Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Danny looked around in confusion.

“So Danny, you and your little friends want to hunt ghosts?” Dad said turning around to face them.

Danny turned to look at Sam and Tucker who were 14 again…

“Sorry, Mr. Fenton. I was into ghosts, but they’re so mainstream now. They’re like cellphones.” Sam replied as Danny looked over himself. 

How the…? He was 14 again as well. Wait. He remembers this.

“Waste these good looks and all this charisma, hunting ghosts? Criminal.” Tucker continued as Danny watched the portal doors.

“Well if you do want to hunt ghosts…” Danny let his Dad’s words fade into the background as two ectopuses emerged from the portal. 

Danny raised his hand and shot them with an ectoblast, pushing them back into the portal.

Tucker and Sam shot him a shocked look. “How…?”

Danny shook his head at them and gestured toward his Dad.

“Thanks for the know-how, Dad. But we have some homework to do that we’re going to do in my room.” Danny said once his dad got done rambling.

“Okay, Danno! Glad to help.” Dad continued fiddling with various beakers as the trio went upstairs.

“Since when can you do that?!” Tucker exclaimed as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Yeah so.” Danny thought over how he was going to tell them. “I’m kinda from the future.”

They blinked at him. “Ha. Ha. Very funny, Danny.”

Danny sighed. “No, really. I don’t know how I’m back in my old body but I’m Danny from about ten years in the future. I’m totally blaming Clockwork for this.”

“Clockwork?” Sam asked carefully, looking at me like I’m insane, which…rude, but fair.

“He’s a ghost we’ll meet later.” Danny already felt a headache coming on.

“Okaay.” Tucker said disbelievingly. “Say we believe you. What’s next?”

“Probably go into the ghost zone to find Clockwork.” Danny started planning in his head.

“Go into the ghost zone!” Sam yelled. “What the heck are you thinking?”

“Oh, right. You guys still haven’t gone into the zone by this point.” Danny whistled. “This is like the very beginning of when I first became a halfa.”

Tucker raised his hand. “What’s a halfa?”

“Oh for goodness sake.”

…

Danny ripped a portal open(much to the amazement of his friends) and flew towards Long Now’s general direction.

After nearly two hours of flying and not getting any closer, he stopped and huffed. “Alright, I get it! You don’t want to talk to me! Can you at least tell me if I am supposed to be back in time!” 

He waited for a moment and felt stupid yelling into the literal void before something smacked into his face.

He took it off and found a green sticky note. ‘Yes.’

“You’re not funny, you know!”

…

After opening a portal back to his childhood bedroom, he flopped onto his bed.

“So what happened?” Sam asked.

“He didn’t want me to find him. At least I know I’m supposed to be here in this time, although I don’t know why. Figures he would give a straight answer but only to one question.”

“So what now?” Tucker asked nervously. “We won’t, like, destroy reality by making different choices, right?”

“No. If I’m supposed to be here then this is the way the timeline is supposed to go. I just don’t know why. What am I supposed to do in this time?”

“Well, what was the last thing you remember doing before coming here?” Sam asked.

“I was talking to…The Justice League!” Danny sat up on the bed.

“The what league?” Sam deadpanned. 

“It’s a group of superheroes that forms a few years from now,” Danny explained as he floated off his bed toward his computer.

“You’re messing with us,” Sam said disbelievingly. “Superheroes?”

Tucker leaned over Danny's shoulder as he searched the web. “The Batman?”

“I’ve heard of that during one of my parent’s galas. It’s a Gotham myth.” Sam said, leaning over Danny’s other shoulder.

“Nope. He’s real. Also, somehow creepier than me.” Danny said as he opened a new tab and searched for something else.

“The Flash.” Tucker read. “A red blur that saves the day. Huh.”

“Superman, really?” Sam scoffed. “A little on the nose.”

“Yeah, but his personality really fits it.” Danny smiled. Superman was like the stereotypical superhero. “There are four other founding members of the Justice League along with these three but they don’t appear until later.”

“Who?” Sam asked curiously.

“Wonderwoman, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Martian Manhunter.” Danny paused. “Shit. Martian Manhunter, he might already be on Earth.”

Danny searched for the first manned Mars landing and sucked in a breath. “It’s been almost two years.”

“And?” Tucker asked. “I remember you talking about that. There was an accident, right? Only one of the astronauts came back.”

“The astronaut, J Allen Carter, that came back wasn’t the astronaut that landed on Mars. It was an alien. The original Carter accidentally release the alien from its prison on Mars and the alien took his place.” Danny explained as he looked up more information. “The alien wants to destroy the planet's defenses to invade.”

Danny gestures to an article about the former astronaut, now Senator Carter’s plan to get rid of all nuclear weapons.

“So that’s why you’re here? To stop them?” Sam questions.

Danny hesitated. “I don’t know. They didn’t need me the first time. The Justice League was formed to deal with them. The League didn’t even know I existed until this year. Err, I mean, the year I last was.”

Tucker patted Danny’s shoulder. “We get it. It’s confusing.”

Sam frowned as she thought it over. “Maybe that was the issue. Maybe you needed to be part of the, ugh, Justice League, sooner.”

Danny thought it over. “I guess? Time to fuck around and hopefully not destroy the timeline."

Chapter Text

Laying in bed, Danny pondered. Sam and Tucker both left earlier because it was getting dark.

Did he interfere with the alien invasion or not?

Doing so would be helping the Justice League but also getting on their radar much sooner than last time.

Although, thinking about how badly it went last time that could be a massive improvement.

The Justice League came to Amity under the assumption that ghosts were evil and it took forever to get them to think otherwise.

If he got involved maybe he could have the League’s help with setting up defenses in Amity.

Or he could make a bad impression which he won’t be able to change.

Even if he didn’t, he would be burdening the League when they still haven’t got many members and resources.

Danny took a breath. No.

Numerous therapy sessions with Jazz ran through his mind.

No. No negative assumptions. When you assume you make an ass out of u and me.

He knew they would be fine if he didn’t get involved but…

Danny made a decision.

…

The days passed quickly with Danny training Sam and Tucker to fight, although it was mainly building up their physical fitness currently.

Danny (barely) managed to convince Sam to repeal her cafeteria menu change campaign which meant he didn’t have to deal with the Lunch Lady.

So far Skulker hasn’t shown up. Maybe because he hasn’t fought with any truly sapient ghost yet? 

Either way, the UN conference where Senator Carter revealed his plan to disband all nuclear weaponry happened last week.

Danny, with Sam and Tucker covering for him, started the flight to the government facility where Martian Manhunter was being kept.

While flying there, he checked the news to see the first of the alien attackers landed already. He sighed and flew faster.

Soon he arrived near the base and went invisible and intangible and slipped inside through the walls.

He traveled deeper in and felt the telepathic brush against his mind. 

While he never could communicate telepathically, in the future he got decent at detecting and sending emotions.

He tried to send a wave of reassurance towards the Martian and followed the vague direction he felt it coming from.

He landed in front of the Martian and went visible.

He tried to phase the Martian out of the restraints but failed.

Frowning at the phase-resistant material, he looked around and saw two levers. “Hope this works.”

He pushed the levers forward and the cuffs opened up and the Martian started falling, making him rush over to catch him.

Right at that moment, the doors opened revealing Superman and Batman.

“Uh, hi.” Danny blustered before saying. “I’m here to save him, you?”

Superman stared at him for a moment. “Us too. Who are you?”

“Phantom. Nice to meet you.”

Batman glared at both the ghost and the alien, before looking at Superman.
Superman explained. “He’s been trying to reach me telepathically. But the stasis field in this place interfered. His message only broke through.”

Batman walked forward. “What’s he doing here?”

“The invasion.” Martian Manhunter spoke telepathically toward the three of them, standing up. “I came to warn you but I was captured and imprisoned here. They wouldn’t listen.”

“Big surprise,” Batman said sarcastically.

“I sense you do not trust me.” The Martian morphed into his usual Martian Manhunter superhero outfit and offered his hand to shake. “Perhaps this will help. I am J’onn J’onzz.”

Batman observed him before Superman stepped in between. “Don’t take it personally J’onn. He doesn’t trust anyone.”

“A wise policy.” The Martian stated.

Danny was practically vibrating in excitement.

He didn’t really interact with Martian Manhunter in his last life.

They started walking out with Superman leading. “We’ll need to contact the joint chiefs right away.”

“Um, just to warn you guys. All of the people on the base got replaced by aliens.” Danny said, before turning to glance at J’onn. “Err, the other aliens, I mean. Sorry.”

Batman started observing him more closely. “How do you know?”

Danny hesitated before shrugging. “I just do.”

Batman narrowed his eyes but they exited the hole the other two heroes made in their entrance to the building and were surrounded by the army.

