Danny wasn't sure what he felt. The gaze of the princess was piercing his skull, but it didn't hold anything hostile. She didn't show any signs of being pissed at his misfortune, that mistake and ignorance was his. She was just...looking at him. Phantom leaned back in his leather chair. The point is, he didn't really want the throne, come to think of it. Danny needed it only to repay his debt to Azula, he could just live in Far Frozen with the cheerful yetis. Or even here, in Dora's. He didn't have to take everything just now. He was safe and that's all that mattered. Still...he had to at least try.

Phantom looked at Azula, waiting for her reaction.

"What?" She asked. "You did tell about this long ago."

"I did?" Danny blinked.

"While you had a lively chat with father," Azula shrugged.

"Wait...if you knew that then why go through all of this?"

"Because I know what there is to do," the princess looked at Dora. "So he is unable to get it because some rules prevent this?"

"Oh, ehm..." the queen tapped on the table. "It's not exactly written anywhere, per say. The legends say that that was the demand of the...crown itself."

"Are you actually saying that that thing is alive?" Azula asked in befuddlement.

"And why would it want someone who is of the specific age?" Added Danny.

"I don't know. Maybe it needs an experienced person to wield its tremendous power. Then again, how much of an adult in terms of mind is the eighteen years old? All the kings except the first one were much, much older than that. Sir Phantom, you are the first one in many millennia."

"Huh. I feel special. Maybe we should ask the witness of that event?" Phantom smirked.

"Are you speaking of the Time Master?" Dora's eyes widened.

"Unless he somehow pops up out of nowhere!" Danny raised the octaves of his voice, shouting into nothingness. "I know you are watching old man!"

Nothing came. Of course, why would the omnipotent and all-knowing being pay attention to the very confused heir to this entire world? Everyone just stared at him.

"So, no one is going to object if he tries?" Azula kept prying. She was not going to let go of this opportunity so easily.

"I don't think so, many lords don't even pay attention to traditions and legends. Not me, certainly," Dora smiled, looking at Danny. "My loyalty is to you, my lord. At my times your age was widely accepted for the kings."

"At your times people died from things as simple as constipation, Dora, not to offend," Phantom noted.

"Maybe. But with us, beings who don't even remember how old we really are...I don't think much of it."

"Let's get going, then," Azula urged impatiently. "We won't know unless we try."

She was right, and her hurry was understandable. The clocks were ticking, if they didn't get back in time it would be gruesome. And she didn't even know how long it would take to get there. For all she knew the distance could be so long that they would be late for the Day of the Black Sun. And everything would come crashing because the Fire Nation was threatened by this attack. If her father was found without her command of the fight then the results were too unpredictable. Danny understood it, so he heeded to her request. They decided to immediately move on and go to the castle which was rightfully his, king or not. And that was currently a place held by one ghost of Halloween. Until then the message was to spread around the nearest domains about his miraculous return.

It would have a proper effect on his allies. An inspiration that would help to lay the foundation of his rule. Azula came up with the plan, like she was doing him a big favor. Because of the simple fact, his humble beginnings, she said that he needed some boost to his reputation. The princess was given the divine right to rule at birth, not having to prove herself to anyone ever. Danny decided not to mind her attitude, thankful for her desire to help in the first place. He joked about making her his PR manager, she didn't get it, of course.

With every preparation done, the teens set off in direction of the castle. The way was supposed to take a couple of hours on horse, while it was about two in the night already. That's why the steed was being pushed to its limit, just so they could get to the keep faster. This time Azula sat in front of Danny. Dora didn't give them an extra horse for some reason known only to her. Although, if one of the two lagged behind it would be a bother too. After half an hour or so of uneventful sightseeing, the two were silent, not that they talked much before that moment, just a comment or two directed at some peculiar beast lurking far away. But none of the beings actually dared to approach them. Azula was almost disappointed.

"You know..." the princess looked behind and saw Danny smirking. "You are the third human to step here. So, congrats on being in the first three."

She huffed slightly. "And the other two?"

"My friends have beaten you to it. Avatar doesn't count, since it is basically his spirit passing here."

"How do you know that?"

"I found the information in the library."

Not really, the Avatar told him this. Not that Azula needed to know it. The princess yawned loudly, the fact that it was actually the middle of the night was getting to her. Phantom smiled gently.

"You can have a nap if you want," he said, making the raven haired girl look at him in surprise. "We have a long way to go, try to make this time count by resting just a bit."

