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One of Danny’s favorite things to do was explore the doors. Not a door, but THE doors.
When Danny’s parents built the portal they connected it to the wastes or the Outer Lands. An area where outcasts, rouges, and eccentrics live. An area of the Ghost Zone that is so chaotic and unpredictable few dare to set up permanent residents. Of course this meant that when the portal opened up in the area the residents had to investigate. It was one of the reasons Amity Park is so often attacked. It was also why the ghosts seen in Amity Park were so... individual.
Danny wouldn’t have it any other way though. It wasn’t like the ghosts found in this section of the Zone were all powerful. On the contrary few were. At least in Danny’s humble opinion.
However this is not the focus of today. Today Danny was going to explore an interesting door he found last week. The door itself was a battered dull gray with frost crawling across the frame. Which is what caught his attention in the first place. When Danny drew closer there seemed to be a sluggish almost sleepy aura coming from within. One beckoning for others to join it in slumber.
Now normally it would be dangerous for a ghost to cross through the doors since each door lead to a new and strange world. The threat of being trapped in an alternate plane of existence. Unable to return to your home. Not to mention whatever the world on the other side would contain.
This was not a problem for Danny. After gaining the powers of the Ghost King he is able to open portals to the Ghost Zone no matter where he is. No matter the time, place, distance, or whatever amount of pain he was in. Danny tested Clockwork unapproved. Which is extremely handy and not at all something that he has abused without remorse.
Anyways, this door is the main subject of today’s exploration. Danny floated closer to the door to read the inscription. Not that it would really help with knowing what was on the other side. The inscriptions always seemed to be some form of riddle or highly specific reference. Much like an inside joke. This door in particular seemed to be more like a loving wish, or curse depending on how you looked at it.
Danny brushed his hand across the elegant writing so in contrast to the door.
Master of Depravity and Sloth. Evil God. The Lazy King. Leigie Slaughterdolls. So may he slumber in peace and pass the time away in the Castle of Shadows.
The words were ominous despite the soft lazing feeling given off by the door. Frost playfully making its way up his fingers as they rested on the worn wood. Danny hummed rereading the text. Weighing the pros and cons of opening such a door.
The climbing ice causing his hand to fall asleep. Whispering of a peaceful rest. No one to disturb it. Half heartily Danny flexed his core making the ice brake. The crystals vanished as they were consumed by the surrounding ectoplasm. Well Danny was here to explore. Foreboding text aside the door was interesting. Plus, how bad could it be? He had already defeated one evil king what was another. If he would even need to fight said king.
Mind made up, Danny pushed on the door. The wood creaking and ice cracking as it opened. Once ajar a presents settled on Danny. As if curious about the intruder in its territory, but uninterested in interfering. Darkness filled the doorway. No light to help identify the room beyond.
Unperturbed he floated through the door into an unlit hallway. Despite the lack of light, Danny was able to make out a stone corridor. His natural night vision revealing something from a medieval castle. As Danny fully entered the dimension the door vanished. Blinking out of visible existence.
The air was thick with the smell of sulfur and frost. Like the castle was near a volcano or hot springs surrounded by snow. Danny floated down the hallway curious eyes following. Every once and a while there would be a painting on the wall depicting a young asian male. Eyes closed as he slept on a large black throne. What looked like dark blue pajamas and slippers adorning the figure.
Some of the paintings would show others. A man with blond hair standing at attention. His eyes fierce and in harsh contrast to what seems to be the sleeping king. More would show a couple of woman dressed in what looked like maid outfits. Danny didn’t think that maids would be painted and hung on the wall, but maybe that was common here.
He floated further down the hall drawn to the cold energy he could feel up ahead. Another door came into view. This one just like the one in the Ghost Zone. Only it lacked the inscription and ice despite the cold energy radiating from within. It was also better taken care of. As if someone spent a lot of time making sure the door stayed in working condition.
The door was silent as it opened to relieving a lavished room. Dark red curtains covered the window casting the room in even more shadow. A couple of chairs and a table sat on one end. While a large bed draped in the same dark red as the curtains lay on the other. In the middle of the bed laid the man from the paintings. Hair sprawled across the pillow looking to be deep asleep.
Danny wasn’t fooled. This man, king, was watching. It was the same presents he could feel follow his path here. Cold and comforting like the graveyard he once fell asleep in while on patrol. He drew closer to the figure to get a better look. The eyes watching him unchanged despite being in what seemed to be a vulnerable position with an unknown in the room.
“Who are you?” Asked a sharp voice from behind Danny causing him to jump. He hadn’t heard anyone approach or even enter the room.
A woman dressed in a maid outfit stood in the doorway holding a tray of food. Eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You don’t feel like a demon.”
Danny tilted his head as he turned making sure to keep the ‘sleeping’ man in view. “Demon?” He questioned. Danny knew what a demon was according to pop culture. Something that lived in Hell and could be summoned to make deals. However despite traveling around the Ghost Zone he had never once came across Hell. Sure there were places ghosts called Hell, but that was more in jest then anything else.
