AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's a bonus chapter because I failed to upload anything on Valentine's Day due to the ice that prevented me from going to a place with internet service. If you haven't read chapter three (because it was posted directly before this one) then I suggest you go back or else you might find yourself lost. Enjoy, and don't say that I've never done anything for you guys. ;)


Chapter Four: Renegades Return

Standing before Clockwork and Danny was none other than Vlad in his ghost form. Vlad didn't sound like his smug self, but he did sound a bit surprised. Vlad had been hiding invisibly in the shadows long enough to piece together enough information to figure out that the ghost he set free was none other than this spirit's brother. It made sense after all considering the two spirit's similarities. The only reason Vlad now knew that the other spirit was named Quasar was thanks to not only the staff that the Space Manipulator had in his possession, but also because of Skulker.

Years ago, when Vlad had first learned about Clockwork, he had sent Skulker out to find information. Of course, the fabled Clockwork was a legend to the Ghost Zone's self proclaimed Greatest Hunter, but he did as he was asked. There had been no relevant information about Clockwork, but Skulker did bring news of a spirit that controlled space. At the time, Vlad had thought the two spirits were both one and the same considering how time and space went hand in hand. The name for the Space Spirit, however, hadn't been Clockwork but Quasar. There hadn't been any pictures of the spirit but there had been a picture of the staffs. One being the one that Quasar had, and the other being the one that Clockwork held in his hand.

At first Vlad had theorized that the staff changed its appearance depending on whether it was being used to manipulate time or space. Now he knew that there were two spirits and two staffs, one for time and one for space.

Danny stepped forward, unsure of how to react to seeing Vlad after such a long period of time. He knew one thing was for certain; Vlad played a hand in letting Clockwork's brother, apparently named Quasar, free. Vlad turned his attention to Danny for only a moment before turning his gaze back to Clockwork who had snapped out of his shocked state just long enough to mask his real emotions.

"Vladimir Masters, I must admit I was not expecting this."

Clockwork began winding the top of his staff while examining the older Halfa in front of him. Danny, on the other hand, was still raring for a fight. How did Vlad even find this place? It was so well hidden that no-one could find it unless they knew the exact location.

"How'd you get here, fruit loop?"

"Really Daniel, we haven't seen each other in who knows how long, and the first thing you ask me is how I got here? No hello, no nice to see you, just curious to know how I got here, hm?"

"Oh, how rude of me. Hey there fruit loop, surprised you're not dead. How'd ya get here?"

Vlad frowned at Daniel's sarcasm and noted with interest the amount of power the boy now had. It was clear that Daniel had grown stronger over the course of Vlad's absence. Due to wandering around aimlessly and moping after his entry into the Ghost Zone, Vlad hadn't kept up with his training and knew more than anything that in his current state, he would be just about equal in strength with the boy.

"Simple child. You see, I asked for directions."

Daniel didn't take the bait that Vlad had thrown out to him; calling him a child was usually Vlad's way of goading Daniel into attacking. He knew better now.

"What, couldn't find the Infa-Map?"

Vlad was surprised. Daniel's comeback was clearly unexpected, and it showed considering he hadn't had a rebuttal for it. Daniel smiled triumphantly while Clockwork watched them both, still winding up his scepter.

"My brother sent you," stated Clockwork which caused Vlad to look his way.

"Indeed."

"I will not change your past, Vladimir."

"Yes, I was told you wouldn't do that. I am prepared to take matters into my own hands."

Vlad turned to Daniel and flung his hands upwards sending a blast of magenta colored ectoplasm towards the younger Halfa. Vlad was anticipating Danny to panic a bit and use his ecto-energy to immediately surround himself with a dome of ectoplasm working as a shield. Daniel did no such thing, but instead held out one hand, caught the blast, juggled it to his other hand and sent it right back at the older male. Vlad was so stunned that he barely had time to make a rectangular shield to block the attack.

His shock turned to annoyance when he recalled his first encounter with Daniel. Vlad had done the same thing with Daniel's attack. The aforementioned Halfa smiled confidently and winked at Vlad.

"That's so year one."

Vlad grit his teeth together. Again, it was the same thing that he had said to Daniel in their first encounter.

"Wretched child, I have more than twenty years of experience under my belt. You don't stand a chance!"

Vlad duplicated himself into three, but Daniel didn't seem to be too concerned. In fact, Daniel duplicated himself once, he and the clone both smiling at each other. Vlad was thrown by this confidence for only a moment before two of his duplicates flew towards Daniel while he and the last duplicate went for Clockwork.

Daniel took one of Vlad's duplicates while his own duplicate took the remaining one. Daniel smiled as he flew around Clockwork's Tower. This was definitely one way to relieve some of his pent up aggression. Clockwork had really annoyed him. Daniel turned in mid-air so that he was flying with his back towards the ground, watching Vlad's duplicate who was sneering at him.

