"Oof, Dani, too tight!" Ahsoka gasped through the tightest hug she had ever received.

"No, not gonna let go," Dani said, burying her head in her older sister's chest. "I missed you so much, sis!"

"I missed you too, but please, I need to breath!"

Finally the smaller girl released the Togruta teen. Both of them grinned, before Ahsoka suddenly used the Force and launched her foster sister to the bed. Dani squealed in delight and laughed. The teen flopped on a bed near her.

"How are you doing, kiddo?" Ahsoka asked.

"Well, Daddy really spends a lot of time with me," Dani sat on her knees. "We had so much fun!" She said happily.

"Oh, really?" The teen asked, a bit gloomy. But the younger girl was more observant than you give her credit for.

"Hey, what's wrong, sis?"

"It's just...well...I was bored at that temple. It felt as if I'm locked up except for the times I go to the battlefield."

"But you are doing your job, right? Daddy said you are doing it really good!" Dani asked with all her naivety in the voice.

Ahsoka chuckled. "I'm glad you two appreciate it. Still..."

"Still..." They heard a voice.

The girls looked to the entrance, and saw Danny leaning against the doorway. He never actually bothered to knock. Smiling broadly, the Emperor opened his arms, waiting for a hug. He received it quite quickly, chuckling afterwards.

"Where is Master Obi-Wan?" Ahsoka asked.

"I let him sleep in a guest room. I think you should have rest as well."

The teen seemed saddened by this. "I...I actually hoped to spend more time together," she said with a crestfallen expression.

"I understand, kiddo. And we will, but..."

"But what?" Ahsoka interrupted, it sounded more like a snap, before realizing what she had just done. She waited for something to happen, because she didn't know the outcome of such precedent.

Danny sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Dani, can you leave us for a second?"

The girl seemed confused. "Why, Daddy?"

"Just do it, please. Fetch some snack as well, hm?"

"Oh, okay."

The girl got up and went out of the room. Danny sat near his adopted daughter, trying to find proper words.

"What's bothering you, kiddo?" He asked. "I can clearly see that it isn't just boredom which made you angry."

"Father. Do you realize how hard it was after Mom died?"

Whatever Danny expected, he was caught by surprise. Thankfully Ahsoka continued.

"I felt so much pain, and you were nowhere near. I was so alone. You could at least call, but you didn't!"

"Ahsoka..."

"I was free almost all the time. You couldn't not know that. No one was watching me. I waited, but you never called."

"Ahsoka. I couldn't do so for other reasons. For a multitude of them. If I went into the temple, I would have been noticed. And such things...they are not discussed over communicator. I hope you understand."

The girl looked away. Danny put a hand on her shoulder.

"I promise, my girl. Once all of this is over and your espionage won't be required, we will enjoy the time together. After all, I myself sacrifice this time to rule the Empire. And it doesn't make me eager whatsoever."

"How long do we have to wait?"

"Months. Maybe a few more years. I care about lives of our soldiers. I need the Republic to waste all its potential before striking. I give it one or two years before it will be ready to finally collapse. Many planets would want to forget the loans Coruscant has taken and thus put the burden on their shoulders. Greedy interests, but I can use them nonetheless."

Danny sighed. "I want this war to be over as much as you do, dear. But we are too deep in it for the conflict to stop. I'm sorry that it might have seemed like I was ignoring you. I don't want you to think that I have sent you away just so you would stay out of my sight. No, of course. But look here, I managed to find you and your buddies only because you had been my agent and you put the bug in the temple."

"I still feel bad because of it. How many people I've sent to death this way? I knew what was going to happen, but..."

Danny put his hands on her slim shoulders. "I know it must be hard. I shouldn't have given such job to a child, because I knew it would be a pain to bear in the future. Look at it this way, they are also killing people, for that is war. Not only droids fight in it. You, my girl, are nearing its end. You are saving those who would have died otherwise if the war lasted longer. We will compensate for our lost time. But it has to wait."

