CHAPTER XXI – Picking up the Pieces
Sunlight pricked her eyelids. As she opened them the light poured in and they shut again quickly. She raised her hand to shield herself and tried again. The silhouette of her hand was splayed out before her with an illuminating line painted along her fingers. The day was bright and the night which had passed seemed a distant memory. That was until a murder of crows suddenly took flight, cawing in dismay and rising like a black cloud against the blue sky. It prompted her to move, although her right arm gave her pain as she tried to lean on it. She eventually managed to sit up slowly, but with her body screaming in several places. And yet here she was, very much alive and no longer on top of the witch's tower. How she came to be lying upon a makeshift bed of blankets flanked by tall, lifeless trees was a mystery.
The castle lay in ruins to her right, no longer the tall and foreboding building she remembered. Only a stump of the tower remained. The rest of the castle was fallen, the ground littered with large stone blocks and rubble. She clasped the trunk of a nearby tree and pulled herself to her feet. The line of trees stretched out and flanked the castle on the other side. Turning the other way she saw that she was on the edge of a small camp. A few paces away, Scarecrow sat resting against a tree looking thin and worn. A small, purple light danced about his arm, sewing a patch onto a burnt hole in his clothes. Judging from the volume of patches dotted over his shirt and trousers this had been the work of hours. Beyond, a sort of screen had been created to section off an area of the camp. Thin pieces of cloth had been draped on the overlapping branches of a group of trees, hanging down like curtains. Shadows moved about within.
"Hilde," She tried calling but her voice scratched against her throat and was lost in the air. She moved forward but her feet were still asleep. She stumbled and the sound of her scrambling for footing made the purple light stop. A shiny needle fell to the ground with a soft ping. "Relena!" Came the joyous yell and a light flew towards her. Relena barely had time to hold out her hands and embrace it.
Hilde came into view as she hugged Relena's thumb. "You're finally awake. Are you okay? We were so worried!"
"I'm fine," Relena nodded and extended a finger to gently touch the bandages around Hilde's foot and waist.
"It's nothing," Hilde dismissed her concerns with a shake of the head. "Just cuts and bruises."
"How is Scarecrow?"
Hilde followed her gaze, "He's going to be okay. He needs more straw but I've been making sure what little he's got stays in."
A sudden tug of weariness began to pull at Relena, although she had only been standing without support for a short while. She ignored it, "What about the others?"
"Everyone is safe," Hilde reassured her, "We didn't know what to do for Tinman at first but the tin animals came out of the forest and took him away, saying they might be able to repair him. Lion…well he wasn't in a good shape when we found him but I think he's going to be okay. The branches of the trees broke his fall otherwise he wouldn't have made it."
"So you found Lion," Relena let a small sigh of relief escape. She sagged as if a great burden had been lifted, and placed her hands on her knees, bending her head to hide the trickle of tears that fell down her cheeks. "Oh thank goodness, I'm so glad…" She took in a heavy breath, "And Toto?" She began to ask but staggered a little causing her to stop short.
"Hey you should take it easy," Hilde flew up and rubbed her shoulder, "You're still not recovered yet. Come over here and sit." Relena let Hilde lead her over to Scarecrow. She sank down against the same tree as Hilde flew off. Turning to look at Scarecrow as he lay there resting Relena reached out and clasped his hand. The eyes on his cloth face fluttered open.
"There's my hero. I knew you could do it."
"Well you did believe in me," Relena took his hand in both of hers.
Scarecrow's mouth twitched upward at the corners. "I did but you didn't need me to, I was just trying to look good." Relena shook her head and smiled back. Her eyes were caught by his straw braid, curving around his neck and hanging down before coming to rest on the ground. She reached out and ran her hand down it.
"It's a miracle your hair didn't get burned," She wondered.
"It's the very secret of my strength," Scarecrow whispered with mock solemnity and gave her a wink. "I wouldn't be me without it." He sighed. "Don't let Hilde use it for extra straw…" he whispered with his eyes sinking shut. Relena watched him for a second and then let go of his hand, placing it gently upon the ground.
"Like I'd ever," Hilde suddenly reappeared, mumbling under her breath. She was holding onto a thin rope which was attached to the sides of an earthen made cup. Inside was water and Relena accepted it gratefully, drinking it in huge gulps to quench her burning thirst. She looked at the fairy sitting on her lap, "You saved us all from the top of the tower didn't you? I don't know how you did it but I can't thank you enough."
"Don't thank me Relena; I almost didn't," Hilde confessed, blushing. "I thought you were all dead. I left the alcove and flew home with no hope. But I couldn't let it be and I asked the other fairies to come help. It took me a while to convince them, they were all so scared. We were on our way when we found Lion. The rest of you were, as you said, on the top of the tower. It took so many of us to lift you but we managed before the tower finally fell."
Relena suddenly sat up, "Wait, what about Une and that…person?" Her fingers brushed through the fringe of her hair and pressed against her forehead as she frowned. "Somebody saved me from falling off the edge."
"Yes, we lifted the witch off the tower too," Hilde said hesitantly, "We were all frightened to death she would wake up and kill us all so we locked her up. She hasn't done anything yet though." Hilde gave her a look of wonder, "Did you take her magic powers away?"
"Oh no," Relena gasped, "That's not the Wicked Witch. She's the Witch of the East."
"The Witch of the East is dead. She was killed by the Wicked Witch," Hilde said flatly.
"Hilde you have to trust me: the person you've locked up is the Witch of the East. The Wicked Witch is…gone. It's complicated."
"If you say so," Hilde gave her a dubious look, "But anyway there was no one else up there on the tower with you. I don't know about you falling; you were far from the edge curled up with Toto. Of course if we'd arrived any later the whole tower would've come down and you all with it. Who could've it been that saved you then?"
