Danny and Sam looked to the wide eyed duo and burst into hysterics. Skulker and Ember looked to each other, and back to the laughing pair.
"I don't understand why that news is funny, whel-your highness." Skulker corrected. Ember nodded in agreement, trying to figure out whether or not to bow before the giggling boy.
"Okay, this is totally a prank right?" Danny giggled, stopping immediately stopping when they shook their heads again. "Holy shit are you not kidding?" Danny paled. Sam stopped laughing when she heard her friend curse. "What? That's not even possible." Sam said.
"He defeated Pariah Dark in his own castle, grounds for challenging for the throne. We forgot about that before we let the boy go ahead and go agro one him-your majesty?" Skulker said, questioning again.
Danny blinked before looking to Sam. "Okay." Danny said, his voice weak as he collapsed into Sam's arms. "Hey, uh, wake up." Sam said, her resolve faltering as they started to sink.
"Do you want us to help?" Ember asked, uncertainly. Sam glared. "But you've never helped before!" Sam growled, sinking faster. "That was before, his royal highness?, was king...I'm sorry, can I just call him whelp without being jailed for treason?" Skulker sighed, bringing his fingers to his temple to ease his nerves.
"Look, I don't care what you call him...but Danny is a human! He can't be the King of Ghosts." Sam exclaimed, starting to fall as Ember caught the two, taking Danny while Skulker grabbed Sam. Sam struggled a bit before giving up and sighing.
"Goth girl, you forget that he is a ghost too. The observants have pointed that out to us in recent events. They aren't thrilled about having a king, but they know it may be the only course of action. We can't just overthrow the king, the whole Ghost Zone would collapse." Skulker explained.
"We had began to notice the effects of there being a new king. The sky wasn't as bleak, Pariahs Keep changed colors. Even the sky is brighter and resembles more of a human sky. The Ghost Zone tailors to the king that is ruling at the time. Pariah was a horrible king who wanted destruction, which was why the Ghost Zone was in that state before, but do you see whats happening? There is beginning order, and the Ghost Zone isn't falling apart at the seams." Ember smiled, but regained her scowl.
"But of course it had to be the Ghost that doesn't trust Ghosts to be King. I do not mean that in a treacherous-"
"I understand, Skulker, quit worrying about saying the wrong thing." Sam snapped. Skulker nodded, slowing down the pace. "I was just assuming that you wanted to see Clockwork?" Skulker asked, Ember right beside him with her unconscious friend. "Yeah, that would be great…" Sam said, unassured that they were actually here to help.
Why out of all ghosts did her best friend, busy enough as it was, become Ghost King?
"Frostbite will be thrilled…" Sam muttered, a small smile on her face. She knew the yeti, who posed as Danny's ice master, was really a fangirl on the inside. Able to teach someone you worship is a big ego boost.
"He is already designing the castle as we speak." Ember smirked. "Then it should be the castle of the century." Sam smiled.
"And...Sam he has to accept the crown. If he doesn't, the dipstick will get really sick. Like, ghost illness. He is now locked the the throne, his very core is destined to sit on that throne." Ember explained. "I'm sure he'll take it." Sam whispered. "That's just what I'm worried about. He'll pile-wait why am I talking to his enemies about his wellbeing?" Sam glared as they approached Clockworks castle who was expectantly awaiting outside.
"Well, Samantha, they can't be his enemy anymore. Its forbidden, hence why I enforced that no one was to attack Amity Park anymore." Clockwork smirked. Sam gaped. "Oh, you were the one who enforced it?"
"The Observants enforced me to enforce it." Clockwork waved his hand in a dismissive way before motioning indoors. "Come, there is much to talk about."
Sam dragged her limp friend by the arm when the ghosts let go of the teens. Clockwork chuckled. "Don't worry, his royal highness will be awake in...now."
"Whaa?" Danny groaned. "Oh, Sam! I had the weirdest dream that Skulker and Ember told me that I was King...of...the...Ghost?" Danny stuttered when he saw Clockwork's presence. "Hello, Your Highness." Clockwork smirked. Danny facepalmed suddenly when he heard Clockwork use that terminology.
"Clockwork! I don't want to be-"
"Have you felt weaker recently?" Clockwork asked, completely cutting off the young superhero.
"Uh, yeah. No matter how much sleep I get, I always feel a little weak." Danny pondered. Clockwork nodded. "Thats your body reacting to not having the crown on your person at all times. It's physically draining for the king of the ghost zone to be away for a period of time without the crown on his person."
Danny paled. "But I don't want this!" He stuttered. "I know...but...nobody is going to challenge you to take the crown. You defeated Pariah Dark, you have half the most powerful ghosts in the 'Zone on your side...nobody is going to take the responsibility either. The Observants want you to be King so that your future will be set. King for eternity." Clockwork explained.
"Yeah...well…" Danny groaned. "I'm a teenager!" "Daniel, I know that! But you are perfectly capable of running this 'Zone. It's already improved for the better and you aren't even on the throne. Trust me, if there was anyway that this could go bad, I wouldn't allow you to take the crown…" Clockwork trailed off, staring at Danny for a time before motioning him to follow. Danny gulped and looked to Sam, who laced her fingers with his and walked with him.
In the room Clockwork led them to, the Observants were gathered in the room. "Daniel Phantom, it is time for you to take Oath." One of the one-eyed beings said. Danny took a deep breath before looking to Sam.
