Liir awoke soon after dawn, and found his beloved Tip starting to stir. Smiling, he gently stroked his hair and kissed his forehead.

Tip stretched and opened his eyes. He smiled lovingly at him. "Good morning."

"Good morning." Liir said after a lovely good morning kiss. With a dream-like smile he said, "I could stay like this forever." Then he gave him another kiss.

"Me too." Tip agreed with large smile. He meant it, being with someone who cared about him, and not having to worry about old Mombi. If it weren't for growling stomachs, they could've stayed like that for hours.

Fiyero, no longer needing to sleep, had already risen and plucked, with his clumsy fingers, a double-handful of ripe berries from some bushes near by. These the boys ate greedily, finding them an ample breakfast, and afterward the little party resumed its Journey, with Jack and Fiyero ridding on Yero, and Tip and Liir ridding on the latter's broom.

After an hour's ride they reached the summit of a hill from whence they espied the Arjiki's 2nd largest city, and noted the tall domes of Kiamo Ko rising from the clusters of more modest dwellings.

Fiyero smiled at the sight, "My old castle. Although I've never lived there, I have fond memories."

"Is that why you gave it to Uncle Boq?" Liir asked.

"Yes. The local Winkies were growing tired of not having us live there, so I made Boq our representative. Or rather, the Mayor of the town." Fiyero answered, "I hope that he rules his people more successfully than I have ruled mine!"

"I'm sure of it." Tip replied.

"Very optimistic." Fiyero stated, "You seem to be good for my son."

Liir let out a slight groan. Fiyero chuckled at that, while Tip, feeling sorry for him, gave his beloved a kiss from behind. Liir instantly perked up.

The group soon quickened their pace, and managed to reach Kiamo Ko before noon.

When they drew up beside the palace steps, an aged Winkie, dressed in a uniform of silver cloth, came forward to assist them to alight.

Fiyero straightened up, and said with the upmost authority, "Show us at once to your master, the Mayor."

The man looked from one to another of the party in an embarrassed way, and finally answered: "I fear I must ask you to wait for a time. The Mayor is not receiving this morning."

"How is that?" enquired the Scarecrow, anxiously. "I hope nothing has happened to him."

"Oh, no; nothing serious," returned the man. "But this is his Honrableness's day for being polished; and just now his august presence is thickly smeared with putz-pomade."

"Oh, I see!" cried the Scarecrow, greatly reassured. "My friend was ever inclined to be a dandy, and I suppose he is now more proud than ever of his personal appearance."

"He is, indeed," said the man, with a polite bow. "Our mighty Mayor has lately caused himself to be nickel-plated."

"Good Gracious!" the Scarecrow exclaimed at hearing this. "If his wit bears the same polish, how sparkling it must be! But show us in—I'm sure the Mayor will receive us, even in his present state"

"The Mayor's state is always magnificent," said the man. "But I will venture to tell him of your arrival, and will receive his commands concerning you."

So the party followed the servant into a splendid ante-room, and the Saw-Horse ambled awkwardly after them, having no knowledge that a horse might be expected to remain outside.

The travelers were at first somewhat awed by their surroundings, and even the Scarecrow seemed impressed as he examined the rich hangings of silver cloth caught up into knots and fastened with tiny silver axes. Upon a handsome center-table stood a large silver oil-can, richly engraved with scenes from the past adventures of the Tinman, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow: the lines of the engraving being traced upon the silver in yellow gold. On the walls hung several portraits, that of the Scarecrow seeming to be the most prominent and carefully executed, while a the large painting of the famous Wizard of Oz, in act of presenting the Tinman with a heart, covered almost one entire end of the room.

While the visitors gazed at these things in silent admiration they suddenly heard a loud voice in the next room exclaim: "Well! well! well! What a great surprise!"

And then the door burst open and Boq rushed into their midst and caught the Scarecrow in a close and loving embrace that creased him into many folds and wrinkles.

"My dear old friend! My noble comrade!" cried the Tinman, joyfully. "how delighted! I am to meet you once again."

And then he released the Scarecrow and held him at arms' length while he surveyed the features that had once been human, but were now paint and fabric.

