we sing L'manburg

The GIW fuck up, Amity is blown up and the Ghost Zone is seriously destabilised.

Danny ends up having to literally hold up the Infinite Realms to make sure that what is literally the lining between dimensions doesn't collapse on itself. Stuck halfway through the portal while putting all of his focus into his task, he stays in the ruins of his haunt for 3 years before the Justice League Dark finally manages to break through the barrier the Ancients set up to conceal him.

The entire JL have been itching to investigate what happened to the town without anyway to get in. To say that they didn't expect the ghost of a teenager playing the role of Atlas would be an understatement. Now they must find a way to relieve him of his burden.

It would make sense if this was a Ghost King Danny AU as well as maybe having some assistance from other ancients and maybe his rouges as well?

It fills in some plot holes too as his rouges and allies would have tried to help him or find help.

Or you could add in some extra angst where the only reason he’s able to hold up the infinite realms is because everyone sacrificed themselves to create pillars to help hold and contain the realms

Whether or not they died to create the pillars or are more in a suspended animation is up to you.

Just imagine Danny desperately moving and grasping the fabric of time and space fully incapable of diverting even an ounce of attention to anything else.

Even though Amity was destroyed and he could never have a normal life again with the rest of the GIW knowing where he was and what he looked like.

Even though his loved ones may never become ghosts or might not even remember him as ghosts.

Even though all his loved ones are dead and those who already were may have been destroyed by the explosion.

He can’t mourn.

He doesn’t even think he’s strong enough to last long but he has to.

Just long enough for someone, anyone to notice.

He can feel his core buckling and straining under the pressure, his form is slowly destabilizing.

Just a little longer.

He can do this.

He never wanted to be a hero.

He never wanted to be the only one that could protect his town.

But he was.

And he’s the only one that can stop the realms from destroying earth and itself in the process.

Just a little longer.

As the pressure of the realms alleviate and form into something easier to hold.

As his very being mourns.

As his sense of time and identity withers.

He can keep holding the realms up.

He never wanted this.

But who else could do this?

Just a little longer until someone comes.

Just a little longer and he won’t have to do this anymore.

…

Friends and Rogues and the entirety of Pariah's Skeleton Army. In the beginning Danny could look around and he'd see Pandora and Frostbite and Skulker and Boxy and Johnny and Spectra and Undergrowth and...

So many familiar faces. Everyone from his worst enemies to his closest allies (save Clockwork who was busy trying to stabilize the timestream; and Youngblood who no one wanted to see a second give himself to this cause).

Yes, in the beginning there were many.

Pointdexter was the first to fall. No. Not fall. That's not the right word. Change. He changed. He's still holding his chunk of the zone, but he's different now. Strong as stone and just as immobile. A pillar, a statue of crystalline ectoplasm in the shape of a friend.

It didn't happen instantly. It had been a transition. Danny would say slow, but he's not sure he knows what slow and fast are anymore. It feels like it's been an eternity since they took up this burden. It feels like it's been a second. All he knows is that Sydney started changing and eventually he was stone.

Danny hadn't understood what was happening then. Couldn't spare the thought to ask. Not when it was Sydney. Not when it was Skulker. Not when it was Technus or Ember or Spectra. Not when it was Walker or Vlad or Vortex. Not when it was Frostbite or Pandora. By the time the burden was just barely light enough to have thoughts beyond holding it up, Danny was already alone.

He grieved then. As best as he could when all but a fraction of a fraction of his energy and attention was singularly honed on holding up the Realms.

Just a little longer. I just have to hold on a little longer. I have to. It has to be me. No one else can. So I will. Just a little longer.

Oh.

Danny understands now.

In the distant, fleeting way he can understand with only one thought in every eternity being about something other than the burden.

He can feel it happening to him too, now.

The shift in his core, the shift in his ectoplasm to match it. Physically starting in both his outermost extremities and in his centermost self. Moving outwards and inwards to meet somewhere in between.

Mentally starting in the things he starts forgetting. The empty spaces between his thoughts where there used to sit memories and emotions and hopes and dreams. He wanted to be something when he grew up once. He wanted to be... To be a. . .

