Danny was happily working on his online school work, again, best decision ever, while the T.V. was turned on, using the news as background noise. It helps him concentrate to be honest.
Valerie had also switched over to online learning, having done with all the idiots at school and wanted to still be able to study with Danny. She was the one who brought up the idea to Danny. She was not joking at how much easier it was to balance everything.
It's been a month since his parents helped him switched to online learning, and by the first two days, they could already see the improvement in Danny's grades.
That day his parents weren't home.
They usually weren't, mostly out of the house, out Ghost Hunting, but when they were home, they were always working down in the basement in the lab with the door shut.
Danny shuddered at the thought.
Lately Danny has been avoiding them, last night, he had, well, he would say close call, Red would say there was no one word to describe what had happened.
His chest ached and stung at the reminder, he rubbed it gently to soothe the pain.
Let's just say, that night as Phantom would haunt Danny's dreams forever, and it's a little hard to be around his parents now. Especially of their talk and anger over the fact that Phantom was a part of the Justice League, ignoring all evidence and proof that Phantom could feel and was not evil.
Danny wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get an audience with Superman in order to try and kick him off the team. Actually, he's pretty sure they've come up with the idea, but will only use it as a last resort.
Now they made their own 'scientific' blog about ghosts and their knowledge of them, but mostly it's a place they rant and preach how Phantom is menace to society.
Danny honestly feels a weird mix of morbid dread and embarrassment. At least he won't be bullied at Casper High over that fact. Again, thank God he decided to switch to online learning.
He never realized he liked learning when it came to subjects outside of space and astronomy. Unsurprisingly, considering his family, mostly Jack and Maddie, his top subjects is math and science.
His chest ached again at the thought of his parents.
Danny shook his head, nope, not thinking of that. Suddenly his ears perked up on the reporter from the news.
"Huh?", Danny said in confusion, quickly picking up the remote and turning up the volume on the T.V.
"According to Eyewitness accounts, Aquaman has forced his way past the guards and into a closed session of the World Assembly.", The reporter announced, "But to as why he's here and what he wants, we'll have to wait for further developments."
Then it went to commercial.
"Wow.", mumbled Danny after turning the volume back down to quiet.
He remembered the fact that this guy, Aquaman is an Atlantean. Not just any Atlantean though.
The Atlantean.
King of Atlantis to be more exact.
But Atlanteans don't usually, if ever, come to the surface. So, Danny had to wonder, and agree with the news, what business did Aquaman had with the World Assembly?
"We have an update.", the reporter exclaimed, the news coming back from the commercial break, "Members from the Justice League have been seen entering the facility. Is the surface in danger from its neighbors beneath the seas? Or are they friends of the King of Atlantis? We'll tell you more as soon as we find out. Back to you Tom."
Danny lowered the volume once more and began to debate within himself. Then made up his mind, something told him that this would take more than a day, unlike Green Lantern's 'trial'. And something told him that he needed to be there.
Just as he was about to turn off the T.V. Aquaman appeared on the news this time, the reporters shoving microphones in his face. But he only brushed them away.
"Move aside.", he said coldly, walking away.
Only for a rpg missile speed towards him, exploding at the spot he stood, Aquaman's body tumbled away like a rag doll.
Someone just tried to kill Aquaman.
He jumped to his feet, But Danny's chest throbbed and pain shot through his body from the sudden movement. As if as a reminder that he was still hurting and that, for once, this wound would take longer than others to heal.
He winced, but continued to swiftly travel around the house, he's worked through pain before in the past, he's able to do it again.
Besides, his parents have told him that as long as he took his laptop with him and didn't distract Jazz, and since her college is just two bus trips away, for them, he can visit her whenever he wished. She just has to know, and he has to let them know at least too.
He was banned from any more surprised visits.
So after packing his stuff in two bags, he texted both Valerie and Jazz a heads up. Both already knew, having seen what happened on the news themselves.
Then, he wrote a quick note, letting his parent know 'where he was' and then left the house, locking the front door behind him. Danny went ghost after walking several blocks away from his house and then hiding in an abandoned alleyway.
He was quick to fly over and drop off his overnight bag at Jazz's apartment. He wrote a note telling her he was 'staying for a week' but was off to check out on the going ons with Aquaman and the Justice League, as well as to make sure someone didn't just kill the King of Atlantis and bring war to the entire world's doorstep.
He let her know that he should be gone a couple days max, but not to count on it. He even told her that if he wasn't back on the last day of the week, to let their parents know that he decided to stay another week because he missed her a lot while she was gone. Which is true, he did, and he told her just as much as well.
