AN: Second-to-last chapter. It's been fun.
Max and Co. arrived at the courtyard to find it already teeming with inhabitants. Evidently word spread about the Wizard's 'stunt', though most kept whispering about how he was set to make a grand send-off for a vacation to a far-off land of fellow wizard brethren.
The Doorguard-Preston saw them and immediately ordered a guarded escort through the crowd to the grand podium where they were expecting the Wizard to make an appearance at any second.
"Hello, Max!" Chimed a familiar voice.
"Ugh! Why?!" Max groaned.
The Good Warlock David grinned happily in the face of Max's exasperation, "Well, a little birdy told me what happened and I'm so proud of you! Taking on the Dark Warlock all on your own and freeing his entire army of slaves all in one day!"
He bent down and shook Max's hand, "You've done more for this kingdom than anyone else in our entire history!"
"Uh, you're welcome?" Max replied awkwardly maneuvering his hand out of David's grasp. "Soooo, how does this work exactly?"
"Well, the wizard instructed all of us to prepare for his departure to a mystical land that you came from!" David exclaimed, "He's decided to take you all the way there and take time out of his busy schedule to catch up with his fellow wizards in the land beyond!"
The four glanced at each other quietly, "Uh… David?"
"Yes, Max?"
"There's something you need to-"
"HAHAHAHA!"
The entire courtyard was drawn upwards to see Cameron Campbell, aka the Wizard of Campbell, aka the Prime Minister of Thailand piloting a rickety old bi-plane above them. Smoke streamed from the engine, but it seemed stable and functional.
"So long, suckers! I'm off to Earth once more! Next stop, that African Warlord who owes me $50 in poker money! Wooo-hooo!"
With that, and a few more sputters, the craft and the "Wizard" vanished above the clouds and was gone from sight.
Leaving an entire courtyard filled with citizens gaping.
…
…
Nikki gasped, "Max!"
But she looked around.
He was gone.
"rrrrrRRRRAAAAAGGGGHHHH!" Max roared, throwing another large rock into the green stone of the Wizard's tower.
"STUPID F*CKING TORNADO! STUPID F*CKING OZ! STUPID STUPID F*CKING DAVID! AND STUPID F*CKING ASSF*CK-WIPE SON OF A BITCH CAMPBELL!" He hurled another stone through the Wizard-Tower's windows with a satisfying shatter.
His lungs expanded.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
He took a shuddering breath and collapsed to his knees, panting and throat sore.
…
…
"Son of a motherf*cking bitch," He rasped quietly.
…
"Max? Max!"
He barely had time to look behind him before he was engulfed in a now-familiar smothering of brown fur. "Nikki? Wha-"
"Max, this is total bullshit!" She exclaimed tearfully. Neil and Space Kid were right behind her.
"I can't believe he did something so… so…!" Neil stammered.
"He's a ********** **************** with a **************** ****** ********* and ******** with his mother's ************** ******* ********* so he can't ************ and needs to **** sideways!" Space Kid shouted outraged.
…
…
Wow
…
Er, narration, yeah, 'kay, alright.
For a second, all they could do was stare. Even by Max's standards. That was an impressive swear, coming from Space Kid no less.
"Guys, thanks, but… really, it's no big deal." Max lied.
"What are you talking about, Max? It's a huge deal!" Neil shouted. But before Max could argue back, a new voice entered the fray.
"He's right."
They turned towards the source and saw a dejected-looking David awkwardly rubbing his forearm. His robes seemed sullener, matching his appearance/mood.
"Max… what Campbell did today… was unfair and wrong…" David began.
"Wait, are you… actually not defending him?" Max interrupted incredulously.
"Yes," The Warlock nodded firmly, "Your friends filled me in on what they heard when he spoke to you. I didn't believe it at first… or… I guess I didn't want to believe it.
"He seemed like such a great man. I guess I just got caught up in the image too deep to see him for what he really was and others suffered for it." He hung his head and even his hair-floof drooped. "I guess, what I'm trying to say is… I'm sorry. I'm sorry for getting your hopes up. I'm sorry for sending you here. And I'm so, so sorry that you're stuck here."
…
"T-thank you, David."
The Warlock's depressed miasma cleared slightly with a faint smile as Max actually thanked him significantly louder than before.
"Don't get me wrong, though, you're still an annoying piece of shit." Max quickly added.
David chuckled good-naturedly, his robe colors actually brightening with his mood. "Well, at least some things don't change." He glanced back at the setting sun and grinned. "You know, you guys still defeated the Dark Warlock, right?"
"Yeah?"