He was losing himself. Bit by bit. Everything he once was; consumed to make room in his self for this new purpose; sacrificed to stay strong enough to hold on to the Infinite.

The longer his thoughts were filled with nothing but the need to hold on, the more he changed, his form shifting to match this new purpose. This is what happened to the others. They gave everything they had to the cause until it became all they were. He had lasted the longest because he was the strongest. He'd had the most to give.

And now.

Just a little longer. He could keep dropping pieces of himself into the Abyss, as long as it meant he could ignore the strain, the pain, the creeping exhaustion. Just a little longer. He doesn't want to. He never did. But he's the only one who can. Therefore he must. Just a little longer.

.

@angelnumber1 You did this.

You used the phrase, "His sense of time and identity withered."

I took that literally.

Freeing people from the pillars by misting them down with lazarus water like a cranky succulent

It takes a while and maybe they come free bit by bit but Danny spending the next few years running around frantically with a plant mister and continually heisting Ra’s

(Because it’s gonna empty all the pits to get everyone but Danny’s not gonna waste time taking out the League of Assassins when he can run in with a mason jar)

Alone too.

Billy CARES. He KNOWS he's strong. Might not be strong enough. But? You know he wouldn't even hesitate. He'd have to TRY.

A burden shared. The champion of MAGIC ITSELF.

Just two kids with burdens too big for shoulders so young, holding up Creation Itself.

It's going to be okay. We can do it together. You held on.

We're going to fix this.

He's here.

And just? Like trying to careful mold honey back into place. Soft fabric that drapes and dripes far beyond what it should, the green barely holding together in their hands. But like kintsugi, the art of mending broken things with gold, the realm between Realms is shot through with bands of Magic. To act like pins holding its brokenness together until it can heal.

But? The sea of pillars at the heart of the Realm. Ghosts without Obsessions. Who GAVE UP their Obsessions to CHANGE so completely for one united cause? They crystallized. United.

Joined together to try and hold up the skys.

It would be? The most painfully beautiful sea of shimmering crystal lights you could ever imagine. Tragedy made manifest. The cost of billions of billions upon billions of SOULS. All trying to prevent the end of everything, brought upon by humanity's petty hatreds, callus actions, and unthinking hubris.

With no guarantee it can EVER be undone.

Sometimes damage is permanent. Some costs are high and losses unspeakable. How much of this CHILD KING is even left? When he wakes up... IF he wakes up...

Just? The phrase "Tragedy should not be so beautiful." ECHOES in my head? Because it would be? Wouldn't it? Pillars of intricate crystal people, glowing in the light of a now silent, gold streaked world. Floating islands filled with strange and wonderful things in the distance. Soft green, ever swirling skies.

It's beautiful.

Serene.

And that? Is somehow the most terrible fact of all. Because this is the scene of an unspeakable tragedy. There should be blood on the floors. Wailing and howls. Smoke in the air and bodies in the streets. Proof they lived and suffered and DIED again. That they were brave. That something terrible and wrong transpired here.

It should not be peaceful. Or beautiful.

It's a field of bodies.

I'm just... ok when shazam sees him there's 2 parts that cry out Atlas sees this kid taking on a burden greater than even he had foisted on him the other is billy who like you said sees this kid hurting alone straining under this

Know how what else you said The kintsugi part gold flakeing through the realms I'm viewing that as how the other ghosts of the realms become whole again the magic once the realms are tied together enough that they start healing themselves starts streaming into the ghosts

who became like this because they gave themselves up their obsessions their very cores

Of course reawakening a ghosts obsession is not simple it's not just hey you like this no they awaken them by showing them their obsession why they became a ghost them moving towards their obsession

So wraped around their crystalline statue pillers play their obsession and so slowly ever so slowly all these ghosts are crawling back to existence

Speaking of I'm viewing the ancients pillars as more than just a statue they become true pillers like frostbite has changed from massive yeti to a piller of ice frost stretching empowering the statues of yetis amd frost cored ghosts

While pandoras is like truly ancient greek that is blinding with it's light of hope glow reaching out empowering near statues etchings of hope in humanity of instances of hard fought battles that only the power of hope brought victory

The GIW fuck up, Amity is blown up and the Ghost Zone is seriously destabilised.

