Chapter 10
"Put 'em up! Put 'em up!" The lion roared.
"Like, please don't eat us, Mr Lion!" Shaggy exclaimed.
The lion roared at them again.
"Like, somebody do something." Shaggy whispered.
"We'll be fine, Shaggy, he's the Cowardly Lion." Fred said.
"Freddie, at the end of the movie he found his courage." Daphne reminded.
"Oh shit." Fred muttered, as the gang slowly stepped backwards.
The lion suddenly began laughing, the gang were confused, "Ha, I still got it!"
The gang exchanged looks.
"I stopped scaring people years ago!" The lion exclaimed. "Well you sure scared us!" Velma exclaimed.
"I thought you were the Tin Man and the Scarecrow." The Lion said, then he looked down sadly. "They haven't been to see me in so long!" He cried.
"Like, we saw the Tin Man and the Scarecrow way back there!" Shaggy exclaimed.
"We're they together?" The Lion asked.
"Yes." Velma replied.
"I thought so, we haven't seen each other since Dorothy left Oz. I had my duties in here, in the jungle" The Lion explained.
"Aw, that's sad." Shaggy whispered.
"Guys, we have to go to the Emerald City." Fred whispered and Daphne elbowed him.
"Mr Lion, we're trying to find our way to the Emerald City." Velma said.
"Follow the yellow brick road." The Lion replied.
"Will the Wizard see us?" Velma asked. "The Wizard left on a hot air balloon right before Dorothy left for Kanas." The Lion replied, "Nobody has taken his place since."
"Great." Fred muttered.
"But maybe you can find someone at the Emerald City who can help you. There are so many nice people there." The Lion smiled, "They gave me this beautiful red bow!" He exclaimed, proudly showing off his beautiful bow.
"You really think someone in the Emerald City can help us?" Velma asked. "Of course, they can!" The Lion exclaimed, "If you continue along the yellow brick road, you soon find the Emerald City."
"Alright, let's go gang!" Fred exclaimed. "Bye!" The Lion waved as the gang carried along the yellow brick road.
The gang finally came out of the woods and found themselves in a field of poppies. In the distance they saw the glowing Emerald City.
"We're almost there!" Shaggy exclaimed, Scooby bounced through the field, with Shaggy close behind him and the rest of the gang trying to keep up with them.
"Have you thought anymore about who our mysterious jewel thief could be?" Velma asked. "I have been thinking, it's got to be someone who knows about our pasts that many people don't know, like my mom selling my dad's watch, and Shaggy's trophy being stolen." Fred explained.
"Have you thought any more about the mysterious key, Velma?" Daphne asked. Velma pulled the key out of her pocket and examined it, "Nothing has come to mind, and it doesn't look familiar." Velma replied.
"Maybe there is someone in Emerald City who can help us?" Daphne asked, Velma nodded, "Hmm…maybe someone knows what this key is for?"
"Come on guys!" Shaggy exclaimed, and the gang realised they were so close to the Emerald City.
Shaggy knocked on the huge green door. There was a sign hanging on the door, which read 'BELL OUT OF ORDER, PLEASE KNOCK'
Within a few seconds, a face appeared through a hole in the door.
"Who is it?" A man asked. He had a bright red nose, bushy brown eye browns, and thick brown hair poking out from under his cap.
"Excuse me, we're hoping someone could help us." Velma said to the man. "What do you want? There's no Wizard here anymore!" The man exclaimed.
"We're looking for some help!" Shaggy exclaimed. "What with?" The man asked. "We need to find our way home!" Daphne exclaimed.
"I told you, there's no Wizard here!" The man replied.
"Is there someone here who can help us?" Fred asked. "Well…umm…err…oh yes ok. Come in." The man said, his face disappeared, and the doors opened.
The gang stepped into the Emerald City, but it was nothing like they were expecting.
Daphne remembered the City of Oz being bright green, shiny and beautiful, but right now Oz was the complete opposite; it was still green, but dirty. The city was not busy like it had been in the movie, but quiet with bare market stalls.
"What happened to Oz?" Daphne asked.
The man sighed, "After the Wizard left, Oz lost its brightness. And there was the other thing too." He said the last bit in a whisper, and the gang looked at him. "Come with me." The man said, and he began to lead the gang through the bleak city.
They were led to a door, and through a green hallway. The man closed the door behind him and looked around to make sure nobody was there.
"The Munchkin Land Massacre." The man began, speaking quietly, "After the Wizard left, word got out about the massacre. And because the Wizard left, many in Oz believed the Wizard knew but did not want to deal with it, some even said he was in cahoots with the witch!"
"Was he?" Shaggy asked, and the man shrugged, "All I know, is the Wizard hated the munchkins." He replied.
Daphne's eye widened, "He did?"
"Yes, he did, that's why he sent them to the outskirts of the land, even mocking them by calling them 'Munchkins'." The man said, bitterly.
"You don't sound too pleased about it." Fred commented. "Nobody was those poor people. I will tell you this, they were some of the best people in this land. Yes, they were short people, but they were plenty smarter than most people in this city!" The man exclaimed.
"And nobody knew about the massacre until after the Wizard left?" Fred asked. "That is correct." The man replied.
"Sir, we really are looking for a way home." Velma said. "Where are you from?" The man asked, the gang exchanged looks, "The same land as Dorothy." Daphne replied.
The man's eyes widened, and he exhaled deeply, "You have got the ruby slippers, but they'll be useless without the wizard. Come with me I might have a way to get you home."
The man led the gang through a dusty hallway, and into a dark room. "This used to be the Wizard's lair. I don't know if there is anything that might be able to help you get home, but it wouldn't hurt to look around."
The man lit a match and held it to lantern on the wall, which brightened up the room.
"Maybe something in here can help us?" Fred suggested as he lifted the lid on a huge chest.
"Jinkies! You know where we've seen this before!" Velma exclaimed.
"Like, it's the same jewel our mystery jewel thief stole from the store!"