Danny sat on a park bench by himself, wearing a red sweatshirt over his normal clothes, it being chilly that day since it was starting to become fall. He was looking a big book of constellations, filled with pictures and facts of the stars and constellations he has long since memorized.
It was a tenth birthday present from Jazz. By the time he was eleven, he knew the book forwards and backwards. Could even recite it if he wanted to.
But for now, he just wanted to look at the stars that were out that night, and wanted to see if he could find them. He already found about sixteen different stars and constellations in the first five minutes.
Honestly, he was stuck on a particular hard science worksheet from his online classes, and he really didn't want to ask his parents. Plus, he wanted some time alone so he could clear his head.
Not to mention Danny still didn't like being at the house for long periods of time. Finding as many excuses as possible to stay out of it for as long as he can.
Even when he finally has to come back for dinner and bed. It's hard for him to eat, he's starting to get into the bad habit of playing with his food. He's lost a little weight because of it. Not enough for people to notice or be concerned, he's really skinny, it's hard to notice, but he rarely eats dinner now. And he's not much of a breakfast person, either grabbing granola bar to eat when he leaves or to have a really small bowl of cereal over at Valerie's. And he either packs himself a lunch or eats out using his allowance.
So, he's not starving, being half-dead really helps, but it's not healthy either. Danny can already feel his sister scolding him in spirit, despite the fact she was no longer physically there because of her schooling. He never realized how much time college takes up.
He's out for about two hours, making it dangerously close to his curfew, when he got an alert on his communicator. He looked at it and saw it was a call from Superman.
Not in a mood to find a hiding spot to transform or be paranoid that someone may see him, Danny made sure he was answering the call by audio, before placing it to his ear.
"What up Supes?", Danny asked, "Need help with the hurricane over at Tropical City? I thought it calmed down by now."
"It has, don't worry, everything is all taken care of.", Superman assured the halfa, "It's Wonder Woman."
"What about her?", Danny asked, raising a curious brow, "Is she okay?"
"I'm not sure.", Superman replied, sounding it, "She's broken into a museum and it sounds like she's destroying the place."
"Huh...", Danny said, sounding as confused as he felt, "Well that's obviously not normal."
"No, it's not.", agreed Superman, "I've already called the others, everyone but Hawkgirl and Green Lantern are on their way. You coming?"
"You're kidding, right?", Danny asked, already on his feet, ready to transform once he hangs up, "I'm on my way, send me the coordinates and I'll be there as soon as I can."
"See you soon then."
Superman then hung up. Danny was already more than halfway to Valerie's and had already texted his parents.
His core soaring with relief that her window was already open and ready. Not even hesitating to fly in, to see Valerie sitting at her desk, working on her own work from her online classes.
"You okay Danny?", Valerie asked, already noticing how rushed he looked.
Danny nodded.
"Yeah, mind looking over this for me.", he asked holding up the book in his hands, "And covering for me? I already texted my parents saying I was sleeping over."
"Yeah, I'll watch out for Amity as per usual.", Valerie assured him.
He gave her a relieved and grateful smile.
"Thanks, I don't think I'll be long this time, just for the night, but you never know."
Valerie laughed with a shake of her head.
"I understand, now go.", she shooed him away, "I've got things covered over here."
With another grateful smile, Danny turned intangible and flew through her ceiling and out through the roof, shooting to where the coordinates led to Superman's and Wonder Woman's location. Hopefully he's not the last, or if he is, he isn't long behind everyone else.
…...
Fortunately, Danny wasn't the last one there, he arrived shortly after Martian Manhunter and the Flash just as Wonder Woman was explaining what happened when she arrived back home in Themyscira, how Faust has turned her mother and the other Amazons into stone, and the only way to make him reverse the spell, is to retrieve three artifacts for him.
"And you trust him to keep his word?", Danny asked skeptically, Faust sounded a little like a certain fruit-loop he used to know, but leveled down and with magic.
"Of course, I don't trust this Faust.", Wonder Woman retorted bitterly with her arms crossed in front of her, "But what else can I do?"
Flash sped to her side.
"I say we go back and kick that would-be sorcerer's butt.", Flash declared, angry on his friend's behalf.
"No. Men are forbidden from ever setting foot on Themyscira.", Wonder Woman refused stubbornly.
"Somebody should've told him that.", Flash quipped with a shrug.
Danny agreed, "Yeah, couldn't there be an acceptation if we're just coming to help and/or get rid of Faust for them? I mean, would they take that rule so far that it may cost them their homes, their lives even."
Wonder Woman just gave Danny a hard stare, not saying it out loud, but her stare was more than enough in answer. Danny rubbed the back of his neck as he looked away. Yes, yes they would apparently.
And Danny thought girls were weird, women are just about impossible for him to understand. Or is that just people in general that Danny is too socially awkward to wrap his head around?
Honestly, it could go either way.
"Besides, I gave him my word I would find the other relics.", Diana replied, turning the conversation away from the Amazonians rules.
"I'm afraid that leaves us with one course of action.", Martian Manhunter spoke up.
Danny and Flash both shared a look before turning to Martian Manhunter, both nodding their agreement, while Wonder Woman looked ready to fight or flee.
"We'll have to help you.", he finished as both the Martian and Kryptonian smiled warmly at the Amazon.
Wonder Woman couldn't help smile as her body relaxed in relief.
Danny and Flash returning with bright smiles of their own.
…...
While the others searched for the relics, Danny was sent on a separate mission on his own to look for answers, in hopes for the group to find out what these relics are for and why they are hidden.
Someone obviously went to a lot of trouble to hide them, the question is why?
Danny's first instinct was to go to Clockwork for answers, but he knew the older ghost well, and knew he would get no answers, nothing but riddles from the Time Ghost, who would enjoy Danny's confusion from the 'answers' he is given.
So, Danny went to the next, obvious, best choice. None other than Pandora.
Landing on Acropolis of Athens, the island in the Ghost Zone that is Pandora's home, Danny is quick to go through the Minotaur's Maze that protect Pandora's Island. Because he has done it thousands of times and because he is welcomed on the island, therefore, he didn't have to worry about the usual traps and guardians.
Once there, he found Pandora attending to a Pegasi in a small clearing and... behind them was a swirling portal that Danny hasn't noticed before.
"How long has that been there?", Danny asks curiously with a tilt of his head.
Not even startled, Pandora turns to Danny with a warm smile.
"That's been there for a while.", Pandora explained with a patient gaze, "I mostly use it as a window to check up on the Amazons back in Themysicra in the living realm. It's nice to know the battle and traditions of Greece are still upheld today."
She then put down the brush and patted the Pegasus as it flew off after being brushed. Pandora turned to Danny with a wide grin all four arms open wide as an invitation for a hug.
