Bruised

Chapter Six

All the Knights Gather

The noir hero is a knight in blood caked armor. He's dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he's a hero the whole time.

~Frank Miller

Nightwing and Robin were both still upstairs as Danny had an existential crisis. Tucker patted Danny on the back while Sam typed coordinates into the speeder. They needed to get to Frostbite.

They needed more information about what was going on.

"Danny, do they know you're Phantom?" Tucker asked. Danny shook his head.

"They suspect, but I haven't confirmed. I told Batman about the Anti-Ecto Acts, so he understands why I won't. He's meeting with the League now to try to come up with a plan to convince the government to back off," Danny said as he leaned back in the chair.

"Child, perhaps I could be of assistance in that. For I, Technus, am master of all Technology!" Technus started only for Danny to glare at the computer.

"No…wait…actually, are you able to get into the ops center?" Danny asked as a plan formed. "I need eyes on the outside of the house to see if anymore GIW agents have appeared."

The monitors near Danny when static for a moment before they showed the outside of the house.

"It appears as though there is only two agents patrolling nearby. Not sure if they know we're here or not," Technus informed as he switched what camera was showing.

"Keep watch?" Danny asked looking at them. "Agent O and K are about the dumbest ones. As long as no one turns lights on, we should be fine."

"I can keep lights off and watch. Should I assume that you will be based from here?" Technus asked. Danny looked around before grabbing Tucker's phone and calling his parents.

There was no answer.

"My parents are MIA," Danny said as he tapped on his chin with the phone. "So yeah, Fentonworks is base for us. I need to get a message to Gotham for Ember."

"Why?" Sam asked looking at Danny like he grew an extra head.

"Because she wanted to come with me for a reason, and I think I'm starting to understand it now," Danny said as he tried to think of a plan in case the JL fell though.

He would have to take up the crown.

He'd have to lead the ghosts if it came to war, and the more he realized what was put in his head, the more he realized that humans might be looking for one.

That the entire goal was to go to war with ghosts from the very beginning.

To conquer the Ghost Zone and harness the power from it.

Danny had a bad feeling that the League would fight on the side with the humans instead of being the ones to ensure peace.

Especially since he couldn't play the part of peacemaker here. He had a job to protect those under his reign.

That included those who lived in Amity Park.

Superman watched as Batman paced. Wonderwoman was looking though the files on what the Anti-Ecto Acts were specifically.

"Alright, so perhaps the Government does need to rescind these," she said as she looked over the dissection clause. "They really think like this?"

"Yes, which is the problem. My first time meeting ghosts and they…well, they basically dismantled the League of Assassins," Batman said as he stopped and looked at the rest of his team.

"Whoa," Flash whispered. He'd already gone over the laws quickly enough, but even he knew most of them were based off bias.

Which is what led them to this point of near war.

"How many people have died in Amity Park from ghost attacks?" Superman asked readily himself to know how much they failed. Batman turned to J'onn who was operating the computer with GL.

"Huh, it…it seems like there's more reports of serious injuries, but…" GL started blinking.

"No one," J'onn said as he looked at Batman. "No one has been reported as to have died from a ghost attack. There have been some reports of Ghost Hunters attacking civilians and there's been two deaths from that so far. And the ghost hunters were identified as having white suits, but they were never charged."

"Which means Phantom has been doing our jobs for us since it became a problem," Batman growled as he slammed his hand on the table. "He's still a teenager with the weight of the world on him and no backup. We should have looked for him before it got this far."

"We didn't know," Superman said hoping to calm his friend.

"Yes we did, we just ignored it. We failed him," Batman informed angrily.

"Then what should our course of action be?" Diana asked as she stood up. "Clearly the humans are the ones wrong here. We can tell them to repeal these monstrous acts."

"We can get a hold of the Ghost King and talk to him about forgiving this transgression and open up a way to get them to live peacefully," Superman suggested.

"We don't know who or where this Ghost King is," Batman informed. "Nightwing, Red Robin, and Robin are working on it with Danny."

"Then let's hope that the King is forgiving." Diana sighed looking out the window. Hawkgirl had her head on the table wondering what exactly she could do.

Danny flinched and closed his eyes as the three Robin's came down.

He wasn't quite sure if he wanted to bring any of them or not.

Suddenly he felt a weigh around his neck, and everything was oddly quiet. He opened his eyes to see everyone at a stand still. He turned around and came face to face with Clockwork.

"Hello," Danny said awkwardly. "Uh, is something wrong?"

"I thought you could some time to yourself," Clockwork smiled as he shifted forms to that of a child. "After all, I think you know what will happen when you enter that portal."

"So when those ghosts called me prince, and the information…" Danny trailed off before staring at the three heroes who were mid-step.

"Yes, you've made quite the powerful ally with them. They are the keepers of balance," Clockwork informed watching as Danny pieced it together.

Or more like realized that information was already in his head.

"The balance between the Ghost Zone and this world is in the Lazarus Pit," Danny whispered as he stared at Clockwork.

"Those ghosts were barred when they tried to prevent Pariah from coming here to rule as well. They still had access to the information coming from the Zone, but no freedom, until you freed them."

"If I go in there, they'll…" Danny trailed off unable to finish his thought. Clockwork smiled kindly as his form once more shifted into an old man.

