Bryson stayed on the ground like that for a few moments, just taking everything in.
After days of stress, and worry, and anxiety... it was finally all over. They had defeated Rabadan.
It felt so great. After days on end of nothing but worrying over the fate of Oz, it was over. It didn't feel real.
Bryson watched as Rabadan was taken away by the Emerald City guards. Not resisting or making any sounds of protest. He had completely surrendered.
Suddenly, someone rap up and hugged him tightly, he looked up and smiled when he noticed it was Dorothy.
"You did marvelous!" She praised as she clinged to him tightly.
Bryson grinned and hugged her back, just as tight, as something landed on his shoulder, it being Finley. He turned around and smiled at the primate.
"Finley!" He exclaimed.
"It's over! It's finally over! Now I can rest and do nothing for days on end. No more walking and running! I'm free!" Finley shouted.
Bryson and Dorothy chuckled at him. "Yeah. I think we all deserve a vacation." Bryson joked.
"Especially you!" Dorothy exclaimed, looking up at Bryson.
"Really?" Bryson asked, raising his eyebrows.
Dorothy nodded cheerfully. "Of course!"
"She's right, you know." Another voice said. Bryson turned around and saw the Scarecrow walking towards them.
Scarecrow put a hand on Bryson's shoulder. "You were the one to encourage all of the citizens of Oz and restore their faith. You formed that army. You got the scepeter and stopped Rabadan. You're probably going to be seen as another savior!"
Bryson realized what Scarecrow was saying was true. He played a major role in saving the day. He was.. he was a hero.
He had always dreamed of doing something worthwhile.
And he finally did something. He saved an entire land. Inside, he was glowing. He felt completely liberated. He suddenly didn't feel so uncomfortable in his own skin. It was a whole new feeling. He felt.. great! Better than he'd ever felt. He felt like crying. For once, he was proud of himself and he felt like he had done something. He defied the odds and defeated the bigger man.
Bryson smiled a wide smile, slowly nodding. "Wow... thank you. I mean.. wow... but I mean.. these two played a big part." He said, gesturing to Dorothy and Finley. "There's no way I could have done it without them."
They both gave Bryson a warm smile.
Scarecrow smiled, looking around, sighing with content. "I'm just overjoyed it's over. It's been a long couple of months, Rabadan was planning this for a while. It feels nice, that it's over and we can all get some rest." He looked at Bryson. "May I have the scepeter?"
"Oh, right." Bryson handed Scarecrow the scepeter and Scarecrow looked at it. "I should give this to Glinda, wherever she went. She knows how to use it more than anyone else around here."
They searched for her, but she soon started approaching them. "Glinda. I believe you were looking for this."
Glinda nodded and gently took the scepeter from Scarecrow's hands.
"Yes." She said, studying it. "We need to use its power to restore Oz to the way it was before Rabadan, and then destroy it right after. This thing is dangerous, to powerful. No one should have this kind of power."
She looked at it more. "Shall I restore Oz and transport us to the Emerald City?"
Scarecrow nodded. "It's for the best."
Glinda closed her eyes and concentrated on it, and after a few moments, they were now inside of the Emerald City.
Bryson gasped, looking around. "Wow..."
It was empty outside of the five of them, and someone approaching them. It was Tin Man.
"Tin Man." Scarecrow acknowledged.
Tin Man nodded at him, smiling. "I can't believe this is over. I'm so happy about this."
They all nodded in agreement.
"Now, before we destroy this.. I believe there's someone who needs to get back home."
They all turned their heads to Bryson, and that's when it hit Bryson. It hit him hard. This was it. This was the end. The end of his journey. The end of his walking of the Yellow Brick Road, the end of having the best friends he had ever known, the end of all the beatiful landscape, the magic, and wonder. It was coming to a close. And even though he needed to get back home, he didn't wanna leave. Would he never see the best friends he had ever had in his entire life? He loved all of them dearly. And Dorothy... oh god, Dorothy. He was seriously in love with her, and he didn't want to just leave her.
