Those Who Were Left Behind
Varric played a mean game of cards, with Wicked Grace being his preferred game.
Part of what made him a good player was his ability to bluff.
That was an ability Danny completely lacked. It was almost amusing, how poor a liar the kid was.
However, being able to see through Danny's lies left Varric with plenty of questions. Number one being "if Danny isn't a mage, how the dust was he able to shoot ice from his hands?"
Varric had a couple of outlandish theories regarding that, many of which involved a certain spirit that had appeared at the same time as Danny.
It didn't bother him that the kid was lying. Since it didn't seem like Danny meant any harm to the people Varric cared about, personal things could remain that way. There was a reason Danny's nickname was Softy.
It was just like Isabela's obvious lies regarding not knowing anything about that artefact she was looking for. It was not something Varric was worried about.
He'd try to fit the pieces together, sure, but he wouldn't force Danny to unravel the mystery.
After all, solving it yourself was the entire point of a puzzle.
A letter found in the warehouse they had fought in let them know that Feynriel, the young mage they were looking for, had been kidnapped by slavers. Apparently, his mother had been right in worrying about him.
Hawke, Varric, Merrill and Danny had subsequently traced the slavers to a cave on the Wounded Coast.
"Is it just me, or does every single cave looks exactly the same?" Varric looked at their surroundings with poorly hidden contempt.
The cave was dark, dreary, and filled with ferns and fungi. It looked like any other cave.
Merrill stifled a giggle. Danny shrugged.
"The way I see it, it's easier that way. Means we won't get lost." Hawke smirked.
"Now you're making me worried." Danny frowned. "Do you even know where we're going?"
"Of course not. I've never been here before." Hawke sauntered forwards casually.
"I've got this ball of twine we can use to find our way, if we really get lost," offered Merrill.
"It won't come to that," assured Hawke. "I've got an excellent sense of direction."
"Then why are we walking into a dead end every five seconds?" Danny cocked an eyebrow.
"So we don't miss any loot. Duh."
"Take another step, and the boy dies." The slaver held a dagger to the throat of a bound boy.
They had come out into a larger part of the cave, which was filled with mercenaries and similar scum, and immediately been spotted. Their small group was outnumbered, but likely far from outclassed.
Danny just hoped it was actually Feynriel this time. Running around in circled was starting to become frustrating.
"Distract them." Danny said the words as softly as he could, to not be overheard. Varric and Hawke both gave small nods.
Danny returned to the shadows and turned invisible.
'Wonder if any mages can do this.'
Danny tiptoed up to stand behind the thoroughly distracted slaver.
'Oh well, if nothing else I can say it's obscure magic from my home.'
Danny found himself a sufficiently large rock and hit the guy in the back of the head. A bit anti-climatic, maybe, but it did the trick.
As he fell, Danny pulled the bound guy back, so that he wouldn't cut himself of the dropped dagger.
Pandemonium erupted. All the mercenaries in the room started attacking. Danny put up a shield to protect himself and the kidnapped boy.
Feynriel, if that was indeed who he was, gave Danny a wide eyed stare. Danny grinned in reply, cut his ropes, and started throwing ecto-blasts to give his friends some assistance.
"You know, you can help us out here."
Feynriel shook his head. "I wouldn't know how."
"Well then, stay behind me."
The young mage was perfectly willing to do just that.
Soon, all the enemies were taken care of.
"Impressive sneaking, Softy." Varric gave Danny a crooked smile. "We'll make a rogue out of you yet."
'Hmm... I guess turning invisible isn't such a big deal in this world. Nice.'
"Feynriel, right?" Hawke turned towards the boy.
"Ah, yes. Thank you for rescuing me. Did the templars send you?" There was a distinct note of worry as he asked the last part.
"Nah. Your mother did." Hawke leaned on her sword, which she had showed into the ground.
"Like that's any better." Feynriel frowned. "She promised to protect me, but as soon as I get a few bad dreams she turns me over to the templars. Like they could help me, they'll make me Tranquil or worse!"
Danny refrained from asking what being made Tranquil meant. It seemed to be one of those 'common knowledge' things.
"For what it's worth, we're not here to take you to the Circle. We just wanted to make sure you were still alive."
