"Tell Me of Your Yesterdays" - 7/13
Disclaimer: "The Wizard of Oz" is owned by the estate of L. Frank Baum. "Tin Man" is owned by its various production companies. The following is for entertainment only. No money is being made and no infringement is meant.
Thanks to: darling_lisa for her amazing beta work. Without her this would be unreadable.
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The O.Z. - 488 A.G.
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Lylo waited with the men. They had gathered into a circle and were sending calming feelings to the women who were attending Elle.
Lylo thought about the day he had returned from his walk out. Elle had just entered her estrus and there had been several males following her, showing off, but Elle had ignored them all and walked up to him. “You will be my mate.” She had said.
Lylo took hold of that memory and sent it to Elle. He smiled at the warmth that flowed through their connection. The connection wavered for a moment, then Lylo could feel Elle's joy and pride and love, but there was something else in the connection. Something wondering and hungry. Lylo broke through the women to stand beside his mate.
“To honor your mother.”
Lylo felt such a wave of joy as he watched his daughter questing for her mothers breast.
“Welcome, my Sabra.”
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“Horsey!”
A pair of arms reached out and snagged the running child just before it stepped into the busy Central City street.
“Woah there, little fella.” The man adjusted his hold the squirming boy, who was still yelling, “Horsey!”.
“Nice catch Tom.” His partner said.
“Yeah thanks Ray. Now we just need to find out where you belong.” Tom said as he again tried to get a better hold on the boy.
The boy suddenly stopped squirming, “Daddy.”
“Is that who you were with?” Tom asked. The boy gave him a look that said, “how stupid are you?” The boy poked the star badge that was pinned to Tom chest, “Daddy!”
“Jeb! Jeb!”
“Panicked father, right on cue.” Ray said.
Jeb's father slid to a stop in between the two men.
Tom winced as the boy, Jeb, yelled right next to his ear, “DADDY!”. Ray echoed this word as he put a hand on a frantic Wyatt Cain's shoulder.
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“Kicked out?” Adora asked.
“Yeah, Ray said it was a private removal.” Wyatt answered.
“I remember from your letters, you said that Zero would make a wonderful officer.” She said as she placed the flatware on the table.
“His physicality was awesome, his instincts, spot on, but the tests...” Wyatt snagged Jeb and put him back into the chair for the third time.
“He could have gone really far if it wasn't for that.” Wyatt shook his head. “If there had been someone in charge who would have ignored the paper work, in ten annuals Zero could have been leading the Tin Men.”
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There had been so many speeches, so many people wanting to shake her hand, and through it all there was Queen Violet looking perfect.
Don't fret so. Your time will come soon enough.
Another group of minor dignitaries approached, all wanting to shake hands and natter on about the day, and the occasion, and how wonderful Dorothy had been, and how the O.Z. had changed in the five-hundred years since her arrival. As the last of the group left the Queen said, “The Governor has offered to give us time alone to look over the site.”
Azkadellia watched as the Queen walked through the door into the house that had brought Dorothy to the O.Z. five-hundred years ago.
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Violet looked around the room. It was such a simple home, only two rooms. But there had been such love here. Violet was hoping that love would aid her now in returning her daughter to her - the way Dorothy had returned to her family.
“Strange to think that such an icon as the Great Dorothy Gale lived in a house like this.”
Violet turned to look at Azkadellia. Her daughter had loved the stories of Dorothy and her adventures, Violet could only hope that after today she would have a chance to tell them again.
“I think it shows the inherent power of courage and love.” Violet said.
Azkadellia ran a finger carelessly over the window sill. “Maybe,” she brushed the dust from her fingers. “Or maybe it shows how much desire Dorothy had if she went from... this to Queen of all the Outer Zone.”
Violet placed her hands on Azkadellia's shoulders. “Or maybe it shows what she was willing to give up for those she loved.”
“What are you doing, Mother?”
“I'm getting back my daughter.” Violet tightened her grasp and closed her eyes, letting her magic flow out from her and wrap around the young woman. Violet thought of her happiest memories. Of Azkadellia and DG skipping stones, of Azkadellia winding up her dancing doll yet again, Azkadellia running into her study to show a new bit of magic, the... the first time Violet held her. Violet clung to that one. It had been a long birth, but then, after it was over this bundle had been placed in her arms. Small and slimey with a smushed face. But then the face relaxed and Violet looked into the most beautiful brown eyes she had ever seen.
Azkadellia begin to struggle under her hands as Violet felt her magic weave around her.
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Azkadellia began to struggle as she felt her mothers magic weave around her.
What was she doing?
How dare she!
Don't fight it my dear. Pull it into you, let it make you stronger.
Azkadellia took a deep breath, then started to pull at a thread of her mother's magic.
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Something was wrong. Violet could feel her magic going into Azkadellia, but it was... It should have been like a blanket wrapped around her, but instead Violet felt as if the blanket was being ripped apart.
Then, instead of her magic gently pushing its way towards Azkadellia, it felt is if it was being pulled out of her. As if Violet was no longer controlling her magic but...
“NO!”
Violet tried to loosen the blanket, to slowly pull her magic back, but instead of slowly her magic came rushing back to her so quickly it knocked her off balance.
“What's wrong Mother? Don't like my hairstyle today?”
There was a flash and Violet clutched her arm where Azkadellia's magic had hit it.
“Think I would look better in blue?”
This time it was Violet's leg that was hit.
“Or maybe...” Violet closed her eyes at that voice. She had failed, this would be the end.
“Maybe I would look better in emerald?”
Violet's eyes sprang open. How had Azkadellia found out about the power of the emerald?
“I was going to wait, let you pace out your time. But now - ” There was hit to Violets chest. “Now I'm going to clam what is mine.”
There were shouts from outside, then the door swung open and a pair of guards rushed in.
There was a flash of light, then Violet's world went dark.
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Kansas November, 1997
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“Will you two come away from that football game?” Emily called “The food is gonna get cold.”
“Come on baby-girl. Your mom's outdone herself this time.” DG scrambled off the floor and into the dinning room.
“And what are you thankful for DG?” Emily asked once everyone was settled.
“I'm thankful for my new tool kit.”
“I'm thankful that I have two lovely ladies that put up with me.” Hank said.
“I'm thankful that you two will be doing the dishes when we're done.” Emily said with a smile.
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