Soon, the Dark Knight had synthesized the antidote and was on his way to deliver it. However, Vlad had planned for such a thing, and dispatched a friend of his to keep him from doing so.

The Dark Knight fired his grapple unto a nearby rooftop, but as he swung across, he saw something sever the line.

Thinking quickly, he caught unto a nearby fire escape, then swung down unto the ground.

"Impressive" said a deep voice from the shadows "but then, I've heard much about your skills."

"Who's there?" Batman asked, "show yourself."

The mystery man then revealed himself as Skulker. "Even in the Ghost Zone I've heard rumors of the mysterious man known as the Dark Knight" he said, "if you're as good as they say, you'll be a welcome addition to my collection."

"Sorry, but I belong to nobody," Batman said, launching a Batarang at the bounty hunter.

Skulker simply went intangible and let the projectile pass through him. "Your little tricks are no match for me, the Ghost Zone's greatest hunter!" Skulker replied "you will be defeated, and your cape and cowl shall be mine!"

"Think again" Batman said, tossing several smoke pellets. He rushed at Skulker, but he activated his jetpack and flew above the smoke.

"Take this" he shouted, firing a bola, which Batman sliced through with another Batarang.

Skulker then flew downward, ramming into Batman and knocking him into a dumpster. He activated his laser blade and ran forward, but Batman moved at the last second, with the blade slicing off part of the dumpster.

Batman then tossed a pellet at Skulker, but the ghost simply rendered himself intangible again.

"I already told you, your stupid tricks won't work on me" he bragged.

Batman tried to punch him, but only found himself connecting with thin air.

"Let me show you how its' done" Skulker replied, becoming solid and connecting a fist to the jaw.

Before Batman could recover, Skulker fired a net over him.

"Honestly, I was expecting better from the great Batman" he said, "perhaps you're not as great as I thought."

"I might surprise you" Batman said, hurling a pellet at Skulker that froze the left arm of his battlesuit.

While he attempted to restore his arm, Batman used a blade from his belt to cut through the net. He then connected a punch to the villain's face, only to hold his hand in pain moments later.

"A sophisticated battlesuit" Skulker explained "impenetrable to human fists."

Then he activated a rocket launcher and fired a volley of missiles. Batman used his grapple and lifted himself unto a rooftop before they exploded.

Skulker activated his jetpack and gave chase, landing on the rooftop as well. He fired two more missiles, which Batman narrowly avoided.

"It's all over" Skulker said "there is nothing in your arsenal that can protect you from me."

Suddenly, a Batarang flew out at him, but Skulker caught it effortlessly. "Out of ideas already?" he asked mockingly, as Batman came into view "how do you expect to beat me with this?"

Suddenly, the Batarang began to beep wildly.

"This won't end well," Skulker said, moments before it exploded.

After the smoke cleared, Skulker's battlesuit was in ruins, and the tiny ghost emerged from the head.

"Great, this will take at least a week to repair!" he said.

"It seems the great hunter is nothing but a little blowhard" Batman commented before he swung away.

"You haven't heard the last of me!" Skulker yelled, "I will get you, suit or no suit!"

After he got no response, he turned towards the flaming wreckage of his suit. "Vlad is not going to like this."

-----

A few minutes later, Batman arrived at G.O.O.D HQ with the antidote in tow.

"Sorry I was late, I ran into some ghost trouble" he said.

"Fortunately, there's just a few minutes left" Don said "I just hope this works."

He filled a syringe with the antidote and injected it into Sam, then Rose, as Danny & Jake watched on. Slowly, both girls began to return to normal, and their gruesome smiles faded.

"Thank goodness" Sam said, "I hate smiling."

Danny quickly ran over to her and gave her a big hug, with Jake doing the same to Rose.

"Hey, what about Huntschump and Vlad, they're still out there" Jake said.

"We'll get them eventually" Danny said "for now, I'm just glad Sam is okay."

"You and me both" Sam said, "but listen, the next time you want to take me on a date, maybe we should do something at your house. There's less of a chance of us being attacked by ghosts that way."

"Will do" Danny added.

"And maybe you and I should stick to dream dates" Rose told Jake "for the same reasons."

"If it means protecting you, I'm all for it" Jake replied.

"Now then, I think you two still owe us a date" Sam said "you want to go to Nasty Burger? It's not as fancy, but it's something."

"Okay, but I need to do something first" Danny said.

-----

Back at Vlad' secret hideout, he was waiting anxiously for a report from Skulker."

"I don't know what's taking him so long to report" Vlad said, "I'm eager to learn if he defeated that foolish Dark Knight."

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Vlad & Huntsman quickly approached it, standing on either side. Huntsman then knocked the door down, but no one was there.

"Whoever it was must have known not to mess with us" Huntsman replied. It was then he noticed the package on the ground. "What's this?" he asked, bringing it inside.

"A package? I wonder who it's for" Vlad said, as he read the label "oh, it's for me. I wonder who would be nice enough to send me something."

He opened the package, but his expression turned into one of anger when he saw the contents of the box; Skulker's ruined battlesuit.

"Looks like your ghost hunter failed" Huntsman said "which means our revenge has also failed. I told you we should've done this directly! Next time I want to destroy the dragon, I'll do it myself!"

Before Vlad could say anything, he noticed a note placed on top of the wrecked battlesuit. He snatched it and read it.

Dear Fruit Loop

Better luck next time.

Your pal

Danny Phantom

Vlad angrily hurled the box to the ground and blasted the note.

-----------------------------------------

Next Time:

Hearing of criminal activity in the city of Dakota, our heroes head out to investigate and meet the city's protector, a young mutant teen named Static. They soon discover that E.V.I.L is attempting to create a larger "Big Bang" and must join with Static to stop them, discovering that a presumed dead foe of his is also involved. Will the city be spared? Find out in "Shock & Awe."