daydream // titans // dick grayson

[prologue]

10 Years Ago
Planet: Erillia

Emery sat in a small circle with her friends, playing jacks on the floor of the council headquarters. Ophelia had won the previous game, but that didn't stop Emery from losing any motivation to win. With the ball in her hand, she dropped it, and swiftly picked up four jacks. One after another, Jaeden went, then Lance, and then Ophelia. Emery won. She cheered in excitement, while everyone giggled and clapped for the princess of illusions.

Emery's father was one of the high councilmen of Erillia, meaning that he was one of the rulers of the planet. Arthur was a high wizard of illusion and manipulation magic and because of that, Emery's powers had manifested soon after she was born. From flying objects across the room as an infant, to creating her imaginary friends as illusions her father could see. Arthur began training Emery once she turned six years old and eventually, she began to become adept at illusion magic.

Arthur noticed Emery's affinity to the planet's energy and found out that his late wife's fairy magic had been passed down to her. When she turned nine, her wings manifested on her back as a tattoo that ran down her shoulder blades and her lower back. He made sure that he was well equipped on learning fairy magic and teaching her flight.

" Princess Emery, Princess Ophelia, you are to report to both of your parents' headquarters," a guard curtsied in front of the four friends. The two got up from the floor, while the boys quickly followed after. They all skipped throughout the corridor and when they reached the large doors, they bursted open after Ophelia pushed through.

" Hello father," Emery ran to Arthur, jumping into his arms. He placed a kiss onto her forehead and brushed his hands through her hair.

" Hello, my little pixie," he whispered. His voice seemed dark and hesitating, but Emery didn't know that at the time.

" Did you need us for something, father" Ophelia asked her father, who was another high-councilman of Erillia. He looked at the two girls in dismay, saddened almost.

" There has been an issue, regarding Princess Emery," Unovius stated.

" Did I do something wrong?" Emery pulled away from her father, her brows furrowed in fear.

" Of course not, my darling," Arthur whispered, " You are quite young to understand, however, you are in danger, Em."

When her father regarded her as 'Em,' she knew there was something serious going on. At the bright, ripe age of ten, Emery knew what danger was. She quivered in fear, but her father held her hand.

" Princess," Unovius stated, " There is a group of people after you. They were after your mother before she passed, but we did everything to protect until she died." Arthur looked down at his feet, fiddling with Em's hand in deep sadness.

" W-why do they want me?" she said. Ophelia grabbed her other arm and the boys stood firmly behind her.

" They need your fairy magic to propose a ritual, but I promise, we will do everything to protect you too," Unovius replied.

" Father, what does that mean?" Lia shouted. Tears began falling from her eyes and she gripped onto Em's left arm.

" We are sending you away, my little sparrow," Arthur choked.

" W-what?!" the kids exclaimed.

~

5 Years Later
Planet: Earth

Once again, on her birthday, Emery sat on the dining table, alone. Alfred had baked Em a cheesecake for her special day, but it didn't feel special. Bruce and Dick were out on a mission, while she sat, twiddling with her fingers in the dimly lit room.

" Ms. Galatea, did you want another piece? If not, I will promptly place it in the refrigerator for later," Alfred said.

" I-," she paused, " I think I'm done for tonight, Alfred. Thank you for the delicious cake."

" Of course, m'lady," Alfred replied. He picked up the cake and left the dining room. It was already 8 pm and she felt tired. Not because of her sleepiness, but more because she was tired of being on Earth. She hated it, but she knew her father wouldn't want her to come back until he had perfected spells to keep danger away from her.

She moved into the training room and grabbed a bo staff off of the wall and began hitting a target dummy. Screaming and sobbing, she kept hitting it until she felt content with her anger. She fell to her knees, dropping the training weapon and crying into her hands. She missed Erillia. So much. She missed Arthur, Ophelia, Lance and Jae. Even Unovius. Though, he was quite the hot-head. Her hands were blistered from gripping the staff far too tightly, but she didn't care for the pain.

She felt a warm pair of arms wrap around her back. She continued her sobbing, but allowed for the embrace to keep going.

" Happy birthday, Ems," she heard Dick whisper to her. She turned around to see him unmasked, with a cut lip and bruised under-eye. He still gave her a toothy smile, " This is for you."

He handed her a wrapped box and gestured for her to open it. She began opening it, hiccuping and sniffling. Once she got to the inside, it was a black velvet box. She opened the box and a necklace appeared with butterfly wings.

She let out a small sob and fell back into Dick's embrace. He held her until she stopped crying and walked her into her room, putting her to bed. As he left the room, he saw Bruce's dark eyes pass him. Dick knew he wasn't going to show her any affection, but he could feel her pain.

" One day," Bruce whispered, walking off into his room.