Chapter 7
Of Green cities, Guards and Gorgeous, no, God awful ruby slippers
The emerald walls of the city loomed high, slender towers reaching haughtily towards the sun, the tallest of the skyscrapers daintily pricking the sky. The sun glinted off the city at every possible angle and curve so that it was reflected in flashing lights, a mystical and remote haven. As they approached, Romano felt himself slowing down, his eyes dancing around the sight before him in wonder. The Scarecrow let out a soft whistle.
"Have you like, ever seen anything so totally gorgeous?"
Romano nodded silently, too awestruck to be disagreeable. He snapped his mouth closed as he realised it had dropped open.
Blue eyes scanned over the vivid bricks and the Lion smiled.
"The walls are so high..." he trailed off, stumbling backwards as his neck craned higher.
The Tinman walked up to the gate, a larger than life structure of intricate green spirals, weaving and twisting along delicate poles set firmly in an arch shape. He reached out, tin against metal, cold fingers trailing over the curves of the gate.
"Ring th' bell." It was more of a statement then an order but the Lion padded forward timidly, his wariness of the Tinman had been gradually decreasing since they first met. The bell was an old fashioned sort, brass and oversized with a rope hanging from the center. The Lion tugged at it.
-DING DONG-
The doorbell boomed through the otherwise deserted area, the sound amplified in the silence. The Lion clamped a hand over his heart in fright, golden bangs of mane unsettling and falling over his eyes.
"WHO RANG THAT BELL!"
The Lion started again, his breathing quick and uneven. "D-don't do that!" he said to the unknown speaker, "You scared me!"
A rectangle carved into the wall was removed, around eye level and a cheerful man looked through.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you but, didn't you see the notice?" he asked, frowning out from eyes the same shade of green as the walls.
"What?" Romano said, glancing around for writing.
"The notice!" the man repeated again.
Romano scowled at him. "There is no fucking notice."
The man opened the gate revealing a striking outfit made of matching green, a light flowing robe and a tall emerald top hat which sat deliberately slightly tilted to one side of his wavy brunette hair. He scanned up and down the wall still with the small crease in his forehead. He turned to the others and beamed, proudly displaying pearly white teeth.
"So sorry! Just a minute!" He slid back through the gate, disappearing for only a moment before he slapped a large sign onto the bricks and promptly shut the gate after him.
The Scarecrow squinted at the cursive writing and read out loud.
"Bell out of order...please knock."
Romano spluttered. "B-but that doesn't even make sense!" He stomped over to the gate and rapped on it sharply, "Get out here you fucking moron!" The man reappeared wearing the same friendly grin.
"That's better! So, um, state your business!" he paused for a moment, "Oh and I'm the guard by the way. The guard of the Emerald City" he said proudly, slapping a hand to his chest, "I'm kinda new to this" he added as an afterthought.
Romano sniffed. "You don't say...." Irritating, cheerful, clueless, this guy kind of reminded him of Antonio. Romano bit his lip. He missed home, the wide grassy paddocks underneath a golden streaked horizon, the smell of hay in the mornings and the never ceasing murmur of the animals. But, he definitely did not miss Antonio. No definitely not. No way. Absolutely not.
Well, maybe just a little bit.
His cheeks flushed with a pinkish tinge, damn those traitorous thoughts. The guard blinked at him and chuckled.
"You know, you kind of look like a tomato."
Romano's eyes widened before he shook his head in disbelief, stomping inside the city, brushing past the guard in annoyance.
"Hey! You didn't tell me why you are here!"
"We want to see the Wizard!" all four of them stated at exactly the same time.
The Guard looked nervous all of a sudden. He brought a hand to his head and ran his fingers through his hair. "Oh-uh-the Wizard? Well, nobody is allowed to see the great Oz. Nobody has ever been allowed to see the great Oz!" He smiled sadly. "I've never even seen him."
Romano narrowed his eyes. "What! Nobody had seen him! How the fuck are we even supposed to know that there even is a Wizard!" He placed his hands on his hips and looked angrily at the guard. "If we came here for nothing I swear I'll fucking-"
"There's a Wizard" the guard interrupted, placing a hand on Romano's shoulder to calm him. "I mean, if there wasn't a Wizard....why would you be here?" His overly joyous grin returned, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he wasn't making any sense.
Romano looked at him in exasperation. He opened his mouth a few times before closing it when he couldn't find any words to voice his annoyance and instead threw his hands in the air and groaned loudly. Yep, definitely Antonio.
The Scarecrow fluttered his eyelashes and demonstrated the largest doe eyes Romano thought was humanly possible. "Oh please Mr. Guard, may we like, see the Wizard." He smiled sweetly smoothing down his short skirt, "The Britannia Angel sent us!"
The Guard looked apprehensive. "Well, can you prove it?"
The Scarecrow pointed drastically at Romano's feet. "See! He is wearing the totally gorgeous ruby slippers that the angel gave him!"
Romano's mouth twitched in irritation. He had forgotten about those god awful slippers.
The guard's mouth shaped into a small 'o'. "They are gorgeous "he said in admiration, glancing down at the glistening red jewels. He let out a small laugh. "Are those high heels?" He grinned teasingly at Romano who punched him, quite hard, on his arm.
"Shut up bastard. I can't get them off if you must know"
The Guard's grin didn't falter, in fact, it possibly grew wider. "Whatever you say. You should have told me that you were sent by the Britannia Angel before, although, I do warn you, the Great Oz doesn't exactly get on too well with him..."
