The new Queen, Ozma continued to look to the skies watching the Beast Forever circle the castle. She was being tugged forward by two Cardinal Witches.
"My Queen, we must leave." The Witch of the West said trying to urge her to the open carriage.
"It hasn't been a day, and I'm already forced to abandon the throne... was all this for nothing?" Ozma said agitated.
West sighed placing a hand on the young Queen's back. "If we stay here and and die, it will be for nothing. We need a safe place to build up our forces."
She looked to her sister for support but, Glinda remained silent looking occasionally to the Beast.
Ozma listened to her advisor and entered the carriage with the witches, the horses were already moving before the carriage was shut properly. The other witches and soldiers who chose to follow the Crown followed remaining close behind them.
They just left Emerald City when the ground quaked telling everyone that the Beast Forever has finally landed.
XxX
Jack had been drifting in and out of consciousness. He looked around weakly still tastings blood in his mouth. From what he could see, he was riding in the back of a large but cheap wagon.
The axe he picked up in the workshop laid close by. Most of the objects in the wagon, Jack remembered seeing in the scientist's workshop, Looks like Jane went back for him after all.
They went over a bump and he saw something moved out of place in the corner of his eye: It was a woman's hand.
Queen Langwidere...She was covered by a white sheet, strapped down to keep her in place. Jane must of went through a lot of trouble to sneak her body out of Ev. He could only imagine the chaos that kingdom was going through having witnessed their queen's 'death.'
Jack felt himself, loses consciousness again, though... just how conscious can somebody who was already dead be?
XxX
This was all very familiar for Lucas...or was it Roan…? He had very little mobility, the most he could do was move his head to shake off crows from getting near his eyes.
The day was almost done now, he was certain nobody was going to be coming up the road anytime soon especially after what he saw in the sky... he knew it wasn't good.
He bowed his head, hoping he could get some rest. He was half asleep when he heard horses whining, pulling something around, he thought that his confused and tired mind was playing tricks on him.
The horses stopped, and he heard a woman's voice:
"Dear God... I'll get you down."
He opened his eyes at first it was badly blurry but, when his vision cleared he saw a woman with red hair and spectacles working to get him off the post.
Once he was down, the woman began to untie the ropes. "What's your name?"
Even if he knew that answer, he wouldn't be able to reply since he quickly passed out.
XxX
The man who was strapped to the scarecrow post woke up. He sat up in the couch fixing the blanket around him. He could tell it was dark out now.
"You must be hungry." The woman who rescued him said and handed him a bowl of vegetable soup. "My name's Jane," She pointed behind her to someone else sitting in a old sofa. "And this is Jack."
He squinted his eyes at the other younger man, he too was eating. His ears caught the sound of ticking and realized that it was the young man's 'heart,' it sounded a little off though and looked like it took some damage. Most of what he could see was mechanical, but he was missing his left metal arm and one of his legs.
"Hi Scarecrow." Jack said weakly.
"Scarecrow?" He didn't recognize his own voice.
Jane half laughed, "I'm sorry, we never got your name, and I jokingly called you 'Scarecrow.' and it stuck." She finished her meal. "What is your real name?"
He took a bite and looked out the window seeing one moon in front of the other, the two moons had become one. "Actually, 'Scarecrow' is very fitting."
It didn't seem like Scarecrow had much else to say. Jane stood up and walked over to Jack.
"I'm going to get the basement ready, I'll fix you up tomorrow morning." She said while placing a blanket around his shoulders.
When Jane left, the two men finished their soup in silence.
XxX
"This should do for now." The West Witch said.
They made it to a small village and were spending the night at a inn, a few miles outside of Emerald City. All the witches and guards knew they couldn't stay here long, they just needed rest and maybe pick up some new recruits to help in the unavoidable battle that was to come.
Glinda was distant, like usual and West took a sip of her tea.
"I can't believe you made the Queen make you tea." Glinda said leaning slightly to the left away from her sister.
"I didn't make her." West said pushing herself closer to Glinda. "Queen Ozma, said brewing keeps her calm. And it's regular tea, there is no harm done for any of us."
The North Witch gave her a look of distrust.
Up the stairs where the bedrooms were, was surrounded by armed men. Inside one of the rooms laid the new ruler of Oz, not as Ozma but as Tip…still looking unhappy.
XxX
It was the middle of the next day, Scarecrow paced back and forth outside the farmhouse, he needed the fresh air. He turned around hearing the door open and saw Jane with a glass of water.
"How's Jack?" Scarecrow asked taking the water.
"Already walking around." Jane said, "wanted to stay in the basement while his clothes get cleaned."
Scarecrow nodded his head and turned away Chugging the water.
Jane walked a little to the side to get a glance at his face. "I hope you don't mind me asking but, who tied you to that post?"
He immediately stopped drinking, some water dripping down his chin. He took a breath before saying one name softly, "Dorothy…"
"Dorothy…? My Dorothy?"
