Chapter 31
I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz.
Thank you all so much. You are really the best.
Ozma screamed as Boren delivered her Thoreon's head.
She ran over to the balcony in the castle, and began heaving from the grotesque vision. She could hear Reginald scream and sob for his son.
Tears began to flow, and she began to choke at the image once more.
She was inconsolable at losing not only her cousin, but also lover. She stayed on the balcony still heaving trying to process that Thoreon was really dead.
Her maids came to try to tend her, but she dismissed them immediately. She could have sworn one of maids was smiling in delight at her loss. She always knew they were still secretly loyal to that Scarecrow.
When she was finally able to gather herself she walked back into the throne room.
This was the first time she was really laying eyes on the shape shifter Boren, and he stood there wide eyed looking around. He was obviously not used to such opulence.
She looked over at Thoreon's head once more as Reginald held it sobbing, and knew what she had to do.
"I want him dead! Do you hear me Ozma?!" Reginald yelled out.
Ozma stood quietly not answering her uncle and looked over him with eyes that were now determined to kill of Scarecrow once and for all. She still wanted Dorothy Gale alive and unharmed. She wanted that emerald in her complete control, but she had to go through Dorothy to get to it.
She walked over to Boren who turned to her in fear, but he stood his ground and tried to look brave.
"Do you want your powers back?" She asked lowly.
Boren looked relieved, and said, "I would give anything for them."
"Watch your words, Boren," Ozma warned. "I can grant that, but at what price?"
"What do you mean?" He asked suspiciously.
"You serve me, and your shape shifting will not be limited to mere small mammals and reptiles," Ozma said waiving her hand.
Boren looked curious, but did not say anything.
"Well?"
"What is the price?" He asked cautiously.
"It may cost your sisters' life, and your friends," Ozma answered with steady eyes.
Boren's green eyes flashed for a moment, and Ozma could see he doubted it.
He then shook his head and was still in thought.
"What would I be able to do?" He finally asked.
Ozma then smiled. "You will have strength beyond your wildest imagination, and I want you to bring me Dorothy Gale."
She could see the inner battle in his facial expressions. He still had feelings for Dorothy Gale, which made Ozma's lips curl into a smile. This could work to her advantage.
"If this means that Scarecrow dies," Boren finally said.
Ozma nodded and looked over Reginald still grieving his son.
"Oh he will, but I want Dorothy Gale alive," she said.
She then turned and looked over at Reginald once more, her chin raised in defiance of what her enemies have pulled.
"We attack the Mifkit Kingdom," she said simply.
…..
"Lion wait…." Dorothy sighed as she just bandaged Lion's foot, and he took off into battle once more without another word.
She sat there for a moment and took some deep breaths to calm her nerves, and rest her aching muscles.
They were losing to the newly created Nargol, and losing badly.
She had no idea how Ozma was able to create this army. They seemed to come out of thin air every time Scarecrow and the others were able to gain an advantage.
The women of Mifkit, Oz, and other countries were now nursing the wounded and identifying the dead. It was such a hard task to do, and Dorothy knew it would not be much longer before they were defeated.
Scarecrow had supposed to be gone by now, and on his way into Oz where he could get back into the castle, and release the spell over it's people. However, he was horribly delayed by the losses they were incurring.
She fingered the emerald around her neck. She had been able to save many lives with it, but there was only so much she could do, and no matter how powerful it was there were still limits to it.
She looked over at Glinda who was sweaty, dirty, and just as exhausted as her. Dorothy could see the worry in her eyes. Both women were getting desperate, and both stared at each other for a moment knowing what they would have to do.
Dorothy stood, and walked over to Glinda who eyed her approach warily.
Glinda began to shake her head.
"Dorothy, we can't," she said reading her mind.
Dorothy's eyes flashed angrily. "I don't care what the council says about using magic in war. We are going to lose all the lands in this realm."
The armies were shocked when Aglas soldiers had shown up to help with the fight for Oz, but it was still not enough.
Glinda stood with determination, and both women stared out into the battlefield as smoke, dust, and ash rose from the fighting.
