A red swirling vortex appeared in the night sky and hovered over the Emerald City harbor. The Scarecrow and his friends dropped out of the vortex and crash landed at the dock, toppling and tumbling over one another. The vortex vanished just as everyone struggled to get on their feet, moaning from the dizziness of their sudden travel. Suddenly, the Emerald City that was seen just up ahead began to glow brilliantly as it always had been. Everyone knew it was a sign that the city itself had been restored, even the people within the city were restored; the headless dancing girls were given back their original beautiful heads, especially Glinda who was restored to her natural lovely self.

"Hey, what do you know? Those ruby slippers work like a charm." The Lion chuckled, pleased that he had used them to save himself and his friends.

"Looks like everything in Oz is back to the way it used to be." Tiktok smiled.

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Came a deep gruff voice.

Everyone looked and saw Tugg docked close to the harbor, giving them that same old grandfatherly smile.

"Tugg! Good to see that you're back!" said the Tin Man.

"Same here," replied Tugg. "So, what happened to you guys? Where have you been?"

"It's a long story…" The Scarecrow looked down at the lifeless Dorothy in his arms. "…and it's too painful to talk about it."

Tugg looked over at the girl and, recognizing the young teen as Dorothy, immediately figured out what was wrong. "Dorothy? What happened to her?"

Just then, a shimmer of pink light came from behind them. The group could see Glinda coming down the dock, rather floating, to greet them. Everyone was happy to see that she was alright, but their happy expressions could not hide the pain they felt over Dorothy.

"Oh no," Glinda gasped when she saw the girl's lifeless body. "What happened?"

"She…she saved our lives," stuttered the Scarecrow, feeling complete and utter sadness. "Mombi tried to destroy us but Dorothy risked her own life to save us. I don't know how but the spell Mombi used bounced right off of Dorothy when there was a flash of red and it bounced right back at Mombi."

Glinda looked at the ruby slippers on Dorothy's feet, then back at the motionless girl. "Hmm…from what you have told me, the spell Mombi used is a spell for death. Obviously, wanting her revenge on Dorothy, she tricked her into saving your lives so she could kill her. But, the ruby slippers have special power and they have protected Dorothy to keep the spell from absorbing her whole body. However, most of the spell absorbed her while the rest was reflected back to Mombi."

"But will she ever wake up?"

"I…I do not know. Her face is pale and she's not breathing."

"Isn't there anything you can do!?" There was desperation in his voice.

"I'm…sorry. There's nothing I can do. The spell Mombi conjured up is very lethal and powerful."

The Good Witch of the North's words gave the Scarecrow a mix of emotions. Guilty for telling her off for breaking her promise but failing to protect her from harm, and hatred towards Mombi and the Nome King for all the pain they had caused on his beloved.

"Does this mean Dorothy is…?" China Princess didn't dare finish her sentence as she knew what the answer was going to be.

A shadow of gloom hung over the entire party. Everyone felt sadness and grief, and shed tears for their dear friend and brave hero. Not because she had saved their lives, but because she had brought so much for them. The people in Oz not only knew Dorothy as a Savior, but that she brought good luck to those unfortunate and changed people's lives to make them better people. But that girl was gone, gone forever.

"If I had done something sooner, I would have torn that witch apart! Just rip her, limb from limb!" The Lion roared furiously.

"What is it with you and tearing people limb from limb?" The Tin Man asked.

"It's what we do with our prey," the Tiger responded.

The Scarecrow was on his knees, still holding Dorothy in his arms, and looking at her face. She almost looked as if she was sleeping; in a deathless sleep, that is. He couldn't bear to look at her like this anymore, he wanted to bring her back to him, like he did with his Rainbow Mover, but he knew he couldn't.

(Scarecrow)

Never told you, but I meant to

Before I could begin

Even then

I loved you even then

See my heart is scared of places

That it's never been

But even then

I loved you even then

If my voice should start to tremble

If I am shaking

I love you now

Like I loved you even then

He leaned down closer to her face, slowly, extremely close, in fact, so close that his hat covered the view from anyone to see what he was doing. What the Scarecrow had given her gave his heart a flutter. He wanted to stay in that position forever, to feel the warmth on his lips for always, but he had to let go. After that, he leaned his head on her shoulder, to cry on.

