Authors Note: Hey guys! Welcome back to another installment of this story. I was thinking of doing a double update, but then I decided against it. "Why," you ask? Simple, remember, there are only fourteen chapters to this...(and a bonus full of deleted scenes that after much debate I decided that I was going to put in for the heck of it.) That means this story is almost done. I mean, we're on chapter ten! We don't want to rush into anything, do we? No? Glad you agree. Here's a cronut. :D
REVIEWS! Again, only KingPariah. Hmmm...
KingPariah: "Wow...all my reviews answered at once XD yaaayyy
(Clears thoat) on with the review...
The GZ is just as messed up as the human world, if not worse since the ghost have Dan on the loose.
I love the unity between the friendship and unity the ghosts have.
Clockwork, master of time. Respected and feared due to his great power...is currently to weak to fight his way out of a paper bag.
xD
The interaction between CW and Desiree seems to implie a possible couple. :) also her bracelets vanishing make me think she's either free of her curse or she will be. XD
And yes I do have faith about your sequel XD but like you said, let's see how this story goes. :) keep up the good work.
I'm just an incredibly nice person like that. Wait, that contradicts my evilness. Does that make me some sort of anti-hero! NOoooo! *curls in on self.*
Dan is the least of the Ghost Zone's worry. :D I think I may have said too much, then again it depends on how you interpret it. Nyeheheha.
I try to keep the friendships like it would be if you were to watch the show. It's one thing I appreciate about Danny Phantom. The camaraderie between the characters is something I adore within this show. As for the unity between the ghosts, I believe that some ghosts have bonds that aren't really too much shown, but you can tell that they're there. For example, Kitty and Ember came from the episode Girl's Night Out. (The episode where you learn that Ember and Skulker are an item.) Of course, there is a lack of Spectra in this story. :( For Box Lunch and Youngblood, they're both children, though YB is older. I thought it was fun to see that. Box Ghost and the Lunch Lady don't really get too much screen time with the other ghosts except the Christmas episode and the time when Box Ghost had an entire episode to himself. I thought it was fun to give them a bigger part. :D Whoo that turned into a lot of words fast.
I give you the pairing I dub Wishful Times. That is also the title for a...hmmm never mind. :D :P
That warms my heart while simultaneously inflating my ego and putting massive amounts of pressure on me. Good show, very good show. .o_o.
Alright review response is done! Thanks KingPariah and to everyone else who has left a review and whoever is currently still reading this. Stay tuned at the end of this chapter. I have more ramblings to ramble to you about, and maybe a few explanations and things that might interest you.
Chapter Ten: Power Packed
Clockwork had fallen into stasis after his talk with Desiree, but she hadn't left his side. It was strange, but she felt an attachment to him. She had just met him, and he was one of the most powerful men that she had ever met, but she did not care. He was a bit cold, but she could see the emotions in his eyes. She knew how to look for them because she too had those same mannerisms. She hid her pain and turned it to anger as to not let anyone see her sadness. There had been one time, however...No, she refused to think of that. She refused because it was in the past and this, here and now, was the present.
She looked down at Clockwork and once again began to run her fingers gently across the mark over his eyes. She could only imagine where he got such a thing. She knew a few ghosts who marked their skin, but those were usually for magic or to enhance there abilities. One that came to mind, in particular, was Lydia. Her markings were enchanted to come to life when she willed them too. They could do anything from attacking someone all the way down to being used as tracking devices. The little buggers came in handy, but Desiree wasn't the type to mar her skin. She was not vain, but she just did not wish to have markings up and down her body. It was just not for her.
She had sat with Clockwork for hours, she knew thanks to the sun beginning to rise on the outside of the stadium. She was certain they weren't in the human world and that did have her curious, but it was not what mattered at the moment. What was important was that she was safe and in the company of someone that she didn't mind being near.
Desiree thought this over the last couple of hours, but she still couldn't quite understand why it was that she was drawn to him. It wasn't because of his power nor his status. She had not lied when she said that he was handsome. He hadn't been awake for her to know his personality, but she could tell that he was kind. Perhaps it was his kindness? No man had really been kind to her for the sake of being kind, except for the sultan who had spoiled her, but then again...
Desiree shook her head. She would not think of that man or his jealous wife. That was behind and beneath her now. Desiree sighed as she began to run her finger's gently up and down the bandages of his arm. She frowned when he told her what happened. Someone had placed a spell on him that was so powerful it drained him. She had never heard of such a thing, but knew that it was most likely possible. Again, her mind turned to Lydia, but it also turned to Spectra. The Ghostwriter had his own special brand of magic as well. He could control people with a few keystrokes from his Quantum Keyboard, and even she could cast spells, but that was only if someone made a wish.
A wish...
Desiree looked at her bare wrists in wonder. Two of the four bracers that, in life, she had wore for decoration, but were now what bound her to a life of servitude, were starting to vanish and she honestly had no idea why. She couldn't even recall the instances they had vanished because she hadn't been paying attention, but she was sure that Clockwork was somehow connected. He was the only factor that was different in her afterlife.
Desiree frowned as she looked down at the 'sleeping' form of Clockwork. For an omnipotent being, he looked like a young man barely old enough to be out on his own. She giggled to herself at the thought, then covered her mouth. When was the last time she had giggled in such a way? She was uncertain, but she liked the feeling. It made her feel warmth despite the coldness of death. Was this what Ember, Kitty, Lunch Lady and Spectra felt towards their respective lovers?
