Talking with Sam was refreshing. Sure, he saw her at school that day, but now, after the King bomb, it was... nice talking about random, boring things with a friend, like how Dash is probably dating Kwan in secret (no homo, pfft) or how Star seems to glare at every boy or girl that looks at Paulina with a love struck gaze.

Sam is betting they'll get together soon.

When it was getting late, the teenagers said their goodbyes and ended the video chat.

After trying to go to sleep with no success, Danny got out of bed, turned on his computer and went through his ghost files.

Organizing the Allies, Neutrals and Enemies folders, as well as introducing the information about his situation passed the time and just as he closed his computer, his Ghost Sense went off.

Looking at the clock on his desk, it showed the time of 2:24 AM.

With a quick 'Going Ghost', the superhero Phantom turned intangible and flew outside. Just after turning tangible, he got tackled by a flying black and white blur.

"Danny!"

Just as he was about to shoot the heck out of his tackler, the happy exclamation calmed his battle instincts and returned the sudden hug.

"Danielle? What are you doing here?"

His fifteen-year-old "cousin" peeked from the embrace and smiled sheepishly.

"I heard about the King of Ghosts thing. Is it really true? Did you know? I was in the area and decided to give my favorite cousin a visit," she floated back and put her arms behind her back in an innocent posture.

"How did you hear about that? I found out today! Valerie doesn't even know yet! And Elle, I'm your only cousin, of course I'm your favorite," crossing his arms, the older winked at the girl towards the end of his statement.

"Well, you see, I was somewhere in Texas, great food, when I went into a 'Haunted House' where I met this ghost, his name was Stanley, very cool guy, he mentioned something about a coronation of the Ghost King happening soon and I remember you telling me about Pariah and how you defeated him with the other ghosts and I asked him about it.

"Stanley is like, the dude that knows everything. I lost against him in Poker and lost a few apples, but what can you do, he won fair and square, unlike those idiotic ectopuses-"

"Elle, the coronation?"

"Right, right. So Stan, that's his nickname, said some sh-tuff about Right of Conquest or something like that. When I asked him about the new King, he like, literally lit up, Danny! The house was so bright, I almost went blind," giggling, the girl lounged in the air.

"Danielle, about the King." The exasperation was clear in his voice, but the warmth was easily found.

"Yes! The King! According to Stan-dude, the new Ghost King is a brave knight who defeated dozens in battle, protects his home and helped his allies. I swear he has a crush on you. Stanley went on a tangent about this white-haired, green-eyed warrior with nerves of steel and a golden heart. Danny, oh my Clockwork, it was hilarious!

"Basically, I figured out it was you. Man, I was just drinking some tea and when Stan mentioned how you looked, I legit spit it out! It was good tea, too... "

Flashback to a few weeks ago

"I tell you, Elle! The new King will unite us! He'll pave the road towards a brighter age and his experiences will teach ghosts wise things!" A ghost wearing 1800's typical clothing with a weird accent was floating in a basement with his new white-haired friend, both of them sitting on floating chairs and drinking tea, a table with a poker set on it in-between them.

"Do you know who the King is?" She sipped some tea, glancing at her companion. Tea-making was a new hobby of Stanley's apparently. It tastes great, so who is she to complain?

"Oh, the King doesn't know about his role yet. So average ghosts like me only heard stories. They say his hair is as white as snow. His toxic green eyes can pierce through armor. They say... he's a Phantom!"

Danielle 'Elle' Phantom spit out her tea and started coughing.

The droplets of tea exited her cherry lips and her green eyes followed its path. The green tea seemed otherwordly in the light that was emanating from the full ghost, showing its beauty in a tragic way.

The tea, which she treasured and learned to love. The one brewed by her friend of five days. Elle would've never thought how important it would become. But now, seeing it fall to the ground, so fast, yet so slow. It made her think.

Those drops. Those little drops of tea got separated from the rest. Left alone in an unforgiving world. Forgotten.

She stopped coughing, but the green liquid (which was so different from the ectoplasm Elle was familar with) was still falling. A sad noise got past her lips and the teen felt like she's witnessing the fall of a close friend.

But it is, is it not? The girl was there when the ghost boiled the water (the family living in the house went out. They always do. They're scared of Stanley, which rude. They didn't even properly meet him! Ugh, oblivious humans will be the death of her. (Her cousin will probably be stuck between making concerned noises and laughing at her pun. She just knows he would love it)).

The halfa was there when the older ghost put the leaves in the water. She remembered seeing the color spreading. She was there from the beginning.

How could she not feel sadness for her young friend. The feeling of being in close proximity warmed her. Filled her with happiness.

Now it's only sorrow.

The spilled tea hit the ground.

Hello darkness, my old friend~

"You know, the description kinda matches with ya. Lucky you, Ellie!"

Right, she still has tea in her cup.

End Flashback

"After I left Stan, I visited some other states on the way to Illinois, so now that I'm here, I wanted to check on you, 'couse I wanted to visit India, Spain, then Massachusetts, Japan and some more! Festivals and celebrations are fun! That'll be some time before I'll see you again. I missed the one in Salem last year, so I'm definitely going. Oops, did I wake you up? Sorry!" The sheepish grin is back.

A fond smile found itself on the elder Phantom, "No, you didn't wake me. How long are you staying?"

"I'm not really staying. I would love to, but ya know. I'm still not as good as you at the teleporting and I prefer travelling the old-fashioned style. But you know if you ever need me, I'm just a call away," winking she started to float out of reach.

"Got it, pipsquick! Stay safe!" He quickly sneaked a hug before she went away.

"I'm not that short! I will, cuz. Also, good luck with the Ghost Zone, Your Majesty! Till next time!" Danielle Phantom smiled.

With that, she created a portal and went through it, disappearing along with the portal.

Sighing, the boy returned to his room, changed to his human form and went to bed.

'This has been an interesting day...'

A/N: I'll stop promising chapters when I know I won't post them.

Have a late chapter! Danielle appearing was very unplanned, but I just went with it. The Tea Part was especially random. Out of nowhere I just wanted to see how much I can write about tea falling to the ground. I was very close to escalating it to more, but I stopped before getting too into it XD.

The updates will probably be sporadic from now on. I write when inspiration strikes and I have other hobbies and responsibilities, which are also time-consuming. Plus, online lessons exist.

Like Danielle said, till next time ;)