Bryson, Dorothy, and Finley looked stunned.
"I.. can Finley come?" Bryson tilted his head.
"I'm afraid not. I intend to send you two home." Ozma said.
Bryson's heart sank.
Was he going to be sent home again, separated from Dorothy once more?
Let Oz sit here and rot in its destruction and division?
"Just trust me. I sense the unease on your faces. But I am not the work of a mad man. Everything will make sense soon. I can assist you two." She smiled slightly. "All of Oz."
Bryson and Dorothy turned to each other, then to Finley.
They knew what they had to do.
Bryson knelled down to Finley. "Hey. If we don't see each other again.. you've been a great friend." He smiled.
Finley looked sad, but looked at Ozma and seemed to trust her.
Finley slowly walked over, wrapping his arms and wings around Bryson tightly.
"You've been the best friend I could ask for, Bryson.. I was really lonely after the Wizard left. But.. you taught me I could believe in friendship again." Finley smiled sadly.
"Oh, Finley.. you're the best right hand man.. or.. monkey.. that anyone could ask for. I'm gonna miss you, if this really is the the end.." Bryson squeezed the small monkey's frame and slowly pulled away, giving the monkey an emotional wave.
Dorothy said her own goodbyes to the primate and Bryson stared on at the portal in front of him.
Dorothy soon joined him, the two of them analyzing the strange sight.
"This will take you to a place between your worlds and Oz. And we will do what we need to there." Ozma stated.
Bryson and Dorothy nodded.
"I'm ready now." Dorothy said firmly, but her voice trembled a little. "Are you?" She turned her head to Bryson, brown eyes looking sad with a few tears welling up.
"..Let's go." Bryson sighed.
The two gave one last look at Finley and Bryson looked at the night sky of Oz around him. And then left the corn fields he had first arrived in, stepping inside the portal with Dorothy.
...
Bryson and Dorothy gasped once they were inside.
Oz had been replaced with a pitch black large space.
And there was a long hallway with colorful paintings around, candles lit underneath.
"I... what is this?" Dorothy asked, bewildered as she looked around.
"The Midworld. The world between the other worlds. I control it and observe many different worlds. And help when I can." Ozma stated.
"I.. so.. but Rabadan said.." Bryson stuttered.
"He banished me from appearing in your realm of Oz. But he didn't banish me from the other worlds of Oz." Ozma shrugged.
Bryson and Dorothy seemed dumbfounded.
"O..other.. worlds of Oz?" Dorothy scrunched up her face.
"Yes. The Oz you two are aware of is not the only Oz." Ozma explained, gesturing for the two to walk down the hallway.
"There are Oz's where you look nothing like you do now, Dorothy. And some where you look just like this. There are multiple worlds.. and multiple Oz's to go with them. Bryson, your world is what I call The Middle. Your world is the only one to truly know of Oz. Because somehow, it is a work of fiction in your realm. You have your own sub-universes. Oz. Dorothy's world. And so on and so forth.." Ozma explained.
Bryson turned to the paintings. They all depicted different versions of Oz.
One looked just like the books. Another looked the same, but with a different type of illustration.
One looked like the classic movie he had grown up watching, one looked like one of the animated cartoons.
There were so many of them, and Bryson was stunned.
They reached the middle of the hallway, Ozma leaning to the right side and pointing.
There was a painting of Oz. His Oz, that he knew. Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, Dorothy, Glinda, and others were seen just the way he remembered them.
"Your sub-universe that knows of Oz as fiction was never meant to cross with its own Oz. But it has. And this Oz has paid the ultimate price. Becoming something completely unrecognizable." Ozma whispered. "I watched over in hopes to see it reform. But it seems there is no power left to change things to the way they once were."
"So.. there's nothing we can do?" Dorothy asked, voice high.
"Your world knowing of Oz puts this version of Oz into danger, since your world also has access to it. It was never intended for you to go. Or any outsider from your section who was aware that Oz was fiction. But I suppose Oz willed it somehow, you being sent. So I let it happen." Ozma explained.
"But then... Rabadan began to control who was sent. Their stories. No longer has this Oz been pure, it has been manipulated by this man. This one man.. has destroyed it." Ozma said sadly.