"This...is too much." Danny whispered. Sam nodded. "But you'll only get weaker if you don't take it." Sam also said, fearing for her friend. "I'm sorry Samantha, but you can't be in the room for this, I have to put you back in the Human Realm." Clockwork whispered sadly. Sam gave Danny one last squeeze on his hand before hugging him. "I hope you make the right decision." Sam whispered in his ear, before smiling sadly before she disappeared. Danny sighed. "I have no choice do I?" Danny questioned the Observant. "I'm afraid not, my boy." The eye said.
Danny sighed before nodding. "Okay…" Danny decided.
"Do you Daniel Fenton/Phantom vow to protect, and only protect, the people of this realm.
Do you promise to save any and all ghosts, help any and all ghosts, and speak for any and all ghosts in their time of need."
"I do." Danny said, not hesitating. Saving people is what he did best.
"Then by the power of the Observants, whose power will no longer be needed, We declare you King of the Ghost Zone. Long Live the King!" The Observant yelled, pulling out the Crown of Fire and Ring of Rage and placing them on Danny. The Fire of the crown turned white and the skull on the ring turned into his insignia and turned considerably smaller, into a simple silver band with his symbol. Clockwork nodded to him and he nodded back.
The Observants started chanting 'Long Live the King' when Danny felt the 'Zone become alive and shift to accommodate the King. The Observants bowed to him, before leaving the room. "There will be a party tomorrow for you, but until then you need to go home. Ghosts are already telling Amity of the new ghost king, so you won't have to tell anyone, for they already know. Also, in human form, the crown will shrink into a necklace so you aren't always walking around with the crown and alert your parents. Long Live the King." Clockwork saluted before tapping Danny on the head with his staff, sending him back home.
Danny collapsed on his bed human form, the ring still on his finger and his crown dangling from a silver chain on his neck, not surrounded by fire like he thought it would, but when he looked on his finger to the ring, above it was a tattoo like ring of fire. Danny sighed and shook his head. "What am I going to-"
"Danny! Theres a new ghost king!" His dad bellowed. "Get down here sweetie!" His mom also yelled.
His mom and dad were crowded around the table in an excited silence. "The ghost zone has crowned a new king, Danny! Isn't this exciting?!" Jack asked, raising his voice.
"Great, another problem you have to worry about." Jazz muttered.
Danny gulped. "We don't have to worry about it, Jazz." Danny whispered. Jazz looked at him confused before paying attention to their parents explain how this could be for the better. "Ever since that Phantom kid hasn't been here, ghosts haven't been attacking as much! The king must have ordered him away!" Maddie exclaimed. Danny rolled his eyes. 'Yes, or maybe Phantom is king.' Danny thought.
Danny's ghost sense went off as he was thinking this, so he excused himself from the table and ran to the basement. "Hello My liege, for I am the Fright Kni-"
"Okay, Fright Freak, what do you want?" Danny asked, crossing his arms. "Forgive me my liege, but I am here to be your consultant, and your bodyguard."
"Oh...well...only if you don't plan to assassinate me in my sleep, then you are good." Danny said awkwardly, not used to this kind of treatment.
"Okay, well, Your highness still needs to address some things today, so if you could follow me." The Fright Knight asked. Danny sighed and rubbed his head. "Okay, but I need to be back soon." Danny groaned. The Fright Knight nodded but pushed Danny through the portal as he changed from human to ghost form. The crown was no longer on a necklace and on his head, and there was no longer a fire tattoo on his finger next to the ring.
"I like white fire better than green. White is pure, so I can tell you will be a great king, your highness." the Fright Knight bowed. Danny blushed and nodded. "Uh...thanks." Danny cleared his throat before they flew off towards Pariahs Keep. "We took the liberty of putting Pariah into the dungeons, in a secluded part where no one can get to without a key to make you feel better." the Fright Knight explained. Danny nodded, before pausing in shock at the castle. It was now Black and White, and less frightning.
"The castle always changes due to the king...Frostbite is already adding adjustments to help an ice core feel more at home. Your new lair is also nearby, whenever you need a break. That is completely yours, no one can come in without your permission." the Fright Knight said, noticing his hesitation.
"We just need you to sign some documents and then you will be free to go." the Fright Knight urged. Danny nodded. "Okay, lead the way."
*2 Hours Later*
Danny collapsed through the portal, changing back into human form out of exhaustion.
"Danny! Where have you been?" Jazz asked, marching down the stairs. "No where." Danny lied, not ready to tell his sister of his new status. "Well, Sam has been looking for you, worried. You should go to her." Jazz smirked.
"Uh, yeah." Danny blushed, remembering his and Fright Knight's conversation.
"Well, my liege, we do need to discuss the prospect of a queen." the Fright Knight said awkwardly.
"Oh...I can't get married dude." Danny said, yawning. His day had been completely exhausting.
"I understand, my lord, but...in the near future there will need to be a queen, seeing as you are human as well. Might I suggest the goth girl? She knows your secret and won't plan to overthrow you." the Fright Knight added his input.
Danny blushed. "Yeah...I'll talk to her about it…?" Danny said, confused. The Fright Knight smiled. "Thank you my lord. You are done for the day... I will see you tomorrow night at the coronation ball."
"Well? Hurry up! And when you get home, I want you to explain that tattoo on your finger. Mom noticed it earlier and is furious, so I would get home late so that she's asleep." Jazz glared, before taking off up the stairs. Danny sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I just want to go to sleep." Danny moaned, before calling up his best girl friend and telling her to meet him at the Nasty Burger.
"Alright...want me to bring Tuck?" Sam asked, her voice calming him through the phone.
"No, not yet. I don't think I can deal with his jokes just yet…" Danny sighed.
"Okay...see you soon." Sam said.
Danny pinched the bridge of his nose while groaning. "Why did I defeat Pariah?"