Danny wasn't sure what was wrong with the ghosts, but he knew something was wrong with the ghosts. The ghosts – the ones he normally fought – had been oddly nice to him, too nice for Danny's paranoia. Nothing beats the married pair of ghosts - the Webs - that tried to drag him into the Zone.
After that, he started to avoid the ghosts that cause any trouble. So when the Webs tried to drag him into the Zone again, he hid behind a dumpster, something a fellow halfa saw.
"Oh my, Daniel! Don't tell me you're afraid of the Webs!" commented Vlad Plasmius, appearing behind Daniel.
"Just laugh until they try to drag you into the Ghost Zone." replied Daniel very annoyed.
"Oh, they tried again?" Vlad remembered the first time they tried. He and Daniel were fighting – he may have broken Daniel's phone (that in its own right was half dead, barely functioning) in that battle – when Mrs. Webs interrupted their battle and dragged Daniel away from the scene. It was a confusing day. Vlad remembered how territorial he felt in that moment. He offered, "You know, I could protect you of those situations if you join me and forsake your father."
"Would you drop it, fruit loop! Why do you even want me? I would just annoy you." said Danny, annoyed with Vlad's offer. "Seriously, I look like my dad, why aren't you bothering Jazz! She's just like mom!"
"Your sister is an adult. She choose Harvard, right?"
"Actually, she switched to Yale." he corrected him. "Suppose she doesn't need a parent." Danny looked if the Webs had left. "I can't sense them, looks like they gave up. For now."
"This must be bothersome." commented Vlad.
"Worse than Skulker." He then turned ghost. "Listen, I don't want to fight you today. I'll go to the Ghost Zone, maybe my mentor knows what's going on with the Webs and other ghosts."
Vlad just crossed his arms. He knows Daniel has a mentor, but he doesn't know who. He once tasked Skulker to track the mentor, but skulker found nothing, he only lost Daniel in the Zone. He heard rumors, though. That Daniel is mentored by the Master of Time. With that in mind, Vlad followed Daniel, wanting to know if the rumors are true. He doubts them as they are coming from the Box Ghost, an unreliable source.
...
Vlad was sure Daniel was aware he was following. He flew slower though the Zone, to an area Vlad rarely ventured into. He only took up momentum when they saw a lone purple tower flying in the abyss, surrounded by gears. Vlad considered if the rumors were true, considering the prevalence of clocks.
Flying in, Daniel confirmed he was aware of Vlad's presence. "Please don't attack my mentor. Not that you could beat him."
"Plasmius won't, Daniel." spoke said mentor. A purple cloaked ghost, switching between the ages.
"Clockwork! I suppose you know about the Webs' attempts? And the others?" asked Daniel, not complaining that this specter called him by his funny name. Something he hates if others do it, especially Vlad. "Do you know why they do this?"
"Yes, I know why. Listen, Daniel. While ghosts can reproduce – remember Box Lunch – it is rare. Many ghosts simply adopt ghost children. Well, you're considered such." explained Clockwork nonchalantly. "So, the ghosts, especially the Webs, have been trying to adopt you."
"But I am not an orphan?" It sounded more like a question. "Why me?"
"The ghosts don't think of your parents highly, they are considered incompetent. This extends to this. Many just don't acknowledge them as your parents. The Webs – for example – don't think a ghost child should live with ghost hunters." clarified Clockwork further. "You're nearly sixteen, this should end soon, or at least tone down, Daniel."
"That-that!"
While Daniel was understandably bothered by this, Vlad said offended, "That they disregard Jack, I understand, but Madeline is a wonderful mother."
"Plasmius, you lovesick idiot. Madeline has her flaws. Maybe you see them, too, one day." told him Clockwork. "She regularly endangers Daniel. And Jazz for that matter."
"Hey Vlad, could it be that you're so fixated onto me because of this what Clockwork explained?" asked Daniel the older halfa.
"Mm, I doubt it." he answered. Albeit he can't argue it is a possibility why this fixation started.
"Anyway, thanks for the answer, Clockwork. See you next time!" said Daniel as he flew away.
Clockwork told Vlad, "You better follow him unless you want to get lost in this part of the Zone."