That night, Ellie slept in the hollow of a small tree, on a soft bed of moss and leaves. Her sleep was disturbed: she constantly imagined that she was lying tied up on the kitchen table and that the Ogre was raising his hand over her with a huge knife. The girl screamed and woke up. Everyone calmed her down as best they could, and Ellie fell asleep again until the next panic attack.
In the morning we set out. The forest was rather gloomy. From behind the trees came the dull roar of the beasts. Ellie shuddered with fear, and Toto and Taffy, with their tails tucked under their legs, clung to the feet of the Tin Woodman: they had come to respect him very much after the victory over the Ogre. Kaggi-Carr shifted nervously on the Scarecrow's shoulder. Nikita walked along, looking around suspiciously, his hand on the hilt of his sword ready.
They walked along, talking quietly about the events of the previous day, and were very happy about Ellie's recent rescue. The Woodman and Nikita never stopped praising the Scarecrow's resourcefulness.
"How cleverly you threw yourself at the Ogre's feet, friend Scarecrow! Nikita was saying. — And how did you come up with that bridge! Have you got a brain in your head?"
"No, straw," replied the Scarecrow, feeling his head.
— Will this forest end soon?" Ellie asked the Woodman.
"I've never walked this road, and I've never been to the Emerald City. My father used to go there, but I was just a kid then. He said that the way there is long and difficult, but closer to the Emerald City, beautiful places begin. As for the dangers, I am not afraid of them, if my oilcan and ax are at hand. The Scarecrow and Nikita, I see, are also not timid, the Tiger is a dangerous opponent, and you, Ellie, have the silver shoes of the evil Gingema on your feet.
— But who will protect me, Toto, and Kaggi-Carr?" Taffy asked anxiously.
— We won't let you get hurt, " the Woodman assured him.
Suddenly, Toto, sniffing the air, ran forward.
- Toto, stop! "It could be dangerous out there!" shouted Kaggi-Carr.
But the friends did not have time to do anything. A huge Lion leaped into the road. With a single blow, he threw the Scarecrow and Nikita into the air; the Scarecrow went tumbling and fell on the edge of the road, sprawling like a rag, and Nikita flew into the bushes. Taffy immediately jumped on the Kaggi-Carr and it flew higher. Then the Lion struck Goode with its paw, but its claws scraped on the iron, and the Woodman sat up from the impact, and the funnel flew off his head. The Tiger was preparing to jump, when suddenly... Tiny Toto boldly rushed at the enemy.
The huge beast opened its mouth to swallow the dog, but Ellie boldly ran forward and blocked Toto with her body.
- Stop! Don't you dare touch Toto! — No! " she cried angrily.
The lion froze in amazement.
"I'm sorry —" said the Lion, " but I didn't eat it…
"But you tried. Shame on you for offending the weak! You're just a coward!
"Ah... how did you know I was a coward?" Lion asked, stunned. — Did anyone tell you?"
— I can tell by your actions!"
"It's amazing," Lion said, confused. — No matter how hard I try to hide my cowardice, the case still comes out. I've always been a coward, but I can't help it!
"Just think: you hit the poor straw-stuffed Scarecrow and my friend Nikita!
— Is it stuffed with straw?" asked the Lion, looking at the Scarecrow in surprise.
"Of course," Ellie said, still very angry with the Lion.
"I understand now why it is so soft and so light," said the Lion. — And the one that sat down — is it stuffed, too?"
"No, it's made of iron.
- Aha! No wonder I almost broke my claws on it. And what is this little animal that you love so much?
- This is my dog Toto.
— Is it made of iron or stuffed with straw?"
"Neither. He is a real dog, made of meat and blood.
- Tell me, how small, and yet brave! Lion was surprised. — And that boy?"
— He's a simple man, too.
