FOREWORD –
As with my last Oz-related tale, The Ruby Slippers of Oz, this is a story that attempts to adapt elements from the fourteen Oz books written by L. Frank Baum…and material from books that are a part of his shared american fairy tale universe(Queen Zixi of Ix, The Magical Monarch of Mo, The Sea Fairies, and so forth) of which Oz is a part…and places it in the context of the foundations unique to MGM's classic movie adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, released in 1939.
As a matter of example, the Tin Woodman never actually had a name in the MGM movie, but he is identified as Nick Chopper in the books, owing to his having once been a munchkin woodcutter before his axe was jinxed by the Wicked Witch of the East, resulting in the grisly accidents that culminated in his reincarnation as the tin-plated and heartfelt Emperor of the Winkie Country. References to Nick, or Emperor Nicholas, in this story will therefore always correspond to the Tin Woodman.
As this story will adapt elements found in The Tin Woodman of Oz, you should be seeing a little more of him here compared to the last story, too! ;)
I: Small Concerns, Big Surprises
Dorothy Gale felt an all-too-familiar licking at the back of her hand as her eyelids fluttered wearily open. Apparently, she had maneuvered herself upon her bed to the point where her hand was hanging down, and off the side of the mattress. The corners of her mouth curled up once her half-lidded eyes confirmed the presence of the black-furred cairn terrier that was her beloved pet, Toto.
He looked a bit giddy this morning, however, as he looked up to his owner with eager eyes and a wagging tail. Toto then rose up on his hind legs, his tongue lolling as he panted excitedly. Frowning in her puzzlement, Dorothy rose from her bed in the restored farmhouse…which had once been a bit of a wreck after touching down in the land of Oz, with the young Kansas girl inside, before her munchkin friends repaired it…and began following Toto once she slipped off the bed and onto her bare feet.
As the front door was slightly open, Toto was able to give it enough of a shove to widen the space so he could get through, and he began to hurry forward along the dry country soil. Although the Kansas girl was still clad in her blue nightgown, the climate of the magical fairyland of Oz was perpetually comfortable, and she was a little more curious as to what it was that had excited her little dog. Cool breezes compelled shivers as she continued her hurried steps to keep up with Toto. Fortunately, he stopped once he reached a certain distance and looked behind him, making sure Dorothy was still in sight.
The champion of Oz called out Toto's name a couple of times, but the dog was heedless as they continued to distance themselves…significantly…from the restored farmhouse.
It got to the point where Dorothy began feeling very, very tired. She was only human, after all, and an empty stomach could only take her so far. She began to pant heavily as she continued to follow the excited cairn terrier in the distance.
Her peripheral vision caught sight of an abundance of animals, however, and they also looked to be in a state of excitement as Dorothy continued to move. Lions, tigers, bears, elephants, monkeys, deer…they all seemed to be visibly satisfied over something that the Kansas girl had yet to discover.
A more familiar sight awaited her, however, when she glanced to her right…but when she saw what was happening, she had to stop.
Her eyes lingered on a group of four-legged animals…all of them of a predatory nature…surrounding, and closing in on, one of her three very close friends. Surprisingly, the Cowardly Lion…who she had thought was supposed to be commanding the beasts since establishing the Legion of Courage…was now cowering from these angry, hungry-looking denizens of the wild.
A rough shove, however, from behind brought Dorothy down to her hands and knees. "Keep moving!" She heard an unpleasant voice growl. Despite hearing fearful blubbering that sounded very much like pleas for mercy from the frightened lion, the now very worried Kansas girl continued to move forward, compelling Toto…who didn't seem to care one bit about what was happening with the lion…to continue guiding Dorothy.
Glancing to the left, as she continued to wearily follow her dog, Dorothy's worries increased significantly as she saw pieces of broken tin scattered around a large gorilla, and on this gorilla's head was a dented and soiled, and very familiar-looking tin funnel. One big enough to fit on the head of a man.
A man like Nicholas Chopper.
Monkeys and baboons danced wildly around the exultant gorilla, and it was becoming very apparent that something was terribly wrong.
But the worst part was that Toto seemed to be okay with it!
As Dorothy continued to crawl, she heard the cawing of a large flock of crows, just beyond the area where the lion was cowering. Sure enough, shreds of a very familiar-looking blue outfit…an outfit she was used to seeing on the stuffed body of the Scarecrow…could be seen among the satisfied crows. Resting near the largest of these crows…one Dorothy surmised to be the King the Scarecrow often mentioned…was a familiar-looking hat.
She was particularly heartbroken seeing the crows looking so exultant around the scattered patches of hay and straw that logically used to be a part of the stuffed man she once shared many exultant dances with as a patchwork girl years before.
What happened? She thought. Who…or what…was responsible for all this?
