Chapter Text
Pain. That's all he felt. Just white, hot, searing pain. He hadn't meant for this. Hadn't meant for it to go all wrong.
But that's just it, isn't it? Life never follows the path you want, just what you need. Though, why did it decide he needed this? This suffering? He would never know.
The pain continued, for an unbearably long time, closer to an eternity of suffering. Danny muses, despite everything— and then he became aware.
Aware at what had happened. And how he wishes he wasn't—
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———Inside the Fenton compound———
He told his parents. He told them everything. Phantom, The portal, His death and resurrection, his battle with Pariah and what winning against him entails, Everything.
At first they laughed, saying thing like "You shouldn't joke about that, Dann-o!" "You should run Danny! You're now a target!" Trying to Humour him.
But then a few moments trickle by, and with his stiffening posture along with his avoidant gaze, a pin drops.
His mother screamed at him, shaking him, demanding he bring their Danny back. A shuddering sob broke through the disillusioned-parent duo.
"Stop it! Stop crying with his face! IN HIS BODY!" Maddie shrieked.
"BUT I AM HIM, MOM!" The harsh tone of the reply made her stagger and flinch, but Danny couldn't bring himself to pause nor stop
"I DIED! CAME BACK! NOTHING ELSE! NO ONE ELSE CAME BACK OTHER THAN ME MOM! AND NO ONE ELSE WILL!" With a shaky exhale, he continued "No one else, mom."
Jack could only blankly stare on, fist balling, but he made no move. "I wanted to tell you both! Even if it meant endangering me! Because you deserve the truth—" He then turned to his dad, with pleading eyes, and continued—
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"You both deserve the truth."
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Jack may have been foolish mad-genius, but he'd never think of hurting his children, his babies. He wasn't a monster. So when his baby boy revealed this?
That he was the infamous phantom He and Maddie hunted? That he was one of them—ghosts—the beings they hunted? Something broke inside of him.
And being the coward that he is— he couldn't move. Couldn't move to apologize, couldn't move to comfort his boy, couldn't move to hug him, couldn't move to kneel and beg for forgiveness. All because of the shame and guilt freezing him in place. All. Because. Of. His. Cowardice.
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Despite his massive stature—his cowardice always got the better of him.
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"... Dad..? Mom..?" Maddie never wanted it to be this way.
Not after learning the price of finally opening the Ghost Portal. Not after realizing what happened. The fantasy of Catching ghosts to study them?
Gone.
Replaced by a sickening clarity she wants gone. But why? All because she couldn't stomach what she and jack had inadvertently done? Done to Danny? ... Done to their little boy? What that cursed portal they built with their own hands, did? Pathetic.
She couldn't help but feel disgusted— disgusted at what she put him—her beautiful baby boy, the one who would always stare before the sea of stars above in awe and wonder— through.
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In all her immaculate genius—she couldn't stomach the idea.
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"... Please... Just... Say something..." He cried. Cried in frustration, anger, fear, and hope, hope they would understand.
"PLEASE!!"
Before he could rage further— two sets of distinctive arms wrapped around him, catching him by surprise. Consolingly rubbing and patting behind him.
"We're sorry... so sorry... Danny." They hugged him impossibly tight. As if in any moment he would disappear, like what any ghost would do.
They wanted him to stay. Wanted him to exist. Wanted him here. Wanted him to be real. And he is— he will always be real. He will always be here.
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He will always be Danny.
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He finally cried. At his full volume. To reassure his parents. To reassure himself. That everything that's happening here is real—That he isn't dreaming.
He wailed, and his parents allowed him to. They Let him have his moment, not because of anything particular, but because it's their moment too.
They felt him, so alive, breathing. And despite everything; his slow heartbeat, his slow breathing, his cold touch— he felt warm and so impossibly alive...
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———In a random Government HQ in Amity park, Illinois———
Amanda waller wasn't a megalomaniac, per se, just prepared and cautious. She had plans, contingencies, and last resorts.
Last resorts for those pesky supers and metas. And ghosts, Apparently. She got assigned as the director of a small—and annoyingly incompetent— government branch, after her misdeeds were brought to light by some wanna-be Superhero. The GIW.