Desiree played with the beads on her top before she sighed. She couldn't remember the last time she felt like this. It was scary, yet exciting at the same time.
Frostbite entered the room with a slight frown on his face. He would have thought that Desiree would have left Clockwork to rest. After watching her silently for a few moments and listening to her giggle, he couldn't help but smile. She was infatuated with him, and the way Clockwork had acted earlier that day...it reminded him of Danny, the Great One, and Sam, Lady of the Great One. The Great One had always been clueless. It had been the subject of many ghosts and word spread quickly. When the two finally got together, Frostbite had held a feast in his honor, though Danny hadn't joined them nor had anyone retrieved him. They knew he would be busy and they knew he'd be embarrassed as would Lady Sam, and she was a scary one.
Frostbite walked towards Desiree and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned around, her gaze seeping with malice, but Frostbite didn't retaliate or show fear.
"Would you like something a bit more comfortable to sit on?"
Desiree's expression softened as she looked at Frostbite, then she thought upon his words. She nodded and he motioned for her to rise. When she did he pointed his hand at the ice stool she had been sitting on and from out of his hand came a beam of ice not unlike that of Danny's Phantom Phreeze. Desiree seemed slightly confused but said nothing. It didn't take very long for an intricate looking chair, similar to the one Clockwork was situated on, to form. Desiree smiled and hugged Frostbite. Not only was she sitting comfortably, but she was in a much better position to watch Clockwork. Frostbite took his leave at that.
Clockwork opened his eyes and waved his hand in the air for a few moments before his staff finally flew into his it. He stifled what he was sure was a yawn and looked at the base of his staff. It read eight fourteen. He blinked before he sat up. He heard a content sigh beside him and turned, only to notice that Desiree had her own chair and was sitting beside him. He was definitely confused, or he would have been had he not seen a particular see through arm retreating from the room. Clockwork sighed and rubbed his head before he realized that he felt stronger than before.
"I must really give my regards to Frostbite," stated Clockwork as he looked towards the door which lead back into the rest of the stadium. He then turned his gaze towards Desiree. Had she been with him the entire time?
He remembered that he had heard her arguing with one of Frostbite's guards the night before, and he hadn't been in the mood to hear their bickering after his arm had basically been encased in ice and cut into to remove the hex. Luckily the spell hadn't spread, which Frostbite had commented on several times. Apparently it was strange. Either way, Clockwork had allowed her entrance and she rushed towards him. He had seen the rage in her eyes and was confused as to why it was directed at him.
She had expressed her concern for him and she had even expressed her sadness when he said that he would be leaving. She had cheered up when he said that he would come back, though he had no idea why he had said such a thing. He had no desire to start something with her, especially if everything turned out okay. He would have to do a memory wipe, which wasn't as hard as people assumed it would be, to everyone and he couldn't play favorites.
Clockwork began to float towards the door, ignoring the bright energy that seemed to trail behind him when he moved. Just when he was about to open the door, he heard Desiree shift where she was, and he could literally feel her gaze burning holes in the back of his head. He was sure that if he turned around there would be a huge puddle in the place of their chairs.
"Desiree," Clockwork acknowledged without turning around.
"You're leaving," she stated rather than asked.
"How very...Observant of you," he said as blandly as he could.
"You seem to be oozing with power. Whatever the Yeti did, it must have been very effective."
"It was."
Silence. Movement. Closeness.
Desiree turned Clockwork to face her, and he did not fight it. He looked at her and saw the hurt in her eyes.
"I know why it is that you distance yourself from me, Time Master. You are uncertain, confused and afraid. You do not wish to let others get hurt in your steed. You feel that this burden is yours alone to bare, and it may be, but I will not LET it be. That is MY wish."
Clockwork said nothing. He could not. The only person who expressed themselves like this was Danny, the only person that he could really consider a friend and ally. Now he had another, perhaps, in Desiree? Or was she looking for more? Was she looking for power? Clockwork averted his gaze, but took note that one of the bracers on Desiree's upper arm had vanished.
"You are sincere," he finally spoke. It was clear that he was surprised, but Desiree couldn't understand why.
Well, she couldn't say that. He was the Time Master he knew all about her including her darkest secrets. Perhaps that was why he seemed so cold? Perhaps that was why he was really trying to keep his distance, at least from her. He knew her all to well...knew the things she had done just to get ahead in life. That was why...he would not let her near.
Desiree dropped her arms to her sides and lowered her head.
"Forgive me, Time Master. I do not know what came over me."
Desiree hastily made her way past Clockwork, and he knew if she was alive she'd have tears streaming down her cheeks. What had he done to make her so upset? Clockwork exited the room and took note of the stares he received. Some of them were disapproving, some stoic and some were just as confused as his own. The need to defend himself was strong, but he kept whatever he had to say down, and instead he gave a bow to the Yetis who returned it.
"You have no idea how grateful I am. I would not have been able to figure out what happened to me without you. Thank you."
Clockwork could almost see the pride exuding from Frostbite and his people.
"Thank you, Time Master," stated Frostbite as he smiled at Clockwork. As Clockwork began to press forward once more, Frostbite began to walk by his side. Once the two were out of range of the others and anyone else who would be listening, Frostbite let out a sigh.
"Is something the matter?"
Frostbite looked towards the crowd, unable to see the genie-like ghost.
"You should talk to her. She stayed with you; watched over you through the night."
