It's been awhile huh? I know it feels like I don't update much at all, but I really am trying. I hope I haven't lost ya'll's interest. This chapter should really shed some light on things for those of you who haven't caught on yet.=^-^=

Ch. 20 - Here one second...


Danny made his way to the stands just as Frostbite announced the end of the second competition. The lordly FarFrozen was ecstatic to see him, and turned in greeting. "Ah, Great One! You have arrived just in time. The judging is about to begin."

Danny looked out at the arena to see several large ice creations. "What is it an ice sculpting contest?"

"Yeah, but at least it didn't take hours like it normally would." Doyle commented from a few seats down.

"It is quite a marvel to see what the FarFrozen can accomplish in fifteen minutes." Ulraj remarked as he leaned forwards in his seat.

Frostbite chuckled. "Well if it were not fast then what would be the point?"

Danny made little effort to explain how humans crafted them as well before simply sitting back in the chair. "I guess there wouldn't be one for you guys."

"So anyway, what took you so long? You just suddenly had to go off for something." Zak wondered as he held his hands behind his head and turned a bit in the halfa's direction.

"Oh, I had to make a phone call. Jazz called me earlier this morning, but with that whole thing with Dora, I didn't really have time to talk."

"This morning?... Oh right that jerk." Zak remembered with distaste. Fisk agreed with a grumble and a nod.

Maddie raised a finger to her chin in though. "I remember you mentioning that before, but... How exactly are you getting cell reception in the Ghost Zone?" It was a wonder the question didn't strike her before.

Doc was quick to realize her reason and turn to him. "How exactly does a normal cell phone get service in another dimension?" He asked as well with a furrowed brow that showed this world still didn't sit right with him.

Danny turned to him in slight confusion before remembering that his phone really shouldn't work. "Oh yeah, right." He then gestured to Frostbite. "Well a couple months ago when Frostbite invited me here I told him you didn't like it when I couldn't answer the phone. Next thing I know he's got some kind of cell tower built on the far end of the village."

"So you asked him to give you cell service in this world and he just did it?" Doyle wondered with an impressed expression. Zak fully turned along with Ulraj who now had more admiration for the halfa due the FarFrozen's regard for him.

Danny shook his head. "Uh no, I just told him I couldn't miss a call or I might get in trouble."

"Remember Great One. You need but to make your wishes known, and I will do what I can to accommodate them." Frostbite then stood up to address the crowd for the judging.

"To be regarded by the FarFrozen so highly, I am quite jealous of you Great One." Ulraj admitted with only minor injury to his pride.

Danny furrowed his brow and turned to him. "Okay, but I'd really appreciate it if you don't call me that."

"But the FarFrozen call you that, why can't we?" Zak teased in amusement knowing it made the halfa uncomfortable. "Besides, it would be cool to have a title like that. Wish I had one."

"Uh, you kinda do oh Mighty Kur." Doyle jabbed at his nephew which made Zak cringe a little.

Danny let out a sigh. "I've tried to get them to stop. It seems to be the only thing they won't do for me... well, aside from Polar I guess." He then shrugged. "I've pretty much given up trying..." He was quickly drowned out with a crowd of cheers as Frostbite announced the winner from the judging.

When Frostbite then announced the next competition as being called a "Snow Fight" the Saturdays all seemed surprised despite talking about it before. "You're kidding me..." Doyle muttered as he looked onto the field in disbelief.

"Awesome! So they really do have snowball fights here!" Zak said with a pump of his fist while Fiskerton leaned forwards in anticipation.

All eyes quickly turned back to the snickering halfa who tried weakly to hide his laughter. "Yeah, a snowball fight. Sure." He admitted with a knowing tone.


The hour they spent watching the spectacle was all they needed to understand that simply calling it a snow ball fight was quite inaccurate. It more resembled a full on snow war as they went from throwing the snow bare handed to creating snow catapults and cannons. Zak and Fiskerton were still hyped up about it as they followed everyone else out of the arena. Once the competition was over Frostbite gave his closing speech, and it signaled the end of the festivities. Anyone not planning to stay in the realm overnight left for their own homes, and that luckily included Igneous. Frostbite bowed his head to the Flizard before striking his chest. "I am most grateful that you came to our celebration Lord Igneous. Perhaps we could expect you next year as well?"

