Chapter 01: The Master of Time

The Ghost Zone – Clockwork's Tower

The Master of Time stood… (floated) a few feet above the ground, in his older form gazing intently at a screen, sadly the screen was filled with static and random scraps of noise. Screams, agonizing and heartbreaking, filled the air every couple of seconds. Clockwork scowled, he had no way of knowing what could be causing this mass time rupture.

"Kinda morbid there. Don't you think Clocky?"

Clockwork quickly waved his staff, turning off the monitor and turning to face his unexpected guest. "I must admit… You're the first one to be able to surprise me in centuries. Do you wield the records? Or perhaps you come from the Nexus?"

"Master of Time and intuitive, good combo." The figure whistled approvingly. He stood a decent distance from Clockwork, wearing an impressive black coat with white accents. He had a hood covering his face, but black locks of hair were visible along with bright red eyes. "I am known as the Shadow King. Though really I'm not a noble, just someone elected to lead at the end of a horrible war."

"You lead the Dusk then. I'll admit I was wondering when I would get a visit from one of the Shadowkin, though to have one of the leaders come to me is a pleasant surprise. What is it that you want though?"

"A friend of mine has determined that in order to prevent the Runic from their darker ambitions, we'd need to fix a few worlds. Some of which happen to be under your protection, and I'd rather do things your way, rather than barge in and take over."

"So you know the wielder as well, though I must say that I am somewhat disappointed. The wielder is supposed to keep from picking sides no matter what the outcome is."

The young man frowned slightly beneath his hood, before taking a seat upon a chair he formed using some kind of dark energy. "He has stated that if the Omnis is to survive than something has to be done. Fragments of the records are already deteriorating."

Clockwork morphed into a small child before speaking gravely, "Then it is worse than I feared. Has he stated what must be done?"

"In a manner of speaking, some of your dimensions can be left to its own devices once the proper elements have been introduced. The other… he said that he would like to observe it personally."

Clockwork sighed, "The Observants will not like this degree of meddling."

The Shadow King chuckled as he lowered his hood revealing a young face with a dark complexion and strange markings beneath his eyes. "I wouldn't worry about those eyesores. They've already been taken care of."

As Clockwork morphed into his last form (that of a powerful young man) he frowned slightly, though his eyes seemed to be laughing. "What did you do? Normally I can't condone actions that may harm my… employers."

"Oh, relax would you. All we did was seal their lair. They won't be able to leave that abysmal academy of theirs until the twins dispel it." He suddenly leaned forward with a glint in his eyes. "Now with all that being said. It is time that we begin, wouldn't you say?"

Clockwork nodded grimly. This would prove to be a long process, one that could very well eliminate his soon to be ward. He regretted what he'd have to do to him, but it was what was best for everyone.

With that he brought a young ghost from the future before him. A ghost named Boxed Lunch…

Ghost Zone – Clockwork's Lair

(After the events of The Ultimate Enemy)

"Why can't you bring them back? You're the master of time! You said so yourself!" Phantom floated in front of Clockwork, who was in his middle-aged form, ranting angrily.

Clockwork sighed before his voice rang out in a powerful and commanding tone, "Daniel. As much as it pains me to admit, their deaths were necessary for the stability of the future, for everyone's future."

For a split second Phantom's white hair flickered into roaring white flames. "Necessary? How can you say that! They were my friends! My family!" His flaming hair flickered once more back into his hair as a tired and haunted expression covered his face. "And they're gone…"

Clockwork gently grasped Phantom's shoulder. "I truly am sorry Daniel. But the Omnis is facing a catastrophe one that I alone do not have the power to prevent. And the coming battles need you."

Phantom glanced at Clockwork's face seeing the apologetic expression as he transformed back into his human form from exhaustion. "What do you mean the Omnis?"

Clockwork sighed as he waved his staff again. A large model of what seemed to be the universe appeared in front of the two of them. At the center was a strange black sphere concealing whatever may lie within it. What seemed to be planets with various symbols on them lay scattered across the model. Some seemed to be falling apart, some were only floating rubble, while a many more seemed perfectly fine. Danny's attention became attracted to a dark world that seemed to have a green glow to it. It felt familiar to him, and he knew without a doubt that, that was his home.

"The Omnis is everything, the entirety of every universe, every world, and every dimension. The Ghost Zone itself used to sit apart from everything else as many of these dimensions still do. However many centuries ago a few others and I noticed that your earth was in the process of destabilizing. Your world was falling apart and the only way to save it was to connect it directly to another world. I volunteered the Ghost Zone, a world of ghosts could be comprehended by humans who told ghost stories for entertainment, thus the natural portals between our two dimensions."

"Not that I don't appreciate the history lesson Clockwork but where do I come in. If there are all these different dimensions then why am I needed? Couldn't someone else take that job?"

"Even I can't claim to know everything, not anymore at least." He muttered the last bit, not wanting Danny to doubt him. "Individuals who are more aware of the situation have come to me asking for your assistance. They believe that you are the perfect candidate for the job. The energy infused by your portal incident was more powerful than either of us could've imagined."

"What do you mean? I thought all that happened was that I got was ghost DNA in my body?"

Clockwork shook his head and said, "You did get ghost powers from the incident but it is more complicated than DNA binding itself to you. What bound itself to you was actually a full powered ghost, and a rather ancient one as well. He was the spirit of an old Shadowkin." At Danny opening his mouth to ask a question, Clockwork raised his hand as he shifted into his older form. "Shadowkin are trans-dimensional beings that come from the Nexus." At this he gestured towards the black sphere at the center of the model. "Many of them are able to freely traverse the corridors between dimensions."

"So not only do I have ghost powers, but I have some kind of Shadow power as well?" At Clockwork's nod, Danny groaned. "Whatever happened to my normal life?"

Clockwork chuckled as he shifted once more to his youngest form. "I wouldn't worry too much Daniel, while you may have many hardships ahead of you; you also have a future that I'm sure will leave you more than happy. Onto ore serious matters though, a couple of dimensions will require your presence."

"Can't I just tackle the main problem head on? You know, get it all over with already?" At Clockwork's impassive face Danny said, "Fine… How am I supposed to get to the first one then?"

He gave a short cough and seemed apologetic as he shifted back to his middle form once more. "This is where it gets a little more complicated…"

Danny groaned again as he said, "What part of this hasn't been complicated?"

"As I've said Daniel, I truly am sorry. Now then I suppose I'll need to explain a few of the coming events that you'll be facing. You are needed in a few different dimensions, one of which is your own world." Danny sighed in relief at this tidbit of news. "However in order to help them all, I'll need to split you into separate individuals…"

"WHAT!"

"Relax Daniel. You'll be reunited with yourselves once the dimensions have been repaired. Which brings us to the second issue, not all of your memories will transfer over with you properly. In one dimension your family… did some rather disturbing things to you while in another you will remember that they died during the fight with your dark counterpart."

"Why is my life so complicated? I could live without the time paradoxes you know!"

Clockwork sighed exasperatedly, "Daniel please pay attention." As Danny reluctantly nodded, he continued. "This conversation will also become modified within your memory. All of you will be independent of one another until it is time for you to reunite; I will be there to assist in the process. Your memories of the different worlds will become a part of you while any false memories imparted in you will vanish. Now is there anything else you would like to ask before we begin?"

"Yeah, just one. Is this gonna hurt?"

Clockwork just shrugged as the world around Danny began to spin…