Toto continued to lead Dorothy, this time up a hill. As she begun her ascent, she saw that the animals were being joined by groups of humanoids, most of whom were armed with sharp and primitive-looking spears. They wore only loincloths, and some of them had a pelt of animal fur upon their bare skin. The animals around them, lethal or otherwise, found their presences quite pleasing, and some of these humanoids ran their hands affectionately along their hides as they passed.
The heads of these humanoids, however, were those of various animals. One had the head of a bunny, while another wore the head of a rhino. They were not masks, either. Those few that looked in Dorothy's direction snorted derisively.
The Kansas girl's limbs began to ache as she continued her upward approach, and upon looking ahead, she saw that there were others who, like her, were on their hands and knees. They were lined up in front of, and facing away from, a much more imposing humanoid figure holding one end of a group of chains, this one wearing the head of a bear.
The other ends of these jingling chains were apparently attached to the necks of those who were on the ground below him, all of them wearing ragged clothes, and all of them with sullen and defeated expressions on their faces as one of them looked up towards Dorothy.
She recognized the face of this particular woman.
It was Glinda, the most powerful sorceress of the entire land.
Dorothy also spotted the presence of a leather collar around the neck of the Good Witch of the South. She also saw similar collars around the necks of the other human captives as well.
She recognized the face of Locasta on another. Jellia Jamb was there. Omby Amby. Master General Commander Jinjur. Even the fairy princess, Ozma, was on her hands and knees, with a chain attached to her neck.
She also saw her Aunt Em and her Uncle Henry, even though their heads were still down. Dorothy felt tears stream down her face as she looked back over to the menacing-looking, bear-headed presence holding the leashes.
Angry eyes seemed to dig deep into the soul of the Kansas girl, overpowering any defiant effort she might have had to stand in the face of this evil, bear-headed person, as the creature's free hand leveled a claw-tipped index finger towards Dorothy, a wicked grin forming on his fanged muzzle.
"And now," his dreadfully low voice boomed. "it's YOUR turn."
Dorothy suddenly felt warm pulses of magical energy surge into and throughout her body as she began to shake and quiver. Looking around for Toto, she saw that the apparently happy little dog had settled himself right beside this bear-headed monster. Fearful for what this magic was going to do to her next, her attention was diverted to the presence of something she brought her hands up to touch.
Something that had suddenly appeared around her neck…
Dorothy burst up out of her bed with a loud gasp, her eyes as wide as possible.
Looking around the area surrounding her bed, she confirmed…much to her relief…that everything was as she had left it the previous evening following the grading of little Tula's papers.
It then became apparent, as she sighed out relaxedly, that Dorothy was still among the munchkins, inhabiting the house that Locasta…the Good Witch of the North…had provided for her use.
Looking down upon her short, formerly human frame with a slight smile, and then looking at her pudgy hands, Dorothy confirmed that she was still a munchkin as well.
Since the events that led to the fairy girl Ozma earning the birthright she had inherited from her father…rulership over the land of Oz...and the subsequent relocation of her Aunt and Uncle, and all of their pets, to the land, Dorothy Gale…or rather, "Miss" Dorothy…had been willingly honoring the oath she had taken with the Learning Guild in the two years that had followed the overthrow of Ugu, the shoemaker that had temporarily conquered the Emerald City. She had, after all, been entrusted to the schooling of Tula, a young munchkin girl who had initially chosen the life of an Emerald City maid over what her mother…an old and somewhat cantankerous munchkin woman named Prudence…had preferred Tula to develop: a full education under the Learning Guild's auspices and resources.
But the formerly human Kansas girl was required to do this as a munchkin, and fairy magic had made this possible.
Although there were times, in those two years, when Miss Dorothy needed to sharpen her tone in keeping Tula focused, the munchkin girl proved herself capable of learning the lessons…and doing the homework assignments…of her munchkin tutor, who herself was gaining more of an education through the magic glasses she had been given than she did when she was going to school back in Kansas. Miss Dorothy also found her responsibilities as a tutor limited to a familiar five-day-a-week routine, as well, although the decision was Dorothy's as to how many hours she would perform her tutoring per day. After a bit of consideration, she chose an 8 am to 3 pm routine, with an hour's break for lunch.
The other tutors of the Learning Guild found this a bit radical, as they were used to four hours at the most in performing their tutoring with their charges. Once Dorothy had explained her routine at one of the Guild's many meetings, the Headmistress of the Guild…Philomena, of course…urged other tutors to follow Dorothy's routine. Although many of their charges complained, the tutors all agreed that there was considerable improvement in their educational standards, making Dorothy's six-hour tutoring regimen a popular standard with the guild.
