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Fic: Remember the Fallen
Title: Remember the Fallen
Author: Erin (erinm_4600@yahoo.com)
Characters, Pairing: the Queen, DG and some random Zonians (mention of Az and the Cains)
Rating: PG [tissue warning]
Summary: While the Zone wants to move on, one princess wants them to remember.
Warning: post-series *Written for Round 12A at tm_challenge.
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine.
To the group sitting inside the conference room, the day was only getting longer. They'd been in deliberations for almost two days, and had yet to come to any sort of agreement on anything, aside from the fact they were never going to agree.
Following the eclipse, the Outer Zone fell into a lull - the people had time to regroup following the battle at the Witch's tower; families had a chance to reunite; and the land had a chance to heal. The return of the queen's light - regardless of the vessel holding it - brought light back to the Zone. The Papay fields were the first to see the effects and, soon, the rest of the Zone had a color most hadn't seen in annuals.
There were still many who wanted to see Azkadellia and the Longcoats suffer for their actions, Azkadellia included, but the royal family wouldn't have it. Enough blood had been spilled and an upset portion of the population was the least of the queen's worries. She listened to every complaint, in person, and assured each person she met that appropriate actions would be taken.
And, while tensions were running high, especially to those who had lost everything, there was still a calm. Some suggested that the queen still had her powers, even, and she'd cast a magic spell over the lands. In truth, however, the people were simply tired. They'd been fighting for so long, nerves pulled to their very ends, and the battle just wasn't worth the fight.
It was suggested that a celebration, symbolizing the end of the witch's reign, was needed, wanted. However, it was also this decision that had the court at a standstill. One suggestion had been a grand awards ceremony. Though, it was being repeatedly squashed, as those who played the largest parts in saving the Zone wanted no such attention. Another suggestion was a celebration in the middle of Central City, but the memory of the quickly-dismantled gallows was still far too fresh in the minds of those living in Central City. There was also not enough food to go around the city, let alone to send out to the Guilds.
This one wanted a grand ball, harkening back to the days of the Zone, when parties were the thing and everyone came out in their finery. That one wanted to set up the tower as a monument and charge money for Zonians to tour and see "where it all happened". Suggestions ranged from renaming parts of the Zone and buildings in Central City to "let's clear out the Realm of the Unwanted, now that we have our land back" were tossed around. In the end, there was more arguing about who would throw a better party - the Northern or the Southern Guild - and fishing rights along the Rip and a sharp yell from the queen stopped all talk.
"Yes, DG," the queen said calmly, eyeing her younger daughter. DG had been standing alone the wall for the past ten minutes, hand in the air. "You had something to say?"
DG nodded and took a step forward, trying not to look at the men surrounding the table who looked like they clearly had more important things to discuss. Clearing her throat, DG looked across the table to her mother and spoke carefully. "Instead of trying to come up with a way to honor," she said with a slight bite, "those who survived... why not honor those who didn't?"
The queen raised a hand over the mumbles and scoffs. "Please, DG," she said with a look to the men at the table. "Explain."
"Well, um..." DG said and swallowed. "On the Other Side, they create memorials, for people to remember what happened and the people who died."
"What sort of memorial, child?" one of the older men asked.
"Well, that depends on what it being remembered. You can have a statue or a big piece of stone... and a plaque or carve the names. It makes you remember the price that was paid, and gives those who lost someone a chance to..." DG shook her head and leaned against the table. "I'm not saying that those who survived don't need to be recognized. If anyone, they should have extra attention. Don't expect them to just pick up and go home and never say a word. They need to be taken care of, too. But, don't forget those who can't speak for themselves."
~*~
An annual following the eclipse, a large crowd gathered in Central City Square where, an annual before, the gallows had been. It was also the same spot where, many annuals before, a group of Tin Men stood against the Longcoat army, and lost.
One man's name wasn't on the wall, for he managed to survive both battles. He didn't hear the queen's speech, he didn't even applaud with the crowd as the slab was dedicated to the memories of those whose names were etched into the stone.
