Disclaimer: Tin Man isn't mine.
"What do you mean no lesson? What's wrong with you?" She was not pleased with this news. "If I'm going to have to deal with a crazy person I wanna know how to zap him!" To emphasize this she stuck her fingers out so they looked like guns.
Toto simply gazed back at her impassively with those dark eyes of his. "After that summoning spell he hit you with I'm not going to risk draining you any farther. It would be even worse to have you encounter him exhausted than unprepared."
Her jaw dropped. Where was the Tin Man when she needed him to back her up? Once they had made it to the patio and it was apparent Decon was firmly attached to her ankles he had left to talk with Ahamo about battle plans. She had stared at him as if he had said he was running off to become a professional ballerina and he had rolled his eyes and pointed to her teacher. Then after considering her Papay seriously he had told her to wait for him in Glitch's lab if he wasn't back in time to pick her up.
"You say that as if those are the only two outcomes! You can't leave me out on a limb, Toto! I need your help with this!"
"I'm sorry, Princess, but I've discussed this with your mother and we agreed this was the best course of action."
Hell no they hadn't. Her magic began to stir darkly around her fingers. "You discussed my training with my mother?" He opened his mouth edging backward. "You know what? Nevermind, don't bother." With that she turned on her heel and stormed back inside. This could not go on any longer. She didn't care if it was upsetting, uncomfortable or awkward. This thing between her and her parents needed to end or she was going to have to kill one of them.
Once she walked in the doors she tapped her foot agitatedly and her poor Papay began to circle her. She had no real plan and no idea where to find her parents. At least Cain was with Ahamo so she wouldn't technically be going anywhere without him. In fact she would be going to him. Putting her hands on her hips she took a deep breath trying to calm down before she looked down at her guard. "Do you happen to know where the Queen might be?"
Decon chuffed and shook his head in what she assumed was a negative. She sighed glancing around the hall. This was so frustrating! She needed to learn and she was being blocked for no reason that she could understand. How was she supposed to help when she had no teacher? Then her eyebrow quirked up. That wasn't entirely true now was it?
Maybe this wasn't as big a deal as she had thought it was. And hadn't Cain specifically told her to go to an empty lab? A place where she would be alone and unwatched? Other than her new bodyguard of course. A small smile tugged at her lips as she headed toward the lower levels of the palace. Decon roved ahead of her his claws clicking quietly on the cool marble under their feet as he checked ahead of her for signs of danger.
Reaching the advisors lab she opened the door and he ran in before her his scales flat against his thin body, head low to the ground. The strange mandibles around his mouth vibrated as his head swayed back and forth for several seconds. Then as quickly as the display started it ended and he stood straight loping into the room without hesitation. "I take it that's the, 'Nothing wants to kill, kidnap, or eat me' signal?"
He made that same strange wuffling noise as he approached a giant pile of metal sniffing it inquisitively. She shook her head before weaving her way around the piles toward the dance floor. It was magic time and the practice area was hidden from view. Catching sight of the silver shoes on one of the chairs Az had conjured she hesitated before walking over and putting them on. While she was sure her sister could buff out any scuffmarks she made with her magic she'd rather not test her patience.
Once she had the sparkly things on her feet she padded to the center of the wooden floor as Decon leapt lightly onto one of the padded chairs flopping down carelessly. "I'm going to be doing some magic so don't worry if anything weird happens ok?"
In response the farmer laid his head on his paws, black eyes fixed firmly and suspiciously on her. She was really glad his eyes were black and bug like instead of electric blue because she had a feeling he and the Tin Man had some stuff in common. Oh well, time for her guard to learn that leaving her to her own devises was a bad plan for his mental health. Really he should think of this as his entrance exam. No multiple choice questions here, all practical application! Grabbing the chain the emerald was attached to she held it up at eye level. "I need your help."
With?
She rolled her eyes at the stones tone. "My teacher won't teach me. I figured you would seeing as I'm your chosen one and all."
When you put it like that….
She huffed at the necklace. "Could we get on with this please? I'm kind of on a tight time schedule here."
The emerald lost its teasing tone. Very well but I have a feeling what you want to learn is going to be unpleasant for me to give you.
"Meaning?"
