Chapter Text
A thousand years. A thousand years since Danny became Phantom. A thousand years since Danny became King. Did The Ghost King regret what had happened? No not really. I mean sure it's been tough but it's all worth it if meant that the people he loved and cared for were happy and living their best afterlife.
Many things took a sharp turn when Danny's parents discovered his alter ego, Phantom. The tension was palpable as Danny, Sam, Tucker, Jazz, and Val were ready to book it out of Amity but both Jack and Maddie proved them wrong. As the five teens cautiously entered the Fenton household to confront the parents, they were met with a scene of utter chaos. Wires protruded from the walls, furniture lay strewn about, and weapons were ominously reprogrammed. The lab bore the brunt of the destruction, it appeared as if Vortex came and released a hurricane. Amidst the chaos, the ghost portal stood untouched, a silent witness to the turmoil. Maddie was found collapsed on the floor, her anguished sobs punctuating the air as she repeated the words, "My baby, my poor baby." Meanwhile, Jack, towering in his rage, struggled to contain his fury, his immense frame trembling as he fought against the urge to wreak further havoc.
It took some time to reassure both parents until they grasped that it wasn't their fault. However, they made sure the teenagers understood the responsibility that rested with them; their obsession with studying ghosts got their son killed. It was awkward at first but after a while, they started to change. The parents moderated their approach, veering away from capturing ghosts for experiments. They still run around to find a ghost but it's mostly asking them questions and conducting more research. The Fenton parents disowned their previous work, opting to reevaluate their findings and rectify any misconceptions. And when the Guys in White made any noise Danny's parents were right there next to him helping.
Speaking of the Guys In White, amidst the chaos of the Disasteroid crisis and the revelation of Phantom's true identity to the world, the GIW saw an opportunity to capture Danny. However, the tide quickly turned when the populace witnessed Phantom's heroic efforts alongside Skulker and other ghosts to save Earth. Outraged by the injustice of their hero being detained, people took to the streets in protest. Riots erupted, petitions circulated, and voices clamored for justice. It wasn't until leaked information about the atrocities occurring within a GIW facility that the tide definitively shifted. -Thank you Tucker and Technus-, With public sentiment firmly against them and their actions exposed, the Anti-Ecto laws and the Guys In White were gone for good.
Years went by, everyone grew up, lived their lives, and eventually died.
As the King's home planet faced its final days, the Ancient of Space took it upon himself to pull the entirety of Amity Park into the Ghost Zone. Amity Park was Phantom's haunt, it's his job to protect it, even after death. Thus, when the town transitioned into the Infinite Realms, its residents followed suit. With the amount of ectoplasm surrounding 'the world's most haunted town,' it wasn't a shock when its residents emerged as ghosts, imbued with ecto-contamination or at the very least possessing liminal qualities. While some chose to move on and not stay as a ghost, their departure saddened the Ghost King but he still wished them a peaceful rest.
It was inevitable that his family remained as ghosts after their passing. His parents still fixated on the study of ghosts, embarked on various expeditions across the realms, delving into research and discovery. During their breaks from travel, they formed an unexpected alliance with Skulker to craft weapons. NON LETHAL! More designed for subduing rather than harming. They did have dangerous weapons, they were reserved solely for instances where the safety of the Realms was jeopardized. Ancients forbid anything to happen.
Jazz, world-renowned neuroscientist, and psychologist, the youngest to win a Nobel Prize, mother of two boys, became Death's Heiress. You would think Danny would've inherited Death's mantle due to being "Favored by Life and Death". While Danny did understand what meant to be both living and dead, Jazz understood the hardship of Life and Death. Growing up, the redhead was immersed in a world where the living and the dead coexist. Her academic pursuits in psychology were driven by a desire to aid those grappling with life's challenges. Moreover, she witnessed her little brother's battles against otherworldly beings and provided invaluable insight into the obsessions and desires of ghosts.
Death chose the older sister of the Ghost King because they recognized her innate qualities of kindness, compassion, strength, and comforting nature. A job like reaping souls isn't for someone who doesn't understand Death or have the patience for it.
