Chapter Nine: Temporary Goodbye

Wednesday, June 6th, 2018

"I have to go back now," Danny murmured to Sam. They had been sitting in the kitchen for over an hour trying to think of a way to get Abbi back. It was a hard blow when Tucker suggested waiting for Abbi to return on her own. Danny still wasn't sure that was even possible. How did they really know when Abbi arrived in the past? How would she figure out how to get home?

"I know, I just would like it if you could stay longer," Sam said, her arms around Danny's waist while he held her in his arms.

"I would too, more then you know," Danny kissed the top of Sam's head before pulling away for a final time. The green swirling portal stood behind them. Desiree had already gone through on Phantom's orders. Tucker was waiting outside the room after saying his own goodbye to Danny already. Sam stepped back from her husband as he rose effortlessly into the air. "I'll be back the second I can, send word if she shows up."

"I will," Sam answered. "I love you," Sam murmured before a small but happy grin appeared on her face. "King Phantom," she said, bowing to her husband.

Phantom rolled his eyes at the bow but smiled either way, "As I love you, Queen Phantom." He did a sweeping bow in return. When he rose again he meet Sam's eyes. "I won't be long."

"I know."

"See you soon."

"Yeah, you too."

Phantom gazed longingly at Sam for a moment longer before he turned towards the portal and vanished from sight. Sighing, Sam turned from the supernatural green glow and walked to the door. Shutting off the light she placed her hand on the key pad beside the door, ensuring the lock would engage once the door was shut before slipping out of her husband's 'office'.

"Is locking it really necessary with Abbi not here?" Tucker asked, taking note of Sam's actions.

"I guess not, it's just habit," Sam replied, closing the door behind her, a metallic click sounded, indicating the door was sealed from the inside.

"He was looking okay when he left, he won't be long," Tucker said, trying to lift his friend's spirits, pun not intended.

"Then he has you fooled," Sam replied, a small smirk on her lips.

"What?"

"He was hiding his fatigue well, but it was still showing through the cracks. He was just putting on a front to try and save face. It's a habit he's picked up from his time as King of the Ghost Zone," Sam explained. "He might not even realize he's doing it, but when ever someone other then me is around when he visits, he hides every sign a fatigue he can, and he can hide a lot when he needs too."

"Serious? But I'm his best friend! He can show me!" Tucker grumbled.

"Maybe but with Desiree here he couldn't and he just didn't stop after she left," Sam tried to explain. "Like I said-"

"It's habit, yeah, you mentioned that," Tucker sighed. "So, how was he really? Seeing's how I apparently couldn't tell."

"Wiped out. He's been worse before, but this was a short trip to be that tired over. His worry for Abbi was draining more energy then I think even he realized," Sam explained.

"I wouldn't doubt it," Tucker nodded. "It's not every day you lose your child twenty years back in history…"

"Why are you so stuck on twenty years?"

"N-no reason!"

DP DP DP

As Phantom slipped through the glowing green of the ghost portal, he felt his energy instantly increase. He's breathing became calmer and slower; while it didn't beat, his heart felt lighter and the pressing atmosphere of the physical plain lifted from his shoulders. He took a few seconds to take in the power from his realm before sealing the portal. A ghost proof door slid down over top of the portal preventing any ghosts from entering into Phantom's human house. This didn't prevent all ghosts from entering the physical plain but it protected his wife and daughter from any malevolent ghosts that might try and use them as leverage over him. Not many ghosts had that kind of power anymore, but it was always better to be safe then sorry.

With the portal sealed shut, Phantom turned to the green and purple sky of the Ghost Zone and saw his small security guard waiting. Currently they floated with their backs to the portal, preventing any ghosts from leaving while it was open. This also gave Phantom some time to recover some strength before facing his subjects. Being King meant never showing weakness. Ever.

"Fright Knight," Phantom called, the purple and black ghost turned to face him at Phantom's call.

"Yes, Lord Phantom?" he called, kneeling before Phantom.

"Has anything happened while I was away?" Phantom asked.

"No, my King, only the Ghost of Wishes came through a moment ago, she said she would wait for you at your castle as you ordered," the purple flaming ghost reported.

"Good," Phantom nodded, "I need to return right away, the trip to the Far Frozen will have to wait for now."

"Has something happened, my King? No ghost but you have ever used this portal before today," Fright Knight asked.

"Yes, I need to visit the library. Rather, send someone to retrieve Ghost Writer, I need a word with him," Phantom said, half thinking aloud. "And leave a guard over the portal until further notice. Two solders should be sufficient."

"Yes, my King, my I ask why, or what they should keep a lookout for?" the Fright Knight questioned.

"Anything out of the ordinary, ghost or otherwise," Phantom replied. "I doubt they will have anything to report but precautions must be taken."

"Yes, Lord Phantom, I will see it done."

"Very well," Phantom nodded, then without another word he headed toward his castle, his lair in the Ghost Zone.

It was a large island floating a little more than fifteen-minutes from the portal to his human home. The old castle was quite new compared to the other buildings in the zone, having begun its development over the time when Phantom was more often called Danny. But after having to become King and make the Ghost Zone his permanent; home the castle seemed to complete itself overnight. It went from a semi developed single story stone structure to a towering five story castle with towers and an inner court yard. A surrounding stone wall with battlements and gateway entrance.

The structure used to remind Danny of old sand castles he and Jazz would build when they took trips to the beach but after a while Phantom simply called it home. The closest island lair was Dora's kingdom found another ten minutes to the east. The two castles used to be closer neighbors but seeing as how everything in the Zone floated, they were bound to drift over time.

Behind Phantom he could hear the Fright Knight giving orders to the solders about guarding the portal and sending for Ghost Writer, but Phantom didn't pay attention to his words. Phantom personal guard of four followed behind Phantom as he made his way to his lair. Passing empty islands and long deserted lairs of ghost that had faded from memory. Danny used to find the empty doors a sad sight but after more than a decade in the Zone he was glad for the silence and solitude the empty islands provided. More than once he'd find himself hunting down a deserted island to rest on and take a break from being King, Lord, Your Majesty, and whatever else the ghosts of the Zone decided to call him. He almost preferred Dipstick and Whelp to the Royal Titles.

Whenever Ember and Skulker turned up the Fright Knight would have a field day about the nerve of the two ghosts calling the King such disrespectful names but Phantom never stopped the two. He liked to think it kept him more down to earth, even if he no longer was on the earth. It was also fun to see the Fright Knight get so worked up. Phantom started to think the two would stop by, not to bug Phantom but to annoy the flaming purple ghost, also something Phantom never attempted to stop.

The castle came into sight and Phantom sped up, forcing the guards to increase their pace but Phantom was faster then them and he ditched the ghosts before entering the main wing of the castle. Ghosts bustled around doing different jobs, half of which Phantom still didn't know what they did. He was quite thankful Fright Knight had to devote himself to the Zone's new king immediately after Danny became the king because Phantom was sure that Danny would never have gotten through those first few years. Or rather, they would have been much harder to survive. He didn't exactly attend royalty classes in college after all. And nothing from high school taught him how to rule an entire realm all on his own. Between Princess Dora, Frostbite, Clockwork and the Fright Knight, Danny had made the evolution from Fenton to Phantom relatively unharmed and with fewer fights then he anticipated when Clockwork first came to him that fateful day fourteen years ago.

Posted 9/15/18

So this might have felt like a 'filler' chapter and that's because it kinda sorta is, but it gives a little background. Sorry if I confused anyone with switching between calling Danny 'Danny' or 'Phantom'. It will be explained more later on.

Feel free to leave a review, they keep me smiling!

Morning Bleach