Chapter Forty-Two: A Ghost's Rage

Phantom could only stare as his brother cried into Aqualad's chest as the Atlantean held his without hurting his back. The sight of his blackened wings was a sight that broke his ghostly heart.

His brother had always loved being able to fly more than anything else about being a siren. More than his fighting abilities, more than his advanced singing talents, even more than using his power to read hearts to detect who was trustworthy and who is not. He had always described how he flew as one of the most freeing feelings in the world. That there was nothing better than being among the clouds.

To have that taken from him must be like someone taking a piece of his soul.

According to Lena, there has never been a case of a siren losing their wings, so it was unexplored territory. They had no idea if his wings would heal on their own, or they needed a stronger healer, or if there really was no way to heal them. Demonic fire was one of the most dangerous elements in magic.

Like how there is that area of the periodic table that only has radioactive/dangerous elements in it. There is a similar area in a magic elements periodic table. And demonic fire is the most destructive and dangerous of them all. Even worse than dark fairy dust and demon blood. There was no telling if there was anything they could do with his wings being damaged by such a destructive element.

Phantom's knuckles went white from how hard he was clenching his fists. His eyes went an angry neon green.

Never in his life had he been this angry before. Not even the moments after he was free from Ember's love spell or when Undergrowth had turned the town into his own demonic greenhouse.

"Danny," Dick reached over to try and comfort him.

"He is going down," Danny growled. "There will be nothing left of Shendu once I am done with him."

Nightwing, Lena, and Melinda all looked at Phantom with serious stares. Nightwing had seen his anger when he had that flashback while fighting Superman. But now, Phantom was in full control of that anger and it was most definitely not a good thing for the dragon demon. He was both terrified and amazed by his friend.

"We'll come with you," he said.

"No," Danny stated, shocking them. "Magic must defeat magic. You and Aqualad need to stay here in case agents find their way here. White is in no shape to fight."

"We will then come with you," Lena says.

Phantom nodded. "Me, you, and Melinda will make our way back to the fight. We will also need Krinos, Solace, Nyx, Alya, Alain, Caitlin, and Orion if we are to take on Shendu."

"The strongest out of all of us should be able to defeat him," Melinda said.

"No," Danny said. "We are not just going to defeat him, we are going to vanquish him once and for all. Not even his spirit will remain this time."

Melinda and Lena both matched the determined look in his eyes. Lena's eyes glowed green while Melinda took out her strongest spellbook.

Phantom phased into his own armary, right next to his brother's. He opened a secret panel and punched in a code into the hidden keypad. As the wall opened to reveal his hidden weapon, he could not help but have a flashback. It was right before the team left the isles and they met up with Clockwork at Mount Justice. His brother was giving one last performance before he left the Isle of Sirens again.

*****Flashback*****

Mystics started flocking to the Isle of Magical Music. The music of the sirens was legendary, even among every legendary and mythical figure on the isles. And the Isle of Magical Music was more than just for the sirens or even the mermaids. Anyone on the isles that loved music usually used the isle for how truly 'magical' it gets when music is playing.

The team was slightly confused as they saw mystics of all kinds racing to the sound-centered isle. They loved music as much as the next hero, but they thought that this was a bit much.

"Is music really this popular, here," Kaldur wondered.

Krinos, Melinda, and Orion, who had stayed behind to guide the heroes to the musical isle, both smirked.

"It's more about the one performing than the music itself," Krinos snickered. "Been four years since they've heard his voice rock the isles."

"I know I missed his concerts and other performances," Orion smiled. "Just makes you want to dance. Remember when he sang Footloose?"

"Gods, I loved that," Krinos reminisced. "I'm pretty sure the isles didn't stop dancing for a whole day."

"Well, there is a reason why that song has an entire movie based around a law that makes dance no illegal," Orion shrugged.

"I may not be able to dance, but not even I could not pass up the chance when that song raged across the isles," Krinos laughed.

