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It is a known fact there is no ghost king. The Zone is no monarchy. The title is meaningless.
The thing is, there has always been a Monarch, but Pariah wasn't one.
Now, why is the zone changing?
The Penopticon is the domain, the lair of the Observants. It was floating in the deepest areas of the Realms, one of the few areas to remain green, purple and floating areas.
Despite it being a prison, is it devoid of ghosts other than the Observants. So it was surprising when hundreds of ghosts - an angry mob - came to the Penopticon.
One of then, Warden Walker, yelled, "What is this bullocks about a ghost king? Sure, Phantom defeated pariah, but the title isn't real! Pariah made it!"
"You should know that!" added one pissed off Penelope Spectra.
The leader of the Observants, with the uncreative name of Orbis, said, "You fools! The position of the High Monarch of the Infinite Realms is real!"
But no one believed them. Spectra claimed, "You only want a puppet king to rule us!"
"It is more complicated than that, Penelope." a disembodied voice said. This spooked the ghosts surrounding the Penopticon. Under ghosts, a voice without a ghost is never a good sign. But then Clockwork appeared, accompanied by Nocturne and Overgrowth.
"Ancients?" Penelope asked. She knew Nocturne was one. As dreams and the psyche are connected, he often asked her for her knowledge. He never shut up about having the rank of an Ancient (and being an ancient as in he is old), so she knew.
Now, Undergrowth sure fits some requirements... but the hooded ghost in the middle... Bertrand asked in her stead, "You, clock guy, who are you?"
"My name is Clockwork, I am the Master of Time." Clockwork explained. Master of Time, it was clear he was an Ancient, in both senses. "Now, what the Observants say is true, the High Monarch of the Infinite Realms is real."
"But Pariah!" Frostbite yelled.
"Pariah Dark was a sham who claimed to be king. He trapped the queen of his time. But this was so long ago, many of you weren't aware of this." Clockwork explained. "Now, the queen faded in her imprisonment..."
"So, Pariah is our king?" Walker asked. He hates having anyone commanding over him.
"No, not after Phantom defeated him." he clarified. "So Phantom is it now."
The crowd bemoaned that they have a leader now. Skulker floated to the three Ancients and asked, "I suppose I'll fetch the crown from Plasmius?"
"Ye-"
"No!" interrupted Clockwork the Orbis. "The Crown and the Ring is what turned Pariah more mad than he already was! Keep them away from Phantom! Believe me, I saw that timeline."
"Clockwork!" said Orbis, as if he would scold the master of time. "Remember our deal."
"Yes, but Nocturne isn't bound by it." Clockwork said.
Nocturne explained, "The Observants created the crown and ring to control the monarch. When they presented their 'presents' to Queen Nevermore, Pariah stole them and used the distraction to his advantage."
Hearing that, the raging ghosts turned on the Observants. Skulker, who had taken a few Fenton Thermos' from - now Prince - Phantom as they are handy, put some into soup time. He figured the tiny space would be a better prison than their Penopticon reconstruct.
Johnny 13, while everyone else ripped into the Observants, asked the Ancients, "Why would we even need a king? We did well without a leader."
"It is not about the leadership." Clockwork explained. "Have you noted the zone is changing?"
"Uh, yes? It sure caused a panic." Johnny answered. "What about this?"
"The Realm is connected to the monarch. After all, the monarch acts as it's core. This is the main role of the monarch. Secondary being their role as a mediator and protector, which isn't exactly ruling per se." Nocturne continued to explain. "The Realm adapts to Phantom. It looks like the Realm will have it's own stars again! We had no stars since the last queen."
"Someone is happy." Overgrowth mused. "I hope that girl has some effects on the Prince."
"Mediator, huh? Would he be up for that?" Johnny asked. "I know he protects us from the humans, and the humans from us..."
"Ask him yourself." Overgrowth said, gesturing to Phantom who was flying their way.
"What the..." Danny wasn't sure what was weirder. Everyone beating the Observants - which he fully supports - or the ghost zone. "What is going on?" He then spotted Clockwork. "Clocky!"
"Hello Daniel. I take it you got my letter?"
"Yes! What is going on?" he asked frantically.
"With the Realm or the angry mob?" Clockwork asked, full well knowing the answer.
"Both! You know that!"
Clockwork laughed, "Yes, I do. Follow me to my lair, I need to give you a little history lesson about the zone." Both vanished into a portal conjured by Clockwork, leaving Johnny floating in the air.
"Yeah, 'little history lesson'." he mocked to no one in particular.