Author's note: I combined chapter 7, 8, 9, and 10 because they had parts where it wasn't really important, and stuff I've already mentioned. Those chapters weren't very long to start with.
Clockwork's realm
Clockwork stared down at his orb and with a smile forming on his lips. Danny Fenton had always been a favourite of his, and he saw great potential for the young ghost boy. Even though the Observants would disapprove, he didn't want to see Danny alone in life; was he playing cupid? Slightly. He sighed when he felt the presence of his other half.
"Wyrd," Clockwork said turning back to face him, "What do I owe this pleasure?"
"You know why I am here, Clockwork," he spat glaring at him, "Why haven't you repaired the timeline?"
"I have my reasons, Wyrd," he said as his physical appearances switched to his child self.
"You dare ask me that question? Ember McLain is fated to die! Her soul was supposed to go through me." The ghost of fate said clenching his staff tightly in his grip.
"Indeed," Clockwork shifted his gaze slightly to meet the three Observants, as they entered his realm.
"Danny Fenton has already disrupted the time stream!" Parricida shouted.
"The fire that was fated to end her life had been interfered with" Parricida glanced to the side and look at the other Observer as he spoke.
"And your little lap dog ended up in the past somehow? Care to explain, how?" Wyrd asked.
"On occasion, a portal may appear in the timeline," Clockwork casually said spinning his staff in between his fingers.
"Do not treat us like fools! We are aware you placed that portal in front of him. You ensured the portal would open at the right time and knew Danny Fenton would save her. You planned this and we demand to know why! What makes you think, you have the right to interfere with the timeline and a fated life." Parricida said as he quickly approached the ghost of time.
"Your task is to ensure the timeline is undisturbed," the second of the three Observants finally spoke.
"Ember McLain's death does not affect the flow of the timeline," Clockwork spoke closing his eyes, as he felt his young body turning old. "It is just one less foe for Danny Fenton to fight, and one less ghost to pose a threat in his time."
"You still haven't told us what's your plan with all of this?" Parricida said.
"And why you inferred with my… oh, what's the human term again? My…. Oh, yes, with my job!" Wyrd spat back at the ghost of time.
"Is it hard to believe, I simply wish for Danny's happiness?" Clockwork teased. Yes, the ghost of time could play a joke once in and awhile.
"Ember is destined to DIE!" the second observant shouted.
"Send Danny back to his time! He's been interfering long enough!" Parricida said right after
"Not only has he interfered with Ember's life! He has also prevented Kitty and Johnny's as well." Wyrd shouted slamming the end of his staff into the ground. "Kitty and Johnny were fated to die five days after Ember. They were meant to die in a motorcycle accident."
"Yes, Kitty was supposed to distract Johnny over the grief of losing Ember, which in return would cause Johnny to be hit by a truck. But! Because of Danny's inference, not one, but three souls have escaped their deaths!" Parricida said glancing at Wyrd.
"You are cheating me out of souls, Clockwork," Wyrd said, simply ignoring the look the Observer gave him.
"It's simply three fewer foes to fight. Wyrd, can you not see the benefits this causes? There's going to be fewer threats because of this." Clockwork tried to reason.
"The fate of souls is my domain, whereas time is yours. I do not interfere with time, as you should not with fates. Do not cross me, Clockwork. You shall meet my wrath if you dare to continue with this foolish plan of yours. You will fix the timeline, return those souls on their rightful path before I take matters into my own hands." Wyrd spoke as he 'stood' in front of Clockwork. He narrowed his red eyes and stared into, what he hated to admit, but his reflection.
Clockwork didn't flinch or spoke, as he stared down at his other half. He simply stood firm and returned the deadly gaze with his own.
"Do not threaten me, Wyrd." He finally spoke.
"Why do you hold Danny Fenton in such high regards?" Wyrd questioned as he gritted his teeth together.
"A human who acquired the powers of a ghost's without dying. You have to admit it is fascinating. The last human who became like this turned evil, and do not forget he stopped Dan Phantom's from causing destructions." Clockwork said as he proceeded to stand strong in front of Wyrd.
