Chapter Four: Unleashed

Clockwork was expecting him when he arrived. He gripped his staff tightly, his eyes closed. "Phantom, I implore you to rethink what you're about to do. If you would hear Daniel out, then you—"

"I don't want to hear it, Clockwork." Phantom said coldly. "Give me the thermos."

Clockwork turned to him. "You'll have to fight me for it, then."

Phantom smirked and flew over to the amulets, putting one on. "Very well; a fair fight, no cheap time tricks."

Clockwork pursed his lips and held his staff tighter. "Phantom…this is your last chance."

"No, Clockwork. This is your last chance to give me the thermos without a fight." Phantom said warningly.

"So be it!" Clockwork flew over and exchanged his staff for his spear, flying towards Phantom. Phantom blasted at him, forcing him back, and then a Ghostly Wail shook the room as it left Phantom's lips. 'He's so much stronger!' He thought. 'Is it your emotions that have done this to you, Phantom? To make you into a monster you swore you would never become?!'

He glanced towards the thermos, then threw the scythe to the side. "Phantom! Answer me this!" He said, moving towards the recovering ghost. "Are you truly willing to turn into the kind of monster that you are about to unleash? To be hated by all?!"

"I'm already hated by all!" Phantom cried. "Even Daniel hates me!"

"No, Phantom, he doesn't. He—"

"I don't want to hear it!" Phantom snapped. "Just give me the thermos!"

Clockwork sighed, looking towards the said object. "…If that…is truly your choice." He flew over and picked up the thermos. "I hope that you come to your senses and listen before it's too late." He threw the thermos to him.

Phantom caught it and flew out, heading back to his lair.

He opened the door and went in; looking over at Danny to make sure he was still asleep before he shut the door and landed on the platform. Smiling, he opened the lid and pushed "release", stepping back as Dan Phantom came out of the thermos. "Hello, Dan."

Dan smirked at him. "So, you did turn into me after all. Why did you let me out, kid?"

Phantom smiled a bit. "I want total control of the Ghost Zone. Help me kill Pariah Dark and we'll both rule over the ghost and human realms. Show them that they should never have rejected me…"

Dan reached down and gently tilted his face up. "Aww, poor Phantom's been hurt. Don't worry, though." He leaned over and gently kissed him. "I'll make sure the pain goes away."

Phantom smiled up at him, then looked towards Danny. "He won't be harmed. Until I deem it, he's to stay in that sleep-state. By the time I wake him, we'll be in Pariah Dark's castle."

Dan chuckled. "Then let's go get you your castle." They left the lair together, leaving Danny alone once more.

Danny awoke in yet another room, the bed a lot nicer than the one in Phantom's lair. For a moment he thought he'd been rescued, but the white glow beside him squashed that thought and he reluctantly looked up at Phantom's green eyes. "…Hi."

Phantom smiled and stroked his hair. "Hello, Daniel. Sleep well?"

Danny flinched back from the touch, recalling the last time he'd touched him. "Uhm…can you…not touch me? Please?"

Phantom raised an eyebrow. "Are you really going to refuse me?"

Danny flinched at his tone, then blinked when he noticed a glowing green crown on the dresser. "Wait, that's…Pariah Dark's crown."

"It is." Phantom nodded.

"Why is it there?" Danny looked at him.

"Because it's mine." Phantom grinned, kissing him. "This whole castle is mine, Daniel. Isn't this great?"

"'Great'…?" Danny breathed. "What have you done? Why would you WANT to be The Ghost King?"

Phantom gently cupped his cheek. "Stop questioning me, Daniel." He said calmly. Danny noticed that he was older than the last time he'd woken up and it made his brow furrow in confusion.

"Okay…but, one more question. How long was I asleep?" Danny asked.

Phantom smirked. "Five months." He kissed him again, his hands moving down Danny's body, and Danny suddenly realized that he wasn't wearing anything. He could've sworn he was when he woke up!

"No, not again!" Danny pushed against him. "I'm not doing this forceful stuff again, Phantom!"

Phantom narrowed his eyes, the green flashing to red, and then a knock on the door distracted him. "What is it?" Phantom asked.

"My Lord…you have someone requesting audience with you…he says he's expected?" Danny heard a woman say.

Phantom frowned and then looked at Danny. "If you won't give yourself to me, then I'm taking you to another room." He said coldly, phasing Danny's clothes back onto him and roughly pulling him off the bed.

They went to the door, Danny protesting and wincing in pain, and Phantom shoved him into the woman. "Take him to Cell 19." He said coldly. "No visitors aside from myself."

"A-As you command, my lord." She bowed and pulled Danny away. Phantom watched them go, then went to grab his crown.

"You're looking sour." Dan remarked, smirking as Phantom walked in and sat on the throne. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Nothing was happening anyway." Phantom muttered. "Why won't he just give in already?"

"Well, you have only woken him up twice since you captured him." Dan said matter-of-factly. "Give him time."

Phantom sighed, brushing his cape back. Phantom eyed the bed-sheet before walking over to him. "Phantom, come with me."

"Why?" Phantom asked.

"We're going to get you something more impressive." Dan placed his hand on Phantom's, the teen ruler letting him lead him away.

They entered a room and Dan gestured to a white cape on the table. "I had it made for you. Let's try it on, shall we?" He reached up and untied the bed-sheet, letting it fall to the floor behind him. His lips brushed Phantom's as he pulled the cape onto his shoulders, fastening the golden clasp in front. "See?" He murmured against his lips. "Isn't this much better?" He pulled away and gestured to a servant holding a mirror.

Phantom touched the cape and turned one direction and then another, finally nodding with satisfaction. "Yes. It's beautiful, thank you." He smiled at Dan.

Dan smiled and wrapped his arm around the young king's waist. "You look like you need a distraction. Shall we go to your room?"

Phantom nodded, resting his head on Dan's chest. "Yes."

Dan smiled, leading him back to his bedroom.

Because bed-sheets are just silly for capes, Phantom. :/
Oh, hey, is Danny not gonna be put to sleep over and over again now? XD ~ Zone