You know, it’s possible that Danny has more Right to the Throne than just having beaten Pariah Dark.
In episode 13 on Halloween, Danny took the Sword of Pariah Dark’s right hand servant and Knight Fright Knight. Danny’s “I’ll have it back by Midnight.” Could be easily be taken as a challenge. That Danny intends to put Fright Knight back into stasis before midnight Unless Fright Knight can reclaim his sword and defeat him before that time.
Doesn’t matter what Danny’s actual intentions were for the Sword. He freed Fright Knight. stated his terms and left with it.
Fright Knight manages to retrieve Soul Shredder but the fight isn’t over. There’s still time to Midnight which means the Challenge is still in place. They fight, Danny successfully defeats Fright Knight in a battle not just of strength but Will. His aura flairs while they struggle against each other for control of Soul Shredder.
Danny wins and speaks the verse “To cease the storm, To end the fear, The sword must sheathe, In pumpkin near!” Before sheathing Soul Shredder in a ‘pumpkin’ and stating, “Told ya I’d have it back by midnight.” Claiming his victory against The Spirit of Halloween ON the Day/Evening where he’s likely more powerful than usual.
Danny Fenton challenges The Ghost King’s Right Hand, before Vlad makes a move to get the Key. Danny Phantom successfully defeats Fright Knight in 1v1 combat.
Danny Fenton-Phantom threw down his right to duel Pariah with his full self, both as Living and Dead. Without even realizing that’s what was happening bc he’s 14 and well, there’s no one around teaching him that there are rules and a formal process to things.
The Infinite Realms won’t care that Danny came and ‘stole/borrowed’ Soul Shredder’ for some Living Bet, (of which he immediately showed his code of honor in admitting to cheating and accepting the consequence of losing the Bet.) maybe unless an adult intervened but its funnier if he does eat the underwear but unintentionally and on instinct does that intangible trick that happened with that Spork in Public Enemy.
THEN when Dark is released Danny is the one who pulls out the Sword (initially to fight Vlad but ultimately ends up denying surrender thus kickstarting the challenge) and Danny is the one who goes to the castle/keep alone and begins the fight. It took a TEAM of Ancients to put Pariah away the first time. Yet the Ghosts who come to help not only give him a pep talk but refuse to go with him to help in the Duel.
And I think it’s because they either Knew this was a Challenge for the Throne or sensed it Had to be Danny first and Had to be Danny only who fought.
If anything Vlad would be considered his second. Or at most the first choice for a temporary monarch until Danny comes of age to be Crowned. After all Vlad didn’t fight ANYONE at any point in acquiring what was needed to free Pariah. The Behemoth was made to retreat from pursuing Vlad who used Trickery to get the key like a thief, he fled from Pariah Dark rather than face him in anyway and convinced Fright Knight to “work for him” rather than fight him either.
Sure that might seem like a good idea and maybe if Vlad had actually managed to Overthrow Pariah with an uprising he would have some footing to make a claim but he doesn’t have any backing in using Right of Conquest for such a claim.
The Right of Conquest is a right of ownership to land after immediate possession via force of arms. A Force of Arms is defined as “by using Weapons” or “by military action.” The ghosts fighting the army of Skeletons would count as military action and the Exosuit would be considered a Weapon.
By taking this into consideration Vladimir Masters-Plasmius (who by all accounts classifies as a Spy) has no Right to the Throne of The Infinite Realms, and also did everything via his ghost self.
Where Danny Fenton-Phantom was victorious in Two 1v1 Duels against both The Royal Knight and The High King himself. AND is active within the ghostly community with both his Living and Unliving sides. Has shown commitment to the well being and safety of both The Realms and The Living Realms on countless occasions.
So under these observations I have decided Vlad has no substantial claim to the Title or Position of King. Especially after that fucking mess in Kindred Spirits where Danny gave him a fucking beat down.
Anyway those are my thoughts on how Danny actually pulled a fast one on Vlad (unintentionally) who figured it out and instead of trying to defeat or challenge Danny for the Throne actually intended to replace him with a clone that would obey him and Rule or become Ruler that way. Aside from just being a terrible person and ‘Father’ that would likely be a primary factor in his rejection of Elle.
Thank you for coming to my PhanTalk. I will be accepting questions but also vanishing from the net to play Don’t Starve and House Flipper.
The way I’ve always looked at it is that in the question of who truly beat Pariah (Danny who fought or Vlad who sealed) it comes down to leadership.
Vlad may have orchestrated the events, but ultimately Danny lead it.
I think the Challenge formally began when Danny stormed the Keep. When he lead “an army” (albeit a very small army, his band of rogues) to storm the Keep. Pariah verbally accepting Danny’s challenge was an uneccessary formality at that point. With Danny in the Keep ready to throw down, Pariah could hardly retain his Claim to the Throne if he didn’t defeat the Leader of the little rebellion.
And that Danny’s rogues following him in that fight was essentially an acceptance of his potential Rule. In essence, through their actions they declared their fealty to Danny, declared Danny as their King.
In a way, Vlad stormed the Keep as an army of one at the beginning of the episode. Granted, he didn’t actually have to fight his way in like Danny did. But it’s not like it’s his fault the King and his army were asleep when he came. He Challenged Pariah in stealing the ring. And he lost his Challenge in running away.
