Information Overload

All too soon I was on the footsteps of one of my enemies. I was in such a haze from my conversation with Frostbite that I knocked on the door before I realized that I had no idea what I was going to say. A familiar ghost wearing glasses, a black sweater with messy black hair and goatee and an overall too white complexion opened the door. Ghostwriter froze when he caught sight of me, just standing and staring.

"Sorry." I said lamely. It just sort of popped out.

The Writer's eyes narrowed. "For what; bothering me, destroying my book, getting me locked in Walker's jail, or hating Christmas?"

"…all except Christmas." I muttered

The ghost gave an exasperated huff and leaned heavily on the door frame. "You still hate the holiday? How? How in the name in all the Zone could you hate the one holiday that symbolizes peace, happiness, and family?"

"Because that is exactly what it rips apart in my house."

"What?" asked the bewildered Writer.

I gave him a dry stare. "Believe it or not, Christmas doesn't mean the same thing to everyone. From the second my Dad pulls out those decorations he and my mom - don't - stop - fighting. They scream and cuss, non-stop, and when I try to get away from the endless drama, everywhere I go, everywhere I look there are more decorations, more reminders that everyone else in the world is happy, while my normally loving parents are screaming bloody murder at each other. Then someone realizes that I'm upset and they try to make me feel happy. It's just like; if I want to be angry, then let me be angry! Is that too hard to ask? I don't care if the birthday of some guy that died thousands of years ago is coming up soon. I don't care if it is illegal to feel bad this time of year! I don't care that you are trying to help! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

"What are you screaming about?" Ghostwriter asks as he opens his door looking rather confused and befuddled.

I blinked. Raising my hand I pointed at the familiar ghost wearing glasses, a black sweater with messy black hair and goatee and an overall too white complexion. "When did you shut the door?" I asked confused.

Writer raised an eyebrow. "I just opened the door."

"No you opened it a couple of minutes ago. I was talking to you."

Ghostwriter was giving me a cautious expression. "…No, I only just opened this door and only because I heard you screaming."

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "Danny?" Jazz spoke cautiously. I looked at her to see her looking rather wary. Glancing back at Sam and Tucker both looked thoroughly creeped out.

"I did it again didn't I?" Jazz nodded. "of all the-!" I huffed a sigh. This was getting to be too much. My worry was fading into frustration.

"Does someone want to fill me in" inquired the librarian and author. "seeing as you were screaming on my doorstep?"

"I'm going through Soul Change, and it is messing with my head." I stated my eyes closed as I pinched the bridge of my nose. I was so done right now, this day was too much for even me to handle. "We came by so I could apologize for being a two timing jerk and so Jazz could get some books on the subject because I'm only half ghost so no one really knows what is happening to me right now."

An elbow belonging to one named Tucker jabbed me. I looked up to see Ghostwriter look the palest I had ever seen him. "You're going through soul change?" he asked meekly.

I sighed skulkingly. "Apparently, just found out like an hour ago."

"And we really need to read up on the subject." Sam spoke up. "We were hoping you could help us." she shot a glare at me. "Danny is sorry for how he acted earlier and just now. It's been a long day."

"I bet." Ghostwriter said opening his door and gesturing them to come in.

Tucker blinked. "Wait, you're actually going to help us?"

Writer nodded. "I like to keep my home open for anyone with a passion for reading." He said gesturing to Jazz and Sam before settling a less than pleased look on me. "And I am not cruel enough to force you to go through Soul Change uninformed."

I groaned miserably. I was up to here with the ominous omens!

The others had never been here before and thus were unprepared for the drastic change in size compared to the outside of the building. As a result, Tucker, Sam, and Jazz, froze in awe just inside the door. It was like one of those fancy library's where the bookshelves rose high above your head and you needed a ladder to get to them, complete with another bookshelf above that. Jazz looked like she was in literal heaven. I may never get her out of here.

Writer closed the front door looking amused. "Well, this way to the biology section." he said as he turned down one hallway of books. I kept my hands in my pockets to avoid accidently destroying a book and ending in a repeat of last time. I shivered. When it came to creative punishments authors took the cake.

"How many psychology books do you have here?" asked a wistful Jazz.

The Writer laughed. "Every book ever written on the subject…or just about. It is my goal to own a copy of every book ever written."

"That is a pretty high goal." Commented Tucker. Who had fallen out of his amazement and was now mapping the place with his phone so we could get out later, or just in case things went south and we would need to show ourselves out. You never knew.

"You do have a Goth and mythological section right? Oh what about gardening and herbology?" asked a giddy Sam.

The ghost nodded a proud smile on his face. "I have some books on magic too."

"Magic?" I asked. "like magic, magic, not wicca or something?"

Writer shot me a critical look. "I'm surprised you know the difference." I pointed at Sam as my explanation. She wasted no time throwing him a very hopeful look his way.

He nodded. "I told you, my goal is to own every book that has ever been." He gave a two ton sigh. "Sadly many books have been lost to time and thus are beyond my grasp. Many authors that come to the Ghost Zone are more than happy to rewrite their work for my collection but I can never acquire the work of those that have moved on. It is really sad. There is one book I have been-"

"Danny?" Tucker interrupted Writer when he realized I had stopped walking. "Is something wrong?"

