The bar was mostly empty now, all the men who were still there were probably too drunk to find the exit.
Only one young man seemed to be of sober mind. Tip sat at a table in the far corner, doing his best to avoid unnecessary attention. He finished his drink, left a tip and left.
With his hands in his pockets, Tip walked down the uneven road back to the inn. He had been doing this since Dorothy and her other traveling companions left almost three days ago. Tip did his best to be sneaky and he guessed it worked but, he felt that Mistress West knew. Not much got past the Vessel of Truth and Solace...at least she was understanding.
"Stop thief!"
That came from a small bakery that was just up ahead. Tip ran up to the elderly man. "What's wrong?"
The Baker looked upset and tired, he was just about to close after a long day. "A thief took a bag of my bread that I was going to bring back home to my grandchildren!"
Luckily Tip saw the thief running as he took a sharp turn down a corner. Tip dashed forward to try and catch up with the tall figure.
The two of them zigzagged along the different roads trying to cut the other off, the thief looked back briefly at Tip and that was his mistake. He tripped over a brick stone sticking out from the road and fell painfully hard to the ground.
While he complained about his leg, Tip stay a little further behind to make the transformation before stepping up to grab the stolen bag.
Ozma pulled the thief's hood back only to reveal a strange painted helmet that reminded her of a pumpkin. The Queen heard him gasp, he was probably certain that it was another boy that was chasing him and not the Queen of Oz.
"You're going to have to come with me, Pumpkinhead." Ozma said and she alerted some guards that were nearby.
XxX
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Jack and Toto were still walking down the path in the middle of the night. Everyone's feet were beginning to drag with weariness.
"Dorothy we need to rest, we can't keep going like this." Scarecrow said.
"We have a long way to go, we aren't even halfway there yet." Dorothy yawned still walking ahead of them.
Scarecrow groaned and out of frustration grabbed her arm to turn her around to face him. Dorothy pulled away and stepped back, but kept her angry eyes on him.
"Glad I have your attention now." There was almost a snarl on Scarecrow's face, he was overly tired. "Look at us! Look at yourself! We are not going to get there any faster if we can barely stand. We won't be able to protect ourselves if we're attacked!"
While the two of them argued, Jack went to the side and sat down with Toto. Of course he agreed with Scarecrow right now, they haven't had a good night's sleep since they left. Dorothy desperately wanted to get this over with, save her mother, go back to Kansas and never come back.
Jack's saw the tall grass begin to rustle. One of the Beast Forever's grey creatures leaped at The bickering man and woman.
Scarecrow shoved Dorothy aside and tried drawing his sword, but it slipped out of his hand as he was pinned.
He did his best to keep it away from his face staring into the red eyes.
Jack and Toto stood in front of Dorothy who had fell to the ground. The creature dug its claws into Scarecrow's side that was still healing, and he screamed in agony.
Someone else ran out of the grass wearing the skin and head of a lion. He wielded a sword a cut off one of the creature's wings. It growled and immediately let Scarecrow go to face a new opponent.
The Lion was quick on his feet though and quickly slashed though it's chest and chopped off the ugly head before a fight truly began.
Scarecrow grabbed his own sword and it clashed against the Lion's. The two of them didn't move to strike again though.
"Roan?" The familiar voice questioned.
Scarecrow pulled away the sword. "Eamonn? What are you doing here?"
Eamonn put his weapon away. "That is a long story."
Scarecrow tried standing, but quickly had to lay back down and bite his lip from yelling out in pain again.
"You're hurt." Eamonn stated the obvious. "You need to rest," he looked at Dorothy and Jack too "you all need to rest."
Scarecrow turned his head to look at Dorothy, "I told you…"
Dorothy sighed and gave in kneeling next to Scarecrow. She lifted his shirt to tend to the wound.
"Where are you headed?" Dorothy asked.
"Nowhere." Eamonn never did say much, but he seemed quieter than usual. He began to move the creature's body into the grass on the left side of the road.
"So, you're just prowling around with a lion head for no reason?"
Eamonn removed the lion headpiece, "It's my punishment."
Dorothy guessed that it was part of his 'long story' and that they would probably hear it when they woke up in the morning. Jack had already fallen asleep and as soon as she was finished helping Scarecrow she went to bed too.
XxX
Jane was always a early riser. When she worked with Karen and Roberto, she was always one of the first ones there. Even when she began working for the Royal Family of Ev she was up and doing projects when the light barely lit the sky.
Now she was wishing that she could force herself to sleep in. There wasn't much to do now that she was a prisoner to the Beast Forever, and she was bored.
Her cell door opened and in came Roberto-no, Roquat.
"Why do you always come to see me in this form?"
"You seem more responsive to this skin." Roquat sat down close to Jane and started playing with his beard. "You are a scientist, correct?"
"I am."
"Excellent." Roquat snapped his fingers and a servant rolled in a table. "I have something I'd like you to fix."
When the servant left, the Beast Forever showed Jane the body of a mechanical girl.
"Langwidere?" Jane put a hand to her mouth. Roquat gave her a questioning look. She lower her hand, "I created her."
