#ladf

Chapter 1: A visit to the past.

"Six Months"

ClockWork, the clockmaker, had devoted himself entirely to his role as the Master of Time and Space. His task was to observe the different dimensions of multiple worlds, protecting and monitoring the timelines to prevent any chaos or destruction that could be caused by a being. His goal was to ensure that everything remained balanced and in order.

"All timelines, parallel, past, and future, are under control. Everything is functioning normally; my work as the Master of Time must always be balanced," he said softly as he contemplated the future versions of other universes.

Silently, Clockwork pondered the future versions of other universes while ensuring control over all timelines, both past and future, as well as the parallel ones. For him, his work as the Master of Time had to be impeccable and balanced at all times.

The place where he resided was a tranquil and solitary enclosure that seemed to be in complete harmony with Clockwork and his staff of time. However, he was not alone in the heights of the towers. By his side stood a young apprentice, dressed in a black robe, black pants, and a white studded belt around his waist. His combat boots complemented his attire, as did the white symbol displayed on his chest. The young man's face was hidden beneath a hood, but his pale skin, as white as chalk, was visible. He wore a cape with a clock attached to his shoulder, its mechanism resembling an hourglass. This young man was the apprentice of the master of time.

As the apprentice gazed out the tower window, his face momentarily reflected surprise. He had detected the arrival of an unusual visitor. The infrequency with which this person appeared suggested that their visit was unexpected. However, as an apprentice and advisor, he was prepared for any eventuality and ready to assist with any problem that arose, as long as it didn't compromise time or balance. Immediately, he went to inform his mentor.

"Master, there is a woman who wishes to speak with you," the apprentice reported with a serious expression.

The master nodded, indicating that the visitor should be admitted. However, he asked his apprentice to make her wait until he had finished reviewing his work.

"Very well, Timegear," the master responded as his apprentice flew off to deliver the message.

---------(⏱️)----------

In Clockwork's Tower, a young woman with long brown hair was waiting in the reception area, arms crossed, casually observing the numerous clocks adorning the room. At that moment, the young apprentice of the Master of Time appeared and received a message from Clockwork, informing him that he was busy but would see her soon.

"Miss, Clockwork is currently occupied, but he will see you shortly. In the meantime, I suggest you make yourself comfortable in the tower's armchair," the apprentice said courteously.

"Well, it seems like he's not too thrilled to see me," the woman murmured, lowering her gaze. She added, "No problem, I have enough patience to wait for him." As she said this, a smile appeared on her face, causing the young apprentice to shudder.

After settling into the seat, the apprentice completed the task of delivering the message and prepared to fulfill his next assignment.

---------(⏱️)----------

After a while, the Master of Time made his appearance and welcomed the woman with a friendly smile.

"Welcome to the Tower of Time, miss. How may I assist you today?" the Master of Time asked as he transformed his appearance to resemble a young man.

"Well, Clockwork, have you forgotten about me?" the woman said with a slight smirk, rising from her seat.

"Oh... right," he remembered, "I had almost forgotten who you were. I wasn't expecting a visit from the future Queen of Ordeland."

"I see, you make me blush with all the flattery," the young woman replied, displaying a smile.

"Very well, do you need any advice or assistance with any trivial matter?" the Master of Time asked, changing his appearance to that of an elderly man.

"Actually, I'm having a personal problem," the ruler said. "Yulia, my assistant, or rather, my personal secretary, is going to get angry or scold me, as usual, because I'm rarely in my office. I've been trying to resolve this for weeks, but I haven't found a solution."

"Are you avoiding her due to some personal issue with your assistant?" he concluded that was the reason.

"Yes, I'm avoiding her because I haven't done my duties, and I'll soon be the future queen. But I need your help to fix this... you know I'm persistent when it comes to solving problems," the girl said, crossing her arms and showing a concerned expression.

"Do you want to go back in time so you can complete the paperwork you haven't submitted yet? Melissa, I'm sorry, but I can't help you," the old man replied, reverting back to his child-like appearance.

—"And why not?" the brunette asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I've learned that you lost the Book of Darius, and due to strict reasons, I can't use my staff of time to go back in time," he explained.

—"Oh great, so now you also know that I lost that stupid book because of my own fault? Andres stole it," the young woman justified, referring to her worst enemy.