One of the biggest changes, in Danny's option, was Dan. It took some time for the King of Ghosts to be willing to give the older Phantom a chance.
When CW unleashed the evil alternate self, it didn't take long for Dan to engage in combat with Danny. I believed it did some good for both Phantoms in fighting each other. It served as a release valve for the pent-up anger and frustration that had accumulated over the years. Dan found an outlet to express the pain and rage stemming from the loss of his fright and parents, while Danny was able to confront and overcome his fear of succumbing to a version of himself from which he could never return.
It took a shit ton of therapy, probation, and a dog pile of hugs for Dan to mellow out, he's still the bloodthirsty homicidal manic he was but he was loved and accepted. The older phantom is immensely grateful to Danny for extending him a second chance at redemption.
It was initially unclear who held the title of Ghost King, given that Dan reigned as King in his timeline. However, in the end, he relinquished the title to Danny, -He rather not do the paperwork- and rather be a Dread Knight and High Prince to the realms.
Ellie, his endearingly chaotic little sister, joined Dan in becoming a Dread Knight. Ellie wasn't meant to wear princess dresses or walk around in heels. The King's clone/sister was a warrior, who wore armor and fought with a bloodthirsty grin. Not only she was one of The High Princesses of the Infinite Realms but she was also one of The High Dread Knights.
The clone-sister earned herself a notorious reputation for chaos. Whenever the King dispatched his knights into battle, Ellie's hyper-chaotic nature and her inability to remain still inevitably led to mayhem on the battlefield. When paired with Dan's "controlled" bloodlust, one could only marvel at how the duo hadn't brought the entire Realms crashing down by now.
It was said if you ever encountered The Black Knight and The Knight of Chaos invoked prayers to the Ghost King for salvation, as even he could not shield you from their combined wrath. But to Danny, they were just his annoying little twin sister and his asshole older twin brother.
Sam was the first of his frightmates to pass away. She harbored lingering bitterness about the matter, particularly since she and Val had made a bet on who was stubborn enough to live longer. She died at 129, 129! She was a year away from turning 130!
Danny and Sam ended their relationship before they went to college, they were better friends than lovers. Their love for each other remained, albeit in a more platonic sense. The gothic environmentalists eventually tied the knot with a carnivorous marine biologist, and together they welcomed three little gothic bundles of dark gloom into the world—two boys and a girl. The Manson parents weren't all that happy about their daughter not marrying a rich guy, they however were ecstatic about learning Sam became a princess.
So when Sam becomes a ghost, Undergrowth did not waste time in adopting her, with the plant-based core the ultra-recyclo-vegetarian had, it was matched made in ghost. Sam was now Lady Nightshade, Botany Lordessling (Princess), and Daughter to the Ancient of Green Undergrowth. It was a little annoying whenever Danny had council meetings since the overgrown plant weed didn't know when to shut up about his daughter, though it did give the halfa blackmail material.
Tucker's last moment epitomized his quintessential Tucker style, which Danny found utterly amusing. The techno-geek requested one last round of DOOM with his family, and to everyone's delight, emerged victorious in the end. Despite his passing, his descendants—grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren—continuously attempt to surpass his gaming prowess in DOOM. However, they could never quite match the skill and finesse of the original techno-greek.
The meat lover became the Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt of the Ghost Zone, which Tucker later renamed New Egypt. Possessing a core infused with sand and electricity, the reincarnated pharaoh ushered in a new era of technological marvels for the ghosts of Ancient Egypt. Despite his progressive initiatives, he remained respectful of those ghosts who preferred to adhere to their traditional afterlife practices.
Val, the ever so stubborn huntress, outlived all the other members of Phantom's Fright. She reached the remarkable age of 150, a feat that defied mortal standards but was anticipated for beings of liminal nature. -Val and Sam always get into fights whenever Val rubs it in the goth's face-
The Phantom's Fright never considered their huntress would settle down and start a family. However, The Red Huntress found love with Dale. Their relationship began after reconnecting at Casper High's Class of 2007 20th reunion. Eventually, they welcomed a son into their lives, whom they named Damon, after Val's father.