"Man you're slow," he taunted as the duplicate fired a blast which Daniel turned intangible to avoid.

"My turn," he said as he pulled back his fist and threw out a blast of his own.

Unlike before, Daniel's blasts were much more accurate and weren't overflowing with unnecessary amounts of extra ectoplasm. They were much more contained and much more powerful. Vlad's clone hadn't realized this, and so when it created a shield to block the attack, it was in for a very painful surprise. The magenta color shield cracked upon impact and vanished while Daniel's energy kept going until it smashed into the duplicate's chest. With a startled and painful cry, the clone turned into spectral energy which merged back to the original. The merge relayed the duplicate's experience to the original who had momentarily stopped what he was doing to watched Daniel's duplicate defeat his own, only Daniel's duplicate had been throwing ice balls filled with explosive green ecto-energy inside it. Once the two out of three duplicates had been defeated, Daniel and his duplicate gave each other a high five before turning their attention to the remaining two targets.

Clockwork, who had clearly been shaken by Vlad's arrival was trying to compose himself. He had had a feeling that Vlad was involved, but he hadn't seen it in his time windows. It shouldn't have been possible for Clockwork to not have seen it, but not only had he not seen Vlad free his brother, but he had not seen this intrusion upon his home or the problems that it brought with it. Clockwork hadn't been aware of Vlad even being in his home until the Halfa made himself known. He should have been able to sense the man, but he hadn't. What could that have meant?

"Tell me, Vladimir, if you knew that I would not help you achieve your goals why did you come here? You are not a match for me."

"No, perhaps I am not, but I am an opportunistic man. If I see an opportunity, I will take it."

"You cannot pose a threat to Danny, yet you're willing to challenge me? I never pegged you for a fool, Vladimir."

"A fool, you say? How about we test that theory, Time Master?"

Clockwork narrowed his eyes. He was at full power. He knew very well that he had more than enough power to wipe Vladimir from existence and he was sure that Vladimir knew it too. So then…why was he here? Clockwork knew that Vladimir had a mental breakdown in space, but he had regained control of himself and had made a conscious decision to try starting over. That was why Vladimir had had the notion to search out Clockwork in the first place, but now it seemed that Vladimir was falling back into his old ways now that there was power just dangling inches from his fingertips.

Clockwork drew a blue circle in the air. Once the circle was complete, it filled with the same blue color and with his other hand, Clockwork thrust his palm against the energy and sent it towards Vladimir, only it hadn't phased him. Clockwork's eye twitched, but it was enough to cause Vladimir to grin before he, as nonchalantly as he could, flashed a purple/blue bracelet in Clockwork's face. That seemed to distract Clockwork long enough for Vladimir to counterattack. Though his attack was weaker than what it would have been had he been at full power, it was enough to knock Clockwork's staff from his hand. Inadvertently, the staff knocked into the podium that housed the Fenton Thermos, causing it to fall to the floor. The moment the thermos hit the floor, the locking mechanism in the cap shorted. Dan, who felt his power slowly returning, grinned at this realization. He was going to be free! He would wait though; bide his time until his powers were strong enough to cause some serious damage to those who had imprisoned him.

Vladimir, on the other hand, was moments away from reaching the scepter when the first of his duplicates returned to him, startling him with the sudden flurry of visions from the fight it had had with Danny. Vladimir, unable to believe it, turned to watch as his other duplicate turned into spectral energy and return to him. The Daniels then congratulated each other before they turned themselves on him. Vladimir grit his teeth together. He hadn't expected the slacker and son of Jack Fenton to become so much stronger in his absence. Heck, he hadn't expected to see Daniel until he had gotten what he wanted from the Time Master. He'd been surprised when he had heard Danny here in the first place.

"Perhaps a tactical retreat is in order. I have what I came for."

With a whirl of his cape, Vladimir disappeared in a haze of magenta smoke. Vladimir's last duplicate retrieved the scepter the moment Vladimir got distracted and made its escape considering the Time Scepter was priority one.

The two Danny's frowned before they merged into one. The one and only Danny began to look around at the mess that was left while he hovered lower and lower until his feet touched the ground. He noticed the Fenton Thermos on the floor and immediately picked it up. He then turned to Clockwork who was rubbing his injured wrist while looking discouraged.

"Clockwork?" asked Danny as he walked over towards the spirit in question.

He put the thermos on the podium and watched as Clockwork stared at the bright red mark that was forming on his ghostly skin. Clockwork then turned to face Danny with a worried expression on his face. Him, the Spirit of Time, was injured by Vlad of all people and to make matters worse he had been unable to stop him with his time manipulating powers, and there was also the problem with his stolen scepter…

Danny took note of the injury that Clockwork had sustained, not understanding how Vlad, who had been unable to hurt him, had managed to injure Clockwork. It was clear now more than ever that Clockwork would need his help, especially when Clockwork was looking as worried as he was now.

