What is up errybody? Long time no read right? Well I am officially back and ya'll have no idea what kind of ride you are in for! I would like to apologize for my absence and delay in getting back to writing this story. So because I love ya'll so much and to make it up to ya'll I'm posting my newest story in addition to the latest chapter of this one. Whew! So read this one and the other and as always enjoy and review. All the best JRF!

Chapter 8: You've got Another Thing Comin'

Instantly, the room was a mass of motion. The three humans seemingly pulled weapons out from everywhere and pointed them at the un-welcomed guest. Johnny 13 summoned his shadow and Kitty prepared her banishment kiss. Danny's eyes glowed a fierce green and he charged-up his ecto-rays. Ember grabbed her guitar and prepared to unleash all hell upon Vlad.

Calmly and a bit snobbishly Vlad spoke, "Oh, calm yourself Daniel, I'm merely a duplicate sent here to summon you and the rest of this hodge podge group."

"Like hell, why should we believe you?" Jazz practically spat in Vlad's face.

"While, you may not believe me, I trust you will believe my esteemed companion."

Slashing his way into the now cramped room, came the hulking mass of Wulf. Speaking in Esperanto, which Danny, Sam and Tucker were fluent in, Wulf said simply, "Li parolas la veron. Venu kun ni amikoj."

"Oh for the love of God, will somebody tell me what the fuck the overgrown furball just said and in what fucking language he said it!" Smirking Danny, addressed his flame haired girlfriend, "Well princess, Wulf speaks only in Esperanto and he said basically that Vlad is telling the truth and we need to go with them."

Danny spoke with a know it all tone and with an inflection that said I can't believe you are not as smart as I am. Ember glared at her smug boyfriend and decided to pay him back in kind later. "Shall we go? After all it's not wise to keep the ghost of time waiting." Vlad was growing impatient at the show of teenage foolishness.

"Wulf al portalo bonvolu." This time Sam spoke in perfect Esperanto. The large canine ghost opened a large enough portal for everyone to pass through.

The group found themselves inside Clockwork's tower.

"Ah, Daniel right on time." The youthful clockwork grinned at his joke.

"Hello, Clockwork." Danny greeted politely.

He still felt guilty about their last meeting. Clockwork called the meeting to order.

"Now that all of the party's involved are present let's get to it."

Team Phantom plus four took a moment to take in their surroundings. The duplicate Vlad had returned to the original seated in the back of the room. It was some sort of great hall that had to be in Clockwork's tower, somewhere. Gathered in it were many of Danny's friends and allies and well quite a few enemies. Dora and Poindexter waved. Desiree simply nodded curtly. Spectra smirked in a self-satisfying grin. Here and there various ghosts greeted Danny and the rest of Team Phantom. Others gave the group a look of disdain and loathing. Nocturne, Undergrowth, Vortex, and Dan were seated together and topped the list of Danny's most powerful foes. Still Danny had to admit that Clockwork was the man or in this case the ghost, because all ghosts weak or powerful gave him their undivided attention when he spoke.

"Now then, there is a grave and horrific threat that is on the rise. This threat if allowed to reach its goal will unravel the very fabric of our existence. As most of you know in our universe the Ghost Zone and Human world are on the same reality plane. What affects one affects the other. Destroy one you destroy the other and thus rip a hole in the time stream."

Pausing briefly the ghost and humans gathered mumbled about what could be so powerful. "This threat is the human organization know as the Guys in White."

Laughter burst out everywhere and Team Phantom was certainly one of the loudest.

"Those imbecilic humans a threat to us? That is beyond absurd you old fool." Nocturne hissed.

Undergrowth and Vortex agreed vehemently. However, Dan knew better and remained stone-faced.

"SILENCE!" The Fright Knight bellowed. "You dare question Clockwork, I'll show you true nightmare's Nocturne!"

With the SoulShredder at the ready, the Fright Knight looked quite demented. Nocturne took on an expression of rebellious contempt but, shut up all the same. The din died away immediately.

"Thank you." Clockwork gave the knight a curt bow.

