Here we are, up to my favourite scene.

The five friends reached the land of the Winkies, where the Witch lived. There was a signpost with a note.

"I'd turn back if I were you." the Lion read. He nodded and tried to turn back. The group pulled him forward.

"Stupid Wizard." muttered Jax. "Making us go on a life-threatening mission." She looked at the rest of the group. "Listen, maybe Lion's right. We might die if we do this. What's better, life without what we want from the Wizard, or death? After all, Oz is a pretty cool place to live."

"No!" cried Dorothy. "We have to do this. I want to get home so."

Scarecrow gave Jax a reassuring smile. "We can do this, Jax. Then we'll go back to the Wizard, and he'll give us what we want."

Little did they know, the Witch was watching them from her crystal ball. She spoke to her army of flying monkeys. "Fly down there and bring me the girls and the dog. Do as you like with the others but I want them both alive. Take extra care with the ruby slippers. I want those intact." The monkeys nodded at her orders and flew out.

Jax had barely heard Scarecrow's reasurrance. She was staring into the sky. "What...the...hell are those?"

Dorothy gave a scream when she saw the strange things swooping from the sky. "Oh no!"

"Oh, wow!" shrieked Jax. "They're flying monkeys! But...RUN!" After the interest had faded, Jax knew that they were after them. Unfortunately, they were chasing both her and Dorothy, and Jax still wore the kitten heels. Two monkeys easily caught up with her and flew her into the sky. She could hear her cousin screaming as two monkeys got her as well. One more picked up Toto.

Jax gave one more scream as she watched the guys on the ground. Scarecrow had been torn apart, but the other two seemed OK.

The two girls stood in the room, facing the Wicked Witch. The flying monkeys had brought them into a room full of magic stuff, where the Witch was waiting. She'd just entrusted Toto to the monkeys, and Dorothy's face was already tear-stained.

"What are you going to do to my dog?" she demanded. "Give him back!"

"All in good time." the Witch said calmly. "When you give me the slippers."

"Screw what Glinda said." Jax whispered to Dorothy. "Take the shoes off now."

"Shut up!" snapped the Witch. "Hand them over." she ordered Dorothy. "Or I'll get your dog drowned."

"No!" cried Dorothy. "You can have the slippers, just give back Toto!"

"That's a good little girl." the Witch purred as she reached for the shoes. "I knew you'd see reason-"

But as her hand was only an inch from the shoes, fire appeared and she screamed as her green hand burned.

"I didn't do it!" cried Dorothy. "Can I still have my dog?"

"No! I should have remembered! Those slippers will never come off as long as you live." the Witch scowled. Her expression became thoughtful. "Well, an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I need to do it delicately for her, at least. I don't want to lose the magic."

As she spoke, Toto got away from the monkey. Jax hid a smile, but Dorothy called "Run, Toto, run!"

"Catch him!" the Witch ordered the flying monkeys, but Toto was too quick for them.

Dorothy was still scared, but she managed to be happy for Toto's escape. "I'm glad he got away." she smiled a little.

"It's more than you will do!" snarled the Witch. She picked up an hourglass with blood red sand and turned it over. "When that sand runs out, I'll be back." she told the girls. "It's the rest of your lives. And it isn't very long at all."

Just as she turned to leave, Jax spoke. "Why can't you accept that all the crap that happened isn't our fault? We got caught in a tornado which caused our house to fall on your sister, and the shoes appeared on Dot's feet. She didn't steal them! I have a suspicion that it was something to do with Glinda."

"Well, your little cousin didn't exactly try to take them off, did she?" the Witch retorted. "Just because it isn't your fault it doesn't mean my sister isn't dead! I loved her."

"Dot is like my little sister!" Jax answered. "I feel that way about her. If you kill her, I'll be as furious as you are now. In fact, if it happens, I'd try to kill you!"

"Number one: It would be a good thing if you know of the loss I've gone through." answered the Witch. "Number two: You can't kill me. I'm the only one with magic here. Lastly, you're-" She gave an annoyed sigh. "This conversation is pointless. I'm going. Enjoy your last moments in life." With those last words, she stalked out of the room and locked it. Already the hourglass was only half full.

Tinman and Lion had finished putting Scarecrow together after the flying monkeys had ripped him apart. They immediately saw Toto running up.

"Where's Jax and Dorothy, Toto?" Scarecrow asked him. Toto seemed to understand, as he began to retrace his steps. A few feet away, he stopped to look at the guys. They followed him along the rocks that were all around the dark sinister castle.

"I hate to think of those girls in there." murmured Tinman, nearly in tears.

"Don't cry!" hissed Scarecrow. "We haven't got the oil can with us."

Lion pointed at the Winkie guards. "Who's them?"

"All we own, we owe." The guards were chanting over and over.

In the topmost room, the two cousins were becoming more and more depressed. Well, Dorothy was more scared and crying. Jax seemed to have lost all of her fiesty side and just sat against the wall, rocking back and forth, with her knees drawn up to her chin.

"I'm frightened." wept Dorothy. "I'm only twelve! I can't cope with this!"

"Don't bother saying that stuff." Jax said in a low voice. "There's nothing that can help now. I guess there's just one more thing I have to do now." She suddenly stood up and went to the window. She yelled out into the dark "Mom, Dad! I hope you get this message! I've always loved you and I'm sorry for the things I've done you didn't like! To all my friends; you are absolutely fabulous! Rock on! A special message to the three friends we've made here in Oz. You all have what you are looking for, you know! I never thought I'd be able to tell you this..." Jax's voice trailed off.

"Jax?" whispered Dorothy.

"I can't say it." whispered the older girl. "You would have noticed, though. I love..."

"Our friends?" Dorothy scanned through their journey, trying to remember who Jax was connecting to most of all. Finally, it clicked. "It's Scarecrow, isn't it?" the younger girl asked.

"And now I'll never see him again." Jax murmured. Dorothy wrapped her arms around her older cousin, knowing her support was all they had. Besides, Dorothy was feeling a bitter longing that she didn't understand, for their supposedly heartless friend.

Little did Jax know, that her feelings were reciprocated. Scarecrow was thinking mainly about Jax as he tried to think of a rescue plan, but of course the teenager wasn't his only concern. He, like all the other companions, cared for both girls as a friend too, and he was just as worried about Dorothy.

Suddenly, a lightbulb hit him. "I've got a plan!" he said.

"He's got a plan." Lion repeated, smiling.
"And you're gonna lead us."

"Huh?" Lion glanced at the guards fearfully. Finally, he looked at his two friends with a determined look in his eyes. "Alright. I'll go in there for the girls, Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch. Guards or no guards, I'll tear 'em apart. There's just one thing I want you guys to do...talk me out of it." Tinman and Scarecrow pushed him forward before he could try to turn back.

After a huge fight, the trio managed to pose as guards with disguises and get into the castle, Toto following. They broke off from the line and Toto led them to the door of the room.

I'll end it here. The conclusion of the antagonist of this tale coming soon!

I know people are reading this! Please could you review as well?