NOTE: Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!


Chapter 9: Reaching the Emerald City

After a few minutes of walking, the five travelers came to the great wall that surrounded the whole colorful city. In front of them was a large gate that was studded with emeralds that glittered and sparkled radiantly in the sunlight.

"Look, there's the emerald city gate!" Twilight spoke.

"The walls are so high!" Spike said in awe.

"I'm getting giddy just looking at them" Lion added.

"Ring the bell, Scarecrow," Tinman said. "Let them know we're here."

"Okay" the stuffed man replied, as he grabbed the green rope and rang the bell.

Once the bell rang, the big gate swung slowly open, and before them stood a little man about the same size as the Munchkins. He was clothed all in green, from his head to his feet.

"Who rang that bell?!" the little man asked harshly.

"We did" the others answered all at once.

"Can't you people read?" he asked in an annoyed voice.

"Read what?" Scarecrow asked.

"The notice!"

"What notice?" the travelers asked.

"The one that's on the door, as plain as the nose on my face! Look, it's—"

However, when the doorman and the travelers looked, there was no notice on the door.

"Uh...just a moment," the doorman said, before went back inside, brought out the notice, and hung it on a hook attached to the door. "Let's try this again."

Before anyone could reply, the little man slammed the door shut. The travelers looked at the notice on the door.

"Bell out of order. Please knock" they read the notice aloud, before Twilight knocked on the door with the huge doorknocker.

A few moments after that, the doorman came out with a grin on his face. "Well, that's the way to do it. Now, state your business."

"We want to see the wizard!" the group replied.

"The wizard?!" the doorman spoke in shock. "But nobody can see the great Oz! No one's ever seen the great Oz! Even I have never seen him!"

"Then how do you know that there is one?" Twilight asked.

"Because...b-b-because...because if there wasn't a wizard, then why would you be here?" the doorman stuttered, confusing the travelers.

"Awkward..." Spike broke the silence.

"Please, sir," Twilight pleaded. "I've got to see the wizard. The good witches, Celestia and Luna, sent me here."

This got the doorman's hesitated attention. "Really? Prove it."

"She's wearing the ruby slippers that they gave her" Spike answered.

The doorman looked down and saw the red, sparkling shoes that the teenage girl was wearing, and his annoyed look was replaced by one of happiness.

"Oh, so she is!" he whooped, causing the others to smile. "Well, bust my buttons, why didn't say that in the first place? That's a horse with a different color! Come on in! Ha ha ha ha!"

The doorman went back inside and opened the gates all the way, allowing the group to walk inside the emerald city. Once in the streets, Dorothy and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the wonderful City. The streets were lined with beautiful houses all built of green marble and peppered with emeralds. There were many people—men, women, and children—walking about, and they were all dressed in green clothes. Everyone seemed happy and contented and prosperous. Before they knew it, two men in matching green outfits walked up to the group. One man was slightly younger than the other, and the older one had a green mustache under his nose.

"Welcome to the emerald city!" the first guy spoke. "Flim an—"

"And Flam!" the second guy with the mustache interrupted.

"—at your service!" Flim continued.

"Have you traveled far?" Flam asked.

"Oh, just the longest of ways" Twilight answered.

"Oh, believe us, noticeably—" Flim said.

"Apparently" Flam added.

"Every step was worth it."

"Have you any idea how beautiful this city really is?"

"Well, I would like to imagine it, but I don't have a brain" Scarecrow pointed out.

"Well, they told me I'd fall in love with it, if I only had a heart" Tinman added.

"It's the once place that I don't need courage, because there's nothing scary here...is there?" Lion asked cautiously.

Before anyone could reply, Twilight began singing, with the others following suit.

[Twilight]

There's a garden spot I'm told

Where it's never too hot and it's never too cold

[Scarecrow]

When you're never too young

And you're never too old

[Tinman]

And you're never too big or small

[Lion]

And you're never to anything at all

"It's all true" Flim confirmed, before he and his brother began to sing as well.

[Flim]

Oh, we're not too mad

And we're not too sane

[Flam]

And we don't compare

And we don't complain

[Flim & Flam]

All we do is just sit tight

'Cause it's all so down right, right

The two guides led the group down the streets of the city, as they continued singing.

[Flim & Flam]

Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!

And a couple o' tra-la-las

That's how we laugh the day away

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

Bzz, bzz, bzz! Chirp, chirp, chirp!

And a couple o' la-di-das

That's how the crickets crick all day

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

[Flim]

We get up at twelve

And start to work at one

[Flam]

Take an hour for lunch

And then at two we're done

[Flim-Flam Brothers & Citizens]

Jolly good fun!

Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!

