Everyone knew that Bruce had passed on his adoption instinct to Damien. However, they thought they had at least five more years before Damien came home with a child. Yet here they were, with 13-year-old Damien holding a baby.
Damien did not know why they were shocked. Danyal was a warrior who had already proved his worth by biting a criminal who been attempting to steal a young ladies purse. Besides, Danyal would be a fine addition to the family.
Danny hadn’t planned on being adopted. He chose reincarnation to have a break. It wasn’t his fault. His instincts kicked in and he bit that criminal. Now he has to choose between being adopted by a rich guy or a rich guy’s son. At least the kid holding him seems like he is less creepy than the man staring blankly at him.
Danny didn’t really bother to unpack anything. The room that manifested for him had everything he could want right down to the duplicate copy of his bedroom. Everything else could stay in his bags until he found out what new human haunt he would be relocating to.
It wasn’t like he had plans to spend much time in his living, human form while in the Infinite Realm. He wouldn’t need much of it though he was half wishing he’d brought some snacks with him.
He had a kitchen, how did he put food into it? Did he just will it to be there or was there some kind of grocery store in the realms? Was that how this room worked?
Was the entire Keep some kind of sentient, ever changing mood ring? Were all lairs like that?
Not for the first time, Danny felt out of his depth. There were so many instincts to being a ghost that he didn’t have and today he’d followed his gut and left his living life behind him. Temporarily? Clockwork said they’d find him a new haunt but what did that mean?
Would he be living on his own? How would he pay for his own place? How would he go back to school? What if the GIW found him anyway? Would he just be labeled evil and be on the run again? Forced to return to the realms even if it couldn’t satisfy all of him?
Danny floated in his new bedroom, eyes staring up at the stars above him. The void of space was relaxing, but it didn’t entirely soothe the panic he was feeling. Could he still have a panic attack as a ghost? He wouldn’t hyperventilate, but he’d seen his fair share of ghosts freaking out. Panic attacks might have even been normal for beings who felt emotions so strongly.
He’d have to ask Frostbite the next time he saw the yeti. Maybe he should even make that a priority. Frostbite still called him ‘Great One’, would that change once he learned Danny had joined Panya’s fraid? He hoped not.
He tried to shake the thoughts away like an etch-a-sketch. He couldn’t stay in here moping and while it was nice of the others to give him some space, he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts right now.
Leaving his room had been a matter of floating down to his door, the challenge was working out which way to go next. Maybe he could find Clockwork. The others were nice but he was looking for something familiar and maybe a little validation that he hadn’t made a mistake with his choices today.
The hallway to his left changed and an archway appeared in its place that hadn’t been there before. It led out of the keep and outside and since no areas were supposedly off limits, Danny headed that way. It was a castle after all, so what else did castles have?
He thought about the games he’d played or movies he’d seen but instead found lush plants and trees of all kinds of colors that grew alongside small stone paths. The desire to see ghost bees was amusing but with his luck, they’d be more like killer hornets the size of a car.
Danny stepped into the garden, though he had some trouble reconciling it in his mind. It was like an open court yard, and the sky was still green. There weren’t clouds but distantly he could see a door or two in the distance of someone else's lair.
The flowers were strange, but a few he recognized from his encounters with Undergrowth. They were strange looking, like fantastical versions of Earth plants. Something pulled out of fantasy books, but they grew here so effortlessly.
Danny wasn’t sure if they were wild or if someone tended to them. He didn’t know Panya well enough to know if she was the type of woman who liked gardens.
“So you’re our new ghostling.”
Danny jerked back at the voice he didn’t recognize, ectoblasts coating his fists waiting to be fired.
“I didn’t mean to scare you, little one.”
“Where…?” Danny finally found the man sitting under a white tree that had purple and pink leaves. It was almost a relief that he didn’t seem to be a giant like everyone else he’d met in the keep so far.
“Who are you?” Danny asked, suspicious.
The man chuckled and didn’t seem to see Danny as much of a threat. His hair was a long, dark brown but it was the enormous antlers on his head that drew Danny’s eyes. Beside him were three large white dogs with red ears. They’re tails were like wisps and they watched Danny keenly, likely to determine if he had treats or not.
