Whaddup, peeps?!?!? ……yeah, sorry, I'll never do that again.

Babygirl 555: It's funny you mention your iPod touch, because I write all my stories in the 'Notes' section. Really. I then e-mail them to myself and transfer them to Word.

And it's very rare for me to update that fast-the only reason these are faster is because I'm a few chapters ahead, but those chapters still need to be revised and stuff, so…*shrug*

Alright gang, we're headed to the poppy fields this time around. Enjoy!


My brain woke up, but I didn't immediately open my eyes. I had to think a little first.

So many questions flew through my mind.

'Was all that real? Do I want it to be real? Will I be sad if it's not? Should I tell anyone about it?'

I decided to just screw it all and open my eyes.

For some reason, I felt relieved to see the circle of trees again. It was hard to tell, but the slightest sliver of light was showing through the trees. Lion was still asleep, mumbling and clawing at the air every so often. I stifled a laugh.

Brutus must have been waiting for me to wake up, because he immediately sat up and trotted his way over to me.

I yawned and stretched, then scratched Brutus behind his ears. "Mornin', Bru," I smiled at him, and he wagged his tail happily.

"Oh, Dorothy, you're up!"

I whipped around and saw Tin Man and Scarecrow walking towards me.

"Hey, guys!" I waved as I stood up. "Good morning to you!"

"To you as well," Nodded Tin Man.

"Howdja sleep?" Asked Scarecrow.

"Very comfortably," I smiled at him gratefully. "Here's your straw back, by the way."

"Oh, yeah, thanks," Scarecrow smiled sheepishly as he restuffed himself.

Brutus was getting irritated that no one was paying attention to him, and so barked quite loudly.

"I'm innocent, I tell ya!" Lion yelled as he jolted awake. We all laughed as Lion realized where he was.

"Uh, g'mornin," He said, red-faced.

I chuckled. "I take it you slept well?"

"Yeah...hey, yeah!" He sounded triumphant. "I did sleep, didn't I? Wasn't afraid o' nothin' all night!"

I decided not to correct him and instead say, "See? You're not so cowardly after all!"

"Yeah!" By now he was on his feet-well, his hind legs, anyway. "And once I get some courage from the Wizard, nothin's gonna ever scare me!"

"Well then, let's get going!" Smiled Tin Man.

We all cheered, then linked arms and (of course) began to sing. I actually knew the words this time, and was so excited I decided to just sing full-out.

"We're off to see the Wizard


The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!


We hear he is a whiz of a Wiz


If ever a Wiz there was!


If ever, oh ever, a Wiz there was


The Wizard of Oz is one because


Because, because, because, because, becaaaaaaaause


Because of the wonderful things he does!


We're off to see the Wizard


The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!


We had all been walking in the woods for what seemed like forever.

"God, do these woods ever end?" I asked Lion.

"Well, I've never gone outside them," He admitted. "I was too s-scared-"

"Look!" Scarecrow interrupted.

I looked where he was pointing, and saw a light at the end of the long forest.

"Alright!" I cheered. "Come on, guys!"

We all ran toward the light, and soon were finally out of the forest.

My eyes were so un-used to light after the dark forest, I was blinded by the light for a minute.

After a few seconds (and a few hundred blinks) I could see again, and what I saw amazed me.

"Wow..."

We were right next to the biggest field of flowers I'd ever seen. Pink poppies were absolutely everywhere.

And beyond the field was a towering, shimmering, green city.

"Is that the Emerald City?" I asked hopefully.

"If it's not, I don't know what it is!" Tin Man said excitedly.

"Waaaahoooo!" I couldn't contain myself-I jumped up and down on the spot. "We did it, you guys! Woooo!"

I started spinning around in the poppy fields, not caring how stupid I looked. I even picked a poppy and put it in my ponytail, giggling.

I stopped myself then-me, giggling?-and walked back over to them, incredibly embarrassed.

"Sorry, guys," I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. "Got a little carried away there."

"Hey, we're excited, too!" Said Scarecrow.

As if to prove it, he promptly picked me up and spun me around. I didn't expect it, and tried to hold onto his neck, which just resulted in us both toppling over, landing on our backs.

Everyone laughed at that.

"Jesus," I said after a minute of trying to control my laughter. "For a guy stuffed with straw, you're strong as hell."