"Yes, they have overtaken the Observants, and have declared you next in line," Clockwork said.

"Is there any getting out of war?" Danny asked looking up at Clockwork. The ghost of time smiled.

"Only if you go now," Clockwork said. "That's why I stopped time, to give you a chance to breath."

Danny smiled at his friend before nodding. Clockwork took his medallion back.

"Time In."

Danny looked at the three heroes who were now staring at him. Of course they noticed him glitch from the time stop.

"So you are this Phantom character," Robin said crossing his arms. Sam and Tucker just stared at Danny letting him take the lead.

"I'm neither confirming nor denying the accusation," Danny said and watched as Robin's face lit red. "For my own safety, I cannot."

Robin grabbed his sword and walked up to Danny pointing it at him.

"We all know who you are," Robin growled. Danny pushed the blade away.

"Yes, but my existence is currently against the law, so please chill the fuck out," Danny explained as realization appeared over Robin's face.

"Oh," Robin whispered backing away.

"B is always telling you to think before you act," Nightwing reminded making Robin glare at him. "Now, do you know who this Ghost King is? Superman wants to talk to him."

Danny looked at his friends before a smile appeared.

Clockwork said the only way to avoid a full-blown war was to go to the Ghost Zone.

"Let's go and see. We'll find Frostbite first," Danny decided. It was their original plan, and if Clockwork wasn't telling him not to do something, then he was on the right track.

Superman smiled at the president who looked deeply confused. The JL decided that just Superman and GL go with Batman to speak to the president about the Anti-Ecto Acts.

"Well, this is surprising, Superman. To what do I owe the honor," President Horne asked watching GL come and stand beside the desk as well.

"Do you know of the Anti-Ecto Acts?" GL asked looking around. He noted a man dressed in all white look at him strangely over the question.

"Yeah, it's there to protect people from ghosts. I know…many people don't believe in them, but we have evidence of ectoplasmic beings being here on earth. We needed a division to handle them should they become a problem," the president explained.

"It's being handled, and the Justice League isn't needed," the man dressed in white said. "I'm Agent Z of the GIW."

"Well, we came across some ghosts recently," Superman said sticking to what Batman told him.

"We have weaponry to help you," Agent Z said as he walked closer. Superman shook his head.

"The ghost said that those laws were considered a declaration of war," Superman warned making the president pale.

"I'm sorry, but how is our legislation on ensuring the safety of our citizens a declaration of war?" Agent Z asked. GL glared at him, but before he could say anything, Batman walked out from a shadow that in no way made sense for him to be hiding in.

"Because those laws tell your agents that its okay to harm them. Even when they aren't harming others," Batman said as he glared at the agent. The agent flinched slightly at the appearance of Batman. "We want to avoid an interdimensional war, so repeal these laws and we may be able to avoid it coming to that."

"You can't, Mr. President," Agent Z cried. "You will destroy everything we've worked so hard for. We'd be vulnerable to attacks!"

"Look, I know the basics of those laws. Perhaps the Ghost who claimed that these are declarations of war could come and speak to us about it. We can revise it?" The president suggested.

"Listen, we have a team looking for the Ghost King," Batman said. "At this point buying time…"

"Look, you guys deal with aliens, we can deal with some ghosts," Agent Z said cutting off Batman. Batman turned to him before walking up to him to look down on him. Z swallowed but refused to back down.

"Is that how you justify yourself of hunting a teenager and planning to launch a missile into the Ghost Zone?" Batman asked. "That's an entire world of beings that you know nothing about. As it is, the Justice League is buying you time to straighten out. Cause if shit goes sideways, we may not be able to save you." Z blinked before turning to the president.

"Sir, we know far more ghosts than we did four years ago. You can't just let…" Z was cut off by the president raising his hand.

"For temporary peace, we shall put a hold on the acts until such a time I can talk with this King of theirs," the president decided looking at Superman who'd been watching the interaction cautiously.

"It'll be noted," Superman said.

"I'm putting a week to talk to him before I allow the continuation of the Anti-Ecto Acts," The president said needing this to be solved quickly. He didn't want to put anymore delay on their project.

The GIW were finally working towards separating the Ghost Zone and this world.

To be free from those things and maybe even have a way to fight death itself.

A way to immortality.

Alfred could feel his blood pressure rise as Ember and the Box Ghost started arguing. He gotten a hold of Batman only for him to tell him that Danny was looking for the Ghost King in the Ghost Zone.

Which is what started the fight between the two ghosts in Wayne Manor.

Alfred informed Bruce of the ghosts that followed Danny to their home.

Alfred was fairly certain Bruce was going to die of a heart attack sooner or later.

The Bat sent Red Hood to him just in case.

Jason's eta was about half an hour.

Alfred was fairly certain he'd find a way to beat the two ghosts before that happened.

If only he could understand what they were saying.

Ember stopped talking and just glared at the Box Ghost for a moment…

"I think I hate it more that you're probably right," she said in English making Alfred look at them. The Box Ghost grinned.

"Of course I'm right. That's why we must protect the Ghostboy! Humans should be afraid for his compassion will change the world!" The Box Ghost basically bellowed out loud. Alfred sighed.

It was going to be one of those nights.

I survived covid and am feeling better now.

Thanks for all the reviews, they were very much welcome!