About time I updated, no? No excuses just been feelng too out of it to actually write something but since I'm betting a lot of you are dying for a conclucion then here is the next chapter, nothing to say except, enjoy.

Chapter Four

"Ember! look out!"

Danny pushed her out of the way as the missiles missed their intended target.

"PHANTOM!"

Danny was thankfully unharmed due to his smart move of turning human just before he was struck by Skulker's weaponry, thus the missiles simply went right through him.

However he wasn't mentally at his best, after all it was quite a shock, the teen had cheated death before but if he hadn't turned human at the right moment, he would have been hurt or worse...

Fully dead.

"Oh I missed" The hunter hotly sneered "But that won´t happen again now will it?"

The ghost diva was mixed with feelings of hatred and disgust.

Now you will get what you deserved!" Skulker snarled "You two timing cheating witch!"

He fired again.

"TIME OUT!"

Suddenly, everything stopped, surprisingly just before the missiles could make contact with the young girl.

A ghost portal appeared out of nowhere, and no sooner someone came out of it.

The Time Lord himself.

"I suppose it's time to give the children an easier lesson" Clockwork mussed, he knew how things would end and he could not allow it, he looks at the petrified ghost diva and shook his head in mild disapproval "She has much to learn"

Clockwork turned from an elderly ghost to a baby ghost while to took out two medallions.

He puts one over Danny's head, as soon as the time master does that, the hybrid falls to the floor, breathing heavily "Huh? Wha-What… what just happened?"

"Only you would make such a misunderstanding seem more exaggerated than it needs to be Daniel"

Recognizing the voice, the boy wearily looks up "Clockwork?"

"You are quite the handful Danny" The Time Lord comments somewhat seriously "Keep this up and the Observants will surely find a loophole in my duties to keep you alive and well"

"What are you doing here?"

"Excellent question but I believe someone else needs to be in on this meeting, um?"

"What?" The hero asked as he morphed back to ghost mode "Clockwork, I appreciate that you saved me but I'm not sure if you being here has anything to do with me"

"In a way, your right my young friend, even thought you are partly the reason for my sudden visit, my main priority is your girlfriend"

"Sam is not my girlfriend!"

"Whoever said I was talking about the Goth girl?" Clockwork asked knowingly.

"Then who?"

"I believe Miss McClain needs to know you are ok"

The hybrid soon noticed the second medallion in his mentor´s hand, he was about to put it in the ghostly diva´s neck when Danny freaked out.

"CLOCKWORK NO!"

The ghost stopped midway and simply gave his young ally an amused smirk "Why not?"

"Because that's Ember!" The hero snapped "She can't be trusted!"

"Odd, she seems to trust you"

"That… that can´t be true"

Clockwork raises an eyebrow "Care to tell me why you believe so?

"Why would she trust me?" Danny yelled stubbornly "Of all the people she knows I caused her the most grief!"

"You cause her trouble not grief" Clockwork corrected.

"SAME THING!"

"Clear your mind Danny, don't let your emotions cloud your judgment"

"I'M FINE!" He bellowed "And there´s no doubt in my mind that she HATES me!"

The ghost of time floats closer to the emotional teen and in a fatherly tone said "I can see why you would think of such a thing Danny but believe me when I tell you this, she can be trusted for one reason."

"And what reason is that?"

"Because like you she wants to prove herself" Clockwork answered "She has been trying"

"How exactly has she been trying?" The boy asked somewhat calmer.

"You're the first person she has open up to since she died" The elderly ghost said wisely "You know things Skulker who is suppose to be her boyfriend, doesn't know"

"I think she was just vulnerable" Danny said "Since this started I learned things about her but mainly due to accidents"

"Do you really think they were accidents Danny?"

"Huh?"

"She may be dead Danny, she may be your enemy, but she is still a young girl, a teenager like you who has insecurities and challenges in life and you can help her overcome those fears"

"Why me?"

"Because no one else has given her the chance to grow" Clockwork explained "you have been doing it since the beginning of this mess".

"I have?"

The time lord smirked warmly, like a father proud of his son's actions "Indeed you have, you been her confident, have been looking out for her and even healed her more than once"

"But Ember doesn't even care!"

"She does Danny, she really does" Clockwork told him emotionlessly "She simply has trouble expressing herself sometimes"

"That… that can't be true"

The blue specter patted his young ally on the shoulder "I wouldn't be telling you this if it wasn't the truth, so I must ask that you give Ember your trust like you gave it to me"

"I… don´t know about that" Danny said uncertainly "I mean trust isn´t exactly something I can give anyone, you know that better than anyone Clockwork"

The time master nodded in understanding.

"Give her time Danny" Clockwork said wisely "That´s the least you can do for her considering the circumstances"

"But what if she stabs me in the back?" Danny asked still uncertain of his mentor-s words.

"She won't"

"How can you know for sure?" Danny questioned in frustration.

"I know everything"

"But.."

