NOTE): I think I'm just gonna do one more chapter after this (I wasn't sure how many chapters were going to be left since I knew what was going to happen, but didn't write it down yet). But remember, I am planning a sequel, so don't be too upset that this is ending :-).
After about a week of traveling, the Force was about a day away from the Emerald City. They had walked across the Yellow Brick Road into the Pine Barrens to set up camp. "In the morning," Bongar said to the men"we'll follow the Yellow Brick Road into the Emerald City." As they set up camp, Bongar walked over to Chistery's cage, holding a piece of paper. "Alright, listen monkey." he said, letting Chistery out of the cage "Unless you want us to harm your precious Mistress, you're going to take this letter to Wizard and then come straight back. Got it?" Chistery grabbed taken the note and flew off. Bongar grinned and made his way to his tent.
He stopped as he passed the tent where the witches were being held when he heard the sound of someone retching and walked straight past the guards into the tent. He looked down to see the green witch still asleep on a blanket, but Glinda was huddled in the corner, clutching her stomach. "What's the matter with you?" Bongar demanded as Glinda looked fearfully up at him.
"I-I..well you see I'm...I think I'm sick. Again."
"Again? Why the hell again? Didn't you take that Winkie medicine?"
"Y-yes, but, i-it must have worn off." Bongar sighed, clearly annoyed. He stuck his head out the tent flap.
"Do we have anymore of that medicine?" he called outside.
"No, Sir." another man called back "We just gave the rest of it to one of the officers."
"How about herbs?"
"I'm sorry, Sir, but no." Bongar groaned.
"Well then bring me a bucket and a rag!" He turned back to Glinda.
"Well, I'm certainly not going to clean up you little mess. So you can do it yourself." Another Gale Forcer came in with the bucket. Bongar grabbed it and pushed the man out. He walked over to Glinda, dropped it next to her, and made his way back towards the entrance, but stopped as the Witch caught his eye. They won't sell as well if they're sick he thought Not much I can do about the white witch, but I should keep her away from the green one. He turned back to Glinda, who was cleaning up her little 'mess'. "After you're done cleaning that up," he said to her "I want you to go stay in the Medical tent, so you don't get the Witch sick."
"Why would you care?" Glinda asked, miserably.
"Because the Wizard said he wanted her to be healthy for some reason." he said "So just do it!"
"I'm not leaving Elphie!"
"Do you want her sick or not?" Glinda stayed silent for a while before she shook her head.
"No, but..."
"Then do it!"he strode out and pulled a guard to the side. "When the girl comes out, take her to the Medical tent and guard her there."
He walked off into his tent. He saw Fresbin lying on a blanket and, surprisingly, he looked deep in thought. "What's on your mind, Fresbin?" He looked up at his brother.
"I'm thinking about the Witch." Bongar raised his eyebrow.
"Why?" Fresbin shrugged.
"I just never thought she had a name." Bongar rolled his eyes.
"So what? Listen, I've sent a note to the Wizard saying we've got Prince Hamilton and a gang of traitors and that we're about a day away."
"But we also have..."
"I know! But the Wizard doesn't need to know that. Remember our plan? You sneak off with the Witch while we're passing through the Upper Slums and bring her to our house. Then when I get the chance, I'll bring Lady Glinda and the Winkie Prince and then we'll..."
"...auction them off at the slave market one by one. I know." Bongar nodded.
"Exactly."
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"Boq! Wake up!"
"Huh?" Boq opened his eyes to see Fiyero sitting over him."What?"
"I just saw a guard leading Glinda into the tent next to us." Boq was wide awake now and he quickly sat up.
"Why?"
"She looked like she wasn't feeling well. She kept groaning and clutching her stomach. I think the tent they were leading her to was the Medical tent."
"What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know. But Ido know that the tent is currently empty, except for her." Boq gave him a puzzled look.
"What does...?"
"It means that if you act sick, you could have a moment alone with her." Realization filled Boq's eyes.
