Author: Kathea aka WinterQueen82
Title: Burn Away
Rating: PG-R
Paring: Cain/DG
Spoilers: Umm, all three parts
Disclaimer: I still don't own it. Or him.
AN: This should be about a four part fic. Now, that work has slowed down this might be written fairly quickly. And I'm assuming that DG knows how to do certain things in this chapter.
Chapter 2: Strike the Match
DG couldn't figure out which was worst; the OZ nobles who stared at her as though she were a deity made flesh or something out of the unwanted. Although the people who looked ready to abase themselves at her feet any second now were slightly more annoying than the ones who stared in fascination. She could understand that a resurrection was shocking but weren't nobles supposed to have good manners. At least she wasn't staring. Somehow she'd managed to hold her tongue all through dinner. By the time she'd bid her parents and sister good night, DG was seething. She made the trip back to her rooms in record time. Anticipating the nice slam the large wooden doors would make, she stopped short to see Raw waiting there.
"Raw, what's wrong? Are you okay?" DG said hurrying to her friend.
"Raw, well. DG…not well." DG's shoulders dropped and she opened the door to her rooms and ushered Raw inside.
"No, Raw, I'm not well at all." She said dropping dejectedly to the floor in front of the fireplace. Raw joined her, a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Tell Raw."
"I just don't know who I am anymore."
"DG Princess." Raw said with sincerity.
"That's just it! I haven't been anybody's princess in so long that I don't remember what it's like. It isn't me. I'm so lost here. It's crowded." DG said frustration coloring her voice. Raw watched with sadness transforming his furred face.
"Raw can't heal. Raw sorry!"
"It's not your fault and there's nothing you could do anyway. Unless you know a way to get people to go away so I can have some peace." DG said smiling ruefully. Raw shook his head and stood slowly. DG continued to stare into the fire as Raw quietly left. The viewer stood at the door for a moment trying to understand the waves of emotions rushing from his friend but not making any sense of it. DG watched the flames until their flicker lulled her to sleep.
She was riding her motorcycle down the dusty highway out of town. The wind rushed by her as she opened the throttle further. Wind buffered her body and stung her eyes but DG laughed at the sheer joy of riding. She hunched closer to the body of her bike and poured on the speed. She was headed for the airport. The ticket to Australia tucked safely into her backpack with her life savings and passport. She was only 30 miles from her goal when she heard the familiar wail of the police siren. She looked in her mirror and there he was, in the black and white, barreling down the highway. Wait, why was her mother in the passenger seat? A horse came galloping out of the distance. Her father was astride. This was just too weird. A sign flashed ahead: DEAD END. What? How could there be a dead end on the open highway. She braked hard to stop before a brick wall that stretched to each horizon. She stood straddling her bike as she was slowly surrounded by her family. Well-meaning smiles adorned their faces as hands reached for her.
DG woke with a start, her eyes adjusting to the near dark. She was breathing heavily and her back ached from lying on the floor. Suddenly, she was on her feet, rushing out to her balcony, gulping lungfuls of fresh air. As she rested against the railing, DG watched as the first tendrils of light began to peek over the mountains. She had the all-consuming urge to run and run fast. She slapped her hands on the stone and wished desperately for her bike. Damn, DG thought, I'm a princess with magical powers and I can't even have my bike. Fat lot of good that does me now. The sun continued its steady rise over the jagged mountain peaks and with each new ray of light the urge to get out, to run increased.
Almost without conscious thought, DG was stripping out of the confining dress and yanking on her pants, tank and jacket from the back of a closet. The castle halls were still quiet as she hurried out and headed down to the stables. A sleepy stable hand helped her onto a horse, not realizing he was abetting a runaway princess. DG could've kissed him for the oversight but she spurred the horse out of the yard and was outside the castle's shadow before the sun broke over the sky.
Two hours later, when DG had not appeared for breakfast, the alarm sounded through the castle. The youngest princess was missing. Ten minutes later Wyatt Cain was pacing the confines of DG's room while Azkadellia and Raw combined their abilities to search for her.
"Too far." Raw said as he shuddered and pulled away from the other princess. The Queen placed a soothing hand on Raw's head.
"Who could've taken her and not left signs of a struggle? Were there guards on duty?" Cain growled at the head of the castle guard.
"Of course, sir!" the younger man said hurriedly.
"Then someone had to see her. Who was the last person to have contact with the Princess?" Cain asked sharply.
"She was at dinner and returned to her rooms. We didn't see her after that." Ahamo replied.
"Raw see DG."
"When?" Cain snapped.
"Late."
"Tell us what you know, Viewer." The Queen said gently while holding up a staying hand towards the furious Tin Man.
"DG sad…angry…lost. Not well."
"Anything else?" The Queen urged.
"Her heart lost." Raw said and ducked his head. Glitch stepped into the room and broke the silence.
"I heard that a horse is missing from the stables. Did you hear? Glitch said.
"What?" The room chorused.
"Oh, hello! Do I know you?" Glitch said his brain still not returned to him. Cain rushed the smaller man and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Oh, did you hear? A horse is missing from the stables. Big mystery. Hey, where's DG?"
"Your Majesties, with your permission?" The Tin Man asked as he released the startled Glitch.
"Of course. Hurry, find our daughter, Mr. Cain." Ahamo said nodding as Cain left the room quickly, his boots thudding down the hall.
Once out of the view of the castle, DG slowed the horse to a walk. The land that surrounded her was beautiful. It was full of life, color, and sound. She certainly wasn't in Kansas anymore. She couldn't believe how much she'd overlooked on her mad dash through three week earlier. Already, the land was returning to life, proof that the witch was truly gone.
No particular destination in mind, DG rode where the horse led. The day was bright; white clouds scudded across the sky. She took a deep breath of air and let her anxiety wash from her mind. This was exactly what she needed. Freedom, silence, and peace she had taken for granted back home. DG knew it must be nearing noon as the sun was high in the sky and her stomach was rumbling loudly. She knew she'd forgotten something. She fumbled around in the saddle bags. Maybe, if she was lucky. There! Her hand grasped and pulled out a shiny, red apple. It was have to do. She stopped the horse by a rock-strewn stream and they both drank their fill. DG collapsed back in the grass enjoying the warm sun on her face when something blocked the warmth and she shivered in a breeze. DG opened her eyes to see dark, forbidding clouds filling the sky. The breeze started to pick up, flattening the grass and spinning the leaves on the trees. "Well, Ms. Horse, I guess it's time we went back." DG said softly before mounting. She wasn't entirely sure where she was but turned the grey mare back the way she thought they'd come. The mare moved slowly, picking her way across the rapidly darkening forest floor. Thunder rumbled close by and DG leaned close to soothe the wary creature. The first rain drops hit cold on her nose. The next fell in a sudden deluge of its siblings. The horse jumped into a run with DG clinging precariously to the reins. Lightening crashed directly above them and the horse reared in the sudden brightness.
DG felt herself falling.
Then the world was black.