Deadly Poppy Field
(Third-person POV)
*While Ayla, Muttski, & their new friends made their way through the forest, a certain Warlock was watching them through his crystal ball*
Wicked Warlock of the West: So, my pretty little hedgehog, made some new friends have you? Well, no matter, I will have have those boots, one way or another. *he went over to a table filled with potions & stared making something* When I get them, my magic will be the greatest in all of Oz! *he held up a beaker filled with red liquid* And now, my pretty, something with poison in it. Attractive to the eye, and soothing to the smell. *he poured the liquid over the crystal ball* Poppies. Poppies. Poppies will put them to sleep. Sleep . . . Now they'll sleep . . .
(Ayla's POV)
*We made our way out of the forest & came to a field of red flowers. On the other side of the field was our destination*
Ayla: I see it! Emerald City! We're almost there! It's beautiful. If the Wizard lives in a city like that, then he really must be wonderful.
Lion: Zen, what are we waiting for?
Scarecrow: Nothing!
Tin Walrus: Let's hurry!
Ayla: Yeah! Let's run!
*As we ran through the flowers their strong smell hit me like a slap in the face. It was really sweet, but also strong. The Scarecrow & the Tin Walrus were already ahead of us*
Scarecrow: Come on! Come on!
Tin Walrus: Hurry! Hurry!
*Soon, we got to a hill. By then, I was getting dizzy*
Scarecrow: Look! You can see it from here! It's beautiful! *when I reached them, I fell to my knees* Ayla, what's wrong?
Tin Walrus: Did you hurt yourself?
Ayla:*yawn* No, I just feel so sleepy and tired all of a sudden.
Scarecrow: But it's still daytime.
Lion: I am sleepy too. *yawn* I zink I'll take a nap.
*He sat down next to me*
Scarecrow: What's going on?
Ayla:*whispering* It's the . . . Flow . . . *yawn*
Scarecrow: Flow . . . It's the flowers! That's it! Something in the flowers is doing it.
Tin Walrus: But how?
Scarecrow: Must be the scent I guess. Our noses aren't real, so they can't affect us. But if they did, we'd be sleepy too. *Muttski came up to me & nudged my arm* And since Muttski isn't flesh and blood, they don't affect him either.
Ayla: I . . . Need to . . . Lie down.
*I fell asleep in the flowers*
*Third-person POV)
Tin Walrus: I've never heard of flowers that can make you sleepy.
Lion: Me neither, but it must be them. Ze longer I stay here, the sleepier I get. I am falling asleep right where I am.
*He closed his eyes & started snoring*
Scarecrow: These flowers are dangerous. We have to get them out of here somehow Tin Walrus. Who knows, these flowers could be another under some kind of spell, they could even be deadly. Come on, help me with Lion.
Lion: No . . . I am too heavy. Just save Ayla. I will try to run for it.
*He started running as fast as his legs could carry him*
Scarecrow: Head for the river, Lion! We'll meet you there! And try to hold your breath! *to the Tin Walrus* You're stronger than me, so you'd better carry Ayla.
Tin Walrus: Right. But you'd better carry my axe.
Scarecrow: Sure. *he picked it up, but almost fell over from the weight* Whoa!
*Meanwhile, the Lion was starting to slow down*
Lion: Must not sleep . . . Must not . . . Sleep . . . Must not . . .
*He suddenly collapsed, just as he was a few meters away from the end of the flower field*
*The Tin Walrus was carrying Ayla in his arms while Scarecrow & Muttski walked in front of him*
Tin Walrus: This was a good idea, Scarecrow.
Scarecrow: That wasn't an idea. That was all we could do, that's all. *they suddenly stopped when they saw the Lion sleep close to the end of the flower field* Oh no! He didn't make it! *they ran up to him* Lion! Wake up! It's no use, we'll have to carry him out of here too!
Tin Walrus: Well, we could try, but I don't think we'll make it. Lion was right, he's too heavy for us, Scarecrow.
Scarecrow: Maybe we could wake up Ayla and see if she has any ideas.
Tin Walrus: All right. But we'll have to get her out of here first.
*He carry her to a nearby tree & placed her down at the base of the trunk*
Scarecrow: How are we gonna wake her up?
*The Tin Walrus was about to say something when suddenly, he heard a scream. They turned & saw a wild cat chasing a tiny mouse that was wearing a gold crown*
Mouse Queen: Help me! Help! *just the wild cat was about to pounce on the mouse, the Tin Walrus wacked it's head with the back of his axe, knocking the wild cat unconscious* Oh thank you, you saved my life. I though he was going to eat me.
