As the door creaked open Jeb was unsure of what his next step was going to be. He could try to fight, but the ropes on his ankles made that improbable at best. It would be best to wait it out. Silhouetted in the doorway was a slender man, not that imposing except for the sword and dagger that he was holding. The woman squirmed and squealed, but Jeb kept his eyes on the man.

Walking into what little light there was in the room Jeb could make out some of the features of the new comer. He had a curious tattoo of blue diamonds across his cheek bones. Tall and lean the man strode over to the captives. He leaned down and looked Jeb right in the eyes. Silence filled Jeb's ears before the man spoke.

"I've been looking for you" he said in a strange accent "Zero didn't exactly make you easy to find." Jeb glared into his eyes. If this was his end at least he'd be civil about it, unlike the sniveling woman next to him.

"Pleasure to meet you too. Under other circumstances I might shake your hand."

"Likewise" the man said leaning down further. His dagger came closer and closer to Jeb's flesh until…

"Thanks" Jeb said as his hands were released.

"Don't mention it." The man said moving on to the woman as Jeb undid his ankles. "I like to…. Oof"

Jeb had tackled him to the ground. He made sure that the dagger and sword were a safe distance away and continued to wrestle with the stranger. It was blow for blow for a while until the man managed to scramble away from the enraged youth.

"Shhh" he said putting a finger to his lips

"Yea like that's gonna"

"Hey what's going on in here" a former longcoat by the looks of him stepped into the room. Seeing Jeb untied he took out his gun. The man who had untied Jeb was at the man like lightening. He kicked the gun right out of the other man's hand and almost in the same movement knocked him unconscious with a blow to the head.

"I don't think we've been properly introduced." Jeb sounded half annoyed half intimidated, keeping his eyes on the floor of the palace balcony where they stood.

"Well there was a lot to do." DG admitted trying to calm his nerves. It was hard to not acknowledge his slight annoyance at her. After all she hadn't done anything to him.

"DG this is my… son." The word sounded warm from Cain's lips. His was beaming with his eyes and his mouth as he looked at him. So DG did the same. She beamed at the young man who had carried Cain's heart through the harshest of trials.

"Pleased to meet you. Cain was so worried." DG said as she held out her hand to shake his.

"Same." Jeb said looking up for once. He got caught in her eyes and his heart skipped a beat. This girl was fascinating. Her eyes sparkled, her mood was bubbly, and she seemed truly glad to meet him despite his bad attitude. Without thinking he raised his hand and shook hers. As their hands met the scenery blurred and changed around them.

"I used to be so jealous of you." Jeb admitted as he pulled DG up to stand next to them. DG had wanted to go rock climbing. Demanded it actually. Now that all the danger was over she wanted to be able to see the entirety of her home. That included the mountains and the lakes. Everything was wide open to her. Jeb had offered to "escort" her on this little adventure. Glitch had looked terrified at the prospect and Cain was busy training. He relieved his son just for the day so that he could be a youngin for once.

"But why?" DG asked as they stopped to catch their breath

"He just ran after you so quickly when he heard you were fine. I felt like I had been replaced."

"Never!" DG protested "You should have seen him when he thought he had found you at last. No one could keep up with him. You're his heart and soul."

"Ah but you are now too." Jeb said. He shook his head with a smile "It doesn't matter now anyway he's got both of us… both of us… both of us…" His arm was around her shoulder but it was fading fast. His entire essence seemed to soar out in front of her then dive into the abyss that was her dream.

"Catch me if you can…. If you can… if you can…"

Groggily DG slowly began to wake up. She had slept so soundly despite the hard ground under her. She was ready to get on her way when….

"Jeb" she said with a burst of power that almost knocked her flat on her back again. Somewhere close by she heard the sound of a door swing open and thud into the dirt. Her companions bolted up right as her power washed over them too.

"Deege." Glitch whispered taken aback by the force that had just emanated from her.

"No time to lose" Cain could barely think of what else to say. After a night of searching and now gods knew how long they had all been asleep there was nothing else to say. The Tin Man was the first to run to the trap door. DG followed close behind him as Glitch and Raw padded their way over too.

"Hi I'm Glitch…" Glitch started when he got to where DG was. Her blue eyes brimming over with emotions that he could not name almost stopped his synapses dead in their tracks. Then they started flying all over the place again. "Love a good trap door. A bit old fashioned though. I could probably think up a better one… maybe one with a lock. Then again it is the underworld… although you would think a bunch of cutthroats and criminals would think to lock their secret door…" It would have gone on if Cain hadn't cuffed him in the back of the head.

"Get in."

Glitch realized that just him and Cain were standing there. Had urgency allowed it Glitch would have blushed or shot a witty comment at the lawman, but he was learning that there was a time and place. His friend's expression guaranteed him that both were wrong at the current moment, but he managed to mutter "Shouldn't have let DG go first" as he climbed down the ladder.

Not much had changed in a year. As they snuck into a corner Glitch took time to reflect on that. Most other places were being restored. The tribes of Munchkins were beginning to come out of hiding and reunite. Resistance members were being given back their homes. Cities were thriving again. Even Milltown had been given a bit of an oil change and shiny new paint job. It was so hard to imagine a place that DG's rejuvenated light hadn't touched. Yet here they stood in what smelled like a sewer and was definitely in need of some lemon scented soap, maybe some lavender.

"It hasn't changed" DG said dejectedly realizing what Glitch was pondering.

"It's hard for light to penetrate so low." Cain said in that wise manner he sometimes adopted.

"People struggle. People desperate. Criminals not all alike, cutthroats not all bad. Have families. Had lives."

"And some are just goons." Glitch added remembering bits and pieces of their last visit. "Ethics. It plays with even the best people's minds." He was sure had he been 100% Ambrose he could have found a solution for all of this.

"I'll change it." DG said determined. No one in her home would want for a better life. The evil witch's reign was over and the government seemed to be doing everything it possibly could for everyone else.

"Thata girl." Glitch said "Just swoop in here and change history. Sounds like a plan."

"Can't do it now though." Cain reminded them looking around at the dank street corner they had chosen as a temporary hideout. First we have to…"

"Aaah." DG put her hands to her head. Glitch was there before anyone could ask what was wrong. He stood right infront of her with a worried expression before being gently pushed aside as DG just started walking without a word. Glitch stood there staring at her.

"DG?" Cain whispered, worried as she inched closer and closer to being in plain sight. He wasn't sure who exactly was around gathering what information to give to whomever paid the highest price.

"Shhh" she told her friends still with her eyes closed, still walking towards the busy street where foot traffic could surely sweep her up if she wasn't careful. For one terrifying second Cain thought he was going to loose her too, but as he started to take long strides towards the princess…. WHAM.