"I really don't know," Relena bit her lip and wondered, "It doesn't make any sense."
There was a rustling from the tent and one of the curtains around the sectioned area of the camp lifted. Lion appeared out from under it. He had multiple bandages wrapped around him and he limped slightly as he walked. He paused as he saw Relena and his eyes brightened. Then he checked himself and moved casually past her. "You did it," He said as he walked, his gruff tones sounding softer than usual. "I was really worried but you are a very powerful witch." He sniffed, "The most powerful witch of all I should say."
Relena smiled, her eyes brimming with tears. She reached out and grabbed his mane, pulling herself close and wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so very glad you're all right Lion," She mumbled.
Lion tilted his head and touched her shoulder with his nose. "It's good to see you awake," He said honestly. Then he coughed, "So I missed the grand conclusion; how did it happen in the end?"
"I don't really know how to explain it," Relena admitted, letting go of Lion and sitting back. "I think in the end it was the friendship and love given by all of you that powered the slippers and gave me the strength to defeat her." As she said those words she saw in her mind, amidst golden fields swaying in the breeze, a farmhouse in the distance waiting for her. Then Lion's voice broke into her thoughts and it was gone.
"I don't really understand, but then witchery has always been beyond me. Regardless it is done." He watched Hilde fly up and land on his head, the lower half of her body disappearing into his mane. She patted him on the head and he gave a gruff acknowledgement.
Relena looked around slowly, "So Tinman has been taken away by the rest of the tin animals and the witch has been locked up, but where is Toto?" As soon as she said it Hilde's expression was overcome with guilt.
Lion looked at her puzzled, "You don't know?"
"I'm really sorry!" Hilde wrung her hands and looked distraught, "I should have told you, I was going to tell you but you'd just woken up and I didn't want to upset you."
"What is it?" Relena asked, afraid. She suddenly felt her heart drop into a bottomless pit. Was he hurt? Was it more serious...she dared not think it.
"When we rescued you all Toto had some strange sort of fever," Hilde explained. "None of our medicines have helped cure him. His temperature is very high; it hasn't increased any more in the last few hours but then it doesn't come down either. It's very unnatural."
"I have been sitting beside him the last hour and, indeed, there is no improvement," Lion said regretfully.
"I must see him," Relena got to her feet.
Hilde flew up to her eye level, "The healers made cover to keep him shaded," She explained, "He's beyond there." She pointed to the sectioned area of the camp.
Relena immediately went forward, pushed aside the cloth screen and stepped through. There was her dear Toto lying on his side on a blanket. A large, earthen bowl filled with cold water, which must have taken several fairies to carry, was placed nearby. It was used to dip a cloth in to wet it. With each wet cloth, the fairies were rubbing Toto around his ears, paws and body. A few fluttered above him, fanning his wet fur in an attempt to cool him. They immediately moved aside when Relena entered and bowed their heads, but Relena did not notice for her eyes were focused on only one thing. "Oh Toto," She said softly. She reached out and brushed her fingers through his tuft and along his body. Dogs tend to be warmer than humans she knew but Toto's temperature was much higher than normal for dogs she was sure. "What happened to you?" She questioned with a puzzled frown. Could anything in the battle with the Wicked Witch have caused this to happen? She wasn't so sure. She leaned forward and gently lifted him into her arms. Pressing him close she whispered into his ear, "Toto? Toto wake up. Can you hear me?" No response, but he was breathing so that was reassuring. She closed her eyes and the slippers glowed. She raised her hand and passed it over Toto, trying to detect and heal whatever it was. There was a sudden constriction in her chest and her head began to throb, breaking her concentration. She fell forward, her left hand coming forward to brace herself as the other held Toto. The fairies cried out loudly in dismay.
"What happened?" Hilde called from outside. The blanket was pushed aside. "Relena are you okay?"
"I'm all right. I was just trying to help," she said slowly, feeling drained and tired all at once.
"Even you must rest a little sometimes you know," Lion grumbled, poking his nose through the curtain. Relena smiled faintly, "I'm sorry Lion," then it faded, "I don't really know what to do. We must take him back to the Emerald City I guess. They may know how to help him there." She carefully placed Toto down on the blanket and massaged her head. "I have to go and release the Witch of the East and then, once Tinman is fixed, we can go."
"We're not really in a state to travel," Lion said uncertainly.
"I know," Relena sighed, "We'll work something out." She stood and patted her dress down. As she walked away the fairies returned to Toto and kept on with their work. "Hilde can you show me where you've kept her?" Hilde nodded and flew to her shoulder as Relena gave Toto a quick glance. Don't worry Toto; I'm not going to let anything happen to you. We've been together through this from the beginning haven't we? We'll finish it together.
"We didn't want her near anyone and the passages to the jail have been blocked with rubble so we used one of the old castle rooms." Hilde explained cheerily as they left the trees and walked past the crumbling entrance. Relena stared at the fallen stones without really seeing them. What could be wrong with Toto? She wondered. Why do I have such a strange feeling about it…?" They walked into the main hall and Hilde suppressed a little shiver although it wasn't cold at all. The sky broke through the gaping holes in the ceiling and cast beams across the dark floor. Relena paused and found herself uplifted by the sight; as if her own shadows of thought were chased away by the light. A spark caught her eye and she saw to her left a cracked wooden door. There was a faint clanking sound coming from within.
"Hey, that's not the right way," Hilde called out as she turned towards it suddenly. The wooden door was pushed open and Relena went inside. The room was filled with tin animals, huddled together with their backs to her. They were crowding towards a corner of the room, around a wide, flat work table. The room was bathed in the soft glow cast by the lit furnace nearby. Small shapes darted about the work table, casting shadows across the walls. The sound of clinking and clattering tools filled the air. Relena moved forward to see. Something very precious to her was on the work table. She was stopped when something huge ambled across to block her path.