A whole branch made to handle "ghostly" activity? In the middle of fuckall nowhere, Illinois? How absurd... That was what she thought, until HE came along. Phantom. Another variable. Another leading headache.
Phantom didn't come alone, he had company. Other ghosts of varying tastes in appearance, and varying builds, and also abilities! GREAT! ANOTHER GODDAMN MULTITUDE OF HEADACHES!
... Pariah Dark? A... Ghost king?! Oh. Nevermind. Phantom took care of that rising problem. She would thank him if she could, he just saved the world from imminent destruction after all, but she dismisses the idea.
It would be for naught anyway— She would have no need for that gesture, not now, not ever. Not after learning about what her bugs picked-up on.
Inconspicuous things, really. So small yet so dangerous and equally destructive. Especially the latter.
She didn't intend the bug to be particularly helpful, just a way to check in on local nuisances— the Fentons.
But she thanks whatever luck she has or luck deity on her side. Because, now, she had truly struck gold.
The teenage boy, Danny Fenton, son of the fentons, being her prime target THE Danny phantom? A gold mine indeed. She knows she shouldn't be hasty, but who cares?
Due to the Anti-ecto Acts being in place, along with Clause 36: "those who Harbor any and all types of ectoplasmic entities and associates with it knowingly and actively are hereby considered active terrorists, forfeit of any rights. If in the scenario where such situation is volatile, a KOS (Kill On Sight) is effective immediately." She can afford this hasty move. So she waited, until the time was ripe and right.
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Ripe and right indeed.
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———Somewhere in the vast emptiness of the Void - Tower of Time———
A small figure, barely the size of a head, floating using his power, could only sigh.
The hubris of some truly wears the old being, but Clockwork endures. He always endures.
Not just for himself, but for the realms. For his not yet coronated king, for his prince— For HIS grandchild. And he cannot afford to be complacent, not if he wants his prince to stay safe.
To prosper. For the prosperity of Danny extends to the realms. To all of creation itself. He will truly become a loving, benevolent king in time. Its the only truth the Omniverse accepts. The only truth that has been accepted by IT, of all things.
But Clockwork sees the path he must take, the path his prince is forced to stride and strut in. And he hurts. He hurts from seeing his prince suffer.
But his suffering will build him. Clockwork convinces himself, he must convince himself.
Lest he breaks. Lest his prince breaks. So he steels himself.
For the pain he has to observe. For the suffering he must ensure. For the abuse he commits. And he is terribly sorry—but it is left unsaid.
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———A random RV in the middle of a Squadron of other trucks and heavy duty road rangers - En route to Amity park, Illinois - 4 kilometers away———
Mobilizing this squad was easier than expected, Amanda thought. Of course, the evidence the bug provided helped more than enough to set things in motion.
Despite the infamy she had gained, she still had some credibility, especially with her higher-ups, who all have witnessed the results of her projects.
Danny Fenton, huh? Poor thing won't know what hit him.
Her plans are cruel, swift, and efficient. And coupled with the fact his group of misfits and malcontents are bunched up in a closed, small place of terrible Burger? His pain will be quick, if she can help it.
A last thanks for his service of defeating Pariah Dark. Though not the thanks she would've wanted to give, it's all she can manage at this point.
A quick bomb, large enough to ensure the death of his companions, but small enough to not cause too much damage to the surrounding area. She only hopes this vehicle would go faster.
———Terrible Burger, Amity park, Illinois———
(Y'all know what's gonna happen here😋)
Sam, Jazz, Tucker, and Ellie all waited for Danny and The parent duo to arrive. Wanting to support and comfort Danny after his confrontation with Jack and Maddie.
Luckily for them, they don't have to wait long, and the aforementioned trio entered. All teary-eyed, emotional and radiating very obvious acceptance.
The four confidants exhaled a heavy breath, not knowing how long they had it held. Ellie had it the worst, what if something happened to him? What if something happened to her dad Danny?
Jazz was the first to start, noting the state of her parents and their lack of madness, "So... Uhh I take it you still want Danny in your lives, Mom? Dad?"
Both parents could only give a small anguished smile in reply, still clinging onto Danny as if he were a lifeline. "I'll take that as a definitive Yes." Jazz gave a proud and relieved smile. She motioned for them to join them at their table.