“Stop right there, Superman. You’re trespassing in a restricted area. Our orders are to keep that freak here.” The general-looking? guy said pointing at Martian Manhunter.

Superman glanced at Danny before saying. “Wait. I’ll vouch for him. You must let us go.”

“I don't think so.” The guy said with his hands on his hips.

“But the world security may be at stake!” Superman exclaimed.

“That’s why he’ll never leave here alive.” The guy said before they all morphed into their white and black alien forms.

Martian Manhunter braced himself. “It’s really them.”

All the heroes ducked for cover behind vehicles near the hole with Batman throwing an explosive Batarang and Danny shooting ectoblast at them.

Superman tanked a hit and got knocked over while the Martian took a hit for Batman.

Superman picked up a tank. “Get him to safety; I’ll cover you.”

Batman supported Martian Manhunter and started toward the nearby Batplane while Danny blocked the incoming lasers with a small ecto-shield.

As soon as they were inside, Danny watched as Superman threw the tank causing the aliens to scatter.

The Batplane took off with Superman following behind.

“We’re not safe yet, look.” The Martian gestured toward the window where several alien ships were following them.

Batman took evasive maneuvers while Superman started flying toward the ships, crashing into one, making it explode.

Danny phased out of the plane and shot ectoblast, causing another to crash. 

Superman was hit by one of the lasers, slamming into the side of one of the cliffs and the wing of the Batplane was soon hit after.

They spiraled out of control without one of the wings, with Danny only able to prolong the descent to the ground. 

Right before they hit the ground though a green light surrounded the ship holding it aloft in the air.
“What happened?” Danny could hear Batman ask as he phased back into the plane.

“Help has arrived.” The Martian answered. 

Danny turned toward where he was looking to see the Green Lantern holding them up, with Hawkgirl flying up to two of the alien ships and destroying them with her mace.

Martian Manhunter phased through the ship toward the two other heroes and Danny followed behind him.

“Sorry, I’m late.” Green Lantern apologized. “Who’s the new kid?”

“Phantom. Hit first, explain later.” Danny said, pointing to where Superman was throwing one of the ships into the cliffside.

The five heroes each worked to destroy the remaining ships with Wonderwoman jumping in to destroy the last ship, nearly getting herself and Hawkgirl buried under the falling debris only to be saved by Green Lantern making a shield over them.

“Who’s the rookie in the tiara? Even the kid did better.” Green Lantern frowned.

“Hey!” Danny said and he floated over.

Superman threw another ship off to the side. “I’m not sure.”

They each flew over to where Batman was standing with the Flash running over to join them.

“Woah, where have you been all my life?” Flash questioned as soon as he saw Wonderwoman, making Danny roll his eyes.

“Themyscira,” Wonderwoman replied evenly.

“Huh?” Flash tilted his head.

“The home of the Amazons,” Danny explained.

“I always thought it was merely a legend.” Hawkgirl sounded surprised.

“I assure you, it’s as real as the ground on which we stand,” Wonderwoman stated.

“How did you know, kid?” Flash asked Danny.

“It’s a common myth?” Danny deadpanned. “Plus, Diana and I are technically cousins through adoption.”

“You know me?” Diana asked curiously.

“I know of you.” Danny shrugged. “Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Queen Hippolyta, and the new Wonderwoman.”

Diana blinked as she processed the information. “Who are we related through?”

“I’ll explain later. Right now, let’s focus on the alien invading.” Danny deflected.

“There seems to be a lot of that with you, kid. But I agree.” Green Lantern nodded.

Flashed stepped forward. “Look, I’m normally pretty quick on the uptake but can someone tell me what is going on here.”

Superman fixed the Batplane with his laser vision while J’onn explained how the aliens invaded Mars and how the Martians learned to fight in the war.

He concluded his story by telling them about the Martians’ final attack which imprisoned the aliens on Mars, leaving J’onn as the lone Martian survivor.

That is until the human astronaut, the now Senator Carter, accidentally released them.

“While I was being held against my will, the invaders sent advanced agents to disable Earth’s defenses.” Martian Manhunter stated.

“That’s why they sabotage the deep space monitoring network.” Batman realized. “So we couldn’t detect their activities.”

“We got to stop them before it’s too late.” Green Lantern declared.

Martian Manhunter turned to walk back to the ship. “It may already be too late.”

Chapter Text

A loud rumble came from the horizon.

“What was that?” Diana asked as everyone watched a dark cloud emerge from the skyline with constant lightning striking in every direction.

“It’s begun.” Martian Manhunter watched solemnly.

“What are they doing?” Hawkgirl asked.

“They’re terraforming,” Danny remembered.

The Martian nodded. “The invaders are nocturnal. They plan to block out the sun so they can live in perpetual darkness.”

Flash walked forward. “So what’s the big problem? Can’t you just whip up more of that nerve gas?”

“Unfortunately, no. The gas can only be made from a rare Martian plant.” J’onn explained. “I brought a sample with me but it was destroyed when I was captured.”

Flash frowned. “Uh, what’s plan B?”

Diana put her hands on her hips as she observed the cloud. “We’ll have to take out those factories.”

Green Lantern turned toward her. “Lady, this is no job for amateurs.”

Diana scowled. “We Amazons are warriors born. Want to test me?”

Green Lantern took a step toward her before Superman intervened. “Let’s not fight amongst ourselves.”

Superman put a hand on Green Lantern’s shoulder. “John, we are going to need all the help we can get.”

“Fine. Sorry, your highness.” John said sardonically, moving toward the center of the loose circle of heroes. “Tactically, we’ll have multiple objectives, so we’ll need to split into teams.”

Flash speed over to Wonderwoman and put an arm around her shoulder. “Dibs on the Amazon.”

Diana looked bewildered, causing Danny to scowl. “Watch it, Flash.”

Green Lantern also scowled at Flash. “Flash, you’re with me.”

“Aww, you’re no fun.” Flash pouted but agreed.

…

Danny went with Flash and Green Lantern to try to invade one of the factories.

As soon as they arrived, Green Lantern started talking. “That’s our target. Now listen up, here’s the plan-”

“What plan? We kick their butts. Let’s get this over with.” Flash said before zooming down, causing Green Lantern and Danny to share a commiserating sigh.

They watched as Flash taunted the alien attackers and dodged laser beams before getting stuck in green goo.

“Fool.” Green Lantern said before flying over and shooting the leg off of the alien about to shoot the struggling Flash.

Danny followed after him and phased Flash out of the goo as they were surrounded and shot at.

Green Lantern surrounded himself with a shield but that was infiltrated by a gas canister, causing him to disappear from view as gas covered him.

“GL!” Flash spun his arms to create two makeshift fans to blow the gas cloud away, revealing Green Lantern unconscious on the ground.

“We need to go and regroup,” Danny said blocking the various attacks.

Flash nodded, picking up Green Lantern and zooming away with Danny following.

After a Green Lantern was roused back to consciousness, they received a message from Wonderwoman and Martian Manhunter to meet in Metropolis.

They flew to the city, stopping occasionally to save civilians both from the aliens and from humans rioting.

“What did you call us back for?” Flash asked as they landed in front of Diana and J’onn.

Diana pointed to the alien factory in the distance. “Superman’s been captured. He’s trapped somewhere inside there with Hawkgirl.”

“And what about Batman?” Green Lantern inquired.

Diana stayed silent and hung her head.

“He acted heroically to the very end.” Martian Manhunter stated.

Danny froze. Is this his fault? Because he intervened?

“The Bat’s gone?” Flash asked disbelievingly.

“He was a true warrior,” Diana stated.

Green Lantern walked forward, gazing toward the factory. “This is not good. Definitely not good.”

They traveled closer to plan their advance.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this again,” Flash said turning back toward Green Lantern.

“If Superman and Hawkgirl are in there, someone’s got to rescue them.” Green Lantern turned toward J’onn. “You are sure they’re still in there, aren’t you?”

J’onn stared blankly at the factory before saying. “Yes. Your friends are alive but we must act quickly. The imperium is coming.”

“The who?” Flash asked.

“The supreme intelligence that controls these invaders. We have met before.” Martian Manhunter said gravely.

Flash whispered to Green Lantern. “Can we trust this space case?”

Green Lantern frowned. “What choice do we have?”

Green Lantern stood. “Okay, we’re going in. Flash, create a diversion. Diana, watch my back.”

“You want to rely on an amateur?” Diana asked sarcastically.

“Phantom, you’re with the Martian.” Green Lantern ignored her. “Let’s move.”

Flash went to distract the lone attacker alien tower while the other four flew inside the factory.

“Where are they being held?” Green Lantern asked J’onn.

“This way.” J’onn took the lead, going down one of the hallways.

