Chapter Text
Danny opens his bedroom door and promptly slams it shut. Breathing a couple of times before muttering, "oh what now?", in an incredibly annoyed tone. Opening the door back up and staring at the Observant, maintaining his annoyed tone, "what do you want?".
The Observant floats over as the door shuts with a resounding click. "Previously the time had come that some decisions had to be made", holding up a finger, "now know that some of us disagree with the conclusions that were met". The way they said that makes it very obvious that they -a.k.a the entirety of the Observant's- were some of or the only ones who disagreed with whatever.
Danny raises an eyebrow, "and what does this have to do with me?".
If Observant's had mouths Danny's pretty sure they'd be frowning. "It was agreed upon by the Ancient Council and High Council, that a new High Ghost King would need to be chosen as Pariah had been defeated not once but twice. As well as being a threat to the Realm and no longer being supported by the Realm Itself. Earning the title of The Mad King and suffering from Kings Madness. As such the council was called upon to reach a decision between all possible heirs to the throne. Heirs being any who had Death Right, Might Gives Right, or Inherent Right-".
Danny cuts him off with an exasperated sigh, "you gonna wrap this up anytime soon?".
It feels like the Observant is glaring, "in the end, it was decided that only one had any of the three, due to the manner in which Pariah had been dealt with the first time".
"Alright, so new High whatever getting crowned. And this is my problem how? I haven't slept in four days but you already know that and don't care".
"Does defeating Pariah, the previous High Ghost King, The Mad King, The Destroyer of Lairs, the once most powerful ghost in all the Realms, an Ancient; mean so little to you. That it is just a blimp in the days of your existence".
Danny glares, "you know exactly what my existence is like, eyeball asshole". Speaking again as the Observant just stares at him even though they are technically always staring, "it's me, isn't it?".
"Clearly, and some would say unfortunately".
Danny sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose, "okay then I guess", looking back up to the Observant, who seems unimpressed, "is this, like, a now thing? Or when I'm eighteen? Also guessing I can't just...opt out".
"Unfortunately, no. There are some who would be nothing but pleased if you could and did. You'll be sworn in and you coronation will be occurring in three weeks. Preparations will also begin in three hours, which you must be present for".
Danny goes a little wide-eyed, "WHAT! That quickly? With all the run around you eyeballs do?".
The Observant holds up a finger again, "the decision was reached three months prior".
"And why the fuck wasn't I told? That seems like something I should have been told immediately. Like that's something that I should have been the first one to know about. The fuck. Fuck you guys". Danny knows one hundred percent that the Observant's were exactly why he wasn't told earlier. They hated him. Of course they'd spend all that time trying to wiggle out of him having more sway and power than them. And probably just to piss off and inconvenience him. Technically ClockWork could have told him, being an Ancient themselves, but ClockWork likes him and likely has their reasons. They always do. Said reason might be good or might just be them fucking with him a little.
"We were busy. Things had to be put in place".
Danny rolls his eyes, speaking full of sarcasm, "riiiiiiight. That's totally why. Not that you guys hate me or anything".
"We do not...hate you".
Danny rolls his eyes, "right, because 'dislike' sounds so much better". The Observant says nothing making Danny roll his eyes again, moving to shoo them out the window or something. "Fine, be all political and fearsome of my future power, by covering your asses and say nothing”.
The Observant acts like Danny hadn’t even spoken, “there, as I have said, is still much to be prepared. Including accommodations for mortals-”.
Danny cuts him off, “well yeah. Obviously. I have friends you know. Human ones”, shrugging absently, “they're pretty used to ghost things though”.
“That is not what I mean”, gesturing out the window to the town, “the lair of crown sovereign is classified as part of their kingdom and thus any beings residing therein are the direct subjects of the crown sovereign, and ought to be present in the coming coronation”.
Danny blinks at him, “seriously? You got to be fucking kidding me? The whole town has to be there? For fucks sake”.
The Observant nods, “indeed. That many present mortals will certainly cause for many extra preparations and unnecessary dramatics. Now note, they do not have to be present; however, they must be officially invited. Any of your Guardians or Makers, Jack and Madeleine, any of your Nestmates, Jasmine, any of your Lings, Danielle, any of your brethren, Samantha, Tucker and Valerie, and any of your Mates, of which you currently have none; must be present”.
Danny grumbles a bit incoherently over the guy kind of insulting him for being single before actually addressing this crap, “you do realise that inviting the town pretty well guarantees they’ll all show up? And inviting hunters just sounds like a dumb idea”.
