The Boy Of Oz (2016)

by Dequincyx

While running home from school with her dog, Toto, 9 year old Dorothy Gale comes across an unconscious 10 year old boy and she and her aunt Em and uncle Henry rush the boy to the hospital, where he awakens with no memory of who he is or where he comes from. The boy is released into Dorothy's family's custody the very next day and stays with them on their farm, until one day, a twis

21. Episode 21: Farewell To Oz

EPISODE 21: FAREWELL TO Oz.

20 Days Later

After bidding their friends, Dorothy and Toto, fair well, Danny used his third and final comand for the winged monkeys and ordered them to carry the Scarecrow back to Emerald City, Tin Man to the West and him and Lion to the jungle where the African cat had slew the gigantic spider Queen. Danny had been living here in the jungle with the Lion and the other animals ever since the day that Dorothy and Toto returned home to Kansas. While spending the past 20 days here, Danny had made friends with all of the animals of the jungle and considered this his home. For the time being, anyway. After all, Glinda had promised to send him back home to where he came from. But that was 20 days ago, and the young monkey boy was beginning to lose all hope of ever going back home again. Wherever his home was. But on this paticular day, however, the winged monkeys were flying through the bright blue sky and soring over the jungle.

"Hear me, you animals of the jungle! There is to be a meeting at Counsel Forest!" Said the winged Gorilla King as he and his band sored through the sky. "Hurry you animals who feed on the grass!Counsel Forest will be crowded today! Hurry or there will not be room enough for everyone! Attention, everyone, the asembley will soon begin! Your new king summons you to the greatest asembley in living memory. Creatures of the jungle, the time has come to bid fair well to Danny, the monkey boy!"

~WITH DANNY~

Meanwhile, Danny sat up in a tree, lost in his thoughts about one person and one person only: And that person was none other than Dorothy Gale. It had been 20 days since she and Toto had gone back to Kansas, but to Danny it felt like forever. As he sat in the tree and looked at the bright blue sky, the young boy thought about his very first encounter with Dorothy and all the adventures they had in the land of Oz, from beginning to end. Their time in Oz together had went by so fast, it was hard to believe that all of it actually happened.

"Dorothy." Said Danny as he looked at the whistle he held in his hand. It was the only thing he had left of Dorothy, as she had given it to him before going back home to Kansas.

"Hurry to the Councel Forest for the fair well asembly!" Shouted the king Gorilla as he and his band of monkeys flew by.

Danny couldn't believe what he had just herd. Fair well asembly? What asembly? He didn't know anything about it.

The Tiger then ran up to the tree that Danny was sitting in. "Danny, everyone's waiting for you. Danny? Are you gonna come or not?"

"Yes, Tiger." Said Danny.

"Alright then, let's go." Said the Tiger.

"Sure. Just give me a minute to collect my thoughts." Said Danny.

"You can collect your thoughts while we're walking. Now come on." Said the Tiger.

"(Sighs). Okay." Said Danny. He jumped down from the tree and he and the Tiger walked through the jungle to the Councel Forest.

~AT COUNCEL FOREST~

Danny and the Tiger soon arrived at the Councel Forest where all the other animals were.

"Look." Said the Tiger.

"Huh?" Said Danny. He looked and saw that all of the animals of the jungle were gathered together. Not only that, there were also some familiar faces in the animal crowd as well. Like, Snowmella, The Good Witch Of The North, The Munchkins, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, the winged monkeys, the field mice and the Mouse Queen, and finally, Glinda, The Good Witch Of The South. She wore a big, pink dress with long sleeves, the shoulder part of the sleeves were puffy and clear, she wore a big crown-like hat on her head, red lipstick, pink high heel shoes, and she held a long wand in her hand with a star on the tip

The entire crowd turned to see Danny and Tiger.

"Let's go." Said Danny to Tiger. He and the big striped cat walked towards where the crowd was and stood in front of them next to Lion, who stood next to Tin Man, who stood next to Scarecrow, who stood next to Snowmella, who stood next to Glinda.

All of the Elelphants soon arrived on the scene and joined the crowd of animals.

"They're even having the Elephants here." Said a Bear.

"Yes, it's the first time the entire herd has ever been to an asembly." Added a Panther.

"They came for Danny's sake." Said a white female Wolf.

"This is the biggest asembly i've ever seen."

"Is Danny really leaving the jungle?"

"I herd he was going to leave Oz, like Dorothy did."

"Leave Oz? No, it can't be!"

"Well, that's what i heard. And i must say, it doesn't make sense to me."

"When is this asembly gonna begin anyway?"

The Lion then walked up on top of the flat surface of a rock and let out a loud deafening roar that vibrated the entire jungle and silenced the animals' chatter. "Quiet, please."

"Thank you, Lion." Said Snowmella. "Animals of the forest and citizens of Oz, i have called this asembly to announce that Danny is leaving the land of Oz. He will go back to his world where he will be reunited with his friends and family, just as Dorothy and The Wizard have."

Danny couldn't believe what he had just heard. Was this finally it? Was today the day? Was he finally going back home to his own time period? If this was a dream, he did not want to be woken up.

"See, what did i tell you?"

"Did you hear that? Danny's going back to where he came from. And he's going to reunite with his family and friends.

Snowmella: "Needless to say, we'll all miss Danny. He's very dear to our hearts. He and Dorothy have both brought happiness to all of us. But now, like Dorothy and The Wizard, it is time for him to go. That's why my sister, Glinda, has invited you all to this asembly. Because the moment has come to bid Danny fair well."

"I can't believe he's actually going to leave."

"Quiet, please." Said Glinda. "We all have kind memories of the things Danny and Dorothy have done. And we also remember how we've admired their quick wits and courage. Their memories will live on in the legends of Oz. And yet, despite the number of days they have been here, as well as the dager they have encountered along the way, Danny and Dorothy never lost their modesty. They are still gental and kind. A friend to all the citizens of Oz. But under that monkey appearance of Danny's beats the heart of a human. It was Danny and Dorothy who killed Hazel, The Wicked Witch Of The East, and set the Munchkins free. It was Dorothy, Danny and their friends who went to see The Great Oz. And it was Dorothy, Danny and Lion who destroyed Esther, The Wicked Witch Of The West. The stories of Dorothy and Danny's courage will be told and retold with pride by future generations of Oz. And we, who knew them, can count ourselves lucky to have witnessed their exploits."

"She's right. As one of Danny and Dorothy's closest friends, i have known their love. As i travelled with them throughout the land of Oz, i have seen their skills and courage. They are truly the living, breathing definition of the word 'Brave.' " Said Lion.

"Well said. Hooray for Danny!" Said a boy Munchkin.

"He's the greatest friend i've ever known." Said a Munchkin girl.

"He's a hero of Oz, just like Dorothy. It's as simple as that." Said a Minchkin boy.

"We're gonna miss you, Danny." Said Tiger.

"Yeah!"

"We sure are."

Lion: "Yes, we are going to miss him...very much. But we must respect his feelings. Danny has been living among you all as a monkey, but we can't deny the truth that he's a human being. He does not belong here in Oz with us. It's natural that he should leave Oz and be with others of his own kind. And even if it breaks our hearts, we must let him go. All of Danny and Dorothy's friends in Oz will feel the pain of both their absence. And as one of his close and dearest friends, i will feel that pain more strongly than anyone. But what can we do? Danny wants to return home, just as bad as Dorothy did. We have no choise but to respect his decision."

"I've never seen the king looking so sad." Said Tiger.

"He's one of Danny's closest friends. He'll miss him even more than we will." Said the Mouse Queen.

"That's all i want to say. I'm sure everyone here has a kind word they'd like to say to Danny. But since we don't have time for everyone, i'll ask those who knew Danny best to come up and say a few words." Lion then stepped down from the flat surface of the rock.

"Scarecrow's going to speak."

Scarecrow walked up to the flat roof top of the rock and stood before the crowd. "I have something to say. I don't think Danny should leave. If he goes back to his world, he'll be making a terrible mistake. We all know that Dorothy's gone back home to Kansas, but she has the magic silver shoes, so she can come back to Oz any time she wants to. But Danny, on the other hand, doesn't have anything magical to leave with, and there for, wouldn't be able to return to Oz once he left."

"That's right, i'm with Scarecrow." Said Tin Man before running up on the flat roof top of the rock where his straw friend stood.

"Tin Man." Said Scarecrow.

"Well, i don't know about the rest of you, but i'm against this idea of Danny leaving." Said Tin Man. "Like Scarecrow said, Danny has no magical items with him, and wouldn't be able to return to Oz once he left. If Danny leaves us now, he may regret it. But if he stays here with us, his life will be happy. I know he wasn't born in this world, but he has spent the passed several days here, and he belongs in Oz with us." He turned to Danny. "Danny, stay here with us. We fellow Oziens love you." He looked at the crowd. "Isn't that right? Don't we want Danny to stay?"

"YEAH!" Shouted the crowd.

"Oz is where you belong!"

"You can't leave us, Danny!"

"Please!"

Lion then ran up to where his two friends stood.

"It's the king, quiet." Said Tiger.

"I disagree with Scarecrow and Tin Man. I believe that Danny should go back to his world and figure out who he is." Said Lion. "I know that once he leaves Oz there's a 100% chance we may never see him again, but while i was traveling with him and Dorothy and my other two friends, i slowly began to learn who i was. And in doing so, i found my place in Oz as king of the jungle. Scarecrow found his place as the new ruler of Emerald City and all of Oz, and Tin Man found his as the ruler of the West, while Dorothy found her's in Kansas. Each of us have found out who we are and where we truly belong. Now it's time for Danny to find out who he is and where he belongs. We have to let him go...even if it means never seeing him again."

"I don't believe you, Lion!" Said Tin Man.

"It's the truth, Tin Man." Said Lion. "Why don't you and Scarecrow ask yourselves why you want Danny to stay. Is it to make him happy or to make yourselves happy?"

Scarecrow and Tin Man frowned at Lion's words.

Lion: "I know when Danny leaves, he probably won't be able to come back, but i would rather him be in his own world, happy, verses him being here with us and miserable all the time. I mean think of Dorothy. Sure, we were all sad to see her go, but because we did, she's with her family and friends right now. Danny probably has friends and a family back home in his world that love him every bit as much as we do. And they can give him the life that he needs. We can't do that, guys. We could never do that. No matter what. We have to think of Danny. Will he be happy if he spends his life with us? We all love him, of course, and we'll do all we can to make him happy. But the truth of the matter is, he'll grow lonely if he stays here in Oz with us. He's already lonely. He needs to be with his own kind. That's why i don't think he should stay here with us. I know we're all going to miss him terribly, but if we all truly love him, and we want the best for Danny, then we have to let him leave. That's all i have to say."

Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion then stepped down from the rock.

"You know, he could be right."

"Maybe Danny is better off with his own kind."

"My turn." Said Snowmella. The Good Witch Of The North walked up to the flat surface of the rock and stood before the crowd. "Excuse me, everybody, i have something i wish to say. And i asure you that i won't keep talking for long. I just want to say that i agree completely with Lion. I know Danny, yes. No better than his three friends, but i think it's time he left Oz. He's a clever boy full of ideas. He needs to find out who he is and where he truly belongs. And that's the one thing he'll never find in the land of Oz. I wish he could stay, of course, and i know i'll probably be miserable when he goes, but like Lion and the others, i want Danny to have a happy life. Will he have one with humans? I think he will, and i know he won't have one here. Sure, we could try to make him happy, but as Lion said, what Danny really needs is to find out who he is and where he truly belongs, and we Oziens can't give him that." She looked at Danny. "Danny, i will miss you, my young friend. I hope you will find what it is you're looking for in your new life." With that, Snowmella stepped down from the rock and rejoined her sister, Glinda.

"First Dorothy, now Danny. The land of Oz is losing it's two greatest heros." Said a Munchkin boy.

"I can't imagine life without them." Said the Mouse Queen.

"No, neither can i."

"I'm sure gonna miss them."

"So am i."

"We'll all miss them."

