Christina shook her head sorrowfully for it seemed the strange girl had been stuck there a very long time. Her chest had been left open the pieces she needed to work properly scattered about like fall leaves. Quietly, Christina began to pick them up, maybe she could be of some help?
"Christina-AH," Shaggy startled, only calming when he saw the strange being was no harm to him or Scooby.
Jade, in an attempt to act bravely, rushed at the strange girl, only to stumble back because the metal skin hurt her jaw though not as badly as Christina's scolding for such actions.
"I think we can fix her," Christina explained when Hoodude finally ventured over, holding apples which he added to Christina's open basket, "If we can put these pieces in the right places.
"Let's try," agreed Shaggy, knowing this had been done by one of the witches.
It didn't take long to figure which piece went where. Once all the pieces were back in place, Christina shut the girl, noticing for the first time how dented she was. She must have been through quite a beating.
"She's not doing anything," Shaggy declared in a stage whisper.
"We can see that," Christina said, magic cracking at her fingertips.
Clenching her fists tightly Christina became lost in thought as was Shaggy. Hoodude, however, stood idly by. Having no brain meant he was of no help. So lost in thought were they that no one noticed when the magic cracking like fire jumped from Christina's hands, onto the metal girl, and miraculously woke her. In fact, they only noticed when she yawned.
"You're awake," gasped Christina.
"Yes, and it appears I have you to thank for that," the girl said, indicating Christina's hands, "I'm Robecca, Robecca Steam"
"If you don't mind my asking, how did you get like this, Robecca?"
"The Eastern witch, Revolta," Robecca explained taking a delicate step forward, "I encountered her while I was exploring and she was in a terrible mood so she declared I should never work again and stuck me here between the trees, I remember nothing else until now,"
She walked in a small circle pleased to see she still worked properly and hadn't been damaged past the dents on her torso but just to be safe she requested someone else check. Christina took the job as Shaggy was busy keeping Scooby from the basket filled with apples while Hoodude wandered in circles, excited to see so many new things.
"You seem to work beautifully," Christina said earnestly.
"Not entirely true I'm afraid," Robecca sighed.
"Why is that?" Shaggy questioned, having wrangled Scooby in his arms.
"I have no heart so I cannot feel a thing,"
"I haven't got a brain," Hoodude declared.
Shaggy shoved him only to yelp,
Christina glared at the duo who stood still and quiet, allowing Robecca to explain why she wanted a heart so badly.
"When a girl's an empty kettle
she should be on her mettle
And yet I'm torn apart
Just because I'm presumin'
That I could be a human
If I only had a heart
I'd be tender, I'd be gentle
And awful sentimental
Regarding love and art
I'd be friends with the sparrows
And the boy that shoots the arrows
If I only had a heart!"
It was while Robecca was explaining that Shaggy crept closer and whispered an idea to Christina. An idea which she approved of.
"I hear a beat, how sweet!
Just to register emotion, jealousy, devotion
And really feel the part
I could stay young and chipper
And I'd lock it with a zipper...
If I only had a heart "
"You know, we were just wondering why you couldn't come with us to the Emerald City to ask the Wizard for a heart,"
"Well, suppose he wouldn't give me one when we got there," Robecca said doubtfully.
"Oh, he will, he must, we've come such a long way already,"
"You call that long?"
The group whirled toward the run-down cabin behind them, started to find Regina on the roof, Drew beside her.
"You've only just begun," she cackled, eyeing Christina's travel companions, "Helping her along Are you?"
"Stay away from her!" Drew ordered, angrily, "She's Mine!"
"I most certainly am NOT!" Christina retorted, flames leaping back into her fists without her noticing.
Drew looked ready to jump off the roof and carry her off in protest only for his mother to catch him by the collar.
"Patience!" she hissed, turning back to the odd group before her, she threatened, "I'll stuff a mattress with you," she told Hoodude "and you!" she pointed at Robecca, "I'll use you for a beehive,"
"What about the mutt?" Drew inquired, glaring daggers at Shaggy who was unconsciously holding Christina by the arm, ready to shield her at a moment's notice.
"Hm," Regina tapped her chin in thought, "He'd make an awfully nice rug or with a simple spell he could pull your carriage, I'll have to give the matter some thought, come, we're done here,"
Before turning to leave she hurled a bright orange fireball their way. Throwing her arm up to shield her face Christina unknowingly created a shield that enveloped all of them.
"I'll see you safely to the Wizard now whether I get a brain or not!" Hoodude declared indignantly, "Stuff a mattress with me," he scoffed at the notion.
"And I'll go with you whether I get a heart or not. Beehive bah! Let her try and make a beehive out of me!" Robecca added.
Shaggy said nothing but judging by the way he held tightly to Christina's arm he was going too.
"Let's be on our way then," Christina decided with a grateful smile.
…...
they'd been walking another hour when they came to a large ditch in the middle of the road. Too large and deep for even Shaggy to jump over.
"How are we supposed to cross?" Robecca pondered, eyeing the massive boulders that resided in the bottom of the ditch.
