Because it's been so long, here's a recap:

Once they were out of sight of the others, Loki spoke.

"So, I finally get to meet Danny Phantom, conqueror of the Ghost Zone."

Danny looked down at Loki, his eyes flashing a brighter green. "How do you know me? Or about the Ghost Zone?"

The trickster god only smiled. "You think Midgard is the only realm aware of the land of Lady Hel? How childish."

Talking through his teeth in annoyance, Danny replied, "It's not hell, it's the Ghost Zone. And how am I the conqueror?"

Quietly, Loki said "When the King Draugr, Pariah Dark, began to rise from his eternal sleep, the other realms readied for war. Asgard, in particular, began to build up its stockpile of weapons and armor. But then, as if from nowhere, another being rose up and defeated the terrible King Draugr. His second reign ended before it could truly begin. Naturally, the other realms were curious. There were feasts in your honor for many days. Most were glad to have avoided the conflict. Now, you are well-known throughout the Nine Realms as Danny Phantom, He Who Conquered Pariah Dark."

For a few seconds, there was silence, save for the wind. After thinking, Danny spoke up. "But it wasn't all me. I had tons of other ghosts helping me with Pariah's Armies. Plasmius was the one who locked him back inside the sarcophagus. I wouldn't have even lasted as long as I did if I didn't have my parents' suit enhancing my powers."

"But you faced the King Draugr, something few others could have done. For that, you are credited with defeating him. Even if you did have help from your parents." The last word was half-snarled, a complete change from the quiet, even tone that had come before it.

Danny frowned. "What's wrong with my parents?"

At this, Loki laughed. "You think the other Draugrs don't gossip? The dead are dreadful at keeping secrets. They talk about you and how your worthless parents didn't even notice that their own son had died by their hands. How they foolishly live in the same house as one of the creatures that they moronically pursue. How they are utterly baffled when all their equipment picks up on you. How they would give anything to rip you, their own son, apart molecule by molecule." He threw down the last words, stressing them; somehow, he knew that it was exactly what Danny's parents had said on more than one occasion.

Stoically staring ahead, Danny said "They wouldn't hurt me if they knew who I was."

Amusement crept into the Trickster God's tone now. "Would they? I've heard of your little alternate realities where you're accepted. How very sweet of them to completely ignore the fact that the very thing that they crave information on is right under their noses. In those realities, they knew for days, at most. But who knows what may happen beyond that? It starts with one innocent little test. Some blood, perhaps. A sample of your energy. If they knew what you really were, they would slowly turn you into their own little experiment. You would be their lab rat in no time."

Involuntarily, Danny shuddered. Whether he knew it or not, Loki had just described some of his most horrific nightmares. Trying to avoid further conversation, he stayed silent.

After several minutes of flying in silence, so quietly that he was barely audible, the trickster god spoke. "I know how it feels, to be separate from one's parents. From one's peers. To be overshadowed and outshone by a sibling. To feel utterly alone, lacking others like you within the dimension you call home.

"You do not belong with either world. There is too much of each side within you for you truly belong on one side. Just as I belong neither on Asgard or Jotunheim.

"I know how it feels to possess the powers of frost.* The beautiful energy within you, longing to be freed, to reach out and crystallize everything. Such breathtaking beauty, that is so wholly destructive. The magic of ice is a force to be reckoned with."

As he spoke, his quiet tone grew, a fire lighting itself in his eyes. "Together, with my magic and your cold core, we could be unstoppable. Together, we could become great, and finally claim our places amongst the kings of old. Together, we can rule those who once scorned us!" The last sentence was almost shouted.

Silence returned to the pair. As they flew, a looming shape appeared in the distance. Heading towards it, Danny confirmed that it was the Helicarrier. Turning himself and the Trickster God intangible, he flew through the metal walls, straight to the heart of the ship where the gigantic (though slightly ridiculous and excessive) glass prison was.

Dropping his charge inside the cell, Danny slipped out and landed quietly on the metal catwalk outside of it. Facing the god, he said, "You're right. We do have a lot in common. You helped me realize that tonight."

Loki smiled.

Danny continued, "And I do think that we could be powerful together. But there's one difference between us that will always make me different from you."

The smile vanished.

"I don't want power. I don't want to rule. I just want to be accepted. My friends and sister care about me, and I know that my parents would, too, if I told them about myself. I may not be happy with everything in my life right now, but I would never kill for personal gain." Danny turned and began to leave. Pausing in the doorway, he added, "And for the record, you remind me of one serious fruit loop that I know." With that, he left.

Alone in the cell, Loki stood watching the camera that was aimed directly at him. He smiled, knowing that his plan would work. In less than a day, his forces would attack the Helicarrier and retrieve him, in the process releasing the Hulk and destroying the entire SHIELD headquarters. Nothing could stop him.

Thinking about the Ghost Child, a shadow of a frown passed over his face. It was such a pity that he couldn't convince the young halfa to join his ranks. Such potential, wasted. But the confidence that he had spoken with told the trickster god that he would fight until the very end to protect his friends and family.

The dark-haired man shook his head. The Ghost Boy was a lost cause. Remembering this, he sat down on the floor of the cell, trying to figure out what exactly a "fruit loop" was and why he resembled one.

*heh heh anyone else watch Adventure Time? Remember when Finn wore the Ice King's crown in the alternate timeline created by Prismo? POWER OF FROOOST! POWER OF FROOOST! XD (for those expecting an actual footnote, sorry for making you scroll)

I AM SO SORRY THAT I NOW APPARENTLY TAKE FOREVER TO WRITE THINGS. However, in my defense, I never knew the joys of anime/manga until a few weeks ago. Or how addicting such material could be. And for that matter, Loki is a pain in the ass to write. He's so articulate, and it's difficult! –PD44