"Danny!", she exclaimed happily in greeting.
Danny couldn't help the smile that grew on his features as he flew forward into the awaiting hug. Did you know being hugged by a person with four arms is the best feeling in the world? Danny didn't, until he met Pandora that is. She gave to best hugs in his opinion.
"Hi Pandora, everything going well for you?", Danny asks as he reluctantly pulls back.
Again, her hugs are the best.
"As always.", Pandora nodded before her eyes cooled.
Danny suddenly got an uneasy feeling, and with good reason, as she placed her hands on Danny's shoulders and forearms, a grip that kept him from running. A very tight grip that meant he was in trouble.
Uh oh.
"What is this I hear about a certain Phantom being caught by certain ghost hunters?", Pandora demanded with a cool tone, "And let's not forget how said hunters Ripped You Open and YOU DARE TO KEEP IT FROM ME!?"
As she summoned two stools, obviously meant for the two of them. Danny really didn't want to get into this right now. Or ever really.
"Uhh...", Danny said nervously, "You know what, you seem busy I can come back ano-."
"SIT!"
He practically threw himself on one of the stools at her command. Watching the tall giant woman with wide eyes as she stomped by him, pacing back and forth. He could practically see the anger rolling off her in waves.
Danny gulped. He doesn't care what monsters or challenges the others were facing right now. He would gladly be with them in a heartbeat, they are much preferable to the scolding of a lifetime that Danny is sure to receive.
He sat in his stool, fingers clutching his seat tightly as Pandora finally stopped in front of him, her eyes bright with the rage and worry as her words came at him viciously.
The scolding was much worse than Danny had even imagined it being. Much worse.
Bright side is, he got some answers. Not enough that were worth that scolding, but it's better than nothing.
The League owe him big time after all this though. He has never been more terrified then under Pandora's wrath in that entire dreadful half hour.
Yes, she scolded him for thirty minutes. The most terrifying thirty minutes in his entire half-life.
…...
Danny wondered around the strange room with the many weird, but most likely magical, items that Faust has managed to gain throughout his life.
"Faust clearly has a great passion for learning.", J'onn commented thoughtfully.
Danny stared at a weird staff with a animal skull, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"Yeah, something tells me his search for knowledge is just a tool for him.", Danny replies, "Maybe for money and fame at a time, now it's definitely something else."
Flash wondered to a crystal scepter on the other side of the room, picking it up with curiosity.
"Where'd he get this stuff?", asks Flash, "Warlocks-R-Us?"
Danny snickered for a moment before freezing after hearing a small noise, the hair on the back of his neck prickling.
He hears Batman shout at Flash, "Don't touch that!"
But it was too late, Flash turned to Batman, but the scepter was still pointing at Danny, instinctively turned intangible just as a blast was shot from the scepter. The beam going through Danny's head as there was a small explosion on the wall behind him. Smoking from where the beam hit.
"Oops", mumbled Flash as Batman stalked towards him.
"Don't touch anything!", he shouts angrily, snatching the scepter from Flash's grasp.
Danny rubbed the back of his head self-consciously, knowing if he didn't turn intangible when he did, well, he'd have no head.
"We don't know what kind of powers we are dealing with.", Batman explained to the group.
J'onn and Superman both placing their artifact's away where they found them as they both walked away 'innocently'.
Is it just him, or is Batman the dad of the League?
"So who is this Faust?", Superman asked after a small pause of silence.
Batman put the scepter away and placed a picture on the table that was in the center of the room.
"Felix Faust was once a respected professor of archeology.", Batman explains as the group converge at the table, Danny staring at a picture of a tall thin man with sharp features, and short black hair standing in front of Hieroglyphic carvings, "But when he became fascinated with the mystic arts he was kicked out of the university for his heretical ideas. He swore revenge on those who mocked him. And several later disappeared under mysterious circumstances."
'Aren't they always.', Danny thought as he wondered what might of happened to the people who disappeared.
"I have pretty good idea what happened to them."
Diana's comment caused Danny to turn and do a double take at the sight of three terrifying stone faces displayed on the top self of a bookcase.
"Ew!", exclaims Flash in disgust.
"He's mad.", Superman states, eyeing the faces in disbelief.
"It's gets worse.", Batman states stoically.
"Seriously.", Danny said with an arched brow, "How does it get worse?"
"I found his journal.", Batman states, holding up said book, "The last entries make reference to Tartarus."
A flash of lightening appeared at the window behind him followed closely behind with a clash of thunder while Diana stared at Batman in horror.
"The pit of lost souls.", Diana breathed wide-eyed.
"Isn't that just a myth?", asks Superman a little skeptical.
"So is Pandora, and I have dinner at her place every Sunday.", Danny replies casually with a shrug.
The League turn to Danny with raised brows as they stared at him while Diana walked off, looking to be in shock.
Danny shrugged defensively, "What? She's a ghost. Her box got stolen and I helped give it back. She invited me over to her island and it just sorta became tradition."
"What's Pandora like?", Flash asks excitedly.
"A giant mother hen with a scary temper.", Danny answered bluntly without hesitation, the giant part being literal, "But isn't Tartarus like the Ghost Zone or something? Because there are natural portals that pop up for it everywhere."
"No.", Wonder Woman replies, "If only it were a myth. Long ago in ancient times... my mother Hippolyta, fell in love with a God, Lord Hades."
Danny perked up recognizing the story, listening intently to try and see if it was the same.
"When war broke out between the Olympian Gods and their ancient foes, the Titans, Hades struck a treasonous bargain with the enemy. He would deliver Mount Olympus into the Titans' hands. In return he would be given dominion over all humanity.
Hades tricked my mother into opening the gates of Olympus to the invading Titans. There was a battle of which the muses still sing. The Gods fought back and eventually prevailed.
As punishment for his treachery Zeus cast Hades into the pit of Tartarus. Where he would rule over the dead for eternity.
And for her unwitting role in Hades' plot, my mother was charged with guarding the gateway to the Underworld."
"To make sure the Gate could never be unlocked,", Danny continued, causing the group to whirl to the halfa in shock of his knowledge of the story, ", it's only key was broken up and scattered across the globe. Hippolyta kept one of the pieces, didn't she?"
Diana nodded, still staring at Danny in shock, "How do you know that?"
Danny rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously, "That's what I found out when you guys sent me out while you guys retrieved the other relics. Or the pieces of the key. Pandora told me the story before I was called back."
Diana stared at Danny for a moment, most likely debating whether to ask more, but ultimately decided against it.
Unknown to Danny, the League knew that he liked to keep things close to chest, similar to Batman. Only telling tidbits of information when comfortable. Interrogating him would keep him closed up more than he is now. Whether Danny knows it or not.
"My mother kept one of the pieces in the temple to remind herself of her eternal shame.", Diana explained.
