THE PHANTOM'S REALM
CHAPTER FOUR: PHANTOM'S CHAT WITH DEATH
"That's quite the tale you have there, Danny." Venus said after Danny told the two how he got stuck in the Ghost Zone with his class, teacher and parents.
Danny nodded. He didn't like this situation at all. He knew the Ghost Zone like the back of his hand, the ins and outs, the safe and not-so safe places, where to be if you wanted to see The Northern Lights, which surprisingly didn't appear in the North very much, so he could have been gone ages ago.
Mars had told him that the Aurora Borealis, better known as The Northern Lights, appear on Earth as a signal from Polaris and the twelve warriors that won the battle against Pariah as a sign of remembrance in their victory in that final battle. According to Mars they shine the lights in the sky not only to show the victory of that day but also to help us remember. They don't know much about people these days. Also Mars says that the Aurora Borealis appears in the north because it's the closet place on Earth to where Polaris' star is located so it's easier that way. In the Ghost Zone the Aurora Borealis can appear anywhere since all Ghosts, presently there or not, have a connection with the Zone that can't be broken, even by dying a second time.
"So, Danny, how have your stories been coming along?" Mars asked him. Of course it was Mars who asks, the one who loves storytelling.
Mars and Venus also knew of his alias of Phazer and that he wrote stories. Actually, so did most Ghosts he frequently talked to. Ghosts were much more intelligent, or at least less gullible, than the people of Amity. Amity still hasn't figured out Fenton and Phantom is the same, let alone a 3rd person.
Despite being a relatively knew name in town, Danny Phazer was making himself known fast. He wrote short stories about topics he's encountered both as Fenton and Phantom like 'Having an Arch Enemy' or 'Life & Death'. Danny didn't write all dark and depressing stories, though. He had ones on 'Friends and Family' and 'Knowing who the Bad Guy Is'. Some stories he wrote he even added some of his legendary witty-banter or comedic elements in them.
Danny, at first, had been reluctant to take Jazz's advice and 'write out his thoughts and feelings' but after she got him to try it, he could honestly say it helped. He felt a little better after writing some concerns away. And when his stories went public he started getting paid to write some more and more. Now he was writing for stress relief, extra money or just to distract from his hectic life.
He didn't think he was the best author ever, but he knew he was pretty good considering many people in Amity read them. He sometimes caught Ghosts stealing copies from the stores in town. Even Death had liked some of his stories.
"Pretty good lately. I wrote another of Arch Enemies a few days ago. Mainly because a bunch of people loved my first one, but also because Vlad's been getting on my nerves." Danny replied.
Vlad had, like Danny did, adopted a third alias. Vlad had put the pieces together very quickly that Danny was Phazer and when he read some stories, he knew most mentioned him in some way. So Vlad adopted the name Vlad Novus and wrote articles in the newspaper where he gave negative opinions of Danny Phantom and Danny Phazer.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's hear it." Mars said to Danny expectantly.
Danny smiled and reached for a paper inside his backpack entitled 'Having an Arch Enemy 2: Dealing with them' and begun to read.
"Having an Arch Enemy isn't something most people don't have to worry about but for some people, like myself, it's not easy having one. They aggravate you and push your buttons, as if trying to see how far they can push you, like a test of some kind. But there are certain ways of dealing with them.
For example, if your Arch Enemy sends you boxes of Fruit Loop's every week to tell you that 'he and Fruit Loops are nothing alike' then you send him Badgers every week back to remind them that you and Badgers are nothing alike.
If he tells you to keep your dog away from his 'important files', tell him to get a cat to keep the dog occupied. Because chances are, those files are just plots and he needs a cat anyway.
Like my Arch Enemy has a crush on my mother, when he reminds me I tell him to try an online dating service. Or when he tells me that my dog and I are 'causing too much trouble' I remind him that 'if he had a cat maybe he'd understand.'
If you're reading this, Vlad Novus, you need to get yourself a cat!" Danny read off his paper with a smile. This was one of his shorter and lighter pieces.
He wrote about Vlad and himself trading packages of Fruit Loops and Badgers every week, how Vlad telling him and Cujo to stop wrecking his house he tells Vlad to get a cat to understand what having a pet is like and made a reference to Vlad's 'important files' being pictures of Maddie.
Mars and Venus clapped. They loved hearing Danny's stories because most of them, even the darker ones, had some type of joking element in them. It was Danny's nature to make things not as bad as they seemed by joking about them.
"How often do you and Vlad trade packages of Fruit Loops and Little Badgers?" Mars asked with a chuckle.
"About once every two weeks. He sent me a package full of boxes of Fruit Loops to tell me that 'he is not one of these' so I send him back a package of two Baby Badgers to remind him that 'I am not one of these.'" Danny said with a smile. He and Vlad was each other's Arch Enemy and yet they both knew they didn't hate each other.
