A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer! Glad you liked it. More on Elphie soon. ;) Thanks!
Chapter 26
"I have to say Captain, this…" Zetti paused his thoughts as the mobilized Gale Force troops moved down the Yellow Brick Road. They had gotten on the road in less than an hour. It was an impressive feat but that was because Fiyero had moved to get them ready for this kind of decision.
"I know what you mean. It makes me nervous, but Jinjuria did cross a line. If there are no consequences, then what?" Fiyero gave him a look. The two rode their horses at the front of the column, while the wagons and foot soldiers moved behind them.
"Well, that's just it. We don't want the Munchkins to turn against us, but I would imagine there are quite a few who want this guy out of power. He certainly isn't helping them," Zetti figured.
"Yeah well, the Wizard wasn't helping Oz either. Look how long and what it took to get here," Fiyero pointed out.
"True. I have to say, I never figured the so-called Wicked Witch, would be the one who saved Oz," the Lieutenant admitted.
"I always hoped that one day she'd be able to be safe. I honestly never thought I'd see this either," the Captain smiled.
"Captain, we have a wagon on the road in front of us," Chistery interrupted them.
"See if you can figure out what they're doing or who they are Mister Chistery. Tell them that the Gale Force is on the move," Fiyero smiled at the Flying Monkey.
"Yes, sir," Chistery took off with a couple of his brothers.
"When did he call you sir last?" Zetti asked.
"He's taken a more serious tone since joining the service. I told him he didn't need to, but he insisted I treat the Flying Monkeys no different from the others under my command," Fiyero told him. The Lieutenant nodded. While in the beginning the Monkeys were concerning to him, he found them to be loyal and good companions. They were nothing like what the Wizard and Morrible had made them seem.
"Captain, they are in need of assistance," Chistery announced upon his return.
"Medic!" Fiyero turned around in his saddle and barked to the wagon behind them. The medical troops maneuvered the wagon up to the Captain.
"With me. Lieutenant, man the column," Fiyero ordered.
"Yes sir," Zetti nodded and watched them go ahead. Chistery and a few of his brethren stayed with the Vinkun.
"I'm Captain of the Gale Force. You told Mister Chistery you needed help?" Fiyero asked. It was then he recognized the people inside the wagon and driving it.
"Desperately Captain. We are glad to have run into you. You mustn't go to Munchkinland," the man driving the wagon implored. Fiyero looked the man over. He was quite thin and looked like he could barely keep his head up.
"Sir, your President violated the laws of Oz. He must be held accountable," Fiyero was confused by the response.
"Captain, look what he has in the back," Chistery spoke up. Fiyero gave the back of the wagon a better look. All of the Munchkins in the back were obviously in very bad shape. There were even children. One thing he noticed was that they were all filthy, like they had been digging in the dirt.
"Sir, why shouldn't we head into Munchkinland? How did you escape?" Fiyero was growing concerned.
"We were released as a trick. He wanted us to distract you long enough so that he could mount an army at the border to surprise you. The President wants no interference. He has truly lost his mind," the man explained.
"He doesn't know what he's done. Nor does he realize we have Flying Monkeys. Chistery, have some men lead them back into the Palace walls. Elphaba will need to help Doctor Talib make them well," Fiyero told the Flying Monkey. The friend of the Elphaba rushed back to the troops and informed the Lieutenant. The entire troop column moved up and some men were told to escort the wagon back to the City. Zetti told them to inform Lady Glinda and Miss Elphaba of the developments.
"Full steam ahead then?" The Lieutenant asked when Fiyero got back in formation.
"Yes, but we'll need to use some tricks my father taught me, if we intend to do what we must," the Prince said.
"A little Vinkun knowhow," Zetti smirked. Fiyero chuckled and they moved down the Yellow Brick Road with the troops in tow.
To Be Continued…