"Yeah, well..." Now Scarecrow looked awkward.

I stood up and offered my hand to help him up.

"Shall we go then?" Said Tin Man.

I smirked at all of them. "Race ya!"

We all started running at full speed towards the Emerald City.

At first Lion and I were in the lead, but suddenly I started feeling really winded.

I had to stop for a moment and watch Scarecrow and Tin Man zoom ahead of me, my hands on my knees as I panted.

The field started to spin, and I had to sit down.

"Dorothy?" The others had noticed I was behind and were now quickly making their way back over to me.

"I'm fine," I assured them when I saw their worried faces. "I just need to sit for a second, that's all."

"But we're nearly there!" Tin Man said, confused.

"I know, I know, I'll just-" Even though I was sitting, the field started to spin again, faster this time. I subconsciously put my hand to my head in an effort to stop the spinning. I could feel myself swaying a little.

"Dorothy, are you alright?" Scarecrow sounded frightened.

"Yeah..." I wasn't so sure anymore.

"Here, give us your hands, we'll pull you along," Said Scarecrow.

"Yeah, good idea."

I tried to lift my hands up, but I couldn't even find the strength for that. Everything was spinning so fast, I couldn't have grabbed Scarecrow's hands anyway. All I saw was a blur of pink swirling faster and faster and faster still.

I could hear Scarecrow and Tin Man yelling, but I couldn't respond-I felt like I was falling down a bottomless pit.

'I never liked poppies.'

That was my last thought before I lost consciousness.


"Here, give us your hands, we'll pull you along."

Tin Man nodded in agreement with me.

"Yeah, good idea," She looked really weak, and you can bet I was worried sick.

Her arm went up a little and her hand twitched, but it didn't look like she could do more than that. She started swaying a little. I was truly scared-what was going on?

"Dorothy?!"

She didn't respond this time. Her eyelids just drooped and she immediately fell over.

"Dorothy!!!" Tin Man and I yelled in unison.

Tin Man flipped her over so she was on her back. I listened for a heartbeat. It was there, but dangerously slow.

"It's okay, she's still breathing." I looked up to see Tin Man-crying?

"Poor little Dorothy!" He sniffed.

"Tin Man, not now, you'll rust! We've got to think of a plan!"

"Well," Tin Man composed himself. "We could try carrying her."

"Yeah! Maybe someone in Emerald City can help her." I certainly hoped so.

We lifted with all our might, but we couldn't budge Dorothy an inch.

"But this doesn't make sense!" Said Tin Man after our fourth try. "You were able to lift her no problem before!"

"Yeah, I was." I tried to figure our why that could be.

Suddenly, I heard snoring, and turned to see Lion and Brutus fast asleep as well.

'Why would they fall asleep too? Unless-'

"Tin Man, this is a spell!" I shouted in realization.

"What?" He didn't follow.

"Don't you see? Lion, Brutus, and Dorothy all fell asleep at the same time! What are the odds of that? The Wicked Witch must have put a spell on these poppy flowers!"

"Oh no! What'll we do?!" Tin Man started to cry again.

Before I could warn him against crying again, he was on his feet, running around the field like a madman.

"Help! HELP!!" He was shouting to no one.

"What are you doing?!" I questioned. It wasn't like him to be this emotional. "Shouting won't-!"

I looked down at Dorothy. Paler than usual, sparkling eyes not visible, mouth missing its signature smile. She looked...

Dead.

I didn't care if it was pointless-if somebody heard and brought Dorothy back, I'd do anything.

"HELP!!" I started shouting right along with Tin Man.

We shouted and shouted. We must've looked like complete fools.

Suddenly, something white fell on my nose. Confused, I stopped shouting for a second, and picked it up.

It was a snowflake, which dissolved in an instant.

I looked up, and saw it was snowing all around us.

Tin Man had noticed it too, and was looking at me with equal confusion.

"Why is it snowing?" I asked him.

He shrugged with some difficulty-the snow was beginning to rust him. "Freak snowstorm, maybe?"

"But look," I pointed over to the yellow brick road ahead of us, completely untouched by the snow. "It's only snowing over here."

"But why-?" It was then we both realized there was only person who could've done this.

"Glinda," Tin Man smiled.

"Thank you!" I shouted, and I knew she heard me.