You want a massive amount of information in a limited amount of time. While I approve of the idea it is going to hurt. I will have to force a number of memories into you very fast. It may also have some side effects.
She was silent for several seconds. It didn't matter if there were side effects, she needed the knowledge the emerald could give her, consequences be damned. Squaring her shoulders she nodded firmly. "Give me what you've got."
Brace yourself.
She wished it hadn't warned her. The moment she spread her feet apart she was assaulted with a massive amount of data. It felt as if the emerald had slammed a sword into her head and was twisting it deeper and deeper as green light flared out from the emerald to engulf her body. She heard Decon let out a worried bark as she fell to her knees with a shriek, her hands flying out to the floor to stop her descent.
Gasping she started to shake as the light slowly contracted forming an intense halo around her. She lost track of time as pain and flashes of memories that weren't hers sparked in her mind. Finally, when she wasn't sure she could take any more the magic stopped and her elbows collapsed out from under her. Her body hit the floor with a soft thump and she sucked air into her lungs squeezing her eyes shut as she convulsed.
She felt something nudging the side of her face and groaned pathetically. That was without a doubt the most painful thing that had ever happened to her. Her head was throbbing and she felt as if she had literally been hit by a truck. A really big one covered in spikes, which had then reversed and run her back over a second time. It was a really rude truck.
The light touch on her face ceased and the emerald spoke to her quietly. I am sorry about that. However you now have what you need. The pain will fade soon. Then you may go over what I have given you.
That was great but she would rather the pain fade right now. Then someone had to go and make it worse. "DG?"
The Consort's voice carried over the piles of metal and she cracked an eye open. She saw Decon dash off toward the sound and groaned. Why couldn't she have another hour or so to sit here in agony alone? Wasn't it enough that she had a worried Papay hovering over her? Suddenly another voice, much closer than the first cut over the lab. "DG!"
Her eyes fell closed again. Decon had found the Tin Man. What a traitor. They were going to have to work on their communication. She heard several sets of feet clipping swiftly across the dance floor. She wanted to curse the noise because the sound of their boots in her ears resembled a marching band in full swing. "Spitfire?" A cool hand touched her face as her father's worried voice grated over her. "Open your eyes! Now!"
Nope that was a bad plan. "Could you maybe turn the volume down there, Ahamo?"
"What did you do?" Cain asked immediately. He was always assuming it was her wasn't he? Just because it usually was didn't mean he had to immediately jump to that conclusion.
She groaned at the sound. "Made a poor life choice. Now leave me alone while I die."
"Tell me what happened." She wasn't sure if even the Tin Man knew if he wanted to be worried, angry, or worried. She managed to get her eyes open again and tried to glare at him from her terribly awkward position on the floor. The pain was making her pissy. Cain was hovering almost directly over her face while Ahamo had crouched down on her left. As she opened her mouth she saw his blue eyes widen and his hand flew down to her face tilting her chin up so he could see her better. "What the hell?" He breathed out.
Ahamo glanced up at her face and away from his inspection of the rest of her body. Her father stared at her. "DG, you didn't."
"Not in the mood for riddles!" She snarled and her head pounded. "What's the matter with you two?"
Cain simply looked down at her tilting her head slightly. Ahamo sighed. "Your eyes are green."
Despite the pain, or possibly because of it a strained laugh managed to escape her. "Side effects? This had better wear off you stupid thing!" Not that she didn't like green eyes, just not on her thanks all the same.
And you had the nerve to call me a diva? I told you appearance matters and yet you still won't change the necklace I'm in.
She gave up. She admitted that the stone had somehow outmaneuvered her. But everything hurt too much for her to care. "Fine! Alright, you win! Fix my eyes and I'll get you a new setting to sparkle in!"
Relax it will wear off by nightfall. But don't think I won't remember that.
She whimpered then, closing her apparently green eyes. "Stupid, tricky…." She twisted dislodging the Tin Man's hand as she tried to push herself up. "Better have been freaking worth the pain."
"Pain?" Cain caught her as she toppled sideways, his arms wrapping around her protectively as she trembled.
The Consort shook his head in annoyance. "That was foolish. Why didn't you ask Tutor to teach you whatever it is you wanted to learn? It's safer and painless. That's why you have a teacher."
