"And then the man says, that's no monkey, that's my wife!"
"Hahahaha, you're killing me green bean!" howled Cyborg, wiping a tear out of his eye, "I almost fell off the log from laughing so damn hard!"
"I've got plenty more jokes where that one came from dude," Beast Boy replied with a wide grin.
"Robin, Starfire! Yall are back, what'd you bring to eat?" Cyborg said looking up to see Starfire flying back to the clearing, while Robin walked.
"Friend, I have brought the orbs of sweetness," Starfire replied, having no trace of every been crying in her eyes.
"Hey BB, they got food," Cyborg said turning to Beast Boy, "BB? Yo, BB? Where are you man?"
"Right here…" Beast Boy squeaked from behind Cyborg.
"Come on you little grass stain. It's safe. Robin and Starfire are our friends," Cyborg said.
"Yes green one, I would like to become friends. Have an orb of sweetness," Starfire said flying over to Cyborg, offering her handful of berries.
"T-thanks, I'm Beast B-boy," he said meekly, peering from behind Cyborg to get some berries from Starfire as she sat beside Cyborg.
"Hello, I am Starfire," she said with a smile.
"And that's Robin. Wait. Hey Robin, you haven't said anything since we got back. You okay?" asked Cyborg.
As Robin walked over to the opposite side of Cyborg, and he avoided eye contact with Starfire.
"I'm fine. What'd you find out about him?" Robin said, indicating to Beast Boy.
"Oh, the little guy's harmless. He just wanted to hang out with us," Cyborg said as he relayed Beast Boy's story to Robin and Starfire.
"Oh, is that it?" Robin asked, not knowing what to say.
"Actually no. This little dude has been damn pretty helpful. Get this: He found a way to help get Starfire home!" Cyborg explained excitedly.
"What?" both Robin and Starfire exclaimed, "How?"
"BB, come out from behind me and tell them!" commanded Cyborg.
Sighing slightly Beast Boy reluctantly came out and leaned against a tree next to the fallen log. Eyes cast downward; he twirled his foot in the ground as he spoke.
"Before I was following you guys, I was headed the same way you were, on the golden brick road. While I was in the circus I heard lots of rumors, but only one of them was the same every time," Beast Boy began softly, "This road, it leads somewhere, somewhere magical."
Suddenly looking up at his new friends he continued, "This road leads will lead us to the great and powerful Wizard of Oz. Getting there will be dangerous, which is why I wanted to follow you guys…because you guy look brave. But anyways, The Wizard grants any who make it to see him a wish. Just one wish, but it can be anything in the world… like courage."
"A heart," said Cyborg.
"A brain…" said Robin.
"To go home…" said Starfire longingly.
"Friend, this wizard, he is real?" Starfire said in a serious tone.
"Yes," Beast Boy replied equally as serious.
"Cyborg…?" Robin asked, seeking confirmation.
"My scanners have detected a powerful being at the end of this road. All we have to do is get there," Cyborg said.
"Then it is settled friends. We shall see this Oz," Starfire said, passion burning like a fire in her green eyes.
"What are we waiting for?" Cyborg asked.
"Sweet! 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…!" Beast Boy sang until Cyborg clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Hey Starfire, you know BB can fly, all he has to do is transform into a bird," Cyborg said then muttered, "and while he's a bird he can't sing."
"That is glorious!" Starfire exclaimed, encircling Beast Boy in a back braking hug.
Robin glared at Beast Boy jealously.
"Can't—breathe!" Beast Boy cried.
"Hehe," she laughed sheepishly as she rubbed her arm, "I forgot, I am stronger than I look."
And with that she flew off, Beast Boy following her, in the form of a falcon. Back on the ground, Robin and Cyborg continued walking on the yellow brick road. Cyborg whistled hands behind his back as they walked, occasionally stealing glances at Robin.
"What?" Robin demanded.
"What? Who me?" Cyborg said, holding his hands up defensively.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?"
"Like what?" Cyborg asked innocently.
"Like that," Robin said, running a hand through his straw hair (which happened to be gelled up).
"Just tell me what happened man. I may not have a heart, but I have eyes. I see what's going on with you and Starfire."
"What do you mean?"
