The Pearl
Of Oz
Chapter 4
A New Land
Thank you everyone for all the wonderful reviews for this story! Really, its all made my day! I'm so sorry for how long this took to update, but lack of time and just drive to update has caused this story to be forgotten. I'll try and update this a lot more from now on. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and more will be coming soon.
Special shoutouts to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, and who have read it! Thank you all so much! God Bless!
Screams echoed around the blonde, mingling as one with the darkness, folding, spinning and swirling in a rich tapestry of shadow and light. The air was thick as it screamed past her, slicing across her fragile skin like claws of ice and lightning, raking across her body. A twirl of silver crystal entwined around her, shimmering like twilight, rippling through her, and making her shiver.
"Elphie" whispered the blonde. A great scream and the darkness shatters.
Fragments of darkness and silver ice fly towards her, the razor sharp edges glinting by the light of blackened coal fire, flickering around her. Screaming, she covered her face, awaiting the pain that was sure to come.
Silence fell over her, like a veil of mist. Slowly, she lowered her arms and gasped, for the jagged edge of broken glass, hovered a mere inch away from impaling through her skull, killing her instantly.
Slowly, she forced her body to relax as she took in a sharp intake of breath. Blinking, her finger rose and gently pressed against the tip. Wincing, she drew her finger back.
"What…in Oz name?" whispered the blonde.
"GALINDA!" a faint scream, of that of a child echoed in the distance.
"E…Elphie?"
"YOU BETRAYED ME!"
Suddenly, the air roared past her, and the blonde found herself hurled once more through this tangled morbid tunnel of darkness and chaos. A scream, bubbled deep within her throat as a large ebony wall of stone crystal, slowly faded into view.
"No!" screamed Galinda. Flailing her arms, she slammed her eyes shut, as she tried to call upon her magick to stop her descent, before she crashed into the mirrored wall.
"I HATE YOU!"
"No please don't!" cried Galinda. A dark cerulean glow encompassed around her body, vibrating and rippling in time to her rapid heartbeat, pounding like a drum within her ears.
The wind howled in her ears, piercing her ear drums. Crystal tears bubbled along the fine edge of her eyes, tangling in her long lashes before being swept up by the wind.
'Please Lurline…let the Light triumph over the Darkness…save those who have fallen…lost in the abyss of Chaos…save the Forsaken' prayed the blonde.
Closing her eyes, she slowly spread her arms, and her fingers furled, tangling in the wispy tendrils of ice and steel. Steeling her nerves, she prepared for the impending impact that would surly end her miserable existence.
A flash of light and Galinda disappears just as she slams into the crystal mirror, shattering it into thousands of fragments, hurtling and twisting into the unknown.
A cry of pain and Galinda's body slams hard onto the ground. Rolling to a stop, she waits, listening to nothing but silence.
Slowly, the faint sound of birds chirping off into the distance fills her ears. Trembling she tucks her head beneath her arms, as she awaits Death to find her, stealing away her wretched soul, carrying it off into the Underworld, where only hell and agony awaited her.
"Glin?" came a soft voice.
"Please…please don't hurt me" whimpered the blonde weakly.
The sound of something hard, thudded beside her. Shivering, she tucked herself tight into a ball.
"Glin…it's alright"
"No it's not…I failed…I failed her and now my immortal soul shall pay the price" cried the blonde in pain.
Feeling someone kneel before her, she shivered, as warm hands, gently caressed the top of her head.
"Please make it fast" she pleaded.
A heavy sigh and the hands gently move, gently caressing the side of her head. A pull and her head is lifted off the ground. Squeaking in fright, she slams her eyes closed, refusing to see the Angel of Death, kneeling before her.
"Glin…open your eyes"
"No" whimpered the blonde.
"Why in Oz not?"
"I don't wish to look upon the Angel of Death" she whimpered.
"Galinda Arduenna Upland! You open your eyes this instant!" growled the voice.
Squeaking, the blonde obeyed. Blinking her eyes open, she stiffened, as her eyes struggled to focus on the face, the person kneeling beside her.
"F…Fiyero?" she whispered. Her vision clears, and the visage of the Vinkun Prince, slowly fades into focus. "Fiyero!" cries the blonde.
Fiyero stiffens as the blonde launches herself into his arms.
"It's great to see you to" chuckles Fiyero nervously.
"Fiyero!" cries Galinda. Pulling away, her eyes soften, confused, she frowns back at the Vinkun Prince. "But…how?" she asked.
Fiyero, the Vinkun Prince kneels high on his hunches, his tattered Captain of the Guards uniform clinging to his muscular physique. The straw and burlap which once made up his skin is replaced once more by flesh and bone.
"I…I don't know…" whispers Fiyero.
"But…you were a Scarecrow…how in Oz-"stiffening, the blonde jerks away from Fiyero. Falling on her side, her eyes dart wildly around her.
The world was different, the wind smelled different, the air was to still. The land seemed plain and ordinary; the magickal glow of life, of power seemed vacant.
"Where…where in Oz are we?" asked Galinda at last.
"Not in Oz" replies Fiyero gently.
"If not in Oz…then where?" whipping around, her dark eyes once more gazed back at Fiyero.
"I'm not sure"
"Hello there" came a voice. Instantly Galinda and Fiyero stiffened.
Jumping, Fiyero gently gathered the blonde in his arms as he spun to his full height. Straightening, he gently pushed the shivering blonde behind him.
"Say…your not from around here are ya?" asked a man sitting a few feet away. He was short and stalky, his hair was the color of fine powder, hidden beneath an old, dusty black top hat. His clothes were queer, the design and cut, one which neither the Vinkun Prince, nor the Gillikinese Princess had seen before.
"Who…who are you?" asked Fiyero. Inwardly he shivered, for this strange man, seemed familiar, yet he could not place him.
"Oh forgive me" rising to his feet, the elderly gentlemen stepped towards Fiyero. As he neared, his withered hand and grasping the edge of his hat and pulled it off, resting it against his chest.
"I'm Professor Marvel…and you are?" asked the man. Smiling he extended his hand out towards Fiyero.
"Fiyero Tiggular…Crowned Prince of the Vinkus"
"And…this is?" chuckles the man.
"Galinda Arduenna Uppland…of the Upper Uplands" smiles Galinda. Slowly, she stepped away from Fiyero, and smiling, laced her fingers with the man's. She didn't know why, but she felt strangely at ease around him.
"A pleasure to meet you my dear" smiles the man.
"I hate to be rude" interrupts Fiyero. "but where in Oz are we?"
"Why Kansas my dear boy" chuckles Professor Marvel.
"Where?" asked Galinda stunned.
"Kansas…the dustiest place on Earth"
"Kansas?" repeats Fiyero.
"I have a feeling were not in Oz anymore" mutters the blonde beneath her breath.