"Then Phantom is correct.", J'onn states stepping forward, "These relics we've been collecting are parts of the key."
"But why would Faust want it?", asks Flash as he takes one of the parts from Superman's hands.
"Why else would someone want a key.", replies Danny floating criss cross with his elbows on his knees, "To open something."
"Only one reason.", Batman agrees, taking the part from Flash and taking it to the table where the other parts lay.
After a moment with Batman's back to the rest of the League, fiddling with the parts. He turns, key assembled in his hands.
"He intends to use it."
"Where is this gateway to the underworld?", Superman asks.
No one had answer except Wonder Woman, "Beneath Themyscira."
"Diana, you can't give Faust the key.", Superman stresses to the Amazon.
"If I don't, my mother and sisters will remain petrified forever.", Diana retorts.
"And if you do, it could mean the end of the world.", Batman states solemnly.
Diana looks down conflicted, eyes filled with sadness and confliction.
"What are you going to do?", asks J'onn.
Danny couldn't stand the utter despair in Wonder Woman's eyes.
"We make another option.", Danny states eyes glowing brightly with his determination, "Let's break some rules, what do you guys say?"
…...
Danny hid invisibly up in the roof, watching with narrowed eyes as Faust summoned the amulet to petrify Wonder Woman and Hippolyta.
"Petro fatis!"
But before the amulet could work it's magic, flash sped in, snatching the amulet from Faust's hands.
"What!", exclaims Faust in shock.
"Your not the only one with an ace up your sleeve, pal.", Flash quips smugly with a smirk as he tosses the amulet in the air and catches it.
"What is this?", Faust says in confusion.
Danny flew down remaining invisible as Batman swings down on his grapple towards Faust with harsh backhand to the sorcerer's face. Causing him to crash to the ground, dropping the key in the process with a grunt.
"You brought men here...", Hippolyta states in aversion, "...to Themyscira?"
"It was either that, give him the key to end the world, or leave you and the other Amazons petrified.", Danny replies as he helps support Hippolyta to sit up, dropping his invisibility as he does so, "Last two options were out of the question."
Hippolyta stares up at him in shock.
"Also, do I count since I'm not technically a man? Or do you mean all men in general. If so, kinda harsh Lady."
Hippolyta just stares at him.
"Your cold.", she states as she continues to stare at Danny.
He just shrugs, pretending to be unbothered by the staring, "I'm dead, comes with the territory."
"Did you really think she'd trust scum like you?"
Danny turns to see Batman standing over Faust, Superman and Martian Manhunter flying to his side, causing Danny to miss the strange look Hippolyta was giving him after finding out the fact that he is dead.
"It's over Faust.", declares Superman, "Come along quietly."
"Never!" Faust shouts, shooting a bright purple light from his hand.
The three dodge the magical blast fired at him. Faust fired two blasts at Superman, he dodged the first, but didn't have enough time to avoid the second. With a shout, Superman crashed backwards to the ground.
Turning to the trio at the stairs, with a growl, Faust shot at them, but Danny was quick to throw a ghost shield, protecting the two Amazons behind him, then dropped it and shot forward, landing to solid punches to Faust's face. He had to fly back to avoid a magical blast. Giving Faust the space he needed to fire three rapid blasts at Danny. Danny turned intangible fore one, shot an ectoblast, canceling out the second, but the third was shot above him, causing large tons of rubble to fall on top of him slamming him to the ground.
Flash zipped next to Faust, effectively distracting him from the young halfa, "Now you see me."
"Now you don't.", he was quick to zip away before Faust could do anything.
Faust fired multiple magical blasts at Flash, but he dodged them all easily before running straight at Faust, who with the wave his hand caused the stone temple floor to rise up in a arc. Flash ran straight through the newly made rubble, causing him to crash to the ground. Faust was about to shoot at the downed man, but J'onn body slammed into Faust, causing him to drop the key once more and fall down a small set of stairs.
He shot a blast at Martian Manhunter, but thanks to his density shifting, it went straight through. But Faust shot a larger blast at the stairs at Martian Manhunter's and Batman's feet the two scattered as multiple explosions where they previously stood. Batman dove forward in order to effectively dodge the blasts, but a column gave way and was falling where the Dark Knight lay.
Fortunately, Superman flew in, catching the column before it could crush Batman.
Faust tried to use the heores distraction by running away towards the doors, put two white gloved hands rose from the floor, grabbing his legs, causing Faust to almost trip, keeping the man in place while Batman threw a line that quickly trapped Faust arms to his sides, redering him, supposedly defensless.
Wonder Woman rushed to Batman's side, throwing her lasso over Faust to help. But Faust's hand and legs glowed, causing an electric shock to flow to the gloved hand at his feet and through the lines and electrocuting the heores and throwing them back. Down below, Danny screamed as he let go, falling to the floor beneath main one above.
It hurt, like hell, and Danny almost stayed laying there from fear. But he was quick to fly up to see Superman in the clutches of a viney plant while Flash did his best to hold up with a sword he picked up.
"Anyone got any weed killer?', Flash asks before being grabbed.
Martian manhunter lunged forward, but he too was grabbed, followed shortly by Danny.
It took him a moment to realise Batman and Wonder Woman jumped in to help as well, only to be swiftly caught, and the next moment, Faust disappeared with Hippolyta and the key.
As Danny struggled, he was quickly reminded of the time his entire city was taken over and Sam was posseces by a giant plant ghost. It was the same day Danny discover his ice core.
"Everyone brace yourselves!", Danny shouts in warning as his aura and eyes began to glow an icey blue as a wave of blue light bursts from Danny's body wiping through the plant, turning it to ice.
And by Danny's command, the ice crumbled, releasing the others, Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Flash fell to the floor, but each manged to land safely.
They ran forward to the spot where the duo once stood, Dians stared with a somber expression.
"Too late. She's gone.", Flash states, voice laced with frustration.
"And so is the key.", Superman adds.
Diana's voice was soft and weak as her eyes glazed over, "No..."
Not entirely sure what else to do, Danny placed a hand on Diana's shoulder in hopes of comforting her, at least a little.
Batman knelt down, and swiping at the dust from the Faust and Hippolyta's escape. Wonder Woman patted Danny's hand in gratitude before stepping, resolve steeled.
"There's only one place they could have gone.", Diana informed the group, "Follow me."
Danny shared worried looks with Flash and Martian Manhunter before they all followed Diana as she led them deep into the temple, grabbing a torch as she did so, to light the way.
She led them to a sealed door and placed her hand on a certain space on the wall beside the door and pushed, causing the stone door to noisily rise, revealing a dark long staircase leading down beneath the temple.
With no hesitation, Diana led the group down, her torch lighting the way, and Danny took up the rear, floating down after them, the white aura that surrounds his form proved to be useful as a light as well.
