A/N: Hmm… My first fic! I never thought I'd finally put it here. x3 I blame Rykieshi on this, so…
Disclaimer: I don't own Danny Phantom, nor do I own most of the cameo characters seen here, unless there are OC's. Then again, some might be Rykie's too….
Plot Bunny belongs to Rykieshi.
Prologue:
Clockwork knew everything.
Yes, that was a given factor considering the ghost looked after the affairs of past, present and future. Sure, the Observers were given privy and what was to come, or what MAY come, but they haven't the true insight of what it truly was to uphold the time streams.
Alas, this came with a heavy price. He could not interfere with the events unless there was absolutely no remedy to the situation than his meddling. As much as he wanted to possibly stop the coming events, there was absolutely nothing he could do.
It was, pretty much, pre-destined.
A weary smile crept up on the Time Lord's lips, looking so out of place on his now-childish features. With a wave of his hand, he changed the portal that used his oracle as a nexus, a calm look etched on his face. Yes, this particular time the new image projected, would be vital….
As both the master and servant of time, he had to let the events that were to come unfold as they were meant to.
It was only a matter of time.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
What remained of the Fenton Thermos that once imprisoned him lay on the ground in indistinguishable blobs of melted metal and circuitry. Really now, how could his past self ever think that such an insignificant little soup container could hold a ghost that lay siege in the future, powers as potent, if not more, than the Ghost King Pariah Dark.
Although, Dan was pretty sure that that future had been consumed by the inevitable change that was brought about by Clockwork's 'choice' to save those that his past self cared for, the very same people that he lost.
Had he an active shred of humanity left, he would have been happy for them.
An amused smirk played on the ghost's lips as he scanned his surroundings for a brief moment, relishing the delicacy of freedom. But this momentary 'peace' wasn't meant to last, of course. He had plans to act upon.
You see, he didn't merely keep on mindless blasting the inner walls of the thermos; he knew that the enforced container would not last long against the continuous, steady onslaughts of his ectoblasts. Being a full ghost gave him something that made him- laugh at the irony it presented. He possessed the pseudo immortality that all ghosts shared. In short, time was on his side.
No, Dan used half of the time scheming and plotting of ways to restore the timeline as he wished, to create the monster that was himself. Call him selfish, but if he was forced to witness the deaths of all those close to him, why should any 'Danny' from whatever time stream be spared from the pain.
Besides, destruction was rather intoxicating; it would be a shame to have the fear and panic very much present in his timeline simply vanish. What did he have to show for, after so many years of sowing seeds of fear, if his efforts vanished with the abyss of times that were, but at the same time, were not to be?
Contrary to the belief of the many humans that he terrorized during his 'future' (or past, it really depends. One can never be sure with time, really), he was no simple, bloodthirsty ghost bent on sating whatever perverse fantasy of sheer and total destruction that his supposed 'one-track' brain could come up with.
As much as he was 'Danny Phantom', he was equally 'Vlad Plasmius' as well. He liked the cunning thoughts that this half presented to him, and he found himself less… happy when he lost. Of course, the games he played were a far more dangerous sort, a twisted, universal game of chess if you will, that he only lost in once.
And how he loved the way chess was played. Strategy, foresight and the cruel and precise manner that he crushed his enemies underfoot were endearing qualities that he sometimes despised. Perhaps the more 'childish' half of his persona found the patience aspect of the game a drag….
"Now, about that plan….." a wide, Cheshire smile tugged at the ghost's lips as he floated almost lazily towards the castle's center, Clockwork's personal 'observatory', as many ghosts called it.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Pupil-less, crimson eyes opened calmly as Clockwork felt the ripple of power that spiked through his domain. The cloak-clad ghost didn't even bat an eyelash at the sound of the room's door being blasted apart in a spectacular display of power, unnecessary, but Dan did have a flair for entrances.
" I suppose you knew this was going to happen?" the evil specter's voice sounded almost disappointed, though an undertone of sadistic glee was present as well.
" I know everything." Clockwork's ever-enigmatic answer served only to ignite Dan's short temper, which the sinister ghost quickly reigned. Oh, he was going to enjoy destroying Clockwork….
"I must thank you for opening that time portal of yours to my intended destination…. Though, to ensure that you don't meddle in my affairs again…." The flame-haired ghost trailed off rather cryptically, bearing his fangs in a sharp grin, his hands glowing a vibrant green with gathered ectoplasm.
What would have quailed a lesser ghost was faced with nothing but utter calm from Clockwork.
Nothing but the oracle glass witnessed the carnage, the image of a certain, raven-haired teenager being blasted with the energy of an opening ghost portal flickering on its smooth surface.
-x-x-x-x-x-
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