"So… I think that calls for a Celebration!" David exclaimed, a burst of confetti conjured from his palm raining down around them.
He twirled on his heel every so often as he led them back to the city and started listing the food, the games, and the people that would happen with the planned festival.
Max had to admit, for being sprung on them all last-minute, the People of Oz could really put together a party.
The food ranged from actual meals in feast-style to carnival funnel-cake and junk food for people walking around the booths and tables. The entire city was one big celebration as streets were cordoned off for mini-parades, games, and shows unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
Space Kid had a blast on the rides they set up, especially the space-themed rocket ride that spun them around like a wash-cycle.
Neil entered a quiz show and won a free set of encyclopedias for coming in first place.
Nikki made a killing on the games, earning tickets for feats of strength or stamina and cashing them in for a big stuffed platypus (and some spider-rings and junk prizes, 'cause there's always leftover tickets to waste).
Max, for the most part, was content to stay in the background. It was fun hanging out with these guys again. Like being in camp again, but if they did something in civilization like a carnival or something. He mostly happily stuffed his face with the free snacks offered out and awkwardly avoided the weirdly-dressed citizens of Chartreuse City magnanimously congratulating him or asking them about the Wizard.
David had done a great job deflecting those types of questions, but they'd still crop up every so often.
Somewhere during the excitement, Max almost nodded off at the feast table with an unfinished plate of samosas in front of him.
He came-to when David shook him by the shoulder. By then, the festivities had wound down to the cooler, crisper night-life and the sun was in the darkening evening.
"Hey, Max? There's one last thing we wanted you for."
Max and David arrived at a small section of a local city park that was fairly removed from the rest of the celebrations. The huge trees and rocks and dirt paths reminded him of Camp, oddly enough. Max could see Nikki-beast, Neil-crow, and Space Kid grinning in the clearing along with several other faces.
One of the Lilliputian Dolphs was there. Zombie-Nurf (without the brainwashed blankness) stood close to Harrison the Apprentice Magician. Nerris the Cute waved eagerly next to Erid the Puma-Lioness. Preston the Doorguard stood in his poofiness energetically waving and chugging a soda from the party.
And one last face he hadn't anticipated.
"Gwen?!"
David beamed happily. "Oh, yeah! Turns out, after you gave her that tablet, thingy, she's been a lot better! She is no longer Gwen the Peeved! She is the now-reformed Gwen-the-Mildly-Annoyed!"
"Sup." She raised a hand unenergetically. "So, you sticking around for this thing or what?"
"Huh?"
Then Max noticed the enormous pile of wood towering in the middle of the clearing. A perfectly unlit bonfire.
"But before that; I have some presents for you four!" David chimed happily. He motioned for Space Kid, Neil-Crow, Nikki-beast, and Max towards him.
He turned to Neil first. "Neil the Scarecrow, for your brains, wits, and bravery, the land of Oz has decided to give you; this!" He held out a piece of paper to the recipient. Neil's eyes bugged out as he read the title and whizzed through the text.
"What is it? What is it?!" Nikki screeched excitedly.
"T-the University of Oz has accepted me- me- as a scholar student!" He cried. "They want me to start next month! I get my own room and boarding! My own choice of study! Even my very own lab space! Oh, God, I'm so happy!" He broke down in happy tears, hugging the paper to his chest.
David grinned and turned to the dismembered Space Kid bits, "For you, Space Kid!"
He held out a smaller brochure packet which the younger anatomical nightmare took eagerly. "Gasp! It's an all-expense-paid training camp for future space explorers complete with a-" He inhaled so much that Max would've sworn his lungs (if he had any) would've burst.
"A REAL TRIP INTO SPAAAAACE!" Space Kid screamed excitedly. His face bits went crazy inside their little enclosure as he did practical cartwheels around the clearing from sheer delight.
"And, of course, Nikki!" David continued down the line.
"Ooooh! What's for me? A potion of instant coolness? Superpowers? *Gasp* A wooly mammoth?!"
"Er, no." David replied, holding out his hands as a pair of sunglasses manifested in his palm. He held them out to a confused Nikki.
"Uh…"
"Well, go ahead, try 'em on!"
She did, glancing around the clearing.
Her eyes landed on Erid, who took one look at her. Smiled. And gave a thumbs-up.
"Cool."
Nikki's face immediately broke into a grin so huge it looked like she was about to explode from sheer joy.
…
…
"What about Max?" Space Kid asked finally. The others refocused their attention on the small human and murmured in agreement. David's smile fell from his face.
