Hello all, I've been rewriting this story for a while (because seriously, before this it actually sucks and have too many potholes. Now, I've managed to plot almost all of of the story-plots and happy with it. The title before is called Tails of a Kat. But now it's rewritten and called,
Kats (I know, unoriginal, but hey, their species are called Kats~)
Note: The cats in this universe call themselves as Kats, so no, it is not a typo.
Chapter 1
The windows of time swirling in the air flickered as the caster ran his hand through screen. Scenes after scenes ran past them, a few paused before flickering away.
One particular time window showed a tired looking young teen. This boy, is special in many ways. For one, he's a human, but he's also a ghost thanks to a certain event. It was inevitable, the creation of the Fenton Portal. It was the only way to stabilize the fickle balance of the two world and this boy was chosen as a bridge to connect that link. The ancient ghost sighed, never in his entire existence had he known one as unpredictable such as the boy. A mere touch could mean destruction, a mere breath could mean salvation.
Clockwork had to thread carefully or nothing would be left. That one instance where he let time do what it wanted because his employers forbid him from doing anything resulted in the destruction of mankind, eventually Clockwork cozened his way out of that timeline. Ending it permenently.
His eyes moved towards a lone thermos by the corner. The persona of Danny Phantom of the very first timeline Clockwork has looked upon was trapped in there, cut off from his own timeline. It sat there as a reminder of his mistakes, a momento that he should't always follow what his employees wanted. A reminder that he, Clockwork, Master of Time was not a slave to the council of Observants. A reminder that he could sometimes have fun instead of blindly following the rules.
The Observants, the great overseer of the Ghostly Realms, and his employers. Those green one eyeballed creatures are determined that the boy is a threat, even with the destruction first timeline behind their backs.
Daniel Fenton. Half a human, half a ghost. An anomally, as the two creatures, although similar, are very different. His existence is frowned by the observants, much more than the older halfa Vladmir, or the young Danielle.
'There must be a way to keep the boy away from them while I fix the stream irregularities.' Clockwork thought as he shifted through the time-window. Thanks to the observants lack of participation
He noted a quite a number of timeline would benifit the boy and the timestream greatly if he went into them. One in particular would keep the boy hidden from the watchful eyes, including himself - if the observants decided to spy on his time windows behind his back, not the first time they didi that. He would've taught them a lesson a bout privacy, but...
"The things I done for the sake of time." He muttered, shaking his head.
A portal appeared behind him, but he made no mention of noticing the arrival of a guest in his lair. Their steps were light and padded, as a feline should.
"Hello Clockwork, how are you this evening?" A voice hummed, slender arms hugging the ghost form from behind.
"Lady of the East. Welcome."
Draped in gold robes, ebony fur shines in the light. Her finger glided over her chin in thought, a small smile on her lips. She is Baast, the Cat Goddess.
"Chamomile tea?" Clockwork offered. A golden teapot emblazened with gold and the stones of Lapis Lazuli materialized in the air, pouring sweet smelling liquid into a small tea cup of similar design. The cup floated towards the godess, whom with a wave of her finger, dropped a couple of sugar cubes into it before stirring it magically.
Lean manicured fingers hidden behind 2 inches of golden metal claw picked up the cup, her whiskers twitched as whe inhaling the aroma before taking a sip, "Charming as always." She purred, taking a seat in the conjured chair behind her.
A few moment passed as they two enjoyed the tea in the midst of the ticking clocks. It was Baast who broke the silence, "It has come to my attention that you have... dear Clockwork." she started, "..gotten yoursef an apprentice?"
Word travels, and Clockwork, Master of past, Present and Future isn't one many could imagine taking an apprentice. Baast knew this fact and wanted to know why the ancient ghost took one under his wings. She had asked of it from Pandora, but the brute woman wouldn't spoke of nothing but of how the young 'Phantom' had helped her secure her 'Pithos' (The Pandora Box) from falling to an irresponsible hand. She got carried away and the discussion went from that to how should one could use salt-muds as face masks.
Baast made a mental note to bring a note-me-down paper and stuck them onto her arm to remind her of her original purpose. She had totally forgotten to ask more about this 'Phantom' until an hour after she bid her friend goodbye.
"He's not exactly my apprentice, my dear." Clockwork answered nonchalantly, noticing her almost absent gaze.
"Not exactly? But he's aware of you, doesn't he?" His hand were tweaking one of the many clocks hanging in the room, but he nodded. Baast huffed, figures that the stubborn old man won't admit it, "In my opinion, that is what one call an apprentice."
"I'm merely a caretaker, looking after him." A ring came from the tiny clock, lasting a few seconds before falling silent again.
"And... Where is this 'Phantom' of yours?" She turned her head around the tower, hoping to catch a glimpse of the 'not-apprentice' of the Time Master.
"Will you join me for dinner?" Clockwork suddenly asked, startling the cat goddess.
"Eh?"
The Time ghost went over towards an old drawer, pulling out a worn out envelope sealed with a wax stamp. He handed over the envelope towards his female guest.
She sniffed the letter, noting that it has at least aged a few years old. The Time Ghost inital stamped on the wax seal, 'CW'. Her eyes went towards Clockwork, his form rotating between a child, to a man, and to an old man. His gaze fixed towards herself, waiting for her answer to whatever he had written inside the sealed letter.
"My my," She chastisied, flicking open the seal with one of her claws.
"A love letter? Already? Won't your watchers be mad?" Clockwork face was passive, but Baast could see the telltalle of a slight blush appearing on the Time Master cheeks.
"They never told me that I couldn't give a couple of letters towards respected guests."
"And I'm one of the respected?" the goddess brow rose.
"According to the council, you are. Even with your frequent dissapearing act. I remember the time where you were a rampaging ball of fur. You went with the name Madfet, executing the unjust." At that, Baast got a michievous look in her eyes. "They fear you, my dear."