"As I was saying the GIW are a threat because their ranks have recently been swelled by Jack and Madeline Fenton."

Eyes everywhere turned to Danny to find angry blazing green eyes staring back at Clockwork.

"It has come to my attention that the Fenton's have discovered a way to kill and completely erase from existence any ghost." It was now deadly quiet in the large room.

"It involves superheated and electrically charged synthetic Ectoranium. Loaded into bullets and bombs any conventional human weapon becomes painfully deadly to us. While only a direct hit to the core kills any damage taken from these new weapons is extremely painful to ghost and humans. All limbs severed remain so and will not regenerate. Their ultimate goal is to launch an all out assault on the Ghost Zone and destroy it."

Clockwork soldiered on to the hall of stunned and shocked faces.

"They are building an army and we must do the same."

"Why not attack now while they are weak!" Shouted Skulker.

Shouts of approval rang out everywhere.

"So are we, Skulker." The ghost of time deadpanned.

"We are not ready to take them on. Plus any attack on them would result in the rest of the human world supporting their efforts and swelling the ranks. To win this war we need to let them attack us first. Acting in self-defense will sway a large portion of the humans to our cause. We want peace ultimately between our worlds. This war will lead to peace and continued existence or complete destruction. I've seen both eventualities and as of now the future is in constant shift."

"How do we prepare a defense?" Dorathea shouted.

"That will be up to the Ghost King." Gasps of shock echoed Clockwork's answer.

"Pariah Dark can't lead us through that!" Vlad yelled indignantly.

"You are right Plasmius, but he is not the Ghost King anymore. Therefore to conclude this meeting we will crown the new Ghost King." Clockwork's voice remained deadly calm.

"And who might that be? Walker demanded.

"Daniel Phantom of course." Smirked the ghost of time. Pandemonium ensued.

So much noise was created that it was impossible to discern what was said. Bits and pieces from undistinguishable voices came through the cacophonous fog.

"I'll never bow to that punk!"

"How is a child supposed to lead us!"

"He is not even full ghost, nothing but a vile half-breed!"

"Phantom, lead me absolutely outrageous!"

"He will make an excellent leader, we must follow!"

"We're with you Danny!"

"Long live King Danny Phantom!"

Finally, Clockwork had had enough. Slamming his Time Staff onto the unfeeling concrete. A massive hot white flash blinded everyone and allowed the wizened old ghost to regain order.

"Like it or not, Daniel is the rightful King!"

His eyes flashed dangerously and most cowered under that gaze. Dan despite his best effort couldn't repress a shiver. Danny was still fueled by anger at his parents and boiling uncertainty concerning his imminent coronation.

Unable to stop himself he spoke, "And if I don't want to be king, what then?"

"Ah, Daniel glad to see you were paying attention. Quite simply you don't have a choice. The laws of the Ghost Zone are ancient and absolute. When you defeated Pariah you in effect signed the binding contract and accepted the terms and conditions, (ahem) without reading them."

If Clockwork was smug before it was nothing compared to now. The audience could practically taste his self-righteousness.

"If you refuse Daniel, you will be imprisoned and the Ghost Zone will tear itself apart with civil war. Leaving the doorway wide open for the GIW induced apocalypse."

Danny, thought for a moment. "I need a few minutes, Clockwork."

"You have ten minutes young Phantom." Danny pointed to Ember, Tucker, Sam, Jazz and Vlad, "You five follow me."

They all obliged the look on Danny's face told them that he needed them desperately. Filing into one of the ghost of times numerous empty rooms. Danny leaned against the wall. He could already feel a massive headache pressing outwards against his temples. It seemed like a lifetime ago that he was drinking and dancing with Ember, followed up by a passionate session of lovemaking. When in reality it had been less than twenty four hours.

Danny swallowed, "Alright, I need to know if I do this are you all with me, well more specifically are you with me Vlad?"

"Perhaps a little explanation of my presence is in order first. Well Daniel, I'm dead. As soon as my life support ran out after the disasteroid incident, my human half died. I'm now full ghost."