"Woah, what's that smell?", Flash asked in slight disgust, wrinkling his nose in distaste.
"Don't ask.", answered Wonder Woman clippily.
Danny just tried not to breath the air through his nose too much in hopes that he wouldn't identify the smell. Because there was a small chance he would, and trusts Diana when she clearly was telling them that they didn't want to know.
So yeah, he really didn't want to know.
It took a while, but the staircase finally ended with them entering into a large cavern with rubble and ruins were scattered across the area. Almost as if a battle had taken place. Knowing Greek history and the story behind the Gates to Tartarus, one might have actually taken place there.
When Danny flew up above the group to try and get a better look, he gasped in surprise at what he saw. It was an entire city that's been in ruin for many many years.
Forget the battle, it looked as if it was once an entire war zone.
Suddenly the entire area began to shake as if it was being disturbed by a mini-Earthquake, and Danny almost made himself believe it was if it weren't for the obvious loud clanking of gears turning and chains moving.
Like a Gate is opening.
Wonder Woman gasped, dropping the torch she held in horror, "We must hurry, he's opening the Gate!"
Flash sped forward, and Superman held Batman while the rest of the group flew speedily towards the main 'temple' of the destroyed city. With Flash in the lead, Danny close behind, followed by Diana, Superman, and J'onn.
"Hera help us.", Dina prays as she shoots forward with another burst of speed, easily taking the lead.
They all silently landed, hiding behind fallen columns and large boulders. Danny turned invisible as hid behind a column that was sitting mostly upright, to see three figures.
Hippolyta was chained to a fallen column herself, and Faust was speaking to a large handsome looking man in dark grey and black armor lined in red holding a helmet and a black cape fell from his shoulders. He has nicely tanned skin, long curly black hair, dark eyes, Danny swears they are actually black.
"... Now I demand what you promised me.", Faust was saying to what Danny can only assume to be Hades.
Danny honestly imagined him to be changed into some creepy demon-monster after spending millennia in what Greeks' call hell. Apparently not.
"Ah yes.", Hades nodded, deep tenor voice that echoed powerfully throughout the large cavernous room, "Ultimate knowledge."
So, Faust made a literal deal with the devil. There is no way this isn't going to backfire on him somehow.
Hades' hand began to glow with golden light that acted like flames as he pressed a glowing finger to a smug Faust's forehead.
"Ultimately... pain and suffering are all man will ever know.", Hades says condescendingly as Faust's hair turns grey and wrinkles began to appear on his skin, his mouth open in a breathless silent scream.
Once Hades released Faust from his power, Faust finally began to scream as he choked on his own saliva, falling to his knees.
"Good Lord.", Danny hears Superman say quietly from behind, the halfa being the only one to get close enough thanks to his invisibility.
Suddenly Wonder Woman leaps high in the air from behind the column that Hippolyta was chained to, sword in hand and she stroke down, aim true, freeing her mother from her bonds while Hades' eyes widened in surprise at her sudden appearance.
Wonder Woman quickly grabbed Hippolyta's hand once she was free and began to run, pulling the woman away from the God of the Underworld.
"Hurry mother!", Diana exclaims as they frantically made their escape.
Danny was tense, and was skeptical of the two Amazonian women's success at escape. Hades looked way to calm and unbothered much to Danny's disliking.
He didn't like what was happening, his instincts screaming at him to run, much like they had done when he went up against Pariah Dark and Dan, his future evil self.
Danny shuttered at the memory of both of those battles.
"Hippolyta...", cooed Hades, as if calling out for a mischievous child, sending chills down Danny's spine, "... you didn't tell me you had a daughter."
A distorted roar that sounded sickenly similar to when Danny used his ghostly wail as he opened his mouth and a torrent of flames aimed at the two women. Both who just barely managed to jump over a giant boulder that took the hit instead.
"I wonder if she's as loving as her mother?", Hades said thoughtfully as he stood over the two women, having caught up to them in seconds.
And he wasn't hardly even trying.
Danny almost felt like he was going to be sick.
Suddenly, Superman was flying towards Hades at full speed, landing a strong upper cut to the jaw. Hades stumbled a few paces back, but looked hardly bothered by the blow.
Superman flew forward for another attack, but with a single backhand, Hades just swatted him away as if he were nothing but an annoying fly. Superman bounced and tumbled on the ground and crashed in a column, causing it to crumble down.
Without even looking, Hades caught a Batarang, with threw quick beeps as his only warning, exploded. Batman threw another, but much like he did with Superman, Hades just flicked it away and continued his walk towards the Dark Knight, looking as if he was just having a stroll in the park.
Flash sped forward, circling the God of the Underworld and punching him in the stomach, the God being much taller than all of them, at least eight to nine feet tall, but much like all their other attacks, Hades remain unbothered.
Looking irritated by the speedster's assault, Hades once again blew flame and lava and Flash was forced to run away.
"Whoo! Get this guy a breath mint!", Flash quips.
Flash was running everywhere he could to escape the inferno that Hades was shooting at his tail.
Suddenly, Martian Manhunter came down with both feet slamming into the back of Hades neck and smashing him into the ground, creating a large crater beneath the two as they fell deep into the Earth from the force and out of sight.
But they were only gone for less of a second before Martian Manhunter was thrown from the deep crater with a cry and the fry beam shooting up into the ceiling.
Hades was just crawling out of the crater when his leg was suddenly frozen to the ground. He looked up curiously to see Danny floating above him, eyes and aura glowing a bright icy blue.
"Looks like you need to cool down.", Danny said with a smirk as he shot down towards Hades, who swiped at Danny, much like Superman and Batman's Batarangs.
Causing the boy to burst into green goo. Wonder woman gasped, hands covering her mouth in shock Flash and Batman both stared wide eyed at the mess, and Hippolyta looked regretful for the young loss.
Only for all to be confused as another Danny appeared from behind with a large boulder in hand, slamming it down on top of Hades head. Only for the boulder to crumble around the unbothered, but surprised and a little confused God, who just turned and breath his fire on Danny turning him into goop once again.
There was hardly time for anyone to react when another Danny flew from the ground, using his intangibility, and socking Hades twice in the Jaw, causing him to stumble back. With an irritated growl, Hades growled in irritation, grabbing Danny by the wrist and slamming him into the ground.
With a huff, Hades swiped the green goop off his armor, turning around only to see he was surrounded by at least ten Danny's, all of their eyes glowing a bright toxic green as they all circled Hades while simultaneously shooting out a long stream ectoblast, engulfing Hades in a bright green, almost white, light from the onslaught from the multiple Danny's.
