Chapter 27

I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz.

I want thank each and every one of my readers. You guys keep me going in this.

This will be kind of filler chapter to close some of the hanging issues.

Khali needed to go and talk to her people, and Tin Man was there when she did as they entered the jungles once more.

The distrust was once again there, and it was because of her brother. Though her people were now considered free from the grips of Aglas, they could not shape shift anymore. There was a hatred for that, and some of it was directed at Dorothy the savior of Oz.

She wanted her people to be freed from just being human, and being shape shifters once more, but she knew Boren would escape.

She promised that they would have their powers back after this was all over, but they still did not believe her.

She was frustrated, and Tin Man didn't know what to do. Scarecrow stood by as she spoke, and did not want to interfere in their affairs. He refused to let Dorothy anywhere near the village, as it would only fuel their hatred, which was misdirected he knew, but he did not have a choice.

Scarecrow wanted to make his peace with them before they moved back into Mifkit land and planned their attack.

He had to hold Boren, he was now the key to all of this, and would set him free once it was all done, but the ones who were loyal were threatening death to them.

The shape shifters could threaten all they wanted to, but the decision was made, and they had neither the weapons nor the men to fight back if they did not have their powers.

Khali was going to come with them to Mifkit and help out, but the rest of the shape shifters were not going to get involved, and that is what Scarecrow wanted anyway. He would not put innocent people through a potential battle that were not official allies.

They tried to calm nerves about Boren, but were unsuccessful, and Scarecrow hated to waste resources on subduing them.

A soldier walked up to Scarecrow as they continued to speak and said, "My lord, there is a man who wants to speak to you in the jungle."

Scarecrow turned to him and asked, "Who could possibly want to speak to me now?"

The soldier shifted uncomfortably at the angry crowd. "He says he knows you from the cells."

Scarecrow turned, but kept vigil over an unexpected attack as they made their way through the jungle a little.

Scarecrow had Dorothy safely out of the jungle awaiting them on the other side along with Oran and Oscar.

Lion had the man who wanted to see Scarecrow surrounded as he approached.

The man stood tall and towered over the rest of the soldiers on guard with him.

Scarecrow had to smirk a little. Ami was always huge, and he could take out those soldiers if he really wanted to. Hell, he could give Lion a run for his money if the need ever came.

Ami looked on surprised at first by the looks of Scarecrow, and then gathered himself.

Scarecrow ordered the soldiers and Lion to stand down, and Scarecrow and Ami were face to face.

"What happened to you Scarecrow King?" Ami asked as the men shook hands. "Were you cursed once more?"

Scarecrow shook his head in amusement. "This needed to be done. There is a curse on Oz. All organic creatures are diseased, and I need to get in there."

Ami's dark eyebrows raised in realization at the reveal. "Are all of your soldiers going to be changed?"

"No just me. I have a plan," Scarecrow said. "So, you make an appearance?"

Ami looked around thoughtfully. "I have decided doing nothing and making peace with myself cannot go hand in hand. I hear you are getting nowhere with my people. I think you need me."

"How will your people welcome you? Do you need protection? Also, Boren was in contact with the queen who currently holds Oz. He will be coming with us," Scarecrow said waiting for the challenge.

To his surprise Ami just nodded. "So, this why my people are angered. I knew Boren would not resist an offer. He likes to play the honorable man, but like me he could not give up riches."

"You have guessed correctly," Scarecrow said.

"My people have not seen me yet. I will speak to them, and I do not require protection. Then I have one request of you," Ami said.

Scarecrow looked over at him suspiciously, but could see the honesty in Ami's eyes. He looked genuinely eager to make himself useful once more.

"I wish to join you as an ally against the queen you fight in the coming weeks," Ami said standing straight up.

Scarecrow looked at him confused. "Do you not wish to lead your people once more? I do not wish for you to come into my conflict if the need is not there."

Ami nodded sadly. "I do, but I must prove my honor once more, and this is the way I can do that."

"I understand. I have made a promise the shape shifters can have their powers back after this is over. That is the bargain," Scarecrow said to him.

Ami looked determined. "Let me speak to my people, and I will honor that bargain."

Scarecrow stepped aside, and said, "Alright. You may serve with me, but understand you must earn our trust."

Ami looked at him and smiled widely. "I never doubted that, Scarecrow King."

As Ami walked ahead, Lion held Scarecrow back and said, "Are you sure you can trust him?"

"If I don't we will never get out of this jungle without losses, and I don't need an upset metal man on my hands neither," Scarecrow explained.

Lion nodded in understanding. "I will make him prove his worth."

"I never doubted that," Scarecrow said with a smile.

…

Ami ended up surprising everyone and made a beautiful speech about redemption, regret, and regaining honor.

The people responded to it like Scarecrow had hoped for, and then Ami announced that he would be fighting along the Scarecrow King in the upcoming Oz invasion. If he lived, then he would take his place as Lord once more. The people agreed.

Khali was grateful to see him again, and the shape shifters began to also volunteer to join Scarecrow's cause. Though Scarecrow turned them down, and said they had to watch their homeland once more. Once that was done they passed through the jungle once more without any issues. Scarecrow made a promise to restore their powers, and release Boren when the time was right.

Ami was then given previsions of a soldier, and began his training immediately.

…..

The travel of thousands of soldiers, guards, squires, and servants can be grueling.

Dorothy was already exhausted. They would be back in the Mifkit Kingdom in about another two weeks. She knew it would be a lot slower with so many people.

She watched as her husband immediately took the leadership role once more.

King Oran had commented that even though he kept military he was not as skilled in battle as Scarecrow was and gladly took more of a supporting role.

Dorothy looked over at Tin Man who had been quiet for a while and smiled.