Flash zoomed over to join them after he destroyed the alien. “Hope I didn’t keep you.”

We heard two aliens speak to each other from around the corner. 

Martian Manhunter said, “Wait here,” before morphing into the other alien’s form and rounding the corner.

The two aliens rush past him toward the group with Martian Manhunter behind them. He phased his arms through the aliens’ chest, killing them.

“Come.” The Martian said turning to continue forward.

“Is it just me or does he creep you out too?” Flash asked glancing at the two bodies on the floor.

They continued following the Martian further into the bowels of the factory. “We are close now.”

He put his hand on one of the walls. “I sense they are somewhere behind these walls.”

Diana tried to break the wall but it was too strong. “We have to find another way.”

Danny leaned against the wall to find it phase-resistant.

“Stand back.” Green Lantern commanded, pointing his ring at the wall and using it as a laser to cut a hole in the wall.

Danny joined him, using his ectoblast.

When the chunk of wall finally fell in, they saw Superman and Hawkgirl hanging upside down, unconscious.

They rushed to free them but stopped when J’onn said, “Wait! Something is not right.”

Superman and Hawkgirl opened their eyes, red eyes, revealing them to be imposters.

The hole in the wall closed as gas started filling the room. “It’s a trap!”

They all quickly collapsed with Danny remaining the only one standing due to not needing to breathe.

He looked around, mind whirling to figure out how to save everyone and not coming up with anything.

Then he thought of something.

He faked passing out and remained still as the aliens came to carry them all to another room.

Keeping a discrete eye on the others, he breathed a metaphorical sigh of relief when he saw them all being taken to the same area and restrained together.

He checked and found out, as predicted, the restraints were phase-resistant.

Superman was awake and calling out to the others. “J’onn! J’onn!”

J’onn came to with a groan. “Superman?”

Superman shook his head. “You shouldn’t have risked your lives for us.”

“Would you have done less for me?” J’onn asked him.

The others came to with various amounts of noise and the alien directly in front of us said smugly. “Earth’s mightiest heroes.”

He morphed into Senator Carter causing Superman to realize. “Senator Carter, you used me to weaken Earth’s defenses.”

“The real Carter never returned from Mars.” The ‘man’ stated smugly. “You were so eager to cooperate.”

The aliens turned toward the opening in the ceiling as another ship landed. “All hail the Imperium!”

The blobby alien with tentacles floated toward them. “J’onn J’onzz, it’s been a long time.”

The restraints morphed from the ground bringing J’onn toward the Imperium, where he was electrocuted.

His form lost coherency making him revert back to his original form as he collapse on the ground.

“Much better, you have defied us for centuries.” The imperium gloated.

J’onn shakily stood. “I have never and will never bow before you or any of your kind.”

“Then we will personally see to finishing what should have been accomplished long ago, the elimination of the last Martian.” The imperium reached out its tentacles toward him.

Danny morphed his body to shrink his hands out of the restraints and shot an ectoblast at the alien as it reached J’onn.

“No!” Many of the heroes yelled as J’onn was pulled into the imperium while yelling in pain.

The other aliens shot Danny down as the Imperium worked on absorbing J’onn. 

“You’re hiding something. Deep in the recesses of your mind.” The Imperium psychically probed J’onn’s mind. “Is this another one of your Martian tricks? Do I sense fear? What are you hiding?!”

“Now!” J’onn shouted still in pain.

An explosion drew all of their attention. 

Batman stood on of the pillars next to a smoking crater.

“Batman! It can’t be!” Diana said in shock.

“I mentally shielded him so he couldn’t be found,” J’onn explained.

“What did you do?!” The aliens shouted.

“I reversed the ion charge,” Batman stated simply.

“The crystal, destroy it!” The imperium demanded.

The crystal reversed the factory, dispersing the sunlight-blocking cloud in the sky.

As the sunlight came streaming into the hole in the ceiling and hit the skin of the aliens, they started dissolving, including the Imperium.

J’onn broke out of the alien and dragged it into the light.

“You live underground and shun the light! Why? Does it burn your pale, putrid skin?!” J’onn shouted as he pulled the alien as it burned and blistered in the sun.

Danny flew over to the other heroes to release them with Batman swinging over to help.

Superman after he was released grabbed and bent a nearby platform to give them cover from where the remaining aliens were shooting at them.

As the others were released, they each joined the fight to beat the aliens.

Superman, Wonderwoman, and Danny targeted the roof, punching holes in it to let in more sunlight.

The Imperium managed to reach a tentacle into J’onn’s head, knocking him unconscious and starting to escape onto its ship.

Grabbing and swinging her lasso, Wonderwoman roped the ship preventing it from flying any further away, only to get shot by a laser and lose her grip.

Hawkgirl and Danny flew after the ship and caused various damage, allowing Wonderwoman the time to fly up and grab the rope again.

Together they kept attacking the hull of the ship until it weakened enough for Wonderwoman to swing it and bring it crashing to the ground.

Superman, Flash, and Green Lantern started to bring numerous kidnapped humans out of the crumbling factory.

The heroes rushed out of the factory as it exploded in a ball of fire and electricity and watched as the sky brightened as the dark cloud dissipated.

…

Working in teams, they went around the world to destroy the remaining factories and alien attacking towers.

After, they initially went their separate ways, only to be summoned by Batman.

Danny zoomed around in front of the giant window in the Watchtower, amazed by the non-light-polluted view of the stars surrounding them.

“It’s incredible,” Superman stated also looking out of the window.

Batman stepped over to them. “This watchtower will act as an early warning system for detecting other threats of invasion from space.”

“And it also has a fully stocked kitchen.” Flash walked in with Wonderwoman, each holding a coffee.

Diana took a sip of hers. “Mmm. They don’t have these of Themyscara.”

“Stick around princess, I’ll show you the ropes.” Flash got close to her.

Danny blasted him back with an ecto-shield. “If you have any questions, just ask me, Diana.”

Diana looked at him. “You never did say how we were related.”

Danny rubbed the back of his neck. “Well…”

“An impressive installation.” Green Lantern floated down from where he was inspecting the Watchtower, with Hawkgirl. “Most impressive. But what’s it got to do with us?”

Superman let out a breath and walked forward. “I once thought I could protect the world by myself. But I was wrong. Working together, we saved the planet.”

He gestured to the blue orb outside of the window. “I believe that if we stay together, as a team, we would be a force that could truly work for the ideals of peace and justice.”

“What like a group of super friends?” Flash joked.

Superman smiled. “More like a Justice League.”

Danny fanboyed internally while Flash stepped forward. “Do you have any idea how corny that sounds? But maybe the big guy’s got a point? With all of us behind it it just might work. Count me in.”

“Me too.” Green Lantern stepped toward them and put his hand out.

Hawkgirl walked and put her hand on top of theirs. “And me.”

“My mother may not approve, but I find man’s world to be intriguing,” Diana stated and put her hand with theirs. “I’ll gladly follow.”

“Me too!” Danny joined them, excitedly.

“What about you, Batman?” Flash asked the Bat.

“I’m not really a people person, but when you need help, and you will, call me,” Batman said as he walked away.

“Understood,” Superman said as Danny pouted. “Party-pooper.”

“Wait, J’onn’s not here.” Diana pointed out.

Danny floated up with Superman to where J’onn was on a platform.

“J’onn, are you alright?” Superman asked, putting a hand on J’onn’s shoulder.

“My family and loved ones are long gone. I am the last of my kind.” J’onn spoke morosely, gazing far off into the stars.

“I know the feeling,” Superman emphasized.

“Now Mars is dead and I am alone in the universe,” J’onn said.

Danny brushed his mind against J’onn’s and J’onn established a connection.

Danny showed him glimpses of his previous life and what might never be in this life.

Dani might never exist in this life because of my choices. Even those I know now don’t have the same memories and experiences as those I knew. They won’t be the same people.

But I still love them and hold them in my heart, even if it hurts to have lost them. I’ll never be alone because I have memories of them.

J’onn stared at Danny as Superman spoke again. “J’onn, we can never replace the family you lost. But we’d be honored if you could learn to call Earth, your home.”

J’onn smiled at them and we flew to join the others.

Danny raised his hand in an imaginary toast. “To new beginnings.”

Chapter Text

Danny was getting suspicious. 

For some reason, none of his usual rogues were coming to Amity Park.

Almost no ghosts were coming actually, only animal ghosts like the ectopuses wandered out of the portal.

He hesitated in front of the basement portal. Should he go in and see what was going on?

“Danny! It’s time to go to school!” Jazz yelled from upstairs.

Danny glanced again at the portal before heading upstairs.

“Why were you in the lab?” Jazz looked at him suspiciously.

“Chores.” Danny lied smoothly. “I was cleaning the filter.”

