Chapter 11: Back to the Emerald City
Jack stood still, bewildered. This could not be. Aku is not destroyed by sunlight. When he was Ikra, they traveled for days under a cloudless, scorching, desert sky. Aku had no problems with that. Could this simply be a metaphor? And if he was the Wizard of the West, then who was the Wizard of Oz?
The Winkies found the sunlight streaming through the room. "Where is the Wizard?"
"He is gone," Jack answered.
"Have you killed him?"
"Yes. I think so."
The Winkies cheered loudly. "We are free!" They celebrated by shattering all the dark windows in the castle, letting the yellow sunlight through. Jack used the light to look for his sword. He finally found it hanging in a cabinet. He swooped it around a couple of times to make sure it was not enchanted. Then, something else caught his eye. In the same cabinet was a cap made out of gold and decorated with several precious jewels. "Perhaps I should take this as proof that the Wizard is gone," Jack thought to himself
Jack went out and freed the Lion. He was really quite happy to hear he wasn't a slave anymore, but he felt lonely without their friends. So Jack called the Winkies together. "Are there any tinsmiths among you?"
"Yes, sir. Many of us are excellent tinsmiths!"
"There is a man made of tin in a valley of jagged rocks. If you can find him and repair him for me, I shall be grateful."
"We will be very honored to help you, since you destroyed the Wizard."
So they went out and did this. Jack and the Lion went to find the Scarecrow. The Winged Gorillas had thrown all of the Scarecrow's body high up in a tree, but Jack cut it down and brought it back to the palace. They went back to the castle and replenished their old friend with new straw until he was good as new. Meanwhile, the Winkies had found Nick Chopper and were fixing him. As he was being repaired, Nick was thanking them and even cracking jokes. The Winkies really enjoyed him.
Jack announced that they needed to make their way back to the Emerald City. The Winkies lavished all of our heroes with rich gifts, most of which Jack refused. "Please come back to us, great sorcerer," the lead Winkie said. "We are in need of a new ruler."
"I cannot be the one to rule over you," Jack said, "but you enjoy the company of my friend, Nicholas Chopper. Perhaps he will be your ruler."
The Winkies loved that idea, and Nick was agreeable as well. "Once I get a heart from the Wizard of Oz, I will come straight back to you. I will be more to you than a king, I shall be an emperor!"
Thus, they went on. Jack knew the way back would be toward the rising sun in the east, but at noon, when the sun was over their heads they got confused. They even got more lost when the sky became cloudy.
"It would be so much easier if there was a road," Jack complained. "Or at least a pathway." He sat down and reached into his robe to find his straw hat, so the sun wouldn't beat on his head, but as he did he something tiny fell into his hand. "It's the whistle the Empress of the Field Mice gave me."
"Do you suppose they show us the way back?" the Scarecrow asked.
"We can certainly give it a try." Jack stood up and gave it a blow. It gave a high-pitched, piping sound. Immediately, the Empress and several other field mice came running.
"Good afternoon, Jack," she bowed. "What can we do for you?"
"Could you please lead us back to the City of Emeralds?"
"Sure, but it will be a long walk. No offense, but you guys are way off."
"That's what I thought."
The golden cap Jack had hanging with his sword glittered in the sun, and the tiny empress regarded it. "What's that? Is that the Golden Cap of Quelala?"
"I never heard of that. It is only proof that the Wicked Wizard is destroyed."
"Well, if it is what I think it is, it will help you get to the Emerald City much faster than we could. Look inside the rim. Do you see a tag that looks like washing instructions? That's actually directions to use a very powerful charm that summons the Winged Monkeys."
"I do not think we would want to do that."
"Oh, did the Wicked Wizard send them after you? Don't worry. The monkeys are neither good nor evil. They only follow the commands of the owner of the cap. But be careful. The charm can only be used three times."
"I shall keep that in mind."
"Good. Now, we better be getting on. The monkeys are infamous for being prankster, and he might hurt my people or me."
"Very well. Thank you for your advice, and farewell." They bowed to each other, and the mice scurried off.
Jack read the charm very carefully. It reminded him very strongly of an African ritual. After he thought he had memorized it, he placed it on his head and stood. The others weren't quite sure what he was doing.
Jack stood on his left foot and chanted, "Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke!"
"What?" the Scarecrow asked.
"Shh!" the Lion said sharply.
Then Jack stood on his right foot and said, "Hil-lo, hol-lo, hel-lo!"
"Hello?" Nick answered.
