Months went by, and Ember's stomach extended. Parties all over the ghost zone had been thrown, everyone so happy that this was happening.
Granted, the morning sickness was a bit annoying to the both of them, but they soon got used to it. As Ember's stomach began to show, they began to get everything ready for the baby, along with Johnny and Kitty's help. They changed the guest room into a nursery, Kitty painted it, and Danny and Johnny built both a rocking chair for Ember, and a crib!
But none of them let Ember do anything but rest.
"Why can't I help out?" Ember asked.
"Because your already doing enough work" Danny said.
Ember rolled her eyes "I'm only three months along; I can handle it!"
Danny nodded.
"Of course you can," he said.
"But think of this as a debt repaid for when you saved me" he said.
Ember crossed her arms.
"I did that out of love, not so you could repay me" she said.
Danny kissed her.
"I know," he said "so then, think of this as a major act of my love for you."
Ember blushed, and then kissed him again.
"I cannot wait until this house is ready" Ember said.
But they would not be able too…
A week or so later, something that never happened in the ghost zone was reported; a death. And not just anyone.
Everyone was gathered at Danny and Ember's place.
"Clockwork is dead?!" Ember said.
"That's not possible!" Danny said.
"I know, but he basically just disappeared," Desiree said "and written on the wall of his citadel, in ectoplasm, was 'King Karsh'."
"Who?" Box Ghost asked.
Technus had come in.
He was searching through the databanks of his new techno-suit.
"Some ancient ghost, even more ancient than Pariah Dark, and Fright Night" he said.
"He was claimed to have the power to kill anything, and re-kill ghosts. He did this with an enchanted sword, more powerful than Fright Night's" he said.
"But instead of going to places that religions believe in, or returning to ANY kind of afterlife, whatever he kills basically just…"
He paused, not believing what he heard.
"Ceases to exist…" he finished.
That scared all of them.
"Oh dear god…" Ember said, and began to cry.
Danny flowed his hand through her hair, soothing her.
"It's gonna be okay, Amy" he said. "But all that went through his mind was 'this is not good…'
Dark clouds began to loom over the ghost zone. So much misery spread through the ghost zone, that Desiree couldn't take it, and felt as if she was overeating.
It was soon discovered that Pariah Dark's crown had been destroyed, along with Fright night's sword and pumpkin. In these spots the same thing was left; the name 'King Karsh'.
Married ghosts, and close ghost couples held each other close together. They stayed in close contact with friends, and a lot were ready to leave at a moments notice.
This included Danny, Ember, Johnny, Kitty, and Youngblood.
"This just can't be happening" Ember said one day, as she sat in her rocking chair.
Danny put his arms around her.
"I've beaten a bunch of ghosts before" he said "this is no different."
Ember clutched Danny close.
"I believe in you" she said.
Soon though, all hell broke loose.
The dark clouds that loomed over the sky opened up one day, and then he finally appeared.
"Finally!" he said "so begins the rule of King Karsh!"
His began to shout, his voice echoing across the entire ghost zone.
"New subjects!" he shouted "Your rightful ruler has come to claim his right as supreme overlord of the ghost zone! All who oppose me shall die!!"
Thus started the panicking.
Danny heard King Karsh's proclamation, and instantly ran into his house.
"Ember, we have to go, now!" warned Danny, taking his wife by the hand and pulling her along with the screaming crowd.
"What? Why?" she asked, frightened at her husband's darkened expression. He didn't look back at her, but instead shouted back, "Because King Karsh is coming!"
Ember froze as fear clawed at her heart, but Danny dragged her onward.
"THERE HE IS!" screamed one soul in the crowd. "HE'S COMING!" screaming another. "LOOK OUT!" A huge shadow fell upon the crowd, and Danny flew Ember and himself out of the way just as a giant boulder smashed into the ground. Ember heard the sound of bones cracking and blood gushing out and felt sick, but did not dare look back. Several more boulders followed, each growing larger and coming faster. Flying debris scratched at Ember's skin and the dust made her cough. Her eyes watered from dust and fear.
"Where are we going?!" she shouted between coughs.