And a couple o' tra-la-las

That's how we laugh the day away

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

Ha-ha-ha! Ho-ho-ho!

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! (And a couple o' tra-la-las)

That's how we laugh the day away

With a Ho-ho-ho! Ha-ha-ha!

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

"So, will you take us to see the wizard, please?" Twilight asked politely.

"The wizard?" Flim asked. "Why, yes of course!"

"But first we'll take you to a little place where you can tidy up a bit" Flam added.

The party soon arrived at a shop called "Wash & Brush Up Co.", and the visitors all entered, where they were kindly treated to by the workers. In one room, a blonde girl and a pink-haired girl were putting new straw into the scarecrow while they were singing.

[Blonde Girl]

Pat, pat here

[Pink-haired Girl]

Pat, pat there

[Scarecrow]

And a couple o' brand-new straws

[Both Girls]

That's how we keep you young 'n' fair

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

In the next room, a blue-haired boy and orange-haired were polishing up the Tinman's body.

[Blue-haired Boy]

Rub, rub here

[Orange-haired Boy]

Rub, tub there

[Tinman]

Whether I'm tin or bronze

[Both Boys]

That's how we keep you in repair

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

In the next room, a purple-haired girl and a shy girl were grooming Twilight's hair with curls, and they put a light purple ribbon on top of her head.

[Purple-haired Girl]

We can make a dimpled smile out of a frown

[Twilight Sparkle]

Can you even dye my eyes to match my gown?

[Shy Girl]

Uh-huh

[Twilight Sparkle]

Jolly ol' town!

In the last room, a girl with light green hair and a girl with pink and purple hair were grooming the lion's mane, and they put a red ribbon on top of his head.

[Both Girls]

Clip, clip here

Clip, clip there

We give the roughest claws

[Lion]

That certain air of savoir-faire

In the merry ol' Land of Oz

Outside the shop, they all met up with the guides and started singing again.

[Scarecrow]

Ha-ha-ha!

[Tinman]

Ho-ho-ho!

[Twilight Sparkle]

Ha-ha-ha-ha!

[Lion]

Ha!

[All]

That's how we laugh the day away

With a ha-ha-ha

Ha-ha-ha

Ha-ha-ha

Ha-ha-ha

Ha-ha-ha

Ha-ha-ha

In the merry ol' Land

Merry ol' Land

Merry ol', merry ol'

Merry ol' Land of Oz!

Suddenly, there was a loud swooshing sound that made everyone look up and scream in horror. Above the city, Chrysalis was riding her broomstick overhead with black smoke coming out of it. She made different kinds of loops with her broom, as if she was writing something.

"Who's her? Who's her?" lion asked fearfully.

"It's Chrysalis, the wicked witch!" Twilight replied, as she picked

"What's she doing with all of that smoke?" Scarecrow asked.

"She's writing with it!" Tinman answered.

"What does it say?" Lion whimpered.

"Surrender Twilight or...DIE!" Spike read aloud, causing the crowd to gasp.

"What would Chrysalis want with Twilight?" the purple-haired girl asked.

"The wizard will explain it!" the pink-haired girl spoke.

"To the wizard!" Flim shouted.

"To the wizard!" Flam repeated.

The crowd, including Twilight and her friends, began running for the palace doors, but they were stopped by the palace guard.

"Here, here, here, wait a minute!" the guard yelled out to crowd, trying to calm them down. "Wait a minute! Stop, it's all right! Everything is all right! The Great and Powerful Oz has got matters well in hand...I hope."

"You hope?!" the crowd began squabbling again.

"So, you can all go home, and there's nothing to worry about!" the guard continued, as the crowd left, leaving only the travelers at the steps to the palace. "Didn't you hear me? I told you to go home!"

"That's what I'm trying to do, sir" Twilight explained.

"Which is why all five of us have to see the wizard right away!" Spike added.

"Orders are, nobody can see the Great Oz, not nobody, not nohow!" the guard growled.

"Oh, but...but please, it's very important!" Twilight pleaded.

"And I got a makeover just for the occasion" Lion chuckled.

"NOT NOBODY, NOT NOHOW!" the guard shouted in response.

"This young lady is in danger!" Tinman shouted back. "Have a heart will you?"

"How can we make him see reason, Twilight?" Scarecrow asked.

Before Twilight could reply, the guard, who overheard the conversation, stepped closer to them. "Twilight? Do you mean the

"In person" Spike grinned.

"Well, that changes everything!" the guard slightly smiled. "Just wait here and I'll announce you at once!"

That being said, the guard entered the palace and closed the door behind him. The group of friends were so excited, because their dreams were about to come true...hopefully.


NOTE: They're very close to meeting the Wizard of Oz! Find out what happens in chapter 10! Catch ya later!