Chapter 36

I do not own anything from the Wizard Of Oz.

"We should be doing something!" Lion snarled as they sat outside of the Impassable Desert.

Lion paced back and forth along the line that separated Mifkit from desert pass.

His thoughts were of Dorothy and Scarecrow, and he knew that neither could defeat Ozma alone no matter that Dorothy had the emerald to help her.

"If we go in there now, there is now way all of us would survive," Oscar pointed out.

Lion snarled again. They were losing time, and if something didn't happen soon he was going to volunteer to face the illness and try to make it into Oz himself. Tin Man could not do anything now as Khali was still recovering from her injuries. She was lucky to be alive after her brother threw her as far he did.

Glinda stood on the edge of the desert trying to concentrate on Oz, and see if she could get a reading on either Dorothy or Scarecrow. So far Ozma's spells were too strong for her to penetrate.

She tried to release her tired mind to concentrate, but she was making no progress.

She needed to be alone, and not listen to Lion complain about staying put. She knew he was going to go after them soon, and she did not want him to fall ill.

She began to walk back into the forest so she could get into the right mind frame. She had to know what was going on, she had to know that Scarecrow and Dorothy were at least alive.

"Where are you going?" Oscar asked as she made her way into the forest.

"I need to be alone to get a reading. I can't concentrate out here," she answered looking at her husband in frustration.

"Listen we are all worried, and there is nothing we can do right now," Oscar said holding her shoulders.

"I need to know," Glinda said.

"All right, but if you take too long I am going to come looking for you," he answered concerned.

Glinda nodded, and began to walk further into the woods.

She took some deep breaths trying to clear her head, and found the noises of the forest to be very calming.

Still her mind was not totally at ease. She knew something was dreadfully wrong, and she could do nothing to prevent it.

Glinda felt she stayed alone for long enough when she turned to see something that stopped her in tracks. She gasped at the sight, and thought she was dreaming for a moment. She almost tripped on a branch that lay on the ground.

"Evanora?"

Evanora looked young and beautiful, and not how Glinda remembered her from the last time she had seen her alive. Though Glinda could see right through her. She smiled peacefully, and looked around for a moment as Glinda tried to focus on her. Her long, dark hair flowed down her back in waves, and her brown eyes sparkled at Glinda's reaction. Her gown was a long and flowing dark green. This was how Glinda always remembered her when they had been friends once.

"I have come with some news, Glinda," Evanora said as her voice echoed lightly through the forest.

"Of Oz?" Glinda asked taking a step towards her former friend in desperation.

"Yes."

"Why are you helping me?" Glinda asked a little suspicious.

Evanora's eyes flashed for a moment. "Despite what you may think I loved Oz too."

Glinda scoffed. "I never had any doubt about that, Evanora. It was just your power that got in your way," Glinda said.

"I know, and now I must repent to have peace. This is why I am helping you," she said.

"You helped Dorothy before. I remember her telling me," Glinda commented.

"Yes, and now you need us again," Evanora said sighing.

"What is it? By the way, will we be joined by your brother?" Glinda asked a little sarcastically.

Evanora sighed again. "No. He is being punished for his crimes. He will never repent. On the other hand, Theodora and I want to rest in peace as you say," she answered.

Evanora looked around once more and said, "Dorothy is dying, Glinda."

Glinda felt her heart sink to her stomach. Her mind whirled with everything from what she could do, and what would happen if Dorothy did not make it.

"She has fallen under the illness, and the emerald cannot help her. Right now Theodora possesses her to help her defeat Ozma. Theodora has broken the illness spell, but if Dorothy does not go back to her world she will perish here," Evanora said.

Glinda knew she had to get to Oz quick, and get to Dorothy and Scarecrow.

Yet, she wanted to question why Dorothy needed to go back to her world.

"Theodora managed to make Scarecrow human again in time so he could take her," Evanora commented.

"I don't understand. Why does she need to go back to her world?"

"Scarecrow will know what to do. I would suggest you act fast or she will not make it. Theodora can only hang on for so long," Evanora said.

Glinda turned to run back to everyone and let them know. She could get there the fastest.

"Evanora? Why can't Dorothy stay in Oz?"

"She will perish. That is all I can tell you. The emerald must be destroyed," she answered.

Glinda thought for a moment, and knew what she had to do.

"Evanora?"

"Yes, Glinda?"

"Thank you."

Evanora smiled peacefully, and began to fade into the forest.

Glinda felt emotions run through her that she hadn't felt in a long time.

She turned to run back to the group.

…

"You can't just go back there alone. You will need back up. It will take us days to get to Emerald City," Oscar argued as Glinda prepared to leave.

"I have to go ahead of you. Just get there as quickly as possible," Glinda said as she began to produce the spell for the bubble she would fly in to get to Emerald City.

