This is another document that sat untouched for over a year. I'll probably do more one-shots of the Secret Trio after this, but no full sequel (at least, not one planned yet).

"Fairies?"

"Real."

"Giants?"

"Real."

"Vampires?"

"Called Strigoi, but yeah, real."

Everyone who had been at the final battle with William was gathered outside the council chamber, waiting for their meeting to begin. It was a beautiful day on the Island of Draco, a week after the battle. Danny, Sam, and Tucker had reacted to the island without much surprise, but Randy and Howard were gaping and staring at everything that went by. They had been going on during the wait asking Jake which magical creatures were real.

Howard's eyes were alight with amazement. "What about mermaids?" he asked. Jake rolled his eyes.

"Real." he said calmly. Both of the Norrisville boys let out fascinated gasps, and Randy clapped his hands.

"Oh, I change my mind. This is the brucest thing in the history of bruce!"

"Are we dreaming, Cunningham?" Howard asked breathlessly. Lao Shi gave his grandson an exasperated frown.

"Jake, I do not think we should be telling them so much prior to the council meeting."

"Ah, c'mon, G, they saved the world with us! I'm sure the council will let them-"

"Not until the meeting is over." the elder stated firmly. Jake sighed and shrugged.

"Sorry, guys." He turned his back and began chattering with Trixie and Spud, as Danny, Sam and Tucker ignored their conversation and chattered among themselves. Randy ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath.

"This is heavy, Howard. Real heavy."

"Tell me something I don't know, Cunningham," Howard replied, gazing into the sky as dragons of all colors flew overhead and trained. "We were perfectly normal freshmen and then that all changed when you became the Ninja. Now we're part of this whole thing."

"I hope so." Randy said uneasily. Howard frowned.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, I don't know if they'll let either of us remember any of this. Ninjas have their mind wiped at the end of their term, and I highly doubt they'll let us keep our memory of the magical world too."

Howard bit his lip, trying to think of something to say to reassure his best friend. He shrugged. "Well, we don't know, Cunningham, maybe they let some Ninjas keep Ninja-ing on. Don't, uh, lose hope yet?"

"I'll try not to." Randy's eyes drifted to Team Phantom. "I wonder what the council will make of them, especially Danny. He's..."

"Insanely, absurdly powerful! He-"

"I can hear you. Come over here if you're gonna talk about me." Danny called. The boys complied and walked the few feet over to the Phantom trio. Danny smiled. "So what were you saying?"

"Nothing," Howard insisted, "just mentioned that we think you're powerful."

"Oh. Thanks." Danny said, sounding a little embarrassed. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "What makes you say that?"

"That wail you used." Randy explained. "It was unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it; how'd you learn that one?"

"Eh...um..." Danny looked away from them, to Sam and Tucker for help. Tucker crossed his arms.

"It's a really long story." he said.

"And Danny's usually doesn't feel comfortable repeating it. He had trouble giving us all the details." Sam furthered. Danny shook his head.

"No, I'll tell you guys. Eventually. I don't have enough time now to explain the whole thing, and it's not a tale for the faint of heart."

"That bad?" Randy asked, grimacing. Danny forced a smile.

"That bad." he confirmed. "And I don't use it that often, anyways. That was probably one of the only times you'll ever see it." His blue eyes went to the council doors. "Clockwork told me he sent the Dragon Council a report of all of our actions, before and during this thing. That's probably what they're looking over right now. No doubt that horror story of mine is in the report." He frowned again. "And I'm scared to death that they'll erase my memories, heck, even remove my powers with some sort of magic or something or other after they see it."

"They won't do it, man. They can't do it." Tucker reassured his best friend. "It would be unfair to you."

"Yeah, and the whole thing's in the past. You've done a lot of good now, and if they can't see that, then they're morons. I don't even care of Jake's grandpa hears me say that." Sam snapped. Danny smiled weakly.

"Thanks." He blushed a little. Randy and Howard began to snicker, and Danny scowled.

"Okay, you two laugh at me all the time over nothing. I don't laugh at you guys."

Both boys stared blankly at him. Sam rolled her eyes. "He's implying that you're in love with each other." she said. The boys' eyes widened and they began stuttering.

"No, that's-" Randy started.

"Totally not true! We're bros." Howard blurted.