With all that taken care of, Danny slung the back with his school stuff in it, on his shoulder and flew out of her apartment and to where the World Assembly was located.
It'd usually take him an hour, max, to fly there, but with his current condition, it will take him longer than he would like.
Danny growled as he touched his chest in pain, frustrated at his predicament.
Much longer than he would have liked.
…...
It took forever, he had to stop several times because of his chest becoming too much for him to fly through, but he finally made it to the city were Aquaman and the rest of the League were located.
By this point, Danny was cursing his luck left and right in Esperanto, Danny slowly flew, and landed on a building that over looked the Hospital. Just in time to watch reporters voice mingling loudly, trying to be heard over one another, while two male nurses rolled out an unconscious Aquaman on a stretcher, loading him up into an ambulance.
Danny suddenly spotted a suspicious looking man crouched behind a mail bin, holding what looked to be a collapsible rpg. A batarang struck the weapon, causing it to set off close by the culprit instead of its intended target.
The man ran away, and Danny quickly gave chase, completely ignoring his body's own protest.
He watched the man climb down into the sewer, placing the manhole over him. Superman landed and was about to lift and follow, but he was incased in electricity and fell back, unconscious.
Danny landed next to the Kryptonian, check to see he was fine and once satisfied, Danny turned intangible and sunk beneath the ground flying ahead in order to try and cut the assilant off.
He heard the sound of a motorcycle and looked beneath him to see the man, out of his civilian clothes, wearing a red outfit, with silver armor/protective gear and weaponry on him.
The ground above him began to crumble, but he turned both intangible and invisible to stay out of the man's sight and to be unbothered by the collapse within the sewer.
Then he was off, chasing after the man.
Danny stopped just as the assailant did, right in front of Wonder Woman, arms crossed with deadly stare on her face. Danny was breathing heavily as quietly as he could so as to remain undetected, as he clutched his chest.
He can do this, he can do this.
"End of the line.", Wonder Woman said.
"I'll take the detour.", the assailant replied, voice changer making sure his voice was unrecognizable outside of the mask.
The man fired a missile above Diana, and it was all Danny could do to keep up with the man.
He drove down the sewer, only for his wheels to popped by spiked balls, purposely left no doubt, the guy tumbled off his bike as it crashed. He slowly got up, ready to face the Bat, who stood at the ready right behind him.
But Danny was done with this game of Cat and Mouse.
Much to the culprit's surprise, an invisible force landed on his back, keeping him pinned to the ground.
He tried to see his assailant in order to get a read on them, but no matter what type of vision he used with his eye piece, nothing appeared, not even on info-red.
Then Danny dropped his invisibility, once he was sure he didn't look as wiped out as he felt, looking up to Batman who only rose a brow. Danny shrugged.
"I'm not Flash, nor do I have fancy cool vehicles that people wouldn't shoot at on sight. Not to mention I had to tie up some loose ends.", Danny told Batman as an apology for his lateness, "Sorry."
Batman just shook his head; Danny could have sworn he saw a ghost of a smile on his lips. But it was stern as always as he approached the two.
"Don't move!", Batman ordered.
Of course, the man didn't listen.
Danny was thrown off the man and into the wall, he wheezed as his chest flared with pain, and the man threw a smoke bomb at Batman using it to escape, while Danny used it to quickly collect himself.
"Well, there goes my dramatic entrance.", Danny commented as he rubbed his chest.
Batman raised an eyebrow at the movement but made no comment, assuming the ghost was just surprised from the blow that it hurt more than it would've.
Understandable, has happened to him before once or twice too.
"Come on. Superman caught the assassin.", Batman stated as the two left the sewer.
It didn't take them long to find Superman with an overturned vehicle, holding the man by his collar. Martian Manhunter and Wonder Woman just arrived as well.
"...perhaps someone paid me to?", the man was stating sarcastically.
"Who?", demanded Wonder Woman.
Danny stood right next to Batman as all five of them stared down the hitman.
"Oh c'mon babe, you know I can't tell you that. Professional ethics", the man replied, before looking her up and down.
"But then again...", the guy chuckled, Danny looked on in horror, "If you make it worth my while?"
Batman clasped a heavy hand on the man's shoulder, he looked, colder than usual if Danny's to be honest. And it was both as terrifying as it was cool.
"I'll take it from here.", he informed the group before dragging the man several feet away.
"You can't scare me Batman.", the guy said cockily.
Batman grabbed him by the collar his shirt and held the man in front of him.