Scarecrow gave the woman a confused look. "You know her? The one who came from the sky?
"She's my daughter." Jane said and Scarecrow nearly dropped the glass.
He chuckled with no real sense of humor, "You two look nothing alike."
Jane did manage to laugh, "I know, she takes after her father…Why would she do that to you?"
Feeling unworthy, Scarecrow lowered his eyes to the dirt. "I asked her to-no- I begged her to stop me."
"Stop you from doing what?"
Scarecrow had a single tear run down his face, "From killing her."
Jane and the Scarecrow had a lot to talk about.
XxX
The axe swung down on a invisible enemy and Jack threw a punch with his new metal hand for good measure.
It seemed like the young man was preparing for war. He kept twirling as if dodging attacks. Jack was already use to his newly replaced limbs, they looked similar to his old ones that were hacked off on the battlefield against the Wizard's Guard. Some of the still human parts of him were wrapped up in bandages.
Jack grew tired quickly though, he needed rest too to make a full recovery. He looked to the table against the wall with a white sheet... he dropped the axe and picked up a stool and put it down at the table taking a seat.
With both flesh and metal hands shaking, Jack reach under the sheet and pulled out a familiar hand. He cradled and pressed it to his face and he broke down in tears.
He didn't know why he was crying; was it for her? Or was it for himself? Jack felt so alone right now, he desperately needed someone to talk to, someone who would understand. He needed Langwidere. He realized he was crying for both of them.
"Oh Jack." It was Jane's voice.
She had walked in quietly and placed his clean clothes on a chair. Jane stood behind him placing her hands on his shoulders.
"You said that you can repair her?" Jack sounded both sad and desperate.
"I can," Jane said, "it may take a little time but, like I tried telling you the other day, you don't have to lose her…"
Jack calmed down, still holding Queen Langwidere's hand. He turned his head to look at Jane who had walked to stand on his right side. He had a look of determination.
"Teach me." Jack said. "Show me how to fix her... Show me how she works."
XxX
Eamonn had moved off the main road, that thing in the sky made him think that the poppies were getting to him...or maybe the Beast Forever truly was upon them?
He had made a small fire and was just finishing up a small meal. He already missed his wife and daughter's cooking... he missed his family.
At first he was horrified by the Queen's punishment but, as he walked away from Emerald City he realized that while it was cruel, it was also Just. It was what the coward deserved.
Having lost everything, Eamonn stared blankly into the fire.
XxX
The people who remained in Emerald City kept themselves locked up in their homes.
The ground shook and some of the people looked out their windows.
"Come out!" A inhuman voice yelled and carried out into the city. "Come a meet your new King!"
The people walked toward the palace where they bowed to a Queen not too long ago.
On the top of the stairs stood the Beast Forever, shrunken down to a more human size with olive colored skin. His wings were still extended as he looked out to the growing crowd with dark eyes and a oddly shaped head with tall pointed ears.
He raised his hands to the sky with sharp nails, "I am here to cleanse these lands!" He addressed the crowd, his mouth looking like it was filled with fangs.
"Are you here to kill us?" A woman asked.
The Beast turned to the woman and she took a step back in fear. "I am here to Rule." He said, "cleaning you of corruption!"
The people began to whisper amongst themselves.
"I am going to warn you: If you get in my way, if you in any way go against my Will... You will be punished."
The Beast Forever grinned. "Allow me to introduce to you, enforcers of my law!" He used his nails to cut into his left palm drawing blood. He whispered some words in another language.A red light came from his hand and he let it go.
The light turned into a flesh and blood heart. As it pumped, veins spread out and muscles formed around it. Soon enough, a creature similar to the Beast Forever stood in front of the gasping crowd, only difference was the red eyes and grey skin.
The new creature did the same ritual creating more like him.
The Beast Forever took a few steps forward to the citizens. "Bow." He commanded.
Every single person went to their knees, most out of fear but a few others out of sick admiration.
The Beast Forever gazed at the crowd and frowned slightly. "Something's... missing." He said to himself in a more human voice.
XxX
Scarecrow was picking up some corn in the field. He expected to be thrown out by Jane when he finished his story... but that didn't happen. She just went into a deep thought as if figuring out her next actions.
A loud bark behind him caused him to spin around and he hissed in pain putting a hand to his bandaged side.
"Toto?"
The long lost dog barked again and when Scarecrow stepped closer to it, the animal growled at him still feeling weary of the man.
"Okay," Scarecrow said taking a step back, "I understand."
Toto walked over to the farmhouse and laid down on the porch. Scarecrow noticed that Jane was watching from the window.
XxX
It has been almost two weeks, the small group on the farmhouse kept to themselves, listings to pass Byers gossip of a new queen hiding out in a nearby village and the Beast Forever taken full control of Emerald City.
Scarecrow was in the main room with Toto by the fireplace. Jane and Jack were down at the basement once again, he didn't know what they were doing down there and he never asked. He figured it was none of his business.
