#cae's rambles

age: 14

Their obsession will, of course, be ghost related... but now they're ghosts themselves. With becoming ghosts came all the basic knowledge and experience. Very few things seem to align with their theories and hypotheses... especially psychologically and emotionally. And they start to learn, partially thanks to their obsession, but still much too late. Harm has been done - they have hurt many beings, SENTIENT beings. That, they could only hope to make up for in the afterlife. Plus, no fair papers were ever published on ghosts yet. They could only hope someone would, to overwrite their mistakes and pseudo-science. There's so many more to list.

What if the way Wes tries to out Danny's secret is by deliberately trying to get himself in trouble at school (the danger kind, not the being a bad student kind) in the hopes to get Phantom to save his ass, and hopefully once have him transform with bystanders. Either because Danny thinks there's no one else or because it's a dire situation where he won't be able to risk any time.

Of course, this does not work, Phantom manages to save Wes time and time again without outing his secret all the while he is receiving the glory from peers for helping this seemingly clumsy danger magnet of an unlucky kid every time without fail.

Wes is infuriated by this. What will it take for anyone in Amity to notice anything at all? Has no one noticed how Danny always disappears when Wes is in danger, either? Though, he's determined and continues trying. Believing that one day someone will finally begin to question this all and will maybe start discussing it with their friends.

He didn't expect the first one to realize, to be Danny himself, though. Once he finds out, he does not stop "saving him". On the contrary- he starts paying more attention at Wes as both Phantom and Fenton. He figured what he's up to now and not only does he start helping Wes as Fenton to Wes' dismay, he starts flirting with him.

His audacity is through the roof! "No I'm not hitting on you, you freak! I'm just trying to get someone, anyone to realize what a menace you are!" Or is he? Now it's time for Wes to realize something he's been in denial of for the longest time.

Yes, he hates how no one is seeing the obvious signs that Fenton is Phantom. Yes, he hates that the few people he has mentioned his theory to think he's crazy, stupid, whatever you name it, for telling the truth. He wanted to bust Danny. That's why he keeps getting in trouble and wants Phantom to save him- that's all there is to it right?

No Wes, my son, it is not.

Somewhere along the lines of this all, Wes started to appreciate Danny saving him each time. Even though he already knew most of it was a set up! He kept doing it and it honestly warmed his heart. Through the encounters, he also started to get to know Danny as a person better. Albeit through snippets of talk one can barely call a conversation and through how careful Danny always is when saving him and others. Careful not to hurt them. He even started noticing little mannerisms and habits he doesn't notice in anyone but his brother Kyle, much of those he thinks are endearing.

After noticing how he was aging way slower than usual, Danny had started to get worried. The worry peaked for a while when it seemed his aging had halted completely after reaching the physiology of a young adult. He started taking pictures of his friends and family members unprompted and completely out of the blue. His family thought he was finally starting to regain some family spirit, sure, that's why. His friends occasionally felt like it invaded their privacy, but whatever. His ghostly acquaintances were confused to put it lightly, but they humored the halfa.

After some years, the frequency at which Danny took pictures had declined, but he still did so regularly. It is just that now, he had been taking them during special events. Taking pictures during such events was normal right? And so people rarely questioned it anymore. The half ghost eventually seemed to have taken up painting as a new hobby. He was quite naturally gifted at it, actually. It made people wonder why he hadn't picked it up earlier. He mostly painted the faces of his loved ones.

It was surprising to Danny, really, how long it had taken said loved ones to start noticing his seemingly non existent aging process. Why had he never told anyone? He didn't really know for sure. Was it as to not alarm them? So they would not worry, or become sad upon hearing such a harsh fact. Or was it not to hurt himself more than he already had? To protect himself from the truth, believing it would hurt less as long he kept it from others. If Danny had to guess, it would probably be the latter.

When finally confronted, the beans were spilled. It became all too obvious why he had suddenly taken up event and portrait photography and portrait painting. It was so he could remember. He documented as many big events of his dear ones as he could. He documented their changes in appearance, style and whatnot, all to remember. He would not forget anything of the people who had helped and loved him the most.

And then the inevitable came. First, his parents went. He started to paint their faces more than before. Was it as to mourn his loss? Perhaps so. This happened every time another friend or family member passed. Every time someone left, he started painting them more. Eventually, painting basically took up almost all his free time. As he seemingly mourned the loss of his dear ones, he did not meet new people who could've become his new family. Not realizing such a fact.

What if Danny's initially a ghost prince instead of king. What if he's too "young and inexperienced" to become the ghost king. When he beat Pariah Dark he was just 15, yes, but that's not the reason he can't be ghost king yet. He's only had a few months of experience as a ghost up until that point, plus he's part human, living mostly in the human realm at that!

They couldn't leave an entire realm with countless beings inhabiting it in the hands of a single half ghost child who wasn't even familiar with all his own ghostliness yet. So the Ancients decided to wait before they coronate him as official ghost king, but they did want to familiarize the boy with his future calling already. Ease him into the world you could say.

They ask for Danny to accept the position as ghost prince. While Danny initially refuses, the Ancients do manage to convince him after a long while of pleading. From then on, he'd be in the ghost zone a lot more than before, not to fight or visit ghosts, but to watch the Ancients do their thing. He mostly hangs with and studies Clockwork but the latter ushers him to watch the other Ancients as well. As his future duties will involve needing knowledge and skills of all the Ancients' areas expertise, and not just his task to watch over time.

At this point in time, Danny had barely any authority and he didn't mind that. He still didn't think he was fit to be king of anything serious, let alone an entire realm. Plus, his experiences are so unique and different from other ghosts, he wasn't even sure how he could relate to their struggles and needs. But that's why the Ancients called upon him to be the ghost prince of course, so he could learn.

He tries to act indifferently and sometimes even a little annoyed at all this "training" as he liked to call it, a bit to the Ancients' dismay. But he did appreciate the guidance and the Ancients knew this. While Danny is opposed to the idea of becoming ghost king still, he does know it has to happen eventually. And this kind hearted boy only wants the best for his future folk so frequent lighthearted complaints aside, he always listens and learns intently and obediently.

And besides receiving guidance about his future duties, he got guidance about being a ghost in general. Because he used to mainly be in the realm of the living, he didn't really encounter anything ghostly besides the initially malicious ghost attacks, but over time those occured less as well. Of course the boy eventually started to understand things on his own, but there were still many aspects of his half life he wasn't aware of or understood well. It felt very relieving and liberating for Danny to finally understand the other half of himself more.

He's just a very confused boy who suddenly had the expectations of an entire world put on him and Clockwork developed a soft spot for him after a while partially because of it, he treats him like a son. The other Ancients warm up to him eventually too and vice versa.

I also like to think that his class and mr. Lancer get to know his identity at some point in time, and from then on they'd help him out whenever possible. Such as helping him take notes and hold recaps of material if he really can't make it to class, which fortunately isn't a very frequent occurrence. They'll just try to be even more supportive after finding out he's a future ghost king. And sometimes a few classmates might tag along with Sam and Tucker when they visit his Keep! :)

When he finally becomes the ghost king, the Ancients will still stay with him and be there to guide him along the way like usual. It's just that now, Danny has to perform duties as well instead of watch just others doing so. He messes up sometimes, but usually nothing grave, and he always has the ghosts' best interest at heart. This'll happen when he's ready for the responsibility, whenever that may be.