The ghost flicked his tongue with a thought. "Perhaps, but I do not wish to make you an empty promise Lord Frostbite." He then gave him what looked like a sneer before bowing with one arm over his shoulder. "My gratitude for your hospitality."

He wasted little time in leaving and after awhile Lady Glacia slipped in beside Frostbite with a frown. "I hope you are not surprised at how displeasing it is to see him here Frostbite. For me that is." She gave him a pointed look before looking back to the Flizard's back as it shrank in the distance.

Frostbite let out a sigh. "Of course not Glacia, but I merely wish to extend a peaceful show of friendship. Lord Igneous wants war between us about as much as I do."

Lady Glacia raised a stern brow and turned back to him. "You may be surprised at just how easy it is to misread a Flizard Frostbite. I know you are no fool, but you worry me at times." She then let out a calming breath and seemed a bit less tense. "And speaking of worry, I don't believe you have anything to worry about with the Great One." She then smiled. "On the contrary, we may soon have cause for great celebration."

Frostbite seemed a bit surprised at the information. "What do you mean? Celebration?" Glacia chuckled a bit and looked up at the green sky of the zone. "I'm sorry Frostbite, but it is not for me to say anymore. You will know in time,..." She looked back to him. "But you needn't wait for long." She then headed back towards the castle. Frostbite pondered over what she told him alone for a bit. She was always very mysterious when it came to these things, and she wasn't one for giving a straight answer unless she couldn't afford to be vague. In this case it was something he shouldn't worry about... and yet he had a strange feeling that he should.


As the day wound down Danny decided to find some peace and quiet in the room Frostbite kept for him. In all honestly a five star hotel might want to get a few pointers from the FarFrozen if it wasn't for all of the ice. As soon as the doors were closed behind his right hand found perch on his chest. "It doesn't hurt..." He muttered absent mindedly. He was more than relieved of course, but he was fairly worried as well. How could he have recovered so fast? What exactly was going on? Frostbite's assurances that it wasn't anything to worry about did little to actually stop his worries. He couldn't help feeling something was strange... something inside him. It had only been earlier that day that he'd gotten pounded half a dozen times in the Ice Bowl, and he wasn't even sore anymore.

Then there was that strange sensation when he caught Zak. It was as if someone had spoken to him, but he couldn't tell from where, and no one else seemed to have heard it either. Even now something felt both near and far away from him. He took a breath and closed his eyes. If he could really feel it then maybe he could home in on it. It was only seconds after he started his meditative search that the image of a green flame flashed into his mind, and he snapped back to reality in slight panic. "Wha..." He reached up to his head as he leaned on a table near the door. "What exactly was that?" He had a feeling he wouldn't like the answer one bit.

"Oh wow, and I thought Ulraj had the best room." Zak followed by Fisk had just barged in unannounced and were now looking around the grand room with impressed expressions. (It's so fancy) Fisk growled as he noted the ice crown molding and designs spidering the furniture.

"Huh? Oh the room?" Danny snapped his head up and looked around a bit with them. "Yeah I guess."

"What do you mean, 'you guess'? I've seen five star hotels that looked shabbier than this." Zak countered with a quizzical brow. Fisk gestured to the halfa with a bow. (He gets the royal treatment)

"It's not royal it's just uh... they really appreciate me?" Danny responded in question. "A little too much if I'm being honest." He finished with slight annoyance.

"What's wrong with them appreciating you?" Zak wondered as he noticed Danny didn't look happy about it.

The halfa looked to him with a brow raised. "There's nothing wrong with it but..." He reached a hand to the back of his neck. "I guess it's just not something I'm good with. I mean it's not like I haven't had months to get used to how crazy the FarFrozen are, but it just makes me uncomfortable."

Zak was confused by Danny's explanation though he felt he understood in a way. The Naga were evil, but they now practically worshiped him. "Well I guess it could be weird..." He trailed off thinking about himself in Danny's shoes though he really couldn't say he'd say no to the FarFrozen.

"Yeah uh... would you mind if I asked you to leave? I'd kinda like some quiet after all the shouting in the arena." The halfa requested as he gestured to the door.

