The remaining heroes, and an unconscious Phantom, gathered on top of a building in Metropolis.
"Sorry we're late, had to stop and help some civilians.", Green Lantern apologized.
"What did you call us back for?", Flash asked.
Diana stepped forward.
"Superman's been captured.", Diana explained, pointing towards the smoking plant that was placed in Metropolis, "He's trapped there with Hawkgirl."
"Woah.", Flash breathed, light from the flashes of lightning dancing across the heroes' features.
"And what about Batman?", Green Lantern question, "And where's Phantom?"
Silence befell the group before J'onn answered, "Batman acted heroically 'till the very end."
"The Bat's gone?", Flash said in disbelief.
"He was a true warrior." Diana said solemnly.
"This is not good, definitely not good.", Green Lantern said before turning towards the duo, ""What about the kid?"
J'onn moved to the side to reveal Phantom placed carefully against the edge of the roof on the ground, his suit look singed, and the ghost himself looked a little worse for wear.
"He tried to save Batman, but received a nasty shock that would've killed a normal human being in return.", Diana explained.
"You sure he's not dead? Can ghosts even die twice?", Flash asks.
"He is strong.", J'onn replied.
Then a groan cut through the group.
"Ugh, did someone get the number of the truck that hit me?", Danny asked, slowly getting up.
Stretching out his stiff and sore limbs. The group smiled, all happy that something went their way.
"Okay...", Danny groaned from a particularly tight stretch, before finally shaking out his limbs.
"Not the worst 'bout of electricity I've experienced, but still wasn't any fun to go through.", Danny grumbled.
"I'd be surprised if it was.", Green Lantern retorts, a small twinkle of mirth in his eyes, "Good to see that you're okay Phantom."
Danny could immediately feel something different about Green Lantern's attitude towards him. He felt like he was an equal. Which was all he could ever ask for.
He smiled in turn.
"What's the next plan of action?", Danny asked, ready for round two.
…...
The group hid in a pile of rubble across from the factory that was holding Superman and Hawkgirl hostage.
"I can't believe we're doing this again.", Flash said turning to Green Lantern.
"If Superman and Hawkgirl are in there, someone's got to rescue them.", Green Lantern told him firmly, before turning to J'onn cautiously, "You are sure they are still in there, aren't you?"
J'onn didn't answer, staring off into space once more.
"J'onn?"
"Yes, your friends are alive." J'onn answered, sounding a little more frantic then normal, "But we must act quickly, the Imperium is coming."
"Who?", asked Danny, tilting his head in confusion.
"The supreme intelligence that controls these Invaders.", J'onn explained, "We have met before."
Danny watched J'onn look to the side worriedly.
"Okay, acting quickly, avoiding the Imperium, got it.", Danny confirmed confidently, "We just have to save Superman and Hawkgirl."
Green Lantern nodded to Danny in acknowledgment, "Okay, we're going in."
"Phantom, scout ahead. Flash, create a diversion. Diana, watch my back.", Green Lantern ordered.
"You sure you want to rely on an amateur?', Diana asked smugly.
Green Lantern just stared at her before addressing the group, "Let's move."
The Flash ran towards the crawler, while the rest of the group flew up in the sky, Danny turned invisible and his legs merged into a tail enabling him to use more speed and fly ahead of the group, silently drawing two Invaders away from there entrance to the inside of the plant.
With that successfully done, he silently flew up to a hole that Superman and Hawkgirl must've made prior to their capture, only turning visible when he was joined by the others.
Danny nodded in greeting, letting J'onn take the lead, flying slightly behind J'onn and above Diana and Green Lantern.
"Where are they being held?", asked Green Lantern.
"This way.", J'onn took the lead, taking a turn.
Danny stayed in the back, remained floating while the others landed. Flash soon rejoined them.
"What kept you?", he asked, but was shushed by Green Lantern.
They all tensed, Danny instinctively turning invisible, at the sound of the Invaders speaking in their native tongue. Floating close to the others as they all pressed themselves tightly to the walls.
