Chapter 26

I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz.

Yes, Ozma created a disease that would keep away all living creatures so she could keep control of Oz, but she wasn't counting on one thing. Boren will play a role, but I wanted to put him on the backburner for a little bit, and focus on our heroes again.

Dorothy wondered when it would come. Her whole world spun out of control as Scarecrow explained to her that night what needed to be done.

They were getting ready to leave. The transfer of the power of Aglas was now complete, and they were now on the outskirts of South Aglas ready for travel.

All her memories came crashing back to her. From the moment she spotted him on the pole in the field to the moment he died in her arms. They were all at the time he was straw, and now he was willing to go back to it, so he could penetrate Oz without fear of catching the disease that was spread.

He was also doing this so Dorothy would not have to surrender to Ozma with the emerald.

She thought back to the time that they first hit the yellow brick road, the time she said goodbye, and then returned once more.

Everything in her past was because of him being straw. However, they had moved beyond that.

Dorothy began to cry as he explained his plans to her. He felt it was the only way.

"Maybe, I can reverse it," she said between sobs to her husband.

Scarecrow looked into the eyes of his wife, and said, "We don't know that. I will not risk you, and you turning me will give me a chance to get to her without risking more lives."

Dorothy knew deep down she was being selfish, but she wanted him with her. She fell in love with the straw man, and it didn't bother her if he would have stayed straw. No, that was not it, but she liked him human too.

"What about Nick?" Dorothy asked in desperation. "Surely, he is immune too."

Scarecrow took Dorothy into his arms as she sobbed a little.

"I know he is, that is why he is coming with me," he said into her auburn hair.

Dorothy knew deep down he was right, but it was still just as painful. He would be straw once more, and he seemed to forget that he was immortal that way, but still could die by injury.

She looked at him as he smiled softly to her. His hair was growing back, and the beginnings of beard were growing on his face. He, again, wore the uniform of a leader of Oz. Though it was too small since he had beefed up from the fights in the arena.

He looked kingly once more, and Dorothy remembered the shy, straw man in the field that long ago, who could barely keep on his feet.

Now standing before was a man that she loved with all of her heart and soul, and could not bear to be away from again.

They had come so far, and now they would have to take a step back once more.

"I will be safe, I promise you," he said reassuringly.

Dorothy wiped her eyes defiantly. She looked down the necklace she now held in her hand.

"There is one thing I am going to do then," she said staring up at him with her wide brown eyes.

"What is that?"

"After this is over, then I am destroying this forever," she said.

Scarecrow nodded, and smiled. "Just make sure you make me human again first."

Dorothy chuckled lightly at the joke.

"Are you going to tell the others first?" She asked. She knew she would not win this. She knew he was right, and it had to be done.

Scarecrow shook his head. "No, only you know, and when I walk out of this tent in the morning, they will see."

Dorothy began to cry a little again, and Scarecrow held her giving her words of comfort.

She then looked up at him in determination. "There are two things first."

Scarecrow smiled down at her. "What are your requests, my lady?"

Dorothy scoffed, but smiled. "I help out with battle if it comes to that whenever I can, and….."

Scarecrow looked at her disapprovingly, but knew this was a risk that he had to take with her if she was to do with him.

Her lips suddenly came on his, and he answered her willingly.

They had been so busy with Aglas that they had barely any time alone, and now that Scarecrow made his decision this would be the last for a while.

They undressed with a fervor that they hadn't had in a long time, and he took her when she was ready for him. Each one of them touching and feeling wherever and whenever they felt the need. It was so good to have her back in his arms again.

Then one day they would work on having that child they so desperately wanted.

Dorothy could only hope this would work, but nothing ever came easy for them.

…..

Later on Dorothy held Scarecrow once more, and as tears rolled down her cheeks she willed the emerald to do her bidding and begin the changes that needed to be done to save Oz.

The couple held cupped hands with the emerald in the middle of both of them.

The ancient words came across her tongue so easily that she almost stopped it for a minute.

Their hands began to glow from the light of the emerald, and moved up in between their bodies.

Dorothy could feel the power of the emerald within her to change him.

He looked down at her one more time with human blue eyes and nodded as she cupped his still human face with her still free hand.

"I love you, no matter what you are," she said with a slight smile.

Scarecrow chuckled. "I know the straw is uncomfortable, but you didn't seem to mind."

The white and green lights began to circle around them.

"I love you," he said softly into her ear.

Again, she almost stopped the spell when Scarecrow began to grunt in pain.

The lights were only circling him now, and Dorothy could see it with her own eyes as she finished the spell. She stepped away from him, but he screamed lowly in pain. Veins looking like they were ready to pop in his face and neck.

She went to stop the spell, but he gently pushed her away and told her no between clenched teeth and heavy breathing.

Then he began to jerk, and fell to the floor. Dorothy could only stand there now. He was committed and there was nothing she could do for him now.

Scarecrow fell to his knees, and Dorothy could see the straw begin to form around his body. His face began to contort, and change making Dorothy turn away for a moment.

She heard a voice outside of the tent asking if everything was all right.

Outside were Tin Man and Lion wondering what the lights were.

Dorothy had to go to them, to reassure them that everything was OK.

"Go to them," Scarecrow said still breathing heavily.

"No."

"Dorothy, they will come inside. Go to them," Scarecrow said.

Dorothy wanted to make sure he was all right when this was over, but she had to tell the friends otherwise.

She kept the flap of the tent as closed as she could when she exited to find Oscar, Tin Man, Lion, and King Oran looking on in concern. Khali stayed back a little, her hands crossed in worry.

Soldiers began to surround the tent.

"Dorothy, what the hell is going on in there?" Oscar asked stepping forward to her.

Dorothy looked at her friends, and gazed back at the tent the power began to leave her body. It was done she could just feel it.

"You will know in a moment," she said.

"Are you insane? Something happened and we want to know," Tin Man asked annoyed at her deflection. "Where is Scarecrow?"

Dorothy began to plead with everyone, and said, "You will know in a moment. Plans have changed."

Everyone looked at her like she had gone completely mad, but they could only wait.

The tent was now dark, and if Scarecrow didn't exit soon they were going in there Lion said. Dorothy was still in shock to what she had just done, so she did not argue with them.

Dorothy looked away and into the night sky, and prayed that this would work.

"I am going in there," Tin Man said still eyeing Dorothy angrily.

"No! Just wait!" She pleaded turning to him.

Then Dorothy heard the tent flap open and the gasps from the crowd that was with them reverberated throughout the whole encampment.

"Dear God….." Oscar muttered with wide eyes.

Footsteps crunched the ground, but did not walk far from the opening of the tent. He didn't need to.

"Well, isn't that a something else altogether," Lion said with a big toothy grin.

Tin Man lowered his ax in shock. Words left him as Khali stood beside him in shock herself over the sight they were witnessing.

Dorothy finally knew she had to turn and see her husband once more.

She couldn't help it, she gasped loudly at her husband. She hadn't seen him like this in almost five years, and the last time he was that way; he had died in her arms. So, seeing him alive as the straw man once more and alive was still quite a shock to her senses.

She could tell he was straw again as it stuck out through the shirt and pants he was wearing. The burlap was once again there where a human face once was.

He observed the crowd quietly as they could take in this change.

He still did not say a word as Oscar approached him cautiously.

"Scarecrow what have you done?" He asked still in complete shock.

Scarecrow cocked his head at his steward in thought, and then said, "We are going to take Oz back."