In Jack's hands, the scepter began to glow a familiar emerald green. The pale color on Dorothy's skin began to change to its regular peachy skin color. Her mouth twitched slightly and her eyes fluttered.

(Dorothy)

If I left you, I never meant to

And I won't pretend

But even then

I loved you even then

Everyone was nearly startled by the sudden angelic singing voice. Dorothy sat upward, giving a yawn and a stretch. The scepter glowed brighter and more greener than ever.

"DOROTHY! YOU'RE ALIVE!" Practically all her friends screamed this when they had just witnessed her awakening.

"Oh, Dorothy! I thought I'd lost you!" The Scarecrow cried, pulling her into his embrace.

"I thought I was a goner too," said Dorothy, returning his embrace.

Everyone else rushed over and caught Dorothy in a midst of warm hugs and joyful sobbing.

"Oh, Dorothy. I can't believe you sacrificed yourself for us. You could've been killed," sobbed the Tin Man.

"I did it because I love you guys, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you," said Dorothy.

"We all love you too, and we would do the same for you," said the Lion.

"We would?" Jack asked, glancing at Woodenhorse, who just elbowed him in the rib.

"Wow. I guess those red slippers really are magic," muttered Billina in amazement. But little did she know that she was wrong and it wasn't the slippers' doing in bringing Dorothy back to life.

When Dorothy saw Tugg, she smiled and waved. "Tugg, hello! It's good to see you."

"Hello, Dorothy!" Tugg chuckled. "I'm so glad you're okay. And my, how you've grown up so fast."

Then Dorothy stood up and embraced Glinda when she saw her. "Oh, Glinda! You've got your head back."

"Yes, I'm glad I did," smiled Glinda.

"Hey, what's that green medal doing on your antler, Gump?" asked Tiktok.

The Gump glanced up at his antler and saw that the green medal that he knocked down was still stuck on his antler. "Oh, this? It just fell on me by accident."

Dorothy looked at the green medal. People from Oz were enchanted by the Nome King to become green ornaments because of the Emerald City. Suppose…that green medal was…?

Placing her hand on the green medal, Dorothy shouted, "Oz!"

FLASH!

The green light vanished as quickly as it came. The green medal was gone and in its place was an old man, sitting on the stone pavement, groaning tiredly.

"Oh, dear. Where am I?" When the old man looked up, everyone could see he was middle-aged, stout, grey moustache, and dressed in a black tuxedo with a green tie. Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, and Glinda knew instantly who this man was.

"WIZARD!?"

The Wizard looked up at the eyes of surprise all around him, until he glanced over at Dorothy. "Dorothy? Is that really you? The last time I saw you, you were a little g…"

Without a response, Dorothy threw her arms around the old man and hugged him tight. "Oh, Wizard! I can't believe you're here!"

"Neither can I, dear," the Wizard chuckled.

"Wait a second!" The Lion interrupted. "How the heck did you get yourself turned into an ornament!?"

"Well, the last thing I remember is riding my balloon on the way back to Kansas," explained the Wizard, "then this strong gust of wind blows my balloon towards the mountain with one heck of a crash landing. Then these rock monsters came out of nowhere and pulled me deep into the earth, then I met this king made of fossil who…"

"Say no more!" Interrupted the Scarecrow. "I think we know the rest of what happened."

"I see. Well, on the bright side, I'm glad to be out of there," said the Wizard. "But what I don't understand is who are these other creatures and how did I get out here?"

"It's a long story, but we'll tell you about it later." Dorothy chuckled.

-0o0o0-

The entire Land of Oz was celebrating the defeat of Mombi, Langwidere, and the Nome King, and most of the civilians attended the party at the Emerald City. Green streamers were hung on the walls, green balloons rose into the sky, green confetti fell from the window balconies by little children, and acrobatics and dancers played in the streets. The crowd parted to make way for the oncoming parade.