In the two days she had to herself…Saturday and Sunday, of course…the munchkins of Munchkinland, the Mayor in particular, were entirely eager to instruct and indoctrinate Miss Dorothy, who they all knew to be the very same Dorothy Gale who had freed them all from the tyranny of the Wicked Witch of the East, in various munchkin customs and habits. Much of it involved a considerable amount of eating and gossiping. In the latter case, Dorothy found it preferable to merely listen in on the various tidbits of local drama rather than contribute to it, offering opinions only when asked.
The always dapper Mayor…whose name was Boq…seemed to dote on Dorothy whenever he was around, too. He was always on his most courteous behavior, though, even if it did seem like he was giving the munchkin tutor a little more attention than other more important matters. Many was the occasion, in those two years, when Dorothy found a surprise gift…mostly pre-prepared and very delicious food…on her doorstep when she emerged from the house. Dorothy always found these gestures quite charming, even if Boq had made an effort to make sure that these gifts were anonymously offered.
Boq's penmanship, after all, was not at all difficult to figure out.
She was regularly visited by her other three friends, as well. The tin-plated, heartfelt Emperor of the Winkies, Nicholas Chopper, came by on many occasions to visit his dear friend from Kansas. The ordained King of the beasts and Commander-In-Chief of the Legion of Courage that was now known as the Once-Cowardly Lion similarly reunited with the munchkin tutor that was once the lost human girl who bravely stood up to his less-than-effective intimidation ploy and then exposed his failing. The leonine monarch acquainted Dorothy with many of the great beasts that comprised his Legion of Courage, all of whom were bound by a code his majordomo, the Hungry Tiger, had devised. Chief among them was the first tenet of the code: there was no Legion of Courage, save for the knowledge shared between not only the members themselves, but those they entrusted to their shared secret. Dorothy herself assured the King that said secret was in good hands as far as she was concerned. There were even capers they had conducted in various potentially problematic matters in and around Oz which they consulted Dorothy about, hoping for helpful knowledge, which the munchkin tutor was all too willing to provide. The lion subsequently slipped a rumor to Dorothy that they were beginning to consider making the formerly human girl from Kansas an honorary member of the Legion.
None, however, were so frequent a visitor to Dorothy's home as the ever-erudite Scarecrow of Oz, who had been ordained royal advisor to the Princess Ozma. He practically visited the munchkin Dorothy had become on a near-nightly basis, often testing his very best friend on the knowledge she herself was amassing through the enchanted glasses. On weekends, the Scarecrow was either in the company of Ozma herself, taking a break from her many duties as the land's ruler, or he was joined by another individual who looked entirely familiar the moment she spotted her.
This stuffed patchwork girl was, after all, no different from what Dorothy herself had become through Mombi's wicked sorcery, save for a few minor alterations.
As the Scarecrow explained, this version of Scraps was indeed created by the munchkin called Doctor Pipt to act as a servant to his wife, Margolotte. Unc Nunkie…a relative of Ojo the Lucky, who was the Guildmaster of the Lollipop Guild…assisted in the cultivation of the entirely undignified rascal that had resulted from the Doctor's work, although this time Margolotte made sure that her husband had temporarily relocated any petrifaction potions in the work area.
From the moment Scraps had come to life, however, she all too often diverted from the responsibilities Margolotte had presented her with, preferring dancing and prancing…and occasionally speaking in rhyming, lyrical verse…to any concept of diligent and serious work. Although there were times Margolotte was capable of getting her patchwork girl focused on tasks, her concentration did not last.
It was through her first encounter with Miss Dorothy during one of her wild wanderings, however, that her curiosity about the royal advisor of Oz…who she had been told was a stuffed person like herself…compelled the patchwork servant girl to divert to the Emerald City.
Since her very first meeting with the Scarecrow, Scraps visited him far more frequently than the Scarecrow himself visited Dorothy!
For the moment, however, Dorothy was alone in her bed. When her thoughts were of the nightmare she had thankfully come out of, however, the munchkin tutor looked past the edge of the bed…
…and confirmed the presence of her beloved cairn terrier curled up and sleeping peacefully.
At the same time, however, Dorothy saw something else as she glanced to a nearby window. Something staring curiously upon her with large eyes. But when the curious munchkin's own eyes turned to look upon the owl's, the large bird immediately flew away.
Dorothy slid her chubby munchkin form off the side of the bed, her bare feet landing softly next to where Toto was sleeping. The dog, sensing this, now began to stir, his head lifting up wearily from the smooth-carpeted floor. The smiling munchkin tutor lowered to a knee and ran her hand along his fur as he looked up at his beloved owner.
Toto padded idly around the munchkin home as Dorothy went to the kitchen area of the house, pouring herself a warm cup of tea. It was Saturday, after all, and she had no rush to get any lesson plans ready. The day was her own once again.
