"First, hugs and kisses to my beta TimeWitch'93.

Inspired by Jump's Phantom by DaughterofDemeter123

I borrowed heavily from vol. 1 of Avengers: The Children's Crusade, but you do not need to have read it to understand this story. This is my take on the search for Scarlet Witch.

Pairings: Eli/Kate, Cassie/Jonah, and Billy/Teddy

I do not own Young Avengers or Danny Phantom

Chapter One: Kate

Kate's day had started out well enough. Her father woke her up early in the morning to get breakfast. Derek Bishop was a very busy and powerful man and Kate relished the rare opportunity to see her father before work.

The phone call came in just as Kate was saying goodbye to her father. She picked it up on the second ring, "Hello?"

"Kate, its Eli, we need you downtown. There are some crazy extremists making a scene in front of the Baxter Building."

"I'll be there as quickly as possible," replies Kate stepping back into her home to grab her costume and equipment.

"I'll send Billy to pick you up," answers Eli and the phone line went dead.

"Great! Can't the bad guys wait until after lunch?" mumbled Kate. She had never been a morning person by any stretch of the imagination. At least she had gotten a decent breakfast.

Kate entered her bedroom and immediately moved to her closet. Shoving racks of designer clothing aside, she found the safe. She keyed in the combination and inspected the contents. All of her jewelry was crammed into a corner to make room for her costume. She removed the carefully folded dark purple leather and quickly changed. She strapped on her gloves and battle staves and she carefully removed a long metal toolbox from the floor of her closet. Some of her equipment was far too big to fit in the safe. She inserted a key into the simple padlock and removed her bow, quiver, arrows, sword, and boots.

Kate had just finished adjusting the white scarf around her neck when Billy and Teddy popped in. "Warn a girl next time," she admonished. "I just finished changing."

Teddy grinned wickedly and Billy simply rolled his eyes. "Ewe! Naked girls," replied Billy playfully. He then turned and planted a smoldering kiss on his boyfriend's lips.

Kate sighed. It was pointless to worry about those two; they clearly only had eyes for each other. She playfully punched Billy on the arm and grabbed her dark designer sunglasses from her bedside table. "Let's go, I'm pretty sure Eli's not going to wait for us."

Kate and Teddy moved to stand closer to Billy as the raven haired teen began to chant. "We want to go to the Baxter Building. We want to go to the Baxter Building. We want…"

Kate suddenly found herself in the middle of a tour group in one of Reed Richard's labs. At least a dozen alarms sounded and thirty pairs of eyes turned upward to stare at their costumes. "Billy, maybe you should be more specific next time."

The group of first graders moved to huddle around their teacher. "We don't want any tttrouble," stammered the teacher. "Please don't hurt the children."

Teddy leaned down to reassure the kids, but all he succeeded in doing was scaring the children further. One little girl with a pink stuffed bunny started pulling frantically on the teacher's skirt. "What is he doing here?" she whispered just a little too loudly. "My daddy said all of the bad Skrulls were gone."

The harried teacher glared daggers at Teddy. She gripped the little girl's hand and reassured her, "This is the Baxter Building, the Fantastic Four's headquarters, I'm sure they'll be here any moment."

Teddy didn't get a chance to defend himself before the group found them covered in little red lights. The building's security had arrived and there were at least a dozen high powered rifles pointed at the team.

"Hold on just a minute!" yelled Billy. "We're the good guys!"

"Put your weapons on the ground slowly," called the security team leader.

Billy and Teddy slowly raised their hands while Kate removed most of her arsenal. Three security officers broke off from the main group and proceeded to frisk the teens. Kate groaned as the officer found the dagger she had left tucked at the small of her back.

"What is going on here?" called a distinctively feminine voice. The crowd of security officers parted like the Red Sea to reveal Carol Danvers, Warbird.

Kate let out a sigh of relief, "I'm glad you're here. Now, can you get us out of here?"

Warbird bristled a little bit at Kate's tone. She turned and addressed the head of Baxter Building security. "The Fantastic Four are on a mission in space. Don't blame these guys for doing their job. They kids are with us. I'll take it from here."

"But Ma'am, S.H.I.E.L.D. protocol concerning Skrulls states that…" the security officer stopped when he noticed the dark look on Warbird's face.

Kate's face turned a bright shade of purple. She opened her mouth to retort but Billy brought the heel of his boot down on Kate's foot. Kate bit back a yelp and turned to face Billy. The young sorcerer shook his head and nodded towards Warbird.

"Why don't you let me worry about S.H.I.E.L.D. protocol? Besides Hulkling here is only half Skrull and a member of the Young Avengers."

The security director looked like he wanted to continue the argument, but one of his security team grabbed his elbow and pulled him away. The security team dispersed with the exception of one guard. The last guard turned to Warbird, "Please forgive my brother. He lost his wife and son during the Skrull invasion."

Warbird said nothing and simply nodded. The remaining guard quickly left.

"Thank you," Teddy said. "For sticking up for me, I mean."

Warbird did her best to look indifferent. "Hmph. I didn't do it for you. We could use your help outside with crowd control."

