Chapter 6

Faba

About a week after Faba's break with the Wizard, she found herself in a small Vinkun town known as Gastille, and she was surprised to find that even though the citizens of Gastille knew of her new reputation, they didn't seem to fear her in any way. So, because of this, they were not afraid to whisper about her as though she wasn't there.

"Look at her! That's the Wizard's quote unquote Number One Public Enemy."

"Wow! She really is grass green!"

"Do you think she'll hurt us?"

"I doubt it. She looks pretty mild, to be honest."

"She looks pretty! Secretary Morrible made her seem like an old crone, but she's really beautiful!"

"You think every girl's pretty, Ajaru."

Suddenly bored listening to these gossips, Faba went into a coffee shop. She still had a little money left from her spree in the EC, so she decided to get a tall Red Eye, her favorite drink at Shiz that Glinda had always been horrified at. Waiting in line, Faba grinned as she heard her friend's voice in her head. "No cream?! No sugar?! But that's so boringified!" It's just what I like, Glinda. Oh, great. One week as a wanted criminal, and she was already hearing voices.

Faba finally got to the front of the line. "A tall Red Eye, please."

"Thank Oz, a simple order!" the barista said, relieved. "That'll be ten Ozmas, miss." Then he looked at her more closely. "Aren't you that kid who the Wizard's after? Heard you flew off on a broomstick or something."

She raised her eyebrows indignantly. "Your point?" She dumped the money into his hands, her body language as clear as a bell: I just want my damn coffee.

He shook his head disapprovingly as he poured her coffee. "Hooligan."

Anger sparked inside Faba, but, deciding not to prove the Wizard right about her supposed wickedness, she only took her coffee and said, "Thank you, sir."

She found a cozy table in the back corner. It was the perfect place to drink in peace and think. It would be a dream come true to get Gastille on her side, but she was not sure that they would be keen on helping a "hooligan" defy the government. Honestly! At least "Wicked Witch" had respectability!

"Hey, you're Elphaba Thropp!" She looked up to see a Tigress standing next to her. "I know this might come off as creepy, but can I sit with you?"

"Sure!" Faba replied, overjoyed to have company. "And fill free to call me Faba; everyone does. Well, not everyone, but my friends, sort of." She blushed, realizing that she was babbling.

"I'm Aiistia Kalidi," the Tigress said. "I'm the leader of the Resistance. I've been looking for you ever since your 'rise to power,' as they're calling it. And my reasons are twofold. One: I really want you in the Resistance, because you're the rare human who gets that the struggle is real, and that's awesome. Two: Lukas Valentinis is going nuts because he doesn't know where you are, and it's getting really annoying. So, you in?"

"Um …" Faba was a little overwhelmed. "Sure, I mean, I don't want to hurt your pride or anything, but yeah, if you want me."

Aiistia sucked on her mocha. "Oh no, we're not sensitive like that. Plus, Lukas won't shut up about how awesome you are, so I have faith in that. And yeah, we all REALLY want you! Wicked Witch of the West, my ass."

Faba smirked. "That's not the only thing I've been called this week. That barista there just called me a hooligan, like I'm spray painting houses or looting stores! Trust me, 'Wicked Witch' is almost better."

"Yeah, Gastillians don't care much about the Wizard, but they sure like their order!" Aiistia drank the last of her mocha. "Alright, let's go! We're lodged at St. Prowd's Inn."

St. Prowd's Inn was in the less quaint part of Gastille, run by a portly woman who almost went into shock when she saw Faba. "Yeah, she's green," Aiistia snapped at the woman. "Double my bill. She's staying with me."

"She's a wanted fugitive," the inn keeper warned, not appreciating being ordered around by an Animal. "I can't harbor her."

Aiistia sneered and showed her teeth. "You're not harboring her. I am. It's not gonna be on your pretty head, don't worry."

The inn keeper scowled. "Fine. Your bill is doubled, Animal."

Outraged, Faba moved to confront the woman, but Aiistia whispered, "It's not worth it, Faba. She's giving us shelter, after all." So Faba just settled for a scowl.

Aiistia's room was packed with about thirty Animals of diverse species: from Birds to Lions to Crocodiles. They didn't stop chattering until Aiistia roared, "YO! THE WITCH OF THE WEST IS HERE! SO SHUT UP!"

Immediately the loud chatter was reduced to a dull murmuring as they all took in the green girl. An overjoyed voice came from near the back. "Faba! Finally!"

"Hi Lukas," Faba said with a smile. "Hello, all. I'm sure you've heard on the news about my 'rise to power,' as they call it. And whatever reasons they have stated in the papers, I want power, I'm a green demon of hell and so on, all those reasons are wrong. No, all I want to do is help all of you gain back the fundamental rights that the Wizard has been stripping from you. I was a student of Doctor Albress Dillimond, who first informed me of your struggle. He was brilliant at what he did, but the last time I saw him, he was being dragged away from his livelihood by government officials. That kind of thing makes me incensed, and I know all of you feel the same way."

There were hoots of agreement and a few amens from the audience, which encouragized Faba greatly.

"Fellow Ozians, we need to come together to make change! This injustice cannot continue! But, at the same time, we must avoid violence at all costs. Why? Because that will only confirm what they think about us. Yet still, there WILL be equality for Animals if I have anything to do with it!" Faba was exhilarated as the Animals cheered even louder.

Aiistia came forward. "That's the spirit!" she exclaimed. "Now, in two months' time, we will storm the Emerald City, and show the Wizard that Animals should be seen AND heard! You up for that, guys?"

There was a unanimous cheer. "YEAH!"

"Faba will fly in with the Birds first on that slick broomstick of hers, and then the rest of us will come in, noisily but peacefully." She turned to the green girl. "Think you can do that, Faba?"

Faba nodded nervously. "Sure. And, this is completely a long shot, but I'll see if I can find a spell to write some sort of message in the sky like, 'Equality for all.' Or: 'The Wizard must surrender.'"

Aiistia smiled approvingly. "I'm loving it! Yeah!"

It wasn't until that night that Faba and Lukas got to talk, sitting on Faba's bed. "Oz, if you go to the EC with us, you might get yourself killed!" Lukas exclaimed.

Faba snorted. "Like I don't know that."

"I've been worried about you all week, Faba. The things they say about you in the papers!"

"Oh, people do like to talk!" It shocked him how nonchalant she was.

"Yeah, to talk about wanting you dead or alive! They're calling you the Wicked Witch of the West!"

Her nostrils flared. "As if I don't know that!" Faba sighed, calming. "Look, I just wanna help."

"I know," Lukas whispered, taking her hand into his paw. "Thank you, Faba." Before either of them realized it, a black snout touched a green cheek. Faba melted into his arms, and they lay there like that for the whole night.