Hello again! I hope summer treated you well. Me? I don't like hot weather. Anyway I bring you another installment of this crossover! (Sounds of distant cheering) Great right? BTW TheLiteraryLord made a Tropes page for this fanfic! Cool right?

First there's this guest reviewer called Animal Lover I'd like to address. While I do appreciate any grammar corrections being pointed out, they seem to be a little confused about Danny's powers. Danny has been shown on more than one occasion to be able to use his ghost ray while in human form. (Used it to meld Dash's shoes) He has also been shown overshadowing a mouse in Micromanagement and he spoke perfect English. Just a few examples. I do extensive research when writing my fictions so when I change something I generally mention why either in the AN or the story itself. Please keep that in mind, and check before trying to correct me. I wanted to simply tell this person, but I cannot PM guests. If you wish to counter something I use in my stories please log in so we can talk about it and I don't have to put long notes in the chapter itself.

Ch. 23 - A Choice

Argost watched with an anticipatory grin as the horizon began to brighten. He rubbed his palms just thinking of the power he would no doubt hold by the end of this. Power that was mere moments from his grasp. Drew scowled at him for about the hundredth time since sundown. "What I wouldn't give to teach that creep a very painful lesson."

Most of her more colorful snaps had already been used, but Doyle still chuckled. "You and me both." He squirmed a bit, and showed the very tip of a knife from behind his back. "And now I think we can. I've been working on getting to this the last few hours with the Gorilla's snores as cover."

Drew controlled the smirk she gave him while watching Munya. He'd been watching them all night between whatever Argost asked him to do. "I'll get Maddie, you get Doc." She then began gently knocking into her sleeping friend.

Maddie was quick to rise, quickly looking over the group. "Danny?..." She trailed off in disappointment once she remembered the situation.

"It's alright Maddie. We'll find them." Drew consoled while keeping her smirk hidden.

Doc awoke in time to see a sliver of light trickle in from a broken wall on the east side of the ruin. "So it's starting I imagine?" He asked in a partial yawn while sitting up.

"Yeah, and we need to start looking for an opening." Doyle instructed before gesturing to the animal Saturdays. "Can you wake them up?"

"Got it." He didn't argue. They'd already come to an agreement for the morning long before. Right now, they needed Doyle's ability to improvise. A flash took their attention. In the morning light, standing at the very top of the alter, was Zak. He blocked the bright sun as it hit him, but made no indication he'd seen his family below.

"Ah! Our guest of honor arrives!" Argost announced as Munya took stride by his master. "Welcome young Kur. You are just in time. The coronation is upon us!"

"Argost!?" The preteen gasped as he looked around before glaring. "What are you doing!? Let my family go!" He pointed his claw in a threat.

"Ah, but then they'll ruin the whole show."

"What show are you going on about Argost!?" Doc demanded.

"Yeah don't coronations kinda need a king, and a kingdom, and a crown. You know, just a few things." Doyle quipped.

"Tsk tsk, and I thought you had a plan?" Doyle flinched at his words. "Not much use when you don't know what is going on."

"And you do Argost?" Gaia appeared at Zak's side glowering down at the man. "You think you have it all planned out don't you?" With the stone hanging from her neck her speech was understood by all. "Foolish child."

Argost only laughed. "What you call foolish, I call ambition Ms. Caretaker. You certainly won't feel that way once I'm the one calling the shots." He chuckled again.

"We shall see child. Until then, you will not come near Kur." She then roared and everything within ten feet of the alter was pushed back.

Danny sat up suddenly realizing he was not in the library anymore. Several ticks echoed around him and his eyes fell onto a giant gear. "Is this...?"

"My clock tower? Yes it is." Danny whirled around to come face to face with the master of time.

"Clockwork." He growled out. "So does this mean I'm going to get that straight answer I asked for?"

"Maybe." Clockwork teased as he adjusted his staff. His appearance went from child to adult in a flash. "Depends on the question."

"What's going on?"

"What do you think is going on? Don't ask me for an answer you already know."

Danny growled again trying to resist the urge to strangle him. He knew it wouldn't work. "Fine then, why didn't you tell me? You must've known from the beginning, even before I met you!"