I barely paid him any attention, my mind was on an idea. Why hadn't I thought of this before?

"Danny?"

I looked up to meet four very concerning gazes. "What way to the exit?" I demanded.

"Danny?"

"I think I know someone who can give us more information. You guys get reading and I will ask him. Tucker, the way out?"

The others didn't look convinced. Instead of Tucker, Ghostwriter gave me the directions. The turns proved true. I took off towards the home of the Keeper of Time itself.

He had to tell me; he just had to.

I needed to know, I needed to know that I would be alright. I needed to know I could stay protecting Amity and everything would be fine. I needed to know that I could do this and still keep my secret.

Sure, he almost never talked about my future before but this was important, and he was my kinda, sorta guardian. He would tell me this time…

Right?

For whatever the reason no one bothered me on my way. Not that I remembered much of the trip, I must have dozed off because I was just suddenly there. Without so much as a second thought, I dive bombed the tower. The structure architecturally lacked several walls. Clockwork preferred it that way after being locked up for so long. It wasn't as if he had to worry about surprise attacks when he knew everyone that was coming and when. This made it all the easier for me to enter, and even easier to spot where the ageless ghost was.

He floated in his normal place in front of a mirror-like device he used to view the entirety of time. Everything that has been, was happening or could possibly happen. For a ghost that powerful he looked overall normal. He had no feet. Instead his lower section disappeared into a vapory tail, something I myself often did when flying. In his chest stood the workings of a grandfather clock. His skin was blue, his eyes red, a scar over one eyelid, his purple cloak covered the rest of him from view. The only strange thing about him was his age shifting. Clockwork was continually changing between a toddler, middle aged man, and an old grandfather. But after knowing him as long as I have I'm used to it.

"Clockwork!" I shouted in greeting; wasting no time hitting him head on, full speed in a hug. For once he didn't slow time on me and let me knock him back a good couple feet. His arms wrapped around me and suddenly I felt safe. Gosh did I need that today.

I don't know what it was about Clockwork that made me so worry free. Maybe it was just the idea that there was someone out there, stronger and tougher than I could imagine, making sure that no matter what, everything would… not be fine but turn out for the better. For someone whose fights determined the fate of the world, it lifted the weight from my shoulders and was just a comfort.

"Hello Daniel" he said, his tone even and calm as always. Expression not changing as he shifted forms into an elderly man, a child and back to a middle aged man. As the visions from the future past and present flowed through him constantly.

"Hey." I said still not letting go. I needed this right now, I needed a hug.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about?"

I smiled, finally pulling away. The old clock already knew why I came, he was just asking for my sake, to get it off of my chest. He did that a lot.

"Well, I woke up this morning and-"

It felt nice to tell the story again. Only this time be less focused on how to fix what was wrong with me and more focused on how frustrating and scary as hell it was. When my explanation came to an end Clockwork stayed silent. His vapory tail swooshed and flicked and he morphed from an old wrinkled man, a buck toothed toddler, and middle-aged young man in his prime, and repeat; but besides that he didn't move. He didn't speak. Just staring.

Just when I was about to consider resorting to something childish to make him move he spoke. "Daniel, do you remember what I taught you about the Ancients?"

Blinking at the random change in subject. "Yes, they are Keepers of the universe, the very laws of nature and order. Together they manage, control, and manipulate all things so that all existence doesn't end."

"Did I ever tell you I was a part of their group?"

I crossed my arms. "Not upfront but I kinda figured. What does this have to do with anything C?"

Clockwork didn't change outwardly, aside from the age shifting but I would have sworn something shifted. "One part of my job with the Ancients is identifying and assisting any future members as they come into their powers."

My mouth fell and my feet hit the floor as I stop floating. "A-are you saying-?"

Clockwork nodded.

Slowly I slid all the way to the floor. I needed to sit down and the floor is the best place right now. I was beyond caring about much of anything at this point. I had reached my 'max drama level' back at the Far Frozen. I'm not sure how much more of this news I could take.

"I'm going to get that strong?" I whispered

"Yes." Came Clockwork's calm voice.

I ran a hand through my hair. "That's- wow." Ancients were powerful with capital "P". The only one I knew about was Clockwork and he rarely used his abilities, or more accurately, rarely let anyone see him use his abilities. He controlled time, literal time, with a capital "T". Snap his fingers, wiggle his nose and it would stop, rewind, go faster, slower. And if that isn't enough he had the power to see what could and/or would happen. He knew everything and he used his knowledge to shift the time stream to avoid total catastrophe. So, in the end, all he had to do to save the world was knock over a water bottle at the right moment. Of course, it didn't always work that way but more times than not that's all he needed to do.

And now I was going to be that powerful? If I had been told this before I got my powers I would have leaped for joy. I would have thrown a party, jumped up and down like a toddler begging for candy. But after everything I learned today, everything I knew about the Ancients, now I knew better. The worst thing about power is the price that comes with them. Powers are great but the price is a killer. If the price for having the ability to walk through walls and turn invisible was being electrocuted to death, then what was the price of Ancient level power?

What was going to…

…What was happening to me?

-)(-

I do not own 'Danny Phantom'.