Toto sat next to Scarecrow panting, he reached down and scratched the dog's ears. At least Toto tolerated him now.
XxX
Down in the basement, Jack was looking over some old notes that Jane had taken years ago when she was building Langwidere.
Jane had the Queen's body opened up and he could study exactly how she worked. On the inside, Langwidere had a skeleton made of slim shinning silver and at her joints yellow gold gears. She had a 'heart' that wasn't much different than his own, only real difference was it's smaller size so it could fit inside her body.
She also had some human organs... this apparently was what Jane could save from the original princess. The Scientist said that she kept the organs from decaying with magic.
Jane had to detach her head. Said that it took too much damage inside but, luckly the real brain and 'chip' that was attach to it was okay…Jane was working on a new head right now fixing the eyes and teeth in place.
In a strange way, Jack thought that the mechanics were a beautiful work of art. Jane put a lot of time and effort into this creation.
"So should I ask her if I can borrow some of her masks?" Jack asked. He meant for it to be a joke but, his tone said other wise…
"Jack…" Jane put her tools down and sat down next to him. "You are still alive. You can still live a mostly normal life, you can have a family and grow old."
"But she can't?" He looked down at the Queen's exposed insides.
"No." Jane said. "The Princess Langwidere sadly lost her life in the flood. I found a lot of water in her lungs suggestion she drowned-"
"And these are the same lungs…"
"Yes I had to pump the water out...I wanted this new Langwidere to breath...to blend in and be humanlike…"
"What exactly is she then, if she's not human?" Jack asked.
"Where I'm from they are called androids... Just robotic machines." Jane adjusted her glasses. "Though, this android surprised me," she traced her fingers along the ribcage. "When I first saw her walking around it startled me, she was so lifelike and with androids from my world you can tell the difference between human and machine…"
Jack was growing more curious and couldn't stop himself from asking questions. "Anything else that stood out?"
"She's self aware and has feelings...I remember when the King first described her displaying emotions, I was very skeptical. But as time went on, I realized that he was right. She's a little unstable with them but, she does have feelings and emotions."
Unstable was the right word. Jack remembered how quickly she went from sadness to anger to seductive teasing back to sadness and-was that last one loving…? He wondered if there was a way to help her find stability.
"The King loved his daughter, he didn't care what she was on the inside." Jane said, "and she loved him back."
"Didn't you say that she was just loving me the best way that she could?"
Jane smiled at him, "Shouldn't we all be loving each other the best way we can?"
She patted his arm before going back to work and Jack went back to studying thinking of her words.
XxX
The Beast Forever's grey creatures were observing the Land of Oz from the sky.
One over Gillikin Country stopped and found what the Beast Forever was looking for. He turned around and started his flight back to Emerald City.
XxX
Scarecrow and Jane were both relaxing in the farmhouse. Jack had gone off to chop up some firewood with his axe.
Jane was almost napping sitting up in the wooden chair. She had been working almost none stop.
The peace ended when the door was ripped off and in came two menacing grey creatures. Scarecrow had nothing to defend them and Toto began barking.
Toto instantly stopped and whined when a third creature came in; this one was olive skinned and it's dark eyes immediately fell on the woman.
"I finally found you... Jane." It said taking a step in her direction and gripping her arms.
"How did you-?" Jane couldn't finish her obvious question. The creature yanked her to himself and glared at the two other grey creatures.
"Take them with us." He ordered and the creatures took the angry man and scared dog.
When they were outside another voice caught their attention:
"Stop!" It was Jack who had come running back to the farmhouse when he realized something was wrong.
The Beast pointed to the sky and rain began to pore down on Jack unnaturally, and it appeared to only be aimed at him.
They all flew away with Jack yelling at them to return.
XxX
They were in the palace of Emerald City. Scarecrow, Jane and Toto were alone with the Beast Forever.
"Something is still missing…" The Beast said.
Jane was looking at her feet, "Dorothy…" she whispered.
"Dorothy?" The Beast Forever's interest was provoked.
Scarecrow looked horrified "No…!" He was silenced when Jane held out her hand.
"Can I speak with him alone? Please?" She asked.
The Beast's dark eyes looked at the scientist for a few seconds. "You may." And he walked out the door.
Jane looked at Scarecrow sadly. "All I wanted to do was to keep Dorothy safe…"
"She's safe at home." Scarecrow said.
"Oz is her home, I gave birth to her here." Jane said. "You have to bring her back."
"And how would I convince her, 'While you were gone, I met your mother and a Tin Man, and-'"
"You said she has the East Witch's Ruby Gauntlets, part of her power."
"Yes." Scarecrow said softly.
"I want to keep her safe, but Oz needs to be saved too... She maybe the only person who can do that." Tears began to swell in Jane's eyes. "Dorothy needs to come back to Oz."
A/N: Read + Review + Follow + Fav if you like!