"I...I understand, Dad. Can I...at least see Mom?"

Phantom understood what she meant. "Certainly. I'll try to get a few minutes. I know how the solitude feels, and since you are so troubled by it...I'll take the chances."

Ahsoka smiled and hugged her father, a small tear coming out. "Thank you, you are the best, father."

"I'm glad you think so," Danny hugged her in response and smiled.

"Yay!" Dani suddenly emerged from nowhere and joined the hug. "Everything is alright!" The small girl said happily, making everyone laugh.

Phantom got up. "Well, I think that it's time to go to sleep."

"Aw," Dani said sadly. "Can we eat the chips first?" She asked, showing the bag.

"Fine, but go to sleep afterwards," Phantom sighed dramatically. "Tomorrow we will have to search for Skywalker. Hopefully he is alright out there."

He spent the rest of the night in thought, accompanied by his loyal servant, who was working at the vacant workshop with his weapon. Neither of them needed sleep, after all.

Those were ghosts...it was indeed strange to see them outside of the Ghost Zone, much more on the spaceship in a middle of nowhere. He never heard of the undead who managed to master space technologies. Yet again, why did they need them? When there is no need, people rarely created something. He decided to go scout around, despite the rain pouring down heavily. He just became intangible and the rain drops fell through him.

It was hard to see anything on the distance, the darkness was still astonishing. But he somehow managed to grope to the cavern. It was lit by the numerous blue crystals. There was nothing interesting in the cave, only rocks. Danny sighed and sat on the nearest one. He couldn't stay there for a long time. But as he got back on his feet, the stark haired man heard a voice, which made him freeze on his place.

"Going somewhere?"

He spun around in a speed unimaginable to normal being.

"That's impossible," Danny muttered. "I-I saw you being burned!"

"Death is such a fickle thing, you of all people should know it, dear," Komand said, smiling and tilting her head.

She looked just like at that day. The same short haircut, the same smooth red robes. But something felt...off.

"But..."

"Shush, ghost boy," she waved her hand and slowly approached him. "I missed you, Danny."

"I...I missed you too, but...how?" Danny asked, still not able to comprehend what was going on.

"Is this so important? I'm here, and you are, too, love."

Now Danny's daze and initial shock started to evaporate. Suspicion came on their place. She was avoiding the question. The time when he was easily charmed to be a babbling fool was long gone. No matter how he loved the woman in front of him, he couldn't let his guard down, because the entire situation was too strange for his liking.

"And what are you doing here of all places?" He asked.

"If only I knew myself," she shrugged. "But I can ask you the same question."

"I have intercepted the transmission. I thought it was interesting. And it certainly is," he mumbled in the end, examining her yet again.

"Just as nosy as ever. And what are you going to do now?"

"I planned on finding Skywalker, and now you are here..."

"How is Dani?"

"She is alright. Probably asleep right now on our ship."

"YOU BROUGHT HER HERE?!" She suddenly exclaimed, making even Danny flinch.

"She is safer with me than anywhere," he responded firmly.

"And you still have left her alone," Komand gritted her teeth.

Now Phantom felt guilty. She somehow sensed it. "You should leave this place as soon as possible. Skywalker will make it on his own."

"Are you sure..."

"Yes!" Komand said maybe too loudly.

Danny looked even more suspicious. That behavior wasn't like his fiancée at all. She used to be hot tempered, yes, but it sounded somewhat hysterical. Something was wrong. And suddenly a thought occurred in his mind. Danny looked away in sadness.

"You are an illusion, aren't you?"

"What makes you think so?"

"I'm not going away until I'm done. If you really are the woman I loved, you would have understood that I'm not going to leave."

"You will leave!"

"Is this what I hear from someone who loved me? The one who wanted to marry me? We haven't seen each other for so long, and yet this is what I receive. A demand that I left her alone."

"After I was killed because of you?"

Danny's stomach flipped over, but then he finally came to the realization. "Blaming me? This is something she had never done. You are an imposter and nothing else."

