THE PROUD WITCH OF OZ - Chapter XIII

XIII - Her Royal Highneth

It was one of Plummage’s carrots, fed advantageously to the King in a moment of complete despair out of fear for a no-confidence vote, that finally compelled the Glinda-ordained ruler to abandon Bunnybury after a great many years of his much-appreciated rule. Many of the residents who had supported the King were astonished that he would so casually give his throne up, while those who believed the warnings Plummage and his agents had intentionally spread throughout Bunnybury were not surprised at all.

Either way, there was now an air of uncertainty in and around the whole of the now leaderless domain. Who would Glinda ordain to be the next great ruler of Bunnybury? What kind of leader would this person be?

Plummage’s agents were at least able to plant the rumor…which predicatably spread like wildfire…that the new ruler of Bunnybury would not be a King, but a Queen. The High Chamberlain allowed this much in order to gauge whatever early reactions the rumor might generate.

The Chamberlain found himself fortunate when his agents reported that many of the people were quite encouraging of a female ruler. In fact, most of the more intelligent bunnies who disapproved of the King’s rule had noted that he did not have any real female influence, as the King had never taken a Queen.

Plummage found this notion particularly interesting. He thought about compelling his fat little puppet to mature a bit more in age, and then conveniently have her arrange a marriage with her “humble” Chamberlain.

Wendy made it to the Bunnybury town square in time to pay witness to the public speech an exquisitely-dressed royal aspirant named Priss was sharing with the people of the domain.

The mouse maid, however, knew right away who this royal aspirant really was as Priss lisped her way through her speech.

Wendy could not escape the fearful possibility that Malvagia, who was no doubt still trying to find her escaped mouse maid, would spot her within the crowd. Maybe grab her from behind. Unfortunately, she had no choice but to stay low in her posture and not draw any attention to herself until Dodge found an unnoticeable way into the palace.

The mouse maid fished a furry, clawed hand into the area where the carrot Minerva gave her was, confirming it was still there. The attentions of the masses of bunnies were on Priss, so she was capably concealed by the mobs for the moment. Priss was earning herself a fair share of cheers, and most of them were loud. The expression on the wide-bodied bunny’s face, however, looked a little empty, and her smiles looked a bit rehearsed. Plummage often glanced to Priss as she spoke, and winced on occasion with every lisp he heard.

“And tho, my good people…” Priss extended her arms out to the sides. “…do I have your thupport? Do I have your trutht? Shall we all thtand thtrong?”

There were more voices crying out in support than there were against. Priss clearly had the majority of the mob, whether the words were truly hers or not.

And Wendy had a feeling they were not, knowing the truth about Plummage.

“Follow me to the Palath!” Priss then announced.

Wendy was able to stay within the shouting mobs as they followed Priss and her small entourage towards the Royal Palace.

A flash of familiar olive fur among the bodies of the masses, however, caught her full attention.

Fortunately, although she was a few paces away, Malvagia had not spotted Wendy. She didn’t even know her mouse maid was close behind her.

Wendy fearfully endeavored to keep it that way as the mobs drifted in the direction of the Royal Palace. Much to the mouse maid’s relief, she was able to evade the byzantian Yookoohoo’s notice once they all arrived at the front of the Palace.

Wendy was also wise enough to grab a piece of dropped white fabric, which she wrapped around her head in a manner which would expose her face, but not her ears. Having seen gray-furred bunnies among the mobs, she hoped the disguise would work if she were spotted skulking around the palace interiors.

Before passing into those interiors, Wendy also buried her long mouse tail within her skirt as well. The pressure of the tail being crushed against the fabric of the skirt was uncomfortable, but she had to try and pass herself off as a bunny rather than the mouse girl she had become.

Malvagia’s head began to turn to Wendy’s direction. The mouse maid froze with fear despite herself.

An arm suddenly hooked one of Wendy’s own arms. The mouse maid’s eyes boggled in terror in the space of that moment, but the familiar voice calmed her as Malvagia’s eyes diverted back to the opposite direction.

“Found a way in, kid.” Dodge quietly assured, pulling Wendy into a shadowy area where they could conceal themselves. “An’ Rosie’s ready ta go.”