"Is that part of the isle's power," Jaime asked. "Spread music across the Mystic Isles?"

"Only when the artist wants it to," Krinos explained. "Most of the time, the isle is used for the more musically gifted to practice and show their craft. Much like the Isle of Enchanted Art."

"Too true," Melinda agreed. "I once saw a harpy wood carver that could turn an old tree trunk into a ten foot tall totem pole in ten seconds."

"Are many mystics also musicians," Miss. Martian asked. "Because I have to admit, I did not expect others to fall far from their tales."

"I have to agree with M'gann," Garth said. "As long as I've lived in Earth, the only magical creatures known for any musical talent are sirens and mermaids."

"That's human bias at work," Krinos crossed his arms. "You really think those that have discriminated against others, only based on skin color, the gender of the person they chose to love, place of birth, or even which gender they identify themselves as, would care. They think of us as creatures, monsters, not anything like them. For crying out loud, they still think sirens use their voices to lure sailors to them so that they could eat them. It's disgusting."

"And also very gross," Orion added. "And I've even met a siren that was a vegetarian. Though, to be fair, she is the siren of animals so it's only natural that she wouldn't want to eat meat."

They lead the team to the musical island.

The Isle of Magical Music is often called one of the most beautiful of the isles, second and third only to the Isle of Nature and Isle of Crystals. The isle looked like three floating islands, two smaller ones, floating on clouds and all connected to each other. Each island looked purple from a distance. There seemed to be an aura of music around it, with floating music notes. The grass was a dark purple, as were the trees. Plants looked like nature's own instruments and flowers had petals that looked like music notes. Floating around the air were little snow globe-like spheres with musical scenes in them.

At one end of the isle was a stage, like the Hollywood Bowl. At first, the Bowl was very close to its natural state, with only makeshift wooden benches for the audience, and eventually a simple awning over the stage. But the mystics decided to upgrade the Bowl, providing permanent seating and a shell. Not to mention lights for the performers.

Right now, Siren was on the stage. Now it made sense to the league members. Phantom and Siren we're gone from their people for four years, so it was only natural for them to want to see Siren preform. And after the performance he gave to stop Music Meister, they understood.

Siren welcomed his brother onto the stage. The mystics roared with cheer, especially the sirens over their lost prince.

"That's right, Mystic Isles," White calls. "After so long of us being gone, we have returned."

The mystics all burst into cheers again. This time louder than before.

"We know the isles have been through a lot," White says. "Not just the past few weeks, or even the past few years. For all the times, across the millennium's, that magic and all of us have been endangered. From the witches and wizards of 1600 Salem and the ancients of Atlantis, to all those present right now. We are safe. Finally safe."

"This isn't the end for our work on Earth," Danny took over. "We will always have our duties and our responsibilities, but this shows that nothing can stop us from doing our job, what is right. We've all seen the heartlessness and cruelty that humans possess. But just like us, not all are the same."

"The Guys In White will be finished," White announced. "The Weapons of the Ancients will finally be safe and secure. Our sacred grounds have all been re-warded and are more well defended. But we can think about that later."

The half-smirk half-smile on his face got the mystics all excited. It did make the team slightly nervous, only because a look like that usually meant a super powered prank or that someone was about to get punched in the face.

"I don't need my power to read hearts to know what you all missed most," White says.

"Oh, this is just too good," Lena cheered, really excited.

"He's so gonna need some backup," Caitlin said. "Alain, Krinos, let's go."

Lena pulled Krinos while Caitlin took Alain.

Siren pointed to the back of the theater. "Hit it."

Anyone that knows Siren would all say that he loves country music just as much as pop or r&b. So when the country version of a popular movie tune started playing, the mystics all knew they were in for a good time. Multiple instruments of light formed on the stage. Phantom got a electric guitar in his hands. And he gladly started playing.

