So many projects...sometimes it gets so overwhelming. But this is one that I plan to see to the end. So here we go!

DISCLAIMER: Do not own Danny Phantom, only the character(s) you don't recognize.

Danny Phantom

The True One

Ch. 3-The Clarity Behind The Mystery

When the morning meal was finished Maddie and Jazz began the clean-up while Jack led Danny and Nyreena back out into the stables and to an open area where the older gentleman ran his blacksmith business. After explaining what he did and how market days worked the three headed upstairs to a large room over the barn where the news of the city was collected then dispersed to the citizens for them to know what was going on at the current time. Once the tour was complete the trio headed back down the business owner began his work, pulling out his materials start making swords, shields, and other means of weaponery and protection. At certain times he would ask his son or his guest for a bit of assistance. Other than that the two younger people sat around and had light conversations. During a long period of wait the two were sitting on bales of hays stacked up in a medium tower, the undercover princess had asked the young man, "So, why is he making all of this? I thought a blacksmith made horseshoes and other things not materials of war."

"Well, about a week ago a decree came from the castle, ordering all the blacksmiths in the kingdom to create tons of armor and weapons for an attack on a realm known as the GZ with hopes to claim it under the name of the king. But what we didn't know was that it was already being ruled by a king and his daughter. When our army went in, they were quickly met with the opposing army and went into war. Since then, we've been working to supply the soldiers while they're fighting," Danny explained. "However, in my opinion, all of this is absolutely stupid anyhow."

"Why do you think that?," the refugee inquired, wondering what his next answer might be.

Sighing a bit, the blue-eyed boy looked at his father to see if he was listening in then looked at the disguised ghost and asked, "Do you promise not to breathe a word of what I'm going to say next to anyone? I don't want this getting out, especially to my family. I have no idea what they would do if they found out what I really knew."

Starting to get a bit worried Nyreena nodded in reply, hoping that she just didn't get into something that was going endanger her secret or worse her world and her father. Seeing that she could be trusted the black-haired teenager leaned in close and confessed in a low voice, "I think it's stupid because we have absolutely no reason to fight the ghost king. I know for a fact he didn't do a single thing to us, so it was pointless to start anything with him. Three years ago, I met him and his daughter and they shared a love like no other. I could pratically feel it radiating off of them and I knew that he would never start any trouble on the behalf and safety of her. When I had accidently crossed dimensions, I could tell when I met him that he cared about her like no other. Like he wanted to make sure that she didn't get hurt at any cost. And just the reverse. She had that vibrance that she would do anything to protect her father, even if she had to sacrifice her eternity to see him safe."

When he was done the young woman was crying, for everything he said was completely true and down to the letter. The way he had described her relationship with her only parent had touched her heart to an infinite core. Explaining why Jack was making all of the equipment now made the mystery of why the unknown army attacked her home clear. But there was still the enigma of why the enemy leader wanted her along with her father's surrender. Maybe, just maybe, the young man she helped long ago knew the answer to the puzzle. Clearing her throat a bit she asked, "Has there been anything else that would explain why the king would want to start this war in the first place?"

"According to what Dad has been getting from his sources there have been several rumors floating around that the king's royal adviser and right hand man has been secretly planning to usurp the throne by taking the GZ's heir as his wife, therefore overthrowing her father and using his army and our army to take over both kingdoms and rule it all with an iron fist," Danny answered, his face scrunched up in a conentrated thought.

"So why hasn't it happened yet?," the cloaked spirit inquired, knowing that there was something more to this than just the rumors that were circulating around the city.

"Simple," the young man replied, cracking a bit of a grin. "The princess went incognito the the invasion occurred. When our head general demanded the king's surrender plus her, the ruler said no matter how hard they may try he would never give up his realm or his daughter and began the first battle. There are several of our soldiers that are looking through every inch of that place but so far that has been no trace of her seen since the beginning of everything. I think they figured what was really going on and she's on the run at the moment. But for how long is going to be how long this idiocy is going to last."

Watching him grin and talk about how she had disappeared Nyreena was now starting to feel a bit guilty about running away for her afterlife. She and her papa didn't even stop to think that if she ran for her afterlife the war may never end. The longer she stayed in hiding the longer both sides had to keep fighting and fighting until one had either decided to give up or was destroyed. The mere thought of it almost made her lose her concentration and reveal who she was. But with a few deep breaths she managed to calm down, hoping that her host didn't notice her almost freak-out. However it didn't look like he had seen her do anything due to his attention being drawn away by his dad who had asked for his son's help again. Thankful that Jack intervened just at the right time she then secretly hoped that she didn't have to keep up her charade for long so that she could return home safe and sound once the war was done and over with. To the side the undercover princess heard her name being called, Maddie's head poking out of the entrance to the house. Getting off of the straw feed she walked over and asked, "What is it, Maddie?"

"Could you be a dear and help Jazz and I with getting some groceries at the market?," the elder Fenton requested.

"Oh sure, not a problem," the guest agreed, stepping in, grabbing her cloak, and putting it on. "I'm willing to do anything to earn my keep while I'm staying here."

"Sweetie, that I will definitely appreciate," the brunette commented, grinning from ear to ear.

When the three women were ready they walked out to the street and made their way to the large shopping square where the citizens went to buy and barter for goods and things alike. The trio arriving they began to gather what they came for: restock on the groceries since now the family had one more mouth to feed, some sewing supplies, and more paper and ink for Jack's news service. While picking up some assorted fruits Nyreena couldn't help but feel a pair of eyes trailing her everywhere she went, following her every movement. Every few minutes or so she had to look behind her to find who was staring at her but there was no one that was even paying attention to her. Feeling her nerves starting to get a bit unhinged she almost crashed into a pottery stand when Jazz came up and helped balance her out, saying, "Hey, there you are. We're ready to go if you are."

Noticing the way that her guest was tensing up she wondered, "Are you alright? You look like you're going to get jumped by a pickpocket at any second."

"Huh? Oh, uh, I'm just a little nervous, that's all," the transfigured ghoul answered snapping back to reality. "I don't know whether or not someone is watching me or if it's just my imagination playing tricks on me."

"Well, it's just some people that probably don't recognize you, that's all," the red head assured leading the younger-looking girl to where her mother was standing. "Mostly everybody in the city knows each other to some extent so seeing someone new tends to make them stare a little too much."

"That does make sense," the visitor agreed. "I'm just getting a little too jumpy without a reason."

The two giggling at the silly thought the trio was reformed and walked back home, never knowing that someone was watching every move the princess was making. Observing from the dark reaches of the alleys the mysterious figure had grown suspicious of the new arrival ever since his spies had alerted him to her prescense as soon as she entered the metropolis earlier that morning. Since then he or his minions have kept a watchful eye to see why she was here and what her purpose was for being here. All the while he kept a small hope up it was the person he was determined to find as the key for his evil master scheme to work to perfection.

Uhh, boy. Looks like our main bad guy has finally shown up. For the moment. We probably won't know who it is until a future chapter. Until next time, keep reading and keep being inspired! Bye!