"You two are crazy." Venus said simply. Mars and Danny chuckled.
"So where you heading next, my boy?" Mars asked curiously.
"I was planning on getting to Princess Dora's Kingdom without them seeing the Museum of Ghostly History. From there I'll try and lead them to Frostbite's." Danny told them.
"Why not just go to the Capitol? You have you're portal there don't you?" Venus suggested. Danny went wide-eyed.
"That's the last place I want to go. If I want my secret in tact when I leave here I want to be as far away from Phantom City as possible as long as they're with me." Danny replied seriously.
Phantom City. The city Danny had founded. The city was the Capitol of the entire Zone and was home to 28,336,697 Ghosts and had a distance of 3848.45 square miles. It was the only place Danny TRULY wished they avoided. If he ran into Skulker or Walker, there was still the chance his halfa status would still be okay but it would be blown to bits if they ended up in Phantom City.
"I see what your sayin'. Nobody but Tucker and Sam know yet. I thought you told someone else?" Mars asked. He knew Danny had a secret life from his parents but he thought more than two people knew.
"Just my sister Jazz." Danny replied. The elder Ghosts nodded.
"Well, that's enough conversation for one night, boys. Why don't we get to sleep so you can leave in the morning?" Venus said after a comfortable silence. Mars nodded and the two Ghosts stood up and made their way to the staircase.
"Goodnight Danny." Venus said as she walked up the stairs.
"Night, my boy. When you see Jeff tomorrow tell him I said 'hello'." Mars said after as he followed Venus.
"Night guys. Sure thing, Mars." Danny replied as he lied down on the empty sofa. He looked over at the other two sofas and saw Tucker and Sam sound asleep. Good, he thought, they deserve it after a long day.
He was thinking about how he was going to manage to chat with Death tomorrow. He had to get his class out of here but he and Death never missed a Sunday chat. It was always at five a.m. every Sunday with coffee.
That's when it struck Danny. They could leave at six or seven to give him and Death enough time to chat. It was perfect. Danny formulated his plan in his head before he allowed himself to fall into a deep sleep, ready to face tomorrow.
Danny woke up about five hours later just ten minutes before five o'clock and as he predicted he was the only one awake. Danny smiled and stood up while stretching his arms over his head and stifling a yawn, careful not to wake Tucker and Sam. Danny let the familiar rings of light roll over him and change him into Danny Phantom, the Ghostly Hero.
Danny let his legs change into a Ghostly tail as he floated out of the Station Mars and Venus reside in and flew for a while to the South. He wasn't flying at top speed but he was going relatively fast.
In a bit over five minutes he lands in front of a lair. The lair is just another purple floating door but this door had a skull and two crossed scythes replacing the cross-bones. Yep, this was Death's Lair.
Danny smiled as he knocked on the door, awaiting the answer. Not long after the door swung open and the figure let an uncharacteristic smile at Danny.
Death, contrary to popular belief, was not a skeleton. He looked very human except his pale skin and bright red eyes. Death was only a bit taller than Danny and had his signature scythe in the other hand. He was wearing his long black robe and his hood was up, as always, but Danny could still see his face.
"Hello, young Phantom. Nice of you to return." Death spoke, allowing Danny inside.
Danny sat in the obsidian black reclining chair that had his symbol on the back and Death sat in a black leather reclining chair across from his with his signature scythe on the back while there was a small brown wooden coffee table in between the two chairs.
"Nice to be back. I'm sure you've heard of my predicament?" Danny asked expectantly. He knew Death watched a lot of things unfold, so he would know who's time was when, but he also knew Death kept an eye on him often.
"Yes, I haven't looked much but I saw you enter and fall from the sky. I decided that you wouldn't like anyone leaving that way." Death replied. He wasn't stupid enough to just go ahead and kill one of Phantom's humans. Job or not, killing a human too early, let alone Phantom's humans, was not wise.
He, despite his job, was sad to see people loose their loved ones, so he really did try and give them le-way but sometimes there was just no avoiding it. Just because he was Death didn't mean he didn't have feelings too. He once bawled his eyes out after he had to end one of his friends from his human life.
"I appreciate that. It would have caused much more problems for me. I'm trying to get us all to Dora's Kingdom but I'm willing to bet someone will notice the museum before we get there." Danny grumbled. He didn't want to take them to the museum, not because he hated history, but because in the Phantom exhibit it tells about his halfa status and among other things.
"I can see how that would be a problem. But maybe they won't visit that section. Maybe they'll see Phantom in the section of Royalty and believe that that's all his information." Death offered.
"I guess. I'd still rather not take that chance. Besides if they find out I'm the King, it still won't be good. The kids will go nuts and praise me even more and my parents will be even more determined to rip me apart molecule by molecule." Danny told him.