“Be that as it may, their attendance is required. It would also be in good faith and highly advantageous for Valerie, as the Red Huntress, to be present as a form of unity. Due to her standing truce with you as Phantom, as well as being an influential hunter”.
Danny blinks, “I’m starting to think you just actively want this to go wrong”.
“Being that there is no other who could take your place, that would be ineffectual and would only stand to damage any potential unity”.
Danny snorts, “in short, you can’t sabotage something that you more or less need to happen. Good to know I don’t have to worry about any more assassination attempts”, rolling his eyes, “you’ve said your peace, now get the fuck out of here. So I can make whatever preparations I can, that I should have had months to do, before you or whoever comes back and abducts me in a few hours". More than glad the Observant seems to accept this and phases through the ceiling saying, “three hours, Phantom. You will be collected”.
Danny huffs at the thin air, “well that wasn't ominous at all”.
Sighing and flopping down on his bed after a little bit. Is he really surprised? No. He did beat the guy up and ClockWork had definitely hinted at it here and there. He just never considered that this would actually happen, especially not right now. Because one, he’s a minor. Two, he’s only half-ghost. Three, he’s pretty sure he’s beaten up at least three of the Ancients. Four, he’s beaten up nearly all of the High council. Five, of the Council members, Ancient or not, that he hasn’t beaten the crap out of. Only, like, two liked him and they wouldn’t vote or whatever for him on that basis alone. Six, the Observant’s hate practically every fibre of his being and his continued existence. So he really must have been the only option, which yes, is kind of sad.
Sighing again before swinging his legs to get up off the bed. “Alright, you half-ghost bastard, can’t just be lying around”. He absolutely had to tell Sam and Tuck, that would be the easy part. Since he absolutely also has to do the whole ‘inviting ghost hunters to a ghost crowning’ thing in person. Otherwise his dad will think it’s a lie, his mom will think it’s a trap, and Val will think it’s a practical joke on his part.
Sighing as he transforms, easiest first. Grumbling as he flies out the window, “and get their input on how to tell the local hunters without getting shot”.
Ten minutes later finds the trio sitting around Sam’s bedroom and Danny in the middle of ranting.
“-I get it, I really do. They need someone and there are rules or whatever the fuck that has to be followed. Leaving me as the only real option. I get it. But I haven’t even finished Highschool! And those assholes! They don’t even have the decency to tell me right away. It’s all like-”, waving his hands around mockingly, “-‘fuck that guy. Overpowered asshole who refused to be removed from existence when we wanted him to. Gonna subvert our power, which we one hundred percent absolutely earned justly. Not by abusing the methods of dethronement. No not at all. We would never. This Phantom bastard has no place telling us what to do! Controlling us! Clocky’s special little brat. Shouldn’t have let them have any say in him. Last time we trust that bastard to do their job. Cheating bastard. Now their little demon child is going to destroy everything. And we can’t do shit about it!’-”, Danny throws his hands up, “-but, like, fuck those guys right? With their stupid eyeballs and robes. I absolutely will fuck their shit up, but not, like, unjustly. I won’t be a dick just to be a dick. They have to deserve my dickishness. Which won’t be hard. I mean honestly, ‘let’s assassinate this random ass dude who actively protects people because of what he might do or become’. How is that a sound fucking plan? Well guess what now bitches! I own you! I own all the ghostly asses”, gesturing at his friends who are just staring and occasionally nodding, “which really, are any of them really going to listen and respect and shit? I mean, Walker’s got to know I’m going to come down on him and his corrupt shit like a motherfucking anvil. And Skulker, Ho boy has he got to be feeling nervous! Wonder if he’ll actually be able to resist shooting me for a whole day or however long this shit’s gonna take. Which just, like, that’s a whole ass nother issue. Three fucking weeks, what the Hell takes three weeks of prep? I mean thank everything it’s summer break and all, but still-”, pointing at Tucker, “-totally going to need that Danny-bot by the way or some kinda excuse to disappear for a hot minute. Pretty sure you guys can’t come with, which like oof. Long time-”, flopping down onto a beanie bag, “-fuck that’s gonna suck. I mean, I don’t actually now right? But knowing my luck? Fuck that-”, sitting up and pointing at them, “-and speaking of things that’ll probably suck, my folks have to be there. I mean Val too, but she’s cool now. Just gotta make her swear not to blow everyone up for the crime of being dead. But how the fuck am I gonna get my folks to actually go and not commit a vast slew of crimes? Are they even capable of that? Like really, they hate ghosts less than Val used too and they still won’t tolerate my ass. Sure they don’t shoot me on sight anymore but that’s a pretty fucking low bar. Way lower than ‘hey please hang out with the probable entirety of the ghost species, not shoot any of them, and be guests of honour to the ghost you labelled as Public Enemy Number One’. HA! Yeah right. I’ll take off my jumpsuit and eat my ghost underwear before that’ll happen-”, sighing and flopping backwards into the beanie bag again, “-so anyway, any ideas?”.