Valerie was still the badass huntress she was in life. So when she passed, the Ancient of Space established a new division within his royal dread army: The Royal Dread Hunters with Valerie as commander and Skulker as captain. -The robotic ghost hunter wouldn't stop whining until Danny gave him a spot in the hunters.- Under the leadership of Commander Dame Gray, the High Dread Huntress, the Royal Dread Hunters were unyielding in their mission to protect the Realms. Ruthless to those who dared to threaten their domain, Commander Gray was prepared to execute any being upon the orders of her King.
Vlad was quite unexpected. After being banished to space and struck by the Disasteroid, the older halfa opted to retire from his villainous ways. Initially considering a nomadic existence in space, he ultimately settled in the Ghost Zone, embracing a retired lifestyle. There, he idled away his days with Maddie the cat, indulging in leisurely activities like reading books and sipping tea. While Jack and Maddie would occasionally visit, and Danny sought his counsel from time to time, Vlad relished the solitude of his newfound retirement.
~❀~
After a few years of reigning as King, Danny and his frightmates were dispatched to various universes to officially announce the New Ghost King -which they kinda already did during Danny's coronation but eh...formalities- and to ensure there are no universe-ending threats. When Danny encountered new people who needed his help, he instinctively acted as any protector spirit would do. The Ghost King adopts them. The halfa adopted those that he felt a connection towards. The adoption plays with his ghostly obsession of protection since some of his newly adopted kids were adults who had powers and could take care of themselves.
-"They're babies Sam! I don't care if they are 50 or fucking immortal! They are babies!"-
The diverse backgrounds of his newly adopted children, whether they were adults, teenagers, mortal, superpowered, alive, dead, heroes, villains, or supernatural, didn't matter to Danny. He loved every one of them unconditionally. While he understood that some of the children still had their biological parents and may not see him as their father, he was always there for them as a friend, a brother, or a comforting presence in times of need. It took time for some of them to come to see him as a father figure, but when they all gathered together, they viewed each other as siblings. When they visited Danny in the Ghost Zone, their identities from their home universes faded away, and they simply became a family in his presence.
Danny wasn't the sole member of Phantom's Fright to adopt children. The entire group had developed a habit of adoption. While they jokingly attributed this tendency to Danny, deep down, they recognized that they too felt a profound connection to those they encountered. Similar to the King, the children initially didn't view Phantom's Fright as a parental figure. However, over time, they came to see them as moms or dads, and they became an integral part of their family.
Each member of Phantom's Fright had their own distinctive "theme" whenever they adopted someone.
Sam, naturally gravitated towards individuals with plant-related traits or a rebellious "screw you" attitude towards societal norms. Only Sam's kids had the privilege of accessing the goth's personal greenhouse, nursery, botanical garden, and conservatory. -Undergrowth cries every time he gets a new grandchild to spoil-
Tucker, no brainer gravitated towards kids of Egyptian heritage, who possessed sand or electricity powers, were robotic, were proficient in robotics and hacking, and had a knack for engineering. The Pharaoh had to create a separate ghost lair to accommodate his electric-powered, robotic, hacking, engineering-savvy -The amount of coffee intake is terrifying considering some of his kids were mortal-
The majority of Val's kids are skilled in combat and proficient with weapons. You could always find Val and her kiddies in the training rooms and weapon ranges, honing their skills. -Danny's knights and Val's hunter try to make different excuses to get out of sparing with the huntress's children-
Ellie loved those who considered themselves to be monsters or outcasts. As a clone, she empathized with the experience of feeling like a freak and the pain of being different. She endured constant reminders that she was something unnatural. -Every other Saturday is "Movie and Cuddle Time" No expectations! You will be at Movie and Cuddle Time and you will feel the love!-
Jazz primarily had daughters who embodied women's power, although she also had children who grappled with the complexities of life and death. -Everyone in the Realm are convinced whenever Jazz's girls have tea with Pandora, they're scheming to take over the Realms.-
Dan managed to corral all kids that had anger problems or fire powers. There was no brat Dan couldn't handle. Despite his tough exterior, the older phantom made sure his brats underwent therapy; he was determined not to let them end up like him. -He wasn't going soft for those brats regardless of what Danny or Ellie might say.-
Finally, Danny adopted babies intertwined with ice, death, space, and time. The King would destroy worlds, shader realities, and shallow universes just to ensure the safety of his children. -If Danny had it his way, he would keep his babies in his pocket dimension and never leave-
The Phantom Fright loves their children. They would do anything to keep them safe. With numerous heirs, the Realms are fortunate, and they would never want to upset the King's fright or the King himself. They are prepared to go to great lengths, even to wage war, to protect their princesses and princes.