To sleep. In this endless Picasso painting, a mockery against the very sense of nature and order? Where there wasn't any concept of night and day? Then again, nothing had threatened their lives so far, unless you count a sore butt as a major danger to your safety. The leather saddle was rough, albeit made specifically for two people this time. How the nomads managed to spend so much time atop of the equine creatures was beyond mere pedestrians. The saddle wasn't as comfy as the leather seat of a luxurious car or any for that matter. Azula was used to this more or less, having ridden the steeds much less obedient. In the end Azula sighed, guessing that it wouldn't hurt to take rest. Closing her eyes, the princess fell asleep. Danny kept his eyes peeled on the metaphorical road in front of them.

Then, as they riding through one of many islands, Phantom looked down at the princess resting in the hands of Morpheus. And his own in addition. She looked so peaceful when she slept, he once again noted. He liked seeing her like this more. Not that he was some sort of creep watching others sleep, not on purpose at least. Then the things took a drastic turn when her subconsciousness deemed his chest a suitable pillow. Danny's eyes widened as the princess snuggled against him, as it was a more comfortable position. He moved her a little bit straighter, so she wouldn't fall off on the next land bump, by gently taking her surprisingly soft hands and shifting her in a more comfortable position. She stirred, but didn't wake up nor moved away.

Together they crossed another piece of that ludicrous and fearful child drawing of an underworld. Yet, his face was shining like a Christmas tree. He was finally at home. The one he missed so much. In every rock, every battered door hanging in the air he saw a confirmation that all of this was not a dream. He really was there, and in the world of the dead he shall find solace. No bothersome mortals running after his pelt, forcing him to hide in the rundown shacks, disused warehouses and the apartment which looked like a tomb judging from the air of decay of everything that was even capable of this biological process. And Danny was supposed to pay for the latter with the stolen money. The honest taxpayers were far from eager to pay for this. But he still had to earn his place, and the judge was the guy who despised him. Their last meeting hadn't gone that well.

And finally they made it. And as they approached the towering keep the world around them seemed to be lacking more and more activity.  No one dared to approach the barren lands. Snapped, black trees were twisted in the ways unimaginable to man or ghost. And silence. Unbearable silence, interrupted only by the steady clatter of the hooves, hitting the ground which was as hard as the metal the horse's 'shoes' were made of. Which of the two would break first nobody knew. The sky itself was darker, cloaking the entire place in shadows, which eyed the intruders with unblinking, unswerving gaze. Their own shades one second trailed behind, only to hide, to lurk in darkness they had merged with, turning into one river of obscurity the following moment. Danny opened his palm and a small green light was now showing them the path, or rather all the obstacles hidden below the flow of this gloomy river. It wasn't needed that much, because of the inconsistent nature of the sky of this world made entirely of the ever-changing laws like it was going through the eternal period of troubled puberty. The faint light was always there, 24/7.

No reaction. When Dora mentioned the current landlord threatening to attack whoever stepped in this domain, Phantom expected the legions upon legions of skeletons with eyeless craniums incapable of independent thinking. There were crumbled remnants of the battle long gone that no one had bothered to clean: bones, pieces of armor from all the ages throughout history, snapped spears and bent swords. The memory was still fresh in the mind of the half ghost. Of one of the hardest battles not for some god-abandoned town. It was a fight against the tyrant threatening both worlds, for the very survival. Phantom was the one to be the unlabeled leader of this advance, as no one straightforwardly admitted it. His words were the push towards heroic bet of everything they had. The tyrant was defeated by his hand, locked away by the creator of this mess, while both his friends and foes were fighting off the twisted, perverse joke at knight-errants' expense and the undead army.

The lands before the castle were very picturesque. After all, apotheosis of war did make it to the canvas. Here, where the dead trees could not hide what was below them, the landscape of the battle was shown fully. The ground was not visible beneath the green bones, rattling under the unwavering pace of the horse. An intelligent being, the steed was. It did not whine, it did not falter, despite clearly understanding what the piles of severed fleshless limbs, cracked, punctured beyond recognition of their origin. Unable to always avoid stepping on the remains, the horse finally stepped on a skull. The sound was enough for Azula to stir and start to wake up.

"What...where are we?" She asked, before realizing her position.

Azula moved forward on the saddle, standing up, yet preferring to ignoring the fact of their close interaction.

"Welcome to Château de Fantôme," Danny joked dryly. "I know. It looks nasty. I think we should go further ourselves."

