Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Danny Phantom, I'm a big fan and was feeling nostalgic.

Note (02/12/2018): So you have wished it, so shall it be! Thanks for your review and Happy Birthday "frozenightmare!" Also, just to clear something up yes Vlad now accidentally possesses the majority of Owen's ghost dominating powers -if only because Owen quite literally spread himself too thin because he wanted so badly to help Vlad- but! It's only temporary. So is the telepathy thing. And in a way it's also a test for Vlad to see how much he really HAS changed. You'll see why in this chapter. Then finally, omg I am so excited to bring in the Fright Knight to this story! I mean Skulker is an interesting underling of Vlad's but the Fright Knight just feels...I dunno more worthy to be under such a refined villain as Vlad. Well, not that Vlad is much of a villain anymore although he is willing to bend and break some of the truth and the rules still, especially when the man thinks it's for Owen's own good.

~Chapter 23~

A Knight To Remember

"There, finally!" Vlad glowered after finally fastening the bandages around his neck in place and informing Owen he could change back if he wanted to. "I thought we would never get this done with all those...inconveniences. But this new development solved one problem at least. However I do NOT want you straining your vocal cords until that wound has healed hopefully by tomorrow, got it? Or better yet later today..." he added upon checking his watch to see that it was already one in the morning.

No argument here, this is much easier then writing anyway and my throat still feels like I swallowed a glass of liquid nitrogen. Still, Vlad I uh...really don't want to change back right now. My human side keeps getting too cold and I don't want to start shaking like a leaf again the moment I change back. I feel more comfortable like this at least for now, Owen admitted, rubbing his arms because it was like, beneath the surface he could still feel that coldness and it was only kept at bay by radiating heat from his necromancer form. Looking straight into Vlad's eyes, he stepped off of the bench and thought. Oh, and Vlad? Like I said I'm really sorry for not telling you the truth. I let my feelings get the better of me because I wanted so badly to do something for you for a change that I guess it clouded everything else. So much so that I didn't even think that spell might be too complex and cause a problem. And now I'm paying the price for being such an idiot. Again...

Softening his gaze upon seeing how dejected he looked, Vlad pulled Owen into a hug and reassured him, "You're not an idiot dear boy. Quite the contrary. You were very insightful. Planning your next move ahead of time to avoid further complications is the best thing you can do, especially when you're about to attempt something potentially dangerous. It never hurts to have a back up plan though. I just, I was not expecting what happened since we went over it together. I suppose you're a more talented liar then I thought! At any rate, in response to your earlier question..." smiling, Vlad ruffled his glowing hair and shrugged, "Yes you've changed me more then I care to admit, however, I have no intention of completely changing who I am even for you my boy. Life simply wouldn't be as amusing anymore if I wasn't allowed to make a few worthy adversaries now and again and feel the satisfaction of outwitting and overpowering them."

You really are like a cat sometimes you know that? Toying with your prey instead of killing it and getting it over with, Owen snickered. As long as you don't leave any ghostly presents in my room after you've taken down a dangerous ghost we're good.

"Owen! Don't even joke about that!" Vlad exclaimed in disgust.

Owen flinched, feeling his heart throb sharply and then he meekly replied, Ok...

Troubled by his sudden compliance Vlad held him at arm's length, searching the boy's glowing eyes for something indecipherable. Perhaps even fear because of his raised tone. But Owen just looked tired so it was likely that his little quips were merely a cover up so he didn't have to focus on his discomfort.

After dropping his arms with a sigh and placing them behind his back, Vlad closed his eyes momentarily and decided it was best to get Owen settled in for the night and then await the Fright Knight's arrival. At least with him being the older more experienced one here he could endure a little fatigue. Although to be perfectly honest he no longer felt tired, but rather extremely energized now which only troubled him because Vlad knew it was at the cost of weakening Owen, though indirectly since the boy was unaware that he had done so.

Either way Vlad was reluctant to leave Owen alone in his condition to the point of wondering if he should formally introduce him to the ghostly knight. What was the harm? Of all his minions the Fright Knight was not only his most loyal but the most powerful as well which is why he usually reserved his services for the top priority jobs that even Skulker couldn't handle. After all, it takes a certain mindset to deal with some of the older spirits who were often protecting whatever artifact Vlad was after at any given time. And yes while Skulker's advanced technology had its advantages it is essentially like debating about the age old argument of who would win in a fight, a caveman, or an astronaut?

As if sensing what he was thinking through their link, Owen asked with his thoughts, So...this Fright Knight guy, who is he exactly? The name sounds so familiar.

"Does it now?" Vlad smirked, glancing down at him. "I suppose there's only one way to find out if he happens to be another old acquaintance of yours. I was planning on letting you rest while he and I make short work of this shadow-being, however, it might be more prudent to introduce you to him. After all if my theory proves correct about where his loyalty lies then I will be assigning him as your...ghostly bodyguard so to speak. He may have a fascination with causing havoc and feeding off the energy of human fear but strangely enough, aside from doing just that around Halloween time the Fright Knight knows how to pick his battles carefully and prefers to work under a more powerful ghost that he respects. And he respects me. So in turn, he will either respect my wishes and guard you like his afterlife depends on it, or he will instinctively respect YOUR power the moment he senses it. We will just have to see which one wins out."