"I did." The ghost responded in a calm tone.

"So that's it? You weren't even going to bring it up? No 'By the way, you'll rule another dimension one day so use your powers wisely'."

"The future is something you experience, not learn of ahead of time." Clockwork countered to Danny's growing frustration. "Did you ever wonder why I let you go back in time to try and get rid of Plasmius' powers?"

Danny crossed his arms. "Because you though it would be fun to watch me screw it up?"

Clockwork chuckled. "I would be lying if I said it wasn't amusing, but no. It was a test. A test I knew you would pass, and you did, just as you did on our first meeting. Unfortunately, unlike tests for school, this wasn't the kind of test you can study for ahead of time. It was one you either passed or failed with what you have."

Danny paced a bit before sighing. "How long then?"

"Not now." Clockwork responded as he shifted to his older form.

"Then what now!?" Danny demanded while glaring at the ghost again.

"Now you make a choice. The Crown has two requirements. The first is power, something you have, and are still growing into. The second is character, something you have in spades. Unfortunately, the Crown has gone for so long without a true king that power is what it seeks now. That will make it falter. Your choice will ultimately decide the future."

"Then what's my choice?!"

Clockwork smiled. "Do you take the Crown of Fire, or leave it for someone else?"

"Who?" Clockwork winked before vanishing into thin air. It was silent save the rhythmic ticking around him. "Clockwork!" Danny turned around a few times hoping to spot the troll trying to pull a fast one. That was, of course, impossible. As the master of time he couldn't be stopped. He knew anything Danny could possibly do to him before the halfa did.

"What manner of power do you seek?"

Danny quickly clutched his head. "Who are you!?" His eyes frantically searched around. "Where are you!? Show yourself!" Silence was his answer. He closed his eyes and saw a green flame in his mind. "What do you want!?" He asked feeling a little too helpless in the situation.

"What is it you seek?"

"I asked first you know." Danny shot back a little calmer despite talking to an imaginary flame in his head. He waited a minute, but never got an answer. "Damn it..." He cursed as he opened his eyes again. "What do I seek? A way to get back to my normal life would be nice."

"What would you surrender for power?"

Danny was a bit surprised to get an answer though it was another question. "What would I surrender? I have no clue what you're talking about. I don't want power, especially if I have to give something up. I'm fine with how I am right now thank you." The halfa crossed his arms though didn't have anyone to glare at.

"You wish to be powerless?"

That caught Danny off guard a bit since it came after a long pause. "Powerless? Well, no. Of course I don't want to be powerless." He answered thinking back to the whole evil future self incident. "But I don't need more power."

"Choices have consequences."

Danny furrowed his brow. "Well yeah. Hence the whole 'I don't want more power' response. No power is worth losing who I am."

"All choices have consequences."

"Didn't I just answer that one? Not that it isn't fun arguing with... whoever you are, but I really need to get back to finding my Mom and the others. I can't stand here and play 20 questions all day."

"By your will."

Was all he got in response before a portal opened up right in front of him. "Uh... Thanks?" He wasn't surprised when he didn't hear back. What did surprise him, however, was how he'd adjusted to the quiet voice in his head. "Yup, going nuts.."

The standoff at the ruins had only lasted a few minutes before Drew and Doyle made their moves. Munya immediately went after the man while Drew headed straight for Argost who stood between her and her son. The pompous villain made a decent show of dodging her swift limbs but her attacks were cut short moments after they started. "I'm not late am I?" A new yet equally pompous voice inquired as he held fast to Drew's raised leg.

"Wisconsin Ghost!" Maddie shouted upon recognizing who now held her friend. "Or was it Plasmius?" She spat at seeing him turn her way.

He chuckled as his blood red eyes met hers. "Ah, Maddie Fenton. Truly a delight to see you again, but it isn't the time for pleasantries." He then sent an electric shock through his palm effectively tasering Drew Saturday.

"Drew!" Doc outraged as he finished getting free of his own webs.

"Mom!" Zak shouted seconds after though Gaia kept him at the top of the altar.