They blink and exchange a look before turning back to him. Tucker’s the one to respond, “uh dude? We don’t even know what you’re actually talking about”.
Sam nods, “except that it has to do with the Observant’s, will piss them and other ghosts off, and that you have to take a vacation to the Ghost Zone”, pointing at him, “which we are coming with if that is possible in any shape way or form”.
Danny blinks and facepalms, “right, excuse the local half dead idiot for being an idiot”, dropping his hand, “alright so, you remember how Pariah, the prick bastard, got his face beat in by yours truly?”, at their nods and raised eyebrows Danny continues, “okay, well apparently he’s kingy no more cause he got his ass beat too much and something about the Zone not liking him now?”.
Tucker blinks, “uh, since when was the Zone sentient enough to make choices like that?”.
Danny shrugs, “that’s what I thought, but it’s something to do with energies and shit. Like the Zone won’t ‘support’ someone who destroys it cause it’s got self-preservation. CW explained it once. Anyways, so now the Zone’s down a king and that apparently won’t fly. So they apparently elected, voted, chose, whatever, a new one. Apparently there was literally only one option, the Observants were definitely bitching about that, because guess whom the fuck the one and only option was?”.
Sam and Tucker exchange looks again, Tucker points at him, “you. It’s you”, at Danny’s smirk and little nod, Tucker gets up and fist bumps him, “holy shit dude, you’re a goddamn king now”, blinking and grabbing his shoulders, “dude you have to knight me! Ladies love a man in armour! And freaking Dread Knight is way bigger deal than being a pharaoh!”.
Danny leans his head back and laughs, “of course that’s what you care about!”, tilting his head back up and shaking his head with a smile, “sure Tuck, if anyone has earned me freaking knighting them, it’s the two of you”.
Tuck fist pumps and whispers, “yes!”.
Sam gets up with an eye roll, “okay, now I see why you might be freaking out a bit here. But are you really surprised? You’ll be good at it and Danny, do you really think the ghosts won’t respect you? They already do. Half the reason they fight you is respect honestly”.
“They fight me and invade my town because they respect me? That’s kinda backwards, but yeah you’re probably right”.
Sam rolls her eyes, “of course I am. It satisfies your Obsession and keeps you in practice. Now what do you mean by three weeks and you having to leave? When’s all this happening?”.
Tucker points at Danny as they all move over to Sam’s oversized bed, “and don’t lie, you love the fighting”.
Danny huffs and mumbles a bit, “yeah”, then looks to Sam, “apparently I have to spend three weeks prepping in the Zone. And I have to leave in-”, glancing at his phone and going wide-eyed, “-Oh shit! Practically two hours! Shit! This was supposed to be quick!”.
Tucker snorts, “dude, you’ve been ranting for a solid half hour uninterrupted”, composing himself and putting on a somewhat serious face, “now what do we need to do? For excuses we can just say there’s a big convention I dragged you to. Easy enough, worked before”.
Sam nods at him before looking to Danny, “better than risking the bot”.
Danny nods, and pointedly takes a few breathes to chill out, “okay, okay, we’ll do that. I have precisely zero idea what I’m going to be doing during this week prep. But get this, due to some shit about lairs, the whole town, that is every single unaware human here, is invited. Has to be invited. And everyone close to me has to come. That’s all three of the town’s hunters. I’ve already decided I have to invite them in person for obvious reasons. Which I literally only have two and little hours to do that”.
Tucker whistles, “good luck with that.”, Danny glares at him as Tucker continues, “do Val last, that way you can claim you’re out of time if she starts getting trigger happy. And since she possibly won’t shoot whoever might show up to tell you time’s up, you need to get your ass to the Zone. Also-”, smirking, “-I gladly accept the invitation, your highness”.
Danny snorts, “you don’t have choice actually. Though that’s all a pretty good idea. My folks will likely take more time, so I probably shouldn’t be on a time crunch with them”. Both of them nod like that’s obvious. This is why he needs to hash things out with them, because he’s a dumbass who misses things. Good thing High Ghost King was more symbolic and ‘make it your own’ kind of a ruler!
Sam nods with a hum, “your folks are going to be a hard sell. If I were you I’d lie your ass off a little. Tell them that as King you’ll have an influence on ghosts. I’d say tell them that you’ll be able to bar ghosts from Amity, but that would bite you in the ass”.