The princess nodded and jumped off the steed, landing on what used to be a costal bone from the seems. Azula looked around, she hadn't expected to wake up surrounded by corpses. Danny let go the steed and prepared to set off. The air had the smell reminiscent of sulphur dioxide, of a burning match, which was a subtle cue to go. It was poisonous, and these lands wanted the two to stay, to join this mountain. For the half ghost it was nothing. Yet, Phantom urged her to hurry, to cover her mouth with at least her hands and follow him. The concentration of the gas was faint, that's why Azula hadn't dropped dead yet. They passed Mountains of bones, the skeletons looking straight into their souls. That was more than enough to make the princess grimace. That place was disgusting.

"What happened here?" She asked, narrowly avoiding the small avalanche and shivering at the thought of even coming in contact with the remnants of the past warriors.

"A battle. Pariah has resurrected his undead legions, preparing to enact the offensive on the both worlds."

"So all of this is your work?" Azula raised her eyebrow, quite impressed.

"Well," Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "I did lead the attack, the kind of the last dire attempt your enemies are trying to do now. Once we pressed forward and got to the castle, my allies held them back until I defeated the King. This is what has remained of it."

"But what's the use of this?" She asked, gesturing towards the skeletons buried beneath the sets of rusty chain mails. Phantom chuckled, before leaning towards her.

"Nothing is truly dead in this place. One snap of the king's fingers and they shall rise from their graves, to serve him for eternity."

The castle was a huge structure, made of red bricks and looking superfluously grim. It was such an overused method to make your citadel of power seem intimidating. Why would you need this? If a person knows what the owner is, they do not need extra convincing. They do not need the gates made of black rotting wood, held by the huge rusty chain. They do not require the entrance to look at you like some dumb screaming face. Two teens actually had a small laugh over this. Never before Pariah was called edgy. The outer wall was very well-fortified, it was incredibly thick, about ten meters deep, an entire house could fit inside the gateway.  The masonry was well-put, although showing the signs of the wear and the past battles.

Phantom was eagerly discussing the battle in such details that Azula had no doubt of the story's credibility. That square tower of the south-eastern corner had its outer part completely blown up, that was a result of a missed shot and collateral damage. The courtyard between the wall and the citadel within was cluttered with all sorts of debris. Bricks, rocks and the buildings of supporting role were all but completely destroyed.

"Huh, I haven't noticed how much was destroyed," Danny commented, rubbing his chin. "I was probably already inside when it happened."

"And when you came out?"

Phantom smiled awkwardly. "I...kinda fainted after the fight."

The princess shuddered the air with her laughter. "Why did I expect nothing less?" She asked sarcastically.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Danny pouted as they entered the huge door.

"That you are prone to coming out of the fights in the most unsuitable condition."

"Wha...when have I ever been like this?"

"I do read reports," Azula smiled innocently.

The enormous gates were made of wood and hardened by metal. Together the teens pried them open, grabbing the iron ring acting as a doorknob. A cloud of dust greeted them and made the teens cough. The insides were dark and thus both teens ignited their respective sources of light, their radiant hands sending the shadows into green and blue purgatory. The long hall greeted them. The gigantic columns went beyond the reach of two lanterns, their tops still hidden. Azula noticed that her companion seemed very thoughtful.

"What is it?" She asked, blowing a wave at the nearest torch stand.

"I wonder if Fright has reseted the traps. But...oh, we can take a shortcut."

"To where?"

"I know precisely where he is. To the throne room. You know the best part of you being a human?"

"What is it? Stop speaking in damn riddles," Azula growled.

"You are from the mortal world. Here you can do what I can in yours. Try to go through this column."

Something gleamed in the princess's golden eyes, and it was not that going from her azure flames. She approached the tall structure of black marble. Outstretching her free left hand, she moved it with the intent to see it on the other side a moment later. And her eyes widened at seeing this display.

"What else can I do?" Was her next question.

"It's not much. Basically that's all, and it was only accidentally found out by my friends."

"Fabulous," Azula deadpanned. "Let's get out of this place already."

"Oooh, is the princess scared?" Danny asked, before being elbowed in the stomach. "Okay...I got it...this way." He said between the gasps for air.

They took their way through the multiple corridors of the abandoned castle. The current possessor of the place was one lazy knight. If he was grieving, what certainly was the last thing that the ghost would have done, Fright could at least tidy the things, just to honor his fallen liege. After all, this time he was not locked in a pumpkin. No cobwebs connected the chandeliers, for there were no spiders in this realm. However dust was inevitable. It was so thick that you can draw a painting on the pieces of furniture with only it and your finger in your possession. The armor racks stood vigilant, and Danny warned against approaching them. Every other set of pitch black armor could swing its sword at the one who came close to it. The crimson carpet below their feet was chewed by whoever did roam this place. All in all, the castle was in serious need of renovation.