Then the Dannys stopped and they all merged back into one, who flew a fair distance back, something telling him that he barely done anything. Proving correct, Hades walked forward from the smokey crater, his leg no longer covered in Danny's ice, and roared at the halfa.
Thinking fast, blue light shot from Dany's hands and the two elements collided one another, moving back and forth between the two beings, fighting for dominance. Then, suddenly, Hades quickly overtook Danny, causing him to cry out in pain as the blast hit him and the chest and threw him back, crashing into a large boulder, large cracks appearing where his body at hit it.
"Strange.", Hades mused with a tilt of his head, "Someone from my own Realm fighting against me."
Hades eyes narrowed before he began to laugh at Danny, as if he was the most hilarious thing he's seen in centuries.
"No, you don't belong in my realm.", Hades chuckled, his words dripping with amusement as he mocked the halfa, "Nor do you belong in this realm. You belong nowhere halfa."
The insult, but only name he has to what he is, was hissed as the word was spit from his mouth as if it deserved no place on his tongue.
Clicking his tongue, Hades shook his head with mock sympathy, "Those like always have the worst deaths. Even though you belong on neither plain, your kind still die despite being what you are."
With each word, Danny couldn't help but wince as Hades drew up old insecurities that he has just now been healing from.
Why is it always the big ones that know what words hurt?
Seemingly done with his taunts, Hades whirled to Hippolyta and Wonder Woman, Hippolyta now armed with a sword and shield, his eyes burning with literal fire.
"You Dare To Challenge A God!?", his voice echoed throughout the cavern as the stone the beneath his feet and crumpled and rose into a high mountain like structure with just a wave of his hand.
Flash helped the halfa up, mind pausing from its racing thought from the God's words about Danny, he looked up as the two separated, Danny going back to floating as he usually does while Flash was forced to try and stay on his feet.
Suddenly hands sprouted from the ground, holding tightly to Flash's legs with an iron tight grip. Danny was quick to grab Flash's hand flying up, pulling the speedster a few inches from the ground, but the pale skinny arms were a lot stronger than their appearance would have others believe.
Flash gave a shout as with one firm tug, he was pulled from Danny's grip and pinned to the ground. Batman, having been in a similar predicament, was pulled down as well.
"Behold the fates of all heroes.", Hades declared, arms crossed and cape flapping behind him dramatically.
Many skeletons in Greek armor rose from the ground, some even riding on skeleton horses. An army of the dead filled the room much faster than Danny would have liked. And more were still pouring in from every opening that led into the cavern.
Flash was struggling fruitlessly against the horde that held him.
"Urgh! Get them off!", Flash shouts.
Danny shot multiple ectoblasts, cutting down many of the skeleton soldiers, but not even placing a scratch in the army's ranks. But with the added space, Superman was quick to take the opening Danny made for him and yanked Flash from soldier's grip.
With a sly grin, Danny held his hands by his sides, concentrating as his green eyes glowed brighter, and two large glowing balls, creating by Danny's ectoblasts, the size of softballs grew in his glowing hands. With a grunt, Danny threw the two ecto-balls at two separate parts of the army creating two large ectoplasmic explosions. Danny's grin widened; he just made a ghost grenade with his ectoplasm.
But his grin quickly fell as he noticed that, despite taking out large numbers of their ranks, there were still many more dead soldiers fighting on.
"Their endless!", Wonder Woman cries out as she fought side by side with her mother, "How can we overcome them?"
"You can't!", Hades declares triumphantly, sure of his victory.
Danny separated into four duplicates, using his ice, ectoblasts, and ecto-bombs, his new attack, against the large hordes of enemies.
He stared as Hades shot three large fire balls. One taking out Martian Manhunter and Batman, a second taking out Superman and Flash, and the third heading straight form him. Three Danny's shout as the inferno incinerated them, leaving behind not even a single trace of ectoplasm, but the original managed to turn intangible just in for the attack to miss him but the aftershock threw him forward, crashing through a stray column, but made no move to get back up.
And Hades laughed and laughed.
"Bow to me mortals!", Danny heard the God ordered just as darkness overtook his vision.
…...
Danny wasn't out for very long, he quickly blinked back into consciousness just in time to see a monstrous Hades run for Diana who held the key in her hand and smashed it into pieces on the stone ground.
A bright golden beam of light escaped from where the key was smashed and swirled into the portal that led into Tartarus. A great suction flew through the tunnel like cavern, sucking in everything it could.
Danny turned intangible, yet the suction still dragged him slowly towards the portal, sinking most of his body into the ground before turning tangible again, halting the suctions process as the ground held firm, and held him still within it.
With gritted teeth and one eye squinted shut through the strain, Danny shakily turned to towards the Gate, looking for Diana, and everything froze, as if Clockwork worked his powers to slow time around Danny in order to give him the time he needed to make his decision.
Diana was clutching the ground tightly with one hand, Hippolyta's wrist, the Amazonian Queen being unconscious, with the other, while the monstrous Hades held tightly to the Queen as well, refusing to let go with sadistic glee.
The only thing is, what decision is there really?
Danny removed himself from the Earth, flying towards the trio, the suction of the Gate increasing his speed tenfold, and with a shout, he tackled Hades, causing him to release Hippolyta and the two flew through the air and into the portal. Last thing Danny heard was Diana screaming out his name while Hades screamed Hippolyta's.
And Danny faintly heard the Gate shut behind him minutes later as he grabbled with the God of the Underworld.
"You.", he hissed as he held to Danny's wrists tightly, "I'm going to make sure that you will forever be screaming in agonizing pain, begging me for mercy, you little abomination."
Danny grimaced, but only gave Hades a fierce fearless glare.
"Already done that, thanks."
Suddenly a green swirling portal appeared behind Danny, green lashes of energy wrapping around Danny's body, halting his decent into Tartarus with a jerking halt. But Hades held firm.
"If I'm going back, I'm Taking You With Me!", Hades cries in outrage.
But Danny's glare hardened, his toxic eyes glowing brighter than ever before, a wide smirk appeared on his lips.
"Yeah, I'm going have to pass.", Danny quipped, his smirk only widening, "Have a nice trip!"
Ectoblasts shot from Danny's eyes and landed on Hades' face who cries out, clawed hands covering his face, flying the rest of the way to Tartarus while the green portal dragged Danny through it.
Bringing him no place but the Ghost Zone.
Danny rubbed his head as he slowly got up from the ground when the portal spat him out, wondering where he was.
"Huh, where in the Ghost Zone am I?", Danny wondered as he scanned his surroundings, "This place looks familiar."
Suddenly a large shadow fell over Danny as he froze, body tensing, before slowly turning around, dread and fear clear on his features.
"Daniel."
"... Crap.", Danny squeaked.
…...
Hippolyta held her daughter as she stared at the locked Gates that held her teammate, her friend. The entire league, the air around them filled with solemness and their grief as they mourned over the youngest of their team.