"Convenient. If you need anything let me know." He said before turning to leave.
Jane grabbed his wrist. "Wait." She quickly pulled away when she met his eyes, he didn't look angry, but for a moment he looked more like Roberto did when he was surprised. "I was wondering where you got her."
"The King of Ev sold her to me... make sure you put her head on."
XxX
West was outside enjoying the morning sun for once. When one has a clear mind it was easier to enjoy.
She noticed that one Glinda's girls was following her. West didn't mind, it was good to see young witches again after all these years.
West turned to the little girl, and she now looked like she wanted to hide. She had some of the biggest expressive eyes West has ever seen on a child.
"It's okay." West lowered her voice and bent down to the girl's height. "What's your name?"
"Her name is Leith." Glinda interrupted stepping out of the inn. She put a hand on Leith's head. "The Queen would like to have a word with you."
XxX
West bowed to the Queen, "You called for me?"
"The punishment for thievery isn't death, Is it?" Ozma asked.
"No." West noticed the Queen's heavy tired eyes. "... though often they end up losing a limb that they use to steal…"
"So he has to lose a hand."
XxX
When Dorothy woke up the first thing she noticed was the smell of food cooking. She sat up to find everyone else was awake and sitting around a fire while Eamonn offered them meat on sticks, Toto was already chewing on something.
"You're finally up." Scarecrow handed her their breakfast.
Dorothy took a bite, It wasn't too bad. "Where did this come from?"
"I woke up early to do a little hunting." Eamonn said.
She bit into the meat again. "Thank you."
Scarecrow finished his meal, "So, what did you do to get yourself exiled from Emerald City?"
Eamonn looked down and losing his appetite, tossed the rest of his food to Toto. "I killed the King and Queen for the Wizard nearly twenty years ago... their daughter Ozma has returned and wiped me from my family's memories before banishing me…"
"Ozma?" Jack spoke up, "The new queen?"
"Yes, the Wizard wanted me to slaughter the entire family, but I couldn't kill her. I hid her till I found a witch named Mombi…"
Dorothy and Scarecrow looked at each other and Jack quivered remembering the woman.
"...I gave the baby girl to her, and she promised to stay hidden, to protect the child."
Dorothy gazed at Eamonn with a mix of sympathy and disgust. "Why would you do such a thing for the Wizard?"
"It was safer to join him, than to go against him."
She looked at Scarecrow, Jack and Eamonn. "He was from my world." She paused a moment for that to sink in. "You all should know that he was a fraud."
Eamonn looked even more guilty now. "... and I helped him."
XxX
Blue eyes opened in a dimly lit room, they looked around before the blonde girl sat upright nearly crashing heads with the scientist.
"Did Jack shoot the Wizard?" Were the first words out of Langwidere's mouth in weeks.
Jane tried to get her to calm down by putting a hand on her shoulder. "He didn't...I shot him."
Langwidere looked at Jane. "You?" She put a hand to her face and looked down at herself and gasped. Not only was she without a mask, she wasn't wearing any clothes.
The scientist quickly grabbed the blanket and wrapped it around her shivering body. "Jack accidentally shot you."
The fallen Queen put a hand to her forehead, her index finger resting on where she had a bullet enter her head. "I shouldn't be here."
"People do survive getting shot in the head, it's not unheard of." Jane said calmly.
"I shouldn't be here!" Langwidere repeated with her voice rising in volume.
"Shhh…" Jane tried to get the girl to keep her voice down.
After a few minutes of Langwidere taking in heavier breaths than she was used to, she turned to Jane. "What did you do to me?"
As much as King August loved this girl that he called his daughter, Jane guessed that he never told her the whole truth of what she was, maybe he just didn't know how.
"Twenty years ago Princess Langwidere died-"
"I know I died." Langwidere said. "I overheard a conversation years ago…"
Jane shook her head, "You misunderstood. Princess Langwidere died, not you."
The Queen pulled the blanket around herself tighter. "But, I am Langwidere." She now looked and sounded like a uncertain little girl.
"You are, but there was one before you."
Langwidere opened and closed her mouth before tilting her head at Jane. "What did you do?"
Jane looked at the door hoping Roquat wouldn't come back for a while. "I built you, for King August."
Langwidere lowered her head. "Like Jack?"
"Not exactly. Jack was still alive when when we found him. We never brought him back to life, we saved him."
"So you're saying that I'm not even alive?" Langwidere now looked to be in disbelief. She stood up with her legs a little wobbly, she walked to the other side of the room before turning back to Jane. "I am alive!"
Jane jumped a little at the sudden outburst. Langwidere sunk back down into the floor with her head in her hands.
The scientist slowly walked back over to Langwidere and sat next to her. "In case you didn't notice, we're in a cell. Prisoners of the Beast Forever." Langwidere peeked through her fingers, Jane noticed the tears swelling in her eyes. "You should keep your voice down." She lightly took the Queen's hand. "I should be examining you right now. I need to make sure you're okay, I'm not going to hurt you."
Jane loosened the blanket, making sure the Queen remained calm and comfortable while she made sure the mechanical body was functioning properly.
