It took less than an hour to reach the Far Frozen. Danny landed in the middle of the village and the three ghosts waited for the living to grab coats. Wulf grinned excitedly at the snow drifts nearby. Danny chuckled and told Wulf to go if he wanted. The dog-like ghost ran off instantly, rolling through the snow happily. Danielle laughed.
"I forget how playful he can be," she chuckled. Danny smirked before glanced at the crown still in his hand. It never stopped caressing him. Sometimes it got a little more insistent and Danny shoved it back. It would slow down and seemed to apologise. It was odd. And the longer it was there, the more Danny felt the need to comply, out of sympathy rather than desire.
Danielle noticed his small frown.
"Is it still trying to combine?" she muttered in surprise. Danny nodded.
"It never stopped. But it's a lot calmer now than before," Danny replied. The living opened the door and Sam was beside him in moments.
"How are you?" she asked in concern. Danny smiled at her.
"I'm okay Sam. Keeping it under control," Danny answered. She smiled appreciatively at his careful word choice.
"Great One! How wonderful to see you well!" Frostbite boomed happily. Danny turned to the large ghost. He grinned.
"I heard how much help you were. Thanks," Danny called. Frostbite smiled broadly before spotting the crown. He cried out in happiness.
"Wonderful! You found the crown! It was believed to be lost! Come! Come!" Frostbite encouraged and led Danny towards the main complex in a nearby glacier.
Everyone was bewildered.
"Frostbite? What's going on?" Danny asked, unable to shake off the large paw on his shoulder. Frostbite laughed jovially.
"First, we'll need to contact the Evaluator. He'll ensure everything is ready. I have no doubts though Great One," Frostbite replied happily.
"Evaluator? Frostbite I don't understand," Danny attempted again. The others trailed after the two ghosts.
"Why for your coronation Great One!" Frostbite declared. Danny suddenly stopped, he was almost pushed over by the large ghost who kept walking a few steps before stopping as well.
"What are you talking about?" Danny demanded fearfully. All he wanted was information on the crown. Maybe if he could use it against Pariah Dark.
Frostbite turned to Danny and raised an eyebrow.
"You don't know?" Frostbite realised in disbelief.
"Don't know what!?" Danny retorted.
"You're the heir to the throne Great One. I assumed you knew. I thought that was why you found the crown before Pariah Dark could get it and claim it," Frostbite elaborated in confusion. Danny froze in shock. Heir? Throne? Danny? That couldn't be right. Frostbite took his silence as compliance and returned to directing him into the complex. Danny only regained his composure when Frostbite stopped in his throne room.
"F-Frostbite? What do you mean exactly when you say coronation?" Danny managed. Frostbite frowned.
"To become the king of the Ghost Zone obviously Great One. Excuse me, I need to send a messenger to contact the Evaluator," Frostbite replied.
Danny watched Frostbite go, feeling overwhelmed. He was grateful for the crown's energy caressing him now. It was the only thing keeping him focused. Stopping him from breaking down or passing out. Sam spotted his slight increase in breath. His ghostly aura thickened as his panic and shock set in. She quickly put a hand on his arm, a safe distance from the crown.
"Danny? It's alright. I'm sure it's just a mistake alright," Sam soothed him.
"I don't get it. Wouldn't being king be good for Danny? He could just order ghosts to stop attacking rather than fight them," Harry pointed out. Danny began to tremble at that comment. Sam frowned worriedly at him and tried to get closer without touching the crown to comfort him. The crown's energy had begun to caress Danny more noticeably for him. It was almost comforting him now rather than trying to seduce him or get his attention.
Danny shook his head and took a step back. He had to get somewhere quiet and digest this bombshell. Sam frowned with concern.
"Danny?" she called.
"I need…I need some air," he muttered before walking out. Sam glanced at the others before running after him. She caught up to him at the outskirts of the Far Frozen village. He had sat down in the snow and placed the crown on the ground beside him. Just far enough that the energy couldn't touch him. He needed to think. And if he was resisting the crown's attempts to combine energy, he couldn't do that. Sam ran over to him and dropped down beside him.
