Chapter 16
Reunification
When we entered the lair, it looked as if someone had already been here. After a while of walking, I completely passed out, I dropped Alec, and then fell ontop of him, stacked like logs, we lay there in the dark. A large rush of wind and a ground shaking rumble. Then slowly, in our passed out state, we slowly grew younger. Our skin soft and warm, and tan. Our hair short but thick and dark, our voices coughing but loud and strong. Our bones hard and broad and strong. We were back to normal, and Alec's cut in his hand as well as mine instantly healed.
"I think there's someone in here, get your staff ready Anthony," Alec said as I lit the flame in the green orb held by the dragon claw atop my staff.
As we rounded the corner what we saw delighted us more than anything we could have hoped for.
Bluefire had flown into the open lair, and was standing infront of us. Although he or rather she was transforming before our eyes. Slowly, the blue scales and dragon horns gave way to a large blue ball gown, with the biggest darn poof skit we had ever seen. Crystal studs rained down and stuck to her, dress, crown, skin, everything about her sparkled. She held a lovely wooden staff with a red rose that bloomed to w big happy red rose, matching smaller ones on a crown that adorned her curly golden haired head. She smiled and tilted her head, and extended an arm out the one holding the staff
Prince Alec bowed first from the head, and then I followed, but knelt down before her. She returned the bow and then smiled again.
"Lady Glinda! Oh my God I'm so happy to see you! I knew you were alive! That's how we're healed now isn't it?! You were Bluefire the hole time! HA!" I was excited beyond all measure. Delighted and so very relieved she survived.
"I'm telling you I'm immortal, when are you going to believe me?" Lady Glinda replied genuinely funny.
"Thank you so much Your Goodness, you saved me and my new brother, who in a albeit disgusting way, I now share blood with" again we laughed and Alec made a joke out of it.
"That's right bitch drink ma blood!" We laughed again, the mood was so rightgously good it was remarkable. But, it got better.
"Oh where are my manners? Alec Tippetarius, meet the past heroes of Oz, and Mighty warriors that are beloved by Anthony and me," Glinda smiled wide showing her pearly whites, and stepped aside, revealing behind her huge dress,
"Sir Ben: the Pure in Heart armed with the Mace of Might," Glinda introduced. Anthony and Ben hugged so fiercely it was like watching powerful magnets jump against eachother. Then Ben bowed to Prince Alec and they shook hands.
"Thane Argy, armed with the Sword of Knotts," Lady Glinda announced, Argy was never big on hugs but this time called for it.. He then stood between Ben and Anthony. The three of them were all in tears, so happy words couldn't desctibe.
"Julia: Dame of Selfless Love," I ran up to this one. The only girl in our troop, I had the most affectionate feelings for her.
"I thought you were dead!" I told her with tearing eyes.
"I almost was Anthony! But it doesn't matter now you're here! You did it! And Alec, very nicve to meet you, your Ozness," She greeted after hugging Anthony harder than a python, and they shared a kiss on the cheek even, causing them both to blush of course.
"How long have you two-" Argy was cut off by Ben.
"Don't ask they might get embarrassed," They laughed and then we waited. Where was Evardo?
"Umm Lady Glinda, begging your pardon ma'am, but where is Evardo?" Lady Glinda slammed her staff on the floor, shutting a conjured door where the Skull once was and placing a charm that prevented anything Shell could think of from spying on them now.
"Evardo, meet your son, now old enough to look like you," Evardo came from Glinda's other side, and the resemblance was remarkable, They clearly were father and son. Again no words between them just rivers of tears in reuniting a royal family. But then it occurred to me. If Evardo was alive shouldn't he take the Crown? But of course that could not happen, Evardo was not of Oz residence or heritage, therefore could never sit upon the Emerald Throne.
The reunification was complete. Now, we needed to plan, arm and attack. The only goal left was to take out the Emperor, for good. How to do that? Glinda knew exactly, and it would take stealth, skill, power, and might. All of which we specialized in.
"If you all stand close to me, I'd like to take you to my new fortress, and discuss plans of what to do next. Step lively, pip pip," We all hustled close together and suddenly smelled soap. Small shiny silver bubbles rained down from the ceiling and then an enormous very bright pink bubble came down. It engulfed all of us, and took us away in an instant to a rebuilt Kiamo Ko, or at least, designed to look like Kiamo Ko. Glinda knew if the Emperor thought she were alive and had a place to stay he'd attack drastically slowing her plans down, so she disguised it much like she did herself, to fool the Emperor. When the bubble popped, there was a small brown box no bigger than the size of dice.
"Don't touch that Julia, Ben you should know better by now not o touch my furniture, for it never remains still," When Lady Glinda said that, the brown box popped and out popped seven smaller boxes. They gradually grew into a beautiful inlaid wooden table with seven matching wooden chairs for us. On the table was a detailed live enchanted, map of Oz, food and wine. We had done very well. Our plans could not have gone better. All our friends had been healed by Lady Glinda who all the while helped us disguised as Bluefire, however inaccurate it was her explanation to us in the Dragon Cupboard when we saw him, was convincing enough. Now all we had to do was draw out the tactics and delegate people to do them. And in time, the Black City would once again shine with Emeralds if every thing, every last little thing, every single tiny microscopic thing, went exactly according to plan.