By morning, they could see the azure towers of the Sapphire City. It was beautiful, lit by the rising sun. The whole thing looked like it was made of blown glass, nestled into a field of red flowers. Metal Man went clunking on toward it, apparently unmoved. Scarecrow had lent his hat to Griffin when the daylight hurt the yellow eyes. It looked ridiculous, but it helped, and Laurie fought back a giggle as the Griffin thanked him.
As they got closer to the towers, Scarecrow made a strange little noise and clung to Griffin's side, surprising the creature.
"What's wrong?" it asked. Scarecrow shrugged.
"Have you been here before?" Griffin asked.
"Don't remember," he said. "Feels weird though."
"I didn't think I would ever come here either," Griffin sighed. "Especially not like this." Red pollen from all the flowers rose as they went by.
Metal Man went striding to the door as if he owned it, and barked some sort of password to the doorkeeper who tried to argue until he found himself reflected in the blade of an axe. The door opened.
Inside was a riot of mildly happy people falling over themselves to be helpful. They rushed the newcomers at first sight, expounding on what they all needed done.
"You poor dear, you've come so far," cooed a matronly woman to Laurie.
"We're here to see the Wizard," Laurie answered.
"Of course! Why else would you have come such a long, treacherous way? Let's just get you prettied up. It's not like asking a favor of the boy next door, you know."
"Well-"
"We'll just put up your lovely hair and get that little mark removed and find you some more appropriate shoes-"
"A soldier of the realm in such a terrible state, poor hero, we'll have you shined up in not time."
"Think what a handsome beast you'd be with your coat all brushed and your feathers oiled. We'll just trim some of the stray ones…"
"You poor clothes are in such a state. Let's just find you something else and-"
"No."
In the whirlwind of distractions and offered comforts, Scarecrow's rough voice caught and pulled at everyone's ears like sandpaper over silk stockings. They all stopped and looked at him. The tailor just looked dumbfounded, still holding out a silk tuxedo the same blue was the walls.
"But you'd look so much nicer-"
"Fine like this. Fine with face marks," he said to Laurie. She touched her mole with a start. "Fine with wings not clipped," he said to the Griffin which flinched away from the scissors when it realized where they were.
"I suppose you think I'm fine rusted solid," drawled the Metal Man from a buffing contraption that looked a little obscene.
"Said not to count you," Scarecrow said. "Wasn't. Got us here. Job's over." The metal soldier didn't answer that and the Griffin suddenly fluttered in alarm.
"What IS that??" it squealed and a cat about half his size came weaving through the crowd. It was a rusty red, with long tufted ears and too-intelligent eyes. As they watched, its coat faded to an unlikely purple.
"The Cat of a Different Color," the crowd whispered. "It will take you to the Wizard." The crowd parted for the cat, so Laurie followed, and her companions fell into step behind her. Even the Metal Man.
"Should be good for a laugh," he grumbled. They ignored him.
The Wizard's hall crackled with blue lights and magic. His spectral face manifested out of the smoke and lightning, cleanly handsome, glowing blue like his city. Laurie was more impressed than afraid and marched up to tell him everything. The giant entity claimed the devastation of the distant city was for the greater good. Everything was fine. The Scarecrow knew enough to not be sidetracked, smarter than most of the City residents. The Metal Man could accomplish plenty without a heart to complicate matters. Soldiers couldn't afford distractions after all. The Griffin protected his woods perfectly well by just pretending to be brave. All this came as emotionlessly as announcing the time from the floating Wizard.
"That still leaves Laurie," Scarecrow said. The Wizard made a slow blink.
"The Twilight Witch took her way home," he said. "Twisted it into a new whip. Bring me the whip and I will unravel your path from it."