The standing trio quickly but quietly hobbled in, to the chairs.
"So... How do you feel, Danny?" Sam questioned.
"'m fine... Just glad that mom and dad listened..." He flashed a weak smile at her. "But I'm tired, very tired. This whole thing stressed me out. And now that mom and dad accepted me? I feel relieved. This may be the only time I'll ever feel this huge amount of relief, really." Danny could only chuckle, not sure on how to add anymore.
"That's good, relief is good." Ellie tried to reinforce, but sounded more self-comforting than anything.
"And my back hurts, from all the hugging we did back home, mostly because dad has back breaking hugs!" Danny tried to joke, trying to light up the mood. They didn't find it funny, but laughed either way to humour the endearing attempt.
"We love you, Danny," Tucker and Ellie started, elbowing Sam and Jazz to do the same. Both said, Grumbling while rubbing their sides, "we love you, Danny!"
Danny, feeling ever possibly fulfilled, giddy from all the love flying around, replied "Awww, thanks guys! I Love you all t—"
before he could continue, his vision went white, prominent ringing growing louder.
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———Amity Park, Illinois - 70 Meters away from Nasty Burger———
"Perimeter surrounded, Ma'am! Blockade is effective and no civilian groups nor persons observed near the Designated area." The officer Reported back to Amanda, her tone formal and loud.
"Good. Proceed with the bombing." She dismisses the officer away with a wave of her hand.
"Understood, Ma'am." The soldier Marched away, vest swaying. Stopping near the operator, "She said proceed.with the bombing." The only reply she got was a murmured 'okay'
A few seconds trickle by, before a loud BOOM could be heard. Amanda gestured for guards to come with her to inspect the site.
Nearing the site, she steeled herself. Despite witnessing death almost all-year round, she still gets queasy when witnessing such, even when the death is caused by her.
She didn't know what to expect, but it sure wasn't TH—
Her mind blanked, along with the officers she had as company. Eyes widening, blood gushing out from all orfices on their head— Their vision darkening for each passing moment, before finally collapsing to the ground. Eyes rolled upwards.
——————
The bomb had forced a new transformation, one he hadn't been able to access until now. Until his life and his family, his FRAID had been threatened.
The mere sight of the form would make a person mad, sick to their stomach— An oozing mesh of dark, Sparkling flesh. Filled with a mish-mash of celestial bodies and the Impossible infinite expanse of space. Stars, Nebulae, Pulsars, Quasars, Galaxies and Other such space phenomena occuring within it. Spiked tendrils, reminiscent of rose thorns and vines, scatter all over the form.
The tendrils, as disgusting and wretched they are, pitifully and desperately search for his Family, his Fraid.
The being, taking notice of the wreckage, WAILED. It's wail sounded like a bastardation of a child's cry, fitting, as this being is a child himself. A growing, yearning child.
Whose only joy of acceptance burned away, the moment it's impossibly black eyes landed upon the members of his FRAID. The marred, burnt and charred bodies of the beings Fraid. Or, what was once a Fraid.
It's gutteral, grief-filled wail carried through everyone, passing by the cruel demons responsible for the deaths of his Fraid, and it spread. And truly far did it spread.
Beyond Amity. Beyond Illinois. Beyond The United States. Beyond Earth. Beyond the Galaxy. Beyond the Universe. And Beyond the bounds of life— into the infinite realms, and finally— into ITS domain.
And how did IT respond? IT responded with Rage. With Sadness. And Guilt.
IT hadn't meant for this to happen. Hadn't meant for tragedy to occur, hadn't meant to make IT's successor to suffer. Despite all the power IT holds, IT isn't omniscient, destiny takes it's own path. IT is merely THE PRESENCE behind creation. Behind life. Behind the moniker of GOD.
Despite IT's so called Omnibenevolence, IT couldn't love enough, enough to stop suffering, Enough to stop conflict. Enough to protect him... So IT did what IT can could— IT called upon the realms. Upon IT's tokens. Tokens that allow IT's presence to influence, to allow IT to exert power upon reality— and demanded.
Demanded that the Throne Of Endless Oblivion be IT's Successor's Guide, His Follower, His Covenant.
Demanded that the Ring of Righteous Fury be IT's Successor's Blade, His Shield, His Army.