"Danny, what's wrong?" she encouraged fearfully. She'd never seen him fall apart like that. She'd seen him falter. She'd seen him frightened. But this looked almost like a panic attack or something.
"I can't be king. I can't," he mumbled worriedly.
"Danny, talk to me. It's why I'm here," Sam requested. Danny turned to her.
"I'm not good with power," he stated. Sam frowned in confusion.
"Of course you are. I mean sure you had a few bumps when you started to figure out your powers but-" Sam began to reassure. Danny shook his head forcefully.
"No. That's not what I mean. Power. Not ghost powers. Power like being stronger than someone else," Danny corrected and put his head in his hands, propping his elbows on his knees.
"Danny, I don't understand. You never used your powers to steal or anything like that," Sam muttered.
"But I did! Sam when I first got my powers and figured out how to not drop everything by accident by turning intangible, I used them against Dash. Poindexter had to push me back in my place. Poindexter! Then the C.A.T.s. I was going to cheat. I would've cheated if I hadn't been stopped by Clockwork. You guys had to stop me when I got addicted to ghost energy. I almost killed Vlad! I overcharged myself on purpose and nearly killed him. I'm not good with power!" Danny exploded. Sam blinked.
"If I become king, Harry's right. I can just order everyone to do what I want. I'll be the most powerful ghost in the Ghost Zone. There won't be anyone out there strong enough to put me back in my place," Danny whispered. Sam put her arm around him. She could feel his terror at the idea from the way he was trembling.
"It's okay Danny. I'm sure you can just say no. And didn't Frostbite say something about an evaluator. Maybe he'll say you're not ready. And if you're worried about people not opposing you, if you want, I can always whip you back in place," Sam assured with a smile. Danny gave her a small grateful smile.
"What if I can't say no when this evaluator gives the go ahead? What if the crown reacting to me has already ensured I'll be king?" Danny asked worriedly.
"I'm with you Danny. Whatever happens I'll be right here beside you. You need me to shout and scream and tell you you're out of line, I'll tell you. You need me just to hold your hand and support you, I'll do it. I'm not going anywhere," Sam easily replied. Danny sighed and embraced her gratefully.
"I really dunno what I'd do without you Sam," he whispered in her ear. Sam smiled and kissed his shoulder.
"Well you don't have to find out," she muttered back.
They pulled apart and sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I wonder why the crown wasn't like this before. Because before I hid it, it felt like it was just there. No seduction," Danny mumbled thoughtfully.
"Maybe it's because Pariah Dark is free. Or maybe you weren't ready before," Sam guessed with a shrug. Danny reached over and picked it up. Once again it was desperately pushing against his barrier. He shoved it back and it began to caress him apologetically.
"I don't know why Pariah Dark wants this thing back. It's hard work," he grumbled. The energy suddenly shoved against his barrier and he winced. It then retreated, almost like it was angry at him.
"Are you okay?" Sam gasped in concern.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry, habit, I'm okay. I think… I think I offended it," Danny answered with a confused frown. Sam blinked in surprise and stared at the crown.
"Really?" she whispered, almost like she was frightened of upsetting the crown further. He nodded.
"Maybe Pariah Dark combined with it. You did say it isn't easy to stop," Sam suggested. Danny nodded slowly in thoughtful agreement. They fell into another comfortable silence.
"Thanks Sam," Danny suddenly said. Sam turned to him.
"What for?" she asked.
"For being here. I know I wanted to leave you behind, but I'm glad you're here now," Danny expanded. Sam smirked.
"See, I already know when you're making a mistake," she teased. Danny laughed.
"Come on, I think we should get back. That's our second dramatic exit today," Sam encouraged and got to her feet, refusing to admit that her legs were frozen numb. Danny got to his feet and put an arm around her, holding the crown in his other hand, hanging limply at his side. He pulled her close and kissed her. Sam smiled at him and they walked together back to the throne room.
