I do not own Danny Phantom.
Confronting Clockwork and a New Development
After assuring Lancer for the umpteenth time they wouldn't fight ghosts and put themselves in danger, they were allowed to go home. The trio went over to the Fenton residence, where the halfa was preparing to go into the Zone.
Sam leaned against the metal lab bench of the Fenton laboratory. Tucker watched lazily as Danny entered his DNA into the Ghost Portal and after a bright flash he transformed into Phantom.
"Aren't you worried about getting caught by your parents?"
"No," he replied. "As Phantom, I can escape them quick enough. As Fenton, well, school's almost out anyway. But the time I make it back I won't get in trouble for ditching. But I doubt I'll get caught. My parents make a lot of noise before they come down here, so I'll have plenty of warning."
"You sure you don't want us to come?" she asked.
Danny shook his head. "Nah, you guys go. I'll meet you at Nasty Burger after I'm done with this." He shouldered his backpack onto one shoulder, which was holding the Fenton Thermos and Blaster, which he decided to carry with him at all times. "I honestly don't think this is going to be very productive, but he deserves to be yelled at."
Tucker grinned widely. "Sweet. C'mon Sam. It's Double Beef Wednesday!"
Danny smiled as Tucker led a green-looking Sam up the stairs before entering the swirling green vortex that was the Ghost Zone.
"Geez, where do they go?" he muttered to himself as he floated through the green space. "Are they all hunkering down in their lairs or something?"
Actually, if that's the case, here's hoping they stay there.
He reached the massive cathedral, located in the depths of the Ghost Zone. He went up to the door and started hammering on it. He was already there to yell and make a fuss, so the least he could do was knock instead of just barging in.
Clockwork silently watched time unfold before him in one of his many Time Portals. The cathedral was filled with the ticking of hundreds of clocks. The only thing out of place was the insistent banging on his front door.
"Come on, Clockwork!" the boy cried. "I know you're in there!"
"Right on time," he muttered and with a sigh he floated over to the doors to let in a very annoyed ghost child.
Danny stumbled backwards, caught off balance as the heavy doors opened to reveal a calm Clockwork.
Rubbing his sore fist, Danny glared. "Would it kill you to give a guy a warning?"
His exclamation was met with a raised eyebrow. "You know my rules. You know the rules of time."
"Uh-huh. How about we use those rules of time and take us back, say, yesterday? On second thought, let me do it." Danny flew inside and went straight for the Time Medallions. He was inches away when he felt his body freeze up. "Ya know, some rules are meant to be broken," he grumbled.
Clockwork shook his head. "Danny, you managed to have only your best friends know your secret for so long. You have learned to lie and hide your alter-ego with great skill. Your teacher finding out was meant to happen, as your sister was meant to find out."
"Or maybe I need to do a better job of checking my surroundings."
"Danny..."
"All right, all right. I'll behave. Promise."
Satisfied with the boy's compliance, he pressed the button on his Time Staff. Danny fell to the ground with a thud, head banging off one of the many shelves. Grunting, he moved his arms and legs to get the kinks out and rubbed his head before frowning. "I'm guessing you can't tell me what Val is up to, huh?"
"I'm afraid that is something you'll need to work out on your own, with your friends. Just remember, together you are strong, apart you are weak."
Danny blinked, slightly confused and mildly alarmed. "Uh...okay. Fine." He buried his head in his hands. "Clockwork, I don't know what I'm doing."
"Right now, you're doing fine," said Clockwork gently. "No ghosts have suffered at her hands. You're risking everything to keep them safe. They appreciate that, even though they may not want to show it."
Blue eyes peeked up at him. "I don't want to fail. I can't fail."
"If you keep trying as hard as you are, then everything will work out, and everything will be as it should be."
Danny let out an exasperated sigh. "Man, I knew you wouldn't tell me anything. Why did I even come up here?" he grumbled to himself.
"To blow off steam."
"Oh, sure," said Danny indigently. "You'll answer a rhetorical question, but not one that could mean life or death."
Suddenly Danny found himself outside Clockworks lair.
"Goodbye, Daniel. Oh, and try to lay off the threats to the Observants. They didn't take too kindly to you threatening to 'blow up' their home."
The Ghost of Time closed the door firmly on the boy. Danny stared at it for a moment before sighing in defeat. He lifted his head up and called at the green expanse, "Alright, I'm sorry! It was a joke…kind of. Don't take it seriously. I'm not gonna blow anything up…so please don't smite me."
There was no negative response, though he wasn't really expecting one. The Observants only tended to speak with Clockwork, but he still hoped his apology was acknowledged. The last thing he needed was for them to get on his back.
He floated home, grumbling to himself. I don't know what's going to happen, but if Clockwork isn't worried, then I guess it's not so bad. Or he's putting full faith and trust in me. In which case, he may or may not be crazy.
When he returned to his home, he transformed into Fenton and shut the portal. Adjusting his bag, he jogged upstairs, making tracks for the Nasty Burger.
He had no idea that when he banged into the shelf in Clockwork's lair, a certain dented Fenton Thermos fell into the open compartment of his backpack.