Chapter Text
(The Past; Weeks before the Engagement)
It starts with a single exchange.
An exchange that Fiyero Tigelaar hoped would keep secret, but those hopes would soon be dashed out.
A small scrap of paper detailing upcoming Gale Force patrol routes. All close to known Animal escape routes. Marked with a small blue diamond in the corner.
An Arjiki diamond.
Blue eyes blinked as he stared at the small Raccoon in front of him. Roc, the prince tried to remember, sweat running down the small of his back.
“Tigelaar?” the Raccoon piped, keeping his distance from the prince. “As in Fiyero Tigelaar? You’re a part of that Oz-dammed Gale Force!” Roc’s tail bristled, eyes going to the scrap of paper in Fiyero’s hand. “I knew you looked familiar!” A hand went to a pouch on his waist.
Fiyero tried to force a smile, and held his hands up, “Hey, keep it down. No one knows I’m here.” he said in a hushed tone, trying to keep hunched over so he didn’t tower above the Raccoon. “Look, I’m not…. I’m not that.” He tried to hold out the piece of paper again. “An Animal in the outskirts of Munchkinland said that you help to coordinate escape efforts.”
“So?”
It was clear that Roc wasn’t buying it. Fiyero was a statue, an icon, of sorts for the Emerald City. A pretty face. Why would he abandon everything to help the Animals?
“This is a map of the upcoming Gale Force patrol areas.” Fiyero answered as the Raccoon finally took the wrinkled scrap. “The Commander’s getting close to the borders of Oz. He knows that the Animals are leaving in droves now. The Wizard doesn’t like that.”
Roc blinked and unfurled the scrap. Sure enough, the prince was right. The scrap detailed patrol routes and they were awfully close to the borders of Oz.
Close to where the Animals were trying to escape to.
The Raccoon looked back up, “And why is the Wizard’s precious Captain-Prince trying to help?” he asked, suspicion still deep in his tinny voice. “You’re part of the reason why we have to leave!” The Raccoon bared tiny fangs at the prince, “Your kind hunts us down just because we’re Animals!”
Fiyero winced as he felt it in his chest. He knew that it would be hard for Animals to believe that he wanted to help. Especially when he was the Wizard’s face for the Gale Force itself. Of course he would be accused of doing things like that.
This was risk itself. But, disrupting the patrol areas was one way to drag Elphaba out into the open. To show that he was still on her side and not just a pretty face the Wizard wanted to show off.
“I…” Fiyero fought for his words, trying to find the right thing to say. “My sole job is to look for the Witch. Nothing more, nothing less” he stated, smoothing at his shirt. He had left his uniform behind, only wearing a white tunic and his sand-colored pants. “I don’t involve myself with the Animals like that.”
“Then why do this?” Roc motioned with the scrap of parchment. He looked around, mostly back to his den, and then back to Fiyero. “If the Wizard finds out-”
“I’m doing this because it’s the right thing to do. I know the consequences.” Fiyero felt his throat start to dry up. His mind went to the Wizard. And to Morrible.
The way that they had twisted Elphaba into the image of a pure monster. All because of what? Because she cared?
Truthfully, he didn’t know, but he knew that Elphaba would never do anything evil. Let alone commit treason. Fiyero knew that it was all just a sham. Make Elphaba a monster just so the Wizard could look good.
Oh, Elphaba. His Elphaba. He could still remember that day 5 years ago when Morrible’s voice was announcified across all of Oz. Him running for Emerald City just so he could be the one to find her. Those moments were still etched into his nightmares.
That’s all the Gale Force was for. He wanted to be the one to find her because anyone else wouldn’t leave her alive.
He looked back to Roc and briefly, ever so briefly, saw the Lion Cub in the Raccoon’s place.
The start of it all.
Or perhaps the end of it all.
And perhaps that was the start of him realizing that there was something that truly mattered. That he couldn’t just keep dancing through life pretending that he didn’t have a care in the world. That Elphaba Thropp was his one and only thought.
But, he wasn’t the happy-go-lucky Winkie prince anymore. Five years had passed and had driven him into the ground. He had been forcing himself to remain with Glinda, knowing that his heart had never been with her. Nothing more than a show.
Maybe he was just a shell now. A shell without a brain.
