Tick tock

[Elphaba Thropp]

Elphaba and Ian arrived INSIDE the clock. Ian seemed to be scared...but Elphaba was fine. She had been here many times before. She had been born here. For her the clock was a place of refuge, not terror.

"Where is it now?" she asked frantically - she looked out through the gears - it looked like the badlands. "Good!" she said.

[Claire Heart]

Suddenly in a burst of white light Claire, Taye, and Ozma appeared beside the terrified Ian and Elphaba.

[brooser]

"Hello... Elphaba, Ian," Ozma said, smiling. "It's good to see you again. Do you have a plan, Miss Elphaba?" She was well acquainted with the Clock of the Time Dragon; it had been around since before she was born. She knew that many Ozians considered it a monument to the pleasure faith -- but then again, those same Ozians considered Lurline a pagan myth, and she knew that wasn't true. "Should we maybe... ask the clock?"

[Taye Keats]

Taye looked around, surprised. He had heard whispers and rumors about the Clock of the Time Dragon... but he had never actually seen it, nor did he know anyone who had. It was said to be prophetic... to speak of the past, the present, and future with its tiktok puppet shows. Maybe that was true, too. He squeezed Claire's hand, offering and receiving support.

[Claire Heart]

She squeezed it back, a little silent thank you. This was all so overwhelming. She half expected to wake up and be back in Quaddling Country in her bed. It all seemed like a very long, very bad dream.

"I don't know much about the Time Clock but in my search for...well, you," she laughed a little. It as still strange that Kay was Ozma. "I did find out a little about it. And asking it seems like the most logical thing to do. If it doesn't answer us, I suppose there's no more harm than not asking..."

[Elphaba Thropp]

"I don't know much about the power of the clock" Elphie said a little sarchastically. "I was born inside it. It has no power over me - but I may be the only Ozian for whom that's true. If you want, we could ask it, but in the meantime I think we should gather our fast dwindling forces. Dorothy and Jack Pumpkinhead are on the search for the Nome King...and the Scarecrow." Ellie wasn't sure if she should say more than that. "Forgive me your Ozness for borrowing him, but I thought Dorothy should have a companion." She gave a little bow. "It's an honor to see you." She smiled. "My father and I always believed you would return."

"Ellie is near death. Glinda has been imprisoned with her. Claire - I have no doubt they'll be after your title next. We need to stay safe, but we need more Ozians on our side. And I still don't know where the Nome King's Palace is."

[Claire Heart]

"How do we gather forces when everyone has been forced to turn against us?" She thought of the letter from Polly declaring her unfit for her title. "I've already been stripped of my title. Polly made sure to do that in her last letter that was sent out across Oz. Polly was given the title of 'the good' and given Glinda's position, while mine was completely abolished as a live, legal position. And I have reason to believe the Nome King is the imposter known as Yorq Yiggle who has been given Ellie's position by Mombi. So both the Uplands and Munchkinland are now being run by evil forces in cohorts with Mombi. I find it hard to believe anyone will join our force willingly..."

[Elphaba Thropp]

"Well, someone has to tell them the truth...regardless. Any ideas" Elphaba was tired of being the only sane one to ever take action.

[Claire Heart]

"I hate to invovle children, but all of Glinda's children would stand on her side. I would say surely they wouldn't hurt a group of children, but I think that would even be too much to hope for...." She tried to consider anything else. "I had a servant from Glinda's Orphanage, too, an Abby Davis, who knew Ellie. I'm sure any of the children who knew Ellie would rise up in arms to help her.."

[brooser]

"I know Abby," Ozma said suddenly. "She was very nice... and quite loyal to Glinda. But I know Mombi better than anyone... she wouldn't hesitate to harm children." She sighed. "I have my powers with which to fight Mombi and the Nome King... but they aren't yet back in full."

[Claire Heart]

Then, her eyes drifted to Kay, and Claire gasped. "What am I thinking? We have one of the the most important person who ever graced Oz in our presence. We'd have the entirety of Oz eating out of our hands if we only told them that Ozma is alive!"

[Taye Keats]

"You're right, Claire," Taye said, nodding. "But would everyone believe that she's really Ozma? She was in power so long ago..." He thought for a moment. "Perhaps we could rally together students at Shiz? They know Mombi first hand; I'm sure at least some of them would be willing to stand against them. Elphaba, do you know of any Animals hiding underground or something that would be willing to help?"

[Claire Heart]

"I'm sure there are more than a few who hate Mombi with a passion at Shiz. However, they all love Polly..." She sighed. "But I also feel quite confident Elphaba has a few friends who I feel certain would come to our aid. They should after everything she's done..." Claire had heard all the stories and read many of the reports of all the trouble Elphaba had gotten herself into for her cause. She'd never asked for anything in return, but Claire felt sure that if she was ever in need, they would do the same in return.

[Ian Tibbit]

Ian was pretty much speechless. Ozma and the time clock all on the same day. He didn't know what to do, what to say. He couldn't stop thinking about Ellie. He wanted to help, but he didnt know how. He wanted to speak to Elphaba alone.. he wanted to ask her about his powers. He thought they could do great use here.

As a child, Ian was raised a fighter.. I mean, he practiced swordsmanship as a sport.. If force was needed, Ian wanted to learn how to use his powers for it. They would be the perfect method to choose.

[Claire Heart]

Claire noticed that look on Ian's face, the look of fear, confusion, frusteration. She could only imagine what he must be feeling like. She knew how much he loved Ellie. If it were Taye that was somewhere, Oz only knows where, near death, she wouldn't be able to even function. It was hurting her badly enough that Ellie was her best friend and gone. She stepped a little to the side toward him, "We'll find her, I promise." She gave him a sad smile and hoped that maybe, just maybe, it would help his aching heart, even a little.