Author's Note

Aw, we're in the home stretch (in more ways than one!). I don't want to jinx it for us all, so let's just have a good day today, yes? I'll help - here, have a story! :)

WR

Chapter Twenty

Dorothy, it's time. Wake up! An alarmed voice seemed to call DG in her sleep.

DG fought it though, not wanting to move from her slumber, and she shifted deeper into the plush comforter of her bed. An arm wrapped tightly around the pillow of her missing husband while she ignored the imploring voice that cried out in her mind, and she muttered her displeasure in incoherent, disjointed sentences while she continued to fight consciousness. Abruptly, though, DG's eyes opened, and her stomach lurched violently as if some unseen force had ordained it when she hadn't arisen with the former, more polite request.

"Oh," DG groaned, clutching her stomach. She could feel a wave of sickness climbing up her body, and she rushed to the bathroom quickly, holding her hand over her mouth as she ran. She made it to the toilet just in time before she wretched over it, emptying her stomach of her dinner from a few hours before. DG hugged the cool porcelain for a few moments more, wanting to be sure that there wouldn't have another wave of sickness. When the churning subsided somewhat, DG pushed herself up and padded slowly to the door. She groaned as she pulled her robe down from the hook and wrapped it around her body. Before leaving the bathroom, DG washed her mouth out, eager to remove the taste of bile.

Now reasonably certain that she wouldn't have a repeat of the episode that had her worshiping the toilet like an overdrunk college student, DG finally stepped out into her bedroom and surveyed the room. It was late, probably close to midnight, and the moonlight streamed into the room from the balcony door across the room. Wyatt had left that morning, and in such a haste that he hadn't even had the time to say goodbye properly. Given the present circumstances, she could hardly be angry with him, but the sudden loss of his presence was painfully felt, and she wondered anxiously how long he might be gone. Gates had refused to leave his post after Wyatt had left, and Raw had quickly taken up an almost permanent post in front of her sitting room fireplace, with the excuse that it was the best place in the palace to meditate. Jeb and General Jinjur had joined the throng sometime in the night, just before DG had finally decided to lay down, and DG silently wondered if she might need to call for appetizers before too long given the ever-increasing company that gathered nearby. This had been Wyatt's doing, she knew instinctively, and as much as the knowledge made her heart swell, she couldn't help the unpleasant feeling still churning in her stomach. Deciding to listen to her gut, DG stepped into her slippers and walked quickly towards the doors of her bedroom, hoping that her forced company might be useful if they were going to insist on not going away.

The fire burned low in the adjoining room, and before it, a sleepy viewer lay curled up on the rug, with DG's cat Tiger stowed snuggly in the curve of the man's arms. Had it been any other time, DG might have paused here, and perhaps done a rough sketch, with the intention of painting it in earnest later. Tonight, however, she had a greater purpose, and swept quietly past this scene and that of her snoozing guard, to the outer doors where she knew Jeb and General Jinjur would be waiting just on the other side.

"Hey guys!" DG exclaimed brightly as she swung the door wide.

Apart from the guards that flanked her outer doors, Jeb and Jennifer Jinjur stood a few paces down the hall, conferring in rather informal stances. When DG appeared, they jumped apart a mere few inches, as if her presence alone was enough to make them appear guilty for some reason, and DG grinning delightedly that she had somehow flustered them with her sudden arrival on the scene.

Jeb stalked over to DG, with General Jinjur making up the distance behind him, and both wore concerned expressions on their faces when Jeb exclaimed in a hush, "Deeg, it's late! Is there something wrong?"

DG waivered somewhat under Jeb's watchful gaze, and she swallowed hard to maintain the guise of casual unimportance. "I'm fine, Jeb, really," she paused to clear her throat, and her eyes glanced between her two guards, and she continued with false brightness, "I just wondered if I might interest you two in a cup of coffee or something. I'm feeling a bit restless, and I could do with a little company."

