Author's Note: Okay, I'm officially really really sorry that this has taken so long. I'm in a writing class, so by the time I get done with the assignments I'm fried. And those of you who know me know that I'm working on another writing project for me at the same time, too. So…yeah…in the future it's just gonna take me longer to post. I'm sorry, but I'm a busy person and…yeah…I really hate having to say this, but it could be as much as a month between updates once I get back to school.
Chapter 25
"I will agree to help you on one condition," the Tin Woodman was saying as Elphaba and Fiyero emerged from the grass once again.
"And what might that be?" asked Glinda sweetly.
The Tin Woodman turned and glared straight at Elphaba.
"You keep her away from me!" he spat, as though even speaking about her left a sour taste in his mouth.
Elphaba rolled her eyes.
"As if I really care about bothering you, you great garbage heap."
"There, see?!" yelped the Tin Woodman, turning to Glinda, scandalized.
Elphaba laughed.
"Really, pay her no mind," said Glinda to the Tin Woodman. She turned and glared at Elphaba also. "Elphie, really, you must lay off on him a little."
Elphaba shrugged noncommittally.
"Elphie—"
"All right, all right, can we please just get on with this?"
"Agreed," muttered Fiyero, earning himself an acid glare from Elphaba.
"So," said Glinda, attempting to get the group's attention.
"So sew sue," said Chistery.
"Hush you will," said Igitur irritably to the monkey.
The monkey harrumphed quietly and began to groom his wings, looking uninterested.
"So," said Glinda again. "Now that we've agreed to cooperate…" She turned to the Tin Woodman. "Do you have any news from the Emerald City for us?"
Boq perked up a little at the possibility of news of his family. Igitur sat down on the ground and began pulling herbs out of various pouches and pockets, looking bored. The Tin Woodman glared at him, hurt.
"Don't mind them," Glinda encouraged.
"Well…well, all right then," said the Tin Woodman, sounding almost shy for a moment. "I have news, but much of it is not good news, and the good news that there is is small comfort compared to the bad."
"Oh just spit it out," muttered Elphaba, looking at the ground. "We can handle a bit of bad news."
"See?!" said the Tin Woodman, looking at Glinda like a small child trying to tattle on a classmate.
"I'm not your mother," muttered Glinda, beginning to lose her patience. "I can ask her to leave you alone, but we can't keep her in solitary confinement just because you're not fond of her. After all, she was leader of this group before you showed up. Still is, really. You just happen to have the spotlight for a few precious moments by necessity of your information."
The Tin Woodman grunted in agitation, and it looked for a moment as if he were about to stalk off in a rage and leave the group behind. But then he decided better of it and turned back as though physically shaking off Elphaba's insults.
"The Emerald City is now completely under control of the tiktoks. All civilians and Animals have been taken to work camps either in the Quadling Ruby Mines, or in the outer deserts. The Gale Forcers, as you have seen, have been enslaved by the tiktoks. For now, they are leaving the animals alone, as they have no way to control them. However, I have heard rumors that they plan to eradicate all living beings from Oz."
"So the entire city is machines now?" asked Fiyero.
"Except for the resistance," said the Tin Woodman, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Resistance?" asked Elphaba, her interest sparked.
The Tin Woodman nodded.
"They're a group of young people, really. Teens, and a very few adults. Rumor has it they were originally a group of royalists dedicated to the return of Ozma, but now their mission is simply to fight off the tiktoks before all organic beings are enslaved."
Elphaba stood up, suddenly energized.
"Do you know where they are?"
"I'm not going to tell you," retorted the Tin Woodman smugly. "You'll just go and put them in some kind of trance and make them your slaves like you did the Winkies."
Fiyero flinched visibly at the word "Winkies." Elphaba remained unperturbed.
"But you do know where they are?"
"You're not going to use your powers to get it out of me! My lips are sealed! I'll rust them together if I have to!"
"Thank you," said Elphaba simply, smiling. She motioned to the rest of the group. "If you'll excuse us, we'll be back in a few minutes after we discuss this."
"What?!" yelped the Tin Woodman. "What are you thanking me for? I didn't tell you anything!"
Elphaba led the group over into the grass, out of earshot of the Tin Woodman.
"You have a plan?" asked Glinda.
Elphaba nodded.
"If things have really gotten as bad as he says they have in the Emerald City, we don't have time to waste wandering around out here getting captured by every native group of people, trying to find Ozma. We need to go to the city and join up with this resistance force, if we can."
Fiyero nodded in agreement.
"Now we know the answer to Gerema's question. Perhaps five people and a monkey are simply not enough to overthrow a government, especially one of practically immortal machines. But five people and a monkey can find more people with the same cause, and convert more people to that cause. And pretty soon that five people and a monkey is enough."
"Wow," said Elphaba, laughing.
"What?" asked Fiyero.
"If it comes to an election to find the next ruler of Oz, you should definitely run. That was a good political speech if I've ever heard one."
Fiyero laughed.
"All right. Shall we go get our metallic friend?"
Elphaba grinned.
"Yes. We've no time to waste in reaching the city."
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