"What happened?" asked Danny, sounding concerned and a little angry that Vlad had injured his friend and managed to escape. "Why weren't you able to hurt Vlad?"

"My brother's interference…it would seem that…that Vlad…"

Clockwork was immediately cut off by the sounds of disembodied yelling. He immediately turned to face the two Observants who were, in fact, his guardians. Clockwork had never looked so angry. He pointed at each of them before lowering his finger so that it was pointing in front of where they were positioned. He fired a blast of basic ecto-energy at the ghosts. It was blue like ice, but hot like fire. The blast hit the ground in front of them creating a loud thunderous sound that drowned out everything else. The two Observants immediately tensed, but Clockwork did not care at the moment that they seemed frightened of him.

Clockwork turned his back to them and stormed off into another room while still holding his injured wrist. Danny turned to the two shocked Observants while Dan tried his hardest to listen for anything and everything that was happening.

"It would seem that we are too late in warning him," stated the first.

"Yes, it would seem so…"

"Wait, you two knew that Vlad was on his way?"

The two Observants looked to Danny, their eyeball for heads wide opened.

"Vlad? Vlad Plasmius?"

Danny nodded his head, but that made the situation worse. The two Observants started to panic.

"I knew it!" they both shouted in unison, causing Danny to take an undignified step back.

Clockwork peered out of the room he had gone in, and stared heatedly at the two Observants.

"Oh please, if I knew nothing then neither did the two of you, and if you came here to warn me of something and it wasn't Vlad, then what was it?"

The two Observants looked to Clockwork who was still nursing the red mark on his wrist, but watching them intently. They had actually wanted to thank him for saving their hide earlier, but they had been interrupted by a burst of energy that sent ripples through the entirety of the Ghost Zone.

"We are sure that…you know of…"

"That you know of the one we were…"

"Afraid to tell you…"

"Has broken free and…"

Clockwork grit his teeth before his eyes flared dangerously.

"I don't know why I saved you two," snapped Clockwork before he summed up what the Observants were trying to tell him. "Quasar is free, and Vlad is obviously working with him. Oh, and Vlad managed to steal my scepter."

The two Obsevants seemed to turn white at this information.

"Then we are doomed!" stated the first Observant.

"Doomed!" repeated the second.

"Annoying," snapped Clockwork.

Danny watched the exchange while Dan listened to it. If they thought that Clockwork's little brother was bad news, then wait until he broke out of the thermos. Dan chuckled though no-one paid him any mind. Instead, they focused on Clockwork. The Observants frowned at the time manipulating spirit. Never before had he displayed such…negative emotions towards them. Perhaps they should prepare…just in case Clockwork were to go rogue as well.

Danny stood between the Observants and Clockwork, trying to keep the tension in the room low since there was no way it was going anywhere considering most of it was coming from the resident of the tower.

"Okay look, I know this is looking bad now, but we can't fight each other. Clockwork, look, you need to focus. We have to stop Vlad before he makes it to your brother!"

"Chances are he has already arrived with his prize," stated Dan conversationally. "If he's working for Clock-y's little brother, then chances are he teleported to a rendezvous point and the Space Case made a portal for him. It's what I would do."

Clockwork let out a defeated sigh. No doubt that's exactly what had happened. Vlad was an opportunist and a planner and Quasar was a strategist and a spirit of action. Between the two of them, they could have planned something like this in no time, and with Vlad's ability to improvise on spot, it wouldn't have been that hard to counter Danny's assault while simultaneously leading Clockwork on, especially when Clockwork couldn't rely on his ability to see the flow of time as needed.

"It is what you would do, because part of you is Vlad," muttered Clockwork while rubbing his wrist.

"So what do we do now? Any idea where they would go?" questioned Danny, glad that they were at least analyzing the situation, though slightly annoyed with Dan's input.

Clockwork shook his head while the two Observants looked at each other for a split second, but it was enough for Clockwork to catch the brief exchange.

"Has keeping secrets taught you two nothing?" he asked, no longer sounding angry, but once again wearing his emotion blocking mask.

"Back when the two of you were younger, around the time you and Quasar were fighting over what was best to do about your powers-"

"Quasar had created another pocket in the Ghost Zone-"

"It was the reason why Atlantis sank."

Clockwork had known about the sinking of Atlantis, but he had never knew of the cause. Now he did, and he couldn't believe it. Clockwork deflated a little at the information before he closed his eyes and sighed. Atlantis was one of his favorite spots to visit.

"Its location is in the Realm of Infinity."

"The Realm of Infinity?" asked Danny, though Clockwork merely laughed.

It was so obvious that it was incredibly humorous. Clockwork's laughter startled not only Danny, but Dan and the Observants themselves.

"He always had a knack for making me laugh."