"Hey hey," The tin bear growled, "Can't you see there's work going on in here?"
Some of the other tin animals turned around to look. A tin hare cocked his head and pointed at her with open eyes, "It's the saviour!" He screamed loudly. The others began to chitter and talk loudly. It was the bear's turn to squint at Relena. "Oh so it is," He acknowledged, "My eyes aren't what they used to be."
"You can talk," Relena stammered. This was the same bear that had carried her to her cell when the winged monkeys had caught her. He was also the same bear that had blocked their escape from the witch's tower; before he ran away when things got heated of course. The bear scratched his head and it made a horrible grating sound which set her teeth on edge. "Oh yes I can talk," He said in a monotone with a depth Tinman couldn't possibly hope to reach. "I never wanted to until I was freed. I am Ten, the last of the first."
"Ten then," Relena started with a polite cough, "Can I please see Tinman?"
"Zero One is under repairs," Ten responded solemnly, "You can see him once we are finished with him."
"I see," Relena's shoulders drooped, "Please take care of him."
"He is the best of us and the first of J's creations. He is also precious to the saviour that has granted us our freedom; we will take every care with him," Ten promised. Relena turned and began to leave. At the door she cast a look over her shoulder and found the tin animals were all watching her with their bright eyes. She pushed open the wooden door and stepped back out.
"That was unnerving," Hilde whispered, "I'm still not used to them yet."
"It takes a little getting used to," Relena admitted, "But I just remind myself that it's not their fault how they were made."
"Yeah," Hilde rubbed her arms to banish the chill she was feeling from the encounter, "Turn this way."
They walked down one of the ruined passageways and Hilde gestured to another wooden door. As soon as they approached two fairies suddenly flew out of one of the alcoves and positioned themselves in front of the door, barring the way. When they realised who stood before them they looked at each other uncertainly and became confused. Hilde quickly flew up and drew them aside. Hushed words were exchanged which soon became heated. Relena stepped forward. "Listen, I know it's hard to believe but she's not the bad witch. You have to trust me." The fairies immediately quietened and backed away, bowing their heads in apology. Relena raised her eyebrows and looked at Hilde.
"You've saved Oz Relena. You're a hero for all of us." Was the explanation, "Whatever you want goes. If you want in then you go in." She turned to the shame-faced fairies, "Or will you deny her!?" They shook their heads rapidly and retreated, clutching at each other in dismay.
Relena looked after them silently, a little alarmed. All of a sudden she had a glimpse of the power she held and it was more than a little discomfiting. She felt small hands pushing at her back, "Go and free your witch," Hilde spoke from behind her.
Relena slid open the bolt, grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. She glanced back but Hilde remained behind her and it seemed she was intent to stay there. Relena looked ahead and stepped into the room. The ceiling had remained intact in here and it was completely dark inside. The Witch of the East sat on the floor with her legs tucked beneath her and her hands on her lap. She opened her eyes slowly when the outside light crept in. A soft smile came upon her face at the sight of Relena in the doorway.
"Are you ok?" Relena rushed to her and took her hand. "It must have been horrible in here I'm so sorry!"
"There's no reason to be sorry," The witch squeezed her hand in return. "I should be dead. I'm alive because the strength of your heart was enough to save me, not just me but maybe a bit of her too." She lifted her other hand and stared at it thoughtfully, "I feel her. There are memories that I know are not mine. I have never seen such strong magic before," She trembled in wonder. "What are you Relena?"
"I'm just a girl," Relena answered honestly, not really knowing what else she could be. "Besides it was these that did all the work," She stepped out of the red slippers, picked them up and held them out before her, "and they belong to you."
"Such artefacts are only as powerful as the heart and spirit of those who wield them." The witch shook her head and the slippers were gently pushed back. "I will never use them again. Keep them, you may need them yet."
"Do you think so?" Relena hesitantly put them down on the floor. "I was hoping that maybe it was done and I could go back home with Toto now. Everything has been moving so fast I haven't been able to stop and think. In truth I'm only here because I wanted the wizard to send me home. Somewhere along the road it became more than just that but...I don't know."
"I think Relena," The witch said slowly but kindly, "That your road leads you back to the Emerald City…as does mine. That is where it began and that's where it will end."
"Then will you be coming with us? We really must go as soon as we can because Toto is sick. You helped me in the end so I'm sure the wizard will grant you a wish too."
"Perhaps," She smiled faintly but her eyes swirled with some unknown thought.
"You know…is there another name I can use apart from 'Witch of the East'?" Relena asked sheepishly, "I think you must have a real name, like Quatre and Dorothy do."
The witch looked startled at the question but her eyes softened. "My birth name is Aînée." She hesitated and then added, "My sister was called Jeune. She never liked the sound of the start of it though so she dropped that."
Relena was silent for a moment as the names sunk in. She stood and stepped into the slippers again hesitantly. Then she held out her hand. "Let's go to the fairy camp together Aînée. There we can wait for Tinman. We set out for the Emerald City as soon as he's repaired."
Aînée looked up at Relena's welcoming smile sadly, "I feel like I should stay here, away from everyone. Even if I ignore her memories it doesn't take away the fact that I hid away while Jeune…Une was doing terrible things; because I couldn't face her. I only came then because for the first time she was in so much pain and I couldn't stay away. I'll stay here, come and get me when you're leaving."
"Hiding yourself away even more won't help," Relena said sternly, "I'm not going to let you continue to sit here in darkness by yourself."