XxxLine BreakxxX

Kate stepped outside the Baxter Building and hung her head. Putting on the tights seemed so pointless sometimes. No matter how many idiot she and her friends threw in jail, there was always another one waiting in the wings. This time the Moron of the Week Award goes out to a group of trailer trash rejects carrying automatic rifles and reciting Bible verses out of context. Kate silently wondered who taught them the verses; she was willing to bet half or more of these hillbilly rednecks were illiterate. Most of the citizenry had fled, but there were still a few brain donors that thought a shiny new television was more important than their personally safety. Kate scowled as she saw a man exiting an electronics store with his young son and an armload of stereo equipment.

Warbird tracked Kate's gaze and put a restraining hand on her shoulder. "Let it go. We have more pressing matters to attend to."

For some reason that only served to make Kate angrier. She shrugged out of Warbird's grip and rushed the man with the stereos. Kate drew her sword as she ran. She nabbed the looter by his wrist and savagely twisted it behind his back. The stereo equipment tumbled to the ground with a loud crash, but Kate wasn't finished yet. She wrestled the man to the pavement and pressed the blade to his throat. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

The man beneath Kate's sword reeked of fear and sweat. He motioned to the boy with his eyes and a slight tilt of his head. He wanted the boy to run, but the boy seemed rooted to the spot. Kate wasn't sure if it was because of loyalty or fear. Kate angrily twisted the man's arm harder and he let out a brief howl of pain.

Warbird approached and placed a hand on Kate's shoulder but did not apply pressure. "That's enough Hawkeye. Let's go," she commanded.

Fury burned in Kate's eyes as she gave the man's arm one final savage twist. "Take your son and go," she spat. Kate turned and faced Warbird, "I know. I know. Bigger fish to fry. But this idiot brought his son into this mess. What kind of a parent does that?"

Warbird shook her head, "I'm afraid that I don't have any easy answers for you."

Kate took a deep steadying breath, "Alright, who is it this time?"

Warbird motioned for Teddy and Billy to move closer. Once she was sure that she had everyone's attention, she began, "I'm only going to explain this once, so listen up." The Young Avengers nodded solemnly.

"They're a new paramilitary group calling themselves the Sons of the Serpent. They're not very well trained, but they have some serious weaponry. The Avengers will handle them. I want you guys to stay out of the way and handle crowd control. You got that?"

Teddy smiled and nodded. "Yes Ma'am."

Warbird nodded once and took off skyward. Kate and Billy turned and stared at Teddy incredulously.

"What? There's no way she was going to leave us alone until we agreed. Now, are you ready to go bust some heads?" Teddy asked.

Billy laughed and gave his boyfriend a quick hug. "What are we waiting for? Come on Kate."

Teddy let out a savage roar and the couple launched themselves into the fray. Kate looked around until she found a fire escape located nearby. She quickly scrambled up the rusty old ladder. She found a good vantage point on a landing about three stories up. Kate checked the railing to make sure it was secure and then strung her bow. Just in time too. Kate sighted along her first arrow and took out an assailant creeping up on Billy. The militiaman went down with an arrow in his shoulder. Billy took out the other two opponents and waved to Kate.

The boys quickly disarmed the combatants and Billy used a spell to tie them upside down from a lamppost. Teddy was dusting off his hands and Kate had just reached the bottom of the fire escape, when they all heard another explosion followed by automatic gunfire. The trio followed the noise around the corner. To their right and about a block over there were close to forty soldiers surrounding Spiderman. Kate wasn't sure what prompted her to look up, but it was a good thing that she did. On a terrace on the adjacent building was a soldier with a rocket launcher. Kate quickly notched another arrow and took him out.

"Let's…" Kate was cut off by the sound of more gunfire to their left. A local hoodlum was taking advantage of the chaos; he was in the progress of robbing a local restaurant owner. "You two go and help Spiderman. I'll help the shopkeeper."

Billy and Teddy took off down the street. Meanwhile, Kate quietly moved towards the restaurant. It was a small Chinese take-out restaurant. It was too early in the morning and there probably weren't more than three or four employees. Kate was willing to bet that she could find the service entrance in the adjoining alley. "Bingo," Kate thought. She tested the handle and found it unlocked. She found herself in the kitchen. Behind one of the large stoves there was a small girl hiding. Kate raised a finger to her lips warning the little girl to be silent. She made slow progress through the kitchen, but managed to make it to the front counter unseen. Kate positioned herself behind the counter and the nearest thief. The thief had a gun aimed at the restaurant owner's chest. Fortunately, he was facing away from Kate. Unfortunately, the restaurant owner was and when Kate slowly slid upwards to take out the thief the owner's eyes widened. The thief turned around just in time and the blow Kate had aimed at the back of the man's head fell uselessly on his shoulders.

The man managed to get in a few decent punches before Kate managed to take him down. The last punch had probably been harder than necessary, but damn it; Kate was pissed. Kate rubbed her sore jaw as she crouched down to tie the hands and feet of the unconscious thief. The owner and his wife were thanking her exuberantly in Chinese. Kate wasn't sure if they could understand her or not, but she addressed them anyways. "You may want to tie him to something else as well. With everything going on out there, I don't know how long it will be before the cops can get here."