Peering around the corner, Danny could see that there were two Invaders standing guard, speaking in their language.
"Wait here.", J'onn ordered before shapeshifting into one of the Invaders and stepping out.
He ran to the Invaders, shouting something to them in their language, one answering in kind. The two rushing to meet J'onn, guns at the ready. J'onn said something else, pointing in their direction. The two Invaders ran in their direction, but before they could do anything, J'onn density shifted, thrusting his hands through their chests before solidifying.
The Invaders screeched then fell over, dead.
"Brutal.", Danny whispered.
"Come.", J'onn ordered before turning and making his way down the corridor.
"Is it just me, or does he creep you out too.", Flash asked, staring at J'onn skeptically.
"You haven't seen the Ghost Zone.", Danny quipped, then flew after J'onn, turning visible once more.
"Who else is worried about the kid?", Flash asked once Danny was out of hearing range.
"He's dead, there is a lot of cause for worry.", Green Lantern replied stoically before following as well, Diana and Flash close behind him.
Surprisingly, it didn't take long for the group to get close to where Hawkgirl and Superman was being held.
J'onn paused, enabling the group to catch up to the Martian.
"We are close.", J'onn announced before continuing onward.
The others close behind him, keeping a watchful eye out for any Invaders. Except none were to be found. The only guards they ran into were the ones J'onn took out earlier.
Danny was starting to get a bad feeling about this.
J'onn placed a hand to a large door.
"I sense that they're somewhere beyond these walls.", J'onn informed.
Diana stepped forward and tried to shove the door, but despite her best efforts, it didn't budge. Danny would've tried intangibility, but he didn't want the same thing to happen as when he tried to go after Batman. He'd be of no use if he was out of commission.
"It's no use.", Diana said, giving up on the door, "We'll have to find another way."
Green Lantern stepped forward, gently pushing Diana to the side.
"Stand back.", he warned.
Diana did as she was told, and Green Lantern held out his hand and a green light exited from his ring. Green Lantern concentrated as he slowly cut through the door.
Danny couldn't help but fidget as he watched Green Lantern work in agitated silence. He just couldn't get rid of his bad feeling. This all just felt, too easy compared to their struggles earlier.
"We haven't much time left.", J'onn said, his voice cutting through the tense silence.
It took longer than Danny was comfortable with, but Green Lantern finally finished cutting through. With a kick, the section of the door fell forward, revealing Superman and Hawkgirl hanging upside down from some sort of... white substance.
"Great Hera.", Diana breathed in shock.
Danny flew forward, the others except J'onn close behind him, trying to see if he could use his intangibility to pull the others out.
"Wait, something is not right.", J'onn warned.
Danny's head jerked down at the sound of Diana's surprised gasp, his eyes widening at the sight of Superman's and Hawkgirl's red eyes. He whirled to see the Green Lantern try to get to the wall before it resealed itself back up, he was too late to try and stop it.
"It's a trap!", shouts Green Lantern.
Danny quickly floated away from the two not-heroes.
Small glowing holes appeared around the walls, blasting in gas. Everyone began falling and collapsing.
"Green...", Diana said between her coughs, "The... Ring."
"Can't focus...", Green Lantern coughed before falling unconscious.
Danny lasted longer because of the fact he was a ghost and he didn't really need to breath, technically. But, at last, he is only a half ghost, and he has the habit of breathing despite not having the need to.
So, he fell unconscious not long after the other heroes. He tried to get back up, but the gas was too much, he fell back to the ground.
Darkness consuming his vision.
…...
"-id..."
Danny groaned, his eyes slowly blinking open.
"Kid!"
Danny jerked up, looking to his left to see Green Lantern staring at him intently. The halfa shook the last of the fog out of his pounding head. Happy that his enhanced healing is swiftly dealing with his headache, which was quickly receding.
"You okay Phantom?", Green Lantern asked.
With another shake of his head, the ache was gone.
"Yeah.", Danny huffed, "Because of what I am, it took longer for the gas to take it's full effects."
The Lantern nodded, satisfied, "That's good to hear. Can you get free."
