The Ghost Zone was a dimension of infinite swirling greens, ghostly purples, and the occasional neon-blue wisp of a passing spirit. It was a palette I had grown to appreciate as the Ghost King. But as I sat on the obsidian throne of Sub-Level 23, the primary view-screen of the Infinite Realms didn't show the usual spectrum.
It was turning a very specific, very aggressive shade of Drakken-Blue.
["Danny, we have a 'Sovereign-Property' violation in Sector 4-G,"] Sheila reported, her avatar now wearing a blue lab coat. ["It appears Dr. Drakken and Shego were attempting to 'Reverse-Engineer' the signal-boosting drive you gave Kim in Chapter 1. They've accidentally opened a 'Permanent-Access' rift in their secret lair and tumbled directly into the Ghost Zone. Drakken has currently declared himself the 'Baron of Blue' and is using a high-pressure 'Ecto-Paint-Sprayer' to redecorate the local ruins."]
"He's painting the Infinite Realms?" I asked, standing up as the Crown of Fire ignited. "That's a Level 9 'Aesthetic-Liability.' If he hits the 'Zone-Gates,' the spirits will think the management has changed and start trying to 'Franchise' their hauntings."
"I've got the 'Cleaning-Crew' ready!" Jenny said, skating into the lab. She was wearing her 'Sovereign-Sync' armor, the violet runes on her chest pulsing in time with my crown. "Danny, my scanners say Shego is currently 'Negotiating' with a group of Box Ghosts. And by negotiating, I mean she's currently incinerating their inventory."
"Protocol, gear up!" I commanded. "This isn't an invasion; it's an Unauthorized Renovation. We're going to the Blue Sector."
We stepped through the throne-room rift and landed on a floating island that looked like it had been dipped in a vat of blueberry syrup. Dr. Drakken was standing on a stack of blue-painted crates, waving a megaphone.
"BEHOLD!" Drakken cackled. "The Ghost Zone is dull! It's drab! It's... too green! But under the leadership of Dr. Drakken, the afterlife will be LITERALLY BLUE! We shall call it the Drakken-Dimension! Shego, paint that gargoyle! It's too grey!"
Shego was leaning against a blue-stained pillar, filing her nails with a glowing green flame. "It's a ghost, Dr. D. It doesn't need to be blue. It needs to be... well, not here. This place is giving me a headache. And I'm pretty sure that kid in the crown is looking at you."
I stepped forward, the Sovereign Scepter thumping against the blue-painted floor. "Dr. Lipsky. Shego. You're trespassing on 'Possible' territory. And your choice of paint is a violation of the 'Spectral-Vibrancy' Act of 1922."
"Possible?" Drakken blinked, his blue skin matching the scenery. "Wait... the 'Producer' is the Ghost King? Since when? I thought you were just the annoying twin with the math homework!"
"I've had a career change, Drakken," I said, the Crown of Fire flaring with a cold, blue-and-silver light. "And as the King, I'm 'Rescinding' your painting permit. Pips! Protocol: 'The Power-Wash'!"
Pips phased out of my pocket and merged with Drakken's 'Ecto-Paint-Sprayer.' He didn't just jam it; he 'Inverted' it. The sprayer began to suck the blue paint off the islands, the ruins, and even Drakken's coat, pulling it all into a localized containment unit.
"NO! MY LEGACY! IT'S FADING!" Drakken wailed, chasing the sprayer.
"Give it up, Dr. D," Shego sighed, pushing off the pillar and walking toward us. She looked at Jenny, her eyes narrowing. "Nice upgrades, Princess. Did the vest-boy give you those, or did you 'Sync' them yourself?"
"We're a 'Logic-Pair,' Shego," Jenny said, her voice firm. "And my 'Conflict-Resolution' database says that you and Drakken are currently 100% surplus to requirements in this dimension."
"Fair enough," Shego shrugged. "Take us back to Middleton. I've had enough of the 'Infinite' anything for one day."
I looked at the 'Low-Stakes' meter. 12%. The 'Blue-Conquest' was over, the Ghost Zone was returning to its natural green, and I had successfully 'Evicted' the world's most incompetent villains from the afterlife.
But the romance sub-plots were currently 'Sovereign' in the emerald light as well.
Jenny walked up to me, her eyes a soft, pulsing violet. She looked at the restored ruins, then at me. "Danny? Shego called me a 'Princess.' My 'Social-Hierarchy' data says that's a title for the partner of a King. Does that mean I have a 'Sovereign-Duty' to this dimension too?"
"You have a duty to yourself, Jenny," I whispered, taking her metal hand. "The Crown is mine to carry, but the 'Logic' is ours to share. You aren't my Princess. You're my Co-Architect."
Jenny's cooling fans whirred in a happy, rhythmic pulse. She leaned her head against my shoulder, the cool metal reflecting the green glow of the Infinite Realms.
Meanwhile, Kim and Ron arrived to help 'Escort' Drakken and Shego back through the rift. "Seriously, Drakken?" Kim asked, shaking her head. "Painting the afterlife blue? That's low, even for you."
"It was a BOLD STROKE, Kim Possible!" Drakken defended, currently being 'Pranked' by Pips turning his hair pink.
I looked at the team: the Middleton heroes, the Amity ghosts, the geniuses, the Titans, and the now-homeward-bound villains. We were a Kingdom of anomalies, but as the 'Blue-Sector' faded into memory, I knew we were the only ones who could handle the "Infinite" possibilities.
["Danny,"] Sheila's voice rang in my ear. ["I've updated the dossier. New Entry: 'Cerulean Mitigation.' Also, Shego just 'Liked' our new Ghost-Zone security layout. I think she's looking for a job as a 'Vibe-Consultant.' I suggest we say maybe."]
"Low-stakes, Sheila. Low-stakes."