"Well isn't this cute," a voice from behind Kate asked. She stiffened and the voice continued, "Put your hands where I can see them, Gorgeous."

Kate slowly lifted her hands and turned around. Three of the soldiers from the Sons of the Serpent were in the restaurant. Two of them had weapons trained on her and the other had his aimed at the restaurant owner.

"Don't move. Don't even blink," the same soldier commanded. "Well what do we have here boys? Maybe today's not a complete waste. Bet ya the commander will be real pleased when we bring back the head of one of the capes."

"But Boss, she's such a pretty thing. Can't we have a little fun with this one first, Boss," asked one of the other soldiers.

The first soldier shook his head, "Capes are too much trouble. You know that. If you're looking for a plaything, I think I saw the owner's daughter on the way in." The other soldier smiled to reveal tobacco stained teeth.

Kate was going to be sick. She had been careless. Now, these whack jobs were going to kill her and rape the little girl. The daughter couldn't be more than nine years old. There's no way Kate could reach them before they can pull the triggers and at this range it's impossible to miss. Kate closed her eyes and bit back tears of anger and frustration.

There was a loud crack and pain blossomed from her left arm. She couldn't believe it; the soldier had missed and only grazed her arm. Kate blinked back tears and noticed a black and white figure darting between her attackers. Kate's savior quickly took out the three soldiers and turned to Kate. "Are you alright?"

Kate nodded, "Just grazed me."

Just then, a fourth head poked his head through the back entrance and started speaking rapidly into a radio headset.

"You didn't take out the sentinel!" Kate yelled.

"Well, sorry! I saw you through the front window and I didn't bother with using the door!"

Kate wasn't sure what that meant. Hell, Kate wasn't even sure if she wanted to know what that meant. If her rescuer hadn't used a door and the window was still intact then how did she get in?

"Come on," yelled the new girl interrupting Kate's train of thought.

Kate's new friend rushed toward the door as the sentinel aimed and fired. The shot had to have missed, because it harmlessly struck the stove behind her. "These guys have the marksmen skills of Storm Troopers," thought Kate.

Kate followed behind her monochromatic rescuer. The sentinel was already unconscious on the ground. "Who are you?" Kate asked.

The girl smirked, "Dani with an 'I' and right now, I'm the girl saving your butt. I think any other questions can wait until later." She motioned towards the main street where another dozen soldiers were coming to avenge their fallen comrades.

The two teenaged heroines moved to stand against the building. The last thing they needed was for their assailants to surround them. Kate stood shoulder to shoulder with the white haired superhero. Kate inadvertently touched Dani's shoulder and was shocked to find that she was freezing. Kate was about to ask Dani if she was okay when she looked down and noticed that Dani had no legs or feet. Kate was dumbstruck. "How is this possible? I didn't notice that she had no legs in the restaurant. Just what is she?"

The soldiers fanned out in a semicircle, trapping the girls against the building. Dani clamps a hand around Kate's arm. Kate looks up to find Dani grinning wickedly. She holds a finger to her lips and then disappears.

A shout comes from the soldiers. "Where'd they go?"

"What do they mean by 'they'? Dani's the only one that disappeared," Kate wondered, but then she looked down. She was invisible too. Dani guided them through the mob of soldiers until they stood about ten feet behind them. Dani let go of Kate's hand and attacked as the duo became visible again. Dani raised a glowing green fist and a beam shot out and caught the attackers completely unawares.

Kate's jaw dropped as Dani flattened the soldiers. "What are you doing? We're not supposed to kill them!"

"Chill, will you. They're fine, just unconscious. They'll wake up in a few hours with nothing more than a really nasty headache," Dani said snidely.

Kate approached the nearest soldier and checked for a pulse. Reasonably confident that Dani was telling the truth, Kate walked back to thank Dani. "Thanks, you saved our lives back there. What are you? If I didn't know any better I'd swear that you're a ghost. But there's no such thing, right?"

"My story is long and complicated. Nothing personal, but I don't even know you," Dani answered.

"I'm Hawkeye. My friends and I are the Young Avengers. We could use your help with the rest of the soldiers," Kate said and looked at Dani expectantly.

The pale teen looked reluctant. A variety of emotions flashed across her face before she finally answered with a shaky voice. "I'll help, but just this once. I can't afford to have my picture show up in the papers, so if reporters show up I'm out of here."

Kate thought the request odd, but nodded anyhow. "Thanks."

"I'll scout ahead," Dani called as she flew around the corner. She was headed in the direction of most of the gunfire. Kate ran to catch up as Dani rounded the second corner joining the fray. Suddenly, there's a brilliant white light and Kate's forced to cover her eyes. Reaching the battleground she finds all of the soldiers unconscious.

"Dani!" Kate called. "Dani!"

XxxLine BreakxxX

Until next time, thank you for reading and please review.

Chapter 2: Billy