Prompt by: Habato

So, it turns out Clockwork personally knew Pariah Dark- and knew him *well*. What was that relationship? Intense rivals/enemies? Friends? *Family*? Maybe even something... romantic? Spill the tea!

Warnings: none

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Totalitarian Transgressions

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Well it's that time again and here I am once again with my contributions to the phic phight of 2021 creatures above it has been a year just all sorts of… ugh but here is my excuse to get back into the swing of things with prompt #1 we'll see how she goes hm?

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Danny hums as he flew about Clockwork's lair. Ever since the events of his evil future coming back to haunt him Clockwork had seemed to have taken a rather unique interest in him, to say the least. Danny had come to see the ancient ghost as something of a mentor and Clockwork himself seemed to grin just the tiniest bit when Danny had come to that conclusion.

Today the ancient ghost of time was going through some of his history lesson with him, but of course with him being in the ghost zone having a little add in about the people and nations that did populate Mexico in the age of the Mayan empire, and where they ended up after their downfall was an interesting addon to be sure. Though Danny couldn't help but think it wouldn't do him any favours from his teachers to add that in his report.

"And given their ties and warship to the moon and sun, circles were something of a sacred item that soon only could be used when giving praise to their perceived gods and goddesses." Clockwork explained as Danny examined a small image before him as the temples were shown to him in their former glory through Clockwork's power.

The ancient ghost was happy to help and found it amusing with how Danny always tried to move about his lair hoping to catch a glimpse of some such things he wasn't supposed to and turning it into a game of sorts in a way.

Danny would move from screen to screen hoping to see some going ons and Clockwork would swiftly flick his hand and change the images on the screens to show whatever topic he was going on about. It was a funny thought to think that the boy could really do something or find something that Clockwork did not foresee.

But, alas. The boy was rather oblivious if he were, to be honest. And it made what he was about to find all the funnier to the ancient ghost.

As Danny flew through the lair, and over to a nearby table with a book on Parah Dark. It had a black and green cover with a flame and the symbol he had used in the front. The symbols he had used when he led his armies. Danny looked over his shoulder to Clockwork and grinned when he saw the ancient's back was turned.

With a little pause, he made a face as if he were trying to look away from the book all the while side eyeing it. He flicked the book open and eyed the contents. It seemed a chronological order of what led to Pariah's crowning, his feats while the king and his eventual downfall.

It was near the bottom of the list of events there written in a more modern looking script and a newer ink if the deeper and richer colour were anything to go by, that Danny saw something of interest. The entry seemed to tell about when the dark king was released and Danny himself had helped to lock him back up.

"Ah, I see your eyes have wandered yet again." Clockwork drawled out in amusement appearing in an instant next to his charge with a bright and amused smile on his lips. "Though I do doubt that bit of history will do you any good in your hopes to get an A"

"Well you can't blame me for being curious," Danny argued, crossing his arms and giving the elder ghost a pout.

"No, I suppose not." Clockwork agreed.

"I thought it was the Ghost Writer's job to keep track of this stuff, not yours." Danny wondered as he turned his attention back to the book, flipping through its pages and half skimming its contents.

"Ah, yes, you are correct in that. This however is for my personal records." The ancient says, flicking his wrist and turning to a bit of passage about Pariah's 'upcoming' period. He lets out a small hum of his own matching Danny's own in tone and pitch, earning a small annoyed glare from the halfa.

Danny sighs and eyes the page the book was stopped on curiously. He skims through a bit and blinks as he reads, re-reads and reads again the same paragraph. The book was told from Clockwork's point of view if the first person narration is anything to go by.

It was of course my duty to act as an advisor and mentor to the king. Narcissistic though he may be, he had usurped Vassel the dreadful in hopes to quell the niche that have been gathered together. Though while Vessel had hoped to bring all under a solid rule with an iron fist, The Drake king hopes to allow autonomy through similar methods.

Though breaking apart these lands will only lead to destruction and desolation he seems determined to brush aside my council in favour of his own morality. Though the lands of the realms are tied to the king and in effect he will drive himself mad and become a pariah king if he refuses to listen. I shall notify the court of ancients to begin work on a suppressant.

At least Vassel had the common sense to at least listen to his mentor even if he ignored me after.

Danny blinked and turned to face the ancient ghost curious about the words he'd read. "Wait, you tried to mentor Pariah Dark?" Danny practically yelled out.

"Indeed, it was through my wisdom that he, Drake at the time, was able to take the place of Vassel the terrible, or as he was called upon taking the throne Vassel the iron king." Clockwork drawled out dully, though his eyes shined in amusement.

"Wait… you mentored both those guys then? And now you're mentoring me. Huh, guess I should feel honoured then. Looks like you've only taken past kings as students. You really like me then huh?" Danny asked with a lopsided grin filled with teasing.

"Well of course I like you. Your company annoys the eyeballs, it makes things so much more interesting don't you agree?" Clockwork chided back before imitating the eye roll that was shot his way from the teen.

"Really? Isn't that childish?" Danny chastised with a raised brow and a huff.

Clockwork changed to his toddler form, a grin on his face as he took the teasing of his charge in stride. "Not at all," he says simply.

"Really?" Danny asked incredulously.

"But of course. A sign of maturity is knowing that something is childish and not caring about doing it anyway." The ancient said smirking.

"Ugh, and you trained two of the previous Zone's kings." The teen sighed out in mock exasperation.

"Yes, and why do you think that is that makes you special then?" Clockwork prompted.

"Cuz ya interfered with my future?" Danny half guessed half stated.

Clockwork shook his head as Danny turned back to the screens seemingly losing interest in the discussion at hand. "That is partly… but I have only taken up mentoring kings of the realms before you. There have been but fourteen kings before you."

"Huh, guess that makes this extra special for you to take me then. Is the other part cuz' I'm a halfa?" Danny wondered frowning as the screen he was trying to catch a glimpse at changed back to show him only a Mayan temple.

Well, it seems. The boy didn't want to accept his responsibilities just yet. That was fine, he merely needed to plant the seeds of the idea in his head.

It was sometime later when Danny was laying in bed that a thought occurred to him. "It's funny… only kings. Heh, well jazz does say I'm a royal pain in the ass…." Danny blinked and his eyes widened suddenly.

"Damn it clockwork! That's such a roundabout way of insulting me!" He complained to the glowing stars on the ceiling knowing full well he would be heard by the ghost of time. "Jerk!"

Back in the zone Clockwork sighs deeply and resists the urge to facepalm. Daniels obliviousness seemed to defy even the timestream….

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Total word count 1357

Complete