"I saw the sun begin to dim
And felt that winter wind blow cold.
A man learns who is there for him
When the glitter fades and the walls won't hold."

Siren was in his element, and he totally loved it. The mystics were all mesmerized by his voice, and he wasn't even using his siren song.

"Cause from then, rubble
What remains can only be what's true
If all was lost, it's more I've gained
'Cause it led me back to you."

Phantom started his quitter solo. That shocked the team. They knew Siren could sing, lord help them if they thought differently, but Phantom being a musician was new. And when he played, jaws dropped.

"And from now on, these eyes will not be blinded by the lights
From now on, what's waited 'til tomorrow starts tonight, tonight
And let this promise in me start like an anthem in my heart
From now on, from now on"

The music got more upbeat from there. Lena, Krinos, Caitlin, and Alain all set up four microphones diagonally from where Siren was. They were his backup singers. Lena and Krinos were no-brainers in this type of situation, but Caitlin and Alain were a bit of a surprise. But most were-creatures are in tune with the natural music of the wild, giving them pretty good voices.

"I drank champagne with kings and queens
The politicians praised my name
But those are someone else's dreams
The pitfalls of the man I became
For years and years, I chased their cheers
At the crazy speed of always needing more
But when I stop and see you here
I remember who all this was for."

Now, the four other mystics joined their friend in the song.

"And from now on,
these eyes will not be blinded by the lights
And from now on,
what's waited 'til tomorrow starts tonight
It starts tonight
And let this promise in me start like an anthem in my heart
From now on, from now on,
from now on."

The mystic audience all started to dance. It was like the ultimate hoedown meets a nightclub meets Footloose. There were mystics doing the foxtrot, jazz, samba, jive, cha-cha-cha, and freestyle. There were a lot of flipping around, spinning, and even dancing in midair.

"And we will come back home
And we will come back home, home again
And we will come back home
And we will come back home, home again
And we will come back home
And we will come back home, home again."

"From now on, these eyes will not be blinded by the lights
And from now on, what's waited 'til tomorrow starts tonight
It starts tonight
And let this promise in me start like an anthem in my heart
From now on, from now on, from now on."

"And we will come back home
And we will come back home, home again
And we will come back home
And we will come back home, home again
From now on, from now on, home again."

Everyone erupted into cheers. The six performers all took a bow.

"Oh, how I do love to carry a tune," White chuckled.

They rejoined the team, Nightwing hugging his honorary little brothers. And if it wasn't proven before, it sure is now. Nothing is ever half way with the Young Justice team.

*****EndFlashback*****

The battles rage on through the streets of Amity Park. Bodies of agents were dropping like flies and their demon zombies were only falling a little slower than them.

Seeing the prince of sirens hurt the way he was seemed to have ignited a spark in them that only made them fight harder and more ruthless. Same with the team. Superboy had pretty much turned on agent into a bowling ball when he threw him into more agents that had almost been lined up like bowling pins.

"It is just me or is this getting easier," he said.

Alain slide next to him on one of his ice slides.

"There is a reason why mystics do not take part is wars with anyone but other mystics," he said. "Because it is way too easy for the mystical side to win."

There was a giant roar of fire shot into the air. Shendu was back in the action.

"Unless a demon sorcerer is involved," the werewolf grumbled.

The demon sorcerer stood on top of two buildings, looking at the destruction around him. Many mystics prepared to defend against another of his fire breaths.

But Melinda suddenly materialized in front of the demon dragon.

"Tempestus Impaetus," she cast.

A bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking Shendu right in the chest. The dragon roared in pain as the bolt forced him to take a few steps back. Before he could do anything else, giant vines wrapped around his chest, forming an X. Red poppy flowers bloomed all over the vines. Lena then floated down. And boy did she look mad.

"You give the Isle of Dragons a bad name," she shouted. "Have a taste of my poppy bombs."

