31DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN DANNY PHANTOM
"Because I believe she's alright. Valerie survived worst." Danny insisted but Greg can't help but notice that Danny's voice was lacking in the jolly humor or any sign of usual smug cockiness it had before. Making him feel even more comfortable. "Come on let's keep moving. Hopefully we can meet up with her in another chamber." Danny putting on a brave face but deep down he knew that this was the end of the Grey Ghost, for now there is only Ghost.
Over in his private chambers, Clockwork watched the drama unfolding before him. He watched as the Hunters used their various skills and tools to avert his many traps. Even watching as one finally fell to one of them. Shifting his crystal ball he watched as Technus used both magic of the Relics and his technology to see through his illusions and destroy any protective spells. "Impressive, both are willing to cast people aside to achieve their goal." Clockwork mused glancing at the Skeleton Key safely tucked within a glass display. "The only question is who will reach the prize faster, and what price they are willing to pay for it."
The group continued down corridor, Danny taking his time to search for traps and marking them. So far he found over 15 traps. Checking his timepiece, Greg calculated that it's taking them over 3 hours to travel 20 ft. While he can understand Danny is being a bit more cautious, at this rate they may never be able to catch up to Technus, let alone thwart he is planning.
"Um mister Ghost?" Greg asked cautiously since he's half afraid how Danny would react. Danny quickly glared at the poor man, almost causing Greg to wet his pants. "I-I don't mean to question your methods, bu-but..." Greg gulped, unsure of how to proceed. Even Cujo was whimpering with worry.
"I know," Danny sighed. "We need to speed things up." Danny drew out several throwing knifes and threw them at things he identified as triggers for traps. Greg nearly wetted himself seeing all pendulums, spikes, and fire traps going all off at the same time. "That should clear things up," Danny said as the last trap ceased. "Step where I step and don't touch anything," he instructed.
"Step where you step, don't touch anything." Greg gulped fearing what would happen if Danny missed one. Danny tried to look confident if only to help alleviate Greg's concerns, but he was just as worried. Danny carefully planned their path based on the knives, since most people wouldn't put traps too close to one another, add the fact that he'd already tripped it meant that there's a 98% chance that it is safe. Of course there's always that 2% that you have to look out for.
The team managed to make it safely to the next room. Danny took a moment to study the room and as far as he could tell, there was no traps here. And that's what really has him concerned. "Wait here," Danny instructed. Naturally Greg nodded in compliance, but hugging Cujo for comfort. Much to the little puppy's protests. Not wanting to take any chances, Danny shot his cable up to the ceiling and used it to swing across the room to the exit. Once on the other side, he studied the room again, thinking that if he looked from a different perspective he might be able to see the traps. Again he found nothing.
"Um is it safe?" Greg asked.
"So far," Danny reported. "Wait there I'll come to you," Danny ordered. If there is a trap in this room, he wanted it to attack him alone. Danny walked slowly over to where Greg and Cujo were waiting for him. Again Danny instructed him to only step where he stepped. A rule that Greg is following to the letter as he made sure that he's only stepping on the tiles that Danny stepped on first. As soon as Danny reached the other exit, Clockwork casts a spell that conjured up a large wall between Danny and Greg!j
"What happened I stepped where you did!" Greg cried.
"No someone created this," Danny noted sensing the residue of magic. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yeah we're fine," Greg whimpered hugging Cujo even more tightly. Causing the pup to start gasping for air. However Greg's assessment was a bit premature as a large monster appeared in the room with them! "Oh no HELP!" Greg screamed. Cujo jumped into action transforming into its giant monster form and proceeded to attack the monster.