"Let me give you one word of advice.", Batman said coolly.
Danny paled at what he heard, and he wasn't even the one those words were pointed to.
"Okay, I'll tell. I'll tell.", the man said, arms raised in surrender.
"What did he say?", Diana asked curiously.
Danny just frantically shook his head wordlessly. Again, not super hearing like Superman, but enhanced hearing was enough for him to hear Batman's whispered words.
He wished otherwise.
"You don't want to know.", Superman replied, patting Danny's shoulder in sympathy.
"Remind me to never get on his bad side.", Danny said.
Superman smirked, "Thought it was a given."
Danny just groaned, causing the two adults to chuckle at the League's youngest, to their knowledge, member.
Batman walked the assassin forward, shoving him in their direction, after stumbling forward, the assassin straighten himself up and dusted himself off.
"Who hired you?", Barman demanded.
"I don't know. I don't ask questions.", the assassin replied.
"Not good enough.", Batman snapped, "How were you paid?"
"In gold.", he gestured to an open overturned container from the crash, "See?"
Batman approached the gold, picking up on of the coins from the pavement.
"Spanish doubloons.", the Dark Knight commented thoughtfully.
"Where would they get coins like this?", Wonder Woman asked.
Danny held up a finger a knowing glint in his eyes.
"Ships.", Danny corrected, "Ship wrecks to more precise. It's basically pirate treasure that's you'd usually only find under the sea."
"Atlantis.", J'onn stated.
"We have to warn Aquaman.", Superman said urgently.
"Too late."
Danny looked to see Green Lantern land right next to them, "That royal pain in the neck is already gone. I couldn't stop him."
Long arse annoying nickname, John must really not like this guy. Or he tries his patience.
Both are practically achievable for anyone when they first meet him.
What's more important is that Aquaman is in danger in his own home.
"Hera help him.", Diana prayed.
…...
Danny hissed as he gently applied the cream to his chest, his gloves resting next to him while his jump suit was unzipped and was circling his waist on the bed at the med bay.
He had told the others that he had to quickly take care of something before they left for Atlantis, promising the impatient Green Lantern that it wouldn't take long.
With a sigh of relief, Danny finished the cream, it should help protect his chest from the sea water so he wouldn't be in constant pain. It would still hurt like it has been, but it won't be worse in the sea now.
That's all Danny could wish for. Although he also wished that he was able to take pain medication, but, unless it's stuck in an I.V., he won't be affected by it, sadly.
Danny shook his head from his thoughts and wrapped his chest with gauze so the cream won't be washed away by the water, easily at least.
Once finally done, Danny put his jumpsuit back on as well as his gloves, then quickly flew inside the jet where everyone was waiting.
"What took so long?", Green Lantern asked irritably.
"Sorry, sorry, I had to do something before we went to Atlantis.", Danny apologized, "It's nothing you need to worry about."
With that said, they took off. Soon, Wonder Woman was flying the jet under the sea and to Atlantis.
"We're almost there.", she announced, "Atlantis should be just beyond this reef."
"Don't expect them to welcome us with open arms.", Green Lantern warned the group, sitting next to Diana in the co-pilot seat.
"Set the ship down here.", Superman instructed, "Maybe we can slip under their defenses."
An explosion hit the jet and the vehicle shook from the impact.
"Too late.", comments Danny from the back of the group, sitting behind Superman.
"They've already seen us.", Martian Manhunter points to the giant Atlantian ship outside the window.
Everyone stood up at the ready.
"If it's a fight they want, they got it.", Green Lantern snarled, his ring glowed as he was encased in the familiar green aura.
"Wait!", cries out Wonder Woman, stopping him, "Remember why we're here."
The ramp lowered and the group flew out of the ship, Superman and Wonder Woman wearing masks that gave oxygen over their mouths and nose, Danny had practiced being underwater without breathing. Martian Manhunter and Green Lantern didn't need one either.
"Hold your fire!", Superman shouts, "We've come with an urgent message for your King!"
There was a moment as the Atlanteans awaited orders.
It wasn't very long before they shot green orb-looking torpedoes at the group.
"There's you're answer.", Green Lantern said snarkliy as he created a shield in front of the group, protecting them from the torpedoes.
The group split, each taking on their own set of Atlanteans on their, sub-bikes? Danny literally has nothing else to call them by.
Danny noticed the water slowed his flight.
So, Danny merged his legs into its ghostly tail, much to the Atlanteans' that chased after him surprise, and sped around in circles, moving faster in the water than their sub-bikes could keep up with.