"The knowledge of our kind should have been hidden and protected under the care of the Witch Wizard Shaman. You have violated some rules, not only for that, but also for using the book on two occasions to travel through time and into the future. Your alter ego in another temporal dimension specifically warned you," said the Master of Time sternly, pointing his staff directly at the young woman's face and changing his appearance back to that of a young man.

"Oh, come on! It's not that serious. I just want you to know that I haven't time-traveled in my own dimension, so there's nothing to worry about," pleaded the brunette with a pleading look. "I'm just asking for your help because I know you would support me. Remember, we were companions in the past, as guardians," she added.

"Yes, we were companions, but you must understand that our actions can have consequences in the worlds of others, including my work as the Master of Time," he pointed out as he lowered his staff that had been aimed at the brunette's face. 

"Clockwork, once I helped you. You almost had to deal with the Observers because of me," Melissa reminded him.

"That's true, Melissa, and I'm very grateful for that. But as the Master of Time, I can only offer advice and help you in situations that pose a real danger," Clockwork replied, returning to his elderly form. 

"I was hoping you could return the favor, being your companion. I'm still a guardian of dimensions," Melissa said, looking at him seriously.

"I understand. I will repay the favor when it is necessary and poses a danger to you," Clockwork added with a smile.

—"So, how are we going to do this? Are you going to pay me?" Melissa laughed sarcastically.

"I don't have money in pounds, Melissa," her interlocutor frowned.

"Oh, then how about a friendly fight?" Melissa suggested with a challenging smile.

"You won't be able to defeat me in a fight. We are evenly matched in skills," her rival calmly replied. 

"Then you'll have to find out for yourself if you think we're evenly matched. I have some new upgrades," Melissa responded, showing confidence in herself.

"I'd love to test your 'new upgrades' in the old times, but I have responsibilities as the Master of Time, Melissa," Clockwork sighed as he transformed into a child. 

"Oh, don't be like that with me, Clockwork. A simple friendly fight won't distract you from your duties. Besides, don't you care that your young apprentice hiding and eavesdropping on our conversation will be discovered in the Ghost Zone? I can tell he's a sneaky little gossip," the brown-eyed girl said, inspecting her nails. 

"Wait, what?" Clockwork froze. "Why would you do that if you plan on revealing my apprentice's identity in the Ghost Zone? You gain nothing from it," he exclaimed. 

"As you may know, that 'apprentice' of yours is Danny, isn't it?" Melissa continued, and her voice resonated throughout the tower. "Timegear, you should come out; don't think I'm foolish, after all, I know who you are." 

The apprentice, Timegear, rushed out upon realizing that his invisibility had been discovered. He was frightened by the woman's words. After a moment, he presented himself before them, removing the hood that covered his face, looking directly at the brunette woman. 

"I'm deeply sorry that you had to witness that, but I can't help it—I have to do it to protect my master," the apprentice said, furrowing his eyebrows as he observed Melissa. 

"Stop pretending like you're acting, kid," the woman responded in an annoyed tone, due to his composed attitude. 

The Master of Time approached his apprentice and stood behind him. "Don't involve him in this. This issue must be resolved between us through dialogue," he said while holding his staff of time.

"In a civilized manner? Through dialogue? To hell with that," the woman said, her eyes turning a deep red as she clenched her fists tightly. "It's time for this guy to pay for what he's done."

"Miss Ordeland, please, calm down," spoke the apprentice of time, trying to persuade her to calm herself.

The brunette woman smirked sarcastically and approached Timegear, extending her hand to touch his cheek. "Oh, don't worry, little one. I have no intention of harming your master... yet," she said while giving him a gentle pat on the cheek. "But you better be on alert. You never know who might be listening."

Clockwork furrowed his brow and assumed a defensive stance. "Enough, Melissa. Don't play with the young ones as if they were puppets in your hands," he said in a serious tone.

The brunette laughed and took a step back. "Very well, Clockwork, don't get angry. I was just testing his loyalty to you," she commented as she walked away. "But don't let it cloud your judgment. The war is about to begin, and you'll need all the help you can get... ignore it, there is still much time before that happens," she added, referring to the possible war with her worst archenemy, Andres Black.

