"Danny Phantom? Impossible. He died ten years ago." Skulker huffed. "The last person who could have saved us all."
I grabbed his wrist suddenly, ignoring his cry of protest. I lit my hand up with ecto energy, just slightly enough for him to trace my signature. I knew my signature would not match Phantom's, but Abadons. I backed up from the ghost, and let two white rings form at my waist. The cool energy washed over me, and I felt the sensation of becoming human again. I opened my eyes, their cool blue hues showing for the first time in ten years.
"It is you! Your signature matches Abadon's, though. I don't understand." Skulker shook his head.
"Azure, come here and explain it to him."
The bushes rattled, as she crawled out from behind a bush. Skulker's gun hummed to life as he aimed it at her, but I pushed it back towards the ground, shaking my head at him. I morphed back into Phantom, sitting on the ground once more beside the battle plans. I barely listened while she explained the current situation to Skulker—including the mind control. I waved a hand over the plans, making it barren dirt once more.
"Hey! I spent a long time on those plans, twerp!" he huffed.
"They won't work. You'll die within five minutes and it will be for nothing." I scratched my chin. "The rear end of the castle is actually the least protected, however, that's because its inaccessible. So, what we should do—"
"Excuse me, who put you in charge?" Ember retorts. "You can't just show up from the dead, tell us you're a lost hero, and take charge."
"Well, shit. I thought that's what I was doing." I shrugged. "You guys are lucky anyway. If I was loyal to the King, you all would've been dead before you even entered the castle. I'm a level 15, you know."
"Impossible. Nobody is that strong, pup."
"Scan me, find out for yourself." I was silent for a moment as Skulker scanned me, however, I didn't really care. I was thinking out battle strategies. Azure put her head on my shoulder, looking over the plans with me.
"Let me guess, Daddy didn't approve your relationship?" Ember snorts, eyeing the pair of us.
"Actually, 'daddy' set us up." I replied, sarcasm heavy in my voice. I grabbed the branch, tracing it around the dirt, occasionally crossing out spots as Azure and I decided a different course of action. "Seeing as I'm warden, I can get the guards on my side. Might take some finagling, but Bullet should be able to convince them to serve me instead, since I will be King at the end of this."
"Who died and made you King?" Ember retorts. She walked in front of me, her blue hair whipping angrily.
"When Azure and I get married, ancient law did." I shrugged.
"Who says we want you as King? You're a mass murdering, evil, treacherous ghost!" Skulker yells at me. "The only reason I'm not blasting you to shreds is because of how powerful you are, twerp."
"Just think. Fourteen years ago, you were trying to hunt me down for my pelt. I was only a level seven back then. Oh, how time flies."
"Don't tempt me, twerp."
"I would destroy you before you could even charge your gun." My voice laced with warning. "Like you said, I'm a 'mass murdering, evil, treacherous ghost.' Even though I was under mind control and I did whatever Plasmius told me to do."
"Whatever, pup. Just tell me the plan already." He huffed in defeat.
"Well, the mind control thing has already told Vlad I don't serve him. When I broke free of it, it sent him a silent fuck you message to him."
"So what's the plan?" Ember asks. "Since we have to have a murderer tell us what to do."
"I will go to the prison, and try and convince Bullet to join me. He has always been loyal to the Warden, but he is also loyal to the King. But I will be the next King so he might be loyal to me over Plasmius."
"What if he's not?" Skulker asks. "What then?"
"Then, I know exactly how to incompasitate the entire prison. I can put on, so that none of them joins the fight, an anti-ghost shield. When we take over, we'll make them bow to us."
"That sounds like a great future leader." Azure rolls her eyes.
"Mmm. Sounds a little like Vlad. You're right." I kissed her cheek, making her blush. "You see, this is why we're so great together. How about after we win, we'll see if they're loyal?"
"Better." She laughs, kissing me on the lips.
"Okay. That has to be the single most disturbing thing I've seen all day." Ember makes a disgusted face.
"My bad." I blushed slightly, clearing my throat. "Anyway, while I'm doing that you guys will be coming up the front entrance. There is a guard at each side of the door, but after you knock them out, your path to the throne will be clear with no guards."
"I'll talk to dear old dad. See if we can't work something out." Azure smiles lightly, knowing how stupid she sounds. "In plain English, I distract him until you guys show up. He'll be overwhelmed by how many there are at once and he'll try to worm his way out of it."
"How do we stop him from escaping?" Skulker asked, making sense of our plan.
"Well, if he has the opportunity, he's going to escape into the Human World. We can't let him get that far. But if he does, Danny can make portals to and from the Ghost World with the wave of his hand." I smiled sheepishly as everyone turned to look at me. That ability was unheard of in the Ghost World.
"We just might make a King of you yet, kid. You're sounding more and more like your old self." Ember smacks my arm, not noticing how tense I got with her touch.
"Thanks." I shrugged away from her touch. Ten years has taught me not to let anyone touch me without my permission. "Everyone cool with the plan?" I looked past Ember and Skulker at the small group of ghosts behind them. They nodded. "We might not be able to get along, Skulker, Ember, but after this I promise I will be a new man. I do not wish to be feared. Perhaps we could be friends at the end of this."
"Don't push your luck, kid. I don't care if you were mind controlled for ten years. You killed many of my friends, and if I had any say in it you'd be dead where you stood." He growled.
"I'm sorry. Truly sorry." I stood up, getting on eye level with the male ghost. "I have done many things I'm not proud of. If I could take it all back, I would. I have done unforgivable things, but if you give me time, I will make you proud of me."
"Getting deep into the bullshit here." Ember snorts loudly.
"No! I'm serious here, Ember." I sighed. "You guys won't ever have to worry about me killing anyone else. That part of my life is behind me. The only ghost I will kill from here on out is Vlad Plasmius."
"If we don't get to him first." Skulker states.
"If you get to him first, he's all yours. But I'd love thee opportunity to kill him. Since he's half-human, you'll have to kill him twice."
"Twice? Why won't one time do?" Azure asks, grabbing my attention.
"We're the only three half-ghosts in existence. You see, if you kill his ghost half, his human half has a chance to survive because they'd be separate at that point. So we have to kill his ghost half and his human half."
"Gotcha."
"Let's go." I dusted my suit off, and waved my hand. Two portals opened, one to the prison and one to the castle. "Hopefully we don't all die in there." I smiled weakly, kissing Azure on the cheek before disappearing into my own portal and closing it behind me. I looked around, trying to sense someone nearby. I floated down the hallway, until I reached Bullet's office. I pulled open the door, to see the office empty. I cursed silently, and phased through the floor. I heard talking, and I floated towards it.
"—Be on the lookout."
Plasmius. Of course he knew. I should have guessed he'd be alerted whenever I renounced him. I waited until he teleported out to reveal myself.
"I knew you were there, kid." Bullet sighs, taking a few steps in my direction.
"So, why didn't you tell him?" I crossed my arms, staring at the older male ghost.
"I never liked Plasmius." He puts his hand on my shoulder. "I'm with ya, kid. What do we need to do?"
I smiled and told him the plan.