Aînée stared at Relena thoughtfully and then took her outstretched hand slowly. "You're right; I must face it eventually I guess." Relena helped her up and they left the room together.
The fairies stopped and drew back with horrified faces when Aînée walked back into the camp with Relena. Of course she looked absolutely terrible, Relena admitted, her hair was askew and the clothes she wore in tatters. Turning to a fairy nearby she politely asked for something to cover her with. The fairy dragged its gaze from the witch to stare at Relena dumbfounded before he nodded and flew away.
"Listen to me all of you." Relena addressed them all loudly, "The Wicked Witch is gone. This you can be sure of. She had imprisoned her sister and I have freed her. This is the Witch of the East and I am going to take her back to the Emerald City with us."
Lion and Scarecrow were the only ones who seemed to relax completely and settle down. Everyone else relented but uneasily went back to their tasks. Relena felt Aînée shrink away and withdraw into herself. She reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "It was never going to be easy at first. Give it time and things will become better once they see you are not wicked."
Aînée put her hand over her heart. "Some hurts go too deep Relena and some memories do not fade so easily. Now I can remember in part what has been done to these people almost as if I had done it myself. I don't know if I can ever forgive myself even if they do." She retreated to the furthest corner of the camp, away from everyone, and sat down by herself.
"Aînée-" Relena began.
"It's all right Relena really please," Aînée interrupted her before she could say any more and gave her best attempt at a smile. "Don't worry about me. I have harder things to face in the Emerald City so this can only prepare me for it. Come to get me when you are ready to leave."
"All right," Relena turned and left her, feeling sad. Even though she was not green like the Wicked Witch her face was a replica that still caused fear. What she knew and had seen of the Witch of the East was something others did not understand. The sooner they left for the Emerald City the better it would be. The wizard would do something for her she was sure. She went to check on Toto and sat by him for a while. His condition had not changed, as Hilde had warned, and there was nothing Relena could do except to grab a wet cloth and help the fairies in keeping him cool. Feeling helpless, Relena soon became restless and decided to check whether Tinman's repairs had been completed. She drew her fingers across Toto's tuft of fur and left for the remains of J's old lab.
The wooden door was closed. At first she put her hands against it but then pulled back, not really in the mood to cause any irritation to Ten or the tin animals working inside. Hugging herself for comfort she turned and walked away. She felt troubled but didn't know where to go. Times like this were when she would hold Toto close. He would look at her with his green eyes and she would feel like everything was going to be all right as long as he was with her.
She was worried about the journey to the Emerald City. Scarecrow and Lion would need more rest and would Tinman be fit enough to travel once he was repaired too? She stopped for a moment and put her head in her hands. Wasn't it all supposed to become easy after defeating the witch? She had never looked at it realistically she realised. If she had sat and really thought about it she would have thought defeating the witch impossible for a start. And then even if she achieved that she had imagined it being simple enough as her marching back to the Emerald City with her head held high, brandishing the broomstick and demanding her wish of the wizard. She stopped short. The broomstick! Did she really need to prove the witch had been defeated once she got there? Surely Aînée's presence and testimony would be enough if she was coming along? Relena began to make her way to the ruins of the witch's tower despite her reasoning. She had not sat down or rested much since she woke up and it caught up to her by the time she reached there. She sat down heavily on a large stone block and caught her breath, surveying the damage for signs of a broomstick.
She had been staring into the rubble for a while before she caught the glint of something among the stone. Sliding off the block she slowly stepped her way among the debris towards it. Something was sparkling off the sunlight from within a mound of broken stone. She reached out and picked up the big pieces, throwing them away to unearth it. Picking up pace she dug in with her hands and burrowed in. A piece of opaque glass emerged, flashing against the light. Relena picked it up carefully and turned it over in her hands. It was curved in such a way that she recognised it at once; it was a broken piece of the witch's crystal ball. She had been looming over this when they went to the top of the tower and faced her. Relena wondered if this was also something that could prove the completion of her task to the wizard.
How did it work anyway? It was a silly thought but it distracted her for a moment from her concerns. She held it up to her eye and looked through it, surveying the landscape around her. Then she laughed at herself. "Come on Relena, it's not like you're going to find all your answers through here." Despite herself she stared through it a little longer. As she lowered it her eye caught something again. It was far off into the forest beyond the fallen tower. Something was glowing among the branches of the trees there. She got to her feet and squinted to make out what it was but could barely catch a flicker of it. Dropping the piece of crystal to the floor she moved towards it, climbing over the tower wall and walking into the trees. She couldn't see it any more here but kept her eyes upwards; being sure that it had been above her in the branches. She eventually caught sight of something contrasting the grey colour of the trees. It was stuck on the end of a branch too high above her to reach. Curious, she grabbed a long twig lying on the ground and stood on her tiptoes trying to snag it. It took her several tries before a lucky swing caught the edge of it and whisked it off the branch. It drifted to the ground and landed at her feet. She stooped and picked it up in her hands. It was a golden coloured cap, the colour of which had seemed to glow among the dull grey of the trees, catching her eye from afar. She remembered seeing it in the hands of the Wicked Witch when the winged monkeys had brought her to the tower. Closer inspection revealed strange symbols etched into its golden weavings. The symbols emanated a strange feeling, it was like the feeling she got when she used the slippers but not the same; these symbols were woven with anger and revenge. A sharp chill entered her body and she felt as if she were being watched. She turned around.
The leader of the winged monkeys crouched upon a tall section of the tower wall, staring across and down at her. The chill became a shiver which crawled down her spine and a flurry of emotions whirled inside her. She clenched the cap in her hand and lowered her head before marching up to the tower wall. Climbing back over the lower section of wall she strode past where Wing perched and completely ignored him.
