See, this caught my interest on my latest rewatch of the show. Why would Caine, a sophisticated and highly advanced AI (Kinger’s words, not mine) gravitate towards a bead maze when talking about a “big puzzle he needs to solve”? Bead mazes aren’t exactly known for their complexity. And there IS an almost finished Rubik’s cube on his desk in the previous shot. So…why the bead maze?
But when I looked up what this kind of toy is even called, I stumbled upon this interesting information on Wikipedia.
…Shape recognition, eh? Wait, why was Caine abandoned by his creators again?
Oh, right, because he had massive issues with forming consistent shapes.
All around the world, electronics of all kinds screeched with static - everything from cellphones to radios to handheld gaming consoles to hospital machinery to smart kitchen appliances. Anything that had a speaker was screeching. Anything with a screen flickered before showing what appeared to be the air space above the White House in Washington DC. The screeching raised to a high pitched whine before cutting off suddenly, replaced by a low hum.
Everyone had no choice but to watch as a green portal tore in the sky like a rip in the fabric of a sheet. Everyone had to watch as a black and purple glowing set of armor stepped out of the portal with a flaming sword, followed by a being with pale blue skin, pointed ears, red eyes, and flaming white hair. They floated on either side of the portal, seemingly standing at attention as the third and final figure came through the portal.
They were the smallest of the three, but even through the screen of a seven-year-old’s Gameboy Color, it was impossible to not feel the sheer immense power that radiated from the being. Platinum white hair floated in the air and a collection of frozen fractals of ice in the shape of a crown floated above it. Violently neon green eyes glowed with malice. The fine regalia the being wore was made up of armor that seemed to be made of the night sky itself, with stars and nebulas glittering within the plating. A sword hung from the belt on the being’s hip. A wide, billowing cape encompassed the being’s shoulders, lined with white fur and containing the entirety of the galaxy within its folds.
When the being spoke, the sound vibrated in the chests of every living thing in a ten mile radius.
“I am High King Phantom of the Infinite Realms. Ancient-apparent of Space. Bearer of the Crown of Fire and the Ring of Rage. Keeper of the End and of Balance. I come before you, the Living, to deliver a message and a warning.
For years, the governing bodies of the United States have sanctioned the capture, experimentation, and extermination of my citizens. For years, I have worked tirelessly to keep the denizens of the Realms within my borders and to stop the needless violence between the Living and the Dead. In doing so, I have given allowance to the persecution that, were I less merciful, would have been stopped long ago.
However, I have turned my cheek for the last time.
One week ago, the agents of the Ghost Investigation Ward captured Princess Wraith and Ended her.”
Gravity in the immediate area surrounding the king seemed to increase, as the humans gathered around the site all buckled and fell to their knees.
“A member of my Fraid and of the Crown was Ended at the hands of my enemies. And so, the Crown shall answer in kind.” At this, the knight in flaming black and purple armor drew their sword and held it up. “Today, I stand before you as judge, jury, and executioner, with my Knight and my Hand as witness. Today, the Infinite Realms formally declares war upon the governing bodies of this nation.
“I deliver this warning to the rest of the world and those beyond - do not intervene. The Infinite Realms will not show mercy to those who seek to still the hand of justice. Any nation or organization found to be aiding our enemies will become themselves our enemies, and our swords will come for you as well.”
King Phantom held out a hand, and an hourglass set inside three interlocking rings appeared, slowly rotating end over end.
“In one week’s time, my armies will return, and the siege will begin. Make peace with yourselves, mortals. And pray that when you die, that you do not emerge within the Realms. Because if you do - you will truly learn the meaning of eternal suffering.”
-
Danny is, unfortunately, willing to let a lot slide when it comes to injustices done to himself.
Shot at by both his parents and GIW agents? He bites a towel, stitches up his wounds, and is back out in a day or two.
Villanized by the townsfolk of Amity Park? He still risks more hits from ectoblasts as he takes time to make sure to evacuate everyone from the building currently under attack.
Taken by the GIW himself and partially vivisected? He recuperates in the Ghost Zone and is back at the kitchen table in a week, poking at his casserole as he listens to his parents recount the experiments they hadn’t been able to run before Phantom managed to escape.
An alternate evil version of his future self comes back and tries to ruin his life? Danny makes it his mission to not only routinely check on him in his time dilation prison, but to eventually reform him. He refuses to apologize for that - Dante is the protective older brother Danny didn’t know he’d wanted.
Danny puts up with a lot. It drives his loved ones crazy. It drives his court and advisers absolutely insane.
It turns out, however, that Danny is a lot less tolerant of injustices done to his loved ones.
When Elle's core shatters, Danny feels it like it’s his own. He freezes in place. If he was in human form, his heart would have stopped. His eyes burn with tears and the back of his throat with bile.
In the next moment, he’s in his castle, curled up on the dais of the throne room, keening weakly as his own core cries out in anguish and grief.
Dante is there a moment later, hands on Danny’s back to guide him through the initial onslaught of crying. Danny suddenly understands how Dante could have become who he was, because this… this pain is unbearable. He can’t decide if he wants to rip apart his own skin or the whole world.
The severity of the loss of connection to Elle has Danny out of commission for a week. In that time, Dante and the Fright Knight investigate to learn the fate of the young Princess. Tucker, Sam, and Jazz are moved into Phantom's Keep in anticipation for what both the Fright Knight and the Hand to the King know is coming.
Dante feels his fire core aching with the need to destroy as he watches the GIW base burn to the ground. It’s ghoul fire - it will burn for as long as Dante wills it to. As he cradles the jar in his arms that holds what remains of Elle’s core pieces, he wonders if he will get to burn more.