No traps were activated, thus making the teens wonder if Fright was even going to be truthful with his threat of slaughtering whoever entered. However, Phantom was overcome by nostalgia as he saw the spiked walls with pierced skeletons on them, with the metal cones sticking from between the ribs in the best case. In the others a ribcage was a crippled mess. He could be there if he hadn't been agile enough. As the two were going upstairs, the entire left wall was covered in arrows, or the junctions between the bricks to be exact. Snapped in half, the feathery ends were lying on the ground along with sharp, most probably poisonous arrowheads. The spinning staircase led the teens to the third floor, where the required room lied.

The king and the princess saw another corridor, splendid in its current wretchedness. The most pitiful thing is that it obviously used to be grand, albeit not as much as the one behind it - the throne room. The massive doors swung open at their approach, with a thunderous sound which shook the ancient walls of the castle, serving as the least polite invitation to enter.

The entire enormous hall was lit by tall white lamps hanging from the walls, from their iron-cage like stands. Their light reflected of the polished surfaces, making it hard to even spot them. All the while the hall managed to retain its dark beauty. They were beyond reach, as the railing of glass separated the main path from the walls and the pit between. Such architectural choice defied the logic, as there were clearly some floors below, yet from here there was only darkness. It was unclear whether or not its bottom could be met in this narrow, yet long-going hole the wideness half of human size. Phantom looked incredibly confused. The dark splendor the hall radiated was not that of the former owner, it looked completely different, with no signs of the past destruction.

The ceiling was high above, with even more engraved pictures. Looking up, the teens saw the imagery of the massive battle made out of alabaster. It was long, going to the end of the corridor-like part of the hall, the end of the story located thirty meters away from the entrance. And the silhouettes, the acting people and what chapter of the story were presented there stunned the half ghost. That was the imagery of his own strife on that fateful day. Everything was shown in a more dramatic way than it was. The moment when his enemies mocked his feeble attempt to convince them to fight was shown through them turning away, the part about the duel was shortened, for even this size could not picture everything what happened. He was like Caesar, for he came, saw and won. And unlike the reality, when he had to be carried away because of lack of energy, he stood triumphantly. 'Who made this?' Danny wondered.

The princess shared his marvel of the scenery, the majesty of the place put her father's throne room to shame. Phantom's hall made her father's look like a room of disused shack. The corridor part alone was twice as big as Sistine Chapel. Shall she look down, the princess would see the black tile polished so well that it was like a mirror. Smaller white ones were connected by the lines of the blackest tiles. All of that was forming a wondrous pattern. The walls were a piece of art themselves. Although not being blessed by a sculptor-artist, it was graced by a sculptor of the more widespread speciality. The tall silvery statues stood near each column/a part of the archways lining the walls. On the small pillars, the ones standing opposite of each other being similar in general, yet different in details. The scribes had different ways to leave their notes, the knights had different armors, the nobles competed with the magnificence of their clothes, the peasants in simple, yet decent and tidy clothes threw the seeds that floated in the air and plowed the ground.

But enough of babbling about this, for the main part was not it. The throne could actually be seen upon entering the hall. It was located in the circular section. It could be compared to the Capitol rotunda in its size and shape. The roof was made to show an image, obviously, yet that part was empty. The windows were right below the ceiling, letting in the faint green light. The sky had cleared. The throne was high above, to it went the staircase which at some point split in two, rounding the hollow space and reconnected near the seat of royal power. Made of black marble as well, the railings were still made of glass. The entire hall did not look medieval at all, gothic at best, that's what it seemed to be trying to accomplish with all these sharp edges of the archways put on the walls just for beauty.

But what of the throne itself? The tower which encompassed the entire part of the wall, reaching up to the ceiling and masticating it. While the seat itself was humble compared to all the gigantic structures around, it was made of dark cloth, but that part was unimportant, always covered from the measly prying eyes by the person sitting on it. The rest of the throne was like a black wave pushing upwards, the edges and its foam made of silver. The foam was not on the end only, because it was like a real wave, with the silvery parts now being put on all the extent of the part here and there. The teens would have gazed at the entire place for hours, even the princess who was the last one to appreciate the breathtaking beauty. If not for the one who sat on the throne right now, so keen on snapping them out of the observations.