“Okay, let’s go. We’re going to be late.” Jazz looked like she wanted to say something but she shook her head before stepping out of the door.

Danny walked into the school with Jazz hurrying off in another direction as the bell rang.

Sighing, Danny walked to his locker to get his books.

He paused as he saw the mirror on the locker door.

Locker 724.

Sidney’s locker.

He looked around the hallway and saw that he was alone before transforming into a ghost and phasing into the mirror.

“Phantom?” Poindexter spotted him immediately.

Danny looked at Poindexter wearing an oversized letterman jacket. “You remember me?”

Sidney looked at him like he was an idiot. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I traveled back in time. We shouldn’t have met yet.” Danny explained.
The ghost rolled his eyes. “The ghost zone is outside time and space. Plus ghosts are resistant to temporal anomalies anyways.”

Danny froze. “Would Dani still be alive?”

“Dani?” Poindexter asked confused.

“My clone,” Danny explained. “She’s half ghost like me.”

Sidney shrugged. “I don’t know. Halfas are weird. They might have been more protected if they were in the ghost zone but in the human world, who knows what happened to them.”

Danny nodded absently. “Thanks, Sidney.” 

He phased out of the mirror and stood in the hall for a moment, thinking of going to class.

He shook his head and focused and strained his powers. 

Finally, he created a duplicate of himself that promptly turned human.

He’s been practicing for the last few weeks and barely succeeded. 

The clone couldn’t use any powers and couldn’t withstand even the smallest ectoblast before fading but it would work to take his place in his classes.

He flew out of Amity Park and headed toward Wisconsin.

Within an hour, he landed in front of Vlad’s castle.

He remained cautious as he invisibly phased into the building.

Luckily, the halfas could never sense each other even though we could sense other ghosts.

He found Vlad at the entrance putting down a bag. “Maddie!”

Vlad waited a moment before looking around confused.

He glanced down at the bag, puzzled, and rubbed his head. “I think I need to lie down.”

After Vlad left the entrance hall, Danny quietly opened the bag and found cat treats.

Maddie. Vlad had a cat named Maddie in the last life. Does he remember her?

Danny floated through the rooms and then down to the hidden laboratory.

He logged into Vlad’s computer using the rather predictable password of this mom’s name and birthday (which, gross) and found a log left by Vlad journaling several strange experiences he’s had that Danny recognized as originating from the previous life.

Danny flew out of the castle and started the journey home in a thoughtful haze.

So Vlad doesn’t remember his last life but has been having deja vu moments. He shows habits he developed in the last life that he doesn’t remember.

Could Dani really be alive?

…

For the last few weeks, Danny has been just been training with his powers and teaching Sam and Tucker to fight.
Sam is all for the idea and has been loving the sparring sessions while Tucker repeatedly stated he’ll rather be the tech guy.

He’s been looking for any sign of Dani but even in the previous life, if he didn’t have any way to contact her she couldn’t be found since she tended to travel randomly and in areas that were devoid of technology.

Today, he was running late to school and rushing to his first class of the day. Health Sciences.

He, quite literally, ran into Valerie, who was also running late for some reason.

“Watch it, punk!” Valerie exclaimed from her place on the floor.

“Sorry…” Danny got a strange sense of deja vu.

The classroom door slammed open to reveal Ms. Tetslaff. “Fenton! Gray! Congratulations. You two stragglers are paired up for a special week-long health sciences project.”

She reached into the classroom and pulled out a flour sack in a diaper. “I now pronounce you man, wife, and child.”

Danny was stunned silent.

“What makes you think you can?” Valerie said before snapping her mouth shut.

Danny could see her mouth to herself ‘why did I say that?’

That’s…That’s what she said in the previous life. What is going on?

Valerie didn’t become the Red Huntress in this life because her dad never lost his job because of Cujo and Vlad never came to Amity Park.

Valerie still hangs out with the a-listers, never having been kicked out, but her behavior has been shifting over the last two months.

Is she remembering? Danny asked himself, observing Valerie throughout the class and noticing her glance over at him.

After Danny left the sack with Val, he caught up to Sam and Tucker who had their own sack baby.

“Guys,” Danny whispered to them. “Remember what I was telling you about the Red Huntress?”

“Yeah, and?” Sam questioned. “It’s not like she’s hunting you in this life.”

“Besides, she can’t start now that she’s taking care of your special, little flowery sack of love.” Tucker teased, rocking his flour sack, before he started singing. “Danny, Val, and baby sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-Hey!”

Val came up behind him and stole Tucker’s hat and shoved it in his mouth, glaring at him. “You dropped your hat.”

Tucker trotted away. “Come on, Sam. Our child doesn’t need to see this kind of negativity.”

“What? Tucker, it’s a flour sack.” Sam said, following behind him.

Val narrowed her eyes at Danny, examining him. “Look, I don’t know what is going on. But I have the feeling you know.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what’s going on either.” Danny shrugged. He honestly didn’t.

Val stared at him for another moment before sighing. She hesitated. “Since school started, I’ve been feeling off. Recently, I’ve been having these…dreams. I don’t remember much when I wake up but… it's like it was from another life.”

Danny’s breath hitched. At this moment, she reminded him of the Val from his last life.

In their last year of high school, he finally told Valerie his secret. She became a part of the team and fought with them, defending Amity with him, Sam, and Tucker.

He made a decision he didn’t know if he would regret. “Is your dad home right now?”

“No? He’s at work.” She answered.

They went to her house and sat in her room.

“So?” Val prompted when Danny sat in silence for too long.

Danny took a breath. “Okay. Um. What exactly did you dream about?”

She looked across the room to a floor-length mirror hanging on the wall, frowning at herself. “I remember fighting. And red armor. And flying.”

Danny fidgeted in the desk chair. He didn’t know how he was going to explain this. “You’re probably not going to believe me, but I’m from a different future. I don’t know how but I traveled back in time to the beginning from about a decade in the future.”

She stared at him silently. 

“In the last life, we used to have ghosts attacking the town almost every day starting this year. Two people mainly fought against the ghosts. Phantom another ghost and-”

“Red Huntress,” Valerie whispered looking at herself.

Danny nodded. “Yeah. They used to fight against each other. The Red Huntress thought all ghosts were evil at first but eventually, they came to a truce. Later on, they even fought together.”

Danny remained quiet as he watched Val visibly try to keep it together.

Val turned toward him. “I believe you. I don’t want to believe you…but I do. I was…and you were…”

Danny picked up where she trailed off, transforming into his ghost form. “Phantom.”

“How?” Val breathed.

“I don’t know if you remember Clockwork?” Danny asked. “You never met him in person but I mentioned him to you before.”

“He’s a time ghost, right?” Val asked.

Danny nodded. “I think he’s behind it. I haven’t been able to talk to him. I don’t know why. I don’t even know why you remember when Sam and Tucker don’t. Only ghosts are unaffected by the time shift.”

Val turned back toward the mirror and said quietly. “I think I do. I’ve been feeling this itch under my skin. Sometimes when I look in the mirror, my eyes are red. Glowing red.”

Her reflection’s eyes flare red before returning to their normal green.

Danny cautiously spreads his aura and can feel it.

She’s liminal. More liminal than even Jazz was in his last life.

“With the ghost tech you used for a decade in the last life, it left you liminal. Liminal enough for there to be remnants even after time was turned back.” Danny theorized.

Val turned back toward him and looked down at her arms. After a moment, the red armor appeared.

The ghost and ghost hunter stared at each other for what felt like forever, only to be interrupted by a shrill, mechanical cry.

They turned toward where the flour sack baby lay on the bed.

Chapter Text

“Come on, Tucker!” Valerie yelled. “Look at Sam, she has no problem doing thirty pull-ups and you can’t do three.”

Val gestured toward Sam on the pull-up bar where Sam was doing her reps.

Tucker gave one more attempt at his next pull-up before losing his grip and falling to the padded ground with a groan. “I caaan’t.”

“Yes, you can. You just need practice.” Val sighed. “Move on to curl-ups.”

Val has been training with us and helping to train Sam and Tuck.

She also has steadily been regaining her muscle definition from her previous life, along with memories at an inconsistent rate.

A sound rang out drawing all of their attention. Danny’s Justice League communicator.

He transformed and answered quickly. “Phantom here. What happened?”

Superman’s voice filtered through. “Phantom, a young girl has been found that looks exactly like you and has the same powerset. She has been found flying across the Atlantic Ocean and is heading toward middle America.”

Valerie exchanged looks with him and whispered. “Danielle.”

“Where is she?” Danny demanded.

“Currently at the outskirts of Metropolis. She’s responded violently to any attempts to detain her for questioning.”

Thinking back to her past with Vlad, of course, she did.

