disclaimer as before.
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Bit by bit, DG was sewn into the dress, the seams finished where pins once were, occupied with pushing her ever-growing hair out of the way of the seamstress. Despite the lack of a corset, the dress was a stiff second skin, keeping her firmly together for the occasion. Her robo-parents were standing off to one side, visiting the palace from their new home in revitalized Milltown just for the coronation. They beamed and of course said the appropriate parental things as she twirled around for them in the gown. The seamstress smiled, putting the needle back in her case and leaving to attend on Az. DG waved at her as she left, knowing she'd see her again soon enough for the dress for Az's wedding.

"You look every bit a queen." Her robo-father cooed, taking her by the hands and continuing to twirl her about. Robo-mom stood next to him, hands clasped in the same pose she had assumed before DG's prom. The dress had definitely improved since that time. Her real mother entered then, carrying a gigantic cape with a giganticer train. From the look on her face, DG assumed she was supposed to wear the monstrosity.

"It is just for the ceremony." Her mother was quick to respond. "For the party afterwards it goes back in its case." Where it belongs, DG thought, knowing that her recently acquired regal wear coordination only went so far. The soon to be former Queen set it down on the chaise, looking over to the robo-parents. "Are you two dressed for the festivities?" They clearly were not. Her mother looked from them to DG, before whisking them off to look more appropriate. Parenting skills they had, court protocol not so much. They'd be visiting frequently, she hoped, so perhaps it was time to download some royal etiquette to their processors. DG swished down the hall after them, navigating both the dress and the train with hard won ease, stopping at her sister's door. Az's emerald fetish had not quite been sated, she stood in yet another green gown, one hand clasped in Ambrose's as he spoke.

"Well, my darling, if we gave the longcoats a chance I'm sure we'll be able to give the mobats a chance as well."

DG's eyes crinkled with silent laughter as they spoke. Az was trying to figure out if she could save her once loyal and only friends from the clutches of the evil witch's grasp. Ambrose was assuring her that if, in fact, they were evil… why then, he would devise a device that would transform them into loveable pets. She'd rarely had a chance to speak with her elder sister since their trip to the tower. Not wanting to eavesdrop anymore, DG took a loud step in.

"Deeg!" Ambrose relinquished Az's hand so the two could embrace. "You look beautiful." Az exclaimed, leaning back from the hug to burst into nervous giggles. DG's eyes strayed to where Ambrose was standing. He bowed slightly, his face stuck in a silly grin. Good old Luke, DG thought, you'll be my brother after all.

"Well, I won't be having to call you princesses much longer." His grin somehow got wider. "You'll be queens soon." Both women smiled, but DG's stomach began nervously rumbling. Ambrose must have noticed and the smile on his face lessened. "No, none of that. You'll do a wonderful job. You both will. This past annual I've seen the people come to hope again." More nervous laughter. Ambrose kissed her gently on the cheek, before giving Az a quick peck on the lips. DG's nose wrinkled at that. They were so adorable. It was still going to take some getting used to.

"Princess." A voice called from the hall. DG turned to see a long leather duster and a hat. Her heart stopped for a moment, then the hat slowly revealed... Jeb. She blinked as he walked into the room and picked her up into a hug. "I've told your mother, her last official duty was letting me return to being an officer." DG looked at Jeb's joyous face, totally confused. "It's ok. It's where I belong. Anyway, you won't be needing me anymore." Jeb hugged her tighter, leaning his mouth down close to her ear. "Thank you. Thank you so much." They stood hugging; causing quite the scene, but DG didn't care. It was one of her last times she could cause a fuss as a princess. The gown could be cleaned off in the remaining hour. Clearly, his father had been the Wyatt Cain she'd known. She shrugged off her own feelings, happy that at least she had been right. Jeb and Cain were still family and that was all that mattered.


