After the Summoning Incident: Justice League Debrief
part 1, part 2
The Justice League meeting chamber was quiet. Too quiet.
The heroes sat around the massive conference table, some looking contemplative, others still processing the absolute chaos that had just unfolded. The Batkids had scattered to their usual perches, some smirking, others—like Damian—still scowling.
Batman, as usual, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.
Superman was the first to break the silence. “Well… that was unexpected.”
Wonder Woman nodded, arms crossed. “The boy was not at all what we prepared for. He is young, brash, and clearly still learning. And yet, he succeeded.”
“Barely,” Damian muttered under his breath.
Jason grinned. “I don’t know, Demon Brat, I think he did pretty damn well. Didn’t even die or anything.”
“He’s already half-dead,” Damian shot back.
“That’s semantics,” Jason said with a shrug.
Constantine, who had been pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, finally spoke up. “Right, so here’s what we learned, then: the summoning worked, but not the way we expected. We didn’t get the Ghost King. We got the heir to the Ghost King.”
Flash leaned forward, confused. “Okay, but why does that matter? He still fixed the problem.”
“Because,” Batman said, voice low, “we summoned him by name—meaning he’s significant enough that the magic acknowledged him, despite him not being the ruler of the Ghost Zone.”
Zatanna frowned. “That shouldn’t have happened unless his claim to the throne is strong. Which means…”
“He’s important,” Constantine finished grimly. “And probably more powerful than even he knows.”
There was a pause.
Superman, ever the optimist, offered, “Well, he did seem responsible, considering he handled the situation without any casualties.”
Aquaman, who had remained silent for most of the discussion, finally spoke. “That is all well and good, but what concerns me is his guardian.”
The League collectively tensed at the mention of Pariah Dark.
Hawkgirl leaned back in her chair, frowning. “Yeah. Not every day you meet a giant ghost warlord who decides world domination is off the table because he’s got a new kid to dote on.”
“The real question,” Green Lantern said, “is why Pariah Dark, of all beings, chose him as his son.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Batman said. “Pariah Dark isn’t just a ruler. He’s a conqueror. The fact that he’s abandoned his previous goals simply because he’s taken a liking to this ‘Danny’ suggests a level of attachment that is… dangerous.”
“I dunno,” Flash said, tapping his fingers against the table. “The guy seemed weirdly soft on the kid. Like, full-on ‘overprotective dad ready to murder anyone who sneezes at his son’ levels of doting.”
Jason snorted. “Can you blame him? The kid’s hilarious.”
Damian rolled his eyes. “That does not negate the potential threat.”
“Which leads to our next problem,” Constantine interrupted. He gestured vaguely toward the space where the summoning circle had been. “That was the third time he’s been summoned this week.”
Batman’s eyes narrowed. “Three times?”
Constantine nodded. “From what I could gather, idiot cultists all over the place have been trying to summon the ‘Ghost King’ for centuries. Problem is, it hasn’t worked in millennia—until now. Which means something’s changed.”
Green Arrow leaned forward. “And you think it’s because of him?”
Constantine sighed. “Has to be. That kid might not be the Ghost King, but he’s enough of a power in the Zone to be dragged here through the same ritual.”
Superman frowned. “So you’re saying if people keep summoning him…”
“…Eventually, someone’s going to do it with bad intentions,” Batman finished.
There was another heavy silence.
“I say we keep an eye on him,” Wonder Woman said. “Not as an enemy, but as a potential ally. He may not trust us now, but if he is being targeted, he’ll need protection.”
Jason chuckled. “Good luck with that. Kid was practically begging to be sent home before his chem test.”
Hawkgirl smirked. “I still can’t believe that was his biggest problem tonight.”
“Teenagers,” Flash said, shaking his head.
Batman didn’t react to the lighthearted remarks. Instead, he turned to Constantine. “Can we track future summonings?”
Constantine exhaled a long breath, rubbing his temple. “Not easily. The magic is old, and the Ghost Zone doesn’t follow the same rules as our realm. But…” He glanced at Zatanna. “With enough prep, we might be able to set up a countermeasure. Or at least a warning system.”
“We should also determine how much control he actually has,” Aquaman said. “If he is an heir, his powers may be growing. We should be aware of what he’s capable of.”
Jason grinned. “So what, we’re gonna test his power levels? Let me know how that goes when Pariah shows up ready to throw hands.”
Batman stood, effectively ending the conversation. “For now, we’ll observe from a distance. If he truly is being targeted, we may need to act sooner rather than later.”
“And if Pariah Dark takes offense to that?” Zatanna asked.
Batman’s expression darkened. “…Then we prepare for war.”
Meanwhile, Back in Amity Park…
Danny groaned as he flopped onto his bed, exhausted beyond belief. “I hate magic,” he mumbled into his pillow.
Jazz, standing in the doorway with crossed arms, raised an eyebrow. “Rough night?”
“The worst,” Danny groaned, turning onto his back. “I got summoned by the Justice League—AGAIN. And Pariah nearly destroyed them before I could talk him down.”
Jazz sighed. “That’s, what, the third time this week?”
“Yes!” Danny threw up his hands. “I swear, if one more idiot cult tries to yank me across dimensions, I’m going to scream.”
Jazz smirked. “And then what?”
Danny scowled. “…Then Pariah will probably destroy another dimension out of spite, because apparently, he thinks I’m too stressed for a ‘mortal child.’”
Jazz chuckled. “Well, he’s not wrong.”
Danny groaned again, grabbing his pillow and shoving it over his face. “I hate everything.”
Jazz patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Welcome to adulthood, little brother.”
Danny just let out a long, muffled scream into his pillow.