But, alas! The face of the Scarecrow and many portions of his body bore great blotches of putz-pomade; for the Tinman, in his eagerness to welcome his friend, had quite forgotten the condition of his toilet and had rubbed the thick coating of paste from his own body to that of his comrade.

"Dear me!" said the Scarecrow dolefully. "What a mess I'm in!"

"Never mind, my friend," returned the Tinman, "I'll send you to the Castle Laundry, and you'll come out as good as new."

"Won't I be mangled?" asked the Scarecrow.

"No, indeed!" was the reply. "But tell me, how came your Majesty here? And who are your companions?"

"You remember me telling you about Liir, right?" Fiyero whispered.

Boq nodded. Fiyero often used trips to visit him and Burr the Lion to be with his wife and son.

"Well, this is him, his boyfriend Tip, and their... children: Jack Pumkinhead and Yero."

Boq looked at Liir carefully, examining his features. "Well, you certainly take after your father. And your eyes, they seem a perfect blend of your mother and her sister."

"Thank you." Liir politely replied.

Then the Tinman turned to Jack, who greatly interested him, "You are not very substantial, I must admit," said the Mayor. "but you are certainly unusual, and therefore worthy to become a member of our select society."

"I thank your Honrableness," said Jack, humbly.

"I hope you are enjoying good health?" continued the Tinman.

"At present, yes;" replied the Pumpkinhead, with a sigh; "but I am in constant terror of the day when I shall spoil."

"Nonsense!" said the Mayor—but in a kindly, sympathetic tone. "Do not, I beg of you, dampen today's sun with the showers of tomorrow. For before your head has time to spoil you can have it canned, and in that way it may be preserved indefinitely."

Tip, during this conversation, was looking at the Tinman with undisguised amazement. He had heard Liir tell him all about how Boq had almost his entire human body turned into pieces of tin, after Nessarose had mispronounced a love spell. However, there is a difference in hearing about something, and seeing it live in person.

Boq's body appeared neatly soldered and riveted together. He rattled and clanked a little, as he moved, but you could still make out the human he once was, still see it in his appearance, which only marred by the thick coating of polishing-paste that covered him from head to foot.

The slow-aging boy's intent gaze caused the Tinman to remember that he was not in the most presentable condition, so he begged his friends to excuse him while he retired to his private apartment and allowed his servants to polish him. This was accomplished in a short time, and when the Mayor returned his nickel-plated body shone so magnificently that the Scarecrow heartily congratulated him on his improved appearance.

"That nickel-plate was, I confess, a happy thought," said Boq; "and it was the more necessary because I had become somewhat scratched during my adventurous experiences. You will observe my excellent heart upon my left breast. It's wonderful, and makes me feel like a man again, however, it does grind against the metal a bit, causing it to wear down."

"Is your heart, then, a hand-organ?" asked the Pumpkinhead, curiously. He remembered his fathers telling him that it was a clock.

"By no means," responded the Mayor, with dignity. "It is, I am convinced, a strictly orthodox heart, although somewhat larger and warmer than most people possess."

Then he turned to the Scarecrow and asked: "Are your subjects happy and contented, my dear friend?"

"I cannot say." was the reply. "For the girls of Oz have risen in revolt and driven me out of the Emerald City."

"Great Goodness!" cried the Tinman, "What a calamity! They surely do not complain of the wise and gracious rule of you and Glinda?"

"No; but they say it is a poor rule that don't work both ways," answered the Scarecrow; "and these females are also of the opinion that men have ruled the land long enough, and that Glinda doesn't have the power to do anything for them. Which we both know is a complete lie. So they have captured our city, robbed the treasury of all its jewels, and are running things to suit themselves."

"Dear me! What an extraordinary idea!" cried the Mayor, who was both shocked and surprised.

"And I heard some of them say," said Tip, "that they intend to march here and capture the castle and city of the Tinman."

"Ah! we must not give them time to do that," said the Mayor, quickly; "we will go at once and recapture the Emerald City and place the Scarecrow again upon his throne."

"I was sure you would help me," remarked the Scarecrow in a pleased voice. "How large an army can you assemble?"

"We do not need an army," replied the Tinman boastfully, forgetting that women can be just as fierce as men. "We six, with the aid of my gleaming axe, are enough to strike terror into the hearts of the rebels."

"Uh, Uncle Boq?" Liir asked the Tinman.

