Author notes:
1)English is my second language. Forgive me for any mistake.
2)I don't own Danny Phantom.
3)I only own the plot for this AU and the eventual OCs
4)Thanks Truephan, Christopher Scott and Shaddow the Spirit for your reviews.
As Danny flew with Johnny, now both visible, inside of the Dead Forest. None of them said anything. At least Danny didn't. Johnny tried to take his friend's mind off what had just happened, but the hybrid didn't reply.
The older ghost shrugged for receiving a cold shoulder from him, but he couldn't exactly blame him for that. All he knew about Danny's family was what his father, Skulker, had told him.
Danny didn't talk much about his mother. Not that he had anything to say. Daniel never met her. Even Vlad didn't go in much details about his relationship with her. As far as Vlad was concerned, it would be dangerous for the boy to know that he had family on his mother's side, so he told Danny that they were all dead.
It was because of that what Princess Samantha had told him infuriated the teen. He didn't like the way she talked about his mother and his grandfather. However even he had to admit there was some truth in her words. She had never met him before, so how would she know about his mother and grandfather's name. It made no sense.
The teen knew she had to be wrong somehow. Danny was sure that his father wouldn't lie to him. The hybrid wondered if the human youth were told a bunch of lies so they would hate the ghosts and continue with their senseless hatred towards the ghosts.
"Hey, Johnny. I have to go home for now. There's something I want to talk to him." the younger ghost said.
"Sure. But, Danny, try not to dwell much into what she said. I mean how can she say weird stuff like that with a straight face?" Johnny answered.
"Maybe it's all part of a human plan to make their kids hate us or something. I want to tell my dad and also my uncle about that. They're both at home now. Uncle Eric will probably find this information useful. After all if he knows what the humans are saying, he can tell King Pariah about it and they can formulate a plan to stop this nonsense." Danny replied stopping in mid-air and turning visible.
Johnny also stopped and put his hand over Danny's shoulder. "Just try not to worry so much, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks. See you later." Danny said before flying straight to his home.
Johnny also flew back to his home. He wanted to ask his father about what the human girl had said.
When Danny arrived home, he was greeted by Teresa who asked him if he had fun and also if he was hungry. However the boy immediately asked where his father and uncle were. He also said that he wanted to speak with them as soon as possible.
The old ghost looked at the boy fully knowing that something was troubling him. She wondered what could have happened in such a short time. When the boy left home, he was cheerful and now he was like someone's life were at steak.
"Your father and uncle are at the library on the first floor. They're discussing something, so I think it would be better if you wai…" but the babysitter couldn't finish her sentence.
Danny said "Thanks" and bolted flying towards the library. 'I just hope it's nothing serious…' she thought.
Vlad and Eric, who was still wearing his armor with the exception of the helmet, which was over one table, were truly discussing. Fright knight was telling his brother that King Pariah had prepared everything for the invasion and it was going to happen quite soon. He also told him to keep his son in an even lower profile, so he doesn't get caught in the mess.
Then they suddenly heard someone phasing through the door. "Father? I'm sorry for interrupting your conversation, but I would like to inform you and uncle Eric of something."
Vlad look curious at the boy. "What is it, my boy? Shouldn't you be with Johnny now?"
"Yes, but Johnny took me to fulfill some kind of werid tradition of Lycan School's seniors where they should gather at least one thing that belonged to a human you see…"
"WHAT!" shouted Fright Knight. "They still hold this stupid tradition at a time like this? I'll address to the principal immediately so they can put an end to this nonsense." Then after realizing something, he continued: "Wait a moment…you LEFT the Dead Forest with Johnny? Vlad, I can't believe you didn't tell him not to leave this place."
Danny's father frowned deeply as he replied: "But I did. Several times!" Crossing his arms, the duke continued: "I don't care if you were with Johnny. I'm highly disappointed at you, Daniel. I can't believe you disobeyed me like that!"
The hybrid tried to defend himself. "But we didn't even come close of a town. We just encountered two travelers. Johnny expected them go running from us and drop something."
"You even interacted with humans! Vlad, if you don't discipline your child, I think I'll have to do it. This kind of attitude cannot be allowed when king Pariah is about to unleash an attack against the humans. What if he had gotten himself captured? They could try use him as a shield or even do sick experiments on him!" Fright Knight growled.
"I know I shouldn't have…I'm really sorry…" the teen said.
"Apologizes won't take you off of your punishment, Daniel." Vlad said glaring at his son.
The boy sighed troubled. He wondered how his father would punish him for doing that. He knew that he shouldn't have gone with Johnny. But then he remembered why he had stormed into the room to begin with.
"Father, may I say something before anything else. It's about what happened between us and those humans." The hybrid said looking down.
"Yes, you may, but I hope you two didn't do anything that you might regret." Vlad said sternly.
"No, we just talked. Thing is that they said weird things about…mom…" The boy started slowly raising his look to his father and uncle whose eyes were widened.
"What?" Vlad said confused.
The boy swallowed before continuing: "They said something about a ghost corrupting her and also that grandfather Raymond was a king and still alive. At first I thought it was just a merely coincidence of names, but they had the same surnames. Why did they say you corrupted mom? It's stupid. It's even stupider for them to say that grandfather Raymond is still alive…"
Vlad was shocked at hearing this. He had wondered when his sonw as still a baby if he should tell his mother's true surname or not. But he dismissed the idea for two reasons: the could see her surname on the grave and also he never thought the boy would get in contact with any human who knew King Raymond.
