Hello again.

...Meh.

Chapter 7: The Cowardly Katz

The three companions and their dog walked down the Yellow Brick Road. Lloyd and Colette continued singing, while Kratos and Noishe endeavored to ignore them.

Eventually they came to a guy with blue hair who was wearing handcuffs, either because he had committed some terrible sin in his past or because shackles were totally in this season. He was standing at the side of the road holding a large sign that read, "FOREST - THIS WAY" accompanied by a big red arrow.

This seemed to be his only purpose in life, holding a large and redundant sign, as all four companions could clearly see the forest ahead of them. It was as if a higher power couldn't think of anything better to do with him.

The four walked on without so much as glancing at the sign-holder.

Regal sniffed. "So alone..."

Meanwhile, our heroes were slowly and nervously walking through the forest. As they walked past the tall and slightly ominous trees, Lloyd grew nervous.

"This place gives me the creeps..." said Lloyd the Scarecrow, anxiously.

"I think it's pretty!" Colette chirped.

"But forests are supposed to be filled with lions and tigers!" Lloyd the Scarecrow gasped.

"...And bears," added Kratos the Tin Man for good measure.

"Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!" Colette gasped.

On cue, something pink leaped out of the trees and onto the road.

"RAWR!" it went. That is, it said 'rawr' in a loud voice rather than actually roaring.

The three companions and their dog stared.

"I'm a lion!" the thing 'rawr'd'. "Ph33r meh!"

"...But you're just a tiny kid in a pink kitty suit," said Lloyd the Scarecrow.

"No I'm not!" said the tiny kid in the pink kitty suit, starting to tremble. He was even wearing a yellow bandana around his neck. "I'm a terrible lion!"

"...Indeed," said Kratos the Tin Man.

"I'm warning you!" the pink kitty added, shaking.

Colette hugged the kitty. "YOU'RE SO CWUTE!"

"AAAAAHHHHH!" screamed the kitty. "LET ME GOOOOO!"

"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Lion!" apologized Colette, releasing the kitty. "I didn't mean to scare you!"

"I'm Genis," sniffed the kitty-boy. "And I'm a Katz. I just wish I was a brave lion! Everything scares me! I'm even afraid of pickles!" The Katz broke into hysteric sobs, earning disdain from Kratos the Tin Man, a confused look from Lloyd the Scarecrow, and pity from Colette.

"...Pickles?" Lloyd asked.

"Y-yeah," Genis the Katz sniffed.

"For real?"

Genis the Kowardly Katz sobbed hysterically again. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE!"

"Maybe he can come us with us!" Colette said, turning to the Scarecrow and the Tin Man. "If the Wizard can send me home, give Lloyd and brain, and give Kratos a heart, maybe he can give Genis courage!"

Genis the Katz sniffed. "You're going to see the Wizard? The Wizard of Cruxis?"

"Yeah," said Lloyd, nodding.

"BUT I'M AFRAID OF HIM TOO!" cried Genis.

"You've met him?!" demanded Kratos, Lloyd, and Colette all at the same time.

Genis sniffed. "No," he said, "but I've heard stories." He looked up at Colette with hopeful blue eyes. "Do you really think the Wizard can make me brave?"

Then, once more, came the singing:

"I want to be less of a pansy and a sissy kitty... If I only had the nerve!"

"So you want to go to the Wizard so you can get a spine?" the Scarecrow asked.

"WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO ME?" sobbed Genis the Cowardly Katz.

"...I would interpret that as a yes," commented Kratos the Tin Man, dryly.

"Now I have even more friends!" chirped Colette, smiling brightly. "This vacation is so much fun!"

Then came the obligatory singing, again.

"And now we're off to see the Wizard!" Colette began.

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!" answered Lloyd the Scarecrow.

Then they all started singing, though they all seemed to be confused as to exactly what the melody was. Then they all skipped down the Yellow Brick Road, toward the Emerald City, and the (apparent) solution to all their problems, ever.

Noishe wondered when he would have a fun role again, and not just come it at the very end of every chapter.

A/N: Fun Fact: Originally, I was going to have Regal be the mayor of Munchkintown, but I tossed that idea out because I thought it was a bit too weird. And since all the other roles were filled, I had him as a random sign-holder.

Poor Regal.

Please review.