"I... can't believe the kid's actually gone.", Flash said quietly, "He was so stubborn, kept getting up despite the odds."
"He was young.", Superman said, staring at the doors as if Danny would suddenly appear like nothing ever happened, "Even if he's been dead for years, he was still young."
"He may be dead, but now he may be truly gone.", Martian Manhunter mourned, another lost to add for him to grieve, reminding him painfully of the loss of his people.
"He's a hero.", Batman says, his voice stoic, but his aura spoke volumes, "Always was and always will be."
Batman has never quit figure Phantom out, but with what Hades had said, everything came together. He could only imagine the grief, Batman knew they would have to tell his family, his sister most of all. He wonders that, without proof, if Daniel Fenton's parents would even believe him if he told them his son was the ghost Phantom who gave his life to saved the world from the God of the Underworld and his undead army.
They didn't even believe the boy himself.
Unnoticed from the others, Batman's jaw clenched and his hands folded into tight fists as he silently seethed.
His own parents...
"It's all my fault.", Diana whispers, her voice trembling as she spoke, "He came because I asked."
Superman placed a hand on the Amazonian's shoulder, "We didn't even have to ask. The moment he knew something was wrong, he wanted to come."
"He would want us to go on without him.", Flash says despondently.
"He would want us to forget.", Martian Manhunter agreed somberly.
Because it was the truth. Despite what Danny thought, what he believed. The League all knew that he wasn't telling the whole truth when he said he died. None of them knew what, except Batman now knew, but they all knew there was more to how he died.
They all knew that Phantom didn't spoke much of himself, but they still knew him as a person. And the truth is, he never really thought of himself, always held others above him.
While his selflessness is an admirable quality, Phantom was selfless to a flaw. He never looked out for himself. Which was why they all did their best to look out for him, while simultaneously treating him as an equal to the team. A difficult task, but each and every one of them did their best. And granted, they all did really well within the circumstances.
The League knew Danny didn't think much of himself. And in one way or another, it broke their hearts.
So, in a way, they each decided to become his carers. They cared for him because they knew he didn't care much for himself.
"Such a sad lonely boy.", Hippolyta says somberly, "Hera help him."
Suddenly a great big green portal appeared behind the group. The Hippolyta and Wonder Woman sprung to their feet as the group all got into defensive positions, each preparing for the worst as they could hear loud female yelling from withing the toxic green portal.
Suddenly, a tall ten-twelve foot tall, four-armed, blue skinned woman with pink hair and dressed in Greek armor exited the portal, her red eyes blazing angrily as she stared into the portal with a mighty glare. They stared dumbfounded as she held one arm in the portal seemingly struggling with something.
"Oh no you don't mister!", the woman shouts angrily as her arm snags something, or someone assumingly, successfully, "I just had a talk with you about being more careful, and What Do You Do In Less Than Twelve Hours Later!?"
The woman withdrew her arm holding a familiar ghost teen by the back of his jumpsuit like he was a misbehaving kitten.
"Phantom!?", Flash cries out in shock.
"You're okay!", Wonder Woman exclaims in disbelief.
Danny timidly waved at the group, but the giant woman wasn't having it, completely ignoring the interaction.
"YOU THROW YOUR SELF INTO TARTARUS!", the woman shrieks, "WHAT IN THE INFINTE REALMS WERE YOU THINKING!? ARE YOU TRYING TO PERMANTELY KILL ME OFF FOR GOOD!? IF I WASN'T ALREADY DEAD, I WOULD'VE DIED FROM A HEART ATTACK AGES AGO THANKS TO YOUR RECKLESS ACTIONS! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOURSELF!?"
"Sorry Pandora.", Danny mumbled as he shrunk in on himself.
"Pandora?", Hippolyta breathed in shock at the sight, Diana was struck silent staring in awe at the tall woman as well.
"Guess the kid wasn't kidding.", Flash said in a daze, still in slight shock to be seeing Danny there and well, "But he forgot to mention that she is practically his mother."
"You've should've seen Ma whenever I got in trouble.", Superman said in amusement, "It was practically the same scenario like this."
Batman was just smirking; Pandora was already doing all the scolding that he was actually planning. Only for there to be no need. The Greek ghost had it all covered.
"I just-.", Danny tried to explain himself but Pandora wasn't having it.
"Hush.", Pandora said sternly, immediately silencing the teen.
She turned to the group who all but Batman flinched underneath her thunderous stare. But she only glared at them for a moment before suddenly doing a 180 on them.
"Now you must be Danny's new friends!", she gushed just like, well, just like a mother, "I am so sorry for the trouble his actions have caused. The portal's to the two world's Tartarus and the Ghost Zone were connected, having recognize that Danny belonged in the Ghost Zone, it sent him there instead. I, luckily, have a portal that allows me to keep an eye on Themysicra. You couldn't believe how horrified I was when I saw Danny here practically throw himself into hell. He didn't even know the two portals were connected!"
The group were silence, the only even attempting to make conversation was Flash with his very impressive, "Uh..."
But Pandora kept going, not even realizing he spoken.
"Danny here has been through so much, but from what I've heard you all been doing him some good.", Pandora praised, "He hasn't almost died trying to save the world thanks to you lot being there for him. It still feels like only yesterday when he got in that lab accident two years ago. Don't let his parents get away with any of it. For scientists those people are dumber than a rock."
The said halfa couldn't help but flush at Pandora's words, covering his bright green face with his hands as he quietly groans in embarrassment.
Pandora knowing exactly what she just did with a knowing look paired with a satisfied smirk, placed Danny back on the ground, the halfa instinctively floating a couple inches above it, still ducking his head in his hands. Hoping for the Earth to swallow him up or for Clockwork to come to his rescue.
No dice.
In fact, unbeknownst to Danny, Clockwork was watching the entire thing in satisfaction, a wide smug grin on his face. The Time Ghost may or may not have been the one who told Pandora about Danny's close encounter with his parents in order to set off this chain of events.
Pandora did another 180 as she stared the Justic League down.
"And if I hear that you have hurt young Daniel, there is nothing in creation, not even Zeus himself Can Save You FROM MY WRATH!", the Greek woman boomed, her protectiveness actually made the League smile, Flash being the only one who seemed to be nervous.
Satisfied, Pandora turned, making to leave through the portal she and Danny exited from before pausing and turning with a mischievous grin.
"If you want to see his parents..."
"Pandora, don't you dare!", Danny exclaims in panic.
"... They live in Amity Park, not too far from Metropolis and Central city."
Satisfied with herself, her work now, done. Pandora left through the portal, which shortly disappeared after she entered it.
After a minute of staring at the spot Pandora just left through, Diana turns to Danny with a fond smile.