~❀~
Throughout thousands of years, Danny grew into his role as Ghost King. Recognizing the realms' need for stability after Pariah left them in disarray, the halfa became the firm hand they required. Understanding the necessity of kindness for those unfamiliar with it, yet also the importance of sternness to bear the weight of the throne, Danny hardened over the years. He learned that he couldn't save everyone—a lesson that weighed heavily on him. Sometimes, he had to sacrifice one soul to save thousands or sacrifice thousands to save one. While this conflicted with the King's obsession, he understood the necessity of such sacrifices in his role. It also taught him that, if necessary, he had to End a soul. Having endured wars in the Realms, the loss of subjects, and the need to take lives and punish betrayers, Danny had grown accustomed to the harsh realities of his rule.
Being King is tough, but Danny was the sole bearer of its weight, just as he had been when he first became Phantom. After years of reigning, Danny's concerns about morals dwindled. Ultimately, he understood that every human would eventually meet their demise and come under his rule.
To his subjects, he's High King Phantom, the stern yet benevolent ruler. He's the King who adorned himself with the Crown of Fire and Ring of Rage, unwavering in his resistance against madness. He's the monarch who would undertake the unthinkable to ensure the safety of his subjects. And he's the King who cherishes every one of his subjects as if they were his own family.
To his friends and family, he's Danny or Dad, the pun-making, space-loving idiot. He's Danny who adored cracking death-related jokes and puns. He's the one who could talk endlessly about space, to the extent that his family had to drag him away from his planetarium and observatory. Danny is who doted on his ever-growing collection of children.
He is the High King of the Infinite Realms, Ancient of Space, The Fated Son of the Stars, Lord of the Dead, Undying, and Neverborn, Devourer of Dark, Keeper of the Balance, Benevolent Sovereign of the Dead, Champion of Ghosts and Spirits, Favored by Life and Death, Voice of the Damned, The Protector and Defender, Child of the Between, The Core of Ice and Snow, Prince Of Time, The Great One, The True and Only King.
He is Danny Phantom
~❀~
Danny has been told he was DILF.
The King didn't believe he was considered a DILF. I mean, come on, he's half-dead and a thousand years old. Sure, he has many children across the multiverse -both living and dead, biologically and adopted-, but that hardly qualifies him as a DILF.
If Danny is considered a DILF, what about Tucker and Dan? They also have kids scattered across the multiverse. And what about Sam? or Jazz? or Val? or Ellie?! Well... The girls would be deemed MILFs. But the point is, why is Danny the only one being called a DILF?
Despite being over a thousand years old, the Ancient of Space and High King of the Infinite Realms, Danny is still a little dense. Despite his ghostly nature, the king possesses an undeniable attractiveness - and when I say attractive, I mean he's fucking hot. If Danny didn't have kids, he'd undoubtedly be considered a Zaddy. However, as it stands, he's a DILF, which I personally believe is still quite a score.