Danny ends up having to literally hold up the Infinite Realms to make sure that what is literally the lining between dimensions doesn't collapse on itself. Stuck halfway through the portal while putting all of his focus into his task, he stays in the ruins of his haunt for 3 years before the Justice League Dark finally manages to break through the barrier the Ancients set up to conceal him.

The entire JL have been itching to investigate what happened to the town without anyway to get in. To say that they didn't expect the ghost of a teenager playing the role of Atlas would be an understatement. Now they must find a way to relieve him of his burden.

It would make sense if this was a Ghost King Danny AU as well as maybe having some assistance from other ancients and maybe his rouges as well?

It fills in some plot holes too as his rouges and allies would have tried to help him or find help.

Or you could add in some extra angst where the only reason he’s able to hold up the infinite realms is because everyone sacrificed themselves to create pillars to help hold and contain the realms

Whether or not they died to create the pillars or are more in a suspended animation is up to you.

Just imagine Danny desperately moving and grasping the fabric of time and space fully incapable of diverting even an ounce of attention to anything else.

Even though Amity was destroyed and he could never have a normal life again with the rest of the GIW knowing where he was and what he looked like.

Even though his loved ones may never become ghosts or might not even remember him as ghosts.

Even though all his loved ones are dead and those who already were may have been destroyed by the explosion.

He can’t mourn.

He doesn’t even think he’s strong enough to last long but he has to.

Just long enough for someone, anyone to notice.

He can feel his core buckling and straining under the pressure, his form is slowly destabilizing.

Just a little longer.

He can do this.

He never wanted to be a hero.

He never wanted to be the only one that could protect his town.

But he was.

And he’s the only one that can stop the realms from destroying earth and itself in the process.

Just a little longer.

As the pressure of the realms alleviate and form into something easier to hold.

As his very being mourns.

As his sense of time and identity withers.

He can keep holding the realms up.

He never wanted this.

But who else could do this?

Just a little longer until someone comes.

Just a little longer and he won’t have to do this anymore.

…

Friends and Rogues and the entirety of Pariah's Skeleton Army. In the beginning Danny could look around and he'd see Pandora and Frostbite and Skulker and Boxy and Johnny and Spectra and Undergrowth and...

So many familiar faces. Everyone from his worst enemies to his closest allies (save Clockwork who was busy trying to stabilize the timestream; and Youngblood who no one wanted to see a second give himself to this cause).

Yes, in the beginning there were many.

Pointdexter was the first to fall. No. Not fall. That's not the right word. Change. He changed. He's still holding his chunk of the zone, but he's different now. Strong as stone and just as immobile. A pillar, a statue of crystalline ectoplasm in the shape of a friend.

It didn't happen instantly. It had been a transition. Danny would say slow, but he's not sure he knows what slow and fast are anymore. It feels like it's been an eternity since they took up this burden. It feels like it's been a second. All he knows is that Sydney started changing and eventually he was stone.

Danny hadn't understood what was happening then. Couldn't spare the thought to ask. Not when it was Sydney. Not when it was Skulker. Not when it was Technus or Ember or Spectra. Not when it was Walker or Vlad or Vortex. Not when it was Frostbite or Pandora. By the time the burden was just barely light enough to have thoughts beyond holding it up, Danny was already alone.

He grieved then. As best as he could when all but a fraction of a fraction of his energy and attention was singularly honed on holding up the Realms.

Just a little longer. I just have to hold on a little longer. I have to. It has to be me. No one else can. So I will. Just a little longer.

Oh.

Danny understands now.

In the distant, fleeting way he can understand with only one thought in every eternity being about something other than the burden.

He can feel it happening to him too, now.

The shift in his core, the shift in his ectoplasm to match it. Physically starting in both his outermost extremities and in his centermost self. Moving outwards and inwards to meet somewhere in between.

Mentally starting in the things he starts forgetting. The empty spaces between his thoughts where there used to sit memories and emotions and hopes and dreams. He wanted to be something when he grew up once. He wanted to be... To be a. . .