His echoing voice resonated off the cavern, making it seem even louder. 'Komand's' expression darkened. She vanished in the smoke, only confirming his claim. To back off so quickly, it wasn't like her at all.

Danny hated it. Even when he was right, he wished he was wrong. Gritting his teeth, he released a shaky breath. The pain he was trying to subdue so hardly started to resurface once again. If he got his hands on that bastard, whoever it was, Phantom was going to beat that asshole as hard as he could. How dares it take the form of his beloved? He broke the nearest rock, shattering it into pieces.

Danny went out of the cave. The rain seemed to have become stronger. He was deep in thoughts as he walked to his ship. As he got to the main room, Phantom fell on the sofa, laying on his back and staring at the ceiling. He didn't know how much time he spent like this, he tried to forget that encounter. Once HK approached his Master and inquired what was wrong, Danny's response was short.

"Leave me, tin can, I'm in sadness," the ghost responded gloomily.

HK walked off.

By the morning it felt better. Danny, knowing it was the time his children usually woke up at, decided to make breakfast. He was an Emperor, but it didn't mean that he'd never touch the pan, he did it before. It allowed to wonder off his mind, stretch his muscles, even if barely, and receive a praise from his daughters. It was the best thing, he concluded long ago. The smell from pancakes filled the room, for there was enough space even for it. That was indeed a luxurious shuttle.

He smiled. Telekinesis allowed him to give certain shapes to the meal, and Danny had a lot of fun with this.

"Morning, Daddy."

Danny flinched and looked down. The little girl was standing near him, wearing blue pajamas with stereotypical white-sheet ghosts on it. This, along with messy hair, her rubbing her eyes with a small fist, made Danny smile in adoration. His baby girl was so cute.

"Good morning, sweetheart. You are early today."

The girl shrugged. "You don't sleep at all, Daddy," she said dryly.

Danny poked her nose with a spoon. "Sassy child."

Dani giggled, and her father smirked down at her. "Now go wash your face. No food until then."

She nodded and went off. Soon he heard footsteps behind.

"Bathroom," Was Phantom's curt greeting, as he knew that Ahsoka obviously had passed the procedure.

"Why?" Obi-Wan's voice sounded behind.

Danny glanced back. "Oh, it's you, Ben, I thought it was my daughter. You walk quiet enough."

The Jedi snorted, sitting at the table. He looked at the stark haired man in amusement. "It's not every day you see a dictator making breakfast."

"Well, normal people eat food, not surrogates you are so keen on consuming," Danny rolled his eyes.

"Fair enough."

"And, you say 'dictator' as if it is something inherently bad. At my world, even the greek word 'tyrant' just meant the man holding all the power. By the terminology of Roman Republic, your Chancellor is a dictator, for he was granted emergency powers."

"Should you turn our every meeting into a lecture?" Ben asked sarcastically.

"Nah, I'm just enlarging your horizon. You learn something every day," Danny gave a disarming smile. The his look turned serious. "I took a look at the machinery, everything is fine so far, we will be able to fly."

"This is good news. Seems like Fury-class didn't suit you two, huh?"

"Well, yeah. This is also Imperial design. Made singularly for some members of the Imperial Intelligence. Quite expensive, but nothing I cannot afford," Danny shrugged, flipping the pancake. "Had to rummage Dromund Kaas, but it was worth it."

"You were on Dromund Kaas?"

"Yep."

"I thought that after the Emperor died it became completely abandoned."

Danny chuckled. If only Ben knew with whom he was talking about.

"Well, not entirely. Some minor Dark side cults live there, but they won't harm you unless you attack. I just taught them a few minor tricks and 'traded' these blueprints. Keepers of knowledge, they are, nothing more."

"You are unbelievable."

"I know. You know what is more unbelievable? The taste of these delicious pieces of dough."

Danny flipped the pancake on the plate and threw it to Obi-Wan, who caught it. Well, the smell was attractive.

"Tea or coffee?" Danny inquired.