Cain had avoided the road. He'd seen the lone white tree in the distance, but now he had come to make peace. He sank down next to the grave, one knee encased in mud thanks to a late summer's rain. His fingers traced over the carved headstone. Imagining small but sturdy hands carving out the words, pounding grief into each blow of the chisel. The past slowly reconnecting with the present. Nothing Jeb had said had changed the past. Changed the mistakes he'd had made. The family they still were. The causalities would never end. The consequences of actions long past, but that wasn't why he was here. The rage he'd felt had melted into fuel for change.

He'd come here to apologize and to say goodbye. To say he missed her the months he was away on duty. That he missed the way her face would light up when he came home and darken when he left. She had trained Jeb well. His eyes clouded over, trying to imagine being with her in those last moments. Adora revealing her secret to him and him able to kiss her as she slipped slowly away. Saying goodbye to the woman he had met so long ago, who'd fallen in love with a young and foolish tin man.

He closed his eyes and was able to remember her as she was, the memory of her smile overtaking the loop of violence that had haunted him. The ring came off with a final tug. He placed in on her grave, covering it over with dirt. His bare hand now lying on top of her final resting place.

"Goodbye my love." He muttered looking around at the cabin that had held her last breath. If Adora were here, he'd reassure her. He had loved her with his whole heart, even if he'd never fully shown it. He bent his head to kiss her carved name, rest his hands along the edges once more. The fall out of the war would never end, but he was hell bent on making the best of the future. Cain mounted his horse as the rain started to drizzle down and took off full speed back towards the Emerald City.


"Is all of the O.Z. in there?" DG peeked out the large door looking into the very full throne room. Twin throne room now. There was no sign of him, but he said he would come. She turned back to look at her family. Az sat with Ambrose on a couch, her mother and father together on the one facing them. Both couples chatted back and forth in polite conversation. DG paced silently in-between them, pausing every now and then to smile at a familiar memory. This was no Disney ending, no prince rushing off to her rescue. Whatever she needed rescuing from. A smile over took her as she remembered a white horse on the horizon carrying a man with a familiar hat.

DG turned to look back at Jeb, who was now ordering his men about for the last time. He'd be behind the scenes for the ceremony, decked out in the more comfortable casual apparel. Here she was about to be crowned as a queen. Officer Gulch would have a heart attack at the thought of her writing laws. Speed limits were definitely out of the question. Her mouth formed a small frown, once she was allowed to ride a bike here.

The technology age had reached the OZ in a different way. Clockwork gadgets that mostly ran off steam or magic were commonplace. DG had quickly learned that magical restriction laws were infinitely complicated. Peeking out again, she could see the rows upon rows of people each organized by their guild and race. Some races were still new to her, just now coming out of the endless depth of culture the O.Z. contained.

With each new lesson, DG had learned another new secret that her new land held. The politics involving fairies, witches and wizards and their use of their natural abilities had proved even more elaborate. When the Sorceresses had been in power, she'd simplified things. She had chosen to outlaw all magic other than her own, forcing people into either hiding or exile. After reading the laws that had been upheld in more peaceful times, she was more sympathetic to the witch's decision. The trumpets started up, and her nerves were suddenly acting up again. Both royal couples stood to either side of her. It was time to start the show.


Cain slowed his horse down as he neared the lake country, the road thick with mud that the horse slid through as he galloped. This muck would slow him down further. His head darted left and right as he rode, aware from the suns' positions that he was already going to be late. Something off to the left caught his eye, a village and beyond it people reinforcing the old dam. Just a handful, some of them children, filling bags as quickly as they could to keep the waters from overtaking their precariously placed homes. The rains had just started up this morning, but it'd been pouring through the entire area. Cain turned his horse towards the village, silently cursing the heavens for further complicating his life.


Her mother set the crown gently down on her head. She turned to Azkadellia next placing a similar crown on her sister's head. The two of them both remained kneeling; facing what would be their thrones with wide eyes. The crowns were lighter than expected, but the dread and expectation of responsibility was just as heavy as DG thought it would be. Applause drifted up to the stage from the audience below. It was their cue to stand, stand while some how balancing the crowns. They both turned and faced what were now their people. The applause continued, DG looked to a beaming Az, but her sister didn't return her gaze, she was staring only at Ambrose. DG looked out into the crowd again, a renewed feeling of dread now emerging from somewhere deep within.


