Note:

I know some of you prefer Shinichi instead of Shinara, but Shinara is what I am comfortable with. It allows me to put Shinichi in a feminine mindset. If you want to call her Shinichi, that's perfectly okay :) It's just not what I prefer.

Anyways, here is the second chapter, Enjoy!

Road to Oz Part 2

Shinara snatched Conan up into her arms as swarms of little people began running towards them, spears in their hands and grim expressions on their faces. They screamed at the two, but Shinara couldn't understand their words.

"We aren't from here!" she yelled back, "I can't understand!"

They continued to scream words at them and Shinara backed up several steps, but froze, when her back hit something or in this case, someone, who was definitely not the house. Turning slowly, she stared in surprise at the glowing white figure of a girl her own age.

"Who…who are you?"

The figure didn't reply, but instead cocked her head in a curious manner.

"Right sorry, I forgot you can't understand me," Shinara sighed as she glanced around at the spears surrounding her. Was it safe to be talking to them so easily?

Suddenly, a voice surprised her.

"Who… are you," the voice whispered.

Shinara snapped her head up to look at the white figure who seemed to be testing the words out.

"Who are you," she said again and smiled, "the language you have is an interesting one. It took me a moment to adjust. Excuse our rudeness, I am Aoko, the white witch."

"Witch…" Shinara whispered in confusion, "You don't look much like a witch to me. At least… I mean… I always thought witches were ugly, but you are so… beautiful."

Aoko smiled and nodded.

"I am very beautiful, but that is not the point. You are in danger my dear."

Shinara glanced at the spears still pointed at her and her brother.

"Yes, I would agree."

The witch laughed, shaking her head.

"Oh no, not these," she smiled before turning to the little people holding the weapons on them, "This girl and her brother have saved us from the wicked monstrosity of the east. She is a hero!"

The little people lowered their weapons, whispering amongst one another before several suddenly turned to stare at her, their eyes widen in awe.

Shinara slowly lowered Conan down.

"Uh, hi?" she waved nervously.

Immediately, they were upon them, grabbing their hands and clothing in interest as the good witch Aoko looked on with amusement.

"They have never seen people like yourselves before, please forgive their rudeness. This is just how the munchkins are."

"Err…no its fine. Just…big turnaround from their previous behavior."

Aoko nodded and waved her hand. The munchkins backed up, giving them space.

"Walk with me, woman from the storm."

Aoko started forward and Shinara, Conan's hand clutched in her own, started quickly after her.

"So uh, my name is Shinara and this is Conan."

Aoko smiled at them, testing their names on her tongue.

"Shinara and Conan. Yes… I like it."

"So, what did you mean when you said we killed the monstrosity?" Shinara asked, glancing at Conan who also looked curious.

Aoko froze, her eyes wide.

"You did not notice?"

"Notice what?" Shinara exclaimed with exasperation. She wanted straight answers.

"That!" Aoko yelled, pointing at where the house sat.

Shinara leaned forward, her eyes narrowed in concentration. She stared long and hard but still couldn't see what it was they were talking about.

"I don't see anything."

Aoko stared at the house and then Shinara and Conan.

"You truly cannot see it?"

"No, nothing."

Aoko's mouth set in a straight firm line, deep in thought.

"I wonder…" she whispered before smiling, "I have an idea."

Walking over to the house, she knelt and picked something up from the ground, though Shinara could not see what it was. Then Aoko walked back over to them.

"Close your eyes, both of you."

Shinara and Conan shared an uneasy glance before deciding they had little choice but to comply.

"Abra-Cadabra!" Aoko yelled and touched their foreheads with her "magic" wand.

Opening their eyes, they stared in awe at the village around them. What had once been little people appearing from a colorfuly lit up town had turned into… a colorfully lit up town with little people!

"Nothing happened," Shinara deadpanned.

Conan also gave a curious look towards the witch who rolled her eyes.

"Not here silly! There," she said pointing again towards the house.

Shinara and Conan both stared and continued to stare, at the sight that met them.

"We…" started Conan.

"Landed on that?" finished Shinara.

"That's right," nodded Aoko, "You saved this village. That beast was going to attack us and you killed him! All hail, the wicked beast of the east is dead!"

The munchkins around them began chanting this as they praised the two for their heroic deed. Shinara and Conan on the other hand, were more than a little confused.