“My name is Arawn. Phobos has told me a little about you before, young Phantom.”
“Arawn?” Danny repeated, slowly approaching. The man seemed to be at home in the Keep’s garden which likely meant he was supposed to be there. “You’re apart of Panya’s fraid?” He felt dumb now and flicked his ectoblasts away. Of course the guy belonged here or he wouldn’t be here at all.
“I am,” He said patiently. “Have been for a long time. Panya and I becoming friends was quite the amusing story. We should get her to tell it to you sometime.”
“I guess,” Danny muttered, eyeing one of the dogs. “Never seen ghost dogs like them before…”
“Ah?” Arawn actually smiled at them. “They are called Cŵn Annwn. Spectral hounds. Their names are Keegan, Sloane, and Winnie.” They were just too adorable.
“They are unique to my Otherworld.”
“Otherworld?” Danny repeated. “Can…I pet them?”
Arawn grinned, “Of course. They pretend they receive no affection at all.” He waited for Danny to sit down and hold his hand out to one of the hounds before continuing. “Are you familiar with the Otherworlds?”
“Um? I don’t think so,” Danny muttered, smiling when Winnie nudged at his hands and allowed him to pet her ears.
“That’s alright. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have on the matter,” Arawn said. “The Infinite Realms are home to many afterlife destinations. Heaven. The Underworld. The Otherworlds,” Arawn made a gesture that probably meant there were dozens just like those.
“Oh, okay,” Danny said slowly. “So they’re unique to one of the afterlives. That probably makes sense.” He smiled when Winnie tried to climb into his lap despite being bigger than a great dane.
He could feel Arawn’s amusement, but it wasn’t the taunting kind of laughter that Danny was used to at school. His emotions weren’t so hard to grasp as some of the others but Danny also got the impression that Arawn was projecting for his benefit. Knowing that was so strange.
“You’ve had a lot of changes tossed at you today, haven’t you?” Arawn asked and /Sympathy/ accompanied his words.
Danny shrugged and kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to talk about his parents or the way he’d left them. He didn’t want to think about his phone call with Jazz or the sense of belonging he felt at being presented his own space in the Keep. There were already too many emotions likely escaping his notice that the others could read. He didn’t need to open that door and spiral into a full blown panic attack.
Winnie licked at his face and Sloane inched closer to him. They were so different from the ghosts he was used to but he could admit to enjoying how friendly they were.
“If you would ever like some assistance, you only need to ask me,” Arawn said.
“With what?”
“Anything. I have a bit of experience with you lot.”
“My lot?” Danny repeated, but something in his brain short circuited as he really looked at the man sitting across from him. He was ethereal sure, and more of an average size but it only just occurred to Danny that this man was far more than he seemed.
“Your heart is beating. You’re alive.”
“It is. I am,” He agreed.
“But…” Danny frowned, feeling like he was handed only half of an equation. “Panya said… my fraid fell apart because it was too alive…”
Arawn’s expression softened and the /Concern/ was pouring off of him. “Oh, Phantom. Do not be too hard on your fraid. Panya wasn’t wrong. Without the proper aptitude or training, it is very difficult for the living to be a part of a fraid full time. That does not mean they don’t care about you.”
“Apptitude?” Danny asked hoarsely.
“I am a god, Phantom. You would possibly only know me if you had knowledge of the celtic pantheon. I rule Annwn, the Otherworld here in the Infinite Realm. Being a god of the dead is a bit of a cheat, but it put my path alongside Panya’s.”
“Death god?” Danny repeated. The only death god the mainstream media ever taught him about was Hades. “That… I guess that explains this. You just visit the Keep?”
“That’s right. I was surprised to feel Panya wake again and I was coming to check on her after the mess that arose the last time she’d woken too early. I am… terribly sorry about that. You were left to deal with her on your own.”
Danny sighed, feeling oddly shaky. “Yeah. It turned out okay. Here I thought I was already fighting her at full power.”
“I’d like to think Phobos would have stopped her before things got too out of hand while he was waiting for the rest of us to arrive,” Arawn made a face. “But I understand your entire town was briefly pulled into the realms. We should be thanking you for the part you played.”
Winnie licked Danny in the face again and it calmed something in his core. She was acting oddly like a service dog… “Panya said something about it being the Observants fault. I still don’t really get it.”