Danny nods, “yeah I’m not going to be banning ghosts, maybe placing restrictions on them or something. But that’s an issue for later. And Sam, being King will literally mean my energy would fed into and support the Zone. Considering the Zone is what produces and makes all the ectoplasm that forms ghosts and the free-floating stuff ghosts basically fed off of. I will affect the ghosties a little. I’ll literally be able to control all ectoplasm and ghosts with my voice alone”.
Tucker blinks, “well shit man. That’s awesome... and horrifying. Maybe don’t tell your folks that though”.
“No fucking shit Tuck”.
Sam tilts her head, “why didn’t Pariah do that to stop people from fighting back?”.
“Cause he was crazy and thus the Zone said ‘fuck you and your shit’”. Sam nods acceptingly.
Sam and Tucker both get up off the bed and yank him up with them. Sam shoving him towards the window, “now you’ve informed us -which yes if you had waited, I would have beat your ass with both my shoes- and hashed things out with us a little. We can’t really help you out much here, best you play it by ear. Your folks are seriously going to wonder why we’re special guests though and the town is going to lose their minds”.
Danny sighs and nods, floating up off the ground, “I’m going to have to come up with something for that. And yeah, I’ll probably try to wrangle Val into making an announcement before the official invites or whatever get sent out. Give people a chance to realise this is serious and accept the knowledge. Instead of just surprising everyone with invites, which could possibly be faked”.
Tucker nods, “sounds like a plan dude. Obviously we can’t tell anyone since we aren’t supposed to be close to you. Now get going before you wind up making yourself panic”.
Danny waves him off but heads out anyways.
Danny floats a bit away from FentonWorks, seriously wondering how to approach this. Just flying in would be probably the dumbest thing he could do next to letting them capture him. He couldn’t just wait for a ghost fight and approach them after it was finished either, plus that would mean dealing with them definitely armed and ready to shoot ghosts.
Shaking his head, there’s nothing for it and he has no time -fuck you Observant’s- to plan something out and time things. Floating over to the door he simply knocks on it and prays to all the Ancients he doesn’t get greeted by a Bazooka.
Blinking as his mom just opens the door and stares at him. He was not prepared for literally nothing to happen, “Uh, hi. We need to talk”. Mentally cringing over how that sounds like the beginning to a bad break up in a crappy sitcom.
She blinks before glaring, “what are you playing at, ghost”. The only thing giving her pause is just how out of the norm this behaviour was, not just for a ghost but Phantom Itself. That and the fact that Phantom’s not too bad, comparatively. Every-time this one has approach her or her husband it was always something more serious. So she’d hear the creature out.
Danny blinks, “alright... that was not what I expected, but you remember when the town got pulled into the Ghost Zone?”.
Maddie squints, “yes, and you stole our exoskeleton. Are we going to have another invasion?”.
Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best way to start this. Waving his hands back and forth, “no, no, nothing like that. There’s no threat-”.
She cuts Phantom off, “then what are you doing here, and in this way. This is completely out of pattern for you or any ghost”.
Danny puts his hands on his hips, “I’m getting there”, sighing, probably should establish what they know, “do you know who, exactly, that ghost was? And it’s honestly better if Jack’s here for this. You can both ask questions then. Don’t worry, you don’t have to invite me in or whatever”.
Maddie glares and rolls her eyes slightly, not too much that she takes her eyes of It but enough that the message gets across, “I wouldn’t think of it. And what? So you can have both of us in your line of fire? I don’t think so”, crossing her arms and grumbling, “and no, we don’t know who that ghost was. Other than powerful enough to have an army”.
Danny pinches the bridge of his nose, “then have him sit inside and listen in or something. Out of my line of sight, whatever. Don’t care”, looking at her expectantly.
She glares but pulls out an earphone and pings Jack to connect to it. Waiting for a beat and staring at Phantom until she hears Jack through the mic, “is that Phantom! Did you catch him! Or do I need to grab the weapons!”.
Maddie sighs fondly though glares at Phantom, “no Jack dear. Apparently there’s something we need to hear and this one isn’t...totally horribly evil. And considering past...events, it’s better to listen. I just want you out of sight just in case”.
”Oh okay, I can totally do that! And if that spook thinks It can pull one over on the Fenton’s, Its got another thing coming!”.
Maddie smiles before frowning at Phantom, knowing full well the ghost can hear Jack too, “well?”.
