"How big is this forest?" Christina asked Shaggy.

"I like, have no idea, I've like, never left it,"

"Why not?"

"I'm too scared,"

"I believe it,"

She was quickly learning Shaggy jumped, whimpered, and winced at every creak and rustle with Scooby doing the same. With the tiny pinpricks of light quickly fading Christina suggested they make camp.

"Here?" Shaggy trembled, "Right here?"

"Not here exactly," Christina soothed, "Over there, see where those trees twist together? We can build a fire there and rest,"

"If-if you're sure,"

"I am, I'll gather some wood-"

"No," Shaggy interrupted, "Let me. Like, I might not know how big these woods are but I can gather supplies faster,"

Shaggy shifted and ran off before she could think to object. Christina shrugged, sitting down, her mind whirling trying to process the day she had. Who would ever believe she was picked up by a cyclone of all things? It didn't matter as she realized she had no friends to share the story with.

"What's the matter?"

Shaggy had returned, a meager stack of kindling in his arms while Scooby dragged another stick behind him, often losing his grip on it.

"Nothing, just homesick," Christina sighed.

She watched quietly as Shaggy arranged the wood. He struggled briefly, trying to light it but once lit the small flame danced merrily before them.

"Like, I'm sorry it isn't warmer. I-I got scared,"

"It's okay, I like it,"

Shaggy's hand found hers and she met his gaze with a soft smile.

"We'll get to the city,"

"I know," she nodded.

"Tell me about your home? Like, why do you want to go back so badly?"

Christina's eyes hit the ground. She watched the grass bend and sway of its own accord as she thought of how best to respond.

"The only family I've ever known is there,"

"What are they like?"

"Well, Aunt Em is so kind. She found me you know? In the pasture with the sheep when I was an infant. She always said it was so strange the sheep just stood around me, like they were trying to protect me. She carried me back to the house just as Uncle Henry was coming in from the fields. They'd never seen anything or anyone like me..."

"Why's that?"

"Kansas isn't like here. Not in the slightest, it's baked dry gray and golden. Our farm was the only one for miles and I never left it before today. Because Aunt Em was fearful others would try to hurt me if they knew I wasn't human, people can be very frightened by what they don't understand,"

"So what did you do if you never left the farm?"

" I helped. I gathered the eggs and milked the cows, I fed the horses and pigs, I didn't like to venture into the wheat fields because of my powers. They came in when I was six and I accidentally set the fields ablaze. I was terrified. It took hours to put the fire out and I just stood there, frozen in fear at what I'd done. Aunt Em went straight to town and had bracelets made to stop my magic, 'Not because we're scared of you but because we're scared for you' she told me,"

"Where are the bracelets now?"

"They were taken from me shortly after my arrival-"

"One of the wicked witches took them?"

"Yes,"

Jade pawed Christina's leg grabbing her attention.

"Oh, you want your supper, don't you?"

opening the basket, she was astounded to find the food all but gone.

"What?" she turned the basket over, shaking it furiously.

Shaggy turned to glare at Scooby who was licking the last of the bread crumbs from his mouth.

Jade whined pitifully, continuing to paw at Christina desperately.

"I'm sorry Jade," Christina sighed, "If I had a bone..."

Suddenly, she had one in her hand which she dropped out of surprise. Her hands began to shake with nerves.

I will never be used to this

"Like, my mother used to tell me that magic was a great gift, only given to a few,"

"It's still scary," Christina mumbled, staring at her hands.

"Like, it might seem that way but I think you'll get used to it, maybe you only set that field on fire because you were scared,"

"Maybe, but I doubt I can conjure dinner for us,"

"I think I know what to do,"

Trembling Shaggy stood and crept to the forest, scanning the tops of the trees. Christina watched him go wondering how someone so easily scared could force themselves into such a dark forest. She looked down again when Jade fell against her leg in the middle of tug-a-war with Scooby. She turned back to the woods behind her just in time to see Shaggy return, eyes wide with fear. He was so scared that he tripped and rolled before coming to a stop with his face in the dirt. Hurriedly she stood and walked to where he had fallen, kneeling beside him.

"What happened, Shaggy?"

"I-I s-s-saw a-a-a-"

"What?"

"Tiger,"

"But Shaggy, you're much bigger than any old tiger,"

"D-D-doesn't matter, they're terrifying,"

She pulled him upright, a hard thing to do considering how badly he shook. She looked him over for injuries and wiped the dirt from his face.