Jeb's eyes narrowed on DG, and for her part the Princess maintained a steady gaze back, having had practice with the young man's father. He was a Cain, however, which meant that he could spot subterfuge in a heartbeat, and his lip twitched to hold back a smirk when he glanced back at his commanding officer for support. Jennifer shrugged warily, as if she too had been ready for some form of falsehood from the slipper princess. DG huffed – damn that Tin Man – she thought – we're going to have to have a talk about giving away my secrets when he gets back. The princess let out a defeated sigh as she contemplated Wyatt's apparent mutiny and stepped back to admit the pair inside.

With the door now closed on the corridor, Jeb and Jennifer returned to their skeptical gawking at the princess, and were now joined by Gates and Raw, who'd both stirred the moment DG's voice sounded. Raw stood at the edge of the carpet and worried with his hands while the cat made lazy circles around his legs, and Gates had risen from his chair by her chamber door, and now stood only steps from the others, his arms crossed in front of his chest in irritation and an unamused expression on his face. DG frowned at them all and swept past to the fireplace, where she paced between the couches and the mantle, feeling suddenly pensive for how to approach the next words that might issue forth from her mouth.

"DG," Jeb chided her gently, "You want to tell us what's on your mind now?"

Jeb had to know that his tone was very much like Wyatt's and had the unfortunate effect of calming her almost instantly. It riled her to no end that Wyatt could scatter even her most burning anger to the wind with just a few strategically voiced words, and although she hated to admit it, it was also a trait among both Cain men that she dearly loved. She just about admitted it to Jeb in that moment with her eyes alone, and she almost smiled, except what was on her mind was so troubling that the smile quickly morphed, and her lip trembled when she spoke.

"Something is wrong. I can't explain it, but I can feel it." She answered emphatically, her voice rough from her struggle to maintain her composure.

Jennifer had learned since the last time she'd had this kind of conversation with DG, that the Princess's gut intuitions were famously spot on, and her brow furrowed in concern. "Well, I haven't had any word yet from the task force assigned to the General and Zero, but that's not really that unusual given their destination."

It was immediately clear to Jennifer that she'd said the one thing that could truly send the Princess into a panic. Even Jeb shut his eyes at the mention of Zero, sighing in silent defeat, and knowing that DG was just moments from a full meltdown.

DG's eyes had grown twice as wide when Zero's name had been uttered, and she began to hyperventilate somewhat as she exclaimed in an bluster, "Zero! No one ever said anything about him being involved! Where is Wyatt now? Don't tell me you let them go alone, did you?" Her eyes darted to Jeb and she stepped close to him, more as his stepmother now than as a Princess, and her voice was low and dangerous, "Jeb, you know how close Wyatt was to killing Zero the last time, and we both know what Zero would do to your father if he had the chance. Please, do you know where they might have gone?"

"DG," Jeb sighed, "All I know is that Dad needed Zero to lead him to Vizor's lab." His eyes brightened with a sudden spark and he added hopefully, "but I bet Dad would have sent him packing the second he was done with him."

His eyes shifted to Jennifer, and she offered hopefully, "The Captain has a fair point. Why don't I check with the Tin Men to see if Zero has been returned to Central Lockup yet." She didn't wait for the Princess's approval, and made a hasty exit, whilst Jeb and the others remained behind.

DG resumed her pacing the moment Jennifer left, and she did not quit until the woman returned less than half an hour later, looking somewhat dejected and troubled. When DG greeted the woman with an expectant expression, Jennifer only shook her head and began apologetically, "I'm sorry, Princess, but the Tin Men don't have Zero in their custody, and like us, they haven't had any word yet." DG began to open her mouth to protest, and Jennifer held up a hand to pause her, stating emphatically, "General Cain put in place a strict check-in policy, which he's never strayed from. I have no reason to believe that he'll deviate from it now. So, if we don't hear from him by morning, we move. Okay DG?"

DG's heart was pounding, and she wasn't really listening anymore. Her pacing had resumed, and she chewed her lip, trying to apply logic against the worries growing at an alarming rate in her mind. She stopped suddenly and turned back to Jennifer and Jeb, asking pensively, "If Wyatt had any reason to stop for the night, where was he supposed to go?"

Jeb's expression turned from concern to skepticism, and his hands went to his hips as he replied firmly, "DG, you're not planning some harebrained scheme, are you?"

DG shook her head innocently and replied, "No, I promised Wyatt that I wouldn't get in his way."

