"We can't just give up," said Piper. "We have to look for them."
"Where would you suggest?" asked Jerrod. "Look around you. Every building looks like all the others. All the streets are the same. Exactly the same. We can't even be sure we're in the right part of the city. And the stronger the magic gets the more the city is going to change. To conform to the actual Emerald City in the movie."
"There must be something we can do," said Leo. "We haven't been affected completely yet so the magic must still be reversible."
""I wouldn't say that exactly," said Cole.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Piper asked.
"Piper," said Phoebe, "your hair is blonde. Just like Glenda's in the movie."
"She's right," said Paige. "Looks like the magic is starting to affect you."
"I'm not the only one," said Piper, looking at Paige. "Paige, you're green. Just like the wicked witch."
"Oh, green is so not my color," said Paige looking at her hands. "I look like Kermit the frog."
"Well, at least I'm not the blonde this time," said Phoebe.
"I probably look like a bimbo," said Piper.
"Now you know how I feel every time it happens to me," said Phoebe.
"This is no time for jokes," said Cole. "If it's overcoming your magic it won't be long until everything changes and there won't be any way to change it back."
"Wait," said Paige. "I should still be able to orb things. I know orbing doesn't exist in Oz, but I'm supposed to be the Wicked Witch of the West. Maybe that will allow me to keep my orbing power a bit longer."
"It's worth a shot," said Piper. "You plan to orb the slippers to you?"
"I'm going to try," said Paige.
Paige held out her hands and called for the ruby slippers. Almost instantly the slippers began to orb into her hands. Just as quickly the orb suddenly ceased leaving Paige's hands empty.
"I guess the magic is too strong,' said Paige. "I can't complete the orb."
"That's not it," said Jerrod. "If that were the case your power wouldn't have worked at all."
"Are you sure?" Piper asked.
"I'm a Mystic Warlock," said Jerrod. "I know how my power works. I think I didn't work because the slippers don't belong to her. Just like in the movie she can't just take the slippers. They have to be freely given. That's the way I've always interpreted it since the wicked witch didn't just kill Dorothy and take them. She kept asking Dorothy to give them to her.
"But in the movie they belonged to Dorothy. And since Phoebe is cast as Dorothy then the slippers rightfully belong to her. They can't be taken from her. She has to give them to someone in order for that person to take them. That's why your orbing failed. Too bad Phoebe doesn't have that ability. She could just orb them to herself."
"Maybe she doesn't have to," said Paige. "Phoebe, hold out your hands."
Phoebe held out her hands and Paige did the same. Once again Paige called for the slippers and just as before they began to orb into her hands. Paige immediately redirected the orb to Phoebe and the slippers orbed unhindered to Phoebe's hand. Phoebe stood holding the ruby slippers.
"It worked," said Jerrod. "Now, you have to freely give me the slippers if I'm going to use their magic. But this should help me put everything back the way it's supposed to be."
Phoebe hesitated for a minute. Trusting a warlock was not exactly in Phoebe's nature.
"Look," said Jerrod, "I know you don't completely trust me. I can't say I blame you. But I want out of here as much as you do. And this is the only way.
Still hesitant Phoebe took the slippers and handed them to Jerrod. He smiled and then closed his eyes and concentrated. For several moments nothing happened. Suddenly Jerrod was cast several feet back by some powerful unseen force. The slippers clattered to the road.
"It's too late," said Jerrod. "The magic has become too strong. Not even I can control it any longer. In a few minutes the last of us will be overwhelmed by it and converted to our characters. When that happens the Land of Oz will take over completely and we will all disappear forever."