Disclaimer: I do not own Tin Man, or any recognisable characters... unfortunatly.
I know that I don't really update my stories all that regularly but thats mainly due to I write whatever i feel like at the moment. Since I already have a story for the sequel which I really can not wait to write, I'll probably stick to this story more than others. Saying that, (and I know it's annoying) I normally write more for the stories I get more reveiws for.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Suggestions are welcome. I'm using a combination of Tin Man, The Wizard of Oz (movie) and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (book)... but mainly Tin Man (obviously)The first thing to notice was the amount of colour in the throne room. It was nearly blinding at sunrise when the light from the two suns illuminated the whole room, sweeping the colour from the stained glass windows onto the main features of the room- the main door and the throne.
D.G. had heard about the beauty of the room and even though she desperately wanted to see it, was forced to save it for today. That was probably the only reason she agreed to this. Her artist's curiosity won over her farm girl fear of being the centre of attention. At least she hoped it was because of her time in Kansas, otherwise she might have to admit it was her personality and that wasn't the best emotion to hold on a day like today.
The drums began to play and D.G. noted another difference of the O.Z. from the other side. All of these sorts of occasions had organs playing in the background, playing a solemn song that reminded people of their religion. Here it was all about the mood of the day- organs and harps playing slowly for funerals; slow, steady drums for a trial (music played at every official event); and this triumphant noise was played on days that signified a new beginning like coronations or weddings.
The ruby slippers glimmered on D.G.'s feet and she closed her eyes and tapped her heels together twice nervously. All she wanted to happen was the doors to open and the sun to filter in so she could marvel in its beauty. Instead she had to wait until the suns were in the perfect position while the maids fussed over her emerald coloured dress, making sure that it was straight but not to straight. The material flowed over her like liquid nature she thought and grinned slightly. This was a dress she could be caught dead in.
Finally the doors opened and the music that flooded through faintly before came bursting into life. The air was filled with colour and everyone was dressed in red and green to signify the event. It was like Christmas on the other side. Her eyes flickered around the room to see the few people she knew grinning at her proudly. Her mother and father were at the back of the room, right where she was about to walk out of while Azkadellia, Raw and Jeb were all waiting for her in the stands. Az, ever the sweetie blew her little sister a kiss before grasping onto Jeb's arm and whispering in his ear. He sniggered softly but composed himself when he saw the princess glaring at the two of them.
Guitars started up and out of nowhere a Wyatt Cain steps next to D.G. If they hadn't practiced this the day before she would have shrieked and abused him, a crowd full of noblemen and women onlookers or not. She took the arm he offered her and smiled nervously at him, showing as little teeth as possible.
"You look beautiful Princess." He whispered to her and her smile got a little wider with the compliment.
"You don't look to bad yourself Tin Man." She replied softly and they began to walk in time with the music as he chuckled. D.G. let her eyes drift over the crowds and saw many people she had been introduced at the rehearsal the evening before. Each gave a small bow as she passed them until finally she reached the stage. Cain directed her up to where another of her friends stood. He smiled nervously at D.G. hoping to give her the little confidence he had. For a moment the farm girl forgot about the rest of the people as she noticed what Ambrose (still Glitch in her mind) was wearing.
His old clothes had been ceremoniously burnt, as had hers and everyone else who played a major role in defeating the witch and now he was dressed in the guard's dress uniform, the medals he received a few days before making small tinkling noises every time he moved. His normally wiry hair was slicked back and his tattered uniform had been replaced. It wasn't easy- she remembered meetings with him being cut short as the dress maker needed new measurements for every part of his uniform.
She saw his eyes sweep over her, and she imagined Cain saw it to as his grip on her arm tightened slightly before releasing.
"You look… amazing." He started his voice low enough that underneath the drums only her and his father could hear. "Princess..." Glitch quickly added. Even though they were friends lately he could not address her by anything other than her royal title.
