Balshumet: Ok! So as promised here's the first Interlude of many in the story. This one takes place at the same time as the last chapter, but back in the Realm Beyond Time. Specifically, it's back in Danny's own time, though considering their place is outside of time, that doesn't really matter to the characters below.
I think I've answered all Reviews, so I'm in the clear. I've got nothing else to announce, other than the next full chapter should be out per usual this Saturday. There is one last thing, but it can wait till the end. Now for the Disclaimer:
Danny Phantom is not my own, it does not belong to me, or anyone I actually know. It belongs to dear ole' Butch Hartman, and the "wonderful" people at Nick and Viacom who don't know a good show when they see it. I make no money from this labor of love, so don't sue and expect money.
Now without further ado, the chapter. Cya at the bottom!
Interlude: Clockwork and the Observants
The doors to Clockwork's dark citadel creaked open. His domain was so quiet he could hear it from his viewing room. He didn't have to though, he knew they were coming, likely long before they did. He waited in silence, there was no need to go met them. They were coming to him, and would be making enough noise for the three of them soon enough. Clockwork sighed as he heard their enlivened agreement on the other side of the door. Sometimes, they are like a giant echo chamber. A solid knock on the door to his viewing room echoed out. He rose to open it for them, a scant courtesy; they never entered his private study without permission. He addressed them as he opened the door, "Observants. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He barely had time to back away from the open door before they rushed through.
"Clockwork!" One Observant started clearly agitated. "We need to speak to you." The other finished the sentiment.
Clockwork chuckled mirthlessly. "Yes I assumed you did. The question is about what."
"About what?" The two of them asked simultaneously. "How ridiculous Clockwork. What else could we have come to speak to you about, but Danny Phantom?" The two Observants moved to the direct center of the room, arms crossed across their large eye obviously impatient. They half floated, half paced around the room, glancing quickly here and there. "The boy is mucking in the time stream." The currently leftmost observant began. "Why in the world did you let him take the Medallion in the first place Clockwork?" The two of them paused and stared in his direction, expectant silence filling the space between them and Clockwork.
"The boy is my responsibility. It seemed the best course of action to allow him to take the Medallion."
"For what reason?" The two spoke synchronized in both movement and voice.
Clockwork resisted the urge to frown. While the Observants had supposedly given him free reign of the boy, and the decisions he made, they were always questioning him about it. It seemed whether or not the decisions were his to make, they felt it was there place to meddle in them. Even if the consequences of both his and Danny's decisions were his alone to bear. "Danny Phantom requested the Medallion for a mission. One I felt he needed to make, for the journey to its completion would only be for the greater good."
"The greater good!" The Observants immediately screeched. "How could it be? The young halfa has already changed the time line? He has set time on a completely different path with his actions." They both paused in thought for a moment, before the rightmost Observant continued, "As if his presence in the past hasn't done that already."
"Has not the young Phantom traveled back into the past successfully already? With no discernible deleterious effects to the time stream?" Clockwork's question made the Observants nearly relentless float pacing stop.
"Only because you intervened." The leftmost Observant immediately retorted. "Had you not stopped Danny Phantom when you did last," the two of them began as one voice, "the time stream would have been irreparably harmed by his actions in Vlad Plasmius' past."
Clockwork stared coolly at the two Observants, willing them to continue. The disquieted look in their stares told him they were nowhere near done yet. He didn't have to wait long.
"And now, Phantom is back in the past again causing even more damage if possible. The effects of Vlad Plasmius never being created were paltry in comparison with this!" Their voices had taken on a fever pitch again. As a result they had fallen out of sync with one another, the extreme emotion draining their ability to properly coordinate their usual simultaneous speech patterns as one. "And the effects, the changes are already rippling through the time stream." They charged on, now taking turns speaking. "Madeline Berkowitz was not supposed to see Vlad Plasmius until the college reunion years later." They two of them calmed as they examined the subtle changes Danny's presences was making to the future more clinically. "Moreover, she now has positive emotions attached to the older halfa. This will not do. If Madeline examines her white and black view on ghosts' nature-"
"She is more likely to discover Danny's secret and Vlad's in the future; I am well aware." Clockwork interrupted firmly. He hated being condescended to. He saw as much as they did, and more in fact. This is why he was sure this was the best path. He wasn't just stuck looking at this from one angle, the effects as they worked forward with every change. He could see every being, living or not, that existed in the time stream. He could see the effects of their existence and their actions. He could see every change those might make, and every decision that might be made because of those, and so on. He could even see the changes that would have to be made assuming beings such as him, existing outside of time, intervened with the time stream. All of these existed to his eyes, shifting, shimmering into and out of view at all points now, from now on, and in the past.
