Chapter 21
Blood and orange
It was now way past sunset, and a little cold. We had just left the camp to continue towards the haunted Forest, and now looked like we made it to the entrance.
A sudden mass of trees, leafless wreathed in smoke, marked the end of the mountain range that lay behind us. The ground was splattered with unfortunate Birds that thought this was a normal forest. There were no animals in the forest, of any kind. A sign made by the Wicked Witch of the West many years ago still stood saying, "I'd turn back if I were you,"
"Don't listen to it, it's just," I was then interrupted. Something laughed.
"What was that?" Julia asked.
"I don't know, but whatever it is it's not an orange! Come on let's go." Argy urged. He drew his sword, and almost entered the forest but no one else move. He had turned around noticing this, and so did not see what it was that froze everyone else in their tracks.
"What's going on? Glinda said we need to do this together! Come on now!" Argy faced forwards again, and saw nothing. "Alright whatever it was its gone, come on guys, follow me," Argy pushed.
"Argy, you didn't see her did you? It's the Wicked Witch. Or at least, the ghost of her, I know it. If we go in there we'll surely die," Ben said.
"It's just an illusion to make us do what we're doing now! Stay close to me and Argy, and don't look at the Witch's ghost. Don't even acknowledge her presence. Were here for an orange, and then were gone. Alright? Here take my arm, I won't lose you." I offered as if to dance, my arm to Julia, and shaking fearfully, she took it without hesitation.
"For the Queen, right Ben?" I smiled.
"Damn right! Alright let's move!" We all walked close together weapons ready of course, and the moment we entered the haunted forest, trees fell. All of them, every tree in the forest fell down like a domino effect, only they never struck each other.
"That must mean we're on the right course, let's move faster!" I began running. I now could plainly hear the cackling echo of the Wicked Witch's ghost in the forest, and then I tripped on one of the branches from a fallen tree, rolled over, and scrapped up my leg and hands pretty bad.
"Ooh, are you ok?" Ben said seeing the blood.
"Yeah I'm fine. Don't run just walk fast!" I laughed it off. Standing up again we made a turn, following the path of the trees and then I realized Julia was missing.
"Oh shit, you gotta be kidding, Julia where are you?" I shouted. Ben stopped moving and I slammed into his back as did Argy to mine.
I looked p and Julia was screaming, tied around the neck with a red scarf, and struggling to keep her feet on a branch, if she fell, the hanging would snap her neck and she would die.
"Julia don't move an inch I'm gonna get you down ok? It's alright just stay there; keep your feet on that branch!" I shouted. Julia could tell that the branch was getting weaker, and started to crack. Argy, Ben you keep looking for the orange I'll get Julia, remember, and don't eat anything! It will kill you!" I reminded them.
"No problem Anthony, we'll be back soon!"
"Alright meet me back right here," I drew a circle on the floor with my staff, and with my hand, ignited it to light up in a blue flaming (harmless) ring. Ben and Argy ran on, and I began thinking of how to get her down. I could only think of one way.
"Alright Julia when I say, move your feet away from the branch and I will catch you in my arms alright? Don't worry about hurting me with the height, I have a spell on we will both be fine. I'm going to magically vanish the branch your scarf is tied to, and when I say the word, jump down!" Julia was still screaming, but I could tell she nodded yes.
Back with ben and Argy, they had been running or a while, and finally stopped to catch their breath.
"Where in the hell is this stupid orange?" Argy asked.
"Wait it's right there don't you see it? Follow me," Ben answered to Argy's relief. Ben pointed at something. It was glowing orange, and they approached it. When they were in arms reach of it, they could tell a girl was holding it. Blonde hair, and short, like Julia, the two were happy.
"Oh thank goodness, Anthony got you down alright? Come one give us the orange and lets go meet up with him," Argy said.
"All in good time my little pretty, all in good time!" The girl turned around, and transformed into its true form. The ghost of the wicked Witch held the orange in her hand, and immediately a fight ensued between them.
