Bruised

Chapter Nine

Gotham's Crown

The gloves of our blood and state,

Are shadows, not substantial things,

There is no Armour against fate,

Death lays his icy hand on kings.

Scepter and crown must tumble down,

And, in the dust, be equal made

With the pair crooked scythe as spade.

~James Shirley

"So we have no idea where the Crown of Fire is?" Sam asked crossing her arms and staring at Danny who shrugged.

"What's the chance of Vlad having taken off with it?" he asked looking at Frostbite. Frostbite shook his head.

"The Crown would find its own hiding place until it was called upon. Unlike the Ring, the Crown challenges you to find it upon wanting it. The moment you decided to take up the mantle was the moment to Crown left wherever it was to hide," Frostbite explained as he led them deeper into the cave

Nightwing looked at the cave drawings of Phantom and was a little concerned that this was a cult thing.

Red Robin was surprised by the technology these ghosts had. He really wanted to look at it more when he noticed their medical wing.

It looked advanced and full of computers. Red knew with that thought he needed sleep or caffeine.

Phantom, Sam, and Tucker were next to Frostbite as he led them into a room where a map was floating in the middle.

Phantom looked it over and wondered of it was considered cheating using the map.

Or if it could give then the first clue.

"So, the map can take us to it?" Tucker asked remembering the last time they messed with the map.

He did not want to repeat that adventure.

"Or at least to the first clue?" Phantom asked looking up at Frostbite who smiled.

"Precisely, Great One. The Infimap can take you to the general area in which the Crown now resides," Frostbite informed as he picked it up and handed to Phantom. "You may borrow it for this journey. But know, that you have twenty-four hours before the map comes back to us for continued safeguarding."

Phantom smiled glad Frostbite had taken his idea to put a time limit on how long the map could be out.

He could use it as long as it returned.

Phantom held it and looked to the four humans next to him.

Only two knew what was going on.

The two vigilantes were confused as Sam and Tucker grabbed the map. Phantom looked at them.

"I'd hold on to the map if you want come," Phantom warned watching as they looked at each other before holding on to it.

"I'd hold tightly," Tucker said as he showed how his hand had bunch up part of the map.

"You don't want to stay from the intended destination, otherwise you may end up where you don't want to be," Frostbite said looking at the two heroes. He knew they would be of help to the Great One in his journey.

Eventually.

The yeti believed they were a little out of their element though. He smiled and gave them a thumbs up.

"Alright, Infimap, take me to the Crown," Phantom said as a line appeared on the map before suddenly, they were shot across the Ghost Zone.

Everyone screamed.

Phantom was laughing.

Gotham stood on the edge of her city waiting. The green sky slowly moving back and forth.

She could feel two of her protectors on their way here. They were with the Future King. She gently petted the Crown of Ice that was in her hands. The blue fires gently waved around as she studied it.

It was gorgeous.

She knew the moment it came to her what would happen.

And Gotham was honored to Crown the High King of All Ghosts.

She turned and looked over the city she represented. It looked nearly the same as it did in the Other World.

Just with a few alternatives.

Martha Wayne stood near her.

"They're on their way?" the young ghost asked making Gotham smile.

"Yes, they are," Gotham answered.

"Is my son with them?" she asked. Gotham shook her head.

"No, but those who he considers his own are," Gotham said as she handed the Crown to her. "Keep this safe in Wayne Tower for me. I must greet our guests first."

"May I and my husband be witness?" Martha asked making Gotham smile. Bats suddenly flew up and over their heads.

"Of course."

Nightwing looked up as the map slowed down and stared at the floating land mass with wide eyes.

"No fucking way," he muttered as Red turned as well.

"Is that…" Red trailed off as the map settled them on the edge of the massive city.

"Well, that's unexpected," Phantom laughed looking at the city. He could recognize Gotham only because he'd met her at the airport. Sam looked over the city in awe.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered loving the design and feel.

"Welcome to the Ghost Zone's own Gotham City," Phantom said as he rolled up the map and attached it to his belt. White fog appeared in front of them as a ghost started to appear.

"It's good to meet you once more, Young Prince," Gotham greeted. She had white hair and skin with glowing blue eyes and a white dress that dragged along the ground as she floated to them. "I was honored to welcome you." Phantom gave a slight bow.

"I'm glad. It would have been awkward having to explain to Bruce why I couldn't leave the airport when I had just arrived," Phantom joked making Gotham smile softly at them. She turned to the two vigilantes.

