Chapter 2: A Wild Scarecrow

Jack thought about the strange things he had seen. This is undoubtedly a world of magic. He had heard of several, such as Mount Olympus and the home of the sky dragons, even the moon where the rabbit in the moon was said to make the Elixir of Life. Perhaps one of its charms is for the citizens of this world to appear as people he knew very well. Who knows? Maybe the true forms of these people were too awesome to see by human eyes. He was skeptical of this great wizard of Emerald City. Perhaps Aku's evil even corrupts such a magical world.

At sundown, Jack saw several Munchkin farmers holding huge celebrations to rejoice over the end of the Wicked Witch's reign. They waved at Jack as they saw him passed. Jack recognized them as various people he had helped. Jack stopped by when he saw a farm on the surface of a river. He knew these were the Triseraquin, and they would have the good sushi. They were very glad to see him. Jack had all he could eat, and they played games and danced. They kept asserting he was a wizard, though, which got on his nerves.

The next morning, he got back on the Yellow Brick road and passed by yet another blue farm. This one had a large cornfield next to it. A Munchkin dummy hung on a poll. Jack wouldn't have noticed him if the dummy didn't call out, "Good morning!"

Jack looked up, but he didn't see anyone. "Who spoke?"

"Me."

Jack wasn't too surprised. This was a magic world, after all. He stood on the fence to get a better look. He then recognized the dummy to be his old friend, the wild man raised by snow gorillas who knew how to "jump good." "Hello there, friend! Why are you stuck on a poll?"

"Don't know! But I don't like it!"

"I imagine. Here, I'll get you off." He rushed through the tall corn toward the dummy man. He drew his sword and cut the dummy down. The man cried out in surprise as he fell, but he seemed to be ok.

"Thank you, friend," the dummy said offering his hand. Jack took it and surveyed the dummy in confusion.

"Why are you stuffed with straw?"

"Don't know. Should I be stuffed with something else?"

"Last I saw you, you were flesh, blood, and bone."

"I was made the day before yesterday." At that, the dummy started to recount his history. It must have been another charm of this place, but Jack could somehow see the flashback.

Three Munchkin farmers, who looked much like those three archers he had de- cursed a while back, brought the dummy into the field and put him on the poll. "Well, I'd say we did a great job," one of them said. "He looks just like a man."

"Why, he is a man!" another one said.

"Yes. If I were a crow, I would be scared," the final one said.

And they walked away. "Hey wait!" the dummy cried quietly. He tried to walk after them, but his feet wouldn't touch the ground. "Well, I guess they want me to scare crows. What's a crow?"

Just at that moment, a loud cawing was heard from above. Several crows flew around the field, resembling to Jack that mob he was once a member of. "Cheese it, guys!" one member said. "There's a man in that field!"

The other birds flew in panic, but the leader flew down and landed on the dummy's shoulder. "Look here, see? He ain't got nothing on us boyds, see? Yah. The man's only made of straw." He then went down and ate corn to his heart's content. As the others saw he wasn't harmed, they flew down and joined him.

"Uh, boo! Go away! Me scary scarecrow! Shoo!" the dummy said trying to drive the birds away, but all the birds just looked at him and laughed.

One crow with a rather narrow head said, "C'mon, you know it's gonna take a lot more brains to scare us!"

"Brains?"

The other crows glared at this one that spoke up. "Look here, what have I told you?" the leader asked.

"Leave the singing to Rockin' Robin, and always keep your big beak shut."

"Exactly, yah. Let's go find another cornfield."

Around here, the flashback ended. "So, from then on, me try to find some way to get more brains. I know if I have 'em, I'll be good scarecrow."

"You're fooling yourself, my friend," Jack said. "You have a great, clever mind. You devised so many of those traps I helped teach you. And you came up with this method to 'jump good.'" But the Scarecrow looked at him in confusion. Jack cleared his throat and tried to think of something he would understand. "I mean, you misunderstand brains. Infants have brains, but they do not know anything about the world. Experience is the greatest teacher, and it can be learned by one who has a head of brains or a head of straw."

"All the same, I want brains. And I overheard some passersby talk about some wizard in Emerald City, and I think if he is a real wizard, he can give me brains!"

"Don't you see? The mere fact that you thought such an idea shows you do have a working mind!" Scarecrow didn't reply. Jack sighed. "But if you wish to see this wizard, I am venturing to see him myself, and you are welcome to join me."

"Really? Wow, first you free me, and then you let me come with you! You really are a friend! C'mon, let's go!"

Jack told him more about his quest as they walked on. Scarecrow was very interested. At night, Jack stopped to make himself supper. Scarecrow kept his distance, because Jack had built a fire to cook his meal and the Scarecrow had a huge fear of fires. "Why do you have to eat?" Scarecrow asked.

"Food gives me energy and strength. Do you want some?"

"No, thank you! It's lucky I don't have a hole in my head. All the straw would fall out of my head, and then I'd have no place to put my new brains."

"Yes, well I suppose you do not need food."

"Jack," the Scarecrow asked (for Jack had told him his name while they journeyed), "why do you want to go home? Don't you like it here?"

"I love it here. This is one of the greatest places I have ever seen. But I am needed at home." He told the Scarecrow about Aku and what he had done.

"But, here we have no Aku. Don't you wanna live here and not worry about him anymore?"

"It is tempting, but I cannot do such a thing and remember the pain my mother and father and all the people of the world endure. If I do not come back home, they will suffer forever."

"I do not understand these things," the Scarecrow sighed. "When I get my brains, I'm sure it'll all become clear to me."

Jack only nodded, because he didn't know what else to say. He then lay down to sleep. "Now what are you doing?" the Scarecrow asked.

"Getting ready to sleep."

"What for?"

"To conserve my energy and renew me for the coming day."

"It must be very inconvenient to be made out of flesh, blood, and bone. You have to eat, sleep, and drink."

"And that's not the half of it!" Jack smiled. "But it is not proper to speak of such things." Jack sighed and looked at the stars. "Perhaps it is inconvenient, but I am content being what I am."

"And of course, you have brains, so it must be worth the trouble."

"Indeed. Goodnight, friend. Wake me if something attacks us."

"Ok. Goodnight."

So Jack fell asleep as the Scarecrow kept watch.