Zak gave a shrug as he waved to Fiskerton. "Sure, let's go Fisk." He could tell something else was really bothering him, and knew what it felt like to want some space. The lemurian nodded as he went to put down the fancy ornament he found on the dresser. When he turned back to follow Zak out the door both boys were gone. (Say wha!?)


"Finally." Gaia whispered as she watched the boys stir to consciousness through a crack in the wall. "I thought I'd have to do everything myself." She purred before disappearing again.

Danny sat up first rubbing at the small bump on his head he received from the hard landing. "Wh... What was that?" He was still slightly out of it when Zak sat up.

"Was I sleeping?" He wondered with a half lidded stair. "Weird..."

"I know." Danny agreed as he looked around in a minor daze. "Wait huh?" He suddenly felt more awake as he realized he was not in the FarFrozen anymore.

"What's wrong?" Zak asked as he scratched at his head.

"Where are we?" The halfa asked as he stood up. He looked around at the aged stone walls, and felt a strange sense of familiarity. There were cracks in every direction he looked, and any adornment he could spy was either torn or falling to the floor.

"Whoa... this place is kinda..."

"Creepy?" Danny asked as he couldn't shake the strange feeling.

"Actually I was gonna say cool." Zak expressed with a curious grin as he headed over to one of the torn tapestries. "I mean it's like we're in some ancient ruin or castle."

Danny chuckled. "Plenty of those in the Ghost Zone." He looked down the torch lit hall. "And I'm pretty sure we're still in the Ghost zone."

"A skull? That's kind of over played." Zak remarked as he held up the tapestry depicting the evil skull.

Danny turned to him with a nod. "I know, but I doubt the owner cares... wait..." He floated over to him with a analytical expression. "I've seen this before... somewhere..." He noted as he thought about it.

Zak simply shrugged. "You've seen one creepy skull, you've seen 'em all." He then started down the hall. "Not that popping up in an ancient castle out of nowhere isn't cool, but I really think finding out where we are would be a good idea."

Danny was surprised he didn't think to worry earlier. They'd just suddenly gone from the FarFrozen to... where ever here was without warning. "Oh right. If I can tell where we are, I can probably get us back to the FarFrozen."

As they wandered down parts of the wall crumbled slightly which got them worrying about whether the structure would collapse on them. "This is how landslides start..." Zak informed with a wary tone as several fist size stones rolled across the floor.

"Don't jinx us Zak." Danny countered before taking note of the large double doors on the right. "Hey, maybe this is an exit." He floated over and started to push. Dust and rubble fell as the door swung open slowly. "Geez, this door is-" He suddenly fell forward when the door simply broke partially off the hinges.

"Broken now..." Zak looked it over before climbing through the new opening. "And I don't think this is an exit." He now had his eyes fixed on the grand and foreboding room behind the doors.

"It's a..."

"A really big chair?" Zak pointed out when the halfa lost his words. Danny nodded as he looked at the carpet leading up to the giant chair. "It must be a throne room like in medieval castles. I don't really want to meet the king of that throne though." The younger boy expressed as he explored further into the room.

Danny shook his head in disagreement. "No... you don't. This is Pariah's Keep." He informed as the familiar feeling he got finally made sense. "This must be the Ghost King's castle, which means..." He looked around a cracked column to see the massive hole in the wall he remembers throwing Pariah through. "Yeah... we should probably get out of here now."

"The ghost king? Didn't you already beat that guy?" Zak asked remembering back to what he'd heard during the feast. "Or at least that's what I heard."

Danny made a iffy gesture with his hand. "Uh... well kind of."

Zak turned to him with a brow raised. "Kind of? How do you 'kind of' beat an evil king? You've got a bunch of yeti ghosts singing your praises for it." Zak asked as he looked at the hole Danny seemed wary of.

"Well..." He began as stepped in front of Zak. "It was more of a tie..." He let out a sigh thinking back on it. "If the fight had gone on even a minute longer, I would have been toast." He looked over his own shoulder to see a portion of the king's prison, and couldn't help the feeling of dread in his stomach.

"Well, he's still beat." Zak stated as he headed over to the throne. He took another look around before beginning to climb up.