"Alright Julia jump!" I did what I said I would, vanish the branch, and then catch her in my arms.
"Ha! See? I did it! I got you Julia. Are you alright? Are you hurt?" I asked.
"No I'm perfectly fine, thank you Anthony, you saved me. The Witch tried to hang me, but I luckily had the branch to keep myself from falling, and you,"
"As I said, I will always be here for you, now let's go meet up with ben and Argy!"
We ran together back to my friends, and helped with the fight. I knew the Witch's weakness and conjured a bucket of water.
"Remember this? Give me the Orange and you won't suffer again," I offered.
"NO! Take your cursed Orange and leave me alone!" The Wicked Witch set fire to every tree that had fallen, now exposing her true purpose with chopping them down magically, and it dropped in my hand, which I thought was weird, since I was directly beneath her. But then again it's a cursed orange so it makes sense.
Slowly though, it looked more and more delicious. It looked like a cupcake. Warm fresh from the oven, covered in whipped icing, and even died my favorite color, blue. It was still glowing though, and I shook my head remembering to not eat the fruit in the forest.
Ben looked at it and started thinking it was garlic bread. Melted butter on both sides, and potent with delicious spicy garlic on bronze toasted bread.
"Snap out of it! We can't eat it! You'll die!" I reminded.
Julia looked at it and it turned into a chocolate bar. Filled with milk it was to be creamy, soft, and melt in your mouth.
"You guys stop! We have to leave now!" I was running away from them, but they were right beside me.
Argy looked at it and it turned into a cliff bar, a special kind of granola bar completely organic, and flavored like chocolate.
"Enough! This has to stop you can't die it's for the Emperor remember?" That cupcake was looking better and better though, with all the running, and stressing, a sweet small cake would be perfect.
"Well, alright, one bite can't hurt too bad right?" I opened my mouth and while everyone was yelling, thinking I was going to eat their favorite snack, the vine on my hand glowed blindingly bright.
The cupcake returned to its disappointing orange form, and we all were reminded of the deceptive power from the Bleeding Orange.
"Wow, I hope we learned our lesson here, never again. Agreed?" We all agreed, and returned safely to Glinda's castle with the bleeding orange.
"Well done everyone! I was watching you the whole time and I must say while I am not surprised the forms the orange took, I am impressed with how you each dealt with it. Very good job. Now, the next phase is easy. For now, we shall have a celebratory feast! Please take your seats; the table will fill your chalices and plates to your liking." Glinda smiled and awarded the victorious moment with a fine meal and plenty of wine, and good music.
Everyone had their most desired meal for dinner, and it was of the highest quality imaginable. We drank the wine and then danced to the music, enjoying the time together, and the adventures we just overcame. Eventually the mood got serious again though and the music stopped, and the wine was gone.
"Thank you all for taking my word to heart, and trusting me that my plan will work enough to put your own lives at risk. I appreciate the loyalty. For that, I have one last gift that Anthony needs for us to continue our journey. Tomorrow we separate. Anthony goes alone to the Palace, and the rest of us distract his army," Lady Glinda reached in her pocket and pulled out a glowing crystal phial, filled with a small amount of a glowing light blue liquid. Take this Anthony and drink it. This is the cup of my wits, the potion of new and everlasting aid for you and for Oz. Do this in honor of Ozma," She handed it to me and I now recognized it as a transfiguration potion. I simply had to think of what to turn into, drink, and poof, there I would be. So I did what she said. I thought of the emperor's dragons, and then opened the potion. I drank the whole thing, and then fell to the floor. My arms shortened. My legs grew, my shoulders narrowed, my body was now like a snake. Then my head grew a snout, and my back sprouted wings. My skin hardened like scales, and my teeth grew like fangs.
"Alright how do I look?" I asked.
"Like Bael!" Argy said. Everyone laughed but that is exactly the dragon I wanted to look like. Only he does the emperor completely trust.
Now with the bleeding orange in my pocket, all I had to do was sneak inside the palace, and then find the emperor.