"We can't," said Hoodude, "So we have to stop,"
"Oh, there has to be someway across," Christina said refusing to give up so easily.
The twitching of her wings gave her an idea.
"I can carry you,"
"All of us?" Robecca said dubiously.
"Not all at the same time, I don't think I could manage such a thing, but one at a time would work,"
"Who-who's going first?"
"I will. I'm stuffed so it will not matter if I fall because I won't feel it," Hoodude stood.
"Here goes," Christina grabbed him by the arms and successfully flew him across.
Next came Robecca then Jade and Scooby who hunkered down safely in Christina's basket. Shaggy, however, was shaking with such fear that Christina worried he'd fall and hurt himself.
"I-i-i l-l-like, c-c-can't,"
"Oh yes you can," Christina responded.
"n-n-no-I-AH!"
While Shaggy had been stammering Christina swooped behind him seizing him by the waist and flying him over. She set him down with the others, a safe distance away from the ditch before falling over in exhaustion for she didn't often use her wings. The others let her rest and only resumed walking once she was ready. Another two miles and they came across another ditch. This one was far too wide for Christina to carry the others. It didn't help that her wings still ached.
As they stood there pondering what to do there cane a terrible noise.
"Oh, no, no, no no," Shaggy panicked, "We're like, doomed,"
"Why? What's the matter?" Christina demanded to know.
"The kalidahs are coming, Like, fast,"
"What are kalidahs?" Robecca asked, intrigued.
"Like, terrible man-eating beasts and if they catch us we're done for," Shaggy fretted, chewing his claws.
"We just half to cross the ditch," Christina reassured him, "Then we'll be okay,"
"How do we do that?" Hoodude questioned.
It was then that Robecca caught sight if a tree. It had a thick, wide trunk and many branches.
"There's the answer if we can knock this tree over we'll have a way to cross,"
At once, Shaggy rushed for the tree, pushing his back against it in desperate hope of toppling it. Scooby joined him, pushing with all his might.
"You could push it if you really tried Christina," Robecca advised.
"What makes you say that?"
"You mean you don't know your own strength? I learned many things about many kinds of monsters and I know that vampires are very strong,"
The terrible sounds grew ever closer so Christina joined Shaggy and Scooby. With their combined strength they managed to push the tree over the ditch and not a moment too soon. The kalidahs were approaching. They had bodies like great bears and the heads of tigers with rows of sharp teeth and they sought to eat the travelers who fled across their makeshift bridge as quickly as their legs would allow.
"Like, how do we keep them from following?"
"I think, I think, I may be able to help," Christina said slowly.
Please work.
Despite the oncoming beasts, Christina went to the bridge, crouched down, and laid her hand on it. Closing her eyes she allowed herself to concentrate.
"Christina-" Shaggy started only for Robecca to cut him off.
"Look"
Christina incinerated the bridge just as the kalidahs were crossing. They barely had time to look down before it crumbled to ash.
"Nice job, Christina,"
"I just acted quickly, Shaggy,"
"And saved us in the process," Robecca pointed out.
Christina turned red.
…...
"MOTHER!"
"So, she got away again did she?" Regina questioned her angered son.
"From the kalidahs no less," he snipped, "I thought you said she would be scared to use her powers,"
"She is scared, Drew but she also protective,"
"But if she learns who-"
"SHE WON'T. There's hardly anyone in Oz who actually believes that prophecy and we'll make sure it stays that way,"
"I don't understand why your letting her go on this adventure anyway," Drew complained, "Can't we just snatch her up and be done with it,"
"No,"
"Why not?"
"It's those blasted shoes," Regina replied, "They're enchanted,"
"Everyone knows that,"
"Curse her mother!"
"Her mother's dead,"
Regina slapped drew on the head, "Go to your room and let me work,"
"But-"
"Now!"
…...
"I suggest we set up camp for the night, it's getting awfully dark,"
"So?" Hoodude was perplexed, "I don't need sleep,"
"Nor do I," Robecca replied, "But Shaggy and Christina do, there's an old cabin just up the road let's stop there,"
The cabin wasn't just old but abandoned. It was also very small. Much smaller than Christina's one-room home so it was decided they would build a fire outside so they could gather comfortably and converse with each other.
"Why is the witch after you, Christina?" Hoodude questioned.
"The shoes, I guess," replied Christina in between bites of her apple, "Or maybe because I accidentally crushed her underling?"
"You know," Robecca started slowly, "There's a rumor of why she's so evil, to begin with,"
"Tell us," Shaggy prompted.
"Well, it's said that a long, long time ago she sought the affection of a childhood friend but he didn't return her feelings. She plotted and schemed but nothing she tried could change his mind because he'd fallen in love-"
"With who?" Hoodude interrupted.
"No one knows her name, just that she was royalty. On the day of their wedding, Regina cried so loudly, and for so long that she caught the attention of Revolta who for her own morbid delight she taught Regina dark magic. With these new powers, Regina sought to claim her friend for herself but she couldn't as his wife was also quite powerful and was able to thwart every plan-"
"Where are they now?"