"Yes.. I believe it's time we send him back home." Glinda said.
"Don't you think we should honor him first? I also think we should celebrate tonight. I think he should come, there's a lot of people that I know would love to say thank you." Tin Man mused.
"It'd be lovely, but I think he needs to go. His family must be worried sick." Glinda said.
"I suppose you're right." Tin Man agreed.
"Wait... do I.. do I have to leave forever? Isn't there a way I could be sent back?" Bryson asked anxiously.
"I'm afraid not, child. Then, all of the remaints of the scepeter can't be destroyed, because that would include magic of the scepeter being brought back with you." Glinda explained.
Bryson nodded. It pained him.
"That doesn't mean you can't come back. It's just not insured. We find ways to send back Dorothy when we need to." Glinda stated.
Bryson slowly nodded. "Before I go.. I just need to say something to Dorothy and Finley."
Dorothy looked up at him, her big brown eyes penetrating through him. He licked his lips and shook his head, looking at both of his friends. He began to tear up. "You guys... you guys are the best friends I've ever had in my entire life. The best people I've ever known. You're so loyal... so nice, friendly... I could go on and on about you all. I wish I didn't have to say goodbye. Even though it was scary, even after all the danger we faced.. I'm glad we went through it. It was.. it was fun. And I've become a better person through this journey." Bryson told them, pouring his heart out to him in a way he hadn't done to anyone before.
Finley gave a warm smile, still on his shoulder, giving him a side hug. "Me too. I'm so glad we met you, Bryson."
"Oh.. that was so sweet.." Dorothy told him. She was getting teary eyed herself. All three of them began to shed a few tears.
"Is it okay if I speak to Bryson alone for a bit?" Dorothy asked.
Everyone nodded and Bryson's heart began to pound out of his chest, wanting to know what she had to say. The two walked out of the Emerald City and outside in the sunlight.
"Gee.. it sure is beautiful, isn't it?" Dorothy asked, looking around the place. "I'm so glad nothing's going to happen to this place. And I'm so glad it's back to the way it was! I don't know what I'd do with myself if it was destroyed."
Bryson nodded in agreement and smiled at the beautiful scenery.
"Yeah. It sure is beautiful... I'm so glad it's safe." He mused.
"Thanks to you." She complimented, smirking at him.
Bryson smiled, shaking his head. "Well... you helped plenty too. I mean, after all, you threw a spear in his back. I mean, you've got some great arm. You're a lot stronger than me, it seems." He complimented back.
Dorothy chuckled and shrugged, coming to a halt and standing in the middle of the Yellow Brick Road. She sighed happily, looking at the scenery more. She seemed like she was about to say something, but Bryson cut her off, not on purpose, but he decided to keep going.
"You know.. you helped in more ways than just... than stuff like that. You uh.."
His heart pounded and he shook his head, not believing he was confessing how he felt about her.
"You inspired me. You're just... you're so brave.. and courgeous. And you.. you NEVER give up. Every time I was about to call it quits... I thought about you, and what you'd do. I don't think I could have done it without you. You're a special girl." He confessed.
She blushed and scuffed her feet along the bricks, smiling. "Well.. well thank you for saying that. I happen to think you're a special boy." She replied. "I think you're brave yourself. And inspiring. You're also very smart, and no one's ever understood me quite the way you have. I feel like I could tell you anything."
He grinned. She thought highly of him, and he was estatic.
"You're also quite.. handsome." She stated, causing him to almost explode right then and there. She thought he was handsome? Was she actually taking a.. romantic interest in him? He grinned. His biggest crush since he was little was taking interest in him, it seemed, and he could hardly contain that excitement.
"Really? I uh... I think you are too.. I mean, I mean.. not.. not handsome, I guess that's not right. I mean, you're uh.. you're uh.. you're pretty. I mean.. beautiful, really.." He expressed.
She blushed and giggled, fiddling with her dress a bit. "Well.. th-thank you. You know.. it's cute when you get all flustered." She said, giggling.
