Work Text:
The first thing they noticed was the disappearances. All ghosts and revived people they knew were suddenly gone and unreachable. Gone without a trace, not a word before.
But none of them had left without some preparation. For example, Red Hood had taken all his favorite weapons with him, some clothes, a spare armour and some keepsakes.
The next thing were multiple attacks on government facilities all around the world. All at once, same time right down to the second. An explosion, theft, destruction, no traces. A hit and run in under half an hour, leaving nothing but decimation in its wake.
The government officials of many different counties came together after that. They talked, then the building was attacked as well. From the inside. And it was only then that the government - or what was remaining of it - gave a statement.
"The Infinite Realms have declared war on us," they said, "They already have the entire afterlife in their hands. But they want more. They want us, as well. And they say we should surrender. Because, they say, we don't have a chance to win. Well, we say we'll be the judge of that. This is our dimension. Our home. Where would we go if we just gave it up?
No. We survived Darkseid. We survived Starro. We survived the White Martians. We survived Perpetua. And we survived the Black Lantern Corps. We will survive this. They think they can just take our home from us? Well. Others thought so before. And no matter how harsh this battle, this war will be - we will fight it and, in the end, we will win it."
No one knew what they might be hiding. Only that the story was most certainly bigger than that. One thing that was most certainly true, however, was that the war was most definitely harsh. And that was the optimistic way to put it. Bloody hell, even nightmare was putting it lightly.
The Infinite Realms was the space connecting all the different realms of the afterlife. Hell, Valhalla, Fólkvangr, Tartarus, Sheol, Neraka, Ne-No-Kuni, Hamistagan, Bulu, Diyu, Duat, Xibalba, Zamhareer, Purgatory, Hel, Limbo, you name it. All the different realms of the afterlife. And the souls who never passed on to any of them, those were the spirits of the Infinite Realms, the True Ghosts. But no matter what, every inhabitant of any of the afterlife realms was a part of the Infinite Realms - was who they fought a war with.
It didn't even take one week for talismans and salt to become a necessary item for every household. Everything that might keep a demon away was treasured like there was no tomorrow.
But the creatures crawling across from the afterlife every now and again were nothing in comparison to the True Ghosts. And unfortunately, they were the main forces waging the war.
They could possess a person, could turn anyone into a spy or saboteur against their will. It took a while for them to realise just what that meant, though.
It was Wally West who had the unfortunate fate to make that discovery. He had been stationed at a base in the Sahara. A safe space where many living people were hiding, he and a few others had the mission to keep them from being found. And to protect the lab they had at that base, one of the few places where they made weapons with ecto-energy. One of the few places with blueprints for those weapons that hadn't yet been annihilated.
It happened when Sarah and Cyle ran into the lab in a hurry, out of breath and pale as death. Wally stopped what he was doing right away, carefully looking at his two coworkers. "Niap trunuo nac neo on, uot snrut," Wally immediately greeted them with his code in spite of his obvious concern, remembering how insistent Bruce had been about them not skipping that part no matter what.
Cyle chirped three times in return and Sarah clicked her tongue twice before adding: "Inevitably so."
Some tension immediately left Wally upon recognising the absolutely nonsensical codes. No one would ever think to answer that way if not knowing exactly what to do, after all. But still, his coworkers were still frightened. So he squared himself for the answer to his question. "What happened?"
"They found us!" Sarah looked around for an invisible foe, tense in a way that had Wally make himself ready to start running. "They found us and now they'll… Oh, god!"
"Protocol Z, kid. B-man's orders." Regardless of the stoic voice Cyle used, Wally could still notice the light tremor in his voice.
When the words registered, though, Wally froze. "What? Protocol Z, really? Destroy everything? But-"
"Batman said so. I don't… It's better than giving away too much info to the enemy, I think?."
And, well, that made sense. So they ran around for the next few minutes, getting all the weapons in the lab to the zeta tube. Rescue what fit, prepare the rest for destruction. Including the destruction fo the blue prints.
