Chapter 1
A/N: OK, so I am going to ramble a little bit.
I am currently working on my Transformers story, but I can't capture the magic of that story that I do with the Wizard of Oz ones. I am going to finish my Transformers one, but I had to start this one too. I tried to write a Walking Dead one, but I wasn't happy with that either, so that was deleted.
On that note: This will be focused on Tin Man and Khali for most of this part of my series of Rainbow Broken. I decided to completely scrap the children of Scarecrow and Dorothy for right now. I want to give Tin Man the growth of character he deserves. I was reading about his character to refresh my memory, and I know he used to be human from the books. I am going to see what I am going to do with that.
I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz except my characters. I hope you enjoy! Feedback is always welcome.
Enjoy!
6 months after Dorothy and Scarecrow left Oz.
Funny how so much can change a man, even a man made from tin and steel.
Funny how war, death, destruction can make someone completely different from who they used to be.
It's also funny how you can come to love someone so much that your heart literally aches for them.
Right now, he only had their memories. He knew they could not be in contact. It did not make a difference that they were in a different world. No, it made no difference at all. If Drigka could infiltrate Dorothy's world, then the Fairies could as well.
Yes, they made the choice to leave, but they knew they would be in grave danger, and Scarecrow would not risk Dorothy again.
They were found out to be still alive, and now the fairy people were hell bent on revenge for the death of one of their own.
He sat there and wondered how much more they could hold them off. How much longer they could keep control of Oz before the fairy people came to claim it once more.
He knew what the ancient scrolls said, and he knew they were wrong.
There was only one true and rightful King of Oz. But, that could not happen. His life would be on the line again, and so would Dorothy's life. It was not fair on them.
He would never believe otherwise for as long as he lived in his metal body that there was a King better than Scarecrow. He didn't care if there were those who thought he lived in the past. Scarecrow was still young enough to rule for years, and his heirs could continue that after he went to the afterlife.
Scarecrow belonged on the throne, and Dorothy by his side. No matter how much she denied it, she belonged there.
It wasn't just that, he missed them like crazy. They were family. Scarecrow was his brother, and he would never feel like that about anyone else except Lion, of course.
He felt so empty without them both here, and there were nights he stayed awake just thinking about it.
He wondered how they were doing now, and how they were faring in Dorothy's world.
General Nick Tin Man Woodsman sat at the new King's Council as they again disagreed on the fate of Oz, and who would rule.
He gritted his teeth as he heard these rich bastards talk about Oz's fate as if it was some kind of hassle, a fly buzzing their head, you could say. He hated every moment of it.
Another thing he didn't like who was now sitting in front of him. The King of the Fairies, he thought bitterly. He didn't like the look the King was giving him.
Tin Man was very suspicious of him, and did not trust him for as far as he could throw him.
His name was Thoron Windsplatter. A fitting name for this king of the fairies.
Suddenly, Tin Man was brought of his thoughts as Thoron spoke. He was another uncle to Ozma, and he was not happy.
"The ancient scrolls specifically state that the fairies are to rule Oz, and I can have one of my sons on the throne within weeks," he pleaded to the council.
"That was before Theodora and Evanora overthrew the King when the first war came," Glinda said steadily. She knew, she had been there.
"That means nothing," he reasoned. "Besides, you must go on what they say."
"Yes, go by what they say," Tin Man said finally tired of listening to this drabble. "Your people have done a wonderful job for this country since you ruled."
The sarcasm was palpable in his voice as he narrowed his eyes on the king sitting across from him.
Thoron made an "hmph" face at Tin Man, as if to say, "do not speak to me peasant," making Tin Man smirk.
"We all know what you're real plans for Oz were by what Ozma said in her ledgers," Oscar chimed in.
"That is the way it was supposed to be all along," Thoron said defiantly.
King Oran of the Mifkits sat back in thought. Tin Man knew he could rely on him to defend him, but he was losing and they all knew it.
"The people of Oz have spoken, and they agree they do not want to be ruled by the Fairy Kingdom," Oran said.
Suddenly, Thoron banged on the table in anger. "I don't care what they want! This kingdom is the largest in the realm, and they need a ruler. Obviously, Scarecrow could not do it, and he was not the heir, so you all have a choice either let us take over or we declare war and take over from there. I know you're hiding Scarecrow, he will face his crimes!"
Lion growled from the corner. Tin Man looked around for a moment.
He had enough of this. Without another word Tin Man rose from his chair, and went across the table putting his knife to Thoron's throat.
The older Fairy King choked in shock and fear as the knife was strategically placed at his main artery. They may be immortal, but injury can and would kill the fairies.
"Nick!" Glinda cried standing from her chair as did the others.
"Get him off of me!" The King yelled to the others.
"Thoreon died in this room," Tin Man hissed into the King's ear. "Do you want to do the same?"
The King choked again, and shook his head.
Tin Man had a grip on his shirt and pulled him closer to his face.
"You will leave Scarecrow out of this. The only ones who are committing crimes are you, and your people," Tin Man said lowly.
"Nick. Come on, please calm down," Oran said placing a hand on his shoulder.
Tin Man violently let go of the king, and then Thoron demanded he be arrested, but Oran was able to calm the king and said they are all stressed from this situation and to please drop it. Tin Man would not do it again.
