Chapter 2: Letters and Lullabies
"Dear Boq," the letter read
"As I'm sure you may have heard, Fiyero was recently spotted in the Glikkus. The sky was angry that day my friend. It decided to spit out Fiyero like a bad watermelon seed and there is no way to know exactly where he is now. However, someone saw him and that's all I need to know to know that he lives. In a drunken haze, I didn't fully realize the the importance of Fiyero being alive, but the morning after it hit me. No, not the hangover, but the fact that Fiyero is our last connection to Elphie. We had always thought that there was something between Fiyero and Elphie, and our suspicions were confirmed when Elphie's son, yes her son, a boy named Liir came to visit me. He read in her diary that Fiyero is the only man she has ever loved and while in the Emerald City, had an intense and passionate affair. It also said in the diary that Fiyero was Liir's father. I need your help to find Fiyero. He appears to have fallen out of the same place that Dorothy came from and I have sent my personal assistant, William, on a mission to found out where exactly Dorothy came from. All I can remember is Kan-something. However, there is no place in Oz or any surrounding countries that start with Kan. Please report to the Emerald City on the 16th of April. When you arrive, you will be provided with a search party, which you will lead, and provisions for the search.
Excited to see you again,
Glinda, Empress of Oz"
"What is that honey?"
"Oh, it's just a letter form Glinda. Remember how I told you about Fiyero?"
"Oh, isn't he the Arjiki prince who was murdered in the Emerald City?"
"Yea. But only he was never murdered! It turns out he fell out of the sky and Glinda thinks he came form where Dorothy came from. This may be further tyranny of the Wizard. While he was here, he must've had Fiyero kidnapped and thrown into Kans-something"
"Kansas."
"What?"
"Kansas, Dorothy's from Kansas."
"Yes that's it. Kansas. I think it's a maximum security torture prison like Southstairs. He must've gone through so much there. Thank Lurlene he's safe though."
"Yes. Thank Lurlene."
"But there's something else in the letter."
"What?"
"Glinda wants me in the Emerald City on the 16th to lead a search party."
"That's amazing! Wait the 16th. That's two days away! Oh there's not enough time. Not enough time at all. No No No No No. How will we have the time? There's just not enough time."
"What do you mean Milla? Why isn't there enough time. As you know, I've always been a light traveler. I'll be packed in an Emerald City Minute. You know that."
"Yes I do Boq. However, have you forgotten that it's little Rikla's birthday already. And if you've forgotten, you leave in two days, and Rikla turns 8 in four."
"Oh my goodness, I did not realize that at first my dear. You are indeed right. What can we do?
This argument went on for hours and it seemed that an agreement would never be made. Finally, Boq came up with an idea: The entire family would go on a vacation to the Emerald City. They would take the winding roads of the Yellow Brick Road, and have a birthday celebration with Glinda. Fiyero could wait an extra day or two to be found and after all, Glinda and Boq were close friends, how could she turn him down?
"The perfect plan." Boq said
"Yes, and finally we can go on a nice family vacation and the children can meet the Empress of Oz herself. Let's start packing right away."
"Of course sweetums. Let me just go tell the children the news and tuck them in."
"Okay, I'll be waiting you schemer, you."
Boq quietly tiptoed into each of his children's rooms. He read a different story to each child, tucked them in and turned off the light. He watched each of his children sleep for a small moment and smiled. He then slowly closed the door and wished them a good night. He then entered little Rikla's room and smiled. He then sang a little lullaby:
"Follow the yellow brick road
Follow the yellow brick road
Follow your heart
Follow your dreams
Follow the yellow brick road
Follow your brains
To dear old Shiz
And follow the yellow brick road
Follow to emeralds, fame, and happiness
And follow your dreams
Follow your dreams
Follow your dreams
Until
They
Do
Come
True"
"Goodnight, Rikla," Boq whispered
He tucked her in and left the room like he left all the others
"Tomorrow, we leave for the Emerald City"
"Yes," Milla said. "It's going to be so fun but I wish it would be more than just one short day in the Emerald City"
"I'll talk to Glinda if you really want to move."
"Thank you Boq."
"Goodnight Milla"
"Goodnight honeybuns."
They went to sleep and waited for morning to come and the rooster to crow. Then they could begin their journey to the Emerald City. Follow the Yellow Brick Road