He went fast enough that he created a small whirl pool that threw the Atlanteans off the vehicles and said vehicles crashed into one another in a small explosion.
Danny smiled, satisfied with his work, only to just barely managed to dodge a giant blast that created a good-sized crater in the sea floor below him. He turned intangible, allowing the gunfire to pass through him, as well as giving Danny a chance to catch his breath, his chest has begun to hurt again from the small fight.
Despite the fact they had only just begun.
The teenaged ghost was seriously almost regretting his decision to join up and help the rest of the league.
Superman flew up, passing Danny, with a giant boulder in hand and created a giant gash at the underbelly of the ship, causing it to flip upside down, almost as if it were a fish going belly up when dead.
Danny watched the ship land on the sea floor with Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman. Superman appeared above them, gaining their attention.
"This way!", he shouts while gesturing to follow him.
They obliged as they fled the scene and closer to Atlantis, all in hopes to get some answers to what the heck was going on?
"There it is!", Green Lantern points to a futuristic looking city encase in air bubbles, then he took the lead.
They all flew past a row of rocks, that suddenly shot spiked balls at them, they all managed to dodge the balls, but it was a close call for Danny, even with the tail, he was slowing, his chest was flaring up in pain.
"Not even close.", gloated Green Lantern.
But he spoke too soon, as each ball that was floating around them exploded, throwing the League in different directions.
Danny was sent flying downwards before tumbling across the seafloor. He rolled to a stop and floated the last inch to the floor but made no move to get back up.
If his chest was hurting before, it was definitely screaming at him now. Danny wheezed as he clutched and gently rubbed to try and soothe his chest. But all the pain put together must have been too much for him, not to mention he was still tired from the long, and painful, flight. He had barely anytime to breath before he jumped into action.
So, he fell unconscious, not even realizing his fellow Leaguers doing the same.
…...
Danny slowly woke up with a groan, feeling like he got no rest at all, and his feet were wet.
Huh?
Snapping awake, Danny quickly scanned over their situation.
Everyone is in a half-circular room with a singular glass wall.
Water steadily rising.
Hands encased in metal cuffs.
Danny felt something on his head, he looked to the others to see they were all wearing some sort of weird device. He could only assume he was wearing the same thing.
"Danny, can you break free?", Wonder Woman asked.
The halfa nodded, but nothing was happening, the moment he tried to concentrate or use of one of his powers, any of his powers, his thoughts were scattered.
He shook his head in a negative, the water reaching his chest and the other's wastes.
"Then we'll drown.", Wonder Woman said, almost hopelessly.
Danny wouldn't. Powers or no powers, he was still a ghost and had no need to breath.
But he did not want to watch the others die.
He frantically thought of a way out. The water was way over his head at this point, and just covered the others as well.
The only powers he could possibly use at his disposal because they were instinct, no need for focus or concentration. His ghostly wail, and his ice.
Ice is a no go.
He may not need focus to summon it, but he needs it to control it. He may accidently freeze the others, killing them that way instead. His ghostly wail is very dangerous and could also cause major harm. Not to mention he would most likely detransform. Secret identity out and useless to the fight, his chest would be in a hundred times more pain in human form from the exertion he put himself through.
Danny curse violently in Esperanto. The tank was practically filled and his friends were all about to die, they all had their eyes closed, holding there breathes as they continued to struggle.
He felt his core shutter in fear for their lives.
There's no other choice. His ghostly wail is the best bet his friends have at continuing to live.
Just as he inhaled, ready to use his ghostly wail, a giant hole in the floor opened, and flushed all the water out.
Danny watched as everyone frantically inhaled when they got the chance, all of them coughing the leftover water from their lungs while Danny just sighed in relief.
He will never admit he almost cried.
A red-haired woman wearing regal clothing with a green crown, freed them. Unlocking, Green Lantern's, Martian Manhunter's, and Wonder Woman's cuffs. Green Lantern used his ring to free Danny than Superman.
Danny was quick to throw off the infernal device on his head.
"You saved us, why?", Diana asked the woman.
"You say someone in Atlantis wants to kill my husband.", the woman, the Queen replied," I also fear for his life, I need your help."
"You got it.", Green Lantern declared.
The woman leads them through Atlantis, Danny couldn't help but stare in awe over the grand city as he gently rubbed his chest in soft circular motions.
It helped. And he was going to have to be at his best as he can be in his current situation if he wanted to help.
"Your kingdom is truly magnificent. I see why Aquaman protects it so passionately.", Wonder Woman states, voicing everyone else's thoughts.