"Just bros." Randy claimed.

"Uh-huh." Sam murmured skeptically. Just seconds later the doors opened of their own accord. Jake, Trixie, Spud, and Lao Shi walked in calmly, and after a shared glance and a moment of hesitation, the others went in with them.

The hall itself was long and there were rows of single tables and chairs. The council was waiting at the end at a long table in tall, golden chairs, the meeting space built as an amphitheater. There were long windows behind the council's table. Up on the sides there were great stairs leading to other rooms that were unknown to the majority of the group, and thick stone pillars supporting the room.

All but Jake's group gazed, turning and stretching their necks to peer around, taking in the room's features. At the moment, the Dragon Council was waiting in their human forms, watching their approach. Finally, Councilor Kulde stood up and beckoned them forth. "Welcome," he said invitingly, "please, come forth."

Howard and Randy shivered a little from anticipation, going slower than the rest of the group. Eventually they made their way up, and stood with everyone else. Kulde cleared his throat. "Thank you all for coming. You are all aware of the business of today, I take it."

"Yes, sir." Danny said anxiously. Kulde glanced at him.

"Daniel Fenton, better known as Danny Phantom? Yes, we had been planning to start with you and your friends. Walk forth." Sam, Danny, and Tucker did as told, standing in front of the others. Danny himself was feeling pressure, feeling cold sweat dripping down his neck. Regardless, he forced a smile, and clasped his hands together. Councilor Omina noticed, and the woman smiled slightly.

"Take a deep breath, Daniel Fenton. We are not here today to scold you."

"Oh." That was all Danny could think to say. Councilor Andam spoke up.

"We have received the report on your activities from Clockwork," he said calmly, "to get the attention of such a powerful figure...in good times and even terrible times..." Danny winced; they knew. "...is impressive. He has taken quite the shine to you. He entrusts you and your allies with knowledge that is not shared with the vast majority of people, magical and non-magical."

"Your power level is beyond anything we've seen." Councilor Kukulkhan added. Danny blinked.

"Uh...I've met more powerful...things." Momentarily he flashed back to Pariah Dark, and he shook his head. "What about Pariah Dark? I can't be that powerful. I-"

"Are you hearing yourself, Fenton?" Howard yelled, raising an eyebrow at the half ghost. "You pretty much finished the last battle by screaming at the enemy."

Danny blushed and crossed his arms, eyes lowering to the ground. He picked them back up quickly to meet the council's, so as to not look rude. "Well...I..."

"No matter," Councilor Kulde said, waving it off. "Clockwork has informed us that you mean well, yet you have much to learn. We were left a question unanswered by Clockwork, that you must answer yourself. Tell us, why do you fight, Daniel Fenton? Why did you persist when you were said to be evil? And most of all, what do you plan to do with your powers?"

The half ghost shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted, "I kind of just figure that's what I got them for. To fight evil. I'll admit, it kind of stinks most of the time, but I do it anyways." He inhaled sharply. "And...I don't know why I do it anyways. It's just what's right, I guess." He sighed. "My powers are just a here and now thing, and I do what I have to in the present moment."

"A fair answer." Councilor Omina said. "The future for you...has not been released to us by Clockwork; it need not be. He trusts you, and we cannot argue with the Master of Time. For now, you will be allowed to keep your powers and your memory of our world."

Danny nodded, though still not looking pleased. "Okay," he said, "but what about my friends, Sam and Tucker? If they can't be involved, I don't want to be involved in any of this." he said with a scowl.

"Hold on, we were getting there." Councilor Kukulkhan interjected. "Your friends, especially Samantha, are directly responsible for you gaining your powers. That, and very indirectly introducing the three of you to the magical world."

"She is?" Trixie asked aloud, surprised. Sam weakly laughed and smiled.

"Yeah, it's kinda sorta my fault."

"How so?" Spud asked curiously. Sam awkwardly played with her hair, running and curling her fingers in it.

"I kind of sort of told Danny to look in and check out the portal." she admitted hastily, tapping a foot on the ground. There was a moment of silence before Randy and Howard let out howls of laughter. Danny rolled his eyes.

"That's enough. I did it because I wanted to. It's not Sam's fault."

