Progress
By 18lzytwner
Chapter 1
Elphaba looked out the carriage window as they moved down the Yellow Brick Road. It had been months since the ouster of Jinjuria from Munchkinland. He had been found guilty of enslaving his own people, blocking of the Yellow Brick Road, violating Ozian law regarding Council members, kidnapping and assault of Councilman Arif, kidnapping and threatening the Tin Min, and disobeying a direct order from Lady Glinda. Basically, it was life in prison, which was more than Lord Nipp had gotten. The second in command of Munchkinland was convicted of murder and his appeals were denied by Judge Mikhail. Nipp was hung three weeks after being found guilty. Fiyero had noted the date and commented that he did not think they would have had most of their troubles wrapped up by Lurlinemas.
"You've been quiet since we left the Emerald City," his voice now shook her from her thoughts.
"We're going to visit your parents. There is a lot to think about," she admitted. The spring had finally come and Fiyero said that both he and Elphaba deserved a vacation. Needless to say, the green woman was surprised that Glinda agreed. It wasn't that the blonde couldn't handle herself – far from it – especially since she had Lieutenant Bayram by her side. The Gale Force soldier had proposed to her over Lurlinemas and Glinda had immediately accepted. Planning a royal wedding was right up the blonde's alley and Bayram had effectively told her to have at it. He would have been happy to marry down at the courthouse, but he knew that would never have been possible. Glinda was the leader of Oz, after all.
"They love you and now, so does most of Oz," the Prince said. Elphaba looked at him and he leaned over to give her a kiss.
"You know I love you," he told her.
"I do Yero and I love you. Doesn't mean I'm not nervous," she admitted.
"I'll write that down. Most powerful lady in all of Oz is nervous about the King and Queen of the Vinkus," he teased. For that he got a playful slap on his upper arm.
"I'm just glad that you were able to get Timothy promoted as you had promised," Elphaba changed the subject. The Private had indeed earned a promotion and now held the rank of Sergeant. No one begrudged him a bit. In order to gain that jump in rank he'd been forced to kill a sitting Councilman, who had tried to kill Elphaba, and had taken a bullet while also protecting the people leaving the courthouse. As much as soldiers enjoyed being promoted, they would have liked an easier path to do it. A lot of the men had received promotions for their gallant service in the protection of Oz. Zetti, could not be promoted, as that would mean he'd take Fiyero's job, but he was awarded medals and a pay raise. Bayram would effectively be leaving the Gale Force, once he was wed to Glinda, so a new Lieutenant was needed. Sergeant Zeki was given the position that would be vacated by the soon to be married Bayram.
"Me too. Though he seems more excited to be visiting the Vinkus for other reasons," Fiyero waggled his eyebrows. It was true that Sergeant Schultz was excited. Lieutenant Dilek had been right. A young Corporal had had her eye on the then Private Schultz and he had had his eye on her. They had been unable to even speak to one another given all of the mess. Once things had calmed down, Dilek had made a point of getting the two in the same tent. Corporal Damla Kaplan and Private Timothy Schultz had been shy but had definitely hit it off.
"I seem to remember you being his age and chasing women all over Oz," Elphaba chuckled.
"The error of my ways. Though they led me to you," he admitted, leaning over to her again, pulling her into his arms. She settled into his body and relaxed a little. There was just something she couldn't shake about this visit that worried her.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Shouts out to my anonymous reviewer and James Birdsong. Glad you liked the end of Rebuilding Oz. Hope you liked the start of this one. :)