Jeb and Jennifer shared a skeptical glance, and Jeb finally relented with a heavy sigh, "Dad would probably go to the Seeker's hut for the night if he had to, happy?"

DG nodded and replied quietly, "Yes, thank you. I think I'll go back to bed now."

She glanced at Raw for a split second as she walked past him, trying her best to ignore the look of concerned disbelief in his eyes. Although she was thankful for Raw's discretion, she couldn't waste any more time to tell him so. She offered only a weak smile to him instead before she closed herself behind her bedroom door, and made a mad dash for the dressing room, now intent on locating Wyatt herself. After pulling on her Otherside jeans, t-shirt and jacket, she closed her eyes to imagine Wyatt. DG was panting now, and her mind raced, trying to determine where she should look for him first. She thought of the Realm of the Unwanted. That had been where they had found Vizor, and certainly Roquat would still be somewhere in the vicinity, since the Realm offered the best potential in the OZ for hiding from prying eyes. She didn't really have to do more than imagine Wyatt's eyes to get to him, but the thought of Zero or Roquat lurking nearby stilled her, and she considered that maybe she might try something a bit safer first.

Better to start in his office, maybe I'll find some idea as to what to do next, DG considered silently, before she shut her eyes once more and clicked her heels.

It was a long shot, she knew, but she hoped that Wyatt had left some clue there before he'd left. Although it seemed frivolous to teleport just two rooms away, she quickly decided that she didn't want to risk walking through the other room, where the others might see her fully dressed and ready to flee. The room swirled around her, and a cool wind whipped her hair around her face. The breath was knocked from her lungs, and she collapsed to her knees just as the room came back into focus, swallowing back a gasp all the while so as not to rouse the others in the adjoining room. She looked around. Her surroundings were dim, lit only by natural light from the balcony doors, and she had to wince because the moon that peaked through the window was like a spotlight, and it made it difficult for her to focus on anything else. When DG's eyes finally adjusted, she smiled grimly, realizing that she had indeed made it to Wyatt's office, but no clear indication of Wyatt's intentions were to be seen. The only indication that something was different was the appearance of an ornate picture frame propped up on the leather settee before her.

"I didn't order that," DG murmured as she crept forward to study the odd new addition, and her hands paused to rest on her husband's fedora, which had been propped on the side of the frame, like some kind of calling card.

DG's mouth screwed into a thoughtful frown at these items, so obviously placed for her benefit. Wyatt wouldn't have done it, and he certainly wouldn't have left the palace without his favorite hat. It was clear that she'd had a visitor at some point during Wyatt's absence, and it chilled her to think that whoever it was had been close enough to Wyatt to remove his hat before bringing it here. Knowing that danger certainly loomed, DG did the only thing she knew to do. She crept closer to the frame that she now suspected had been returned to her from her adversary, identified by Wyatt as Roquat the Red, and studied it as she knew he'd wanted her to do. The picture itself was blank, as if waiting for a subject, and a note hung to the frame. Her hand paused on the note, and a voice warned again that someone had left this for her to find intentionally, and she remembered Ozma's warning about unknown enchantments.

"I don't have time for this," DG grumbled, and tore the note off the frame so she could better read it.

In neat scroll, the note read simply, "Ask me to show you what you wish to see."

DG closed her eyes for a moment, afraid to ask, but afraid to give up. When she opened them again, she crept closer to the frame and commanded, "Show me Wyatt Cain."

For a moment, it seemed that nothing would happen, but when DG had just begun to give up any hope, the picture swirled into view. In front of DG's eyes, she saw Wyatt crumpled on a cold tile floor. DG knelt in front of the frame while her breath came out in shaky pants, and she held the frame in both hands now, struggling to breathe as she pulled apart what she was seeing. Wyatt sat on the ground, and his eyes were shut. Blood dripped from his mouth, and he looked to have been shot in the leg, as deep red oozed from his thigh, and he clutched it in agony. DG didn't see anything else, and she didn't care to. Despite Ozma's warning, she had made up her mind. Ozma had given her the ability to enchant her slippers for a reason, and it wasn't so she could escape danger, it was so she could save Wyatt from it. DG closed her eyes again and took a moment to slow her breathing, knowing that the trip would wind her.

