Cyclonis' chest rose and fell in a steady pattern for the entire night. Not once did her eyes open to the taunting whispers of regret. Rays of light fell upon her skin, waking her from her peaceful night. She sat up, rubbing her heavy eyes while running her fingers through her frazzled hair. She realized that she hadn't slept that deeply since before those days.
Placing her hands upon her back, she began to push her chest forward in a stretch, thinking of what made last night so different. Stopping mid stretch, she furrowed her brow, remembering Piper's stupid smirk. She closed her eyes, huffing an exasperated breath while relaxing her back.
Piper… Last night she dreamt of Piper. She sucked her teeth in disgust at the other girl and partially at herself. She sighed and placed her face in her hands. She dreamt of Piper coming back and telling another one of her annoying travel adventure stories. Cyclonis attributed it to the fact that Piper, other than the guards who fed her, was the only person to enter her cell. The Storm Hawk was the only one she could accurately remember visiting her.
Cyclonis hated herself for thinking of Piper and her foolish smirk, but she was more bewildered by the sudden heavy feeling in her chest that came with the thought. 'What if she doesn't return?' For a brief moment, she was stricken with a mixture of panic and pure terror. She caught herself, placing her hands upon her knees and taking shallow breaths. As her chest heaved in and out, she began to tug at the fabric of her pants. Cyclonis cursed herself and gritted her teeth. She couldn't fathom the idea of it, yet her emotions seemed to tell the tale; she yearned for Piper to return.
After being allowed to eat her meager breakfast composed of hard bread and a glass of water, several guards carefully shackled her wrists, chaining her to the wall. She knew the implications of the bindings. Piper would be visiting her. She hated everything about the other girl. She envied her. Piper was a self-taught upjumped peasant. While Cyclonis had the innate ability to manipulate crystals and replicate their magic, Piper had had to learn everything on her own. Although Cyclonis loathed to admit it, Piper was the superior crystal mage. Perhaps the most powerful mage Atmos had ever seen. Cyclonis' hopes of spreading the will of Cyclonia upon the entire Atmos were torn apart, desecrated by Piper's path of false righteousness. She despised her, and all that she stood for; yet, for some reason, as her cold metal restraints were carefully locked into place, she felt a sense of excitement growing within her being.
Piper walked into the cell once again. The large metal door shut behind her with a loud, forceful clank. Cyclonis, who normally did not look at her, stared deeply into Piper's eyes with murderous intent. Piper slowly approached the broken master.
Cyclonis sat there with one leg extended, one knee to her chest. Her right arm rested on her knee, allowing her ironclad wrist to dangle lazily in the air.
Piper sat in front of her, greeting her as she did. "Good morning, Cyclonis," she said with a cautious smile. "How are you doing today?"
Piper didn't think Cyclonis' scowl could get any worse. She was wrong. She had never seen another person bare fangs, but there was a first time for everything. This made the Storm Hawk chuckle nervously while scooting a few inches back.
Piper gave a small smile and attacked the issue head on. "You're angry, I can see that, and I know you may not want to talk about it. However, I think that it would be healthier if we did talk so we may resol-"
Cyclonis cut her off. "You're right, Piper. We definitely should talk."
Piper, with her mouth still open from her last words, responded to Cyclonis. "Er, yeah, exactly. So, may I ask what's on your mind?"
"Oh, you know, just the usual problems any young woman would have to deal with," she said in a sarcastic and venomous tone.
Piper rubbed her arm awkwardly and replied to Cyclonis. "Ok, well, let's assume I have no idea what you're talking about. Would you care to enlighten me?"
Cyclonis responded with a queer sense of enthusiasm that caused Piper to shiver. "I'd be absolutely delighted."
As soon as she finished, she simply gazed at the other girl with a smile born of frustration.
Piper looked at the dark sorceress who sat in front of her. The edges of her lips twitched violently. Her expression wrinkled her nose and made her brow look as if she wore horns. Piper timidly inquired for the answer to the question she now regretted asking. "Cyclonis…"
"Yes, that's right. You wanted to hear it. I'm suffering from the presence of a persistent little Storm Hawk interrupting what little peace of mind I have left. I'm forced to endure her condescending smile and self-righteous values. I begrudgingly sit and listen as the personification of all my shame and failure looms over me," she spat, the hatred in her voice palpable.
"Cyclonis, I-" Piper attempted to console, but she kept going, with wavering eyes.
"You know… I have to not only spend the rest of my days alone, and with my thoughts, but I must do it while being reminded, every morning, that everything I once held within my grasp has been snatched away by the world," she said, barely choking back the sobs within her voice. "This, this is my hell, Piper. I have nothing. I am nothing, and you… you're my reminder." Tears began to stream down either side of the young woman's face.
Piper sat dumbfounded, looking for the proper words to say. Wondering if there was anything she could say. In an act originating out of some sense of pride, Cyclonis curled both of her knees to her chest and attempted to stifle her uncontrollable sobs within her lap.
Piper, still at a loss for words, blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. "Cyclonis, I'm sorry."
Her sobs continued as she lifted her head. "You're what?" she asked, almost unintelligibly.
Piper repeated herself. "I'm sorry."
Cyclonis calmed herself enough to speak in a steady voice. "No, Piper. You're not allowed to be sorry. Just leave!" she blurted out as she shoved her face into her lap once more.
"Cyclonis, please…" Piper said weakly, watching the former Master of Cyclonia place her hands on top of her head. "I can… I can help you. Just give me a chance. I know it hurts," she said, watching her fingers dig deeply into her hair and scalp, rattling the chains attached to her arms. She reached out towards her. "Just let me-"
"Get out!" she roared, lifting her hand and allowing a whip of purple electricity to erupt from her fingertips.
Piper's reflexes kicked in, forcing her to jump backwards as the lightning strike inched towards her face with great speed. She stood, off balance, breathing heavily. Her eyes were wide, full of surprise and sincere regret as she stared towards the shackled girl. She quickly sucked air through her teeth as she became aware of the pain. She looked at her forearm. Sweat trickled down her face and unto the floor as she investigated the noticeable burn on her forearm.
"Leave," she heard Cyclonis whisper.
Piper quickly grabbed her staff and began to open the door. She paused, looking back at Cyclonis as she writhed on the floor in sorrow.
"Maybe tomorrow," Piper said to herself more than to her. With that, Piper opened the large door, leaving the room of white stone.
AN: In this story, Cyclonis has the ability to use some forms of crystal magic, such as lightning spells, without a crystal, as she does in the TV-show. I'm not sure if this is ever explained in the show or if it is an inconsistency on the writers' parts. She will likewise have the ability to transmute crystals into other crystals, as demonstrated in the show. She can also fly but not without her staff (which she currently doesn't have access to). I'm letting you, the reader, know this in advance to give you some idea of what Cyclonis is capable of.