(AN: Well, what do you know? Three chapters in one day! I hope I can keep this up, my stories are looking very peaked without more chapters to flesh them out)
(Here is the next chapter. I hoped that this is sufficient. Much better things will happen in the later chapters, I can promise you.)
A Secret Meeting
Elphaba and Fiyero were both asleep now. The 'quickening' had excited both of them, and they spent the next several minutes examining Elphaba's green stomach, waiting for some sign of movement. Eventually the night wore on and their candle went out. They were both so tired that they did not feel like lighting another one, and so both succumbed to weariness and fell asleep in each other's arms. Though Elphaba was certain Fiyero had somehow managed to fall asleep with his hand somewhere on her.
A hand came to rest on her shoulder. Elphaba cried out, but was stunned to hear that no sound came from her mouth. Looking around, she saw Koiyo standing over their bed, looming like a huge black swan. Elphaba quickly pulled her dress back down over her stomach.
"If you want to know the truth," she whispered. "Come with me."
Elphaba gasped, feeling her voice returning to her. But before she could say anything, Koiyo walked right into the door. She made no sound but, to Elphaba's surprise, vanished straight through the door as if walking through walls was as easy to her as walking through air.
Carefully extricating herself from Fiyero's grasp, Elphaba opened the door and quietly tip-toed out into the hall. Just down the hall she saw the figure of Koiyo walking very gracefully down the corridor, without fear as if she owned the place. Elphaba walked faster to keep up with her, and was now trailing behind the swan cloak.
"So you decided to trust me?" Elphaba asked. "Took you long enough."
"The time was not my decision," Koiyo responded. "He called the meeting."
"He? Who is he exactly?"
"All in due time, Aelphaba."
"But-But how do you know I can be trusted?"
"Because, at the very best," Koiyo responded, not even turning around. "If you betray our trust, I can turn you into a fish and throw you into the Restwater Lake."
"And at the worst?"
"I'll just kill you."
Now Elphaba had reason to be alarmed. She had just been threatened with death, and, from the way Koiyo was so easy about saying it, she figured that this sorceress had no qualms about killing.
"I thought people couldn't die in Oz while Ozma ruled."
This brought Koiyo to a halt. She turned around on her heels to face Elphaba, a smile upon her face.
"My dear Aelphaba," Koiyo responded. "There are some powers in this world that are beyond even Ozma's control, magical or otherwise." She turned back and continued down the hall, Elphaba following silently after her.
Koiyo led Elphaba to a part of the castle far beyond where they had ever gone before. They were now no longer upon the map, but going through a dark tunnel, dimly lit by wall-hanging torches, that sloped gently downward. The two women were now deep beneath the earth, in a part of Shiz that Elphaba had never dreamed had even existed. Perhaps it had been walled off in the nine hundred years in between, or something, but she never heard of any tunnels in Ozma Towers.
At the very bottom of the descent, they entered upon a wide room, filled with cutaway recesses in the cold stone walls around them. Within those recesses were stone cases, all of them with the effigy of a young woman carved upon the lid. The women all looked about the same age and had the same features.
"What is this?" Elphaba asked.
"Our meeting chamber." Koiyo returned. "The tomb of the Ozmas."
"I thought Ozmas couldn't die." Elphaba returned.
"You know very little about them, then." Koiyo returned. It was true. There hadn't been an Ozma in Oz in her life-time, and the books that she 'borrowed' from Nessarose's history tutors said not much detail about the Ozmas. Nor did the old tomes that Dr. Dillamond and the library at Shiz possessed offer much more than that what was not considered 'legend.'
"Enlighten me." Elphaba said.
Koiyo rolled her eyes. "An Ozma is believed to be Lurline's daughter incarnated in a young girl, usually of Gilikinese ancestry. While she rules as Ozma, nothing in Oz grows old or dies. But she also has a choice of her own: to live forever young, or to grow old, live out an existence of three hundred years and eventually die." She turned to Elphaba.
"Who wouldn't want something like that, huh?" she queried. "The option to leave this life if it grows too weary. As you can see..." She indicated to the sarcophagi about them. "Several Ozmas did get weary...some of them, well, they had no other choice."
Elphaba nodded, though she did not understand what she meant by 'no other choice', unless it meant murder.
"Now..." Koiyo held out one hand and spoke a phrase in a strange language. Several figures suddenly appeared. Elphaba saw a man in strange clothing with a helmet upon his head, an Elephant, a person clad in white robes, and a very large figure that, at first, Elphaba did not recognize.
It was High Chancellor Okli. Some great change had overtaken him in the few months since she saw him. He looked sick, thin, his face pale and the skin stretched tightly upon the bones. His beard and hair, lustrous dark shades, were now graying and hair was starting to fall out.