"Unfortunately, there are those who's ambitions will destroy it.", the Queen said bitterly.
Suddenly gun shots were fired at the group. Danny stared ahead to see four Atlantean guards, racing towards them, guns in hand, and began to fire.
"Are they seriously going to fire at their Queen!", Danny exclaims in shock, as he grabbed the Queen's shoulder, turning the both of them intangible, multiple shots going through them.
"Get down!", shouts Wonder Woman as she blocked the blasts with her bracelets.
They turned around to flee, Danny kept him and the Queen intangible, just in case.
And he turned out to be right.
More guards blocked their path from behind, firing two shots that hit Superman square in the chest, but besides a couple of grunts, remained unaffected. Green Lantern fired his ring, knocking down one guy, his weapon flying from his grip, but the other three fired at him, forcing him to stop firing so he could dodge.
"Stand back.", Green Lantern ordered.
He fired a giant blast at the bridge, causing the Atlanteans to fall into the water below, while the rest of the group just flew where the bridge once was, Danny carried the Queen so she wouldn't fall as well, despite his chest's protest.
Okay, so maybe he should get that looked at when this is all over. He could already hear Valerie angrily screaming at him when he gets back. There is no way she won't. Despite successfully his identity a secret from her, ever since he told her, he can never hide things from her anymore.
She always finds out.
Danny isn't looking forward to that lecture (screaming).
"Thank you.", the Queen said to Danny with a smile.
Danny happily returned it, while doing all he could to hide the pain and strain it was taking on him to keep the two afloat.
"This fight is far from over.", Martian Manhunter stated before the group flew off to the palace.
Danny mentally chanted to himself that it was a short flight and that he could make it.
Sometimes it really amazes a person how much they can convince themselves of something if they just chant it over and over again to themselves.
For just as he promised himself, it wasn't a long flight.
But the moment they were inside the palace, Danny turned invisible, much to the other's confusion.
After they had all landed and he safely set the Queen down in the throne room. He didn't quite care if it rose their suspicions, it would only do so more if they saw how much pain he was in, so he turned invisible and floated to the ceiling to quietly recover.
He tuned the others out, just focusing on the soothing circles he rubbed on his chest while it throbbed and flared in pain. These 'breaks' of Danny's were becoming more frequent, much to the halfa's frustration.
So, the Queen went to get her baby while the others waited and spoke and planned on what to do next, while Danny stayed invisible and recovered above them.
It wasn't very long before the Queen ran in gasping, out of breath, eyes wide and frantic.
"He's... he's gone!", she gasped, her eyes wide with panic and utter worry, "My baby's not there!"
"Don't worry.", Superman tried to keep her calm, "J'onn and I will search the palace, you just stay here."
The two flew off, and Danny turned visible, surprising the two remaining Leaguers when he, for once, landed.
"Do you have anything that may have your son's scent?", Danny asked politely.
The Queen nodded, not even asking any questions, before running off and coming back after retrieving a red blanket.
"What are you, a blood hound now?", Green Lantern asked sarcastically, "Does becoming a ghost give you super senses?"
"Ghost?", the Queen repeated in shock as she stared at Danny, a teenager, with wide eyes.
"No, only enhanced. I'm not Superman.", Danny said as he held the blanket in his hands before looking up to Green Lantern with a smirk, "But I know someone who does."
Danny raised two fingers to his lips and released a loud sharp whistle that pierced through the air.
After a couple minutes nothing happened.
"What are you doing Phan-?", Green Lantern was interrupted by a loud 'WOOF!'.
"Was that a dog?", Diana questioned with a raised brow.
Suddenly, a giant, glowing, green, angry looking rottweiler with a red collar and bright red eyes, stormed the throne room. Wonder Woman and Green Lantern got in defense positions, specifically in front of the Queen.
Only to stare in shock as the dog came to a halt in front of Danny, panting happily with its tail wagging wildly behind it.
"Cujo, shrink.", Danny ordered the dog while the three other people in the room stared at him in confusion, only for their eyes to widen even more as the dog, Cujo, shrunk to the size of a normal dog.
"Good boy!", Danny cooed as he pets the dog before holding out the blanket, "Cujo sniff."
Cujo did as told, looking up to Danny expectantly, who floated above the ground, legs merging into a tail.
"Fetch!", Danny shouts as the dog flies out of the room, becoming a green blur, with Danny flying speedily right behind him.
Leaving the three remaining people behind, flabbergasted.