"We need more reinforcement!" Cain yelled, pointing at some logs to the side of a house. The man nodded and took off towards the small house. He looked around the clearing for anything else they could use. The children were still busy making more bags, filling them with the least muddy dirt they could find. Cain didn't want to know what he looked like. The suns were now long gone, he'd missed the coronation. His eyes closed as the relentless rain kept beating down on him. The man and his two friends had dragged some of the logs up by hand. "Those will do fine. Over here." Cain gestured to the slowly forming gap in the dam. With any luck they'd be able to patch it up quickly. The logs locked in place, supporting the bags already keeping the lake at bay. Still, the dam looked ready to give away at any moment, a result he was not willing to accept.


"Cain will be here." Raw said in an authoritarian tone as only a seer could. DG wished she had his faith. She watched as Az and Ambrose circled around the dance floor, before turning back to nod at Raw. At least she was rid of the ridiculous cape. She could walk and mingle freely with her new subjects. Her mother sat nearby on a chair, clearly tired from the long ceremony. Most of which had been on her fragile shoulders. DG smiled, looking across the room at Jeb who was dancing with some young lady on his arm, before feeling the draw of gravity pulling her out onto a familiar balcony. She was smarter this time. Shoes on, a wrap loosely draped over her dress. It was raining softly, almost looking like snow as it fell in and out of the palace lights. The rain didn't bother her, the balcony being covered by a small overhang. There she stood, looking out at the path up to the palace. Willing him to suddenly appear on it.

She heard the dancing continue, as the night went on, saw people gradually start to trail their way out of the palace and into the night. DG pulled the wrap a little tighter, the chill of the evening setting in, the light rain starting to turn to real snow. People were starting to escape the palace's grasp more frequently, huddling in their carriages and cars before disappearing into the night. Raw came out to say goodnight to her, offering her a fierce hug and afterwards helped her readjust her crown. She still stayed outside, gliding her gloved finger along the railing. Staring out at the road. The snow was starting to come down in full force, puffs of white coming out of each exhalation.

"Won't you come inside?" Az 's voice asked her, DG shook her head. Turning to realize the ballroom had darkened. "It's cold out here Deeg." Even in the doorway, Ambrose's arms were snuggly around her sister, keeping her warm and shielding her from the wind. It was cold inside too, DG thought, but didn't respond aloud. Az wouldn't understand, or maybe... a sad knowing smile had crept onto her older sister's face. 'Cause her pain.' DG shuddered from the cold a bit, but returned her sister's smile. Az had known. It had been obvious. It was a poorly kept secret. She had been silly to think she had kept it from those closest to her.

"I'll wait out here." Az pleaded with her, but she refused to come inside. Her elder sister turned back into the darkened room and shook her head at her still seated mother, both sighing, both resigned to let her stay and freeze if her stubborn self wanted to. Jeb appeared in the doorway almost as soon as DG could see the royal family making their way up the staircase. His hands in his pockets, a concerned look on his face. DG wondered when they had reached their current agreement. Without words, he seemed to know why she was out here.

"The cold isn't good for you." The new queen nodded back at him, Jeb was unsure how to convince her to come back into the warmth of the palace. Not wanting her to stay outside waiting for his father, just as his mother had. She'd been so convinced that he was alive and would find her. That nothing would keep them apart. Nothing Jeb had said mattered, nothing had kept her from her silent vigil. Not even her own mortality had kept her from going, not until she couldn't move on her own. Even then, begging him to help her back up. Jeb opened his mouth to try and say something to convince her, but he stopped mouth opened. She would wait. DG turned away from him, looking back to face the path leading up to the palace. Jeb looked beyond her to the path, hoping this time his father would be able to make it home.