Cain growled down at her and she flinched at the noise even as she snipped back at him. "Why don't you go ask the Queen?" Ahamo's eyebrows drew together and his forehead crinkled and she rolled her eyes. "As far as I know I no longer have a teacher. She barred me from lessons! I won't sit idly by while a madman comes after me and the people I love!" She felt Cain's arms tightened slightly. "The emerald said it would help me and I accepted the consequences!"
Her father's jaw dropped. "She what?"
She turned her face away in disgust. "I need a quiet place to sort through what it gave me. Are you done with your meetings?"
"We are." Cain rumbled as he dragged her up. "Let's get you back to your room."
She pressed her lips firmly together as he helped her stand so she wouldn't scream. This felt ten times worse than whatever Zero had done to her and she had volunteered for it. That was so messed up. Ahamo walked out with them shooting her concerned, if not panicked glances, as Decon zigzagged before them in agitation. Once they were to the top of the stairs she was fighting back tears as every movement felt like she was tearing muscles.
Ahamo gave her a once over when he turned up a second flight of stairs she'd never explored and told her he'd be by to check on her come nightfall. He also told Cain he would send Raw to their rooms immediately. She nodded in thanks as the Tin Man supported her. She wasn't sure how she managed to make it to their room but eventually the Tin Man was leading her to the couch. She sank down painfully every part of her body protesting as he helped her lay down.
She hadn't made a sound the whole way up but her breathing was become erratic as the pain started ebbing and spiking. She wasn't going to try this emerald learning thing again for a long ass time if it always hurt this much. She saw her bodyguard sit down in front of the hearth. "DG?" The Tin Man's voice was soft.
"Hurts." She managed. "Had to." She risked looking up at him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
He nodded sitting next to her on the floor. He leaned against the cushions and wrapped his hand around hers. "Focus on breathing. Raw should be here soon. Hopefully he can at least dull the pain."
She did what he said as his thumb ran over her knuckles. He was staring at her face as her eyes drifted open and closed. "How green are they?" She wanted to focus on something other than her body and she didn't have enough concentration to dive into those memories yet.
His lip twitched upward and his hand strayed to her face. "About as green as the grass outside, Darlin'."
She managed a small breathy laugh. "Weird."
"Looks nice but I like the blue better."
She smiled over at him. "You're sweet."
He tossed his hat on the table next to them. "Don't tell anyone. Might ruin my reputation."
Before she could reply there was a brief knock on the door. Decon sprang to his feet and skidded across the slick marble floor as Raw rushed in. The viewer paused briefly as her guard slid to a halt, clearly annoyed that he had nothing to attack, before making his way to the couch. "DG in pain."
She groaned in agreement. Raw shook his head as he leaned over her and placed two steepled fingers on her forehead. He began to hum softly and warmth spread out from where his fingers rested lightly on her skin. She let out a long breath as the pain faded to a dull ache and her body went slack. "Thank you." She sighed quietly. "Again."
The viewer chuckled softly. "DG is welcome again."
Lip twitching she felt Cain's hand return to hers and squeezed it. She really wanted to go back to bed, it was way more comfortable in her opinion. "Do you think-" As she tried to finish the sentence the memories the emerald had given her began to race through her mind. She felt her eyelids begin to flutter as she processed what she had been given. While the method may have been painful she was now starting to think it might have been worth it. She was now in possession of a number of spells she hadn't even known were possible for her to perform. This was truly awesome.
At first she tried to slow down what she was seeing but after a moment she realized that this wasn't a DVD you could rewind or slow down. In fact the more she tried the more discomfort she experienced. So instead she did something she rarely if ever did. She let something else take control for a few minutes. As soon as she did she felt herself learning the spells.
The moment they stopped she sat straight up her hair flying forward. "Oh no way!"
Cain had jerked back to avoid getting head butted. "What's got you so excited all of a sudden?"
Turning to him she grinned with total impishness. "It so isn't going to take us three more days to get to Central City." And if that was the time frame Zero was working on he was going to be in for one hell of a surprise.
Author Note: One more chapter and this one's over! Sorry it took me so long to get this posted I had to move back to college. That's tiring… But by now you now what I'm going to say soooooo.