In the lead, Dorothy was wearing a beautiful sky-blue gown with a low cut shoulder wrap, long sleeved gloves, a string of white pearls around her waist with a tiny blue ribbon, and around her neck a beautiful heart-shaped locket with an emerald in the center. Her long hair was curled, with a sash tied half up in her hair. She rode on the back on Woodenhorse, with the Scarecrow in front, leading the reins. The Scarecrow looked back at his beloved behind him. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her new gown. Woodenhorse held his head high looking proud as he carried both Dorothy and the King on his back. The Tin Man and Tiktok were both polished and both gleamed in the moonlight, waving politely to the cheering crowds. The Lion and the Tiger marched side by side together, Jack Pumpkinhead just waved one hand at the people while his other arm carried the Gump who just smiled. Billina was carried by Glinda on a green pillow with the gold key tied around her neck with a green ribbon. Of course the Wizard, who was a most recognized celebrity among the people, received many cheers and waves as the man himself tipped his hat and waved to the crowd. Langwidere was there too, but in a cage and booed at by the crowd as soldiers carried her through. The winged baboons and the wheelers were also in cages, and they too were booed at by the crowd.

In the Wizard's chamber, people gathered around the throne so the Scarecrow could make his announcement.

"Dear fellow Ozians," the strawman spoke loud and clear, "I am delighted to be here today, and with a little surprise too. But I want you to know that my two friends, including the Wizard and Miss Glinda, owe our lives to some of the bravest friends whom if not for then, the Land of Oz would still be under the tyranny of those dastardly villains. But, most of the credit goes to Dorothy Gale, our Savior and Heroine of Oz, to whom I have a surprise for her."

To everyone's surprise, the Scarecrow got down on one knee and took Dorothy's hand. Billina knew this too and would have clucked out an objection if China Princess had not clammed her beak shut.

"Dorothy Gale…none of this would have been possible if not for you. Will you stay and be my queen?"

The entire crowd chanted and pleaded that Dorothy should accept, even her friends wanted her to do it. Dorothy could feel her heart racing. This was her first proposal. If her aunt and uncle were here…her thoughts drifted toward Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and Toto. Her heart sank when she realized that living in Oz and having them believe she might've drowned would break their hearts.

"Scarecrow…I love you so much to accept your proposal, and everyone here are the best friends anyone's ever had…..but, I'm sorry. I can't be your queen. I've got to go back to Kansas where I belong."

A chorus of disappointed moans came from the audience. The Scarecrow stood up, looking completely heartbroken.

"Aunt Em and Uncle are probably worried to death about me," added Dorothy.

"And Toto, don't forget him!" clucked Billina.

"Oh, yes. Toto believes in Oz, but my aunt and uncle don't. I tell them about all the things that happened, and all of the wonderful friends I've met."

"C'mon, you wanna go back to those annoying old people who don't understand you and forced you to go to a lethal hospital to make you forget about Oz?" The Tiger asked, earning him a smack on the back of the head by Marshal Mallow.

"We understand, Dorothy," smiled Jack.

"Maybe I can work up something that could make your aunt and uncle believe in Oz," said the Scarecrow.

"But if you use the slippers, they might fall into the wrong hands again," said Wiser. "You know the Nome King wasn't the only wicked person in Oz."

Dorothy shook her head sadly. "I wish I can be in both places at the same time."

Her ruby slippers glowed brightly at her words.

"Look! Behind you in the mirror!" Billina shouted.

Dorothy turned around and gasped. Everyone gasped once they looked into the mirror. Dorothy's reflection had been replaced by a misty green ghostly figure. As Dorothy approached the mirror, the ghost followed her movements until they were close together at the mirror.

"Who's there?" Dorothy asked the ghost.

"Help me step through the glass, Dorothy," said the ghost, with a hint of elegance in her feminine voice.

Dorothy placed her hand on the mirror, and when she touched the ghost's hand, she suddenly felt her hand go through the mirror and touch the ghost's hand. When she pulled her hand out of the mirror, the ghost's hand transformed into a human hand, a woman's hand. Carefully, Dorothy helped the ghost step through the glass, her ghostly figure transforming into a face Dorothy knew. It was that blonde girl who rescued her from Dr. Worley's hospital. She was clothed in a flowing green dress with silver white gauze and wearing a jeweled diadem upon her dainty head with two poppies on both sides of her head.