"Oh...OOOWWWW!" Boq clutched at his stomach and began to roll around on the ground, as if in agony. Fiyero, who had not been expecting this, jumped back before he realized that Boq was just acting. Well, over-acting, really Fiyero thought as Boq cried out "MY STOMACH! MY STOMACH, IT HURTS SO MUCH!" He stooped beside Boq as the guards rushed in.
"Tone it down a little, Boq!" Fiyero whispered into his ear "Stop moving around so much!" He looked up at the guards "My friend is sick. Please, could you give him some of that medicine?"
"We're all out." a guard said, walking towards him "He'll have to go to the Medical tent." He pulled Boq to his feet, and Boq hunched over and made sounds like he was going to throw up at every second. Fiyero sighed as Boq was led out.
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Glinda stared miserably at the ground as she heard someone come in. She looked up tosee another guard come in with Boq. He dropped Boq on the ground and left. She immediately made her way over to him and clutched him in a tight hug.
"Oh, Boq! I've missed you so much!" she said as Boq hugged her back.
"I've missed you, too." he pulled back at looked into her eyes "But are you ok? Are you sick again?" Glinda opened her mouth, but then closed it again and nodded her head as she looked at the ground.
"Yes. I think so." Boq sighed and kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry." he said.
"It's ok. I don't mind as long you're with me. As long as you're mine." Boq smiled as he leaned in and kissed her, not caring at all that she might get him sick.
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Chistery returned the next day as the Force began to pack with the Wizard's response.
Bring Prince Hamilton to me and march straight back to the Vinkus to look for the others. Well done.
-Wonderful Wizard of Oz
"Well, Men," Bongar said as the Gale Force gathered the prisoners "forward!" He picked up the Witch and carried her down the path, with the Gale Force following behind him. Fresbin shoved Chistery back in the cage and picked up the baby. He heard the baby whimper and he looked into his sad blue eyes. They look like that Winkie's eyes Fresbin observed. An thought occurred to him then. No, it couldn't be. But, I did find him in the Witch's room. And the Witch said that the Winkie was her husband. So, could this kid really be the Witch's...?
"Fresbin!" Bongar shouted "What the fuck are you waiting for? Pick up that cage and get moving!" Fresbin shook the thoughts out of his head and carried the baby and the monkey to the rest of the group.
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"So, they have found the child then? And a band of traitors?" Morrible asked. The Wizard nodded and kept staring out his bedroom window.
"But they still haven't found Margaret, yet or Glinda or the Prince. But how can that be? I thought that Hamilton would surely be with either his mother or father. Or both."
"Well, Sir, at least they've found him. Perhaps his parents escaped." The Wizard shook his head.
"No. My daughter would never leave her son. I know she wouldn't."
"Well, she will surely be coming back for him, then." she said, stepping closer "Which gives you time to formulate a plan." He turned to Morrible.
"Can you feel her?" he asked "Can you feel her power?" Morrible closed her eyes and stayed silent for a moment. Sh then shook her head as her eyes reopened.
"I'm sorry, Your Ozness. It seems she's being very careful not to use her magic." The Wizard sighed angrily and took another sip from his bottle.
"It's running out again." he noticed "And Yackle won't give me more until I give her..." he cut off.
"Give her what, Your Ozness?" Morrible said, pretending to be curious "And who is Yackle?"
"That's my own business." he snapped and turned back to the window.
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It was almost midnight by the time the Gale Force reached the Emerald City. The Wizard had ordered everyone to stay indoors, so they walked a silently as they could down the street. Bongar lagged behind and pulled Fresbin behind a house.
"Alright," he whispered "we're right near the Upper Slums. Our house should be only a few yards away." he grabbed the baby from Fresbin and placed the Witch in his arm. "You take the Witch and the monkey, good it's asleep, to our house and I'll come by later with Lady Glinda and the Winkie. In the morning we'll take them to the slave auction. OK?"
"No. I can't carry the Witch and the cage!"
"Fine then I'll take the monkey, too!" he grabbed the cage and Fresbin was able to fully pick up the Witch. "And take the sleeping serum out of my pocket in case she wakes up." Fresbin took the bottle out of Bongar's shirt pocket and carried the Witch off in the direction of his home.