When her frantic panting slowed, DG tapped her heels and murmured, "Take me to Wyatt Cain."

Once again, the room swirled, and DG swayed on her feet as she tried desperately to keep her balance. She did this time, but once standing in front of Wyatt, it didn't matter anymore. When she heard his pained groan, she dropped to her knees in front of Wyatt and grasped his shoulder to get his attention. Wyatt was dazed and in a great deal of pain, but not from the gunshot wound. There was an anguish in his eyes unlike anything she'd ever seen, as if he'd been forced to relive the torture he'd previously endured, and when DG had appeared, Wyatt's clouded eyes shut tight and he shook his head furiously, as if not wanting to believe she was really there. It was excruciating for DG, to see Wyatt in such pain again, and she could no longer fight the tears that welled up in her.

"Wyatt, we have to go, get up." DG plead quietly, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room intermittently while she tried in vain to move her delirious husband.

Wyatt shook his head emphatically, knowing that DG had found herself in a trap because of him and he sobbed. "Oh, DG, no. No. You can't be here. Please go, go now." Wyatt's eyes were red with tears, the fear in his eyes chilled her to the bone, and she froze.

In that moment, there was a shrill laugh, and DG's eyes shut in recognition of having allowed herself to walk straight into a dupe. She cursed herself for a moment, scoffing internally at her stupidity. He could have just written 'It's a trap,' on that note, and I'd have still come, DG thought sarcastically, and she gently released Wyatt back to the floor and stood to face the source of the laugh, still shrouded in darkness.

Her chin was raised proudly when the shriveled form of Roquat limped from the outer shadow of the room, and her eyes burned with defiance when he drew near. "Oh, isn't this just delicious," he purred, pleased with himself as he peered into the young woman's face, "I get to kill off the future of the Gale line and true love all in one day."

Behind the small man, who barely reached DG's height, Zero following in his wake, slithering and sneering at the Gale princess that intentionally averted her eyes from either Roquat or himself as they neared. There was an evil smirk on his face when his feet came within inches of the Tin Man's face, noting that Princess's eyes flicked on him in silent alarm. He flashed her a wide smile as he pulled a chair across the floor to rest just beside Wyatt's struggling form and sat down behind him with a casual air. Roquat and Zero seemed to delight in continuing the torture, only increasing the Princess' ire when Zero reached down to drag the man into a sitting position, which elicited another pained grunt from the man, and a gasp of protest from DG.

Roquat tsked warningly at the Princess, while Zero placed a gun between Wyatt's shoulder blades, and he shook his head with a farcically shamefaced expression, as if daring her to utter the slightest objection to his actions. Roquat patted the air in Zero's direction, speaking in a calming tone, "Now, now, Zero. Let the girl and I have a little chat before you dispatch with your ex-partner. I would like to ensure her compliance for just a little while longer."

Zero gritted his teeth but shrugged in response, and he tightened his grip on the Tin Man's shoulder to such a painful degree that Wyatt fought a growl and DG glared at him hotly.

"Now Your Highness, I'd like to introduce myself. I am Roquat the Red, King of the Gnomes." The old man proclaimed, and he swept himself into a low bow, mocking the woman with his false gallantry and showmanship.

DG whipped around to face him once more, and she straightened considerably when she answered, "I wish I could say I was pleased to meet you, but you seem to be holding my husband prisoner." DG spoke firmly and her eyes sharp and furious as she stepped slowly into the center of the room.

Roquat barked out a loud laugh and replied as he countered to match her, "Your husband has been quite instrumental in delivering both you and Mr. Zero to me, as I'd hope he would. I could not simply let him go without bestowing my undying gratitude on him."

"Well I'm sorry, but it looks like you've managed that, now please let us leave." DG replied lamely, trying to buy time while she thought of a way out of their predicament.

This seemed to rile the Gnome King however, and when he spoke, his voice was dripping with derision, "I doubt very seriously that you are sorry at all. You're a good deal like your predecessor, you know. Meddlesome and arrogant to the last."