"So, Danny huh?"
Danny just groaned and shoved his face into his hands once more. Flash chuckled and pat the kid on the back.
"It suits you.", J'onn comments with a small grin of his own.
"Welcome back.", Superman says happily ruffling the halfa's hair.
"Thank Athena that's all over.", Hippolyta sighs with relief.
"Is it?", Diana says skeptically with a raised brow, expression now serious, "What about our Amazon sisters?"
The group were quick to make their way out of the temple. Standing outside on its steps while Hippolyta stared despondently at the many Amazonians statues. This time, it was Diana's turn to comfort her mother.
"Is there nothing we can do for them?", J'onn asked.
Flash suddenly seemed thoughtful for second before grabbing Faust's amulet that he stole earlier.
"I still have this snake-headed doohickey.", he pipped up.
"But only Faust knew the spells.", J'onn replied, the sun rising behind him, "Without him-."
The amulet suddenly began to glow in the light of the sun.
"Yow!", yelps Flash dropping the amulet.
It glowed brightly where it laid on the ground, Danny at to cover his eyes as the light was glowing so bright, overtaking the entire courtyard. When the light faded, Danny slowly uncovered his eyes to see Diana staring at the statues, now slowly turning back into the Amazon women happily.
"Look.", she says in joy.
"But how?", Flash says in confusion.
"Faust's enchantment could only last as long as he willed it.", Batman explained.
"That's cool and all.", Danny cups his mouth as he whispers urgently to the two, "But shouldn't we get out of here before anyone notices? You know, the women that hate all man?"
"So now that he is gone, the spell is broken.", Diana says is relief, not hearing Danny as she embraced her mother, "It's a miracle."
"Athena be praised.", Hippolyta agreed.
...
Surprisingly, the group were not chase out by swords, spears, and arrows like Danny feared.
Instead, they all stood by their jet as the Amazons praised them and saw them off with peaceful farewells.
"And for your brave assistance against the sorcerer, Faust, and the mad God, Hades, you have earned our eternal gratitude.", Hippolyta said gratefully, Diana stood proudly by her side.
"Did you hear that? Eternal gratitude.", Flash says smugly to an Amazonian warrior that stood next to Danny, who was placed at the end of the line, "After she hands out the medals how about you and me take a private tour of paradise?"
Flash winced as Danny, blank-faced, stomped hard on hi foot without anyone noticing while the Amazon scowled at the man clan in red.
Shaking off the pain, Flash just crossed his arms as if nothing happened with a confident smile.
"She wants me.", he said to the halfa and Martian confidently.
"Indeed.", J'onn said, neither encouraging or discouraging Flash's actions.
"Before you leave,", Hippolyta's voice brought the trio's attention back to her and Diana, ", please accept these royal offerings."
A dark-skinned Amazon in a white toga held out the golden leaf headdress. Danny smiled politely and nodded in gratitude. The Amazon nodded politely back in return.
"You are all truly heroes."
"Thank you, your majesty.", Superman bowed.
Flash stared at his crown and put on backwards.
"Cool!", he exclaimed satisfied.
Danny resisted the urge to face palm while he shook his head in exasperation, but couldn't help the small smile on his lips.
"Diana, Princess of Themyscira stand forth.", Hippolyta calls.
Dian stepped forward, bowing respectively to her mother.
"As your mother, I am overjoyed that you have finally returned to us.", Hippolyta began, Danny wasn't sure he liked where this was going, "But as your Queen, I'm obliged to uphold the laws of Themyscira."
Danny sighs sadly for Diana, knowing where this was going.
"And in bringing these outsiders to our island, you have broken our most sacred law.", Hippolyta continued, "This cannot be overlooked."
"But mother...", Diana stepped forward, but halted at the raise of Hippolyta's hand.
"Diana, I have no choice.", Hippolyta stood from her throne, "It is with a heavy heart that I must exile you... from Themyscira."
"What?", Superman gasped as Diana gaped at her mother in shock.
"You can't do that!", exclaims Flash angrily, putting many of the Amazons on guard as he stepped forward, "She risked her butt to save all of you! She- hey!"
Flash stepped back as the Amazon guards pointed their spears at him threatenly.
"Please.", Superman pleaded, "She did this because she loves you. You can't punish her for that."
"No, mother's right.", Wonder Woman says emotionlessly, "I did break the law, and I humbly accept your judgment."
Danny clenched his fists and ducked his head, knowing how hard this is for her.
"The fates were against us mother.", Diana's voice trembled as tears appeared at the edges of her eyes, "Goodbye."
With that said, Diana turned and walked away. But the Amazons weren't going to let her leave without showing her the respect she deserved.
"Present... Arms!"
The Amazon guards held up their spears in salute to Wonder Woman and her bravery. While Wonder Woman walked back to the jet, head held high, proudly.
Danny smiled at the Amazons, and he noticed some smiled back, as he, Martian Manhunter, and Superman followed the woman's lead.
"That's it?", Flash said in disbelief, "You're just gonna walk away? This is so bogus."
But Batman grabbed him, halting his rant.
"Don't make this harder than it already is.", Batman whispered, quieting the speedster.
And the two soon took up the rear.
Danny frowned worriedly when Diana paused at the edge of the jet's ramp. J'onn reached forward with a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Diana..."
But Diana continued forward, "Let's go."
The only bright side that Danny saw in this was that it seemed the others forgot everything said about him from both Pandora and Hades because he didn't receive any questions or curious looks from the others. Not even when they reached the Station.
...
"Danny! Can you get the door please! Your mother and I are busy on a new invention!", Jack called from the basement.
"Sure thing!", Danny replies back.
He opened the door to see a tall broad-shouldered man with blue eyes, dark hair, and glasses.
"Hello. I'm Clark Kent from the Daily Planet.", the man, Clark, introduced himself shaking Danny's hand, giving the boy a fond smile, "I'm a reporter from the Daily Planet in Metropolis. I was hoping I could speak to Madeline and Jack Fenton?"
Danny nodded, staring at the man curiously, it felt like the man knew Danny, but the halfa was sure he had never met the guy in his life.
"Mom! Dad! There's a reporter here to see you!", Danny shouts, forcing himself to say the words, knowing there was no way to avoid it.
There was loud crashing in the basement before the said couple slammed excitedly through the door.
"Fantastic!", Jack exclaimed, was it just Danny's imagination or did the man tense behind him, "Danny, why don't you go for a walk or visit your friends. Haven't seen Sam and Tucker in a while."
"That's because they're not my friends anymore.", Danny mumbled.
Jack waved him away, "Poppycock! Go hang out with them."
Danny just sighed with a shrug, grabbing his red jacket and backpack. Maybe he could go to Valerie's so they could work on classes together and maybe go to Nasty Burger and the Arcade later. He's having some difficulty on his English paper that was due soon.