"Why is that funny, Clockwork?" asked Danny.

"Because he's finally cracked. Watching every aspect of time is bound to do that, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy," replied Dan innocently.

"Because that particular area of the Ghost Zone is where my brother and I came into existence. It is an area of the Ghost Zone where us in particular gain a very powerful boost because, in the Realm of Infinity, our powers are truly limitless."

"Limitless?" repeated Danny, slightly worried.

"Quite right," replied the second Observant while looking at the other.

"Because Time and Space manifested in that area, it is, as you call it, a hotspot. The area produces temporal and spatial energy which Clockwork and Quasar feed off of."

"Yes, and as long as Quasar and Clockwork exist, so will that realm."

"Or if enough of our power is siphoned," mumbled Clockwork, but the Observants tried their best to ignore him.

"So basically," started Danny while scratching the back of his head, "the two of you feed off that area and the area feeds off you, like a really weird circle of life thing?"

Clockwork nodded once before the Observants continued with what they were going to say.

"Anyway, that is where we believe he has set up shop since he has limited access to his powers, and he needs to recharge."

"That and…it would seem that the area before you get to the Infinite Realm has been set into motion."

"Life has been breathed into the surrounding area."

"Life," snorted Dan knowing good and well that this was a ghostly plane of existence; void of life.

Danny sat down, clearly confused. The Ghost Zone was much bigger and much more complex than he had originally thought. He had been pretty sure that he had mapped out the entirety of the Ghost Zone, but it was clear that he did not.

"If that's where Clockwork's scepter is, then that's where we have to go."

"I can't allow you to come with me this time."

"But Clockwork, I'm much stronger than Vlad! I can help! You just have to take care of your brother, and besides if your brother made something that makes Vladdie immune to you, then I'm sure you have something that can make me immune to him."

"That isn't-"

"I'm going with you, and that's that."

Clockwork closed his eyes before he drew a jagged blue circle in the air, and once he closed the circle the inside filled with the same light. Danny vaguely recalled seeing Clockwork do something similar when he fought Vlad. Before Danny could shout in protest, Clockwork thrust his hand into the energy and it completely submerged Danny in its glow. The glow intensified for only a second, but when it did the half ghost teenager was no longer standing there, but was instead standing outside of Fenton Works, his home in Amity Park.

Clockwork turned to face the Observants with a scowl on his face. He needed to know what he was about to get himself into, but he knew that no-one knew what was going to happen. The only thing he could do was confront the issue, and try to find out for himself. Again Clockwork drew a circle into the air, but instead of thrusting it forward, he hovered through the glowing blue portal while the Observants protested. It was too late to stop him once he was through the portal though because it had only been intended for one. It immediately closed behind him once he emerged on the other side.

Clockwork took his time looking at his surroundings. He had to get his bearings otherwise he'd get lost. It had been a long time since he had been in this realm, and though he had been created here, he didn't once consider staying in the place. Who could blame him? The area was darker than the normal part of the Ghost Zone, so dark in fact that it looked like it was black spotted with dark green energy swirling about. The ghostly island formations weren't their normal colors but instead a dark grey here. This place was surely what one would think they would see when they died.

Clockwork shook his head at the irony, and as he did so he spotted some ghostly plants out of the corner of his eyes. These plants looked every bit as dead as a dead plant should except for the ghostly glow it sported. It was a beige-yellow tint that outlined the plant just enough for one to make out its form. Clockwork floated over to it and plucked it from its resting place before holding it into the air. The flower immediately perked up at the touch, then slowly began to spring to life, it's petals turning a lively shade of violet while the stem turned a denim blue. Clockwork placed the flower back where he plucked it and watched as the other plants began to prosper.

The Master of Time began to follow the trail of flowers. He hadn't known about his brother's hideaway in the Infinite Realm therefore he had no idea where it was, but his ghostly core knew exactly what to do and where to go.


Vlad hopped through the portal with the Time Master's scepter in hand, and held it up for Quasar to see. Quasar looked impressed for a moment before he placed his ghostly blue hand over his chest where his ghostly core was. He smiled fondly at the pulsing, knowing that it meant his brother was on his way.

Quasar floated towards Vlad and reached for the scepter, only to have it pulled out of his reach. Quasar wasn't surprised. Vlad may have been a ghost, but he was also a human, and humans overall feared those who were more powerful than them.

"Is there a problem, Plasmius?"

"How do I know you'll keep your end of the bargain?"

"Have I not been truthful thus far? Have I not helped you escape with me from my prison? Did I not give you the exact location of Clockwork's abode? What makes you think I will break my word now?"

"How about because of the simple fact that you're not just any ghost, you're a spirit. More specifically you're the Spirit of Space and Clockwork's brother! You left that bit out of introductions!"

Quasar contemplated over the matter, then shrugged carelessly.

"It's not relevant information."

