#There are a lot of episodes where Cosmo is recon

[fountainpenguin]

The Masked Magician Vs. Danny Phantom (a.k.a. human with fairy powers Vs. human with ghost powers). Who would win this battle and why?

You could turn the tide of this battle either way depending on who has knowledge of the other’s weaknesses (a.k.a. butterfly nets vs. blood blossoms). Since they’re both heroes, they’d also need a reason to fight one another in the first place - presumably misinformation about Danny being evil - and my instinct is to say that the underdog would come out victorious. Of course, when the Masked Magician did have the upper hand in his final battle, he chose to show humility and apologize for his wrongs instead of fighting.

So I envision a pre-“Phantom Planet” scenario where Vlad convinced everyone Danny Phantom is evil, and the Masked Magician donned his mask to challenge him. Danny would try to shake him, and just generally stall so he can observe the Magician’s abilities and fighting tactics (with Danny zigzagging and giving he Magician a hard time, Sam observing and relaying information from the ground, and Tucker searching the Internet for any news of the Magician and learning what he can about the Magician’s only known appearance before now, of course).

The Magician would be giving chase as best he can, spitting wishes and trying to catch Danny (Cosmo and Wanda, disguised as aspects of his costume, would probably inform him of some rule that prevents them from directly interfering with ghosts, or at least with ghosts as powerful as Danny).

Timmy’s not much of a “Stall and figure out the strengths and weaknesses of the guy I’m up against” type of kid, but his strength is creativity, so he’d be rapidly analyzing what Danny’s doing and trying to play his strengths against him. Danny can go fast? “I wish a titanium wall would appear immediately in front of him.” Danny can fade through things? “Okay, I wish you’d keep poofing me so I can keep up with him.”

The first time they confront one another, Timmy would think he trapped Danny - probably by stunning him with a sudden wall and then poofing a cage around his dazed body, then throwing a sheet on top of the cage and bringing him back to Vlad (or whoever sent him after Danny). Onstage, the Magician would whip off the sheet to reveal Danny underneath, only for everyone to realize that - gasp! - there’s no ghost under there. Obviously, this presentation would be followed with a weak “Ta… dah?” before the Magician makes himself scarce.

Wanda would encourage Timmy to do more research about Danny, while Cosmo slips away to perform reconnaissance, y’know, like he does. By this point Timmy would have to check in with his parents, and probably nurse some bruises. Likewise, Sam and Tucker would be taking care of Danny, who is exhausted after shaking off the Magician (though he feels a bit guilty the town is angry with the Magician for losing him, since he knows the Magician is just a kid).

At some point, possibly through Cosmo’s recon, Timmy would realize Vlad had tricked him, and that Vlad is actually the bad guy, and has a big evil scheme planned. Unfortunately, Cosmo and Wanda can’t interfere with him directly, so Timmy decides to seek out Danny again- this time for help. 

So the next time he and Danny confront each other, Danny would force him to give chase again, Timmy would fight for the chance to apologize… Maybe even lift his mask as he’s doing so to reveal his secret identity, just to prove the trust he’s willing to give. Then they’d combine their powers to overtake Vlad together and kick a lot of mayor butt. That’s how two nice superheroes would settle a face-off, I think.

The Masked Magician could totally take on Phantom in a fight, up until he gets hurt and realizes “Oh shoot, Fairy magic can’t heal wounds caused by Ghost powers.” Until he gets injured, I think the Magician could match Danny very well, with the Magician constantly giving Danny obstacles and traps to overcome, and Danny outwitting them all with his ghostly abilities (so long as he has the energy- his powers do drain him, so if he passed out, he’d be in trouble).

But it’s against Da Rules for godkids to use magic to hurt someone. Timmy’s hands are tied there. Danny’s aren’t. If Danny legitimately perceived the Magician as a threat, it would only take a few blasts to send the kid crashing to the ground.

[rhnuzlocke]

Episode 22

Scene 4:

[Ren, now dressed a ready, walks out into the morning and goes to sit by the edge of the cliff. It is not as high as she expected and there is a narrow path that zigzags down to the beach below. Latios settles down next to her and she puts a hand on one of his shoulders. She pulls out her nav and tries Zinnia’s number, but she does not pick up. Ren sighs and messages Iriaka, but unsurprisingly the student hasn’t seen Zinnia in a long time and has no idea where she is. Ren takes another moment to think and then calls Chief Honda of the Rustboro Police Department, whose number she acquired at her coronation ball. Chief Honda is able to put her through to the location Maxie is being held and after holding for a while and answering a bunch of questions, they put her on the line with him.]