He was losing himself. Bit by bit. Everything he once was; consumed to make room in his self for this new purpose; sacrificed to stay strong enough to hold on to the Infinite.

The longer his thoughts were filled with nothing but the need to hold on, the more he changed, his form shifting to match this new purpose. This is what happened to the others. They gave everything they had to the cause until it became all they were. He had lasted the longest because he was the strongest. He'd had the most to give.

And now.

Just a little longer. He could keep dropping pieces of himself into the Abyss, as long as it meant he could ignore the strain, the pain, the creeping exhaustion. Just a little longer. He doesn't want to. He never did. But he's the only one who can. Therefore he must. Just a little longer.

.

@angelnumber1 You did this.

You used the phrase, "His sense of time and identity withered."

I took that literally.

Freeing people from the pillars by misting them down with lazarus water like a cranky succulent

It takes a while and maybe they come free bit by bit but Danny spending the next few years running around frantically with a plant mister and continually heisting Ra’s

(Because it’s gonna empty all the pits to get everyone but Danny’s not gonna waste time taking out the League of Assassins when he can run in with a mason jar)

Alone too.

Billy CARES. He KNOWS he's strong. Might not be strong enough. But? You know he wouldn't even hesitate. He'd have to TRY.

A burden shared. The champion of MAGIC ITSELF.

Just two kids with burdens too big for shoulders so young, holding up Creation Itself.

It's going to be okay. We can do it together. You held on.

We're going to fix this.

He's here.

And just? Like trying to careful mold honey back into place. Soft fabric that drapes and dripes far beyond what it should, the green barely holding together in their hands. But like kintsugi, the art of mending broken things with gold, the realm between Realms is shot through with bands of Magic. To act like pins holding its brokenness together until it can heal.

But? The sea of pillars at the heart of the Realm. Ghosts without Obsessions. Who GAVE UP their Obsessions to CHANGE so completely for one united cause? They crystallized. United.

Joined together to try and hold up the skys.

It would be? The most painfully beautiful sea of shimmering crystal lights you could ever imagine. Tragedy made manifest. The cost of billions of billions upon billions of SOULS. All trying to prevent the end of everything, brought upon by humanity's petty hatreds, callus actions, and unthinking hubris.

With no guarantee it can EVER be undone.

Sometimes damage is permanent. Some costs are high and losses unspeakable. How much of this CHILD KING is even left? When he wakes up... IF he wakes up...

Just? The phrase "Tragedy should not be so beautiful." ECHOES in my head? Because it would be? Wouldn't it? Pillars of intricate crystal people, glowing in the light of a now silent, gold streaked world. Floating islands filled with strange and wonderful things in the distance. Soft green, ever swirling skies.

It's beautiful.

Serene.

And that? Is somehow the most terrible fact of all. Because this is the scene of an unspeakable tragedy. There should be blood on the floors. Wailing and howls. Smoke in the air and bodies in the streets. Proof they lived and suffered and DIED again. That they were brave. That something terrible and wrong transpired here.

It should not be peaceful. Or beautiful.

It's a field of bodies.

From thousands of full ghosts he's the only one left and he knows it's because he's a Halfa.

…

There are no more heroes.

They had to speed this up. They had managed to communicate the plans through Martian Manhunter. And they were close. They just needed to find suitable vehicles. The Batclan were the ones sneaking out of course. Alongside Phantom, her invisibility was a tremendous boon. Not that she seemed all that worried about Earth? Her and Red Huntress seemed to think they had back up that hadn't been taken?

They needed to find another freighter by prefence. They would be large enough to transport them all back. Batman saw Phantom perk up from the corner of his eyeline. She grinned and pointed to a new ship. Ah yes. That would be perfect. She turned invisible and flew off. Presumably checking it out.

Through the mind link she reported what she found. It was definitely a ship like the one used to being them here. There were thousands of empty stasis pods. It would be perfect for their needs. Now they just had to get everyone on board.

It was easier than expected. But then, their guards had been distracted by something lately. Now they just had to hope they were not too late. It would take days to get back to Earth. And they would use the stasis pods in rotation. Someone needed to be on guard at all times. But they needed to be rested once they got home.