He chuckled, eyes widened. Wow. He couldn't believe he was having this conversation with her. He couldn't even believe he was standing next to her.
"You.. you know... if you didn't have to leave.." She blushed deeply. "If you didn't have to leave.. I'd.. I'd ask you if you wanted me to be your girl.."
His eyes widened and he almost fell over. She was certainly from the 30's, and he loved the way she spoke. It was cute. He couldn't give a reply. He was in shock.
"Bryson?" She asked softly.
"Oh, oh.. yeah, yeah." He chuckled nervously. "I'd.. I'd love that... I wish I didn't have to leave."
Dorothy frowned slightly, her rosy cheeks still blushing. "I wish that too.. but.. who knows.. maybe we'll see each other again someday."
He smiled. "I hope we do."
Dorothy smiled and edged closer to him. She got on her tiptoes, reaching up to give Bryson a kiss on the cheek. He blushed at the feeling of having her soft lips peck his cheek.
She smiled warmly and looked up at him. She leaned in and hugged him tightly, and he hugged her back, just as tightly. He sighed, taking in her scent and planting a kiss on her head.
She smiled and rubbed his arm. "Well.. I suppose we should get going now."
"Yeah.." He replied softly. She began to walk back to the doors, but suddenly, Bryson did something he woudn't have done a few days ago and pulled her by her arm, yanking her over and making her spin around until she landed on him, forcing her to be pressed against him and looked over. She gasped, looking up at him confused. Bryson couldn't take seeing her perfect face and her red lips like this without doing one last thing. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. And wow. Her lips tasted better than he could ever imagine. He couldn't describe it, it was.. it was great. He felt like he would melt at any second as she kissed him back. Softly. Lovingly. They breathed their souls and their love into each other in that kiss, and he kissed her like his life depended on it. She slowly melted into his arms and he held her tightly, taking in her smaller frame and scent more. And they kept kissing for a few moments. Magical moments, that didn't feel like the real world. Her kiss was as magical as the whole land of Oz.
They kept kissing, until suddenly, the doors opened and they both instantly stopped kissing, Bryson feeling like a kid that had his favorite candy swiped away from him. He was dizzy from the kiss. He looked down and saw Finley, mouth agape.
Finley smirked, shaking his head. "Ya know what, I had a feeling I was the third wheel."
Bryson and Dorothy both laughed. "I guess we should go now.." Bryson said, slowly letting go of Dorothy.
Dorothy nodded in agreement and they all three walked back into the Emerald City.
"Well... I guess I'm ready." Bryson told them.
Glinda nodded.
Bryson and Dorothy looked at each other.
"Goodbye.." She said, a few tears flowing.
"Goodbye, Dorothy. I'll never forget any of you as long as I live. I can promise you that." Bryson said, choking up.
Dorothy nodded. "Believe me, we.. we won't forget you either."
Bryson smiled, turning to Glinda. "I'm ready."
Glinda nodded again and lifted up the scepeter. She closed her eyes and Bryson looked at everyone.
Getting a final look at all of his friends. Dorothy, Finley, Scarecrow, Tin Man,
"Goodbye." He said to all of them.
"Goodbye!" They all said in usion.
And as Glinda waved the scepeter, Bryson gave a final look at his friends, then to Dorothy, closing his eyes.
He looked back on it all. All he went through. He didn't regret a thing. He still couldn't believe he had come here. That this place was real. That he'd met all these amazing people and even not only met, but kissed Dorothy Gale. It'd take forever to wrap his head around it. He wished he could know more about it, but he decided not to question it. He was so grateful for it.
And then, he was gone.
/
His eyes slowly fluttered open. The sun shined down on his eyes and he groaned, flipping over into the grass. He gave a confused look, searching around, his vision slowly coming to work.
But before his vision completely came through, he felt himself being licked. He groaned more and slowly got up. His vision was now working and he almost yelped in delight when he saw it. His best friend in the whole wide world. Well.. the real word.
It was his beloved dog, Lucky!