Arawn nodded, and the genuine commiseration he felt from the man was comforting. “Today has been long for you, but keep in mind that you are family now. When you’re ready for the full story, just ask. I’m sure Panya will tell you what she remembers.”
“Family,” Danny repeated quietly. “So quickly? So easily?”
“Quickly? Perhaps. Not easily. You already had a bond with Clockwork and he was willing to fight for you. Panya’s decision, I can not speak on, but know this. Our fraid is small. Small but each of us fit. Panya knew in her core that you belong with us. I see no reason to doubt her.”
Danny shuddered under the weight of his /Honesty/. “Do you think I’ll ever see my fraid again? My living fraid?”
“Of course.”
Danny looked up at him startled at how easily he answered. “Really?”
Arawn’s smile was so steady and Danny was briefly distracted by wondering if his antlers were heavy. “You are young, Phantom. I imagine your fraid was as well. I have no doubts you will see them again.”
“Do… you think they could learn to have some kind of… aptitude to be around me again?”
“If they choose it, yes. Being close to death is not easy but it can be learned. If they are prepared for it mentally, it is very possible.”
Danny felt himself smile too, something in his chest easing. Getting to see his friends again, knowing it was possible was a weight off his shoulders. Panya had said he could stay in contact with Jazz, but this felt different. Promising.
“When that time comes, I will help them adjust if you want.” Arawn offered.
“Thank you,” Danny said immediately, hugging Winnie still. Sloane and Keegan had inched closer too and he couldn’t help but rub their red ears. He’d have to read up on spectral dogs or something. Glancing up at Arawn, Danny thought he might have to read up on Celtic gods too.
Awarn wasn’t just calm, he was casual with his acceptance. It wasn’t exactly the first thing he thought of when he thought of gods of the dead, but it’s not like ghosts were inherently evil either.
“A little, yeah,” Danny muttered, taking an unnecessary deep breath. “I have a ghost dog too. Well, he’s not really mine but he shows up to play fetch. Maybe i’m just his person.”
“Tell me about him.”
Danny’s smile grew. “His name is Cujo.”
~
*very loose interpretation of a celtic god
To the Two Mad Scientists for $10 and a Stick of Gum
dcxdp fic concept
Danny hated the Wayne's. It wasn't because they were stupid rich. or funded the Justice League that both worked with the government hunting him and ignored Amity's cries for help. It wasn't because Bruce Wayne was a floozy air headed basic ass white guy living off his family name.
No. It was because of one persistent running 'gag' around town. Now, Danny was used to being the brunt of the joke, having ghost hunter parents 14 years before ghosts were 'discovered' will do that to a kid. It was one running 'joke' in particular that had him glaring at one of the Wayne brood and seething.
That he was one of Bruce Wayne's bastard children that was such a loser that neither parent wanted him. That his birth mother had brought him to Bruce Wayne and he was so horribly embarrassed by him that he demanded the woman get rid of him and never show her face again. The woman, left penniless and shamefaced, then sold him to two traveling mad scientists. And that's why he was so much dumber than his sister.
(his classmates started it around the time news of Bruce Wayne adopting his first kid came around-everyone assumed it was a bastard/cover story)
Danny never put any stock into it. Why would he? It was a ridiculous story concocted by asshole kids on the playground.
Until he was riffling through some boxes looking for stray inventions/parts that his parents were known to leave around for an unsuspecting half ghost to find. A box with a birth certificate, a note, a couple pictures, and a log book.
He wasn't a Fenton.
He wasn't a Fenton.
The childhood mockery was truthful.
A least somewhat. Nothing stated who his father was. The name on his birth certificate having been inked over.
He wasn't a Fenton.
The note was in an envelope with a Gotham address.
His mind was blank. He didn't think. Couldn't.
He's not sure what exactly happened after that. He went on autopilot. When he finally came back to himself he was in Gotham, wearing an apron and a hat, and taking one of the Wayne kids coffee order.
That was 15 minutes ago.
He passed the cup to his coworker. Muttered that he wasn't feeling well as he took of his uniform and went to the bathroom.
