Wings

Chapter Four

Digits

"Woo-hoo, we kicked his butt, didn't we?" Wally boomed.

The Zeta-Tube hummed, the Team pouring out of the entrance.

Eleanor frowned. Wally's powers were nifty, though his impress M'gann at all cost game jeopardized the mission. Lives were at stake, both the civilians and their own.

One good thing that happened recently with the Team was when Artemis, Green Arrow's niece joined them. It left one more point for the girls, and so far they both got along. They both agreed that Wally's lack of demeanor was annoying. Artemis, on the other hand was less forgiving and more vocal about how she felt.

Red Tornado, Batman and Green Arrow were before them.

"Your mission to help escort Ambassador Leroy's daughter was adequate," began Batman. The Dark Knight was indeed powerful and awe-inspiring, though at times he could be so intimidating. Eleanor didn't know how Robin could take it. "Somethings could be worked on, though I've seen you did better than the last mission. I congratulate you all. You are dismissed."

She began walking to her dorm room, when Red Tornado called for her.

"Your father asked me to give you this."

A parchment with the royal family seal was present it to her. It must be important if it was family business. She took the parchment.

"Thank you..."

Opening, the message read as followed.

By the order of her majesty,

Queen Al'ma of Quinnleaf

This court of the Faie request

Princess El'vena

to come to the royal palace this Friday at 4 o'clock

To get to Quinnleaf, you had to get through a magical portal. Joseph, Eleanor's father, managed to create the dimension highway in the first place with the help of a little spell he and a bunch of other sorcerers created. The key to get back and forth between both worlds was a ruby red crystal, otherwise known as jante with the Faie.

Eleanor brought out her crystal, sitting in front of the fireplace. She breathed. Closing her eyes. Joseph taught her how to go back and forth from Quinnleaf if she ever wanted to visit there. The transition from leaving Earth to Quinnleaf felt weird, though over time she got used to the feeling.

She whispered the Faie language, the accent and phonetics sounding like wind under her tongue.

"Bring me home."

She found herself all over the room, fuzzing out like the bubbles in your stomach after a sip of soda pop. She opened her eyes. An array of colours, many new and need naming were around her. It was strange, yet... beautiful. She could linger there for hours and never get bored.

She found herself landing on all fours. Her knees used to always hurt, but thanks to Black Canary's training, Eleanor found a way to land more gracefully. Looking up she smiled.

A great, green forest was bustling with life. Trees that stretched up to the skies and were big enough to build a city out of. Filled with shops, houses and stairs, it was like something out of a fantasy movie. Stables were kept for the birds. In Quinnleaf birds were big enough to carry humans, they were like horses for the Faie. The glow of the moss lamps were slowly lighting up, indicating it was almost nighttime.

Once faiefolk started to notice her, they recognized her immediately.

"Princess El'vena...!"

"Hail!"

"Spirits bless you princess...!"

She smiled, waving at everyone.

"Hello...!" She never got used to the attention. After living so long on Earth, she just wanted to be treated like a normal girl. She spread her wings, taking flight into the skies.

More cheers of her name and "spirits bless you" were heard from around her. Any one could spread their wings and fly with her, though thankfully, faiefolk were respectful towards her space.

The palace was a humble silver, white tree. In the moonlight, the luster of the tree made the palace more beautiful. One day this will all be hers... One day, if that ever happened.

She landed on the entrance, the guards greeting her.

"Princess El'vena...! We are glad you are here. We trust your journey was safe?"

"It was, thank you..." she smiled. "At ease, Ze'ka, Lo'ne."

"Your grandmother, the Queen and your father are already inside," said Ze'ka

Thanking them once more, she entered the vast corridor. The palace was decorated with ancient Faie artifacts and heirlooms collected over the years. Where were they when she had to do that family heritage project in third grade?

Entering the study, a smile was on her lips.

"Dad...!"

She gave him a great hug.

"I heard about your mission," he said. "Batman said you all did well. I'm so proud of you."

Her cheeks flushed a pale crimson. Turning, her grandmother was sitting on the chair. She kneel down, kissing the Queen's hand.

"Your majesty..."

"El'vena..." the old woman's face smiled.

She embraced her grandmother. Even though she was traditional and by the book, she left time to show affection.

"So, what did you called me here for?" she asked. "Was there something special going on or..."

"Have a seat, Ella, it's something that we'd like to talk to you about," her father said.

"You're coming of age, El'vena," her grandmother began. "You're second in line to the throne, and I think it's time... that we taught you more of Quinnleaf's ways to prepare you."

"Wait, wait a second... so you mean, like Princess lessons and that kind of stuff?"

"Not exactly, but yes," continued her grandmother. "Politics... traditions. You are my granddaughter, and you may be Queen sooner than you think, it's never a crime to prepare early."

"Grandma, I love you, it's just..." she began. She knew she was going to break some hearts. "I don't know if I have what it takes to be Queen."