"Eh...caf, maybe?"

"We don't do that here, Ben. I tried that bantha's piss before, hoping it was something similar to Terran-Columbian coffee. Almost vomited. Except for caffeine, nothing is similar."

"I'll have tea, then," Obi-Wan sighed.

Danny nodded and turned to the electric kettle. "So, how is the war going?" He asked casually.

"Avoiding the details, I don't know what to think. We have long since abandoned attempts to break through your defenses."

"Say thanks to Thrawn."

"Is it that Pantoran?"

"He is not a Pantoran, he is a Chiss. I have long since forged a tight alliance with his country. He used to be a member of one of the Noble Houses. Before they disowned him for striking first and secretly assisting me. It's a long story. But he is loyal to me and is the most capable Naval commander I have ever seen."

"Ehm...good morning?"

Two adults looked at the entrance and saw Ahsoka and Dani standing there, not sure about what to do.

"Oh, hi, kiddos, come sit now," Phantom gestured towards the gray table.

The girls followed the young man's offer. Dani was the first one, eager to hungrily devour the food. Obi-Wan was curiously looking at the girl, while Ahsoka was a bit on edge, trying to stay vigilant if any question should follow. Danny put the tall stack of pancakes on the table.

"Dig in."

Seeing Ahsoka's discomfort, Danny understood what it was about, so he decided to distract Obi-Wan.

"Returning to our conversation, what do you think the odds are?"

"So far it's a position war, we are barely advancing further," The Jedi said grimly.

"So I have noticed."

"And you, for some reason, aren't attacking."

"Maybe I'm just waiting for something big to happen. Maybe I'm creating an armada which will destroy the Republic, maybe I'm uniting the clans of my race in order to make allies. You don't know it, Ben, but the Republic's days are numbered."

"You have been saying it for almost two years. It still stands. And my loyalty is always with it."

"And Satine Kryze, I assume?"

Obi-Wan froze. His blue eyes peered into the ghost in front of him, trying to read him, but failing.

"How..."

Danny smiled. "The Death Watch worked with Dooku, for whom I have a personal hatred. Don't tell him I said that. I spy over him, and I know about your previous... 'affairs'."

"There was no 'affair'. It was a simple mission."

"Yet, your reaction tells me otherwise," Danny smiled, before looking at his children. "You like the food?"

Ahsoka nodded with a smile. "Yes, they are delicious."

"They aw awsom, Daddy!" Dani said with her mouth full. Phantom laughed.

"Glad you think so. Don't talk with your mouth full, though."

The breakfast went peacefully, with HK coming only once because he needed an oil from a special shelf. He had a reserve there. After everything was done, Danny got to the bridge, followed by everyone else. Phantom got the ship in the air, as they flew through now clean and sunny sky.

"Hm, so, where shall we begin? The place can't be that huge."

"There is what looks like a temple," Ahsoka pointed towards a large pillar on the distance. "Shall we go there?"

"We will be found first, I assure you," Danny mumbled, before everything shook. "Told you," he said as a light blue mist came out of his and his daughter's mouths.

"What is this?" Obi-Wan asked, almost falling after another shake.

"Is it that gargoyle thingy?" Dani inquired as well.

"I don't know what it is, but this time, I am ready," Phantom grinned wickedly. "HK, bring it on!"

If the droid could grin, he certainly would have. "Statement: Prepare for some fried...stone...whatever it is made of."

He pulled the lever. They could see the electricity going wild outside, along with a loud screech. Phantom had freed the damaged wiring and now HK just pushed the charge through the damaged wiring. Chromium cover, along with a layer of ceramic dielectric beneath, served wonderfully for spreading electricity along the surface, but not inside.

"Alright, let's add some speed and land quickly," Phantom commented.

"I'll take the guns," Obi-Wan said.

"If you wish," Danny shrugged, before periscope came down from the ceiling.

The Jedi looked through it, holding his finger above the firing button. He didn't see anything, and Ben commented on it. The second he did it, the image disappeared with a loud screech. The beast tore out the turret. That was another huge sum of credits wasted. Danny sighed.