Yes, Danny Phantom was the official King of the Ghost Zone, appointed by Clockwork, Venus, Mars and Death. After becoming King, Danny, Tucker, Sam and Jazz had made a huge difference. They created Phantom City for any homeless Ghost to live in, along with a Palace for the Royal Family. It was the biggest city in the Ghost Zone or Earth and everyone knew Danny and his family.
Danny, Tucker, Sam, Jazz and Danielle spent most of their time in the Ghost Zone after Danny's ceremony. They only ever went to Earth if necessary like school or to show their parents they were home, but they would just let Danny take them back.
"Well maybe but maybe a pit-stop at the museum won't be so bad. It might help them rest and it might get you free of Skulker. You know he hates the museum since you put the Purple-back gorilla exhibit in there." Death suggested with a slight chuckle.
"Yeah, it might. He still can't hear the words 'Purple-back Gorilla' without flinching because it beat him up so bad." Danny reminded with a laugh. Death smiled and took a sip of coffee.
"So have you talked to Constance recently?" Danny asked changing the subject, mirroring Death sipping his coffee.
Constance was the Ghost of emotions. She wasn't as powerful or well known as Death or Clockwork but she was a relatively big name. She was the one who gave people the ability to feel their emotions more easily and clearly. Without her you could still feel them, it would just be weaker and harder. Mars had once told him that Constance was the reason Ghosts could feel emotions.
"Not since we took her to Phantom City last Sunday. Who have you been talking too?" Death replied.
"Clockwork mostly. Mars and Venus since yesterday. Frostbite on Thursday. That's about it aside from Tucker and Sam." Danny told him.
"I see. And if things go your way will you encounter anyone other than Princess Dora or Frostbite?" Death asked.
"I hope not. Respect or not most Ghost still like to cause trouble for me." Danny replied honestly.
Despite his Kingly status, the only thing that changed was the number of Ghost that was trying to end or seriously injure him went down. Technus, Youngblood and even Skulker all respected him, along with most Ghosts, but they still loved causing trouble.
"Ah, yes. That I know. You know I'm not good with making things better but I believe that you'll be all right. You're a good kid, Phantom." Death said with a curt nod.
Danny blinked. Guess this was one of Death's good days seeing as he was far less angry than usual. Once Danny had seen Death hurl his coffee cup at some little Ghost girl who had knocked on the door looking for directions just because she 'was ruining the new paint job!' as Death put it. Good thing Danny was there or it might have been worse.
"So, when are you planning on leaving Mars and Venus' Station in your attempt to get to Princess Dora's?" Death asked, changing the subject.
"After I leave here. Maybe 6 or 7 depending on when I get back." Danny answered, taking another sip of his coffee.
"And when do you expect to have to hide the museum from them to get to Dora's by noon?" Death asked with a smirk. It was just like him to laugh at other people's expense. Danny especially.
"I don't know. Maybe around eight or nine o'clock." Danny said with a shrug.
LINEBREAK
Jack had just woken up from the night before, and it took him a minute to remember that they were lost in the Ghost Zone and at Danny's Ghost friends' house.
Danny's Ghost friends.
Try as he might, Jack couldn't wrap his head around it. He had honestly thought all Ghosts were evil Ecto-plasmic slime but Danny's words yesterday combined with the Ghosts that harmlessly passed them yesterday on the way here plus Mars and Venus' hospitable attitudes had broken his beliefs into pieces. He now realized that not all Ghosts were bad and that maybe, just maybe, he and Maddie had been wrong about Phantom and Ghosts in general.
Phantom. Again that one Ghost had made himself the center of the energetic scientists' thoughts. Phantom had always been different from other Ghosts. He had shown emotions that people didn't think a Ghost would have. They had seen Phantom happy, sad, annoyed, playful, excited and worried. Most Ghosts had only shown emotions like anger or malice towards humans, but no. Phantom was different. He seemed generally concerned with people's safety.
Jack now knew one thing for sure, and it was that not all Ghosts were evil and Phantom certainly was one of the good guys. But he was still very confused.
Why had Danny come into the Ghost Zone at all? He knew Danny had to be in here more than once, judging by Mars and Venus' familiarity with him. Why hadn't he told them he'd been in here?
Did Ghosts have something to do with what Danny was hiding from them? Jack was willing to bet on it. He had seemed so different in the Ghost Zone than back at Amity. He was so much more relaxed and comfortable than he'd been in Amity for a long time. Now that he thought about it, Tucker and Sam did too. Just like Danny they had been unusually calm about their situation.
