TEN
"Why am I not surprised?" asked Phoebe. "Of course you cast yourself as the Wizard."
"You expected anything less?" asked the Wizard. "Oh you can forget trying to find me behind the curtain. That parts not in the movie yet.
"You skipped a few scenes didn't you?" asked Phoebe. "You know, the part where we arrive at the city, the color changing horse all that."
"Necessity," said the warlock. "The movie's a lot farther along than you think. I've had to jump ahead some to catch up. Can't have it dragging out forever, now can we?"
"It really doesn't matter," said Phoebe. "Soon I'm going to get out of here and then I'm going to kick your butt. You can count on it."
"I'm afraid not," said the warlock. "You see the movie is actually farther along than this scene. Right now, Dorothy and her friends are being chased around the castle of the Wicked Witch. In a few minutes they'll be cornered on the parapets. And you know what that means."
Phoebe knew exactly what that meant. It was the scene where Dorothy throws the bucket of water to put out the fire on the scarecrow. It was also where the witch gets splashed with the water and melts away. With Prue cast as the Wicked Witch, it meant she would be killed.
"I told you, that's not going to happen," said Phoebe.
"I'm afraid you have no choice, my dear," said the warlock. "Its in the movie."
"I don't care," said Phoebe. "There's no way I'm going to kill my sister. I don't care what roles we're cast in. I'll find a way to stop you."
"You've got spirit I'll give you that," said the warlock. "But without your magic, there's really nothing you can do about it. And either way I win.
"Remember why Dorothy throws the water in the first place? The scarecrow is on fire. So refuse to throw the water and you save your sister but the demon dies. Save the demon and your sister dies. My, my, what a dilemma."
Phoebe had forgotten that part. And made of straw as he was right now, it wouldn't take long before Cole burned up completely. If she refused to destroy Prue, it meant allowing Cole to die.
"What shall we do?" asked the warlock, mockingly. "Doesn't really matter actually. You'd only be postponing it. A few minutes later the movie will end and you'll all vanish anyway. It might be more humane just to let her melt away instead of prolonging the agony."
"You bastard," said Phoebe.
"Now, now," chided the warlock, "this is a family movie after all. Lets watch our language. Don't want to be teaching the little kiddies bad habits do you?"
"This is over," said Phoebe.
"It almost is," said the warlock. "Enjoy what's left of the rest of your life. There's not much of it left."
Suddenly the scene changed. Phoebe found herself on the parapet of the witch's castle. Leo, Cole, and Darryl were standing next to her. In front of her stood Prue holding the broomstick. Blocking any possible exit were the witch's guards. Prue raised her broom and lit the straw end from a torch hanging on the wall.
"How about a little fire, scarecrow?" asked Prue as she lit Cole's arm on fire.
Suddenly, Phoebe found the bucket of water in her hands. She had only a moment to decide. Throw the water, and Cole would be saved. But Prue would die. Don't throw it and Prue would live. But Cole would burn up in moments. Phoebe looked around desperately for a third alternative.
"Why am I not surprised?" asked Phoebe. "Of course you cast yourself as the Wizard."
"You expected anything less?" asked the Wizard. "Oh you can forget trying to find me behind the curtain. That parts not in the movie yet.
"You skipped a few scenes didn't you?" asked Phoebe. "You know, the part where we arrive at the city, the color changing horse all that."
"Necessity," said the warlock. "The movie's a lot farther along than you think. I've had to jump ahead some to catch up. Can't have it dragging out forever, now can we?"
"It really doesn't matter," said Phoebe. "Soon I'm going to get out of here and then I'm going to kick your butt. You can count on it."
"I'm afraid not," said the warlock. "You see the movie is actually farther along than this scene. Right now, Dorothy and her friends are being chased around the castle of the Wicked Witch. In a few minutes they'll be cornered on the parapets. And you know what that means."
Phoebe knew exactly what that meant. It was the scene where Dorothy throws the bucket of water to put out the fire on the scarecrow. It was also where the witch gets splashed with the water and melts away. With Prue cast as the Wicked Witch, it meant she would be killed.
"I told you, that's not going to happen," said Phoebe.
"I'm afraid you have no choice, my dear," said the warlock. "Its in the movie."
"I don't care," said Phoebe. "There's no way I'm going to kill my sister. I don't care what roles we're cast in. I'll find a way to stop you."
"You've got spirit I'll give you that," said the warlock. "But without your magic, there's really nothing you can do about it. And either way I win.
"Remember why Dorothy throws the water in the first place? The scarecrow is on fire. So refuse to throw the water and you save your sister but the demon dies. Save the demon and your sister dies. My, my, what a dilemma."
Phoebe had forgotten that part. And made of straw as he was right now, it wouldn't take long before Cole burned up completely. If she refused to destroy Prue, it meant allowing Cole to die.
"What shall we do?" asked the warlock, mockingly. "Doesn't really matter actually. You'd only be postponing it. A few minutes later the movie will end and you'll all vanish anyway. It might be more humane just to let her melt away instead of prolonging the agony."
"You bastard," said Phoebe.
"Now, now," chided the warlock, "this is a family movie after all. Lets watch our language. Don't want to be teaching the little kiddies bad habits do you?"
"This is over," said Phoebe.
"It almost is," said the warlock. "Enjoy what's left of the rest of your life. There's not much of it left."
Suddenly the scene changed. Phoebe found herself on the parapet of the witch's castle. Leo, Cole, and Darryl were standing next to her. In front of her stood Prue holding the broomstick. Blocking any possible exit were the witch's guards. Prue raised her broom and lit the straw end from a torch hanging on the wall.
"How about a little fire, scarecrow?" asked Prue as she lit Cole's arm on fire.
Suddenly, Phoebe found the bucket of water in her hands. She had only a moment to decide. Throw the water, and Cole would be saved. But Prue would die. Don't throw it and Prue would live. But Cole would burn up in moments. Phoebe looked around desperately for a third alternative.