As Danny looked on at the crowd of animals, he couldn't help but feel sad. Ever since the day he arrived in (1900) Kansas, he had been wandering one thing and one thing only: Who he was and where he came from. But then the twister came and swept him and Dorothy away to the land of Oz and everything changed after that. Well, almost everything. Danny was still focused on finding out who he was. In fact, that was one of the reasons why he went with Dorothy and Toto on their journey through Oz to meet the Wizard. Unfortunantly, the wizard turned out to be nothing more than just a 9 year old boy from (1986) Omaha, a town that wasn't too far away from Kansas. After that big let down, he and Dorothy and their friends travelled to the land of the South to see Glinda, who pointed out to Dorothy that the silver shoes were the key to her going back home. Once that was revealed, Dorothy and Danny said their goodbyes to each other and she and Toto went back home to Kansas where they belonged. Now here it was, 20 days later, Danny was leaving Oz as well. But he didn't want that anymore. He wanted to stay in the land of Oz with his new friends, but he knew that, like Dorothy, he had a home to go back to as well, and that he had friends and family, who were probably worried sick by now. Danny knew that he just had to go back.

"This is such a sad day for the land of Oz."

"For the whole world of Oz."

"Well, it's a happy day for Danny." Said Scarecrow.

"A happy day? He doesn't look very happy. He looks as sad as the rest of us." Said Tin Man.

"Yeah, you're right." Said Lion.

"Don't be sad, Danny. We want you to rejoice on this important day." Said Scarecrow.

"We love you, Danny." Said Tin Man.

"Danny," Glinda began. "It's your turn to speak now."

"Huh?" Said Danny, looking at Glinda.

"Go on, Danny, all of your dearest friends are here. You should say a few words to them. Do you think you can?" Said Glinda.

"Sure." Said Danny. He walked up on the flat surface of the rock and stood in front of the whole crowd. "Thank you. Uh...thank you all for coming here. I'll...i'll never forget this day as long as i live. I have had the best time of my life here with all of you. It's time...for me to say goodbye."

"NOOOOO!" Shouted the crowd.

"Stay here with us, Danny!"

"Oh, that's so nice of you." Said Danny. "Friends, thank you. Thank you all for coming to this asembly to bid me fair well. As you all know, i am going home today. I'm going to reunite with my friends and family. And after i'm reunited, i'm going to stay with them because that's where i belong. Leaving Oz is the hardest decision i have ever had to make in my life. And now that i've made it, i only regret one thing: Leaving my friends. And the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion, who Dorothy and i met on our journey to the Emerald City. But, i know that i'm doing the right thing. That sooner or later, i was bound to leave Oz. It's just that...i'm going to miss you all. When i leave Oz...i'll be leaving a part of myself behind. I'll come back here and visit you if i can, and i'll try to see all of you as much as i can. But i know it's never going to be the same. Because i'm going home now. Yes, i am going home, my friends. But i promise all of you, i won't forget any of you or all i have learned here in Oz. Like the wizard said, there is a time for every perpus under heaven. A time to keep and a time to cast away. Sadly, i'll admit, now's the time to split."

"NO! NOOOO! Don't go, Danny!" Shouted the crowd.

"Friends , friends, it's not enough to know where you're going. You also have to know where you are coming from. Today i go forward by going back. I love you, Oz, i love you very much. I'm sure that i will return to your beautiful world some day. If you want me, i'll come back." Said Danny.

"YEAH!" Cheered the crowd.

"But for now, it's like this. I am going back home to my world to be with my friends and family, where i will also learn who i am, where i come from and where i truly belong." Said Danny.

"We suport you, Danny, 100%. Don't we fellas?" Said Scarecrow.

"That's right, Danny. We all hope you succeed. All of us." Added Tin Man.

"And we all wish you good luck. Good luck, Danny." Said Lion.

"Yes, good luck, my dear." Said Snowmella.

"Good luck, Danny." Said Glinda.

"Yeah!" Cheered the crowd.

"Good luck, Danny, we'll miss you!" Said Tiger.

"Come back and visit us, if you can! We love you!" Said the Mouse Queen.

"Good luck, Danny, don't forget to come and see us now and then, if you can!" Said a Munchkin boy.

"We love you, Danny!"

"Enjoy your life back home, we'll miss you!"

"We love you! Good luck, Danny! We'll be thinking of you! Don't forget to come back and see us sometime, if you can!"

"We love you, Danny! Have a safe journey back home!"

"We love you, we'll miss you!"

"Good luck, Danny!"

Glinda, Snowmella, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion all walked up to the rock and stood on the flat surface with Danny.

"Uh, guys? Hate to interrupt, but, Glinda, you said you can help me get home." Said Danny.

"It's tru. Just say goodbye to your friends and...i will show you the way." Said Glinda.

Danny looked at the crowd. "Well, guys...i guess this is goodbye."

"We're really gonna miss you, Danny." Said a winged monkey.

"Yeah. Next to Dorothy, you were the best boss we ever had." Said the winged king Gorilla.

"I think it's time for you guys to be your own bosses." Danny looked at the orange haired woman. "Glinda."

"Friends, i have a suggestion for this asembly. I think we should all give the winged monkeys a token of our esteam. Something that will remind them of the days when they were slaves themselves." Said Glinda.

"Great idea!" Shouted the crowd.

"The magic golden cap." Said Glinda, who held the golden cap in her hands. "But before i can give it to you, i have one last request for you to fulfill."

"Of course, Glinda. Anything for you." Said the Gorilla King.

"I'm glad to hear it. As you all know, i have already used up my first and second comand. My first comand was for you to bring the Scarecrow here to this asembly in honor of Danny. My second comand was for you to bring the Tin Man here to this asembly as well. And my third and final comand is for you to return Scarecrow to the Emerald City and Tin Man to the land of the winkies." Said Glinda.

"You got it, Glinda, it's done." Said the Gorilla King.

"Good." Said Glinda. The golden cap then floated out of her hands and headed towards the winged monkeys.

"Oh, i don't believe you're gonna do it!" Said the king in excitment. The golden cap then landed in the palms of his hands.

"I'm sorry, i'm not following. The monkeys get the hat?" Said Tiger.

"The monkeys get the hat?" Said Snowmella.

"The monkeys get the hat." Said Glinda.

Danny looked at the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion. "(Sighs) Well...looks like this is finally it."

"We must be brave, Danny." Said Lion.

The Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion all group hugged Danny, who stood in the middle.

"Goodbye's always break my heart." Said Tin Man.

"I love you guys. I'll never forget you." Said Danny.

"I'll never forget you either." Said Scarecrow.

Just then, a bright, shiny glow could be seen shinning through the friends' group hug. The whole crowd staired in aw at the scene as the bright shine shown through the hug. Once the shine vanished, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion sepparated from the group hug and backed up a little so they could see where the shine was coming from. They all looked down at Danny's feet, Danny included, and saw that his once white sneakers had now been replaced by silver sneakers.

"Look there!" Gasped Scarecrow.

"Are those?!" Gasped Tin Man.

"They couldn't be, could they?!" Gasped Lion.

"Yes, they can, and they are. The silver shoes of Hazel, The Wicked Witch Of The East. They're your's now, Danny." Said Glinda.

"They are?" Danny questioned.

"They are." Said Glinda.

"But i don't understand." Said Danny. "I thought Dorothy was the owner of the silver shoes. After all, it was her house that killed your sister, The Wicked Witch Of The East, it was her who freed the Munchkins from the witch's evil reighn, and it was her who wore the witch's silver shoes throughout our journey here in Oz. Last i checked, they were still on her feet when she and Toto left. They should still be with her in Kansas. What are they doing on my feet?"

"Dorothy may have worn the shoes throughout your journey with her through Oz, but she was not chosen to possess them." Said Glinda.

"I'm confused. Didn't the shoes choose Dorothy as their rightful owner?" Asked Danny.

"No more than they did my sister, Hazel." Said Glinda.

"Again, what?" Asked Danny.

"Let me explane." Said Glinda. "You see, behind these shoes lies a legend. And that legend clearly states that anyone is welcome to wear the silver shoes, but once the shoes choose their rightful owner, that person, alone, will keep them and pass them down from generation to generation and generations to come. That means that when you grow up and have a son or daughter, you can pass the shoes down to them so that they can come here and visit the land of Oz. Then, when they grow up and have a child, they can pass the shoes down to them. And then, when your grandchild grows up, they can pass the shoes down to their child, your great grandchild."

"So i can pass these shoes down to my family for generations and generations to come?" Asked Danny.

"That's right. When you leave Oz, today, those shoes will be leaving with you." Said Glinda.

"But what about Dorothy? What will become of her?" Asked Danny.

"Dorothy is where she belongs. She's back home in Kansas with her beloved aunt and uncle, just like she wanted." Said Glinda.

"I guess it is a good thing that i said goodbye to her. Because now that i have the shoes, that means she can't come back to Oz. She must be so sad. She's probably in her room, crying her eyes out for me right now." Said Danny.

"I don't think it would have mattered if you had said goodbye to Dorothy or not, Danny." Said Glinda.

"Why do say that?" Asked Danny.

"Because she has no memories of ever meeting you. When Dorothy went back home to Kansas, all memories of you were erased from her mind, as well as the minds of those of her friends and family and others you encountered in the year of (1900). She still retains her memories of being here in Oz, but all memories of you have been erased." Said Glinda.

"But why?" Asked Danny.

"Because the past can't remember the present." Said Glinda.

"The past can't remember the present? I don't understand. Why doesn't Dorothy, or anyone else i encountered in (1900) Kansas remember me?" Said Danny.

"Because where you come from, my dear, (1900) is a thing of the past. Your home is in the present year." Said Glinda.

"What year is that?" Asked Danny.

"You'll know when you get there." Said Glinda.

"I understand. So...i guess i don't need your help to send me home now, huh? I mean, i have the silver shoes now, and they have the power to take me anywhere." Said Danny.

"That's right." Said Glinda.

"Really? Anywhere? Well, i wish "someone" would have told me and Dorothy this before these magic shoes put us in magic danger." Said Danny.

"My sincere appologies, dear. But this is the Oz honost truth. I truly did not know of the shoes great power. Had i known, i would have told you and Dorothy." Said Snowmella.

"Just think, you could've told them the secret right off, had you known." Said Glinda.

"Well, yeah, i could've, but it wouldn't have really made much of a great story to tell, now would it? I mean look at all the people i would've put out of work." Said Snowmella.

Everyone laughed at The Good Witch Of The North's remark.

"And besides, this is how things work in enchanted lands. The thing you were looking for was there all along." Said Snowmella. "So...do you wanna get home or not?"

"Thanks, sis." Said Glinda.

"So all i have to do is knock my heels together three times, and command the shoes to take me wherever i wanna go, right?" Said Danny.

"That's all it is. But somebody's gonna be sorry to hear that. You see, Snowmella and i worked real hard together over the past 20 days, trying to figure out a way to get you home. And it took some doing, but we managed to find the source that took you from your home to (1900) Kansas and we brought it here." Said Glinda.

"You what?! Really?!" Danny gasped.

"Yes. In fact, here it is right now." Said Glinda before looking up at the sky. "It's okay, you can come out now!"

As if on cue, a large gray floating object appeared in the sky, shocking everyone, minus Glinda and Snowmella. The object floated down from the sky and went down to where Danny and his friends stood.

"What is that?" Asked Scarecrow.

"I don't know, Scarecrow." Said Tin Man.

"Some kind of magical object, maybe?" Said Lion.

"It's a spaceship. An alien spaceship. Better yet known as a UFO. But what's it doing here? Is this what took me from my home and to (1900) Kansas?" Said Danny.

"Right, you are, Danny. And now that same spaceship, or UFO, as you put it, is here to take you back home where you came from." Said Glinda.

The gray spaceship then opened up and a few floating steps appeared, leading to the entrance of the ship. "Hello, Danny." Came a female computerised voice from inside the ship.

"Please...tell me...is there a way for you to get me back home?" Asked Danny.

"Well, Danny you were wise and good enough to help your friends find what was inside them all along. That's true for you also." Said the spaceship.

"Home? Inside me? I don't understand." Said Danny.

"Home is a place we all must find, child. It's not just a place where you live. Home is knowing. Knowing your home. Knowing who you are. Knowing your mind. Knowing your heart. Knowing your courage. When we know ourselves...we're always home...anywhere. Do you understand what i'm trying to say?" Said the spaceship.

"I think so." Danny said. "But there's still one thing i don't get. If you're what took me away from my world, then why did you do it? Why did you do this to me? You took me away from my family and friends, and then you dumped me off in (1900) Kansas instead of my own time period. Why did you do it? Why did you take me away from my home?"

