Chapter 2

Anthony woke up first, and he was back to wearing his Oz clothes. A dark green short sleeved shirt with gold trim, and black pants. Natalee was wearing a dark green summer dress that stopped at her knees, and still had her blue handbag with the Ruby Slipper in it. He helped her get up and then he saw the Tinman in front of him. He was quite shiny, and almost looked chrome. He slung his axe over his shoulder, and then spoke.

"Hello, Anthony is it? How nice to meet you finally. I hear you had quite an adventure recently, killing the Wicked Witch for a second time. Dorothy the Lion and the Scarecrow and I were convinced the first time, but I guess it did look pretty theatrical. Well done." The Tinman said. Natalee was still brushiing the dust off of her dress and fixing her hair. Anthony brushed off his shirt and shook his head. A few rocks fell out of his thick hair and quickly rolled to the side. natalee noticed they were not on an inclined hill, but at the same time high in the mountains. Nontheless, a round thing shoulodn't have rolled that easily, yet they did. Anthony glanced over at Natalee and saw her confused look on her face, but thought she was disgrunted with the dirt, and continued the conversation with the Tinman.

"An honor to meet you too. This is my lovely lady Natalee, she is the one who did the killing actually. It was quite horrifying actually, I am glad it is all over. It seems however that we are involved in a whole new mess. What is the Nome King doing snooping around Oz? Wasn't he banished underground in Ev centuries ago?" Anthony asked him. Natalee felt warm air around her ankle and looked below her, there was a boulder that she could swear had a face on it, looking at her, Anthony, and the Tin man, spying.

"The answer to that will have to wait until you see Lady Glinda again, so come with me I'll take you to her wing in the Emerald City. Natalee, what is in that handbag if you don't mind my asking." The Tinman could tell Natalee was trying to hide her handbag, and he thought this was significant. Natalee looked at the same boulder again, and now it looked like a regular boulder, but she could swear therre was a face on it before…

"Natalee?" Tinman asked, she was not paying attention, but she did hear him.

"Oh, umm yes I do mind. I will not answer that until we have left these mountains, I don't trust it here." Natalee was wondering if that rock was really not a rock at all, but was still cautious. The Tinman decided it was time to get a move on. Anthony walked over to her and whispered discreetly,

"Is everything ok, am I missing something here, you seem pretty bothered, but not by something stupid I did. Is everything ok?" Anthony asked. He knew Natalee very well and could tell something was wrong.

"I'll tell you later, I need to tell Ozma and Glinda this too, very weird." natalee answered. The tinman was just whistling to him self, he was a very positive person, and was used to people whispering, especially with the past war three Earth years ago.

"Now if you're ready, we can either walk the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, or we can take the train, which do you prefer?" asked the Tinman. Since we landed in the mountians this time, the time it would take to walk to the Emerald City, would be ridiculous. Anthony thought it would be really cool to travel by the Oz Train. Natalee however, didn't care about it. Just as long as they arrive safely.

"Train!" Anthony excitedly said. He remembered how huge Oz really was, and didn't feel like hiking the whole way.

"How typical Anthony," Natalee laughed.

So we boarded the Royal Oz Express, and a beautiful train that looked like a Flying Scottsman painted of course green and gold, but with red cars, pulled up to the platform, billowing out thick dark smoke, and chugging loudly with it's mighty pistons of brute power.

"After you," The Tin man opened the cabin door to the car and helped Natalee board the train. The train blew it's cheery steam whistle, and the conductor called, "All aboard to the City of Emeralds!" Anthony followed. It was nice to be back in Oz, and not only that, but Oz was still somewhat peaceful. Aside from the fact that there was another villain personally hunting me and my girlfriend down, Oz was a nice place. The train ride was primarily silent. This visit to Oz was now much more familiar with Natalee because she has vivid memories of the sequel to that MGM movie. But with all the beauty and impressiveness around, Natalee and I could not help but worry about how much trouble Oz was getting inito. The Nome King was powerful, and jealous, and spiteful. He was furious beyond imagination that Ozma Tip had been not only rescued, but placed on what he believes should be a man's throne.. Not only that but, she was saved by two women, and one of his consorts failed him. Mombi. Which is why he never tried to start anything when the Wizard was in power. Natalee thought of that rock and was now convinced that it must be a Nome, and that if it can be that close to her, what else they could do.

"I'm really nervous. I don't like the Nomes, I don't feel safe! They're weird and creepy." She rested her head on the space between my neck and shoulder, and put her arm around me. I held her hand and kissed it. I could tell she was a little afraid, so I tried to assure her nothing would happen.

"Natalee, don't worry, we are on our way to go see Glinda, and you know more than anyone, I won't let anything hurt you. I love you sweety." The Tinman was trying to act like he wasn't listening which was funny to see, but then something grabbed his attention from outside the window. All of a sudden he immediately rushed to the window and closed the blinds.

"What's wrong, is something out there?" Anthony asked him.

"No it was just the glare from the sun…" I noticed however that it was an unusually cloudy day, and shot him a look that let him know I knew he wasn't truthful.

"Alright, yes there was something out there. It was the Nome King's mountain." Natalee grabbed me tightly and I held her hand. I could feel her fear in her hands, and held her in my arms for the rest of the journey. it was a long ride, but it was uneventful, and we actually fell asleep together. Then the train slowed, it's chugging becoming louder and the speed decreasing. The tinman woke us up and told us the Emerald City gates were very close. We looked out the window, and there it was. The green city of jewls glowing magically, topped with huge skyscrapers and horse drawn carriages.

"We're here! Follow me now." We followed the Tin man out of the train and into the Emerald city. Natalee's blue handbag once again clashed with her surroundings, emeralds abound. He slammed open two huge doors that we recognized would lead to the throne room, and we saw Glinda the Good and Ozma sitting and talking quietly about the coming situation.