A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing

"What?!" Pheonix said as her entire body was engulfed in flames.

"Take it down a notch, Scar" Prism said as she trapped her in a rectangular prism. Dawn landed and shapeshifted back into a human.

"Wait why is the game over?" Dawn asked Silas.

"I couldn't stand by and watch a bird be hurt," he said plainly.

"Silas it wasn't a bird, that was the Princess," Lana pointed out.

"I'm aware but I cannot stand by and let it happen," 

"I'll roast you like a pig!" Pheonix yelled from inside the prism. "Let me out of this box!" 

"Not until you calm down, if I let you out like that you'll kill us all," Prism said folding her arms, she then turned to Dawn. "You should probably go, you'll most likely be the second one she'll target," 

"But what about our bet?" Dawn asked.

"Does the bet matter more than your life?" Prism asked looking at Pheonix as she banged and kicked on the prism in a fit of rage.

"N-no," Dawn said backing up. 

"Come on, I'll take you upstairs," Prism said leading the way. Dawn followed closely behind. 

"So um, does she always get like that when she loses?" Dawn asked after they left the room.

"Scarlett doesn't lose so it's never really a problem," Prism said plainly. "But she's unstable and reckless as an actual fire so we aren't surprised when this kind of thing happens," 

"Scarlett?" Dawn asked after hearing the name a few times.

"Pheonix is a stage name, Scarlett is her real name," Prism explained. "Just like Prism is a stage name for Harmony," 

"Oh, nice to meet you, Harmony," Dawn said. "My name is Dawn,"

"I don't care for your introductions," Prism said bluntly as she stopped walking to turn around and face Dawn. "What do you want our support for?"

"I need your support to help me reach the people, I want to be the best Queen I can be but I need your help," Dawn pleaded.

"And what would you do then?" Prism asked. 

"Um," Dawn thought for a bit but ultimately chose to stay silent under Prism's gaze. 

"So you have no plans?" Prism asked with emphasis on the no. "Why would you come to ask for our support with a valid reason for needing it?"

"I have a valid reason, I need to connect to our generation and to do that quickly I need your help!" Dawn explained.

"Look, I understand the position you're in but-"

"No! You don't get it!" Dawn yelled. 

"Yelling at me isn't going to make me want to help you," Prism said. "I understand your urgency but building trust takes time. I'm telling you it's no forever but it's no right now," 

"But why?" 

"We told you before," Prism sighed. "We don't trust you, we trusted Alessia wholeheartedly and I respect her decision to choose you but out of all of the Tormentor children; those of us who have suffered the conditions of the smog and who were orphaned almost from birth, now of us were chosen but some girl nobody knows nor has seen before suddenly appears and know nothing about our land is chosen to be Princess? Does that make sense to you?" Prism questioned Dawn.

"Oh, I never thought of it like that," 

"Of course you didn't, you have your head in the clouds," Prism said. "Alessia may have given you the throne but we as people don't have to give you anything," Prism said as she walked off ahead of Dawn.

Dawn hung her head as she walked behind Prism in silence, Prism opened a door to the room Kat and Director were in. 

"Prism, what a pleasant surprise," Kat said. 

"I guess not all runaway cats find their way back home," Prism said as she led Dawn into the room. 

"I see the Princess escaped with her life," Director said with a smile. "So how were those 4? Very welcoming I presume?" 

"Yeah, they really made me think," Dawn said sombrely and Prism left the room closing the door behind her.

"Are you okay, Dawn?" Kat asked, worried. 

"I-I'm fine," Dawn said as she sat down with Kat and Director. 

"Go on tell us what happened," Director said.

"I just didn't think about their feelings when it came to me taking the throne," 

"More like stealing it, huh," Director jokes.

"Director," Kat said. 

"Am I wrong?" Director asked Dawn, who shook her head. "Prism sure has a way of altering reality; powers or not," 

"Dawn, don't-"

"Save it Kat," Director cut her off. "Listen Princess, I'll be completely honest with you. You were not the first, hell you weren't even the only pick for the throne. There were so many before you and they were all ready to ascend to the throne if they needed to, do you know what sets you and them apart form one another?" Director asked.

"My status," Dawn said quietly. 

"Yes exactly, nobody knows what you are or where you came from, hence their distrust in you and possible hatred because what gives an outsider like you the right over those who were born onto our soil?" 

"Director!" Kat yelled. 

"It was just a question, plus most of our population is thinking the same thing. Just a glance at her and you can tell she isn't a Tormentor nor is she Gifted but Normals don't have powers so what is she?" Director asked Kat, who stayed silent. "Oh? You can't answer either, I guess the person I should've asked has long passed huh?" Director said as she glanced at the necklace around Dawn's neck. 

"Can we go now?" Dawn asked quietly. 

"Yeah let's go," Kat said getting up from the table. 

"Don't be strangers," Director said with a smirk as Kat and Dawn left the bunker.

"Was that the right approach?" Prism said walking back through the door. 

"Empathy is a good trait to have but what is empathy compared to first-hand experience?" Director questioned. "It's obvious she isn't one of us but it'll be easy to simulate the feeling of being a Tormentor," 

"But what about the aura? She can feel like a Tormentor all she wants but all it takes is a glance to see that she isn't one of us," Prism asked.

"I think you do something about that, no? Director asked Prism. "You've been able to mislead people about your status for years now, perhaps you're able to misdirect a few people until I figure out more about her status," 

"I'll try but I doubt she'd want to see us again after today," Prism said sighing.

"She might not WANT to but make no mistake she needs you 4," Director said. "Maybe you guys should pay her a visit tomorrow to apologize for Scarlett's behaviour," 

"You saw that?" Prism asked.

"If I didn't predict it, I'll most likely see it," Director said. "Anyway take your siblings to see her tomorrow," 

"Alright," Prism said about to leave the room. 

"Oh, and Prism?" Director called out.

"Yes?" Prism stopped and answered. 

"Remember what I taught you and just be yourself," Director said with a smirk.

"Right...myself," Prism said quietly as she left the room.