Chapter 7: If I Only Had the Nerve
The three people and Krypto walked through the forest as it had gotten dark and claustrophobic with trees on all sides and no way to tell if the trees were alive or not like those apple trees they'd run into just before meeting Kal-El.
"I don't like this forest." Kara told her friends. "It's dark and creepy."
"Of course I don't know, but I think it'll get darker before it gets lighter." Green Arrow said with a gulp.
"Do you…" Kara began nervously. "Do you suppose we'll run into any wild animals?"
"Mm…" Kal-El said relatively relaxed, safe thanks to his metal body. "We might."
"Animals that…" Green Arrow began, really panicking now. "That eat straw?!"
"Some, but mostly lions and tigers and bears." Kal-El answered.
"Lions?!" Kara asked.
"And tigers?" Green Arrow added.
"And bears." Kal-El finished.
"Lions and tigers and bears." Kara began. "Oh my."
"Lions and tigers and bears." The group repeated. "Oh my."
"Lions and tigers and bears!" They said as they began trotting forward. "Oh my!"
"Lions and tigers and bears!" They said as they broke into a slight run. "Oh my!"
"Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!" They were about to run fully when they happened upon what looked like a green dragon that roared at them, knocking the three off their feet as the dragon turned into a green man with glowing red eyes. He looked around them, all trembling nervously.
"Put 'em up." The green man said. "Put 'em up! Which one of you first? I'll fight both of you together, if you want. I'll fight you with one hand tied behind my back! I'll fight you with my eyes closed!"
The green man then noticed the ax Kal-El was still holding.
"Oh, pull an ax on me, eh?" The green man said before turning to Green Arrow. "Sneaking up on me, eh?"
"Hear, hear." Kal-El said. "Go away and leave us alone."
"Oh scared, huh?" The green man asked. "Afraid, huh? How long do you stay fresh in that can of yours?"
He then chuckled.
"Come on. Get up and fight you shivering junkyard!" The green man said before turning to Green Arrow. "Put your hands up you lopsided bag of hay!"
"Now that's getting personal, pal!" Green Arrow said, trying to sound brave but failing badly.
"Yes, get up and teach him a lesson." Kal-El insisted.
"What's wrong with you teaching him?!" Green Arrow argued.
"Well I hardly know him." Kal-El said as Krypto began barking at the green man.
"I'll get you anyway, Pee-Wee." The green man said as his arm out stretched to Krypto as he rushed off when Kara ran up and slapped the green man as he began whimpering.
"Shame on you!" Kara barked.
"What did you do that for?" The green man said as he began to weep. "I didn't bite him!"
"No, but you tried to!" Kara argued. "Why it's bad enough picking on a straw man, but when you go along picking on poor little dogs!"
"Well you didn't have to go and hit me, did you?!" The green man sobbed. "Is my nose bleeding?!"
"Well of course not." Kara said confused. "My goodness, what a fuss you're making. Well naturally when you go around picking on things weaker than you are… Why you're nothing but a big coward."
"You're right, I am a coward." The green man replied. "I haven't any courage at all. Look at the circles under my eyes! I haven't slept in weeks!"
"Well why didn't you try counting sheep?" Kal-El asked.
"That doesn't do any good!" The green man insisted. "I'm afraid of them!"
"Oh, that's too bad." Green Arrow replied. "Don't you think the Wizard could help him too?"
"I don't see why not." Kara answered before turning to the green man. "Why don't you come with us? We're on our way to see the Wizard now to get him a heart."
"And him a brain." Kal-El added, pointing to Green Arrow.
"I'm sure he could give you some courage." Kara finished.
"But, wouldn't you be embarrassed to be seen in the company of a cowardly Martian?" The green man asked. "I would."
"Oh of course not." Kara said. "My name's Kara. What's yours?"
"I am J'onn J'onzz." The Martian replied as he finally calmed down. "It is awfully nice of you to invite me along. My life has been simply unbearable."
"Oh." Kara said comfortingly. "Well, it's alright now. The Wizard will fix everything."
"It's been in me so long, I just gotta tell you how I feel." J'onn said.
"Well then come on!" Kara said cheerfully as J'onn began to explain as they walked.
It's as sad a thing to see
When you're born to be a sissy
Without the fim and firb.
But I could show my prowess,
Be a lion not a mouse
If I only had the nerve.
I'm afraid there's no denying
I'm just a dandelion.
A fate I don't deserve.
I'd be brave as a blizzard.
"I'd be gentle as a lizard." Kal-El added.
"I'd be clever as a gizzard." Green Arrow finished.
"If the Wizard is a wizard who will serve." Kara pointed out.
"Then I'm sure to get a brain." Green Arrow stated.
"A heart." Kal-El added.
"A home." Kara added as well.
"The nerve." J'onn finished before the group headed off.
We're off to see the Wizard,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
You'll find he is the Wiz,
The Wiz if ever the Wiz there was!
If ever the Wonderful Wiz there was,
There is because, because, because, because…
Because of the wonderful things he does!
We're off to see the Wizard,
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!
And the group headed off, with the forest feeling a lot less threatening then when Kara and her friends went into it.
And now the gang is complete!
