What's this?! DPC has finally updated?
Okay, I know, I know. It's been freakin' forever. But I doubt anyone wants an excuse, so I'll just get on with the story.
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Far away in the Ghost Zone sat a castle decorated in nothing but clocks. Clocks upon clocks upon clocks. And inside this palace resided the Master of Time himself. Yet, he was strangely absent today, leaving the main room of his castle unattended
Which was exactly what a certain blue-skinned ghost with black horn-like hair had been counting on.
Said ghost floated silently through the deserted halls, aided by shadows and having become one himself. He arrived at the viewing room and glanced around before dropping his cover.
"For years," he monologued, "I have been researching and planning my reformation of the past. And now I have all the keys I need. Clockwork is gone, this being the once-in-a-century day that he needs to rest and restore his abilities, leaving his castle unguarded." He started searching the room for his desired targets. "And if my sources do not deceive me, there is also an object here containing the ultimate power source. With it, it won't be a challenge to change my past and turn the future in my favor. All I have to do is slip it to my younger self and all will be set." He felt against the wall and was overjoyed when he found that one of the segments pushed inward. A trap door on the floor opened up and a stone pillar rose from it. The scheming ghost floated over to it looking victorious and pulled a cylindrical metal object from the top, raising it to eye level. "And this is exactly what I was looking for."
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Sam sifted through the pages in an old photo album. The pictures dated back to the time that Danny got his ghost powers and even before that. Currently, she was on a group of newspaper clippings. Reading the old headlines and taking in the pictures was comforting. After all, it was these moments that got them where they were today.
"Hey, Mom. What are you doing?" Abby questioned, venturing to look over her mother's shoulder.
"Just looking through some old photographs," the elder replied.
"Is that Dad?" She pointed to a picture of a 14-year-old Danny Phantom doing a cocky pose for the camera.
Sam chuckled. "Yep." She turned the page, revealing a photo of Danny at the bottom of a dunk tank while Sam stood victoriously next to it, tossing up a ball. "If I wasn't so against clichés, I might even say something along the lines of 'Those were the days.'"
Abby laughed. They kept flipping the pages and, a few moments later, Abby muttered, "Huh?" She picked up a fold-in-half mini-book from the last page of the album. She inspected both sides of it before looking to her mother.
Sam took the time to explain the odd card. "It was from your grandparents." She pointed to the first side, which showed her and Danny, around six years old, arms over each others' shoulders and smiling like there was no tomorrow. "That was your father and I when we were your age." Her finger scrolled across the page to a picture of Jake and Abby in a strikingly similar pose and about the same age. "And that's you two."
Abby's brow furrowed. "I never knew we all looked so much alike. Actually, eyes aside, Jake and Dad look like they could be twins."
"Sometimes has me wondering if…"
Bang!
Both women cringed. Abby looked toward the stairs.
"Speaking of Jake, that sounded like it was from his room. Hold on a sec, I'll go check it out." She vanished before Sam could say a word.
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Clockwork drifted around the viewing room, inspecting everything, especially the vacant pedestal. The Observants floated behind him.
"You know what this means, don't you Clockwork?" Observant 1 said.
"The timeline is in grave danger," Observant 2 continued. "As soon as a move is made on the past, everything will shift."
"Yes, yes, I understand that," Clockwork replied.
"What are you going to do about it?" 1 asked.
The time ghost shifted his attention to the viewing screen, which was focused on the household of the younger Fentons. "Simple. I will recruit the Fenton twins."
"What?!" 1 exclaimed.
"I disagree," 2 said. "I find it irritating how you constantly put the sake of the timeline in the hands of children."
"May I remind you that it worked the last time?" Clockwork retorted. "Now, trust me to take care of this as I did the last. Everything will work out."
"You better be right about this, Clockwork," 1 rebounded.
"If there is even one fault…" 2 added.
"I know."
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Jake rubbed his head as he pried himself from the wall and used it for balance. "I really need to work on slowing down before I fly into my room or else I'll give myself a concussion," he muttered to himself. It was at that moment Abby stepped through the door.
"I heard a crash," she stated.
"I tripped," he lied. "Sorry."
She cast him a disbelieving look. "You must have tripped pretty hard to leave a dent in the wall."
The boy looked behind him to see that, indeed, there was a small mark in the wall. He laughed nervously, turning back to his sister. "Yeah, I guess so."
She dropped her suspicious expression and exposed the slight amount of concern beneath it. "Just…be more careful, okay?"
"I will."
She deflated a bit. "Well, then, I guess I'll just be go-"
She froze mid-sentence. In fact, everything froze, bounded by a paranormal spell. A blue portal formed out of nowhere and out came a figure in a purple cloak. He observed the two young Fentons. Smoothly, a medallion with the letters "CW" on it was placed around the neck of each teen.
"Ah!" Abby yelped, cutting herself off as she noticed the unexpected appearance of the time ghost. "C-Clockwork?"
Jake shook his head to clear it and looked up curiously at the ghost. "What are you doing here?" After all, they'd only met the ghost once or twice in their lives.
"I came to ask for your assistance."
"Wait," Abby interrupted. "You want our help? Why not our Dad's?"
"Because, his involvement in this situation could corrupt the timeline farther than it already is."
"And you want both of us?" Her face was one of confusion. "But Jake-"
"Actually, there will be three of you."
"Three? But who…oh, no. Please don't say…" She groaned when he smirked. "Shadow? But why him?"
Jake understood perfectly. Because Shadow was him. This would be the only way that he could use his ghost form.
"The ghosts you need to fight are very strong. His assistance will help greatly. Also, the ghost that causes the most worry knows every power you have, but not every power Shadow has."
She grimaced. "Alright. So where are we going and what do we have to do?"
Clockwork smiled at her acceptance. "A year after your father gained his ghost powers. At this time, Vlad Masters was mayor of Amity Park. The current Vlad has gone back in time to deliver a Fenton Thermos containing one of the world's most dangerous ghosts to his younger self. Make sure that ghost is not released. And if it is, be prepared. The ghost contained has all the same powers as your father and even a few more, excluding the ice ability."
"Okay," the girl accepted. "But does Jake-?"
Jake intercepted her. "Abby, I can take care of myself. I'm stronger than the weak human brother you think I am."
"Fine."
Clockwork set the dials on his staff and held it up. "Good luck, you two."
And then they were gone.
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Overdone? Yes. Am I doing it anyway? Yes.
Be warned, this will probably be the most predicatable and clichéd thing I have ever written. But I hope you will all read, anyway.
Also, I'm still on hiatus, but I decided to spend the last few weeks on a new chapter of this and have planned a little bit ahead, so I'll probably be able to update next week, too. I'm not sure, after this episode is over, how long it will be until I can write a new one. Hopefully not too long, but I doubt it will be months again.