It had never occurred to Vlad that he could be given a second chance. He thought that he was destined to wander space for as long as he lived. During the seemingly long time that he spent there, Vlad got time to reflect over his life, the mistakes that he made which are deeply regretted. To think that jealousy and loneliness could take such a toll on a person's personality, blind them from what they were. It sadden him to think his last days spent on earth and people that he once cared about were wasted in such stupidity, such misplaced anger; it sickened him to his core. So, he decided that the time left all alone in space was his punishment for all the things that he had committed. Let the world believe what they want, let them change his story, it clearly doesn't matter anymore, his life is over. Or, at least he thought it was.
While Vlad floated through space, Clockwork observed. Never in his existence has he felt such a strong pity for a human, a half of a human really. Clockwork has seen the many lives of Vladimir Masters, he has witnessed the terrible fate that Vlad appears to be cursed with. Time and time again Vlad never experienced a happy ending, it always end badly for him. Whether it is in love, friendship, and simply a place to belong, Vlad failed to retain them. Over the years, Clockwork has tried to give a bit of hope in Vlad's life, but somehow time does not want to cut Vlad any slack. Whatever boost Clockwork tries to instill into Vlad's sad existence, it is always corrected in some other form. Eventually, Clockwork stopped trying, letting time run its course like he should be doing but this timeline, this life that Vlad had is one of the worst that Clockwork had observed. It tore at him like never before, probably because Clockwork himself had a life very similar to this, before his time as the master of time. He had been human once, as every ghost was, and it was those humanistic feelings that drove him to change Vlad's life. At least once should Vlad have a chance to obtain happiness, in whatever shape that it could possibly take.
"Vlad."
Vlad grumbled, his eyes closed for he was tired of putting effort into useless actions.
"Vlad Masters, look at the person who is trying to talk to you."
Vlad, who was in a near vertical position and moving over due to spacial physics, sat up and used a small portion of his energy to slow down the acceleration.
"Clockwork…"Vlad looked upon Clockwork in complete and utter shock. He didn't even know that it was possible for him to travel to such a faraway place or where Vlad even was in the vast space.
"Hello, Vlad. It is nice to see you." Clockwork said.
"Oh butter biscuits, now I've started to hallucinate out of loneliness. Just perfect, but why Clockwork." He pondered, " Probably has to do with the fact I wish I could do things over."
"And you can, if you are willing to accept my offer," responded Clockwork.
"Hold on, you aren't part of my imagination but can you even travel this far? Aren't there any kind of limitations on you?" accused Vlad.
"No, I'm not Vlad. You of all people should be able to discern reality from imagination, you were always good with that," Clockwork answered, "And I would have brought you back to earth to have this discussion but I'd rather not get caught interfering with time again."
Vlad looked at Clockwork in disbelief, wondering why on earth Clockwork would go to such lengths to find him so deep in space.
"Now, Vlad. Are you willing to hear me out, to give yourself a possible second chance at the life you've failed?" asked Clockwork.
"... I … I don't know," he answered, still quite confused as to why this situation was even happening in the first place. Did he really deserve a second chance, despite the terrible feelings he felt and the actions which placed him here.
Clockwork could see the thought process that was running through Vlad's head, the terrible opinions that he had for himself, not seeing that this would give him a chance to have a life without the bitterness he once had.
"Vlad, you must know, this offer - it won't last forever. You can only take it now or remain in the eternal hell without anyone to keep you company but yourself."
Vlad broke out of his small trance, not completely sure that this was the right thing to say but anything was better than being alone.
"Alright…. I'll take you up on that offer, regardless if the world is against me."
"Then take my hand and don't let go."
Vlad did what he was asked of and off they went.
"It has been about 9 years since you've been drifting."
Vlad's eyes widened at the fact; he had never thought about the time that had past and he certainly didn't think that much had gone by.
'So then, the children should be done with college if not already,' he thought.
If there was one thing he could say with confidence, it would be that he enjoyed the time he spent with the ghost trio even though he was the enemy. That rivalry gave him a second purpose besides the revenge he once swore for.
"Vlad. When I take you back, no one you know will remember the terrible things you did unless you tell them yourself.
"WHAT!"
"This is a form of insurance for you as the current world holds your memory in horrid aspects. Everyone was happy knowing that you weren't there anymore and that is the unhappy truth, for you at least. It is also one of the main reasons as to why I would have everyone forget what you did. The only memory that will remain is the human part of you, the one which is a lonely billionaire who never called on his true friends that were rather worried for his wellbeing. The events that you took part in, or rather you yourself will be replaced as to not damage the time and call further attention to you. One thing that remains is the creation of Dani, your daughter -"
"Hold on, hold on! This thing that you're doing for me, is it even possible? I thought that you were only suppose to watch over time, especially after what happened with Danny. How on earth are you even able to change someone's memory?" Vlad questioned, beginning to feel quite puzzled as to why Clockwork was even doing all of this.
"Really, this is what you questioned me about, not the fact that I just called Dani your daughter." Vlad looked at him, almost sad. He then says, "Well, you're not completely off… and I would still like an answer to my question."
Clockwork chuckles, "Next time. We have arrived."
They land in a forest, one that Vlad would never think to see again.
"This is the area near my former mansion but why here?"
Clockwork starts walking into the forest, something odd especially for a ghost.
"Previous to me picking you up out from space, I had placed a particular field around the area, preventing many abilities that come naturally to a ghost. I had to do it this way to prevent rising suspicion with the observers while blocking them at the same time. And it was a slow process as you can't have a "dead" zone, no pun intended, just pop up all of a sudden."
Vlad simply nods and continues walking with Clockwork on their little trek to Vlad's old home. He didn't know how long it took them, as his sense of time is rather jacked from being in space for so long, but they finally reached the manor. The manor itself was in disarray, since having no caretaker with the disappearance of its owner and adding to fact that the world knew who and what Vlad was, no one was willing to take care of it. It has weeds in the front yard, trees that had overgrown broke through the side windows, making the space inside their home. Vines had somehow taken root and spread all around the house, making it seems more haunted than it already was. Vlad, had he been anyone else would be enraged by the state of the house, saw a home; a place that he dearly missed in his own exile.
Vlad look at Clockwork and asked, " Now what do we do?"
"Nothing. It has already been done the moment we entered the atmosphere. Only it is up to you what you do with this time but remember, you Vlad Masters has not committed any of the crimes that made you be hated so. Build new relationships and be a happier person; I will check up on you in two months time to explain a few more details about the situation." Clockwork hands him a phone and a slip of paper.
"What's this?" Vlad inquires.
Clockwork just smiles and vanishes, leaving Vlad to figure what he wants to do next.