Here we go again… So this is the chapter where Tory and the gang finally meet the great Wizard of LIRI! Yay! Thank you for all the reviews, favorites, and follows! Means a lot to know ya'll like it…after all I live to please. I do not own Wizard of Oz or Virals! And without further ado, we commence with the chapter. Enjoy…

Chapter Nine The Great and Powerful Wizard of LIRI

The hall seemed so much bigger than it actually was. The floor seemed to stretch out for miles ahead of us.

"Y-you know what guys? I think it'll just wait for ya'll outside." Hi said, turning to flee.

We gripped onto his arms and pushed him forward.

"What's your deal now?" Ben hissed.

Shelton scoffed, "Oh he's just being a wuss."

Hi shot him a look, "Oh I'm the wuss? I heard you clanking in that can as soon as we crossed the threshold."

"Well you-

"Guys!" I interjected, "We have to focus. This is the only chance we have." Then I turned to Hi, "Don't you know the wizard's going to grant your wish? You'll be the most, uh, pimped out lion in all of LIRI." I tried to keep my voice optimistic.

Hiram's head wagged back and forth, "I-I don't know Tory. I'm not sure if I can ask him!"

"We'll ask him for you." I gently took his hand and started pulling him along.

He snatched his hand out of mine and stared ahead fearfully, "I-I forgot my…car keys out there."

"Oh come on…ten more steps" I goaded.

Then Hi let out a high pitched shriek.

"What happened?" Shelton asked.

"Someone pulled my tail." Hi's voice rose 5 octaves with sheer terror.

We looked around and saw he was holding his own tail for dear life.

"That was you, smart one." Ben snapped. He took the tail out of Hi's grasp and put it behind him.

"COME FORWARD!" a voice boomed from the end of the hall. The double doors swung open, summoning us forward.

Hi shut his eyes as we marched onward, "This is it," he muttered, "This is how I die…I had a nice life. You guys were great."

Ben popped the back of his head, shushing up. "Quiet, doofus. We're not gonna die!"

He nodded slightly as we entered the big and dimly lit room.

"What the heck is that?" Shelton shakily pointed to the center of the room. An angry green floating head appeared, scowling at us. The head belonged to Marcus E. Karsten, the old director of LIRI back at home. The man we also witnessed being shot to death.

"This is the last time I'm ever leaving my forest. I'll become a hermit!" Hi hissed.

"I'll join you..." Shelton said, knees buckling.

"I am LIRI, the great and powerful!" Karsten boomed, glowering down at us. "Who are you!?"

None of us answered. How would one answer the wizard?

"Who are you children?" He spat the last word, like it was something repulsive on his tongue.

The boys nudged me ahead, urging me to go first. I gulped, forcing myself to look at the bulbous floating head.

"I am Tory! The headstrong and stubborn…" I looked back at my friends, they nodded for me continue. "We're here to ask-

"SILENCE!" the wizard roared.

I jumped and stumbled back toward the boys. "Holy crap..." I muttered. Anger issues much?

"I know why you're here, you incompetent youths!" his voice was knife sharp, like a drill sergeant yelling orders at his troops. "YOU!" he snapped, turning his blazing eyes on Shelton, "Come here…"

He whimpered, taking tiny steps toward the wizard.

"So…you've come to me for strength have you? You weak, whimpering, wheezing, wise-less, waste of space!"

"That-that's some sick alliteration, m-man! And yes…yes sir." Shelton said. "You see, a while back we were walking down the Yellow Brick Road and-

"QUIET!"

Shelton's yelped and sprinted back. "Dude has serious interruption problems!"

"You! Scarecrow…" Ben walked forward, face unreadable. "You have the audacity to ask me for heroism?"

"Yes." His voice was tight when he spoke. Was he trying to sound brave? Trying to hide stuttering?

The wizard raised an eyebrow, looking him over. "Well then…" he muttered. "LION!" he barked.

Ben never took his eyes of Karsten while Hi stepped forward. He sent us a not so reassuring smile while giving a shaky thumbs up.

"Well!?"

"I uh, ha…ir…" No sarcastic remark from Hiram today. I was half afraid he'd wet himself. Then his eyes rolled back into his head and down he went.

I yelped and we jumped forward. Ben knelt down and shook him while Shelton fanned the unconscious lion. I bored my eyes into Karsten, rage boiling.

"What was that for!? Did you really have to go scare him like that? I think that makes you the coward you-

"Quiet! You damn teenager!" I appeared that Karsten was rubbing his temple, "You four are a pain in my side…however…the great and powerful LIRI will indeed grant your requests."

Immediately Hi shot back up, "Hold up! Did I hear what I think I just heard?"

The side of the wizard's mouth curved up ever so slightly, "First though, you must prove yourselves to me. Can't just go granting wishes to any average civilians."

My ears perked up, a challenge he said. Intriguing to say the least. I stood up; facing the wizard head on, heart pounding, "Name your request, great Wizard of LIRI."

"Bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West."

Shelton shuttered beside me. "Bu-but if we did that would we have to …well…" he made a slicing motion across his neck.

Karsten rolled his eyes, "Well, that would be the ideal way to do it!" He sighed, regaining his patience, then faced us with a solemn expression. "Do this for me, young travelers and I shall grant your requests."

Hi raised his hand, gaining the wizard's attention

"What?" Karsten didn't even bother trying to hide his annoyance.

"Okay so we're, like, a bunch of nerds, going up against this evil, scary, cray-cray witch. How exactly-

"GO!" he thundered. Green lights flashed. Fire shot out from holes in the walls.

Hi jumped up 5 feet in the air, face frozen in shock. He turned and sprinted down the hallway, faster than I'd ever seen him.

"Nope! Nope! Nope! Nope!"

And with that, he swan dived out the nearest window.

There we go! Chapter Nine over and done with! Hope you guys liked it! Please tell me what you thought! Reviews always help! (P.S it's raining where I live…which is my PERFECT writing weather, so I will be starting Chapter Ten today!).