“You can’t contain her, just keep her distracted until I get there. ETA twenty minutes.” Danny informed and hung up.

“I’m coming with you,” Val said, staring him down determinedly.

He just nodded. “You’re hoverboard isn’t fast enough. I’ll carry you.”

He grabbed her as she suited up and took off toward Metropolis.

They arrived in under twenty minutes to find all Justice League members near the center of Metropolis.

As soon as Dani laid eyes on Danny, she launched toward him.

The League members each geared up for an attack only to be shocked as the two connected in a violent hug.

“Dad!” Dani yelled as she squeezed him so tight that if he was a normal human he would have a broken spine.

Danny sputtered for a moment.

Dani never called him dad before.

“Dani?” Danny pushed her gently to arm's length distance, examining her. “Where have you been? What do you remember?”

Dani shook her head with a dazed expression. “I don’t know. I know you’re my dad. I can feel it.”

Her ectoplasm probably recognizes his as her origin.

“Phantom,” Batman said. “Who is this?”

Danny turned toward him. “This is my daughter, Danielle.”

Flash’s jaw dropped in shock. “You have a kid?!”

Diana looked delighted. “Wonderful! Is this the mother?”

She gestured toward Red Huntress, causing Danny to blush and shake his head. “No, she’s just a friend.”

Dani has since moved to bear hug Val.

Martian Manhunter gazed at them, longingly.

Danny felt a wave of guilt and empathy crash over him.

Green Lantern also noticed and put a hand on the Martian’s shoulder in support.

Superman cast a glance at their surroundings. “Maybe we should continue this conversation in the Watchtower.”

Danny noticed all of the civilians surrounding them, including several reporters with cameras pointing at them. “Maybe you’re right.”

They quickly traveled to the nearest discrete zeta tube and entered the Watchtower. 

“So you have a kid?” Flash asked once again. “You’re so young though.”

“I’m older than I look,” Danny replied.

Hawkgirl looked him up and down. “You look older than the last time I saw you.”

“My appearance varies by my mental state,” Danny answered honestly.

A ghost’s appearance is representative of the essence of their character and their self-image.

Danny looked toward Dani concerned. She looked younger than she did when he first met her in their last life.

“Phantom has been around for at least two thousand years,” Batman stated as he pulled up photographic evidence of Danny’s time travel shenanigans on the large monitor.

A mosaic of Phantom defeating Plasmius in ancient Rome, a painting of Phantom defeating Plasmius in ancient China, and an incredibly rough drawing of him in the journal of John Fentonnightingale.

“Wow,” Flash said admiring the pictures. “You’re old.”

Martian Manhunter looked toward Danny knowingly. “I am several thousands of Earth years old, myself.”

“I am over 800 years of age,” Diana interjected as well.

Flash paced, muttering to himself about flirting with someone who’s old enough to be his really great-grandmother.

Batman made a small noise as he pulled up several news articles released in the last ten minutes, including a video report.

“Founding Justice League member, Phantom, has been found to have a child as this field footage shows.” A video of their reunion played as the voice continued talking in the background. It must have been digitally enhanced because the natural distortion due to their ghostliness was reduced. “This leaves the question of why the Justice League was attacking Phantom’s daughter.”

Flash scoffed. “Reporters always blowing things out of proportion.”

Superman shifted awkwardly before speaking. “Why didn’t you tell us about her, Phantom?”

Danny hesitated before sighing. “There was an incident. I don’t want to get into it but we were separated without any way to contact each other.”

“You could have asked us to help you look for her,” Diana said.

“I didn’t know if she still was…” Danny trailed off, the unspoken word hanging heavy over all of their heads. “I didn’t want to have you look only to find nothing. Or worse.”

Diana walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. “Next time, tell us. You claimed we’re family correct? This is what family is for.”

He placed his hand over hers. “Thank you, Diana.”

“Now who is this?” She asked gesturing toward Val.

“This is Red Huntress, an old friend of mine.” He introduced.

He noticed Batman immediately typing on the computer but ignored it. Not like he could find anything anyways.

He cleared his throat as something came to mind. “Actually, now that we are all here, there is something that I want to discuss.”

“Shoot.” Flash prompted and all of the members sat down around a nearby table.

“I’m sure most of you are aware of the fight for meta-rights.” Danny started. “I think the League should take an official stance for it.”

“I agree but what brought this on?” Green Lantern asked Danny.

“I have a past with being experimented on.” Danny rubbed his chest over where his dissection scars are. “So does Dani.”

He gestured toward Dani who was looking around blankly.

He saw them draw their own conclusions about what the aforementioned ‘incident’ was and he let them.

Batman visibly grew tenser and started typing faster.

Danny remembered that children was the Bat’s weakness, with him raising and training many.

“We need to make a stand so those not ‘normal’ are protected. Whether they are metahumans, aliens, demi-gods, or ecto-entities.”

Chapter Text

They discussed in further detail the plan of what exactly they are going to say in regard to meta-rights.

Throughout the meeting, Danny kept observing Dani who was quietly talking to Val on the other side of the room.

She seemed to be getting better but is still pretty out of it.

Maybe? Because Dani didn’t exist at this point in time in the previous timeline she’s being affected more than Vlad or Valorie?

Either way, he didn’t know what to do about her.

He couldn’t let her travel the world as she did in his last life. Not in this state.

He also couldn’t bring her home. His parents nor Jazz know about him yet. She couldn’t stay with Sam, Tucker, or Val.

Maybe the ghost zone? But Dani would chafe if she was forced to stay in one place. Freedom and exploration were her obsessions; that wouldn’t change in this life.

That knocks out Frostbite, Dorothea, and Pandora who have responsibilities in a single area of the ghost zone.

He sighed.

“What’s up now kid?” Green Lantern asked.

“It’s just.” Danny hesitated. “I don’t really have a safe place for Dani to stay.”

Superman frowned. “Really? Maybe one of us can provide housing until you get into a better situation.”

“How would we be able to house a glowing, white-haired ghost girl?” Flash asked.

“Oh!” Danny said, calling Dani over. “Can you transform?”

Dani transformed into her human form and Danny explained. “She’s half-human.”

Flash sputtered. “You? Never mind, I don't want to think about it.”

Superman looked over her black hair and blue eyes before turning to look at Batman.

Batman scowled. “No.”

…

So Dani was being fostered by Bruce Wayne, making national news.

“This marks the third child Bruce Wayne has taken in during the last four years.” The reporter stated on the T.V. “Many are speculating if these kids are his illegitimate children from his numerous love affairs due to their similar appearance to Bruce Wayne.”

Danny chuckled as he packed a bag with all the things he needed.

He shouldered the bag and started flying toward Gotham.

He made it there at around four in the morning when Batman had just got back from patrol.

He landed in front of the Bat and handed him the bag. 

“Okay, most of this is bottles of ectoplasm. You can just let Dani control the dosage; she’ll know how much she needs instinctively and you can call me when she’s running low. As for this,” Danny grabbed the bottle of ecto-dejecto. “This is ecto-dejecto. It strengthens ghosts. Dani’s had issues before with molecular stability. I don’t know if she still has it but this will help her stabilize just in case.”

“Master Jason!” Someone yelled as a kid came barreling into the Batcave and dove into Batman's arms.

Danny recognized Jason Todd from the news. He was a ten-year-old Bruce adopted before Dani came.

Jason turned toward Danny with glowing green eyes..

“He’s liminal,” Danny muttered. “So how long has he been doing that?”

Batman glared at Danny suspiciously. “This is the first time his eyes glowed. What does liminal mean?”

“People can become liminal if they are around a lot of ectoplasm for a long time or if they had a significant brush with death,” Danny explained.

“Jason’s never had a brush of death before,” Batman stated.

Danny let his aura out. “And Gotham doesn’t really have a lot of ambient ectoplasm.”

An elderly man stepped forward. “Master Jason has been experiencing violent night terrors for the last few months. He never remembers them but the words he speaks when he first wakes up imply violence in his past.”

Danny froze. Could he be…like Valerie?

Danny remembered the Red Hood from his last life. He was rumored to have been the Robin who died but Danny never met him before.

If Red Hood was liminal enough like Val, then he could be remembering his last life.

But while Val is a teenager, Jason’s just…

He looked at the kid, hiding under Batman’s cape, shaking.

Shit.

…

Danny has been working with Jason, unsuccessfully, when he heard about concerns the League has about nuclear war with the Atlantians.

Atlantians?

Danny opened the League database to the last report entered.

Green Lantern, Wonderwoman, and Superman went underwater in response to a distress signal sent by a nuclear submarine and they were confronted by the Atlantians that refused to let them leave with the submarine only the crew onboard.

Green Lantern went back discretely and found the plutonium stripped from the vessel.