It was only when the last blue print was put down on the pile that Cyle suddenly started to laugh like a mad man. "Shit, I didn't think it would work. Fucking hell, okay."
A snap of his fingers was all it took for the weapons to catch fire, alongside the zeta tube and the blue prints. Next thing the knew, Cyle fell to the floor, clearly unconscious. And a woman stood in front of them instead, glowing green. "Ha! Idiots."
"Wha- But- The code!" Sarah's confused cry was almost drowned out by the roar of the flames.
The other woman scoffed. "Really? I can turn invisible, hun. I watched you for… Well, I don't remember what time is most of the time. But it's been more than enough to figure that little thing out."
The report Wally had had to make that day was devastating in many different regards.
But that wasn't everything. No, the True Ghosts were also near indestructible. They could be banished, sure. Exorcised or something like that. But killed? No. The only way to terminate a True Ghost was by crushing their core. And reaching that so it even could be crushed? It was a gamble you were basically set to loose.
The High King was ruthless, too. With each passing day, his tactics became more shrewd. Darker. Crueler.
It was a loosing war. Heck, they didn't even win the battles.
It took only the quarter of a year for Egypt to fall. Then Japan. Africa. China. The United Kingdoms. Argentina. Australia. Thymescia.
And half a year after that hellish war had begun? Well. Half a year after that, the High King showed himself to the Justice League. Right in what was left of the Hall of Justice, where many of them were wrapping their wounds. Right past all the protective measures John had provided for them.
They'd only caught glimpses of the eldritch being so far throughout the battles. He'd been on the battle fronts a lot, observing and fighting along side his armies if necessary. But at large, the High King had taken to the back and kept there. So the heroes had only managed single glances of glowing green, dragon-like wings, and a black snake tail, of arms and claws made out of sharp ice, of a white head glitching too violently to see properly with too many eyes to keep looking.
Now, though, now they saw all of it at once. Every terrifying feature united in a single monster, larger than what was left of the Hall of Justice. Even if it had still been whole, before being reduced to this state of near-destruction, the Ghost King's imposting figure would never have fit underneath the roof.
A small group seperated from the more injured heroes in the back. Diana, Clark, Hal, and since this entire fuckery was the supernatural kind anyways obviously also John. The rest was too wounded, including a very disgruntled Bruce, who had to be held back by both Barry and Oliver just so he would stay leaned against the stone wall instead of charging in recklessly. If Barry had less broken bones or if Oliver could still breath through his cracked ribs, maybe then they wouldn't have been able to do it. But even concussed and poisoned, Bruce didn't want to aggravate his friends' injuries and held back. Fortunately.
The four at the front knew they wouldn't be able to take the High King on. Even with all of them in top condition and all of their numbers it would have been questionable wether they'd be a match for the being in front of them. But they hoped, prayed, that they might be able to hold that thing off. Just long enough for at least some of their comrade to flee.
The being didn't attack, however. Instead, he just kept floating above them, casting everything in a green half-shadow. Waiting. For something they didn't know about. It was horrifying, honestly. They all knew this True Ghost was the strongest of them all, knew that he could swoop down and end them all - knew that it was quite possible all of them would be forced to switch sides by the end of this encounter.
The only thing that gave any bloody form of comfort was that it gave Constantine more time to prepare his teleportation spell behind his back. Slowly, carefully, so that the being wouldn't notice the obvious fluctuation of magic power as easily. If it worked, he might be able to get the rest of these sorry sots away, somewhere where they could heal their injuries and live to see another day as part of the Living Plane. If not… Well. Then they were all downright screwed anyways.
Suddenly, the first move was made. Not by them or the High King but by a figure none of them had noticed before. A figure they all recognised damn well.
The red bat on his chest was missing, and his eyes were constantly glowing that eery shade of toxic green instead of just flashing it. His hair was whiter than before, and much longer. He wasn't wearing his helmet either, nor his leather jacket. The iconic items had been replaced by a coat of white fur and a flaming, red mask covering the lower half of his face. But they still all knew.