He pulled himself together in record time amidst the jumble and went back to finish his shift. Brain desperately trying to fill in the blanks. (and why did his body hurt? like a giant bruise?) he went back to his post and tried to ignore the Wayne in the corner. unsuccessfully. He waved off the confused concern of his coworker and tried not to be too obvious in his glaring when ignoring was failing spectacularly.
Demon Twins (Fraternal, not identical so we can have trans Danny)
Damien successfully kills Tim. My favorite being the Grapple Line cut, but whatever you want it to be, because it could be an accident, and therefore Damien can just be embraced by the family.
Danny meets Tim's newly formed ghost in the zone. Tim helps Danny solve the problems in his adopted world. Ghost King Danny happens. Tim becomes his right hand/consort/knight/councilor/etc.
Meantime, Damien has come to regret both how he treated Danny (idk a good dead name for this) (Danny died trying to escape the league, not by Damien's hand) and Tim's murder, but he keeps his secrets still.
When Danny and Tim finally have time to take a break, they decide to go to Tim's dimension. Tim wants to check what happened after his death. Danny doesn't know that it's his birth dimension.
Tbh I’m not the biggest fan of de aged characters unless it’s done well but this popped in my head and I’m sure someone will take it and run with it.
Danny is de-aged somehow, is found by the batfam and adopted. Chose how. The important part is that when he was de-aged he became completely human/living again with his memories only going up till the chosen age. When he reaches the age he died the first time he relives his death, regains his full memory, and causes a lot of damage in the process. However, in my mind the reliving his death part comes out of nowhere, as in there was nothing to cause him to even be injured, let alone the whole debacle.
Mini scene: The family is scattered over the manor, Danny is outside setting up his telescope for a night of stargazing while still daylight, when out of nowhere all he feels is agony. All anyone can hear is his screams and by the time they get to him he is in a crater with extensive damage around him. He is extremely dazed and unresponsive (due to the influx of memories). When taken to the medical wing they are shocked at what they find etc.
AU where Jazz is an only child and ends up becoming a halfa, but not from another portal incident. Not like Danny’s, at least. Where Jazz went straight to her parents, and now they’re doing their best to help her control her new powers. Where Jack playfully calls her ghost form “Jazz-O-Lantern”. Where Jazz tries to do little nice things when she can like a friendly ghost for the town. Where Jazz accidentally bumps into a kid she’s never seen before and finds it strange that her ghost sense goes off whenever he’s around.
Where the Everlasting Trio are from another town and ran away for Danny’s safety. Where the three of them figure out that Jazz is a halfa before she realizes that Danny’s also a halfa. Where Danny constantly runs from Jack and Maddie because they’re ghost hunters, where Danny tries to better help and teach Jazz. WHERE THERE’S QUEERPLATONIC EVERLASTING TRIO (one of my favorite parts, that’s why I’m yelling it).
You know what I have yet to see in any fics where Danny is biologically related to either Bruce and Damian or one of the other batboys? The Mansons attempting to use that to their advantage and enhance their public image.
Either by spouting false praises and lying about being in Danny's corner while interacting with Bruce and his sons, or after discovering Danny's true heritage being the ones to take him in after a bad reveal in the hopes of getting into Bruce's inner circle.
Many usually gravitate towards Vlad as the abusive foster or guardian Danny needs to be rescued from, but his best friend's snooty parents that regularly look down on him just because of the elder Fenton's antics and reputation would do just as nicely.
Just imagine the comedy gold of Jeremy and Pamela barely masking their disdain for their daughter's "troubled friend" by pretending to dote on him while in Bruce's presence during a gala. Not realizing that Bruce along with every other Wayne in attendance can see right through them and is simply humoring them as well as biding his time.
Or if angst (hopefully followed by some comfort) is more your thing maybe have Danny, still reeling from Jack and Maddy's rejection latch on to the Mansons out of desperation for an adult he can trust and start believing they've had a genuine change of heart and come to care for him despite both Sam and Ida continually telling him otherwise. Only to feel the sting of betrayal a second time when while at a gathering Bruce or one of his boys approaches and tells him the Mansons are just using him to get in their good graces then show proof when Danny tries to deny it.
The Evil Ghost Tyrant wants to Make Me His Heir? But I’m a sixteen year-old halfa!
You can also read this on A03, FF.NET, and Wattpad.