The halfa always believed he'd stay 5'5 but after his 18th birthday, he shot up to be 6'0. By his 20s, the ghost boy had reached the same height as his dad at 6'9". The Ghost King didn't stop growing until he reached 7'5. Although Danny realized in his ghost form he was towering over 1200 feet tall! Pariah was standing at 10'0 when he was king, so how was he even freakishly taller than him?! After seeking answers from Clockwork, he said that since he accepted the throne, the Core of the Infinite Realm has acknowledged Danny as its True and Only King. With the added power of The Crown of Fire and The Ring of Rage, his rapidly growing ghost power was amplified. Becoming an Ancient and consuming Pariah's core only added to his already formidable power level, causing his body to accumulate immense strength. The King's mortal body also bulked up. Not in the way of Dan's broad bulkiness or his dad's beefiness, but rather it took more of a lean, muscular bulkiness. -Think of those attractive lumberjack men's bodies, that's Danny-
Sometime later, Danny realized he stopped aging when he turned 40, which is a little odd since he would have thought he would've stopped aging at 14 when he died and became a half-ghost. Though he wasn't complaining, he'd rather look like a mature 40-year-old man than an awkward lanky teenager. The King did have this sort of rugged look going on with a five o'clock shadow, slicked-back hair with the sides shaved, and the slightly faded Lichtenberg scars that covered the left side of his face, as well as the large three-clawed scars that traveled through his face.
So to answer why Danny is considered at DILF, it's all due to his imposing 7'5" stature, lean lumberjack hot body, sexy scars, and rugged appearance. Although some tattoos would undoubtedly complete the look.
It doesn't help that his eldest mortal adopted daughter keeps teasingly calling him "Zaddy" to mess with him. Danny wasn't as dense as everyone believed; he knew he was attractive but didn't see himself as a "Zaddy," let alone a DILF. Danny simply couldn't grasp the fact that he was fucking hot.
So why are we talking about the King of Ghosts being a DILF? It's because that's better to think about than listening to ghosts with giant eyeballs for heads nagging about unfinished paperwork. Today marked the occasion when Danny's numerous children, along with his many nieces and nephews, came to visit. Every two weeks, the King sets aside time to spend with his family—no hectic schedules, no work to be completed, no meetings, and most certainly, NO OBSERVANTS!
But it seems Danny doesn't even have the luxury of that, given that the King is always busy.
He's always busy. Since the first moment he became king, he's been busy.
"Danny, you've got to see Sam's new botanical garden." "Sorry, Tuck, I'm going to be in a meeting with all the death gods and it'll take a while."
"My King, here is the paperwork regarding the inventory for the Dread Knights, as you requested." "Where are the older ones? Don't tell me you haven't been keeping track."
"Sweetie! Come look at the new map we've drawn of the Ghostly Trenches" "Not now Mom, I have to finish this request from Dora."
"Dad? Where are you going?" "Huh? Oh, sorry sweetheart, I'll be back soon. There's a dispute between ghost sections that I need to address."
"Your Majesty, The Observants request an audience." "What now? I've completed the paperwork they wanted. What more could they possibly want?"
He's always busy. Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy busy, busy, busy busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, busy, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY, 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘!𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! 𝐁𝐔𝐒𝐘! B̵̴҉̞̠̘̩͍̱́͊͗͜͠͠͠͠U̵̶̸̹̮̹̲̻͙̎ͪͣͦ͜͡͞͡͡Ṡ̷̢̫̞̻͈͋͛̓̅͜͜͜͠͠͠Y̵̡̬͖̠̋ͫ̌ͤ̚͞͞!
E҉̰̰͎̆͞N̵҉̾͟͞͡O̷̵҉̢̭͚̜̠ͫͣ͐͢͟͢͠͞͝U̵̶̸̹̮̹̲̻͙̎ͪͣͦ͜͡͞͡͡G̸҉̜̜̱̄ͩ͆͜͝͞H̴̶̵҉̨̡̛̼͎̫͓̒́̔ͩ͜͟͠͞͞!!
Silence reverberated through the vast expanse of the infinite throne room, abruptly halting the little 'death' match between one of Dan's bloodthirsty brats and one of Val's murderous kiddies, along with the attendees' raucous cheers for the match. The daughters of the Phantom Fright, reclining on velvet chairs and couches nearby, paused their conversation about their brothers' antics. Inventors and scientists alike flinched away from their experiments and inventions, wary of impending explosions. The Royal Family and Frightmates rose from their seats at the King's thunderous voice. Fright Knight and the other dread knights in the throne room kneeled and bowed their heads in deference to their enraged King. The Observants, realizing they 'may have' fucked up, hastily retreated from the Ghost King's wrath.