Suddenly, a strange roar was heard from the bushes and an alien jumped out onto the road. He looked like a big orange dog with no eyes, ears, nose, or tail. The teeth were very clearly defined and protruded from the mouth. On either side of its neck were three gill-like nostrils. On the left shoulder was the Omnitrix symbol. With a roar of rage, he pounced on the Cowardly Lion and pinned it to the ground, and the Lion, in turn, cowered in fear and prepared for death.
- Nikita, stop! Tiger shouted to his friend. "Don't kill him!"
Vulpimancer got down from the Lion and looked at the Tiger with a puzzled expression.
"Urarrhschraurr?"
— What's that?" "What is it?" said the Scarecrow.
Vulpimancer touched the Omnitrix icon and turned into Nikita.
"I'm sorry," he said. "Wildmutt can't talk. I repeat: why can't I kill this dirty worm that attacked us like a rat?
"It's just a Cowardly Lion," Ellie explained. — He's already scared of us.
— Why are you a coward?" Nikita asked, looking at the huge Lion with surprise and incomprehension.
— I was born that way. Of course, everyone thinks I'm brave, because the Lion is the king of animals. When I roar — and I roar very loudly, you've heard it yourself-animals and people run out of my way. But if I was attacked by a tiger or a bear, I would be scared, honestly! It's a good thing no one knows what a coward I am, " said the Lion, wiping his tears with the fluffy tip of his tail. — I am very much ashamed, but I can not change myself at all.
— Maybe you have a heart condition?" Goode asked.
"Perhaps, — agreed the Cowardly Lion.
- Happy! And I can't have a heart disease: I don't have a heart.
"If I didn't have a heart," said the Lion thoughtfully, " maybe I wouldn't be a coward.
— Tell me, please, do you ever fight with other lions? Ellie asked.
"Where can I go?"… I'm running away from them, just like the plague, " Lion admitted.
- Ugh! Toto, Taffy, and Kaggi-Carr snorted derisively.
— Do you have a brain?" The Scarecrow asked the Lion.
"There probably is. I've never seen them.
— My head is full of straw, and I am going to the Great Goodwin to ask for some brains, " said the Scarecrow.
"And I am going to him for the heart," said the Tin Woodman.
"I'm going to him for the growth," said Taffy.
"I'm going to ask him to help me remember the name of my wizard creator," Tiger said.
"I'm going to ask him to bring Toto and me back to Kansas," Ellie said.
"And I'm going to Moscow," Nikita said.
"Is Goodwin really that powerful?" Lion was surprised.
"It doesn't cost him anything," Ellie said.
— Then won't he give me the courage?"
— It's as easy for him as giving me brains, — said the Scarecrow.
"Or my heart," added the Tin Woodman.
"Or my height," piped Taffy.
"Or tell me the name of my wizard creator," Tiger growled.
"Or bring me back to Kansas and Nikita back to Moscow," Ellie finished.
"Then take me into your company," said the Cowardly Lion — " if only I could get some courage."… After all, this is my dearest wish!
— I'm very happy! Ellie said. — This is the fifth wish, and if all five are fulfilled, Goodwin will bring Nikita and me home." Come with us…
"And be a good friend to us," said the Woodman. — You'll be chasing other wild animals away from Ellie. They must be even more cowardly than you, to run away from just your roar.
"They're cowards," the Lion growled, " but that doesn't make me any braver."
When the Lion had joined the party, the Scarecrow, lowering his voice, asked the Tiger in a low voice:
— And why do you need to become the king of the beasts? I just don't get it.
"There is an expression called' The Lion is the king of beasts, '" the Elemental Tiger explained. - Apparently, people use it to emphasize the strength and bravery of the lion. The lion is associated with such qualities as bravery, nobility and justice. I was told about it by the wizard who created me.
The travelers moved on down the road, and the Lion walked at a stately pace beside Ellie. Toto didn't like this satellite either at first. He remembered how the Lion wanted to swallow him. But he soon got used to the Lion, and together with Taffy and Kaggi-Carr they became great friends.