DG held her head high and spoke in an authoritative, threatening manner, "The last time I checked, no one seemed to mind me stepping in. You know, daughter of light and all. It seems to me that you're the one meddling here. Why don't you just go back to your own kingdom and I won't have to retaliate."

Roquat's eyes sparkled crimson in the low light and a wiry smile spread before he cackled menacingly, "Oh, Your Highness. I don't think you understand. I intend to claim the Outer Zone as my own. Now that your sister is gone, all I have to do is remove you and your consort, and then, with the assistance of Mr. Zero and his longcoats, your dear mother's army will topple like little toy soldiers."

With Roquat's last few words, he shot a flash of light in DG's direction, and DG's eyes widened in instant recognition. She hadn't been afforded the time to dodge his volley, and so she braced against the blow, wincing when it bounced off the weak shield she'd managed to erect. The action did little more than wind her, and she turned to him in sardonic fury as she whipped her hair out of her face, "What, is that all you've got Red?"

Roquat howled in anger, sending another blast in DG's direction, which DG deflected as well but not without feeling increasingly winded. Wyatt's blood loss had subsided some time ago, and the pain washing though him had finally slowed enough that he finally clawed his way to full consciousness and watched in bewildered silence as DG and Roquat circled each other. Ordinarily, he would have been proud of her, for she managed to replay all their fighting lessons with perfect timing. When Roquat tried to strike her with physical force, she dodged him effortlessly, and her magical parries were equally astounding in demonstrating the expertise she'd attained in the past two annuals. Although DG's skill was undeniable, Wyatt still looked on with a certain amount of fear. For any time Roquat showed any hope of actually striking the Princess, a bright white light emanated from her very being, pushing the enraged Gnome away. Wyatt would have normally been relieved that her light seemed to be protecting her, but as the fight wore on, and DG appeared gradually more and more winded, Raw's warning hit him full force; if she became completely drained, she and the baby could die, he recalled with a heart-stopping grunt.

DG, meanwhile, was putting up a good fight, but was quickly losing her strength to fight off the Gnome King's repeated attacks. DG tried desperately to not let her attacker see her weakness, and she laughed at him in an effort to deflect her fear. This only served to enrage him, and he blasted her now repeatedly, until she collapsed on the floor at Wyatt's feet. DG struggled to breathe and panted heavily as she stared at the floor.

Wyatt's voice cracked as he whispered encouragingly to her, intentionally ignoring their attackers while his eyes stared at DG's prostrate form, "Dorothy, please, get up."

Zero laughed, taking delight in Wyatt's torture. Roquat too laughed at the scene, and taunted DG, "Oh dear, it doesn't really matter to me who dies first, but my vengeful friend here seems very much to want your dear beloved to suffer, your Highness. I think we may let him watch you die, just to entertain my friend. I hope you won't mind."

Roquat spoke to DG as if afraid that he'd caused some minor inconvenience, and it sent Wyatt into a rage; a guttural cry escaped his lips, and his eyes were flaring in rage at the man who continued to laugh tauntingly, even after deciding his wife's fate. DG pushed herself up and dared a glance at her husband. When she met his eyes, the rage turned into deep sadness, and he began to weep through his rage. DG tore her eyes from his as she swallowed her own emotions and froze when the distinct sound of metal on metal grated on her ears. It was a sound like something out of a samurai film, and although familiar to her only in that sense, she would have been right when she imagine the man behind her drawing a sword from within his cane, for that is exactly what he had done.

No, she thought as she focused on Wyatt's eyes again. I'm not dying today.

DG focused on Wyatt, and she focused on the rage that she had seen in him only a scant number of times in the past. This allowed her mind to settle on one day that was like no other in the volume of raw rage that had emitted from him and awoke a deep sense of fear within her. It was the day that Zero had attacked Wyatt and his family and imprisoned Wyatt in an Iron suit, and Wyatt had screamed and fought then like he was now, like he was losing his family. Then the rage filled her too, and DG silently vowed that she would not let it happen again. As she let Wyatt's rage fill her up, making her skin burn, DG shut her eyes to draw the focus away from him. Instead, she focused on the shrill voice behind her.

"Goodbye, Your Highness," Roquat replied with finality, his arm raised and ready to strike the final blow.