The woman frowned as she placed the tray down on a small table. Eyes tracking his every move. “I would ask if you are an angle sent to kill my liege, but you are not ‘divine’ enough.” She paused scrutinizing Danny head to toe. “Not to mention you are too much of a cosmic horror.”
He rocked back in offense. Feet naturally lifting off the ground now that he was too distracted to keep them there. Gravity more of a loose suggestion then a fact. “I’ll have you know I am one of the most normal looking ghosts out there. Sure I have sharp teeth and glowing green eyes. The white flowy hair doesn’t help and I am a bit cold to others...” Danny trailed off eyes going slightly distant and contemplative before shaking his head now fully focused on the rude maid. “But at least I look human.”
The woman had the audacity to snort. Hand covering her mouth as if trying to hide her amusement. Danny narrowed his eyes in a glare making her straighten up, but the laughter was still there. She glanced at the sleeping man before focusing on Danny. With smooth actions she dipped into a curtsy. “Greetings. My name is Lorna maid to Leigie Slaughterdolls, Demon Lord of Sloth.” The maid, Lorna, introduced.
Danny cleared his throat while straightening up. “Greetings Lorna and Lord Slaughterdolls. I am King Phantom of the Infinity Realms. It is wonderful to meet you.” He was nervous about getting the greeting right. Danny didn’t have much practice doing formal introductions. Perhaps he should wear his ‘king’ attire when exploring the doors. The black hazmat suit wasn't really proper now that he thought about it.
However that might make him threatening to others. Perhaps a cloak. Danny had seen many ghost wander around in cloaks. Ooh, maybe it could have stars on it! The constellations mapped out against outerspace black. It could glitter like their real counterparts!
Unannounced to Danny little tiny sparkles started forming on his black hazmat suit. Small lines streaking across the dots to show connections. Lorna smiled as she set about making tea. It was obvious that the child was not here to attack her Liege, and a child he was. Despite the title of King he gave. Perhaps it was a game he was playing. Although it did not explain his strange yet slightly comforting aura. It had a similar cold twinge to it that her Liege had.
“So King Phantom, what brings you to the Castle of Shadows?” Lorna asked having finished the preparations. The child startled causing the sparkles to dim much to her dismay. She might not know what he is but it was obvious that they had shown his happiness. Perhaps they will come back later.
“Right! Well I found this interesting door, and thought hey I wonder what is on the other side. Now here I am.” Danny said with a shrug. “Where is here by the way? I know it’s the Castle of Shadows, but beyond that nothing.”
Lorna was a little taken aback. Did this child wonder into hell without even knowing it? Did he even know how to get back to this Infinity Realm. Lorna set the tea down on the tray and wiped her hands. Fully turned to the child she bit her lip. Trying to figure out how to explain.
“Hell.” Came a quiet tired voice. The word sounding as if it had been forced out. Danny turned to the bed looking at the asian man, Leigie Slaughterdolls. Lord Slaughterdolls still had his eyes closed unmoving on the bed. However everyone in the room knew that he had spoken.
Danny hummed floating back slightly as if rocking on his heels. “Hell, like the Christian Hell? With demons and Satan? The whole you have committed a sin Hell?” The child asked curiosity glittering in his eyes.
“Well, I am not sure who Satan is, but I assume he is a Demon Lord.” The air shifted a bit before going lax as if giving up. Not that Lorna noticed as she continued. “We are demons of Sin. My Liege is a Lord of Sloth. While I am a demon of lust.” She said with a wink.
Quietly as if reluctant to speak Lord Slaughterdolls spoke again. “Dead.” The single word confusing Lorna, but causing Danny burst out laughing. Lord Slaughterdolls wrinkled his eyebrow at the reaction. The most motion the man has shown since Danny has shown up.
Gathering himself Danny took a deep breath humor still dancing around him. “Only half.” Having no care about relieving his secret. He really only kept it from humans anyways.
Lorna sucked in a breath as she looked at the child before her. The laughter and casualness with which he carried himself taking a much darker undertone. This poor child was dead. Could she even offer him tea? Would it be rude?
Danny looked down at his watch noticing that several hours had passed since he entered this world. He needed to get back. “Hey, it was nice meeting you all. However I need to fly. I can come back right?” He asked hopefully. Danny wanted to explore this world. A world with real life Demons in it!
Lorna beamed and turned to her Liege. Her eyes begging for him to allow the child back into his domain. With a sigh Leigie Slaughterdolls spoke a word Lorna has heard many times before. “Iyo.”
Danny looked at Lorna confused as she let out a little squeal. "Right, I assume that means yes. Well I’m out. Have a nice slumber Lord Slaughterdolls." With one last wave a toxic green portal opened up and Danny flew through. Citrus tang greeting his senses once more on the other side. That had been interesting. Danny was definitely going back