"So," a very deep voice called for them. "The long lost boy-king finally returns to the fold."

The seat was occupied by a knight with a very unsettling appearance. The black plates of his body were put together in a fashion that resembled the torso beneath like a tight leather suit. The material of the gauntlets was odd, it looked like they were made of solid fire, somehow possible to wear while the grey flaming tongues jumped up to the elbow. The Fauld and the tassel were dark grey, with a skull as a buckle of the belt. Same could be said for the shoulder pads and the collar protection. The helmet was open, yet the face was hidden in the darkness, only two green orbs for the eyes looked upon the visitors. He was wearing a cape made of pure purple flames burning incessantly. In his right hand he held a wicked-looking glowing green sword.

Phantom raised his eyebrow, yet unwaveringly crossing his hands. "The fold, Fright? A strange choice of words."

"You, with utmost certainty, have not come to the place of family cherishing, Your Majesty."

There was a note of mockery in his booming voice which reflected off the walls.

"Then...what's the meaning of this?" Danny asked.

"There is such a thing as sarcasm, child. I have expected you of all the abominable mistakes of nature to know this."

"Is he supposed to mouth such things to you?" Azula looked at the half ghost.

"We live in the most confusing times," Phantom responded dryly, glaring at the ghost who dared to vomit such insult. "Nice redecorating you have made, I admit. Didn't know you had it in yourself."

"I've done nothing to the throne room," Fright responded. "It is thoroughly your doing."

"I beg your pardon?" Danny asked in confusion.

"Your ignorance of how our world works is appalling. The hall has deemed you as the new possessor. And henceforth it reflects a part of your being."

"I already knew that, bucket-head. So I am that aesthetically enlightened inside? Good to know. Why not the entire castle, however?"

"Unlike thyself this place cannot split apart. You have chosen your squalid mortal life over taking residence here. This room has changed only because it is here where my liege has been slayed and you have dared to sully this castle with your piffling being!"

The sword was brandished at the hand of the now standing knight. He dared to point it at Phantom's throat. Danny remained calm, while the flames at Azula's palm grew intense. But her reaction seemed to surprise the ghost, if his wider eyes seemed to be of any indication.

"What in the world is this?!" He asked. "You are no ghost, or have you mortals come up with another conniving trick?"

"Tricks?" Azula raised her eyebrow, calmly putting a free hand on her chin. "I can burn you to a crisp, creep. Be a good boy and go into the dusty coffin you climbed from."

The grip on the sword tightened. Phantom calmly moved the sword away, careful not to cut himself.

"Look, Fright. I do not need any further mishaps between us. A lot of things were said which we both dislike. But why are you so apprehensive about me being the king? Isn't it, like, your purpose?"

"Every single ghost seems to be as naive and unfathomably obtuse as you are. No, it is NOT."

Danny stared at him dumbfounded. Everyone and their mother said about this being his obsession. Fine, he could figure this out later.

"Then why did you serve Pariah?"

"For by serving him I could fulfill my foremost desires. You, however, are of no use to me, scum."

Phantom's eyes glowed green. Even Azula's fire turned green in her hand, which surprised her. Even Fright Knight did not expect what was to follow. He was punched so hard that his helmet was bent and the ghost was launched backwards. He hit the wall, his expression showing shock for a split second. Last time they fought all his might was not enough to even scratch the ghost! Phantom cracked his knuckles as Azula chuckled.

"Don't take all the fun to yourself, meanie."

Fright growled, floating above ground and having recovered from the strike. He brandished the sword once again, before suddenly cackling.

"What's so funny?" Danny asked with irritation.

"You may not comprehend it, brat. I've been tarring too long, this very room has been the proof of your overdue existence! You are carrying what I need. With the Crown and the Ring in my disposal I will transform this world into my own personal pantheon of terror and then I WILL RULE! I challenge you, King Phantom, for a duel!"

Silence followed. Azula was about to strike first, but she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"No, princess. For me it is like Agni Kai to your people. Only two of us enter."

"And one shall come out victorious," Fright finished, landing on the ground.

Azula understood, mostly because of the to the point comparison. She was not willing to put everything on this bet, but there was no going against these laws. It could give an insight on the power of her ally. So, the princess flopped on the throne with a smug expression. Azula also knew that she wasn't going to be attacked there and god, was it posh. Phantom looked at her with a dry expression, before turning to the knight.

"I accept your challenge."