Chapter 2: Time to call for backup!
The students at Casper High could not fathom what they had seen at lunch that day, and many were weary of their classmate. Danny on the other hand wished for death. The gazes of the school bore holes through his skin, and peeled the frays like hangnails. The teachers watched him with wide dinner plate eyes, their bodies tense like mice before a cat. This must have been a dream for Wes who ran through the halls cheering and hollering. And Paulina would not stop staring at him. He should like this, she was a very pretty lady after all but this wasn’t a stare someone gave their crush. It was the stare of an obsessive fangirl being close to her idol. Her pink I-phone was tucked under desk , probably recording him or she might have been taking photos of him for her fan twitter account.
This stance was broken by Dash and Kwan. The knuckleheads blocked the hallway with their steroid fueled bodies, arms crossed and faces stitched into frowns. He wanted to phase through them and fly home, but the two suddenly fell to their knees thanking him for saving them, their parents, their friends, and the school. Kwan had paper ready for an autograph from Danny. This started the title wave of fans chasing him.
Sam and Tucker tried their best, but their brave efforts were in vain. Tucker was the first to slip under the trodding feet of his classmates, his voice was muffled by the scream of fangirls and fanboys alike. Sam was next, she sacrificed herself for the greater good. Her strong arms held the classroom door shut. The old wood cracked and rumbled against the horde of hormones behind it. Danny saluted her before he took off to the skies. The roar of a crashing door faded into the Amity Park skyline.
He sailed through the air, letting the wind roll off his body with the day’s stress. Up ahead he could see the large Fenton Works sign in its gaudy neon glory. Maybe today was all a dream, and as soon as he opened the door his alarm clock would scream in his ears and wake him up from this chaos.
Behind his front door, Danny saw his parents waiting for him in their living room. His mother’s eyes were red and his father looked like he was about to strangle someone. It was a very cruel way reality chose to remind him that everything was in fact real.
“Danny, sit down. We heard what happened at school today,” His Mother’s tone was a death sentence.
“Wait, I can explain everything,” Danny said.
“Can you explain why you’ve been lying to us for more than two years?” His father asked in that tone that parents do when it's not really a question. But, Danny could explain why he hid everything. Why he lied, and snuck out of the house, and threw himself in danger every day, but the reasoning would hurt his folks even more. So, Danny chose silence.
“Danny I don’t understand why you would hide this from us? We didn’t know that was you in the at night flying to who knows where! We could’ve killed you. Our weapons aren’t toys, they can do actual harm Danny,” Maddie said.
“I know. I’ve been using them to hunt ghost,”
“I told you It wasn’t me losing them!” Jack said. Danny didn’t see the look Mother shot his Father. But whatever it was, his father chose silence.
“If we knew you were interested in ghost hunting we would’ve helped you,” Maddie said.
“I wasn’t really interested until the accident and then I -”
“What accident?”
“Oh um two years ago I was messing around with the portal and iImighthaveturneditonewhileIwasstillinside,” Danny stammered.
“You WHAT?” His Father yelled. “Danny, that portal blasts enough ectoplasm to destroy a person! You should be dead!”
“Well I’m half dead so you're half right?”
“This is just like Vlad all over again. Son, we need to get you to a hospital pronto!” Jack began to gather items for a hospital trip. “Maddie! Where are the insurance cards?”
“No! It has been two years and I’m fine! I mostly mastered my powers and I even stabilized my core, so it's all good.”
“Humans shouldn’t have ghost cores,” Maddie said.
“Hey can you guys keep it down? I’m trying to watch Tedtalk,” Jazz yelled from her room.
“Jazz Fenton get down here!” Maddie yelled.
“What’s going on?” Jazz asked, her hair and clothes were a complete mess from all night college study sessions. A sticky note that read STUDY HARDER was stuck to her forehead, and a coffee stain spread from her blue tank top to her gray sweatpants.
“Jazz, did you know your brother was a half ghost?”
“Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh OH! Danny! Oh no Danny how could this have happened to you! Who would do such a thing to my precious baby brother!” Jazz worked up her best acting skills, which were razzie worthy.
“Jazz you knew! You should’ve told us!” Jack yelled.