That's when Danny noticed his hands and feet, along with the others, were stuck inside... something.
Danny gritted his teeth, "I'll try."
But he received a mild shock, not as bad as last time, when he tried to go intangible, causing him to lose his concentration.
"Yeah, no.", Danny huffed, it took more than he would've liked to admit to not voice his pain in any way, "Sorry."
"Your fine.", Green Lantern assured.
"Earth's mightiest Heroes.", came a hiss from an Invader, who soon turned into Senator Carter, "Welcome."
"Senator Carter.", Superman said in surprise.
"Unfortunately, the real Carter never returned from Mars.", Carter explained with a smirk.
"And you used me to weaken Earth's defenses.", Superman said angrily.
"You were so eager to corporate.", Carter said condescendingly, "Thanks to you, the Humans were totally helpless against us."
"It's not over yet.", Superman said.
"Wrong again Superman.", Carter rebutted.
The roof opening to unnatural stormy clouds, lighting flashing in the sky. Allowing a big ship to land inside on the platform Carter and the rest of the Invaders stood on.
"All hail, the Imperium!", Carter declared as he and the other Invaders all bowed to the ship.
"This can't be good.", Danny said quietly for only his fellow heroes to hear.
A hatch opened from the underbelly of the ship with a lot of steam. Once the steam disappeared, a big disgusting Jellyfish like blob stood, or rather, floated.
And the thing floated straight to J'onn.
The Imperium must've been speaking telepathically, because Danny didn't hear a thing.
Suddenly, the thing that was holding Danny and the others, lifted and dropped J'onn on the platform, were two Invaders stuck him with electric sticks. Danny struggled at the sound of J'onn's pained screams.
They didn't stop until J'onn turned into his true Martian form, Danny assumed. With a groan, his chest smoking, J'onn collapsed to the ground.
The two looked to be communicating telepathically again, when the Imperium's tentacles suddenly went inside J'onn. It looked so painful.
Danny couldn't do anything but watch as the Imperium sucked in the withering Martian. Flashes of light appeared inside the Imperium, revealing J'onn's form as his screams echoed throughout the room. Danny's face paled as he watched on in horror.
They're torturing him.
"Let go of him you filthy-!", Superman shouts as he struggles.
"J'onn!", Danny screams, his body going in and out of intangibility, as electricity surrounded his body.
His body never going fully intangible, and Danny's teeth were gritted so hard, he thought they'd shatter. But that's all fine, this was nothing compared to the pain of when he was inside the portal when it turned on, turning him into a halfa.
"Phantom enough!", Diana shouts to the halfa, "You'll only hurt yourself, and then you'll be of no help to J'onn."
Danny listened, or his body gave out, as he slumped, fully tangible, his body smoking. He huffed, body shuddering at the sounds of J'onn's pained screams.
"J'onn.", Danny groaned.
All they could do was watch helplessly as J'onn was tortured right in front of them.
Suddenly a different shout came from the Martian, an authoritative one.
"NOW!"
Danny's head shot up just as an explosion happened right above the group. The smoke cleared from the explosion and it revealed none other than Batman.
"Batman?", Flash said in shock.
"It can't be.", Diana said, eyes wide in surprise.
"I mentally shielded him so that he couldn't be detected.", J'onn explained.
Batman shoved his hand inside the glob, placing the device on the stone inside, which turned the entire thing blue.
"What've you done!", Carter exclaimed.
"Reversed the Ion charged.", Batman explained.
The Invaders began to shoot at Batman and the crystal, but with the use of his grappling hook, Batman dodged out of the way. The Invaders kept their concentrated fire on the crystal, but it did nothing.
"It's shielded.", Carter said, his gun still smoking.
A bright blue light shot in the sky, and the unnatural storm cloud retreated away, then disappeared from the sky.
The Sun's rays entered the factory, and the Invaders ran for shade, those that were too slow, melted from the sun's rays. Even the Imperium was steaming from the sunlight shining upon it. The top of its head bubbling.