"Not relevant? How is leaving out your relationship with the very spirit that I was trying my darnedest to find not relevant?"

"You're a manipulative man, Vlad. You tell me."

Vlad opened his mouth then shut it. Of course he was being used, and part of one being used is being ignorant to the truth, or at least the whole truth. Vlad gritted his teeth before he decided to cut his losses and take the scepter with him. With it he was sure he could figure out some way to travel through time with the darned thing. Thinking back to the fight he had with Clockwork, Vlad mimicked the Time Master's motions and drew a circle in the air, but nothing happened. Vlad looked at the scepter, shook it, then tried again only to receive the same results.

Quasar merely stood there and watched Vlad fail, impressed that he had some courage deep inside him. After five tries though…

Quasar snatched the scepter from a very annoyed Vlad before waving it in the motion of an infinity symbol. Unlike Vlad, the spirit actually succeeded in making a blue symbol, and Vlad stood still, his ectoplasmic blood running cold. Quasar ignored Vlad, and turned to his left and drew another infinity symbol in the air. He repeated the process twice more and then stopped when he was in the center of the four symbols. He smiled before he dropped Clockwork's staff in order to summon his own to him. He then began tracing over the symbols causing the blue to be overlaid by a bright purple. Before he traced over the final symbol, Quasar turned his attention to Vlad.

"You might want to brace yourself."

Vlad wasn't sure how to respond to that. Didn't the spirit know that he had tried to betray him just now? Why would the other give him a warning about, well, whatever it was that was about to happen? It wasn't the time to dwell on that because Quasar began tracing over the final infinity symbol causing Vlad to instantly throw up a strong barrier to protect him, and not a moment too soon.

As soon as Vlad's shield had him completely boxed in, energy began to crackle and spark everywhere. Blue-violet energy merged into gold and swirled around the entire room. The energy flew towards Vlad's shield, crashing into it violently, but the shield held. Despite how weak Vlad was, he made sure his shield held. Honestly, it should have should have shattered, but it didn't.

Eventually the life-like energy began to flow back towards its summoner, or more specifically into the bracer that was over his left wrist. Quasar hissed as the energy caused the golden bracer to become almost unbearably hot which caused him to drop his scepter. Moments later the energy evaporated into the air and a metallic clink could be heard.

Vlad slowly lowered his shield while taking in the sight before him. Quasar's bracer had dropped to the floor, and his aura was brighter than before. Quasar smiled to no-one in particular as he levitated into the air, watching as a blue spectral trail followed him as he moved. With his free hand he waved his scepter to return to him, then twirled it like a baton. He laughed happily like a child who was having the time of his life. Vlad noticed the other changes in the spirit, but he was so flabbergasted at what was going on that he couldn't focus.

Quasar landed in front of Clockwork's staff and picked it up with his left hand. He propped it up against the wall and then turned his full attention to Vlad who involuntarily took a step back. Was he screwed? This situation reminded him of his time with Pariah Dark and Vortex. He was really starting to see a pattern when it came to the specters that were locked away by the Observants.

"And now, for you."

Vlad said nothing, unsure of what the other meant by his statement. Quasar's eyes turned a dark violet before he spoke to Vlad, the echo of his voice sending chills down the older Halfa's spine.

"Give me the place of where you want to go and the date."

Vlad looked stunned. Was he really about to get what he wanted? Was this spirit really going to assist him? There was only one way to find out.

"University of Wisconsin, 1984."

Quasar held his staff above his head and stared solely at Vlad while focusing on his returned powers. Suddenly a neon violet bolt of lightning struck the ground. The bolt didn't vanish, but instead spread out until it form a jagged violet portal.

"Enjoy yourself, Vladimir."

Vlad hesitated before he felt a force pulling him in. With a distressed cry, the vampire-like Halfa was hurtled through space and time. Quasar's eyes returned to their natural red hue, and he chuckled to himself. He didn't mind giving Vlad what he wanted because he knew that Vlad's interference with the time streams could and most likely would have some undesirable effects.

Quasar closed his eyes before he shuddered at the sudden tingling of his ghostly core. He knew that it only meant one thing; Clockwork was near. Quasar frowned before he looked around his keep. The ticking clocks began to slowly set themselves, an hour glass that had once been shattered began to reassemble itself. Even the sand in the glass began to flow upward until it was all in the top. Once the clocks had set themselves accordingly, they ticked in unison once more while the sand in the hour glass began to flow freely. Quasar shook his head and smiled.

"This will be an interesting reunion."


Clockwork followed the trail of flowers until they led him to a keep, one he recognized almost immediately. The structure may have had it's color changed to suit the current owner, but it was of Atlantean architecture. Clockwork stopped at the front entrance, taking note of his brother's means of security. On a whim, he began to tap the spheres in a certain order. Once he finished, he smiled to himself as the door opened, unable to stop himself from rolling his eyes at his brother's simplicity.