"You.. you mean.. those kids... and Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, all those Ozians? They're gonna stay dead forever?" Bryson asked, horrified as Dorothy's face trembled with sadness.
"...There is one way. An emergency method, only for the worst case scenario." Ozma said, slightly somber. "It will bring back all the deceased Ozians, and the children, too."
"What is it?" Bryson asked quickly, desperation clear in his voice.
Ozma paused, then spoke. "..This candle. It gives the worlds of Oz life. But.. if one were to blow it out successfully.. then this version of Oz would reset. And your world would no longer have access to it."
"So.. we'd never go back?" Dorothy asked.
"You could, but not him. No one from his section of his universe." Ozma replied. "It would be completely closed off forever. There's no undoing it. The flames of the candle cannot return. It is a one time thing."
"And.. what happens when this Oz resets?" Dorothy inquired. "This is the Oz I've known all my life, what would happen?"
"Your friends would all be alive once again. Everything would be the same.. until the point in which Rabadan arrived back to claim Oz. Shortly before Bryson arrived." Ozma said lowly.
Ozma turned to Bryson. "Dorothy.. and all of your friends would have no recollection of you. Everything for them would be reset, except for outsiders aware of Oz's fictional stories in your world. You would remember it, but they wouldn't remember you. And you could never come back.."
Bryson's face fell.
It'd be gone?
He'd never return again?
"I... this can't be it. Oz is supposed to be perfect. Work everything out, make everything perfect. S-so.. so everyone is happy. This can't be what this has all led to. Surely not!" Bryson exclaimed with a shaky voice. "I can't do this, I.."
Dorothy turned to Bryson, gripping his shoulders and cupping his face. "...Bryson. Don't you see? You've learned to let go of your obsession with perfection, haven't you?"
He remembered the memories Zavick had given to him. Of a "perfect world."
...There was no such thing.
"But Oz.." he retorted.
"Oh, darling. Oz was never perfect. We've almost died every time we've come here, silly!" She chuckled, shaking her head at him. "Been in more danger than ever. More scared than ever. But we've also had more fun and joy than ever, meeting each other and all our friend and going on life changing adventures."
Bryson just looked at her, slowly making a realization.
"Oz isn't perfect. And that's okay. It's flawed. It's darker and brighter than our own worlds. Scarier and more joyful than ours. It's.. it's something else entirely, that's what makes it Oz." She smiled. Tears flowed down her face, but she was smiling as she rubbed him.
"Your eyes look so sad. There's so much pain in them." Dorothy chuckled. "I.. I know you'd rather live knowing we saved Oz. I know you don't want to go on knowing it's ruined. I know.. maybe we'd say goodbye for good this time. But it's okay. I promise."
Bryson stared on at her, eyes big and filled with tears. Knowing she was right.
"We can just.. let it go. Let Oz go. And move on with our lives. It's time for this cycle to end, darling." Dorothy said, nurturing him.
"Let it go.." Bryson whispered.
He suddenly turned to Ozma, away from Dorothy's grip. "I know what I have to do. I'm doing it, let's reset everything."
"Are you sure?" Ozma questioned. "Your recognition will be gone. Any chance of a life with Dorothy Gale will be gone. Your friends will not remember you. Your sacrifices. Your memories. A lavish life. You could be Wizard again in Oz, now that they're left without a ruler. Half of the divided nation supports you after the events of the trial."
Those words hurt him deeply, but he marched on. "It's time to let go. It's time to grow up. I can.. still love Oz and.. think about it, and find comfort in it. But it's time to stop pretending that it's my escape into perfection. Because there is no such thing and.. and life is a series of hurdles. That's what.. that's what makes it life!" He exclaimed, all the dots connecting for him now.
Dorothy and Ozma smiled as Bryson realized it all now.
"I'm doing the right thing." Bryson said sure of himself now, nodding at Ozma.
"You are." Ozma smiled. "You may have been a flawed leader, but you're doing the most noble thing any leader in Oz has ever done. Letting it go for Oz's own good rather than your own. Letting Oz be as it is, not controlling who is sent and what adventures they embark on, what lessons they learn."
Bryson smiled, then turned to Dorothy.
Dorothy sniffled, but there was a big grin on her face as she reached over and hugged and squeezed him suddenly.