Danny flew outside of Atlantis's borders when he found none other than a tired and worn looking Aquaman holding a blonde naked baby, with red fabric covering a stump at his wrist, red mist floating in the sea water.
Danny absent mindedly petted Cujo as he stared in shock at the man, already knowing what most likely happened.
"Good boy Cujo, now go home."
Cujo, happy to help and see Danny again, licked his cheek excitedly, before flying out of sight.
Danny quickly flew over to Aquaman, but slowed down as he stared up at Danny suspiciously.
"Uh, hi.", Danny waved awkwardly, he never really was good with people, "You haven't met me yet, but my name's Phantom and I'm a part of the Justice League, I just tracked your son here when your wife found him missing at the palace after saving my friends."
"...How'd you find us?", Aquaman rose a disbelieving brow, hunching over his son protectively should Danny chose to attack.
Yeah, like he would do that. His chest his killing him after flying at high speeds after Cujo. Under water no less! Definitely didn't do himself any favors.
"I have a ghost dog.", Danny mumbled, rubbing his neck nervously, not looking the Atlantean in the eye, he held up the blanket, "Your wife gave this to me when I asked for something with the kid's scent so my rottweiler could track him down."
He handed the blanket over to Aquaman, who awkwardly wrapped the baby in it, begrudgingly accepted Danny's help in properly covering his son, protecting him from the cold.
Once finished, Danny backed away, only to have his eyes linger on Aquaman's stump once more, unsettled by the red mist that escaped the blanket.
Danny sighed, before slowly approaching, "Can I, uh, at least stop the bleeding? It's driving me a little insane with worry here. I really don't want you passing out from blood loss."
Aquaman looked ready to argue, but he was tired, and exhausted. Both he and Danny knew that.
So, he agreed.
Danny's eyes and hands glowed blue as he concentrated, and carefully frosted over his arm where the stump was at. A makeshift frozen bandage with no chance of frostbite since Danny used frost to cover up the makeshift bandage Aquaman used earlier, and the wound.
With a little struggle and a short time of situating, Danny helped Aquaman swim to Atlantis with his injured arm hanging limp at his side, and baby clutched tightly in his other one, while Danny held him up and kept him swimming straight.
"You said my wife saved your friends, where were you?", Aquaman asked curiously, if only to stay awake.
Danny also knew he had to keep him awake, so he answered.
"I was trapped with them.", Danny answered, "They thought they could kill me too."
Aquaman stared at the teenager. He wasn't sure if the kid was cocky or was stating a fact.
"Why would you say that?"
Danny gave the older male a bittersweet smile, "You can't kill something that's already dead."
Aquaman stared at him, unsure what to say. He grunted as Danny unnecessarily jostled him, probably afraid he was about to fall asleep.
"I know, right? I'm talking to an Atlantan and you're talking to a ghost. Cool huh?", Danny said with a strained grin.
There is nothing cool about this. But Danny couldn't really think of what else to say.
"I'm sorry.", Aquaman said solemnly.
Danny didn't even need him to explain what he was sorry for.
He knew.
"Don't be. You didn't kill me or cause my death in anyway.", Danny reassured, not knowing that it didn't do much to make Aquaman feel any better.
"It doesn't matter." Danny states, not realizing the Aquaman's anger towards that statement, "Right now let's just focus on returning you to the palace."
Luckily, Danny found Aquaman pretty close to the city of Atlantis, and Aquaman knew of a secret entrance that led straight to the castle.
The two entered the throne room, dripping wet, greeted by the sight of the distraught Queen sitting on the stars, being comforted by the rest of the League.
The Queen gasped and rushed forward, Danny backed away once he was sure Aquaman could stand on his own two feet. The two embraced, and Danny couldn't help the small smile that crossed his face.
His chest pains were definitely worth it.
"My love, your safe.", she breathed.
"And so is our son.", Aquaman replied, obviously sounding relieved as he handed over the wrapped baby to his wife.
She held the child close, smiling at her husband, before gasping as she saw him clutching his arm his pain. No doubt seeing the stump where his hand once was.
"You hand...", she trailed off.
But Aquaman didn't care, based on his face set in a harsh determined expression, Danny knew he was out for blood.
"Where. Is. Orm?"
…...
Danny shifted uncomfortably as he watches Aquaman grunt as the masked Atlantean worked on the stump of his arm. This medical bay reminded him too much of a scientific lab than a medical facility.
"His own hand.", muttered Superman so only the League would hear, "I can't believe it."
"I can.", Danny whispered back.