"Because, my mission is the travel across the galaxy, collect biological specimens, take them to my planet for analysis, and then return them to there homes. Our scientists discovered that humans only use 10 percent of their brain and, as an experiment, filled the remainder of your's with miscellaneous information. This includes all of the star charts discovered by our astonomers. I then returned you to Earth, but did not take you back to your own time, having determined that a human would be unlikely to survive a trip back in time. Also, before i dropped you off at planet Earth in (1900), i removed all of your memories of your time period so you wouldn't upset the balance of time by talking to humans of that time about your time period." Said the spaceship.

"I guess that makes sense. But what exactly does your being here in Oz mean?" Said Danny.

"What do you mean "What does it mean?" It's just as Glinda said." Said the spaceship.

"So it's true? You're here to take me back home?" Asked Danny.

"Yes, i am. But..."

"ALRIGHT, DANNY! YAY!" Shouted the crowd, cutting the spaceship off.

"HEY! I said but! Did you not hear me say "but"? There's a but coming." Said the spaceship.

"There's always a but." Said Danny.

"But, i want a little something in return. I will take you back home to your own time period, and i'll even give you back all of your memories of your life. Provided that you give me the information that i stored inside your brain." Said the spaceship.

"What? But why?" Asked Danny.

"Before leaving Earth in (1900), i accidentally crashed, erasing all the computer star charts and data. Therefore, i need the information inside your brain to return home to my planet." Said the spaceship.

"Oh. Is that all?" Asked Danny.

"That's all." Said the spaceship.

"Well, then consider it done. So...let's hurry back home." Said Danny. He turned to the two good witches. "I can't believe you both went through all this trouble just for me. Thank you."

"Don't thank them just yet." Said the spaceship.

"Huh?" Danny turned his attention back to the spaceship.

"Once you hear the full story, you may not want to go." Said the spaceship.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Asked Danny.

"I'm absolutely certain that i'll be able to return you to your timeline, but i cannot gurentee you will survive the trip, or if you'll be human again once we arrive there." Said the spaceshipe.

"I have confidence in you, uh...uh...Hey, what's your name, anyway?" Asked Danny.

"I am Venus 3000." Said the spaceship.

"Oh. Well, i have confidence in you, Venus. I'll take that chance." Said Danny.

"Danny." Came a voice from behind.

Danny turned to the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion.

"Are you sure you wanna do this?" Asked Scarecrow.

"You guys have had what you've been searching for in you all along." Said Danny. "I don't know what's in me. I'll have to find that out for myself. But i know one thing. I'll never find it by staying here in Oz or seeking out people who i think have the answers to your problems. I tried that before. It doesn't work. There's a whole new world out there just waiting for me. And i'll have to begin by going to that world, living on it, and learn who i am and where i truly belong."

"Fame...fortune...success...they're all illusions. All there is that is real...is the friendship...that two can share." Said Scarecrow.

"That's beautiful, who said that?" Asked Danny.

"I did." Said Scarecrow. He and Danny then embraced each other with a hug. "Oh, Danny. I'll think of you all the time." The Scarecrow then released the boy.

"And i'll miss you...everyday." Said Tin Man. "Even if i had to go back to that junkyard, even as a useless pile of junk burried underneath it...i wouldn't mind...because i have known real love." The Tin Man and Danny then hugged each other.

"Oh, don't rust yourself." Said Danny. He and the Tin Man released each other and he turned to the Lion and hugged him around his thick mane.

"Oh, Danny." Said Lion.

Danny looked at the Lion, who was crying at this point.

"If it hadn't been for you and Dorothy...i'd still be back in that Jungle in the East. Afraid to live." Said Lion.

"Me too." Said Danny.

"So that's all there is to it. You just click your heels three times...and you get to go home." Said Tin Man.

"It makes no sense that it must be simple. You know, the truth is like that." Said Scarecrow.

"If that's true, then you and Dorothy would have never had to battle The Wicked Witch Of The West, or the Wizard. Or even meet me." Said Lion.

"Or me." Said Tin Man.

"Or me." Said Scarecrow.

"Oh, i wouldn't have missed meeting any of you for anything. And i know that if Dorothy were here right now, she would tell you exactly what i'm telling you right now." Said Danny.

"But just think. You and Dorothy could have gone back home before you even met me." Said Scarecrow.

"Or me." Said Tin Man.

"Yeah, Danny, you and Dorothy could have gone home before you got tide up with any of us. Boy...what a shame." Said Lion.

"No...it wasn't a shame." Said Danny. "Because if Dorothy and i had gone back then...we would never have met all of you." He turned to Scarecrow. "And i would have never seen you get your brain." He looked at Tin Man. "Or you, you're heart." He looked at Lion. "Or you, your courage. Promise me you'll remember me."

"I promise." Said Lion.

Danny looked at the Tin Man. "Keep me in your heart."

"I will." Said Tin Man.

Danny turned to the Scarecrow. "Be sure to think of me all the time."

"I will." Said Scarecrow.

Danny then walked towards the spaceship and looked back at his friends. "And who knows? Maybe if i hold on to these shoes...they'll lead me back to you someday."

"Please try." Said Tin Man.

"I will." Said Danny.

The Lion then began to sob. "(Sobbing) I can't believe you're actually leaving us. I'm really gonna miss you. Oh, Danny! (Sobbing)."

Danny walked up to the Lion. "It's okay, Lion, i won't be gone forever. I'll come back and visit."

"Never forget this: You're Danny. Danny to us. No matter where you may go, or what they may call you...you will always be our best friend." Said Lion. He put his right paw up and Danny touched it with the palm of his right hand.

"Thank you. Thank you all so much. Thank you...for being my friends." Said Danny. He turned to Venus, the spaceship. "I'm ready now."

"Goodbye, Danny." Said Snowmella.

"Goodbye, Danny. Good luck in the new world. And remember...click your heels three times...and you can go home." Added Glinda.

"But won't the silver shoes just come off my feet like they did Dorothy when she went back home to Kansas?" Asked Danny.

"Maybe." Said Glinda.

"Will i be able to return if that happens?" Asked Danny.

"It's difficult to say. The only reason you and Dorothy came to Oz in the first place was because my sister, Esther, conjured up a twister in Dorothy's world that sent you and her here and her house killed my other sister, Hazel. Or to put it rightly, Esther killed Hazel, as she was the one who brought you and Dorothy here." Said Glinda.

"But why? Why would Esther kill her sister, Hazel?" Asked Danny.

"Why, for the silver shoes, of course. Like Hazel, Esther also knew what great power the shoes possessed and was determined to get them away from her, just as she was determined to get them away from Dorothy. So she conjured up this twister in Dorothy's world and brought you and her and her house here to Oz, which, in turn, killed Hazel." Said Glinda.

"So does this mean that Dorothy's not a killer?" Asked Danny.

"Yes, absolutely." Said Glinda.

"So when Dorothy and i came to this world, it wasn't just a stroke of luck?" Said Danny.

"I'm afraid not. My sister, Esther, conjured up the twister that brought you and Dorothy here and killed Hazel to get her magic shoes. But since you and Dorothy destroyed her, and there are no more wicked witches anywhere in Oz, it's all turned out for the best." Said Glinda.

"Yeah, i suppose it has." Said Danny. "But there's still one thing that bothers me, though. What happened to Dorothy's farm house after we left it in Munchkin Land?"

"Oh, that old shack? The Munchkins and i took it and turned it into one of my ice-cream stores. The name of it is "Baskins & Ozins." Said Snowmella.

"Really? You turned the farm house into an ice-cream shop?" Asked Danny.

"Sure did." Said Snowmella. A small blue cup appeared in her hand in a flash of white snowflakes, containning an Oreo blizzard and a blue plastic spoon sticking out of it. "Here, have some." She said before handing the Oreo blizzard to Danny.

"Oreo? But i don't understand? What's this for?" Asked Danny.

"Consider it a goodbye present to you from all of your friends here in Oz." Said Snowmella.

"Thanks, Good Witch Snow." Said Danny.

"You're welcome, sweet heart. Now i do believe you have a flight to catch. Yes?" Said Snowmella.

"But the shoes. I mean...will they still come off when i get back home?" Asked Danny.

"Again, it's difficult to say. If they do, i'm not sure when or how they will turn up in your world. It could be days...weeks...months...or maybe even years." Said Glinda.

"You mean the fact that i now have the silver shoes could just be temporary and i might not be able to come back?" Said Danny.

"It would appear so. Each universe has it's own set of cycles. No matter how advanced magic or technology gets, we can't change that." Said Glinda.

"I see. So i guess this is goodbye then." Said Danny.

"I wouldn't worry about it if i were you, Danny." Said Glinda. "For even if the shoes do come off once you've reached home, the legend says that they always find their way back to the owner that they have chosen. But when, where or how they will turn up, i cannot say."

"But what if they end up on the wrong feet again." Said Danny.

"It wouldn't matter if they did. The shoes have already chosen who they want to be their owner, so they're magic will only work for you. If anyone else puts them on, they will just be a pair of regular shoes." Said Glinda.

"Goodbye, everyone! You've all been terrific people, and very good friends!" Said Danny.

"I guess we better get going." Said Venus.

"Be careful, you two." Said Scarecrow.

"We'll be just fine. We're in good hands." Said Venus. "Come on."

Danny walked over to the spaceship and walked up the steps and entered inside the ship. He sat down a seat and buckled up his seatbelt and waved goodbye to the people of Oz as the steps vanished. "Oh, wait! One more thing!" Danny took the whistle off his neck that Dorothy had given him before departing for Kansas. "Here, catch!" He threw the whistle out of the ship and Tin Man caught it. "It's the whistle that the field mice and the Mouse Queen gave us. Be sure to give it back to them."

"Thanks, i will. Bye." Said Tin Man.

"Goodbye!" Shouted, everyone as they waved goodbye to their friend.

The entrance to the spaceship closed.

~INSIDE THE SPACESHIP~

"Okay...Venus, take us out of here." Said Danny.

"With plesure." Said Venus.

~OUTSIDE THE SPACESHIP~

The crowd of Oziens watched the spaceship as it floated higher and higher into air.

"Bye, Danny!" Shouted Scarecrow.

"Yeah! We'll miss you!" Shouted Tin Man.

"Goodbye, Danny!" Said Glinda.

~INSIDE THE SPACESHIP~

Danny looked out the window of the ship and saw all of his Ozian friends waving goodbye to him.

"I wonder if my friends will be angry with me if i'm not able to come back. Or will they understand?" Danny thought.

"I sure am gonna miss that kid." Came the voice of Lion.

"Me too." Added the voice of Tin Man.

"He didn't even come back to see us, like he promised." Said the voice of Scarecrow.

"I'm sure he wants to come back, but maybe he's not able to." Said the voice of Lion.

"Goodbye, everybody. Goodbye." Said Danny as he waved in the window at all of his friends. The monkey boy then focused his vision on his three conpanions who had been with him and Dorothy throughout their entire journey here in the world of Oz. "Scarecrow...Tin Man...Lion."

The spaceship then took off for the sky and vanished in one zoom.

~WITH THE OZIANS~

The Ozians looked up into the sky as they watched the spaceship vanish in a zoom.

"He's gone. And we'll never see him again." Said Scarecrow.

"It's alright, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion. You did the right thing. Danny is where he belongs now." Said Snowmella.

"Yeah...i guess you're right. But i still think he would've made one swell Ozian." Said Scarecrow.

"And on that note, Scarecrow, let us go back to where we belong. Glinda?" Said Tin Man.

"I'm on it." Glinda turned to the giant, black, winged Gorilla and his band of winged monkeys. Winged monkeys, my third and final comand is for you to return the Scarecrow to the Emerald City and the Tin Man to the land of the Winkies."

"Sure thing, miss Glinda." Said the king Gorilla.

The the winged monkeys picked up the Scarecrow and the the Tin Man and they all flew away into the sky.

~IN OUTER SPACE~

As the spaceship traveled through outer space, Venus was comunicating with Danny.

"I'm confused. Why do you wish to leave this beautiful planet...this universe...knowing that there's a huge possibility that you might not be able to come back?" Asked Venus.

"Because i don't belong here." Said Danny.

"Aren't those all of your friends back there?" Asked Venus.

"Yes. Those are my friends back there. But i don't belong here in Oz or (1900) Kansas. I belong in my own timeline." Danny explained. "If i stay here, i'll be wondering who i am and where i come from for the rest of my life. Please, you have to take me back."