"Hold on Zak!" He flew over to him. "We should just get out. The Ghost King may not be a problem, but he does have a horde of skeletons that could show up any minute now."

Zak turned around and hung his feet over the edge. "Then why haven't they popped up yet?" He questioned as he crossed his arms with a smirk. "Just chill Danny. It's just an empty ruin."

Danny wasn't amused by Zak's lack of worry. "Nothing is just an old ruin in the Ghost Zone Zak." The halfa countered. "You should never assume anything is harmless especially if it looks harmless to begin with."

"Well then 'Mr. Ghost' why don't you take a seat with me? Then we'll leave." Zak challenged at Danny's surprising show of caution. Honestly, if there were something to worry about in this place, it would have made itself known.

Danny was defiant for all of two seconds before rolling his eyes in defeat. "Fine, but then we really are leaving."

Zak playfully pat the spot next to him. "Sure, no problem Danny." There was more than plenty of room on the enormous chair for the two of them. When Danny sat down the room suddenly seemed so much bigger. "I feel powerful and important don't you?" Zak teased as he leaned against the arm rest and wore a bored expression like some spoiled rich kid.

Danny's worry broke a bit at his expression and he couldn't help the chuckle that fell out of his mouth. "Your arm doesn't even reach the top." He pointed out with a tease.

"Well neither does yours." Zak shot back in amused annoyance.

"Actually, it does." Danny pointed out by reaching up and holding his hand flat on the right arm rest. "See?"

Zak's irritation increased at the display and he slumped down and out of the chair. "Whatever, you look ridiculous reaching up anyway." He dusted his hands before turning back to him. "Alright let-" A strangled sort of explosion cut him off as all the remaining tapestries in the room suddenly burst into flame. "Uh-oh..."

Danny immediately flew off the throne and took a spot next to him. "I told you we should have left." He then grabbed Zak and flew back from any of the burning cloth. "Now let's get going already."

"Right, but... which way?" Fires were sitting all around the room and Danny turned towards the throne.

"Well uh... how about that way?" He pointed to the strangely pristine door just behind the throne. It made the halfa a bit suspicious, but right now it was the only way not blocked with fire. He flew them over before letting Zak go. He pulled open the door, and quickly closed it when both of them were safely inside.

"Well... that was a bit unexpected." Zak commented as they found themselves in a much smaller hallway lit with green torches.

"No it wasn't Zak, I told you this place was dangerous." The halfa reiterated as he looked down the hall as well. "And... weird..." He couldn't help the odd feeling he was getting from down the hall.

"Okay, you have a point." Zak admitted as he pointed to their only path. "But at least this hall doesn't look like it's going to cave in on us right?"

"Whatever... let's just try and find an exit before something else bursts into flame." The hall didn't go on nearly as far as they thought, and they came out in a large cylindrical room after only a few minutes.

"Okay... not seeing an exit yet." Zak noted as he looked around. The room was covered in ancient text and pictures of strange creatures.

"Me neither but... what is all this?" Danny wondered as he approached a picture depicting a large serpentine dragon. It had its wings splayed out and its curved neck looking up showing three prominent spikes along it.

"This is kinda like those ruins back on that island right?" Zak pointed out as he remembered the odd statue and all the paintings. Danny gave a nod though his mind was caught up in something else. He floated up and raised a glowing palm to the picture to get a better look. "What's up Danny?"

"I don't know... but its giving me a bad feeling." He subconsciously reached up to his chest as he held his glowing had over a particularly interesting part of the image. Just about the creature's head a flaming crown was depicted, a very familiar crown.

"I don't suppose there's some kind of secret passage in this place." Zak started feeling around the walls for a secret switch. "I mean this is a castle."

"You know that doesn't really mean..." Danny trailed off when he turned to look down at the boy. From his view above he was able to see the depiction on the floor of a very similar serpent dragon. It was laid out in a circle and appeared to be eating its own tail. "What is this thing?"

He almost muttered though Zak was able to catch it. "The snake?" He asked to clarify before shrugging. "Well if this place has something to do with the other one then it might have something to do with Kur, and Kur was depicted as a dragon I think..." He trailed off as he thought back.