Tin Walrus: Don't mention it. I'm just glad I could help. Especially, a little mouse like you.
Mouse Queen: I, sir, am not just a Mouse. I happen to be the Queen of all the field mice. So address me as Your Majesty.
*The Scarecrow & Tin Walrus looked at each other in surprise & fell to their knees*
Tin Walrus: Forgive me, Your Majesty, I had no idea.
Mouse Queen: You are forgiven. Now, I owe you a Royal favor. For you have saved my life.
Scarecrow: On behalf of the Tin Walrus and myself, thank you, Your Majesty.
Mouse:*off-screen* Your Majesty, your alive! *they looked & an army of mice approached them**on-screen* It's a miracle!
*They all ran up to her, shedding tears of joy & asking her questions*
Mouse Queen: My loyal subjects, this Walrus made of tin saved me, he is a most noble fellow. In gratitude I have granted him a special Royal favor.
Tin Walrus: Thank you, Your Majesty.
*Suddenly, Muttski started barking at the mice & they all hid in the bushes*
Scarecrow: Muttski, stop that! They're our friends! *hel grabbed Muttski by his collar* Your Majesty, come back. He won't hurt you.
Mouse Queen: Are you sure?
Scarecrow: Don't worry. He's made of metal, do he can't eat you.
*Just then, Ayla started to open her eyes*
(Ayla's POV)
*I opened my eyes & yawned*
Tin Walrus: Ayla! Your awake! Thank goodness!
*I then looked down & saw I was surrounded by field mice. One of them was wearing a gold crown*
Scarecrow: Ayla, it is my honor to introduce the Queen of the Field Mice.
*The one wearing the crown stepped up to me. I lowered my hands for her to climb in my palms. She did & I brought her up to my face*
Ayla: It's very nice to meet you, Your Highness.
Mouse Queen: What's your name, child?
Ayla: Ayla Hedgehog, Your Highness.
Mouse Queen: A lovely name.
Ayla: Thank you.
*She then turned it the Tin Walrus*
Mouse Queen: Now then, Tin Walrus, what is your Royal favor?
Tin Walrus: Well, I'd like you to help up help our friend, who's asleep in that field of flowers. He's a lion and -
Mouse Queen: A LION!
*She screamed & her subjects screamed as well*
Scarecrow: Don't be afraid. He's a very gentle lion. He thinks he's a coward. He wouldn't hurt a flea.
*The mice all looked at him confused*
Mouse Queen: We'll have to take his word for it, subjects. Send for twenty of our strongest warriors. *the mice nodded & ran off* And make it fast!
*I giggled as I watched them run away*
*They soon came back with twenty mice who were bigger than the others. They all wore tiny handkerchiefs over their mouths. They followed the Scarecrow & the Tin Walrus in the field of flowers*
Mouse Queen: Positions!
*The Scarecrow & Tin Walrus lifted the Lion up by his paws, but they seemed to be struggling*
Scarecrow: He's even heavier than he looks.
*The twenty mice went under the Lion's belly*
Mouse Queen: On your mark! Get set! Lift! *the mice all pushed up with their backs &, with the help of the Scarecrow & Tin Walrus, carried the Lion out of the field of flowers & set him down under the tree* Well, that's that. Anything else we can do for you?
Ayla: You've all saved him and that's enough.
Mouse Queen: Well, if you ever need us, just call.
Ayla: We will. And thank you again, Your Highness.
Mouse Queen: It was my pleasure, dear. Now my Royal subjects and I shall return to our domain in the fields. Until we meet again. Farewell.
Ayla: Bye. And thanks again.
Mouse Queen: Come along, my subjects.
Tin Walrus: Nice meeting you, Your Majesty. And watch out for wild cats.
Mouse Queen: Oh, that won't happen again.
*She then looked at Muttski & got nervous. She then ran off & all her subjects followed her*
All: Goodbye!
*The Lion soon woke up & we told him everything that happened as we walked along the yellow brick road*
Lion: I am so sorry I kept you waiting, but zose flowers were powerful. Some Lion I am. Put to sleep by flowers and then rescued by mice. How humiliating.
Scarecrow: At least your alive, that's all that matters.
Lion: I suppose so.
(Third-person POV)
*The Warlock watched the whole thing*
Wicked Warlock of the West: Curses! Someone always helps that girl! But boots or no boots, I'm still great enough to conquer her! And all those who get in my way! *he picked up his broomstick* To the Emerald City as fast as lighting!
*He flew away, laughing his evil laugh*