Ren: Hello Dr. Matsuda.

Maxie: [very dry] So formal. Tell me, how can I help our new Champion?

Ren: I need you to tell me who took your keystone.

Maxie: I have already testified several times on the subject, but to repeat myself yet again: I do not know the identity of the woman who stole my keystone. I’m sure you can get ahold of the deposition if it is so important.

Ren: They do let you watch the news in there, don’t they?

Maxie: Yes.

Ren: Then you know that the situation has changed.

Maxie: …Yes.

Ren: And I know now that Courtney didn’t take it, so I’ll ask you again: who took your keystone?

[There is silence on the other end for a long time and then a sigh.]

Maxie: I don’t know her true identity, but she was known to me. She went by Azalea while she was a member of Team Magma. I can’t tell you more than that.

[Ren’s eyes light up and she grips Latios’s feathers.]

Ren: Thank you, Dr. Matsuda. That was very helpful. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[She hangs up and calls Josh immediately, foot bouncing impatiently as she waits for him to pick up.]

Ren: [peppy] Hey Josh! How are you?

Josh: [sarcastic] Great. The future is so much easier to face now that I don’t have one. How are you?

Ren: Oh, we’re not out of the game yet.

Josh: [ever so slightly hopeful] So you have some kind of plan to deal with a giant meteor?

Ren: Yep! And you’re going to help me.

Josh: Great!—Wait, what?

Ren: Did you happen to know a woman named Azalea while you were working for Team Magma?

Josh: Uhhhh—

Ren: You did! Awesome! Okay, now tell me everything you know.

Josh: Well, I mean, I saw her around a few times, but she mostly higher profile recon and she always went solo, so we weren’t really moving in the same circles and—

Ren: You can’t even lie over the nav. It’s incredible.

Josh: [quiet and slightly echoey from cupping his hand over the mic] I don’t know what she’ll do to me if I tell you. She’s really scary.

Ren: Josh, listen to me: we are trying to stop a giant meteor. This is life and death for the entire planet. You have to tell me what you know.

Josh: Okay… Let me just get out of town first.

[Ren waits patiently on the line while Josh walks to some place he won’t be overheard.]

Josh: So, do you know the Draconid Lorekeeper, Zinnia? That’s her.

Ren: Yes! Yeah, I figured that out.

Josh: Wait, really? How—

Ren: Long story, not important. Give me more.

Josh: Okay. Uh, remember when you convinced me to lie about Cosmo having the meteorite?

Ren: Mmhm.

Josh: Well she stopped by and figured out what was happening because I’m bad at lying, but she wanted to protect you. So after that we sort of worked together to make sure you didn’t get killed.

Ren: Oh… That actually explains a lot.

Josh: Also we sort of pretended to be hooking up to make her talking to me and us disappearing at the same time less suspicious.

Ren: [She whistles.] Damn. Hart and Brent must have been jealous.

Josh: Yeah, kinda? Mostly concerned. Do we have to talk about that part?

Ren: Not sure yet. All I know is that I have to track her down and you’re the only person who knew her who the police haven’t already tried.

Josh: So you want to know where I think she would go?

Ren: Yes, and barring that just everything you know about her so that I have something to go off of.

Josh: I have an idea actually. We went to Courtney’s house a few times. I got the vibe she hid out there a lot and trained with her team.

Ren: Perfect. That’s on Kagari Island, right? Above the Magma base?

Josh: Yeah.

Ren: Okay. Send me your location and I’ll pick you up. Do you still have your Magma outfit?

Josh: Yes but—

Ren: Bring the glove in case we need to get into the base. And call Zinnia in the meantime and see if she’ll talk to you. Get any info you can. I’ll see you soon.

Josh: Ren—  

[Ren hangs up before he can finish his objection.]

Ren: Alright, Latios, looks like we have a lead.

[She gets up and Latios rises, spreading his wings and tucking in his legs.]

Ren: Everyone get in you balls! It’s time to save the world again!