"Won't he be upset to learn that Pluto is no longer considered a planet?"

Clockwork began to make his way inside, ignoring the fact that the door closed behind him. Immediately Clockwork's core began to pulse almost sporadically, but it soon began to regulate itself, and Clockwork knew then that it only meant one thing. He and his brother were at full power.

"QUASAR!"

Clockwork floated hastily down the corridor and into the main room of the keep. Immediately he spotted his staff leaning against the wall, but he made no attempt to grab it. Instead, he scanned the room, trying to pinpoint the source of this nonsense, but what he saw only made him wary; no Vlad and no Quasar.

Clockwork became unnerved at this new development. He had grown accustomed to knowing everything, so being in the ignorant category was bringing forth emotions he had long since forgotten. One of them was fear. Clockwork's core pulsed faster as his nerves began to get to him, but a soft chuckle from behind him oddly calmed him down; giving him something to focus on. Clockwork turned around and his eyes widened at the sight before him.

Quasar was dressed in a dark purple cloak with its hood pulled back revealing his bald head which had a silver band centered with a red gem. Holding the cloak in place was a clip in the shape of a planet with one ring orbiting around it. Beneath the cloak, the spirit wore a black robe that had brightly colored galaxies slowly moving around like the fabric was made out of the solar system itself. The left sleeve of the robe had been torn off from the shoulder while the right one was long enough to barely show the individual's fingertips. Around the spirit's waist was a black sash that had two hand sized golden rings linked together. Wrapped around the second ring was a small little planet with two purple/blue rings that seemed to rotate around it.

The Space Spirit's eyes seemed to reflect amusement as he eyed his big brother. Below his right eye were three black curved markings and in his left hand he held his Space Scepter tightly as though it was his life line. The star at the base of the scepter was golden in color and seemed to have a slightly brighter aura than the rest of the scepter.

The similarities that he and Clockwork shared were almost uncanny, but it was clear which one was which.

"…Quasar…" whispered Clockwork who tried to regain his composure.

"It's been awhile, brother," stated the Spatial Spirit, his mouth twitching up as though he wanted to smile.

"What have you done?" Clockwork asked, ignoring the longing in his brother's eyes.

"What do you mean? I simply used our combined might to break my restraints."

"And Vlad?"

"I rewarded him accordingly. He wanted a chance to redeem himself, and I gave him that chance."

Clockwork narrowed his eyes. His brother had no right, and Vlad in the past could wreck the present and the future. There was a strong chance that Danny would cease to exist and that could not be allowed to happen.

"Bring him back, Quasar."

"You do it, oh great and powerful Master of Time."

Clockwork didn't let his emotions slip though the jealousy in his brother's voice was all too obvious.

"You've prevented me from getting to him so you must be the one to bring him back."

"Who are you to order me around, Clockwork? Who are you to tell me anything, hm? How can I trust a liar?"

Clockwork knew the game that his brother was trying to play, and he refused to play along. Instead he reached out his injured hand to try to summon his scepter, but the mark on his hand glowed, burning him.

Quasar laughed, quite satisfied with the predicament his brother was in.

"Ah ah ah, I don't think so. You see, I knew that Vladimir wasn't a match for you. No-one is a match for you; for us. The only way he had a true chance of defeating you was to disarm you. That mark on your wrist will prevent you from wielding your scepter, at least for an hour or so, and I believe it's only been about thirty minutes?"

Clockwork glared.

"Thirty-one, if you wish to be accurate," he corrected, causing his younger brother to give a warmhearted laugh.

"Yes well, thirty-one or thirty thousand, it's enough time for me to have my revenge, wouldn't you agree?"

Quasar aimed his scepter at Clockwork, sending out a charge of violet lightning. Clockwork immediately took to the air, successfully dodging the attack. He didn't want to take his chances. Who knew what other effects the mark on his wrist had? Clockwork dove down for his scepter and tried to grab it in his unmarked hand, but he was burned anyway. He hissed then turned intangible to avoid a blow from his brother that he knew he wouldn't be able to dodge. Instead of the attack going through him, however, it hit him square in the chest causing him to hit the wall behind him.

Slightly disoriented from the attack, Clockwork slid down the wall until he was seated against it. Quasar wore a wicked smile on his face while he pointed his scepter at his brother.

"So Clockwork, tell me what it's like to be defeated by the one that you betrayed?"

Clockwork shook his head to deny the accusation.

"I didn't betray you. I saved you."

"Saved me from what?! Do you have any idea of what it's like to be locked up for no reason?"

"No reason," Clockwork questioned incredulously while holding his aching chest. "You threatened to destroy everything! They were going to eradicate you! Don't you understand?"

"It's you who doesn't understand. I would rather have been erased from existence than locked away, forever trapped as nothing more than ethereal ecto-energy."