"I never thought that I would see the day," she said with a laugh as they walked through the hills and headed back to the mountains. There were not enough horses, but she had one, and decided to walk for a while.

"Never see the day of what?" Tin Man asked feigning innocence.

Dorothy looked back at Khali who spoke to Ami as they walked along behind them.

"Are you going to stay in Oz when this is over?" Dorothy asked instead raising an eyebrow.

Tin Man smiled to her. "Well, I haven't thought that far yet. I still have a duty to my King."

"Scarecrow hasn't declared himself king again," Dorothy said.

Tin Man looked at her and raised a silver eyebrow. "Really? I think he did when you turned him again."

Dorothy turned away for a moment in thought. Did he? He never voiced it.

"Dorothy," Tin Man said with concern.

"No, no. I understand," Dorothy could feel the familiar burn in her eyes.

Tin Man suddenly smiled. "But, if you must know. Yes, I love her, and I am willing to do anything for her."

Dorothy turned to him and smiled sincerely. "I am so happy for you. You deserve it."

Tin Man suddenly looked thoughtful again. "I have thought of having you turn me human, to be honest."

Dorothy looked at him in surprise. "You would be willing to do that for her? You have changed."

Tin Man scoffed a little, and said, "I had seen the way you nursed your belly…"

Dorothy gasped. So, they had known. She immediately felt the guilt about not telling Lion and Tin Man when they journeyed here.

Tin Man looked at her, and gave her a smile of reassurance. "I knew all along Dorothy. I just wish you had told us."

Dorothy swallowed hard and thought of the child they lost. It still haunted her at night.

"You're right. I should have been honest with you and Lion, but there was no way I was going to allow you to stop me from getting to Scarecrow," she said lowly. "I hope you can forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive. However, I wish you were nursing a bigger belly now," he said with a sad smile.

Dorothy looked up at the sky. "Me too." Her voice broke a little at the thought, and she cleared her throat.

She then turned to Tin Man and smiled. "If that is what you wish. I can help you. However, just know that I am destroying the emerald after this is over."

Tin Man nodded. "The last of magical rubies will be gone forever."

Dorothy fingered the emerald around her neck. "As with what is left of old things, and it makes room for new starts."

"I agree. The witches are long dead, and as we know now the magic is more of a hindrance than a help with certain things, of course," he said to her.

He straightened up and commented, "So, if Scarecrow is crowned again. You know, you will have to accept a new role."

Dorothy sighed. "I know. Believe me, I have thought it over and over in my head."

Tin Man looked at Dorothy in sympathy. "Dorothy, you claim to just be a farm girl who was caught in extenuating circumstances, but sometimes it is best to accept your fate for what it is. It does not mean you have to sit on a throne all day and deal with court issues. I know Scarecrow would never allow that. I think you would make a great queen. I always have."

Dorothy frowned, but then her lips curved upwards in thanks at her friend. "I grew up very poor, and have only known work in my life. Even after Scarecrow abdicated, we worked very hard on our farm. It would drive me insane to have servants catering to my every whim."

Tin Man shook his head. "You know Scarecrow was never that way. He hated it too. I see what you're saying though, but what did you just say to me about letting go of the past?"

Dorothy scoffed, and laughed a little for Tin Man throwing that back at her. "I know, but there just some things that I cannot handle."

Khali then came running up to them, and Dorothy smiled at their interactions.

Ami and Dorothy smiled to each other. She had talked to him extensively the night before, and found him to be very knowledgeable, and fascinating. Then Lion got in his face to keep up his training. Dorothy felt sorry for him. She could tell he was trying his best to make up for the things he did. He showed her a small torn portrait of his son that he carried with him, and she could see the haunting sadness in his eyes.

Oscar then came up to Dorothy on his horse, and said, "Tonight we are getting together about our plans before hitting the mountains."

Dorothy nodded. "Aren't we going to wait till we return to Mifkit?"

"Scarecrow doesn't want to take a chance to be close, and have something happen, so we have plans, and then back plans, and then more…. back up plans," Oscar said rolling his eyes a little.

Dorothy giggled knowing his meaning. "That's my Scarecrow. How is Glinda? Is she recovered?"

Oscar smirked and said, "I know, but you know those things bore me."

Dorothy giggled again. Oscar was more intrigued by court matters than battle, but he always stepped up no matter what. She remembered when he had first retrieved her he was injured then. She smiled at the memory.

"I am getting too old for this shit," he muttered to himself.

Dorothy snickered and reminded him about Glinda.

"Oh yes. She is just fine. She said Lorna and Loila are driving her insane, but she is up and around now, and monitoring Oz," he said shaking his head in frustration.

Dorothy looked ahead to Scarecrow again who was having a lively conversation with Oran.

"She wanted to take refugees from Oz and try to cure the disease going around there, but she said it is too contagious and didn't want sicken Mifkit citizens. Besides, they might not survive a trek through the desert," he said.

"What are the symptoms?" Dorothy asked.

Oscar looked over at her. "You know our influenza."

That was all he needed to say.

Dorothy nodded and muttered. "Oh boy. I remember the healers were still working on antibiotics that you brought back."

"It is getting to the point where there needs to be more science in this realm, and less magic to get rid of issues like this once and for all. Scarecrow agrees," Oscar said with Dorothy agreeing as well.

She could feel her anger rise at what Ozma did. She remembered the words she told Ozma before she left Oz those months ago.

What do we do to those who hurt the ones we love?

She meant every word of it, and she would be the one who put a stop to it once and for all.

No matter what Scarecrow said. Ozma was hers. Dorothy Gale the savior of Oz had never been one for violence, she detested it, but there were moments when exceptions were made.

This was one of them.