"Fufu, so I see. It's pleasing to know that 'they' are being such good boys." She licked her lips, "For now~"
With a flick, the letter in her hand burst into flames. Golden eyes glazed as Baast read the contents of the letter. These type of letter, by burning them after the seal is broken enables you to privately read them, and usually used to write love letters towards each other. Due to it's personal contents, the Council decided that it's best not to bother with these, and for Clockwork this is the best way to ask of the goddess of his request.
After a moment her eyes opened with delight.
"May I ask of your answer, Baast?" Clockwork asked,
"Of course I will! You don't need to personally write me a letter, you make this all look very... private and very... personal." she gestured the the dissapearing shreds of light in her grasp.
Clockwork smirked, "Formalities my dear."
Baast couldn't help but chuckle, "Do you have something planned for me in the future too? Aww, you're so sweet~" she purred as her body brushed with the time ghost, ignoring his form shifting.
"Since your child is not here... When can I see hum then?" She trailed.
"Soon, my dear."
She pouted, "Aww… but the little me don't even know how Clockwork little children even looks like."
Clockwork gestured to a lone thermos floating in the corner, "If you wanted so much to see him, I do have a supossedly evil-edition of his future self as a momento locked in here."
"Momento?" Her eyes caught the sight of the battered looking thermos sitting on a table by the wall. A dent can be seen on it's surface, the goddess thought it was a trick of the light but if she stare at it longer than nessesary she could've sworn it was actually a dent of a smirking face.
"And thus there is another addition for The Master of Time hoard of treasure." The Time Ghost started, but didn't say anything. She suddenly realized that Clockwork said it contained a 'future self', "Your charge is still a young kit?" He nodded, "What happened to his creators?"
"Are you assuming that he's is an orphan?"
Baast blinked, "He isn't? Then why..."
"You will understand, in time."
She huffed, pulling away from the him, "That you for 'It'll take a long time to tell and I enjoy seeing other stumble trying to understand what I'm saying' speech... You darn know-it-all." she muttered the last to herself.
Clockwork just smiled.
"But really, why isn't he here with you? Not the one in a rusty looking cylinder, thank you. Whatever reason he was stuffed in there like that doesnt seem to be a good one."
Clockwork gestured towards an open time window of a young half-ghost, stepping aside so the catwoman could see the content. Slowly, Baast peered into it, and what she saw made her gasp. Right there, in detail was the sight of an ordinary human house. On top of the bed was a boy of fourteen, trying his best to bandage himself of the red and blue injury that littered his torso. He suddenly turned up, spoke something. Panicking, he quickly wore his shirt back on and from the corner of the screen came a girl with strawberry-blond-hair. They seemed to be having a small agrument, until the girl bonked the bottom of a plastic bag of medical supplies right on top of the boy head, effectively silencing him.
Baast turned towards Clockwork, "Your charge is a human child? Alive?" Her face scrunched in confusion, as the image of Jazz in the time window managed to force Danny to accept her help bandaging his injuries. "Clockwork, one can only survive a day even when they are healthy, with that kind of injury he will definetly perish in less than a hour! And most importantly I can't do what you ask me if the boy was a hu...!"
Time was suddenly halted by Clockwork soft 'Time Out'. A medallion appeared on the cat goddess neck, pulling her into life. Baast frowned, recognizing the feel of a stopped timep.
"There is a reason why the boy fall under my watch, my dear. And I understand about that rule you insist on." It was to make sure her world doesn't mingle too much with the others than it already is. The Cat Goddess couldn't just change one rule in fear of destroying the stability of her abode. Where will she rest if her own home was broken because a main pillar - that represent the rules of her world - got knocked out?
The goddess eyes hardened, "Past experience taught me that not many are trutworthy, and I will not let the harm my children. That world is special for my children, and I only accept souls as refugees. Not humans."
"I know."
"Then why do you insist on bringing in a human child into my world? He won't life long, love. I don't know his extent of power but a human CANNOT survive in that world of mine."
"There is a solution."
"And that is?"
A vial appeared in Clockwork hand, twirling in between his thumb. "It would require your blood."
Baast was taken aback, "My blood? Are you using me as a sacrifice?"
"Far from it my dear. You are the only one who could bring the boy into your home, and for that, he would need your help to adapt."
Her ears twitched, realizing what he was implying her to do. "I love you, but by Ra you have one twisted sense of humor."
"I've been living for a long time watching millions of war unfold within the boundaries of my tower. Why are you even surprised?"
"I wonder why myself. Very well, but love." She leaned closer to the Time ghost, "if you want even a tiniest bit of blood from me to fill up that 'pithoi'," her fangs nipped Clockwork lips. "You will have to make me bleed."
"It's just a tiny vial, not one that could fit one such as yourself like a pithos could, my dear."
"Ah, but you will not have a drop of me unless I let you have it~"
"You are hard to please, Lady of the East."
"Do your best, oh Great Master of Time."
Author Notes:
Bastet/Baast = Bastet was a goddess in ancient Egyptian religion, worshipped as early as the Second Dynasty (2890 BC). She was the goddess of warfare in Lower Egypt, the Nile River delta region, before the unification of the cultures of ancient Egypt. Her name is also spelled Baast, Ubaste, and Baset.
Madfet = The goddess Mafdet, the deification of justice and execution, was a lion-headed goddess. The cat goddess Bast eventually replaced the cult of Mafdet, and Bast's image softened over time and she became the deity representing protection, fertility, and motherhood.
Pithoi = What egyptian call of a large vase that was commonly used for storage of wine, oil, grain or other provisions, or, ritually, as a container for a human body for burying.
I do not own Danny Phantom not Swat Kats