THE PHANTOM'S REALM

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: EPILOGUE

July 7th, 2015 Seattle, Washington

"I was born here, you know. Seattle." Ember commented as she watched the sun on the horizon. Danny smiled.

"Duh. That's why we're here for our first date. What'd you think, coincidence?" Danny scoffed. "Come on Em, even I'm not that lucky." Ember huffed a laugh.

"I guess." She said, and they entered a comfortable silence until Ember said, "Did you know that my birthday is the same day this giant needle-"

"Space Needle." Danny interrupted smoothly, although she continued on like he hadn't.

"Had it's grand opening?" She finished, clacking on the top of the tower they were currently lounging on with her knuckles. Danny smiled and nodded, grinning more at her surprised look.

"So, Baby-Pop, how you holding up with Danielle's girlfriends over there? Life in the 'Zone treating them alright?" Ember asked nonchalantly. Danny nodded.

"Boy they're a handful alright, but nothing I can't handle. I think they've fussed over Dani being so short now rather than actually trying to adjust to 'life in the 'Zone'." Danny used finger quotes on the last part as he mocked Ember's words.

"And Danielle's okay with being six still?" Ember asked, almost worriedly. Danny chuckled.

"You just saw she was happy as could be, still, three days ago. You think you'd trust the girls father to constantly ask if she was okay, but jeez you're even worse than I am." Danny jibed at her. She glared but they both knew there was nothing behind it.

There was another comfortable silence until Ember, once again, broke it.

"So I take it you haven't heard the news?" Ember asked, almost smirking.

Danny shook his head, not bothering to turn to her. She quickly disappeared in a tornado of flames, but reappeared so quickly Danny didn't even have time to flicker out of view yet. She teleported back and followed by dropping an article of the Seattle Times onto his face.

"Read 'em and weep, Dipstick." She said happily.

Danny looked at the article and his heart stopped as he saw the headline 'PHANTOM KING SAVES CHRISTMAS' on top and a photo of him in the streets of Amity Park, in ghost form, glaring at an unknown entity. Even in black and white print the fierce green glow around his eyes was noticeable.

"Aw crap." Danny said before he started to read.

"After the shocking reveal that Amity Park's one and only ghostly superhero Danny Phantom was, indeed, King of the 'Ghost Zone' as it were called, the public had mixed reactions, but that's to be expected by now. However, with this new information combined with the events that took place Christmas last, President Hartman has decided to hand out a Presidential Pardon to the ghost-teen, officially clearing his criminal record.

Not only that, but Hartman has also requested Phantom's presence in his office at the White House on July 30th, 2015. How do we know it's real, you may ask? Because Hartman has also disbanded the government branch dedicated to hunting and exterminating ghost, like Phantom, dubbed the 'Guys in White', to not only receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom but to also, and more importantly, establish diplomatic relations between the United States of America and The Ghost Zone."

"Impressive, Baby-Pop. Only you could catch the Presidents eye without meaning to and be upset about it." Ember commented. Danny smirked.

"The only thing that excites me off the bat is that those Morons in White are gone for good." He chuckled. Ember rolled her eyes.

"You're not happy that you're being pardoned for your 'crimes'? Or that you get to meet the president?" Ember questioned.

"Pardoned for crimes I've insisted for a year I didn't do, explained why and have proved it wasn't my fault at least twice now. You forgot that part." Danny added, before sighing. "I don't know. If I do, then there'll be more controversy over the 'Zone's intentions on partnership. I'm sure there's still people out there like the Guys in White who think we're trying to 'suck the states dry of resources to build a death ray' or something like that."

"Whatever you say, Dipstick, whatever you say." Ember patronized him before asking something that had been on her mind a while now.

"Danny?" The use of his actual name made him turn towards the diva ghost, who looked almost nervous. "What exactly did happen last Christmas?"

Danny flinched at the thought of the memory and went to tell her to leave it be, but he knew he had to tell her eventually.

"Well, it's not something I like to remember. Not in the least." He started. She nodded, waiting patiently for once. He sighed again.

"It was just before our Christmas break started last year..."

And so begins "The Phantom's Realm: Royal Origins".

Pay close attention or you'll miss it! The first chapter will be up by the end of the month definitely, probably sooner.

Until the prequel, guys! Stay cool and happy holidays!