AN: Okay, I am so sorry this took so long. My muse went into Witness Protection for awhile (duh to exposure to slashers), but now has retaken her identity. And then I thought I was writing a really long chapter, but in reality wrote this chapter AND rewrote the last chapter. Accidentally, :shrugs: anyway...forgive me? :wibble: If forgiven, please don't forget to review. It keeps my muse out of Federal Court's witness pool.

So entranced in the golden glow of the mirror's image of the past was Cain, that he didn't realize the Sorceress was there until he heard her speak. He should not have let his guard down! When nameless Longcoat strode forward with a sneer on his face to relieve him of his weapon, Cain opened his coat to allow the man clear access to his gun. He wasn't going to put up with being touched by one of the Witch's foul lackeys.

And Zero. The minute that arrogant bastard stepped into the room with that abominable smirk on his face, Cain's eyes were on him. Thinking that possibly, if he glared hard enough, his enemy would burst into flame then and there. Sadly, it didn't happen. Instead he was left with the disgusting taste of disappointment and failure in his mouth, coating his tongue and choking him. Zero, the smug git, gladly took the weapon from his subordinate. And held it up triumphantly, as if he'd just won something.

Azkadellia stepped forward when DG spoke to her, responding in the sickly sweet voice that usually preceded some horrific death or devastation. Zipperhead tried to defend the younger Gale, but Cain was still fixated on Zero. And of how he'd failed yet another time to protect someone he'd grown to care about from the Longcoat's grasping hands.

He'd been a friend once, had learned and trained at Cain's side. Their families had known each other when they were growing up, with Adora's. The three of them had done everything together, until just Cain's graduation from the Academy, and Zero's from military training. The sudden and lasting romance between Cain and Adora created a rift between the trio, one that was never repaired. One that boiled with resentment and anger until it came to a head when the Princess deposed her mother in a violent coup.

The Sorceress's humorless bubble of laughter brought Cain screeching back to the present, his hand reaching for the gun that was no longer there as she stepped towards her sister. The elder sister demanded the location of the Emerald, the piece of information only DG herself knew, now that the Queen had been missing for almost a decade.

DG looked only slightly confused, placing her hands on her hips as she faced down her sister. Faced down the monster she'd become. Cain looked over at her for a moment as she shook her head. She didn't know where it was.

Was it all a trick? A way for the Queen to throw off her eldest daughter, to confuse and irritate her? But he couldn't figure out any purpose that could possibly serve the royal line, to place the daughter of light in danger without reason, it would be madness. And while the House of Gale was known for many things, but insanity was not one of them. Not to this extent.

Ozma's stars. There was nothing Cain would've liked better to do then knock that smarmy full-of-himself expression off of Zero's ugly mug. He was watching the Witch with an almost lustful look in his eye, which wouldn't really surprise the former tin man, Zero always did have a thing for power. So the idea of power, mixed with sick sadism and low-cut gowns, must really turn the freak on.

Azkadellia clapped her hands together, eyes on DG, and slowly drew them apart, conjuring a lantern of sorts. From within it the Queen's voice called out for her younger daughter, her image shining from behind the glass panes of the device. With a flourish the Sorceress tossed the lantern to her sister, a smug grin tipping the edges of her lips. Cain kept his eyes on the illegitimate monarch, unable to watch DG's face as she took in the little piece of mental torture.

From the very beginning of her campaign to overthrow her mother, the rightful Queen, the Enchantress had delighted in using both mental and physical torture upon her opponents. And when displeased with her own troops, had been quick to make an example of the leader. In the end, both enemies and allies became yet more broken toys she'd tired of playing with.

It was no secret that she'd captured the Queen eight years before, but even Cain was surprised that she had kept her alive all those years. But then again, she'd never been one for giving up anything she could use later.

Quick thinking as ever, DG smashed the device she held to the floor. Causing a burst of light, followed by an explosion of the aftereffects of dark magic, a tainted cloud that immediately swarmed towards the dark magic user in the room. Also knocking back her Longcoat confederates, who all cried out in dismay.

DG, Zipperhead and Furball all fled the room immediately, taking advantage of the distraction. But Cain did not move. Instead he waited for the cloud to dissipate, doing a quick look around him for possible weapons, and finding none, decided to fight hand to hand. Tossing his hat at them, for no other reason than to make sure his vision was unobscured, he steeled himself for the coming skirmish.