"Yes Liir?" Boq answered.

"One of the rebels is your daughter."

Boq's eyes grew wide. His Clarinda . "Are you sure?" He quietly asked.

"Yes. We met her while we were on our way to the Emerald City." Liir answered, "She said she was left on someone's doorstep when she was a baby. And, she looks like you and Aunt Nessa."

Boq instantly lost his vigor. His precious daughter, the only reason he had for marrying his friend Nessa, was a rebel?

"She might come here." Tip suggested.

Boq stared at the wall, and sighed. "I haven't seen my child since she was a baby. She was taken from us, we never knew by who. And poor Nessa's mental state started to deteriorate."

Fiyero placed a hand on his shoulder, careful to not get the polish on him. "If it's any comfort, my daughter is also among the rebels."

Boq solemnly nodded. "When we find them, we will capture them and give them a home. We will show them that we can rule favorably towards them."

The others agreed, and they set about at once on how to accomplish this.

When they were finally satisfied, they all made preparations for the counter-revolt:

The Mayor called his Deputy Mayor and instructed him how to run the city during his absence; Meanwhile the Scarecrow was taken apart and the enchanted painted sack that served him for a head was carefully laundered and restuffed with the enchanted straw that served as his brains. Fiyero's clothes were also cleaned and pressed by the Castle Tailors, and his crown polished and again sewed upon his head, for the Tinman insisted he should not renounce this badge of royalty. The Scarecrow now presented a very respectable appearance, and although he was no longer addicted to vanity, he was quite pleased with himself and strutted a trifle as he walked; While this was being done Tip and Liir mended the wooden limbs of Jack Pumpkinhead and made them stronger than before, and the Saw-Horse was also inspected to see if he was in good working order. They also made sure to secure enough food and good clothing.

When all this had been done, it was time for dinner. Tip and Liir were served a three-course meal, unlike their lunch which was simply soup and sandwiches. Now Liir was familiar with multi-course meals, both his parents having grown up wealthy and hosted the occasional dinner-party. However Tip, who had been raised by a woman who could care less for courses and dinner-parties, could only dream of a meal with more than one course, or with such fancy utensils.

"Remember Tip," Liir said as they sat down in the dinning hall, "the utensils are arranged outward-in. So the utensils you use first are the ones furthest away from your plate or bowl."

"I remember." Tip said as if he were repeating a lesson, "Also, I shouldn't slouch or slurp my soup."

"Yes." Liir replied, "Some cultures allow for soup slurping, but not this one."

Tip nodded, then the two tucked into a soup that was much lighter than the one served at lunch, but still rich and hearty.

After their meal, the boys were shown to their room. It was a splendid room, with a soft comfortable curtained bed that had sheets of yellow silk and a yellow velvet counterpane. Beautiful yellow and blue flowers stood in the windows, and there was a beautifully carved yellow bookshelf.

In a wardrobe were many waistcoats, trousers, and jackets; made of silk and satin and velvet. The ones on the left half fitted Liir exactly, while the ones on the right fit Tip.

There was also a wash basin carved from fine yellow marble, next to which was a box containing willow tooth twigs.

"Make yourself perfectly at home," said the servant who brought them in, "and if you wish for anything ring the bell."

"Thank you." Liir replied, "That will be all."

The servant nodded and left the boys alone.

"I've never stayed at a place so, wonderful." Tip smiled. "Nor, sleep in a proper bed!" With that, he flopped on top and took in the delight of the soft covers, mattress and pillows.

Liir giggled. He was truly happy for his love. When Tip seemed satisfied after marveling at their bed, Liir flirtatiously remarked, "You know, this is the first time we've actually been alone since we started dating."

Tip blushed. "Y-yeah."

Liir also blushed. "So, what do you want to do?"

Tip blushed harder as he thought.

"Uh, we can just get ready for bed and cuddle if you want."

"Uh, ok."

And with that, the pair thoroughly combed their hair with beautiful golden combs. Then they each changed into nightshirts made of fine linen. Then they washed away the day's dirt and grime from their faces. Finally, they grabbed a tooth twig, chewed on one end until it became frayed. With the frayed end, they brushed their teeth.

When thus ready for bed, the couple picked out a book and climbed into bed. They snuggled under the covers as they took turns reading.