"It's you!" Dorothy gasped. "I was afraid you might've drowned. And I never got a chance to say thank you for rescuing me."

"Your quite welcome, Dorothy," the blonde girl smiled.

"So, what's your name?"

"My name is Ozma."

Jack's hollow eyes grew wide. "MOM! It's my real mom! Now I've got two mommies; Dorothy and Ozma!" With a heavenly sigh, Jack passed among and fell into the arms of Tiktok and the Tin Man.

"Mother?" The Tin Man looked puzzled.

"Two mommies?" China Princess was confused.

"And who might you be, child?" Glinda asked the blonde girl.

"You should ask Langwidere." Ozma nodded her head towards the caged Langwidere.

Questioning eyes were on her, as well as glares, so Langwidere sighed and decided to confess.

"Okay, fine! I'll spill the beans. She is Ozma, the Queen and rightful heir to the throne of Oz. Her father was the King of Oz before the Wizard came. When the King died, the Wicked Witch of the East gave the infant princess to Mombi and told everyone that she died. Ozma grew up as Mombi's slave as long as she obeyed her. When the Nome King promised me thirty beautiful heads and Mombi her cousins' broomstick if we kept Ozma a secret, Mombi enchanted her into the mirror."

"I forgive both you and Mombi, Miss Langwidere," Ozma said gently, "Dorothy has punished you the both of you by taking away the magic and your lovely heads. And a witch with no magic is a miserable creature indeed."

"And that's a fact, princess," grumbled Langwidere.

Then, Dorothy gently placed the ruby slippers on Ozma's dainty feet, fitting her perfectly, and even gave her the broomstick, suddenly transformed into a real scepter now that the true Ruler of Oz had been found and restored to the throne.

Next, Glinda placed a solid gold crown that rose a foot above her head. "Long live Queen Ozma of Oz!"

"Long live Queen Ozma of Oz!" The crowd chanted back, and then burst into cheers.

"Are you sure you don't mind giving up the crown, Scarecrow?" Wiser asked.

"I am sure," replied the Scarecrow, who seemed pleased. "I only agreed to be king under the Wizard's insistence. When I wear that crown, it gives me a headache and it makes it hard for me to think. And I felt much more comfortable in my laboratory or out in the fields."

"Then I shall make you my royal inventor, as well as second in command, Scarecrow," said Ozma. "As long as the Tin Man is my chief warrior, and will work alongside Tiktok in the Royal Army of Oz. The Lion and the Tiger as my bodyguards. Woodenhorse as my royal steed. Jack Pumpkinhead as my minister of agriculture. And the Gump…"

"Nothing for me, thank you," said the Gump from the wall above her head. "I'm just happy enough to be hanging around."

"What about me?" The Wizard asked.

Ozma smiled. "You are known to be a wizard to the people of Oz. If you like, I can train you to be a real wizard and as my advisor. And Dorothy…"

"Well, as much as I'd love to stay, but I do like to go home."

Ozma gave Dorothy a loving embrace. "Whatever will we do without you?"

"There will always be a rainbow when you need one most." Dorothy smiled.

"Now before I send you back, I have one condition. I will look in on you from time to time, and if you ever wish to return to Oz, I will make it happen."

"It's a deal!"

"Goodbye, Dorothy!" Billina clucked, while sobbing sadly.

"Billina? You're not coming back?" Dorothy looked at the hen in surprise.

"Nope!" huffed Billina. "I'm not going back to that stupid humdrum world again. I'd rather stay here where I can talk. But give my love to all the chickens, my dear."

Ozma clicked the heels of the ruby slippers three times, wishing for Dorothy to return to Kansas. A bright red sparkling light swirled all around Dorothy.

"Goodbye, everybody!" Dorothy shouted, as she waved goodbye to all of her friends, now finding herself crying among this parting.

"Goodbye, Dorothy!" responded a chorus of her friends' voices.

"Goodbye, Dorothy! Thank you…and, I love you!" The Scarecrow called out, wiping a tear from his eye and then blew a kiss toward Dorothy. That was the last thing Dorothy saw before a very bright light made her shield her eyes.