A few hours from Earth and they started picking up their own signals. And.... Batman blinked in disbelief.

Batman: Phantom? What's this?

Ellie: Huh. Big bro went over board huh? Aww look! Huntress look! Box lunch is being Robin! Oh my heart!

Valeria: Yup. Typical dweeb. He's probably not even thinking about how this might look is he? Huh? Are those Watchtower signals?

Batman: Yes.

Valeria: Message them.

They heard a few rings and then a clearly irritated voice answered.

Danny: I have told your people I will not hand over the Earth! Piss of!

Ellie: Don't worry big bro. We escaped them. Sooo. I see you let Skulker out to play?

Valerie: And the old armies?

Danny: Oh! Oh! Ok!!!! Hi guys!!!!! Um! Let me message Sam. She is my liaison in the UN. She can tell everyone you're back! Unless you want to do a quiet reveal?

Batman: How did you get into the watchtower?

Danny: Ah Batman! Um. I'm a ghost dude. It's not hard.

Ellie: Yeah... I feel like a quiet reveal would be good? If we could meet your replacements and switch over quietly?

Batman: You just want chaos.

Ellie: Always!

Danny: Cool. I can do that! I've cleared the docking bay for you. And I've put in a call for food and drinks and medical etc. And I'm pulling up all the news and reports for you!

Batman: Hm.

Danny: I'm a King. Can't be a King without paperwork. Unfortunately.

Ellie: Oh my Ancients! Give it a rest! You didn't have to fight Pariah Dark!

Danny: You both ok? Where were you guys?,

Ellie: Kidnapped by aliens. Sooo. What happened on Earth?

Danny: Oh you know. Chaos. As soon as we realised what happened Team Phantom mobilised. I got the army out to help fight off the alien invasion. Our frenemies took up position in the cities that have regular heroes.

Val: How did that go?

Danny: Soooo much politics! Obviously everyone thought we were villains or invaders at first. So there was lots of, we're on your side we promise. Sam went to the UN for me. That helped. Also, the uh. Shitty cosplay. Seemed to reassure civilians.

Batman: Why?

Danny: Well. I might not love on Earth anymore. But Phantom is my sister. Red is one of my best friends. I wasn't gonna let their hard work go to waste cause they went missing!

Val: Don't worry, he's always like that! Anyway. I heard reports were made!

Danny: Yup! All squared away tidy like. With video and witnesses as well! We kept Earth ticking over.

Superman: Thank you. You are Phantom's brother? What do we call you?

Danny: Phantom! It's our family name. It was my hero moniker first. Little gremlin stole it when I became King.

Batman didn't bother to suppress his smirk at that. It was a new and interesting insight into one of their more chaotic members. Superman just sighed. Well, he could hardly say anything. Both his boys went by Superboy.

Superman: So, King Phantom and Hero Phantom then?

Danny: Princess also works! She is a Princess of the Infinite Realms after all!

Ellie: No! Nuh uh! Hero, not Princess! don't even! I know where you sleep!

Superman: Hero Phantom it is...

Batman: Thank you. For keeping Earth safe

Wonder Woman: Yes. Thank you your Majesty.

Danny: Nah don't worry about it. This was my home too ya know? Just seemed to right thing to do. Although uh. If you could help dispel the idea that I'm now the King of Earth as well? That would be great. I have enough paperwork as is!

Val:.... I mean you'd be a better ruler than what we have right now?

Danny: Don't curse me like that!

Batman: How did that idea happen?

Danny: I mean... The aliens took over the world's government's for a bit.... Before I noticed and got rid of them? So for a hot second there were no governments.

Dani: you didn't

Danny: so I worked really hard to set up each nation's government again and may have made a few adjustments to unfair local laws to try and make things little better for their people while I could, and maybe that was wrong of me but making but they're under the impression they still report to me???

Dani: hah!! You did!!

Danny: and I mean, I may have removed a couple people after finding out about their shady deals but ...wait... what do you mean?

Dani, claps a hand on his shoulder: you set up a wide spread delegation system to rid yourself of the everyday minutia of ruling a large population. You. Set. It. Up. You delegated!! You gave out tasks and made expectations clear, and removed people who didn't follow them. You created a caste system!

