Black Canary took Garfield and Danny for training after their home schooling. Danielle had been kept back as since she'd never been to school, she was behind in her studies. She knew how to read, but she knew very little else and her reading capability wasn't to a high level. Garfield went first and changed into a tiger and then a snake. They were the next animals that Garfield was trying to master changing into and he was getting faster. It took him less and less time to master a form every time, soon he'd be able to change into any animal without too much thought. Next came the harder part, understanding what each new animal form was capable of and so how they fought. The eventual goal was for Garfield to join the team.

Then it was Danny's turn. Now that Black Canary understood Danny's fears and insecurities better, she knew the best thing to get Danny to try. First, he needed to conquer his fear of turning into Phantom. Then he could train all his powers, both the ones he'd lost confidence in and the ones he was still comfortable with. Being able to change into Phantom would also give Danny a massive boost in confidence.

After the third time Danny tried to change but stopped due to the memories, Black Canary decided to work on Danny's ghost ray. She didn't want to force him too much in case he lapsed into a panic attack. His ghost ray had shown the most improvement. His aim was almost perfect. It was more his confidence in it and its intensity that was the issue. But Black Canary could see that he was improving every day.

As they were training Danny's ghost ray, the team arrived. Garfield went over to them.

"Hey guys," he greeted them, keeping is voice low so as not to distract Danny.

"Hey. So, how's Danny?" Zatanna whispered. Garfield glanced at the halfa.

"Better. He's a lot more confident. Apparently he talked to Black Canary yesterday and got a good night's sleep. He's been in a good mood all day," Garfield answered. The team gave a collective sigh of relief. Not all of them had heard about Danny's behaviour that morning but they had all been concerned about the halfa after the previous day.

"Danny, you're doing fine. But you have to concentrate," Black Canary called to the halfa.

"I am Black Canary. That's not the issue. Target practice only does so much. I think I need to get some action," Danny retorted. The team were surprised. Black Canary frowned in confusion.

"Meaning?"

"I think I should get back into ghost fighting."

"But Danny-"

"I know. I do. But I've always learnt by doing. And when I'm pushed, I can do what I have to. Besides, I probably should show my face in the ghost community. I have a rep to protect," Danny interrupted. Black Canary sighed. He'd always been right about what he needed but she was worried that he was trying to push himself too much.

"How do you suggest doing that?" Black Canary inquired.

Danny bit his lip in thought.

"If you're looking for ghosts, best place is Amity Park. But I'm not sure about going back so soon," Danny admitted. Black Canary was filled with relief. Danny wasn't trying to push himself too far after all.

"Hey, what about a friendly spar with me then?" Danielle called as she walked into the room. Danny turned to her. He nodded slowly as he considered the idea.

"Could work. You done that before?"

Danielle shrugged in reply.

"How do you think I learnt to use my powers?"

Danny smirked at his clone's retort.

"Never really thought about it. But if you're up for it. Human form only?"

Danny nodded in agreement to the suggestion.

"Alright. Never done that before. How do we know who wins?"

"How about a timed spar? First to tap out wins until the clock runs out," Black Canary interjected, feeling that the halfas needed to be reminded that there were others present.

The halfas nodded and slipped into ready stances. The team, having not been noticed, backed into a discrete corner to watch. Danielle fired the first shot. Danny dodged the ghost ray and then fired his own.

"Sorry if I'm a little strong by the way Dani," Danny warned. Danielle grunted in recognition as she fired another ghost ray.

"Wow, never knew how powered down I am when I'm human. Never tried to fight while grounded," Danielle commented. Danny smirked. He'd had a couple of ghost fights while human so he was at an advantage there. But then again, Danielle was confident in her powers so she had the advantage there, levelling the playing ground. Danielle ducked under a charged punch and swept Danny's legs out from under him. He fell to the ground but rolled away before Danielle could take advantage of it.

