Only a Matter of Time
By Twin Kats
Beta'd by FlyonSilverWings
Prologue
Too Late
Clockwork huffed angrily as he shut his door. For the first time in over ten thousand centuries he'd gotten so fed up with the Observants that he went and physically shoved them out the door.
He wasn't a physical ghost. Thus him being physical was a bad sign.
Still grumbling curses about irritating eyestalks he made his way back towards his screens. Time Scepter lifted he moved to check on the time and...
"FUCKING DAMN IT YOU PISS POOR CUNT-SUCKING OBSVERANTS!"
All he could See was Danny, on the gound sobbing, surrounded by nothing but a blown out Nasty Burger. Not even the remains of his friends and family were even present.
His Tower was a mess, and he didn't dare deny it. He'd tried everything-from tossing random people into the past (they were just obliterated) to telling himself of what was going to happen. Nothing. Ever. Worked.
It was enough to drive any ghost to pure insanity. Heck, he was sure he'd passed that point by now. Really. He just preferred to mope about in his aged form and stare at the screens hoping, praying. That. It. Wouldn't. Happen.
Of course he'd already exacted revenge on the Observants that screwed up his chances of rescuing Daniel. They wouldn't bother him ever again.
Not since they tasted Nasty Burger explosion like all the other beings he'd sacrificed to see if it would change the past. He'd even gone so far as to pull Vlad Plasmius into a thermos he'd nicked from the Fenton's house.
A bust. Plasmius somehow escaped without his foreknowledge and everything was right back where it was five minutes ago. It wasn't helping that he was still essentially two people and thus his own power was diminished. The nice thing was that Plasmius would forever have a fear of purple. Enough that he'd toss his damned giant blow-up football into the Ghost Zone.
It was a great de-stresser to toss the gaint football at annoying ghosts. Like the Observants. Oh how they'd scatter! And the screaming and terror in their faces! Why it alone brought a grin to his these days.
When he wasn't moping, that is.
But still, he much preferred to sit and mope. To stare at the screens and just...stare, really, there wasn't anything else he could do. He'd tried talking to Daniel once and was chalked up to bad fish. Really, him, bad fish?
Why he wanted to rip that boy in two for that comment! But he refrained. His fate was already horrible and it was all the Observants fault! Complain to him about Daniel would they? This was a future of their doing!
THEIRS!
Maybe he should toss the football at them again?
It was a week and essentially nothing happened. Except the nightmares. And increasing murderous thoughts.
Clockwork was beginning to wonder if the perverse future he could See was beginning to affect him. If the corrupted time stream was corrupting himself as well. If so he really didn't care anymore. Why should he? The world was going to hell anyway!
Even Ghost Writer thought so. He'd taken to boarding up his library in preparation for the aftermath. Randy boarded up with him, especially after Clockwork threatened to add him to the growing pile of beings launched at the explosion site during the explosion. Really, it was partly his fault too. Wasn't he supposed to have a keen eye on those damned Observants anyway?
Wasn't he supposed to keep them out of his Tower? Some Path-Keeper he was turning out to be!
No, Clockwork was not a pleasant character to be around. Not anymore.
He wanted to punt some more Observants into the blast.
The day dawned and Clockwork found himself glued to his screens, eyes wide like a child watching his favorite televised show. Just as he'd Seen it, it happened.
"Vlad...I...it hurts too much. I want it to stop," Danny murmured, gaze turned away.
"But Little Badger! You've been doing so well-" Vlad started, rather shocked at the boy's words.
"No, I haven't," Clockwork murmured along with Danny, gaze somewhat distant. "You don't...you don't understand. I can see it, happen, all the time. The fire, the explosion...their expressions of hate and confusion...and then that flash. And suddenly they're just bones and blood and it's everywhere...and then gone. All gone...forever gone...all away and it's all my fault all my fault! Gods make it stop Plasmius!"
Vlad replied, defeated, "Of course, Little Badger," he placed a hand on his shoulder.
Clockwork's lips tugged upwards, his eyes widening with an almost unholy glee as he leaned forward and watched. Vlad hooked Danny up to the table and put him asleep.
Wouldn't want the Little Badger to feel the pain, after all...
Clockwork giggled slightly. Pain's a joke really. What did itty bitty pain do to anybody? Oh, right, destroy the timestream! His eyes flashed a murderous red before resettling in that giddy light. The claws were out and gleaming, glistening.
So pretty...for such an evil, vile, thing that ruins all of life. But so, so pretty...
He jumped when they were thrust into Danny's chest and pulled a small plush he'd made in one of his rare moments of non-murderous thought closer to his chest. His eyes widening almost child-like as he watched, and watched...
Phantom was yanked out, ectoplasm dribbling from the wounds. Phantom was confused, then angry, then furious. He ripped the claws out of himself and then from Vlad's hands. He flung Vlad at the wall, slicing and dicing, pulling Plasmius free! He leaped and overshadowed the older ghost and there was an explosion of swirling, frightening green...
And then...
And then...
"Never try to kill me again, Danny!"
And then Danny screamed, and Clockwork just laughed. High pitched, crazy, manic laughter.
This was the best T.V. he'd ever seen!
ONWARDS TO THE AUTHORS NOTE!
Right...Clockwork's snapped. Eh heh...whoops? So...for those of you wondering just what is going on here and stuff...well, hopefully you're readers of the Half-Ghosts, Time & Magic universe. Meaning...
Boredom&Clockwork - oneshot
Of Lightning Bolts, Half-Ghosts & Time Pieces - multi-chaptered still going story
Surprise! - oneshot side-story for OLBHG&TP
The Merlin Incident - drabble series that takes place before OLBHG&TP but after B&C
If you have then this might make a bit more sense. Basically this is the AU that TUE gave us only in the Half-Ghosts, Time & Magic universe. Meaning it'll contain references to Harry Potter, BBC's Merlin, and other random shows. But only minor references. This story focuses more on Dan.
Quite literally.
It's Alternate Universe to even Half-Ghosts, Time & Magic really. I say that because the main universe follows Danny Phantom pretty closely with few minor changes up until Masters of All Time. Meaning like in TUE the alternate future was erased. However I've been getting more and more Dan obsessed lately and figured I'd write out that alternate future. Why not? Maybe it'll take away the darkness and seriousness of OLBHG&TP which wasn't ever meant to be all that serious anyway. OLBHG&TP was meant to be more humorous than serious but it's gotten a bit more dark-ficcy recently.
I figured I'd try to draw that out with a literal dark-ficcy story. Thus this. It won't be pretty, it won't be nice. If that's not your cup of tea then I suggest leaving. Otherwise enjoy.
Oh, and by the way...this chapter is referenced in OLBHG&TP. Specifically the chapter titled Kidnapping. You know, when Clockwork yells about being late, again? Well, here's where he was late for the first time ever and guess what? He went insane.
Enjoy the crazies and the darkness...
edit: beta'd by FlyonSilverWings
