The pain was unbearable but she needed to wait...
No.
She was tired of waiting. Tired of the pain and suffering. She needed to find him...She needed to tell him...
"Serena it's ok. I'm right here."
That voice...it was him!
"...Wild...wing..."
"It's me Rini, rest, you're safe."
"...no...i need to..."
"Rest."
She cracked an eye open to reveal dark almond eyes gazing down at her.
"Rest Rini. I'm right here."
She gave a painful smile and feel back into the darkness of sleep.
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"All this time she's been right here...as a human." Duke said.
"I know this is crazy but I can't find any rational explanation...I'm totally lost for words." Tanya said.
"It's totally magical man." Nosedive commented.
Most of the team chose to ignore his remark and focus on their leader, who was staring off into the distance.
"Something is troubling you." Grin said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't understand it. Serena would've contracted me if she was in danger." Wildwing noted.
"Even if she was, she lost her memories. Maybe that's why she couldn't." Nosedive noted.
"But why go through all the trouble, even look human?" Mallory asked.
"I doubt she would've known we'd be on this planet. That in itself is an interesting question." Tanya stated.
"...Dragaunus..."
They turned to see blue-gold eyes squinted at them.
"Rini, you in there?" Nosedive aske.d
"I'm here Dive. Very weak...but here."
"can you explain what's going on your highness?" Duke asked.
"Nosedive being attacked. It must've triggered a spark to help."
Rini tried to lean up, only for Wildwing to gently push her back down.
"Rest for now Rini. You can tell us tomorrow."
She gave him a soft smile as her eyes closed.
"Thanks Wing."
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The smell of mint had her squinting an eye open to find Nosedive sitting in a chair reading an action comic, two hot cups of tea resting on the table next to her.
"Dive..."
The blonde looked up with a soft smile.
"I figured the smell would've woken you up..."
He wrinkled his beak.
"I dunno how you two drink that stuff."
Rini frowned.
"Two? Who-"
He gestured to the right. She followed his gaze to find Wildwing asleep on the couch in front of her bed across the room.
"We tried to get him to go to bed but he refused. He actually feel asleep in this chair but Grin moved him over there."
Rini gave a soft smile, shaking her head.
"He never sleeps in a bed like a normal duck."
Her smile faded as she glanced down at her hands...her human hands.
"Rini, what's going on? Why didn't you contact us?"
She looked back up at Nosedive and then over to see Wildwing, now awake, whose gaze linked to her own.
"That's just it Dive...I really don't know."
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Wildwing had called a meeting of the team in the main room of Headquarters so Phil volunteered for watching Rini while they talked. The young duck-turned-human sat up in her bed, sipping her herbal tea, while the manager seemed to be debating on what to say.
"You know you can ask me anything Phil. I'll answer the best way i can." Rini started.
"So you aren't under any mind control to mess with my team right?"
Rini shook her head while Phil released a sigh.
"Oh good...so you're actually a duck huh?"
"Just imagine me with cream feathers and a bill."
Phil cocked his head to the side to do so and smiled.
"You're a beautiful duck..." he blushed. "...not saying you aren't as a human."
Rini gave a small giggle.
"It's ok. I understand."
"I'm sorry this happened to you. Dragaunus has shrunk half the team before, but doing this..."
"I don't think he did this."
Phil blinked and faced the young woman who looked to be in deep thought. She raised up her right hand and clench a fist before letting her eyes go wide.
"I think I did this to myself."
"Well you did have a barrier around you when you slept. You were even back to yourself as well."
Rini faced him, eyes still wide.
"Barrier?"
"Yeah. Really sparkly, uh, crystal white with rainbow lights."
"A healing circle? I didn't think I knew that one yet."
The two jumped when Rini clenched her fist and a bright light enveloped the room.
"What the!" Phil shouted.
The team suddenly charged into the room to find the familiar crystal yellow barrier around a frightened Rini.
"What happened?" Mallory demanded.
"She just panicked and then this!" Phil countered.
"Lady Serena, it's ok. No one's going to hurt you." Grin softly spoke.
Rini's barrier dropped and she rushed into Wildwing's arms, sobbing and murmuring into his chest.
"What's she saying?" Tanya asked.
"Power...Dragaunus is after her power." Wildwing answered.