"Oh, darling, I'm going to miss you so much! I'm proud of you." She sighed out, swaying him as they remained in a tight embrace. "Oh.. now I'm wondering if we should go through with it." Dorothy teased.
Bryson pulled back to look at her, stroking her cheeks. "Hey.. just smile. It'll be alright."
She did just did that. "I.. supposedly won't remember you after this. I guess that somehow makes it easier, but I can't help but believe that isn't true.."
"I won't forget you ever, Dorothy. Even if you forget me." Bryson smiled.
"Oh, darling, will you be alright?" Dorothy frowned, stroking on his hair.
"For the first time in my life, I think I know what I'm doing for sure. It'll hurt, but.. I have to do this." Bryson smiled.
Dorothy smiled back when she realized his own smile was genuine.
"Come here, one more time." Dorothy snickered as she yanked him forward and kissed him firmly.
Bryson sighed and kissed her back, shivering against her as they stayed like that for several seconds. Soon enough, she pulled away.
He seemed dazed and Dorothy stroked his cheeks, making Bryson break out into a grin that then slowly faded.
He kept his hands around Dorothy's waist, lips trembling as he picked up the candle.
He stared on at it, looking at it. And then into Dorothy's eyes.
"..Goodbye, Oz. For real, this time.." Bryson whispered.
And so, Bryson Scott blew out the candle and the Land of Oz reset.. forgetting about him and having no trace of he or his memory.
...
Suddenly, Bryson was transported into a large flying bubble.
He flew around what he realized was Oz, gasping loudly.
The ruins of Quadling Country reformed into their traditional bright glowing colors.
Emerald City shined brightly, and suddenly many Ozians all around of all shapes and sizes were laughing and frolicking through the fields of Oz.
He spotted Glinda and Snowmella in the crowd, happy together.
And Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion! They were huddled together and speaking to each other. Alive and well.
He flew over Munchkin Land, seeing them all happy and at peace. And Finley was there! Flying around as carefree as ever.
And then the fields of corn once again, looking around as the bright day sky seemed happy once more.
It was as if Ozma was giving him a tour through the bubble of the reset Oz to assure him, and Bryson was beaming.
He swore he could have heard an instrumental orchestra rendition of Over the Rainbow blasting along the land, but he may have just been his own mind.
And suddenly, the bubble stopped and hovered over the corn fields.
"Oh my God, kids! You're alright!" Bryson cried out with a wide beam as he saw Tommy, Charlotte, and Kyle in front of him.
They just smiled, seeming oddly calm. As if they were one with Oz.
Charlotte and Kyle were ten and eleven years old again. Charlotte wore a long sleeve nightgown that went down to the calf of her legs, and she was barefoot, as did Kyle.
Behind them, Colton stepped around the Yellow Brick Road. "Mommy, daddy!" He cried out before jumping into their arms.
It was then that Bryson noticed Thersea and Ethan were a few feet away from Colton on the Yellow Brick Road. They leaned down and happily embraced him.
"It's good to see you again. Oz is back to its former glory." Tommy smiled.
The Child of Oz's hair was long and went down to his neck, wearing a long choir-like robe that went down to his feet. The robe had a stripe in the middle of it, a long cape, with sandals, and his body was glowing a beautiful gold-yellow color. He truly fit the description of a Child of Oz, and he was ten years old again.
"It's good to see you again, too! Oh my God, you're alive!" He cheered with a wide smile. "And Colton? How is here with Thersea and Ethan?" Bryson asked, dumbfounded.
"Everyone is okay, Bryson. Everyone." Tommy smiled. He waved his hands around, making a few rainbows appear in the sky. Bryson gasped, seeing that the Child of Oz had now regained his powers.
"Ozma ensured that everyone would be okay. Everything will make sense in time. I believe that's all you needed to hear, yes?" Tommy smirked. He snapped his finger as Bryson looked at one of the rainbows in the bright Oz sky.
And it was Bryson's last ever glimpse of Oz.
...
And then Bryson was home. Laying in bed.
He yawned in his cabin bed, looking out at the windows.
"Hm.." He looked around, dazed.
As if none of it had ever happened at all.
As if it had all been... just himself. Dreaming of Oz.
...
One more chapter left after this.
The final ever chapter of this series.
So for the last time, find out what happens next soon and see you then.