Before he could strike however, DG pushed herself to her feet and raised a hand towards him, commanding simply in a voice that was husky and dark, "No."

She opened her eyes and faced him. Her eyes glowed like hot pokers on him, and her hair flowed around her as if caught in the air. An orange glow emanated from her very being, and her voice was commanding, vibrating from the very walls and sending shock waves into all present. Roquat seemed to cower somewhat when DG's voice reverberated through him, and when his eyes shut momentarily, DG's eyes moved from Roquat to the sword grasped in his hands. Roquat immediately fought to hold on to the blade, but it began to turn red and hiss, and he dropped it suddenly, having been burnt by it. He seemed to realize in an instant the DG had been the source of his injury, and he charged her in blinding fury.

DG raised her hands again and stopped him, her voice still booming. "You will not hurt me, or my family and you will certainly never hurt my people."

Roquat screamed in agony, clutching himself as he began to glow from within. In an instant, he turned to ash, leaving only the magical belt in a pile of dust on the floor.

Wyatt had used the stand-off between DG and Roquat as a distraction, and quickly swung around, knocking the gun out of Zero's hands with a well-placed elbow. While his right elbow sent the gun clattering to the floor, his left fist swung, making contact with Zero's jaw. The force of the blows toppled Zero over, and he grunted as he hit the floor, eyes wide with shock. Wyatt stood over Zero, waiting for him to recover, and panting through his own boiling rage. The blood curdling cries of the Gnome King distracted him, however, and he turned only briefly to see the source of the cry. In that short moment, Zero reached for the gun. He was still winded from his injured jaw, however, and his position on the floor did not help his aim either, so although he aimed for Wyatt's chest, he only managed to shoot him in the shoulder.

When Wyatt cried out, clutching his shoulder, DG turned her burning gaze Zero, her face unreadable and grave. The gun in Zero's hand began to grow warm, until the skin of Zero's hand hissed loudly. Zero dropped the weapon as he cried out, staring down at his hand in shock and anger for a moment before he turned back to DG. His eyes were wide as he looked on the Princess, who still glowed hot like a phoenix risen from the ashes, and even he could not help but be afraid. He continued to stare in utter shock and terror while he grasped his hand, until DG suddenly waivered, and crumpled to the floor.

DG had fixed Zero with such an intense stare, that it seemed she was every bit judge and jury. Her mind was a torrent, with only divine retribution and vengeance burning through her. Her strength was diminishing quickly though, and the glow in her eyes and skin faded away much too soon. She'd wanted to do the same to Zero that she'd done to Roquat, and a small voice in the back of her mind worried that if she quit now, he'd finally have his opportunity to dispatch with Wyatt. Had her vision not blurred, she would have known that he'd skittered away like a scared rodent, but in that same instant, DG felt the room sway dangerously, and she felt her body drop to meet the floor. Somewhere above her, she heard Wyatt's voice. He'd clearly discarded any thought of going after Zero, and had somehow managed to stumble over to her, and he cried softly as he took her into his arms. The room was going in and out of focus, and DG fought hard to keep her eyes on Wyatt's, and her hand, trembling and weak, reached up to his face and she whispered weakly to him.

Wyatt leaned down to hear her, in time to hear the words, "I love you," escape her lips, followed by a painfully weak whisper, "I'm sorry."

Wyatt had watched in both terror and awe as DG dispatched the Gnome King. She'd been a sight to behold, one to worship and fear, and he was breathless in her presence. In those moments, DG was judge and jury of the OZ, and it was within her rights as a daughter of light and his wife to protect their country and family from harm. He was proud of her, and scared. Then, when she collapsed in a heap in front of him afterwards, he was frantic. Raw had warned of DG performing ordinary magic, and he had no idea what this new form of magic would do to her. His panic only grew when he realized the extent of her drain, and he fought a terrified shudder which finally broke into full blown grief when she apologized.

"Oh DG, no. Don't leave me. Please," Wyatt begged, hugging her to him as the breath left his lungs.

DG was quickly losing her grasp now, and as her eyes fell closed, all she could hear was Wyatt's pleading cry as she descended into inky darkness.