"You can't call me that for much longer." She replied with a smirk. Long had she insisted he call her by her nickname, but being for some reason he refused. Cain had been calling her 'Princess' increasingly as well.
"Maybe…" He murmured with a gulp. He had been against Zero's men, attacked Azkadellia's castle, and been part of a rebellion army but this he was nervous about. Some day he would have to sort out his priorities.
The music suddenly stopped and Lavender and her husband Ahamo walked up to the stage gracefully. D.G. had often wondered why they were insisting that she do this- why it couldn't be them as rulers of the O.Z. but apparently
she was the symbol of hope for the Outer Zone. It was better to have hope leading the world instead of simply in the shadows for photo opportunities.
It was a simple ceremony. This side mainly focused on the mood of the occasion rather than a bunch of words that didn't mean anything, D.G. noted. Taking ahold of Glitch's hand she unhooked from the ex-Tin Man and his hand encased hers as well. Golden light emitted from the hands held together and all three jumped slightly. This part hadn't been practised, though they had heard about it and Wyatt Cain had even seen it happen at the coronation of Queen Lavender he would never have expected it to be like this.
His head hurt like nothing else and thoughts invaded his head that he knew did not belong to him.
This is so weird. Is every ceremony in this place like this? Oh god my head is killing me… I wonder if Cain and Glitch are hurting as much as me…
Sure am kid. He thought, not expecting her to hear him but surprise flooded through his body.
Cain? She asked back mentally. He suddenly blissful. Like the time he and Adora got married and they were telepathically chatting away while the Mystic Man married them. The Mystic Man married you two? He heard her think and he suddenly clenched his jaw, determined not to think anything else.
On the other side of D.G. Glitch was simply staring at the golden light.
Wow.
I didn't think you would be a man of little thoughts. D.G. thought in amusement and then bit her lip in embarrassment as she realised he heard her and she could feel his emotions coursing through her.
D.G.? You can hear my thoughts? Can you read all of my memories? At that enquiry she closed her eyes and concentrated, stilling the two men's conscious thoughts and attempted to dip into their subconsciousness. There she found a sea of confused thoughts that had no connection. It was a mixture of memories, hopes, dreams and too make it more confusing it was both men's subconsciousness at the same time. Taking a deep breath D.G. closed her eyes a little tighter and felt as if she was falling in. When she hit the pool of thoughts she was nearly suffocated.
Adora. Mother. Thingamajigs. Papay. Other side. Azkadellia. Old Road. Grave. Death. Protect the Princess. Die for the Queen. Die for the princess. Scarecrow. Sergeant. Crack in the O.Z. Kid. Family. Love. Advisor duties. Inventions. Honour. Father. Light. Blindness. Jewellery. For her. Pain. Meaningless. Alchemists. Deaf. Table. Doll. Throne. All about rhythm. Son. Surgery. Holograms. New Era. D.G. Dying. Torture. Pain. Screaming. Death. Death. Death. DEATH. DEATH. DEATH. DEATH. SCREAMNG. LOSS. ALONE. DEATH. D.G. TORTURE. ZERO. AZKADELLIA. DEATH. ADORA. JEB. D.G. DEATH. DEATH. WAR. FRIENDS IN BATTLE. DEATH. DEATH. DEATH. DEATH. GET OUT OF THEIR HEAD MY LITTLE SWEETY. NOOOO!!
Pain erupted from D.G.'s chest and she let go of the men's hands in reaction and grabbed her head. A flash of light burst from the three of them, signifying for the ceremony to continue.
Cain noticed D.G. was breathing deeply, as if she was struggling for oxygen and tentatively placed a hand on her shoulder. Glitch was busy looking at his hands, wondering what had happened. One moment he was talking (was he talking to her?) to D.G. and the next a voice was screaming in his head.
"You have now felt each other's feelings about what is to happen." They heard Queen Lavender announce. All three looked up at her, D.G. a bit less attentive than the others. "Wyatt Cain of the Outer Zone police squadron, knowing you are choosing for the world, do you accept that Dorothy Gale the second is to become the new Princess, a ruler and protector of the Outer Zone?"