With those last two words, she made the poppy flowers explode all over his chest. He roared again, being thrown back onto his back.

"Alain, Caitlin, Krinos, Orion, Solace, Nyx, Alya," Melinda called. "Front and center for demon butt-kicking time."

The seven other mystics joined their two friends. This was nine of the most powerful mystics in the army of magic. Phantom and Siren were definitely the strongest of them all, but that did not mean that the rest of them were slackers. Krinos is the literal lord of nature. Solace and Nyx are basically siren versions of Apollo and Artemis, the Greek god and goddess of the sun and moon. Alain and Caitlin were were-creatures blessed by those same gods. Orion and Alya have also been alive for thousands of years each, so they were definitely powerful if they managed to stay alive for so long.

"Taste my fury, demon," Krinos yelled.

He raised his hands and a tree suddenly grew from the ground as Shendu tried to get back up. The tree punched him like an upper cut punch.

"A tree upper cutting a dragon," Alain says. "Now I have officially seen it all."

"You're welcome," Krinos smirked.

Shendu raised his head, unleashing another of his hell fire. Melinda's eyes glowed bright blue.

"Saphirius Expectorium Perpetua," she cast.

A powerful tornado came out of her hands. It took on the fire head on. Melinda slid back on the toes of her boots as she did her best to keep the breath at bay. The fire broke apart as the made contact with the tornado before both attacks stopped.

The mystics all separated as they attacked the dragon from all sides. It now looked like King Kong Two: Electric Boogaloo. (AN: That is a reference to Youtuber Safiya Nygaard, who I watch every day because of how funny she is.)

"You little PESTS," Shendu roared.

He swatted at all the mystics flying or jumping around them. Alain seemed to annoy him the most as the werewolf constantly blasted him with ice. Ice was the opposite of his fire element. So Alain was probably who he hated the most right now.

"I can tell you guys enough how much I am enjoying this," Alain laughs as he slides around on his ice slide.

With another roar of fire, Sendu caused the mystics to scatter. He even melted part of Alain's slide, causing the werewolf to crash onto another roof.

"You little pests have no idea who you're messing with," Shendu's creepy voice boomed all around them.

"I think we know exactly what we are doing, lizard breath," Danny's voice was heard.

The mystics all looked up and were shocked by what they saw. Phantom had come with his best and most dangerous weapon. The Phantom ecto-skeleton.

The Ecto-Skeleton is a large battle-suit, with only a seat inside for the driver. It only fits one person maximum. The top of the Skeleton is a clear dome, which acts as the windshield. There is a logo, a green flame inside it forming a "F", on its chest. But that was before Phantom rebuilt it after he and Jazz has destroyed it so that Vlad would not get his hands on it.

It looked the same, only with black across its chest, upper robotic arms/legs, and the "F" had been changed to Phantom's signature DP insignia.

The mystics all shared concerned looks. While Phantom had been able to rebuild it, now even he was able to find a way to keep it from draining the energy from the person using it. Using it could kill him if he used too much of his power.

"Oh no," Jazz swore and she looked up and saw her brother.

"Time to make you pay for what you did to my brother, Shendu," Danny glared at the demon sorcerer.

He shot a giant ghost ray right into the dragon's chest, knocking back the demon. Phantom did not stop there. He followed with two more blasts and then did a leg sweep that also sent a slice of ecto-energy at their opponent.

Each hit drove the demon further and further back. They came so quick, one after the other, that he had no chance to fight back.

Phantom was already breathing heavily and sweating. Because he was so angry, he was more powerful, but that also meant that he used more of his energy with every move he made with his powers.

He was about to keep going when a shriek boomed throughout the entire battlefield. Multiple agents, ghosts, mystics, and heroes covered their ears with how loud it was.

Shooting his head downward, Phantom saw his brother on another roof. He was being supported by Aqualad with Nightwing on his other side.

"Give me one good reason not to kill you for using that suit," White glared up at his brother.