His eyes were locked on two names, placed side by side, among all the others: Adora Cain - Jeb Cain
My thanks! \O/
Author: Erin (erinm_4600@yahoo.com)
Characters, Pairing: the Queen, DG and some random Zonians (mention of Az and the Cains)
Rating: PG [tissue warning]
Summary: While the Zone wants to move on, one princess wants them to remember.
Warning: post-series *Written for Round 12A at tm_challenge.
Disclaimer: The original characters belong to L. Frank Baum and their respective actors. The current characters belong to Sci-Fi, the movie folks and their respective actors. The OCs are mine.
To the group sitting inside the conference room, the day was only getting longer. They'd been in deliberations for almost two days, and had yet to come to any sort of agreement on anything, aside from the fact they were never going to agree.
Following the eclipse, the Outer Zone fell into a lull - the people had time to regroup following the battle at the Witch's tower; families had a chance to reunite; and the land had a chance to heal. The return of the queen's light - regardless of the vessel holding it - brought light back to the Zone. The Papay fields were the first to see the effects and, soon, the rest of the Zone had a color most hadn't seen in annuals.
There were still many who wanted to see Azkadellia and the Longcoats suffer for their actions, Azkadellia included, but the royal family wouldn't have it. Enough blood had been spilled and an upset portion of the population was the least of the queen's worries. She listened to every complaint, in person, and assured each person she met that appropriate actions would be taken.
And, while tensions were running high, especially to those who had lost everything, there was still a calm. Some suggested that the queen still had her powers, even, and she'd cast a magic spell over the lands. In truth, however, the people were simply tired. They'd been fighting for so long, nerves pulled to their very ends, and the battle just wasn't worth the fight.
It was suggested that a celebration, symbolizing the end of the witch's reign, was needed, wanted. However, it was also this decision that had the court at a standstill. One suggestion had been a grand awards ceremony. Though, it was being repeatedly squashed, as those who played the largest parts in saving the Zone wanted no such attention. Another suggestion was a celebration in the middle of Central City, but the memory of the quickly-dismantled gallows was still far too fresh in the minds of those living in Central City. There was also not enough food to go around the city, let alone to send out to the Guilds.
This one wanted a grand ball, harkening back to the days of the Zone, when parties were the thing and everyone came out in their finery. That one wanted to set up the tower as a monument and charge money for Zonians to tour and see "where it all happened". Suggestions ranged from renaming parts of the Zone and buildings in Central City to "let's clear out the Realm of the Unwanted, now that we have our land back" were tossed around. In the end, there was more arguing about who would throw a better party - the Northern or the Southern Guild - and fishing rights along the Rip and a sharp yell from the queen stopped all talk.
"Yes, DG," the queen said calmly, eyeing her younger daughter. DG had been standing alone the wall for the past ten minutes, hand in the air. "You had something to say?"
DG nodded and took a step forward, trying not to look at the men surrounding the table who looked like they clearly had more important things to discuss. Clearing her throat, DG looked across the table to her mother and spoke carefully. "Instead of trying to come up with a way to honor," she said with a slight bite, "those who survived... why not honor those who didn't?"
The queen raised a hand over the mumbles and scoffs. "Please, DG," she said with a look to the men at the table. "Explain."
"Well, um..." DG said and swallowed. "On the Other Side, they create memorials, for people to remember what happened and the people who died."
"What sort of memorial, child?" one of the older men asked.
"Well, that depends on what it being remembered. You can have a statue or a big piece of stone... and a plaque or carve the names. It makes you remember the price that was paid, and gives those who lost someone a chance to..." DG shook her head and leaned against the table. "I'm not saying that those who survived don't need to be recognized. If anyone, they should have extra attention. Don't expect them to just pick up and go home and never say a word. They need to be taken care of, too. But, don't forget those who can't speak for themselves."
~*~
An annual following the eclipse, a large crowd gathered in Central City Square where, an annual before, the gallows had been. It was also the same spot where, many annuals before, a group of Tin Men stood against the Longcoat army, and lost.
One man's name wasn't on the wall, for he managed to survive both battles. He didn't hear the queen's speech, he didn't even applaud with the crowd as the slab was dedicated to the memories of those whose names were etched into the stone.
His eyes were locked on two names, placed side by side, among all the others: Adora Cain - Jeb Cain
My thanks! \O/