He just felt so empty now and the longer it took to find Elphaba, the worse it got.
“As long as I find her, I don’t care what happens to me.” Fiyero reiterated as the Raccoon continued to stare at him. He pointed at the scrap, “That keeps you away from known patrols. And, maybe, if we’re lucky, the Witch finds them instead. And it helps me find her.”
“And here I thought you were supposed to be the shallow and thoughtless Winkie prince.” Roc retorted, placing the scrap into a pouch at his furry waist. “Aren’t your people supposed to be barbaric or whatnot? All paganistic and witchery.”
Fiyero winced once more and looked back to where he had Feldspar hiding. “The prince died 5 years ago.” he muttered. “I have more important things to worry about now.” He ignored the hit against the Arjiki people. Even if he was the handsome Winkie prince, people still tended to hang onto stereotypes about his tribe.
Roc blinked, continuing to eye Fiyero ever so carefully, “Are you sure about this?” he asked, tiny paws brushing against the dirt below. “I’ve seen Animals get dragged out into the open and beaten to death simply for trying to speak up. This? This is pure treason. The Wizard himself would see you hanged for this, Your Highness. Stripped, beaten, and hanged.” Roc paused for just a clock-tick.
“Robbed of your humanity.”
Fiyero turned so that his back was to the Raccoon, “Like I said, I do not care what happens to me as long as I find her.” he stated once more. “I do what helps her and what helps to take the bastard in the green palace down so she can finally be free.
I do this for her.”
(Now, the Night of the Engagement)
“I suppose congratulations are in order, Captain.”
Fiyero shifted uncomfortably in the parlor chair as Morrible’s eyes drilled into his. Morrible’s dress rippled as she walked towards him, bringing a tea kettle over to the table. She placed the kettle down next to two teacups and sat, never taking her eyes off of the prince.
Truly, he didn’t know what to say. The engagement had stopped his heart for what seemed like several clock-ticks, still taking in being Captain. It was news to him and not at all what he wanted. But, he knew that he was in no place to protest.
Glinda was simply the Wizard’s and Morrible’s puppet, whether she knew it or not. Fiyero could tell that much. Now, he really wasn’t sure what role he played in it. The engagement had been the Wizard’s doing. All just one, big show.
Fiyero feigned a smile as best as he could. Pretending was something that he used to be very good at. Now? He wasn’t even sure anymore.
“I’m expecting a huge celebration, right?” Fiyero asked as Morrible leaned forward to grab the kettle. “One worthy of a prince?” His smile twisted into a self-absorbed smirk.
“Oh, don’t worry, Your Highness. This will be a grand, Ozmopolitan affair.” She pushed a teacup towards Fiyero, steam rising into the air. “Everyone in Oz will be festivating. The wedding will be grand. No expenses spared.”
Fiyero’s eyes fell to the tea in the cups, focusing on its odd, pale green color. He reached down and adjusted his Gale Force uniform shirt, running a hand down the rough, green material. A nervous tic of his.
“Now, it will take a few weeks of planning, but the celebration will be well within this tide-turn.” Morrible said, nails tapping against the cup she had picked up. “I may expedite the festivating planning so that the Witch doesn’t have the chance to interfere.” She motioned towards the second cup, “Have a drink, Captain. Relax.”
Fiyero’s forced smile returned and he reached forwards to grab the cup, nestling against his chest. “I don’t think I can relax until the Witch is found.” he said through clenched teeth.
Morrible returned the smile, “That is true of us all.” she said, finger tapping on her cup. “None of us can rest until we can put an end to the Witch’s reign of terror. Which actually leads us to the reason I actually called you here.”
Fiyero’s breath hitched in his throat, “Yes?” He brought the cup to his lips, but paused for a few clock-ticks as he waited for Morrible’s answer.
“The Wizard wants an update to the search for the Witch.”
A blink. Another. He took a long drag of the tea. He winced and started coughing, froth flinging from his lips. “Fuck. That’s sour.” he stated, wiping drops from his lips. “What is this?”
Morrible just smiled, “An old family recipe.” she said, keeping her own cup in her lap. “Supposed to calm the nerves. I figured that you would need something to help you relax after the engagement.”