"Even if it means you might not survive the trip home?" Asked Venus.

"Yes." Said Danny.

"I understand your desire to get back home, Danny, but won't you find it difficult to leave your three friends behind?" Said Venus.

"Yes, very difficult. But each of them is a ruler now, so i wouldn't see either of them as often as i would like to anyway. And Dorothy's gone back home to (1900) Kansas, so i won't see her again. All of my friends have found a place they can call home. Now it's time for me to find a place that i can call home. And i know that my home isn't with my friends in Oz or with Dorothy in (1900) Kansas. My home is in my own time frame with my family and friends, and i just know that they all miss me greatly and they must be worried sick about me. I have to get back, i just have to. I'm home sick." Said Danny.

"Danny...if you had decided to stay in (1900) Kansas or in Oz, i would've left you there." Said Venus.

"You would've?" Asked Danny.

"Yes." Said Venus. "But i can hear in your voice that returning you to your own universe and planet and timeline is all that can make you happy. So back you will go."

"Really? You mean you'll take me back home?" Asked Danny.

"Yes. And i'll even give you back your memories of your timeline, just as i promised in Oz. After all, that is why i came to this universe, is it not?" Said Venus.

"Oh, thank you, Venus, thank you!" Said Danny in excitment.

"I wouldn't thank me just yet." Said Venus. "I'll take you back home...but first i want something from you."

"Okay, what do you want?" Asked Danny.

"I want...the miscellanious star charts and datta information from your brain." Said Venus.

"I'm cool with that, but what do i have to do?" Asked Danny. The seat he sat in leaned all the way back and transformed into an open pod. Danny then sat up. "What is this?"

"This is the 'Mind Transfere 3000.' This is what i will use to get the information from your brain, as well as to restore your memories. All you have to do is just lay on your back, place your head inside the helment, and the we can begin." Said Venus.

"Okay." Said Danny. The young monkey boy laid back in the pod on his back and placed his head inside the helment. "Like this?"

"Perfect." Said Venus. "Now then, before i get started, are there any questions you have?"

"Yeah. How many times have you used this 'Mind Transfere 3000' thing?" Asked Danny.

"Never. This is my first time." Said Venus.

"What?! You mean you've never actually used it before?! How do you know if it works?" Asked Danny.

"I don't, but we're about to find out. Now hold still." Said Venus.

"No way! I'm not letting you test a machine on me that you've never used! What if you fry my brain?" Said Danny.

"I asure you, Danny, the transfere will be quick and painless. You won't feel a thing." Said Venus.

"You promise?" Said Danny.

"I promise." Said Venus.

"I believe you. Let's get this over with." Said Danny.

"Alright. But before i begin transfering the information and your memories, i wonder if you might give me a few minutes to talk." Said Venus.

"Yeah, sure. Go right ahead." Said Danny.

"Danny, i've been thinking about what you said." Said Venus. "Actually, it's all i've thought about since we left Oz. What you're asking me to do is very risky. And i was shocked by your answer. But we've abducted specimens from planets before and then returned them, and well, life goes on. But then i showed back up in your life. And Danny...i've never seen anybody, on any planet or universe, do what you did. I've never seen a living being want something that they need so badly, that they're willing to just leave everything else behind and get what they know they need, no matter the risks. And i kept asking myself...why? Why would you do that? Why would you leave behind a planet and a universe where you have made tons of new friends, knowing full well you might never be able to return. The only answer i can come up with...is that you were sincere in your heart to do the right thing, and that you miss your family and friends back home. So i have chosen to believe you. I can't bring you back here to this universe to Oz to see all your friends. Nor can i take you back to (1900) to see Dorothy and her family. But i've decided to take you home to your own time period."

Danny smiled at Venus's words.

"I do think it would be appropriate if this entire ordeal stays between the two of us." Said Venus.

"Yeah, i've already decided to do that." Said Danny.

"Very good." Said Venus. "Well, if you'll give me the information i programed into your brain and let me restore your memories...i think we should all move on."

"Well, when will you be back?" Asked Danny.

"I will not be coming back to your universe, or your planet." Said Venus.

"You won't be back?" Said Danny.

"I'm afraid not." Said Venus.

"Did i do something wrong?" Asked Danny.

"No. You didn't do anything wrong." Said Venus.

"Did you do something wrong?" Asked Danny.

"No." Said Venus. "Danny, the only reason i even went to your universe and planet in the first place was to bring back one of your species to my planet, and then return it, and move on to the next planet. All i can do is take you home."

"Will i ever see you again?" Asked Danny.

"I don't know." Said Venus.

"I won't see you again...will i?" Said Danny.

"I wish i could tell you different...but i'd be lying." Said Venus.

"Well, if this truly is goodbye, then it was nice meeting you, Venus." Said Danny.

"It was nice meeting you as well, Danny." Said Venus.

"Yeah." Danny smiled. "Well...i'm ready now. How does this machine of your's work?"

"Just close your eyes and relax, and think of home." Said Venus.

"Home." Said Danny. The young monkey boy closed his brown eyes and began thinking of how he met Dorothy and her family. He also thought about their trip to Oz and all of the new friends and adventures they had there.

While Danny rested inside the pod, Venus activated the 'Mind Transfere 3000' and began performing the mind transfer on the boy to reacquier the star charts and restore his memories of himself.

(Song: "Home", by Whitney Houstan)

When i think of home

I think of a place

Where there's

Love overflowing

I wish i was home

I wish i could go back there

With the things

I've been knowing

Wind, that makes the tall

Grass bend into leaning

And suddenly, the raindrops

that fall

They have a meaning

Sprinkling the sea

Makes the sea so clean

And yes now there's a chance

I can go back

Now that i have free

direction

Sure would be nice to be

back home

Where there's so much love and affection

And just maybe

I can convince time to slow up

Giving me enough time in my

life go on

Time be my friend

Let me start again

Suddenly my world's

gone and changed it's face

But i still

We still know where

we're going

I know you've had your minds

spun around and around in

space

And yet i've watched it

growing

Oh, i know you're listening, God

Please, please don't make it

hard

To know we shouldn't believe

everything we see

Tell us, should we try and stay

Or should we run away

Or would it be better just to let

things be

Living here in this brand

new world

Yes it might be a fantasy

Don't you let it be

Because if taught me to love

Taught me to love

So i know this one is real

It's gonna stay real

It's real to me

And i've learned

We must look inside

our hearts to find

A world full of

love

Like your's, like mine

Like mine

Like home

My home.

Danny then clicked the heels of the silver sneakers he was wearing together three times.

"Magic silver sneakers, take me and Venus home to my family." Said Danny.

The silver shoes began to glow in an instant and the spaceship took off through space faster than a speeding bullet. As the spaceship zoom through space, it passed through different colors of the galaxy. Like red, blue, green, orange, pink, purple, ect. Danny's mind was adrift. He couldn't focus on anything. It was as if though his thoughts were swirling around in a whirlpool. Danny felt incredibly tired. This went on for a few minutes. And then...everything faded to white.

##################################################################################

"Hey, look. He's waking up." Said a male voice.

"Aiden, dear, please wake up." Said a woman's voice.

"Huh?" Danny/Aiden said softly as he opened his eyes. He found himself in what appeared to be a hospital room, surrounded by a middle aged man and woman.

"Aiden." The woman said. "Thank goodness."

Aiden's vision was a little blury at first, but it soon became clear. "Grandma? Grandpa?"

"There's my favorite grandson." Said the middle aged man.

Aiden tried to get up from his hospital bed, but was too weak to do so.

"Lie down, sweetheart." Grandma said.

"Where am i?" Asked Aiden.

"You're in the hospital, dear. In Africa." Said Grandma.

"Africa?" Said Aiden.

"Sawubona." Said Grandpa.

"But how did i get here in the hospital?" Asked Aiden.

"You've been here for the past 6 months." Said Grandpa.

"The doctors informed us that you were here and told us to come right away. A couple said they found you unconscious in the jungle, washed up on shore by the river." Said Grandma.

"What couple? What are you talking about?" Asked Aiden.

"Hello there. Anybody home?" Asked an african man as he and his african wife entered the hospital room. "My wife and i just dropped by to check on the little boy we found in the..." He trailed off when he saw that the boy lying in the hospital bed was wide awake. "Well, he seems alright now."

"Yeah, he's been in a coma for the past 6 months. We thought for a minute there we were gonna lose him all over again." Said Grandpa.

"Are you feeling better, child?" Asked the african woman.

"I am now." Said Aiden.

"Thank you. Thank you both. You saved our grandson." Said Grandpa.

"It was nothing." Said the african man.

"God bless you both." Said Grandma.

"Grandma." Asked Aiden.

"Yes, Aiden?" Asked Grandma.

"I know i'm going to sound stupid for asking this, but...what year is it?" Asked Aiden.

"Why, it's (1999), dear." Said Grandma.

"(1999)? You mean it's not (1900)?" Said Aiden.

"(1900)? Oh dear, that year has come and gone. it's way in the past." Said Grandma.

"Yeah, like the early 20'th century past. This is the last era of the 20'th century." Said Grandpa.

"It is?" Asked Aiden.

"Yeah, it's been so since (1990)." Said Grandpa.

"It has?" Asked Aiden.

"Yes." Said Grandpa.

Aiden then hopped out of his hospital bed and rushed towards the door.

"Aiden!" Said Grandma.

Aiden rushed out of his hospital room.

"Aiden!" Said Grandpa as he, his wife and the african couple chased after his grandson.

As Aiden ran down the hallway, he looked at his surroundings and saw doctors and nurses tending to the sick and injured. He rushed passed a mirror on the wall, but stopped in his tracks when he saw something in it. The boy ran back to where the mirror was and stood in front of it. In the mirror was not the reflection of a monkey boy, but the reflection of a young 10 year old boy. Aside from his long messy hair he retained, Aiden was finally back to his normal human self.

"Aiden!" Came a voice.

Aiden looked and saw his grandparents and the african couple running down the hall after him. The boy rushed back down the hall and exited the hospital through the double doors, which opened automatically. He stopped on the hospital property and looked at the area surrounding him. He saw a parking lot filled with cars, trucks and other vehicles, and he saw vehicles driving down the street. Aiden smiled at the scenery, then looked up at the sky. He had asked Venus to take him home to his own timeline. And had done just that. "Thanks, Venus."

Aiden was then brought out of his train of thought by loud barking that came from behind. The boy turned around and saw a little white furry Jack Russell Terrier dog running up to him. "Friday!" He said in excitment as the dog ran up to him. Aiden then picked up the dog, Friday, and held him in his arms and hugged him.

"Aiden!" Came a voice.

Aiden looked and saw his Grandparents and the african couple run up to him.

"Aiden, what is the matter with you? You don't run out of the hospital when you've just woken up from a coma." Said Grandpa.

"I'm sorry, Grandpa, i was just anxious to see the outside world again, i guess." Said Aiden.

"Well, i guess that's understandable, since you've been in a coma for 6 months." Said Grandma.

"Well, don't you worry about seeing the outside world. There will be plenty of time for that once we've gotton back home to Tennessee. But for now, let's get you back inside and tell a certain somebody the good news." Said Grandpa.

"Who else is here?" Asked Aiden.

"Aiden!" Shouted a voice.

Aiden and the others looked and saw a woman standing in the open entrance of the hospital.

"It's your mother." Said Grandpa.

"Mom!" Shouted Aiden with a wide smile on his face. He placed the dog on the ground and he and his mother started running towards each other.

Once they made it to each other, the Mom embraced Aiden with a hug. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mom." Said Aiden.

The two released each other from the hug.

"Oh, Aiden, you're back! You're alive!" Mom then looked at her son and noticed how long his hair was. "Oh, honey, your hair. Can you see?"

Aiden and his Mom shaired a laugh.

"My goodness, look at you! When that plane crashed in the jungle i thought that you were...Well..where on Earth have you been these past number of days, Aiden?" Said Mom.

"Lost in the jungle, trying to get back to civilization and to you." Said Aiden. And that was actually true, he had been lost in the jungle for the past unknown number of days. It may not have been in the african jungle, but he was still lost in one. If being lost in a jungle in a magical world counts.

"Oh, Aiden! Oh, i'm so glad that you're alright! I just knew you'd come back to us!" Said Mom.

"It's so great to be home." Said Aiden.

"You're not hurt, are you?" Asked Mom.

