A/N: Welcome! Chapter #20! Whoo! Now...things are really going to start picking up, here! This chapter is also a little calm...but the action starts next chapter. After all...the main villains have all made their moves. What will Danny and Co. do? ^^ Remember to Read/Review/Follow/Fave!
'Til next time, my children!
P.S. If I were to publish original novels for real, would you support me? It's still a while away yet, but I'm curious how many of you would. I'm not sure if you've been able to tell, but I'm kind-of a write-a-holic. Did you think I only write FF? Haha!
*5/31 EDIT: So...FF keeps deleting the breaks I put in, so hopefully they work this time! (I promise, there are proper breaks between scenes in my original file...)
Ch. 20: Kings and Kingdoms
"Those who have not joined our ranks now flee to the Far Frozen, seeking the protection of the 'Great One'," The Fright Knight scoffs, "As though he could ever stand up to the power of the Crown of Fire. King Pariah simply underestimated the...resourcefulness of humanity."
The shadow on the throne remains motionless.
"I am honored by your trust, Lord Plasmius," he bows, "I assure you, he will not be victorious. Especially as you have gifted me the Crown. That boy, the halfa...his little kingdom will not last. I've served three kings, and thou art the greatest of them all!"
He thinks back to the olden days, long, long ago, even before the infamous Pariah Dark. How the Infinite Realms blossomed and bloomed, not so much of a random assortment of islands and lairs as a true 'world' of its own, with the occasional lair branching off.
The king at the time, a gentle ghost who had been around since the beginning (if there had ever been such a thing), ruled in peace. No one knew the old man's name. Simply that he was, and, they thought, ever would be.
Until The Advent.
When he first appeared, the ghost known as 'Pariah Dark' had been viewed as a mere miscreant. He'd been a Viking, and a king among them, betrayed by a trusted friend who desired his power and eventually his bride.
The wrathful ghost loved little more than battle, and was slowly - but surely - conquering the outer edges of the Main Continent. He roved the Wastelands, declaring himself the ruler of all he defeated.
His fury fed him, drove him, ruled him. He sought endless power. Eternal power.
Finally, he was captured and brought before The Observants and the Old King. He was judged and found guilty.
Just as he had planned.
That day, the Infinite Realms changed. The Old King was murdered, his crown stolen, the Ring of Rage released from a vault far below the palace. On its own, the Crown bestowed little power. It was a symbol. However, once infused with the energy of its previous owner and combined with the ring...the power was unfathomable.
The Ring of Rage was supposed to be impossible to control...only a ghost as angry as that of Pariah Dark could truly handle its power. He used this power to punch a hole between the worlds, and set out to sate his thirst; to get revenge on the man that killed him.
...But doing so didn't sate his hatred. He continued to conquer the Ghost Zone, searching for the one artifact that would give him his ultimate desire. The one artifact that could return his life to him.
The darkness that was his core resonated throughout the Infinite Realms. Trees and plants withered, the land groaned and split apart. Some lands were destroyed altogether. The once proud and imaginative realms of the dead became a scattered wasteland, where only the most haunted of souls dwelt.
He had been a relatively young ghost, himself, birthed by nightmarish imaginings of children. Not a true 'ghost', as one may say. Not being part of a soul, his ability to hate or desire was largely affected by the beliefs of others. He could only watch with awe as Pariah came to power. He was taken away by the depth and intensity of his hatred.
He was sealed away with his King when the Ancients crawled out of whatever hole they'd been hiding in and restored peace to the realms.
"So this is the path you've chosen?"
He'd forgotten, he realises with a start, returning to the present. He remembers the sad blue eyes that glanced at him beneath one of the ancient robes. The way that voice caused him to tremble.
"I...I thought you were…"
"This is the Infinite Realms, child," the cloaked figure admonished, "...I feel that you have made entirely the wrong choice."
"You…! He stole your power, fused it with the crown…!"
"Dear child...there is no limit to my power. You could hardly infuse any tawdry object with even a quarter of it."
"He...killed you…"
"...You cannot kill Death."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ-BREAK-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
"So...what you're saying is that everything's falling apart?"
"Of all the timing, right?"
Dani feels the pit in her stomach deepen, "No kidding...so that's why Danny wasn't at breakfast, huh?"
"Sam told me he nearly collapsed."
"I know that the other ghosts mentioned it and all, but...to think that it's actually happening…"
"Yeah. I just wish they could've held off, y'know? Waited until he and Sam got married."
"Well, Val, you can't expect them to be too conscious of their timing," she sighs, "What can I do to help?"
"I don't know, Dani. Just...keep a careful eye out. If Danny's leading one side of the battle, they'll want to target his weaknesses. Don't get caught unaware."
"Yeah, I'll keep myself sharp."
"Good."
"So, Val...What is Danny going to do?"
"I don't think even he knows the answer to that one yet."
"He shouldn't have to deal with this right now! He's supposed to be getting married!"
"Yeah, but it looks like he-fzzt!"
"Val?" she questions into the receiver, "Val! What the-?!" she looks down at her phone.
No service?
"Mom? Mom!" Ashton, a few feet behind her, looks down at his phone in confusion, "...What did you want me to pick up?"
"Did your phone just lose its signal, too?"
"Yeah, I...I think so," he frowns, "Strange...it's never gone out here before."
Glancing around, they don't seem to be the only ones. Multiple people at the bus stops have their arms in the air, trying to catch a signal.
The electronic bell of the Amity Park PA System chimes, and everyone turns towards the nearest speaker.
"Citizens of Amity Park. We are the Guys in White. We have observed an unusual trend in Ghost Migration for the past twenty-four hours. For your safety, please return to your homes as quickly as possible. As of this moment...Amity Park is at risk of Ghost Invasion, and is therefore under quarantine."
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ-BREAK-ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
The Fright Knight looks down upon the throngs of skeletons, bound to obey he who wears The Crown. At the front of the army are those who oppose Phantom, eager to get their revenge.
"For years now, there have been questions amongst all ghosts. The Observants were weak. They desired nothing more than to fade into obscurity. However...we are different. We will not disappear. We will do as we wish. Forget Pariah, forget Phantom...the only ghost who is fit to rule us is King Plasmius!"
They cheer.
"Pariah could never understand the modern world. Phantom will always hold the Mortal Realm first and foremost in his heart. Long live King Plasmius, the halfa who chose us!"
Another cheer.
"I have been sent to tell you to prepare. For tomorrow...we march on Amity Park!"