"A being of my stature is incapable of love, no matter how much I may wish it."
"You are capable of feeling pain, are you not?"
Clockwork bit back a retort because both he and Frostbite, as well as any Yeti present during his de-spelling, knew that he was indeed capable of feeling pain.
"Love, like pain, is an emotion."
"You do not understand. In my line of work, I cannot let my emotions hang over me, and there is no stronger emotion than love."
With that, Clockwork made his leave. Frostbite shook his head, feeling upset for Clockwork, but on the bright side the male was certainly up to snuff. He hadn't known just how bad a shape Clockwork had been in. It was as though his form was being held together by flimsy thread and the Will of the Ancients themselves. Now he was almost fully recovered which was remarkable because he was more powerful than any ghost in the stadium at that very moment.
"Be careful and be prosperous, my friend."
Ember, Skulker, Kitty, Johnny, Box Ghost, and the Lunch Lady were more or less speaking to each other. Ember, Skulker, Kitty, and Johnny had been the subject of gossip that morning since they had arrived with the fabled Master of Time. It was a silent ten minutes before Box Ghost began to, for once in his life, silently speak of their run-in with the Master of Time. Ember seemed skeptical at first, at least until little Box Lunch had told her version of the story, which matched perfectly with her parents except for her meeting with him when playing with Young Blood. Her parents turned a few shades lighter, and lightly reprimanded the girl for bothering someone so important.
Ember and Skulker both shared a look, Ember giving Skulker a look saying 'I want one' and Skulker giving her a look that was no doubt a 'No'. Johnny and Kitty spoke silently while eating what the Lunch Lady had prepared. It seemed that she had been designated as the chef for everybody in the place, but with her ghost powers it was no problem. Everyone had been pretty weak, so some sort of sustenance was to be expected. It was basically food shaped blobs of ectoplasm.
The group remained together and quietly talked about the ghost that looked like their little halfa superhero. Everyone had been so surprised by the emblem on the older ghost's chest because everyone in the Ghost Zone knew that Sam had made it for him. Desiree had spread that one around until it reached everywhere. When the subject switched to Danielle, or Danni, everyone got quiet. Their thoughts immediately went to this new, bigger ghost and everyone began thinking that Vlad had somehow made another clone. Skulker assured them that he didn't, and everyone seemed to take his word, and why would they not? Skulker was one of the most trustworthiest ghosts in the zone despite his need to hunt and adorn pelts on his wall. He was a great information gatherer as well which was why he was so valuable to Vlad when the older Halfa was around.
Skulker sighed at the thought of Vlad before shaking his head. There was no way the older male would show his face in the Ghost Zone. His bumbling nearly cost the entire Ghost Zone their afterlives. Technus found out about Vlad's satellite and had been secretly monitoring it. When it had exploded, he hadn't immediately gone to Skulker. Only after the Disasteroid crisis had been averted did Technus show Skulker. Skulker hadn't wanted to see the footage at first because it was his employer's private satellite, but when Technus had managed to convince him, he had gave in. It was then Skulker had learned that it was Vlad who had caused the explosion which then caused the asteroid to go hurtling towards the Earth to begin with.
Ember continued talking to Kitty and the Lunch Lady, then turned to face Skulker. She had seen that face on him plenty of times to know he was thinking about that jerky older Halfa. She leaned her head against his shoulder which caused him to turn. She tried to smile sweetly at him, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Skulker returned the attempt with one of his own, but then the silence alerted him to something strange. Ember took a little longer to notice the silence as did the other two couples, but when they did they could hear weeping. Ember hovered above where their group sat and looked around until she saw Desiree flying from the snowy side of the stadium. Ember placed her hands on her hips and frowned at Desiree's display. Usually she was a lot stronger than that; not letting anyone see her weakness. Ember felt her ectoplasm boil as she flew towards Desiree.
"Hey," she shouted before she took Desiree's hands away from her eyes. Desiree looked at Ember and hugged her, startling the pop princess. She and Desiree weren't exactly friends and she wasn't exactly the physical contact sort of person. Actually, she was just starting to open herself up to Skulker, and a bit to Kitty, and that had taken many, many years, centuries at least.
Ember laughed nervously as the crowd looked at them.
"Ohhh-kay, Desiree. It's gonna be fine."
"NO IT'S NOT!" she wailed as Ember finally got her at arms length.
"Come on, let's go over here and talk-" stated Ember to Desiree before she looked at the crowd and flared her hair violently. "-In private." she snapped which caused to crowd to go back to what they were doing, or at least pretend to go back to what they were doing.
Ember led Desiree to the others and sat her down while waiting expectantly for the wishing ghost to say something. After a few minutes of nothing, the Lunch Lady decided to try to coax out an explanation.
"Deary, what seems to be the matter?"
"I WAS A FOOL," she shouted with a shake of her head. "I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT I WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE MASTER OF TIME!"
Desiree started crying into her hands while Ember clenched her fists. How dare that pompous jerk say such a thing? Skulker saw the look in his girlfriend's eye and shook his head.
"Ember, don't even let that thought into your mind."
"Too late, Baby-Pop."
"Do you have any iota of self-worth or self-preservation!?" he snapped at the girl beside him.
Desiree looked towards Ember with a small smile.
"I'm used to it," she said lowly.
"That is NOT a good thing," Ember snapped. "I dun care who Clockwork thinks he is. I say that he isn't good enough for you!"