Then J'onn bursted from its side, now in his more human shaped form, he had a tight grip on the Imperium's tentacles, not once, allowing the thing to get away.
"You live on the ground and shun the light, why?", J'onn asks to the Imperium rhetorically, "Does it burn your pale putrid skin?"
More bubbles appeared along the Imperium's skin and tentacles. Danny imagines that the thing is screaming right now.
"Ooo... that is one nasty sunburn.", Flash said in disgust at the sight.
That's when Batman landed right in front of them.
"Ultra-violet rays.", the dark explains rather vaguely as he crabs some sort of spray from his belt, "In the deep depths of space, the Invaders have had no reception from our sun's radiation.
A needle point laser came from the device and cut through Wonder Woman's bonds.
The with the extra boost from the sun, Superman eye's glowed a faint red and he used his heat vision to cut through his own bonds easily.
"So you did find their weakness after all.", Diana said impressed, easily able to break free thanks to Batman.
The Invader started shooting at the heroes, Diana lunged forward, shielding Batman with her bracelets, Superman lunged forward, digging his hands into the ground and lifted, creating a barrier, and shield, between the Invaders and the group.
Anxious to get in action, Danny got an idea on how to break free. He would facepalm if he could.
"Ugh, I'm such an airhead.", Danny groaned.
The halfa ignored Green Lantern's and Hawkgirl's questioning looks and began to concentrate, his eyes glowed blue, as well as the white aura that surrounded the young ghost, ice crept through the bonds on Danny's hands and feet, making them brittle, and easy for Danny to pull free.
He turned to Green Lantern, his eyes glowing toxic green again, and his aura became white once more, and fired an ectoblast, freeing the arm the had the ring, enabling the older man to free himself.
"Why didn't you do that before?", complained Flash.
"It's not a power I used often, I admit, I was panicking enough when they had J'onn that I forgot about some of my less used abilities.", Danny replied with a shrug.
Flash looked thoughtful before nodding in satisfaction.
"Fair."
Superman turned around and used his heat vision to free Hawkgirl, and Diana freed Flash.
Hawkgirl wasted no time, flying straight into the fight, swinging her mace left and right, easily destroying the Invaders. Flash sped past several Invaders, knocking them down to their feet, Green Lantern flew forward, taking more Invaders with a mighty blast from his ring. Superman, Diana, and Danny, burst through the roof, creating more sunlight, leaving no Invader untouched from the Earth's sunlight.
Superman and Diana used their superior strength to pull back on the metals, Danny just burst through and blasted holes through the roof, it didn't take long for Green Lantern to join in on their efforts, using a similar strategy to Danny's.
Satisfied with his work, Danny dove down to help the fight, only looking up to see the Imperium trying to escape in his ship. Diana noticed as well, and spun her lasso high above her head before throwing it, successfully catching the ship.
She was doing well on her own, but then the back of the ship fired at her, causing her to block the blast and let go of the lasso. Both Hawkgirl and Danny flew up after the ship. Danny grabbed the rope and began to pull, he didn't have super strength like Diana and Superman, but it was enhanced enough that he was slowing down the ship, allowing Hawkgirl to fly up with her sparking mace and smashed down, hard, at the nose of the ship.
Making it ten times easier for Danny to pull down at the heavily damaged vessel, Diana flew up and grabbed the left-over rope behind Danny, and together, with a mighty tug, the vessel was coming back down to Earth. Yet it still resisted. No worries, Hawkgirl stayed up by the nose and kept smashing down with her glowing mace.
Hawkgirl paused, flying back for more space, before speeding down with more giant swing. An explosion occurred, and the ship went crashing down on top of its factory.
The trio gathered in the sky, looking down at the crumbling factory, explosions happening right and left of the alien structure.
"We need to make sure they get out.", Hawkgirl declared before diving down into the self-destructing structure, Danny and Diana not far behind her.
Danny threw up a ghost shield, diverting a giant piece of metal from hitting Batman and Diana.
With a grateful look from Diana and a nod from Batman, the Amazon picked up the Dark Knight from underneath his armpits, and flew up, joining the others, Danny flying right next to them. Everyone escaping the alien factory just as the entire thing exploded and became nothing but ruble.
