Chapter Text
The event was finally dying down after a full week of celebrating, all the ancients had left, along with most of the other guests. The few that remained were either very close friends with Danny, or worked around the castle and were cleaning up after the coronation after-party. Most of the humans had left, including his teammates from the Justice League. Some of them couldn’t make it; like Superman, Wonder woman, Dr.Fate, Martian Manhunter, etc. because they were off-planet for the duration of the event. However, one of the last few guests who remained walked up to Danny, standing by himself at the banquet table with a fatigued smile on his lips. The ex-prince had tapped Danny's shoulder, getting his attention.
“Why hello there, your highness. I come bearing a gift, hoping you may accept my newfound integrity and remorse. And, perhaps, you will forgive me and my foolish actions toward you and Queen Dorathea one day.” Aragon said, holding out a thick golden chain with a large, foggy blue gem in the middle. He had a frightening smile he was unable to hide, looking as if he was taking candy from a child.
“Ah, I see,” Danny spoke, confused by the other ghosts' actions, and however the hell he got in the castle, “well, whatever it is, I can see myself forgiving you in the near future-”
“Yes, yes, of course!” Aragon cut in, “well, now that that is dealt with, please, put it on immediately! It would mean much to me! A true show of our alliance!”
Danny sighed and forced a weary smile, grabbing the necklace and pulling it around his neck. As Danny struggled, Aragon paced around Danny and locked the two back pieces together, quickly muttering under his breath, “ruĝa estas suspektinda kaj devus esti elĵetita ”
“What was that?” Danny asked, more so confused, but unable to hear Aragon.
“Ahhh, nothing my King.” Aragon smiled that sickly sweet smile once more.
“Aragon! What are you doing to his majesty, Phantom!” Dora yelled as she rushed over and put herself between Danny and Aragon, brushing invisible dust off Danny.
“Just giving our new King a gift. Call it a peace offering of me turning a page. A new transformation , if you will. Either way, I was just leaving.” Aragon replied with a smirk and a wave of his hand.
“And a good thing too. You should not be anywhere near his Majesty, the King.” Dora scoffed
“Thank you, Dora, but he was simply giving me a gift. We were just discussing the fights, and maybe a peaceful resolution, to your quarrel. We both agree a truce or peaceful resolution would be the most beneficial.” Danny said with a happy smile, despite how much he hated having to use his ‘kingly conversation skills’ that Pariah Dark didn’t even have to use!
Aragon was almost to the door, he made sure he was in Phantom's direct view, grabbed Sam, and forcefully kissed her on the lips, rubbing his hands down her knight's armor as he did so. Sam kicked Aragon off and stumbled backward onto the floor, ‘ewww’ing in disgust while wiping her mouth vigorously with her hands.
Danny was, rightfully so, incredibly pissed. He pushed Dora out of the way and stomped forward toward Aragon. The room's temperature lowered with every step Danny took. Every step was louder than the last. A gasp was heard from behind Danny, but he was in such a rage he just couldn’t think! How dare Aragon just kiss Danny's personal knight, his best friend! Forcefully too! Danny, being blinded by his sheer anger, couldn't see himself getting bigger, getting heavier, growling louder, walking on all fours. His crown grew to accommodate his size, floating above his head and growing horns. Danny couldn’t see the monster he became. Monster , though? Really? That's not what we would call him, more along the lines of a dragon .
Aragon guffawed, laughing and smiling whilst Danny pushed him down, pinning him to the floor with his large green claws. Danny let out a large huff, blowing cold air directly on Aragon's face, silencing him immediately. Danny turned one of his claws, scratching it across Aragon's chest. Aragon let out a whimper, eyes full of fear, reflecting Danny’s dragon status back to him. That's when Danny snapped out of what he was doing. He was hurting Aragon. A ghost. One of his subjects. One of those who was supposed to be under his protection. Danny quickly pulled his claw away, a sigh of relief coming from Aragon.
Aragon smiled, “ sus inter ni ” whispering out those three small words caused an explosion of light around Danny's chest, sending him flying back into a wall. Fright Night and other guards rushed in, trying to get close to Danny, but failing miserably from the pressure created by the glowing ball encompassing him. The blue ball appeared to collapse in on itself before exploding like a supernova, sending a flash of light throughout the room. Danny fell to the floor, unconscious and still in his newfound dragon form. The guards rushed towards Danny, whilst Fright Night ran to get Aragon. As soon as Fright Night reached him, he picked Aragon up and slammed him against the nearest wall.
“ Talk. Now. ” The Night said, yet all Aragon did was laugh. He smiled and showed all his sharp teeth, yelling with pride out toward Danny.
“AHAHAHA, SEE, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A FOOLISH CHILD, UNFIT FOR THE CROWN, FALLING FOR MY SIMPLE TRAP–“ He was going to finish his sentence, but Sam decided to punch him in the face instead, knocking him out. Fright knight dragged the unconscious Aragon off to the castle's temporary dungeon until Walker could come to pick him up.
The knights were yelling, trying to get Danny up, but Jazz, Sam, and Tucker pushed through to get to him.
“Quick! Take the necklace off!” Dora yelled as she rushed toward Phantom.
That's all they needed, climbing around Danny’s massive head, they attempted to rip the necklace off. It barely budged. Dora got over and pulled as hard as she could. It wouldn’t work. She transformed her arms to their dragon forms, and yet, the necklace wouldn’t move even a little.
A loud grunt made them all stop in their tracks. Oh no. Danny shifted and started to stand. Tucker and Jazz, who were standing atop Danny’s neck, slid off him as fast as they could. Danny picked himself up fully and looked around the room, confused.
“Uh… your… your highness?” one of the guards stumbled out wearily. Danny looked down at where the voice was coming from and tilted his head, his fluffy ears flicking outwards in confusion.
“My King, I must inform you,” Dora said, feigning confidence to the best of her ability, “but you are uhm… a dragon. Because of the gift Aragon gave you.” Danny stared at her, ‘ No shit sherlock ’ his eyes said. “M- uh, moreover, we are unable to get said necklace off. It seems, well- stuck. You can’t go, uhm… Can't go back.” She rushed out, nervously.
Danny stared at her for a minute, taking in what she had said. Oh. oh. Danny scooted back looking down. He reached his claws up and scratched at his neck. There. The collar sat comfortably around his neck, but as the others had said, it didn’t move an inch. Danny’s eyes widened, his pupils quickly turning to slits as the realization set in and he began to panic. He scratched and ripped at the collar, stumbling around doing so. In this process, he had knocked over paintings and tables, unable to control his wings and tail as they fluttered about, hitting the (running) guards and nearby chairs. Danny stepped on his tail and fell backward with a loud crash. He ripped at the collar, yet there was magic, or something of the sort, on the collar that had protected it, as Danny instead just ripped up his chest and neck, glowing green blood flowing out freely.
“No! Danny, stop! We’ll figure this out!” Jazz yelled as she ran up. Tucker and Sam followed closely behind, yelling similar things. Once they had gotten close enough, Jazz yelled once more about Danny’s necklace, then again about the new cut on her arm. That, well that made Danny stop. He turned his head and saw that one of his claws had cut Jazz’s arm. Shit. Danny rolled onto his stomach and crouched down, trying to make himself smaller, ears and wings pinned to himself.
“Danny! Hey, it’s okay! I’m okay, look!” Jazz lifted her arm up, blood trickled down but it wasn't deep, nothing but a small scratch. “See, Danny? Everything is going to be okay.” Jazz said, slowly inching closer to Danny. Jazz whispered reassurances as she got close enough to reach out. She extended her palm and placed it on Danny’s nose. She moved it back and forth, in a petting motion.
A whimper came from Danny’s throat, he looked up to meet his sister's eyes. She smiled at him again. Jazz glanced around, ah, everyone but her, Dora, Tucker, and Sam, remained after Danny’s outburst.
Danny opened his mouth and let out a small “arrrraaarrawwwwooo” He glanced down, seemingly at his mouth, in confusion.
“Ah, right. So, uhm, your Majesty, it can take… well… years for someone to learn how to speak in their dragon form. So, unfortunately, you won't be able to communicate with us other than simple ‘yeses’ or ‘nos’.” Danny frowned at that. He lowered his head a bit, moping, his wounds already almost fully recovered.
“Well… we need to talk to someone about it, right?” Tucker said, walking forward, “we could go to Frostbite?”
In response Danny smiled and nodded his huge head, unknowingly wagging his pointed tail. The group smiled at him and sat down next to him. Danny had laid his head down and tried to get more comfortable, he was gonna be stuck like this for a while.