Finally, Jack stood on both feet and completed the chant. "Ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!" At that, they saw the strange sight that looked like the clouds coming down, when it was really the many Winged Monkeys greeting them. The woman with batwings appeared right in front of Jack.
"Oh, so you escaped from the Wizard! Good for you! I had a feeling that you would. I would have helped out, but I'm not supposed to interfere. Now, what would you like for us to do?"
"Please take us to the City of Emeralds."
"Certainly. We'll carry you." As she spoke these words, she and another Winged Gorilla formed a chair with their arms to carry Jack through the air. It was certainly much more comfortable than being carried by the wrist. The other Winged Gorillas did the same for the others; about four had to make one for the Lion.
Jack finally got a good look at the leader. "Are you not the Goddess of Death?"
"Not really. I was just like them, before the curse. It's a long story, but since we have a long ride, I could tell it to you."
The woman began to remember, but she didn't flashback, probably because the story took place before her times.
"A couple of generations ago, before the Great Oz came out of the sky, we were free. We lived in the forests and called no one master. But in our country was a princess and a sorceress whom everyone loved. To her dismay, though, she could love no one in return. Everyone seemed too simple to her. At last, she found a man named Quelala who was wise beyond his years. She used her magic to make him handsome and young, and they became engaged. But on the night he was to be married, my grandfather wanted to play a prank on him. We were always big into pranks, you see. Quelala was in a very exquisite outfit of silk and velvet, but my grandfather grabbed him, flew him over the river, and dumped him. Quelala actually enjoyed the joke, but the sorceress was furious! She nearly ordered us all to be drowned, but Quelala pleaded on our behalf. So, instead she put a charm on this cap that we may be slaves three times for one master. She also transformed my grandfather and all in his family into this awkward shape to make us suitable leaders. I didn't really understand why."
"How many times have you fell subject to the charm?"
"Well, she first gave the cap to Quelala, who made one wish to drive us far away from his bride. We didn't have to do anything until the Wicked Wizard got it somehow. He made us drive out the Wizard from the West, to make the Winkies the Wizard's slaves, and to get you. But now you have the cap, and here we are."
"You've been punished long enough. If I can find a way to free you, I shall do it."
"You will? That would be wonderful! My people would be so happy to be free again!"
By then, they had reached the Emerald City. The leader set Jack down, and then the Monkeys disappeared.
Amber greeted them at the door. "Strange. Jellia guessed you'd be here this evening, and here you are! Wonder how she knew? So, what brings you here?"
"We have destroyed the Wicked Wizard, and have come to claim Oz's promise," Jack answered.
"Well, let's get you in, then. You know the drill." Amber distributed out shades for them, and brought them in.
Jack looked down at his robe. "How strange!" he thought aloud. "My robe is the emerald green one I wore from here. Is this magic?"
Jellia and Amber tried to persuade the heroes to wait until tomorrow morning, but everyone thought Oz had more than enough time and demanded to see him right then. Jellia finally led them all into the throne room. Everyone expected to see Oz the way they had before, but they were surprised to see nothing.
"Back so soon?" that Aku-like voice growled.
"Enough!" Jack cried. "I know you are not who you claim to be."
"What is that to you?" the voice answered.
"Where are you, Oz?" the Scarecrow asked.
"Everywhere. To your eyes, I am invisible. But right now I'm standing right next to the Lion." The Lion jumped a mile high as the voice chuckled. "And now I will sit on my throne that I may converse with you." As he spoke, the voice seemed to come right from the throne itself. "Why do you seek me!"
"We have come to claim our promise!" Jack demanded. "The Wizard has been destroyed, as you have requested."
"Well, you have done something right for once. I will grant your wishes tomorrow."
"We have time enough!" Nick cried. "We won't wait another second!"
The lion must have thought he could scare the Wizard into granting their wishes, for he roared his loudest roar. It knocked over a screen that revealed an assortment of visual aids.
"Look here! The dress the woman wore when I saw wizard!" the Scarecrow cried.
"And here is the beast!" Nick said. "It's just a bunch of animal skins sewn together!"
They also found a huge head made out of paper, a lamp, a cotton ball, matches, and gasoline (the Lion's ball of fire).
"We have been deceived!" Jack cried.
"Dare you question the magic of the great Oz?" the voice demanded.
Jack turned to see movement behind a curtain on the other side of the room. "I do!" he said. "You are no wizard! I have had enough of your deception!" He drew his sword and slashed the curtain open.