Danielle charged at Danny with glowing fists and landed the first hit while he was getting to his feet. Danny was thrown back off his feet and hit the wall. Everyone started forward to help but stopped when they heard Danny.

"Ugh. Why does that feel familiar?" Danny groaned.

"Because I've used that move against you before. Give up?" Danielle retorted, a playful smirk tugging at her mouth. Danny shook his head with a similar smirk. Danielle shrugged and fired another ghost ray which was blocked by a ghost shield. The team were gobsmacked. They hadn't known Danny could do that.

"This is way too familiar," Danny mumbled as he rolled to his feet. Danielle ran forward and fired a constant beam of ghost energy. Danny charged his own hands and copied her. The beams clashed and Danielle was overpowered. She pulled away before she could get hit though.

Danny ran up to her and they began to fight hand to hand. At first glance, it was clear that Danny was better especially since his lessons with Black Canary. But Danielle used her intangibility to her advantage which meant that very few of Danny's hits made contact. Black Canary watched the struggle with interest. Danny did seem to be in better control. His ghost rays were more contained and he was pushing himself just as hard as he did in his "no powers allowed" spars. It also gave Black Canary a chance to see Danielle's own skill. She had a more graceful but aggressive style to Danny but there were similarities.

Then Black Canary's eyes widened as she saw something. Danny flickered intangible for an instant to avoid a punch from Danielle that would have hit any other person. It may have been instinct. It may have been intentional. But either way, it was progress. There was no other way to say it. As the fight progressed, Danielle got used to her limitations and Danny grew even more confident and even turned intangible a handful of times to avoid a hit. Reluctantly, Black Canary called time.

Danielle was mid-punch but she relaxed and sighed breathlessly.

"Haven't had a fight like that since I was last in Amity Park." Danny snorted.

"Yeah, that was a lot more one sided though."

Danielle nodded. "He deserved it."

"Never said he didn't," Danny interjected as he absentmindedly rubbed one of the few places Danielle had gotten a hit in. Danielle frowned.

"Sorry about that. Not used to holding back, you know. Are you okay?" Danielle apologised. Danny shook his head.

"I'm fine Dani. Thanks for doing this. It really helped," Danny replied. Black Canary nodded in agreement.

"Danny, are you aware that you turned intangible during that fight?" Black Canary asked. She had to know if it was instinct or not. Danny nodded.

"Yeah, I know I did. First couple of times were instinctive. But after that, I relaxed into the fight. Not sure if I'm over it, but it's easier," Danny admitted. Black Canary smiled.

"Are you up for trying?" she inquired. Danny sighed.

"Alright," he relented after a moment of thought. He knew that he should try now that he'd conquered his fear this much. He took a second to gather his thoughts and then took the plunge and turned himself intangible.

For a split second, he recalled how he crushed his foot but then he realised that he wasn't afraid of that happening now. That had only happened because he was hit by that gun from the Guys in White. It was no different to what happened when he got hit by the Fenton Crammer or that stupid machine he got hit with alongside Amorpho. Or the Ghost Catcher. Or Fenton Weasel. Ghost weapons were always screwing him over. If he let every little bad experience with tech like that get to him, he'd never be able to go into his own house.

Turning himself back to tangible, he smiled and nodded to Black Canary. He was over it. Maybe it was the talk yesterday, maybe it was his unusual good mood, or maybe it was the spar with Danielle. Whatever did it, it felt great to not be afraid of his power anymore. Not that he still wasn't nervous of turning into Phantom, and would need a reassuring flight before he was comfortable flying again, but it felt gratifying to get over this fear at least. Black Canary's reassuring smile shifted into a congratulatory grin which was accompanied by the teams encouraging cheers and comments as they joined the halfas before having their own training session with Black Canary.

Yeah Danny's progressing quite a bit after having that conversation and having Danielle join him at the cave.

But he still has his issues too.

But what about Lex Luthor being at the Guys in White building during Danielle's rescue?

Until the next chapter.