Finally, after much waiting, the next chapter to this exciting tale.

I do not own Danny Phantom or any of its characters. Padlock is mine.

Ember and Danny appeared in front of a large medieval castle surrounded by dead trees. Two guards dressed in armor standing near the door brought their spears down, baring the entrance. "Who goes there?" asked one of the guards. "Danny Phantom and Ember McLain," said the ghost rocker. "Queen Dorathea has been expecting you," said the guard as both spears were lifted, granting them access.

"Expecting us?" asked Danny as Ember as they walked through the entrance. "Duh, dipstick," said the ghost rocker as she re-adjusted Danny's weight on her shoulder, giving him a sneer as she spoke. "Clockwork told me to take you here. Though I've gotta admit, I didn't think you'd have any friends here."

They walked into the castle where they were immediately greeted by several servants, who led them to the throne room. At the very end of the room, a beautiful satin throne sat with a ghostly woman wearing a blue dress and a small golden circlet around her head in it.

As she saw the two walk in, a big smile appeared on her face. Getting up, she flew over to the two and wrapped Danny in a big hug. "Sir Phantom. It's so good to see you again." The young halfa let out a slight hiss as he winced in pain, causing Dora to release him with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry. We'll have you taken care of immediately." With a small clap of her hands, two servants came and took Danny from Ember's shoulders and out of the throne room.

They carried the young halfa through several corridors before stopping in to a door with a red cross on the door. One of the servants opened the door and the three went inside. There were three beds lined up against the wall on their left while a large cupboard with a counter underneath was on the other side. They were barely in the room when Danny's ghost sense went off.

A young woman dressed in a simple brown dress and green skin walked out from a door on the other side of the room. She immediately let out a small 'oh' before flying over to the young halfa. "Bring him over to the bed," she said as she gestured to the closest bed. The two servants complied and sat Danny down on the bed before leaving the room.

The young ghost woman hands began to glow as she placed them on Danny's chest. His body began to glow like her hands and she nodded a few times before removing her hands and moving over to the cupboard. She returned with several rolls of gauze in her arms. "Please remove your shirt," she said in her soft-spoken voice. Danny began doing as he was told, wincing a little as he moved to get his shirt over his head.

His chest was a beginning to turn a dark purple and there were several bumps where the bone was pushing against the skin. Scars of varying sizes became more visible on his bruising skin, evidence of all his years of ghost hunting. In the center of his chest, a green padlock tattoo connected to the chains along his arms and down his waist.

Moving very carefully, the young ghost woman began wrapping his chest tightly with one of the rolls of gauze. He let out a small grunt here and there as his ribs popped back into place. When she was finished wrapping up his chest, she picking up the extra gauze. "Thanks," said the ghost boy, causing the young ghost to smile as she nodded in response. "Just take it easy. Too much strain will worsen your condition."

The ghost boy nodded and attempted to get back on his feet, only to feel extremely dizzy and fall back onto the bed. The young doctor noticed this and flew over to his side. "You're suffering from exhaustion, so just lie down and rest." He nodded, too tired to argue.

As soon as he got under the covers, he could feel the real world vanish as sleep overcame him.

I know, I know. You were expecting something longer. It would have been but I've been coming up with ideas as I went and I'm starting to come up dry.

But with your reviews, I can make this story the brilliant masterpiece you desire. So please, review this story, or I'm gonna have to *sniff* put this story to sleep.

Seriously, review this story. The creepy doctor from the vet's gonna charge me double if I don't have an answer by Wednesday.