Chapter 2

It was early the next morning and a very groggy Skyla rolled out of bed an awful taste hung in her mouth. She carefully stood up her legs wobbling. They buckled and she fell to the floor. She reached for her bedside table trying to steady herself. She pushed her bare left hand to her face running her pale fingers though her hair. Shock pierced her, her glove was missing. She used her upper body strength to push herself onto the bed where the glove lay tangled in the sheets. She relaxed slightly but she had a problem she couldn't remember what happened last night. As she slipped on her glove she tried to recall anything from the previous evening only thing she came up with was the doctor from the hospital.

Skyla on her feet again lurched towards the bathroom. She turned the shower to full blast undressed and stepped in glad for the hot water, it was still early enough the students hadn't used it all. Skyla feeling much better started to hum a Wingdom song, one she had learned after her first appearance there. She missed the accompanying lyrics that were floating in from the bedroom.

After dressing in a skirt, tights and a top, she began to work on her hair. A faint shadow crossed the doorway, she didn't think anything of it as she finished her usual ponytail. A soft creak on the floor made her look up for a second, then she resumed her morning routine.

"I wish you wouldn't do that," An all too familiar voice said.

Skyla froze. Skyler was standing in the doorway. Her eyes burned with tears threatening to overflow. No. She wouldn't cry. She couldn't afford to. It had to be a trick. She ignored the illusion who stepped aside for her and walked towards her night table looking for her medication angry it was missing she headed for the door. The illusion stopped her. He, no it. Gently tugged on her hair tie releasing a mass of blonde. It played with the locks for a few moments before letting go and standing back.

"There. Now you look like my Skyla," It said.

The voice was a knife though her heart. She barely resisted the urge to lean forward to embrace him and allow herself to be fooled by another trick. She stared at him until the emotions became too overwhelming she fled the room her eyes burning with tears.

Skyla had barely eaten any breakfast, she was furious at herself for being upset over the illusion. Not knowing where else to go she headed for her class to work on the routine she wanted her dancers to learn.

Skyla flipped though the CD until she found a favourite song. She began with simple steps to warm up, she quickly changed to faster more complex ones.

"You always did the arabesque perfectly. Much better than anyone in the Wingdom,"

Skyla stumbled mid step, quickly regained her balance and finished the move. She turned to face the intruder, fresh tears falling. She would never forgive herself if she went to him. She sniffled trying to hold back more tears.

"What do you want?" Her voice unsteady.

The man covered the distance between them in two steps. The mischievous smile of a young boy on his face.

"This,"

His lips touched hers and all resolve faded how could something that felt so real be fake? She shook her head away and placed a hand on his chest she could feel his heart beating, his fingers running though her hair. Even if this wasn't him she didn't care she'd deal with the consequences later. Right now with all her heart she wanted it to be him, she allowed herself to whisper the one word that had been in her mind for five years. "Skyler,"

It felt like hours had passed. They had stopped their dance long ago but they still held onto each other.

Skyla broke the silence. She lifted her head from his chest she looked into his light brown eyes. "I wish-," She found herself unable to finish the sentence their was so much she wanted to say, so many ways to end that one sentence.

He ran one hand down the length of her back stopping at her hip. "I know my love,"

"Skyler if you go I'll be more lonesome than ever,"

"I know that's why I found a way you can bring me back," He whispered.

"Trying to give me false hope?" She spat out.

Skyler wasn't sure what he expected from his wife but it wasn't that. He chuckled.

"No, my love you really can rescue me. I have found a way,"

"You lie," Skyla's eyes turned dark her body stiff she struggled away from his firm grip.

Skyler couldn't have imagined what had happened to his wife in the last five years to put such venom in her words.

"I only speak the truth, my love,"

He struggled watching her deal with the news.

"You left me Skyler, you left me to deal with a miscarriage, your kingdom, and your brother," The words were choked out between sobs.

Skyler's shoulders twitched at mention of his older brother. He stood at his wife's side and embraced her. "I'm sorry I left, I'm sorry about our baby,our kingdom, and I'm sorry about Skyclone. He can be a real ... " He struggled finding a word. "Ass,"

Skyla jerked away from him. "You don't understand! If he hadn't attacked none of this would have happened! We'd be together with a family,"

"And you'd still be the unappreciated Queen stuck forever in the Wingdom, you'd be forced to raise our children, answer to my command and give up dancing forever. Child bearing would be your only job!" Skyler's voice was filled with rage.

"I could- It wouldn't be..." Skyla trailed off.

"So bad?" Skyler finished.

Skyla looked up at him her eyes full of determination. "No, I can't give up dancing or this world."

Skyler smiled glad his wife had gained a backbone since he left. He placed a hand on her shoulder "I have to go now your dancers are coming, but please come see me tomorrow so together we can break the curse,"

"Skyler don't," But it was already too late, she watched as he slowly faded into a single point of light and then nothing.