"Hold young Kur. The time is not here." She warned as she glared down at Vlad. Despite what he'd just done the halfa set her limp body down gently between himself and the angry husband. "What did you do to her!?"

"Got her out of the way." He responded with a cold tone far different than the one he used for Maddie.

"Yes, and quite effectively." Argost remarked with a pleased grin. "And to answer your question, you're right on time."

Vlad smirked as he noticed the boy on the alter. "Good, and I see Kur is here."

"Yes just waiting for the crown." Argost responded as he pulled out a familiar medallion.

"Yes, though I was hoping to acquire it before arriving." The halfa scowled up at the boy who assisted in stopping him. "But I suppose it will be arriving in due time." He reached for the medallion though Argost held it away.

"In due time my friend, but not yet. We both need to be sure we get what we want after all."

"True." Vlad sneered before looking back at the others. He'd noticed Maddie too had freed herself, but had yet to make a move. Argost had his eye on the sky while the portal shimmered in the air. It had been flickering in opacity ever since Zak had appeared on the ruined alter. No doubt it was a sign. What bothered him was the fact the opposing alter still looked empty. The ceremony wouldn't truly start until they were both occupied after all. "I suppose then I do have time for pleasantries after all." Vlad mused as he floated towards the glaring ghost hunter. "Now what is that look for?"

"Did you expect anything different ghost?" She spat back thinking of everything her son told her as well as what she herself knew.

"I suppose not. The best things in life do require a bit of work don't they?" He chuckled and it sent a chill up the hunter's spine.

Just as she took a step back to get out of his way he felt a jerk in his cape. "Hands off Plasmius!" Danny seemed to appear out of nowhere and began swinging his nemesis around by the cape before letting him fly.

He dropped to the hard ground but didn't hesitate to get back up. "Ah, Daniel, finally here I see." He glared back at his temporary ally who seemed moderately surprised as well.

"Danny, where have you been!?" Maddie demanded as she turned to her son to get a good look at him. Having spent the better part of a day worried out of her mind she really needed to see he was okay.

"Not now mom... I'll explain after-"

"After what Daniel?" Vlad cut off in minor bewilderment. "You seem to be under the impression that this will be like every other time we've fought. When I didn't have everything to gain by winning." He grinned but it wasn't what Danny was used to. This was more like the last time in the castle. Vlad was serious.

"Stay back mom, I'll handle him. You help Mrs. Saturday."

"Ever the hero aren't we?" Vlad chuckled before instantly closing the distance and landing a blow right to Danny's jaw. He followed it up with a blast that the younger halfa blocked with a shield despite being half sprawled on the ground. Vlad few at it while continuing his blast and shattered it with a second blast. The recoil stunned Danny stopping him from retaliating once Vlad grabbed his ankle. He was swung up over Vlad's head before he was slammed hard into the ground on his back.

Maddie, who was busy freeing Fiskerton, quickly turned to her abused son in worry. "Danny!"

"I'm okay..." He responded as he tried to pull himself up, but Vlad still had hold of his ankle.

"For now." He chuckled before swinging him overhead again. This time the halfa landed face first into the stone floor. "But powerless as always Little Badger. It's time you let that lesson sink in." He swung him around a few more times before letting go and moving to grab his suit. With a surprising quickness Danny blasted Vlad's hand with ice and pushed himself up in a stumble while the villain recoiled from the cold. "Damn it all!" Vlad cursed as held his frozen limb in anger. Danny took a defensive stance while appearing like he could fall over any moment. "I'd forgotten that little trick of yours."

"That was ice of you." The younger halfa chuckled as he charged another blast.

Plasmius blocked with a shield by his free hand and shattered the ice on his arm moments later. "That is exactly what infuriates me!" Vlad roiled as he dashed to punch the teen again. Danny blocked and was pushed back. Vlad chained with his plasma ray and broke right through the barrier Danny tried to block with. "This isn't some game or comic book Little Badger! I've put too much work into this to let you get in my way!" He tore through Danny's guard like a cobra going in for the kill. Lifting Danny up by his throat he sneered with his fangs glinting in the morning light. "You had your choice, and you chose wrong!" Plasmius then turned to Argost who was just enjoying the show. "Now Argost!"