"Come on, you were all jealous when I joined yall. Then you get all jealous when she hugs BB. Yall were like best friends! And ever since the trip to get berries yall quit talkin and sittin next to each other?"
Robin sighed, "I don't even know."
"Come on, what happened?"
"We-we-we almost kissed…"
"I knew it! Well what went wrong man?"
"Come again?"
"You like her don't you?"
"What? No? I-okay maybe. Okay! I do. I like her."
"I know you don't have a brain man, but it doesn't take one to see she likes you too. Now if yall both like each other then tell me what happened? What went sour?"
"When I leaned in to kiss her, well she asked me what I was doing and I didn't know what to say so I said nothing! Then she asked if "this" was nothing and I just didn't know what to say…. How do I fix this mess Cyborg?"
"Did you apologize?"
"I didn't get a chance to! What if she didn't except it anyways. It's not like she'd be interested in some brainless scarecrow anyways."
"Imma be straight up with you man. You don't need a brain to know what you say. Just speak from your heart. If your words true, then that's all you need. She will forgive you."
"You really think so?"
"Yeah man, I do. Just get it together before we get to the Wizard and she goes home."
"Trust me," Robin said with new found determination, "I will."
Robin smiled. After his talk with Cyborg he felt confident. He didn't need a brain; all he needed was his heart. But it didn't heart that he would be able to wish for a brain when they made it to see the Wizard. He just needed to find the right words. He didn't need a brain… he hoped.
After walking in silence for a few minutes the two heard Beast Boy's voice.
"Dudes! Get over here! It's like midget city!"
"I gotta see this!" Cyborg said as he and Robin ran down the golden brick road in a very tiny looking city.
"What is this place?" Robin asked as he and Cyborg caught up with Beast Boy and Starfire.
The four friends looked around them. The bright sun shone bright. Little people laughed and sang and danced around them happily. The city was miniature! The tallest building only came up to Cyborg's knees! Out from the small building came equally small people. The four friends gasped in awe. What was this strange place?
"Greetings strangers!" said a small man in a tuxedo, "welcome to Munchkin Land! I am the mayor, Mayor Munchkin.
As mayor of the Munchkin City,
In the county of the land of Jump City,
I welcome you most regally!" he sang.
"Greeting travelers!" the people of Munchkin Land exclaimed emerging from their homes to greet everyone, "Hello, hello. Welcome, welcome!"
Starfire giggled softly, "Greetings!" she said gently shaking the mayor's hand.
The mayor furrowed his brow, "Ma'am what is that book?" he said pointing to a book in Starfire's arms.
"Yeah Starfire where did you get that?" Robin asked, concerned after seeing strange marking on the book's cover, "it looks evil."
"Hmmph" Starfire said flipping her hair at Robin. Turning her attention to the small mayor, she said, "It was a gift, two flying creatures gave it to me. They said to present it as a gift to the Wizard."
"Creatures?" Cyborg asked.
"Yeah, some creepy little flying monkeys threw it at her and told her to have it" Beast Boy replied.
"And you didn't find that suspicious?" Robin demanded angrily.
"Flying monkeys! Oh dear, those are the minions of the witch," the mayor gasped.
"The witch! The witch, the wicked witch!" the people of Munchkin Land exclaimed, frightened.
"The witch? The one you told me about BB?" Cyborg asked.
"The one I told you about was the Wicked Witch of the West, she lives in a tower very close to here," he answered nervously, fear kicking in.
"That is not the witch with the monkey minions young travelers. Flying monkeys are the calling card of the Wicked Witch of the East, fear not, she doesn't live around here," the mayor said, sighing with relief.
"But why would the Wicked Witch of the East give Starfire her book?" Robin asked.
"I am not sure traveler," the mayor replied.
"Ahhhh!" the people of Munchkin Land screamed running into their homes, "The witch! The witch! The Wicked Witch!"
Suddenly the happy sky of Munchkin Land grew dark. Starfire was encased in black aura and thrown to the ground of Munchkin Land.
"Starfire!" Robin exclaimed.
The boys turned to see a hooded sorceress with a long blue cape fly through the clouds. Only four red eyes could be seen from under her hood.
"Thieves! The book is mine! Return it to me NOW!" the witch exclaimed in a harsh, ragged demonic voice.