Ember's breathing was heavy as she glared at Desiree. That was when she began to take notice of the ghost's appearance.
"Hey, you're missing three little bracer thingies."
Desiree looked at Ember, confusion evident in her eyes.
"I only know of the two on my wrists. Has another vanished?" she sniffled.
Ember pointed towards her own left shoulder while Desiree reached for her right. She felt skin on that side where her bracer had once been.
"I do not understand," she said as she looked at the others.
"Maybe your spell is almost broken?" Kitty finally spoke up, glad of the subject change. She didn't want to speak on the matter of Clockwork and get caught by him. They were in the same compound after all.
"How does the spell go again," Johnny asked. He also seemed to be glad of the subject change.
Desiree closed her eyes and began to recite her spell, the curse that bound her to grant the wishes of others.
"Beauty which knows of no heartbreak, shall learn the pains of true heartache.
Until she finds what her own heart truly requires, she is forced to grant wishes of others desires.
May she always wear these bands as a reminder to her as she traverses the lands."
The three couples watched as Desiree finished up the words to the spell that bound her to her wish granting curse. She had never forgotten those words. They were recited by the wife of the sultan who had fancied her. It was the reason why she died of a broken heart and old age. She sighed, shook her head and opened her eyes while Ember leaned against Skulker with a thoughtful look on her face.
"Well it seems like you've found something that your heart truly requires, and the bands are comin' off," stated Ember while Skulker nodded beside her.
"But I have no idea what that requirement is," she whined with a shake of her head.
"When did this start?" the Lunch Lady asked while Desiree began to play with the beads on her top once more.
"Yesterday, when I helped Ember and Skulker with Clock-"
Desiree bit her tongue while Ember just grinned like an idiot.
"It cannot be something so trivial," she snapped harshly. "I desire no man."
"You do realize that you, YOU, of all people were crying in front of the biggest crowd of ghosts I've ever seen, right?" stated Ember as she played with a left over piece of food.
Desiree said nothing, but her cheeks did get darker.
"You called yourself a fool, too," added Kitty while she leaned against Johnny who rolled his eyes.
"Let's not forget that you were upset that he didn't seem to return your feelings," stated the Lunch Lady as she placed her hand on Box Ghost's thigh. "Any other time I doubt you would have cared or rather, showed that you were hurt."
Desiree closed her eyes to ignore the others, but it just wasn't working. After so many years, how could she feel something from, of all things, a man? She had thought that perhaps she would have better luck with women, but even that hadn't worked out. She chalked it up to the Sultan's wife influencing her judgment of women as well as the violent men who kept entering her afterlife. She could not see herself with anyone and deep inside it stung.
"And that reminds me," stated Ember in response to the Lunch Lady's remark. Desiree opened her eyes and noticed that Ember was on her feet. "I have a Time Keeper's clock to clean," she said as she slammed her fist into her open palm.
"You are out of your mind!" Skulker snapped as he tried to pull her back down, but she merely jumped out of his way.
She felt her back hit something, and the look on her cohorts' faces told her that it was the topic of their conversation. Ember only had a second to take a breath because her body turned around faster than she could process. She opened her mouth to speak, but she noticed his aura. She noticed the power that flowed from him in waves. If she hadn't been so loud moments ago, she would have noticed how quiet it had become and the awkward feel and power that hung in the air. She swallowed thickly before she took a step away from Clockwork. It seemed that she had lost her nerve.
Desiree refused to look at him, and he refused to look at her as well. He was the Master of Time not some hormonal human. Love was not a luxury he could afford in his line of work, and he knew it. Clockwork looked at the three couples and gave them a nod of his thanks. Box Lunch had come from seemingly nowhere and tackled the Time Master. Box Ghost and Lunch Lady were on edge, but Clockwork just gave the child a knowing smile.
"You're leaving? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?!" she asked much to her parents chagrin.
Clockwork held the girl in his arms, not entirely sure of what to say to her. He was going to see Danny, but Box Lunch wouldn't know who he was. They weren't exactly acquainted yet.
"I have to go stop the bad ghost," he said as he put the little girl down. Box Lunch pouted and folded her arms.
"You're coming back?"
Clockwork seemed to be pondering it. If he survived, he would have to most likely wipe out an entire time line and erase all of the Ghost Zone inhabitants' memories. The answer was, he was hoping, yes, but she would not know of it or of him, at least until he pulled her away to help him bring Danny closer to the test answers for the C.A.T.s, but that was a paradox that only he could comprehend.
"No," he answered simply which prompted Desiree to rise and extend her hand, sending out a beam of energy at Clockwork.
Clockwork merely grunted his discomfort, for the beam had hit his arm which was still wrapped. Ember and Skulker scampered further away while Box Ghost grabbed his daughter and his wife and pulled her away. Kitty and Johnny had already moved when Box Lunch, that brave suicidal girl, kept the Time Deity occupied.
If the room hadn't been silenced before, it definitely was now. The Observants, who had kept there distance, for they were still uncertain of Clockwork's agenda, had their eyes opened wide as well. They couldn't remember the last time a mere ghost laid an attack on Clockwork for Dan was no mere ghost and Quasar was a Spirit and Clockwork's twin.
"Say goodbye to Desiree," Skulker whispered to his girlfriend while holding her close.
"You are still injured, Time Master," she sneered. The grunt he made obviously did not go unnoticed.
"I can assure you that I am fine."