Taking a moment to clear his throat and simper at the ridiculous faces around him Vlad continued. "As such, my obsession with your mother is at an end. She would never accept me like this anyway. As for your father he was nothing but, a friend to me and I was too blind and resentful to realize it. Now they have both lost their minds to unadulterated hatred. Finally, you Daniel. My death has made me realize that my actions against you were for my own petty reasons. For that I am sorry Daniel. Now to address your earlier query, I am with you completely and will follow your commands King Phantom." Vlad closed his explanation by kneeling.

Danny while skeptical of the usually vindictive Vlad Plasmius, felt that he was telling the truth. "Alright, Vlad you must earn my trust and prove yourself to me." Vlad nodded, "Yes, my King."

"What about all of you? Do you think I should do this? Will you support me?"

Ember was the first to answer. "I'm with you all the way babypop. Besides who else among the Ghost Zone has what it takes to save all of our sorry asses?" She embraced Danny and gave him a brief but, passionate kiss.

"Bro you are my brother and I'll be here with you forever man. Ember's right you are going to be one kick-ass King. Also being so close to the King I bet the ghostly ladies will come running. OW!" Sam pulled her fist back from Tuckers arm.

"Danny, know that I love you and always will. You are my best friend if you think I'm jumping ship now, you've got another thing coming. There is no one I would trust more to lead us through this crisis more than you. King Danny Phantom has one helluva ring don't you think?"

All eyes focused on the red-headed female. The same shade of red as her mother. With her fathers eyes. "Lil bro know that I love you and will always support you. And yes you'd be the absolute best Ghost King but, I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what will happen when you finally confront the Fenton's. If if if yo-yo-you kill t-t-t-them or or v-i-i-ice v-v-versa..."

Jazz broke down into tears unable to continue. Danny embraced his older sibling and spoke gently.

"Jazz I promise you that we will make it through this storm. That I won't allow what will happen change me. I will always be your lil bro and I love you." Jazz gave a weak and watery smile.

"Times up!" rang the voice of Clockwork.

Making their way back into the uproarious room, Danny walked up to the center and clockwork the others took their seats.

"SILENCE!" The Fright Knight yelled.

"Have you reached a decision Daniel?" Clockwork of course already knew the answer but, Danny needed to say it out loud.

"Yes, I will be the Ghost King." A mixture of cheers and cries of anger burst out. Again the Fright Knight yelled for silence.

"Very well Daniel. Your coronation will be brief."

Five mysterious figures all of a sudden appeared. Everyone was to stunned to make a sound.

"Ah, yes Daniel allow my to introduce my brothers and sisters. The Ancient Ghost Council. They have been silent for centuries and only arise to witness the crowning of a new King or at times of great disaster. Now then." Clockwork opened his hand to reveal the Ring of Rage.

"Hold out your right hand, Daniel. With this ring you take on the responsibility of it's power and the burden of keeping it in check." Clockwork slid the ring onto the third finger of Danny's trembling right hand.

"Gah!" Danny gasped as the brunt of power hit him. The Crown of Fire materialized in Clockwork's hands.

"With this crown you take of the burden of being the supreme leader of all ghost. As well as the commander of the Ghost King's Skeleton Army. Do you accept for there is no turning back. You will remain King until death or someone defeats you in battle?"

"I accept." With that the Crown of Fire was placed on Danny's head.

He screamed and there was a blinding red light. As it cleared, jaws dropped and gasps of utter shock escaped. Danny had changed form. He now had on the most impressive set of polished mirror black chrome armor. Sleek and modern yet form fitting. Emblazoned with his DP logo in brilliant white. A sword similar to the Soul-Shredder in its sheath on his hip. An ice-blue cape billowing even though there was no air to move it. Eyes blazing like the fires of Hell itself only in acid green. Even his most hardened enemies had to sit in awe of him. Danny looked like a true leader now. All would follow.

The Fright Knight bowed, "What is thy command my liege?"

Clockwork yelled, "ALL HAIL KING PHANTOM!" Ghosts massive, miniscule, powerful and weak bowed.