"Ahhh!" Beast Boy screamed jumping behind Cyborg.
"Back off witch!" Robin exclaimed hurling a boomerang he had in his pocket. (A/N He had lots of time to make neat things during his life as a scarecrow! Especially during the winter, when there were no crops!)
"Fools!" the witch exclaimed deflecting the boomerang. "You will pay for your insolence!" she exclaimed tossing Robin aside with her powers.
"NO! Leave my friends ALONE!" Starfire said flying off the ground from where she was thrown. Star bolts in one hand, book in the other, she yelled, "You are mistaken! I am no thief. I am Starfire, Tamaranian War Princess! You have accused the wrong girl and hurt the wrong friends!"
Eyes glowing a fiery green, Starfire flew to the witch and blasted green eye beams. The witch was thrown back in the air and howled with pain.
"You are not the only one whose eyes glow!" Starfire growled.
"I didn't come here to fight; I came for my book! If it's a fight you want, you got your wish!" the witch growled back.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" the witch yelled conjuring her black aura to grab Starfire's leg and hurl her backwards.
Tossing the book on the ground, Starfire flew to the witch as she blasted her repeatedly with star bolts. The witch blocked the assault with her black aura, but Starfire caught her off guard as she grabbed the witch by her shoulders.
"Take your book! And leave," Starfire challenged.
Angered by the challenge, the witch grabbed Starfire by her shoulders also and the two grappled in midair.
Meanwhile, on the ground, Robin stood up and dusted himself off.
"We have to run!" said Beast Boy, "Or hide! The witch will murder us!"
"No, we stand and fight!" Robin said, smacking his open palm with a fist.
"I'm with you on that, are you in BB?" Cyborg asked.
"Dude, no! Are you crazy?" Beast Boy replied waving his arms madly.
"Fine, we'll help Starfire without you, coward," Robin yelled taking off to find Starfire.
Shaking his head at Beast Boy Cyborg ran after Robin, leaving Beast Boy in their dust, Robin's words ringing in his ears. Coward…
"What's the plan, boss?" asked Cyborg, activating his sonic cannon arm.
"Can you shoot the witch?" Robin asked.
"Shit, no. They're too close to each other and they keep moving; I might end up shooting Starfire."
"What do we do?"
"Have faith," Cyborg said, "Starfire is a strong girl, she can defeat that witch. But if she can't, I'll blast the witch as soon as I can.
Back in the air, Starfire and the witch battled. Starfire blasted the witch high into the air with her star bolts and flew up to continue the attack. Inside the witch encased Starfire's hand in her black aura and flew to eye level with her, and encased them both in a black bubble.
"Why did you steal my book?" the witch demanded breathing heavily with anger.
"I told you, I didn't steal it!" Starfire yelled, fuming with anger, ready to attack.
"If you didn't steal it then who did?" the witch snarled.
"I do not know. The flying creatures gave it to me! Believe me! For I do not lie," Starfire protested.
Slowly the witch's heavy breathing halted. The four red eyes disappeared and were replaced with two purple eyes, a fire burning deep within them. Starfire's hands dropped as the witch released them from her magical binding.
Capturing Starfire's eyes the witch in a soft, deadpan voice inside of an angry demonic one, "I believe you. I am an empath. I can sense emotions, and you are not lying. I am sorry I accused you."
"It is okay,I forgive you. Perhaps we can put this aside, and you might be my friend, Starfire said extending her hand for a handshake, "Friends?"
Dropping the black orb that surrounded them the witch extended her hand to shake Starfire, and her smoldering eyes softened, "Friends" the witch replied in a monotone voice.
But before they two girls could shake hands, the witch was shot out of the sky by Cyborg on the ground.
"Booyah!" he yelled as he and Robin high fived.
"No!" Starfire yelled flying as fast as she could before to catch the dark sorceress before she hit the ground, but she was falling too fast. The witch hit the ground on the outskirts of Munchkin Land in a humungous explosion. A huge crater ripped through the Earth and a cloud a smoke filled the air.
"Nooo!" Starfire yelled, "Oh X'hal, what have you done?!" she screamed at Cyborg and Robin, seeing the broken, motionless form of the witch, laying at the bottom of the crater.