Leandra wiped away tears. "Dorothy….." she muttered and snarled at the news.

"Will she able to come back to Oz?" Lorna asked her voice shaking.

"Evanora did not tell me that, but I hope so," Glinda said.

Oscar finally resigned to Glinda's wishes and said, "We will be there as fast as we can."

Glinda nodded, and stepped into the bubble. "I will get her out of there alive. That is all I can say. Scarecrow too."

"We need to get moving if we are to get there in time," Oran said to Oscar as he watched Glinda float away.

Oscar turned to the men who stood and waited for orders.

"Time to go rescue our land and our rightful king!"

…..

Scarecrow felt the pain of the change. Never would he want to go through this again. He knew the first time around he did not feel a thing because death had taken him, but the second time was painful, and this time was even worse.

However, he had another problem as he went back to his human form. He had Reginald.

Scarecrow could barely see, but the sword came down next to him in a clash with the throne room floor.

He managed to kick Reginald away for the moment, but Reginald was able to recover quickly.

Scarecrow rolled as he caught the glint of the sword in the light coming down hard and swift.

The clang of the sword hitting the floor beside him resonated through his sensitive eardrums making his head hurt worse.

He breathed as his lungs returned, and his sight began to clear.

He could see that Dorothy and Boren were still under the grasp of Ozma on the other side of the throne room.

The guards were now locked out of the room, and were banging at the door to get in. Dorothy was somehow able to keep them out.

Ozma and Dorothy continued to send each other into the walls as they fought.

Scarecrow could see Dorothy getting weaker and weaker, and his only thought was to get to her.

"You will die, Scarecrow. I wanted to burn you in your straw, but a sword will do," Reginald hissed at him.

"Once I get a sword. I will not make your death as easy as Thoreon's was," Scarecrow shot back as he avoided another swipe of the sword.

He managed to have a chance to stand as the pain of the change left him. He could see his hands were human again, and the last of the straw fell to the floor. The illness was gone, and now he would not be affected. Dorothy had not been so lucky. He needed to get her help, and soon.

Another swipe of the sword came, and he was able to avoid it. He charged at Reginald and both struggled to control the sword. The older fairy was stronger than he anticipated, but he was slower too.

Both continued to exert power, and Scarecrow could see the Reginald was weakening, but still fighting.

He knew he almost had him when Reginald put a hand up, and flashed a light in Scarecrow's eyes.

Scarecrow cried out and fell to the ground in pain, and could not see anything around him. He felt along the ground for any kind of weapon he could find so he could defend himself, but the floor was empty of any debris.

He could see the outline of Reginald as he raised the sword above Scarecrow.

Scarecrow began to back away and held his arm up in defensive mode.

"I could have killed you with old fashioned magic, but my son will be avenged by the sword," Reginald snarled to Scarecrow.

Scarecrow could still only see the outline of the figure and the sword above him. He tried to get up, but tripped and fell back down again making Reginald laugh.

Reginald did not laugh for long. In fact, the laugh turned into a yelp, and then a gasp of pain. Suddenly, Scarecrow's vision cleared as the old fairy began to die in front of him.

Blood began to pour from the chest wound, and from his mouth. His blue eyes were now just staring into space, and he then collapsed on the floor in front of Scarecrow.

Boren was standing behind Reginald holding the bloody sword. Ozma lay off in the corner with her head on her chest.

Scarecrow stood and looked at Boren questioningly.

"She is not dead. You need to get Dorothy and get out of here," Boren ordered.

Scarecrow nodded and ran over to Dorothy who was gasping for air as she lay on the floor. He checked her and found her fever scalding hot. Her skin was almost gray, and clammy. Her heartbeat was almost becoming erratic.

The emerald lay in her hand, but the life was leaving it too.

"Dorothy!" Scarecrow sobbed as he held her for a moment.

"Don't you leave me!" He cried out again.

Dorothy opened her brown eyes, and looked up at Scarecrow.

"Theodora… said….." she mumbled between coughs.

"Theodora said what, honey?"

"My world…."

Scarecrow was confused, but suddenly Theodora appeared before him. Through the tears in his eyes he could see through her.

"You need to take her to her world," she said. Then she suddenly faded.

Scarecrow began to sob again as he held Dorothy in his arms. He didn't have Glinda there to open up the vortex, and knew he could not get a message to her in time.

He began to pick her up, and started to say to Boren to get a healer in there, when Boren suddenly made a choking sound and fell to the floor.

"You are not going anywhere, Scarecrow," Ozma said as she recovered still holding Boren in a chokehold.

Scarecrow looked around, and knew the only way he could go was up.

He hadn't even noticed that the emerald had dropped to the floor when he picked up Dorothy.