"Ah yes, right." He held up the medallion and tossed it to the elder halfa.

Danny eyed it weakly as he struggled against the vice grip on his throat. "W-what are y-you..."

"It's time to make a new choice." Vlad cut him off as he hung the ancient relic around his neck. The skull's red eyes glowed and Danny could feel a strange stirring in his chest. "I have power! I have ambition! Choose me!" He demanded though Danny didn't really get why.

"Ne...ver Fruit Loop..." He got out before feeling Vlad squeeze his throat tighter.

"Make your choice!" Danny couldn't find the air to respond at all, and it wasn't just the grip on his throat. He was beginning to feel a pressure in his chest like a balloon was inflating inside him. It felt so incredibly wrong he thought he'd throw up if Vlad wasn't gagging him. "Yes!" Vlad could see the shift happening. The green flame ignited at Danny's chest and he reached out for it with his free hand. "Choose me!" The flame danced before jumping on to Vlad's outstretched hand moving up to float above his head. Within it a black crown formed and he dropped the younger halfa to revel in his victory. Only a second later, however, the flame went out and the crown was gone. "What?! No!" Vlad glared back at the younger halfa who was still struggling to sit up. "What is this!?"

"Why are you asking me? I thought I didn't know anything." Danny hissed while wiping a small trail of ectoplasm from his lip.

"You don't, but I wasn't talking to you Daniel." Vlad responded with a chilling tone.

"Doyle! We're making a run for it!" Doc shouted as he ran with his wife over his shoulder. Fiskerton had a very angry Maddie under his arm as Komodo crawled along behind.

Vlad was only mildly curious as the group dashed away while his quarry still remained grounded. "Surrendering yourself to allow them a chance to escape?" Vlad couldn't help rolling his eyes at the very idea as he saw Fiskerton knock Munya out of the way to help Doyle.

Argost didn't seem terribly annoyed by the move as he eyed is own quarry at the top of the Altar. "And now there were two." He almost sang at the idea.

"Are you quite certain?" Gaia inquired as she gazed over to the two halfas. While Argost couldn't understand her since she'd removed her necklace, Vlad had no trouble. His eyes quickly flashed back to Danny who looked a little too smug for the position he was in.

"You wanna tell him, or should I?" He quipped which received a growl from the older man. He took the teen by his suit and ran a field of his ecto-lightning through him until the boy lost consciousness. Argost turned to the scene with a curious expression, but it was instantly replaced with bewilderment upon seeing Danny disappear in a ring of light.

"He is out of range. Now we may escape as well." Gaia announced though her young charge couldn't understand.

Argost looked back at the pair just in time to watch them appearate from his sight. "Plasmius! What is going on!?" He growled suddenly more irritated than he was mere seconds ago.

"A duplicate." Vlad growled back as he narrowed his eyes at his 'partner' and his fists radiated energy. "It would seem Daniel is learning after all." Though he sounded anything but proud. "We'll need to search the island."

As he began to make his way in the last direction he saw them go, he heard Argost chuckle. "Come now Plasmius, the best hunters don't chase their prey. They will come to us in due time."

The halfa glared at him. "And I suppose we just waste time waiting?"

"Waste? Perish the thought. You'll find it will take no time at all."

"You put me down this instant Fiskerton!" Maddie demanded as she worked herself around in his hold.

"Not that I don't think you can walk Mrs. F, but he puts you down, you'll just run right back to the two creep side show." Doyle argued as he turned to make sure they weren't being followed.

"You're damn right I will. I'm not leaving my son to fight those creeps alone." She then turned and kneed Fiskerton in the side causing him to stumble.

"Gah! Would you chill mom!? You're making it hard to run." Fiskerton complained much to everyone's surprise. They all stopped which caused the gorilla cat to stop moments later. "What?"

"Danny!?" Maddie stared up at him from under his arm.

"Yeah, what?"

"Hold on, when did you get here?" Doc wondered as he adjusted his wife's position.