"Told you he was a madman.", Green Lantern said stoically.
"Is it madness to sacrifice all for someone you love?", the Queen retorted from where she stood in front of the group.
Green Lantern looked to the side, choosing not to answer.
"Can't you work any faster?", Aquaman hissed.
"This is a delicate operation my lord, it can't be rushed.", the surgeon replied, "Although the frost saved your life, it makes this operation even more delicate than it usually would."
Wonder Woman smiled down at Danny, patting his shoulder in victory and pride.
"Superman, the situation as developed up in the North Pole.", Batman spoke from the comms, the League all closely listened in, "Thermal readings show temperature increasing rapidly."
"If that continues, the ecological effects could be catastrophic.", Martian Manhunter stated.
"Then let's check it out.", approved Green Lantern.
Danny mentally groaned, he's not sure how much longer he could push through this. He's been up for over twelve hours, not counting when he was knocked unconscious earlier.
"But what about the crisis here?", Wonder Woman asked worried, looking to Aquaman.
"There may be a connection.", Aquaman suggested.
"What do you mean?", asked Superman.
"It's the Doomsday Thermal reactor.", Aquaman explained, "We decided to create a polar meltdown."
"What!?", exclaimed Green Lantern incredulously.
Were things really that bad between the Humans and Atlanteans? What's with people making doomsday devices anyway?
"We built it as a weapon of last resort.", Aquaman hurriedly explained, "To protect Atlantis should the surface world ever attacked."
The group stared at the King in shock and horror.
"But I never armed it."
"Then Orm must have.", stated Green Lantern firmly as he was struck with the realization, "Using the plutonium from the Submarine!"
"If the polar caps melt, the world will sink beneath the waves.", Superman said morbidly, "Everything will be destroyed, Orm must be stopped."
Superman was about to strode out the room when Aquaman's voice stopped him.
"And he will be."
Danny stared as the surgeon stepped back and Aquaman slid off the table, standing tall. Revealing his hand to now be replaced with a fish hook.
"I'll see to it personally.", Aquaman snarled.
...
Danny flew close behind the others above the north Atlantic Sea in the North Pole just as Aquaman emerged from the sea's depths.
"Aquaman!", called out Superman.
"Why do you follow?", Aquaman asks as he strode purposely forward.
"We want to help.", Wonder Woman answered.
Aquaman was not having it, "This is my battle, no asked you to fight it."
"It is just as much our fight as it is yours.", Danny retorted.
The group flew closer, all hovering by Aquaman, Superman hovered in front of the Atlantean.
"Like it or not we have a stake in this too.", Superman stated.
"Just stay out of my way.", Aquaman growled.
Danny's eyes narrowed on a light heading towards Aquaman from beneath the ice. His eyes widened.
"Look out!", he shouts just as an explosion hit.
But his warning was enough for everyone to dodge before anyone could get hurt.
The ground rumbled and two Atlantean subs emerged from beneath the ice. They didn't give the heroes any time to react, immediately firing at the group.
Danny turned invisible and intangible, flying close behind to Martian Manhunter and Superman. Followed by Green Lantern, who encased himself, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman in a protective orb.
The Atlanteans surged forward on their battle vehicles, none making a move to shoot at Danny, since he remained undetectable, thanks to his invisibility and intangibility.
"Superman, the glaciers are already starting to melt.", Batman's voice warned through the comms.
"I know.", Superman's voice came through the comms, "But we've got our hands full here!"
Using his undetectability to good use, Danny flew above the Atlanteans and shot blue rays at the water from his hands, causing ice spikes to shoot out in a way where the speeders were destroyed, but the soldiers were unharmed and only thrown off their vehicles.
Danny let himself be visible as he turned to see Aquaman has stolen a speeder, suddenly, a killer whale, leapt out of the water. Aquaman leaped on to the animal as it dove in the middle of a squadron, sending them every which way with a mighty splash. Danny saw the shadow sink low and swim towards the ice.
"I saw it, but I don't believe it.", Green Lantern said in shock, flying next to Danny.
"Isn't he cool?", Danny smiled at the Lantern.
"Stay with him.", Superman instructed the two.
Danny dove into the water, turning intangible and invisible so as to not be detected once more, no splash was made. Underneath the water, Danny's legs merged into his tail and he sped after the whale.
Green Lantern dove in a couple minutes after him, slowly falling behind because of the water.
It wasn't long before Danny saw a large whole in the ice above him, no doubt made from Aquaman. Danny rushed into the icy glacier, entering just as Aquaman and Orm clashed, only for Aquaman to kick Orm back, his trident landing just within arm's reach.
