Danny looked over his shoulder in alarm as the ghost came hurtling towards him. He jumped out of the way, just missing deadly razor claws. Tumbling through the air, he crashed against the roof of a building and moaned in pain. Through a little earpiece, he could hear Sam and Tucker speaking frantically.

"There are way too many!" Tucker said nervously.

His fingers were tapping away at a keyboard hurriedly. Danny stretched his back and looked to the city. He had never seen them coming... hundreds of ghosts pouring out of the portal and attacking the city. Not only did they have claws, but their skin was literally paralyzing. Danny's hand had been frozen for a whole day before any feeling came back. Now he ducked as a dozen of them glided by. Popping his head up, he took a deep breath.

"Guys, this isn't going to work. We should regroup and think up another strategy."

On the other end, Sam nodded solemnly. Danny began flying, zipping around the ghost mobs. Something hit him! A scream crash through his throat as he tumbled through the air. A net was wrapped around his ankles as he fell. Below, Maddie and Jack Fenton were shooting ghosts left and right. Maddie smirked at seeing the ghost boy caught before Jack blasted a ghost next to her face.

"This is fantastic! I haven't seen this much business in years!" He exclaimed.

Maddie chuckled and continued blasting. The minute Danny touched the ground, the net extended and wrapped around his entire body. Focusing on his energy, he gasped.

"I can't become intangible... I-I'm trapped!"

As if reading his mind, Maddie leaped down beside them, lips curling up.

"Nowhere to run, ghost!"

"Yeah, this is really smart. Immobilize the only guy who can actually stop this invasion."

Her eyes hardened even more.

"Shut up, Jack and I can stop this invasion-"

"How?! With your weapons that never actually work?"

"They work!"

"And yet I always seem to escape"

"I don't see you escaping right now."

Danny paused. She had a point. He was about to fire back, when a ghost appeared behind her. She didn't notice and he raised his hands, about to plant them on her back. Oh God, what will happen if he paralyzes her back?

"Look out!"

Maddie whipped around and blasted the ghost is a a small glob of Ectoplasm. She stared at the disintegrated ghost, then back at Danny with a confused and suspicious expression.

"Why did you just warn me?"

Danny searched his mind for an answer, but ended up just shrugging.

"Heat of the moment?"

She bought it. While Danny was tied up, she went to go help Jack. Danny huddled, trying to not be seen by any of the ghosts. Fail. Three or four spotted him and were gliding his way. He struggled against the net, whimpering and yelling out. The two ghost hunters heard him and turned to see the ghosts advancing.

"They're going after our prize!"

"Get 'em!"

The two jumped in front of the ghost-boy with their weapons. Their enemies hissed and attacked, claws lashing out. Maddie ducked around expertly, while Jack just sort of fumbled around. One grabbed her arm and she screamed as it paralyzed. Danny wanted to jump up... to help. He winced as Jack was touched so many times that all he could do was stand. One ghost, different from the others, floated up through the ground. It looked old with a long white beard and red eyes. With a small smile, it gently flicked the ghost hunters eyes closed, enabling them unable to see. Danny looked at the ghost indignantly.

"You'll pay for that," he warned.

The ghost snickered. Crossing his arms behind his back, he strolled easily to the boy and knelt down.

"You're right... I will be paid for that."

Danny's eyes flickered in confusion.

"By who? Who are you working for? Skulker? Vlad?"

"Oh no, I don't associate myself with such weak ghosts. My master is the absolute and undeniable ruler of the ghost zone."

"Pariah Dark?"

"No, no. I don't associate with such weak ghosts."

Weak? Pariah Dark had once been the ruling tyrant of the ghost zone! The ghost bowed slightly before bringing his head up.

"My name is Grindle. I know you do not know me, but you will... Sire."

"Sire? W-What's going on?"

"What's going on, is that I escaped Clockwork," a voice said behind him.

Danny twisted around to see Dan standing tall. Dan... his ultimate enemy... Unlike the last time Danny had fought him, he was now wearing a regal looking outfit. His white hair flamed up as he stared down at his younger self. So pathetic... so weak.

"I guess now's around the time you would say something like 'you'll never get away with this'. Am I right?"

Danny didn't say anything, just stared.

"I don't understand, I defeated you."

"No, I exist outside of time now. Clockwork was a fool if he thought he could keep me trapped. And I'll finally get the revenge I seek. I'm a reasonable guy, so you tell me who to pick off first. Sam? Tucker? Maybe Jazz?"

"You stay away from them! This is between you and me."

"And them," he said, gesturing towards his frozen parents.

Dan moved past Danny towards Maddie and Jack. His younger self rose a quizzical eyebrow.

"Leave them alone. You don't need them."

He sighed and turned to Danny. When he spoke, it was with a condescending and patronizing tone.

"Don't tell me if I do or don't need them. Trust me when I say I have something very special planned."

Danny gritted his teeth and struggled against the net. Dan threw back his head and laughed at the boy's attempt. He reached for Maddie, and Danny was about to yell out, when the air above them exploded. Grindle cowered down, but Dan just looked up with a hardened gaze. Clockwork came shooting out of a portal, holding a long staff. Lightning cracked form the staff, making the ground go up. Dan was thrown to the floor as he looked at Clockwork and hissed.

"Isn't this interfering with the laws of time?" Dan accused.

"Not when you exist outside of time," Clockwork replied evenly.

The ultimate enemy smiled and shot at the ghost of time. Clockwork easily dodged and cracked his staff against Dan's back. Dan screamed and plummeted down. Clockwork made a move towards Danny.

"No! Save them," Danny said, motioning to his parents.

The ghost nodded and rushed towards Maddie and Jack. Taking them, he started to soar up into the portal, but Dan instantly fell on top of him. The two wrestled, Clockwork trying to protect Maddie and Jack. A ghostly wail erupted from Dan, sending Clockwork spiraling backwards. Somehow, he managed to get to the portal. In a last effort to throw Dan, Clockwork closed the portal and collapsed in his tower. He had left Danny behind... Glancing at Maddie and Jack, he sighed. Dan was smart, he knew what to do. In his conquest, he had enlisted Grindle's help, but Grindle existed outside of time. All Dan needed was an ally rooted in the timeline, and then Clockwork couldn't interfere. Taking another glance at Maddie and Jack, a plan began to form.

"Yes, she will do quite nicely. He might still need some training... of course, I'll still need to convince them, but I can work with this."

Taking Maddie and Jack, he dragged them to a separate room in his tower and placed them down. He laughed to himself and shook his head.

"Oh the irony. You swore to destroy all ghosts... now you're forced to save one."