"Lucky! Oh my god, I missed you so much, boy!" He exclaimed, giving his dog a happy look as the dog whined and pounced on Bryson licking his face, acting hyper and crazy to see his owner. Lucky began to bark and Bryson lifted himself up, petting his dog as he looked around. He was next to a river. He was near the woods. He looked around. The scenery was nice looking, but damp and nothing compared to Oz. It wasn't nearly as beatiful. It was normal. But he had to admit that he was so glad to be in the normal world where no man with a magical scepeter would harm him. It felt strange, to be back in the real world.
He looked at his clothes. Gone were his Emerald City clothes, he was now back in his standard blue jeans, black shirt, and grey jacket.
Suddenly, he could hear several people walking through the woods and heard someone call out something. "I think he found something!" He could hear someone with a thick southern accent call out.
Suddenly, he could see different southern males walk out of the forest. Bryson recognized them. They looked like friends of his father.
He looked at one, and he gasped. "WE FOUND HIM!" He yelled out.
Bryson gave a confused look. It seemed like they sent a search party after him.
Then, more men came out of the woods. One pushed through them quickly and rushed over to Bryson, quickly kneeling down. It was his father.
"BRYSON!" His father yelled out. His father instantly did something unexpected. He pulled Bryson closed to him and hugged him tightly.
Bryson was confused. His dad... was hugging him. His dad began to sob behind him. Bryson slowly hugged him tight, not sure what to do.
His dad pulled away, tears streaming down his face. "I'm so sorry!" His dad cried out, hugging Bryson again.
"I love you.. I'm so sorry.." His dad said.
Bryson pulled away. "Wait.. Dad... did you.. did you just say you loved me?"
He had never said it before. At least.. nothing geniune.
"Yes! I love you and I'm so sorry!"
Bryson instantly began to cry and hugged his dad back.
That's... that's all he had ever wanted. His dad to love him. And he did.
He was now more grateful for his journey than ever. It caused his dad to bring out another side to him. They both cried as they hugged each other, Lucky happily barking and running around close to Bryson.
And after that, he was taken home in his dad's old truck.
The next few days were strange.
There had been missing reports about him, it had been on TV that a fourteen year old boy had gone missing after a surprise tornado disaster. His friends from school were never that great of friends, Bryson thought, but they all called his house and anxiously asked what had happened and how they were glad to see him. The police also asked what had happened. Bryson of course didn't say a word about Oz. Who was gonna believe that? He simply told everyone he had passed out and never woke up for a few days. They seemed to buy it.
The media attention kind of annoyed Bryson, but he got to stay home from school for a few weeks. And at home, things were better than ever. His mom cried like a baby when she saw he was back, and his sister came home immediately. The following weeks were some of the best weeks of his life. His family was finally getting along, and they never left each other alone for the next few weeks. And he couldn't ask for more.
Oz never left his mind those weeks. He still thought about it. Late at night, he'd get on his phone and just look up pictures of it or of any of his friends (mostly Dorothy), and it always brought a smile to his face.
He didn't need Oz as much as before. Everything was better now. But he'd keep loving it. He'd keep thinking about it and long for it. And no matter what..
He would always be the boy who was dreaming of Oz.
/ Wow... it's finally over! Guys, this has been a blast to write. I've always wanted to write an Oz story, ever since I was little, and I'm so glad to have done this, and I am so grateful for all of the reviews, favorites, and followers, Everytime I got a new review, fav, follow... I'd be overjoyed and thank you so much to everyone. You've brought a smile to my face. So, I guess I should answer an obligatory question. Is there going to be a sequel? Well, I'm planning on it! There's still some unanswered questions. So, tell me, what do you want from a sequel? I can't wait to see you guys have to say. I'm also planning on doing a spin-off, Glinda and an OC, maybe. There's gonna be some more Oz stories from me! A reviwewer also brought up the idea of an OC and the actual Judy Garland in a story. I think it sounds interestng, I think I might just do that one too. Tell me what you think, and have an amazing day!