"I'm fine, Mom. And i'm sorry for running away and getting on that plane to go and live with Dad. I guess i owe you an explanation for that." Said Aiden

"Oh, don't worry about that, Aiden. You don't have to explane anything to me." Said Mom.

"Yeah, i do. The only reason i ran away and got on that private plane in the first place was because i was jealous that you were having another kid." Said Aiden.

"Oh, honey, i'm so sorry." Asked Mom.

"What are you sorry for?" Asked Aiden.

"Aiden, the only reason you ran away and got on that plane is because...Because i hurt your feelings." Said Mom.

"Well, that's not the only reason. But you shouldn't have been ignoring me and making me feel unwanted." Said Aiden.

"Yeah, i know." Said Mom.

Aiden: "You're suppose to be my Mom. You're suppose to be there for me and love me. But instead, you ignored me for three months. In those three months, i felt hurt...ignored...unwanted...shut out...and sometimes...i even felt like i was invisible. Then, when i said "I bet it would be a load off your back if something happened to me..." Mom, when you agreed with that...i never felt so bad in my whole life."

"Really?" Asked Mom.

"Yeah. I mean, i admire you. I respect you. And i've always looked up to you. So when you told me you were having a baby and agreed with what i said...it made me feel like i was being replaced. It hurt me...here." Aiden pointed to the left side of his chest where his heart was.

"You really felt that way?." Asked Mom.

"Yes ma'am. I mean, all you ever did was talk about the baby." Said Aiden.

"Honey, that was because i was excited." Said Mom.

"Why do you even need a baby? What's wrong with me?" Asked Aiden.

"Aiden, there's nothing wrong with you." Said Mom.

"Then why haven't you been paying attention to me?" Asked Aiden.

"Maybe i just got caught up in planning for your brother or sister." Said Mom.

"But once it get's here, i'll be invisible. Nobody pays attention to the older kid." Said Aiden.

"What? Aiden, where did you get that rediculous notion?" Mom asked.

"From Dad and Grandma. They said that you were having a baby to replace me. When they told me that, i felt like my feelings of being unwanted were justified" Said Aiden.

"Honey, i didn't know you felt that way." Said Mom.

"Mom?" Asked Aiden.

"Yes?" Asked Mom.

"Don't you like me?" Asked Aiden.

"Are you kidding? You're my best friend." Said Mom.

"Best friends don't replace you with a baby." Said Aiden.

"Aiden...do you remember that time when we went to the pet store and you saw Friday in one of the glass boxes with holes in them?" Said Mom.

"Yeah, the day of my 6'th brithday when Friday and i met each other for the first time. I wanted him to be part of our family the minute i saw him." Said Aiden.

"Well, that's the way i felt when i found out i was having a baby." Said Mom.

"Really? Wouldn't you rather have a dog?" Asked Aiden.

"Not anymore. And someday...you won't either." Said Mom.

"Wow, that's scary." Said Aiden.

"Yeah, well, i'll tell you what was scary. When you ran out on us after we told the good news about me having a baby. Boy, i was real scared." Said Mom.

"Really?" Asked Aiden.

"Yeah. I mean, i was afraid something terrible might have happened to you. And when i learned that the private plane your father put you on had crashed in the African jungle...i thought my worst fears had been realized." Said Mom.

"You were really worried?" Asked Aiden.

"Well, of course, Aiden. And when the police found the plane, and you weren't in it...it made me even more scared. You see...i don't just like you...i love you." Said Mom.

"Oh, Mom." Said Aiden as he and his mother hugged each other.

"Best friends again?" Asked Mom.

"Best friends." Said Aiden. "And you know what?"

"What?" Asked Mom.

"When i first found out you were having a baby, i was jealous of having a sibling. But now that i'm back home, i'm looking forward to becoming a big brother." Said Aiden.

Mom's smile slowly faded.

"What's wrong?" Asked Aiden.

"Well, you know it was a really stressful time for me when you went missing for six months. And i...i lost the baby." Said Mom.

"You mean i'm not gonna have a little brother or sister?" Asked Aiden.

"No." Said Mom.

"Well, it'll be okay. It's alright." Said Aiden.

"I'm sorry, Aiden." Said Mom.

"I'm sorry too." Said Aiden.

"What are you sorry for?" Asked Mom.

"Well, you found out that you lost the baby. Plus, you and Dad are divorced now and he and Grandma will probably be going to jail for taking me away from you. That means that when we go back home, it's gonna be just you and me. I'm sorry you're not having the family you always wanted." Said Aiden.

"The family i always wanted? Aiden...don't you know there is no family without you?" Said Mom.

"There isn't?" Said Aiden. "But i overheard you talking on the phone to Grandma about how you always wished you had a happy marrage with a loving husband and two kids. I've always heard you talk about having a good husband and two kids just like all of your friends from high school. When we go back to Tennessee, you're not gonna have any of those things. All you'll have is me and Friday."

"That may be true, son, but there is one thing that i have that my friends don't. And that's you." Said Mom.

"Really?" Aiden asked.

"If i had to choose between you and that fantasy lifestyle, i would gladly choose you." Said Mom.

Aiden smiled. "Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, honey." Said Mom.

The two then embraced each other with a hug. They then relased each other and looked back at the others.

"Well," Began Mom. "Everyone inside before we all get hot."

"I'm all for that. Let's go." Said Grandpa.

With all of that said and done, the gang headed back inside the hospital.

~INSIDE THE HOSPITAL~

The trio walked down the halls of the hospital and Grandpa was carrying Aiden on his back.

"I can walk, Grandpa." Said Aiden.

"You're arguing with me?" Asked Grandpa.

"Well, don't you get it, Aiden, we just don't wanna let you go." Said Grandma.

"Yeah, i...i'm getting it. I get it." Said Aiden.

"All the bad stuff from before," Said Mom. "We can just forget about that now. Just let it all go."

"Okay." Said Aiden.

Just then, two african police men came down the halls, escorting a man and an elderly woman in handcuffs. They then stopped in front of the group.

"Excuse us." Said one of the officers.

"No, wait, hold on. They have the rest of their lives to rot in prison." Said Grandpa. "Give me and my family five minutes."

"Charlie, please. Let's not do this now." Begged Grandma.

"I-i'm so sorry." Said the man in handcuffs.

"You're sorry? Don't even say the word, 'sorry,' you sicko!" Said Grandpa Charlie.

"Everyone, stand aside, please." Said the second african male officer.

"Grandpa, stop. Please." Said Aiden.

"Okay, let's go back to your room." Said Charilie.

"Wait, hold on. Could you let me down for one sec? I wanna talk to my Dad and Grandma." Said Aiden.

"Sure." Said Charile. He bent down and let the boy get off his back.

Aiden then faced the two people in handcuffs, who were his father and grandmother on his father's side. "I wanna understand, Dad and Grandma. I really do wanna understand. You are my father and grandmother. You promised that you would always be there for me. Remember? That night, at your place, when i came to you and Grandma about how i truly felt about my Mom having another baby, you told me that the reason she was having this baby was to replace me. That she didn't want me around anymore...and that she had grown tired of me. You lied. You and Grandma both. You both lied to me. I trusted you. I put my trust in both of your hands. And you filled me full of lies. And then you advised me that it would be best to leave my Mom...MY...my Grandparents...my home...my friends...to live with you. And i believed you. You took me away from my home...from my family and friends. And then...you put me on one of your private planes and flew me out of the country...over here to Africa...where no one knew who i was...just so you could have me...all to yourselves. Why would you do that? Why?"

"I...i'm so sorry." Said Dad.

"No you're not." Said Aiden's Mom. "You're not sorry, neither of you are." She looked at the elderly woman in handcuffs. "I came to you, Vivian...and i begged you to tell me where my son was. And you blew me off...every single time. You couldn't get rid of me fast enough. And i don't care why. There is nothing that you and Jack can say to us that will justify what you both did."

"The truth is, uh...i didn't have the heart...to say no to my son." Said the old woman known as Vivian. "And as a result...i caused all of you and everyone who loved Aiden extreme pain. And the only thing i can say in my defense...is that i'm...i'm sorry."

"Oh, that's rich, coming from you." Said Charlie. "You know something. If you two weren't in custody right now, i would rip both of your hearts out with my bare hands."

"That's enough, Charlie." Said Charlie's wife. "Let's just take Aiden back to his room. He's had a long hard journey getting back to us."

"Okay, Viki." Said Charlie. He looked at the african couple. "Luri, Frank, take Aiden back to his room please."

"Sure. Come on." Said the african woman known as Luri. She and her husband, Frank, led Aiden down the hall back to his room and Friday followed after them.

Aiden's Mom looked at her ex-husband and ex-mother in law. "Jack...how could you?"

"I don't know, Sharon." Said Jack.

"He doesn't know." Said Charlie.

"Don't hand us that." Said Viki.

"You put a little boy, my son, on a private plane all by himself. How could you?" Asked Sharon.

"I don't know." Said Jack.

"He doesn't know." Said Charlie.

"Don't hand us that." Said Viki.

"Jack...what you and your Mother did was so irresponsible. I mean, thank God it had a happy ending, but it was a hair away from being tragic." Said Sharon.

"I know, Sharon. I'm sorry." Said Jack.

"You're sorry?" Said Sharon.

"He's sorry." Said Charlie.

"Don't hand us that." Said Viki.

"But don't you think that part of the blame is due to you not paying attention to him?" Asked Vivian.

"Oh, i just-Okay-" Sharon proceeded to attack Vivian, but Charlie held her back.

"Okay, Sharon, Sharon, Sharon, calm down." Said Viki. "He let his love for his son overpower his caunsciouns."

Charlie released Sharon.

"Mom, that is no excuse." Sharon turned back to her ex-husband and ex-mother in law. "Jack...Vivian...you are both in for major hard time in prison. It is so hard, that there isn't even a name for it yet. But when i do think of it, i'm am going to tell the judge to let that be your long sentence. It is going to be so awful, that the whole courthouse will say, "Whoa, Judge, lighten up."

"I get it. You want us to rot in prison." Said Jack.

"No! Because prison's not good enough for you! But i'll come up with something." Sharon said. "Officers...we're through here." She and her parents stood aside and the two officers resumed escorting Jack and Vivian down the hallway.

"Are you okay?" Asked Viki.

"Yeah. Yeah, i'm fine, Mom." Said Sharon. "Let's go see Aiden." She and her parents walked down the hallway to rejoin their son/grandson.

~IN AIDEN'S HOSPITAL ROOM~

"And then we finally made it to the land of the Quadlings, where we met Glinda, The Good Witch Of The South. Once we were there, she showed Dorothy how to use the magic shoes. It turns out the shoes were the answer. They could have taken her home the whole time." Said Aiden, telling the story to Luri and Frank about his journey through the world of Oz. Of course, he had told them that he had dreamed the whole ordeal up while in his coma. He hated lying to people, but who was going to believe that his journey through Oz actually happened?

"Glinda said that?" Asked Luri.

"Yes m'am." Said Aiden.

"Wow. This Glinda must be a pretty smart witch." Said Frank.

"Yeah, she was." Said Aiden. "But that's not all she did."

"Oh? What else did she do?" Luri asked.

Aiden: "After Dorothy and Toto went back home to Kansas, i used my third and last comand and had the winged monkeys return the Scarecrow to the Emerald City, the Tin Man to the West, and me and the Lion to the jungle where he slew the giant spider. I stayed there with the Lion for 20 days while Glinda and her sister Snowmella, The Good Witch Of The North, worked together to figure out a way to get me back home.

Finally, after 20 days of waiting, Glinda had the winged monkeys bring Scarecrow and Tin Man to the jungle with all of the animals to say goodbye to me. She and Snowmella had summoned a UFO spaceship to the planet, which was what took me to the year (1900) in the first place.

I said goodbye to all of my friends, but as i did, a pair of silver sneakers appeared on my feet, replacing my white sneakers. They were revealed to be the silver shoes of Hazel, The Wicked Witch Of The East. Apparently, they had come off of Dorothy's feet after she had made it back home. Glinda said that the reason the shoes came off Dorothy's feet was because she had not been chosen by them, just like Hazel hadn't been chosen. Glinda then told me about a legend behind the silver shoes that stated that anyone was welcome to wear them, but the one they choose to be their owner, they will stay with them forever.