"I do." He replied, his voice echoing so that the entire hall of people could hear.
"And Ambrose, Advisor to the former Queen of the Outer Zone, knowing you are choosing for the world, do you accept that Dorothy Gale the second is to become the new Princess, a ruler and protector of the Outer Zone?" Ahamo asked Glitch and he nodded slightly.
After a moment he realised that wasn't enough and cleared his throat before replying to Ahamo "I do" with a deeper voice than he normally had. If D.G.'s mind still wasn't with the voices she heard, she would have grinned at him. But the screeching voice that told her to get out of their heads was still replaying in her head over and over.
"After hearing how the people of the Outer Zone see you and love you, do you Dorothy Gale accept the duties of a Queen's daughter, loving and protecting this world as if it were your own?" Lavender asked her daughter and D.G. snapped back into reality.
She could simply say no. Live in the O.Z., stay in the palace but have none of the responsibilities she was to have if she accepted this responsibility. Her mother had already offered this, and for a few days she had considered it as a reality. But when Az had explained to her why the witch wanted the throne so dearly- power, riches and a whole world as an army- she knew that she would have to do this. To make sure that her mistake would not become someone else's again. So that no one else would have to go through what she or her sister had been through.
"I do. I will be in every battle alongside them. I will be there to make sure that no one takes over our world and plunges it into darkness. I will be there to love every child, every adult and lead them to a new and brighter future. I will be not only a symbol for the O.Z. but a means for the meaning of a symbol to become a reality. I accept these responsibilities and will learn and teach about all forms and worlds I can and have experienced." D.G. replied. The statement was one that her and her sister had been going through every night since Az returned to her normal state and now D.G. realised how stupid it sounded. Not the parts that Az suggested, like being in battle, but the bits she made up about teaching and learning. Fantastic. She had ruined the coronation with crappy writing skills.
D.G. then remembered what she was meant to do now and feel to her knees, hanging her head low. A tiara was placed on her head that she had never seen (for ceremonious purposes) and she swore it moulded to her head. A single person began to clap and D.G. turned around to see her elder sister grinning and beating her hands together. A moment later Raw and Jeb joined in. The whole hall erupted into applause and Jeb's hands stopped hitting one another and moved to his mouth where he whistled. Several nobility glared at him which he ignored.
D.G. turned her head to the front again to hide her grin, the voice in her head now long forgotten. She felt hands at her arms and they pulled her up so that she was once again (more or less) face to face with her mother and father. They both hugged her and Lavender walked to the front of the stage, close to the crowd.
"I give you Princess Dorothy Gale of the Outer Zone!" Her last few words were drowned out as a roar of cheers came from the crowd as a few of the city folk were allowed to enter.
The new princess's mutter of "D.G." in correction was also drowned out to all those but Glitch and Cain who both just grinned at her and forgetting the crowd turned their backs to the rest of the hall to congratulate their friends.
"I am so proud of you Kid." Cain told her. D.G.'s throat blocked up in the sudden surge of emotions- gratefulness, fear, love, pride.
"Same here Doll." Glitch told her and she suddenly jumped at them giving them both a hug. "I know it took a lot of bravery to do something like this so suddenly."
"Thank you so much you guys." She whispered in their ears and they simply squeezed tighter in response. Forgetting her new position, she lightly pressed her lips to both of their cheeks which made the crowd call out louder. It was nice to know that their leader was just as human as they were.
They all stepped back and Glitch's face was pink, a small smile on his face. "I'll talk about your new position later." D.G. told him quietly and his skin returned to its normal pale complexion as he gave her an inquisitive look.
She turned to Cain's face which was… well, turned away from her. Thinking he must be embarrassed to be seen kissed (even if it was only on the cheek) by the new princess she let him be.
D.G. started down the stairs and Azkadellia ran up and took her arm, hooking it in hers as they made their way to yet another hall for the celebrations that were to follow…