A/N: Shout outs to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong for their reviews to the Epilogue of Broken Wings. Glad you liked it!
Oz in Pieces
By 18lzytwner
Chapter 1
"All right Mopsi, Popsi, we need an explanation," Councilman Arif said from the seat behind Morrible desk. The group had settled in Morrible's office – Fiyero, Elphaba, and Glinda on the couch, Mopsi and Popsi in the chairs in front of Morrible's desk, Tin Man had managed to sit down in a chair that Lieutenant Zetti brought in, while Zetti and Schultz took to the comfy chair, the Private sitting on the arm of the chair.
"We had collected a list of things that we wanted to have change in Munchkinland. This list had signatures of ten-thousand other Munchkins who agreed. Thinking this was the most enlightened way of approaching change in our beloved home country, we approached the governor. It would seem that Governor Thropp did not share these views. We were arrested," Mopsi started.
"We were told you were dead," Arif gave him a look.
"That's what the Governor wanted you to think. We were basically thrown into Southstairs and the Governor told the Wizard to throw away the key. Had Miss Elphaba not been rescued, we would have likely died there," Popsi frowned.
"He trusted the Wizard to handle you two?" The Councilman was surprised.
"We were told by a former prisoner that our families were told we were executed for our crimes and he took money from them to cover our funeral costs in unmarked graves. The Wizard offered to take us off the Governor's hands so no one would know," Mopsi explained.
"Basically, he no longer had to pay for keeping you or taking the chance that someone would rat him out," Arif nodded.
"Exactly. Plus, there was something else that we knew, and he didn't want anyone else to know," Popsi said. His brother turned and looked at him, as if to warn him to stop right there.
"What?" Elphaba asked. The look between the two Munchkins had not gone unnoticed by anyone in the room, the green woman especially. Mopsi sighed and turned to her.
"We knew you were green," he said.
"My father never let me anywhere near where he was going to be holding meetings. How could you possibly?" She was confused.
"Well perhaps that was true when you could be reminded not to go on your own. I think you must have been two years old when you toddled into view. We were in the middle of being arrested and hauled out of your father's office. Your mother had come chasing after you, but she wasn't fast enough," Mopsi told her.
"I was ruining peoples' lives even before I knew I was. That's just great," Elphaba puffed out her cheeks and let out a breath.
"Partly why I didn't think we should tell you," Mopsi admitted.
"She needed to know. Besides what came next is really the worst part," Popsi pointed out.
"How much worse?" The green woman gave them both a look.
"We didn't see it but all of a sudden you cried out and not in the "look at me, I'm cute and having fun" way," Popsi said it since it seemed to make his brother look like he was going to be physically ill.
"Sounds about right," Elphaba shook her head. Fiyero took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. She looked at him, giving him a tight smile.
"Well given that Governor Thropp is no longer in charge in Munchkinland, you can return home, with a pardon from the new Ozian government," Arif said.
"We can't go home. Not that there are many Thropp supporters running around but we were basically labeled as traitors. It would put us and our families at risk. Perhaps it is best they still think we're dead," Mopsi told him.
"Besides, we have come this far with Miss Elphaba and we intend to see things through," Popsi spoke up. Arif nodded. He knew the risk they had put themselves in just to come here and they'd done it for a woman who hadn't even realized she'd met them before.
"Very well. Perhaps we need to think of a new strategy for your homecoming. In the meantime, we have some former Gale Force who could be planning their next attack at any moment," the Councilman said. He'd barely gotten the words out of his mouth when they all heard gunshots outside.
To Be Continued…