Any other time Danny would grumble about being called an ‘It’. “Good. Anyway, that ghost was Pariah and he was a King. Not just any king but literally the king of all ghosts. And after everything that happened with the town getting abducted by him and what not basically dethroned him and now a new ones getting crowned and you’re invited. By invited I mean you’ve got no choice. It’s stupid, I told them it was stupid and reckless and dangerous and honestly why the heck would you agree? Not just you two invited by the by, whole town. I’m not impressed. Rest of the town doesn’t have to come but of course they will, no one here has any sense of danger anymore and clamour over anything to do with me. Red has to come too, ‘cause of my truce with her and whatnot. You two are the Fenton’s, big deal hunters who basically rule the field of ectology. Plus all the interactions with me, so no surprise you’re expected there. Maybe just view this as a chance at information gathering and a chance to explore the Zone? I don’t know. Literally every ghost is going to be there”. Danny pauses at her just staring at him while hearing his dad mumble, “It rambles, wow”.
Maddie responds after a while of the ghost staring expectantly, “so let me get this straight, ghost. We were abducted by what was likely the most powerful ghost ever, that you defeated with our stolen tech. And now, because of that, we are basically being abducted, again, but to attend a coronation?”.
Danny shrugs awkwardly, “um, it’s a great chance for recon?”, rubbing his neck and having to make a point not to look around, “if it’s anything, Pariah was considered insane and evil, even by the standards of the creatures you consider universally evil? And the High Ghost King’s energy feeds into the Zone, which makes the free-floating ectoplasm ghosts feed off of. Which thusly means the High Ghost King affects the natural behaviour of ghosts to a degree. So arguably, having a not insane High Ghost King would make ghosts and the Zone more, uh, stable? Less hostile? I’m a pretty protective and friendly guy. Regardless what you think”.
Maddie can hear Jack vigorously scribbling down all the new information just dropped on them. But logically, if what Phantom just said is true, which would be provable simply by sampling the ectoplasm they syphon out of the Zone for changes, then this new king could possibly make ghosts...less dangerous. Like It said. That, the potential positives of that drastically outweighs the inherent danger and threat of being stuck not only in the Zone but surrounded by ghosts. And It was right, this would be a good observation opportunity. Not that she trusted the thing to be entirely honest. “We’ll go”.
“Um what? Just like that? Okay, I was expecting a big battle here”.
Maddie smirks at throwing off the ghost but it also does prove that It’s being as close to genuine here as a ghost is capable of being. While Jack’s voice comes through the earpiece, “you sure about this Mads? We haven’t been to the Zone before. I mean, it’s awesome! Getting to explore their world! But still. We probably can’t be armed for this”. Maddie blinks and glares at Phantom for an answer to that.
“You probably shouldn’t yeah. Show of trust or something. But I don’t think it’s required”, tilting his head, “actually, Red’s supposed to come in suit and said suit is majorly weaponised. So I’d say weapons have to be fine then. Just don’t fire them?”.
Maddie glares slightly, it was a good answer, no way she would go without weapons. But, “if any of you creatures threaten us we absolutely will shoot”.
Danny blinks, still rather stunned, “I don’t think you’d even need to. The reason you have to come is because you’re guests of honour. At least I think that’s what it would be called. Attacking you would be high treason and an act of war against the king. I’m not sure I’d want to know what the other ghosts would do that ghost. Same goes for Red. Or any of the humans here actually, I think”.
Now Maddie’s a bit caught off guard. Why would ghosts hold human ‘guests’ in high regard like that? Why would harming them be so bad? “Why? Why would that be such an issue? A ghost going after us? Is that merely forbidden during this ceremony? Or are there other reasons?”, yes she absolutely will milk as much information as she can out of this.
“Um guests of honour? But it is just for the coronation. Things will go back to more or less the same after”.
Maddie glares, “but why are we guests of honour? Only ghost hunters from Amity are guests of honour? No way is it purely because of living here”.
“Phantom. Who’s this new king?”. Huh. Maddie probably should have asked that.
Danny rubs his neck, “actually, for the town it is because of living here. Because in the eyes of the ghosts, here is my lair. So you’re sorta consideredmyhumans?”, rushing that last bit out knowing full well they won’t be happy hearing that at all. Not surprised in the slightest that she glares and looks slightly pissed off. Deciding to distract her from that by dropping another bombshell, “and Jack, I am”, rubbing his neck again at noticing the shock and horror flash across Maddie’s face before she composes herself, “if it’s anything I found out literally two hours ago and didn’t even know High Ghost King was a thing until Pariah showed up. Also didn’t know beating him up would result in this”, grumbling to himself, “not that there was much of a choice”.
