Clockwork stared at his viewing glass. He had watched Danny Fenton turn into the man he is now, and had nudged him in the right direction if needed. There wasn't anything he could do to prevent the coming disaster. He only hoped that Danny knew enough to not fall for Vlad's trap.
Clockwork watched, his form changing from an old man back to a child ad he did, as the events of the future came to pass. He had watched, and rewatched, many times. But it did nothing to quell his sadness, and anger. He had guided Danny for years, been a mentor to him, maybe even a father figure, and he was throwing it out the window, so to speak.
Clockwork sighed. How can anyone bear this burden? To know everything that will happen, or might happen, and do nothing to prevent it. He shook his head, his form changing from a child back into an adult. He waited. Five, four, three, two, one.
Knock knock.
He smiled. Speaking of Danny... He floated over to the door, pulling it open. Danny Phantom stood on the other side of the door. Danny smiled. "Come in, Danny." Clockwork floated back into his abode, turning off his viewing glass before Danny had even walked in through the door.
Danny stood, his snow-white hair falling into his bright green eyes. His white-and-black jumpsuit was torn on his elbow. Danny ran his fingers through his hair before speaking.
"I guess you know why I'm here, Clockwork." Danny stated the obvious.
Clockwork's smile faded. "Yes, I do know. However, I cannot interfere."
Danny's smile also faded. "But Clockwork, I've got to know what's going on!"
But Clockwork just sadly shook his head. "If I told you what was going on, the result with be disastrous to the Time Stream. I'm sorry, Danny."
The teen's shoulders slumped. "Well, thanks anyway." He flew to the door, looking back at Clockwork. Danny's green eyes were clouded with indecision. "How did Vlad become the Ghost king, anyway?"
Clockwork smiled lightly. "That, you must find for yourself. I wouldn't linger in the Ghost Zone, Danny." He says carefully. "The Ghost King does not like intruders."
Danny sighed. He opened a portal, and stepped through it, effectively disappearing. Clockwork sighed. "Everything is as it should be."
-
Danny pulled out his phone. Tucker: figures. didn't think he would. told u Me: I was hoping he'd help Tucker: I know dude
Me: clockworks not helping
I sighed. I guess I'd always have more questions than answers. At least Azure wasn't around to give me any more trouble. That girl ghost was starting to get on my nerves. She was always following me around, trying to kill me and be home for dinner. Too bad I wasn't letting her.
My mind, as it did a lot lately, flowed back to a girl with purple eyes. Samantha wasn't far from my mind these days. Internally, I kicked myself. I had enough to worry about without adding a human girl into the mix. I had enough people to protect. Me: omw
Jazz: When are you coming home, anyway?
I flew faster. I could only make portals for short distances. When I had made a portal out of Clockwork's abode I could only make it for half of the Zone. I still had a bit of flying to do before I reached the portal at my house. I kept having to look around me, making sure that no ghosts were near me, but I didn't even see one.
That just made things creepy.
Usually, when you fly through the Zone, you see ghosts everywhere. But there wasn't one ghost around. I had an uneasy feeling, as if I wasn't supposed to be here. But that was ridiculous. As a ghost, even a half-ghost, you always had a calling to the host world. But instead of a calling, all I felt was dread, as if I was trespassing on some forbidden property.
I looked around again, becoming paranoid with each passing minute. I flew faster, approaching 150 MPH. Something within me told me to get home as soon as possible. I reached the portal, only to smack right into it instead of passing though.
"Ow!" I rubbed my head, trying to blink the stars out of my eyes.
"No entry, punk." Walker says, his size quadrupled. I didn't know how I could miss him, being as he was the size of a skyscraper at this point. I must have been to absorbed in my thoughts.
"What do you mean 'no entry'? I'm already here." I continued to rub my head.
"Letting you go would be against the rules." Walked formed a rulebook, flipping through the pages. "No unauthorized entry."
"Come on, Walker. I'm only passing through. I'm just trying to get home." I frowned, watching as Walker returned to his normal size. Ecto radium handcuffs appeared on my wrists. "You're under arrest, punk. You are public enemy number one."
As if against my will, I was pulled forward. "Walker! I wasn't doing anything wrong!" I tried to pull my hands apart, to no avail.
"No can do, punk. That would be against the rules." Walker smirked.
I got into the police car. I remembered the last time I was in this cruiser, but there was no Box Ghost, and no one else in the cruiser with me. I was all alone. Truly alone. Stranded in the Ghost Zone, with nobody to help me. Coming to see Clockwork was a huge mistake. A huge risk I should have never taken. But now it was too late. I bowed my head, ready to take any punishment I was given. I was positive it would just be imprisonment.
"We're going to go see the Ghost King." Warden spoke suddenly, after a brief silence.
I frowned. Why would I need to see Vlad? I decided to keep silent about the Ghost King. "Why do I need to see the King?"
Walker smirked. "Because he will be deciding what your punishment will be."
After a while, they reached the castle. Pariah Dark's castle had been broken off from the rest of the Kingdom, had been put back together to form one huge landmass – like in the reign of Pariah Dark. The red castle loomed ominously, the aura turning dark around it. There was something sinister about the way the castle sucked the life out of the areas around it.
As they approached the castle, they walked through the front doors. The room was large, with a red carpet leading up to the throne area. There were two thrones: One huge throne, which Vlad sat on. Beside Vlad, there was a smaller throne beside of it, but it was empty and I couldn't help but feel as if something were lurking in the shadows. As he and Walker were approaching the throne, he noticed Vlad was sitting on the throne, his arms laying on the armrests with his head down.
Vlad raised his hands and started to clap. As he raised his head, he smirked, saying: "Congratulations, Danny. We've been waiting for you." My face turned to grimace as I questioned what he meant by 'we'. My thoughts were soon answered, when out of the shadows came Samantha with a smirk upon her face. As she walked over and sat in the throne beside Vlad my feeling of dread turned to hatred as I realized who she was.
"Azure…" I whispered. Not knowing that my words could be hard by everyone in the room.
"That's right, my boy. You've finally figured it out." Vlad states, the smirk on his face growing more apparent. Vlad stands, his presence overshadowing the rest of the room he walked towards Walker and I. Vlad circles around me and Walker, not stopping. He walked leisurely, as if he had all the time in the world, looking me all over as he did so. "So, are you sure you still want to die, rather than work for me, Daniel? If I were you, I'd choose my next words VERY carefully."
With gusto, I shouted at him, "I. WOULD. RATHER. DIE. I have seen what you do, and I don't want any part of it!"
With his back turned to me, Vlad looks at Walker. "Kill him." He orders, as he begins towards his throne yet again.
I took a step away from Walker, a look of fear in my eyes. As I stepped back, I noticed a faint glint on his belt. I looked down to notice that the glint was from the keys that would unlock the handcuffs, which kept my ghost powers at bay. A smile crept upon my face, as my determination to live overpowered my fear to die. As Walker took his first swing, I knew it was now or never.