"To get Johnny and Kitty!" Danny shouted back. Again he flew her out of the way of an incoming boulder. But this boulder was different. It smashed into the ground, crumbled, and then exploded. Rocks shot everywhere. Ember cradled her stomach protectively as the rocks bruised her body. More boulders like that whizzed down upon the fleeing residents of the ghost zone, first a bullet in the sky, and then before you had a chance to even blink, it was a gigantic boulder that hit the ground with incredible force. A dark, devious laugh suddenly filled the air. Ember's blood ran cold and the crowd stopped, even Danny. The laugh was like no other; cold, demonic, and heartless.
"Pitiful fools," came an even colder voice, and King Karsh appeared suddenly in the sky. Several ghosts screamed, and Ember clutched Danny's hand.
"It's really quite amusing," the King continued, "And I've been bored lately, so let's have a little FUN!" At the signal, there was a huge explosion in the air, like fireworks, and rain fell from the sky. But it wasn't rain at all. It was molten hot acid. Everyone screamed and started running again, trying to get away from the burning rain. Ember tugged on Danny's arm, but to her surprise, he floated above the crowd and glared at the King.
"You'll pay for this!" Danny screamed at him, the acid raining burning his eyes and causing tears to run down his cheeks. The King raised an eyebrow threateningly at him.
"What are you doing?!" Ember hissed at Danny, tears from the acid running down her face as well, but he ignored her.
"You destroyed our homes!" he continued, "And killed everyone, and ruined the land, and attacked us, and.." Danny shook his head. "You're gonna pay."
"Danny, get down here right now," Ember demanded through clenched teeth.
"Ah, you must be the legendary Daniel Phantom," said King Karsh, once he had figured out who Danny was. "But on the contrary; you will pay, young rebel. And your pathetic little wife, too," he added, eyeing Ember with a look that made her spine crawl. "No one defies the great King Karsh!"
"We'll just see about that!" Danny said, then instantly turned, lifted Ember into his arms, and he flew off.
"Yes, FLEE Daniel Phantom, FLEE!" King Karsh shouted "but I WILL find you, and I WILL destroy you! And every last person that you care about!"
Danny ignored this, and continued to fly, as Ember broke down in tears in his arms.
They went to Johnny and Kitty's place. They both had everything prepared. Amongst the chaos, they prepared the bikes, and set up the portal to the human world, thanks to (now un-existed) Technus.
They then saw Danielle run in, panting. She was cut up, and tears were running down her face.
"I want to come with you guys!" she said.
To their surprise, Danny refused.
"I can't risk losing my only blood relative" he said, bending down to her height.
"You can come through the portal with us," he told her "but afterwards, you need to fly as fast as you can away from us."
Dani wiped her tears "I understand."
Johnny checked the portal.
"It's ready" he said.
Danny stood tall.
"Let's go." he said.
He and Ember got on their bike. Johnny and Kitty on theirs with Youngblood in the sidecar. Danielle hung onto the side of Danny and Ember's bike.
They started the bikes, and flew through the portal right before it faded away. They found themselves in Death Valley desert of California.
Danielle let go of Danny and Ember's bike. She hugged her cousin tightly. Tears ran down her face.
"We'll be together again" he told her "I swear this to you, right here, right now."
"I love you cous'…" she said.
"I love you, too" he said, and kissed her on the forehead.
After a long heartfelt goodbye to all of them, Dani flew off.
As Danielle became a mere dot in the night sky, and then disappeared, Danny turned to the rest of them.
"It's down to us guys" he said "We are gonna stick together through thick and thin, no matter what happens!"
They nodded in understanding.
"I am not much of a leader" he said "but I hope you all trust me enough to let me help you guys."
"We will, Danny-boy" Johnny said, with a firm look.
"You will be a great leader." Kitty said.
"I'll follow you anywhere, honey" Ember said, kissing him.
Danny nodded in thanks.
"From this day forward we shall be known as team independence" he said "We need nobody but each other, we stick together, and we have each and everyone's back."
"Now," he said, as he and Ember got back on their bike.
"Lets ride" he said.
And they drove off.