"Since Zak showed up. I borrowed Fisk when I noticed he was asleep and used a duplicate to distract Plasmius." He finally let his mother down before gesturing further in. "And the further we get the better."

"True, we need to get a better idea of exactly what's going on. Last thing we need to do is get caught up in another ambush."

"So then where exactly are we going? I don't imagine going to the airship would be a good idea." Doyle pointed out as the group started moving again.

Doc took a glance back at the ex-mercenary before looking forward to Danny who was leading. "Good point. Where are we going Fisk- I mean Danny?"

"I have no idea. I'm following someone else."

Maddie raised a brow at her son's tone. He seemed so unsure, and yet didn't hesitate at the same time. "Who? I don't see anyone Danny."

"That ghost cat Gaia. She's waiting somewhere up ahead of us."

"Well I hope she has more answers this time. We need to know more about what's going on." Maddie declared as she thought back to her last encounter. She and Drew had spent some time talking with her when they were pulled into the Ghost Zone, but she didn't go into anything important. She didn't even answer Drew's question though what she did say was starting to make a little sense. Danny had been keeping a secret from her.

Danny stopped at the base of a large tree. It didn't seem odd at first until they noticed how much bigger it was than the rest of the forest trees. "Uh... whoa... How did we miss that?" Doyle wondered as he looked up at the high reaching canopy.

Doc looked around before facing Fisk. "So where is the ghost?"

Danny looked around as if feeling the area out with his senses. "She's here but..."

"Heads up!" All eyes looked up as Zak dropped from a high branch hanging from his claw. "Took you guys long enough." He wore a smirk before releasing the claw's grip and dropping the small space to the ground.

"Zak!" Doc called with relief as he set Drew down next to her son.

The woman looked out of it, but was now conscious again. "Mom!"

"Zak!" Drew reciprocated the hug while trying to get her bearings. "Thank goodness."

"So where's Danny?" The boy asked upon seeing him missing from the group.

"Present." Fisk spoke up bewildering the young Saturday. "Sorry, but I needed cover or Plasmius would have noticed me. Fisk was sleeping." Though the idea was odd, he knew Danny wouldn't hurt him so he let it go.

"Alright sure but... You going to let him go?"

"You cannot hide from the crown." The voice instantly got everyone's attention though Danny was the only one to understand. Gaia appeared at the base of the tree looking more corporeal than ever. "Now is the time to make your choice before it is made for you." Danny merely crossed his arms and looked away. "Act stubborn all you want. I know you know what must be done."

"Geez, you're as bad as Clockwork." The halfa grumbled as he phased out of the lemurian while holding the same position. He refused to look at Gaia to even see the insulted expression she wore.

"My apologies then..." She cleared her throat to continue. "Clockwork has never been the type to directly interact with his charges. I'll never truly understand why, but I do understand how you feel. His way of things can be very frustrating to be sure." She couldn't help agreeing with how long she had known him. Clockwork was a tease at best and an enigma at his worst.

"Well... you could have said something too." He glanced her way out of the corner of his eye.

"It was not my place. My charge is Kur."

"And you've been really good about telling him everything he needs to know huh?" The halfa quipped with heavy sarcasm.

"Now see here, that was not my choice. Had I done as I usually do then Kur would have been raised here like those who came before him." Gaia countered in more agitation. "You can thank Clockwork for this irritating change!" She huffed back. "But that is beside the point. He has told you now has he not? You must choose."

"Yeah if you can call it that." Danny scowled at the thought.

"Uh, not trying to be rude or anything but... maybe you can tell us what the ghost cat is saying too?" Doyle cut in looking a little lost.

"I'm more surprised you can understand her."

Danny turned to them with a raised brow. He'd completely forgot that he was the only one who could before... wait... "Hold on, why can't you? You seemed to understand her before right?"

Danny turned to Gaia who now held out an irregular stone on a necklace. "Only when I wore this. My standard speech, at one time called Spectric, is a universal tongue only understood by ghosts. Even if you cannot speak it, you will understand what is spoken if you are a ghost. Very few speak it so I'm not surprised you're confused." Gaia explained. "But that aside, I am here to explain what happens now." She turned to Zak who looked equally curious as his family. "The ceremony has begun and so leaving this island will be impossible until it is over."