"Why not? Who cares about a mage?"
"I'm not in the business of judging people on what they were born as," drawled Hawke as she sent Merrill and Danny smug looks. "But you should probably get some help with the whole controlling your magic thing."
"I was trying to get to the Dalish elves. My mother was a Dalish, before she had me and moved into the city. I'm sure they would help me."
Hawke turned towards Merrill, who nodded. "They would take you."
"Well then, that's decided. We're taking you to the Dalish." Hawke grinned. "Let's go."
Merrill didn't immediately follow, but rather gave a small whisper of "Creators."
"What's wrong?" Danny fell in step with the elf.
"The Dalish... I left my clan behind when I moved to Kirkwall." Merrill bit on her lip. "I don't want to face the Keeper's disappointed face again. She wields guilt like a particularly sharp weapon."
"Why did you leave?"
"They don't understand what I am trying to do." Merrill's eyes lit up with an inner fire Danny hadn't known she possessed. "I'm trying to restore our lost history, and I'll do that even if it means I have to do it alone."
"You're not alone, Daisy." Varric patted Merrill's arm, and she gave him a grateful smile.
"Yeah, you're stuck with us." Hawke grinned back at them. Merrill blushed a bright red at the comment.
'So she left them behind, and is afraid they'll judge her...' Danny couldn't help the melancholic smile that his lips twisted into. 'I wonder if the people I left behind blame me for it.'
Three sets of footsteps echoed through the Tower of Time, out of pace with the insistent ticking of a hundred clocks.
Sam, Tucker and Jazz emerged in the main room.
"Clockwork!" Sam's jaw was set, her fists clenched. Her eyes burned with determination.
Tucker was more relaxed, but no less confident in his movements.
Jazz trailed behind them both, carefully examining everything with a critical eye. There was something detached about her features, like she was forcing herself to not get too involved with the situation.
"You don't need to shout, I know you're here." Clockwork gave them a flat stare. "And I know why you're here."
"So?" Sam crossed her arms over her chest. "Where's Danny?"
"The answer is 'no'."
Tucker started coughing as he choked on air. "What!? Seriously!? I thought you liked Danny!"
"I won't interfere with the timeline."
"We're not asking you to send us back in time or anything," Sam scowled, her hands on her hips. They hadn't gone all the way to Clockwork's lair to be refused. "We just need you to tell us where Danny is, so we can use the Infi-map to pick him up."
"No."
"Why not?" Jazz's voice was icy.
"Because he is where he needs to be."
"But he's alright?" Her cold facade cracked, her worry showing through the calm. "Is my baby brother okay?"
"He is fine." Clockwork turned to face Jazz fully. "You will see him again."
"Not good enough." Sam stepped forward. "We need him back."
"No, you don't." Clockwork's voice was clipped. He was running out of patience. "You can manage Amity Park on your own, now that ghosts aren't coming through to pick a fight with Phantom. Danny is exactly where he needs to be."
"What does that even mean?" complained Tucker.
"He inherited the Crown of Fire when he ripped it off Pariah Dark's head. He is King of the Ghost Zone."
"Yeah, we know. That's not the point. He doesn't even want to be king. He wants to be an astronaut," sneered Sam. Her patience had been wearing thin ever since Danny disappeared.
"That will change. He will not only learn to accept his role, and he'll grow into it."
"So, what? Is that it? This is all some big plot to manipulate Danny into becoming king?" Sam looked like she'd bitten into something sour.
Clockwork looked away. "I'm not happy with it either, but I do what needs to be done for the good of the Ghost Zone, as well as every single world that is connected to it. Now that he's away from your influence, and all the normal things he has been clinging to, Danny can learn to fully embrace the changes that has been brought into his life."
Sam gave the ancient ghost one last hateful look before storming out of the tower.
Tucker and Jazz followed close behind.
AN: While there won't be any romance for Danny in this fic, Hawke/Merrill is optionally canon (since it's a game) and very cute and will pop up in the background at times.
I originally had Clockwork hinting at a certain elven god that will (probably) mess things up with the Fade in DA4, but I'm not sure I want this fic to be that long. It's kind of a big commitment. Especially since DA4 doesn't even exist yet.