In the mythical dimension where ghosts dwell, a realm completely separate from Earth, there were many powerful entities that were just as old as time itself and had power far beyond thought possible.

In this endless black and green realm, there were many floating islands of the more powerful ghosts. These ghosts attached themselves to an obsession so strong that they've become a powerful entity, that's only desire is to complete it.

These supernatural creatures will always actively manifest their desires as it's their sole purpose of continuing to exist.

Although an obsession may seem like a small thing to a human but, to a ghost, it's a very crucial part of their being. When a human dies sometimes their obsession forces them to cling to life so they can continue it even in death.

For example, if a knight were to die and his sole obsession was to serve the king, then that knight will serve a king for the rest of his ghostly life. Even if the ghost dislikes their obsession they will always be compelled to do this action, no matter how much they hate it.

In this eerie realm, there was one ghost in particular that had an exceptionally strong obsession.

Standing on the ledge of a large clock tower, there was a rather tall figure wearing a black/white hazmat suit and a gray cloak. The figure's features were hidden under the dark hood and all that could be seen were ominous toxic green eyes that pierced the soul.

As the figure slowly removed his hood, a young tanned face with snow-white hair was revealed.

The figure seemed to be the Ghost fighting superhero, Danny Phantom. This crime-fighting Halfa was an experienced ghost hunter, even though he was only 15, as he had fought more dangerous enemies than most people would think possible.

These experiences not only shaped Danny into the strong hero he is today, but they also broke him. Although he was only Half-Ghost Danny still possessed an obsession, even if he didn't realize it at first.

And Danny's ghostly obsession was that he would always try to be the hero and save people, no matter what.

This may have sounded like a dignified obsession to have, but the reality of that is wrong. In every story written, the hero never truly walked away unbroken.

And this especially held true for Danny as he held a tired almost withered look in his eyes, that should belong to a creature centuries older than himself.

As he stared off into the endless abyss that is the Ghost Zone with a haunted look in his glowing green eyes, suddenly a puff of blue gas suddenly escaped from his mouth.

"What do you want, Clockwork?" Danny called out in a scratchy voice as if he hadn't spoken in a while.

"Nothing. I'm merely here to check up on you," Clockwork said appearing behind Danny in his adult form.

"You already know everything that can ever happen, and every possible outcome. If you came out to see me then what is it?" Danny said gruffly glaring at the ancient ghost.

Clockwork's only response was to release a long sigh as he shifted into an old man and moved beside Danny on the ledge.

"The Observants have been arguing about you again."

"So what? All they do is argue about how much they hate me," Danny grumbled at the mention of those uptight eyeballs.

"They want to banish you from the Ghost Zone," Clockwork said, frankly stunning Danny.

"I'd like to see them try," Danny responded angrily as his toxic green eyes glowed brightly.

"Luckily for both of you, that's not going to happen," Clockwork paused mysteriously. "But there is another matter that needs to be settled"

"What?" Danny asked genuinely curiously.

"You need to leave the Ghost Zone."

"What the hell, Clockwork?! I thought you just said-," Danny exclaimed, but stopped when Clockwork held up his hand.

"I'm not banishing you. It's simply your 'time' to leave. Move onto something else, something better. Right now you're wasting away," Clockwork said and then shifted into his child form.

"I'm doing just fine," Danny halfheartedly argued, already knowing he was lying to himself.

Ever since the...tragic incident, Danny had been staying by himself in the Ghost Zone to forget and do his best to ignore his pain.

And it's been a long time since he had gotten over his assumptions that ghosts were evil and started to actually become friends with them.

It first started with spending some more time in the Far Frozen with Frostbite and his tribe to help practice his Cryokinesis. But by spending time with them Danny not only realized how friendly and nice the Far Frozen people were but how helpful.

From them, he learned how to fight properly and even use his ghost powers more fluently. Danny learned a few abilities that he would ever think he could possibly achieve. He finally learned to create stable duplicates, teleport, telekinesis, make energy constructs, and even use his ghostly wail without losing too much energy.

Since forming this friendship, Danny even got to know a lot more of the other ghosts that he previously fought.

From ghosts like Ember McLain, Princess Dorothea, Kitty and Johnny 13, Young Blood, Desiree, and he even had a tentative friendship with Ghost Writer. Danny still fought occasionally with Skulker, but to him, that felt more like brutal sparring matches than to the death.

At first, Danny found it slightly weird to have ghost friends, but as time went on it soon became the norm especially since the deaths of...