"You're second in line, it's your duty to-"

"Hear me out... I just joined the Team. I have school to worry about, bad guys taking over the world. I'm struggling in math, and you expect me to learn about running a country? I am trying to figure out what to do with my life, and I don't know if I should spend the rest of it here, or on Earth."

She quivered, trying to catch her breath.

"I apologize... I had a run in with a few assassins trying to kill an Ambassador's daughter before I came."

She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was her father. "No one's pressuring you to do anything you don't want to do, Ella..."

She loved her family, though by not taking the throne, they saw it as a sign of disloyalty.

"Excuse me, I don't feel well... If it's alright, I'll have supper in my room," She curtsied. "Grandmother."

"Want to talk about it?"

They were all in the bio-ship, hovering in midair. M'gann looked concerned. Now that M'gann pointed out how Eleanor was feeling, Artemis and the rest of the boys looked at her.

"It's alright..." began Eleanor. "Big test at school, cramming can do things to you."

She didn't want to bring her family troubles during the mission. If they worried about her on the field, they wouldn't focus.

"Well..." began M'gann. "If you need anything, I'm always here."

A smile smile was on Eleanor's face. M'gann was indeed wonderful. "Thanks..."

Batman was on screen.

"Land mines have been placed throughout the plains between West Kasnia and East Kasnia during the war, though now the war's over, there's still resistance between the two factions. Our goal is to get as many land mines and deactivate them, save any casualties, and stop any resistance fighting. Good luck. Batman out."

Kaldur stood up. "Artemis, you're with Robin. Superboy, you're with M'gann and I. Swallowtail, you're with Kid Flash."

This was the day she dreaded. She and Wally, partners? They had just as much chemistry as paint drying. If it was to help save those in Kasnia, she might as well grin it and bear it.

He walked up to her, hands shaking. "H-hey...!"

If she wasn't dating Sydney, he'd be all over her like M'gann. If he only knew who M'gann really liked... The only person who he was afraid of to go after was Artemis. If she had pest repellent on her, Eleanor would buy it.

Once they were on land, they immediately started to find the land mines. With the help of a futuristic metal detector and careful instructions on how to set them off from exploding, everything seemed to be going well.

"How can you stay calm and not freak out over this, ST?" Wally was sweating like Niagara as they wired through a land mine.

"It just takes a little precision, logic, and... Kid Flash, could you please stop squealing like a little girl!"

"Sorry..."

Once the land mine played a beep and the red light died down, she breathed. Thank spirits she did it correctly.

"Whew...!" Wally cleared his forehead.

"Don't break the detector..." she breathed, placing the disarming cables away. "There's still more to go."

Continuing on, they found over five land mines to deactivate. A Kasnian woman and her young daughter passed by, dehydrated and ragged from their journey. Eleanor offered them both water. The woman could not speak English, but she knew who they were.

"Sw-Swallowtail," she said in a thick Kasnian accent.

"Yes, yes, me...!"

The woman pointed over towards Wally. "Kid Flash..."

"Yes, yes, right!"

Turning over to him, she saw that he was comforting the girl while holding the container of water, speaking assurances to the child. To see Wally hold the girl... playing with her, smiling with her. It brought a completely different side to him. He played the jester, and now he was babysitter? Kind, considerate, self sacrificing... Which one was he?

They were about to walk them to the nearest town, when suddenly gun shots were heard. Eleanor turned.

"Resistance!"

She placed the woman in front of her, trying to avoid the bullets herself. Wally held the girl in his arms, speeding away from the line of fire.

She patched through the psychic link.

"Everyone, Kid Flash and I are being attacked...! We have civilians. Don't know how long I can hold them off for now."

She got the woman with her daughter and Wally. She brought out her clubs from the loop in her dress, pressing them on for their electrical stun. She spread her wings.

"Hang on, Swallowtail, we're coming...!" It was M'gann.

She began to strike the armed men, remembering the training both Black Canary and her father taught her. The ones that got off on foot were already on the ground, though another truck was coming. Wally was doing his best to fight, though his strength was giving way. It was only a matter of time before her wings tired out, she had to fight on land. Flying was the most amazing feeling, though it had it's limits.

"We're not gonna make it...!"

The men charged after her, ready to point their guns. Her back was already aching. Pressing for electricity through her clubs, Superboy then arrived. Her chest lightened. Finally, the odds were in their favor. M'gann was in the skies.

"Hey, gorgeous...!"

Her insides tightened in disgust. Wally... Out of all the places, out of all the times, he picked to score now? Never mind that, the woman and her daughter need to be protected.

"Look out...!"

Turning, she saw Wally ducked from a rain of bullets, and he was just about a few meters away from her... she raised her hand, forgetting her club. Her right hand then felt like it was being pierced. Then her arm... Another bullet hit it her hand. Tears formed in her eyes, harsh heart beats pulsing in her chest. She saw her hand, oozing with blood, slowly dripping into the sand...

"Swallowtail!"