Chapter
Six: Stop and Smell the Poppies
Gozaburo smirked at his main computer, at the picture of the two Kaiba brothers, Jou, Ryou and Yami walking down the Yellow Brick Road, making their way closer and closer to the Emerald City.
"Those fools," he chuckled, "Those absolute fools. They know nothing of what lies in store for them… When I get those silver shoes, my power will be the greatest in Oz…and I'm not going to let that brat Kaiba or his little friends get in my way."
He raised his hand, and dangerous purple magic sparkled around his fingers.
"Poppies," he whispered, "My poison poppies should slow down their little expedition…"
Jou, Ryou and Mokuba came skipping around a bend in the Yellow Brick Road, Kaiba and Yami walking slower around behind them.
"Yami?" said Kaiba quietly.
"Yeah, Kaiba?" asked Yami.
"I should warn you; if you ever endanger my brother's life again, I will rip you limb from limb," Kaiba cautioned the lion coldly.
Yami flinched, but his eyes were serious. "Look…I'm sorry about what happened earlier…but believe me, I'm nothing but a coward. I can assure you I never would've actually hurt Mokuba, even then."
Kaiba raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
"Trust me, Kaiba," Yami muttered as he stepped in front of him to join the others, "If not for my cowardice, then for my royal word."
Jou, Bakura and Mokuba had stopped, and were talking excitedly and pointing, and when Kaiba looked ahead, he saw why.
Ahead of a field covered in pink poppies was a city, adorned by buildings of all sizes and a large gate surrounding the lot, shining as if it were made all out of emeralds (which, Kaiba reasoned, might be possible).
"The Emerald City!" Mokuba shouted in excitement, "There it is, we're almost there!"
"It's beautiful," whispered Ryou.
"He really must be a wonderful wizard to live in a city like that!" Yami breathed.
"Well then, what are we waiting for?" asked Jou, before running into the field of poppies, "RACE YA!"
"Hey, no fair!" laughed Mokuba, before running after Jou, with Yami and Ryou at his heels.
Kaiba sweatdropped at the sight of them but ran with a little difficulty after them.
Jou finally got to the end of the poppy field, crowing, "I won! I won!"
"Oh shut up, you moron!" Ryou said playfully.
Coming along behind came Yami, Mokuba and Kaiba, all of them looking about to collapse of exhaustion.
"What's happening…?" Mokuba held his head, "I feel so sleepy…"
"You guys must not have gotten enough sleep last night," Ryou decided.
Mokuba shrugged. "Just let me sleep for just a minute…"
And with that, he lay down on the flowers and feel asleep.
"Oh, you can't fall asleep now!" Jou implored, "We're almost to the Emerald City, you guys can sleep over there!"
Yami yawned a big lion yawn, smiling faintly. "Actually…a little sleep…wouldn't be half bad…"
Ryou tried to keep Yami on his feet, but he was much heavier than he looked, and he too fell into the flowers.
"C'mon, Kaiba," said Jou desperately, "We got to get to the Emerald City! C'mon, give Ryou and me your hands, and we'll pull you along!"
"No, no…" Kaiba muttered vaguely, "I'll be fine…just let me rest for a moment…"
And he almost collapsed into Jou's arms.
"Kaiba?" Jou tried shaking him, "Kaiba!"
Ryou began crying.
"Don't cry, Ryou; you'll rust yourself!" Jou moaned, "Try and carry Mokuba…maybe we can get them into a hotel or something at the Emerald City…"
Ryou tried to pick the younger Kaiba up, but he wouldn't seem to budge.
"He's not…moving!" Ryou grunted.
"Something's keeping him stuck there!" Jou replied, "It must be some kind of enchantment!"
"It's the Wicked Wiz!" Ryou wailed, "What'll we do?" he then screamed in panic, "HELP! HELP!"
"There's no use screaming at a time like this!" Jou cried, tears filling his eyes, "Nobody can hear you!"
But not long later, their shouts mingled together.
"HELP!" "HELP, SOMEONE!" "ANYONE!"
And then, out of nowhere, snow began falling on the scene.
"Snow?" Jou whispered, his eyebrows raised.
"Oh no…" Ryou muttered.
"Oh yes!" Jou exclaimed, "Maybe that'll help…!"
The scarecrow's eyes widened, at the sight of someone helping Yami up out of the snow-covered poppy field.
He could barely see him, but he was dressed all in yellow and his hair was three colors: black, purple and gold…the same colors as Yami's fur.
The stranger looked up, revealing bright purple eyes. He smiled kindly at Jou, before vanishing into the vast snowfall.
'Who was that?' Jou wondered, 'Did he just help us?'
Jou then felt Kaiba stir in his lap.
"Kaiba?" he whispered, "Kaiba, you okay?"
Kaiba's blue eyes stared up vaguely.
'Mutt…?' his mind asked itself.
"Kaiba, are you okay?" Jou repeated in concern, "Answer me."
Kaiba's vision came back into focus, and he muttered, "Jou?"
"Hey," Jou smiled, helping him up as Yami and Mokuba stirred.
"Ugh…" Yami held his head in his paw, before looking around, "Unusual weather conditions we're having, ain't it?"
"Uh-huh," agreed Mokuba, before realizing, "Ryou's rusted again!"
The others came around their friend.
"Give me the oilcan!"
"His mouth first!"
"Ryou, you okay?"
"Careful!"
Gozaburo gazed at the computer screen in fury.
"DAMN IT!" he growled.
He swung his magic staff around to smash one of his stained-glass window.
"Who dares to interfere with my plan?" he hissed, "When I find out who helped Kaiba and his little play-group…he will regret it."