Thoron righted his shirt and jacket with and stood angrily.
"I will have Oz, and there is nothing any of you can stop me. As far as I'm concerned you are all guilty for the murder of my family," Thoron pointing his finger at all of them and settling his light gray eyes on Tin Man.
"You will never rule Oz, I swear it. Scarecrow is the true and rightful king," Tin Man said in a low voice meeting Thoron's gaze.
"Oz is mine! No one else's," Thoron insisted.
"It is not your place to deny the return of the king, your grace," Tin Man said sarcastically.
Thoron's face turned beet red, but he and his aides left promptly, and everyone sat there quiet for a moment.
"As usual, that went well," Danian the gargoyle commented trying to make a joke, but quickly realized his mistake and sunk into his chair.
Oran sighed, and turned to everyone saying the meeting was adjourned for right now.
"I have to go and calm Thoron," Oran said eyeing Tin Man angrily.
"He will not have Oz," Tin Man answered just as angry.
"Yes, and then he starts a war, and Oz does not have the means right now to hold him off," Oran shot back. "Neither do I. We are all spent, Nick, and you know it."
"I said he would not have Oz! I don't care what we need to do, and if we have to start another war! We will find a way," Tin Man said standing from the table gathering his things.
He looked around and could see the forlorn faces of everyone in the room that were from Oz.
"I wish there was someone to step up," Lion said in a low voice.
Oscar shook his head. "I can only steward for so long."
Tin Man turned to them sharply and said, "Then we declare Scarecrow King once more and return him to the throne."
The new Lord of South Aglas was a man named Darien, whom Tin Man admired. He was a good man, and decent to his people. He was able to clean up Aglas after Ordaran in a short time, and was able to establish trading again by eliminating the pirate threats.
"Scarecrow has many prices on his head right now. It would be suicide for him and the savior to return," Darien said making perfect sense, but Tin Man refused to accept it.
"He would be dead before he reached the throne," Lion commented to Tin Man with sympathy towards his feelings.
Tin Man sighed and rubbed his metallic face. Oh how he wished Scarecrow were here.
Tin Man spotted the little canary sitting on the windowsill the whole time, and he smiled.
He knew who it was, and couldn't wait to see her in human form again.
She cocked her little head at him, and flew off.
He was trying to get the shape shifters official in the realm as well as keeping the fairy people at bay.
Khali would need to return to her people soon. They had been searching for Boren, but were not able to locate him. All Khali knew was he had not returned home yet, and that worried Tin Man for Khali's sake.
"Oran, if I get the blessing of the shape shifters can they be present at council?"
Oran looked at him and smiled slightly. "Yes, I will need it in written form, and then we will take a final vote."
"They are not very trusting, but I think I can convince them," Tin Man commented.
"Then do what you need to do," Oran said then left to speak to Thoron.
Glinda approached Tin Man with a sad smile. "We miss them too."
Tin Man took a deep breath, and tried to not show his emotions, but it was hard for him.
He could not shut down like Scarecrow could. He wished he had that kind of control.
"When are you and Khali leaving?" Glinda asked softly.
"We will leave here in three days. She needs to see her people. I've denied her long enough," Tin Man said.
"I think it will be good for her to go home, and you need a break," Glinda said.
"When is the next council?" Tin Man asked.
Oscar looked over some papers, as the others got ready to leave.
"Next month again," he answered.
Lion sighed loudly. "This is getting insane now."
"Agreed," Tin Man said.
….
Tin Man walked to the guest room. It was true they were back in Mifkit, and staying in Oran's castle.
It was also true that he was finally able to take Khali home for a while.
She was getting anxious to see her people. She was worried that Boren would do something, and she was anxious to get them under the protection of realm so that wouldn't happen.
After Scarecrow and Dorothy left Oscar became Steward again as elected by the people, but it would not last long.
Oscar and Glinda were getting antsy to retire, and there was no one to step up and take their place according to protocol. That is why the fairies used their ancient scrolls to stake claim on Oz.
Tin Man worried about a hostile take over from them. Oran was right they were all spent. They had seen so many battles now that their numbers were low, and they were still recovering from Ozma's spell, and economically.
The people of Oz were tired of fighting, but they were also tired of other lands trying to decide their fate for them.
Even though he was worried about it, he knew he had to take Khali home.
She waited for him in his room. Tin Man always caught his breath when he saw her.
She was in a royal blue dress that Lorna had made for her, and came down to her feet. Her blonde hair fell past her shoulders in waves, and her green eyes practically glowed. She constantly complained about how thick her hair was, and when it was humid, she could do nothing with it.
She was a sight for his sore blue eyes of that disgusting fairy king.
She raised a light eyebrow at him, but smiled.
"Do you want a price on your head now?"
"No, but I want a kiss," he said smiling.
She smiled and went into his embrace, and they kissed for a moment.
Tin Man was starting to understand why Scarecrow had wanted to be human so badly. He was getting those same urges, and it shocked him, because he had always thought he would stay metal for eternity.
Yet, Khali was like Dorothy. She never looked at him any other way except the man she loved.
My how things have changed, he thought as he smiled down at her.