“I’ll need a lot more than a single cup to help me, Madame.” Another fake smile. He placed the teacup back onto the table, wiping at his mouth with his green sleeve again. “Anyways,” he began.
“El-The Witch attacked a Gale Force unit two days ago. I imagine you’ve heard.They were overseeing Road construction and she came out of nowhere and attacked. No one was seriously hurt, but she put a dent in construction because the Animals on the project were released by her. The Witch…” Fiyero explained, wincing as something began to burn in his chest. He brought hand to his heart.
Clock-tick. Clock-tick. Clock-tick. The burning wouldn’t stop. It felt as though it was spreading from his throat deep within his stomach, bleeding out into his veins. The edges of his vision swirled and something, just something, brewed in the back of his mind.
It felt like rage. Something that wasn’t him.
“Oh, shit.” he breathed out, clasping the edges of the arms of the parlor chair, fingers digging into fabric. His world tilted and swirled, threatening to throw him to the floor below.
He missed the smile that had plastered itself onto Morrible’s face.
His vision suddenly became straight again and the burning disappeared as quickly as it had come on. He swallowed and tried to focus back onto Morrible. Static laced the edges of his vision and he hadn’t felt like this since his teenage years of parties and questionable substances.
“Captain, are you okay?” she asked, concern lacing its way into her voice. But, she didn’t move. There was something, just something, about her tone that told him she truly didn’t care. She just sat there, staring right at him. Her gaze seemed to go right through him.
“Yeah.” Fiyero lied, smoothing his shirt again in an absent-minded manner, fingers running over the golden accents of the uniform. “Burn-heart, I guess. Can’t handle sour things. Never liked them. Sweets are more my thing. Candies. Pies. Always stealing them from the Castle Tigelaar kitchen when I was young.”
“My apologies, then.” Morrible’s smile grew and something shone deep within her eyes. “Anyways, you were saying?”
He knew that she didn’t seem any bit concerned about whatever had happened. Plus, there was no way that had to do with him choking on the tea.. It was like something attacked him and- Fiyero’s thoughts skipped a few clock-ticks. Morrible’s tea sat untouched on the table, long gone cold.
He blinked, trying to force the thought out of his mind. Had he done something to him? She had no reason to try and harm him, the fiancee of Glinda Upland herself. His mind was growing fuzzy and he could feel rotten bile trying to escape his stomach.
Unless she knew.
But, he had been oh so careful, always acting like he hated the Witch. How had Morrible seen that his true allegiances had lied elsewhere?
Fiyero steadied himself, “The Witch seems to be wanting to disrupt the Road itself.” he stated, a quiver in his voice. He batted at the golden brown bangs hanging down onto his forehead. “Specifically targeting Animal workers. She seems to avoid any fatal attacks, but it still injures Gale Force men. We have not yet been able to track her due to her flying habits being so erratic. And then she disappears for days or weeks. We have no way of pinning her down.”
Morrible eyed him and he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. He could feel sweat beading up on the back of his neck. Oh, something was wrong. He felt sick, like his stomach had been turned inside-out. Glinda. He needed to find Glinda.
“More and more Animals are somehow disappearing from Oz,” Morrible continued, standing to her feet and looking down at Fiyero. “And it’s not our doing. That much I know. We appointed you captain because of your knowledge of the Witch. You need to use it well, Tigelaar. The people of Oz are afraid.”
“Not because of her.” Fiyero thought, rising to his feet. He stood tall, despite the head-fuzz in his brain.
Oh, something felt wrong. He suddenly felt wrong in all places of his body. Like something had squeezed him and flattened him out again. He suddenly didn’t feel like himself. Oh, he felt far from himself.
Fiyero feigned a smile, “Don’t worry, I’ll figure something out. I’ll drag the Witch out of whatever hole she’s hiding in and drag her right to your feet.” he stated, lying straight through his teeth. “Then Oz won’t have to deal with her anymore.”
Morrible’s smile grew and she turned, her back to Fiyero and he suddenly felt as though he was on fire again. He stared at her figure like it was far off in the distance. As far as the Great Kells themselves. He needed to get out of here, fast. He needed Glinda. No.
He needed Elphaba.
Morrible let out a soft laugh, breaking Fiyero out of his fuzzied thoughts.
“And that’s why we made you Captain.”