"You're talking about the coronation Argost was talking about right?" Doc asked for clarification.

"Yes."

"Coronation for what? I was a little busy with the spider psycho." Doyle crossed his arms and frowned. "I mean, you're not gonna tell me miniman's some kind of king cryptid or something right?"

Gaia seemed to laugh at the idea before shaking her head. "No, but he does serve a greater function for them. Cryptids are the beings that have the closest bond with this world. Kur's role is to keep them balanced with the rest of the world."

"So keep them from getting out of hand?" Drew inquired.

"Yes, or to rile them should other beings get out of hand." Gaia revealed with a pointed glare. "Humans have been having many such interactions in the past century."

"Wait so... Am I the good guy or the bad guy?" Zak asked again feeling more than a little worried.

"Worry not young Kur, you are an agent of good." Gaia turned to him with a warm expression. "Balance requires great care. I have been watching over you and your brood for some time so I'm sure you know the true answer."

Zak put a hand on his chest and let out a sigh of relief. "Good..."

The sentiment was shared with the rest of the Saturday's as Doc placed a reassuring hand on his wife's shoulder. "Alright then, what about the coronation thing then?"

Gaia quickly took a glance at Danny who still looked annoyed and refused to look at her. "Ah, yes, a very good question. Perhaps you know of the Ghost King? They play host to a power as well much like the spirit of Kur. The Crown of Fire serves as the nexus of energy in the Infinite Realms, and requires a host to do this. Unlike Kur who is reincarnated, the Ghost King is selected by the crown."

"Crown of Fire? Wasn't that what Plasmius had? At least for a second." Doc recalled though it wasn't very long.

"Not truly no. He only had a fragment of the power. It is his desire to wear the crown however." Gaia put extra emphasis in that as she eyed Danny.

"Okay then... Am I missing something here?" Doyle proposed as he rubbed his chin. "If it didn't pick someone, why is this 'ceremony' happening?"

"Oh but it has, whether it's chosen likes it or not." All eyes quickly went to where hers were though Zak wasn't really surprised at this point.

"Whoa, hold on, wait... you're joking." Doyle couldn't figure out if it was serious or funny. Maybe both.

"I assure you I do not." Gaia defended as she then looked to Maddie. "Though I do understand this may not be the most desirable news. I too questioned Clockwork's intentions... at first."

Maddie placed her arms around her son and looked at the ghost cat. "I'm not going to pretend to understand how all of this works," She took a calming breath. "but why Danny? There are millions of ghosts in the Ghost Zone aren't there?" The scientist was showing a great deal of self control though her tone showed she was close to breaking. Her son seemed like he was going to be torn from her reach and she'd never see him again.

"Ah, a valid point human, but without a host the crown's reach is very limited. It can only assess those who it comes into contact with."

"You mean like when Danny touched it back at that dark altar room?" Zak asked remembering that whole fire fiasco.

Gaia shook her head. "No, before that. You see the crown can't truly be touched like a physical item of your world. When it is held it will appear as though it is floating though it must be said, that it also cannot be held unless it wishes to be."

"So you're saying it wanted to be used by Pariah?" Danny asked, finally breaking the silence that he'd been holding for most of the conversation.

Gaia looked a bit surprised before chuckling. "No, that ring of his made it so. A product of dark mysticism or magic. It was used to cloud the crown's senses. That is the only reason Pariah was able to wield the crown to the small degree he did. In truth, when without a host the crown can be held by almost anyone, human or ghost. That is how it makes its selection."

"But Pariah was still wearing that ring wasn't he?"

Gaia grinned. "Yes, but Pariah was never truly a host. He could wield great power yes, but as I said, only a fraction."

Danny looked a little shocked to find that out. "So Pariah..."

"Was powerful in his own right yes. Power is a requirement of the crown after all."

Zak crossed his arms to think. "Okay, but you said he had to touch it right? When did that happen?"