"Aelphaba," Koiyo said. "Welcome to our meeting. These are those who have volunteered to help us." She pointed to the man with the helmet. "This is Gianocco, the ambassador from the Skeezers of Ugabu. Unlike us, they're more...advanced, as it were, and do not have to fear the Elements."
"The Skeezers take great pride in our science and technology." Gianocco said. "We're the most advanced of all the people in Oz, I daresay."
"This is Luani DeMalu," Koiyo said, indicating to the Elephant. "He is of the Yunamata tribe of the Vinkus." The Elephant inclined his great head in Elphaba's direction.
"I believe you've already met Chancellor Okli." she stated.
"I told her about you, Aelphaba." Okli spoke. His voice sounded strange, very haggard and old. Elphaba was thankful that he did not use her right name.
"This," Koiyo indicated to the one in white. "Is Locasta, the Guardian of the South."
The white-clad person remained immobile.
"Chancellor" Koiyo turned to the giant form of Okli. "The floor is yours."
The giant rose up from where he sat and, all the while crouched, closed in their circle.
"Fellows, conspirators, men and women...and Animals, united in a common cause," he began. "As we all know, the ruling Ozma has no desire to govern her people. She passes rulings based not on what is best for her people, but on what her current mood or feeling dictates. For the last few years, I have striven to unite Oz, to raise it up to its former glory..." His face fell as he spoke, and Elphaba supposed some great misfortune had befallen.
"My...services, even included taking an unwilling part in the war against the giants, my own people. My betrayal has brought with it no fruit, for Ozma continues to think of herself first and never of Oz."
"She still refuses to reconcile with the Elements." Koiyo added.
"Elements, bah!" Gianocco mocked. "Who needs magic and elements when you have the power of technology on your side! You highlanders are still riding about on unicorns, while the people of Ugabu have discovered the wheel and ways to turn it without using Animals as beasts of burden."
"Hear hear!" Luani added with a shake of his huge fore-foot.
"Your point?" Koiyo inquired.
"Why does Ozma refuse an alliance with the Skeezers," Gianocco continued. "Especially when we can be to mutual benefit! Our technology can save Gilikin from disaster at the hands of these elements and, in return, we might be able to move into the Vinkus to expand our borders. There's rumor of gold in those hills."
"Gold means nothing to the Ozmas." Locasta said. "Or to any of the people of Oz."
"From what I've gathered," Koiyo said. "Ozma has no desire to treat with anyone outside of Gilikin. Even the raids into Munchkinland are becoming few and far between."
"Wait a minute, raids into Munchkinland?" Elphaba asked.
"Yes," Luani answered. "Even in the Vinkus, we hear rumors of bands of Gilikin soldiers crossing the border and raiding Munchkin villages, stealing food and Munchkins and carrying them back to Shiz or one of their many towns like Traum or Tenniken, and making use of them."
"Power must be established," Koiyo continued. "And the infrequency of these raids, coupled with the other evidence, proves that Ozma has become weak and unfit to rule Oz."
"How will this affect the Quadlings?" Locasta inquired.
"It won't," Koiyo stated. "I do not see any worth in the swamps. Unfit ground and no resources."
Locasta nodded her head and disappeared.
"She'll be back." Koiyo shook her head. "In the mean time, we have a terrible duty of our own. Ozma has disbanded the Royal Army, leaving only the various border patrols and personal guards as her only defense. It is likely that if any attack is made against Oz while she is ruling, she'd happily turn the other way and pretend that none of it is real, even though the enemy be knocking down her front door."
"What do you suggest?" Luani queried.
"We get rid of Ozma." Koiyo stated. "She has to be removed from power, or else she will run Oz into the ground."
"Why don't we invade?" Gianocco suggested. "Think about it! You yourself, Lady Koiyo, said that she won't retaliate or even acknowledge an invading army. If we were to form a treaty with, or at least subjugate, the Flat-heads, we could raise up a significant fighting force, one that would be able to move through the snow and besiege Shiz within the month."
"And once Shiz is in your hands," Luani interrupted. "You'll claim Gilikin as part of Ugabu. Well I don't like it! If there's to be a coup, then it will be Ozians who remove Ozma from power." Gianocco looked very offended at this.
Elphaba sat silently, listening to all of this. She was still a little miffed at their plotting, but wondered just how she fit into all of this. She was stranded here from another time, she needed to get back to the Oz she knew - if it still existed.
"We will still need power," Koiyo began. "Without a sufficient source of power, we cannot hope to overcome Ozma and her guards."
Okli stepped forward.
"Power I have," he wheezed. "And that is enough."
"Power?" Luani laughed. "You look about ready to die as it is!"
Okli only growled at the Elephant, though Elphaba saw that his eyes were glowing red as he did. This did not seem good at all.
