Chapter 3: Off on a Yellow Brick Road
In the Land of Munchkins, all of the Munchkins and the woman were conversing amongst themselves about what the unexpected death of the Wicked Witch of the East brought them. Our heroes only stood in confusion, wondering why no one would tell them anything.
"Where is this place? It's not Kansas, is it? In America? What about Germany, Japan, or Russia? Are we there instead?" Dorothy asked the crowd. Immediately, all eyes were on the five. Everyone asked amongst themselves what each country was. Some suggested it was food, to the ire of the group.
"This place is stranger than France. And I was just getting used to battle against undead masses,"
Nikolai remarked.
The woman adjusted her glasses and said "It seems all of you do not truly know of the Land of Oz."
"We have no such place where we come from. Even then, some of our land is uncharted so I don't know," Richtofen replied. Suddenly, everyone minus our main group laughed at their not knowing of the land. The group could only look on in frustration as trying to get a decent answer seemed impossible.
Finally fed up, Dorothy yelled at the entire group: "Why is that so strange?" The Munchkins stared in shock at her words. "Laughing at someone you just met is rude!"
"Take it easy Dorothy," Dempsey alerted her.
"Now, now, no need to be so angry. I'll explain everything," the woman stated.
"That should prove effective," Takeo replied.
"Follow me then, no need to be shy," the woman said before taking off. Dorothy, the men, and Toto following her to a cliff overlooking the vast landscape. "This is the best view in all of Munchkin Country."
"Munchkin Country? Just where in this place is that?" Dempsey asked the woman.
"Oz is split into four lands: East, West, South, and North. We are in the East. Each section used to have their own witch but now the East hasn't one. Your group did away with her after all." Though the reply was long, it did answer a fair amount of questions the group had. Now they knew the house fell on the Wicked Witch of the East.
"Why did she melt in broad daylight? Was she allergic to the sun?" Richtofen asked
"Such strange allergies should not be able to exist. To be allergic to the sun, is to be allergic to the very air we breathe!" Takeo suddenly said, shocking the group.
"To answer the earlier question, yes, she was allergic to the sun." the woman answered Richtofen. The group was now walking back to the farmhouse, with the Munchkins simply staring at them as they walked.
When they reached the house, the woman remarked that her 'beloved' curled toe shoes were all that remained.
"Why are those shoes considered 'beloved' by our unseen foe? They look like something a commoner would wear in homeland," Nikolai asked
"I believe they have some strange power to them," the woman stated "Yet, even to a witch like me, the powers they possess remains a mystery."
"A witch?" Dorothy asked. This caused the five to back up and stare in shock at the now known witch. "You're a witch?"
"Indeed. But do not be frightened; I'm a good witch. I, the Witch of the North, and Glinda, the Witch of the South, are good witches." the North Witch said.
"So, that leaves the Western Witch, so I guess she's also Wicked if the Eastern Witch was," Dempsey said, the North Witch only nodding at this realization.
"Incidentally, while none of you meant to do it, the Munchkins are delighted that you all freed them from the witch that ruled this land." the Witch of the North noted to the group.
"We did?" Dorothy asked. At this, she backed into the house, leaving even the group that travelled with her confused. "There must be some mistake!"
"What a wonderful, wonderful witch you are!" the witch of the North said, unaware that Dorothy was really worried.
"Don't say that. I'm no witch. I'm just Dorothy. Toto, come!" After Dorothy said this, she closed the door, confusing everyone on sight. Dempsey reached an arm out for the door, but Richtofen stopped him.
"I know you are concerned with Dorothy as you all were with Samantha. However, she is very confused right now, unaware to tell what is reality and fiction right now. For now, we should let her rest, come to her senses," Richtofen spoke to the entire group.
"You speak the truth German. As I recall, you were concerned with the well being of this Dr. Maxis, and you turned him into a machine without a soul," Takeo stated.
Richtofen opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, he noticed a bright light above him. "What is that curious light doing without a source? Also, why is it going between multiple colors?" He asked everyone around him.
"Maybe good witch brought light here da?" Nikolai asked before realizing "Wait, where is that Witch anyways?"
"Maybe she went to comfort Dorothy, as the only friendly person besides us who is willing to help her, she is able to ensure she is able to cope with the situation at hand," Dempsey stated.
As if on cue, the Good Witch and Dorothy exited the house.
"Oh, it's pretty!" Dorothy exclaimed.
The witch then started saying a spell that none of them have heard of before. Not that it mattered because the spell apparently did nothing but drop a giant stone wall with writing on it. Dorothy and Richtofen went closer to it, the other three agreeing that the German man should study the text for them.
"I can't read it. What strange text." Dorothy remarked before turning to Richtofen. "Can you read it?"
"I'm sorry, I don't read Munchkinese. If such a language doesn't exist, than I don't know what this could be," Richtofen replied.
The Good Witch decided to help them understand the text, even though Dorothy remarked that there was a lot of text to read. Eventually, the Good Witch hovered back towards the group.
"What did the unknown text state?" asked Takeo.
The Witch pointed her wand to Dorothy and asked if she was actually Dorothy. Naturally, Dorothy was shocked that the Witch knew her name. Although when Dorothy asked about Kansas or any of the other countries, the Witch gave her a sad look.
"Now listen closely, you and your companions must go to the Emerald City," stated the Witch.
"A city made of Emeralds, such riches should be shared amongst the people. Although where would such a city be? Maybe in direct center just to mess with brain da?" Nikolai asked.
"Yes, the Emerald City is the direct center of the Land of Oz and there you will find the Great Wizard of Oz," the Witch told them.
"This place has Wizards and not just Witches? Feels like we're back in France," Dempsey remarked. "Although I gotta ask, how will we get to this Emerald City and to this Wizard of Oz?"
"With those" the Witch said, pointing towards the shoes.
The group looked confused as to how a pair of shoes would help them get to the center. Suddenly, the shoes disappeared and reappeared over Dorothy's regular shoes. As they went on her feet, they became silver flats.
"Oh how wonderful! But what kind of power do these shoes have?" Dorothy asked.
"As I said, I am unsure. But I know this; You can overcome any hardship if you have wisdom, bravery, love, those shoes, and your companions with you," the Witch said. "Speaking of your companions..."
The witch started speaking another spell aimed towards the four soldiers. Suddenly, the four staves appeared and flew towards the witch. They watched as the staves glowed in a yellow aura.
"You four might be curious as to what I did? I modified those staves you carried so that they would not harm anyone you or Dorothy makes acquaintances with unless they themselves have evil intentions. This way, anyone met along the way would not be harmed should a misfire occur," the Witch said. As she finished the spell, each staff returned to their rightful owner. "Before you ask, the tablet told me about how four men from another universe would protect Dorothy."
The four thanked her and the group prepared to leave, but before they could get anywhere...
"I almost forgot, those things that I mentioned before will help you, but my kiss will come in handy too." the Witch said before giving Dorothy a minor kiss on the forehead, the after effect showing a blue color. After being thanked by Dorothy, the Witch conjured a small wooden basket.
"Now, this is the basket you brought with you. Take it with you to the Emerald City," the Witch said.
Having no more advice, our group began to travel down a road of Yellow Bricks, which was said to take one straight to the center. All the way, everyone kept thinking of the Emerald City and if the Wizard would be kind to the party of 5 humans and a dog.