Danny: no

Dani: yup! Only instead of nobility you have sanctioned politicians.

Danny: NOOOooooo!!!

Dani: no wonder they defer to you. Technically you never fully gave up control.

Lois: Oh? Our new King? Yeah total sweetheart! He's fine!

Superman: He was under the impression he'd managed to abdicate.

Lois: Hah! If he managed there would be riots! The people love him!

Ellie is cackling maniacally at her poor brother.

Danny: If I'm King. What does that make you sister mine?

Ellie has the sudden realisation and suddenly looks sick.

Danny: So. You gonna help me turn it back over to everyone else?

Of he tries to run immediately so the same tactic isn't used on him.

And it works for like 3 days before Ellie found him and got "defeated" again. This repeats like 5 times.

To insure it doesn't happen again Ellie then declares loyalty to her brother and vows that even if she beats him in single combat she will only acknowledge him as her King.

It's very sincere valve since Ellie was going to do this anyway, but now it's also full of gremlin energy due to Danny not wanting the throne and attempting to trick his friends and family into taking it.

Danny is a good King, the most reluctant leaders are usually the best at leading successful nations.

International law has now been standardized. Equity, justice and fair treatment are being promoted. Corruption is down. No government can get away with Cadmus level bullshit. Discrimination against anyone is now not allowed to be legally enforced.

And the floor show is great. The reluctant King doing his best to ensure he can retire. It's really quite funny to watch. Their Phantom is equally disgruntled. She was not enjoying being known as Princess Phantom. Wonder Woman had taken her under her wing. Showing her how to deal with being known royalty as a hero.

Where alien societies rule that a planet be unified under a single government to validate a criterion of civilization and to provide a right of legislation. Ho is now it's illegal to invade them

With zero context for what the fandom is.

Adult literacy is low.

Child literacy is low.

Information literacy has shifted dramatically in the last decade, but reputable information sources like research journals and factual news reporting have been unable to keep pace.

We are genuinely in a crisis of media literacy, with ever fewer genuinely factual resources available in the style and language used by contemporary audiences.

It may sound condescending, but we genuinely need to remind people, or worse, explain to them for the first time that art is not evidence of real world behaviour.

So, thank you, for this reminder. Genuinely.

You're correct:

Mike Wheeler Core

A week or two ago, I got my proof to the contrary. I'd been having a difficult day, woke up late, and had to rush out the door, ran into minor inconvenience after minor inconvenience, and then the straw broke the camel's back.

I wrote out the kind of angry vindictive seething text message I used to write constantly. I didn't send it, of course, I copied it out and pasted it in the folder of my notes where I put all my rage venting.

And then I thought.

Huh, it's been a little while since I did that. And I checked the time and dates on my previous notes. The last one was a few days before I started testosterone.

And scrolling back, I noticed that they were *constant* at least one a week for *years* I used to get so angry that I would get the serious urge to say cruel hurtful things to or about people I cared about on a near-daily basis. I didn't realize how big of a problem it was until all of a sudden I hadn't gotten that angry in Eleven Months. Nearly a YEAR.

And then I realized in my rush to get out the door in the morning, I hadn't taken my T shot. My testosterone was the lowest it's been since August.

All of a sudden, I had demonstrable proof that testosterone really did make me less angry. That all that "you may not think you're any angrier but you are" was bullshit.

Then he started harassing another little girl who was nearby. “ "He stopped the entire event. He also pointed at another girl who also had short hair. He then piped in and said, 'Well, if she is not a boy, then she is obviously trans.'" “

The man’s wife apparently started verbally attacking the mother of the first girl as well, calling her a pedophile and a genital mutilator. It’s also really important to note that the 9 year old had two moms.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/431500/Girl-9-accused-of-being-trans-at-Kelowna-track-meet

But I will note....from the accounts I’ve read I haven’t seen the folks call for genital inspections but they do demand “certification” which, would be more like asking for the girl’s birth certificate rather than a call to inspect genitals before competition.

It's a yellow bittern! They are very creechur.