As she gazed outside the large front window of her home to see Munchkinland society begin to stir from their own resting periods, her developing thoughts were of the last two weeks before Tula's final evaluation. Dorothy looked very much forward to seeing the munchkin she had been teaching for the past two years be among the students to receive their diplomas, indicating that they had officially completed their tutelage. Even though she had never been born a munchkin, she knew that the moment in which Tula's name would be announced by the Headmistress would fill Miss Dorothy with a great sense of pride.
At the same time, it also meant that she could finally leave munchkin life behind her, and be restored to the human girl she was before Dorothy was ordained to tutor Tula. After two years of admittedly enjoying munchkin customs and their general livelihood, she had a feeling that re-adjusting to human standards of living would be a little difficult, but Ozma had to live up to her end of the bargain that was struck between the princess and the Learning Guild.
For the moment, however, she finished her mug full of tea and went to her dresser to pull out yet another sweet-looking, munchkin-designed dress. In the two years of her life among them, Dorothy had also acquainted herself with the various exotic hairstyles worn by some of the community's women. Having been taught how to do many of these styles herself, her hands worked at her own hair to shape it into another wildly unusual, yet undeniably cute arrangement.
She couldn't help but wonder how much of these habits she had developed would bleed into her human life once she was restored.
As she finished fixing up her hair, Toto began barking wildly by the front door. As he continued barking, she then heard a very familiar female voice respond to the cacophany. "Gaah! You're no fun! Go away! Shoo! Fetch a stick or somethin'!"
Dorothy smiled as she hurried to the front door, shushing the little dog as she pulled it open. As she had expected, a human-shaped explosion of patchwork colors could be seen standing at the door.
"Haaap-py Satur-daaaaay!" Scraps ebulliently threw her arms out in emphasis of her statement, and she whirled her body around as the patchwork girl practically danced her way into Dorothy's home. The little munchkin recognized much of the patchwork quilt to be the very same fabric she herself had worn when Mombi made Dorothy a patchwork girl two years ago. Since first meeting the new Scraps, she noted that this new patchwork girl shared a lot of the carefree habits Dorothy had displayed while she was stuck in her stuffed body.
The munchkin tutor had her arms crossed, however, and a smirk was on her face as the patchwork girl's button eyes met Dorothy's. "You were gonna take me by surprise again, weren't you? Sneak in and set yourself up somewhere while I was sleeping, and then tackle me like you always do when I get close?"
"Oh, don't be such a fuddy-diddley about it! It's fun!" Scraps countered. She then began advancing, ominously, on the little munchkin. "Besides…who says I need to sneak in to give you another patchwork explosion!"
As she yelled out the last two words, the lightweight patchwork girl pounced upon Dorothy, smothering and trapping her playfully as Toto began to bark and growl. The tired munchkin tutor yelped as she found herself once again surrounded by the patchwork material that made up Scraps's body, and she began to protest and whine as she squirmed within. "Aww, c'mon, Scraps! I just got up! Gimme enough room to breathe a little! Okay, enough is enough! Lemme go! This is embarrassing! Scraaaaaps! C'moooon!"
Scraps, however, giggled wildly as she held Dorothy, rolling around like a round ball as the little tutor protested and flailed her chubby limbs. "Oh, you love it and you know it, silly munchkin!" Scraps countered.
Toto began barking towards the front door again, only this time with a little more excitement as his little tail wagged wildly. A familiar voice could then be heard.
"Oh, come on, Scraps! Let her go! Just because you made it here before I did doesn't mean you get to do that silly 'explosion' thing!"
Scraps sighed in response, but her smile remained. "Whatever you say, honey bunch." The patchwork girl then released her ankles, allowing Dorothy to roll out and face her newest visitor, who she had recognized the moment she heard his voice.
The smiling Scarecrow held out the glove of his right hand towards the little munchkin, helping her to rise to her feet. "Sorry about that, Dorothy."
"It's OK…I'm kinda used to it by now." The munchkin fixed her somewhat dissheveled hair before looking to Ozma's royal advisor and flashing a sweet smile. "Good morning, Scarecrow."
The former king of Oz bent to a knee before the munchkin tutor as he spoke. "I need you to come with me to the Emerald City this morning, Dorothy. Princess Ozma spotted something using her Magic Picture that I think you'll want to see. There's a taxi waiting for us at the Munchkinland gates as we speak."
Dorothy couldn't help but glance at Scraps, who had gone behind the Scarecrow and was silently, but obnoxiously mimicking her straw-stuffed friend's gestures as he spoke. She was mock-mouthing his words, as well. When the Scarecrow noticed the munchkin tutor's curious glances, he turned his head to face Scraps, who quickly smiled sweetly and gave the ordained royal advisor a cordial wave with the glove of her left hand.
"Shouldn't you be pinning up Margolotte's laundry, Scraps?" The Scarecrow asked.
Scraps just shrugged. "She's not awake yet!"