I remember that Aquaman is going to come to the surface soon and have an attempted assassination on his life after he exits the world assembly.

Using the zeta tubes to get to the nearest locations, Danny rushed to get to the world assembly only to find himself too late.

Aquaman is in the hospital and in a chamber of saltwater Batman provided.

Danny entered the room and saw most of the League assembled.

“He’s coming to.”

Green Lantern walked in front of the chamber. “Good, maybe now we can get some answers. What did you do with the plutonium?”

Aquaman exited the chamber and stood in front of them. “Plutonium?”

Green Lantern crossed his arms. “From the submarine. You stole it.”

“My orders were to leave that vessel where it lay,” Aquaman stated.

Green Lantern crowded Aquaman. “And you expect us to believe that?”

“Believe what you want.” Aquaman started to walk out of the room. “Someone tried to kill me, and I need to find out who.”

Batman stepped in front of him. “Wait, I can help. But you’re going to have to trust me.”

…

The League each got into their places hidden on the roofs of nearby buildings.

Aquaman was brought, unconscious on a stretcher, out of the front doors of the hospital to be moved to a marine research facility for better treatment.

Wonderwoman’s voice rang through their earpieces, “There!”

They spotted the would-be assassin and Batman through a Batarang blocking the assassin from shooting.

The Aquaman on the stretcher shapeshifted to reveal Martian Manhunter, while Superman chased after the assassin to the sewers, getting electrocuted by a trap left behind on the manhole cover.

Danny flew after the assassin who got onto a motorcycle.

He managed to shoot out one of his wheels but the assassin immediately threw a smoke grenade and fled.

“I lost sight of him,” Danny reported into his com, flying to catch up.

“He’s up top. In a green van.” Superman reported.

Danny phased out of the sewers into the air and spotted Superman using his laser vision to destroy one of the tires of a green van, causing the van to flip onto its side. He immediately flew over as Superman pulled off the door and grabbed the assassin.

“You tried to kill Aquaman, why?” Superman demanded.

“Gee, why would a hired gun try to shoot someone?” The assassin asked sarcastically. “Could it be someone paid me to?”

“Who?” Asked Diana as she landed near them along with Martian Manhunter and Batman.

“Oh, come on babe, you know I can’t tell you that.” The assassin told Diana. “Professional ethics.”

He looked Diana up and down. “But then again if you make it worth my while.”

Danny growled at him.

Batman put a hand on his shoulder and dragged the assassin away. “Let me give you one word of advice.”

As soon as they were out of earshot, Batman spoke to the assassin.

Not long after the assassin yelled, “Okay, I’ll tell, I’ll tell.”

“What did he say?” Diana asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Superman replied, as Danny grinned darkly.

“I don’t know who hired me. I don’t ask questions.” The assassin said.

“Not good enough,” Batman growled. “How were you paid?”

“In gold,” The assassin said pointing to the wrecked car where gold coins were spilling out. “See?”

Batman picked up one. “Spanish doubloons.”

“Where would they get coins like that?” Superman asked.

“Atlantis,” Danny replied. “Someone’s trying to overthrow Aquaman.”

“We’ve got to warn him.” Superman declared.

“Too late.” Green Lantern landed next to them. “That royal pain in the neck punched me in the face and took off.”

“Hera, help him.” Wonderwoman prayed.

…

“Atlantis is just beyond that reef,” Diana stated as she piloted the ship through the water.

“Don’t expect them to just welcome us with open arms.” Green Lantern warned.

Superman observed out of the window. “Set the ship down here. Maybe we can slip under their defenses.”

A missile hit the ship, Martian Manhunter said, “Too late. They’ve already seen us.”

“If it’s a fight they want then it’s a fight they’ll get.” Green Lantern stated, the green glow surrounding him.
“Wait!” Diana said. “Remember what we came here for.”

The five of them exited the ship and went in front of the Atlantean vessel. “Wait! We’ve come for an urgent message for your king!”

All of the surrounding ships fired at them. 

“There’s your answer.” Green Lantern stated sardonically as he and Danny threw up shields.

They each went to work fighting the vessels, knocking the drivers off the ones that looked like advanced motorcycles and hitting the ones that were proper submarines.

Superman grabbed a giant boulder and used it to cut a hole in the giant ship, flooding it with water and causing it to sink to the seafloor.

They immediately fled toward the city of Atlantis, only to be stopped by their defenses shooting exploding projectiles.

They dodged but they detonated anyways as they got close to them, flinging all of them into the rock formations and knocking them out.

When Danny woke up again, he heard the sound of Superman groaning to consciousness himself.

They were surrounded by Atlanteans with one directly in front of them holding a trident.

“Where’s Aquaman?” Superman asked.

“I thought your kind already took care of him.” The man stated menacingly.

Diana lifted her head and looked at the man. “No, he came back here.”

Superman continued. “We came to warn him about a plot against his life, an Atlantean plot.”

“Lies and deception!” The man yelled lifting his trident, pointing it at Superman, and shooting him with an electrical beam.

Danny glared at him. He had a feeling he knew who hatched the plot to kill Aquaman.

“I consider this latest incursion an act of war.” The man stated calmly, too calmly.

He’s looking for justification to attack the surface.

“You’ll be executed as enemies of the crown then I will wipe out the surface world forever.” The man stated as one of the guards started leading Superman away.

The other guards each grabbed us and dragged us to a room, chaining us to the wall. The helmet contraptions they put on our heads started sparking electricity as the room began to fill with water.

As soon as the water reached their heads, electricity will…

Danny could feel the room closing in on him as he struggled to remain calm. He was going to be electrocuted again. They all were.

“Phantom! J’onn can you phase free!” Diana asked.

“No, can’t focus,” J’onn stated dazed.

“Me neither.” Green Lantern said. “Some kind of synaptic discharge.”

Danny tried to phase through the cuffs but between the incoming panic attack and whatever this helmet is doing to their brains, he couldn’t. “I can’t- I don’t need to breathe but I can’t- do electricity.”

Water was already reaching up to his neck and Danny being the shortest of the group was going to be submerged first.

“I have to get out!” Danny yelled, yanking on his restraints, continuously trying to phase through them.

Breathing out released numerous bubbles of air. The water was already past his nose.

It continued to rise until it reached the top of his head and to his relief, no electricity traveled through the water. He was safe.

A wave of embarrassment went through him as he thought of showing that side of him to the others.

He looked around and saw the water covering Green Lantern and Wonderwoman’s mouths.

Soon, those two won’t be able to breathe, and while Wonderwoman, Superman, and Martian Manhunter could stand not breathing for a long time, John couldn’t. He was just a normal human without his ring.

While the helmet was still making it hard to focus, he was slowly able to phase one of his hands free. After which, he yanked off the helmet thing and threw it away then phased completely out of the cuffs.

He saw through the glass the two guards starting to raise an alarm before they were beaten over the heads by a lady carrying a mace.

She pushed a lever, and water started draining out of the room, before coming in and freeing them with a stolen key.

“Thank you, but why?” Diana asked as the red-haired woman got to her.

“You believe someone in Atlantis has betrayed my husband.” The lady, who Danny realized as Mera, Queen of Atlantis and Aquaman’s wife said. “I also fear for his life but I need your help.”

“You got it.” Green Lantern declared walking toward her with Danny, Superman, and J’onn in tow.

The queen led us out, avoiding other Atlanteans.

When we exited the building, she led us over a bridge where we got a view of the entire city.

“Your kingdom is truly magnificent. I can see why Aquaman protects it so passionately.” Wonderwoman complimented, admiring the view.

“Unfortunately, there are those whose ambitions would destroy it,” Mera commented demurely.

As she finished speaking, we were shot at by guards that found our whereabouts.

Diana blocked the first few shots before Danny threw up a shield.

Behind them, from the other side of the bridge, more guards rushed over shooting.

Superman tanked a few hits before Green Lantern commanded, “Stand back!” and destroyed the bridge.

We all started floating with Diana carrying the queen.

“This fight is far from over.” Martian Manhunter flew to search for the king with Danny and Superman joining him.

…

J’onn and Danny phased back into the room where Diana and John were guarding the queen. “We’ve searched the entire palace.”

“But there’s still no sign of him,” Superman said as he flew in through a window.

Then we hear footsteps. We turned to defend and saw Aquaman, pallid and holding an infant.

Mera lit up at the sight of him, rushing over and embracing him. “My love, you're safe.”

“And so is our son,” Aquaman said handing the child over to her.

Mera smiled down at the baby before gasping as she looked over Aquaman. He was missing a hand. “Your hand…”

“Where. Is. Orm?”

…

We watched as the Atlantean doctor welded a prosthetic onto Aquaman.

“His own hand, I can’t believe it,” Superman muttered quietly.