Clockwork seemed surprised.

"Ethereal?"

"That's what I said, isn't it? I couldn't take form, all the energy I could store was immediately siphoned and dispersed through the room in order to keep me at bay. Never seeing anyone for centuries at a time. That's torture, Clockwork. It's a fate worse than oblivion."

Clockwork's eyes hardened at the new information, but he didn't let it show in his voice. He had to be indifferent, even to those he cared about the most.

"I'm sorry you went through that, Quasar, but perhaps if you had just done what was asked of you-"

Clockwork turned intangible and floated through the floor the moment his brother's scepter began to glow. It was an anger induced attack making it wild and easy to dodge. Of course, Clockwork was in Quasar's territory. Quasar smiled cynically before he opened his mouth to speak, only to realize that Clockwork was no longer where he had been on the floor.

"Running away, Clockwork? Color me surprised."

"I'd rather color you a nice shade of black to go with that blue."

Clockwork grimaced. Now I'm acting like Danny, he thought while flying up from the floor beneath his brother causing the younger to drop his scepter. The two spirits continued their ascent until they were both out of the castle and weaponless. Clockwork released his hold over the younger spirit and the two separated. Quasar fisted his hands together at his sides while Clockwork stood dismissively with his hands to his sides. He hadn't wanted to fight his brother. He had wanted to talk him out of his revenge; out of his madness, but that didn't seem like it was going to be possible. His brother seemed too far gone.

Quasar lunged for Clockwork who merely turned to the side to avoid the attack. Quasar shot a blast of violet energy towards his brother, only to have the blast be dodged with ease. It was clear to Quasar that Clockwork refused to fight him, and that only made him angrier.

"It does not have to be this way, brother. You can still stop this."

"Yes, I could still stop this. That doesn't mean that I will. Do you know what it's like to live with the fact that the one person you'd follow to oblivion and back betrayed you? Do you know how it feels to know that your own brother is responsible for your torture? You don't, do you, but I'm about to show you. I will make you pay."

Clockwork held both his hands together above his head gathering energy from his surroundings. He then placed them both by his side and began to spin in place. Quasar watched as the blue melded with the purple of his brother's cloak, before he started shooting at his twin. The rays disappeared before reappearing behind Quasar and slamming into his back. The Space Spirit howled before he glared at Clockwork who had stopped spinning and was nursing his wrist.

Quasar smirked triumphantly at his brother's predicament then floated down towards the ground, Clockwork following suit. His expression was stoic, but his eyes gave away the pain he was in. Quasar took a deep breath before his eyes turned violet. His core began to tingle and in turn, so did Clockwork's. A soft breeze began to pick up and surround the two, rejuvenating them as was Quasar's will. Clockwork's own eyes turned blue as he began to siphon off the energy as well. Quasar's eyes reverted back to their red color as a sigh escaped his lips. He chuckled when he saw Clockwork, however. The Master of Time seemed out of it, like the power trip was getting to him. It was what Quasar wanted. Perhaps he could persuade Clockwork over to his side?

"It feels good, doesn't it CK?"

Clockwork didn't respond, but he didn't have to. It was clear by the way Quasar's core tingled with Clockwork's own resonating core. Quasar hovered closer to his brother before he knelt down in front of him, gripping his brother's marked wrist.

"This power is ours, Clockwork. You, Master of Time and I, Master of Space, own this power. This is our realm, this is our right. Why should we be denied such power?"

Clockwork turned his head towards his brother, his eyes not really seeing, but he didn't have to see to know what was happening.

"Why should such power be bestowed upon us?"

Quasar let go of his brother's hand almost immediately at the comment, but Clockwork reached out and his wrist.

"Why should it be us who carries this power and the burdens that come with it?"

Quasar growled as Clockwork's eyes reverted back to their normal red hues, but Clockwork refused to let go.

"Why can't you understand that for every action there is a reaction?"

"Oh, I understand that perfectly, as will you, Clockwork!"

Clockwork immediately let his brother go before he tried to phase through the ground. Quasar saw this tactic from a mile away and with his manipulation of space, he created a rift that would lead Clockwork right back in front of him. The moment Clockwork's head was in view, Quasar slammed his fist against his brother's cheek, sending Clockwork gliding backwards.

Clockwork wiped his lips and looked at his hand, taking note of the ectoplasm that covered it. He then looked at his brother, his eyes narrowed and glowing dangerously. As much as he wanted to avoid this, there was no other alternative; he had to fight his brother.

With a yell of conflicting emotions, Clockwork struck back, punching his off-guard brother in the chest. He flew around behind Quasar, and rammed his shoulder into his back. When Quasar recovered, he made an attempt at a counter, but Clockwork was much faster and much more adept at fighting. It was to be expected considering that Clockwork hadn't been locked away for millenniums. Quasar flew high into the darkened sky with Clockwork on his spectral trail. The two flew around; dancing around the others' attack. It was clear even now that Clockwork was still holding back, and that made Quasar furious but not because he didn't like being treated like a weakling, but because he knew that he was outclassed. If Clockwork wanted to, he could definitely take him down, so why didn't he?