"Dan Phantom is nothing but a corrupt version of Danny, himself. All he did was change certain events in his life." Wyrd said. The ancient ghost had admired watching Dan in the alternate timeline and twists the fates of ghosts to his leisure.
"And what of Danny's time? What effects has his disappearance caused?" the first Observants questioned.
"I believes you have forgotten I am the ghost of time," Clockwork remarked, as he finally backed away from Wyrd and moved his hand around the orb. "When Danny returns to his time, no time will have passed. He will return a few minutes after he had left."
"You still haven't explained why you're doing this. Ember and Danny seem to have…. Falling for each other. Was this something you schemed? For them to become involved with each other?" Wyrd asked.
"Is it so hard to believe, I am a romantic?" Clockwork said with a cheeky smirk, "I will pay a visit to Danny Fenton very soon."
"Mark my words, Clockwork," Wyrd spoke. Clockwork turns his head back slightly and watched his other half open a portal to return to his realm. "You shall stop interfering with the lives and fates of the humans, and will return Ember, Kitty and Johnny to their destined fates of death. They are meant to die and to become mine."
Mine?
Clockwork raised a brow ever so slightly, that Wyrd hadn't noticed before he made his departure into the portal. The ancient ghost of time turns back to his orb and looks down to simply ignored the Observants departure as well.
He wasn't ignorant. He had been suspecting of Wyrd's 'collection' for a few centuries now, but he wasn't able to confirm his suspicions. The ghost of fate kept his realm a secret and secure; Clockwork, himself had no knowledge of its whereabouts within the Ghost Zone.
Casper high
Danny entered the school and couldn't help but smile. His mind kept racing back to the previous night, and their unexpected, yet wonderful date. His heart raced whenever he saw her, and he hoped hers did as well. He fell in love with her, but he was too scared to admit his feelings towards her. The young hero could tell Ember was feeling confused about her feelings. He could tell by the look in her eyes, she was hoping for something with his ghostly self.
But he wasn't ready yet. He couldn't reveal himself…. He….. he was afraid. He didn't want to lose her and see her being conflicted with her own emotions because of him. She cared for both sides of him without even knowing it. Danny Phantom, her mysterious hero, and Danny Robertson, her good friend.
"Oh, come on, Kitty" Danny blinked from his train of thoughts, and look up to see Kitty and another teen standing next to her. Danny raised a brow slightly and noticed his baggy style look, with fingerless gloves, heavy boots, and blonde hair.
"Prom? Please, Johnny, that's for wimps" Kitty spat back
Danny suddenly had the urge to slam his hand against his face. Of course, he would meet Johnny 13 alive. It would seem the young hero couldn't stop himself from interfering in more of his formers foes lives.
"Uh, Kitty!" Danny called out and walked over to the two, "Who's this?"
"Oh, it's you," Kitty said crossing her arms over her chest, "This is my boyfriend, Johnny".
"Hey, there punk," Johnny said with a smirk, "What's your deal with my girl?"
"Don't start, Johnny" Kitty quickly said, she felt offended her boyfriend would dare associate her with him?! "He's Ember's thing, not mine!"
"Uh…." Danny frown slightly, was he supposed to be insulted? "I – I didn't know you were dating someone."
"He doesn't go to school here, so it's not well known." Kitty said waving it off, "He's only here to visit."
"It's nice to meet you, Johnny." Danny quickly said and offered a hand, "I'm Danny."
"Hm… So, Ember thing, uh?" he muttered and lazily shook the awaiting hand in front of him, "She could do better."
"That's what I said," Kitty said with a huff in annoyance.
The young hero frowned simply deepen, "Thanks…...?"
"So, are you going to prom or what?" she asked tearing the flyer from the wall and showing it to him.
"I haven't really decided just yet," Danny simply replied, and took the flyer from her and quickly read through it.
"Just letting you know, Ember wouldn't be against going to prom," Kitty said while Johnny threw an arm around her, "Even with you."
"Thank you, Kitty…." Danny mumble while he watched the pair leave.