Demanded that the Crown Of Forever Flame be IT's Successor's Authority, His Symbol, His Power.
They all responded, power thrumming to life, and glady accepting their Creator's demand. And unexpectedly, fell from the void they call home, into the confines of reality. Where one certain grieving being resided.
The Throne, now transformed into immaterial essence, enveloped Danny, bonding and marking with the boy's construct, it's soul and more, permanently. Staking it's claim.
The Ring and Crown, now in their unsuspecting forms of a sleek copper headpiece and a silver ring, tried to contain the raging form of their new Master.
Despite the power exerted by the two items, errors were evident. The rampant celestial energy radiated by their new Master made such action difficult to continue, but these items kept trying anyway.
An old, grating voice broke through the garbled cries and echoes, "hushhh now, Danny, I'll handle the rest." Finally prevailing when the voice soothed the raging eldritch being from thrashing around anymore. It's form curled upon itself, accepting the mold the items were forcing upon it, folding and sloshing until it all made a noticable humanoid shape.
After the transformation, the Ring and Crown bounded for him, also staking their claims, hiding within the crevices of his soul and construct, placed upon the hand shape and above the head of his soul construct.
The being cracked it's empty eyes open, finally fully aware.
Danny, the hurting teen, listlessly pulled himself into a sitting position. Dragging Ellie, Maddie, Jazz, Jack, Sam and Tucker closer to him. Who could only mourn the loss, still in disbelief.
They had all been alive just a moment ago. Lively and jesting. 'How fast that moment passed', he lamented.
"It's Dan all over again..." He whispered, Letting his head fall, finally letting his tears stream quietly.
"Not quite, Danny."
Danny craned his neck to look at the flying dwarf, "Clockwork..." Danny could only make a pained sob in response. "I'm sorry..."
"It is I who should be sorry, Danny."
"No, you shouldn't. You couldn't have interfered if you're here, apologizing."
"That is correct." Clockwork could only frown, "The timeline cemented it. The death of your family is a fixed point in time. It cannot be changed, nor altered."
Danny let a humourless laugh slip, a laugh so empty it felt cold, "Well, isn't that fucked up? ... Just go, clockwork. Let me be."
"Now, let's not be hasty in losing hopes Danny. I can practically hear your thoughts, from that hazy look." Clockwork warned Danny, "That is a dangerous path you thread."
"What else can I do? Other than follow that path?" Danny said, face contorts into a bitter anger.
"What else can I do, other than finally becoming a worser version than Dan—" Before he could continue, Clockwork told him one Last hope.
"You could live another life. In another world, where you aren't hunted for sport. Where you aren't seen as a threat." Seeing Danny's disinterested face, he continued undeterred, "All while you wait for your fraid to reform. As ghosts that is." That surprised Danny, his face visibly lit up. Good, he can work with that.
"R-really?"
"Of course, little one. While it may take quite some time, they will still reform into ghosts." Clockwork created images of cores forming with his energy, "The suggestion of living another life is just so you don't drive yourself insane while waiting, Danny.'
"What about Ellie?" Danny questioned, "How will she reform?"
"The same as the others, though now, she wouldn't be a halfa." Clockwork explained.
Taking a rough inhale, Danny replied eagerly "Fine, do it. Send me to this other life you plan on sending me to."
"Very well. Sleep well—" With each word spoken by clockwork Danny felt drowsier and drowsier barely noticing the older ghost's fond look, "—my grandson."
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———In another world, Metropolis - Random Hospital———
Whines and cries could be heard from the bundle a certain, beautiful black-haired, reporter was holding. "Awwww good morning, little Danny.." Lois Lane-Kent said, in response to the activity the little bundle of joy, Danny, was showing.
"He's cute, isn't he?" Clark Kent said, sitting in the chair next to the hospital bed where Lois is currently laid on.
"Of course, he looks just like you, handsome." Lois cheekily said, reaching for Clarks hand, trying to find warmth.
He softly laughed, "Sure, sure, Of course!" All while pressing a kiss to Lois' hand, making her sigh in content.
Sensing some rather disturbing activity, Danny whined, demanding he be fed, or what his noises implies anyway.
"Alright, Alright!"
"Needy too. Just like his mother."