All eyes turned toward the Ghost King, the collective curiosity palpable as they wondered what had stirred his anger. The children had never heard their father or uncle employ such a commanding, terrifying, nightmarish voice before. They were accustomed to his gentle "dad" or authoritative "king" voice, but never his "eldritch" voice—and for good reason.
All eyes were fixed on Danny as he loomed in his towering 1200' ghostly height, glaring down at the Observants. The Crown of Fire blazed hotter and the Ring of Rage snapped viciously.
"I've said it repeatedly! I won't be disturbed while spending time with my Fright and children! If it's not an urgent matter requiring my immediate attention, it can wait! Sorting paperwork and complaints about a soul can wait! Fright Knight! Escort the Observants O̵̷̪̰ͩ͆ͅU̸̫̠̰͈̕T̷̫͉̰͕̒́!"
Danny's voice emerged with a staticky roar that left the kids with superhearing wincing from the overwhelming noise. Swiftly reacting to his king's command, the Spirit of Halloween promptly executed the order, dispatching the insufferable eyeballs without hesitation.
The silence weighed heavily, leaving everyone uncertain of their next move. All eyes remained fixed on the Ghost King as he slumped back in his throne of ice and snow, pinching the bridge of his nose and releasing a heavy sigh. It embarrassedly took another minute of silence before the baby of the king's immortal daughters tentatively broke the silence.
"Papa?"
"Yes, princess."
"Are you ok?"
At that question, Danny lifted his gaze from where he had his eyes closed, only to find his baby girl looking at him with concern. A quick survey of the room revealed that all of his children wore similarly worried expressions. The King, upon this further realization, recognized that he had inadvertently snapped and employed his 'eldritch' voice. He swiftly softened his gaze and relaxed his body before offering his daughter a weary smile.
"Of course baby."
The Eldest Son, Danny's first child remarked dryly, "Didn't know you were a shit lier, Dad"
One of the more "serious" sons of the King's gasped out almost scandalized, "Brother!"
"Oh, relax. I'm The Eldest and I can say whatever I want, so I can say Dad isn't ok!" the Eldest Son retorted, unfazed.
Whatever tense air that was still surrounding the infinite throne room broke. In unison, the children of the King abandoned whatever tasks they were engaged in and converged toward the throne, encircling their father. Everyone voiced their concerns, while the "younger" children either climbed Danny's towering legs to settle on his lap or scrambled up to perch on his shoulders. Danny shifted around so his babies could sit on his lap comfortably and safely on his shoulders.
As everyone continued to express their worries, Dan's voice cut through the air, rising above the rest. "The kid's got a point. You look like shit." The king's face pinched at his former evil alternate self-turned-older-twin brother with eyebrows furrowing and lips thin before releasing a sigh of annoyance, "Dan..."
It was the halfa's beloved older sister, Jazz, who took the floor. "Danny, what's wrong?" The worry of an older sister in her voice was obvious but Death's Heirness eyes, that keen perception of a psychologist was evident, ready to address the underlying issue.
Danny knew that look and he knew he wouldn't be able to get out of this conversation without telling them the truth. Nonetheless, he had to try. "Nothing, I'm just a little tired," he replied, hoping to brush off their concerns.
"Honey, you seem more than tired," the king's mother interjected. Danny hesitated; he didn't want to deceive his mother, not after their promise to keep no more earth-shattering secrets. However, he also didn't want to continue this conversation. "You haven't been yourself for a while," she continued, her concern evident in her voice.
"More like a century-long while," Dan muttered irritably. Soon after, Tucker expressed his concern, urging, "Come on, dude, we're family. You can tell us."
Then Sam chimed in, her voice carrying a note of concern. "Danny, is it the Observants? I've been saying we should get rid of them."
Val's tone was more assertive as she demanded, "Quit stalling, Spooks. Just spill it."
Dad was trying to make light of it, "Danny-boy! Don't worry us Fentons can say anything with your chest and not worry about it."
Then Ellie hovered in front of Danny's face, prodding him for an answer. "Come on, Danny, spill it out, spill it out, spill it out."
