Rain shook her head and sighed in disgust. Even though Oz was seeing better days under the rule of Ozma Tippetarius (whom she'd helped reinstall as rightful ruler of Oz after the previous ruler, the tyrannical Emperor Apostle, was finally brought to his knees) the world still found a way to cause itself more problems. Seriously! Could they not go a single day without some form of chaos sweeping the land? After everything they'd fought and died for, the very first thing to happen was even more bloodshed. Yes, they had a new ruler, but did they have a better rule? Looking out the window, it wasn't a very easy question to answer.

At the moment, riots and revolutions were popping up all over Oz as weary and angry citizens did their best to express their discontent and confusion. Although Rain understood it to some degree (a new ruler did take some getting used to after all) it was still quite droll to watch (as cold as that sounded). Not only did the riots bring more violence and anger, but it was compounding with so many other problems. The biggest was the reparations from the almost-civil-war that stopped only when the Emperor finally surrendered the throne.

Ozma was trying to broker peace with the shattered land, starting with the reunification of Munchkinland into the rest of Oz, but not every Munchkin was happy about that. In fact, that was where some of the most violent riots were taking place. The people of the east had grown proud of their status as an independent nation, and even though Ozma was doing her best to appease them, they still did not wish to rejoin a country of chaos.

The second biggest problem was a virus that had started sometime closer to the end of the Emperor's reign. No one was quite sure where it had come from, or how or why. All they knew was that it was a fast-acting disease that threatened to ruin the nation if the almost-civil-war didn't. Naturally, the Emperor insisted it was a divine punishment from the Unnamed God himself. To some, the fearmongering worked, and they became even more devoted to the Emperor. But he was gone now. All that remained was the virus, chaos and quarantine that came with it.

There was still no cure, so masks and social distancing were law. Places all over Oz were shut down, and travel was greatly restricted. Rain was sure she was going mad(der) from the quarantine rules, but for once, she didn't feel compelled to break them. She just didn't have the energy anymore. This year was taking such a toll on her. And to be fair, there wasn't anywhere she wanted to go! Except to Ozma's side… But with Ozma so busy as the new leader of Oz, even without the quarantine, it would've been nigh impossible for Rain to get close to her.

That was the most frustrating part of all. To Rain at least. She'd made her first friend in Ozma, and now life was ripping that away from her, forcing her to feel left behind as Ozma rocketed above her status and had no time for her anymore. Of course, Rain knew Ozma was carrying a huge burden, but the selfish side of her was upset that Ozma never even tried to reach her. From Tipp to Ozma. Servant boy to queen. Friend to stranger.

Finally, the loneliness and anger became such that Rain took a pen to paper and began to write. She had no intention of sending the letter, but sometimes it was nice to pretend that she could talk to Ozma. No. To Tip. Not the queen, but the boy she loved. Her first and only friend.

Dear Tip, she began, using Ozma's old name. It was not meant to be a sign of disrespect, Rain honored Ozma's new gender and status both, but this was a letter to the past, not the present.

ooo

This year has certainly been interesting, hasn't it? Droughts, fires, flood, dragons, disease, riots and revolutions. Can it truly be that we are only halfway through? I've already heard rumor of a new and deadly type of insect popping up in the west. I will not jinx us and ask what else could possibly happen, but I will still wonder, and knowing my luck, that will be enough to doom us all anyway.

I don't believe in fate. I believe only in choice. But in this shifted reality, ravaged by war and disease and change, I can't help but feel as if life has it out for me. Does destiny hate me so much? Our stories haven't exactly been happy ones. Even now, the triumph we were supposed to feel is already melancholy, and chaos is already on the rise once more. It seems as if we can never stay out of trouble for long, can we? The world is changing, but not necessarily for the better. Just for good.

But enough small talk. I suppose I'm just writing to you because I have nothing else. Despite how fast the world is changing, it still feels as if we are frozen in time. I've never felt further from you, and not just because of physical distance. You're a queen now, and I'm still just the same as I ever was. I'm sure you must be incredibly busy, which is why I won't even bother sending this letter. Not that many of the mail services are open right now anyway. Not after a war, not during a pandemic. But even so, I will write on, for it is all I have left. And even if I should someday lose the ability to write, then I will continue to think. For as long as I am alive, I will continue to craft words, messages, understandings and stories.

Ah! I said I would cease the small talk, and yet still I ramble. I must be going crazy. Or crazier. But either way, I suppose I just cannot help but wonder what you've been up to of late. Yes, I can follow the news and hearsay, but that's different than hearing it from you. Do you know of the riots in the east, south and west? Have you seen the chaos? The death, destruction and despair?

Have you seen how the remnants of the Gale Force continue to oppress anyone who doesn't look like them? They are your police force again, yet I am sure they are continuing to act against your will. Have you seen the way they slaughter innocent Animals and animals? Have you seen the way they look down upon people with the wrong skin color? You've traveled across the land despite the danger, attempting to broker peace with everyone. Surely you must've seen it…

Those with dark skin, from the west, are treated like the enemy, slaughtered by the Gale Force left and right. Those with red skin, from the south, are treated like savages and idiots, looked down upon until they dare have an opinion. The farmers of the east attempt to fight back, but I think they are misguided. I am no revolutionary. Not now or ever. But I see what is happening. The farmers see the brutality of the inner city and rebel. But they are rebelling against the wrong thing. Yes, it is the police force that must be stopped, but there's so much more to it than just that.