—
Ember sat under a tree near the front of the school, she always enjoyed sitting under here. The cool wind, the shade protecting her from the sun rays, and the wind blowing making the leaves sing.
She brought her hands together and held them against her chest. She cared about Danny, well, both Dannys. She wanted to be with both, but she hardly knew the ghostly Danny. He was just a silly crush because he saved her, but she couldn't explain the weird pull she felt for him. No, Danny Robertson was a true friend. She spent more time with him out of the two, and she had gone on that magical date. The young teen smiles softly to herself. It had taken her a while and a good conversation with her aunt to realized she loved him.
"Hey, Ember" Ember looked up and saw the cause of her several tiny heart attacks, Danny.
"Danny"
"Did you see about this prom?" he asked and sat down next to her.
"Prom? It's not my thing," Ember lied and casually took out a book from her bag, "It's a silly thing."
"I was about to ask you to be my date," Danny said smiling at her, lying or not, he found it amusing how Ember tried to hide her true intentions on certain things.
"You… what?" she asked.
"Ember, will you go to the prom with me?" Danny asked as he gently held her hands into his own.
"Are… are you sure?" she asked biting her bottom lips.
"Don't be silly, of course, I do." He spoke.
Ember smiled and failed to hide her blush from him.
"I would love to," she said.
"Wonderful," Danny said as his smile grew bigger.
"Thank you for all of this," she said and tighten her grip around his hand.
"No need to thank me," Danny replied
—
Glitter marched her way towards her intended target. The diva queen was beyond furious at a certain loser girl. She had finally recovered from the insulting injuries that other moron, Kitty had giving her. She was going to make both pay no matter what. She was forced to stay at home and allow that girl to live on with her life unpunished.
Ember freaking McLame had somehow brained washed the love of her life and sent her lacky to do her dirty work. She wasn't going to allow this to happen any longer. A smirk formed when she spotted Ember at her locker, putting away some of her books inside.
"MCLAME!" Ember jumped at the sudden outburst. She barely had the chance to turn on her own accord when a pair of hands grab her shoulders and shove her against the locker next to hers.
"Glitter?!" Ember muttered.
"He's mine got it! You fucking, loser!" Glitter shouted shoving Ember against the locker once more.
"W-what?" Ember confusedly questioned.
"Don't play the innocent act! I'm talking about Danny! He's mine, so stay away from him!" Glitter shouted back at her.
"What are you talking about? Danny and I are just friends" Ember said quickly pushing Glitter away from her, and removing herself from the lockers.
Ember glanced around and notice a crowd of students had started to form, of course, this outburst would attract students. She had never seen Glitter this mad in her entire life. The young teen could still see the faint mark of the bruises, Kitty had gracefully gifted her.
"I know you sent Kitty to attack me! You brainwashed Danny, and ensured that bitch, Kitty would finish me off!" Glitter spat.
Ember frown and notice a few students whispering to themselves. They were probably debating if what Glitter was saying, was true or not.
"I didn't send Kitty! She did that on her own, alright? I'm sorry, Glitter." Ember said as she tried to walk away, only to have Glitter push her back against the lockers.
"I don't fucking care! You're going to stay away from him!" Glitter shouted before slapping her across the cheek, "GOT IT!"
Ember touched her red cheek, before slowly turning her head to face the young diva queen.
"I thought you had a boyfriend?" She replied moving her hand away from her cheek.
"I couldn't care less about him! If you weren't already aware. I no longer need someone like him." Glitter said before slamming Ember's locker shut.
"Danny never showed any interest in you, Glitter!" Ember shouted back. Glitter took a stepped back at the sudden outburst. She had never expected Ember of all people to stand up for herself. The young diva enjoyed messing with her for that very reason, she knew she didn't have a backbone or so she thought.
"Go to hell, Glitter!" Ember shouted. Ember could feel her heart beating out of her chest. She and several students around her couldn't believe what was happening. She had never imagined, she would one day stand up to Glitter. But, ever since Danny and Kitty had entered her life. Ember had found a new wave of confidence, she had enough.
"What did you say?" Glitter managed to ask.