"Learn to forgive and forget Danny, learn to forgive and forget," His mentor interrupted "Maybe then you'll learn there is more to people than their actions"

Danny couldn´t help but frown in confusion "Clockwork?"

"Um?"

"Does Ember have anything to do with my future?"

"As a matter of fact… She is a big part of a future that could come to pass... One that must be stopped"

"I KNEW SHE COULDN´T CHANGE!"

"Calm down Danny, she is a factor of that particular timeline, however you are not"

"What?"

"It would be easier to explain if you come with me… you and of course… her"

The boy looks still at his frozen adversary. "Is it important that she knows about you?"

"No"

"Then why must she come?" Danny continued to ask stubbornly.

"Learn to trust her and she will do the same"

"But you already said she trusts me!" Danny yelled exasperatedly "Make up your mind!"

Clockwork chuckled in good matter "She does trust you, just not enough to tell you more about herself, about her… problems"

"Doesn´t she have anyone else for that besides me?" Danny questioned grouchily.

"She does"

"Then why is it important that she trusts me?"

"Because your lack of trust in her is what will drive her over the edge"

"Clockwork, you're not making any sense"

"Soon you will understand"

Without another word, the time master puts his medallion on Ember´s neck.

She felled to the ground "PHANTOM!"

"I'm right here" He answered.

The ghostly diva looks in the direction where she heard the voice and noticed that her ally was not hurt in any way.

"Oh… good"

"Where you… worried about me?" He asked in a trouble tone.

"No"

He smiled cheekily and teased "I think you were"

"No I was not!" She snapped "I simply didn´t want to explain to your little teammates that you hurt yourself out of some messed up sense of justice"

"I'm sure you were".

"Don't test me dipstick"

"I believe we must make our leave"

Ember finally noticed Clockwork, and narrowing her eyes she snarled "Who the hell are you?"

"Introductions? Ok miss Emberlyn McClain… I am Clockwork Master Of Time"

"WOAH your full name´s Emberlyn?" Danny asked in shock.

"What if it is?" She challenged "Got any problem with that?"

"Uh. No" He answered "I was just a little surprised"

"Well don´t be", my full name is nothing to be of your concern!"

"Indeed" Clockwork agreed "But there are other things to be of interest to both of you"

"And why should I care what you have to say old guy?"

"Ember!" Danny yelled in disapproval "Learn to control your mouth!"

"You can't tell me what to do!" She snarled "You're not my father, you're just a kid!"

"A kid who has been saving your ass for the past few weeks!" Danny retorted.

Clockwork chuckled.

"You think this is funny?" The diva asked darkly.

"In a way, yes" Clockwork admitted "You and young Daniel have quite the chemistry."

"What does that even mean?" Both teens asked exasperatedly.

"I suppose the best way to explain it would be to show you" The time lord said as he opened a portal to his abode "Now if you would kindly follow me I promise to explain everything to both of you"

Danny said nothing but simply gazed at the older teen in irritation, like a father disappointed at his child, the look was penetrating that Ember did feel smaller than she should be.

She walked slowly to the portal after Danny went in but before she leaped, Clockwork stopped her by putting an elderly hand on her chin, he made her look at him, his red eyes full of understanding.

"Miss McClain" He started to say "You don't have to fear people"

Ember raised an eyebrow "Are you blind or something?"

"On the contrary" He retorted "The blind one is you Emberlyn Danielle McLain"

The teenager gasped "But… how… I never… "

Clockwork smirked.

"Ok you creep how you knew my middle name?"

"Simple, I know everything"

"A stalker, more like it" She muttered.

The blue ghost never wavered at Ember's cruel remarks, if anything he was quite at ease with her, he had dealt with teenagers before and this young girl was simply a person you had to deal with by buying his time.

"Hey, what's taking you guys so long?" Danny's voice came from within the portal.

"So if you know everything then you know why I died?" Ember uncertainly asked.

"Yes"

"You know why I'm here?"

He knew she meant why she was a ghost, he answered with another "Yes"

"Can you tell me?"

"No"

"Why not?"

"Because you must figure out on your own"

The ghost of time quietly moved towards his portal and said "Ladies first"

Ember walked slowly, eyeing the spirit in front of her with mild fear, then what he said a few seconds later what he said earlier popped up in her head.

"You don't have to fear people"

She narrowed her eyes "You really do know everything don't you?"

"Quite so"

She entered the portal and Clockwork was behind her.

Within seconds the portal closed.

And Skulker was able to move again.

"HEY! WHERE THE HELL DID THEY GO?"

And so the final chapter will be next, I always wanted to write a scene where Ember meeets Clockwork, I dunno why but I picture him as being some sort of foster grandfather to Ember just like he is a mentor to Danny, I see Clockwork like the Mr. "Kesuke Miyagi" of the DP Universe, a kind and wise man wjo wants to set his students in the right direction.

Invader Johnny Signing Off.