There was the loud creak as the door to the practice room opened. Cheerful chatter slowly filled the room. It stopped when the students realized the position of their teacher. She was standing in the middle of the room hand extended touching the air as if something important had been there.

"Skyla aren't you supposed to be in bed?" Slam asked.

She turned to face her students. "And miss your dancing, never,"

"Whoa did you see that? She just did like a one-eighty personality swap from last night." Angelica whispered to Breeze who nodded in agreement.

"Uh, thanks for the complement but you really should be resting," Jade said.

"I'm not a feeble old women Jade," Skyla scolded.

"She's definitely baack," Angelica whispered to the group.

Skyla ignored the comment, and decided the best course of action would be to humour her students. "What do you recommend I do?"

"You could walk Whirl and Twirl, your garden needs to be watered, read a book," Camille kept rambling off ideas.

Skyla sighed and let her head droop, rest sounded like a good idea the events from the past few days overwhelming her she raised her hand to silence Camille.

"On your recommendations I will do something quiet today, but tomorrow we leave for the Wingdom. I recommend you pack light."

"Glad to see she can still crack a joke," Slam said.

Skyla sighed and snuggled into her bed. Two freshly washed dogs lay beside her. Tonight she would listen to Skyler for once in her life she would actually listen to him.

Afternoon the next day.

They were currently sitting in the Wingdom throne room. An odd silence had taken over.

"Are we supposed to be waiting for something?" Slam the ever impatient asked the sound cutting though the room.

Skyla smiled at the young man. "I am. You are going to find the Tinker and bring him here. Please tell him it's important and that I need his counsel."

"Is everything OK" Angelica asked.

Camille's face shifted into one of worry,"Ya. Queen Skyla what's up?"

"I can assure that it's nothing to worry about, but I need you to find the Tinker please and I recommend all of you go. Though Skyla's tone remained light it was still an order.

Breeze sensing there was nothing else they could do said, "Come on guys lets go," He waved a hand towards the window and spread his wings.

Skyla watched Angelica fly hesitantly out of the window. "Good they're gone," Skyla said to herself. "Now time to go look for Skyler," As she flew she reasoned with herself. If he had been in the throne room he would have appeared by now, he has to be in the place somewhere, I can't imagine he'd be at the Dias, it's far too cold out now.

On a hunch she flew to their old apartments. She grimaced standing at the door. Her first act as Queen after Skyler's death was to ask for a different bedroom. Not a very good first act but under the circumstances it was understandable.

She glanced down the hall that had housed the royal family for generations. She was quite glad she didn't have to visit the hall often it was unbearably empty and any sound bounced off the walls tenfold. Taking a deep breath she pushed the door open.

She smiled suddenly reminded of the comfort and sanctity the room provide, from prying eyes and court duties. Here she could just be herself. Here she wasn't anything but a wife. She smirked the only thing in her Wingdom life that wasn't a burden. Skyler had been such an amazing husband. Most people didn't know of their relationship behind that door. The few that did would say they were each others best friends. Outside those doors she was always expected to follow literally and figuratively one step behind him. The council demanded it, something about keeping the kingdom in line.

Fear once again took over as she stood paralysed in the door frame, afraid of painful memories that would come back, afraid to find out she really was losing her mind. She took a small breath for courage and slowly entered the room examining it and all the finery it held. She approached her jewellery box, opening the gold lid.

"Yes it's still here," She thought pulling out an elaborate hair comb one she had always admired. Though she loved it dearly it had belonged to Skyler's mother and as such she never wore it because of the painful memories of loss it brought back to him. She gripped it tightly relishing the pain it brought, she needed something real something she could define. Too tired to think she laid back on the elegant bed and allowed herself a brief moment to dream.

Skyler had never gone. Their children playing in the hall. Music floating in from the next room. Skyler bringing her a glass of wine. She'd take a sip, no maybe she'd refuse and tell him good news of another pregnancy. She sighed and closed her eyes it was all but a dream.

"Where is she?" The Tinker asked looking at the empty throne.

"She didn't say she'd be leaving, she just said she was waiting for someone. Maybe she went to look for them?"

"If I know Skyla..." The Tinker mused.

"Ya but the Wingdom's huge. We have no idea where she could be," Slam interrupted.

"That shouldn't be a problem," Skyler said floating several feet above the glassy floor.

"Did we follow Skyla down the rabbit hole?" Angelica asked unable to believe her eyes.

"I don't think so," Breeze said.