Outside the wall Danny desperately tried to break the wall down to no avail; but once he heard Greg's cries and monster's roar he drew out Striker. Knowing that this could risk exposing what he has in his possession, he figured it is worth the risk to save his friends! Danny evoked the Crown of Fire to empower the blade. Making it stronger and hotter. With one swing Danny tried to cut a hole in the wall but it barely scratched it. Danny kept pumping in more and more magic from the Crown until it finally became hot enough to explode the rocks that made up the wall. After making an opening, Danny searched the room for his companions. Only to discover a mostly empty room. The main difference from before is that there are fresh claw marks everywhere hinting of the battle between the monster and Cujo. The only other thing he could find was Greg's journal now torn apart. "Oh no, please don't!" Danny cried fearing the worst. Still searching around he couldn't find any other entrances or exits that the monster might have taken. Leaving that it had to have been summoned and subsequently banished for it to have disappeared without a trace. Unfortunately there wasn't a pentagram in the room that Danny could have studied to find out the monster's point of origin. Leaving him with more questions than answers. Danny finally screamed out in pain and anger, hating this place and the wizard that created it.
"Okay Clockwork, you've had your fun but now it is time to call it QUITS!" Danny plunged Striker into the floor and channeled all of the Crown's power into the blade. Making it hotter and hotter. "There's an old saying, if you don't like the game then quit!" Danny quoted. "DISPELL!" Danny chanted planning on destroying the temple.
Meanwhile in another location, Technus could feel the relics reacting to something. At first he thought that the last relic, the Crown of Fire might be nearby, but disregarded that possibility due to the fact that none of his research even hinted that the Crown is anywhere near Clockwork's domain. So he naturally concluded that they must be reacting to either the Skeleton Key or Clockwork himself since they are responsible for imprisoning their master. Regardless of the reason, the whole temple seemed to be affected by it as the labyrinth seems to fading. Fortunately for him he's reached the end as the final door is clearly labeled as EGRESS. "Now to meet my host," Technus mused as he walked through the door.
Over in Clockwork's chamber, he watched as Danny prepared to destroy his home. "So this is what happens when you push Ghost to his limit," Clockwork chuckled. "A bit unorthodox but it would beat my game. I should reward him for such creativity. Time Out!" Clockwork chanted.
Danny soon found himself teleported to Clockwork's chamber. "Where?" Danny puzzled.
"Congratulations you make it to your goal," Clockwork congratulated.
In another alternate time reality
Technus approached Clockwork's throne. "Master Clockwork I presume?" Techus greeted.
"Indeed," Clockwork responded. "Now to what do I owe the pleasure of you intruding on my home?"
"Please, if I Technus, the master of thre relics and technology, was an intruder you would have destroyed me long before I arrived. The truth is that you knew I was destine to come here." Technus scoffed.
"Indeed," Clockwork smiled. "Now for your prize."
Danny was baffled by what he just heard, "My goal, then you must be"
"Clockwork the wizard of time," Clockwork introduced himself as he shifted between appearing as a child, a young man, and an elderly man. Giving Danny a huge headache.
"If you are Clockwork then you know why I'm here," Danny challenged.
"Don't be so sure," Clockwork chuckled. "Why you are here and why you think you are here are two very different things."
"Huh?" Danny getting another headache.
"Oh why do I bother, you're just a child." Clockwork insulted.
"Hey I'm very much a man!" Danny argued.
"Compared to me, even your Great Grandfather is a child." Clockwork countered. "But enough of these pleasantries, down to business." Clockwork conjured up a spotlight that revealed the Skeleton Key under a glass display.
"The Skeleton Key," Danny gasped as he was about to head over to it.
"Not so fast!" Clockwork blocking his path.
"Are you going to get in my way?" Danny threatened drawing out Striker.
"No," Clockwork moving out of his way. "But I am going to offer you a choice." Clockwork directed Danny's attention to the other side of the room where Valerie, Greg, and Cujo were locked in a cage.
"What have you done with them!" Danny asked.
"In simple terms, I saved them." Clockwork insisted. Not that Danny was convinced. "No really," Clockwork insisted turning to the others. "Please tell him your last memory before appearing here," Clockwork ordered.
Valerie started first, "I remember falling towards the lava and feeling my flesh burning off my bones."
"I remember this big Troll monster devouring poor Cujo then eating me for dessert," Greg cried. Cujo whimpering as well.
"Let them go!" Danny demanded.
"That will be up to you," Clockwork said cryptically. "You have two paths before you." Clockwork's room disappeared leaving everyone in a black space. Two paths appeared before Danny, one leading to the Skeleton Key, the other leading to his friends. "If you choose your friends, you will forfeit the key." Clockwork warned.