"Look, Max, I-"
"Save it, Witch-man." Max replied. "I get it, you don't have anything up your sleeve for me."
"… Sorry, I don't." David admitted quietly. "I know you want to go home, but I just don't have that kind of power to make it happen."
"It's fine. It was a shithole of a world anyway." Max grumbled.
"No, it's not fine." David asserted. "Max, I know you don't like it here or there, but I wanted to offer something to you, instead."
"What?"
David wordlessly gestured around him, "Us! We know we're not your normal home and friends, but we want to be here for you anyways!"
Max followed the older Warlock's arms around the clearing. The collection of familiar doppelgangers fading into phantoms of the people back at Camp Campbell. Against his will, it almost made him smile.
"So, here's the thing. You let Oz be your home for a while and we'll help you find Earth again."
"What? How?" Max exclaimed.
"Well, Campbell figured it out. I'm sure we can crack it no-sweat!" David replied cheerfully.
Gwen walked up beside him, "He's right, you know. Now that we have an idea what to look for, it's not out of the question that you might be able to get back to your world again."
Nikki gasped excitedly, "Yeah! And if you can figure that out like Campbell did, you can come back and visit whenever you want!"
This brought the entire mood of the clearing up significantly. Around him, everyone started jabbering excitedly about the prospect.
Max made sure everyone wasn't looking- when he finally gave in to a quick, small smile.
"So, Max, what do you say?" David asked. Again, all attention returned to the human boy.
…
"Eh, sure, whatever." Max muttered neutrally.
The entire clearing exploded in more cheers and the jabbering continued. Before David got away, Max grabbed his dress- I mean, robe. "Hey, David?"
"Yes, Max?"
"I had one last question that's been bothering me." David gestured for him to continue, "You kept saying Daniel wanted my hoodie for something and that it was what kept his power away from me. But when I tried giving it up, he started acting weird."
"Oh, no! You almost gave up your Hood-Dee?" David exclaimed, "Did it get damaged? Here, let me see it." He held out his hand expectantly.
Max raised an eyebrow, but unzipped his hoodie in one fluid motion and put it in David's hand. The Warlock looked at it confused.
"Um, Max? This is- nevermind." David reached into one of the hoodie's pockets before pulling out a small book. "Ah-ha! Safe and sound!"
"What?! How the Hell did that fit in there?!" Max shouted, surprised. He fit crazy stuff in those things, Mr. Honeynuts for one, an entire wine bottle one time for another, but he definitely would've noticed an entire freaking book in his pockets.
"What do you mean? This is your Hood-Dee!" David replied, holding up the book.
"What? No!" Max grabbed the jacket itself, pointing to it. "This is a hoodie. Hood-ee. As in hooded-jacket."
"Oh, really? Then what's this called?" David puzzled, looking at the object.
"A book?"
"No, I know that, but it's filled with- just take a look." David opened the pages and revealed-
Photographs.
"Huh?"
Max and the other campers boredly standing in front of the Mess Hall with David and Gwen at the sides.
Max, Nikki, and Neil grinning like lunatics with him smirking mischievously, scuffed with dirt and the remains of chaos behind them from their first-ever escape attempt just a few weeks ago with the QM's schoolbus.
Gwen snoring upside-down with an inappropriate magazine covering half her face.
The entire camp in those stupid "Indian" costumes around the enormous bonfire with David still bandaged up, but looking so happy.
Nerris play-fighting with Harrison using dice and string for 'spells'.
That time they all had to go into the local shelter until the volcano stopped erupting.
The time they won the camporee.
The hatching of the short-lived baby platypus.
And, finally, a picture of Max, David, and Gwen with a steaming pizza in front of them at Sleepy Peak Pizza Bros.
…
"Wh-where did these come from?" Max could only think.
"Well, I've never really seen images like these, but whatever they are, they saved you from Daniel's mind-powers by keeping you tethered to them, so they must have some pretty great memories for you!"
Max would sooner kill himself than admit to any variant of David that he made (even subconsciously) 'happy' memories at camp.
"They're called 'photographs', asshat. And the book is called a 'photo album'."
"Well, sorry, but you told us earlier they were called Hood-Dee."
"That's because Daniel was pointing at it and-"
Gwen stepped in, putting a hand on David's shoulder, "Hey, hey, let it go, guys. Yeah there was some miscommunication earlier, but it all worked out, didn't it?"
Max huffed while David beamed. Even Gwen gave a small smile, "I told you it'd make sense later, kid."