I then got inside the UFO and it took me away from the planet, Oz, and flew through space. I then clicked the heels of the silver sneakers together three times and the UFO sped through space faster than a speeding bullet. Next thing i knew, i had crash landed into an endless pit of water. While under ware, i tried my hardest to swim to the surface, but as i did, i started feeling all of this intense pain all over my body, which caused me to stop swimming to the surface. I guess i was turnning back to my human self. As the pain continued, i paniced and struggled and did my best to hold my breath. I remember reaching that 3/4 point. It hurt, and i even took in a tiny bit of water, but i was determined. So i continued to try to swim to the surface, despite the pain i felt all over my body. But then..it stopped."

"What do you mean it stopped?" Asked Luri.

"You know that feeling when you're being chased by a monster in a dream and all you wanna do is wake up?" Asked Aiden.

"Yeah." Said Luri.

Aiden: "You try to pinch yourself, but it just doesn't work. Everything was purple and i was jerking my body, grabbing for air. My stomach jolted left and right, disorienting me. I wanted to scream, but nothing would come out. My lungs felt like they were on fire, like they were going to burst, and my brain felt like it was burnning and i felt like my head was going to explode. I was very, very panicky, but at the same time i think i felt like i was ready to die, like going into a dream state. After a few minutes of struggling, everything went black. I guess i must have passed out, due to lack of oxygen. When i opened my eyes, i was lying here in this bed in this hospital room."

"I don't think you dreamed that part." Said Luri.

"What do you mean?" Asked Aiden.

"Well, as you know, when my husband and i found you in the jungle, you were washed up on shore by the river. All soaking wet and your skin was a pale bluish grey color. We thought you were dead, so i asked my husband, Frank here, to check your pulse." Said Luri.

"Which i did, but it was very weak." Said Frank. "That was when i knew we had to act fast. After all, a person lying on the ground, unconscious and soaking wet is a fatality waiting to happen. So my wife and i put you in a sack. After all, it wouldn't look good if we were seen carrying around a supposed dead child. Anyway, we placed you on our camel and road it through the jungle until we reach civilization, where we took you to the hospital."

"Again, thanks for saving me." Said Aiden. "But what about my shoes? What color were they? Didn't i have on silver sneakers?"

"I'm afraid not. When we found you, the only shoes you had on your feet were white sneakers, which were soaking wet, along with the rest of you." Said Luri.

"I see." So it was true. It happened just as Aiden had thought it would. The silver shoes had come off his feet just as they did Dorothy's, and were now lost forever in the African jungle, never to be seen or worn or used ever again. Most likely lying at the bottom of the river that he was found near. That was it. His one and only hope to returning to Oz was now gone. He would never be able to return to the world of Oz and see his friends again. Never, never. Now the only times he will get to see his friends is in his dreams. Which he wouldn't mind, but he knew it would never be the same as him actually being there to see them.

Sharon, Viki and Charlie entered inside Aiden's hospital room.

"Well, hello there, sleepy head. How are you feeling?" Said Sharon.

"Okay, i guess. Are you alright?" Asked Aiden.

"We are now that you're awake." Said Viki.

"Uh, how are you guys? Are you guys okay?" Charlie asked Luri and Frank.

"Couldn't be better. Your grandson has been keeping us entertained the whole time we've been in here." Said Luri.

"He hasn't been talking the two of you to death, has he?" Asked Charlie.

"Far from it. In fact, he was just telling us about this amazing dream he had." Said Frank.

"Dream? What dream?" Asked Sharon.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me," Said Viki. "I heard you muttering something in your sleep just before you woke up."

"What?" Asked Aiden.

"It was like, 'There's no place like home' or something." Said Viki. "And then you mentioned something earlier about the year (1900). What was that all about?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Said Aiden. "It's just that i had this really amazing dream while i was in my coma."

"Oh?" Charlie said.

"Tell us, dear." Said Sharon.

"Well, i was in the year (1900), where i met this girl and her family." Said Aiden. "She fished me out of the lake and carried me back to her farm house. When i opened my eyes i couldn't remember anything. I didn't know who i was, i didn't know what year it was, i didn't even remember any of you."

"Go on." Said Sharon.

"Right. So, uh, anyway..." Aiden continued to tell everyone the entire story of his time in (1900) Kansas and the story of his and Dorothy's adventure in Oz from the very beginning to the very end.

"Boy. That's some story." Said Charlie.

"I'll say. You must have been in that water too long." Added Viki.

"Yeah." Said Aiden.

"Wow. Sounds like some dream you had. It would be good for a story for MGM, don't you think?" Said Sharon.

"I suppose." Said Aiden. "But the funny thing is...i know i was asleep and dreamed the whole thing, but it sure didn't feel like a dream at times. I really felt like i was there for a number of days."

"Dreams can seem very real, Aiden." Said Sharon while sitting on the hospital bed that Aiden was lying in. "I think my getting caught up in preparing for a new baby, and you being lost in the african jungle, just got you all worked up. I am sorry for not paying attention to you. I do love you, sweety." Sharon then kissed Aiden on the cheek.

"Thanks, Mom." Said Aiden. "Do you know how many nights i dreamt that i'd wake up and you would all be with me, but then i'd open my eyes, and...you werent there?"

"I understand. That's the way i felt when i dreamed about you. And speaking of dreams, while you had one, i had a strange dream of my own." Said Sharon.

"What about?" Asked Aiden.

"I dreamed...that we spent the last 7 decades looking for you...and that you were never found. And that your spirit haunted me till i died an old woman in (2070) not knowing what happened to you. But you know...it's kind of funny, actually. " Said Sharon.

"What is?" Asked Aiden.

"In my dream you were haunting me and telling me not to give up. It was like you knew it was a dream the entire time and were trying to help me wake up. And i did. I woke up in the hospital from coma and made a complete full recovery, thanks to you." Said Sharon.

"What were you doing in a coma?" Asked Aiden.

"I...i overdosed on a bottle of pills." Said Sharon.

"What? Why?" Asked Aiden.

"Because i thought that you were dead. When the African police fished your body out of the river, i thought my worst fears had been realized. I thought that you were gone. Shortly after that, i had a miscarrage and lost the baby. I thought i had lost both of my children." Said Sharon.

"My body? What do you mean my body?" Asked Aiden.

"The police fished your body out of the African river, or at least that's what we were led to believe, anyway." Said Charlie.

"What do you mean led to believe?" Asked Aiden.

"Well, a few days after we had your funeral, i overdosed on a bottle of pills and tried to commit suicide. When i awoke from my 3 month coma, your grandparents informed me that the African police had called and let them know that they had some good news to share with them. Immediantly after i was released from the hospital, your grandparents and i hopped on the first plane to Africa. Then the police called and told us that an African couple had brought a boy in the hospital, matching your description. So we hopped in a cab and rode over here to the hospital to see for ourselves if it was true. When we saw you lying unconscious in the hospital bed, we just knew it was you, it had to be you. I then phoned the police back home in Tennessee and asked them to exume your body and do an autopsy on it. When they did, they said that all they found inside was white stuffing." Said Sharon.

"Stuffing?" Said Aiden.

"White stuffing. You know, the kind people use to put inside those stuffed toy animals. And as for the body, well, it turned out to be nothing more than a mere wax figure." Said Sharon.

"Now who would have done a creepy thing like that?" Asked Aiden.

"You're Daddy." Said Sharon, Viki and Charlie.

"Oh, yeah, of course. Who else?" Said Aiden.

"But anyway, i'm sorry, Aiden. I mean i was fine until i saw your body and lost the baby. Then i lost all hope." Said Sharon.

"Well, to tell you the truth...i'm kind of shocked. I mean...for you to worry about me that much...kind of does something to the old ego." Said Aiden.

"I can't believe i'm actually looking at you. The real you. You don't know how many times i've seen and spoken with you, only to wake up and find out that it's only a dream." Said Sharon.

"Well, you're not dreaming here. And i'm never leaving any of you again." Said Aiden.

"Hey," Said Charlie to Sharon. "I know that was a horrible dream you had, but everything's worked out, you know? Yeah. I mean, look at us. Just 10 months ago, who would have thought that we all would have been together like this."

"Yeah." Said Aiden. "We're alive...we're together. Right now, i just wanna go home."

"So what's stopping you?" Asked Charlie.

"Well, the doctor did say i have a clean bill of health." Said Aiden.

"Alright, getty up, get dressed. We're taking you home." Said Charlie.

"No, i haven't been officially discharged. We have the paper work to wait for." Said Aiden.

A male african doctor then entered the room. "Good afternoon, everyone."

"Good afternoon, doctor." Said the group.

"How's our patient?" Asked the doctor.

"Fine." Said Aiden with a smile on his face.

"I see that. You know, you gave us all quite a scare, child." Said the doctor.

"I did?" Asked Aiden.

"Yeah. When you were brought in 6 months ago by these two, it didn't look good. You're skin was a bluish grey color, your body was filled with water and you showed no brain activity." Said the doctor. "We managed to get all of the water out of your system and put you on life support, but you had been declaired brain dead after the doctors did that CAT scan on your brain. You may not remember this, but you actually slipped out of your coma and came back to us for a month before going back in." Said the doctor.

"It's strange. I don't remember doing that." Said Aiden.

"I didn't think you would." Said the doctor.

"Be honost, doc. What was my condition when they brought me in?" Asked Aiden.

"Well, to perfectly honost, son, i've seen a whole lot worse in my years on the job. But none of them lived." Said the doctor.

Aiden smiled. "I'm really tired. Would it be alright if i went home now?"

"With all due respect, i'm afraid i can't allow that. At least not until after the surgery." Said the doctor.

"Surgery? What surgery? What are you talking about?" Asked Aiden.

"When miss Luri and mister Frank brought you in 6 months ago, we ran some tests to see if there were any health complications, and we got two of them. One of them revealed that you were brain dead." Said the doctor.

"And?" Asked Aiden.

"And the other test said..." The doctor trailed off.

"Said what? What did the other test say?" Aiden asked.

"Doctor, what is wrong with my son?" Asked Sharon.

"His Appendex is no longer functioning." Said the doctor.

"What?" Said Sharon.

"His Appendex isn't working? He's never had anything like that happen before. How did it happen?" Asked Viki.

"Well, as you all know, Aiden was brought in here six months ago by miss Luri and her husband after they found him in the jungle washed up on shore near the river. We know that much. What we don't know, however, is how long he was in the water before he was washed up onto shore. Near-drowning occurs when a person is unable to breath under water for a significant period of time. During near-drowning, oxygen intake decreases and major body systems shut down from the lack of oxygen flow. In some cases, particularly in young children, this can happen in a matter of seconds. Near-drowing victims still require medical attention to prevent related health complications." Said the doctor. He turned his attention to Aiden. "That being said, you better get some rest, cause first thing in the morning we're gonna take that Appendex out."

"And then will i get to go home?" Asked Aiden.

"Absolutely. Let me just get the paper work for your family to fill out. But i do think it would be best if we kept you over night for observation for the next three days." Said the doctor.

"That's okay. As long as i get to go home." Said Aiden.

"I'll notefy the surgens and let them know you're having surgery tomorrow. For now, just get some rest." Said the doctor.

"Thanks, doctor." Said Aiden.

The doctor then left out of the hospital room.

"Did you guys hear that? I get to go home in three days after the surgery." Said Aiden.

"We heard, Aiden." Said Luri.

"Looks like you'll be back home before you know it." Added Frank.

"I'm just glad to be here with you guys. My family, all of you. I don't think i'm leaving Tennessee for a while. Like, a 'LONG' while."

"Well, somebody's gonna be happy to hear that." Said Viki.

"They've been calling and texting us everyday, asking about you." Said Charlie.

"Who?" Asked Aiden.

"All of your friends and teachers at school. They've been blowing up your mothers phone ever since we told them that we found you and that you were in the hospital in a coma. I can't wait to tell them the good news." Said Charlie.

"Why tell them when we can show them. Let's suprise them when i go back to school." Said Aiden.

"Good idea, Aiden." Said Viki.

"Yeah well, it's time for us to start packing so that we can get back home. Come on, you two, let's go." Said Charlie.

"If it's alright, i'd rather stay with Aiden." Said Sharon.

"Suit yourself." Said Charlie. He then left out of the hospital room.

"We'll let you rest for a bit." Said Viki to Aiden. "Thanks for saving my grandson."

"You're welcome." Said Luri.

Sharon looked at Luri and Frank. "I guess i should say thanks too."