“I told you he was a madman.” Green Lantern said.

“Is it madness to sacrifice all for someone you love?” Mera asked, cradling her child who was sleeping, or more likely, passed out from the stress.

“Choosing to watch as your child dies or losing a limb. It’s an easy choice.” Danny said quietly.

“Can’t you work any faster?” Aquaman asked the doctor.

“This is a delicate operation, my lord. It can’t be rushed.” The doctor replied as he grabbed another tool.

Our earpieces rang and Batman’s voice came through. “A situation’s developed in the north pole. Thermal readings show temperatures increasing rapidly.”
“If that continues the ecological effects can be catastrophic.” Martian manhunter remarked.

Green Lantern nodded. “Then let’s check it out.”

“But what about the crisis here?” Diana asked turning back to Aquaman.

“There may be a connection,” Aquaman said. “It’s the doomsday thermal reactor. We designed it to create a polar meltdown.”

“What?!” Green Lantern yelled.

“I had it created as a weapon of last resort to protect Atlantis should the surface world ever attack but I never armed it,” Aquaman stated.

“Then Orm must have.” Green Lantern realized. “Using the plutonium from the submarine!”

“If the polar cap melts then the world will sink beneath the waves.” Superman worried. “Everything will be destroyed. Orm must be stopped.”

“And he will be.” Aquaman declared, standing. His prosthetic was a sharp harpoon-like weapon. “I’ll see to it personally.”

Aquaman ran out and we all rushed to follow.

Using his ability to swim through the water incredibly fast, Aquaman arrived at the north pole before us.

“Aquaman, wait!” Superman shouted after we reached the ice-covered land.

“Why do you follow?” Aquaman asked while he kept trudging on.

“We want to help.”

“This is my battle. No one asked you to fight it.” Aquaman declared.

“Like it or not we have a stake in the outcome,” Superman said. “We are not leaving.”

“Just stay out of my way,” Aquaman growled.

Danny raised a shield as an explosive landed near them.

Two machines raised up from the ice, shaking the ice, along with one from the ocean.

Atlantean soldiers started attacking us and we rushed to neutralize them.

“The glaciers are already starting to melt.” Batman voiced from the coms. Danny could see the Batplane circling the glaciers in the far distance.

“I know but we have our hands full here,” Superman replied, tearing a weapon off the warship before getting shot by another knocking him into the ice.

Aquaman jumped into the waters getting picked up by a whale and taken away.

“I saw it but I still can’t believe it.” Green Lantern stared at the sight in wonder.
“Oh yeah. I forgot that Aquaman can talk to marine life.” Danny said taking out some soldiers.

Danny and Green Lantern flew to where the reactor was, joined by Batman flying the Batplane next to them. “There’s not much time. If we can’t shut that down the entire world is doomed.”

“We’re too late.” Green Lantern stared at the mountain of ice that held the reactor and was rapidly crumbling.

“Not yet!” Batman said racing into the opening with Danny and John following.

We found the reactor with Aquaman and his brother, Orm, fighting off to the side.

“No good,” Batman said examining the broken console. “I’ll have to go inside.”

“Inside!” Danny and John shouted. The radiation would kill him.

“Can your ring protect me?” Batman asked Green Lantern.

“We’ll find out.” Green Lantern said concerned.

“No,” Danny said, determinedly. “I’ll go.”

He crawled into the machine along with a camera from Batman so he could see as well.

He found the manual release valve under the guidance of Batman and turned it, hearing a hiss of steam and the machine whirling down.

He crawled back out, Green Lantern stating. “It’s shutting down. You did it.” 

Danny shook his head. “No, we did it.”

He nodded toward Batman and Aquaman, who was walking back toward them after defeating his brother and attempted usurper, Orm. “The threat is over.”

Chapter Text

Sam rolled out of the way from the attacking beam, shooting back up and firing her own ray back with an ecto-gun.

Valerie, dressed in her Red Huntress gear, deflected it and went back on the attack.

Danny watched as the two sparred, interjecting advice when needed.

Sam has come a long way since beginning training. Average humans and ghosts wouldn’t even be able to get a scratch on her.

He turned toward where Jason and Tucker were sparring, although it was more like playfighting at this stage.

Jason has been…okay.

Any mention of going out to fight or taking up the Robin mantle as he did in his past life sends him into a panic attack.

He seems to have blocked out most of his last life’s memories with only the odd occasion of remembrance that is usually followed by a dazed period. His young mind doesn’t seem to be able to cope with the trauma of his memories, which from what little Danny knows, he doesn’t blame him.

And while Jason seems to enjoy fighting, he thrives in school, consuming classic literature ravenously.

Everyone’s phones, besides Jason, sounded an alert.

It was the alert that the ghost portal has been opened, courtesy of Tucker, and a ghost has went through.

Danny opened up a portal to his parents' lab and left Jason in Gotham after a quick goodbye.

Stepping through they found Queen Dorathea and Technus waiting.

“Dora? Technus?” Danny asked. “Where have you guys been?”

“I, Technus, master of all technology, have finally broken through the restrictions on the portal passage,” Technus shouted only to grow quieter after being shushed by the four humans(if you count Danny and Valerie as human).

“What restrictions?” Valerie asked.

“Something was blocking ghosts from coming to the human world for quite a while,” Dora explained.

That explained the lack of ghost attacks on Amity.

“Technus demands to know how his friend has been.” Technus whisper-shouted at Tucker.

Tucker turned to look confused at Danny.

“You and Technus became friends in the future. The same with Sam and Dorathea here.” Danny told them before addressing the ghosts. “Time was reversed, they don’t remember you guys.”

“Oh,” Technus started and Danny has never heard him sound so dejected before. “Technus just thought all of you started those anti-aging treatments modern humans go on about.”

“It’s alright buddy,” Tucker said awkwardly, patting Technus’ arm. “We can make new memories. So you like technology, me too.”

Those two started chatting about their previous technological achievements while Sam and Dora talked about how they met and how Sam help Dora with breaking from her brother's grasp and grow her kingdom.

…

Danny was nervous.

Why?

Because he was once again standing in front of Vlad’s castle for his parents’ 20-year college reunion.

“Jack. And Maddie! You’ve never looked lovelier, my dear.” Vlad greeted gesturing them in and slamming the door in Jack’s face.

Danny internally facepalmed. How his dad ever thought Vlad was his best friend, he will never know.

Jazz looked around in distaste but otherwise didn’t react. She’s been acting weird, even enrolling in several online classes to graduate early, when she didn’t do that last time and just acting overall differently than his last life.

His mom let his dad inside as Danny observed Vlad.

Something his dad said made Vlad go off, yelling at him, before Vlad after playing it off.

All Danny could think was ‘Wow my parents were stupid. How did they not see all the red flags Vlad was putting off.’

“Uh, maybe we should go,” Maddie said uncomfortably. She was always the emotionally smarter one of the two.

“No, no. You should stay with me.” Vlad insisted. “That’s the whole reason I’m throwing the reunion here in my castle, previously home to the legendary dairy king. Just so I could reconnect with you, Jack. I insist you stay.”

His dad was resistant until Vlad mentioned the dairy king’s ghost could be haunting the castle.

Later that night, Danny got out of bed and invisibly followed his Dad as he made his trek to the bathroom.

Right on schedule the bird ghosts Vlad hired appeared and tried to attack his dad.

He brought his half-asleep dad to the bathroom before quickly capturing the ghost into the thermos.

Vlad, in his Plasmius form, appeared in front of him. “Well, if it isn’t the little hero ghost.”

Danny crossed his arms. “Yup and if you don’t want the League to find out about your, how should I put it, ill-gotten wealth, you will stop attacking living humans.”

Vlad was startled before smirking. “I have no idea what you mean, dear boy.”

“Sure you don’t Masters.” Danny bluffed. “I’ve been investigating you. Half-ghost, half-human. Quite interesting. I’m sure the world would love to know that one of the newest billionaires is not as pleasant as he loves to project.”

Vlad glared at him. “This isn’t over ghost boy.”

Vlad disappeared right before his dad came out of the bathroom.

He phased into his room and shifted back to human.

…

He watched Vlad watch his dad. He saw when Vlad create a duplicate to overshadow his father and saw his dad pick up Harriet Chin, a reporter that his parents knew from college, and throw her into the snack table.

He went ghost and left behind a human duplicate of himself before flying over.

“Jack, what is the matter with you?” His mother demanded horrified.

“Why Maddie, didn’t you always know I’d turn on you?” Vlad stated in his dad’s body, trying to drive a wedge in his parent’s relationship. “That when you chose me you chose wrong.”

Vlad’s schemes were more…basic than he remembered.

“Get out. Get out of me.” His dad was fighting from the inside.