"Then why do you allow the boy freedom to explore, interact with, and change the past so? How can you possibly-"
"I understand the gravity of the situation, perhaps more than you do. With Danny outside of the time stream, as a result of the Medallion, his actions have far reaching consequences, even without directly affecting himself. As well," Clockwork said while holding up a hand to stop the Observants from interrupting, "since he is outside of the time stream, he and the actions he make are outside of your view. I know this must be," he stopped searching for a strong enough word. "Distressing at the very least. I, however, can promise that he doesn't stay outside of the time stream."
"How can you be sure? With him outside of the time stream, even you cannot predict his actions fully." The Observants' voices had taken on that nearly panicked quality once more, as the nervously began circling the room again. "You can only see his effects, as we can. There's no reason to assume from his current actions that he will give the Medallion back any time soon."
"Yes, from his current actions this is true. However, my ability to see all the different ways his actions can cause impressions on the time stream gives me a different perspective. There is no future I foresee where his actions now don't cause him to end up back inside the time stream. The impressions he's causing now, create a situation that necessitates his re-inclusion into the time stream. It all converges, the hows and whys change, but that isn't important."
"How can you say something so absurd? They hows and whys are all that make the time gaps that separate one future from another." The leftmost Observant had practically grown in size with his anger. Clockwork could be so blasé at times. Did he not understand the dangers of the path Danny Phantom was currently on? He claimed to see more than them, but how could he when the decisions he made, pointed unyieldingly towards greater ignorance? But perhaps the universal Observant conscious thought the ability to see more makes him that much more blind. He can barely see what's in front of him, for the multiple never ending possibilities floating around as well. The rightmost Observant balled his wart covered green hands with frustration. Trying to speak to the Time Guardian was, always had been, and perhaps always would be the most difficult thing about their jobs. They were forbidden by ancient oath from ever acting to affect the time stream. Always watch, never interfere that was their promise. They had no choice but to go to the Time Guardian if the time stream was threatened. He was under oath to protect the time stream and those in it, secondly, at all costs. It was just, sometimes what we, the Observants, and Clockwork thinks is danger is radically different. The collective Observant consciousness realized with consternation.
"It is not merely these things that differentiate one time, one reality, from another. How many times have I gone, at your behest, and changed something in the time stream, only to find that the result was the same? In the end, the ultimate conclusion that you were trying to avoid happened regardless. If that is the case, and you have expressed displeasure over such occurrences in the past, is it not both the conclusion and the path it took to get there important?" Clockwork let the question linger and dissipate into the buzzed angry air in between him and the Observants.
"This is true, if the result is what is meant to be avoided, but that is not always the problem." The Observants spoke trying to rebut Clockwork's points.
"Is that not always the problem with you? If not, then why have me stop Phantom at all?"
"It is a matter of principle!" The two all but screamed. "Even if the boy does not create serious lasting harm to the time line, even if the future continues to exist as it does now, as it was meant to, a being that exists outside the time line does not need be tampering with it." The two took turns speaking again. "It is why we do not act within the time line, and why you do only in the most extreme of times. It is not our place, as beings without, to act as those and with those within." The turned and faced Clockwork, stern and demanding continuing as one, "If you cannot see this, then we question the wisdom of leaving you in control of the boy."
Clockwork felt a little of his agitation slip through. He shifted seamlessly from his elder self to his middle form. "If you had any reticence over me watching a mere child, then perhaps I am not the best choice for the position I currently hold." He watched as their Observants narrowed their large eye at the accusation. It was no longer just an indictment of his ability, but of theirs as well.