When these words came out of his mouth the radiant ring of pearly white light appeared around his waist. And as it traversed up and down by splitting itself in two, the princess watched in surprise how the human before her was gone, giving place to the spectral entity. Raven hair replaced with a storm of snow white hair, so bright that it was impossible to make out a separated minor strand. The skin became darker, and the eyes turned into the green gems, blazing with the deathly light, the excessive energy seeping like a thin fog. His clothes were black and tight, with white collar, gloves and boots. The belt was also of silver color. He did not look as intimidating and deformed as Azula had expected, but there was no mistaking it — that was a ghost standing before her. He could use some better protection from the sharp blade, however.

Fright Knight was the first to attack. With a roar he lunged forward, shortening the distance in a split second. Phantom moved under the strike, a small disk of ectoenergy appeared in his hand. He bashed Fright in the face, before clasping his hands and firing. The blast made the ghost only slide on the polished floor several meters back, until he was stopped by the railing.

"That's all you can,wimp?" He spat and barked a laugh, approaching the half ghost again.

"You are just not worth the destruction of this place," retorted Phantom with a grin.

The flames of Fright's cape indicated a lot. Then he vanished, only to appear right near his opponent, grab his neck in a firm grip. Phantom did not need breath, but the grip was painful.

"Then we shalt continue outside."

With a powerful move, Phantom was thrown out of the window, a loud cracking sound filling the entire hall. Fright Knight pursued and Azula followed just not to be left out from the fight. She only saw that the second the ghost flew out of the broken window he was blasted from above with the force that made the knight plummet under its sheer pressure. The princess climbed to it and looked outside. Phantom flew by in a blur.

Fright landed on the bridge connecting the castle with one of its towers. The bricks below broke, yet the construction stood. He saw the upcoming strike and rolled aside. The second Phantom collided with the ground, Fright got up and swung his sword in one single motion. Danny put his palms on both sides of the weapon with a smirk, despite showing the signs of huge effort. Fright tried to push it further, yet the boy's strength was enough to hold him back for the time being. He only needed a scratch. Phantom's smirk grew before his eyes glowed brighter. Fright quickly retreated aside, before the blast hit the tower and penetrated it with a massive explosion.

"If you want me to serve you, ending me is not a proper scheme," he commented dryly.

"Sorry if I scared you," Danny kept smirking. "But it's not like you are holding back either."

"Just stop bickering and fight already!" Azula shouted, sitting on the edge of the hole.

As if on cue, it was now Danny's time to attack. A sword appeared in his hand, before he clashed with his opponent. Fright had to defend himself from the restless enemy, who showed no signs of wearing out yet. There was no time for him to counterattack, but his skills protected him better than any sword. Phantom was inspired by his quick learning of the swordsmanship, he picked up things on big speed. Yet the two didn't move like Danny had expected. Fright firmly stood his ground, before Phantom came up with a new plan. And once again the eyes betrayed him.

The blue glow they emitted was a cue for the ghost to once again retreat from the fight. Only this time Phantom shot below the opponent's feet with his now free left hand, previously used to support the other. Ice covered the stone and Fright slipped on it with almost comedic effect. Danny was about to strike, but then the ghost blasted him with his eyes, for the teen was not the only one capable of the feat. The half ghost was launched in the air, where he steadied himself. Danny ignored the pain and charged the energy in his palms, barraging the opponent with the green blasts. But as Fright flew to him in a blur, he dodged the bombardment. The powerful rays hit the bridge and the roof of the tower, wiping them out in a series of explosion. Maybe Danny really shouldn't put everything he had in them, he would destroy the castle and waste the energy. But remembering how durable his opponent was, he didn't know how much he should have used.

Fright meanwhile got closer, before slashing his weapon again across the enemy's chest. Then, Danny simply split in two. His legs and body were dismembered, yet he was laughing all the way as the sword hit only thin air. After this, like a snickering bacteria, he became two, before each duplicate fired a blast at the close range. This time round the blast was enough to launch the ghost into the ground outside the keep. Danny grinned triumphantly, before merging into one. Suddenly he heard a faint sound behind. He stopped flying and plummeted down, before stopping several yards below and looking up. Fright was back again. And he looked furious.

"You shall NOT PREVAIL!" He yelled.