After several minutes of silence, she remains angrily in the worst possible way. The Master of Time sighed and slowly approached the woman, maintaining a prudent distance. "I understand that you're angry, but you must understand that we can't solve things through violence. All we achieve that way is perpetuating the cycle of hatred and revenge," he said in a calm yet firm tone.

The woman snorted and ignored him, focusing her attention on the apprentice, Timegear. "What are you going to do to protect your master? Hide him underwater in the Fountain of Time?" she said with a smile.

The apprentice clenched his teeth and maintained a stern posture, but his hand trembled slightly as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

"I am willing to do whatever it takes to protect my master," he said in a determined tone.

Clockwork looked at him tenderly, comforting him with a kind smile. "Don't worry, Timegear. Your loyalty to me is admirable, and I am proud to have such a dedicated apprentice," he said as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"How sweet you both are," the brunette murmured, hiding her face to suppress a laugh or calm her nerves.

"I heard you. Do you want to continue with that?" Clockwork responded with a glare.

The Master of Time sighed once again and raised his staff into the air.

"Enough is enough!" he said in an authoritative tone. "We are not going to solve anything by fighting. We have to seek a peaceful solution."

The woman crossed her arms and frowned. "And how do you plan on doing that?" she asked sarcastically.

The Master of Time smiled calmly.

"First, we need to understand why this man did what he did. There may be a reason behind it that we are unaware of."

The apprentice, Timegear, nodded silently, understanding the hidden message from his master. They were guardians of time, and their duty was to preserve the timeline. They couldn't let their emotions take over and act on impulse. They had to act with wisdom and prudence.

Apparently, Melissa noticed a silver thermos with a green seal behind her while Clockwork and Timegear were discussing how to handle her. She moved closer and took the thermos to examine it closely, discovering a figure that appeared to be an evil face. Her curiosity drove her to want to know more.

"Hey, Clockwork, what's inside this thermos?" she asked while holding the thermos in her hand.

Clockwork turned to look at her and was startled to see the thermos that had been left unattended for so long.

"Leave it there. Inside the Fenton thermos, there's a ghost. It's a quite powerful and dangerous ghost to release," he said.

"Really? Hmm, I'm intrigued..." Melissa responded while playing with the thermos in her hands. "I'm curious, is it a monstrous creature, right?" she smiled.

Clockwork tried to respond cautiously, knowing that Melissa often got what she wanted and didn't want to provide information without thinking it through calmly.

"Yes, it's a monstrous creature, but you shouldn't play with it. Hand me the Fenton thermos now. It's important that we don't take any risks," he said.

"Oh, what if I don't? I would give it to you if we had a friendly fight or if we slowed down time, but if you're not up for it, how about you pay me for that thermos inside?" Melissa said, winking.

"I will investigate for myself whether that thing is dangerous or not," Meli replied, ignoring Clockwork's warnings. With her powers, she opened the Fenton thermos, noticing that the Master of Time had placed restrictions on it.

"Please, Mel, no," Clockwork said with seriousness in his gaze.

As a result, a ghostly being appeared before them, emanating a malevolent energy, while the energy sensed a rather weak presence within it. The ghost started moving around them before launching a surprise attack with its spectral powers, unleashing ecto-rays. However, the woman reacted quickly, creating a protective barrier that saved them from the attack. Both Clockwork and his apprentice were astonished by Melissa's impressive ability, as she demonstrated herself to be a powerful and unshakable ruler. On the other hand, Meli was thrilled by the battle and prepared herself for the next attack.

"¡You're finally free, and you're going to pay dearly for it!" the spectral being growled with a thirst for revenge. "¿Where is the ghost boy?" it asked, searching for Danny Fenton.

"Look what you've done, Melissa! Dan Phantom has been freed from the Fenton Thermos. This is impossible!" Clockwork exclaimed, his eyes wide open as he watched the being float in the air. Meanwhile, Timegear, alias "Danny," quickly covered his face with his hood and stepped back to find a way to defeat his old enemy from the past without being discovered in his current situation.

"Why are you smiling? You will see the terror that awaits you," he spoke as he raised his fist, displaying his deep hatred towards the unfamiliar woman.

"Interesting. Give it a try," she smirked mockingly as her attire transformed into a crimson red that shimmered like flames. The woman flew straight towards Dan, who failed to notice that she teleported behind him. He swiftly turned his head and evaded her attack, moving away from her.