"And if I choose the key, what happens to my friends?" Danny asked.
Clockwork smiled, "Then I will send them back to when I took them. One second before they perish."
In the other space, Technus stood before two paths himself. One leading to the key and the other leading to a room with a young version of Technus inside. "Is that..." Technus gasped.
"Indeed," Clockwork verified. "You before you went on the expedition that led you to the Scroll. If you choose this path you can return to your younger self and correct the mistakes that you have made; and free yourself from Pariah Dark's curse." Clockwork offered.
"And what about the key?" Technus asked.
"It will be awarded to the other. The ones who followed you here." Clockwork explained. Showing him an image of Danny waiting for Techus's decision.
"So let me get this straight. If I choose my friends you're going to give the key to Technus? Do you have any idea of what he intends to do with it?" Danny snapped.
"If that is your choice," Clockwork confirmed. "On the other hand you can choose the key. Not only will keep it from Techus's hands but you will also insure that Pariah Dark never returns."
"And sacrifice my friends in the process!" Danny growled. "What give you the right to force this choice on anyone!"
"You realize that if he's free Pariah Dark will come after you as well, since you are one of the wizards that trapped him in the first place!" Greg pointed out.
"The outcome of your choice doesn't affect me. Either the world will stay as it is or Pariah Dark will reshape it in his image; time will move on just as it always have, and I shall continue to observe the flow of time as always." Clockwork preached. "Now please hurry. I may be the Lord of Time but even I don't have all day."
"Danny, you know what you must do," Valerie preached. Greg desperately praying for his immortal soul and Cujo barking his support. At least that's what Danny thinks the puppy is doing.
"If these are my only two choices then it's obvious which one I must take," Danny monologue before taking a leap of faith.
Technus mused at his choices as well. "To go back in time or to continue going forward. The answer is obvious." Without any hesitation Tenchus step forward as well.
"Well this is certainly no surprise," Clockwork chuckled watching both events happening at the same time. Danny obviously choosing the path leading to his friends. While Technus was on the path to the key. "But I am curious to why you pick that path?" he asked both. Clockwork may know the outcomes, but even he doesn't know what anybody is thinking at any given time.
Technus smiled. "I know that I've made many mistakes. Most of which I wish I could just go back in time to correct. However as a scientist I know that making mistakes are important step to learning. My life may not be ideal but I must see it through to the end no matter the outcome."
"I've been alone for far too long," Danny said sadly. "It may be selfish of me, but I cannot idly stand by while any harm befalls my friends! Not if I have a chance to prevent it! If my decision results in Pariah Dark being free, then so be it. I'll ready to face that battle when the time comes."
"The world may not forgive me for my selfishness, but I choose to do what I feel is best for me and not the world!" Danny and Technus said at the same time.
"Well said," Clockwork applauded removing the display from the Skeleton Key and the cage from Danny's friends. "Time In," Clockwork chanted also removing the dimensional barrier between the two realities. Allowing Danny and Technus to see each other for the first time in this temple.
"The key!" Danny gasped seeing the key in Technus's possession.
"Grey Ghost," Technus smiled seeing his adversaries before him.
Before Danny and Valerie could attack Technus, Clockwork stopped time, freezing them in their tracks. "None of that in my presence!" Clockwork commanded. "You've all made your choice, now live with the consequences! Get the Time Out!" Clockwork waving his staff sending the group through time and space.
Danny and party soon found himself in an area just outside of Sanctuary. "Where are we?" Danny asked.
"Danny is that really you?" Dani tearing up at this happy reunion.
"Dani!" Danny rushing over to hug his cousin only for Dani to run right past him.
"Valerie I've missed you so much!" Dani cried hugging the female hunter.
"Hey cuz nice to see you too," Danny grumbled. Not at all liking but at the same time understanding the fact that he's being overshadowed by his old partner.
Technus appeared in a small town that he once stayed in prior to his journey into the Badlands. "Master?" Bertrand feeling a bit confused seeing Technus here. "I thought that you already left to get the Skeleton Key."
"Indeed," Technus showing his underling his prize. "And my efforts have been successful."