Chapter 9
I do not own anything from the Wizard of Oz or the books. I just own my OCs.
Sorry I took so long to post this. I got a new computer and have been busy transferring everything.
Scarecrow was finally able to fall asleep after a while the night before. He was then woken up by food being thrown at him through the cell door. He cursed the situation that he was in, and Ozma for doing this not only to him but to Dorothy as well.
"Today is the day you will be tested on your skills, Scarecrow King," the man said smirking through the cell.
Scarecrow ignored him. Not being able to find a spot to relieve himself, he went to a corner, and was disgusted by what he had to do.
"Do you not want to know what you will be tested on?" The man asked.
Scarecrow turned and glared at the man through the bars. "What do you care? You know, for someone who is champion you sure enjoy being locked up," Scarecrow emphasized the word champion in sarcasm.
The man laughed and said, "Since you still have not asked my name, it is Ami."
Scarecrow ignored him again. A soldier suddenly appeared in front of Scarecrow's cell door, and said something in a language that Scarecrow did not understand. The soldier then threw some clothes at Scarecrow and walked away.
Scarecrow sighed.
"Will you not speak anymore, Scarecrow King?" Ami asked amused.
Scarecrow continued to ignore him, which he knew was starting to make Ami a little agitated. Scarecrow didn't care he had one goal. To get out of this place as soon as possible.
After a while, the guards came in and put Scarecrow in shackles, and then he was led out to a hallway that was lit by lanterns. They then crossed a courtyard that was guarded by soldiers, and into another hallway.
He was pushed up some steps, and entered a seating area. Scarecrow realized that he was in the arena, and this was Ordaran's personal view.
Scarecrow was held back by the door, and could see dust coming up from the sand down below the balcony. Then the roar of the crowd rung in his ears, and the dread began to ice his veins.
Fear began to choke him, as he realized what was going on. He remembered Dorothy telling him about ancient warriors from her world that fought in places like this. He remembered them being called Gladiators. You could take this as a page right out of one of Dorothy's history books she had brought back to Oz after they returned from her world.
The crowd cheered and booed. Scarecrow knew this would be him soon if he didn't figure something out soon.
Suddenly, Ordaran stood from his seat and smiled at Scarecrow.
"Good morning, straw man," Ordaran said. "A great day for some entertainment."
Scarecrow could hear the grunts and the groans of the men fighting. He suddenly wanted to vomit.
"This is barbaric!" Scarecrow said to the Lord.
Oradaran snickered. "So are wars, and embargos, your highness."
Scarecrow let a frustrated breath.
"Come closer, sire. I want you to see this," Ordaran said.
Scarecrow was pushed forward by the guards, and next to Ordaran's chair.
"You should feel special, sire. Most of my fighters never see this part," Ordaran said with a smile.
Scarecrow watched in horror as two men were below them and shirtless. They would punch and tackle each other and do whatever they can to get the better of each other.
He wanted to close his eyes and make it go away, but he could not help it. He had to look. He could immediately tell one was weaker than the other.
Ordaran laughed and ate some grapes, and pointed to the arena. "The best part is coming," he said.
The stronger man screamed took the weaker one by the head, and the sickening sound of a neck snapping could be heard through the air. The crowd began to cheer as the winner dropped the crumpled body to the ground and walk around the arena in victory.
Men in robes came running out to the arena, and gathered the body, and took it away.
Ordaran stood and cheered along with everyone else. "One of my best fighters," Ordaran said still clapping and turning towards Scarecrow.
"This is sickening," Scarecrow said still feeling sick watching a man die that way. He had seen many men fall in battle, but this was just torture to watch.
"This is what you will be doing, Scarecrow," Ordaran said to him.
"I will not be a part of your sick games," Scarecrow growled.
Ordaran chuckled, and said, "Yes, yes you will."
Suddenly, Scarecrow was grabbed from behind, and subdued. He tried to fight back, but there were too many. His shackles were removed and he was taken to the front of the balcony.
Ordaran stood next to a struggling Scarecrow as the crowd began to cheer.
The opponent in the ring stood still and smiled waiting for something.
"I want to introduce to you my newest and most valued contestant yet. The King of the Land of Oz!"
The people cheered, and Scarecrow continued to struggle against his captures.