"I said go to hell! I had nothing to do with Kitty beating you up! But, I can see why she did because you're an awful person!" Ember shouted forcibly pushing her back, "No one likes you!"
"Yeah! You're nothing but a bitch!" a student shouted before a few cheers joined them.
Glitter's eyes widen slightly as she quickly scanned the faces of cheering students. No, she wasn't going to lose her power like this.
"I have my friends!" Glitter snapped back
"They're not your friends! You're treating them like minions" Ember said.
Glitter growled at her before grabbing a fistful of Ember's hair. The young diva pulled her hair and managed to drag her to the ground. Ember shouted and stumbled to the ground, and gave a few punches to the diva's side.
"CATFIGHT!" A student yelled while more students cheered them on.
—
Danny walked around the school in an annoyed sigh. He had been waiting for Ember in the library for the past half hour and had finally decided to set out to find her.
"Kitty, have you seen Ember?" Danny asked stopping next to her.
"I thought she was in the library with you?" she said closing her locker shut
"She was supposed to meet me there, but hasn't arrived yet." He said looking around the hallway when he could suddenly hear cheering students.
"What's going on now?" Kitty asked
Danny and Kitty simply followed the cheers and notice a large crowd of students. The two of them look at each other, when they suddenly heard a name they never expected to hear in a fight,
"Beat her ass, Ember!"
"Ember?" Danny quickly pushing his way through the students with Kitty close behind.
The two were shocked to see Ember and Glitter in a full fight, and Ember wasn't doing too bad either.
"Ember!" Danny shouted rushing towards them, "Hey! Knock it off!"
Danny grabbed Ember and put himself between the two girls, and pushed Glitter back. Kitty quickly grabbed onto Glitter and held her back, preventing her from attacking her friend once more.
"What the fuck, Glitter!" Kitty shouted tightening her grip around her.
"Danny," his ear twitch at the sound of his name. He gave a glance at her before turning his attention back to Glitter.
"This isn't over, McLame!" Glitter shouted breaking through Kitty's grip, and whipping her mouth with her sleeve, "I regret nothing, and I stand by what I said! You should have died in that fire, you loser! Your parents see you as nothing but a burden!"
"Just piss off!" Danny shouted grabbing Ember's hand and assisting her to her feet.
"Just wait until I get my hands on you!" Kitty shouted back. She wanted to beat up Glitter at this very moment, but she wanted to ensure Ember was alright first.
"Yeah, beat it, Glitter!" more students shouted.
Glitter growled and simply stormed off before his already broken pride, could be hurt even further. Danny looks down to take a better look at Ember's appearance. Her hair was a mess from the constant hair pulling, her clothes were pulled, busted lip and the bruise on her cheek had started to darken even more.
"Are you alright?" He asked quickly pulling her away from the cheering students.
"Holy shit, Em," Kitty said taking the sight of her friend as well.
"I've never felt any better" Ember said smiling through the pain, "I can't believe I did that."
"You kicked her ass!" Kitty said before laughing hysterically, "Oh man! Can you imagine her pride right now? And her face? Oh, it's gold! Way better than anything I did."
Danny sighed in relief before smiling at her, "Guess a busted lip, bruised cheek and messy hair were worth it then."
"I would do it again," she happily replied.
"And I would watch it again!" Kitty cheered
"I wouldn't want to face you in a fight," Danny said with a chuckle, and he meant it. The many times he had fought Ember in her ghostly form, she had put up a challenge for him. Even though, the young hero managed to win at every encounter. Ember would have claimed victory if it weren't for the aid of his friends, and just dumb luck.
"Why weren't there any teachers to stop this?" he asked.
"Teachers lounge and no student would stop a catfight." Kitty simply explained.
"Oh…."
—
Danny sat on the school's rooftop, he sighed deeply while he watched the setting sun. He made sure to help Ember fix up her appearance, and managed to convince Kitty not to commit murder, again. Kitty swore to beat up Glitter twice as hard, but Ember recalled her about her suspension. She reminded Kitty about Glitter's broken pride which was more of a wound than a busted lip.
