"Do you like it?"
Melinda stood just behind her awaiting an answer. But Christina was too awe-struck by her appearance to speak. Gone was the homespun dress Christina was used to. In its place was a green velvet frock. What would her Aunt Em think if she saw her now?
"It's very pretty, Melinda"
"I'm glad you agree," Melinda smiled, "Now, come it's time for dinner"
…...
Shaggy was not so patiently waiting for his food when Christina entered the room. His food was forgotten. He only had eyes for Christina.
Robecca, who'd been patched and polished thanks to Tina, elbowed Hoodude, "See? He loves her"
"I still don't understand" Hoodude shrugged.
"Nevermind"
"The wizard has agreed to see you tomorrow morning, all of you" Clawdeen informed them, "I wouldn't keep him waiting, the Wizard has an awful temper, or so they say,"
"A-A-Awful temper?" Shaggy choked, "Maybe this like, wasn't such a good idea"
Christina laid a hand on his arm, "It will be okay, you'll see"
…...
Early the next morning just after Christina and Shaggy had eaten their breakfast, they were brought to the doors which led to the wizard's throne room.
"Ready?" Christina asked, linking arms with her companions.
"As-as-as I can be," Shaggy stammered while the others nodded.
The large double doors opened to a long, silent arched hallway. Slowly the group made their way inside.
"Wait-wait a minute," Shaggy stammered, "I-I really don't want to see the wizard this much. Like, I better wait for you outside," he turned to leave only for Christina to grab his arm.
"Wait, why?"
"Because I'm like, too scared"
"Don't you know the wizard's going to give you some courage?"
"I-I'd be too scared to ask him for it"
"Then we'll ask him for you," Christina declared, linking arms with her shaking companions.
Slowly they made their way through the hall, stopping just short of the glided double doors before them. the doors opened and a voice boomed:
"Come forward!"
"Like, tell me when it's over," Shaggy gulped, Scooby hiding behind him.
The throne room was large and dark, pale green light dotting the walls. In the center on a raised dais sat an empty throne. Smoke and fire billowed just behind it.
"Look at that, look at that," Shaggy squeaked, pointing to where a head was just barely visible through the smoke.
"I am Oz the Great and Terrible. Why do you seek me?"
Christina found herself pushed to the front of the group, "If-if you please, sir, I am Christina and we've come to ask-"
"Silence!"
Shaggy pulled Christina to his side growling though no one could hear it over the booming voice.
"The Great and Terrible Oz knows why you have come. Step forward, Tin Girl,"
Robecca wasn't made of tin but telling the wizard seemed a bad idea so she just shuffled her way to where Christina had been standing.
"You dare to ask me for a heart do you?"
"Y-yes, your honor," Robecca said, "You see a while back we were walking down the yellow brick road-"
"Quiet!"
Robecca quickly shuffled back to her place.
"and you, Scarecrow"
Hoodude fell to his knees before the wizard bowing repeatedly.
"You have the audacity to ask me for a brain do you?"
"Y-yes your Excellency, I m-mean your Wizardry-"
"Enough! and you Werewolf"
Shaggy froze on the spot.
"Well?"
His knees gave out and he fainted.
Christina kneeled beside him, shaking his shoulder while Hoodude repeatedly slapped him but since he was made of straw it didn't do much.
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Christina yelled at the wizard, "Frightening him like that when he came to you for help!"
"Silence! The Great and Terrible Oz has every intention of granting your requests!"
Now, Shaggy woke, "Like, what'd he say? what'd he say?"
"But first you must prove yourselves worthy by performing a very small task. Bring me the spellbook of the West Witch and the broomstick of East Witch! now, go"
"But-but" Shaggy stammered, "We'd like, have to kill them to do that!"
"I SAID GO!"
Shaggy fled from the room, Scooby hot on his heels.
…...
Regina couldn't help but cackle with wicked delight.
"Mother?"
"Oh, this, this is too much," Regina said, "He's sending her right to us,"
"You can't be serious"
"See for yourself"
There they were, traversing the rough, untamed Western terrain.
"Let's send them a warm welcome"
…...
"Witches castle one mile" Shaggy read the faded sign in the middle of the dead forest, "I'd turn back if I were you," he tried to do just that only for Christina to grab him by the arm and pull him forward.
"It used to be so beautiful here," Melinda mused, "And they've destroyed it"
"Thank you for guiding us," Robecca said.
"No problem, I guess I was homesick,"
"Um," Hoodude interrupted, "Does anyone else hear that?"
"RUN!" Melinda ordered, peering through the trees, "She's sent the monkeys"
They tried to run but were surrounded by cackling, red-eyed corrupted monkeys.
To Melinda's credit, she tried to hold them off but she was quickly overpowered and knocked out.
Christina tried next but since she hadn't yet gotten used to her powers she was also unable to hold off the monkeys who grabbed her and Shaggy before hauling them away.
…...
"What happened?" Christina groaned, racking her brain for answers.
The monkeys must have knocked them out! With this realization, Christina looked around for Shaggy only to find she was alone.
A tower? I'm in a tower?
It made the most sense. The room was circular, gray stone lit by a torch. One arched window barely big enough for her wrist to fit through allowed a pale silver of moonlight to slip through. Sitting up, Christina discovered her hands were locked tight inside iron cuffs which were connected to a wall by long chains. Even without using magic, her hands burned. Shakily, getting to her feet Christina forced herself to the window. The tower rose above a large courtyard.
Where shaggy was being held, prisoner.
"No..no" Christina strained to see.
Shaggy, too was chained and muzzled. Seemingly stuck in full wolf form he was being beaten bloody by servants Christina couldn't even begin to identify.
"Ah, you're awake"
Turning, Christina found Drew now stood inside the room.
Faster than she would have liked he was beside her.
"What do you want?" she flinched away from him.
"What I was promised"
She glared, "That does not answer my question,"
"I want you"
"Never!"
"Like it or not, you're my bride"
No!