"Well, I'm sorry, Scraps, but I'm afraid this is official business." The straw-stuffed advisor gestured for Dorothy to follow before looking back to the patchwork girl. "Maybe you can surprise her by having it done before she gets up, eh?"
"Ohhh, okay. Go off an' do your fuddy-diddley bizzy-busy-ness." Scraps followed her two friends out, but separated and began prancing away in the opposite direction. "But I'm kidnappin' you later for another romp through the POP-piiiieeees!"
Dorothy quirked an eyebrow as she and the Scarecrow began their stroll to the community's gates. "Stroll through the poppies, eh?"
"Well, as always, Scraps rarely gives me a moment's rest." The Scarecrow replied. "I guess you were right. She really is quite obsessed with me!"
"Seems logical, though." Dorothy noted. "After all…you both have the obvious similarities."
"Just like you and I once did." The stuffed advisor reminded. "Sometimes, it makes me want to be human. Just to be able to dream about those wonderful nights we had."
"My own dreams weren't all that pleasant last night." The munchkin tutor's expression darkened. "It was more like a nightmare."
As they boarded the taxi and the driver got the lavender-furred horse underway, Dorothy explained the vivid nightmare to the straw-stuffed advisor in as much detail as she could.
"Men with animal heads, eh?" the Scarecrow began to think on this. "The only kinds of creatures who look like that are the phanfasms of Mount Phantastico…but they're on the other side of the desert. There hasn't been any phanfasms…or any Erbs, for that matter…anywhere in Oz for a long, long time."
"Erbs?"
"That's the race the phanfasms belong to." The royal advisor explained. "All the races of erbs have one thing in common. They're as evil as evil gets. Even on the few occasions when they're being nice, it's always a means to an end. Phanfasms, mimics, carnevillans…it's funny you should mention the bear-headed man in your nightmare. The leader of the phanfasms fits that very description. He's called the First and Foremost."
"But…if I've never met them before…" Dorothy frowned in her confusion. "…why did I dream about them?"
The Scarecrow shrugged. "Maybe that's something you should ask Glinda."
The troubled munchkin slowly nodded as the taxi continued along the yellow brick road towards the Emerald City. Their conversations were of idle happenings in and around the land of Oz for the remainder of the trip, and Dorothy assured her straw-stuffed friend that she maintained her vow to visit her Aunt and Uncle for Sunday dinners. Despite his being initially troubled by Dorothy's munchkin appearance, her Uncle Henry's tolerance grew to the point where her munchkin nature was no longer an issue. Particularly for the fact that by now, he had made a great many friends within the munchkin community.
In fact, many munchkin farmers had improved their respective crop outputs significantly through Henry's tutelage.
They reminisced about their reaction to an offer that Ozma had made to reward Henry and his wife for their help in improving farming techniques throughout Munchkinland. As much as Henry seemed to jump at the opportunity to have his youth restored, it was Dorothy's Aunt Em who deemed the gesture far too extravagant to accept. Dorothy herself remembered that she, too, preferred to see her Aunt and Uncle unaltered when she learned of Ozma's intentions. It was not as if either of them would get any older, after all, since being affected by the land-wide fairy enchantment which prevented anyone in Oz from growing any older than the age they had preferred to remain at.
"Just between you and me, Dorothy…" The Scarecrow confided. "…I think Henry paid Ozma a secret visit afterwards. If you've ever suspected that your Aunt and Uncle look about five years younger than they were since moving to Oz…"
"Hmmm…I have noticed them both looking a little less…wrinkly these days." Dorothy observed, compelling them both to giggle as the taxi finally settled in front of the royal palace, which was the largest and the tallest building in the whole of the Emerald City.
The palace's head maid, Jellia Jamb, gestured for Dorothy and the Scarecrow to follow her to the lavish boudoir of the fairy princess of Oz. When they entered, they all saw Ozma waiting for them in front of the idle Magic Picture, which displayed the animated image of a tranquil meadow as Ozma rose, smiling, to greet the little munchkin.
"And how is munchkin life, my dear?" Ozma sweetly asked, kissing the smiling tutor on her forehead. "As I understand it, Tula's educational progress should be an indication that your penance is about to end. Are you looking forward to your restoration?"
Dorothy shrugged. "Well…there's a lot about munchkin life that I'm gonna miss…but it's not like I can't enjoy it after I've been restored, right?"
Ozma nodded. "Of course. So…to business. I would like you to look upon the Magic Picture with me. There's someone I need you to help me identify." The fairy princess then turned to the idle image surrounded by the pure radium frame.
"Magic Picture…" Ozma began. "…show me the prince of the mangaboos."
"Hopefully, he's still there." The Scarecrow then remarked, which made Dorothy even more curious as the tranquil meadow blurred out of recognition…
…and was replaced by the image of three figures who were in conversation. As the Magic Picture was capable of showing only images, and not sounds, they could only pay witness to the individuals. One of the two men was regal and quite attractive-looking in appearance despite the taciturn expression on his face. This man wore what looked to be a glistening star in the dark hair above his forehead.