“WHY! You were the ones stomping around the dinner table saying Oh I’ll catch that Ghost boy and rip him apart molecule by molecule! Explain how I was supposed to tell you anything about Danny when you're making threats like that Dad,” Jazz said.
“I never said that! but , if I did, I never meant it!” Jack said. He then leaned down to his wife and asked “Did I really say that?”
“Honey I have to be honest I don’t remember half the things you say.”
“And to be honest, I don’t either.”
“Dad we are right here, we can hear you,” Jazz said. “Also! Danny, Sam just texted me saying the Ghost King is back? When did that happen? Did you fight? Are you okay?”
“Do Sam and Tucker know? How many did you tell before you thought to tell us?”Jack said.
“Well, to quote Jazz’s words I thought you two would kill me if I told you!” Danny said.
“We would never kill you!” Maddie said.
“You held a gun to my head at city hall!”
“We didn’t know that was you! Which is why you should’ve told us!”
“Batman figured it out in a day!”
“YOU TOLD BATMAN BEFORE YOU TOLD YOUR PARENTS!” Jack said. “Batman must think we are terrible parents!”
“To be honest Danny didn’t tell me, I figured it out all on my own,” Jazz said.
“You didn’t even tell your sister!?” Jack said.
“I thought she was going to tell you!” Danny said.
“And I was, until Dad threatened to kill Danny over dinner!” Jazz said.
“I have no memory of that.”
The house around them shook, but not from the family fighting. Picture frames fell from the walls and dishes flew from their cabinets. Jazz ran to the windows while Jack tackled Danny to the floor, their large metal chandelier missing the two by hair’s breath.
“Oh, thank Dad.” Danny said.
“Don’t thank me, I’m just doing my job. By the way, I was joking about the molecule thing.” Jack said.
“I thought you didn’t remember that?”
“Remember what?”
“Oh never mind.”
“Uhhh Danny, he’s here,” Jazz pointed through the opening in the blinds. The whole family moved to the window, to see Pariah Dark standing on top of the neighboring rooftop with a pair of binoculars. The Fright Knight stood behind him in a firm stance. His metal armor sent blinding reflections right into their eyes. Pariah waved to them.
“Oh for christ sake,” Danny rubbed his eyes. He could feel the headache grow ever larger behind his eyes.
“What does he want?” Jazz asked.
“He wants to adopt me or something,”
“Ghost King or not I will not allow anyone to adopt my son while I’m still kicking! Maddie get the guns,” Jack said.
“Wait, I have a better idea, Dad and Jazz, can you distract him?” Danny asked.
“Yes, but first explain,” Jazz said.
“You and Dad will distract those two while Mom and I get Clockwork. By the way, Clockwork is the ghost of time and he was once married to Pariah Dark. I think Clockwork would be willing to reign him back in,” Danny said.
“Wait, they were married? Why? That Pariah guy looks gross,” Jazz said.
“I don’t know and I don’t want to know.” Danny said proudly.
“Okay… we will go along with your plan but only if you tell me everything that has happened on the ghost ride to this Clockwork fella,” Maddie said.
“It’s a deal!”
The Fenton world explorer parked its shiny metal carcass on the edge of Clockwork’s tower. Maddie and Danny exit the vehicle, with Danny mid speech.
“And you remember the giant plant ghost, his name was Undergrowth and I don’t think you remember much as you and everyone else was brainwashed, but it was during that fight that I found out I had an ice coe and I almost froze to death trying to save everyone. But I managed to escape back to the Ghost Zone where I met ghost Ice Yetis who were kind enough to train me on how I could control my powers and - Mom? Mom, are you okay?”
“One second Danny, I just need a moment.” Maddie took a seat on the steps of the tower, her hands ran through her hair and pale face. “Danny.” She said, her eyes wore weariness like a coat.
“Yes Mom?”
“If you ever lie about anything this big again, I will rip your sorry ass from module to module. You understand?”
“Yes Mom.”
“I took you out of this world and I can take you out, you understand?”
“Yes Mom.”
“Good, now let’s meet this Clockwork person and get this over with. Once we get home your Father and I will discuss your punishment.”
“I saved the world countless times you can’t-” His Mother shot him a look, and Danny made the smart choice of silence.