Suuure, sounds like a great plan, Owen thought skeptically. A little more playfully though Owen added,Vlad, you do realize most of the ghosts I've met lately are insane right? Now you're planning on willingly introducing me to one? And yes I am talking about you crazy half ghosts too. No, actually if you were any type of crazy it would be like a freaking fox!

"I'd rather be a sly fox then a mangy cat," Vlad retorted with a half-hearted frown.

Now crossing his arms Owen argued, I'd reconsider that if I were you, after all, in many cultures cats are considered guardians of the underworld or the netherworld or whatever you want to call it. That's why to most witches especially they made great familiars and companions. Heck even I had a cat growing up. Foxes were more often seen as tricksters and troublemakers... Owen blinked when he realized what he just said/thought and snickered, Nevermind, guess you got me on that one. They're both pretty troublesome creatures. But like you they're really elegant and smart. So yeah, I stand by what I said. You are very much like a cat.

"Alright alright settle down my boy," Vlad finally stated, cutting Owen off before they could get any more distracted. "Those three should be back by now so it should be safe to venture out since the shadow was last seen on the opposite side of the castle. But just in case, stay close to me."

Realizing their time was up, Owen nodded and silently let the man escort him out of the infirmary with a gentle push on the small of his back. He regreted how complicated things had gotten but was determined to see it through. And if Vlad trusted this guy, he would at least try to keep an open mind. After all, not all ghosts are evil, even if they work for Vlad. No, especially if they worked for Vlad because even he drew the line when it came to certain things and would not stand for it, Owen had seen that first hand. Besides, those three vultures seemed to respect him almost as much as they feared the guy so maybe this wouldn't be too bad. When compared to facing wraiths...how scary could some ghost knight be?

Well, Owen was about to find out whether he liked it or not.

"He acts as though I am foolish enough to leave my sword unattended without due cause," the Fright Knight thought quietly as he awaited the arrival of his liege lord to open the portal from his side in the human world.

He had to admit, his Master's summons surprised him. It had been far too long since the mighty Plasmius had need of his services. For him to need them now meant this task was of the utmost importance...

And then there was the human child. Although there was no need to convince the Fright Knight to ride to his Master's side at once, the three vultures panicked when he demanded that they get to the point when they insisted upon beating around the bush when they began telling him the reason they had invited themselves into his domain. Sadly though, this place would never entirely be his own. For it belonged to the former Ghost King who was now trapped once more in the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep thanks to the combined efforts of his new Master, the ghost child, and several of the ghost boys enemies whom the boy had somehow convinced to join him in battle against Pariah Dark.

After that, the ghost boy gained his respect as a capable warrior though the Fright Knight would one day still have his vengeance against Danny Phantom for daring to steal his sword. His honor demanded that he simply could not stand for being insulted in such a way and then humiliated by such an underhanded defeat. True, his sword was his greatest strength and weakness, but even so the Fright Knight longed to challenge the boy to a proper duel one day. No powers, just swords.

At any rate, those three feather dusters began rambling the moment that the Fright Knight loudly ordered them to speak at sword point or begone from his sight before he used their feathers to fletch ghostly arrows out of and offer them as a gift to Lord Aragon. Needless to say they spouted all sorts of nonsense about why the Fright Knight shouldn't follow through on his threat when finally one of them said something sensible!

"Vait! Zhe boss said zhat if you vere too busy to come he vould make it vorth your while!" the second one screeched pathetically, not that the other two were any better since they had obviously been injured by something or someone along the way to his lair. They had now lost even more feathers when they began molting in fear when the black knight shot them out of the sky, thinking they were intruders until recalling that they were some of lord Plasmius's servants.

Sheathing his blade, the Fright Knight crossed his arms impatiently and sighed, "Very well curr, you have my ear now. Speak."

Flying back up to eye level, the ghost bird coughed to clear his throat and relayed Vlad's other message. "Seeing as you eh...vere unsatisfied serving under the banner of zhe previous Ghost King, Pariah Dark, zhe boss wanted to know if perhaps you vould be interested in serving a more worthy King. You see, zhe necromancer child you've probably about is not only vell on his way to becoming Plasmius's sole heir in zhe human world, but zhat human...he-" he swallowed hard, suddenly very nervous which the Fright Knight sensed at once and raised a brow and stared at the bird expectantly, which allowed him to finally choke out "-carries the soul of Death's proxy. The first necromancer. And since ve all know necromancers can only control ghosts but zhey can destroy ghost permanently so uh...once he's strong enough then surely the boy could do zhe one thing that even Plasmius and the fancy pants ghost kid could not. Eliminate Pariah Dark. And vith him gone, this keep would finally be yours. Forever."

With an evil smirk as he patted Nightmare's strong neck, the Fright Knight mused, "Now how could I possibly refuse an offer like that..?"