The famous ghost, known as Dan Phantom or Dark Danny, positioned himself to defend and unleashed a powerful Ghostly Wail. The brunette reprimanded him and easily defeated him, leaving Dan with a confused and bewildered look. He fell from one of the destroyed clocks, impacted by his own power and frustrated to have been humiliated by a woman.

This was the second time he had fought against someone he had previously defeated.

Dan got up and chased Melissa through the air, moving swiftly and with precision. Dan shot ghost rays towards Melissa, who dodged them with agile and graceful movements, as if she were dancing in the air. The woman quickly closed in and created a sphere of fiery energy in her hand, shooting it directly at Dan's chest, pushing him towards the ground. Dan staggered momentarily, surprised and furious.

Gathering his rage, Dan used his duplication ability to create four identical versions of himself, surrounding Melissa in the air. She made no move and remained impassive.

With a smug smile, Dan seized the opportunity and fired a powerful blast of ecto-energy along with his duplicates towards the woman. However, Melissa quickly assessed the situation and conceived a brilliant idea. Making her body light and agile, she dropped down, causing the four Dans to collide with each other.

Melissa chuckled at her ingenious plan, observing as the ghost's duplicates collided and canceled each other out. With the clones gone, Dan, now enraged, decided to unleash another attack, concentrating ecto-energy in his fists to create an even more powerful discharge. The brunette smiled with determination, preparing to dodge or confront the next attack.

At that precise moment, a surprising blast of energy struck Melissa, sending her flying to the other end of the hallway. Startled by the unexpected attack, Melissa got up and looked up, coming face to face with Clockwork, the Master of Time, floating in the air right behind Dan Phantom.

"That's enough, Dan," Clockwork said with a calm yet firm voice. "Stop fighting. You cannot win this battle."

Dan abruptly halted and turned towards Clockwork, his face flushed with anger. "Why should I listen to you? What right do you have to control my life and my actions?" he retorted.

Clockwork sighed, searching for the right words. "I'm not trying to control you, Dan. I'm just... just stop. As the Master of Time, I can see the consequences of your actions, and I know this fight won't end well," his voice resonated with seriousness, but also carried a slight note of concern.

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about? I'm not going to stop... Aaah!" Dan attempted to say more, but he was interrupted when Melissa fired a burst of energy from her hands, catching the ghost off guard and hitting him in the back.

"¡No, Melissa!" Clockwork exclaimed, alarmed by the intervention.

"Don't meddle in our fight, Clockwork," Melissa responded with determination in her voice.

Both of them continued their fight, exchanging attacks and threatening glares for a while. The woman responded to Dan's defiant gaze with a mocking smile, asking him ironically, "Is that all you've got? Do you want to give it another try, or are you ready to surrender?" She laughed.

Dan, filled with rage, began to gather his dark energy for one final powerful attack. The mysterious brunette, with a defiant smile on her face, prepared to dodge it, but suddenly she halted her movements, carefully evaluating her next move before facing Dan again. Meanwhile, Timegear and Clockwork watched the situation from a safe distance, concerned about what might unfold. 

"Clockwork, I just hope this woman knows what she's doing," Danny expressed, a mix of concern and hope in his voice.

"I know, but I'm confident she will defeat him. We can't intervene until Dan runs out of energy," Clockwork explained calmly. 

"Alright," Danny replied, his eyes fixed on the battle with intensity.

Meanwhile, in the midst of the confrontation, the woman made a crucial decision. She chose to put an end to Dan without resorting to murder. 

"You're interesting, Dan... Dan Phantom, right? Before you use your last resort, I advise you to stop. Otherwise, you'll have to face dire consequences," the woman warned firmly, her voice filled with determination. 

"I won't stop," Dan replied, his voice filled with ferocity and defiance.

The woman nodded, aware that Dan had made a misguided decision. She knew that he would be hers, whether by choice or by force. 

"I know you've just made a wrong decision. You will come with me, willingly or you will be forced in the worst possible way," she asserted, her defiant gaze fixed on Dan.

Enraged and powerless against the woman's provocation, Dan shouted vehemently, determined to eliminate her and the others once and for all.

"I don't have to listen to your orders. I'm going to eliminate you along with them!" he yelled with fervor, wanting to get rid of her once and for all.

