Rainbow Broken: Emerald Dust
This story is dedicated in loving memory of my mom
Barbara F Smith 8/30/1938-2/6/2014
Love you mom
I do not own anything from the Wizard of Oz movies or the books.
Lots of changes to the original story and the characters. I am making Ozma more adult than she was in the Baum books. Of course, this is the sequel to War for Oz. I am thinking this one will have a more Game of Thrones feel to it than a Lord of the Rings one from the first story. No crossovers of characters this time though.
Chapter 1
Dorothy Gale the wife of the former Scarecrow King Fiyero lay on the cot in the jail cell. Three months. It had been three months since she was taken to this place below the Emerald Castle. She had stopped crying into the night long ago. She was now restless, and every day could only think of one thing….and that was revenge. Revenge on those who had hurt her, her friends, and her husband. Those who had betrayed their trust for their own personal gain.
She had tried to escape on numerous occasions. Yet, the walls of the dungeon were thick, gray, smooth, and now some stained with the blood from her hands as she had tried to make holes big enough to slip through. There were no tunnels down here. She knew this castle like the back of her hand. She had only one window of sunlight, and that was too high for her too climb. She knew, because she had tried, and had fallen.
She had wished for death several times, but her thirst for revenge was overpowering the need to feel the sweet release death would bring.
She cursed the tears that threatened to flow from her eyes once more as she thought of her beloved husband Scarecrow. She had never stopped calling him that even though he had become human again thanks to her.
He was taken. Taken from her, and now held prisoner because of an old rivalry from when he had been King.
At this point, he could have been dead for all she knew. He had finally gotten his one wish. The wish to live his life in peace after the Great War for Oz. Now, he had to fight for his life again.
Dorothy had vowed to find him, and she would. Though there was days that she knew it was hopeless. She was now alone here. She had no idea what happened to her friends; Tin Man, Lion, Oscar, and Glinda. The incident had happened so fast that before Dorothy knew it she was being sent to the jail, and had no contact with them since.
Dorothy sat up and wiped away the tears that escaped her eyes. She looked over at the iron door, and wanted to run to it with all of her might hoping she would be able to break through it.
She looked down over her clothes. She was now in a simple shirt and pants. Her feet were bare. She was treated fairly by the guards. All of them knew her, and some even took pity on her. Hell, some had even been her friends, but they were not now, as they feared the wrath of the queen.
She was still well fed, and cleaned. Yet, her muscles ached all the time now from lack of real movement, and there were times she would not eat. Her auburn hair now hung long down past her shoulders. She hadn't looked into a mirror in months, and she dreaded the moment she did. She knew she was now pale and gaunt from the lack of sunlight in the cell. She tried to do exercises as best she could with what little she had, but there were times she could not do it. The guards who had taken pity on the Savior of Oz would sometimes leave her books when they could.
She would start one then throw it down in despair. Lorna had tried several times to get to Dorothy, but was threatened with jail herself when had gotten to see her the one time.
Things in Oz had changed so much ever since Ozma became queen. Scarecrow knew of it all, but never acted on it. He had said he could have challenged her on the throne, but did not as the ancient scrolls had prophesied her taking the throne of Oz. It had been subtle changes at first that everyone had expected, but there were things that Scarecrow had become worried over. Yet, he had not questioned the queen anymore, and him and Dorothy had retired to their farm in Munckin Land.
Now, there was this. This had been a blow to all of them. Scarecrow had made a lot of enemies in his time as king. It was not just the time of Drigka either. He had always wondered if one of them would try to take Oz again, but he never expected the queen's betrayal over his time as king.
Dorothy put her head in her hands and wept quietly. She would not any of them see her cry anymore. She was done with it. She looked up and looked around once more. She would again try to request to speak to the queen.
The noise of the keys into the door made Dorothy jump out of her thoughts. Her body tensed. She did not know who was coming, and she knew it was too soon for supper.
Her breathing quickened. She had made a plan to escape, but was not ready to act on it yet. Her hands began to shake.
But, she knew it was now or never. Her hands shook as she grabbed her weapon and asked God for forgiveness at what she was about to do.
The door slowly opened, and she fingered the pointy end of the wooden stake she had made from the leg of the bed.
She was desperate, but if she died today at least she knew she would die fighting for her freedom.
She stood as the door opened, and a guard entered silently. She held the stake behind her back.
She would wait for the right moment.
The guard said nothing, and then another entered and stood on the other side of the door. She began to wonder if it was Ozma finally honoring her request.
She kept her body tense. She would still try to escape no matter what.
She heard whispering outside of the door, and knew it was now or never. She began to walk to the guard to her right. He gave her a questioning look, and her eyes were intense on his. She silently asked him for forgiveness in the afterlife.
She began to bring the stake out from her back.
But, the plan she had never happened. She looked to her left, and there stood a regal figure in a purple robe. His silver hair perfectly combed, and beard perfectly trimmed. His blue eyes flashed at the sight of Dorothy Gale.
The shock of who was now standing before her was too much for Dorothy. She dropped the stake, and began to shake in uncontrollable fear.
It was over. If she had any doubts about her death, then she didn't anymore. The man who stood in front of her would mostly surely want her dead. After all, why wouldn't he want revenge as well as anyone else?
Dorothy sank at his feet in a crumbled mess. He looked down at her silently for a moment, and shook his head. Dorothy began to weep quietly again, and mumbling no.
"Dorothy." He said quietly.
Dorothy didn't look up. She could not look at him again knowing what was going to happen.
"Dorothy. Look at me." He ordered again.
Dorothy took another deep breath and looked up at King Oran of the Mifkits. She could have sworn for a just a moment Myra stood behind him.
The king's and Dorothy's eyes met once more. Then the King pushed back his purple cape, and put his hand out to her.
"Come with me if you want to live," he said.