"Guys your being rude," Camille pointed to the Tinker who was already flat on the floor in worship. The Sky Dancers slowly started to bow still shocked by what they saw. Skyler raised his hand. "I know you are all most loyal subjects but I neither care nor do we have the time for such pleasantries." Skyler paused a moment to whistle. "Whirl, Twirl, search," He held out an old scrunchie to them. The two dogs looked up from their meal and obediently flew over, sniffed the hair tie and began to look for their mistress.

Skyler laughed looking at the feast the dogs had left behind, "You spoiled rotten dogs, your treated better than a king. I was ever treated to such a feast especially at a meal by myself. Though I suppose that's only suitable for Skyla's most loyal subjects." He laughed bowing to the dogs "Thank you for looking after her."

A frown settled on Skyler's face.

"What's wrong my King," The Tinker asked.

"Just remembering when we had to start this," Skyler answered.

"I'm sorry but you've had to do this before?" Breeze asked his voice filled with disbelief.

Skyler lowered himself down to the floor next to the Tinker.

"Sadly yes. Skyla was- is not cooperative. As you may know from personal experience. I don't know if she was ever happy about our engagement. But as a Earthling..."

Skyler trailed off when he noticed the looks on the Sky Dancers faces.

"Skyla's from Earth! She's so in trouble for not telling," Angelica said.

"It's not a well kept secret just not a well known one. And she hardly speaks of it." The Tinker said.

"Can we get the scoop before she catches us snoops?" Slam asked.

"Skyla's Wingdom parents could not conceive, and there were no orphans in the Wingdom. With their connections to the royal family they asked for a favour, to summon a child from the other realm. The sky swirl stone summoned the very next child who was in peril. Emmy or as we named her in this realm Skyla. She became a daughter to a new set of parents, a ward of the royal family, and my fiancee. I can't believe you didn't know..." Skyler mused.

"That's rough. Sounds like she's never really had a happy life," Camille said.

"No I suppose not," Skyler said his gaze drifting to the floor.

"I know there's a lot we don't understand but I do know that she loved you then and she loves you now." Jade said.

"She's right. I know she loved you my lord. She was just a young girl at the time," The Tinker said, a sad look on his face.

"I never doubted her love for me. Nor did I doubt her resentment, for our forced marriage, the brutality of the court, Skyclone's strange affections. Did she tell you? When Sky Clone was old enough to assume the throne we planed to run away to the other realm and live the rest of our lives there,"

The Tinkers face had taken on a strange shade of red. "You would leave the crown. Leave your kingdom, leave us to Sky Clones tyranny!" The old man was shouting.

"You were always good for a lecture. I assure you I had no idea that Sky Clone would react the way he did to my crowing. And I assure you that had he been crowed king he would not have been the best ruler but no harm would come to the Wingdom," Skyler said.

"LIES! You know his first move would have been to attack the other sky city. They'd retaliate and we'd be crushed in minutes" The Tinker shouted.

"Anabel died. They shut off all contact with us. I don't blame him for wanting to attack."

"Your just as evil as he is." The Tinker whispered.

"For God's sake he just wants to see her grave!" Skyler shouted.

"King Rastun will kill us all," The Tinker continued lost in memories.

Distant barking silenced the room. The sky dancers stood staring at the men who had almost come to blows.

"I'm glad see that's how a king and his most trusted subject act," Camille said bowing to the men. "You both truly are examples to follow," She continued.

"Whirl Twirl calm down," Skyla called after her dogs who were racing to the throne room. She was still groggy from when they barged into the bedroom barking until she followed them. She flew down the hallway squinting as the it emptied into the throne room. "Skyler," She whispered too quietly to be heard. She glided to the floor between the two older men their breathing ragged. She pushed them apart an irritated look on her face.

"You can't even keep it together for my sake?" She watched them eye each other a moment longer before they attempted to regain their composer. Skyla watched Skyler's gaze travel to her hair. Her eyes widened and she quickly removed the decorative comb and hid it behind her back.

Skyler reached for the comb and placed it back in her hair. "You should wear it. It looks lovely,"

"But-"

"I've had a lot of time to think. And there's no reason you shouldn't wear it," Skyler interrupted.

Skyler turned to face the Tinker, "I'm sorry. I think for Skyla's sake we could be friends,"

The Tinker sighed. "I suppose your going to need the Oracle,"

Skyler grinned. "Not a very sane woman is she?"

The Tinker stared at Skyler, "You'll need help,"

"I know," He replied glancing out one of the many large windows.

AN: Hello, so here it is the second chapter. I really didn't get as far into the story as I wanted so many ideas kept popping in. I also found my self rewriting scenes several times until they became what I wanted. I do want to share one line with you that I had but couldn't make work. Skyler to Skyla where in the original she showed up in the Wingdom a day early. "You are most difficult wife," Also expect some slower updates as I received a super sweet review on another story that I had finished a while ago but encouraged me to purse that stray end. I'll try and rotate chapter up dates but no promises. Till next time.