"Bye.", Danny said, his parent didn't answer him, but surprisingly, the man did.
"Have fun.", he said fondly and ruffled his hair with a bright smile.
It wasn't even condescending like when other adults do it, Clark Kent was genuine in his actions. Causing Danny to stare at him in confusion until the door shut, cutting off his line of sight.
What a strange encounter.
Danny began to walk away, only able to get as far as a block when he heard a shout from behind.
"Hey, kid!"
Danny turned to see a tall red-haired man with freckles jogging up to his side. The halfa tilted his head curiously, is this going to be one of those day's?
"Hi...?", Danny said in confusion, having never seen the guy before, and tourists don't think much of him at first glance.
"Hi, Wally West nice to meet you.", the man held out his hand which, after a moment of hesitation, Danny shook.
"Danny Fenton. What brings you to Amity Park?", Danny asked curiously.
"Oh, just wanted to check out the police department here with some of the guys from work.", Wally said with a shrug, hitching a thumb at a couple of other men all gathered around a couple of parked cars, "Police over her have been lagging, leaving everything to their heroes and vigilantes Phantom and Red Huntress. The boys and I were hoping we could set some things there straight. You wouldn't happen to know where the Police Department is, would you?"
Oh, Danny knows it alright. He lost count of the number of times he had to just drop the criminals at their doorstep at their insistence. He and Red have enough on their plate with having to do with their laziness, but they don't have the time to talk some sense into them.
Hopefully these guys would.
"Sure thing.", Danny smiled amicably, pointing down the road, "Just down the road at the corner on your left, only three buildings away from Nasty Burger."
Wally nodded gratefully, patting Danny on the back as if he just did something amazing, "Great! Thanks kid. And we got a place to eat lunch at now too. Thanks again."
And he swiftly walked away.
Danny stared after him for a moment before continuing on his way with a small shrugged. But as he walked, Danny couldn't help but feel that the guy had the same look in his eye like that reporter Clark Kent. As if they knew him.
He ran into a guy in a large trench coat and brown hair.
"Sorry.", his voice was deep, familiar.
But the man just shook Danny's hand pat his head fondly and walked away.
Okay this was starting to get on the weird side.
He doesn't feel like visiting Valerie anymore, maybe a quick trip to the Arcade by himself would make him feel a little better, and it did. He met a nice kid a couple of years older than him too. His name was Jason, he had messy black hair and green eyes.
Looked like your average high school punk, but really liked books. Danny chatted excitedly with him, telling him about how he got as many books he could get his hands on about the stars and space while Jason spoke animatedly about the book he was currently reading. Danny's pretty sure it was 'The Signal-Man'.
Sadly, not to long later, an old man with a thin mustache in a crisp clean suit placed a hand on Jason's shoulder.
"Time to go Master Jason.", man said curtly, he had a British accent.
Besides a small groan, Jason left without a fuss after a small good bye between the two.
"Why are we here again Alfred?", Danny heard Jason ask as the two left.
"Well, Master Bruce thought since you've been reading so many ghost stories recently, a trip to Amity Park would be fun.", the man, Alfred answered with a small smile.
Was it just his imagination, or has that guy, Alfred, been staring at him from the corner from his eye the entire time?
Why is it that Danny keeps running into these people who are new to town? And why have they all been acting weird around him in one way or another?
Danny groaned and left the arcade. Food, that's what he needs. Food fixes everything.
With a relieved sigh Danny entered the Nasty Burger, about order his usual when he suddenly spotted Sam and Tucker at the counter.
Abort! Abort! Abort!
By the time Danny tried to quickly sneak away, Sam and Tucker had already spotted and corner him.
"Danny where have you been dude!?", Tucker asks, before lowering his voice to a whisper, "And you formed the Justice League!? That's so cool! Have you told them about my mad skills in tech?"
"Or the danger that humans have been posing for the Earth?", Sam insisted, without even a hello.
"Uh, guys, I'm not in the mood for this right now. And I thought I said to leave me alone?", Danny says tiredly as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
He really didn't want to deal with this after the weird day he's been having. Where was Valerie when you need her?
"Well, we knew you didn't really mean it.", Sam scoffed as she crossed her arms, "And did you get a new number or something, you haven't answered any of our texts or calls. At least let us know when you do that."
"Yeah, not cool dude.", Tucker agreed with a small glare in offense.
"Seriously?", Danny stared at his two former friends in disbelief, "You guys don't respect my wishes to believe what I say at face value? It wasn't even a text or a phone call, I said it right in both of your faces."
"Of course, but you didn't want to stand up to Valerie.", Sam shook her head as if he were totally oblivious while smiling at him as if to say condescendingly 'she understood everything', "We know what's going on. Don't worry, no need to pretend anymore."
"Yeah, don't worry dude, we got your back.", Tucker nodded with the same fake 'we will always be your friends' smile.
Danny honestly couldn't believe his ears right now. And people said he was clueless. Valerie was there for support when he broke off, at least tried, their friendship.
If he could honestly really call it that.
"Do you guys see her anywhere?", Danny asked.
The two both looked, just in case before Sam shook her head and Tucker replied with a proud "Nope."
Danny smiled, but it was the most fake smile he has ever worn in his life, "Great! Now listen closely..."
They both eagerly leaned in, as if expecting him to tell them some exciting adventure or something. Knowing them, that might as well be what they were thinking.
"I'm... not... your friend anymore.", Danny said with gritted teeth dropping the smile, "Do you guys seriously think I'd be friends with you guys when you used me for a shield against the bullies all those years? As a scapegoat? There's no Valerie, no one is forcing me. I don't want to be your friend anymore. Just like everyone else, you guys thought me to be a loser. That's not what friends do."
And with that said, Danny angrily stormed out of the restaurant, bumping into a woman, he almost fell down, but she remained were she stood, unbothered.
"Wow, nicely done little brother. You did well in standing up for yourself.", a very familiar voice praise, "I'm proud of you."
Danny could only gape at the dark-haired woman who stood in front of him in shock. He almost didn't recognize her for a second without her headpiece.
"I'm Diana Prince."
Now Danny is very confused.
"Danny Fenton.", he managed to say in his shock, but he will forever slam his head into the wall for the random question that popped out of his mouth next, "Do you mind helping me with my English Homework?"
He may know her, but there was no way she could know him, right? Strangers don't just ask strangers to help them with their homework.
But he just did...
"I'd be honored.", Diana said with a wide smile, her hands placed proudly on her hips as she looked over Danny fondly, "I saw a great café on my way here, we can work there along with some food, my treat."
"You don't have to- woah!", Danny never got to finish as Diana happily pulled along.
This was honestly the weirdest day he has ever had, by far.