Jack couldn't believe his eyes.
Jack stood still, bewildered. This could not be. Aku is not destroyed by sunlight. When he was Ikra, they traveled for days under a cloudless, scorching, desert sky. Aku had no problems with that. Could this simply be a metaphor? And if he was the Wizard of the West, then who was the Wizard of Oz?
The Winkies found the sunlight streaming through the room. "Where is the Wizard?"
"He is gone," Jack answered.
"Have you killed him?"
"Yes. I think so."
The Winkies cheered loudly. "We are free!" They celebrated by shattering all the dark windows in the castle, letting the yellow sunlight through. Jack used the light to look for his sword. He finally found it hanging in a cabinet. He swooped it around a couple of times to make sure it was not enchanted. Then, something else caught his eye. In the same cabinet was a cap made out of gold and decorated with several precious jewels. "Perhaps I should take this as proof that the Wizard is gone," Jack thought to himself
Jack went out and freed the Lion. He was really quite happy to hear he wasn't a slave anymore, but he felt lonely without their friends. So Jack called the Winkies together. "Are there any tinsmiths among you?"
"Yes, sir. Many of us are excellent tinsmiths!"
"There is a man made of tin in a valley of jagged rocks. If you can find him and repair him for me, I shall be grateful."
"We will be very honored to help you, since you destroyed the Wizard."
So they went out and did this. Jack and the Lion went to find the Scarecrow. The Winged Gorillas had thrown all of the Scarecrow's body high up in a tree, but Jack cut it down and brought it back to the palace. They went back to the castle and replenished their old friend with new straw until he was good as new. Meanwhile, the Winkies had found Nick Chopper and were fixing him. As he was being repaired, Nick was thanking them and even cracking jokes. The Winkies really enjoyed him.
Jack announced that they needed to make their way back to the Emerald City. The Winkies lavished all of our heroes with rich gifts, most of which Jack refused. "Please come back to us, great sorcerer," the lead Winkie said. "We are in need of a new ruler."
"I cannot be the one to rule over you," Jack said, "but you enjoy the company of my friend, Nicholas Chopper. Perhaps he will be your ruler."
The Winkies loved that idea, and Nick was agreeable as well. "Once I get a heart from the Wizard of Oz, I will come straight back to you. I will be more to you than a king, I shall be an emperor!"
Thus, they went on. Jack knew the way back would be toward the rising sun in the east, but at noon, when the sun was over their heads they got confused. They even got more lost when the sky became cloudy.
"It would be so much easier if there was a road," Jack complained. "Or at least a pathway." He sat down and reached into his robe to find his straw hat, so the sun wouldn't beat on his head, but as he did he something tiny fell into his hand. "It's the whistle the Empress of the Field Mice gave me."
"Do you suppose they show us the way back?" the Scarecrow asked.
"We can certainly give it a try." Jack stood up and gave it a blow. It gave a high-pitched, piping sound. Immediately, the Empress and several other field mice came running.
"Good afternoon, Jack," she bowed. "What can we do for you?"
"Could you please lead us back to the City of Emeralds?"
"Sure, but it will be a long walk. No offense, but you guys are way off."
"That's what I thought."
The golden cap Jack had hanging with his sword glittered in the sun, and the tiny empress regarded it. "What's that? Is that the Golden Cap of Quelala?"
"I never heard of that. It is only proof that the Wicked Wizard is destroyed."
"Well, if it is what I think it is, it will help you get to the Emerald City much faster than we could. Look inside the rim. Do you see a tag that looks like washing instructions? That's actually directions to use a very powerful charm that summons the Winged Monkeys."
"I do not think we would want to do that."
"Oh, did the Wicked Wizard send them after you? Don't worry. The monkeys are neither good nor evil. They only follow the commands of the owner of the cap. But be careful. The charm can only be used three times."
"I shall keep that in mind."
"Good. Now, we better be getting on. The monkeys are infamous for being prankster, and he might hurt my people or me."
"Very well. Thank you for your advice, and farewell." They bowed to each other, and the mice scurried off.
Jack read the charm very carefully. It reminded him very strongly of an African ritual. After he thought he had memorized it, he placed it on his head and stood. The others weren't quite sure what he was doing.
Jack stood on his left foot and chanted, "Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke!"
"What?" the Scarecrow asked.
"Shh!" the Lion said sharply.
Then Jack stood on his right foot and said, "Hil-lo, hol-lo, hel-lo!"
"Hello?" Nick answered.