It wasn't until the entirety of the Phantom Fright children again voiced their concerns and worries that the King realized they wouldn't relent until he told them the truth. Danny knew he couldn't keep evading their worries any longer, so he finally relented.
"OKAY!...Okay..."
While the High King's voice wasn't as deafening as before, it still reverberated ominously, casting a pall of silence over the occupants in the throne room. They all held their breath, awaiting the revelation of what troubled their sovereign.
"Ever since I've become king, I haven't had a break. I don't regret accepting the throne, I don't regret helping my people, helping my home. It's just... the unrelenting pressure, the enduring pain, the countless sacrifices, the perpetual tension, and the weight of responsibility of being King. Sure I have the counsel of the Ancients, the support of my fright, and the love of my family, the ultimate decisions rest upon my shoulders. I've been consistently running around to make sure nothing goes wrong. I have to resolve disputes, drown in paperwork, orchestrate and attend endless meetings, combat formidable enemies, avert wars, extinguish souls, mete out justice, safeguard peace and balance, uphold the fabric of reality, nurturing universes. I have to be compassionate yet firm, generous yet not intimidating, resolute yet devoid of weakness – to embody the essence of a king, not a tyrant. And as if that weren't enough, I also have to wrestle with the constant threat of the crown and ring from T̷̫͉̰͕̒́U̸̫̠̰͈̕Ŗ̴̪̈̄͞N̰̜͉͔ͬ̽͢I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟N̰̜͉͔ͬ̽͢G̛͔͇̞̹̈̀͘͘͟ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟E̸̖̪̱͚ͨ̀͜ I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟N̰̜͉͔ͬ̽͢T̷̫͉̰͕̒́O̵̷̪̰ͩ͆ͅ Ȧ̶̵̗̳Ŗ̴̪̈̄͞Ȧ̶̵̗̳G̛͔͇̞̹̈̀͘͘͟I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟N̰̜͉͔ͬ̽͢G̛͔͇̞̹̈̀͘͘͟ K̦̖̙̱̮̐̌I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟L̳͈͉̅̊L̳͈͉̅̊I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟N̰̜͉͔ͬ̽͢G̛͔͇̞̹̈̀͘͘͟ M̶̷̲̊ͥ͋͟O̵̷̪̰ͩ͆ͅN̰̜͉͔ͬ̽͢S̵̶̮̬͖̄͑͟T̷̫͉̰͕̒́E̸̖̪̱͚ͨ̀͜Ŗ̴̪̈̄͞!... I'm just... so tired."
The silence that followed the King's outburst once again filled the room with an overwhelming sense of emptiness. To hear their king, their brother, twin, frightmate, son, uncle, and father sound so defeated was heart-wrenching. The Phantom Fright was in shock. To hear their frightmate was in pain like this, it... it hurts. They were Danny's Fright, standing by him through thick and thin. Sam and Tucker were there from the beginning, Jazz was his older sister and the one to raise him when their parents couldn't, Dan and Ellie were his alternate self/clone, and Val was his best friend. How had they failed to see the weight of stress and pain bearing down on Danny? And what about the persistent fear of losing control that still lingered?
The children of the Phantom Fright felt disheartened to hear their beloved man, the one who loved and protected them unconditionally, regardless of their alignment as villain or hero, sounding so subdued. He was the man they affectionately referred to as their dad or uncle.
They always perceived him as an unparalleled being, a figure of magnificence. He was seen as a magnificent King, never flaunting his power, and cherished for his kindness even towards the most monstrous beings. They always witnessed the happiness and joy radiating from their dad/uncle, yet remained oblivious to the depths concealed behind his never-ending smile of mischief and amusement.
The First Three Children of Danny were horrified. Seeing their father so crushed under the weight of kingship was heart-wrenching. While he had been saddened by their mother, his first wife, choosing eternal rest over becoming a ghost, he had never been so utterly defeated. They understood that being a king was an arduous task, and their father was not invincible, they often forgot that Danny was just half mortal.
