First story I've uploaded in two years, hopefully I can do Danny Phantom and Cirque du Freak some justice with this story.
Beta'd by my lovely friend Rebeca.

Prologue: Student of Time

Red eyes watched the raven-haired boy, not betraying any emotion as the halfa crossed his arms, frowning. In contrast, the ice blue gaze of said halfa scanned back and forth across the clocks and gears of the lair, filled with slight worry. The observer couldn't help but chuckle at his young charge, form shifting from that of an elder to a young man, purple cloak shifting slightly to fit his shape. The blue-skinned ghost was aware that the boy was accustomed to being summoned in cases of dire emergencies, giving reason for the teenager to be wary.

"Clockwork," The boy licked his lips with a pause as he tried to form a question. "Why'd you bring me here?" he asked and looked around more, as if trying to locate something.

"It has nothing to do with Dan," Clockwork said, shooting down the worries he was sure troubled the teenager. "The reason I called you here is because I wanted to warn you of a different kind of threat to the timeline, a meddling being threatening the future of both worlds through the use of two boys, Daniel."

Daniel crinkled his nose—a very small part of his brain annoyed by usage of the name Daniel rather than his usual nickname Danny(though he was more okay with it coming from Clockwork than Vlad Masters)—and stared at the ghost. "But, if it doesn't have to do with me, why did you-" He was cut off by Clockwork's raised hand. Danny knew better than to ignore his mentor of sorts.

"Because, you will find yourself in a position to change the outcome for one of the boys. I have spoken to a friend in secret about taking this course in the timeline, and he has finally agreed to take this chance, with your consent," Clockwork explained, form shifting once again to that of a child. "It took a great deal of talking to sway Hibernius from his position of true neutrality, so I would recommend taking it. It is a chance to change the hostile coming future." The only thing betraying said form was the knowing smile and the eyes, too ancient to fit the age his body was currently portraying.

Danny slowly nodded, a look of contemplation on his face. "How soon?" He asked, knowing that Clockwork probably already knew the full question.

How soon would this horrible future Clockwork spoke of creep up on them?

Clockwork turned away to face a viewing screen, willing a scene of the dark future to display itself. The earth looked hellish, bodied littered below a dark figure riding a dragon with brilliant bright eyes, clearly not a ghost like dragons Danny had previously met, was shown. There didn't seem to be a spot of ground unpainted with the deep crimson color that couldn't be mistaken for anything else but blood, seeping into cracks scarring the uninhabitable landscape. Danny's sharp inhale didn't go by undetected. It was worse than the glimpse the boy had seen of the future that Dan had caused in a mere few years, without his humanity to prevent him for wreaking havoc on the world. Who in all of the worlds could be worse than Dan Phantom?

"It will be more than thirty years to get to the decisive point in time that could be considered the true 'birth' of this man," The Master of Time informed, pointing at the figure with the clock affixed to his staff. "But you may be able to shift the path of time into a more desirable future. It only depends on your choice, of course."

The look Clockwork received told him what they both already knew: Danny would never let a future like that exist, if he could fix it.

He had already changed the future before, after all.

A moment of silence passed between the two, before Danny took a deep breath. He gave Clockwork a grim smile. "So when did you get this involved with the timeline, Clockwork? This feels a little more drastic than showing a guy a possible future to show him a lesson… Aren't you technically meddling directly now?" Black hair fell over his face as he looked down to his feet, remembering how he'd almost lost everything.

"Even one as powerful as myself has enemies, Daniel," Clockwork gave a smirk as the image of the future disappeared from his screen. "Desmond Tiny holds no respect for time or my work, so why should I respect him or his wishes?"

"Alright then, so what am I supposed to do to wreck his day?" Eyes dangerously flashed green as the corners of Danny's mouth turned up into a grin that almost split his face. His fist and palm met for emphasis.