Clockwork arrived at his tower. He looked around and produced two of his most special medallions for Ember. Two only and it was important she remember to point one on Danny's ghost form. The other would go on the human that was her husband. At least then they would be able to talk to each other if the case was lost. He hoped the Box Ghost from a future he had got as a guard was still doing a good job. Though he expected he would have called on Plasmius as instructed. Clockwork entered the room and exited with two medallions of a special design. Good that ghost was still imprisoned in the thermos. It wasn't as if he wouldn't get out but at least this version of the box ghost should slow him down drastically, if not outright stop him.

"Ember, take the medallions and make sure you give one of them to Danny Phantom." Valerie aked her mother.

"Of course, I'll give it to Fenton..."

"You're not listening. Danny Phantom." Clockwork said elbowing her. At first Ember was puzzled since Clockwork was bound to know Phantom's human form then she got it. After agreeing to give the medallion to "Phantom" she made a point to remind the dipstick how little he trusted Val, though the first call would undoubtedly be Damon's house. It was time to get the address from Val. Once that was done she could head there, hopefully without encountering the dipstick, or worse one complete Cadbury's.

Once back in Val's realm Ember looked at Valerie carefully. She spoke. "I have to visit the human world for a bit. You can't come yet I couldn't get that favour done. Sorry." Val screwed up her face in reply. "I'm starting to understand why ghosts break that rule."

Ember waved at her daughter as she headed into Amity. There were Walker's guards, and they were as usual following their instructions to the letter. Deal with the Halfa. So for the moment the only person she had to worry about was Damon. She tapped the wall carefully just to check. Yes the ghost shield was up, but out of habit Damon had arranged it so that it allowed her through, but blocked her music. Ember let out a breath she didn't realise she had taken.

"Okay, how did you get in here, little miss?"

Ember winced, her husband was treating her as a petulant teenager not that she entirely blamed him. "I walked through the walls, Damon. As I usually do. Glad to see you're well." Ember notices Damon's slight movement. "I won't harm you. I have a medallion here for you. Take it, and put it on. It's from Clockwork."

As their hands touch each others as well as the medallion Damon is struck by recognition. "Ember? How did I not realise who that spirit rock star was? Damn. At least I know you won't harm Val. But your cycle wasn't supposed to be for another five years."

"Part of my punishment." Damon nods. After all if she had stayed at her apparent age, while she would be odd, it would have been socially acceptable. Then realising what Ember had said. "Okay. Clockworks medallion. How bad is it?"

"Val's being considered for 'ascension'."

"ASCENSION!" Damon Grey yelled. "She's not a spirit - she's human. About the only power she has is short ranged but powerful ecto-technical control. It's why I kept trying to remove her suit. Apart from the fact I don't trust Masters. Not like I do the Fenton's"

"That may have been a mistake. Master's suit used its own ecto, but a ghost gifted her spirit-armour. We're not yet certain whether it gives her access or uses her trapped powers as a pattern. But her powers match mine too well. Worse, Clockwork is planning something."

"That usually end's well for the people he's looking after."

"Yes. But it's Val he's dealing with. Not necessarily us."

As Ember left she could have sworn that she heard Damon telling her to "Try not to take over the world, it's more responsibility than you'd like."

Clockworks Tower

The Battered thermos finally gave way and Dan Phantom stood tall. Clockworks absence was indeed a gift. Still leaving it unguarded wasn't like him. Then he heard vacant words he still dreaded even now. "Beware. For I am the Box Ghost."

"Come on, the Box Ghost?" Dan stated. "Are you really that disdainful of me?"

Then an energy cage surrounded him. Dan was angry. Of course Clockwork wouldn't have pulled an incompetent Box Ghost to guard him. Dan fired several ectoblasts. This was not good; to get out of this cage it was time for the Ghostly Wail. And yes this was around the time Val disappeared.

"Feeling boxed in?"

"You're not supposed to be this powerful yet!" Dan stated, especially since this Box Ghost had two eyes, and was still as chubby as when he first encountered him.

"Beware. You do not know my power. For I am THE Box Ghost. Commander of all boxes and contents therein."

Dan smiled. At least despite this versions increased power and competence he still had the bad-habits of the early version (And the same atrocious aim) Dan Went intangible. Then Dan noticed a glint from around the box-ghost chest. Clockwork's medallion.

"He is now outside of time?" Dan quickly made two short ectoblasts. Clockworks power could reach outside time itself. But the box ghosts couldn't. The medallion fell down from the Box Ghost who had now been frozen. As much as he'd like to destroy this box-ghost, it was important to get Danny back on track, and revealing what Val was doing at the moment would destroy Danny. Besides while he was outside of time, the rules still applied to everything else. Still the priority was guaranteeing his existence. Time could absorb changes as long as the major events stayed the same. So destroy family, and reveal that Val was living it up in the ghost zone. Specifically Ember's and when he as he was came to rescue her, she defending that siren, and worse wasn't under a spell. And in a fit of rage he had torn Valerie apart. When separated the weak human half had got the guilt and shame over that act. Just as he was about to destroy Amity, the dead Valerie Grey turned up blasted him long enough for Amity to activate a ghost shield: - which could not have been built in that short a time. Then this strange blue ghost turned up and humiliated him. The name of that ghost had now been engraved into his memory - Clockwork.

Sometime Later Clockwork entered his tower and saw the frozen Box Ghost, and the shattered thermos. He nodded and released the version of the box ghost he had pulled through time. So the evil Phantom was heading into Amity park. Walker's men would undoubtedly alert him. And Val would head to rescue them. And that was as far as he could see, though he didn't think the medallions he had provided would be needed, but since he didn't now they wouldn't, he might as well provide them.