He was then pushed into the arena, and landed on the hard ground below. He moaned as the pain coursed through his arm, and hip where he landed. He coughed up some dust from his throat.
"I am going to show you mercy, your highness. You will not die today, but you will fight!"
Scarecrow looked up to see his opponent standing over him with a sneer.
Scarecrow stood up slowly as his opponent continued to sneer and circle him.
At this moment was one of the few times he wished he were straw again. If he was torn apart, most did not know his life force had been in his frame so they left that alone. It also gave him a means of escape.
Now that he was human again it all changed.
He looked at the man and said, "I will not fight you."
What he said echoed through the arena and he was met with boos.
His opponent laughed, and before Scarecrow could react, he was on the ground reeling from the punch in the face.
His opponent, who smelled like fish jumped on him and began to hit him anywhere and everywhere.
The pain that coursed through his body was something he had not experienced in a long time.
He put his arms up in a defensive position to ward off the blows. He did not want to fight this person, but he was realizing that Ordaran would show him no mercy, and he could easily die.
The crowd booed and hissed at Scarecrow not fighting back. His opponent was throwing insults at him.
Finally, Scarecrow could not take it anymore. He tried to turn and run one more time, but was overpowered.
Gathering the last of his strength, he brought up his knee and into the groin of his opponent.
The man gasped and fell backwards holding his groin and yelping in pain.
The crowd gasped in disbelief and waited to see what Scarecrow would do.
Scarecrow stood and favored his right arm. He walked over to the man who was recovering, and cursing him.
Scarecrow would not kill him. He did kick him in the side, sending his opponent rolling in pain.
He then grabbed the man by the throat, and lifted him off the ground. He could see the fear in his eyes now, and he began to beg for his life.
"Would you have showed me mercy if I had done the same?" Scarecrow asked.
The man went limp as Scarecrow cut off his airflow just enough to put him to sleep and not kill him.
He threw the limp figure to the ground, and looked around as the crowd began to chant his name.
He looked up at Ordaran who just stood and gazed at him with a slight smile on his face. Ordaran knew all along Scarecrow would defeat his opponent easily. Scarecrow silently cursed him for making him do that.
The men in the robes came running out again, and started checking the opponent.
Scarecrow was left alone for a moment to catch his breath.
"He's not dead!" Someone yelled out behind him, and the crowd began to cheer.
Guards suddenly appeared, and took Scarecrow back into custody. Scarecrow barely noticed them as he and Ordaran gave each other a stare down.
He was then forced out of the arena and into his cell.
Ami came over and said with a smile. "You lived!"
Scarecrow took a rag, and began to wipe blood and sweat off from where he thought it was.
"The opponent is dead?" He asked.
Scarecrow looked over at him and said, "No. I will not kill anyone for sport."
Ami shrugged. "Well, if you didn't then Ordaran will for failing."
Scarecrow looked over at him in shock. He then shook his head in disgust.
He found some water and drank it down. His throat had been drier than the surrounding desert.
"Do you really get a sick pleasure out of this or is it just an act to survive?" Scarecrow asked.
Ami laughed a little as he sat on his bed and was reading something. "It depends. Do you want to survive or not?"
Ami then got up and approached the bars. "Besides, you want to see your woman again right?"
Scarecrow suddenly stood and approached the other mans cell. "You will never mention her again to me without asking."
Ami smiled. "I meant no insult, my friend. I was just asking simple question."
Scarecrow and Ami stared down for a moment before Scarecrow finally sat down again. He could hear a scream off in the distance. Maybe he should have killed his opponent; it would have been mercy to what he was going through now.
Scarecrow needed to get out of here soon. He needed his strength to get out of here. He was then summoned from the cell, and cleaned and washed again. He shivered at the cold water hit his body, but was grateful to be clean again. He came back to another full plate of food. He would rest for a while, and then during the night he would find a weakness in this cell, and try to get out.
During the night he lay still and listened for any movement from the cells around him or guards walking by. Earlier he had surveyed the room for anything. The window above him was about two of him higher. He could try it, but it was too obvious of an escape.
The only way he could escape was to make another plan. Escaping the cell was next to impossible. For the first time in a long time he felt truly alone, just like the days he was perched up in that corn field before that little girl with pig tails came along with her dog….