Danny and Kitty had decided to walk Ember to her aunt's home. They couldn't do much about her cheek and lip, but other than that her appearance had been the same. After handling her frantic aunt at the sight of her niece, and stopping Kitty and Vera from going to Glitter's home; Danny gently rubbed her injured cheek, and hugged her before returning to school. He started to take the habit of watching the sunset, before sneaking into the hotel for the night.
"Ember, I care about you and I love you?" Danny groaned and ran a hand through his hair. He was currently trying to figure out, how he was going to announce his true feelings and being the ghostly hero. So far, the things he came up with just sudden ridiculous. "Ember, I love you and I'm also the ghost boy? No, man! UGH!"
Danny shouted and lay his back against the roof. He sighed and stared at the sky, "I sound stupid."
"Oh, it wasn't all bad, Daniel."
Danny quickly sat up and quickly look back to meet whoever had snuck up behind him and had just hoped they hadn't heard too much. He was expecting another student or the janitor, but he hadn't expected to see Clockwork.
"It's a beautiful sunset, don't you think?" he simply asked
"Clockwork!" Danny quickly rushed over to the ghost of time. He had so many questions but was also scared of the answers. "What's going on? Was it you, who had opened that portal? Are you here for the timeline? Just what's going on?!"
"Calm yourself, Danny." He said waving his hand slightly, "I will explain everything you wish to know."
"Why?" Danny simply asked
"Why did I send you into the past, and allow you to change the timeline?" Clockwork asked before receiving a nod of the head. "I've spent centuries watching over the timeline, ensured its stability and its safety. And it has cost me many things in my ancient ghostly life. I do not wish to see the same happen to you. You've already given up so much at such a young age."
"But Ember, Kitty and Johnny…. They were all meant to die. Won't their deaths affect the timeline?" he asked and felt fear creeping upon him. Danny couldn't bring himself to 'fix' his mistake if the ancient ghost told him to do so.
"Their deaths do not affect the timeline, young Daniel" Clockwork replied
"Thank goodness," Danny sighed in huge relief. He smiled and felt the weight of such a thought being lifted off of his shoulders. "I… I just couldn't…."
"I know"
"I will not end Ember's life, Clockwork. I couldn't…. even if I don't personally, but having a role in it… I just cant." He said moving his gaze away from the ghost of time.
"I shall never ask such a thing," Clockwork said as he gently placed a hand on his shoulder, "I wouldn't have sent you in the past if it was only meant for you to end her life only weeks later."
"Why did you send me back in time?" he asked
"Because both you and Ember, even though all of your differences are meant to be," he said with a smile.
"What?"
"Ember has suffered enough in her life and afterlife. I sent you back because I knew, could see, just how happy you can make her. Am I wrong in such an idea?" he questioned
Danny looked down little and took a moment to think. He found himself wanting to make her happy. He enjoyed seeing her smile, he wanted to hear her laugh, he wanted to be in her life. He had already admitted to himself, he loved her.
"No"
"I only wish to see Ember and you happy." Clockwork continued moving his hand away, "But I must warn you about the Ghost of Fate."
"The Ghost of what?" Danny asked
"The Ghost of Fate, Wyrd. Wyrd and I have been there since the beginning of time, without time there is no fate. He is my other half in a way. The Ghost of fate so happens to look exactly like me with only different colours. Wyrd is the one who ensures every soul meet their destined fate, but I fear he plans on coming after Ember, Kitty and Johnny."
"Because they were meant to die….." Danny muttered, realizing how much his actions had such a drastic effect.
"Wyrd wants their souls, young Daniel." He said narrowing his eyes, "And he will come after them. His first target will most likely be Ember, as she was the one fated to die first."
"I won't allow him to have her," Danny said glaring back at him, "Or Kitty and Johnny."
"I do not know when he will strike, but he is planning something." Clockwork warned.
"What about my own time? I've been gone for so long." Danny said
"When you shall return, you will have returned only a few minutes after your departure." The ghost of time reassured.
"I will be ready for Wyrd," Danny said clenching his fists, opening his glowing green eyes as he clenched down on his teeth. "I promise you. He will never have Ember, not until I draw my last breath."