I think everyone forgot that Danny was still half alive. While he didn't need to sleep for long hours or eat so much, he was still human, still alive, be it half alive. Maybe that's why he's like this. The dual pressures of ruling as the Ghost King and existing as a ghost had taken a toll on his human form, neglected and eroded by the demands of his spectral existence. I don't think Danny Phantom has just been Danny Fenton in over a thousand years.
Jazz was the one to shatter the heart-wrenching silence, her voice filled with mourning, "Ohh Danny..."
This is precisely the scenario Danny had hoped to avoid. He didn't want his family to pity or fret over him. Now, his younger daughters were in tears, and his 'serious' sons wore expressions of guilt, as if blaming themselves for not offering assistance. The King knew he had to quell the burgeoning anxiety before it became even more distressing. Before he could utter a word, the Queen Mother preempted him, saying, "Sweetheart, why didn't you say anything?"
The frustration from this whole situation is getting to Danny, but he has to stay calm or he'll cause a bigger mess. He takes a deep breath, attempting to ease the tension within his ghostly form before addressing his mother.
"Because I knew all of you were going to worry, we had other things, bigger things to worry about than my issues"
The Phantom-Fenton Matriarch ascended the icy throne until she stood by Danny's towering legs, then floated up to meet the king's face. With a patient gaze, the ecto-scientist addressed her son, saying, "Sweetheart, we are not just your family, but also your court. It's our duty to share some of your responsibilities."
"Mom is right." The Ancient of Space loves his older sister, he does, but there are times when he just wants to smother in her sleep and that's him being overly nice. That also goes towards his twin siblings and frightmates. Despite a millennium of being together, they never fail to irk him.
"Jazz-"
"Danny, you've appointed us as your court; it's our duty to assist you in your role as king, aiding in the governance of the Realms."
This conversation is going absolutely nowhere. Danny simply wishes it would come to an end. If he wants to put an end to this and move on, he'll have to give them what they're asking for. With a frustrated sigh, the eldritch god of death finally disclosed what he required, what he desired.
"I just WANT a break..."
All eyes turned towards their King, observing the fatigue etched across his face and evident in his demeanor. The weight of his responsibilities seemed to hang heavy upon him, visible to all who looked. They knew they had to offer support to the man who had always been their guardian and protector.
Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "A vacation!" proclaimed The First Daughter, capturing everyone's attention.
"Dad's clearly in need of a break, so why not a vacation?" The suggestion hung in the air, prompting everyone to consider its merits. As they pondered, the idea gained traction, morphing into a collective brainstorming session among the Phantom Fright children.
Ideas flew back and forth: Should he stay within one of their universes or venture into a different one? How long should his getaway last? And perhaps should one of them accompany him for company?
The conversation veered into speculation about whether the king would add more members to their already large family during his vacation. It was an open secret that the Ghost King had a penchant for adoption.
One of the younger immortal sons of the king voiced his curiosity, turning to his brother beside him. "Do you think we'll gain more siblings?" he asked, genuine wonder in his tone. His brother, hailing from a realm of soul reapers, scoffed in response. "The old man wouldn't go a day without bringing home another kid."
"Let's hope for sisters this time, Daddy. We could use more women in this family," a southern drawl chimed in from the crowd, garnering murmurs of agreement from the female members of the Phantom Fright children. But before the discussion could settle, a younger voice interjected, "No, I want a little brother! I'm tired of being the baby!"
With that, the children dove headfirst into arguments over the potential number, gender, and age of the future adoptees, their chatter filling the air with excitement and anticipation.
Danny himself was unsure about the whole thing. While he acknowledged the need for a break, he couldn't shake off his doubts. Turning to his Fright and family, who observed their children with amused affection, he voiced his concerns.
"Are you sure you'll manage without me?" There was a hint of worry in his tone.
"Of course, don't worry, we'll handle things in the realms," Jazz reassured him.
Danny shot his older sister a skeptical look."Really? Because the last time I left for a meeting with the Supernatural Council I came back to the Keep half on fire and covered in slime and sprinkles."
That put an end to the children's argument before a round of finger-pointing about who was to blame could begin.
Another tense sigh escaped the king, leaving him to ponder whether this was truly a good idea.
"𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬"