The Halfa Prince (Book 1) *RE-MASTERED*

Chapter 14: Battle Plans

Third Person POV

Danny groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, wincing as the light caused his current migraine to get even worse. He tried to stand up, but found himself unable to. After trying a few more times, Danny was soon wide awake and came to the realization that the reason he could not get up was because his wrists and ankles were bound to the chair he was sitting in. No, not chair, throne. He was sitting on the throne in Phantom's Keep in his Ghost Prince form, with the Ring of Rage glowing menacingly on his finger.

Danny began to panic, trying desperately to remember how and why he was at the castle, but his memory was drawing a blank. He and Fright Knight had been on their way to get his friends so they could talk to Clockwork about Vizier trying to control Danny through the ring and then...

The doors to the throne room swung open with a flourish, startling the young halfa out of his thoughts, and in floated a familiar, wrinkled face. "Ah, you have finally awakened, your Highness," Vizier said gleefully, hurrying to Danny's side.

Suddenly, Danny remembered everything. Flying to school, being ambushed by shapeless creatures, seeing Vizier and then nothing. "You?!" Danny cried out, pulling desperately against his restraints, "What do you want from me?!".

Vizier frowned, "I am merely helping you fulfill your destiny, my Prince; to lead the Ghost Zone into a new age of prosperity, just as your predecessor had attempted." Vizier's expression turned grim as he continued, "Pariah and I were so close to making everything better, taking back the Ghost Zone from the Ancients, then everyone had to interfere..." he trailed off, leaving an air of awkwardness.

The frail looking spirit looked over to a very confused Danny and smirked. "But now, there is a new King that can change all that," he said, regaining his former eerie composure.

Danny pulled against his restraints, desperately trying to activate his powers, to no avail. "Hate to break it to you, Vizier, but I'm the reason that Pariah isn't parading through the Ghost Zone right now. So you can understand my lack of enthusiasm when it comes to being his replacement," the halfa taunted.

Vizier's eyes flashed a dangerous before he calmed himself. "Your hesitation is understandable, my Prince," he whispered, closing his eyes. He floated closer to Danny, reaching into his cloak. He was barely a breath away from the young hero when Vizier opened his eyes to glare at Danny, "and also most annoying," he finished, removing an ornate box from his cloak. He opened it to reveal the Crown of Fire.

Danny gasped and back away from Vizier as much as he could (he was tied to the throne after all). "Have no fear, young Prince. Once the Crown is united with the Ring, you will reach your true potential. And I, your loyal adviser, will be here to guide you to the path of greatness," he coaxed, removing the crown and placing it above Danny's head.

"Whether you want it or not."

Hey, it's Normal Line Break. Just checking in to see if you readers are all good. I made a resolution to be kinder. It may not last long but eh, you take what you can get. Enjoy the rest of the chapter *awkward smile*.

While Fright Knight tended to the wounds the Observants had gained with the help of Tucker and Sam treated Fright Knight's wounds that had reopened due to his constant movement, Clockwork stared at his viewing screens, adjusting the time on his staff constantly and stroking his elderly form's beard.

"Careful, old friend," Nocturne warned, though his words seemed mocking as he floated to Clockwork's side, "you only get one relic after all." He finished by tapping on Clockwork's staff. "Speaking of which...," the starry spirit pondered, stroking his chin.

Clockwork sighed, cutting off Nocturne before the Elder Spirit could utter his question, "I collected all the ones I could find, yours wasn't one of them," he answered quickly, shifting to his elderly form.