"And I can assure you that I do not believe your lies. I can see through them. I can see the truth in your eyes. Though your body resonates with power, you are still recovering. You are weak, Time Master, and you will go out there and you will get hurt once more."
Clockwork, for once, showed his anger on his person. Desiree hesitated while everyone else made their way towards what appeared to be the nearest exits despite the safest place being inside the stadium.
"You are not to tell me how it is that I feel, when I can or cannot leave, or why I should or should not do something. I am the Master of Time-"
"And yet when you walked in here you were on par with us mere ghosts. You were in no condition to fight and now you're ready to go off like some child on an adventure. You are not so different from us. The only thing that separates you from us is the power you possess and nothing more."
Once again Clockwork stood there looking stupefied. His anger subsided a bit before he shook his head. He did not have time for this. They did not have time for this. Soon Dan would realize that all the ghosts were being evacuated. Soon Quasar would go to Dan and the two would destroy what was built up over the millenniums. Soon, it would all cease.
Clockwork turned his back to Desiree but turned his head slightly.
"You need not concern yourself with me, Desiree. You are not my keeper, they are," he said as he pointed towards the two Observants who seemed quite taken aback at being outed like that. They both narrowed their eyes and continued to watch Clockwork.
"I do not wish to be your keeper," Desiree mumbled tiredly as she shook her head.
"Good. This is hopefully the last any of you will see of me."
With that being said, Clockwork worked his magic. The portal came easier than before, but he had to work quickly. He saw the plane that Danny, his family, and his friends were on and he floated in, but the simple action immediately turned into a tumble followed by the protests of two Observants, a biker and his girl, a fallen rock star, and self-proclaimed great hunter.
It was about seven in the morning when Danny had finally pried his eyes open. He yawned and turned over only to realize that his bed was smaller and had armrests all of a sudden. Hastily he tried to move because for some reason he felt like he was strapped down. The sudden motion made him tumbled to the floor. He moaned before he heard the chuckles all around him.
"Huh? What happened?" he asked drearily as he peered over to see the blond haired version of his best friend.
'Blond hair?' he thought before he looked around, trying to recall everything that he could. He remembered his visit to Clockwork. With that came the memory of why he visited Clockwork. He groaned at the thought, but pressed forward. He remembered Clockwork acting weird, the Observants, the room with the stars...Danny felt his stomach turn uncomfortably. It had to be a dream, but the blond Sam and dread-headed Tucker told him otherwise.
Danny recalled the fight with Vlad, the stealing of the Time Scepter, then being sent back home. He remembered Dan appearing which caused Danielle, who was currently sitting between his mom and dad, to appear. He then had to explain away the two of them, and then Clockwork came to his home all messed up and told them of his failures.
"Great," mumbled Danny as he finally recalled enough data to give himself a headache. "Remember when hunting ghosts was just, ya know, us hunting ghosts with a souped up thermos? Remember those days?" he asked as he looked towards his Tucker and Sam.
They both gave him apologetic looks while he sat up and leaned against the chair he had been apparently sleeping in.
"No-one said it would be easy," said Sam as she gave a discreet glare to her blond counterpart.
"Yeah, we all knew that it wasn't going to be the Box Ghost everyday. Eventually you would have sent him to the afterlife permanently," stated Tucker jokingly.
"Guys, I'm serious. Do you have any idea what's happening?" Danny shouted before running his hand down the front of his face.
Maddie rose to her feet and walked over to her son with a small smile on her face.
"Sweetie you need to relax. Everything will work out for the best."
Danny looked at his mother.
"Even if that came from an overly optimistic ninja I wouldn't believe it right now."
"Oooh-kay," stated Samantha who felt that she had been quiet enough.
The others turned to face her.
"We got the introductions and life story things out of the way last night, but don't think those were the questions we had in mind."
Tuck nodded his head in agreement while Sam merely sat with her feet on the table of the jet.
"I want to know how it is that you came to this time line. I want to know what's stopping our time line from disappearing while yours remains intact. I want to know what the plan is, after all, I can turn this jet around."
Samantha was not kidding and Sam knew. She took one leg off the table while Tucker and Tuck shared tentative glances with each other.
"These-" Danny started, since he for one didn't want to have to turn back when they had come so far, "are Time Medallions. They keep us from being tossed back into our time line. The guy who controls the flow of time gave them to us so that we can help save the world."
Samantha and Tuck looked skeptical, but Danny continued.
"When the time lines shifted it, it spit us out here. This world, your world, is the outcome of Vlad changing his past, at least that's what I'm pretty sure happened. I don't really know for sure. Clockwork has a tendency to be cryptic, but I'm pretty sure he's flustered right now."
Samantha nodded her head and shrugged, but inside her head was reeling. Tuck, who was just as confused and excited was talking a mile a minute, questioning Danny, Sam and Tucker. Even the three older Fentons were subjected to his questions. Samantha just sat beside Sam with a scowl on her face. She was trying to piece together everything that could or would happened.
"Do you really think this...Clockwork, could keep our world here despite you undoing the meddling from your world?"
Danny smiled and nodded.
"I think he can manage."
Samantha seemed reassured, a little more than the previous night, so she hopped up from where she sat and decided get out what they had in the fridge for breakfast.
Sam's eyes lit up while the Tuckers and Danny groaned.
"Who eats salad for breakfast?" the Tuckers whined simultaneously.
"I do, that's who," stated the Sam's striking identical poses.