Suddenly he put the sword on his belt and his hands glowed with purple light. A giant purple crystalline orb, first as small as a palm of his hand, grew twice his size, was hurled forward at the speed of a damn asteroid. Danny almost made it and dodged the thing, but the purple flames stung him even before he collided with it. Despite the unhealthy crack within his body Phantom flew further, pushing off with his leg. The meteor flew further, and once it flew to the edge of the landscape blew up and broke off an entire piece of land. Danny took a second-long glance at his injuries, landing on the outer wall. It was probably one of his ribs snapping, not the first time, nor the most severe. His clothes were scratched yet the burns on the face, if there were any, could not be seen without a mirror. Phantom looked at the descending ghost, fixing his shoulder, while lying on the ground.

"Meteors? Huh...should have known. Because it makes hell of a lot of sense, you are the embodiment of Halloween," Danny shouted sarcastically.

"I have no obligation to explain myself before the ignorant worms. Prepare to face the merciless stomps."

"No you."

Fright was interrupted from the swing because of confusion.

"Really?" He asked. "Your supplement of miserable jokes is over?"

Danny grinned, before kicking the ghost's leg. Fright stumbled, before the half ghost moved the leg upwards and landing his boot at the offender's face. Phantom flipped and landed on his feet. Fright took out his sword again and lunged forward. Once again the sword fighting began. Danny could not break through the defense of the ghost so experienced in this kind of combat. What would be the attack which would force the two to get down to the fighting of different kind? Neither noticed how they now fought on the side of the wall, with Fright being above the teen. Danny used the trick of rendering his chest nonexistent, before flipping away from the knight's reach. He surrounded himself with ectoenergy, protecting himself from the following strike. The sword bounced off the circular barrier.

"Heh, what's wrong, Fright? We should stop running in circles, don't you think?"

"That pun was a detestable insult to the concept of humor!"

"Like you can do better. Everyone is a critic," Danny grumbled and crossed her hands.

"Of course I can...wait a second...are you trying to..."

The massive surge of the outbursting energy blew into Fright Knight and pushed him away in the air. He laughed, yes, it had been a distraction.

"Are you done playing, child?" Fright grunted. "Because your petty games are getting bothersome."

He didn't even seem to have a scratch. Danny was concerned. Something always seemed to protect the knight and it couldn't be a simple resilience. They were of the same power level. Of course, that armor he wore. It absorbed all kinds of damage dealt to him if the force was not utterly overwhelming.

"Without your suit of armor you are pathetic," Fright continued, beginning to fire blasts at the half ghost. "That was the only reason you have beaten the king."

The suit...of course. Danny needed a power boost. And there was only one thing within the boundaries of the castle which could provide it. It was goddamn risky, but he had to try. Phantom conjured a shield to protect himself from another shot. It held up fine, but the upcoming strike from the sword demolished it completely.

"You know, I actually wonder," Danny deflected the attack, before slashing and failing to land a strike as well. "Have you actually worked with Vlad?"

"Plasmius is a fool."

Fright fired the beams from his eyes, which hit Danny's chest and made him hiss in pain, yet not to take a single step back, much to the shock of his opponent. Impossible, he had put everything he could in it...Phantom made a pained grin, the blast meanwhile ravaged his jumpsuit.

"Nothing new here," Danny commented. "And you have been buddy buddies with him just to steal the crown he borrowed from me?"

Phantom moved the sword aside, once again making the enemy hit thin air and the nearest column. No one could recall how they ended up within the foul castle entrance hall again. Danny could not see his friend anywhere. Yes, now of all times she decided to do as he had asked. Phantom stood on the opposite side of the pillar now.

"I shall be the wearer of the crown, you half mortal wretch. It is mine now!"

So it was in the castle now. Just as Danny hoped it would be. But where...wait.

"It is mine, Fright."

The column shattered under the sheer force of the ghost's single strike. Fright charged another shot from his eyes, simultaneously shooting blasts from both of his hands. Danny held the shield in front of him as the entire hall was being destroyed around him and he flew behind another one.

"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO IT, ABOMINATION!" Fright yelled.

"A pumpkin competes with pun king for the crown. What a story," Phantom avoided the destruction of another column and fired at the annoying ghost. "Too sad the brains are cut out from them on Halloween. You probably don't even remember where you put it!"

Danny fired the ice blast. Every surface was getting a thick glacial layer as Fright flew from one cover to another. He knew that by being frozen just a little he would automatically lose.

"I am the terror of the All Hallows' Eve! I am ancient and thus..."

"Suffer from dementia?"

Fright appeared near Danny, before beating him so hard that Phantom was pinned to the column behind. The knight now held him tight. He could not phase through the ghostly object the column was. Fright laughed loudly.

"And now for your..." he reached for the sword, but found nothing. Seeing the stunned expression, Danny grinned, before spewing ectoplasm.