"L-like, I-I f-f-found what I was like looking for," he stuttered, not quite over what he'd seen.

"And what's that?"

"Dinner," he lifted two identical, bright red lunch pails.

"Where did you get those?"

"From a lunch pail tree," he answered matter a factually, "Haven't you ever seen one?"

"No, Kansas is very...plain,"

"I bet it's very safe,"

"No, not safer than anywhere else you could go, we have terrible cyclones, that's how I got here, to begin with, the cyclone brought me," she explained, digging into her much-needed meal.

Shaggy looked at her in astonishment, "That sounds like a story I was told as a kid,"

"How so?"

He waited until they were each finished with their meal to respond.

"The story I was told was more of a prophecy meant to like, bring hope. It was said that one day a great leader would fall from the sky and save us all, then the Wizard came,"

Now, Shaggy seemed sad.

"What's wrong?"

"Like, when the wizard arrived everyone took to the streets to celebrate and dance the night away. The witches weren't happy and sent their army of terrors. They like, descended upon us so quickly and before anyone knew what was like, happening...let's just say the yellow brick road wasn't yellow anymore," a tear slipped down his face, "My parents told me to run and I did they couldn't follow, I lost them that night,"

"I'm sorry," she laid a hand on his arm, "I shouldn't have asked,"

"It feels nice to get it off my chest. It still hurts, it always will but now it hurts a little less,"

By now, the pups had stopped their game and had settled down to sleep. Seeing this, Christina yawned herself.

"It's getting late, you should sleep," Shaggy told her.

"Yes, I suppose I should and so should you,"

"No, I'll keep the fire going, you sleep,"

Christina, too tired to argue, laid back and was soon asleep.

…...

You can run but you can't hide.

Storm clouds were chasing her.

Oz is filled with dangers.

There was growling.

I'll make sure you NEVER learn the truth.

Never.

Never.

Never.

…...

Christina was the first to wake up. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes and shaking confusing and scary dreams from her head. Shaggy who hardly ever slept was startled awake by her yawns, this in turn woke Scooby who woke Jade.

"Good morning,"

"Good morning Christina, is it breakfast time?"

"Yes, Shaggy," she laughed, "Then we must get going,"

"Come on Scooby, let's find that tree,"

Scooby faithfully followed after Shaggy, tripping every few steps.

While they were gone, Christina tried to clean herself up, pulling the grass and twigs from her hair and brushing herself off.

"This would be easier if I had some water,"

Jade barked, grabbing her attention.

"You see the glass too, right?" Christina asked the wolf.

Jade stared unimpressed.

"Okay, okay, I know it was my doing," Christina threw her hands up before grabbing the glass which was filled with water.

She managed to wash her face, finding the water never got dirty or ran out so she gave some to Jade who was putting on her best 'I'm dying' performance. Once they were done the glass disappeared.

"I've seen stranger"

Just like before, Shaggy ran into the campsite so fast he tripped and fell.

"T-T-Tiger,"

"Again?"

"C-c-closer,"

"Let's eat and be on our way then,"

…...

A few hours passed uneventfully even if Shaggy did tense and whimper at every strange noise. He was in for quite a shock upon finally exiting the forest as it took a few minutes for his eyes to adjust. Once he and Scooby were ready they continued on only stopping when they reached a fork in the road.

"Well now, which way do we go?" Christina wondered aloud.

"Beats me," shrugged Shaggy.

"Pardon me," came a voice, "That way is a very nice way,"

"Did you here that?" Shaggy ducked behind Christina, Scooby behind him.

Jade growled, turning toward the cornfield they'd stopped next to.

"Don't be silly, Jade," Christina chided, "Scarecrows don't talk," she eyed the funny looking scarecrow in question.

"It's pleasant down that way too,"

"Wasn't he just pointing the other way?" Shaggy asked Christina.

The scarecrows' arm had indeed changed direction.

"Of course, people do go both ways,"

"Why, you did say something didn't you?" Christina moved to where the scarecrow was, watching curiously as he shook his head yes then no then yes again, "Are you doing that on purpose or can't you make up your mind?"

"That's the trouble, I can't make up my mind, I haven't got a brain, only straw,"

"How can you talk if you haven't got a brain,"

"I don't know, but some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't they?"

"Yes, I suppose you're right,"

Shaggy was now less concerned with the talking scarecrow and was far more interested in the ripe corn.

Christina climbed over the fence to move closer to the scarecrow.