"What do you command?" Wing's words stopped her in her tracks. She bit her lip and turned around to face him.
"I don't command anything. You hurt my friends when they tried to protect me. You killed Sylvia when she tried to save me," She fought back tears, "Now everything the witch had is gone why are you even still here? I have nothing to say to you. Leave me alone."
"I am here because you hold the power of the winged monkeys in your hand," He pointed to the cap. "As long as you possess the cap you may command us three times and we are all bound to your will. I, Wing, am here to receive your first command."
Relena made a disgusted sound and raised her hand to throw it. A sudden realisation stopped her in her tracks: with this cap she could command the winged monkeys to take everyone to the Emerald City. She lowered her hand but glared at Wing. "I don't want to use something that has previously been used to do evil and terrible things."
Wing's unnatural glowing eyes flashed brighter, "Yes, evil and terrible things have been our doing but we are not evil and terrible. Our actions belong to our previous masters. I would have left and taken my brothers long ago could I have defied the will of my masters."
"Une did not command you to kill Sylvia!" Relena yelled. "She commanded you to come and get me right? Then was that not something that was not asked for but done all the same?"
Wing made an exasperated sound, "The sprite that took your shape is not dead."
Relena blinked, "What did you say?"
"The forest sprite who took your shape was not killed by me," Wing repeated irritably. It was the first time he had had to justify himself to a master for his actions and it was uncomfortable. "She took your shape and due to the command issued I had to be sure she wasn't you. Once I was sure, she stopped me when I tried to leave. Yes, I threatened her and drew my blade upon her. I did not strike. I did, however, strike close enough to frighten her so I could leave."
"Sylvia is alive?" Relena couldn't believe her ears.
"My hands are bloody but not with her blood. There is no reason for me to speak a falsehood, I will admit to a thousand lives I have taken because a command contained death in it but hers is not among them." He sounded a little pained, "We are far older than the witch and there are scores of masters, including her, who have commanded death by our hands. We are cursed to carry it out regardless of how we may feel about it."
Relena looked at him with newfound sympathy. To be forced against your will to do terrible things must have been horrifying. "Is there no way to free you?"
Wing unfurled his wings and swooped down to a stone block inches from her. She saw only darkness beyond the helm that covered his face except for his luminescent eyes boring into her own. "I saw you through the witch's crystal ball when you started this journey. I saw nothing that set you apart from any other. Since then you have done things that I would never have believed possible. Now you have the power of the winged monkeys at your command as well as the magical slippers and the first thing you wonder is how you can free us?" His laugh rattled through the bars over the mouthpiece of his helm. "I wish with all my might that I could tell you; I really believe you would do it. Such a master will come around rarely in a lifetime of servitude. As it stands I do not know. The spell was cast so long ago by an angry princess who cursed us for playing a prank on her beloved. Ah but then we were full of mischief and loved to play. Now we have forgotten over the long, cruel years and no longer resemble what we once were."
The folklore of the genie came to her mind from old Arabian tales she read back at school. "Perhaps if I were to wish for your freedom would you not become free?"
Wing shook his head, "Even if you command it none of us have the knowledge to break the spell. We can only fulfil commands within our capability. Strength, swiftness and stealth are more the types of tasks we can handle. We do not do very well against magic or sorcery."
"Well I will think on it," Relena promised, "Perhaps, once again, the answers lie in the Emerald City. Maybe Quatre or Dorothy can help or the wizard himself. But before that I wish to command one thing of you and would be grateful if you could do it."
"Such politeness," Wing almost groaned, "It is so unusual and is utterly useless. We are bound by your will."
"Either way I will always ask," Relena pointed out, "I wish you to carry me and all those who would be going with me to the Emerald City when I confirm we are ready to leave."
"When you are ready to leave then we will take you."
"Good!" Relena breathed a sigh of relief. "That clears a big problem that was on my mind."
"We will be there when you are ready," were Wing's last words before he took off. Relena watched him spread those beautiful white wings as soon as he was high in the sky.
"There you are" said a deep voice from behind her. It resonated through her in a familiar way only one voice could. She turned around and the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile. As he walked towards her she noticed his movement was stiffer than normal. The work of the tin animals was clear to see: the broken plate on his chest had been welded into place with large clumps of melted metal. Tin plates were screwed over his torso, arms and legs, presumably where there were broken rents. J would probably have been capable of repairing him so well that he would've looked newly created. But despite his scars, his head was held high, his glass eyes shone brighter than she had ever seen them, and he had never looked more beautiful to her.
As soon as he was close enough, Tinman grabbed her hand about the wrist urgently and pulled her close. It was a little too rough and his grip was too tight, it also didn't help that her right arm was already sore. She winced visibly, "Oww…"
Tinman quickly dropped her hand and looked mortified.
"It's okay I'm just…I'm still a bit sore from, you know, my fight with Une."
His eyes narrowed and he reached for her again, this time very gently and put his arms around her in a sheltering embrace. "I'm glad you're okay and it's good to see you're not badly hurt." She could hear his voice rumbling up through the tin mechanisms inside his body. "I came looking for you as soon as I could. Ten told me you'd come by but nobody knew were you'd gone at the camp."
She leaned her head against his tin chest; it was cold and hard, but comforting. "I was looking for a way to get us to the Emerald City. I've found one now; the winged monkeys will take us."
"If Wing and his group say they will then they will," Tinman agreed. "They always carry out a command."
"To the letter," Relena added quietly, her voice sounding distant.
Tinman released her and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. He looked around at the castle ruins with mixed emotions.
"How does it make you feel?" Relena asked, watching him. "This was where you lived for a long time and now you're finally free."
"Not free in all ways," He said, throwing her a side glance when she wasn't looking. "But at least finally free of J yes. We should get back to camp; everyone was worried about you."