The gate clicked and swung back to reveal a city just as beautiful on the inside as it was out. The Guard noticed the wonder on their faces and opened his arms wide, gesturing to them to enter.
"Welcome to the Emerald City!"
"Thank you!" The Lion said politely, tugging at his own tail lightly uneasily. The Tinman nodded in agreement.
"Have you come far" the guard asked, leaning casually against the emerald bricks.
"So very far "Romano answered, not really listening as he drank in the sight before him.
The guard shook his head in empathy. "Believe me, this place is worth it."
The Scarecrow sighed. "I have totally tried to imagine it but, I like, don't have a brain."
"They said I'd fall 'n love with it, 'f I 'nly had a heart."
"I don't need to have courage here because there nothing to be afraid of!" the Lion said gleefully.
A bustle of noise reached their ears as shopkeepers began to set up stalls, crowds began to merge and the city became alive. Emerald cloaks whirled around them twisting around the legs of the wearers, green hats shot high above the crowds as did the hairstyles of the ladies which, seemed to almost defy gravity. The shouts of merchants trading goods, buyers haggling prices and shopkeepers advertising their wares united to form an atmosphere of excitement, sounds of cheerful laughs constantly interrupting conversations.
The guard turned to them, swirling his cloak behind him and opened his mouth in song.
Ha - ha – ha
Ho - ho - ho
And a couple of tra - la - las
That's how we laugh the day away
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
Bzz - bzz - bzz, Chirp - chirp - chirp
And a couple of La - di - das
That's how the crickets crick all day
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
He walked forward, leaning down next to a citizen as though he was talking to him.
We get up at twelve and start to work at one
Take an hour for lunch and then at two we're done
The Ozian smiled and sang back
Jolly good fun!
The guard had now conjured up a small following of citizens who were dancing without a care behind him.
Ha - ha - ha, Ho - ho - ho
And a couple of tra - la - las
That's how we laugh the day away
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
"W-wow its amazing!" The Lion stuttered, for once, not out of fear but marvel.
Romano forced himself to frown. "When do we get to see the Wizard?"
The Scarecrow nodded. "Yeah, like, will you take us to him?"
The Guard's eyes twinkled happily. "Of course! But first, I'll take you where you can tidy up a bit, 'ey?" He lifted his long staff in the air and began to walk off through the leaf green cobblestones, twisting through the masses of people. They were led inside a large building, the roof above a sparkling and shimmering green, the floor, polished and shiny. The Scarecrow squealed in surprise as a small group of girls, dressed in cute dresses with short bouncy plaits came and sat him onto a chair, wheeling him around, spinning the Scarecrow into the center of the room. They smiled, most of them showing dimples.
Here we rush
With soap and brush
To make you clean and fair
They began to brush his hair, polish his nails and stuff him with fresh straw. The Scarecrow had relaxed now after his initial shock and began to tell the beauticians where he needed the most work, sighing about how his fingernails were utterly ruined. The beauticians sang in a sweet unison.
Pat, pat here
Pat, pat there
And a couple of brand new straws
That's how we keep you young and fair
In the merry old land of Oz!
While the Scarecrow had been getting his makeover, the others had all been pulled into similar chairs, each with their own specialists. The Tinman was surrounded by men, polishing and buffing his body so that it shone like diamonds.
Rub, rub here
Rub, rub there
Whether you're tin or brass
That's how we keep you in repair
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
The Tinman even seemed to have a small smile on his face although; it may have only been a trick of the light.
Romano protested loudly as his group of attendees tried to make him sit on a chair. In the end, they picked him up, the petite ladies surprisingly strong, and pushed him onto his chair. A disheveled looking Romano became surrounded by exhausted beauticians, their previously perfect hair unsettled and their cheeks pink from exertion. They began to sing, although, not quite as wholeheartedly as their previous associates.
We can make a dimple smile out of a frown
Romano scoffed and put on a high falsetto voice, battering his eyelashes in an uncanny resemblance of the Scarecrow.
Can you even dye my eyes to match my gown?
The beauticians, oblivious to the sarcasm, smiled at him and nodded animatedly.
Uh-huh!
The Lion sat sprawled in his chair, the girls who were helping him had to force him on so now he sat awkwardly with his paws clenched tightly around the arms. He looked at them nervously but as he saw the others enjoying their unique makeovers, he calmed a little. The girls surrounding him began to trim at his claws, sharpening them to an perfect point.
Clip, clip here
Clip, clip there
We give the roughest claws
The Lion watched them happily and sang.
That certain air
of savoir faire
In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
The Scarecrow blew at his nails, drying his nail polish and joined in song.
Ha - ha - ha –
The Tinman got to his feet, newly oiled joints moving without a creak or groan and matched the Scarecrows voice.
Ho - ho - ho –
Romano slumped in his chair, folding his arms across his chest and sung unenthusiastically.
Ho - ho - ho - ho – ho
They all stood up now, leaving their makeover artists behind –the Scarecrow blowing a kiss to his girls- and sang together.
That's how we laugh the day away In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
Ha - ha – ha
Ho - ho - ho –
Ha - ha - ha -ha – ha
That's how we laugh the day away, In the Merry Old Land of Oz!
A/N: I had a lot of fun writing this chapter, I don't know why. It's just a really happy and cheerful scene. (I was in this scene as a Beautician in my school musical xD) Hopefully updates will become more frequent as it's the holidays now but…. that's what I said last time. Also, Spain was supposed to be the guard just in case my hints weren't enough. ( he's my favourite characer in hetalia ;D) Hope you like it! Please review if you do! I really do love all your reviews. They make me feel speshal. =D