"Oh god," stated Danny unaware of how loud he was. "I think I actually need to thank Vlad."
His Sam shot him her deadliest glare while Samantha gave him a disapproving look. Tucker looked at his best friend, silently praying that his death be swift while Tuck refused to let the other topic drop.
"Seriously, where are the eggs, and I don't mean that tofu vegan junk!"
"It's not junk, Tucker," stated Samantha with her arms folded.
"It's a healthy utra-cyclo vegetarian diet and it doesn't come with the guilt of knowing that you're eating slaughtered animals," chimed in Sam.
Danny found himself sitting down while the Tuckers and Sams once again went through their argument of meat vs veggies. Any other time he would have been annoyed, but right now he had to admit that he was amused.
...He had been amused, but it was eight fifteen and they were still arguing. Breakfast had been salvaged thanks to Jazz who decided to take a look at what was in the fridge. The Sams had their salads, the Tuckers had their meats and everyone else had a little of both. Even so, the argument had continued.
"I was tired of hearing this argument years ago, and now I have to listen to it in stereo," muttered Danny to Danielle who giggled in amusement.
The two elder Fentons couldn't believe how the children kept going, but Jazz immediately pointed out that's how they were during the Christmas holidays with their belief or lack there of, in Santa Claus. Eventually Danielle had pulled both Sams to one side of the plane while Danny pulled the Tuckers to the other.
"That has got to be a record," stated Danny as he looked disapprovingly at his Tucker.
"Dude, she went too far. SALAD FOR BREAKFAST!"
"Breakfast has been over for almost over an hour now Tucker, GET OVER IT," shouted Danny.
Tuck just folded his arms and watched the two friends while he glanced back at Samantha. He wondered why their world's Danny didn't reside in Amity Park. They would have been better off if he had. Tuck sighed and slouched in the chair causing Danny and Tucker to look at him.
"Something wrong, dude?" Tucker asked as he watched himself close his eyes.
"I've only seen our world's Danny a few times, and that's when Vlad brings him to some of Sam's parents' parties."
"Why would Vlad bring me again?" Danny asked curiously with a distasteful frown on his face.
"Because you're his God Son or something. You, well the you from here, call him your uncle."
Danny shuddered as did Tucker while Samantha, Sam and Danielle walked back over to the group. They sat down with a huff, the fire still alight in each of their eyes but they weren't going to pick it back up, not unless the Tuckers said something. Danny gave the Tuckers one look and they seemed to understand.
"I've been wondering something, Danny," started Samantha. Sam glowered but Sam continued. "Where's your brother?"
"Brother," questioned the trio plus Danielle. Samantha looked confused, as did Tuck, but she answered them anyway. "Yeah, I remember there being three Fenton kids. Your sister Jazmine, you and there was one more person. Uh, gah Tucker what was his name?"
"Davy, I think," Tuck answered with a slight roll of his eyes.
"YEAH! David Fenton. Vlad introduced them to me, but I ended up staying with Dash most of the night so I didn't get the chance to get to know any of them."
Sam opened her mouth to retort but Danielle gladly positioned her hand over the opening leaving the other girl fuming.
"I don't have a brother. It's just me, my mom, my dad, and my sisters."
Tuck and Samantha shared confused looks before they figured that things changed along with the times. Danny didn't have a brother, but two sisters instead.
"It's funny though. In a different time line, my dad said if he had a son, he wouldn't name him Danny. He even called me Davy once."
Sam and Tucker looked at Danny. They didn't recall him telling them that story. Samantha and Tuck, on the other hand, seemed really interested in his tales of time travel.
"So how come you've been able to meddle with time without causing catastrophes that need changing?" Samantha asked raising a brow.
"Are you kidding?" Danny laughed. "The first time the Time Master summoned me was so that I could help him clean up the future. The next time I came to him for help, and he had to clean up the mess I made. I totally learned my lesson that day."
Danny continued to laugh while Samantha felt an uneasy lurch in her stomach.
"What happened to those other time lines? Do you know for sure that they're still there?"
"I don't see why they wouldn't be there. Like Tuck said, parallel dimension, right?" Danny smiled before he noticed that his mother was listening to their conversation. She didn't seem to share their enthusiasm. Samantha was still smiling at Danny. She hadn't noticed the darkening of his eyes as he looked to his mother. It was clear that she trusted him.
Danny and Samantha talked with Sam occasionally butting in just to make sure that Danny remembered which Sam was his Sam. It annoyed him a bit, but he figured he wouldn't want her leaning up against another guy, even if that guy was himself.
"Are we there yet," the Tuckers whined in unison, only instead of the ten times prior, Danielle decided to help them out.
"No," stated Jazz and the Sams, each one sporting different looks of annoyance. Jazz had been reading a magazine while Samantha had taken to getting the pink fingernail polish off her nails. Sam had been delighted until Sam had started painting them yellow.
"What?" she had asked when Sam gawked at her in disgust. "It's the same as what you do except it's not all black."
Sam had growled and kicked her feet up. She had been silent up until the Tuckers incessant whining.
"I gotta agree with Tucker, this flight is taking forever. We got there faster when dad drove."
Jazz looked up from her magazine and raised a brow at Danny.
"Dearest brother, do you not remember how exactly it was that we GOT THERE?!"
Danny winced as his sister raised her voice. Of course he remembered. That was the point of him bringing it up. They had got there fast. Then again...
"Point taken," he said as her heated glare seemed to pierce his skin.
