Oz Victorious
Chapter Eight: The Journey
As the hours of night dragged on into the morning, Freddie pushed his cart alongside Katrina, all the while following the Yellow Brick Road. "We're coming upon a town," the good witch declared. Moving forward, the two found only ruination; destroyed china and broken doll parts. "Oh, my," Trina gasped, covering her mouth.
"What is this place?" the young man whispered, gazing at the destruction. Bending down, the boy picked up what seemed to be the remains of a plate.
"This was the Chinatown," Trina answered, her throat slowly starting to throb. "I don't know what happened...it's in ruins." Feeling the pain of all those who suffered and died, the good witch slowly walked forward.
Hearing the sound of solid clicks from inside a small china house, Freddie crouched down, staring into a doorway. "...Hello?" he called in.
"Go away by order of the Chinatown," an almost timid female voice yelled back. "I am Addie the Brave, and your kind isn't welcome here."
"We're not here to hurt you," the brunette boy replied. "Look, there's no one left...please, we can help you." Slowly, a small little china doll peeked out from behind a chunk of broken glass, her scared little eyes glistening in the moonlight. "You're okay..." Freddie whispered. "We're not gonna hurt you." Her hands cupped over her chest, the little girl stepped out of her house, revealing a face that strongly resembled Addie Singer's and a delicate body composed entirely of porcelain.
"They destroyed everything," Addie the Brave declared. "There were hundreds of them...they had wings and claws..."
"It's okay," Freddie said, holding out his arms. "You're safe now." The girl walked into the kindly stranger's arms, and accepted his warm embrace. Lifting Addie up, the young man remembered holding Addie Singer's hand and comforting her through her most uncertain times. "This is Katrina the Good."
"And this is the Wizard," Trina said. "We promise you shall be protected." Addie looked into Freddie's eyes.
"Are you the one they said would save Oz?" Addie the Brave asked the boy.
"I..." Freddie began before seeing the fear and need in the girl's face. "Yes I am... I am Oz." Katrina smiled, holding her wand with both hands. "Now let's get you to some place safe."
"No, I'm coming with you," Addie argued. "The Wicked Witch of the West did this...I'm gonna help you stop her. I was given the title of The Brave for a reason." Freddie looked over at the good witch.
"She will be safe," Katrina declared.
I just wish I knew the same about my Addie... The young man held the china doll close to his heart. What would Mom do? Freddie looked down the Yellow Brick Road. "Let's get going," he said, his voice reflecting his fear, but also his determination to overcome.
"We should reach Munchkinland by daybreak," Katrina said, leading the way and pushing the cart.
As the group walked on, Addie wrapped her tiny arms lovingly around the boy's chest. "Can I tell you about my family?" the china doll asked. The pain was still so fresh.
"Sure thing, angel," Freddie answered.
"I had a mommy and a daddy," Addie began. "We loved each other. We lived in the Chinatown with our friends and family..."
As the yellow sun arose over the hills, Freddie, Katrina, and Addie saw the country of Munchkinland in the distance. Surrounded by hills, the city was a breath-taking sight, hued with gold and red colors and glistening with its own natural glitter. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning struck across the sky, making way for black clouds to bleed over the sunrise and its inspiring colors. "Let me down," Addie insisted. Freddie slowly lowered his arms, putting the china doll onto the yellow ground. More lightning flashed, leaving its veins all along the horizon. Then, a single bolt struck the ground in front of the group, nearly scorching the Yellow Brick Road. Freddie and Addie jumped back while Katrina held her ground.
Rising from the electrical jab, Jadeyn clenched her wand, smiling a wicked smile, and slowly walked closer to the company. Draped completely in shining black satin, the witch seemed to leave a trail of dark energy behind her with each step. "Katrina," she sneered. "Is this the army you've raised against us?"
"Jadeyn," the good witch called back. "I do not wish to fight you. Please, stop this now and come back to our family."
"Your family is dead," the Wicked Witch of the East mocked. "And Oz is ours!"
"...Then we are more than ready to stop the two of you," Katrina replied, her voice bold. Jade cackled from the very pit of her throat, watching a ball of fire erupt on the road. Ripping through the flames, Victoria rose up, glaring at the three heroes. His jaw dropped, Freddie gazed into the Wicked Witch of the West's eyes, which stared coldly, furiously back into his. This was terror; this was a revelation: destiny. I messed up... "Victoria," Katrina greeted. "Still you follow the path of the wicked."