"Yeah," Relena agreed and fell into step with him as he began to walk back.
Back at the camp they were confronted by a crowd surrounding the edge of the trees. The fairies were clustered together and looked out at them from the trees, afraid and unsure. As Relena got closer she realised it was the tin animals who were gathered there. They turned to face her and Tinman. Ten ambled to the front on his two rear legs to greet them. "Zero One, we all must speak with you if you please." Relena detected the respect in his voice as he addressed Tinman.
"What is it?" Tinman looked around at them all.
"What is to become of us now that J is gone? We are free but we have no purpose and no home. Some of us are thinking to journey out into the lands in search of a place we can call such. But we need someone to unite us and teach us how to live. Zero One, will you lead us into this unknown future? You are the first of us and you broke free of J's will when he was still alive."
"Me?" Tinman looked shocked. "Not you Ten?"
"Not me," Ten bowed his head. "I may speak for them now but I am not a leader. I stood silent by the witch's side all this time unable to speak. What we need is a voice, someone who can step beyond boundaries and steer us in the right direction. The journey ahead will be hard and many will not like us because of our past and our association with J."
"Err excuse me," Hilde spoke out, flying in front of them but faltering when their heads all turned and those glowing eyes focused upon her. "I was talking to the rest of the fairies and well…we wanted to say you are welcome to make your home here, where the witch's castle once stood. I know it must hold bad memories but there are tools and materials already set up here for you. Didn't you repair Tinman with them? It will take some work to remove all the…wickedness from this place but it is better than nothing I suppose."
"You would really let us live here?" He turned to the other animals, exchanged whispers and turned back, "We would like to stay here. We can convert J's old workshops into places of repair and healing and rebuild the castle to house all of us." He now turned to Tinman. "What do you say Zero One?"
"I…I don't know," Tinman struggled to speak. "I must go to the Emerald City with my friends…" He began to say.
"What he means is that he'll think about it," Relena finished for him. Tinman looked at her in surprise and she smiled back at him. "He has one last thing which he must do in the Emerald City and if he decides to become your leader he will return. Please be patient with him and wait for his decision."
The animals nodded their agreement and Ten looked relieved. They all began to chatter amongst themselves in excitement. The atmosphere in the camp became relaxed; some of the fairies began to emerge from the trees curiously, encouraged by Hilde. The tin animals greeted them as kindly as they could despite their expressionless faces.
"Relena…" Tinman said apprehensively.
"Have you really thought about what you want to do after all this?" Relena clasped his hands, "Just think about it okay?"
"I think you should go for it," Lion appeared beside them. "It's no fun being alone and the last of your kind, believe me I know. But you have others like you Tinman and with them you can have a community to belong to."
"Yeah I know," Tinman stole a glance at Relena again and then stole a glance at where she held his hands. She tilted her head at him curiously.
Scarecrow suddenly popped up between them with a big grin, causing Relena to let go of Tinman's hands. "You called us your friends you big ol' softie,"
"You're supposed to be resting," Tinman gave him a glare. He gave Scarecrow's scrawny figure the once over and turned his head away, "Look at you. There's hardly anything left."
"I went on a crash diet," Scarecrow patted his tummy with a smile. Hilde flew over and landed on his hat, pushing it over his eyes.
"Isn't this great? We've made peace with the tin animals. They're already making plans to build a village here with houses and everything! Pity the forest couldn't be saved too," She sighed, "We could've been neighbours but we fairies have always lived in a forest and I don't think we'll survive for long without this one. Perhaps it might be us who have to travel the lands searching for a new forest to make our home. Perhaps the Nevenmere-"
"No way!" Scarecrow interrupted, "The Nevenmere is too hostile and far too dangerous."
"Is that so?" Hilde sighed, "Shoot. Are there any forests where you live Relena?" Hilde looked at her, "Relena?"
Relena's eyes had turned to Noventa as soon as Hilde mentioned it. That was when she saw. It wasn't her imagination for sure. When Hilde called to her she snapped back to the group and blinked. "Please excuse me for a moment," Was all she could say. She walked off into the trees, towards where Toto lay. "Toto's condition has made her really upset," She heard Lion sigh behind her. But it was past Toto that Relena went, although not without sparing a glance at his shadow beyond the screen. Most of the fairies were now trying to mingle with the tin animals. A few were still tending to Toto dutifully and were too busy to notice her walk past.
In the trees ahead someone was hiding; she had seen them peering out from around a tree with sad green eyes. She couldn't mistake it; she had to see for herself. It was impossible to identify which tree it had been; they all looked the same. Even so, she passed one in particular and felt herself stop and turn. Pressed herself against the tree, as if to hide herself, was Sylvia. Her teary face peered out at Relena.
"I…had to see you," She confessed, her voice shaking nervously, "I can't believe you've done it. It's all over, it's really all over."
Relena's face broke out into a wide smile, "When I was told that you were still alive you can't imagine how happy I was. What are you doing out here? Come into the camp." She reached out and grabbed Sylvia's hand, tugging at her.
"No I can't!" Sylvia protested in a hushed whisper. She snatched her hand back and pressed herself back against the tree, afraid of being seen. "I can't go out there. Not after what I've done. Even if the fairies were to forgive me like they've done to the tin animals, I can never forget."
Relena made a face, "You're the last sprite left Sylvia; you can't live alone blaming yourself for the rest of your life."
"No I won't do that," Sylvia wiped away her tears. "But that doesn't mean I'm ready to face them right now. I became lost Relena and I did…things that shouldn't be easily dismissed. If you hadn't reminded me who I am I would've been lost forever. But it was still too late to save Noventa and I've got to carry the burden of these deeds of mine for the rest of my life."
