Vlad was not happy with how things had happened. Somehow Valerie Gray had altered the plans. Fentonworks new Ghost Hunter was good, and worse Jazz had vanished far too quickly. Whenever possible she tried to stay in the idiot Jack's good graces. Why did someone so smart prefer that idiot to him?

Still this would be recoverable, he had money and power, and there were few things they couldn't solve when used right. Using either at the wrong point would be counterproductive. Damon Gray was brilliant. Ember was far more powerful in this world. Ember may be using one source of energy above all others, but he had a true passion for her.

"No, the problem is that this Vlad hasn't had the experience we have with Dan Phantom. He's too selfish and self-indulgent to realise the danger. Oh, if we could get him to do so, he'd help, and be a second surprise for that ghost." Danny stated. "but that's a pretty big if."

Val's Sam nodded. "And Daniel isn't likely to agree with us on our assessment of the Fruitloop. Not without help."

Ember nodded. "Jazz Fenton. She could persuade Daniel, but in the end only one person can persuade Vlad, not only about the danger but the necessity of staying hidden." Everybody's eyes swivel to the smallest of the group.

"I'm not happy about this you know" Dani grumbled. "Yes, it makes sense, that I have more of a chance than anyone else. But it's the difference between impossible, and virtually impossible. Not much difference at all. He knows I avoid him, and with the Fentonwork's much better reputation here and in the Ghost Zone."

"Spirit Realm." Valerie corrects. When Danny's Sam glares at her Sam clarifies "Mistranslation of Geist. Ember was a ghost who merged with an idea, and eventually changed to a death god, but her main aspects haven't changed since Norse times."

"Death god?"

Ember taps her foot, with the skull patterned shoe. "Yes, death god. Goth suits all my aspects at this time, so I'm a little gothic. Punk also hits a lot so I'm somewhere between the two, but I could claim to be either. Depends on how I'm feeling. Oh, just checking is Jazz goth in your reality?"

"No." Dani, Danny, Val and Danny's Sam reply."

"You're a death god, Val?" Val's Sam wondered aloud. "No, a battle spirit. The difference between bones and blood. That's important."

Clockwork-V blinks. "Massively so. Blood is life, Val. And that's why your new suit has red piping. Nuts. Should have realised that. Still not enough but definitely one more piece of evidence. So far two things linking you to being alive. Not enough, but better than nothing."

"What?"

"I am working on your appeal Val. I know this seems rather impractical at this time, but I have two bits of evidence now linking you to life. I need more but every little helps."

"I said I wasn't going to appeal."

"We may have to; otherwise the human world could lose Danny as well. And you know that could be disastrous."

"If we ever change the timeline back, which, to me, doesn't seem to be the right thing to do. Many things are better here. I am not going to play god. Sometimes we must accept things, at others fight. But this timelines Clockwork says it's doomed. I want to save the people here if possible."

"What dooms them?"

Danny grimaces, "A future I avoided because of the two, differences. A hunter who I trusted to do what's right and is willing to work with me despite everything and a friend who trusted me, and would go to the ends of the earth to save me. And one more thing."

"That would not work here I am afraid." Clockwork-E replied. "I did consider it. But there was a reason you could be saved by that. A subtle but obvious one."

"Vlad's Daniel's father. Jacks yours." Dani pointed out. "Val makes a massive amount of difference. More than we ever realised.

"All we can do now wait for Jazz and deal with any more of Vlad's plots. Until Jazz is here there is no point in you facing two powerful ghosts alone, Dani. Jazz can talk to Daniel. I don't think he entirely trusts you anymore Sam."

"Hey he does." Danny's Sam objects.

"He was talking to me" the Sam native to this time line points out. Both glare at each other, but the original Sam has learnt. "Okay, call me Samantha. For Now." Samantha stresses the last words reminding people how much she dislikes using it.

"Why not call one of the clockwork's Old Father Time." Sam points out." Since it came from the one person with the least ghost experience they were able to accept it without worrying about how far the original insult had leaked.

Both nodded, and the original Clockwork accepted that insult. Because in some ways it was true. He was old Father Time here. Despite the need for speed, all they could do now was wait.