"Jayson…" The desperate whisper was only met with a cold stare. Otherwise, the man ignored Roy just like all the other heroes in the back.
Oliver and Barry had a lot of a harder time holding the half-delirious Batman back now.
"His Highness has come to talk," Jason announced while looking at the four heroes in the front. He didn't even spare his father a single glance, but they all could see his shoulders stiffen and his hand twitch when Bruce called out to him from the back.
"Oh?" John asked as he sneakily hurried his teleportation spell along, just to buy some time really. "Talk about what?"
"You, actually."
At once, the eldritch being melted away. No, more like it was blown away. Like dust the form of the High King - His voice had been distorted but sounded young, though they all knew that didn't mean much when it came to those bloody bastards - fell away to reveal-
"Danny?!"
There was no doubt about it. This was him, the same ghostly child that had crashed into the Watchtower three years ago. The same child that had begged them for help. The same child who'd told them about the human-made imbalance of the realms, who had worked along side them for half a year, who'd befriended the entire bat-family.
Who had calmed Jason down from his pit episodes and mended the man's relationship with the rest of the family. Who had hidden over a dozen cups in the walls of Wayne manor just to make sure Tim wouldn't get more coffee and just sleep. Who had helped Cass and Damian heal from some of the trauma he'd had to go through at least. Who had passed along messaged between Dick and his parents, who'd searched the afterlife a month to find them at all. Who had-
It didn't fit together. But there, in front of them stood the same child that had apologised under tears when he had to suddenly leave and who had managed to make his home in the hearts of the entire Justice League. It didn't make any sense. But it was Danny Phantom. And that was the High King's crown atop his head, casting an icy mist around itself.
This was the protector spirit that they had called their friend. And the reason for all the destruction around them.
"Yes," the child confirmed in a harsh voice what they already knew, "Nice to know you remember. But I'm not here for old time's sake, though. My knight?"
Swiftly, Jason pulled his gun from the holster around his leg and started shooting - the ground? Jason was a good shot, so there was no way he'd missed. It was almost like thinking Arrow or Arsenal had missed their target just because it was moving - absolutely absurd. So why had the man shot the floor between the four heroes in the front and the injured ones in the back? John stiffened, definitely not liking this.
With a flash and a sickening crunch, the floor started to rip open then. A chasm was created from nothing, caging the injured heroes in. A deep, large, burning, glowing, green chasm.
Oh, John absolu-bloody-lutely didn't like this.
"Neat little spell, isn't it? Try to cross that and you will die. No interfering for any of you back there for the next two hours," Hood explained coolly, "Don't worry, it'll wear off eventually."
Oh, bloody hell! Yeah, John downright fucking hated this.
Phantom nodded and turned to the ex-hero-turned-crime-lord-turned-vigilante. "That will be all. Go wait at the castle."
Jason startled, glowing green eyes looking at the king in shock. "But-"
"No. I don't need you, and I will not let you be around any of them right now." The High King scowled at Jason, who obviously wanted to say something else. "That is an order, Jason. Go."
There was reluctancy in every movement Hood made, but after a glance at the heroes in front of his king and one at those surrounded by the chasm - maybe it was just Roy's and Bruce's imagination, but they thought his eyes lingered on them - he bowed and turned to walk away. The rest of the League could only watch as he left.
It was painful to watch. They had gotten reports about him, but hadn't seen him through all of this. They'd feared… many things, actually. And now they knew for certain that it really was him. That their former friend, who they'd just barely gotten back onto their side again, was now their enemy. In a war they were loosing.
They didn't have too much time to dwell on it, though. Because next thing they knew, ice shard shot up from the floor. John startled so much he accidentally cancelled his spell half-way through. Diana and Clark managed to jump out of the way just in time. Looking at each other, they suddenly noticed what had happened. Hurriedly, they tried to fly up, but-
"Too late. Gotcha."
Ice closed the top of the cage. The ice shards like bars didn't even crack when Clark and Diana hit them, even with all their strength.