"Yeah, but how'd you get these things in the first place," Max pressed, "Do you people have some stalker that takes pictures of random kids and leaves them when they're unconscious? 'Cause if you do, that's some seriously f*cked up shit. Like, Offender-List level shit."
"Nope!" David replied, "We don't know where they came from as much as you do."
"Best not to think about it too much," Gwen offered, returning to a spot in the clearing.
Looking around the clearing, it was obvious even without the huge festival a few blocks over, everyone was having a good time. Nikki, Neil, and Space Kid were more than happy to talk about their gifts to anyone who would listen. A couple had even started prepping something that looked like a purple marshmallow on sticks.
"Hey, Max?"
He looked up to see David holding a tiny bow and arrow. The arrow was tipped with a red dust-like material that glowed faintly.
"There's one more thing we need to do. Would you like the honors?"
…
Max took the bow only because it was cool to shoot a magical flaming arrow. That was it. Nothing to do with David asking.
Anyways, he shot the arrow right into the bonfire and, miraculously, it hit the center and caused the entire structure to erupt in crackling flames. Gasps and 'ooh's swept across the clearing as those around were drawn to the beautifully destructive fire blazing high.
The doppelgangers roasted their purple-mallows and enjoyed tossing bits of leaves or sticks in to watch them curl up and burn. Others were content to stare at the flames and talk.
Still, Max wondered-
If his wish didn't 'count' exactly…
"Uh… Hey, David?" He asked.
"Yes, Max?" David leaned down as Max cupped a hand between them and whispered something into the older man's ear. David nodded every few seconds.
At length, Max pulled back and David stood up in his 'thinking' pose. He snapped his fingers, "You got it!"
He pulled out his wand and sent a quick zap of yellow light at Max. The occupants of the clearing were drawn to the sudden flash and watched the pair.
Then the human yelped briefly and fiddled with his jeans. Then, a long, black monkey tail snaked out and hovered beside him.
Max picked up a stick and held it up, watching as he willed the tail to grasp it.
"SWEET!" He shouted laughing.
David watched the kid join the rest and show off the new tail. Nikki-beast was already challenging him to climbing trees with the new appendage and Max learned very quickly to not turn his back on Space Kid or risk having the (as it turns out, sensitive) new addition being pulled by the well-meaning space-enthusiast.
"Hey," David turned to see Gwen walk up to him. "Why'd you give him two wishes?"
The Warlock shrugged, "Well he brought up a good point. His first wish wasn't exactly granted and I figured 'what the Hell'."
The Witch-of-the-East's eyes widened hearing the Good Warlock swear for the first time since… ever, but couldn't help agreeing as she saw the kids enjoying themselves.
Hours went by and the evening drew into night. The energy of the initial bonfire had calmed to contented fire-watching as the bonfire seemed to keep going without burning up any wood.
"He-hem."
The group turned to look at Gwen who stood beside the QuarterMaster lookalike (?) that had replaced his hook-hand with a guitar pick.
The QM picked up a guitar from who-knows-where and strummed a bright note as Gwen sang.
"There's a place I know that's tucked away-" For once, Max wasn't ready to kill himself for hearing that stupid song.
"A place where you and I can stay,
Where we can go to laugh and play,
And have adventures everyday."
Max glanced around, seeing the familiar faces around him lit with the fire's glow and listening intently to Gwen's song.
"I know it sounds hard to believe,
But guys and gals, it's true."
"Woah." Max whispered.
Only David seemed to catch it, "What's wrong, Max?"
The kid-with-the-tail shook his head, "Nah, it's nothing, just the weirdest sense of Déjà vu."
"What makes you say that?"
"Something like this happened back in my world, too. The fire, the song, Gwen, just before-"
*BOOM!*
The campfire exploded, pushing Max backwards in what seemed like slow-motion.
He waited for the painful impact with the ground, but it didn't happen. He fell through the ground, looking up and seeing everyone's faces smiling at him as he fell through an inky, black void in the ground. They weren't panicked, not worried, just… smiling.
The clearing, the faces, the Land of Oz all faded away in blackness.
Only a voice echoed with the continued strum of a guitar.
"Camp Campbell is the place for me and you~."
AN: Yep.
Time to wrap things up.
As Gwen said all the way back in the first few chapters; the Hoo-Dee thing would make more sense later. In my defense, Max's only really distinguishable article of clothing is the blue hoodie and I can't imagine him in sequined ruby slippers so... ambiguous plot-twist somewhat-deus-ex-machina to the rescue!
Gonna be honest, that monkey tail was initially just a reference to Sun Wukong from RWBY, but it just became like a wish-fulfillment thing. It made me smile, so there.