The comic takes place just as Danny is finishing up college, so a few years into the future (he should be around 22 years old). He’s working on a engineering and physics degree with a focus on ghosts. His parents don’t know he’s Phantom and very much so intends to keep that secret as long as humanly possible. Maddie Fenton became head of a ghost research lab with Jack working alongside her. 

Now, to post-Phantom Planet in canon. Vlad was thrown into space and exiled from earth. Likely, he’s not very welcome in the ghost zone either. He’s a pariah and targeted by many not so friendly forces.

 Here’s where my comic starts to fill in the gaps- Vlad is sick of it. He’s been worn and torn and is now the wiser. He knows desperation. And he longs to go back before he fucked up his life completely. Luckily, he has the know-how to do it. Vlad is well versed in the mythology and legends of the ghost zone, of course he knows about Clockwork. Clockwork has been watching too. He knows everything and how things go. 

Vlad seeks an audience with Clockwork, and Clockwork is happy to oblige. We’ve seen Clockworks more merciful moments. He’s seen Danny do evil deeds and was gracious enough to save him from himself. Who says he’s not willing to offer Vlad this same kindness? Perhaps Phantom Planet was Vlad’s version of The Ultimate Enemy. 

Either way, after some negotiation Clockwork agrees to send Vlad to the moments before he catastrophically fucks up (as in before Phantom Planet), but not before his previous evil deeds. Vlad of course wants a completely fresh start, but he’ll take what he can get.