Maddie stares at him and she doesn’t need to be able to see Jack to see the shock on his face. Speaking after a bit, “we are not yours, Phantom. Let’s make that clear”, she’s not going to admit that that explains why attacking any of them wouldn’t end well for any ghost, “and I don’t believe for a second you didn’t know you’d gain power from your actions”, squinting and getting an idea, “say, what would happen if this King were destroyed? Seeing as It, you, apparently feed the Zone”.
Danny refuses to back up from her even slightly, he damn well recognises that was a threat. Not even a thinly veiled one. Responding somewhat coldly and matter of fact, “a new one would be chosen. In the meantime, the Ghost Realm and Mortal Realm would slowly decay. If a new sovereign couldn’t be established everything would end. Universal mutually assured destruction. No more Ghost Realm means no more Mortal Realm, no more universe. Our worlds are bound. A healthy Ghost Realm is a healthy Mortal Realm. A healthy Ghost Realm, needs a high sovereign”. He’s basically repeating ClockWork near-verbatim here.
Maddie visibly cringes, “okay”, she’ll verify all that on her own time. Any hasty action with that kind of possible outcome wasn’t worth the risk. Plus, she’s well aware that destroying one would destroy the other. One thing the Fenton’s and the G.I.W. didn’t agree on. But that also means Phantom would be untouchable know. They couldn’t risk destroying It if these were the stakes. Glaring without much feeling behind it, “so you’re untouchable now”.
Danny shakes his head instantly, “no. Things can and likely will go back to the same after. As far as you and the town would notice anyway. They’ll still be ghosts, might be less dangerous and less likely to go after humans. You can still shoot your hearts out at me”.
Jack speaks while Maddie’s staring, “but if we destroyed you...”.
Phantom stops floating and plant Its feet on the ground, which startles Maddie as it makes it very clear It’s rather serious and makes It seem much more child-like.
“Don’t worry about it. I-”, Danny rubs his neck, this was something he would rather them not know. Even Sam and Tuck had a hard time with it, “-I’m an Unfade. Which means I’m functionally immortal. Indestructible. You never could destroy me. Pariah is much the same, hence why he’s locked away in a permanent slumber”.
Jack mumbles, “that’s possible? There are ghosts who can’t be destroyed? How???”. Maddie just points to her earpiece.
Danny shrugs a little, “I don’t truly know for myself. But it’s part of why I’m so weird okay?”, sighing, “but most Unfades are somehow important, tied to important things. Pariah is an Unfade purely because he became High King. So he was needed to exist. Some are tided to all plant life, or the weather”.
Maddie blinks, that was...not good to know. She’s not sure what to do with all this information, she hopes Jack’s writing it all down. Maybe, maybe Phantom would be better as a source of information than anything else. Swallowing, “are there...any other of these ‘Unfade’ ghosts in Amity?”.
Danny promptly replies, “no. It’s just me. Generally. I’m friendly with some of the others, so we visit. But that’s it. You’ll meet some at the coronation”. He knows there is no way ClockWork won’t greet them. ClockWork is basically his other parent. Deciding that this is probably a good place to try wrapping this up, before they get upset by something, “I’ll be gone for a while to prepare, I seriously doubt there’ll be much ghost activity either. Obvious reasons”.
Danny floats off very awkwardly, he almost absolutely overwhelmed them, might be a good thing though. While she just nods up at him.
Floating and awkwardly laughing, “I could do with never doing that again”. Glancing at his phone and groaning. Forty minutes does not feel like enough for Val. Definitely not enough to seek her out the indirect way. Which is why he does the arguably dumb thing and phases through her bedroom ceiling. Which unsurprisingly gets him shot; which he rolls with instead of avoiding purely to make her feel good over hitting her target. Laying on the floor groaning, he had slightly forgotten how strong her weapons were now, “ow. I earned that but, ow”.
“What the fuck Phantom”. She gets up in pjs with unkempt hair and holding a pistol, vaguely pointing it in his direction but not actually at him.
Danny sticks up a finger from the floor, “I have good reasons. Kinda on a time limit. A very short one with a lot to say”.
Valerie sighs and sits on her bed, “alright. Let me have it”, glaring slightly, “better not be a damn invasion. I was actually looking forward to a slightly relaxing summer”.
Danny snorts and sits up, crossing his legs, only slightly floating, “well, you’re not getting that free time, not as much anyway”, tilting his head, “technically more for the next three weeks since there probably won’t be much or possibly any ghosts-”.
Valerie goes wide-eyed, “what! Why!?!”.
Danny chuckles, “is that disappointment I hear?”, she growls at him slightly, while he continues, “new ghost king being crowned. Kinda a big deal. Whole Zone’s required to attend. So are you by the way, kinda a big reason why I’m here. Fenton’s have to show too. Was not fun explaining that one”.