" 'Thank you'? How does snow help us?" Tin Man asked. "All it's doing is rusting me up!"

We heard a groan, and looked to see Dorothy moving slightly.

I smirked smugly at Tin Man.

He frowned. "Alright, you were right this time. Don't get used to it."

I laughed, then immediately turned my attention to Dorothy.


'God, it's cold. I guess that makes sense-I'm pretty sure I'm dead. Poor Kirk! And Scarecrow and Tin Man and Lion-they must all feel awful.

'And it's all my fault.

'I hope someone takes good care of Brutus. I'm sorry, little buddy. I promise, if they don't take good care of you, I'll come back and haunt them till the end of time.

'I hope the guys make it safely to the Emerald City. Not that they need a brain, a heart, and courage-I could've told them they had those things already. But I know they won't listen to me. That's okay-the Wizard will tell them.

'Goddamn that Witch! Couldn't even kill me herself-she had to poison flowers. FLOWERS! That's a new level of low. If I wasn't dead, I'd hunt her down and beat the living hell outta her. But of course I can't, cause, y'know, I'm dead.

'I just wish I could've said goodbye to them all.

'I'm feeling something cold fall on my skin. Well, that doesn't make sense-I shouldn't even be able to feel my skin.

'Hey, I can feel my body again! Maybe I'm not dead after all! Now if I could just open my eyes-"

My eyes met a field of snow. Snow? What the crap? It was sunny not two seconds ago.

Or was it two seconds? How long have I been out?

"Dorothy?"

I looked directly above me to see Scarecrow and Tin Man's concerned faces.

I smiled. "Hey guys. Did I miss anything?" I stood up with ease this time.

"Only us bein' sad-sacks 'cause we thought you were dead," Said Scarecrow.

And then he pulled me into a tight hug.

I didn't expect it, but hugged him back. "I don't plan on dying anytime soon," I assured him as I pulled away.

"Oh, wait!" Scarecrow pulled something out of my ponytail.

"What-?" Before I could ask, he showed me the poppy. I'd forgotten I'd put it in my hair.

"Good call," I nodded.

We heard a yawn as Lion woke up. "Unusual weather we're havin', ain't it?"

I chuckled, then realized-

"Where's Brutus?"

I heard a sneeze, and turned around to see Brutus indignantly shaking the snowflakes out of his fur.

I picked him up and brushed a few last snowflakes out.

"Well, now that that's all over-" I stopped as I realized Tin Man was frozen in rust again.

"Oh crap, the snow!" I rushed over to him with the oilcan and oiled him down as fast as I could.

"Let's get out of this snow," I said.

We all hightailed it over to the yellow brick road beyond the field. As soon as we all stepped away from the field, the snow stopped.

"How-?" I turned to Scarecrow, who was smiling. I knew then.

"Glinda," We said in unison, and laughed.

'Maybe she's not as stupid as I thought,' I wondered. 'She's still annoying, though.'

"We all set?" I asked the group, who nodded (except Brutus, who barked his agreement).

"Then let's go to the Emerald City!"

Suddenly, I heard voices. 'At least I don't have to sing this time,' I thought.

"You're out of the woods


You're out of the dark


You're out of the night


Step into the sun


Step into the light
"

The guys were bouncing with the beat, and I laughed and joined them. We then started walking to the Emerald City (finally).

"Keep straight ahead for


The most glorious place


On the face of the earth


Or the sky
"

We were getting closer and closer, and I was actually getting excited.

"Hold onto your breath


Hold onto your heart


Hold onto your hope


March up to the gate and bid it


Open


Open


Open!
"

As the voices had said, we were right up at the gate now. There was a long string with a tassle at the end attatched to a bell.

I looked to the guys, who excitedly motioned for me to ring it.

'When did I become the leader?' I asked myself.

I looked up at the huge gate, feeling a little intimidated, but mostly excited (why?).

I took a deep breath, and rang the bell.


And there you have it!

You guys figured out that one part was Scarecrow's POV, right? If you didn't-well, now you know. *tries to resist joke, but can't* And knowing is half the battle! GI JOOOOOOOE!!!!!

Anyway, next up will be Emerald City, and things are really gonna start rolling from there. So stay tuned, and REVIEW PRETTY PLEASE WITH GUMMY BEARS AND CHOCOLATE SYRUP ON TOP! :)