XxX
Dorothy, Scarecrow and Jack were now well rested and agreed to move on. As Scarecrow kicked some dirt into the weak fire, Dorothy looked at Eamonn.
He had his lion head back on and was sitting on a log. This man didn't look like he had much more to live for.
"You should come with us." Dorothy said.
Eamonn looked at her like she was crazy. "Did you forget I killed the King and Queen?"
"No, I didn't. It was a horrible thing to do, to betray the Royal Family... you know it was wrong, and your paying for it now."
"You should come with us." Scarecrow said, "We have Dorothy's gauntlets, Jack's axe, my sword, we could use another brave man."
"I'm not brave."
Nobody moved a inch after that, till Dorothy whispered, "We could still use your help." She put a hand on Eamonn's shoulder and he looked up at the young woman meeting her brown eyes. "Please…maybe it'll be good for you."
Eamonn sighed and stood up to his full height. "I'll help."
XxX
Jane had let Langwidere use the bed to rest in, she was tangled up in the blanket with her arms cradling her head.
The scientist was wondering when Roquat would return to take Langwidere away. Jane explained the situation to the Queen, she didn't react too positively to being sold.
Jane was worried that Langwidere would be cruel to Jack when she 'bought' him, she was just so unpredictable... but she ended up growing extremely attached to him, she was smitten with the young man.
She was now scared for the Queen. She didn't see it as justice that now she was the one being sold off as property. This was heartless.
The door opened and Roquat stepped in with his heavy steps making Langwidere stir awake. For once the Beast Forever paid no attention to Jane and walked straight over to the bed.
When Langwidere opened her eyes, Roquat was almost nose to nose with her. Before she could make a sound, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her out of bed.
She desperately tried keeping the blanket around herself as she was dragged out, with Jane trying to get him to let her go and to just talk, but Roquat used magic to push her back falling over a chair before he shut the cell door.
Langwidere was the one yelling at the Beast Forever now:
"Unhand me!"
"Do you not know who I am!?"
"Just you wait till I bring my army to fight you!"
"How are you the Beast Forever? You're just one man with a bad beard!"
Every word and insult that was made at Roquat just annoyed him. "They never told me that you have quite the mouth on you."
The Beast pulled her into a servants room and picked up a strange black and white helmet. It unlocked and opened like a jewelry box. He stepped toward Langwidere with it.
"What are you doing?" She asked and he didn't answer. "No! Stop! Stop-!"
Langwidere's voice was gone as soon as the helmet shut around her head. He locked it in place and stepped back to admire the way she desperately moved her hands around, probably yelling like mad, but because of his magic helmet all he could hear was sweet silence.
"When you start behaving, I'll take it off." Roquat said before taking her arm to find her some clothes.
XxX
Ozma and one guard walked into the village's small jail, they only had one prisoner. She had the pumpkin helmet in hand. The outside of it was painted black and the inside yellow. The mouth and nose were painted yellow too while the eyes were cut open so the wearer could see. The way it was designed, it was sure to be a fright to unsuspecting victims in the dark.
For the first time Queen Ozma faced the thief without his helmet. He didn't look much older than herself, with shoulder length red hair and green eyes with flecks of brown in them. When he noticed she was there, he stood up reminding her that he was quite tall.
"Pumpkinhead…" Ozma said.
The prisoner blinked at the nickname, "Queen Ozma." He sounded a little boyish.
"Mercy or punishment…" She wasn't necessarily talking to Pumpkinhead. "Mistress West told me that fear rules and not kings and queens...I'm going to change that."
Ozma ordered the prisoner be released and the guard unlocked the cell. The redheaded man stepped out expecting to be carried away to face his punishment.
"I choose to show you mercy, Pumpkinhead."
He was so grateful that he fell to his knees, "Thank you, my Queen."
"But, you will have to join us in defeating the Beast Forever... you have some training to do, Pumpkinhead."
"Nick." He said under his breath and the Queen didn't hear him.
"Pardon?"
He stood up again taking a deep breath. "My name is Nick."
Ozma nodded her head and handed Nick back his helmet.
XxX
In Emerald City, they were preparing for a display of a public punishment. Earlier a man was caught stealing.
The man and the Beast Forever stood in front of the crowd, he smiled seeing the servant girl in the helmet at the front were he put her.
Everyone knew the punishment for stealing, but when the Beast Forever had the prisoner unchained they muttered confused.
Roquat looked the prisoner in the eyes for half a minute till he looked away back to the crowd and the man looked like he was in a trance.
The people grew more confused when the Beast handed the prisoner a curved sword.
Still in the trance, he knelt at the block and stretched out his right hand and raised the sword with his left and swung down.
The people gasped as the man, no longer in a trance, fell to the ground clutching his handless arm. He was screaming and bleeding badly as he was pulled off the stage. Roquat seemed to be feeding off the fear from the crowd.
A/N: Since Jack ended up as our Tin Man instead of Jack Pumpkinhead as he is in the books...I decided to make Nick our Pumpkinhead in my continuation of Emerald City.