Chapter One- Our First Meeting

Strange events often happened in the Enchanted Forest, but one of the strangest events I have ever experienced was when a young woman dropped suddenly and without warning out of the sky...

I was walking through the forest, collecting wild berries for my grandmother, when a woman wearing a gingham blue and white checked dress suddenly came from the sky. Her shoes were silver and glittering like the gleam in her eyes. To my shock and surprise, the young woman had landed in the berry bushes where I often picked the red, juicy fruit for my grandmother. The red had stained the young woman's dress.

"Who are you? And how did you get here?" I questioned.

She was looking into the wicker basket on her arm as she spoke to a little terrier dog who had peeked out it's tiny head. "Toto, are you alright?" she asked.

The little dog licked her fingers as the young woman began to glance around, seeming startled by the beauty of the Enchanted Forest. "Ohhh Toto," she said in a gasp. "I don't think this is Kansas. I don't think this is Kansas at all!"

I was holding my own basket... and it wasn't even near enough full of berries for my grandmother. Granny was going to be pissed. She had wanted to make a delicious red berry pie for Snow White, who had just awakened from her very long, enchanted sleep. Being the obedient granddaughter, I was always willing to help out my beloved grandmother who had raised me from infancy.

"Who are you?" asked the woman who had long gorgeous ebony hair. As I gazed at it, I thought it must be as soft as rose petals.

"I am Red - Red Riding Hood," I answered. "But my friends and family call me Ruby. You can call me Ruby... or Red; it doesn't matter... but what's your name? Is it Kansas?"

The woman laughed. Her voice was melodious. I reached out, helping her to her feet. As she stood there regarding me, her little dog sniffed my fingers. I could tell we were going to be fast friends, her little dog and me.

"I am Dorothy Gale," said the young woman. "And this is Toto. He was a gift from my dear Aunt Emily."

"Kansas is where I live," she went on to say. "And where I should have ended up in the hot air balloon after I left Oz. If it wasn't for that evil witch..."

"You know an evil witch?"

"Yes. Her name is Zelena. And she's evil. Pure evil."

"Ohhh gosh. She sounds just like the evil queen," I responded. "She's pure evil, too. You should hear what she did to Snow White."

Dorothy wasn't ready to hear any of the details. She was far too upset. "I don't know how to get back to Kansas," she said, looking crestfallen.

"You can stay with me and Granny. There's plenty of room in the loft," I suggested.

"You're too kind. But I couldn't...'

"I insist."

She hesitated, so I added swiftly, "I'll look out for you... I can protect you from witches."

"Ohhh really?" she said, grinning. "How will you protect me?"

'I have my secret ways."

She had yet to learn of my secrets. Although I was terrified, I suddenly couldn't wait to tell her. Somehow I knew it. She was the One.

Author's Note: Stay tuned for Chapter 2 - Our First Walk