Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or qualities of any of the characters. I do not own the excerpt written by Michael Buckley at the beginning of Chapter 1.

I actually wrote this story right after The Everafter War came out. I apologize for any similarites, this story is meant to be a re-write (my version) of what should have happened in the next book. Kinda OOC, P/S.

Chapter 2- The Yellow Brick Road goes on

The birds woke up Sabrina, Daphne, and Puck before the sun did.

Sabrina rubbed her eyes and took in the scenery around her. It seemed slightly different than last night. But she couldn't place the answer.

"Okay guys. Are we ready to go?" Sabrina asked, for she couldn't wait to get out of this story.

"Hello? Earth to Sabrina?"

"What?" Sabrina grumbled, for she wasn't in the mood for Puck's witty attitude.

"It's already morning. The Trickster King needs to eat."

"And… what am I supposed to do about it?"

"You are SUPPOSED to serve food to me, peasant!"

"Where do I get the food?" Sabrina was ready to punch the living daylights out of him.

"I don't know! Find some corn or something in that cornfield you so happen to be standing next to."

Sabrina scowled and turned around, now facing the field of massive stalks that towered above her. She really didn't feel like dealing with Puck's attitude right now, so she just settled on getting food for all of them. He did have MAJOR mood swings and attitude changes. The truth was, she was getting kind of hungry.

"Stay there and stay together!" She yelled to them over her shoulder as she began to enter the certain death- trap to find a morning meal.

After about a minute of walking in a straight path across the field, she started coming across some corn on the ground. She couldn't reach the corn on the stalks anyway, it was too high up. Hopefully, the corn on the ground wouldn't be old or bruised.

Sabrina was so engrossed in picking up the corn, she didn't seem to notice a stake right in front of her. When she finally did stand up and look straight up in front of her, she let out an ear-piercing scream that could be heard all the way from the Emerald City.

"!"

All that was standing in front of her was a scarecrow, nailed up onto a stake. She should have expected this coming, after all, she did know bits and pieces of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' story.

Calming down, Sabrina regained her composure and picked up the corn that she had dropped and faced the person-err… scarecrow person thing… in front of her.

"Sorry about that, you just scared me. I wasn't expecting anyone to be here."

Scarecrow looked quite apologetic, even though he really had nothing to be sorry for. "My name's Scarecrow. I'm quite sorry as well, you see I can't move, because I'm nailed onto this stake. I didn't mean to frighten you. In fact, I had been sleeping. Actually, not even quite sleeping. I can't really sleep, it more like I get unfocused and daze off into nothingness. Most of the time, the birds comes when I decide to doze off and eat all of the corn. The birds that frequently visit me are called ravens. I also get the occasionally seagull, lost, looking for the ocean. But there is no ocean around here! Oops! Back to my story! But, they also come when I actually try to scare them off. I'm not very scary, am I? Well, I suppose I was to you, but you were taken by the element of surprise. I'm very sorry I frightened you, by the way. My name is Scarecrow; I don't really have a name other than that. I guess I could make one up for myself. But I would need a brain to do that. But since I'm a scarecrow I don't have one. I wish I did though. Funny story, actually. Once upon a time, I had wished upon a star that I had a brain, and then—"

Although Sabrina had only been half listening through the Scarecrow's rant, she decided to cut him off before it could get any worse than it already was. "That's okay. I should have known that you would be in here. What were the other two people we meet?" Sabrina thought for a moment, and it suddenly came to her head. "The Tin Man and The Lion!"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know who you are talking about. Actually, I can't really know anything, since I don't have a brain. Speaking of Lions as you were earlier, did you know that there are lions, tigers, and bears in the forest later on when you follow the yellow brick road? I've encountered many before becoming a Scarecrow. Actually, I've always been a scarecrow. I suppose I became the 'stereotypical scarecrow' when I joined the career of chasing off birds while on a stake. I'm not very scary, for I am just a Scarecrow. They should have chosen something else scarier. For example, the Wicked Witch of the West or East. No—wait a minute! I just heard that the Wicked Witch of the East died not too long ago. A bird told me when I was trying to scare it off. Back to my original story. Actually, I should have chosen a different occupation to do for the rest of my life. Do you have a job? I suppose not. You are a bit young. Did I mention I used to be a Scarecrow without scaring away birds? I was—"

Sabrina, multiple times though the Scarecrow's rant, wanted to tell him that he was never on 'the original story.' But she didn't, for the sake of being a kind person. Sabrina had to cut him off though, because she didn't know if she could handle all the torture from the Scarecrow's rants. "Well, I'm just gonna get going, so thanks for your time." She started running off, heading back to Puck and Daphne. She had been gone for about ten minutes, and they would probably be wondering where she was at that point. That is, if they hadn't already heard her terrified scream earlier at the Scarecrow.

"But wait! I don't want to be stuck here forever!" Scarecrow yelled, "Where are you going?"

Sabrina sighed and turned back around. She sort of felt bad for abandoning the Scarecrow. Sure he was (sort of) nice, but he was (very) annoying by how much he talked. In that sense, he reminded her of Daphne. But, Daphne wasn't AS annoying as the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow would just keep talking nonsense, while parts of Daphne ramblings were actually sort of interesting and logical. She continued on, saying, "Well, Puck, this stupid, annoying fairy-boy, and Daphne, my younger sister, are going to see this man called 'The Wonderful and Powerful Wizard of Oz'. Or just Oz for short. We're hoping he can take us to either the next story in the book, or home."

