Deep within the Ghost Zone was a place not many ventured into. The fear from the old king's reign was enough to keep the older ghosts away but some of the younger ghosts were still foolish enough to try to get a peek at the old realm. The foolish were easily scared off by the things that protected the castle that housed the sleeping king. And for many years it lay dormant until a foolish half breed opened the sarcophagus. The ghosts rallied behind another half breed, the younger of the only two in existence, and managed to save both their worlds from the tyrant.

Several years passed since the king was resealed; in the halfas nineteenth year, the King, Pariah Dark, had amassed enough power to begin weakening the seals of his containment. Over months the weakened seals allowed information to slip into the king's consciousness. He knew of the ghost's respect for the one named Danny Phantom. Even the vast amount of power the ghost had reached him. He even knew how the ghosts went to and from the human realm with little resistance. It seemed what he had failed to notice when he last awoke was how different the world was from all those years ago.

Since no one ever ventured so far into the old realm the cracks that had begun to cover the surface of the sarcophagus went unnoticed by all except one. Clockwork sighed at the vision of the old castle. He could reseal the sarcophagus and prevent the future, but he was willing to take a chance. Just as young Daniel had learned a lesson from his future. Pariah could learn a lesson from his past. With that in mind, Clockwork left even as more cracks surfaced. It would be a trying time but it was worth it to see a time of true peace.

It was near Danny's twentieth birthday that every ghost and half ghost felt the overwhelming wave of power that signaled the return of the Ghost King. For Danny, it couldn't have come at a worse time. He was in the middle of a lecture at his school. Without even giving an excuse, he dashed from the lecture and transformed. He headed for his apartment; it was shortly after his eighteenth birthday that he moved away from FentonWorks. It was taxing on him to stay where he felt like at any moment his own parents could turn on him. His secret was still hidden from everyone except those who had discovered it in the first few years of getting his powers.

When he arrived home his living room was already packed with ghosts. (Ha-ha it's not much of a living room then xD)

Skulker, self-proclaimed ghost zones greatest hunter, spoke first, "Phantom! You felt the surge of power, did you not? Pariah Dark has returned!" All hell broke loose with many ghosts panicking and pleading with Danny to help them, to save them from the beast that was a monster even among ghosts.

"Stop! First you all need to calm down, then we can make a battle plan. We know how he attacks we will protect the zone as we can. For now, go hide in the human world but don't cause trouble! I'll make sure everyone is safe." Danny wasn't fond of leaving the ghosts to their own devices but he needed more intel. He'd grown to rely on strategy as well as brute strength. An impromptu trip to Pariah's Keep was in order.

As the ghosts scattered Danny pulled out his cell phone and sent Sam a quick message warning them not to follow him and when he would be back. The goth was in class and wouldn't check the message until he was well into the ghost zone saving him from putting his friends in danger.

Again, Fenton became Phantom, and took off towards his childhood home. Tucker had made many modifications over the years to all the Fenton tech that made all the tech ignore Danny's ectosignature. So, when he phased in, past his parents no less, they didn't even notice that the ghost they wanted to capture most was in their home.

Once in the Ghost Zone, Danny felt equal parts paranoid and calm. There was no telling how angry Pariah Dark would be, but the zone was also a place of peace for the young halfa. He didn't need to pretend. Every ghost knew of his human half, and in recent years they had come to respect him enough to only interfere in his human life minimally. They still fought him but now it was more for practice or sport than because of malice.

It was many years ago, but Danny still remembered Pariah's Keep perfectly. It wasn't every day that a teen took on a king and won. Danny gave a small chuckle at his memories, "two fourteen-year-old pawns to turn a knight and topple a king" Vlad had told him that day. What a farce, as much as Vlad tried to make the whole thing seem as though it was planned, Vlad was only able to accomplish his goals because of Danny's quick thinking. He was so lost in his thoughts Danny hadn't even realized that he had phased into Pariah's throne room, where the old king sat.

"So, have you come to return me to the Sarcophagus of Forever Sleep? If I remember correctly you needed the aid of a machine to best me last time we fought."

Danny jumped, and whirled to face the king tensing all his muscles in preparation for the first blow. What he saw thought made him relax, Pariah had indeed returned but the air of malice he had previously commanded was nowhere to be seen. Instead he saw a calm if not intimidating man sitting upon the throne.

"You're not going to attack me?" Danny may have grown up and gotten smarter but he would still always ask terribly obvious questions when shocked.

Pariah sighed, how had this small boy locked him away last time, "If I wanted you destroyed you would have never stepped foot in my throne room."

Dany flinched but nodded in response, "So what now? No offense but you don't exactly make the ghosts feel safe and I promised that I would protect them." Danny stopped floating and touched down softly on the floor.

"You would protect a world in which you do not fully belong, and make promises to those who are not fully loyal to you?"

"Well yeah, I mean they came to me for help, and this is my home too even if I don't live here full time."

Pariah contemplated this, "then we shall duel. I must know of your strength before I give my throne to someone who is unworthy."

Danny blanched, "Wait wait wait! I don't want your throne! I just want to know the ghosts and humans are safe, I didn't come here to take your throne from you!" Full panic had set in, Danny wasn't even sure he could take the old ghost in a fight. His powers had been honed and strengthened but that didn't mean he was invincible, he was nowhere as powerful as he was when he used the ectoskeleton to boost his powers.

"You will duel me if you wish to uphold your promise to keep those who sought your protection."

Danny nodded, he would do whatever it took to win and keep the ones depending on him safe. Pariah stood and gestured to follow him. He led them to a large arena where they both stood on opposing sides.

"The first one to fall will loose. I will not hold back." Even without the Ring of Rage and Crown of Fire Pariah was a powerful ghost whose power was not to be underestimated.

The first shot was thrown by Danny himself, his power would quickly diminish the longer the battle went on, so to gain an upper hand he would attempt to end the battle quickly. Pariah like Danny was skilled with making shields and blocked the blows with little effort.

No words were exchanged as the battle progressed, with blows meeting halfway and neither gaining any ground. It wasn't until Danny attempted to use his ice powers that things finally began tipping in his favor, Pariah was susceptible to his ice powers harsh blows. Slowly Danny gained the upper hand, Pariah would miss blocking a shot or stumble back from a kick, something that had Danny growing cocky.

Eventually Pariah grew tired of just slugging it out, with a powerful blast he knocked Danny away and mounted a full assault that left more than a few marks on Danny. They both bore injuries that were beginning to slow them down. Again, they were matched in power. Finally, Danny had enough, he needed to end it quickly, he drew in a deep breath and began to wail. His ghostly wail was still his most powerful attack by itself. For minutes, he continued until he felt his power drain so much that anymore would be a hazard.

Pariah was stunned at the sheer force of the wail but didn't fall to its power. He was dazed and could already feel his healing ability working to fix what damage that been caused. He shook it off and strode forward to the halfa who was so drained that he was having trouble standing.

"You lose Phantom, admit your defeat." The stubborn half breed responded with an attempt at punching but with no energy behind the strike he knew that he'd lost. Pariah, in frustration, backhanded the young ghost sending him flying into the wall and knocking him unconscious.

With a grumble Pariah left the arena and called upon some of the staff that had returned when he awoke, "Tend to the half breeds wounds. Notify me when he wakes." With that the Ghost King retreated to his own quarters. When the young Phantom woke they would have much to discuss.