"Look, you even forgot your Soul Shredder. Should have distracted less."

Danny felt the grip on his neck tighten, making cough even more of the green liquid.

"What. And. When."

"Duplicate. Two minutes ago," Danny grinned. "I'm a sneaky little bastard."

"That I have no qualms about, brat. Tell me, where it is!"

"I'm afraid not," Phantom said, before the column vanished and he escaped the capture.

"What..."

"Oh, I just remembered," Danny grinned, little drop of ectoplasm sliding off the corner of his mouth, as the emerald fire lit in the torches and everything was clearly seen now. "It is my domain. And I command what it is."

Fright was suddenly surrounded by the walls. He simply blasted them off and the debris fell. Danny moved his palm upwards and the knight was flattened by the platform which sprung below him. Fright shook his head, still showing no signs of being wounded in any way. Yes, such things were meager to the ghost of his power. The ghost once again charged an orb, and Danny quickly launched the debris at him, just to stop the powerful attack from occurring. Albeit the ghost ignored the attacks, the meteor did not come to life. Only a powerful explosion happened between two ghosts. The floor beneath didn't hold up. Everything crashed downwards, into the dungeons which lied beneath.

Danny coughed, and waved away the dust. He descended into the abyss, looking around for his opponent. Phantom snapped his fingers and the light encompassed everything around. Fright must have teleported somewhere once again. Danny was on high alert, yet there was only silence. He specifically stood with his back turned to the wall, so as not to be caught. Suddenly the hand emerged from the unexpected place. From beneath the rubble it came and grabbed his leg. Danny was smashed against the ground, and falling on the sharp rocks the size of your fist is painful.

From the debris climbed the ghost, his mane now blazed with incredible intensity. Danny got up shakily as his entire front was broken and bleeding. No matter, he whispered, although his appearance showed anything but. But there was something else. Fright was now wearing a pitch black crown over his helmet, blazing with a bright green fire, just as his cape. The Crown of Fire. It did not scare Danny. It was of any use only along with the ring Phantom wore.

"It is a bit small for you," he commented with a smirk. "Oh my gourd, you are the most unfashionable king I've seen. And I've met the Fire Lord."

Fright did not say anything, only swung his hand and punched the half ghost. Danny held the fist with his hand, same could be said for another. Suddenly Phantom's right hand was harshly grabbed, his fingers snapped and he screamed in pain, fully understanding what was going to follow. It was now or never. Phantom, kneeling and twisted in attempts to resist, looked behind the opponent. The rock, surrounded by green light flew forward and hit the crown, so loosely held on his head. The blazing symbol of power flew by and landed ten meters away.

Both ghosts looked at each other and with the last strand of strength Danny blasted Fright Knight away. He then lunged forward, the very debris beneath his feet attempting to stop him by getting under his feet.

"NOO!" The ghost yelled, throwing a powerful, finishing blow at the half ghost.

And just a second before the impact, the Crown of Fire was placed on Phantom's head. The half ghost himself had his eyes shut, expecting something excruciating to happen. Nothing came. Slowly, Danny's neon eyes peeked from below the eyelids, seeing everything around vanish. There was only darkness around. He was floating in the middle of nothingness. He would have panicked, thought about being sent to oblivion, if not for the voice. It spoke in a tone impossible to describe with any words but demonstrating solid power. Only three words were said.

"You shall do."

And to the outsider there was something beyond imagination. The blinding white light made Fright cover his eyes, the flash climbed from beneath the debris and out of the grime halls of the abandoned castle. It traversed many miles in but a split second, the white radiant explosion, like a birth of star was seen from all corners of the Ghost Zone or the Spirit world. Each being could feel its grand splendor, for the strong could feel its might and the insignificant were overcome by warmth and tenderness never felt before in their cold undead forms. And everyone knew — the King was crowned.

And at the moment when the light faded enough for Fright Knight to remove his hand, he saw Phantom himself, now free of all the injuries inflicted on him, yet dressed differently. Despite the brightness of his entrance, his new armor was black, so contrasting, yet not out of place in a poetic sense of the boy who was so unique in his paradoxical nature. The armor encompassed his entire body but the head, the overlapping plates of armor making him look more powerful. Phantom's hair had burst into one single flow of energy, like a white stream. The crown blazed brightly on top of his head, the ring on his finger glowed as bright as never before. The half ghost made a step forward. Taking a sword out of nowhere he approached the shocked knight and pointed it at his throat, before saying a single word.

"Kneel."