A few seconds later, we were in the desert and I saw my tribe staring at me.

I glared at them and said, "My companions are friends."

"The Golden One and the Brainless One," someone whispered.

A second person whispered, "The trio is complete."

Glinda looked at me and asked, "What are they talking about, Elphie?"

I shrugged and said, "Oh, there's a legend that the Emerald One, that's me, the Golden One, that's you, Lin, and the Brainless One…"

"Fiyero," Fiyero, Glinda and I said together.

"by working together, will destroy the Wicked Witch of Oz," I finished.

Fiyero stared at me and we all gathered together. "What are these people?" Glinda asked.

"This is the Sunset Dragon tribe," I explained.

Glinda nodded and Fiyero asked, "Where are they going?"

I looked at them and asked, "Why are you leaving?"

"To go to visit the Bloody Hawk for they are responsible to for The Red-Haired Woman who Rides like a Man and her guardian," my tribal leader declared.

I nodded and asked, "Might my companions and I accompany you?""

"The man must prove himself as a warrior by trial by combat," my tribal leader declared.

I nodded and said, "OK. Fiyero be careful and please try to not kill the other guy, and most important, whatever you do…"

"DON'T GET YOURSELF KILLED!" Glinda finished with me.

Fiyero nodded and quickly defeated his opponent, and he and Glinda were adopted into the tribe as well.

We soon reached Alanna and Coram's tribe and I said, "Fiyero, please behave—for me."

He nodded and we walked over to Coram. "Coram, this is my boyfriend, Prince Fiyero Tiggular of the Arjiki Tribe of the Vinkus, Crown Prince of the Vinkus and Captain of the Gale Force. Fiyero, this is my guardian, Coram."

Fiyero nodded and Coram nodded his head in approval. I threw my arms around Fiyero, glad that Coram had approved.

Then I said, "Alanna, these are Glinda and Fiyero. Fiyero and Glinda, this is Alanna. Coram, this is Glinda. Glinda, this is Coram."

Then I said, "Glinda, Fiyero, I think I need to return to Corus as soon as possible."

They nodded and I said, "Fiyero, you will meet my two foster brothers—Jonathan of Conté and Thom of Trebond."

He nodded in agreement.

We soon returned to Corus—Fiyero and Glinda outvoted me, and we went by boat.

When we were all on the boat, I walked over to the side, where I leaned over the railing of the boat and was sick.

Fiyero came over and said, "Fae, are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?" I managed to be sarcastic.

He shook his head and I said, "Like Alanna, I get seasick every time I'm put on a boat."

Glinda sighed and joined me and Fiyero.

"Elphie, if you'd told us that, we would have been willing to take the land route," she whispered gently.

I smiled weakly, and then whirled, heaving again.

"When I get back to Oz, if Father asks why I'm so skinny, just blame the boat ride," I gasped out to my friends.

Fiyero and Glinda nodded in agreement.

Then Glinda whispered, "Um, Elphie?"

"What? Do I really look that hideous?" I snapped.

Then I felt guilty, and said, "I'm sorry, Lin. I didn't mean to snap at you. I just…"

"Don't feel well," Glinda finished. "I understand."

Fiyero started staring at me and I asked, "Why are you both staring at me?"

Glinda held out her mirror to me and said, "Elphie, look. You're not green."

I sighed and said, "It must be an after-effect."

"After-effect of what?" Glinda demanded.

Fiyero sighed and said, "I'll come back, later, okay, you two?"

We nodded and I said, "Glinda, I want to explain to you and Fiyero—together. I'll tell you when we get to Corus."

She nodded and then left me alone, but she and Fiyero took turns to come check on me.

We finally reached Port Caynn and I remembered that I'd left Starlight here in Port Caynn under George's care.

I picked up my horse, Starlight, and borrowed two more for Glinda and Fiyero for the ride home to Corus.