Danny quickly chimed in. "Yeah I just sealed him back up I never..." His eyes widened.

"Just remembered didn't you? Did it ever occur to you when you so easily removed the crown why that was? Why Pariah was so angry at you doing so?"

"But I was in that suit and I only had it for like, a second!" The halfa defended as if he'd been caught mid-sneeze in a picture.

"And that's all that is required."

"Oh come on!" Gaia couldn't help but be amused by the teen's reaction as she chuckled.

"This isn't funny ghost!" Maddie scolded while her son pinched the bridge of his nose.

"My apologies, but I must disagree. Please young one, recall what you did upon taking the crown from Pariah."

Danny lowered his hand with a glare at the cat. "Why?"

"Humor me." She insisted with a sly smirk.

Danny let out a sigh and took a minute to think about it. "When I took the crown off I didn't really know what to do with it so I tossed it somewhere. What's it matter?"

Gaia burst out laughing before she could answer his question and it irked him to no end. "Don't look at me like that humans." She defended as she noticed the annoyance shared between them. "Come now just picture it. He had in his hands the most powerful artifact in the Infinite Realms, an object of limitless power, and he just tosses it aside without a second thought." She turned to him. "Didn't remember you had it until just now either. It's no wonder it picked you over Pariah."

A muffled laugh caught the halfa's attention next as he turned to Doyle in embarrassment. "Sorry man, I couldn't help it. She has a point... kinda."

He held in his laugh until Zak joined him surprisingly enough. "He's right!" The young preteen held his stomach as the hilarity hit him.

Danny's face burned green in response. "I was a little busy trying to stop Pariah Dark you know. I didn't have time to think about it." He tried to defend as the two boys calmed their laughter.

"True, but most in your situation would have thought to use the crown against him." Gaia noted with a grin before becoming serious again. "But considering the risk, I can understand, whether you knew of it or not. Without an artifact such as the Ring of Rage, any user who attempts to abuse the crown will find it may be the last mistake they ever make."

"So basically what you're saying is, it picked Danny because he didn't care about it?" Doyle questioned while still amused at what Gaia said before.

"If you want to look at it simply, yes. Of course it isn't so simple. Depending on the situation, the crown can become desperate. During the reign of Pariah Dark, it did not have a true host and so it couldn't fulfill its duty completely. The repercussions of that have been becoming exponentially greater since his defeat." Gaia's head then suddenly snapped in another direction.

"What's wrong?" Zak wondered as he read her body language.

"We are not alone anymore. Keep on your guard." All of them went quiet with only the sound of rustling leaves to break the silence.

"It's not a ghost." Danny whispered as he looked around with the others.

Zak held up his claw and closed his eyes like he had with Raiju. "They're cryptids..." He could tell just by how it felt, but something else too.

"That's a good thing isn't it?" Doyle asked as he looked at the grim expression of the ghost cat and Zak.

"Not this time Doyle." Several low hissing noises crept from the trees which set all Saturday's on edge.

"Indeed, the Naga are not to be relied on or trusted young Kur. It was they who corrupted your predecessor and unleashed him upon the ancient world." Gaia nearly growled out in obvious anger. She turned back to the tree and a hollow appeared at the base. "I can do nothing in my current state, but I shall return. Until then," She paused as she looked to Danny and then Kur. "Do what you must."

Bang! A whole new problem to deal with. I wasn't sure how I was going to bring in the Naga. I knew it would be weird if they didn't show up at some point since they're so much more Kur oriented. BTW I hope the explanation about the crown wasn't too confusing, but I'll put it down simply:

The crown chooses its holder for power and character. You can't have any intention of abusing it or it could kill you. Also, you have to be pretty strong. (Sorry Box Ghost) Since only a ghost can use it though, a human with bad intentions can touch it all they want so long as it isn't with a host. Last thing, Pariah's anger was because the crown hadn't reacted to Danny taking it. As soon as Danny touched it, the crown had decided which is part of what had Pariah so outraged. "Why this pathetic half ghost!?" Basically that.

Anyway, thanks for reading. Feel free to ask questions, and please comment! (Pretty please?)=^-^=