Oz Victorious

Chapter Seven: Revelation

I can't stop thinking about her, Freddie told himself, marching down the dirt road with his cart. This is all so unbelievable... The hues and colors of the sunrise having faded hours ago, the bright blue sky glistened above the young man. I have no idea where I am...This all looks so familiar, though. Like something out of a dream. Listening to the wheels of the cart squeeking, the young man looked to the horizon. Suddenly, the dirt path ended, revealing a road composed of shining yellow bricks. "Wow," Freddie exclaimed. Pushing the cart forward, Freddie turned to the north, following the road to the hills. His legs tired, the boy persisted, trying to reach a city. I'm so hungry... Miles went by under Freddie's feet, passing hour after hour. Nothing seemed to exist but wilderness. Finally, his eyes so blurred over, his body so weak, the young man collapsed onto the road, hugging himself and pressing his legs together. Now in a fetal position, the brunette boy nuzzled up against his cart, breathing heavily, seeing double. At last, Freddie's eyes grew heavy, his vision completely numbed over, and let himself drift off into slumber. The sweat on his forehead seemed to cool in the breeze as clouds began to form over the sun. "Someone..." the boy whispered under his heavy breath.

Finding himself laying down, Freddie's eye twitched, opening slightly. Feeling the embrace of a damp wash cloth on his aching forehead, the boy groaned, slowly lifting his torso up. Suddenly, a gentle hand touched his chest, stopping him. "Please, you need rest," a woman's voice kindly declared as the hand pressed the young man onto his back.

"W-where am I?" the brunette boy weakly asked, closing his eyes and taking in the comfort of a soft couch below him.

"You're in a safe place," the kindly woman answered. "The palace of Quadling Country." Pulling a blanket over the young man's mildly trembling body, the gentle figure took a seat across from him, her eyes lovingly inspecting him for signs of injury.

"Quadling?" Freddie asked, not stirring. "Am I still in New York?"

"New York?" the woman asked, standing up in one intense motion. Her heart pounding, the brown-haired woman stared at the nearly sleeping boy. "Are you...do you not come from Oz?"

"Oz?" the boy asked, shooting up and removing the wash cloth from his face. "This...Is that where I am? I-I used to dream about Oz. Everyone calls me that because they...They thought I was crazy."

Smiling, the woman gently stroked the young man's hair out of his face. "You are never crazy for having dreams," she said with a comforting smile. "Oz is very real. And you bear its title?"

"I guess," Freddie answered, growing unsure. "I mean, it's just a nickname, but...yeah. My gosh, I mean..." The young man ran towards a window and gazed out at the beautiful world before him. "I'm really here," he whispered, astounded.

"Then you are the one we have waited for," the woman declared, curtsying. "I am Katrina the Good. Welcome, our savior."

"Savior?" the boy whispered. "Wait, I'm...I'm just a kid. I mean, I can't...I'm just a computer geek."

"They said you would be humble," Katrina declared, her eyes gently closed. "You are the one Oz has awaited...the wizard who would save us from the darkness."

"Darkness?" Freddie replied, growing uneasy. "Look, I...I'm just...I'm no wizard."

"But, if I may," the woman responded, walking out of the room, then returning with the boy's cart. "Your arsenal betrays your word."

"That's just computer stuff," the young man explained. "I mean, anyone can..."

"I know this is much to take in," Katrina interrupted, rising from her bow. "But you are Oz...the one from the East. The savior of our land."

"...I can't," Freddie surrendered to his fear. "I'm..." Gazing into the woman's eyes, the boy saw something strong; something bold; something that seemed to call out to him. "...What darkness is there? I mean, what do you need saving from?"

"The Wicked Witches of the West and East," Katrina answered. "Once they were my sisters...but they killed the King of Oz, and fell from grace...fell from our love. I am Trina of the North...the first and end of the King's bloodline. And you, Fredward Benson of New York...are The Wizard."

This is crazy...this has to be a dream. "The Wizard of Oz," the boy whispered, grabbing an orange from a nearby table. "...What do we have to do to stop them?"

Katrina smiled warmly, taking the young man's head in her gentle hands. "You must be the one to stop them, but I will be with you every step of the way," she declared. "The Emerald City will finally be liberated. And our darkest hour will come to an end."

I am terrified. "...Where do we start?" Freddie asked, his heart pounding.

"That question, you must answer for yourself," Katrina answered, putting her hand around the young man's shoulder. "Remember who you are, Oz."

"...These Wicked Witches..." the boy finally deduced. "How powerful are they?"

"They are the most feared and wicked beings in all of Oz," Trina regretfully declared. "I fear their power trumps even mine, and that of my mother's as well."

"Is there anyone who'll fight with us?" Freddie asked, begging for a solution. "An army, I mean."

"Munchkinland holds many a great thinkers and craftsmen," the good witch answered. "They have lived under the tyranny of the Witches for years."

"Maybe we can set them free," the young man proposed. "Like, a rebellion." This is crazy; I can't do this.

"I will remain by your side," Katrina promised.

"Now, how do we get there?" Freddie asked, still quaking within.

"By way of the Yellow Brick Road," the woman answered, pointing out the way with her wand. "My blessing will protect the country while I am away." Taking in a deep, trembling breath, Freddie walked down the hallway, and out into the world of Oz.

Standing atop a mountainous cliff overlooking a pit of darkness, Victoria and Jadeyn gazed down at the hideous creatures swarming and flying around their wretched home. "Rise from the darkness!" the green woman commanded, throwing an orb of fire down into the valley. Squirming and shrieking, the winged beasts looked up at those lording over them. The fire terrified them; burned them. "My army! You will serve me now and forever! We shall conquer all of Oz!" Throwing another fire ball into the darkness, the two witches watched the grizzly, jagged-toothed apes rise onto the upper ground, and bow out of fear and respect for their new queens. "Now go, my army! Kill all those who stand in our way!" Laughing wickedly; cackling like a crazed monster at the sky, Victoria watched the flying apes make their way towards the populated region of Oz with claws and fangs beared. Jadeyn smiled a sinister smile, her black dress blowing in the icy wind.