"No need to, Sharon. Anyone would have done the same." Said Frank. "Come on, Luri. Let's leave these two alone."

The african couple then left out of the hospital room.

Once everyone was gone from the room, Sharon and Aiden hugged each other.

"I'm so glad you're back." Said Sharon.

"It's good to be back, Mom." Said Aiden.

"Hey, i thought you told me you were never gonna talk to me again." Said Sharon.

Aiden and his mother released each other from the hug and looked at one another.

"Whatever i said, Mom...i'm sorry." Said Aiden.

"(Sighs) Look, Aiden, i was angry. I'm sorry too. I'm sorry." Said Sharon. "Look. I won't have another child if you don't want a brother or sister. Let's talk it over tomorrow, man-to-woman."

Aiden smiled. "How 'bout mother-to-son?"

"Alright." Said Sharon. "Listen, Aiden. We all love you, we really do, but when something's wrong, you have to make sure you come and talk to us. Running away is definitely not the answer."

"I promise. But what's gonna happen to Dad and Grandma Vivian?" Asked Aiden.

"Uh...your father and grandma Vivian did something bad." Said Sharon.

"What did he do?" Asked Aiden.

"Well, you remember how they, how they took you away from us?" Asked Sharon.

"Well, that was wrong, and they knew that was wrong." Said Sharon.

"But Dad said it was okay." Said Aiden.

"Well, it wasn't okay." Said Sharon.

"Are you mad at me?" Asked Aiden.

"No, no. I'm not mad at you." Said Sharon. "Look...they should have never done that, and they definitely should have never asked you to keep that a secret." Said Sharon.

"But Dad and Grandma said they did this because they loved me." Said Aiden.

"Listen...adults...don't keep secrets with little kids. And love doesn't hurt. It protects." Said Sharon.

"But they didn't hurt me." Said Aiden.

"I know, Aiden, but...chances are, they probably would have." Said Sharon. "Now, look...i want you to be able to come to me and your grandparents about anything, okay?"

"Okay." Said Aiden.

Sharon and Aiden then hugged each other and then let go.

Sharon then noticed that Aiden's brown eyes were whaled up with tears. "Hey, what's the matter?"

"(Crying) Mom, i'm so sorry about the baby. If i hadn't ran away, the baby would still be alive." Said Aiden.

"We don't know that." Said Sharon.

"(Crying) Yes, we do." Said Aiden.

"Hey, hey, hey. Come on now. You know it's not your fault." Asured Sharon.

"(Crying) But you wanted this baby" Said Aiden "more than anything, Mom."

"Don't worry about that right now. All you need to do is just concentrate on getting better, okay?" Said Sharon.

"(Crying) I know how much you wanted to be a Mom." Said Aiden.

"I am a Mom. I have you." Said Sharon.

Aiden: "(Crying) I know, Mom, but i meant..."

"I know what you mean, okay. But i don't need any kids because i already have one: and that's you. Sometimes the thing you were looking for was there all along." Sharon felt like a complete idiot. Here it was she was wanting to have a baby when she already had one: Her son, Aiden. The answer she had been looking for had been there all along, and yet it took losing that baby and almost losing her son for her to realize that.

"(Sniffs) Yeah, i know the feeling." Said Aiden.

"Why don't you just focus on getting some sleep?" Said Sharon.

"(Crying) Mom, i can't sleep. But i'll try." Said Aiden.

Realization then hit Sharon. "I guess i better get going. I have to get our things together so we can leave here soon. Come on, Friday, let's go." Sharon got off the bed and headed towards the door with Friday following her.

"Mom?" Said Aiden.

Sharon stopped in her tracks and turned back to her son. "Yes?"

"I love you." Said Aiden.

"I love you too, son. Thanks." Said Sharon.

"Mom." Said Aiden.

"Yeah?" Said Sharon.

"Did you ever find out?" Asked Aiden.

"Find out what?" Asked Sharon.

"If the baby was a boy or a girl." Said Aiden.

"No." Said Sharon. "It's probably best we don't know."

"Yeah, you're right." Said Aiden. "Bye, Mom."

"Goodbye." Said Sharon. She opened the door and exited the room with Friday.

Once Sharon and Friday were gone, Aiden laid back down in his hospital bed and folded his arms and began to sob quietly over the loss of his unborn brother or sister.

Just then, Sharon poked her head in through the door and saw that Aiden was still crying in his bed. "Rest well." She withdrew her head from the door, leaving her son to sleep.

Aiden continued to sob and cry until he finally cried himself to sleep.

~THE NEXT MORNING~

Aiden: "And so, as the next morning began, my journey had finally reached it's end."

The next morning, Aiden's Mom and grandparents and Luri and Frank were all gathered around his hospital bed, visiting and chatting with him before sugery.

Aiden: "You start with having problems...having disabilities. You try to seek out someone who you think may have the answers to your problem. Then...come the worser things. The worser troubles."

The doctor then entered the room with two male surgens and let the family know that it was time for them to operate on Aiden.

Aiden: "We create our own problems."

The family and friends stood aside and the doctor and surgens rolled Aiden out of the hospital room on his bed. The family and friends exited the room and watched as the doctors rolled Aiden's bed down the hallway with him in it.

~IN SURGERY~

Later, in surgery, a now shirtless Aiden was about to be operated on by the doctors surrounding the operating table he now laid on.

Aiden: "As promised, i got everything sorted out with my surgery. It took some courage. But then i thought to myself, "Why stop there?"

One of the surgens place a gas mask over Aiden's nose and mouth where the laughing gas was administered from. Aiden then gave a thumbs up to his family and friends, who were watching behind a glass window.

Aiden: "Of course, there are people who say that there's no such thing as magical worlds. But i'll bet none of those people ever had to live in one for a number of days. And now...neither will i."

Aiden laid asleep on the operating table as the doctors performed the surgery.

Aiden: "Let me tell ya...that was the best sleep i'd had in days."

~IN THE HOSPITAL ROOM~

Later, Aiden woke up in his hospital room, surrounded by his family and friends, who were over come with joy that he had made it through the surgery, and they each shared a hug with him.

3 Days Later

Three days later, after the surgery, Aiden got dressed in the bathroom of his hospital room. He then met with his dog, family and friends outside in the hallway. They all said goodbye to Luri and Frank and thanked them once again for saving Aiden's life. Aiden and his dog and family then walked down the hallway to exit the hospital as the african couple waved goodbye to them.

~AT THE AFRICAN AIRPORT~

At the Airport, Vivian and Jack are led to a private plane in handcuffs by the african authorities. They escorted the two kidnappers inside the open cargo of the plane as Aiden and his family sternly looked on. They then walked towards the private plane to board it and head back to America.

~INSIDE THE PLANE~

Inside the plane, Sharon, Viki, Charlie Friday all sat on a sofa while Aiden rested his head on Sharon's lap while lying on the sofa fast asleep.

Sharon looked down at the sleeping Aiden and smiled as she stroked his long brown hair. She had to keep looking down at her son until she was able to comprehend it. Her son was here. With her. And they were both finally going home together. Sharon wasn't sure what to do. She had dreamt of this happening, of course. She had had a hundred daydreams of her son being found alive and being brought back home by the police. She had imagined getting a phone call from the police, telling her that they had found her son. Then, one day, she just stopped imagining. It hurt too badly to fantasize about her son being found alive when no one ever called her. She had tucked the dream away, pushed it into the dark part of her heart where she kept all the crushing sadness and pain and memories of Aiden, the part that was getting more and more crowded each and every day. Only now, her son was here. Aiden was actually here. He was on the plane with her and her parents and they were all finally going home together as a family. Sharon then looked up at her parents, Viki and Charlie, who both just smiled at her.

After five months of searching, Sharon had finally found her son, Aiden, but he spent the next 6 months in a brain dead coma, his father, Jackson, and his grandmother, Vivian, had been arrested and wood likely be sued and procecuted for kidnapping him, and to top it all off, Sharon had lost the baby she was carrying, due to the tromendous stress she was under with the authorities and the media after her son went missing.

On Aiden's part, he had managed to get out of Oz and back home where he belonged, but a lot of bad things had happened because of him. His family and friends had suffered in grief and aggoney for five months when police couldn't find him, his mother had lost the baby that she had been wanting to have so badly, his father and grandmother had been arrested and would likely be sent to prison for taking him away from his family, even though he had willingly let them put him on that plane to Africa, he had lost 6 months of his life in a coma, and he had lost the silver sneakers in the African river when he arrived back home in his time period. On top of that, if the silver shoes didn't turn up again, then it was likely he wouldn't be able to return to Oz for a while, if not ever. The chances of another door being opened to Oz were slim to none, and it was highley likely that the silver sneakers would be either eventually discovered by someone else or lost in the African river forever. More likely the second scenario than the first.

Sharon looked out the window at the bright blue sky and saw some birds flying freely through the sky and smiled at the beautiful touching scene as the private plane sored through the sky, carrying her, her son and their family home.

##################################################################################

Tennessee courthouse

December 17'th, (1999)

10 Days after returnning home from Africa, Aiden cellebrated his coming home with his family. Once he and his family had made it back to the U.S., they immediantly called all of their friends and family members and informed them of the good news that they had found Aiden and brought him back home, which they were all happy to hear. The date for Aiden's father and grandmother's trial had come and gone rather hastily, much to the comunity's suprise. Normally it took till another year for a trial to be finished, but due to the fact the victim of the crime was a little kid, it didn't take the authorities long to set the date, nor did it take the jury long to reach their decision on what the verdict would be. The trial was set to December 15'th (1999). Aiden testefied against his father and grandmother at the trial and was questioned about how they had kidnapped him and what had happened to him when the plane crashed in the African jungle. Aiden of course mentioned nothing about his UFO abduction and being carried off to an unknown planet or being sent back in time to the year (1900), nor did he say anything about his journey through Oz. Cause again, who was gonna believe that? After an hour of recess, the jury returned with it's verdict for Jackson and Vivian: Guilty.

Now that the verdict had been read, all that was left to do was sentence both parties, which the court was now doing.

Jack and his mother, Vivian, sat at a table on the right while Sharon and her parents sat out in the audience to hear the verdict.

"Uh, Miss Walsh, do you have any closing remarks?" Asked the judge.

"Nothing further, your honor." Said the woman known as Miss Walsh, who was the procecuter.

"Well, Mr. Quinn, since you've determined to act as you and your mother's own attorney...you are entitled to make a closing statement at this time." Said the male judge.

Jack then stood up from the table. "Your honor...in regards to me and my mother's behavior...i can only plead insanity...because...ever since my son, Aiden, was born...the moment i looked at him, i was crazy about him. And once i held him, i was hooked. I'm addicted to my son, sir. I love him with all my heart, and so does my mother. And the idea of someone telling me i can't be with him, i can't see him everyday,...it's like someone saying i can't have air. I can't live without air, and i can't live without my son. Listen, i would do anything. I just want to be with him. You know, i need that, sir. We have a history. And i just-He means everything to me...and he needs both me and my mother as much as we need him. So please...don't take my son away from me...Thank you." Jack then sat back down in his seat next to his mother.

"Mr. Quinn...both you and your mother have been able to fool a lot of people into believing that your son was dead. No easy task. And your little speech seemed to be...very heartfelt and genuine." Said the judge. "But i believe it to be a terrific performance by a very gifted actor and nothing more."

"No, it's not that." Said Jack.

"The reality, Mr. Quinn...is that both you and your mother's actions over the past months have been very unorthodox. And i refuse to further subject an innocent child to your perculiar and potentially harmful behavior. It is this court's decision to award full custody of Aiden to his mother, Miss Sharon Parker." Said the judge.

"Oh, no." Said Vivian in a crying tone.

"No, sir. Please." Jack begged.

"Therefore, Mr. Jackson Quinn...this court here by sentences you to 10 years to life imprisonment, without the possibilty of parole. As for you, miss Quinn, you are given the same maximum sentence as your son. However...because of your old age, and possibility of future health problems while behind bars, this court sentences you to serve out your sentence in the Tennessee Nursing Care Facility." Said the judge. "Aiden is free to visit with you everyday, if he wants. You will have supervised visitation when or if he does make that dicision."

"Supervised, sir?" Asked Vivian.