Valerie blinks and just stares at him before realising he’s being serious, “you've got to be fucking kidding me”.
Danny snorts, “that’s what I said. Anyway, I literally have to leave in practically half an hour. Whole town’s invited by the way. And it’s in three weeks”, shrugging and rubbing his neck, “was kinda hoping to have you maybe break that news to the town in a press conference or some shit, I don’t know, up to you, if you even wanna. Before invites or however this gonna work, go out”.
Valerie sighs and rubs her eyes, this was not how she wanted to start her day, “well, congrats, I’m very awake now”, glaring at him, “why is the whole town invited and why do all the town hunters have to show? Is there some alliance thing going on? Because no way would the Fenton’s agree to that. Or me for that matter. Our truce is not the same as making nice with some overpowered ghost royal”.
Danny blinks, “you know, by the third time explaining this, you’d think I’d realise I need to start with the whole ‘I’m the one being crowned’ thing”.
Valerie blinks at him and smacks him over the head, “you asshole. Also barely addresses my questions”.
Danny motions his hands around somewhat calmly, “hey, considering I literally just found out I was getting crowned, sucking at explaining should be expected. Anyway, why the whole town, is literally because it’s me getting crowned. Amity is my home, my lair. The humans who live here are basically considered my subjects in the eyes of royal law or whatever. And you three hunters are the hunters here and in the world really”, pointing at her, “face it, you’re famous and the Fenton’s basically have a stranglehold on ectology, plus the main creators of affordable anti-ghost things. You’re important and you already have a truce with me. I’m pretty sure Red not showing would be a bad thing”.
Valerie sighs and nods a little, of course something like this would happen. But better it’s Phantom than some other ghost, “we aren’t your subjects, but I see your point, Phantom. I’ll be there and fine, I’ll give the town a heads up of sorts, otherwise there absolutely will be absolute chaos. Should I mention it’s you? Because that’s going to cause chaos no matter what”, sighing again, “this thing is in the Zone, isn’t it”.
Danny rolls his eyes, “obviously. And obviously you’ll be armed since you’re expected in suit. Just don’t attack anyone, supposed to be peaceful. Jack and Maddie are probably a lost cause in that regard, even if they agreed. The invitation or whatever will probably say it’s me, so might as well tell the town early”, sighing, “I just know this is going to be a shit show”.
Valerie chuckles, “how do these things always happen to you? Not that you don’t usually deserve it”.
“Hey!”.
Valerie ignores that, “speaking of deserving it, what’d you do to get a throne? Pariah?”.
Danny nods with a huff, “yeah, apparently that prick got dethroned because my ass beating him was the final straw. I’m also, apparently, literally the only one who could take said throne. Meaning I don’t actually have a choice in this bullshit. Fuckers also didn’t have the decency to tell me back when they decided I’d be king, three months ago. Fuck those guys so much”, glaring at her smirk before continuing, “I mean, I’m not really bothered by being crowned or whatever, probably better it’s me right? It’s just, I’m just a young overpowered bastard who’s rarely in the Zone”, gesturing to her, “be like the country randomly deciding you’re now the president”.
Valerie smirks, “glad your ass is getting inconvenienced by this too”, nodding, “but yes, it’s better it’s you. Ghosts still going to cause issues here after? Or am I outta a job?”.
Danny snorts, “you? Not hunt ghosts? Never”, rolling his hand, “there’ll still be ghosts. The ghosts who come here already don’t expect to ‘win’ this ain’t going to deter them any further really. Hell, there’ll probably be ghosts who come here purely because I’m the King”.
“I’m noting a serious emphasis on ‘the’ there”.
Danny blinks, “fuck, did I not explain that when I explained Pariah way back when?”, looking at the floor, “well shit. Whoops”.
Valerie wheezes but bops him on the head with the butt of her gun, “well explain then, you idiot”.
Danny rubs his head and grumbles, “at least I don’t have to worry about being treated weird because of my status. Geez”, looking back up to her, “okay, hear me out here-”
“Well that’s not promising or encouraging”.
“Ancients fuck -okay Pariah was a big fucking deal, obviously. But he was, like, the biggest fucking deal. The High Ghost King. Cause the way us fuckers work and the Zone, is while there’s a bunch of little kingdoms, tribes, clans etcetera. There’s also the head honcho, the big royal ass. The guy, person, or whatever, who basically rules the entire damn place-”.