Stopping the militant and corrupt police force is only the first step. The next is to end the mindset that leads to this hatred at all. I approve of the farmers fighting back, but what happens if that's all they do? What kind of mindset will that give them if it is not tempered with peace? I still do not consider myself a social justice warrior. I couldn't care less what happens to this country. But it is tiring to look out my window every day and see nothing but pain and suffering. It is everything we fought so hard to stop, and yet here it is…

Sometimes, it almost feels worse than before. I'm not saying I want to go back to the way it used to be, but I am sick of watching animals, Animals and people with the "wrong skin color" being singled out as targets to kill just to make a point. You must remember, Tipp, who I am. I have green skin. I have the blood of Quadlings, Winkies and Munchkins in me. Even if I'm not a revolutionary, I am this revolution.

This current state of chaos? It's me. I know I'm safe from most of the violence, hidden away from it, but I do sometimes wonder what the Gale Force would do to a girl with green skin. And what would they think if they were to find out what sort of blood runs through my veins? I am very proud to be all of these things, all of these minorities, but I will not deny the danger that comes with it.

I've seen dark-skinned Winkies suffocated to death by the Gale Force. I've seen Animals being beaten and caged. I've seen Munchkins tricked into battles they could never hope to win. The most recent was a case of the Gale Force starting a fire and blaming it on the Munchkins so they could claim self-defense when they began to attack.

Peaceful protest is a lie. So long as the Gale Force refuses to play by its own rules, there is no order. So long as they manipulate the game in order to win, riots will continue. I can't stand it anymore! I may not be a revolutionary, but if we keep walking this road, we're going to reach a point where we have nothing left to lose. Then what will happen?

I suppose that's the real reason I'm writing this letter, Tipp. I know you're busy now, but I'm begging you to remember the person you used to be. That streetwise, smart-alecky boy who loved to pick fights and go on adventures. That careless rascal. I know you have to be queen now, and you're going through a war all your own, but please don't forget us while you're up at the palace. Please don't forget ME. Come back to us, not in body, but mind and spirit. We need your help now more than ever. And not from the distance of palace balcony, but right in the heart of the action.

Yes. Solidarity. That's what we really need. After so long apart, what better way to reunify than to be present with us? Than to stand beside us? All of us, from every corner of the country, and of every race, religion, gender, sexuality and species, we must stand together, because if we don't, we will be picked off one by one until we are all alone again, on the edge of extinction.

I don't want to go back to that life, Tipp, so miserably alone. The truth is, I liked having you by my side. And Brr, and Nor, and Mr. Boss and Daffodil and even that daffy, dreadful Dorothy and her little dog too. For so long, I thought I was content being a lone wolf, but after finding all of you, although I still value my independence, I finally see the value in solidarity. In groups, and in standing together. In family.

And you, of all people, should understand! You began life as a servant boy with nothing and no one. Then you became queen, Ozma. You, I am sure, have dealt with a lot of changes, not just in status and responsibility, but in personal life too. You transitioned, realized that you were a woman, now you have to get used to that new life. That new body. What does it feel like to have a new voice? Do ever miss being a man? Or does this feel right? Was this a piece of your life that you didn't know was missing until the change happened?

I am not asking you to become a man again, especially if you are happier as a woman, I just miss you, Tipp. I know this will sound terrible, but it's as if you lost more than just your masculinity upon the day we realized you were the last Ozma. Even if you don't know if this was a change for the better, it certainly was a change for good.

Come back to me, Tipp. Please come back to me. I need you now more than ever before, in so many ways. I know you're busy now, different now, and I'm not asking you to sacrifice your sake for mine. I'd punch you if you tried. But I still need some of you. I still want you here, standing beside me in solidarity. Tell me I'm not alone in this, and that we are still together in some way.

Please don't tell me you've already forgotten me in a whirlwind of royalty and crowns and castles. Please don't tell me that only Ozma remains. I want Tipp back. I miss our old solidarity, when we were equals. It's the most important thing we have in a year like this. Stronger together and strength in numbers. The country is changing, and we need all of us in order to help make that change for the better, rather than just for good.

I just miss having you around, more than I thought I would. You are valid no matter how you identify, and I will love you no matter what. No matter your name or gender or pronouns, you'll always be someone very dear to me. Just please send me some sort of sign that you feel the same. Or not. That's ok too. Just don't keep me hanging, Tipp, please. It's not nice to keep a lady waiting, you know? I am not keeping you waiting, so please don't keep me waiting.

Please, come remind me who you are. Tell me what I am to do. I eagerly await your reply and hope you will indeed remember, and find it within yourself to make time, even if only for a short hello. But until then, I'll save your side of the bed. Just come and sing me to sleep…

AN: For Elphiegranger2508