"You are more than capable of carrying out your position and its duties," the leftmost started, "if only you would relinquish your irrational emotional concern over this Phantom creature." The rightmost finished the other Observant's statement. "He should have been eliminated already. Him and the older halfa. Their very presence causes ripples of upset in the time stream. Their existence is like some force constantly nudging the proper course this way and that. They are not only unnatural, but they create energy. And worse, it looks like-"
"That's only one possibility of many. If it does come to pass, I'll be sure to intervene. A future with…more than Danny Phantom and Vlad Plasmius in it is far too unstable and unpredictable to allow."
"This future used to be obscure." The Observants started again with barely the hesitance needed to let Clockwork finish he last sentence. "It was but a small echo of what might have been. It was bright but then faded off into non-existence. But now, because of the actions of Danny Phantom in the past, it's becoming more and more likely."
"I'm well aware that the young Phantom's actions are causing ghosts of the former future to ripple though the time stream." Clockwork held up a finger when the rightmost Observant looked ready to interrupt. "However, I've already promised to intervene in the event that this future, these shadows, becomes the serious path of the time stream. Right now, they are but small ripples of possibility. You worry too much." Or perhaps too much about the wrong thing.
The Observants narrowed their eye at Clockwork before the leftmost spoke. "And what of the older half-breed? Even if Danny Phantom's current escapades into the past are fruitless, there's him to worry about."
Clockwork raised a question brow before replying, "To what do you refer?"
The Observants huffed before continuing as one, "Even if Danny Phantom is unsuccessful, halfas have proven to be untrustworthy. The Plasmius creature has broken numerous rules in the past, and upset the balance of power in the ghost zone. Worse, these creatures only grow more powerful with time. We aren't even sure what will happen when these ghost creature's human halves die, or if they ever will!" They finished with a gesture, exaggerating the problem by waving their arms around with worry.
Clockwork settled his features into a small frown. It was true Vlad Plasmius wasn't setting the best example for halfa behavior, but it wasn't something inherent. A concept I intend to demonstrate directly. Clockwork mused. With a little patience and some help, he was sure he could completely convince the Observants of the variability of hybrid nature equaled that of human beings. "While I appreciate your concerns, and know you will bring up Plasmius on the appropriate charges for his actions, I must remind you that his actions are not Phantom's."
"They are but an example of what is to come. Danny Phantom is nearly destined to walk the path of destruction, just as Plasmius has. Only worse, this halfa will have guidance and even more power with which to do it."
"That future is but one-"
"These creatures need to be eliminated Clockwork! They only cause more trouble than they are worth keeping around. The very fate of reality is in these creatures' hands. With the powers of a ghost-"
"Yes and with the free un-obsessive nature of a human being, and the unique ability to keep gaining power, they pose a new problem on the time stream." Clockwork firmly interrupted. "However, they are beings inside the time stream; I cannot in good conscious-"
"You can and you will!" The Observants screamed back.
Clockwork frowned openly this time. He wasn't going to be drawn into another argument about the safety and rationality of having ghost hybrids in the time stream. The Observants were inflexible and out of touch with the human world at times. The death, or even removal of Danny Phantom and Vlad Plasmius from the time stream would have enormous nearly fabric tearing consequences for the universe. Worse, the future would be endangered in all but a few realities because of it. They needed to stay in the timeline, because like every other being that exists naturally inside of time, they were needed for it to be stable. Stubborn fools.
"Just look at what Vlad Plasmius has created," The Observants waved a hand in front of Clockwork's viewing screen, temporarily broadcasting the sight from their collective minds onto the screen. A still image of Danni flashed onto the screen white haired and green eyed, in her ghost form. "Even if the creature is unstable, her existence has caused significant changes to the path of the time stream. He has created life, as imperfect as it is, and-"
"What would you have me do? Destroy her as well?"
"That would not be necessary, if you removed Plasmius himself permanently from the flow of time." The Observants lowered their hands, and the screen returned to swirling green energy. "When he disappears, so does all of his influences in the time stream. And so would the female halfa clone."
Clockwork didn't respond. He knew it was nearly impossible to defend Vlad's actions, especially as of late. He was taking more drastic and intrusive actions as time went on, either to gain power or control over everything around him. An immediate future, one that was very likely until Danny began his work in the past, involved him freeing a criminal of the Observants. If they didn't wish him dead before then, they'd be sure to do so afterwards. Now, however, like many things in the time stream, it was shimmering and shifting with uncertainty. The ghosts of a former future echoing through the view. "And what of the young Phantom? What has he done to deserve your ire that I have not expressly allowed?"
