isn't what you imagine your all-powerful self would look like, is it?" he asked quietly.

Danny mentally shivered as an image of Dan Phantom popped into his head. He did his best to hide his fear from Leon.

"Get. Back. To. The. Ghost. Zone!" Danny growled through clenched teeth.

Leon stared at him for a moment before smirking with satisfaction.

"Oh, we're going Daniel…but first, a gift to you for your lack of understanding of our mission and your ignorance of our title and culture!"

Leon conjured a glowing, purple orb of swirling light and energy in his paws. Danny's eyes widened in horror as he threw it at him. He couldn't run to dodge it, as Tíogar and Crogall held him firmly were he was. He screamed in pain as it hit him square in his chest, causing him to glow bright purple and his energy to be fully drained. The two ghosts released him, causing him to fall to the ground and transform into his human form. Leon smiled again and flew away with the other ghosts.

Danny gasped in exhaustion and pain as he managed to heave himself to his knees, relying totally on his arms for support. The throbbing in his left hand was so painful, it was on the verge of knocking him out cold, but he forced himself to ignore it.

Suddenly a strange twinge travelled through his chest. He hunched over in an attempt to ease the pain. It didn't help. When the pain subsided he gasped for air, until it returned with excruciating pain. Danny cried out in agony and rolled onto his back, clutching his chest tightly. The pain was unbearable, and somehow it's intensity continued to increase. Danny lay there helplessly; screaming with his eyes tightly shut and calling for help, but no one came.

A purple substance, similar to the colour of the blast that hit him, began to run out through his chest, between his fingers, travelling into his mouth, his eyes and covered his entire body. His eye's shot open as the purple matter disappeared and the pain suddenly subsided as if it were never experienced. Danny lay on the ground, confused and relieved that it was over. He sat up and looked around him. He was still in the street were he fought the Claochladáin and nothing around him seemed to have changed. Slowly he pushed himself off the ground and headed towards a wall of a building for support. He collapsed against the wall and breathed deeply. His voice was low and hoarse.

'All of the screaming probably damaged my throat…' he thought to himself.

He began to make his way to his house, gripping the wall a few times to prevent himself falling over. Halfway there he stopped to catch his breath. He never knew how far away his house was until now. Preparing himself to continue the journey, he glanced in one of the house windows. The family was sitting by a fire, talking amongst themselves and laughing about something. Danny smiled at the loving sight and hoped it would be like that at his own house.

The mother in the house looked up to the window that Danny was looking through and stopped laughing. Her face paled and dropped completely. She screamed at what she saw. The father looked at Danny and, after seeing him, ushered the children, panic-stricken, out of the room and up the stairs. They were all screaming in alarm and fear. Of course, Danny was perplexed at their reaction to him just glimpsing in the window, but then he saw his reflection…