The other two human figures were small in stature. While Dorothy did not recognize the girl in the soiled white dress who wore a matching bonnet on her head…
…she absolutely recognized the gray-haired old man next to her. The last time she saw this exceptionally well-dressed man, he had lost control of the hot air balloon he had offered to use to return Dorothy to Kansas. Up until this very moment, she thought she would never see him again.
But, lo and behold, this was the very same former ruler of the land. The very same man who rewarded a ph-D to the Scarecrow, a ticking heart to Nick Chopper, and a golden medal to the Once-Cowardly Lion before offering to take Dorothy home.
It was the very same Wizard of Oz.
Dorothy's eyes naturally widened in shock, and her mouth hung open in disbelief. She first turned her head to the Scarecrow, who nodded his head in confirmation. "It really is him, Dorothy! He's back!"
She then turned to Ozma in her elation. "How far is that place from here?"
"Oh, I'm afraid he's considerably far, my dear." Ozma replied. "He's in a community which is part of a larger country called Boboland. The Scarecrow and I were talking about past rulers of Oz when he indulged my curiosity about the man who ruled the land following my father's disappearance. We had to consult Glinda to find out his real name, which is…quite a mouthful."
"Oscar Zoroaster Phaedrig Issac Norman Henkel Emmanuel Ambroise Diggs." The Scarecrow then added. "Ozma spoke that very name…and we saw him save that young girl's life as he and his balloon fell through a crack in the earth."
"We don't know who the girl is, though." Ozma then noted as the attentions of all three went back to the picture.
The apparent prince of the mangaboos…the man with the star on his head…seemed to be in a bit of an altercation with the former ruler of the land of Oz. Whatever manner of convincing the old man was attempting, the prince didn't look very moved by it.
By the gestures of the girl in the bonnet, however, she seemed to make the old man look quite awe-inspiring, and this was enough to compel the prince to make some kind of consideration that ultimately led to a judgment.
As the trio in the boudoir watched, another individual suddenly appeared at the apparent bidding of the prince, and this bald, yellow-suited individual had a highly unusual abundance of rose-bush thorns sticking out all over his body. After quite a bit of conversation, the thorned man seemed to gesture around him as if casting a spell, and everyone else seemed to react to a sound they were hearing.
Dorothy wondered, to herself, if what she was seeing was similar to the silent movies her Aunt Em had mentioned in past conversations with her Uncle Henry as they continued to observe. It now seemed apparent that this was some kind of magic duel, as the Wizard was now performing his own sorcery, which the munchkin tutor had learned was nothing more than sleight-of-hand trickery since Oscar Diggs was in no way a real magic-user like Locasta or Glinda.
Nevertheless, the trickery the Wizard managed to display for these unusual people…using a hat he had borrowed…still managed to impress the prince. Oscar had apparently created a piglet out of thin air, and then produced eight more of them before the astonished onlookers. After a few words from the prince, the Wizard seemed to combine his nine tiny piglets into one, and then had this last piglet disappear into the hat.
Ozma angled her head to the Scarecrow as she continued to watch. "I thought you said he was a fraud."
The Scarecrow shrugged, smiling. "He's obviously a very good fraud." He looked back upon the image with a puzzled expression. "I wonder what kind of people these mangaboos are, though?"
"From what I remember of the mangaboos? I believe their people are grown from the soil." Ozma revealed.
Dorothy arched a brow. "So…they're like…vegetable people?"
Ozma couldn't help but giggle at this. "More or less, yes."
As the confrontation between the thorned man and the Wizard of Oz continued, the thorned man had apparently produced an enchantment that made it visibly difficult for Oscar to breathe, and worried expressions were now on the faces of Dorothy, Ozma, and the Scarecrow as Oscar's hands reached for his own throat.
They saw the girl he was with begin to react with her own visible sense of worry, while the prince looked disturbingly indifferent. The girl, however, appeared to notice that the prince was armed with a long, thin sword.
In his own effort to resist the thorned man's enchantment, Oscar had pulled a leather case from a pocket of his coat…but he could not even open it. He was still gasping for air, and in the next moment, he had dropped to his knees.
At the same time Oscar's knees hit the floor, the girl the Wizard had with him…who looked to be a year older than Dorothy…suddenly moved towards the distracted prince, pulled his sword, and pointed it quite threateningly at the thorned man. Unfazed by the sudden maneuver, the unusual magician seemed to increase his concentration, and Oscar's face twisted even more with the intense constriction at his throat.
To the complete surprise of the observing trio, the angry girl vaulted up in a perfect somersault and brought the blade right down on the thorned man's head. The blade continued its downward stroke as it cleaved the thorn-covered magician in two!
