A Past Worth Saving

Prologue

Clockwork sorrowfully bowed his head as he made his last decision as this world's Time Keeper. If the earth was going to live, the ghost world was going to have to pass. With tear filled eyes, he glanced at his viewing mirrors. They showed a future that was not too dissimilar from what he was used to seeing, except for one major difference. There were no ghosts. Or, at least not the type of ghosts that the world had become familiar with seeing. Sure, they would see the occasional wayward spirit, but those spirits would only be able to hold form for mere seconds before they would turn into nothing but energy once more. It would be a sad fate for all spectral forms, but for the sake of billions of human's lives, it might just be worth it.

Images of wondering spirits drifting in and out of the corporeal plane. Mournful cries drifting into the ears of unfortunate passers by. The lonely child pleading for his mother as he drifts in and out of his childhood home where he was killed in a fire. All of these spirits that would no longer be able to experience the safety of the ghost zone. All of those humans that would become ghosts over time only to live this sorry excuse for an afterlife. Thoughts must not stray to ideas such as these however. The possible future that we face right now is far worse. We must go through with this.

Though the choice is difficult, it must be made. Though the consequences seem to outweigh the benefits at this point, it must be done. With the ghost zone deactivated, the current ghosts would no longer exist, but the human world would continue to prosper. It would go without the knowledge of the ghost zone. It will always doubt the existence of their spirit counterparts. It will never again face this sword of Damocles.

"What will happen to Vlad and I?" A curious yet mournful halfa asked his tearful companion.

"I'm afraid that I cannot tell you that young phantom. The future has become so clouded not even I can uncover its secrets." The master of time let out a light sigh and pushed his hands through his unkept white hair. "I wish I could tell you. I truly do." Slowly, he glided over to another mirror.

"Daniel, it has truly been an honor. You are the first I could truly call friend in millennia. Your bravery and good will will stay with all for many years to come. If indeed you do keep your form, I wish you the best of luck with your life. May you be of good health young phantom." The last lines were nothing more than a whisper.

Danny looked into his mentor's eyes with a sorrow unfathomable to any other. They had become so close, a life without having the old time master there for guidance was incomprehensible. All of those memories of going to him for both serious matters and for the sake of simple relaxation. All of those times, especially recently, where he needed to have guidance in order to maintain some semblance of order in a widely chaotic universe.

Having taken over some of Clockwork's minor responsibilities, it would be difficult to imagine a world without a time keeper to keep it flowing as it should be. To make sure that all is as it should be.

"Clockwork, I am going to miss you all." Danny whispered. Not even trying to hold back his sobs, he desperately hugged his old friend.

"As I will miss you Daniel. Perhaps if the fates are kind, we will meet again in some form. However, as we are now, I am afraid that this is goodbye my friend." As Danny released Clockwork, he saw the time keepers eyes shine as the light caught in them.

"Goodbye, Clockwork. Master of Time, and the last of the Ancients. It has been an honor." With these words of parting, Danny straightened and adopted a solemn expression. "May the fates find your favor." With a nod, Danny then stepped back, giving space for the impending recitation.

"No, Daniel, the honor has been all mine. Stay strong in the coming days young one." A confused expression crossed the young halfa's face, but he remained silent. If Clockwork was going to explain, he would have. He had gotten past the stage of questioning the elder's decisions long ago.

With a final calming breath, Clockwork calmly floated toward the middle of the room, and started to recite the words that would spell the end of the world as we knew it, and create the world as we know it.

"Death has come

Death has gone

In a world we hold

There is only one

Only one to hold

One so dear

Whose life we now give

Whose life we now choose

Their lives we hold

They are ours so true

May they live in peace

Now I seal their fate

A fate of life

A fate of death

Now I give close

To the world of the dead

That peace may abound

Is all that I beg

I, Master of Time

I, of the Ancients

Now give an end to this here notion."

With a final breath, before everything went dark, a last word was carried through the air, strained as though its very existence was painful. Which it undoubtably was.

"farewell.."

And then the world went black.

A/N : Well, there was a short preview of an idea that has been forming in my mind this past evening. So, what do you think is going to happen? What do you think has already happened for it to come to this? Please let me know! I am anxious to here your opinions of the matter. Reviewers are loved and will receive cyber cookies! I will try to respond to all of you wonderful people! Hope to 'see' you again soon.

-Tenebris Cor-