"You once wanted my power to save this forest," Relena said quietly, "And I told you I didn't know how…I hope I've recovered enough to do this," She placed her hand upon the trunk of the tree and closed her eyes. The slippers began to glow. The tree her hand was placed against shuddered and a gentle groan shook through it. The other trees began to echo the call and it drifted through the forest like a breeze. Everyone back at the camp, fairies and tin creatures alike, looked and listened on in wonder. Relena frowned, concentrating, and the red glow of the slippers went up her body and into the hand touching the tree. It flashed brightly and Relena pulled her hand away, sagging.
Sylvia caught her and helped her stand. "Are you ok? What were you doing?"
"It was just enough," Relena grinned and held out her hand, opening it in front of Sylvia. Resting in her palm was a small brown coloured seed. Sylvia's eyes widened as she took it. "You…this is Noventa?" She whispered her voice full of awe.
Relena nodded wearily. "It's a gift from Noventa for you Sylvia. With this the forest can be reborn again. But someone will have to take full responsibility and I think there's no one better than you. Don't carry the burden of the past, live for a new future."
Sylvia's eyes filled with tears and she threw her arms around Relena. "I'll spend every last part of my being bringing this forest to life again. Thank you! Thank you Relena, I can't thank you enough for what you've done."
Relena hugged her back, "Just promise me that when you're ready you'll make yourself known to the fairies and together make the Noventa a happy place again Sylvia."
Sylvia nodded and pulled back, wiping her tears. "You're going to go back to where you came from aren't you?" When Relena didn't answer she continued, "I don't know if I'll ever see you again but I'll never forget you Relena."
Relena smiled sadly, "Yeah, I'll always remember you and Noventa too."
"You'd better get back or they'll come searching for you." Sylvia reached forward and gave her one final hug, "Goodbye Relena."
"Goodbye," Relena returned quietly, watching as Sylvia turned and disappeared among the trees.
When she walked back into the camp Hilde almost bumped into her, looking flushed. "Relena there you are! Did you hear that just now? The forest spoke, well at least everyone thought it spoke; it sure sounded like the trees were sighing and all. Do you think it's still alive?"
"Who knows? Relena smiled, "I'd definitely say don't give up on the forest just yet okay?"
"Yeah!" Hilde grinned. "I'm going to tell Scarecrow!" She said excitedly and flew off.
Relena watched her go and commenced walking back into the camp. She stopped by the curtain Toto lay beyond. She pushed it aside and kneeled down beside him. The fairies tending to him respectfully drew away immediately. Relena placed her hand upon him; he was still so hot to the touch. She closed her eyes and her eyebrows knitted together in concentration. The slippers glowed softly once but, just as before, her chest constricted in pain and she let go, gasping. What is going on? She wondered. It's not my strength otherwise I wouldn't have been able to help Sylvia. Why can't I help Toto with my magic?
"Are you well?" A gravelly voice came from above her. When she looked, Wing was crouched in the tree above. He floated down and settled beside her, looking at her closely.
"I'm fine," Relena composed herself quickly. "When did you get here?"
"I was here when you attempted to use your powers to help your friend, and failed."
Relena felt embarrassed but since Wing had seen there was no point in hiding it anymore, "Well it just doesn't make sense, I can use my powers but why not on him?"
Wing drew forward and brushed his knuckles across Toto's fur. He frowned as he withdrew, "He has a fever."
"Yes."
"A fever and complete deflection of magic; I've seen this before" Wing said thoughtfully.
"What?" Relena started and looked at Wing in shock. She leaned forward eagerly, "You know what's wrong with Toto?"
"If you can't use your magic on him then it confirms it. This is not a medical condition; it's magical in nature and cannot be cured by using more magic. This one tried to break a spell."
"A spell…" Relena repeated, blinked and looked baffled, "What spell? Nothing has happened to Toto since he entered Oz."
"I can't say what it is or what he tried to do," Wing shrugged. "I just know that attempting to break a spell causes a strange fever and no other magic has any effect on the person afflicted."
"How is it possible?" Relena shook her head, "I just can't understand it at all. Could you be mistaken?"
"Maybe," Wing admitted, "That's my conclusion because I have experienced it before. During the early days of our curse one of our first masters commanded us to kill someone. Someone I knew was good and kind. I refused and because I am bound to follow a master's command I was, in essence, breaking the spell I was placed under. The more I resisted the more I became undone until I broke."
"What happened?" Relena asked, listening intently.
"My brothers completed the task and we were all drawn back under the spell again. But I became very ill with a fever and I would not wake, that is what they told me. The master knew some healing arts but could not cure me. In the end, Deathscythe tells me they retrieved a special healing flower in the jungles of our home far away. Once its petals were rubbed across my forehead I woke. Then they told me everything that had transpired."
"It sounds exactly the same," Relena mused, "But it really doesn't make any sense to me; there has been no spell cast on Toto…" She trailed off, thinking. Toto was a very unusual dog; she had known that ever since she found him. He was nimble and quicker than other dogs and sometimes he displayed an intelligence that was beyond that which a dog should have. She hadn't really thought of it much because thinking of it, well, it made her realise she actually knew very little. Why had the witch been after him firstly? Was Toto originally from Oz?" She felt an uneasy tingle down the back of her spine at the thought. Looking down at him lying there he just looked like the puppy who had been her everything back on the farm. She just couldn't fathom him being anything else. She lifted him into her arms and held him close.
"Where can we find this flower?" She asked Wing quietly.
"I have since always carried some of it around with me just in case. But I have never needed it again. Once is enough to teach me that the enchantment on the cap is too strong to break by my will alone. I have never disobeyed a command since."
