A Danny Phantom fan fic by Wega the blue sun
No copyright infringement is intended, the DP characters don't belong to me. Only the original characters in this story and the story itself belong to me.
Vlad goes to desperate lengths to attain his heart's desire. Chapters will be rated by content and may contain mature themes, situations and language.
A/N: This story is a departure for me not only by the source material, but also because I'm posting the chapters as they are written. My usual method is to post a story after it's been completed, but this fic will probably have quite a few chapters. We'll see how it goes.
Chapter 1
"What brings you here, Plasmius?" the time keeper asked in his cultured voice. "Don't you have to cause trouble somewhere else?" "I'm here to propose a deal", Vlad replied with a fang baring smile. "I think you'd find it advantageous to do business with me ..."
"Don't insult me!" Clockwork laughed and his countenance changed from a toddler's to an old man's. "You've come to beg me for a favor, just like all the others. And no, there is nothing you can give me in exchange for this boon. The wordly goods you possess in such abundance mean nothing to me, nor do I feel threatened by your powers!"
Vlad's anger flared and he balled his fists until brightly colored ectoplasm leaked out between his tightly clenched fingers. "Nobody talks to me that way!" He assumed a fighting stance. The time guardian scoffed. "Oh please, don't even try it. You can't beat me, and you know it."
"I'm game if you are!" Vlad Plasmius hissed and flung a sphere of pure crackling energy at his taunting opponent who deftly sidestepped the attack. "Temper, temper, poor little rich man!" the time keeper laughed. "Why don't you calm down and tell me what you really want?"
Vlad took a moment to consider his options. He was growing tired of Clockwork's mocking and the fight was unlikely to achieve much. The revelation of his true intentions would only bring forth more taunts. He'd been a fool to assume the time guardian would be interested in cutting a deal, and he'd been a bigger fool to come here in the first place.
Clockwork shrugged and turned away. "Very well, if this wish means so little to you "
"Wait!" Vlad hastily said. "I want to enter the time stream to find someone." "Who?" the question rang out. "The woman I love" Vlad replied in a low voice, well aware that the time keeper would pick up even the slightest whisper.
"Pardon? Did I hear you correctly?" Clockwork said politely. "Did you just ask to enter the time stream to find a girl friend?" He chuckled. "Have you considered online dating? Or how about placing an ad in the papers?" Delighted with his own wit the time guardian beamed a snaggle toothed grin at the angry halfa.
"You don't understand", Vlad said through clenched teeth. "Back when I was young I loved this woman, but a rival took her from me when I became - uh - incapacitated. I've been trying ever since to get her back." "And now you wish to go into the past to undo this nefarious act by your rival?" the time keeper asked. Vlad simply nodded.
"Any change to the time line is likely to have a drastic effect on the present and the future", Clockwork said, every trace of humor absent from his tone. "Don't tell me you're not satisfied with all the trouble you've already stirred up in the present. Now you wish to muck up the past as well, and all because you're lonely?" The time keeper scoffed. "There are more important things than the private life of a lovesick billionaire. Your happiness is of no particular importance in the grander scheme of things. You'd do well to remember that, Vladimir Masters."
"I've spent half my life searching for this woman that - through no fault of my own, if I may add - was taken away from me. Just what is the harm of me being happy for once?
Surely the world won't be threatened if Maddie and I get together!" Vlad continued. In his passion he was quite oblivious to the curious expression on the constantly changing features of the time guardian's face.
"Maddie? Madeline Fenton, I presume ..." Clockwork mumbled. "Yes! You know her?" Vlad asked eagerly. "Is there ...do we ever ...I mean, do you know if she and I ...his voice trailed off when the time guardian made an impatient gesture.
"You have to understand this, Plasmius. Although I am the guardian of time there are some things I don't know. The time stream is made up of mysterious flows and ebbs of myriad realities with ever changing nuances. Imagine a great river being fed by many sources. The mingled waters flow along placidly until something is tossed into the river. The resulting ripples distort the smooth surface. If you were to enter the time stream outside your particular reality the resulting changes to the future are incalculable. You might negate your own existence, or that of your lovers. Nor can you be certain that this woman is indeed the one you're meant to spend your life with. Maybe you haven't found your true love yet. Maybe this woman is paired with someone else for a good reason. Do you understand what I mean?" Clockwork paused and looked questioningly at Vlad.
"I understand that there are risks, but I am willing to take my chances. I give you my word that I don't mean to harm anyone, nor do I willingly seek to disturb the time continuum ..." Vlad hesitated. In fact, his very proposal meant to do exactly the opposite of what he was just promising. He decided to take another approach. "All I want is to get a chance to do things over. Surely there has to be a future for me and Maddie ...I have to believe that." The time guardian had stopped listening to Vlad and instead focused on some invisible point in the surrounding gloom of the ghost zone. Plasmius nervously waited for the time keepers decision. His and Maddie's fates now depended on Clockwork and he readied himself for the rejection he feared was about to come.
"Let's give it a try, shall we?" the time guardian said flippantly. "You've convinced me - I mean, what is the worst thing that could happen?" Vlad blinked in surprise. Hadn't he just been lectured on the risks of time manipulation? What was the old boy up to now? Maybe this was just another example of the other ghost's twisted sense of humor.
"Take this" Clockwork said and tossed a small golden object in Vlad's direction. It was an old fashioned pocket watch, very similar to the one he'd inherited from his grandfather. Two small buttons were imbedded on either side of the casing and Vlad looked at the time keeper, waiting for instructions.
"This device will allow you to travel in time", the ghost explained. "The right button controls the future, the left one the past. Hold down either button and time accelerates fast for everyone but you. But be warned: once you travel in time you are entirely on your own, I won't help you." The time keeper raised his staff and a portal appeared right before Vlad. "Step lightly and think of the consequences before you act, Vladimir Masters!" the warning voice rose as the halfa floated towards the entrance to the time stream.
"Why did you give him the device?" a chorus of plaintive voices demanded as the portal and its occupant disappeared in a swirling mist. "No one is authorized to travel through time with intend to change reality ..." "It's been done before." Clockwork said with a small shrug. "Plasmius is evil, his word can't be trusted.", the voices insisted. "Don't worry about him", the time keeper smiled. "I have a feeling that everything will work out, all in good time."