Cutting him off again, “are you trying to tell me you are now the ruler of the entire species of ghosts and an entire dimension. Is that really what you are doing here?”. Valerie won’t deny being a little freaked by that, Phantom was already too damn powerful. But again it was better to have him be that powerful, than some other ghost.
Danny nods and rubs his neck, “yeah, that’s what I’m doing. Surprise?”, doing slight jazz hands, “heh. Anyway-”.
“Oh no, you do not get to ‘anyway’ that. What the fuck Phantom. You are already too powerful-”.
“Hey! At least I’m not omniscient and able to control time itself, like someone I know”, when she just blinks at him, he rubs his neck and looks around, “information overload has worked for me so far. Probably wasn’t the best idea now”, sighing, “but I know I’m overpowered okay? I’m not out here looking for more power. This is just what’s happening regardless of what anyone wants really. You think my teenage ass wants to be king? Not really no. But I’m not opposed to it either. It’s needed. I’m needed. Which yeah, is weird”.
“The fuck does that mean? You really goddamn suck at this”.
“Fuck off. I know alright. You try to figure out how to explain basically becoming the most powerful creature ever with an entire species and dimension at your command even though your technical roll as king is functionally just symbolic and free range to do whatever the shit you want with said roll because the entire roll of the High Ghost Sovereign is pretty well just to feed and cycle the Zone’s energy and thus sustain it which of course also means sustaining the universe itself because if the Zone does the big flop everything dies. Other than that, High Ghosty does precisely jack and shit unless they wanna do shit. Could be a guider or a consoler or warmonger, whatever the fuck”, huffing, “in short, it’s stupid and I have nearly no idea what I’m doing with anything other than I’m not going to be a total asshole”.
Valerie wheezes, “that was a word vomit if I’ve ever heard one. Maybe practice a speech for later? But is that seriously the roll? You’re a battery for the ghost zone?”.
Danny blinks and starts laughing, bending over, “you could put it that way! Oh Ancients, I’m so stealing that explanation!”, wheezing for a bit before sitting back up more or less straight, “the role has got more respect than that. It kinda puts all the ghosts at my mercy, so to speak. I’ll pretty much be able to control all ectoplasm, since it all is technically siphoned through me, even what’s in other ghosts. It’s...its a lot”, rubbing his neck, “and yeah, I probably will need the full three weeks of prep. Who am I kidding?”.
Valerie snorts and rolls her eyes, “you think? How are ghosts not going to be terrified of you? This kinda sounds like it sucks more for them than you. Which is arguably good for Amity”.
Danny glares slightly, “does having an entire dimension worth of power and every ounce of an entire substance constantly flowing through your body sound pleasant and enjoyable? Why the fuck do you think Pariah, even after freaking centuries of putting up with that, still screamed when donning the required regalia? I fully expect to be landed on my ass for a while from sheer pain. Though probably won’t show that publicly, obvious reasons there”, putting his chin on his palm, totally ignoring the icy blue mist pluming out of his mouth, “and that’s not even mentioning the tendency for going insane. Kings Madness is no joke. Plus, do you really think I’m going to abuse this shit and be dicks to all the ghosts? Really? And you think they aren’t totally aware of that? Anyway, you wanna be knighted?”.
“Okay then. Um, sorry? Also, are we just...ignoring them?”, pointing to the ridiculously large sweater-wearing dog perched on the windowsill, “and, um, sure?”. She’s not sure what to do with genuinely feeling a bit bad for him. Really this is something to congratulate him for technically, it just also comes with some apparently nasty ‘responsibilities’. He better not...go insane, though. Apparently he won’t be doing his job of protecting the town for a while.
Danny turns and smiles at Wulf, who looks kind of sad. Danny pats the ground prompting Wulf to crawl over and snuggle him before licking him, “yeah hi buddy. I’m guessing my time’s up?”. Wulf whines, apparently feeling fairly bad about his ‘job’ now. “Don’t worry ‘bout it. I’m good”.
Valerie snorts though eyeballing the large ghost, “know that you startled me enough to not shoot on sight. Your ride?”.
Danny sends her a slight smile, “yeah and you should really try to not shoot on sight. You’re my ally, won’t look so good if you blow someone’s heads off purely because they happen to not exactly need said head. Probably. Maybe”, sighing and standing up, “plus, kinda hoping you’ll help keep a handle on the Fenton’s”.
She nods, “yeah, sure. They’re irrational”, then glaring at the other ghost for slashing through the air and just creating a ghost portal. It’s going to be a little hard to just tolerate ghosts doing ghost things. At least Phantom often acted kind of human, could even forget he wasn’t human. The other ghosts around town not so much, and she’s got a feeling that the ghosts who never really come here are even less human-like.