Harriet marched up to his dad. “I don’t know what’s come over you but when I write about this-”

“Ghost. Overpowering me.” His dad said, grabbing onto his mom. “Maddie, run.”

Danny appeared in front of them, charging an ectoblast. “He’s been possessed. Plasmius! Get out of him!” 

Vlad sneered at him and started floating. “Over Jack’s dead body.”

Danny charged at him, pushing Plasmius out of Jack.

His mother helped his dad to his feet and stared at them, in confusion. “A ghost helping?”

Danny tussled with Vlad while Vlad tried to convince him to turn to evil. “Together we could rule!”

“Forget it, you fruitloop,” Danny said, shooting him with an ectoblast. 

Danny made a decision. “I’ll tell everyone who you are and what you’ve done. Who you’ve cheated. Who you’ve hurt.”

His parents crashed in, driving the GAV with Harriet in the passenger’s seat, and ran over Vlad.

“Good job Fentons,” Danny said, sucking Vlad up into the Thermos.

Maddie eyed him suspiciously but didn’t immediately attack so he took that as a win and disappeared.

Harriet was raving about the story of a lifetime.

Danny felt bad because she was fired last time for that story. Maybe this time since Danny’s been on international news as Phantom she’ll do better.

Chapter Text

Well, bad news, Harriet got fired. Worse news, she is now stalking Danny, or more specifically Phantom.

It seems like the world refuses to believe that ghosts exist, let alone that Danny is one, so Harriet is now obsessively stalking Danny in hopes of regaining her reputation as a journalist.

Danny sighed, ignoring the shouting from said woman from behind the barricades, as he continued discussing any last-minute details on the rally he had planned.

He was in the middle of a crowd with protesters and uninvited reporters held back by barricades and a security team. This event was in support of meta-rights.

Danny(who the general public came to the consensus was a themed metahuman, despite his insistence he was a ghost), Diana as Wonderwoman, Flash, and Superman were all in attendance to show support and will later make an official statement as the Justice League.

When Danny was done, he went to find Diana and found her in the building watching a tv report on this rally.

Danny watched silently with her as they cut to different people spouting hate.

“These so-called metahumans,” They spat the word out like a slur. “ are a plague descending on the real humanity. This pestilence needs to be cured or culled.”

“Metas have been responsible for untold destruction and death. These criminals need to be stopped.”

“These metas are an affront to humanity. They’re just unholy and a threat to the common people.”

“These nonhumans that develop powers have been shown to turn to crime and use their powers to hurt and control normal people.”

Danny was reminded of all the rhetoric that ghost hunters use to convince themselves that they were justified in their acts of cruelty toward a sentient species.

“I don’t understand humanity,” Diana spoke after a moment. “I’ve seen that they have the potential to do so much good. They could accomplish greatness. And yet…”

Diana trailed off as she looked away from the screen.

Danny put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. “Some people believe that humans are naturally selfish. Others believe that humans are naturally good. I believe that it is somewhere in the middle."

"Humans can be incredibly empathetic and charitable. They can also be incredibly self-centered and malicious. How any single person turns out is dependent on their environment."

"Good can be fostered and so can evil. It’s why I keep trying to put as much good in the world as I can. So that people can learn from the mistakes of their predecessors and be better people.”

Diana quietly stared at the floor as she took this in.

She turned off the tv, quietness settling in the room.

Chapter Text

Danny yawned as he took in the room.

In his last life, Danny went to a few galas and this one is just as boring as he remembered.

He pulled and adjusted his suit that the Manson parents bought him after Sam asked if Danny could come to this gala.

It was included in the bargaining Sam had with her parents.

It ended with Sam wearing a brighter-colored dress than she would have preferred and being forced to go around to business partners of her parents and be nice. However, she was able to choose the dress design and was able to bring Danny to the gala.

He wouldn’t have wanted to come to the gala if it wasn’t hosted in Gotham.

This is around the time that the League of Assassins started to mess around in Gotham.

Danny was actually just beginning to work on destroying the Lazarus Pits in his previous life. The corrupted ectoplasm of the pits was affecting the ambient ectoplasm across the world so Danny was tasked to get rid of them.

Danny watched the people around him, especially watching Bruce Wayne interacting with his date Miranda Tate.

Although he knew that Wayne was Batman and could handle himself, he was fairly sure Miranda Tate was a part of the League.

Jason was by the food table attempting to blend in so he didn’t have to interact with the other people around him.

Danny maneuvered through the crowd to reach Jason. When he got close he heard some people whispering gossip to each other about Jason. With choice phrases such as ‘ladder-climbing street rat’ and ‘charity project’.

Danny gave the old snobs a glare channeling fright knight.

The old couple shuffled away flustering about ‘the improper youths of today’.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know? I’m used to it already.” Jason said looking at his plate so he didn’t have to face Danny.

“You shouldn’t have to be,” Danny said, leaning against the table. “You’re only ten.”

“I’m eleven now!” Jason protested.

“Doesn’t matter short stuff.” Danny ruffled Jason’s hair despite knowing it will probably get him scolded later. Jason was really short though. His growth was stunted due to malnutrition in his early life.

If he remembered correctly when Jason became Robin in his last life at thirteen he was barely five foot tall.
And when he died at fourteen, he only grew to 5’4.

He shook off the unpleasant information about Jason’s last life and turned to the present Jason. “So what can you tell me about your dad’s date?”

Jason flushed and flustered. “He’s not my dad!”

“Sure he isn’t. So Miranda Tate?” Danny brushed past that.

Jason pouted. “Fine. She’s weird. She seems unusually obsessed with Bruce. Like more than even the usual blonde bimbos.”

“I feel like I should scold you for your language but I don’t care enough to get stabbed today. Speaking of scary children where’s Dani?”

“She’s at home with Alfred. She didn’t want to be around all these old rich people.” 

Danny laughed. “I don’t blame her. I don’t want to either.”

Danny looked over and saw Bruce watching them suspiciously.
While Jason knows Danny’s true identity, Bruce still doesn’t, believing him to be a thousand-year-old ghost.

He smiled and waved at the man and walked back toward where Sam was and was about to inform her about his suspicions when the windows exploded inward in a explosion of fire.

A woman surrounded by fire stepped in and zeroed in on Miranda. “You! This is your fault. You and your awful families fault!”

He actually recognized her.
She was Lazara, a short lived villain that was the result of being bathed in Lazarus Pit.

Lazara launched herself at Miranda. Bruce pulled her aside making Lazara miss.

Danny hid in the nearest spot and transformed.

Flying out Danny intercepted another attack from Lazara. She turned her eyes toward him.

This close Danny could feel ectoplasm in her. She is something more than liminal but no where near a ghost.

He recognized the familiar corrupted ectoplasm of the Lazarus Pits residing inside her.

“Nora!” Mr. Freeze barged inside the room as well. “Nora, please. Come back to me.”
Lazara turned toward Mr. Freeze. “Victor. This is your fault as well.”

“Please Nora, all I wanted was to cure you. I don’t know what is happening but we can get through this.” Mr. Freeze pleaded.

“Screw you!” Nora shouted as she set the room in flames.

Most of the crowd fled as Lazara burst in but there were a few stragglers that were now trapped by flames.

Danny duplicated himself. It went to go save the civilians while the original drifted closer to the fiery villianess.

“Look I can cure you from this.” Danny offered truthfully. While he couldn’t get rid of the liminality, he could purge the corruption.

She didn’t reply, only raged on fire before getting sprayed by foam.

They all turned to see Batman holding a fire extinguisher.

From there the situation devolved into a bit of a brawl. Lazara attacked each of them indistinguishably. Mr. Freeze seemed to be torn between trying to control Lazara and defending her from Batman and Danny. Danny and Batman were just trying to contain the situation from getting further out of control.

Danny just managed to freeze Lazara’s feet to the floor when Batman and Mr. Freeze were preoccupied with eachother.

He plunged his hand into Lazara’s chest, causing the other two to metaphorically freeze.

While Batman held Mr. Freeze back, Danny used his ectoplasm to cleanse Lazara’s system, gathering the corruption into his hand which he pulled out.

The fire that consumed the woman petered out as she calmed down. “...What?”

She seemed dazed as she looked around the room, before her eyes landed on her husband. “Victor?”

“Nora?” Mr. Freeze questioned in wonderment. “How?”

“I cured her.” Danny stated. “From both the corrupted ectoplasm and her disease.”

“You mean…she’s not dying.” Mr. Freeze looked at his wife in disbelief.

Batman let the villain through.

He approached slowly before passionately embracing his wife.

He slowly turned to Danny, reluctant to take his eyes off his healthy wife.

“Thank you.” He said.
“It was just the right thing to do. With your mind you can do a lot of good for others as well. Just do the right thing for everyone around you.”