"You have some with you," Relena's eyes widened as the realisation hit her.
Wing nodded at her, "Command me," He suggested.
"Cure him," She said firmly. Then her firm expression broke, "Please," She added softly.
Wing reached out to the corner of the great metal plate he wore over his torso and pulled out a pouch from inside. He drew it open and tipped the contents into the palm of his hand. Relena leaned over and saw the small white and yellow coloured petals of the flower he spoke of. He closed his palm and the soft crunch of the petals inside could be heard. Wing reached up and rubbed the crushed petals over Toto's forehead.
Relena bit her lip and watched. Seconds passed. Then, slowly but surely, Toto opened his eyes and blinked a couple of times. His eyes looked vacant and took some time to focus. She saw the clarity enter into them as he moved them to rest on her face. That was when they opened wide and he sprang up, struggling out of her arms and landing flat on his face.
"Toto!" She called out, concerned.
Toto stood, legs shaking and wobbled from side to side. He seemed to be in a daze. He sat on his haunches and looked down at his paws, and then he twisted round and looked at his tail. He shook his head from side to side and seemed panicked and restless.
"Toto," Relena called again and reached for him. He wriggled out of her grasp and opened his mouth at her. When a bark came out he flinched and let out a large whine.
"What's wrong?" Relena pleaded, "Come here."
He shook his head and rubbed at his paws as if he were trying to remove something from his skin. "Stop it," Relena cried out. Behind her, Wing watched silently. Suddenly he seemed to totter and sank to the floor, exhausted. Relena caught him gently in her arms, holding on to him firmly this time. But he didn't struggle; he just looked up at her with heavy eyes. Relena placed a hand on his head, soothing him until he gave in and closed them. He wasn't hot any more at least. She stood and grabbed one of the curtains, tying it like a sling around her and placing Toto's body tenderly inside it so he was tucked against her. She ran her hand through his fur and leaned down, softly touching her lips to his head, "It's ok now, it'll be ok. We've been through a lot and I know it's been hard. But we're going to go home Toto and things can return to how they were." She said it but she felt something strange clench in her heart as she said it.
Bending, she picked up the golden cap which had fallen to the floor and turned to Wing. "It's time to leave."
The fairies all gave a disappointed cry when Relena announced they were leaving. Tinman, Lion and Scarecrow saw the set expression on her face and said nothing.
Aînée walked out to join them after Relena made her announcement. The fairies had fashioned a rough sort of cloak for her in a hurry. It had a hood which she placed over her head, hiding her face. Aînée stopped before the fairies and bowed, "Thank you for making this for me." She went over to quietly stand by Relena.
"I can't thank you all enough." Relena put her hands together in a gesture of gratitude. "Without you none of us would have survived. You have also taken such good care of Toto and all of our wounds. I'm very sorry we have to leave you so soon but we must report to the wizard that the Wicked Witch is now dead."
She turned to Hilde, "I don't even know how to say goodbye to y-"
"I'm coming too!" Hilde blurted out desperately. Relena blinked in surprise. Hilde flitted over to Scarecrow and clutched his braid. "Please let me come, please. I don't want to say goodbye just yet…" She mumbled sheepishly. "Besides I need to come. I need to come because…because I….I will be representative on behalf of the fairies! We want to understand how things are going to work now that the witch is gone." She stuck her finger in the air," Who will rule the lands and sit on the Emerald Throne? Who's in charge of the West? There are so many questions you know."
"We get it we get it," Scarecrow plucked her from his shoulder.
Relena gave a little laugh as Scarecrow placed her on his hat, "Of course you can come with us if you want to Hilde."
"I'm only coming because I really need to," Hilde's cheeks reddened slightly.
"I told you we get it," Scarecrow rubbed her head with his finger, messing up her hair completely.
"Zero One," Ten suddenly spoke up, "If you go back to the Emerald City then remember that an army of our kind were sent there. We don't know what's become of them but for those who haven't been destroyed you must save them and send them back here."
"I'll take care of it," Tinman promised solemnly.
"You must remember that although J created you the lives you live now are your own," Relena said. "Live alongside the fairies peacefully and eventually the present and hope for the future will become stronger than the memories of the past."
One by one the winged monkeys flew down from the sky. Everyone moved back to make space for them to land. The tin animals seemed unfazed, familiar with the sight of these creatures but the fairies were awed by the sight of them. Rumour and legend was rife but an actual sighting was very rare. To see them bow before Relena as a master was even more astounding. It seemed like she was some great being that held power over all lesser beings.
Hilde, helped by dozens of other fairies, brought forward a large piece of thick, woven material. "We used this to carry you down from the tower," She explained, "It's the biggest we've ever weaved. We made it as a cover to shelter our houses from storms but I brought it so we could use it to help you. It took all of us to carry you down but the Winged Monkeys are strong enough to carry you just fine. It will be more comfortable travelling that way. Will it be ok?" She hesitantly asked Wing.
He simply dipped his head in assent. They laid it down on the floor and spread it out. Relena and the others sat inside it. The winged monkeys took each a section of it and began to flap their wings, rising into the air.
Relena leaned over the edge, holding Toto secure with her other hand and waved to everyone down below as they lifted. "Goodbye! Thank you again, goodbye!"
The tin animals and fairies waved in return and their figures grew smaller and smaller as the winged monkeys flew higher. They rose into the sky and began to head east.
TBC
A/N: Gosh, when I started this the world of 'There's No Place Like Home' wasn't nearly as large as it has become along Relena's journey. It has built up so much to make her reach here that it's taking me long to build it down again. I think so many questions still need to be answered and they will be in the next chapter. I predict there will be at least 2-3 more chapters before we end. Thank you all for sticking with this so faithfully!
Character Equivalents: None!