"Suuure, Danny, whatever you say." Jake said, withholding a laugh. The councilors glared at the teenagers and they all silenced. Councilor Kukulkhan continued.

"In any case, Clockwork has specifically request their memories stay intact. They are vital to you, and you to them. We will release more information about the magical world to you when you are ready. As for now, we ask you to keep doing what you're doing and to use your powers responsibly." he stated firmly. Danny nodded.

"Yes, sir."

"Have a seat, then." Kulde looked to Randy and Howard. "You two, come forth."

The boys shared a look and obeyed, looking nervously up to the council. Randy awkwardly waved. "Um, hi?"

"The current Norrisville Ninja, I've heard. We have communed with your Nomicon- which you may take back, now-" Kulde handed the book to him, and it glowed briefly as it changed hands. "-and you are a very interesting Ninja thus far."

"Oh, really, I'm nothing special," Randy babbled nervously, "I'm just doin' my Ninja thing and-"

"Really?" Omina interjected, raising an eyebrow. "You've made a lot of very questionable decisions. Caused a lot of damage, a lot of chaos at times."

Randy and Howard paled. Howard put a hand in front of his friend. "You have to listen," Howard said, "he's done a lot of wonk things, and sure, maybe he's a shoob, but he-"

"Calm down, Mister Weinerham, we're not going to condemn him." Omina said sternly. "In spite of his more than occasional blunders, the Nomicon assures us that the Ninja is doing a fine job, and that you, Randy, always do the right thing in the end. It's rather proud of you, you know."

"It...is?" Randy mumbled. The councilor nodded.

"Yes, indeed. Though we are less than pleased with the fact that you and your friend here are in the know about our society so early, we have decided to, in deference to the Nomicon, allow it. For now, at least." Omina declared. Randy raised an eyebrow.

"So...early? Pardon me, but when do Ninjas ever find out about this all? Their memories are erased at the end of four years."

"True," Kukulkhan said with a small smile, "but do all Ninjas manage to learn the Ultimate Lesson?"

"What does that mean?" Howard asked. The councilor shrugged.

"Maybe you will find out eventually. As for you, Howard..." Kukulkhan sighed and frowned. "We are even more displeased with the fact that you know about the Ninja, let alone our world. Admittedly, we would do away with your memories, but the Nomicon strictly forbid it."

"It did?" The boys stared at the book. Howard put a hand on it, cocking his head to the side. Frowning, he looked back to the council.

"Why, though? At first it hated me. It didn't think Randy and I should be friends."

"Yeah," Randy agreed, "it even told me that friendship is a weight the Ninja cannot carry."

Kulde looked to the book. "The Nomicon can change its mind with proper evidence and knowledge. We even heard that it let you into its pages once, Howard. Perhaps it sees something in you, too. Do not make us and the Nomicon regret our trust in you."

Howard saluted to them. "I won't! Or I'll do my best."

"Have a seat," Omina instructed, "Jack Long, come forth."

The boys scurried back as Jake walked forward apprehensively. "Yes?" he asked quietly. Kulde glanced at him and then back to the onlookers. Kulde stood up.

"American Dragon, if it were not for the Nomicon and Clockwork, you would have broken several laws here bringing you all together. We deem it not just a responsibility of theirs, but of yours, to keep all of the knowledge given to everyone today a secret."

"I trust them." he stated firmly. Kulde grinned.

"Good. As for further business, we have decided that William's abandoned castle will be the Secret Trio's base of operations. Your medallions have been enchanted to bring you to the castle and back now; most of the imps have returned to the castle and keep it tidy. Ensio assured us that now that the Sorcerer's grip on them is gone that he will assist you with anything you need in the castle."

"Secret fortress?" Randy's eyes glinted with glee; Howard stood on his tip-toes, eyes large and alight.

"So bruce!" Howard chimed. Danny, Sam, and Tucker mumbled among themselves with smiles; Trixie and Spud merely nodded in agreement to the idea. Kulde handed the badges back to Jake, who turned to distribute them out. Omina spoke up.

"I believe this concludes our meeting. Secret Trio and crew- you are dismissed."

Everyone filed out, the teenagers eagerly chattering. Lao sighed and patiently leaded, giving a backwards glance to his grandson. The eight teenagers had gone from three groups to one, talking all together happily. He smiled slightly; truly, they were a team now.