"Chancellor," Koiyo said. "Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell us how you acquired such power. You have some skill with sorcery, but you are not as powerful as me."
"Ah," Okil returned. "But I will be. Soon, nothing will be able to stop me. Not even Lady Morrible."
Elphaba gasped.
"You think she's plotting against you in your absence?" Koiyo queried.
"I know it," Okil responded. "My secretary is smart, but very ambitious. I think she means to keep Ozma on the throne. If she gets in my way, she will have to die."
"Wait, if you've been away," Elphaba suddenly spoke up. "How do you know she's plotting against you?"
One of Okli's large but withered-looking hands went into the folds of his cloak.
"I see all things," he answered cryptically.
His hand suddenly brought out something very tiny upon which the light of the torches danced madly. It was made of gold, and looked a little too small to be in his hand.
Everyone gasped at what they saw.
"Incredible!" Gianocco exclaimed.
"Sweet Oz!" Luani added.
"Is that what I think it is?" Koiyo queried.
"Yes, old friend." Okli returned. "The Golden Mirror."
"But I thought they were destroyed! Ozma sent you to destroy them!"
"And I lied to her." the giant replied. "I only told her that I destroyed them. But all I need...is this one, the Mirror that sees all things. Soon, I will be invincible."
There was silence in their hearts. Elphaba, suddenly, began to make the connection. She was mentally slapping herself over the head for not realizing it sooner. Though he was legendary, surely nine hundred years was long enough to have passed into legend by her time. And here it was, one of the fabled Golden Wonders, sitting in his hand.
"Yes!" Koiyo returned. "And once you have come to full power, we shall overthrow Ozma and shape this land as we see fit!"
"I'll have no part of this!" Luani stated. "Now send me back!"
Koiyo lazily waved her hand, and the figure of the Elephant vanished.
"Frankly," Gianocco spoke up. "I'm not pleased of this refusal to listen to the wisdom of the Skeezers." He rose up a gloved hand. "Though I will not declare war upon you or give away the secret of this meeting to your enemies, I will observe from a distance, waiting to see who comes out victorious in the end."
"So you can pick them off at their weakest point." Koiyo stated, crossing her arms and a single eyebrow raising up in facetious surprise.
"Coward!" Okli roared.
Gianocco took out an arquebus, the size of his arm up to the elbow, and shot at Okli. To Elphaba's surprise, the shot hit home with a metallic ring, but the giant only took a single step back, not even realizing that he had been hit. Before she could do anything, Okli crossed the room and seized Gianocco by the throat.
"Only a coward attacks during negotiations." the giant said, his voice deepening and his eyes glowing red.
"Let him go!" Elphaba shouted.
"He needs to be taught a lesson!" the giant roared. "After all..." He turned to Gianocco. "What makes you think you're invaluable to me?" He threw the Skeezer to the floor before him. He then looked at Koiyo and Elphaba.
"At the end of two months," he said. "I will have an army of thousands, ready to die for me, and enough power to overthrow Ozma and her court. You can die standing at my side, or in my way: the choice is yours!"
With that, Okli suddenly vanished. Elphaba wanted to say something; this was all wrong. But seeing how effortlessly and remorselessly Okli almost strangled Gianocco, Elphaba decided that, for the sake of her child, she would remain silent. She felt guilty for doing it, and was once again upset that her condition imprisoned her so.
Koiyo turned to Elphaba.
"Surely you don't agree with this wanton flaunting of power!"
"What I believe," Koiyo said. "Is that Ozma needs to go. She's ruining Oz, and the sooner we do it, the better." She then turned to Elphaba. "Remember what I said - nothing."
There was a sudden flash of light.
(AN: Heavily borrowed info for this chapter from Glinda of Oz, though I don't suggest reading that. There are spoilers in it that apply to this story.)
(The explanation for Ozma, however, is my personal idea. It's based on Wicked the book as well as the Oz-series. I thought it sounded good. The Skeezers of Ugabu are technologically superior - they have an undersea city in Glinda of Oz - so they're definitely more advanced than the rest of Oz. Their look is inspired by steam-punk, as a subtle nod to the Danish and Finnish productions of Wicked. Furthermore, the Flat-heads are not the strange creatures from "One Short Day." Re-read The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and you'll see that they fit the description of Hammer-heads instead.)
(Regarding Locasta, this is not the same one as LeiaEmberblaze's Leyen Rhoda. In her story The Good Witch of the South, it was stated that there was already a Locasta that was known in legend to protect the swamp. She did not appear earlier on since she didn't see Elphaba, Fiyero and Glinda as a threat.)
(And lastly, I refrain from calling her 'the Good Witch of the South' since, according to my timeline, the designation of sorceresses by where they live comes from the Three Adepts, though people of magical talent definitely existed before the Adepts, they just got named 'Adepts' after the fact.)