"Sorry," he muttered as he entered. They all shook their heads.
"It's fine dude. You alright now?" Tucker assured. Danny raised an eyebrow before turning to his girlfriend.
"How is it Tuck can say fine and I can't?" he pouted. Sam laughed and pushed him away.
"Because "I'm fine" isn't his catchphrase. When he says it, he means it," she retorted. Danny smirked. Everyone gave small relieved smiles. Frostbite returned to the throne room.
"The Evaluator will be here soon," he informed them all. Danny clenched his teeth worriedly. Sam took his free hand and gave him a supportive smile. He gave her a small nod.
"Frostbite, what if I don't want to be king?" he asked clearly. The crown gave Danny a sharp poke. Danny glared at it. Frostbite blinked.
"But Great One, to be king is an honour. Your destiny after defeating Pariah Dark," Frostbite replied with a frown.
"I prefer to make my own destiny," Danny retorted. Frostbite nodded slowly but continued to frown in confusion.
"Great One. If you don't wish to be king, why find the crown?" Frostbite inquired. The crown gave another sharp poke. Danny scowled at it again, leading to confused glances from everyone else.
"I didn't need to find it. I was the one who hid it. I went and got it so that Pariah Dark wouldn't find it. I only came here to see if I could use it against him. I never wanted to be made king," Danny explained. Frostbite tilted his head.
"Well, claiming the crown would give you access to the king's army of skeletons. You could use them to fight Pariah Dark," Frostbite offered. Danny frowned and shook his head.
"Claiming the crown makes me king right? Then I won't do that," Danny decided before wincing as the crown gave him another sharp poke, harder than before.
Frostbite glanced at the crown and Danny.
"Great One, is something wrong?" he ventured.
"Apparently you can tick this off," he growled and lifted the crown to emphasise his point. Sam glanced at him.
"Has it been hurting you?" she asked, recalling his wince from earlier. He reluctantly nodded.
"Nothing bad though-ow!" Danny began before a particularly sharp poke from the crown interrupted him. Everyone gave him a concerned look as he glared daggers at the fiery green crown.
"Maybe you should apologise," Danielle suggested nervously. Danny glanced at her in refusal.
"I'm not apologising to a crown Dani," he retorted firmly before hissing in discomfort as it poked him again.
"I've heard of questioning the crown, but this is ridiculous," Sam quipped softly. Danny snorted at the comment. Frostbite took a step forward.
"Great One, the crown is like the Infi-map. Powerful and mysterious. It can react to you," he informed them.
"Are you saying that this thing has feelings and a personality?" Danny asked, ignoring the poke from the crown due to being called thing. Frostbite nodded slowly.
"In a way," he affirmed.
"Great. Because it's a brat," he grumbled and glared at it after another poke.
"You know what. I'm not holding it when it's being a pain, literally!" he snapped and put it down on the ground roughly and taking a decisive step away.
"Did you seriously have an argument and a falling out with the Crown of Fire?" Tucker muttered in disbelief. Danny blinked before shrugging.
"Guess I just did. Man this is too weird. Even for me," Danny replied with a groan.
"Sounds like having a wife," Steven chuckled. Sam shot him a dangerous look. She didn't want Danny to think proposing to her would mean her being as annoying as the crown seemed to be.
"Not too far off actually," Danny mumbled under his breath. Sam gave him a questioning glance. He shook his head. It wasn't important.
"But I think I just failed your test. Can't be king if the crown hates me," Danny declared with a triumphant smirk. Frostbite smiled.
"I'm certain this will pass Great One. The crown doesn't hate you, I'm sure," Frostbite assured him calmly. Danny's smirk fell.
Any guesses what will happen?
The crown will be explained in more detail in the next chapter or so. But will Danny accept the throne?
Any theories on what's going on with others not with Danny, such as Vlad, Jared, and everyone at Grimmauld Place?
Let me know what you think so far.
And finally, there's a poll on my website for the next fanfic I'll post. Make sure to check it out and cast your vote. There's a link in my bio.
Until the next chapter.