The Genius of Oz.
Chapter 9: The Ruby Sandals' Power
The Winged Hamsters quickly escorted our heroes to the Coral City. The Soldier immediately led them to the Genius's throne room. The Genius's head once again appeared among the flames. "AM I TO BELIEVE MY EYES? WHY HAVE YOU RETURNED?" Lilo laid down the broomstick and said, "sir, we bring you the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West. We melted her with a bucket of water." "AH, LIQUIFICATION BY INCREASE OF HYDRATION, RESOURCEFUL." A bolt of blue-green energy grabbed the broomstick and put it next to a curtain not too far from the Genius's 'throne.' "Now if you please sir," said Lilo, "we hope you fulfil our," "NOT SO FAST," said the Genius, "YOU HAVE COME BACK TOO EARLY! COME BACK TOMORROW!" "Now wait a minute," said the Scarecrow, "we've been go for two days. That has to have been enough time for you." "You're being really cheep!" said the Tin Woodbot. "CHEEP!" bellowed the Genius, "YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT I AM ASKING TO WAIT FOR TOMORROW INSTEAD OF 10,000 YEARS! YOU ARE LUCKY I AM EVEN CONSIDERING OF ANSWERING YOUR REQUESTS, YOU MISERABLE WORMS!"
As the others were cowering at the Genius's power, Stitch noticed certain flashing lights behind the curtain the Genius put the broomstick near. He went over there and pulled the curtain open. A very, very round man was operating complicated looking controls. The man quickly turned around and pulled the curtain closed. But our heroes have already seen a glimpse of the man. "NOW BEGONE!" commanded the Genius. The group ignored the Genius and went over the curtain. "PAY NO ATTENTION TO MAN BEHIND CURTAIN! THE GREAT GENIUS OF OZ HAS SPOKEN!" The others had already opened the curtain to reveal the fat man behind it. "Who are you?" asked Lilo. The man turned to a microphone and spoke into it; "I AM THE POWERFUL," then realizing he had been found, turned towards our heroes and said, "Genius of Oz." "You're not a Genius," said Lilo, "you're a very bad man." "No," said the Genius, "I'm very good man, just bad genius." "You're a humbug!" said Stitch. "Is true, I am humbug." "But what about the heart you promised Tin Bot," asked the Scarecrow, "and the courage you promised Lion?" "And Scarecrow's brain?" asked the Tin Woodbot and the Cowardly Lion.
"Why you already have brain," said the Humbug-Genius; "all creatures from birds that fly in sky to slimy eels that slink on ocean floor have brains. Back where I'm from there are people who use their brains to solve complicated problems. They are called professors. Their brains are no different from yours, but they have one thing that you not have, a diploma." The Humbug-Genius reached into a black bag hanging on the wall and said, "Therefore, by the power vesting in me by Galactic Alliance Community Collage, I present diploma of Ph.T. for superb use of strategy and astounding ability to reason." He pulled out a rolled-up scroll and presented it to the Scarecrow. "Ph.T.?" asked the Scarecrow as he received the diploma. "Means Doctor of Thinkology," explained the Humbug-Genius. The Scarecrow put a hand to the side of his head and said, "The circumference of a circle is equivalent to twice the radius times pi." He gasped and said, "I have a brain!"
"As for you," said the Humbug-Genius to the Cowardly Lion, "you are desiring courage. You are mistaking you cowardliness for fear, when it is actually wisdom. You know when to turn and flee when the time is right. There is thin line between bravery and stupidity. Where I come from, there are people who display their courage all the time. They are called heroes. They are just as cowardly as you are, but they have thing you don't have, a medal." The Humbug-Genius reached into his black bag, pulled out a small medal, and gave it to the Lion. "Therefore, for outstanding bravery in the face of evil, I present you with medal. You are now member of Legion of Courage." The Lion's cheeks turned bright red under his fur and said, "Gee, I'm speechless."
Then the Humbug-Genius turned to the Tin Woodbot and said, "And you, my mechanical friend, you want a heart. You are fortunate to not have one, for hearts bring as much pain as joy." "All of the same," said the Tin Woodbot, "I won't be satisfied until I get one." "Well," said the Humbug-Genius, "back where I come from, there are people who do nothing but good deeds all day long. They are called philan-, philan-, uh, good deeds-doers. Their hearts are no bigger than yours is, but they have one thing you do not, a condominium." The Humbug-Genius reached into his black bag, pulled out a heart-shaped pocket watch, and gave it to the Tin Bot saying, "Therefore, because of tremendous love in your heart, I award you this watch as condominium." The Tin Bot held it next to his ear and said, "I can hear it ticking."