Eric was equally shocked. He looked at his brother for him to say anything, but Vlad was taken back by that and he honestly had nothing to say to his son.
Danny did find that sudden silence quite disturbing, but then something finally hit the boy: "Father, isn't a king someone who is always making public appearances and such? Are there two Raymond Irongrips? Is he a relative of mom? Is it some kind of hoax? But why would they use his name?"
"Yes, son. I-It's a hoax." Vlad finally spoke using the chance given by his son. "Human are strange. They couldn't accept the love between me and your mother. They spread lies just to make us look bad at the eyes of those who never met us."
The boy pondered about that for a bit and then continued: "But father, if this so-called King Raymond is a fraud, why are people following someone who doesn't even have royal blood. If he openly uses my grandfather's full name, why people even believe in him. He was no king when alive."
The problem with lies is that, when caught by its net, there are only two options: tell the truth and finally be freed of it or squirm and make yourself even more attached to it and wait for the spider to come. Vlad, sadly, chose the second option.
"You see, son. I didn't know much about your family's bloodlines. Maybe her father was the successor of the throne because he had noble blood and the actual king had no child, so he would have been chosen to be the king. Yes. They took advantage of that and placed an imposter who pretends to be your grandfather!" Vlad said relieved that he could think of something in the end.
Fright Knight crossed his arms and gave a heavy sigh as he saw his brother giving so much poor excuses for what the boy had just said. The general was highly against hiding the boy's mother's true past from him. He knew, from experience, that no secret remained buried forever and knowing the truth from a total stranger was disastrous. Eric even heard the boy making an "Oh" sound completely believing in what his father had just told him.
"But shouldn't we make them pay for doing this to grandfather Raymond. They're using his name and that wrong!" the boy said.
"No, Daniel. You should never get near of any human city. Do you hear me? I'll not tolerate if you disobey me. The humans are going be dealt with…" Vlad said.
"This is just plain stupid, you know. I think you should just tell the kid the truth to end with this, Vlad. It's no use hiding it anymore. Daniel is no kid anymore. If he gives a little bit of thinking, and I know he will, he'll notice the flaws of what you said. I remember clearly that you told Daniel that Madeline was a lesser noble, how can someone of her 'status' have a father who would be the legit successor of the throne. Huh?" Fright knight said.
"That's right…" Danny said. "But what truth is it? I don't understand."
"Eric! You have no right!" Vlad growled at him. Daniel had believed in what Vlad had just said and the parent was furious at his brother opening his mouth like that. Fright Knight never had a child in his life and always butted in telling Vlad how to raise his kid. Fright Knight had suggested several times that Vlad told the truth to Daniel while he was still young so he could grow up knowing how twisted the humans were. King Raymond ordered the death of his own daughter, the boy's mother. In the general's eyes, that's not something anyone should be hiding from the boy. Besides, Eric believed that Danny would now have the maturity to not do anything stupid.
"What's going on here?" The boy said really confused not getting what was going on between his father and uncle.
Fright night turned his eyes from his brother to his nephew: "The truth, Daniel, that your grandfather is indeed a king, he's alive and he is the real responsible for your mother's death."
One week ago, at the Ghost King's castle, Wolfgang summoned an audience to see His Majesty, King Pariah Dark, to show him what he had discovered. The lycanthrope finally managed to get a very good amount of arsenic over the years and he found a good way of using it to get the humans without getting near of the cities and the humans wouldn't even suspect of the ghosts.
Wolfgang was also delighted to see his son doing the impossible to pretend to be happily married with Jadiwiga. It amused him to see his son forcing a smile. He wondered how long would it take until Jadiwiga notice that. Truth to be told, he wants for their marriage to work, because it brought Wolfgang and Nicholas closer. The old silver lycanthrope liked prestige and have important people to owe him favors and such.
When the old lycanthrope was at the throne room, Pariah was all alone. Wolfgang kneeled respectfully and only raised when the ghost king gave him permission to do so. He didn't want to act too bold especially when he was so close of earning the king's eternal gratitude.
"So, did you finally finish your research? I hope you have. I grow tired of waiting to smash the humans as the bugs they are!" Pariah Dark said.
The werewolf swallowed dry as he did the best to not lose his composure. "Yes, I have, your majesty. I've gathered enough arsenic to kill thousands of humans and also a good way to spread it."
"Really? What is it?" said the king now grinning.
Seeing the pleased face of the ghost king, Wolfgang became more relaxed. "I've discovered a river that passes right inside of one of the human kingdoms who are fortifying themselves against us. All we have to do is to throw the arsenic inside of the river and let them drink the poisoned water. They won't even know we were the ones responsible for this. I also watched from afar the other two kingdoms, they gather water of river and some lakes, outside of their kingdoms, it'll be even easier to do the same thing with them, milord."
"Yes. I like this idea. Humans need to drink water everyday, so it'll be a sure victory. You really are a genius, Wolfgang." Pariah praised him.
"Your words are too kind, your majesty." Replied the lycanthrope.
"Your reward shall be three times your weight in gold and also you'll become one of my counselors!" after a brief pause, the ghost king continued: "Finally the humans are going to pay for everything!" King Pariah said darkly.
End of chapter 15
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. See you next update. I love to read your comments.