"Yes. A court Liaison will accompany you when or if Aiden decides to visit. During your stay at the Nursing Home, i am suggesting a period of psychological testing and perhaps treatment for you, miss Quinn. We will re-examine this case 10 years from now in (2010). Also, the state will seize possession of all of your millions until it decides what to do with them. Thank you. Court is adjourned." The judge then banged his gavel, ending the sentence hearing.

Sharon coudn't believe it was finally all over. Victory, at last! Aiden had been found alive and was now back home with his friends and family, his kidnappers had been brought to justice and were gonna spend the next 10 years behind bars. Well, one of them was anyway. By the time Jack and Vivian get out of prison, Aiden will have graduated from high school and gone off to college, and that was something to be greatful for. But victory, really? Then why didn't she feel like cheering? Why was the atmosphere so heavy with melancholy? Why was Sharon experiancing these mixed emotions of happiness and sadness? Why wasn't she fully happy? She got her son back, the people who took him from her had been sentenced, so now she had closure. Closure? What closure? Closure to losing a child? There was no closure that. First of all, her baby was dead, and it wasn't coming back. She had lost 5 months of being in Aiden's life...Aiden had lost six months of his life in a coma...and his father was going to prison. And while Sharon may have gotton Aiden back...she still had a scar from this entire long year ordeal: She lost the baby she was pregnant with...because of the actions of her ex-husband and his mother, and Aiden probably blamed himself for it. And no guilty verdict could ever change that. The people outside the court and across the nation were probably thinking that now that she had her son back, and the kidnappers were going away for it, she didn't lose anything out of this whole entire year drawn out ordeal. But she did lose something...

She lost her unborn child.

##################################################################################

December 25'th, (1999)

7 Days after the trial, Aiden and his friends and family were now at his grandparents' mansion, cellebrating Christmas, as well as his safe return. He hadn't gone back to school due to the surgery he had had in Africa and the tramatic ordeal he had gone through from being lost in the jungle for five months and being in a brain dead coma for six months. However, he was expected to go back when the new year rolled around, which wasn't too far from now, it was only five days away. The rest of the month of December was long enough for Aiden to recover, and he seemed to be doing a whole lot better than expected for someone who had went through all of what he had gone through. He went from being kidnapped, to a plane crash, to being lost in a jungle for five months, to lying in the hospital in a coma for six months, to undergoing surgery, and finally to testefying against his own father and grandmother at a trial. Normally it took a long time for someone to bounce back from something like that. Maybe longer. But Aiden had bounced back into his normal life as soon as he and his family had returned to the U.S. to their home in Tennessee.

"Merry Christmas." Said Viki as she greeted some of the guests while carrying a trey of food. "Do you want any of these?" She then looked off in another direction and smiled. Viki placed the trey on a nearby table where other treys of food were and went off to find her husband.

Elsewhere in the mansion, Charlie was on the phone talking with someone.

"No, Dad, no. Aiden's improved very much since the surgery. He's doing fabulous." Said Charlie. "No, he's not suffering from P.T.S.D. He's doing just fine."

Viki walked up to her husband, Charlie. "Honey, they're here."

"Listen, Dad, i gotta run. Merry Christmas. We'll pick you up at the airport, okay? You'll be the best Christmas gift of all. Bye-bye. Bye-bye." Charlie hung up the phone and turned to Viki. "They're here."

"Uh-huh. Come on." Said Viki.

"Come on, let's go." Said Charlie. He and his wife made their way through the crowd of people. "Pardon me." They soon arrived at their destination. "Sharon, glad you could make it."

"Thanks. Merry Christmas, Dad." Said Sharon.

"Merry Christmas to you too, honey." Said Charlie.

"Merry Christmas, Sharon." Said Viki.

"Merry Christmas to you too, Mom." Said Sharon.

"Where's Aiden?" Asked Viki.

"Over there, chatting with his friends about his adventures over in Africa." Said Sharon. She, Charlie and Viki all looked and saw Aiden chatting with three other boys who looked to be about the same age as him. "I'm amazed. Much as i love my son, i never really thought that he would bounce back into civilization in an instant. Everyday i see Aiden making progress. Everyday i see a little something. Sometimes it's a little step, sometimes it's a huge step. It really is an exciting feeling seeing him being able to do all of the things he use to do before, like, playing socker. That's one of his favorit sports. For a boy, who was suppose to be a veggietable for the rest of his life, to see him out on the field and moving around and to go after that ball, he really suprised me. You can never set liments on anyone."

"Aint that the truth." Said Charlie.

Meanwhile, Aiden was catching up with his friends.

"Oh, Aiden, i just knew you'd come back." Said one of the boys.

"It's good to be back, Jason." Said Aiden.

"You're not hurt, are you, Aiden?" Asked the second boy.

"I'm fine, Jacob." Said Aiden.

"We've missed you so much. Where have you been all this time?" Asked the third boy.

"Oh, it's a long, long story, Ralph." Said Aiden.

"You'll have to tell us." Said Jason.

"Hey, Aiden!"

Aiden and his friends looked and saw that his mother was calling for him. He and his friends ran over to where his Mom and grandparents were and joined them.

"There he is." Said Charlie.

"Hi, Grandma, hi, Grandpa. Merry Christmas." Said Aiden.

"Merry Christmas to you too, dear." Said Viki.

"I invited my friends over to spend Christmas with us. I hope that's okay." Said Aiden.

"Not at all. Any friend of your's is a friend of our's. Our house is their house. They're welcome to come over anytime they'd like." Said Charlie. He looked at Jason, Jacob and Ralph. "Come on. We'll introduce you to the rest of our family you haven't met."

"I can't wait to meet 'em." Said Jason.

"Me neither." Added Jacob.

"Neither can i." Said Ralph.

"Grandpa? Would it be alright if i introduced my friends to the rest of our family?" Asked Aiden.

"Of course, Aiden, go right ahead." Said Charlie.

"Alright!" Said Aiden in excitment before turnning to his friends. "Come on, you guys, i'll introduce you to the rest of my folks."

"Wait, wait. Before you do all of that, let's all take a family picture together." Said Charlie.

"Can we be in it too?" Asked Jason, Jacob and Ralph.

"Sure, everyone can be in it. After all, it's Christmas, and everyone here is family to me." Said Charile.

"Alright!" Said the three boys in excitment.

Aiden, who was holding Friday, Sharon, Jason, Jacob, Ralph, Viki and the whole family stood in front of a camera that Charlie was standing behind.

"Okay, everyone, smile for the camera." Charlie said.

The whole group grinned at the camera.

"Like this, Grandpa?" Asked Aiden through his toothy grin.

"Perfect. Okay, is everybody ready?" Asked Charlie.

"Ready!" Said the group with excitment.

Charlie: "Okay, on the count of 3. Ready? 1...2...2 in a half...2 in a quartor...2 in a penny..."

"Dad, please, the clock is ticking on this grin." Said Sharon through her teeth.

Charlie: "Alright, alright, just hold your horses, i'm almost there. 2 In a dime...2 in a nicole...2 in a..."

"WILL YOU JUST TAKE THE PICTURE!" Everyone shouted.

"3." Charlie pressed a button on the camera and rushed over to the family and stood right next to his wife, Viki, his daughter, Sharon and his grandson, Aiden and his friends. "Okay, everyone, say "Happy Holidays."

"HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"

The camera then flashed, taking the family Christmas picture.

Aiden: "So, if i were to rap this up, tie it with a bow, or whatever...i guess i'd say my trip to Oz, it was never a coincidence or an accident. It was destiney. And now...i'm a changed boy. You can take me away from my family...all of my friends and loved ones. One thing you can't take away...I am...The Boy Of Oz."

We wish you a Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas

(Wish you a Merry Christmas)

We wish you a Merry Christmas

(Wish you a Merry Christmas)

and a Happy New Year

and a Happy New Year

and a Happy New Year.

##################################################################################

Later, that night, after everyone had gone home for the day, Aiden had gotten dressed for bed and was now in his bedroom, sitting on the roof of the house next to his opened window, looking up at the stars. He wore a pair of blue PJ pants and a short sleeve baby blue t-shirt.

"Um...hi there. My name is Aiden Parker. I'm you're big brother. Well, actually, i guess you know who i am. But i'm here tonight to get something off my chest. You know, what happened...happened 10 months ago."

Unbeknownst to Aiden, His grandmother, Viki stood outside his bedroom door, listening in on his conversation.

"But what happened...happens again and again in my mind." Said Aiden. "I close my eyes and i...(Crying) i see our Mom carrying you inside her (Sobs). I see her-her happy. And i see the joy on her and grandma and grandpa's faces. But what i don't see...is me being overjoyed and happy myself. It was there, it had to be there. If only i had stuck around to see how things would've played out...you might be here with us today. But i didn't stick around. I ran out on you. And i just want to say...that i'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry (Sobbing)."

Viki continued to watch Aiden from outside his bedroom door. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. She had no idea that the boy had blamed himself for the death of his unborn brother/sister. She had no idea that he was drowning in guilt over something that wasn't even his fault in the first place. Not being able to bear the feeling of watching her grandson's pain any longer, Viki entered the boy's bedroom and walked up to the opened window that led to the roof.

"Aiden?"

Aiden's sobbing ceased, and he turned around and saw his grandmother looking outside the window at him. "Oh. Hi, grandma." He said as he whiped away his tears.

"Come inside and let's sit a moment." Said Viki.

Aiden cralled back in through the window and re-entered his bedroom. He and his grandmother then went over to his bed and he sat in it indian style while Viki sat down next to him on the right.

Outside the room, Sharon walked up the stairs, and as she passed by Aiden's bedroom, she saw that the door was opened. She walked over to the door and peeked inside and saw Aiden and Viki sitting on his bed.

"I should apologize for listening to you." Said Viki.

"No, that's alright." Said Aiden.

"Can i ask you something?" Asked Viki.

"Oh, sure." Said Aiden.

"Do you ever ask yourself why you had to be the one that survived and not the baby?" Asked Viki.

"Grandma...i've been asking myself that question everyday since i found out about the baby's passing. But i guess Mom asks herself...why she had to be pregnant in the first place." Said Aiden.

"No, she doesn't. She was pregnant because she wanted another child. We were over at my house, visiting with each other. And she asked me if i wanted some ice-cream. I told her no and that it was because i ate it all the time when i was pregnant with her. So that was when she had told me the good news. While your Mom and Dad were still together at this point, they had decided to have another baby. So she started eating more healthier...prepaired for a baby shower...bought baby cloths and toys. And...lost the baby before it even got here." Said Viki. "Up until the day we found you...she found it difficult...to live with the fact that...if she hadn't gotton pregnant with another child...you would still be with us."

"But grandma...there was no possible way she could have known what would happen. It wasn't her fault." Said Aiden.

"She knows. But it took her a whole year to realize that. And now...you must realize...that what happened to the baby is not your fault either. Okay?" Said Viki.

"Okay. But can i ask you a question too?" Asked Aiden.

"Ask away." Said Viki.

"Last year, when Mom and Dad decided to get a divorce, some of the kids at school, who have divorced parents said that we aren't a real family anymore. Is this true? Did i lose my family? And if so, is there anything i can do to get my parents back together?" Said Aiden.

Viki: "Oh, my dear Aiden. You know, some parents, when they're angry, they get along much better when they don't live together. They don't fight all the time and can become better people, and much better parents and examples for you. And sometimes they get back together. And sometimes they don't, dear. And if they don't, don't blame yourself. Just because they don't love each other anymore doesn't mean that they don't love you. There are all sorts of different families, Aiden. Some families have one Mother. Some families have one Father or two families. And some children live with their uncle or aunt. Some live with their grandparents, and some children live with foster parents. And some live in separate homes in separate neighborhoods in different areas of the country. And they may not see each other for days, weeks, months...or even years at a time. But if there's love, dear...those are the ties that bind. And you'll have a family in your heart...forever."

Sharon smiled at her Mother's encouraging words to Aiden.

Tears filled Aiden's brown eyes as his lips quivered. He then rapped his arms around Viki, embracing his grandmother with a hug. "(Sobbing) Please don't ever leave me. Promise?"

Viki then rapped her arms around Aiden, hugging him back. "I promise."

Aiden continued sobbing as he and his grandmother hugged each other.

Viki: "All my love to you, Aiden. You're going to be alright."

(The scene then froze with Aiden and Viki hugging before slowly fading to black.)

THE END

Based on the best sailing novel, "THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ," by L. Frank Baum.

In loving memory of L. Frank Baum

(1856-1919)