As the Scarecrow, Tin Woodbot, and Cowardly Lion examined their gifts, Lilo asked the Humbug-Genius, "Do those things really work?" "Not really," said the Humbug-Genius, "Thing they were seeking were actually inside them all along. Gifts they got only helps them realize they had that potential." "I don't suppose you have anything in that black bag that came me and Stitch," said Lilo. "I'm afraid I don't. But I do in the back. I was not always ruler of Coral City. I used to work at circus performing stunts in rocket ship. One day, space storm caught me by surprise. Ship threw out of control." "We're you scared?" asked Lilo. "Scared?" said the Humbug-Genius, "you are talking with man who has laughed in face of danger, chortled at doom, and sneered at death. I was terrified. But fortunately ship landed safely in middle of Coral City where people proclaimed me Genius and made me ruler. But, I have always kept ship in case I need to flee. Now we can use to return you to your home planet." "We?" asked Stitch. "Yes," said the Humbug-Genius, "I want to accompany you to your home planet. I am tired of living lie. Besides, when people find out, I'd be in big trouble."
Sometime later, the Humbug-Genius had his round spaceship ready in the center of the Coral City. He, Lilo, and Stitch were ready to leave and the Humbug-Genius was giving his farewell speech. "Good citizens of Coral City, I, your humble Genius, am about to take a voyage to my brethren geniuses on the other planets. Until my return, if ever, I leave city in charge of the Scarecrow, whose brains will make him great leader. He will be assisted by the Tin Woodbot, who has great and just heart, and the Lion, by order of his courage. Obey them as you would me." The crowd cheered for the wizard. Among them, a woman was holding an odd-looking cat with four ears and three eyes. Stitch showed interest in the cat and jumped out of the ship. "Stitch, come back!" cried Lilo and she jumped out too. As she jumped out, she accidentally hit a lever. The engines roared into life as the ship prepared to blast off. Lilo and Stitch quickly turned around. "Stop the ship!" cried Lilo. "I can't," yelled the Humbug-Genius, "I don't know how it works." As the spaceship blasted off, the Humbug-Genius yelled, "So long, folks!" The Humbug-Genius's ship disappeared into the sky, never to be seen on Oz again.
Lilo felt a crushing wave of depression. She sank to her knees and left like she was about to cry. "Don't worry Lilo," said the Scarecrow. "We don't want you to leave," said the Tin Woodbot. "We love you," said the Cowardly Lion. "I love you guys too," said Lilo, "but I could never replace my real ohana on Earth." Suddenly the Scarecrow pointed up and said, "Look! There's someone who can help you." Everyone looked up to see a pink bubble float down from the sky. The citizens of the Coral City bowed their heads in reverence. The bubble landed by Lilo and popped, revealing Glinda. "Oh Glinda," said Lilo, "can you help me?" "You don't need me," said Glinda, "you had the power to return home all along. Just tell me what you learned from this." Lilo thought for a minute and said, "Well, I learned that the horizon doesn't contain all of the answers and that the one true place I belong is my own home." "But that's so simple," said the Scarecrow, "I could have thought of that, but then I would have been stuck on that pole." "I could have felt it with my heart," said the Tin Woodbot, "but then I would short-circuited in the grove forever." "I could have seen it, if I was brave enough, but then I would have always been afraid of everything in the forest," said the Cowardly Lion. "You're right," said Glinda, "but she had to discover it for herself. Now those Ruby Sandals can take you anywhere you want." "Stitch too?" asked Lilo. "Stitch too." "That's great," said Lilo, "but, I have to say goodbye to such good friends."
She went over to the Cowardly Lion and said, "Goodbye Lion. I know it's mean, but I always laughed when you hollered for help at silly things." "Whenever I yell," said the Cowardly Lion, "I'll always think of you and be brave." Then Lilo went over to the Tin Woodbot and said, "Here's your recharger back. Don't cry, you'll short-circuit again." "Now I know I have a heart," said the Tin Woodbot, "because it's breaking." Then Lilo went over to the Scarecrow and said, "I know you'll be a great leader, no matter how clumsy you are." "I'll rule in your memory," said the Scarecrow. Stitch waved goodbye to his friends to his friends and said, "Aloha." Then Lilo turned to Glinda and said, "We're ready to go." "Good, now click your heels three times." Lilo took Stitch's paw and clicked the Ruby Sandals' heels three times. "Now close your eyes and say to yourself, 'Home's my one true place.'" "Home's my one true place," said Lilo closing her eyes. A blur of images passed through Lilo's mind of Lilo and Stitch's adventure on Oz. Then it all became black.
There's another chapter. The next chapter is tomorrow so you can unwrap it with your Christmas gifts. Please review.