amedia

koslorollo offered the prompt "After the witch melts from Azkadellia, the Longcoats turn back into toy soldiers, which is what they were to start with." I found myself wondering how that would fit in with the universe of her shimmering saga A Cold Wind Rising, in which she fleshed out a number of Longcoat characters (as well as other secondary characters) with backstories, relationships, hopes, and dreams. (The link doesn't work, but I'll replace it when I find one that does. That story made me laugh out loud, and it made me cry, and it seamlessly wove the author's creations and the canonical O.Z. into a living, breathing, multilayered world.) Anyway, here's how I responded to the prompt, keeping Zero's relationship with Malcolm Erdmyss in the aforementioned story in mind.

Cain opened the suit with a feeling of apprehension, knowing what he should see, afraid of what he might see. With a sigh of relief he bent to pick up the little figure that had fallen into the foot of of the suit. He stared at it for a long moment before tucking it into his pocket and beginning the long journey back.

Azkadellia was collecting the little soldiers at the royal residence, replacing them in the original boxes they had come in so many years ago. For most people, childhood was a long time ago in terms of time. For her, it was a long time ago in terms of innocence.

Cain brought her the Zero figure and she exclaimed softly with satisfaction. "That one came as part of a set," she said, pulling an open box from the "incomplete" pile. "I was afraid you wouldn't find him. The other one would have been unhappy if I separated them." She almost sounded like a child talking about her dolls; Cain stifled a chuckle and bowed as he left.

Azkadellia carefully put Zero into the shape cut out for him in the packing foam, arranging the figure so that it was touching hands with the other soldier in the box. "There, Mal," she said softly as she closed the lid. "You don't have to go into the dark alone."

Meanwhile,

luchia13 requested a story based on the premise: THERE IS A THIRD PRINCESS. HER NAME IS MARY SUE.

Mary Sue Gale was like any other twenty-five-year-old veterinary lawyer, except that she had violet eyes and everyone loved her. After graduating from college at sixteen she had earned simultaneous degrees in veterinary medicine and law.

It had sure been a busy weekend when she was invited to give the commencement address for both graduations, but it was all just part of being her plain and simple self.

Veterinary law allowed her to practice her no-nonsense steely glare in court and to use her mysterious rapport with animals to protect the puppies, kittens, ponies, and even goats who just needed someone to understand their needs. But sometimes she wondered if she had an even more important job she was supposed to be doing.

******

Meanwhile, back at the Sorceress' Tower, Azkadellia and DG were becoming re-acquainted with their parents. As they sat down to their first supper after the Eclipse, the Queen explained her brilliant plan, Operation Scavenger Hunt, that had saved Azkadellia from the Witch, the O.Z. from eternal darkness, and DG from life as a frustrated waitress.

"Mom," said Azkadellia as the Queen finished her explanation, "were you and Dad on crack?"

"I don't know what's more amazing," said DG. "Me being a princess in an alternate dimension, or your plan actually working."

Ahamo tapped the side of his nose. "Now, you have to keep in mind that we did have a backup." Suddenly he and the Queen stared at each other in horror.

Azkadellia was the first to break the silence. "You guys forgot all about MS, didn't you?"

"What?" asked DG.

"Well, things have been moving really quickly, you have to admit," said the Queen hastily.

"Today, maybe, but Mom, you've been in a terrarium for the last fifteen years!" Azkadellia studied the Queen's suddenly guilty face. "I knew it! You forgot all about her!" Azkadellia crowed triumphantly.

"Who's MS?" asked DG.

"Our middle sister!" said Azkadellia.

"We have another sister?" asked DG. "What's MS stand for? They named me after Dorothy Gale and they named her after multiple sclerosis?"

Ahamo started to laugh, and stopped after a glare from the Queen. "Her name is actually Mary Sue," he said. "But she thought it was unfair that she had two names when Az had only one and you had only initials, so she switched to using her initials as well." His amused expression changed to sad nostalgia. "She always was the most unselfish creature," he said, his voice breaking in sorrow.

"I can't believe we forgot her!" sobbed the Queen.

DG and Azkadellia looked at each other. "Where is she now, Mother?" asked Azkadellia.

The Queen flapped her hand vaguely. "We sent her to the Otherside as well, dear. Somewhere in the Midwest, I think."

"We sent her to live with my parents in Omaha," said Ahamo.

"What, she didn't rate nurture robots?" asked DG sarcastically.

"No, DG," said Azkadellia, "you were such a brat that only robots could put up with you."

DG kicked her under the table.

Azkadellia reached across the table and pulled DG's hair.

DG used her spoon like a catapult and got Az right in the cleavage with a big glob of mashed potatoes.

Azkadellia threw a plate at DG's head.

DG ducked the plate and grabbed the carving knife out of the roast. Azkadellia ran for the door with DG pelting after her, both girls screaming.

Aham watched them fondly. "Just like old times," he said, turning to the Queen.

"Yes, it is," she said.

Then they looked at each other and said simultaneously, "We need to get Mary Sue back."