The mother ship flying high in the air, retreating from Earth in defeat. The unnatural storm clouds receded completely, bringing Metropolis back into the sun and away from the darkness.
The heroes all stood on top of the Daily Planet, watching the entire thing with relief and pride.
…...
Throughout the next couple of weeks or so, Danny managed to successfully avoid his parents, the media, and Sam and Tucker. Mostly as Phantom. Granted, avoiding his (would he still call them friends?) friends, was a lot harder on the account they knew both him and Phantom.
But as Danny Fenton, it didn't take very long for Danny to watch the news, his curiosity on the high. The people have dubbed J'onn as Martian Manhunter, and Diana as Wonder Woman. Honestly Danny thought the names fit.
What surprised him the most actually, was the amount of positive feedback he got. The only ones that were negative, or thought to be some super genius villain is his own local news of Amity Park.
And just after he finished cleaning up the place from Alien occupation too.
At least no one is calling him Inviso-bill anymore. Boy did that name suck, and irritate the half-life out of him. Danny was actually pleasantly shocked when the news did a special coverage over each hero, including him, even including the bad press, but a woman named Louis Lane somehow gave the news stations the tools they needed to debunk each and every 'villainous act' that Danny has done in the past.
How the hell did she even figure out about the mind control and get an interview with Freakshow to prove Phantom's innocence, is beyond Danny. But it definitely earned her his respect and admiration. He looks closely for anything that may have to do with Louis Lane now, usually Danny just looks up the Metropolis papers online and read the articles Ms. Lane writes.
But despite the proof stated otherwise, many in Amity still think Danny to be evil. His parents taking the lead in the protest against Danny's 'heroics'. His parents, and sometimes the GIW, would appear on the news, making speeches about how all ghosts are evil, they feel nothing, no pain nor empathy towards others or themselves. Phantom is no different. Despite the fact that ever since al his 'evil deeds' have been successfully debunked and he has been proven innocent, Phantom has done nothing but save the town and keep Amity Park safe again and again.
Danny couldn't help the tired sigh that escaped him.
Yep, some things never change.
Although Red Huntress tackled Danny in a giant bear hug at the sight of him. She was very happy for him, and promised that if anything similar happened or if any of the other heroes needed his help, she'll gladly hold the line at Amity Park for him.
You know, it actually surprised him how Red, or Valerie quietly at school, would only ask questions you would expect. But she never once asked about Danny getting her to join the 'Team'. Danny is still unsure if they are a team. It could've been just a onetime thing where they had to work together in order to save the Earth.
So, one night, on one of the few patrols they share together, Danny asked.
"Hey Red?"
Red Huntress paused on her hoverboard, turning to face her partner.
"Yeah?"
"Why haven't you, you know, asked me to bring you to meet the others, or get me to help you join up or something?", Danny asked curiously, but inside, he was dreading her answer.
Maybe she was only waiting so that he wouldn't think she wanted anything from him. Or-.
"Why would I ask that? Do I look prepared to fight planetary threats outside of Amity Park?", Red asked rhetorically, "Why would you even-?"
If Danny could see beneath her visor he would see Valerie's wide glossy eyes, threatening to spill tear, angry or sad, doesn't matter which, on Danny's behalf.
"They would ask that, wouldn't they? Sam and Tucker?"
Danny's head popped up at the question, slowly processing it before he grew defensive of his...
Friends?
Now why would they be his friends anymore?
'It's just unfair', Tucker complained, 'I mean, with all that power, there would be so much I could do. But no, he just goes off and fight's ghosts.'
Sam nodded in agreement, 'I know, right, he's not even using them to their full potential, or use them to help us! I mean, we help him all the time, right?'
'Yeah, he owes us.'
Danny shook his head, not wanting to remember the entire conversation, despite having heard that part. He wished he left then.
Why would he be friends with people who thought he owed them? Sure, they've helped him out plenty, but he can't even count the number of times he's helped or saved them from other ghosts too.