Aquaman strode over to his brother.
"It's over."
Orm snarled, then smirked, "Your right, and you just lost."
He grabbed the trident, sent a stream of yellow energy at Aquaman, but Danny was just fast enough to push the Atlantean King away, dropping his invisibility and intangibility as he did so. Danny screamed as the attack struck him at his injured chest, sending him flying back several feet.
Using Aquaman's distraction to his benefit, Orm turned and shot another stream of energy at the machine in the center of the cavern.
Aquaman crouched over Danny's pained form, he was curled in a fetal position in an effort to protect his screaming chest. Muttering many violent curses in Esperanto that would make a sailor's skin crawl if they understood the words that escaped his mouth.
"Time is against you, the reactor cannot be shut down.", Orm gloated, standing over the two.
Aquaman slowly laid the groaning Phantom down before lunging at his brother, a fierce battle erupting between the two once more as the entire place shook with tremors, threatening to collapse.
Danny wheezed as he slowly tried to push himself back up, only for his trembling arms to give out, collapsing onto the ground with a small grunt. His chest felt enflamed, like it was being branded over and over in the same spot.
He has reached far past his limit. He can't continue on anymore, his chest is killing him, he pushed too far for too long.
He looked up to see Aquaman fly out of the cavern and on to the bridge. It crumbled beneath him.
Danny forced himself back on his feet and flew after Aquaman. Who was hanging on the walls with only his hook hand keeping him from falling into the abyss below.
"Need a hand?", Danny asked, flying next to the Atlantean, who rose an unamused brow pointedly.
Danny was quick to realize his slip up, eyes darting to Aquaman's hook.
"Right, sorry."
Danny picked up Aquaman beneath the armpits just as Orm spotted them and begun to shoot at them, Danny zigged-zagged between the shots, and gently dropped Aquaman on to a stable bridge, flying beside him as he ran up the ice structure.
Orm turned to see Green Lantern at the reactor.
Danny could already see what was coming.
"No! Get away from that!", shouts Orm, firing a blast at Green Lantern.
But Danny sped between the two, summoning a ghost shield around them, protecting the duo from Orm's attacks.
Sweat immediately dotted his brow and it was all Danny could do to not fall to his knees right now, his limbs trembled and shacked.
"Phantom, are you alright?", Green Lantern asked Danny worriedly.
"Fine!", grunted Danny as another shot hit his shield, "Concentrate on what you're doing!"
"Orm! STOP!", Danny heard Aquaman's shout.
Orm turned away from the duo to face his brother.
"Still, you defend them!", Orm snarls with a smirk.
He shot a blast at where his brother was at on the bridge, but he jumped over the blast, dodging it, and racing forward, ignoring the crumbling ice behind him.
Orm shot two more blasts at Aquaman, but he leapt forward as the rest fell in to the abyss, his hook connecting with Orm's trident, pining it to the ground, but Orm's fist backhanded him, freeing his trident. The two connected again, but Orm kicked him off. Aquaman landed precariously near the edge, and Orm tackled him off.
With the two out of sight, Danny dropped his ghost shield and fell to his knees.
"Phantom!", Green Lantern called.
"I'm fine!", Danny cried out, clutching his chest as he panted on his hand and knees.
Green Lantern growled, knowing very well that the teen was not 'alright' as he kept insisting to be. But he listened and turned to the opening that led within the reactor.
"Hurry Batman!", he shouts to the Dark Knight, hoping he had heard him.
As if on cue, there was low hum as the machine powered down and Danny could immediately feel the cold begin to return within the cavern. Cooling it down and refreezing what's been melted.
It felt refreshing.
"It's shutting down.", Green Lantern said in relief.
"Yay.", Danny wheezed.
"You did it!", exclaimed Green Lantern, as Batman hoped out, and Danny managed to push himself back up to his feet.
I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.
"No. We did it.", Batman retorted.
I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm fine.
They all turned to Aquaman, Orm was nowhere in sight.
I'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfineI'mfine.
"And the threat is over.", Aquaman declared.
He was not fine.
Body exhausted beyond belief, and pain was the only thing he could feel at this point, all of his other senses numb. So, he did what any other person would.
Danny collapsed, darkness quickly overtaking his vision, barely able to comprehend the worried shouts of his friends above him.
He's just lucky that he didn't detransform, later on he would be very grateful for finally being able to learn that little trick. Thanking Clockwork for the extra lessons he gave him during his limited free time.