“Are you guys also here to see Clockwork?” A female voice asked.
Behind them, floating in the miasma of the Ghost Zone was a pale yellow ghost with long blonde hair that whipped around her body like a spectral trail.
“Yes, but who are you?” Maddie said.
“My name is Celeste, and I’m here to see my husband. Does Clocky know you’re coming?” Celeste said.
“Danny, I thought you said he was married to the Ghost King?” Maddie said.
“That’s what he told me. But I don’t know who this woman is. I’ve never heard him mention Celeste before,” Danny said.
“Excuse me! He’s never mentioned me before! After everything we’ve been through!” Celeste cracked voiced cracked as she spoke. “Maybe I’ve been gone for too long.”
The door to the tower slammed open, sending the purple metal door flying into the void of the Ghost Zone, and Clockwork hurried out.
“Celeste, my love! How great it is to see you again!” Clockwork yelled quickly floating over to her side.
“Is it? Apparently you don’t tell anyone about me,” She said.
“That is because I only tell those worthy about you. I can’t have someone trying to steal you from me,” He said.
“You old fool, there is only room in my heart for two people. You and the sleeping giant. I could never make room for any more suitors.”
“I do know this my dear, but is it too much if I want to keep you to myself?”
“Oh you sly fox, you know one day he's gonna break out of that box, and you’ll have to learn how to share again.”
“And when that day comes you will have to learn how to share me.”
“With how busy the Observants have you I feel as though I am already sharing with you.”
“Danny what is going on?” Maddie whispered.
“I don’t know, I think they are flirting?” Danny said.
“I know that much, but who is this woman? Who are the Observants? Is this man reliable?”
“The Observants were eyeball freaks who watch everything that happens in the world, and -” Danny began.
“Danny, let me formally introduce my wife to you,” Clockwork said. Celeste had her arms wrapped around his shoulders and was kissing his quickly aging face. “This is my wife Celeste, the former Queen of the Ghost Zone and currently its only historian.”
“Is this the boy you were telling me about last time? The one with the evil version locked up in your home?” She asked. Clockwork nodded. “Well it’s very nice to meet you young Phantom.” Danny shook her outstretched hand.
“I didn’t know the Ghost Zone had a historian, or a queen?” Danny asked.
“Yes, while Clocky here can see eons into the past, he is really bad at writing it down for future generations of ghosts to learn from. So, I have been going through the Ghost Zone and recording all traces of history down,” Celeste said.
“But he said you were queen once? Why not?” Maddie asked.
“I have no desire to rule. Do you know how hard it is to rule the afterlife? There are always new ghosts trying to steal the throne from you, and every ghost expects you to solve their issues, and if you address someone with the wrong title they get upset and try to overthrow you. Plus you have to manage what few resources the Ghost Zone actually has, and create an economy, and stop every wayward human who tries to get in, and and and! UGH! It's horrible, I only did it because Pariah was terrible at diplomacy! What is the new phrase, he saw every problem as a nail ?” She looked towards her husband for confirmation. He nodded. “He’s lucky that I loved him enough to do that for three thousands years.”
“What happened? Did you stop loving him or something? I mean why did he get locked in the sarcophagus of forever sleep?” Danny said.
“He went too far and tried to conquer our allies in the Far Frozen. He wouldn’ listen to reason, so Clocky and I started a tiny rebellion.”
“So you left Pariah for Clockwork?” Clockwork and Celeste both burst out laughing at Danny’s comment.
“Oh no, technically the three of us are still married to each other. We have been since we first met in the Ghost Zone,” Celeste said.
“OH!” Danny said.
“In that case can you help my son here, your husband broke out of his box and is now wreaking havoc on earth. The man is trying to adopt my son.” Maddie said.
“Pariah’s out? Since when?” Celeste said.
“Two days ago. I was watching him to see if he did anything,” Clockwork said.
“So, you saw him come to my school and you did nothing?” Danny said.
“I was too busy laughing. For a moment I thought it was a mirage in the time stream.”
“Well, can you stop him? I already have a set of parent’s and no offense I don’t need another one.”
“Yes, we can stop him, but we will need that Fenton fishing pole.”
“Umm…okay?”
