Chapter 21: Death of a Witch

The small group of refugees traveled east as quickly as they could. They left West City as soon as possible and began to cross the barren plains. However progress was slow due to the travelers being tired and hungry and they stopped to rest at dawn.

"She'll be waking up soon" Dorothy said with some fear in her voice.

"Maybe she won't know where we've gone" Goku suggested

Gohan said "Her soldiers were able to find us before; remember when those poppies were planted on us?"

Yamcha said "We should keep moving. Goku asked about food and he continued "We're sure to find a town or city soon. Let's go."

And so they continued their weary journey and before long Yamcha was proved right as a town appeared on the horizon. It took about an hour to reach it and they were starving as they staggered over the city limits. It was a modest little settlement and the people were only just starting their daily business.

The travelers approached a woman beginning work in her garden and asked for some food. "Oh my, don't you all look…*gasp* is that Queen Lunch of the East!"

"I am. If you would please provide us with food and water I'll make sure it is paid for out of my treasury as soon as I'm returned to my throne."

"Oh that's not necessary at all Your Majesty! Lucy Wink at your service; please come in, come in."

In no time at all, the group was sitting at the woman's dining room table being served a feast and telling their story to her family. "And so we need to get back to the Emerald City as quickly as possible, stopping only to find 16" Lunch concluded.

The Mr. Wink said "Why don't you use the golden helmet to call the Sayians. They should obey you and they could take you to the Emerald City in a jiffy."

Goku said "That's a great idea! Why didn't we think of that?"

Gohan said "Possibly because it could turn out very dangerous. What if they're only loyal to Bulma or she's the only one strong enough to maintain control?"

"I doubt the first point very much" Dorothy said "They're her slaves remember? However the second one is worth thinking about. If they do get rowdy I have this but, on second thought, I doubt it would do much good."

She had pulled a device very similar to a gun out of her pocket and everyone recoiled. "I picked up during our escape; I thought it might be useful."

Mr. Wink said "You're right Dorothy that won't scare the Sayians at all but I still think the plan is worth a try."

Lunch said "At any rate, we need to be on our way. Thank you very much for the food."

Mrs. Wink insisted upon giving Lunch some proper clothes to replace the rags and then they were finally on their way. The plan was to try summoning the Sayians away from the town as a matter of safety. The family, especially the children, wanted to walk them to the other side of town and, as other town members felt the same way, they soon had a sizable crowd.

As they were crossing the town square Gohan noticed a large machine with multiple pipes and asked what it was. "That's our groundwater pump" Mrs. Wink explained "The only way this town stays alive."

"I imagine it would be a huge problem if a pipe burst" Dorothy commented but Mr. Wink shook his head.

"It's designed to seal off any breakage as quickly as possible. It…" he was interrupted by Toto's sudden barking.

"What is it boy? What's wrong?"

Dorothy's question was answered almost instantly as the ground shook and the crowd scattered because of a brilliant flash of light. Standing in the middle of this chaos was Bulma, the Wicked Witch of the West.

"So here you are" she said through clenched teeth "my naughty little prisoners!" She was shaking with anger and the scattered citizens seemed afraid to even move. "I tried to be kind to you and this is the thanks I get? Running away and theft! Well no more Miss Nice Guy, I'm getting those shoes and ending this game once and for all!"

Yamcha and Goku stepped in front of the group but Bulma blasted them with lightning from her hands. They collapsed barely conscious and while Lunch and Dorothy were attending to them, she held out her hand and Gohan was drawn to her. She clasped him by the collar and held him in the air.

"Let me go!"

"I was most angered to find you were gone boy; you and your unique genetics made for a fine trophy. However I do have enough data from you to be going on with and you are no longer necessary." Her hands began to glow and spark and Gohan gasped in pain. "However" she raised her voice significantly "I might be persuaded to let him live if I were to be given a certain pair of shoes."

"Don't do it Dorothy" Gohan shouted "Oz is more important than I am!"

"Shut up you!" He screamed as he was gripped by another spasm of pain. Dorothy removed the blaster from her pocket and aimed it at the Witch but she just laughed. "Would you risk killing your friend while trying to harm me? The shoes now!"

Much to her friends protests Dorothy slipped one of the shoes off and tossed it towards Bulma. It stopped in midair, vanished and re-materialized on her own foot. "Yes! Now give me the other one!"

"Release Gohan and promise our safe passage out of here first."

"Do not try to bargain with me girl." A ring of fire appeared around her and Gohan and it began to shrink "The flames will not harm me but what about dear Gohan. I wonder how long he'll scream before he's reduced to ash."

Dorothy's mind was in conflict; she knew how much trouble Oz would be in if Bulma had both shoes but she had to save Gohan. Suddenly, with very little thought involved, she fired a shot at the nearby pump. A large pipe exploded; the flames were extinguished drenching Gohan and Bulma.

The Witch screamed and dropped Gohan who immediately backed away. She continued to scream in apparent agony as she convulsed and was enveloped in thick black smoke. "No, not water! Anything but water!" Gohan and company watched in horror and she vanished behind the smoke but her screams continued for about a minute longer before mysteriously, and somehow horribly, silencing. The black smoke continued for a minute longer before finally dissipating revealing a silver shoe and puddle of charred goop. That was all that remained of the Wicked Witch of the West.

The crowds were locked in stunned silence. The pump had sealed itself as predicted but no one was attempting to survey it for any potential damage. Finally someone said "She's dead."

At that moment the people erupted in cheers and shouts of joy. The children and their companions were showered with praise and thanks. Someone gave Dorothy her shoe back and they were lifted onto the shoulders of the crowd.

"We're heroes!" Yamcha exclaimed

"Yes" Dorothy said "for killing yet another witch. I didn't even mean to do it."

Gohan who had been silent all this time said "Well I already know what one advantage to this is."

"What?"

"This!" He left the shoulders of celebrating citizens and erupted into the sky as a golden Super Sayian streak. "My curse is gone! I'm me again! And even better we've done what the Wizard asked. Our wishes are as good as granted!"

Everyone laughed and found that they couldn't stop laughing. They were so happy that it seemed like they would never be sad again.