Jack didn't say it, but he was also in agreement. Maybe if he could just fly the plane. Nah, his wife wouldn't let him. Jack let out an annoyed sigh to which Maddie just smiled sweetly. She was about to make her way over to him when a portal opened up between them and Clockwork plus one came hurtling out of it. They landed in a heap of blue, green and purple, and there was an annoyed grunt as the green specter got up.
Danny and Danielle were both up and over in a flash.
Samantha and Tuck both remained where they were while Sam and Tucker got into a battle stance as did Maddie and Jack.
It took a moment for Danny to come to his senses. He lowered his hands somewhat and looked down at the 'All Knowing Clockwork' who had yet to get up. He couldn't even attempt to hide the mischievous glint that twinkled brightly in his eyes.
"Uh Clockwork? I thought you were healing."
"I'd traverse any hospital if I could heal with her," stated Tuck as he attempted to move close.
Tucker, placed his hand on Tuck's shoulder and shook his head while saying, "No you wouldn't."
Clockwork rose to his full height and Danny took a step back. Clockwork looked like he was at full power, so how could he have been tackled, from the looks of it, by Desiree?
Clockwork and Desiree didn't really seem to notice their new surroundings as their argument persisted.
"Are. You. MAD?" Clockwork said angrily which seemed to cause the jet to shake. Danny honestly hoped that it was just turbulence but he knew better. It seemed that they all knew better.
Desiree shrank back. She knew she was pushing too hard, but the thought of not being able to see him again, the thought of him leaving, it left her feeling cold.
"No. I. LIVID! I already told you of my motives, Time Master. I did not lie to you. I will not let you handle this fight alone, but I know you wish nothing to do with me. It is fine."
Clockwork gawked at Desiree before he did something completely uncharacteristic. He slid the palm of his hand down his face.
"I do not understand," stated Clockwork.
"That much is clear," snapped Desiree. "How can you, the Master of Time, be so blind as to what's in front of you?"
"I am not blind," he argued, reminding Danny of some arguments he got into with Sam. "I can see perfectly well what is in front of me. It is you who is blind."
"I am not blind. I can clearly see that you do not wish to be in my company, and why should you? You know what I am inside and out, perhaps even better than I do. Why would you sully yourself with the likes of me?"
Desiree seemed dejected as she spoke, and Clockwork just seemed much more frustrated.
"Uh," Danny started only to have his mouth covered by nearly every female in the cabin of the plane.
"I cannot return your feelings, because I am incapable of the emotion you wish me to portray."
Desiree turned to Clockwork skeptically, not understanding.
"How can you be incapable of-"
"Because I am the Master of Time. Any emotion I feel is liable to taint my better judgment. It would cause me to tamper and meddle until I've destroyed what it is that I am destined to protect. That is how it is, and that is how it shall be. Now you've wasted enough of my time."
Clockwork turned his back to Desiree and opened a portal. Desiree closed her eyes as a pained expression crossed her face.
"So you have wished it-" Desiree started, but Jazz seemed to have had other plans.
"I wish you would stay with us on the plane, Desiree."
Every eye turned to Jazz, but she just glared at Desiree. Desiree blinked at Jazz, then found herself powerless to her curse once more.
"-so shall it be."
Clockwork closed his eyes while Danny turned intangible to escape the hold of the females. He walked over to the portal and peered through it. He could see the different ghosts, and the blue sky. It looked like some sort of Ghost Rally if Danny were to be honest. Clockwork waved his hand and closed the portal, knowing that Desiree would not be leaving. Danny hopped away, while Clockwork finally decided to acknowledge them. Everyone was staring, unsure of what to make of the ghostly soap opera, but before any one could ask, another portal appeared.
"Out," Clockwork muttered and motioned for everyone to enter. Danny and Danielle went ghost and flew through the portal first, just to make sure there wasn't some steep drop. With Clockwork's earlier display they would not have been surprised if he wanted to get back at Jazz. Instead, they were outside of a modest house with a modest looking mailbox which read 'Masters' on the side.
Danielle reported the all clear while Danny flew up the walkway. He immediately regretted it when from out of the bushes came something that looked suspiciously like a Fenton Bazooka. Danny gave a slight yelp which caused the neighbors to turn in his direction. A few people scratched their heads, obviously unable to see him, but they did see Vlad's security measures. They fled from their yards, fearing some sort of ghost attack, and they made their way inside. They closed their curtains and most likely barricaded themselves inside. The Bazooka, however, fired near Danny's location but he dodged and immediately flew back towards the portal.
When the Bazooka decided that it had either got rid of its target or its target was out of range, it repositioned itself back in its hiding spot. Danny peered back inside the portal just as Samantha was about to step out. His head collided with her breasts and he immediately flew backwards. Samantha seemed pretty embarrassed before she got pretty ticked. She kicked Danny with her boot while exiting the plane. Danny was just happy that his Sam hadn't seen what happened. Of course, Tucker somehow managed to catch the display and gave him a thumbs up. Danny frowned before he turned to Clockwork and Desiree.
"There's some pretty ritzy ghost hunting equipment out here."
Clockwork said nothing more as he made his way out of the portal, and when he did the bazooka made another appearance and it invited friends. Apparently Danny, for some inane reason, hadn't alerted the other weapons, but Clockwork's presence certainly had. The Bazooka had morphed into something along the lines of an arm cannon, and the sprinklers began to spray something that was obviously not water.