"What… is it?" she whispered to Aoko.

Aoko chuckled.

"It's the monstrosity!"

Shinara sighed. "Right, silly me."

"Let us celebrate!" Aoko yelled and the village began to dance and cheer.

Conan knelt closer to the beast beneath their house.

"It looks… like a giant gorilla…just…I don't know… bigger and scarier?"

"With the teeth of a sabretooth tiger and wings of a dragon," agreed Shinara, "Strange creature."

The two were about to join Aoko where she stood waiting for them to finish their inspection, when a scream split the air and silenced the cheering munchkins. With wide fearful eyes, they hurried back to the safety of their homes.

"Who dares to kill my servant!" a sharp and vicious voice screamed.

"Who is that?" Shinara whispered.

Aoko growled. "Akako, the wicked red witch of the west."

Shinara blinked.

"Just how many of you are there?"

Aoko stared at her for a moment before shrugging.

"I don't know. I'm north, Akako's west, the beast you destroyed is from the east, and the wizard is from the south."

"Wizard?" Shinara asked curiously, but before Aoko could answer, Akako appeared with a puff of red smoke.

"I will ask again Aoko, who killed my servant?! Was it you?! Was it your pet people?! WHO WAS IT!"

"Do be silent, you are giving me a headache," Aoko snapped, "it wasn't me or my people. It was a witch much mightier than you or I."

"A witch?!" Akako asked stunned, "more powerful than you and I is impossible. Who is this witch and where is she?!"

"Why, she is here. Can you not see her?"

Akako snapped her gaze to Shinara who shuddered a bit under her icy stare.

"This girl… is the witch?"

Akako cackled and shook her head.

"You must be joking, Aoko. I sense no magic coming from her."

"Oh but it is true, Akako. She killed the beast of the east. See, she wears his trophy."

Akako turned her gaze back to Shinara and Conan with a mix of curiosity, fear, and anger. Just who were these two?

"Trophy?" Shinara asked, looking down.

She stared in surprise when she noticed on her wrist a bracelet made of red thread with a tooth hanging loosely from it. Turning to Conan, she noticed he too had one upon his wrist.

"What are these?" Shinara asked Aoko who merely smiled at her as Akako scowled.

"You really did kill the beast. Give me back those teeth! You know not the power they hold and they are rightfully mine!"

Shinara held her wrist to her chest, cradling it when Akako attempted to reach for it. Aoko however stepped in front of her.

"She is under my protection here and the protection of the fang. Your attempts at harming her will do you no good."

Akako scowled, glancing from Aoko to Shinara to Conan and back again.

"You may be safe for now my pretty, but I will get you and your little brother too!"

With those words, the red witch vanished with another puff of red smoke.

Shinara turned to Aoko, full of questions and Aoko noticed, raising a hand to silence her.

"I know you have questions, but time is of the essence. My power will protect you while you are in my land, but not outside and I am afraid, the only person who can send you home, should that be where you decide to return, is someone much more powerful than I."

Shinara frowned.

"More powerful?"

"Yes. Only the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz can give you the answers you seek. He lives in Emerald City."

"Is that very far?" Shinara asked, glancing in concern at Conan who still seemed a bit shaken up from the threat against them.

"Not too far. The way to get there is very simple. Follow the yellow brick road."

"Yellow brick road?"

"Yes, look down."

Shinara dropped her eyes and stared in surprise at the road that sparkled a shimmering gold beneath their feet.

"Is this…real?"

"It is. You are in the world of Oz and this is my land. The yellow brick road, as it is called by the commoners, or the glory road as called by the adventures. The wheat road as called by the farmers, and the golden road as called by the nobles. Whatever name you wish to go by, this path alone will lead you through all of Oz to the places you seek it to take you."

"Am I… to go alone?"

Aoko smiled sympathetically.

"I am afraid so Shinara. I cannot join you. I have responsibilities here, but I shall be watching and should you need me, I will step in where I can."

"Thank you Aoko."

The white witch nodded.

"Now child, be off with you. Your journey awaits."

Road to Oz

Shinara sighed as she and Conan walked down the golden road (She decided that name was the easiest).

"I never did get to ask her about these teeth," Shinara said as she flicked the dangling tooth around her wrist.