"HK, take the pilot seat. Guess I'll have to teach that bastard a lesson again!"

Phantom got to the roof, expecting to see the same gargoyle. But the second he got there, Danny found himself beneath clawed bird legs. He saw a griffin above himself, with white and green feathers. It was emitting a bright golden glow.

"Alright, that's new," Danny commented, the strong wind throwing his stark locks around and making his voice sound quieter.

The griffin didn't show any sign of attacking. However, its claws went under the ghost's back. Before Phantom could react, he was yanked and hurled into the air. The ghost quickly steadied himself, as his ship continued to go forward, now without him. Danny wasn't worried about that, his attention was on the creature in front of him. It flew near him, seemingly unsure about what to do now.

"Alright, where is the second?" Danny asked.

The griffin's answer was a screech.

"You know I don't understand you, right?" Phantom deadpanned.

'I think she says to follow.'

Danny froze at hearing a voice in his head. A voice not heard for years. That day was becoming stranger and stranger at the seems.

"Of all times you have decided to appear now," Phantom said dryly.

'Shush, kid, this matter is rather important,' Bogan's voice sounded. 'We haven't bothered you for six years, so you are ought to listen.'

'Just follow this griffin, you will learn soon enough what she means,' Ashla added.

"Well, it's not like I have many options," said Phantom, looking at the creature in front of him, which, in turn, stared at him in what looked like a confusion. He must have looked wacky for talking with himself. "Okay, you want to show me the way or what?"

The griffin screeched and flew off. Danny followed. Strangely enough, they followed to the exact place their group had been going to. However, it was seemingly a side entrance. The temple was huge, surrounded by mountains. Its tower, located atop a high mountain summit, featured a glowing diamond-shaped crystal, suspended above its pinnacle roof. Beautiful white construction, radiating with the Force. As Danny was staring at the construction, standing on the ground, he forgot about the griffin for a moment. He turned to the side, but there was no creature anymore.

There was a woman. She was young at the seems, with a very pale skin. Her beautiful face had green eyes, with black highlights. There was a golden headdress on her teal colored hair. She wore a white dress with golden trimming, with a line of cleavage going from her neck to the belly button. There was the same golden aura around her. Danny blinked at seeing her, but the woman spoke first.

"I never thought we will ever meet ghosts again," she commented in a strange mix of light joy and dignity. Her voice had an echo.

"And I certainly didn't expect such a welcome," Phantom said dryly. "Was it really necessary to break my ship?"

"I apologize. Father told me to bring you alone. Don't worry for your companions' safety. No one is going to harm them. Even my brother isn't going to go against Father's words. He wanted to speak with you."

"Could have just sent a postcard," Danny rolled his eyes. "Well, lead the way, it's not like I have any saying in the matter."

The woman nodded. "Follow me."

They went inside the temple. It looked very regal and old. Phantom payed a special attention to the stained windows. They had two symbols of two sides of the Force intertwined with each other. As they were going through one of the halls, Danny stopped resisting his natural curiosity.

"So, I didn't quite catch your name."

"I am Daughter."

Danny blinked. "Ehm...alriiight. Are you a ghost?"

"This is for Father to tell, not me."

"Let me guess, that's his name, and your brother's name is 'Son'."

"You are quite observant."

Phantom couldn't understand if it was a sarcasm or she was serious. Either way he felt insulted for some reason. Finally they got to the huge hall, with one seat on the opposite end, looking like a throne. They went forward, and there was a person sitting there. His appearance was also unusual. His gray skin was covered in tons of wrinkles, showing his immense age. A long, chest long beard added to the impression. His eyes had ice blue pupils, with whites actually being black, just like the center of the pupils. He was wearing a tall pointy hat, without edges, and a blue-grayish robe.

"Greetings," he said with a ghost of a smile. Note the irony. "I hope that you got here alright?"

"If you don't count scratching the most expensive personal shuttle in the Galaxy."