"And I welcome you, my Protectors," she said as she gave a bow in greeting. "I'm glad you came with the Prince on this journey." Nightwing and Red Robin just stared not sure what to think about the fact that they're meeting what appears to a ghost for the first time who knows of them.

"Who are you?" Red Robin asked curiously.

"I am Gotham," the ghost answered making both of them stare at Phantom for a moment.

"The city is sentient," he shrugged as he smiled at her. "Didn't expect to be drug here." Gotham only motioned for them to follow.

"Come, I know what you are here for, but first, there is something you must do," Gotham said as she led them deeper into the city. Nightwing and Red knew the streets well and stared at each other as they realized where she was taking them.

Crime Ally.

Batman was headed back to Amity Park. He hated not being able to get a hold of his two sons since they left into the Ghost Zone. He should have ensured there was a way to communicate before sending them in, but they were on a time crunch.

Superman decided to follow him just in case they needed to go on a rescue mission.

"Robin, report," Batman demanded as he opened the link to his son.

"Still haven't gotten a reading, but according to Technus, the speeder made it to the Far Frozen, but they could be anywhere. Especially if they got a hold of some map that can take them anywhere," Robin said as he sent some of the information that he gathered to Batman who watched as Superman flew next to him.

"Is there any way to open a connection to them?" Batman asked.

"The connection can only be opened from their end as the power source isn't high enough to keep the connection," Technus informed, and Batman felt a twitch in his eye from the ghosts. He knew Technus was good with technology, but he really didn't want to let the ghost get access to his system.

He really didn't want to deal with whatever viruses the ghost would leave.

"Is there anyone we can send to find them if necessary?" Batman asked needing to have some backup plan in case something was to happen to them.

"I would be able to find them once in the Zone, but I'm unsure of who exactly I could trust otherwise. Skulker is still upset that Ember left without telling him so he's blaming the Ghostboy," Technus explained. "But Phantom asked me to keep an eye on the GIW."

"Keep me posted then. I'm on my way." Batman closed the connection. He wasn't sure he liked this and knew he was going to have to look into bettering the technology for when Phantom goes into the Ghost Zone without backup waiting on the other end.

"Bruce, are you sure this is a good idea?" Superman asked. He had wanted to have everyone come with, but Batman told them that they weren't needed right away.

"Yes."

Phantom looked over the ally where a man was leaning against the wall.

Both Red and Nightwing just stared at him. Gotham smiled gently at him.

"A single test," she whispered looking back at the half-ghost. "You may all work together."

"What is it?" Phantom asked watching closely.

"Who was responsible for killing me?" the man asked as he walked out of the shadows.

"Thomas Wayne?" Nightwing asked in shock. The man smiled.

"Gotham was always good to us," he said as he walked up to them. "Unfortunately, being well connected to ghosts only gets you so far when the people who live in a city want you dead."

"But…" Nightwing trailed off. Phantom blinked as he realized that this was Bruce's father.

"They never found out who really was responsible for the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne in the Real World. They may know who pulled the trigger, but there was an order for their lives," Gotham explained. "But we do know here who called for it."

"Find the clues and uncover who orchestrated our murder. You'll need the information for the upcoming weeks," Thomas said as he motioned to a shadow that was walking down the alley towards them before Martha appeared next to Thomas and another smaller shadow appeared between them before they walked down the ally.

Two shots rang out leaving the smaller shadow kneeling in a puddle of blood. Phantom narrowed his eyes as his core throbbed before he took off after the shadow. Everyone else running trying to keep up.

"Good Luck, Phantom," Gotham whispered as she sunk into the ground and waited.

Phantom stopped as the shadow slipped into the City Library. He followed closely as the shadow walked towards a bookshelf.

"Danny, wait for us," Sam called as her and Tucker ran up. Nightwing and Red Robin were close behind. Phantom paused and watched as a bookshelf moved and the shadow ran in.

"The door is left open," Phantom said as he showed them the door. "He ran in here."

"B never said anything about not knowing who killed his parents," Nightwing said as they looked in the door. "We always thought it was Joe Chill."

"Well, looks like we're going on a murder mystery," Tucker said as he walked through the door.

Note: The shadow is not Joe Chill. There was a conspiracy here that will be explained. (This was a sudden change of plot I'd done when I was trying to find some names of people who were…. well, in an organization.)

Thanks so much for the feedback!

For that you get another chapter! I'll be writing and binge watching Pennyworth today! It's always helpful to know that favorite characters can't die!