This fic was originally posted on Archive of Our Own. I am more consistent with my writing on there because the format is easier to use. So if you want more regular updates you should go there. The information is the same.
Danny sits up from where he had fallen back, he stares at the ghost of time accusingly, "Why didn't you tell me any of this sooner?"
Clockwork doesn't turn from where he is looking, "You know why."
Danny rolls his eyes, "Entertain me."
Finally the man turns, "It was not time for you to know."
Dani scoffs from where she's laying, "Is he always like this?"
The black haired teen nods his head, "Yeah. It didn't used to be this bad when I first met him."
Clockwork smirks slightly, "I had to explain a lot more to you then. By now you should be familiar with all of my workings."
Danny ignores the poor joke and leans back on his hands, "Ok. So. We," He points between himself and Dani, "Are not half dead." He gets a nod, "But we are half ghost." Another nod, "And you're saying we could stop these… demons… if we got stronger?" A nod.
Dani sits bolt upright, "Wait but I'm not actually human. I'm a clone! How can I be half ghost like Danny if I wasn't fused with the ghost zone like he was?"
Clockwork holds up a hand to produce a small length of chain, "Think of it this way. This chain is Phantom when he was human." He waves his hand and the chain turns green, "This is his DNA after he became ghost."
They nod, it made sense so far, "Now. What Plasmius did was he took half of the existing chain," The chain splits down the middle, it's weird to see since all of the links were in half now, "And filled in the blanks with cloning science." Another Half chain joins with the second one, forming a full set once more, "He did this with both halves of the DNA until something worked. That is why there were so many that weren't stable. Because he was using the exact same strain twice."
They nod their head, bio-science wasn't something they were very good at but they understood the basics because of Danny's parents.
"So why was I the only stable one?"
Clockwork waves his hands to get rid of the chains and places his hand behind his back, "You were made in that same way. The reason you were stable was because he used two different parts of Danny's DNA. It's the same reason you are female and not male like all of the other clones he had created."
Danny tilts his head, "So Vlad copied… my female DNA?"
The ghost nods, "All human genetic material has a female part, including men."
Dani throws her hands up, "OK! Done with that discussion! So, in less gross terms. I'm just Danny if he were a girl."
Clockwork nods, and thankfully doesn't elaborate on the subject.
He can feel her deflate slightly next to him but before he can say anything the ghost starts talking slowly, "But, that doesn't mean you are Phantom. Not one person in the ghost zone or the human realm would call you Phantom because you share DNA. For now, you haven't made a name for yourself here because you feel shadowed by how you were created and while that might be where you came from it is not who you are."
Dani looks up at the taller ghost with something close to hope in her eyes.
"You, Danielle. Are your own person. You do not have to be Dani Phantom if you don't want to be. Think about it first. Explore your powers. Then, when you are ready. You can come and tell me who you are."
She nods slowly, seemingly distracted by what he had said. Danny feels a smile pull at his face. He knows how much she's been struggling with coming to terms with her life let alone existing. Hopefully, with what Clockwork said she'll start feeling better.
He looks to said ghost, "Clockwork, you mentioned us being able to get as strong as this ancient ghost but you never said how. If we have some sort of time limit do you think we can really make it?"
Clockwork reaches into his cloak and pulls out two necklaces, these ones aren't like his usual time stopping ones so he isn't sure what they are.
"These necklaces will teleport you to a place where you can readily train without interruption. All you have to do to activate it is put a little of your power into the amulet and it will take you to where you need to go. Keep in mind that it is personalized, so even if you used it at the same time, you might not end up in the same place."
Dani takes hers without a word and puts it on, working mostly on autopilot. Danny puts his on as well, "Will it activate if I transform?"
Clockwork shakes his head, "No. It will only activate if you try to activate it."
They nod, "Is there anything else we need to know?"
A portal opens behind them while the ghost says his next words, "I will be giving one of these to Plasmius as well."
They have no time to protest as some sort of force pulls them through the portal. Clockwork smiling fondly at where they had disappeared.
"He won't be as much of a problem for you as you two will be for him."