"I do not follow," the green witch snarled. "I am wicked!"
"My sister, you don't have to live this life," the good witch begged. "Please, I love you...I always loved you. Just as our mother had. Please, come back to me."
"Your speech had no effect on Jadeyn, nor shall it touch me," Victoria declared. "If you will not join us, then you shall die along with your army!"
"You killed my family," Addie cried out, stepping forward. Freddie tried in vein to block the girl, but she fought him with all her petite strength.
"The little one is bold," Jadeyn scoffed, waving her wand. Green lightning began to surround the staff.
"No!" Freddie cried, leaping in front of the china doll, and receiving a bolt of electricity that knocked him on his back. Addie scowled with all her might at the witches, but remained still.
"Your army is pitiful," Victoria cackled along with Jadeyn. The brunette boy slowly stumbled to his feet, and leaned against his cart, typing in a program. "You always were the weakest of our father's children...My army! Rise up and kill them!" From the dark stretches of the void, a flock of vicious, snarling, slobbering flying baboons approached the area.
"Victoria, you don't have to do this," Katrina declared.
"The pleas of the weak," the green witch snarled, forming a ball of fire in her hands for her sister.
"Come on, come on, come on," Freddie whispered, entering command after command into his computer. His eyes dotting between the screen and the army, the young man finally hit the Enter button, releasing the deafening sound of trumpets and soldiers marching into battle into the air. Turning the speakers up as high as possible, Freddie covered his ears, as did Addie and the Wicked Witches. Clenching their ears, the flying apes shrieked and hollered, dropping to the ground in pain.
"You!" the green witch shouted, forming a ball of fire in her palm, just as she had the night they met. Staring at the red flame, Freddie's eyes widened. Throwing the orb, Victoria watched the boy jump out of the way, sacrificing the speakers hooked up to his computer. The two witches began cackling wildly.
Katrina closed her eyes, gathering a cloud of pink energy around her wand, and released it unto her former sisters. Addie picked up a rock from beside the road and threw it at Victoria. "Behold the power of Oz!" Trina shouted. The blaring music continued; displaying a mere sample of The Wizard's power.
Victoria and Jadeyn looked at one another, then vanished from sight. The flying monkeys rose from the ground, and flew into the air, headed towards the Emerald City. His legs trembling, Freddie collapsed on the ground, trying to slow his racing heartbeat. I can't do this! I can't do this! I'm not their savior!
"Freddie!" Trina cried out, trying to control the boy. Addie walked closer to the young man, her eyes bearing her concern.
"I'm not The Wizard!" Freddie cried out. "I can't do this anymore!...I'm not who you think I am...I'm not a hero, a savior, or anything." The china doll's mouth dropped open, only to close as she looked away from the man she believed to be her hero. "I'm not The Wizard...I'm not."
"I know," Katrina whispered, gently stroking the boy's hair. "I knew all along..."
"I'm nothing," the boy continued. "Nothing but a screw-up. That's all I've ever been... I can't save Oz."
"Freddie," the good witch said, pulling the young man up into a sitting position. "You may not be the one the prophecy spoke of...but that doesn't mean you're not what the people need. You are never worthless...don't ever let your pain or fear tell you otherwise. You are needed." Gesturing downward, Trina showed Freddie Addie, who was crying alone on the road.
You are needed, the words echoed. Taking in a deep, trembling breath, the young man remembered all the times his family cried for him. Slowly forcing himself out of his depression, Freddie crawled over to the girl, who tried to flee from him, and took her in his loving arms. "I'm sorry," he said. "I know I let you down...I know I lied to you. But I promise...I will keep you safe." Addie Singer seemed to up at the young man, uncertainty in her eyes. "For what it's worth, I will protect you with all my heart and soul...I will try to be the family you lost. I may not be Oz's savior...but I can try." Addie closed her eyes to let a tear drop, then felt a sense of comfort from her friend's words.
"...Can I tell you something?" the china doll asked. Freddie smiled and nodded. "I'm not Addie the Brave...that was my mother's name. I-I use it to give me strength...because I don't have any."
"Yes you do," Freddie whispered. "You came with us...you put yourself in harm's way to try to make a difference...you have all the strength you've ever needed...and it came from inside you...You shouldn't want to be anyone else but who you are." Addie smiled, and hugged her hero. Katrina smiled at the sight of the Wizard of Oz. "...Now, let's rally an army..."