A crowd had gathered outside of Fenton Works, confused at the sight before them. Jack Fenton and his daughter were engaged in a heated battle with the King of Ghost and his ever loyal Knight. The four stood around a plastic folding table, the urge to kill deep in their eyes. Jazz made the first move, quickly sliding a card from the table before slamming it upon the building piple of casualties.
“Draw four and I change the color to blue!” Jazz said.
“You are making your own father draw cards?” Pariah scoffed.
“Think again bucko, for I have this in my hand!” Jack slammed down a blue draw two card onto the table. “Draw six Fright Knight!”
“I am sorry your Highness, but I can not afford to gain anymore cards,” Fright Knight did not look his master in the eye as he lightly set down a blue draw two card. “Draw eight your Highness.”
“Fright Knight! You betray me again! I will make you pay for this!” Pariah Dark added eight uno cards to his hand.
“That makes twenty cards in your hand your Highness, at this rate you’ll never win Danny’s birth certificate,” Jazz mocked.
“There must be some trick to this! You two are cheating!” Pariah said.
“Nope, you just suck at Uno,” Jack laughed. “Jazz baby, it’s your turn again.”
“Right.” Jazz said, laying down a blue nine card. “Uno!”
“No!” Pariah slammed his first on the table.
“Yes! Once I put this card down, I will win. Got anything in that hand of yours that can stop me?” Jazz said.
“I could kill you all where you stand!” Pariah yelled.
“That is called cheating your kingly-ness,” Jack said.
“You two are the ones who have been cheating! I will just take the boy by force!”
“But sir, the book!” Fright Knight cried.
“DAMN THE BOOK!” The King withdrew his glowing sword and sliced the table clean through.
Jack and Jazz withdrew their weapons and took aim at Pariah. When a spear made of light sliced through the air and knocked the sword from Pariah’s hand. Up in the sky was a pale yellow Ghost with long blonde hair descended from the sku.
“PARIAH DARK WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!?” She screamed.
“Your Highness I believe that is your wife,” Fright Knight said, inching closer to the Fentons.
“Celeste Darling, the star of my night, what has brought you here?” Pariah’s voice reached a level of softness no living human had heard before, but Fright Knight knew it was a signal of the end.
“Would you like me to list my grievances in alphabetical order or by severity?” Celeste threatened.
“My love I did not mean to hide from you, it was going to be a surprise for both you and Clockwork.”
“Who surprises someone with a sixteen year old child?”
“Well you have always mentioned creating a family.”
“Not like this! Now to save face the three of us are going to go back to castle dark and have a discussion about consent and why forced adoption is wrong.”
“Wait, the three of us?”
“Time in,” Clockwork said, appearing behind Pariah with the Fenton ghost fishing pole in hand. The neon green fishing line was sung around Pariah’s wrist and feet, leaving him helpless.
“Clockwork!”
“Hello dear husband, I believe we have a few things to talk about,” Clockwork said.
“You two can’t do this to me again!”
“I’m sorry who attacked the Far Frozen, destroyed the biggest natural portal between the living and the dead, …” Celeste began to ramble on and on about every misdeed Pariah had done. From massive destruction and barren lands, to the minor items, like her 12th century shoes being ruined. Clockwork dragged the two of them away, waving goodbye to the Fenton family as they entered the Fenton home.
“And I thought our family was bad,” Danny said.
“You have no idea,” Fright Knight said. In his metal hands was the entire uno deck, “Do you mind if I borrow this?”
“Only if you agree to go back to the Ghost Zone,” Jack said.
“A deal made sir,” Fright Knight shook Jack’s hand, before skipping into the Fenton home.
“Well, now that this is over, I have a test to study for. See you guys later!” Jazz took her weapon back into the home. The Study harder sticky note still on her forehead.
“I think I have a test too! And look at the time, I better go inside to study,” Danny backed away slowly, inching towards the front door.
“Perfect Danny, and when your done make sure to bring down your TV, cell phone, gaming console, computer, and every single item of Fenton tech that you have,” Maddie said.
“Wait what now?”
“Son, did you really think we wouldn’t ground you for lying to us for over two years? Also Sam and Tucker are not allowed at our home until they apologize for lying to us,” Jack said.
“You know Batman wouldn’t do this to his kids,” Danny grumbled.