"Well, we haven't met properly have we?" Christina asked.

"Why no,"

"My name's Christina, how do you do?"

"How do you do?"

"Very well, thank you,"

"I'm not feeling at all well. It's very tedious being stuck here all day with a pole up your back,"

"That's must be terribly uncomfortable," Christina remarked sympathetically, "Here let me help you,"

She moved behind him finding he was held in place with a single nail. Bending it caused the scarecrow to fall to the ground. He jumped up happily.

"OW," yelped Shaggy mid-bite, "What was that?"

"Sorry," the scarecrow said sheepishly, "I wasn't made to be a scarecrow, my name's Hoodude and I was originally crafted as a voodoo doll but I can't control my powers so I was remade as a scarecrow,"

Hoodude fell over the fence, "Sadly, I'm not good at my job because I don't have a brain,"

Christina stifled a yelp of her own, "Well, what would you do with a brain if you had one?"

"Do? Well, I could..."

I could while away the hours

Conferrin' with the flowers

Consultin' with the rain

And my head, I'd be scratchin'

While my thoughts were busy hatchin'

If I only had a brain

I'd unravel every riddle

For any individ'le

In trouble or in pain"

Christina couldn't help but agree.

"With the thoughts, you'd be thinkin'

You could be another Lincoln

If you only had a brain"

Oh, I would tell you why

The ocean's near the shore

I could think of things I never thunk before

And then I'd sit and think some more

I would not be just a nuffin'

My head all full of stuffin'

My heart all full of pain

I would dance and be merry

Life would be a ding-a-derry

If I only had a brain

"Maybe he should come with us?" Shaggy suggested while Christina helped Hoodude to his feet again.

"Yes, you should," Christina nodded her agreement.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Emerald City to see the Wizard,"

"The Wizard will give me a brain?" Hoodude eagerly questioned.

"I hope so,"

"Then to off we go!"

Linking arms they chose a path and continued their journey.

We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz
We hear he is a whiz of a wiz
If ever a wiz there was
If ever, oh ever a wiz there was

The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because
Because of the wonderful things he does
We're off to see the Wizard
The wonderful Wizard of Oz.

…...

"Mother!" Drew yelled, "MOTHER"

"What is it, son?" Regina asked tiredly.

"She made another friend," he gagged, "She's supposed to be mine,"

"And she will be, Drew, don't worry," Regina soothed, "There are many, many perils on the road ahead,"

"Like what?"

"The Orchard,"

…...

"Christina?"

"Yes, Shaggy?"

"I'm hungry,"

"I am beginning to realize, you're always hungry," she chuckled. "But I don't have anything, Scooby ate everything last night, remember?"

Jade shoved Scooby at the reminder.

"Aren't you hungry?" Shaggy questioned Hoodude.

"No, I am made of straw and do not need to eat"

"How terrible," Shaggy muttered.

"Look." Christina pointed, "Apples!"

"Apples?" Shaggy perked up, "Let's grab some!"

Shaggy and Christina raced for the trees eagerly. Imagining how juicy and Delicious they must have been made their mouths water. Christina got their first, reaching up for the closest apple...

Only for a rough hand to slap hers away painfully.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?"

The voice was rough and scratchy, unpleasant.

Stumbling back from surprise caused her to crash into Shaggy who caught her easily. Even when she was steady once more he didn't let go of her.

"We've been walking a long time and we were hungry," Christina told the talking, angered tree.

"They were hungry,"

"They were hungry," mocked the trees behind the one who'd hit Christina.

"Well, how would you like it if someone came along and picked something off of you,"

Christina shook her head, "I forgot I wasn't in Kansas,"

"Come on, you guys don't want any of those apples," Hoodude exclaimed.

"Excuse me?" the tree huffed, offended, "What's wrong with our apples?"

"Hoodude," Shaggy hissed, the trees were getting angry.

"I'll show you how to get apples," he promised, before yelling at the trees, "They just don't like little green worms,"

"Why you,"

Shaggy pushed Christina to the road as the angered trees started throwing trees.

"Help yourself," Hoodude shrugged happily.

Once Shaggy rolled off of her, Christina shifted into a crouch, holding her basket over her head. Once they got far enough away she started picking up apples that weren't bruised or crushed. A feat in and of its self considering how harshly the trees had been throwing them.

"Oh my," Christina gasped.

A few feet away from the trees which had attacked them, frozen and broken, right in front of her was a girl.

A girl made of metal.

...

Did you find my easter eggs?