"Wow, Vlad's perfected the Spectral Sprinklers. It's not even killing the plants!" stated Jack to Maddie as he spotted the sprinkles from the portal.
Maddie, who had been behind him asked, "Spectral Sprinklers?"
"It was an uh, invention that I had told Vlad about during college. I never could figure the bugs out of it. It was to get rid of little ghost bugs in the garden was well as the bigger bugs."
Jack grinned while Clockwork froze the weapons in time to allow Danny and Danielle passage. Once the two made it to the door, they tried and failed to get in.
"Ghost shield," stated Danny as he looked at his parents, his friends, and his friends doppelgangers.
"I don't think he's home anyway," stated Tuck while he looked into the window.
"Tucker, someone will see you," Samantha hissed.
"I don't think so," Tucker said to Samantha while Tuck returned from peeping through the window. "I think we're invisible."
"So cool," Tuck shouted while Sam shushed him.
"Invisible not muted."
"Right, sorry, but this is just so cool!" Tuck exclaimed which elicited a 'shush' from Samantha.
"Don't feel too bad dude, Sam was the same way when we first got to help Danny with his powers."
Tuck grinned at Tucker before wondering just what was making them invisible. The answer seemed obvious when they looked towards Clockwork.
"I think Tucker's right," Danny said as he came from around the back. Apparently he and Mr. Fenton took it upon themselves to look. "No-one's home."
"Then he must be at our house...the us from this time," Jack said as he scratched his head.
Clockwork frowned as he made another portal, only this one led to the Fenton house.
"Clockwork you have to teach me that," said Danny with a huge grin on his face.
"No," Clockwork said almost harshly which caused Danny to frown. His mother took a step forward to protect Danny, but Danny really didn't need her protection or Clockwork's attitude.
"Clockwork, you're my friend, but you have GOT to calm down."
"I am calm," he stated and Danny had to give him credit because he did sound calm, but the look in his eyes were easier to read than a picture book. Danny was about to retaliate when he heard yelling from the other side of the portal.
"Clockwork just opened up a portal in front of the Fenton house, didn't he?" Sam asked as she looked towards Tucker.
"Yep," Tucker responded.
"Crap...again," muttered Danny as the doors to the Fenton house on the other side of the portal sprang open to reveal his mother, father and...Vlad exit the house.
"That's my house!" Vlad shouted, but his voice seemed to be filled with awe.
Danny, unable to help himself, reached into the portal invisibly and grabbed Vlad by the collar of his shirt.
"Oh is it, Cheese Head?" he asked as he pulled him through the portal.
"Vlad!" came the concerned shouts of his two college chums and even his God Son, Daniel, along with two more voices.
Everyone looked up just in time to see not only Daniel, decked out in a red shirt with a white oval it the center of his chest, baggy blue jeans, and white and red converses, run head first into the portal despite his parents protest. Behind came Jasmine's double. Her hair was pulled back in a braided up ponytail with her class ring dangling from the end. She still had on the shorts from the previous night, but the big shirt she wore was nowhere in sight. Instead she wore a lavender sports bra. She looked as though she had been working out. The last to emerge was Davy. He was wearing a black short sleeved shirt over a dark and light blue striped long sleeved shirt, blue khaki pants were torn at the knees, and black boots with green shoelaces. His hair was reminiscent to that of Jack's during his college days.
Each child looked like they had dressed hastily, and had grabbed something that had been lying around the house to use as weapons while their parents had nothing.
"Why'd you let them through, Clockwork," came Danny's voice as he turned to look at the Master of Time only to see that Clockwork had his back to them and was watching a portal form before them.
Clockwork said nothing as he lunged for the portal without a second thought. Before whoever was on the other side could make their way through, Clockwork had collided with them and entered the portal, causing it to disappear. That wasn't all it did either. With Clockwork's disappearance came the reappearance of Danny and his group, much to the surprise of the three Fenton children who were only able to hear what was going.
"Thanks a lot, Clockwork," muttered Danny before he found himself dodging a ray from the Fenton Laser Lipstick.
TBC
Authors Ending Notes: My first time ending a chapter on an Author's note. Huh, you get one at the beginning and the end this time. I just wanted to point out somethings about this chapter. There is a Star Trek reference in here, though it's worded differently. I'm sure some of you noticed and are now like, I KNEW IT. Some of you probably weren't sure and some of you are just not sure. xD Here's a hint, Vulcan.
Desiree's spell sort of just came to me. I think it has something to do with the fact that I've always loved poems that rhyme which is really funny because I loathe poetry. Yeah, I know, it's totally contradictory and I don't quite understand it myself.
Desiree's uncharacteristic outburst was actually not going to be written in. Desiree seems strong in the show, but if you remember her first appearance during when the Gypsies told Danny of Desiree's past, she had been devastated due to the Sultan's jealous wife. It was also why I decided that it was the jealous wife who put the curse on her. I mean, how else do you explain dying of a broken heart and old age?
I couldn't help Tuck's quips with the healing thing. It's Tucker, but AU style.
Meats vs Veggies. Oh you have no idea who much I wanted to not do this, but in the end I had to. "Why," you ask? Simple. I wanted to. Yes, another contradictory statement, but I'm sure you've had those thoughts. I just have them frequently. :(
The next chapter will be a cliff hanger as well, FYI. :D Yes, I am a dastardly little thing. *maniacal laugh*
thanks for reading. 'Til next time, true believers!