Prologue Prisons and Freedom

Clockwork silently floated past the dented thermos as he had many times before and a muffled grunt and curse could be heard just like the many other times he had passed it. He mentally groaned in annoyance wondering when the joy of violently shaking the canister had lost its thrill. Slowly he paced (or as well as one can pace while floating) in front of the main time portal, watching idly as the image flickered fuzzily. His face was blank as the images blurred between timelines, a man fighting for the freedom of his country, a woman struggling for suffrage, brothers turned against each other. So many different turns that could have been explored but ultimately every path had led to the present.

His young half ghost ward was happy and the protector of amity park. But most of all he was good, a pure hearted hero. 18 year old Danny phantom had saved the world several times, sacrificed much for the people's safety and had earned every bit of happiness he had. Clockwork smiled at the thought. Danny had gotten his wish, his parents knew, everyone knew and he was still loved but most of all he was still a hero. But he was trapped. Everyone expected something from Danny but as long as things stayed the way they were he could deal with being trapped.

The image blurred again and a young girl almost the mirror image of amity parks hero, snow white hair and glowing green eyes, appeared. One would be hard pressed to find any difference between the two besides height (and gender obviously). Clockworks smile faded much like the young girls had.

Danielle Phantom had suffered much over the years. He watched as the portal pulled forth images of her birth in a lab and her departure not long after the betrayal of her father. He watched as she disappeared out of Daniel's life to live the life of a vagrant. She went place to place using her powers to make her journey easier. And then he watched as her greatest fear came to fruition, she started destabilizing. She spent half of the year living as a homeless child, trying to make her way to the one person she hoped could help her. He watched as she slept in boxes, as she ate from trash cans to survive, as each day she struggled and every night she cried herself to sleep. Until one day she saw the familiar outline of Amity Park in the distance, a shining ray of hope miles in the distance. But it was not the Haven she expected.

Many things had been waiting for her in Amity. A Hunter, her Cousin, her Father and most of all a Cure. She had faced near inexistence and had bravely walked away, whole and intact but only in a physical sense. She had lost much of herself that day, she had seen the Void of Inexistence and had not escaped unscathed. Her perspective had been forever changed. But he did not blame her, almost dying will do that to a person. She had left Amity Park with all her powers restored but even though she rejoiced the return of her power and the promise that she would not melt away to nothingness, her happiness faded as Amity faded in the away in the distance.

Listlessly she floated for days, weeks, months. Using her powers for good when it was called for (and when the small nostalgic smile flittered onto her face he could tell she was thinking of Danny) and often for her own gain (and though he knew it pained her it reminded her of her Father, but a girl's gotta eat). And so for the longest time she went from place to place as depression settled heavily in the young girls heart.

Clockwork frowned again as he watched her, it wouldn't be the first time and he most definitely knew it would not be the last. Though he hated to admit it, he had grown quite fond of the third Halfling (never mind the fact that they had never met). He was usually unbiased to the workings and machinations of those of the living (and unliving) world but after cycling through all the various timelines he had come to a very grim conclusion. Without him intervening her fate would be one of loneliness or unhappiness and she would die at the ripe old age of 19. He knew loneliness and he also knew that life was unfair at times, but to be fated to such an existence would be worse than his own. She was special, just like the 2 halfas before her. In all of the timelines their fates had been their own to choose, to mold to decide (barring any meddling for second chances).

"Why not her?"

He sighed dejectedly as he floated back to the canister across the room. Picking up the worn and dented thermos he contemplated what he was about to do before glancing back at the portal. She had made her way back to her birthplace in the Colorado, a familiar cabin coming into her view. He knew that she would find the lab deep below and make this her home, this place would also double as her grave in 3 years.

"Unless…"

He looked back towards the thermos once more before gently shaking it. Everyone deserved a second chance.

"I have a proposition for you."