Boren managed to get out of Ozma's grip and yelled, "Go! Go!"

Boren began to run towards Ozma with sword still in hand.

Scarecrow didn't even look back he adjusted Dorothy against him and took off in a run. He tried to mentally get to Glinda, but was having no luck. The guards were down the hallway, and coming for him. He turned and made his way up the stairs and to the tower.

He thought he heard sickening screams from Boren as he took the stairway.

He realized he was human again as his heart pounded in his chest from the stairs, and from holding Dorothy as he ran as fast as he could.

He knew Dorothy was still breathing as he stopped and checked her for a moment.

Dorothy opened her eyes as Scarecrow stopped at the door to the tower.

"I love you," she whispered.

"You're going to be fine. So stop that," he said between heavy breaths.

She nodded and her head rolled around his shoulder.

However, Scarecrow knew he was trapped in the tower, and knew they had nowhere else to go. They were not going to be all right at all.

At that moment, he knew he could not save her. There was no way anyone could get to them in time. He stood there on the tower and looked over his beloved world, and just stared for a moment.

He began to shake, and looked down at Dorothy again who was still breathing, but it was shallow.

He cursed his stupidity, because he may have gotten her to use the emerald to get them out of this, but she was too weak to summon it, and he had dropped it without thinking.

Her world…..

The message was loud and clear in his head as he looked over the edge of the tower.

"Scarecrow?"

Scarecrow turned and stared at Ozma who had soldiers behind her. They were hesitant, but doing as they were told.

"You are done, Scarecrow. Surrender now!" She ordered with an evil smile.

Scarecrow turned and looked down again.

Her world…Dorothy's world

He then turned to Ozma who continued to smile in glory as she ordered the soldiers to take him.

Scarecrow then adjusted Dorothy again, and wrapped his arms tighter around her to protect her.

He smiled to Ozma, and said, "Never, your grace."

He pushed his booted foot against the ledge and Dorothy and him went over the ledge much to Ozma's shock and chagrin.

It was so quiet at that moment as only a breeze blew through Ozma's hair. She thought she heard screams from the ground below, but wasn't sure.

…..

Back in the throne room the light of emerald flickered it's light out for the last time, and then turned to dust.

The open door blew the dust into the wind.

The last of the rubies turned emeralds were no more.

….

Ozma returned to the throne room, and ordered. "I want their bodies brought to me! Now!"

She looked over and started to grieve her dead uncle as the guards began to organize and get ready to go get the bodies of Scarecrow and Dorothy Gale.

Boren lay still in another corner. He was not dead, but he would be before the night was over.

She had to see the bodies first. She had to know Scarecrow and Dorothy Gale were really dead.

She looked around and smiled despite her dead uncle, and the mess of the throne room. She was gleeful as she knew she finally did it, and no one would ever question her power ever again.

She almost rubbed her hands together as she thought of the power she would now not only have over Oz, but the over the realm as she would overthrow Oran, and take over the council. The realm would be at her mercy, and she would revel in every minute of it.

"Ozma."

Ozma turned to the voice that had called her name, and her heart came into her throat at the person behind the voice.

Her ice blue eyes widened in fear at the sight of Glinda the good witch standing at the throne room door facing her.

Then Ozma recovered her initial fear and laughed at the old witch.

"Your friends are dead. You have no more power here," Ozma said smiling.

Glinda looked around sadly, and said, "That is where you are wrong."

"You can fight me Glinda, but I have the emerald," Ozma retorted.

"The emerald is destroyed once and for all," Glinda shot back.

Ozma shook her head in disbelief, and realized Glinda was right, she could no longer feel its power. "No matter. You cannot defeat me again you old witch!" She hissed.

Suddenly, Glinda raised her hand, and Ozma began to choke. She tried to fight back, but Glinda was able to catch her off guard.

She was completely paralyzed, and she could not free herself from Glindas grip.

Still holding her hand out to keep Ozma in place, Glinda opened the door.

Ozma tried and tried to use her own magic to counteract Glinda's spell, but she could not.

"How are you able to do this?" She choked through coughs.

"I have help from some old friends," Glinda said smiling.

Ozma looked up in shock as two other dark haired women, who were transparent, stood beside Glinda with their hands held out as well.

Glinda then turned to the door and placed her hand on the handle.

"Ozma there are some people who would like to speak to you," she said as she opened the throne room doors.

Ozma could not move, she couldn't even scream as the now healed citizens of Oz approached her.

Ozma could only close her eyes as she was surrounded.

…

Glinda watched for a moment and then walked into the hall. She could not watch anymore of what was happening, and it was not pretty.

She looked up at the two spirits who stood in front her, and smiled as they smiled back at her.

"Our work here is done," Theodora said.

Both sisters faded as more citizens of Oz went through the doors.