The Observants paused, looking through recent memory after absorbing Clockwork's stipulation. "It matters not." The two of them concluded after a moment's pause for thought. "He has more than proven to be dangerous given the right circumstances. And we have no reason to believe those are the only conditions under which Danny Phantom would turn evil. It's practically in his DNA." The Observants accidentally displayed their thoughts on the view screen. Flashes of Vlad and the alternate twisted future Danny flickered to life on the screen. "We cannot allow such a creature to roam freely in the past. Even if he had the best of intentions, and we can scarcely believe such a creature does, he does not have the foresight needed to mitigate his actions."
Clockwork closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He knew a way to convince them of Danny's goodness, of his ability to actually chose and not be subject to the general rules that governed ghosts, if only he could convince them to let this foray into the past go for just a little while longer. "What if I gave him a test?"
"What kind of test?" The rightmost Observant asked.
"A test, of his ability to choose right from wrong, a test to see the quality of his worth."
"Have you not already tested his ability? You allowed him to fight former future self in an attempt to prevent his creation. He failed, or would have, had you not intervened." The Observants' eyes narrowed, they hadn't known about the intervention until well after it was over. They could not see Clockworks actions in the time stream, any more than he could. But his unique ability to control the flow of time in the area around him allowed him to avoid their eyes when he stopped time for Phantom. He prevented the death of Phantom's family, not the halfa himself. As such, there was really no way of knowing what the ghost would have done. That was the bad thing about interfering. Their influence was like a spreading taint. Even small intrusions left waves instead of ripples in the flow of time. There was no way of ever knowing now what Phantom would have done, even to Clockwork's eyes, it was forever muddled with the wavering shine of a being outside of time's influence.
"This time I will not interfere. The decisions will be all his own. No matter the consequences for him, unless the time stream is in danger, he will bare them without my help or guidance. Is there no better way to see what kind of nature he has, than to allow him to freely express it?"
The Observants glared their eyes at Clockwork's form. He was right after all, but it didn't mean they agreed with it. If Phantom got too out of hand, the damage would only be reversed by removing him from the time line. And that was only if the shift in the flow of time wasn't too large to change without lengthy further ripples through the fabric of reality. It was all very risky, but it would finally be proof that Phantom was no threat, something they deeply longed for to assuage the constant worry the halfa caused. "Only if you swear, under no uncertain terms, that you will do whatever is necessary to preserve the strength of the time stream. If Phantom threatens it, you will eliminate him. No hesitation." The Observants demanded.
Clockwork silently let out a breath he had been holding for the last few minutes. It was lucky ghosts didn't actually need to breathe. He hadn't been sure that would work. He didn't want to have to reveal any more, and he would have had to had they not agreed then. A calm smile spread over his face. "Agreed. If he becomes a threat to the time stream, I will fulfill my duties as its guardian." How I chose to do so, is at my own discretion though. Clockwork thought mischievously.
The Observants said no more, and instead took their leave. They silently floated over to the door, and practically slammed it behind them. They hadn't been happy with what they agreed to, and they weren't even sure how Clockwork always managed to convince them to go along with such plans.
Clockwork drifted back to the swirling mass of green that took up his viewing screen. He raised his staff and forced the viewing screen to life. The picture settled into the clear images typical of his observation before falling apart into fuzziness. He rubbed his temple with the palm of his hand, as the echoes of the obscure future turned into loud booms and flashes of bright images in his mind. Every flash or sound muddled the picture on the screen with translucent images and echoed sounds from another time. He sighed when the interference became too much to work through, and shut down the viewing screen. Danny knew what he was doing, he just hoped he did. I've given you all the help I can Danny, the rest is up to you.
Balshumet: Well I know that was much shorter than my readers are used to, but it is an Interlude. A scene basically. Don't worry, the rest of your fix, usual length and all is coming Saturday, if everything goes right. Now for the last announcement waiting for the bottom, my newest story should be started this coming Sunday. It's another Danny Phantom fiction, outside of the "If Series" universe. A stand alone tragedy, that's set entirely inside of Canon. I think you should like it, so keep an eye out for that the day after the update for this story. As always my lovelies, R&R.