"We have long since abandoned such primitive ships," Father said nonchalantly. "Why are you using it?"

"Because I want," Danny shrugged. "Why should I even do it?"

"Aren't you one of us?" The being asked.

"I am a ghost, if that's what you are, yes, we are of the same race."

"I thought that none of us is left out there," Father actually smiled. "Even though the mortal name is quite superstitious. Are there more?"

"Eh...yes, the entire dimension. I don't get the point."

"He is obviously unaware about history at all."

They turned to the side and saw yet another ghost. He had a skin as white as paper sheet, with red markings. The man was bald, with his eyes being black, with crimson glowing pupils. He was wearing a black and red suit with high collar. His voice was smooth, with a note of dismissiveness, as if he was wasting his time.

"And it makes me wonder," he continued. "How old are you?"

"Twenty four," Phantom responded calmly. "But it was rather eventful life."

"I see," Father mumbled. "Is everything prepared, Son?"

"Yes," Son said nonchalantly. "I'm more curious about this one rather than in this 'Choosen One'."

"You mean Skywalker?" Danny asked.

"Indeed. But first we must make sure that the trial is accomplished. Now, please, tell us how our race is doing now?"

"Well, it's not for me to judge...I'm doing my best, but it's not exactly the priority."

"We have given the rulership to the observants. How are they doing their job?"

Danny's look darkened. "Terribly. They couldn't even...wait a second...YOU put them in charge?! You...you are the Ancients!"

"Well, if that's how you call us," Daughter commented.

"Oh, goodness," Danny said, before stopping himself from fanboying. "You are the ones who defeated Pariah all those millennia ago!"

"Some of our group died, sadly," Father responded.

"They were weak and annoying," added Son.

"All in all, they were ones of us."

"Heh," Danny smirked. "Well, I haven't properly introduced myself. Daniel James Phantom, first of his name, Lord of the Infinite Realms, Duke of Babylon, Count of Aragon, The Emperor of the Second Infinite Empire, King of Ghosts."

It was the last title which caught the Ancients unaware.

"Explain."

"Oh, my crazy uncle freed Pariah from his sarcophagus. I kicked him back, alone, and thus claimed my pretty crown."

They stared at him.

"This is impossible," Son crossed his hands. "No one can defeat Pariah alone."

"Just because you failed, doesn't mean that no one can," Danny smirked, before showing the green ring on his finger. "What is it, then?"

"I do sense an incredible amount of the Force within you," Father sounded somewhat convinced. "Impressive. More than impressive."

"I guess it's my turn to ask questions," retorted Phantom.

"Of course, but please, keep your questions for later. Please, follow me."

Danny and Father went through the corridor. Phantom felt like his head was going to explode from everything what happened during the last two days. Danny looked at the ancient ghost, who was more than half a meter taller than him.

"Where are the others? I haven't come alone."

"Your daughter is in the place I'm going to show you. Others will take part in the trial Skywalker will participate in. You may observe if you wish...Your Majesty."

"You are accepting the new king just like that? You were the ones who overthrew the last one."

"I sense no ill intent within you. Furthermore, the balance of darkness and light in you is surprising, considering that our teachings have been forgotten. But the 'Infinite Empire' is something else what interests me. Rakatans were the race which served our race, but then revolted. We were forced to hide from their fury, even if their services were in no way bothering. And to call your state like this..."

"It's a temporary name, nothing to worry about."

Father nodded, gesturing for the door. "Please, come in."

The door slid open, and Danny went inside. The building was a temple, so the room had the same level of humility. Suddenly Dani jumped out of nowhere.

"Daddy! Where have you disappeared?! I was worried!" She asked.

Phantom laughed, scooping the girl in his arms. "Nothing to worry about, sweetie," he kissed her forehead.

Father watched the scene with small smile, remembering the time eons ago. He was old, the Galaxy was barely born when he came to exist. Yet the gift of parenthood was the most precious. And it made him sad that he had so little time left.