This surprising sight was then met with horrified gasps once the girl was back on the ground…but this also confirmed Ozma's reminder that the mangaboos were apparently a plant-based people, as the two halves that fell to the sides revealed a moist substance identical to that which existed beyond the outer surface of a common potato!
"Dear me!" The Scarecrow exclaimed in wide-eyed amazement.
"I have a feeling this is not going to end well." Ozma then observed thoughtfully.
"Isn't there anything we could do?" Dorothy worriedly asked the fairy princess.
With the Wizard freed from the enchantment that was slowly killing him, his first instinct was to shield the girl who had saved his life from harm as the others in the room…the prince included…advanced towards her angrily. Upon Oscar's next words, the prince raised a hand, and the others…who were sword-armed guards…withdrew and returned to their posts.
"They should be safe for the time being."
The female voice gave a brief fright to all three in the boudoir, and they turned to confirm that Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, had soundlessly appeared behind them. She suppressed a giggle upon seeing their startled expressions. "I apologize, your highness. I had actually come to inform you that Mr. Diggs had returned to the nonestic lands, but it appears you have already learned of this."
"How did he get here, though?" Dorothy asked.
"It would seem that the american region called California has been hit by a rare, but considerable seismic disturbance." Glinda replied. "You need not worry for the Wizard of Oz, however. As per the culture of the mangaboos, a wizard who defeats the prince's current wizard inherits the wizard's responsibilities."
"So…he's stuck with the mangaboos?" The Scarecrow frowned. "But…he was dying. I would think he would have lost that duel if it weren't for that girl."
"Yet, the prince would have been without a wizard." Glinda reasoned. "Mr. Diggs clearly displayed his talent for prestidigitation. Just as he did with the people of Oz when he first arrived in our lands."
"So now, he's…the Wizard of the mangaboos?" Dorothy deduced aloud. "Could they do that? He's not like them, after all."
Glinda then gestured to the magic picture, smiling. "See for yourself!"
Returning their attention to the magic picture, they indeed saw that the recovered Wizard had a more satisfied look on his face, and the girl who was with him also looked relieved as she returned the prince's sword to the star-headed monarch.
The red-robed sorceress then looked to Ozma. "Shall I maintain my vigilance over Oscar's situation, your majesty?"
"Yes, please." The fairy princess replied. "Should his current situation change in a manner that might endanger him, I would like to know about it."
"Very well, your highness." Glinda bowed reverently as she acknowledged the ruler of Oz.
"Who was the girl, Glinda?" Dorothy then asked.
The Good Witch of the South giggled a bit at this inquiry. "I should have expected that you would be curious about Oscar's impressively acrobatic companion. Her name is Betsy. She and Mr. Diggs have been good friends ever since Oscar…not long after his unexpected departure from Oz…joined the considerably popular traveling circus group Betsy had been allowed to remain with after she had escaped the horrible orphanage she had been placed in."
"An orphan." Dorothy lowered her head thoughtfully. "Just like…me."
Glinda nodded. "She was a native of Oklahoma before she stowed away on one of the vehicles used by Bailum and Barney's Great Consolidated Shows. Apparently, Betsy had developed a longing to join a circus ever since her parents…may they rest in peace…took her on the first of many trips to see their shows. She had been doing a lot of physical exercise since she established her resolve."
"That explains her acrobatics." The Scarecrow deduced.
Dorothy nodded in agreement. "I hope they'll both be alright with the mangaboos."
"If Glinda is confident that they'll be safe, that's all the convincing I need." Ozma remarked as Glinda formed a bubble around herself, waving a farewell to Dorothy as she floated out and away from the nearby balcony. The fairy princess then turned to the Scarecrow. "I wonder if you could represent me at the throne downstairs for the time being. Unless anything serious comes up."
The royal advisor bowed in his acknowledgement. "As you wish, your highness." He then turned and headed for the boudoir's entrance. Ozma gestured to a munchkin-sized stool, which Dorothy pulled up and sat upon.
Once the Scarecrow closed the door behind him, Ozma's benign expression softened further as she looked upon the munchkin tutor that had once been human. "So, my cute little munchkin girl…Tula is almost finished with her curriculum, eh?"
Dorothy nodded, smiling. "Almost time for you to change me back, too."
"Of course, and I will honor my end of the bargain. Don't worry." Ozma assured. "Although I should have Philomena test you. See how much you have learned during your tutoring years."
"She said she would do that once Tula's evaluation is completed." The munchkin tutor explained. "I'm sure she'll pass her exams, though."
Ozma then stepped over to Dorothy and placed her slender hands upon the munchkin girl's shoulders, smiling softly as her beautiful fairy eyes stared affectionately into Dorothy's. "Think you'll miss munchkin life?"