"You've been in the Ghost Zone far too long. When's the last time you were in the human world?"

"I-I...it was just a few...I don't remember," Danny finally admitted as he realized that he forgot.

"You may forget this at times but you're still alive. You cannot live in the Ghost Zone, at least not yet. You must return-."

"RETURN TO WHAT!? THEY'RE ALL DEAD!" Danny yelled with a furious rage in his glowing eyes. "And I couldn't save them. I couldn't do a damn thing."

Clockwork seemed unfazed by the outburst as he simply waited for Danny to calm down. After a few seconds of breathing heavily and blinking the tears away, Danny finally realized how many unsettled emotions he's been bottling up.

"I'm sorry...but I-I just can't go back," Danny's voice cracked as he tried to apologize.

"It was an expected reaction. But I have another option suitable for you," Clockwork said as he raised his staff.

"What do you mean?" Danny carefully questioned as he knew how bizarre Clockwork could be.

"There are more realms than just yours that need heroes," Clockwork said as he tapped his staff making a portal open in front of them.

"Unlike your realm, this world is much more advanced. Progressively it seemed that the human species have evolved enough that they have developed supernatural powers. They call these mutations, Quirks," Clockwork explained as a series of people using a myriad of different abilities appeared on a portal.

Danny watched in shock as countless people used a bunch of different powers. From shooting fire to being able to heal someone, there were almost an infinite amount of possible abilities in that world.

"Are no ghosts there?" Danny asked as he continued to watch the portal.

"The people of that realm have not breached through the barrier that separates the Ghost Zone, as your parents had with their portal," Clockwork explained while catching Danny flinch at the mention of his parents.

"But what does this have to do with me?" Danny asked impatiently as he was slightly anxious for Clockwork to reach his point.

"Because of the random mutation of the human species, many obtained very powerful quirks. But not all use them for good as you did with yours."

The images on the portal changed again as criminals stealing, killing, and just causing destruction were shown.

"So to combat these outlaws...Heroes were born," Clockwork stopped dramatically as he showed a bunch of people dressed in strange costumes protecting others.

One image that stood out to Danny the most was of a tall muscular blond man with hair that looked like bunny ears. But what drew Danny's attention the most was the man's smile. It just seemed so...bright, if it had to be described in one word.

"So you want me to become...a hero in this world?" Danny finally asked as Clockwork dismissed the portal.

"I don't want you to do anything. I'm merely presenting one of the countless paths laid out in front you," Clockwork said with his signature grin as he shifted back into an adult again.

"Sure you are. But I-I'm fine in the Ghost Zone. That world already has enough heroes," Danny said. "It doesn't need a failed one like me."

And with that Danny was about to just fly away, but was stopped when Clockwork's gentle but powerful hand stopped him. Danny could only release a sigh as he knew he had no chance at overpowering the Ghost of Time.

"I told you I'm fi-," Danny tried to sound annoyed but his voice just sounded too exhausted.

"When was the last time you've slept?" Clockwork suddenly asked, stunning Danny into silence.

Danny didn't answer the question as he Clockwork definitely already knew the answer and could probably guess from the black bags underneath his eyes.

"You hold an unnecessary burden on your shoulder that is not yours to carry. Your family and friends would not want this," Clockwork tried to convince Danny, but his hand was quickly knocked off.

"How do you know what they want!" Danny yelled at the Ghost. "I'm the one that killed them. It's my fault. It's all my fault they're dead."

Danny could only lean against the ledge as he slowly sank to his floor, already too physically and emotionally tired from everything. As Danny thought about his friends and family, he could only smile bitterly that he still lived while they had to die.

It was all because of one stupid test that didn't even matter.

"In all the timelines. In all the endless possibilities there was always a different option for you to take. The possibilities of what could've happened that day are endless," Clockwork said as he transformed into an old man. "But to move forward you must be willing to let go. If you hold onto this burden forever it will only continue to hold you down."

Danny slowly lifted his head up to look at Clockwork and thought about what Sam, Tucker, Jazz, even his Mom, and Dad would want for him to do right now.

Would they want him to drown in self-pity for eternity? Or would they want him to move on and start a new life?

Almost immediately after thinking this, Danny could almost hear Sam and Jazz yelling at him to move on, while Tucker was saying how cool it be to visit another world. And his parents, Danny could already feel the tears stream down his face as he imagined their encouraging smiles.

After a minute of thought, Danny wiped his tears and grinned proudly as he stood up.

"When do I leave?"