Conan nodded, examining his own.

"Are they really teeth from that beast thing?"

"Seems so."

Conan shrugged as he looked around the area. They were surrounded by hay fields as far as the eye could see.

"Where exactly are we?" Conan asked, curious.

"No idea. I was just following the road."

As the two continued on, they began to hear a strange sound in the distance.

"Is that… a cry for help?"

The two shared a glance before taking off at a dead run, hurrying towards the person in need.

"Oh help me, please help me!" screamed a voice.

Shinara and Conan slowed to a stop as they looked around the area, confused as to where the voice had come.

"Hello?!" Shinara yelled, "Where are you?!"

"I'm here, I'm here, can't you see me?!"

Shinara and Conan blinked in disbelief at the sight they found before them. In the middle of the hay field in the middle of two dividing roads, was a …

"Scarecrow?" Shinara stated in astonishment, "Were you… the one who spoke?"

"Yes please! Help me!"

The two quickly scrambled over the fence towards the tied up…err… thing.

"What is wrong?" asked Conan.

"These pesky crows, they are trying to eat me!"

Shinara glanced at the birds circling above.

"What can we do to help you?"

"Please cut me down. The kids tied me here to amuse themselves, but when they left to go home, they never again returned to free me!"

Shinara hummed.

"Alright, well… hang on a moment."

The teenage girl walked around back and noticed the binding ropes. With a frown, she began working at the knots.

"So uh, who are you?" she asked to make conversation while she worked.

"Me? My name is Ran. They tell me I ran left and right and never could make up my mind for anything" the scarecrow…girl? Laughed. "Then again, I don't have a brain, so…"

"You don't have a brain?!" both siblings yelled.

"No I don't," Ran blinked, "I was created by a farmer, but the man and his wife thought me to low a creature to be their child, so they threw me out. Apparently it was because I was too stupid. They never gave me a brain with which to think!"

"That's horrible!" hollered Shinara with outrage, "they threw out their own child?!"

The scarecrow, Ran, nodded. "Yes, they… OH!"

The scarecrow dropped to her feet with delight as the bindings fell free.

"I am so happy to be free again! Thank you my friends!" she hollered with a smile. The two nodded as they got their first real look at their new associate. The scarecrow was definitely a girl. She had long black hair that flowed beneath a straw hat. Her eyes were a deep brown and she had a stitched nose and mouth that opened and looked, nearly like any other mouth but without the lips. Her clothes were that of a farmer, what with a red and white checkered shirt and blue overalls. Straw hung out at random places, but for the most part, she looked human. A scary human no doubt, but nonetheless, human enough that it made no sense why someone who had created such a happy being would throw her away. Then again, their own parents had done the same, hadn't they?

"Well I am glad you are free now," started Shinara, "Good luck in life."

The two siblings started to turn away when a hand, a strangely rough human hand, caught her arm.

"Please…" the straw girl whispered, "I…"

Shinara noticed her hesitation.

"Yes?" she encouraged.

"I don't have a home or anywhere to go. Can I… Can I come with you?"

Shinara frowned and chewed her lip.

"I don't know…"

Ran released her grip, nodding.

"I understand, sorry I bothered you."

"No wait!" Shinara yelled, grabbing the girls arm, "that's not what I mean at all. You don't bother us, its just… we have the red witch after us and are going to the Emerald city to see about a way back home. You could be in danger if you travel with us."

Ran beamed a million watt smile.

"A wizard?! Cool! Do you think… do you think he can give me a brain?"

"I don't know, maybe?" nodded Shinara, "but are you sure you want to come?"

"Oh yes please, I won't be a bother and… I'm not scared of the red witch. Please may I join you?!"

Shinara smiled at the girl's eager face.

"Alright then, nice to have you along, Ran."

Ran eagerly agreed.

"Thanks for having me!"

"So, we off to the wizard again?" Conan asked his sister.

"Oh yes, please!" nodded Ran emphatically.

Shinara smiled.

"Yeah, we are off to see the wizard!"

The three stated down the golden road, chatting lively along the way and all completely unaware of the eyes watching them from within her crystal ball.

"You will be mine soon pretty girl," Akako smirked, "very, very soon."

AUTHORS NOTE:

How did you like the new chapter? Let me know in a review!

See you next chapter!