The munchkin tutor shrugged. "It's not like I won't be allowed to join them once I've been changed back. I just won't actually be one of them." Dorothy then lowered her head thoughtfully. "But…well, I will admit the life kinda grew on me. Their society kind of reminds me of Kansas life…except here, it's quite a bit more colorful, and I have a lot more friends closer to home."
"Oh, but you have friends all over the land of Oz, my little champion." Ozma softly caressed Dorothy's hair as she spoke. "It wouldn't surprise me if someone wanted to see you become a ruler, just like me. Princess Dorothy Gale. I like the sound of that."
"Well…I'm not really interested in becoming a Princess, your highness." Dorothy admitted. "Being who I am is all I've ever wanted to be, to be honest."
Ozma quirked an eyebrow. "A munchkin?"
Dorothy giggled. "No, no…a girl. You know…what I was born to be."
"Yes." Ozma nodded slowly, still gazing into the little munchkin's eyes. "And a very pretty human girl, at that. I'm hoping to see a lot more of you once I've seen to your restoration, Dorothy Gale."
The little munchkin tutor blushed deeply, and lowered her head bashfully.
"Have you given any thought to being a little more than just that, though?" Ozma then asked. "Perhaps Glinda can begin training you in the use of magic."
But Dorothy shook her head. "I have no interest in any of that, your highness."
"Are you sure?" Ozma now had a more worried look on her face. "With the word spreading all over Oz of your deeds, that might have individuals far worse than those witches wanting to confront you. Challenge you. What if Mombi somehow gets her magic powers back?"
Dorothy gave this a bit of thought as she contemplatively lowered her head. Particularly for the warning Mombi gave her when she last saw the de-powered gillikin witch.
With a resigned sigh, however, the munchkin tutor looked back up to Ozma. "I guess I'll have to rely on a kind heart, a strong brain, and an awful lot of courage to deal with them."
Ozma smiled at this, perceiving a double-meaning on the young girl's thinking with her answer. Perhaps she was not only referring to her own three values as a human, but also to her three friends, as well. Each of whom had earned considerable influence in the wake of Glinda sending Dorothy back home.
Glinda herself…the most powerful sorceress in the land of Oz…was also counted among those friends.
Dorothy's admirable and charming sense of humility also impressed the fairy princess. Ozma surmised that whichever fairy had made the decision to touch the Kansas girl when she was still in her infancy had made a very, very good choice.
"I shouldn't keep you any further, my erudite tutor." Ozma then remarked, breaking her long and thoughtful silence. She then fixed a more inquisitive expression on the little munchkin. "You do know what 'erudite' means, don't you?"
Dorothy nodded, smiling. "Having knowledge gained through study."
"Perfect! You defined it without using those glasses, too!" Ozma exclaimed as Dorothy slipped off of her stool. "Now I'm confident you'll pass Philomena's examination for sure. Now let's head downstairs. I think it's time I relieved the Scarecrow and got back to seeing if we have any visitors today."
As they walked out of the boudoir door and headed down the stairs towards the throne room, Dorothy couldn't help but ask the same question she had been repeating, in one form or another, to Ozma every time the two of them were together. "So how is…"
"How is the Scarecrow doing?" Ozma interjected with a sly smile on her face. "He's been doing just fine as my advisor, Dorothy…although Scraps has become a bit of a distraction for him ever since she was created."
Dorothy nodded slowly and thoughtfully. "They do look good together."
"Just as you and him did when you were a patchwork girl." Ozma reminded. "Is that why you've been asking? You're not jealous, are you?"
The little munchkin tutor blushed. "Well…maybe a little."
Once they were past the last step on the stairs, Ozma went to a knee and placed her hands on the pudgy tutor's shoulders again. "I don't think you have anything to worry about, my little munchkin. Although I know he's only made of straw, he certainly has a heart in his own way, and I think even Emperor Nicholas would agree that there's still a part of my royal advisor who won't soon forget how special you are to him, whether you're a cotton-stuffed patchwork girl or not."
Dorothy nodded, smiling as they advanced towards the throne room. "I always try to remember that, your majesty."
As Ozma approached the throne room seat, the Scarecrow rose out of it as Jellia Jamb stepped right over to Dorothy once she spotted the pudgy munchkin.
"Dorothy…" Jellia began, somewhat hesitantly. "…um, Boq is waiting for you outside."
The munchkin tutor sighed, but she had a smile on her face. "Probably wants to give me a lift back to Munchkinland. Again."
"Should I go out and tell him you already left?" Jellia asked, quirking an eyebrow.
Dorothy shook her head. "No…I don't mind. He's actually a very charming munchkin."
"Is that your way of saying you like him?" Jellia then asked. "I mean...you really like him?"
The munchkin tutor thought on this for a moment, and replied to Jellia with the one word which more or less summed up her conclusions.
She punctuated her answer with a coy shrug and a sweet smile. "Maybe."