Whatever Danny was hiding Jack was willing to bet Tucker and Sam knew very well what it was. They had too. He had been pulling away from his family and closer to Tucker and Sam. Jack knew it would be useless to ask them for any input on Danny as they'd most likely just cover for him and Jack respected that his son had such loyal friends, willing to do anything for each other. On the other hand it frustrated him a bit how little Danny trusted them.
Jack sighed, as he got out of bed, careful not to wake Maddie next to him or Lancer in the other bed. He was about to leave the room to go downstairs when something caught his eye. Jack turned and looked at the wall on the other side of the room. It was a poster of a space shuttle on it. He, at first, didn't think much of it, as they were in the Ghosts of Space house but what caught his attention was the message written on it. It read,
"Dear Danny,
I remember how much you told us you loved space and we felt bad that Clockwork and we had dumped your Kingly responsibilities on you so quickly. This picture isn't enough to fix it but it's a start and I know that when you come around, you'll do something really special.
Love, Mars and Venus"
Dear Danny? That couldn't be right. Danny couldn't be a King, let alone a Ghost King! The boy was just fifteen`! But who else would the letter be for? Did Mars and Venus know another Danny?
Phantom. Jack realized instantly. They had said earlier Phantom spent a lot of time here so it was probably for him. But since when did Phantom have an affinity for space? Granted he and Phantom didn't speak much but Jack would like to think he knew his adversary enough to pinpoint his likes and dislikes and the Ghost Kid had never indicated any significant interest in outer space.
Maybe he just hadn't paid close enough attention to the Ghost Kid because there was no other Danny he knew besides his son and Phantom.
It hit Jack like a ton of bricks. Phantom. Kingly responsibilities. Phantom was the King. He was the King of the Ghost Zone. Probably since he saved Amity from the second massive Ghost invasion. Jack was extremely glad he had reached the conclusion that Phantom was good because the last thing he wanted to do was face an angry King, let alone and angry Phantom King.
"Whatcha looking at sweetie?" Came Maddies' voice from behind him.
"Nothing important." Jack replied turning around. He wasn't sure, but there was something in his head that told him not to share his discovery with his wife.
LINEBREAK
Death's door flung open with huge force, allowing Danny out who preceded to slam it shut again and rest his back against it, holding it closed. Not a moment later a huge 'crack' and 'thump' was heard and the door puffed out a bit from the force of the impact.
"Damnit Phantom! You're buying me a new coffee table!" Death's angry voice came from inside.
"I have a tab at the Hardware by now so okay. Besides it was your fault! You threw it!" Danny replied back, pushing himself off the door.
"You knew it was going to happen when you brought up Constance! You know how I get with her." Death replied as the door opened, revealing the cloaked figure.
"I only did it because you keep teasing me about-" Danny started.
"The soon-to-be Mrs. Phantom." Death interrupted with a smirk.
"She isn't even my girlfriend." Danny muttered angrily. If this wasn't part of their weekly chats it was every other week.
"Not yet." Death said with a smirk. He continued before Phantom could reply. "Look it's getting late or as late as it can get at six o'clock. You better get back so you can take your humans to Princess Dora's." Death told him.
"Fine. I'll let it go for now but this isn't over. See you next week." Danny grumbled as he shook Death's hand.
"Damn straight it isn't over you owe me a coffee table. Now get going before I make a visit." Death smirked as Phantom flew away faster.
He loved messing with the young halfa. It was their thing. Like how Phantom and Clockwork's thing was Clockwork teaching and Phantom pretending to not be interested, even though everyone knew he was eager to learn more. Or how Phantom and Mars' thing was story telling. His and Phantom's thing was acting like jerks to each other even when they were pretty close.
"Phantom, what did you get yourself into this time." Death muttered, referring to getting lost in the Zone with humans, before he went back inside his lair.
LINEBREAK
Danny phased back into Mars and Venus' house silently and landed on the ground. He looked all around the room and thought it was safe so he transformed back into Fenton and sat on the empty couch. Maybe I'll give them a few more minutes, Danny thought, they need more sleep than I do.
"Danny-boy! I didn't think you'd be up so early." Jack's voice came from the stairway. Danny turned to see his father walking down the stairs.
"Morning dad. I thought we could leave early today but maybe a while longer of sleep will do everyone good." Danny replied.
"Maybe it will. Hey Danny?" Jack started hesitantly.
"Yeah, dad?" Danny asked, ushering him to continue.
"I just wanted to tell you, maybe I will keep an open mind about Ghosts. I think you're onto something that they're not all evil. And I'm sorry I blather on and on about it to you." Jack said, looking at the floor in disappointment.
What he really wanted to ask was how long his son had been Danny Phantom.
CLIFFHANGER!
SO I WASN'T PLANNING ON UPDATING NOW, BUT I FIGURED IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLLIDAYS WHY NOT?
I'LL START ON CHAPTER FIVE SOON AND DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR THE PAIRING ON MY PROFILE!