Meanwhile at Clockwork's tower, the Observants began to weigh their options. If Clockwork and Quasar fought all out, their Gemini Cores would resonate with each other, and the resonance of their cores would do more damage than the two of them on their own even if they were at full power. The two Observants knew that it would come to an altercation. How could it not? Quasar wouldn't listen to Clockwork, especially if he saw Clockwork's actions as a betrayal.

"Where did we go wrong?"

"We did not go wrong. They are just uncontrollable."

"They must be stopped."

"They must."

The two Observants went on like that until the chuckling of a disembodied voice caught them unawares.

"You are the sorriest specters I've ever had the displeasure of listening to, and that includes that infernal Box Ghost."

The two Observants chortled, unafraid of the creature inside the Fenton Thermos, after all, there was nothing he could do. He was trapped and wouldn't be able to harm them.

"Oh please Dark Phanton, as if your opinion matters to us."

"Oh, I don't care if my opinion matters to you fools at all. What matters to me is how I'm going to destroy you when I do get out of here."

The two Observants laughed at the remark before they started laughing hesitantly thanks to the sudden violent rattling coming from the Fenton Thermos. Eventually a blue light began to shine through a crack in the thermos. The crack was more than enough for Dan to make his escape, but he wanted to be showy. He wanted to strike terror into the Observants before he erased them. No, Dan continued to pour power into his body and slam up against the side of the thermos creating more and more cracks. The thermos, no longer able to contain the specter inside, exploded which sent bits and pieces of metal through the tower. The Observants huddled together, each one shivering in fear as massive amounts of green ecto-smoke began to converge above the podium that had housed it for so long. From the smoke came a frightening disembodied voice; a voice that struck fear and terror into the hearts from a time line that had been wiped from existence.

Mere moments later the light blue, flaming white haired creature with matching ponytail and goatee came into focus. His tongue hung from his mouth as his sharp pointed teeth glistened in the light of his own white aura. His black glove covered hands were folded across his chest as he stared down his prey. His white jumpsuit with black covering the middle of his torso had a DP insignia on it, just like Danny's and it even seemed to give off a brighter glow as his energy pulsed through the room. His lower half was covered in black matching pants and white boots which were pointed down. Behind him was a white cape that flapped behind him even though there was no wind, courtesy of Vlad Plasmius.

The creatures eyes would have been considered normal looking had it not been for the glowing red irises he possessed. Retracting his tongue into his mouth, and slowly making his way towards the ground, Dan began to taunt the frightened Observants.

"Who's laughing now, fools?" he asked as he took slow steps towards the fools in question.

The Observants didn't respond, nor did they move. How could Dan have escaped? His escape wasn't supposed to happen yet. They were supposed to have more time to prepare!

Dan smiled down at the Observants once he was standing close enough.

"Let me answer that. It's me!"

Dan laughed while the two Observants immediately pulled themselves together. The two quickly raised their hands which somewhat caught Dan off guard. Dan bulked up in preparation for whatever pitiful attack the two Observants were about to throw at him, only to yelp in surprise when a sudden flash of light emerged not only from the Observants hands, but their eyeball heads as well, temporarily blinding the deranged Phantom.

Dan's hands instantly ignited with his flaming ghostly green ecto-energy, and he began to fire it in front of him. Luckily for them, the Observants immediately moved from their previous spot the moment their attack was fired. The two then took the opportunity to make their escape while Dan continued to fire aimlessly, all the while shouting out threats and how it was only a matter of time before he caught up with them.

Minutes later, Dan's eyesight returned to him though the process had been too slow for his liking. He scanned the area taking note of the trashed domain of Clockwork. Part of him was satisfied with his handiwork, but another part of him was disappointed. The Observants had gotten the better of him, and neither Clockwork nor Danny was there. That was no issue, however, because it would be simple enough to reach his former self, and it would be even simpler to make him regret the day they crossed paths. With a satisfied smile, Dan created a portal to Amity Park and gazed at the darkened sky and the buildings located on the other side. He was a tad bit confused when the first thing he saw was a billboard with a larger than life picture of his former self's face on it. Unsure what to make of it, he decided that the billboard would be the first to go.

Flying through his ghostly portal, Dan made a beeline directly for the billboard. He tucked his head and flew directly into it, laughing maniacally as he did so. It seemed that senseless destruction and causing sheer terror was still fun. Despite the fun he was having, Dan's current motive was to draw out his former friends, sister and even his parents because he knew that they were still alive and he knew it would be the ultimate defeat for his pitiful former self.

TBC