He planted one boot straight into the gut of the first who came at him, knocking him back. Knocking aside the second man's punch, and delivering one of his own to knock him backwards. Finally Zero attacked, having waited out the first two, as usual. He did like his prey properly softened up before he himself did anything about it. Cain felt the thrill go through him at the chance to finally do damage to the man who'd single-handedly shredded his life.

Struggling for the gun, the pair both tried to get the weapon, before Cain gave up on the idea and kneed the other man in the rib cage. Causing the Witch's General to drop Cain's gun to the tile floor. Reaching for the pistol, Cain's side was exposed, which Zero immediately took advantage of with a rib cracking kick to his old friend's side. Which was succeeded with another kick, this time to the gut. A painful backhand was delivered to Cain's jaw with one armored fist made him see stars for a moment, and spun him straight to his hands and knees on the ground.

Cain wiped blood from his mouth with the back of one hand as Zero backed off slightly, most likely to get a better view of the other man's pain. And of course to smooth his too long blonde hair back into place, Zero always was rather narcissistic about his appearance. Getting to his feet, Cain delivered a smartass comment to aggravate his opponent, needing the time to try to shake the daze that was coming and going from the blow to the jaw.'Now I know why they call you Zero. Still can't fight your own battles.'

Zero waved off his two lackeys, who were only know getting to their feet. Without realizing it, he was doing exactly what Cain wanted, coming for him all on his own. The former tin man knew that he couldn't handle all three at once on a good day, let alone when he hadn't had a full meal or night's sleep since he'd escaped his tin suit. His stance was less than steady as he held up his fists to fight the other man, his head was still swimming from that blow. 'Lucky shot,' he thought mulishly.

Cain was the first to attack, three heavy blows that, if they had landed, would have done serious damage to his adversary. But all three were blocked the general's armored arm, just causing damage to Cain's fists. Zero threw a right hook that was particularly nasty, clipping his jaw nicely. But the former tin man did not fall, instead he threw a haymaker that knocked Zero on his ass with a nice twirl.

Cain couldn't enjoy the image however, because immediately one of the Longcoats who'd been standing back leapt on him. Throwing an arm around his neck and yanking him backwards with bruising force. Less than a moment later the second Longcoat planted a fist in Cain's face, making blood flood his mouth as his cheek smashed against his teeth. Another hit to the kidneys and he was feeling the pain. Then a double fisted attack to the right side of his face, which made him feel as all his teeth rattled in his skull. The man just kept on delivering blow after blow to Cain's body and face as his buddy held him in a standing position.

Gathering his strength, Cain used the Longcoat's hold on him to lift up his legs and kick the man, who'd rained relentless blows upon him, straight in the gut and knocking him backwards. He slammed an elbow backwards into the fleshy gut of the man holding him, following it with another elbow hit, this time to the man's face. When the first came at him again, Cain made sure he got his share of the pain he was delivering.

Zero finally reappeared, punching an open hand straight to Cain's sternum and knocking the wind out of him. Mercilessly, he grabbed his old friend's head and kneed him straight in the nose and mouth. Bloody, bruised and head swimming in pain and dizziness, Cain could no longer stand up straight. But Zero tipped up his chin with one hand, forcing him to look up at his smiling display. Before dropping the final bashing blow onto his upturned face.

Cain dropped to the floor in a the space of a hummingbird's heartbeat. And lay there, muddled and vision spinning, eyes glazed. He was close to unconsciousness, he could feel it. Still he struggled to get back on his feet, focusing on Zero's hateful voice as a way of keeping himself awake, if only for a few minutes more.

'No wife or child, crying for years to free you from it.'Blood dripping from his mouth, eyes, nose, as well as saliva and sweat, Cain was only fixated on what his enemy had said. His family was alive. All these annuals he'd thought them lost, but they were out there, somewhere. Alive.

Fuelled by the fledgling hope building in his chest, he finally got back on his feet and faced Zero. Just in time to be shot with his own gun. Stumbling backwards from the force of the blast, he fell into the ice-covered window pane, and through it. He screamed as he fell downwards towards the surface of the frozen lake, not only from the physical pain in his chest. But also from the heart wrenching pain of the fates playing a sadistic trick on him.

Damn it…