Not to mention the fact that they didn't always come to his rescue or when he was in need. No, did they have any scars from those fights? Nope.
Did they get only three hours of sleep tops every day? No. They only helped, or suffered every couple of days when they saw fit.
While he had to go through all of that twenty-four/seven.
"Phantom?", Red cut into his thoughts.
"Yeah sorry, I guess they did ask those kinds of questions before.", Danny admitted with a sigh, "I guess I just didn't really see that, until now. They saw me as a charity case, or another form of rebellion. And when I became a halfa, they just saw me as a tool to use in order to benefit themselves."
Red reached over and comfortingly patted Danny's back.
"I'm sorry.", she said sincerely, while mentally planning many different pranks or ways to make the two loser's lives as difficult as possible.
Danny gave her a small smile, "Thanks."
That's when the communicator that Batman gave everyone, in order to stay in touch, began beeping with a message.
Coordinates specifically.
"I got this, go meet with your Team, I have a feeling it'll be good for you in the long run.", Red said before flying off on her hoverboard.
Danny nodded to himself with a tired sigh.
He has never felt so glad to have told Valerie his secret as he did then.
…...
It took Danny a couple of minutes to find where he was supposed to be, he got distracted aweing over the fact he was flying in space to the space station, that he was pretty sure was never there before.
Danny turned intangible and flew through the window, located where the central control room is.
"Hey guys!", Danny called cheerfully as he entered, turning tangible once more.
Taking note of Flash, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman, each, except for Batman, looked surprised at his entrance.
"This place is so cool! I've always wanted to be in space, now I actually do.", Danny says cheerfully landing next to Flash and Batman, "Never thought I would after... you know..."
Danny trailed off awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so.
"An impressive Installment.", Green Lantern comment as he and Hawkgirl slowly flew down, landing in front of the group.
"Most impressive, but what's it got to do with us?", Green Lantern questioned.
"I once thought I could protect the world myself.", Superman answered, "But I was wrong. Working together, we saved the planet, and I believe 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 bunch of super friends?", Flash joked.
"More like a... Justice League.", Superman smirked as he replied in kind.
"Do you have any idea how corny that sounds?", Flash asked walking towards Superman, "But maybe the big guy's got a point. With all of us behind it, just might work."
"Count me in.", Flash stated, placing his hand on top of Superman's.
"Me too.", Green Lantern stepped forward, placing his hand on top.
Hawkgirl followed closely behind, adding on her hand.
"And me."
Danny floated forward a small hesitant smile on his face.
"I haven't the best track record with people or teams. But that doesn't mean I won't try.", he placed in his hand, "I'm in."
"My mother won't approve, but I find Man's world to be intriguing.", Diana steeped forward, adding her hand to the groups, "I'll gladly join you."
They all turned to the Dark Knight.
"What about you Batman?", Superman asked.
"I'm not really a people person.", Batman replied honestly, "But when you need help, and you will, call me."
In other words, he's in. Danny couldn't help the fact his hesitant smile widened into an excited grin.
"Understood.", Superman said, "Then we're all agreed."
"Wait.", Diana called, "J'onn's not here."
"Yeah, where is he?", Flash questioned.
Superman flew off to find their Martian friend.
"You think he'll be, okay?", Danny asked worriedly.
"He'll be fine.", Batman answered walking after the Kryptonian, "Keep your communicators on you, it's how we'll stay in touch."
Danny held out his communicator and just couldn't help but stare at it, a warm feeling building up in his chest, most specifically, his core.
Something told him this was the right thing path.
…...
Deep in the Ghost Zone inside of a ghostly Clock tower, resided the Master of Time. Clockwork as a middle-aged man, smiling proudly at the screen that showcased Danny as a part of the Justice League.
This was the best path yet, and Clockwork didn't even see it coming. No matter what happens, now Dan won't be free, Danny is on a new path, one that will lead him to a happy and satisfying life.
He couldn't have wished for any less.
"I'm proud of you child.", Clockwork whispered, and continued to watch the boy's journey with rapt attention.