"Oh, don't overdo it for God's sake," the woman, visibly tired of Dan's excesses, rolled her eyes with weariness and responded indifferently, "If you don't stop now, you'll have brought it upon yourself."

She knew she couldn't underestimate him, so without saying another word, she quickly teleported to another location, leaving Dan perplexed.

Surprisingly, the woman appeared in front of him, still emanating supernatural energy. She used a special technique to immobilize the entity without causing severe harm.

She delivered a powerful elbow strike to Dan's stomach, leaving him stunned, and then grabbed his arm, swiftly flipping him to the ground and dissipating his dark energy.

As Dan tried to recover, the woman approached him slowly, her face expressionless. She whispered in Dan's ear, pointing at his pointed ears.

"You are nothing, Dan. Just a being weakened by obsession and power. You have lost your humanity and become a monster'.

Dan tried to respond, but before he could utter a word, the woman struck him on the head, rendering him unconscious.

———————(⏲️)———————

After the fight that took place in the Tower of Time, the Master of Time and his apprentice Timegear were surprised to see how Melissa had easily defeated Dan Phantom with a single blow, despite his great strength. They approached to verify that Dan was unconscious and handcuffed with anti-ghost handcuffs.

"That... was incredible!" exclaimed Timegear excitedly.

"Hahaha, it's not that big of a deal, but thank you. And, uh, you're welcome for saving you. If it weren't for me..." Melissa apologized defensively.

The Master of Time sighed. "Well, partly it's your fault. But at least you've defeated Dan Phantom." Clockwork smiled calmly, returning to his childlike appearance.

"I know," the woman smiled as she looked at the ghost on the ground she had been fighting minutes before. Then she reconsidered and added, "Anyway, I had no intention of revealing that Daniel is here."

Clockwork, the mechanized man, looked at her confused and asked, "What? Why have you changed your mind? You asked for my help and I told you no."

"Well..." She sighed and replied with a neutral expression, "I have always been clear about my intentions, Clockwork. I have no time for childish games." She continued with a sharp tone, "I have found my test subject, and I will be taking him with me."

"What?" Timegear interjected abruptly.

Clockwork sighed, knowing it would be difficult to convince the woman. "Well, then do as you please. But I will continue doing what I believe is right," he asserted as he walked away with Timegear by his side. "Now Dan Phantom is your responsibility."

"Ah, yes, yes, alright," she nodded in agreement. "Danny's secrets and yours will be safe, locked away in my heart," she said, assuring that she would keep their secrets away from the Observers. Clockwork and Danny sighed in relief upon hearing that response.

"Perfect. We will discuss him specifically on another occasion," Clockwork pointed out, referring to their worst enemy.

"Yes, whatever my old friend says. And don't worry, that fool won't meddle in my affairs again," Melissa assured confidently.

Meanwhile, Dan remained unconscious and unable to defend himself. Melissa lifted Dan up in her arms, holding him carefully as she carried him to a safe place. She opened a portal, and both of them disappeared, leaving Clockwork and Timegear alone in the tower.

"Master, did you allow Miss... I mean, Melissa, to take my future self?" Timegear asked, concerned.

"Don't worry, Danny, he is in good hands. We will surely see them both again soon," Clockwork responded with a smile, leaving his apprentice puzzled.

"Both? What do you mean by that, master?" Timegear hesitated. "Darn it, I forgot to ask that woman how she knows about me. Have I met her somewhere before?"

Clockwork sighed and gave his apprentice a understanding look. He knew that Timegear was confused and worried about his future self, and that this entire situation wasn't helping much.

"You will understand in time, Danny. And don't worry, everything will be fine. The three of us are destined to meet again in the future," Clockwork reassured, his confidence unwavering.

Timegear didn't fully grasp how Clockwork could be so certain about that, but he decided to trust his master because he "knows everything." With a sigh, he headed towards the door of the tower to leave and complete his unfinished task.

Thus, the day came to an end, leaving behind more questions than answers.

Total word count: 4,344 done ✅✔️

~💚 Hello to all my dear readers and mutuals. I have brought here the first translated chapter of my first Danny Phantom book, and I hope you'll enjoy the upcoming second chapter, where Dan Phantom will make an appearance, possibly kidnapped or forced to an unknown place, and will have to face new challenges to obtain his freedom ~💚