"A dragon... Oh wait, I think I saw something like that at the ruins too, but this one looks different." Danny informed as he floated down over the head. Once he landed he kneeled down to touch it as if it would help him figure it out. "This one... I think it has something to do with the Ghost King."

"Well we are in his castle right?" Zak agreed seeing the obvious connection.

"True, but that's not what I mean." He stood up and pointed to the wall depiction. "The picture of it on that wall has it wearing the Crown of Fire. That's one of the artifacts that made Pariah Dark so powerful." The halfa explained with a worried expression. "Wearing that and the ring equaled limitless power."

Zak looked at his serious expression, and then to the picture. "You know... this is still sounding like Kur. Mom and Dad always said he had limitless power though I guess it's because we didn't know a lot about Kur especially before Antarctica..."

"Antarctica?" Danny wondered.

"Yeah six months ago it's where we found out I was Kur..." The boy answered dejectedly. "When everything got messed up."

Danny chuckled despite the somber tone. "Messed up huh... I guess that's something else we have in common." Danny started, and immediately Zak gave him a curious look. "Well six months ago is when the chaos of ghosts in Amity Park really started getting out of hand. That's when Plasmius decided it would be a good idea to unseal the Ghost King to steal his crown, and I had to clean up his mess."

Zak chuckled at Danny's amused annoyance. "Right, that other half ghost guy you were talking about that's always messing you up."

"That is only because, you Daniel, somehow stumble into a solution with all the understanding of a self righteous child." A new voice boomed around the room, and all of a sudden the boys found themselves under a sinister red glare.


"I am grateful for your time Lord Frostbite. Ever since I arrived in your realm I have wanted to learn more about your people and especially King Cold." Ulraj thanked as he looked up at the portrait of the legendary FarFrozen. He'd finally gotten a chance for a real tour of the castle now that the excitement had died down.

"Think nothing of it your majesty." Frostbite gave a shallow bow before gesturing further down. "Now down this hall is the south entrance to the ice garden, a sight most find quite breathtaking." He began before noting the curious Kumari's attention on the portrait. "Is something wrong your majesty?"

"Well, something has been on my mind since this morning." He turned to Frostbite. "You mentioned your father was king, and yet you are not. Why did you dissolve the monarchy?"

Frostbite seemed confused for a moment before he realized the problem. "Ah, you are referring to why I didn't inherit the crown much like in the mortal world?" When he received a nod in return he wore an understanding expression as he cleared his throat. "Well you see your majesty, a king in our world is a very different thing than what you're are accustomed to. While I am not sure as to why they are different, I do know it is a much older custom here in the Ghost Zone. Only one who wears the Crown of Fire can be King."

Ulraj looked up at the painting again, and saw the strange green artifact that had initially caught his curiosity. "The Crown of Fire?" He chuckled a bit. "That seems rather strange considering your realm is ice and snow."

Frostbite chuckled as well. "Yes, but the FarFrozen is but a mere fraction of the Ghost Zone."

Ulraj chuckled again before choking on it upon realizing what the statement truly meant. "Wait a minute... are you saying that your father was king of more than this realm?"

Frostbite nodded with minor worry over the young king's sudden breathing issue. "Why yes your majesty. My father was not just the king of our realm, but the king of all ghosts as are all selected by the crown." He then gestured down the hall again. "Now, I would suggest we finish the tour your majesty. My people plan to start moving everything out of the castle before it begins to crumble."

Ulraj seemed confused even more. "Crumble? But it appears so sturdy, and I would think you and your people would want to restore it." It only made sense since it did belong to their beloved King Cold.

"While that would be a wondrous idea your majesty, I'm afraid it simply cannot be done. The castle is but a product of our King's position. Once a new king is crowned it will collapse regardless of any steps we take to prevent it. We merely accept the loss, and rejoice in our good fortune to have it for our celebration." He placed a claw on the wall with a small crack, and it grew on contact. "I do not believe it would be wise to go against our world's natural order."


So that gives you a bit more info back into what's going on with the boys plus some head cannon. Anyone who read my DPxTT crossover probably knows what all of this means, but you'll get more in the next chapter.

As always, please comment! I Appreciate anything ya'll have to say!=^-^=