"Ohhhhh… that's nice. Does he have magical powers? If so, I would wish I had a brain. Actually, I've wanted a brain since I was made. I can't really be born, you know, because I am a scarecrow, so I was stuffed. It's actually quite easy to rip me to shreds. Here's a good story: One time—"

"Yes, the story says he has magical powers, and cool story," Sabrina said sarcastically. She really wanted to leave, but felt bad for the Scarecrow. He'd been alone for who knows how long, and she would feel guilty the rest of her life if he'd been stuck there forever.

"That's amazing. Maybe I could come with you. Have I told you what I would wish for? I would ask him if I could have a brain. I suppose I would feel a little different- having something in your head may weigh you down a lot. But I wouldn't know. I was made without a brain. Please, may I come with you? I wouldn't be a bother at all! You wouldn't even notice me there!"

Sabrina thought that over for a minute. She'd hardly believe what the Scarecrow said. He would probably be a nuisance, but, on the other hand, it was how (she thought) the story had to go. How much could this alter reality if the Scarecrow didn't come along? "Fine, you can come. But, before I make any real promises, Daphne and Puck have to agree to this."

"Yippee! This has to be the most glorious day of my life! That is…" The scarecrow paused, looking down upon himself. "That is, if I can get off this wretched stake."

Sabrina had momentarily forgotten about that. How in the world was she alone supposed to get the scarecrow down? She was fairly short, shorter than Puck. Daphne was even almost as tall as her, if not, the same height or taller. "Great. Just great. There's no way I can reach that. I'll have to go get Puck and Daphne. I'll be right back."

The Scarecrow still held a smile on his face. "Okay. I'll stay right here."

Sabrina laughed internally and rolled her eyes. Of course the Scarecrow would stay right there! He couldn't move, and that was why Sabrina was going to get help.

She picked up her pace and ran at a full sprint back to Daphne and Puck. They, meaning mostly Daphne, would be worried sick right now.

As she approached the end of the cornfield and looked around, Daphne and Puck were nowhere in sight.

When Sabrina turned to look the other way, she found Daphne and Puck faces less than a foot away from her.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" Sabrina screamed for the second time that day. When she regained composure of herself, she turned to yelling at the two.

"How dare you do that? That scared me! How would you feel if I did that to you?"

"Geez… Sorry Grimm. And by the way, it would be scary if you did that to us! Only because your face is so scary and ugly!"

The last comment stung Sabrina really bad. It hurt her; it stabbed a hole right in her heart. That was the meanest thing Puck had ever said to her. She felt the tears coming down, and for the first time, she didn't even try to stop them. Sabrina didn't really care now how much Puck would tease her for this. Sabrina couldn't even look at Daphne now, for the shame of showing her weakness.

Sabrina faced the other way and began to run away. She didn't know where she was going, and if she would get lost. Before she could get very far, though, Puck ran up to her and grabbed her shoulders, engulfing her in a tight hug.

He whispered in her ear, "I'm so sorry, that was really mean of me. I shouldn't have said that, I didn't mean it."

Sabrina stopped crying. Puck? Giving her an apology? It seemed unlikely; the only time Puck ever gave apologies was when he was truly sorry and sincere. "That's okay, I forgive you."

Even though Sabrina couldn't see it, Puck smiled. He was glad she'd accepted his apology; he really did feel bad. He said it before he thought about it; it just came out.

Daphne was calmly waiting for the two to finish hugging. But they didn't finish. "Well, if you two lovebirds are done here, I do believe we should get going."

Now, both Sabrina and Puck blushed and quickly separated apart from each other.

"Before we go, though, I… well... kinda promised the Scarecrow he could come along with us." Sabrina whispered meekly.

"You did WHAT!" Puck yelled.

"I'm sorry, I felt bad for him! Plus, it's how the story's supposed to go!"

"You know I can't stand him! He's probably even worse now than he is back in Ferryport Landing!"

"Well, I can't argue with you there. He just talks on and on and on." Sabrina was now regretting the thought of letting the Scarecrow come along with them.

"You see what I mean! There's no way that he's coming!" Puck said back to her, now the screaming and yelling at each replaced by normal talking voice levels.

"Puck, please, just give him a chance." Sabrina attempted at doing the puppy dog eyes.

He sighed. "Fine. But as soon as someone gets hurt, he's leaving. And this doesn't change the way I feel about him."

"Thanks. Sometimes, Puck, you are really nice and grown-up. But most of the time, immature and rude." Sabrina smiled, for, this fight, she had finally won.

Daphne had been quiet for a while, and she silently followed Sabrina's lead in finding and rescuing the Scarecrow. She knew better than to get involved in one of Sabrina and Puck's fights.

When Sabrina reached the same little tiny clearing as before, she looked around. The Scarecrow was not anywhere in sight. All that was left of him was the stake he had been on minutes before, and a red, bloody, handprint. The Scarlet Hand, this time meaning either Mirror or Pinocchio, was responsible for this kidnapping.