"I was getting to that," Robecca promised, "Many months later in a fit of rage she killed them both,"
"Oh my," Christina gasped.
"And so begun the rule of the west witch,"
…...
That night Christina was again plagued with many odd and often terrifying dreams. When she startled awake she found that it was still dark outside the window and resolved to sit awake until dawn.
"Christina, like, why are you awake?"
Shaggy stared at her expecting an answer.
"I could ask you the same question,"
"But I asked you first,"
"Nightmares, you?"
"I can almost never sleep,"
"Why don't you try counting sheep?"
"I'm too scared of them," Shaggy said bashfully, "Like, I'm scared of everything,"
"Unless it's food,"
"Exactly,"
Christina stood to tend the fire that was going out.
"Like, since we're both awake what do you like, suppose we do?"
"I don't know, talk?"
"Talking is like, better than thinking,"
"What were you thinking about?"
"The dance before the terrors came, you never saw anyone as happy as my parents were,"
"You know I don't think I've ever danced,"
"Ever?"
"Ever,"
Shaggy stood, "Like, let's change that,"
"Oh, I don't know-"
"It'll be fun besides, maybe it'll help us both go to sleep,"
Hesitantly, Christina allowed Shaggy to pull her to her feet.
…...
(Pardon my interruption but I strongly suggest going to YouTube and Listening to the Fireside Dance score from Oz the Great and Powerful. For this next bit. That's all)
…...
"Like, a fair warning, I'm not the best dancer but we'll try," Shaggy chuckled.
"All we can do is try," Christina agreed.
"Okay, one hand here, and the other here," Shaggy instructed slowly, "And, one, two three,"
It was rough going at first but slowly they fell into a natural rhythm. Suddenly the cabin didn't seem small at all. It wasn't even there. There was nothing except the firelight which seemed to dance right along with them. once, Christina, was comfortable Shaggy spun her around causing her to laugh. So he kept doing it. Every few steps just to hear her laugh again.
"Tired yet?" Shaggy asked after a while.
"Dizzy," Christina smiled, her forehead pressed against his without either realizing it.
"Probably from all the spinning, maybe we should stop,"
"But we have stopped," Christina realized.
Shaggy moved to kiss her...
Jade barked, shattering the moment.
Blushing furiously, they each returned to their sleeping spaces but Christina didn't object when Shaggy moved closer and his hand found hers as they lay there, each staring at the ceiling.
…...
"Another forest?" Christina sighed.
It was noon the next day. They'd been traveling since dawn hoping that today was the day they'd reach the city but that was not to be. The forest before them was dark and foreboding but Christina marched forward. She had to get home and if that meant traveling through a dark creepy forest so be it.
"I-I don't like this forest," Shaggy told her, "It's dark and creepy,"
"Do you suppose we'll meet any wild animals?" Christina asked Robecca.
"We might," she nodded.
"Animals that eat straw?" Hoodude fretted.
"Some but mostly Lions and tigers and bears,"
"Lions?" Christina gasped.
"And tigers," Shaggy whimpered.
"And bears,"
"Oh my,"
"Lions,"
"And tigers,"
"And Bears,"
"Oh my,"
"Lions,"
"and tigers,"
"And Bears,"
"Oh my,"
"Lions,"
"and tigers,"
"And Bears,"
"Oh my,"
Robecca stepped on a twig. Upon hearing it snap, Shaggy bolted forward leaving the others to rush after him. Taking to the skies, Christina cut him off, seizing him by the arms.
"It's okay, Shaggy, I promise, it's okay,"
"Y-y-you s-s-sure,"
"Yes, it's okay,"
"You are scared of everything," Robecca remarked upon catching up.
"I didn't believe it until now," added Hoodude.
"It-it's been in me so long I just gotta tell you how I feel,"
"Well then," Christina linked arms with her companions, "Come on"
"Life is sad, believe me, Missy
When you're born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve.
But I could change my habits
Never more be scared of rabbits
If I only had the nerve.
I guess there's no denyin' I'm afraid of even tryin' A fate I don't deserve. But I could've shown my prowess Be a wolf and not a mowess If I only had the nerve.
I'd be brave as a blizzard
Robecca lost in her own thoughts said:
I'd be gentle as a lizard
Which led Hoodude to add:
I'd be clever as a gizzard
So Christina reminded them:
If the Wizard is a Wizard who will serve
Then I'm sure to get a brain Hoodude declared.
A heart Robecca added.
A home Christina sighed.
The nerve! Shaggy reassured himself.
We're off to see the wizard
The wonderful wizard of Oz
We hear he is a wizard of whiz 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!
…...
Why yes, I did slip an Anastasia reference in there. Now, can you find it? It's like the only Easter egg this time around but to make up for it I present this piece of trivia. In the movie, Return to Oz there is a scene in which Dorthy is explaining how the Tin Woodman ended up being made of tin she clearly starts to say 'hacked' but they thought this was too violent and changed it to 'cut', however they did not do a good job as there's a jump in the audio.
Please, review!
OH, before I forget, I went back to the first chapter and switched Miss Grimwood from the witch of the south to the north.
That will be important later...