"I'm sorry about this," Danny said, not sounding very sorry at all, "but I need you to stay out of this. Because this is something between me" Suddenly the child glitched and stood right in front of John, who couldn't even back up because the ice was at his back. "and Johnny here."
John gulped, preparing an offensive spell this time and not bothering to be subtle about it. So this was how he would die, huh? Well. He'd had a good run. Done some good. Done a lot of shite. Fucked around and found out too bloody much. He'd've liked it to be longer, sure, but it was passable attempt at life.
When Danny pointedly looked at the forming spell and scoffed, John couldn't help but get defensive about his reaction. He was standing in front of the most powerful being beyond death and, what, was just supposed to take whatever the ankle-biter had in store for him? Fat chance. So narrowed his eyes and, like the draft idiot he sometimes was, opened his mouth: "What? You're a proper nutter if ya think I'll just go along with whatever you've got planned in that knob head of yours. Piss off."
The child king gave a dry chuckle at his words, eyes flashing in obvious - and a bit scary - annoyance. "Aw, man! Gotta love that spirit you have there. But, no, I know. Again, though, I'm here to talk. You won't be needing that. Since, you know, we're not going to fight."
"Hogwash." No matter if John was testing his luck now, he seemed to have run out anyways.
"No, really," Danny claimed, "I'm here because I like you, Johnny. Or, I like those spells you have, really. I just think they're nifty."
"I'm not betraying me mates," John told him stubbornly when those words clicked, knowing full well he was signing is death certificate, "No matter what you do. Torture me, send that knight of yours after me, doesn't matter. Don't mean to be a par, but… Do your worst, I won't join ya. Cheers."
"Actually, I wasn't really going to give you the choice. But good to know." Danny smirked, leisurely leaning back. "I-"
A scream interrupted them, and when John looked over he could see Vibe's corpse. Right next to the chasm. The scream hadn't even been his, John noticed with a start. Feeling himself pale a fair bit, he slowly turned to Danny. The other just sighed (though John felt like he could also see some pain behind the child's nonchalance). "Jason warned you, didn't he? Don't try something stupid like crossing before the spell wears off. Do yourselves a favour."
Ignoring the death next to him, Danny just turned back to Constantine. "Anyways," he resumed as if nothing had happened at all, "did you know why demons can only claim a soul after death? It's easy: They have to drag you back to hell before they can claim you. Now, me? Nah. You see, no matter what happens, you will definitely die, eventually. And therefore you will definitely be part of my domain. Eventually."
Not really caring to listen to this more, John fired his spell - which, to his horror, was stopped with nothing more than a raised hand from the child. Hanging in mid-air, frozen. Never before had John had to fight with his own magic, but now… Slowly he looked back to the child, shaking slightly.
It'd been a while since he'd felt this powerless.
"You know, I don't usually claim souls. And if I did, I wouldn't really do it while they're still alive. But I can, though. The only reason I never did is because it's considered bad manners. But with the war and everything… I was thinking this calls for an exception, don't you?"
It was then that John really understood: The Infinite Realms was the space connecting all the different realms of the afterlife. Including hell.
As if mocking him, Danny pulled out a folder from the folds of his regal cape and started to leisurely flipp through them. "Took a while to collect all these, you know? But you didn't make a lot of friends in hell or heaven. So when they learned who was trying to get these and that it was to force you to join our side in this war, they handed them over really easily~." With what could almost have passed as an apologetic smirk, Danny violently ripped reality open to create a swirling green portal.
A flip of the hand was all it took to catapult John through it. From the pristine floor of what he feared to be the High King's palace, John watched as the eldritch monster of a child melted the ice cage that still held his friends. "Oh, and by the way: If you happen to find a white flag and decide to use it, I'd be more than willing to accept that. I really did mean it when I said that surrender was all it takes. You can end all this any time. I'm still waiting."
Before Diana could reach him, Danny also stepped through the portal and trapped both of them in the afterlife.
"Alrighty, then." He looked to where John was still lying on the floor. "I'd say welcome to the winning side, but… We both know there's no winners in war. Right… You're gonna be on evacuation duty, then. Good luck."
…What?!