Finally, Jack stood on both feet and completed the chant. "Ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik!" At that, they saw the strange sight that looked like the clouds coming down, when it was really the many Winged Monkeys greeting them. The woman with batwings appeared right in front of Jack.
"Oh, so you escaped from the Wizard! Good for you! I had a feeling that you would. I would have helped out, but I'm not supposed to interfere. Now, what would you like for us to do?"
"Please take us to the City of Emeralds."
"Certainly. We'll carry you." As she spoke these words, she and another Winged Gorilla formed a chair with their arms to carry Jack through the air. It was certainly much more comfortable than being carried by the wrist. The other Winged Gorillas did the same for the others; about four had to make one for the Lion.
Jack finally got a good look at the leader. "Are you not the Goddess of Death?"
"Not really. I was just like them, before the curse. It's a long story, but since we have a long ride, I could tell it to you."
The woman began to remember, but she didn't flashback, probably because the story took place before her times.
"A couple of generations ago, before the Great Oz came out of the sky, we were free. We lived in the forests and called no one master. But in our country was a princess and a sorceress whom everyone loved. To her dismay, though, she could love no one in return. Everyone seemed too simple to her. At last, she found a man named Quelala who was wise beyond his years. She used her magic to make him handsome and young, and they became engaged. But on the night he was to be married, my grandfather wanted to play a prank on him. We were always big into pranks, you see. Quelala was in a very exquisite outfit of silk and velvet, but my grandfather grabbed him, flew him over the river, and dumped him. Quelala actually enjoyed the joke, but the sorceress was furious! She nearly ordered us all to be drowned, but Quelala pleaded on our behalf. So, instead she put a charm on this cap that we may be slaves three times for one master. She also transformed my grandfather and all in his family into this awkward shape to make us suitable leaders. I didn't really understand why."
"How many times have you fell subject to the charm?"
"Well, she first gave the cap to Quelala, who made one wish to drive us far away from his bride. We didn't have to do anything until the Wicked Wizard got it somehow. He made us drive out the Wizard from the West, to make the Winkies the Wizard's slaves, and to get you. But now you have the cap, and here we are."
"You've been punished long enough. If I can find a way to free you, I shall do it."
"You will? That would be wonderful! My people would be so happy to be free again!"
By then, they had reached the Emerald City. The leader set Jack down, and then the Monkeys disappeared.
Amber greeted them at the door. "Strange. Jellia guessed you'd be here this evening, and here you are! Wonder how she knew? So, what brings you here?"
"We have destroyed the Wicked Wizard, and have come to claim Oz's promise," Jack answered.
"Well, let's get you in, then. You know the drill." Amber distributed out shades for them, and brought them in.
Jack looked down at his robe. "How strange!" he thought aloud. "My robe is the emerald green one I wore from here. Is this magic?"
Jellia and Amber tried to persuade the heroes to wait until tomorrow morning, but everyone thought Oz had more than enough time and demanded to see him right then. Jellia finally led them all into the throne room. Everyone expected to see Oz the way they had before, but they were surprised to see nothing.
"Back so soon?" that Aku-like voice growled.
"Enough!" Jack cried. "I know you are not who you claim to be."
"What is that to you?" the voice answered.
"Where are you, Oz?" the Scarecrow asked.
"Everywhere. To your eyes, I am invisible. But right now I'm standing right next to the Lion." The Lion jumped a mile high as the voice chuckled. "And now I will sit on my throne that I may converse with you." As he spoke, the voice seemed to come right from the throne itself. "Why do you seek me!"
"We have come to claim our promise!" Jack demanded. "The Wizard has been destroyed, as you have requested."
"Well, you have done something right for once. I will grant your wishes tomorrow."
"We have time enough!" Nick cried. "We won't wait another second!"
The lion must have thought he could scare the Wizard into granting their wishes, for he roared his loudest roar. It knocked over a screen that revealed an assortment of visual aids.
"Look here! The dress the woman wore when I saw wizard!" the Scarecrow cried.
"And here is the beast!" Nick said. "It's just a bunch of animal skins sewn together!"
They also found a huge head made out of paper, a lamp, a cotton ball, matches, and gasoline (the Lion's ball of fire).
"We have been deceived!" Jack cried.
"Dare you question the magic of the great Oz?" the voice demanded.
Jack turned to see movement behind a curtain on the other side of the room. "I do!" he said. "You are no wizard! I have had enough of your deception!" He drew his sword and slashed the curtain open.
Jack couldn't believe his eyes.