"Enough is enough," Glinda said thoughtfully no longer with any doubt in her eyes.
Dorothy nodded her head in agreement. "This has to stop."
The women began to walk into the battlefield as the others looked on in astonishment.
Both began to glow as their powers came to life.
They choked on the smoke, and their nostrils filled with the smell of death and blood around them, but they still continued on.
Dorothy Gale was never good with a sword, and could not grasp it, but she had other weapons to make up for that.
Soldiers and Nargol stopped their fights to stare at the two women coming into battle.
Dorothy gritted her teeth and ignored the stares. She was tired. Tired of the blood spilled over them. She was tired of war. She was tired of her beloved lands being torn to pieces by such evil.
She immediately spotted the Nargol. The Orcs of Middle Earth continued to live because of the evil fairy witch now ruling Oz. Oh how she wished Gandalf were here.
The ugliness couldn't even match their blackened souls.
They were the same colors as before. A mixture of black, gray, red, and white skin to make up their unnatural bodies. Their features were humanoid of pigs, and wolves along with human eyes, and limbs.
They began to growl, snarl, and sneer at the two women. Some licked their lips; others wiped the blood from their swords.
Dorothy smirked at them as they began to surround her. They had no idea what she was capable of, and how they would all die on this battlefield one by one. She knew she had to reach Scarecrow, so she could release him into Oz, and he could deal with Ozma once and for all. He was their only hope now. They had tried to infiltrate Oz, but their scouts became ill from the spell.
Dorothy was suddenly drawn out of her thoughts by a calling of her name.
"Your grace! What are you doing?" A male voice called out to her in astonishment.
Dorothy spotted the dark-skinned man running to her and slaying a couple of Nargol as he did so.
She looked towards Glinda who would need her help soon.
She turned to Ami and called out. "Ami! Get away!"
Ami stopped in front of her, and warily eyed the Nargol getting ready to attack. "No, your grace. I have been sworn to protect you."
It was true. Scarecrow had anointed him her personal bodyguard through the war, but Dorothy would have none of it. However, she did keep him near her more for his protection than hers, and deep down Scarecrow knew it.
Dorothy sighed. She could see his loyalty to both her and Scarecrow, and didn't have the heart to chase him away.
He then put a sword through the back of a Nargol who was approaching too close to her.
She glanced at Glinda who was starting to get overwhelmed by the Nargol. She needed help, and quick.
"Ami, stay close," Dorothy said lowly.
Ami's dark eyes widened, but he understood, and moved closer to his mistress.
….
Ami could only watch in awe as Dorothy brought out her two knives from their scabbards. Her brown eyes took on a green hue, and her demeanor completely changed as the knives began to glow.
Then the flames began to light up the area, and they were green as they licked the metal. Ami was still in awe as they seemed to come through Dorothy's hands, but she was not in any pain.
With each motion of the knifes taking out Nargol one by one, Ami felt helpless as a child, and not very protective at that moment. He almost laughed as he thought of Scarecrow King's words to him about protecting his wife. He also questioned his manhood, but knew now was not the time.
Dorothy Gale did not need protection. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself.
Dorothy pulled him close as a green force field of some sort formed around them, and an earthquake took out even more Nargol. Ami shook and almost fell, but Dorothy caught his arm and held him steady.
Her friend Glinda the witch and Dorothy joined forces, and even more Nargol lay still on the ground.
Oz, and Mifkit soldiers began to lower their weapons and cheer for the two women. Ami then spotted the King of the Mifkits, and a big smile came across his face as he watched the two women defeat more and more Nargol as they moved along the battlefield.
He remembered Dorothy telling him the story of how she dropped from another planet into the Land of Oz, and how she was small and meek.
He had to chuckle as she fought the Nargol, and knew that girl was just a shadow of the woman standing before him now.
Ami laughed out loud again as the Nargol realized they were not outnumbered, but their power could not match that of Glinda the witch and Dorothy Gale.
Dorothy made a magical whip from one of her swords, and brought several more guards to the ground. Ami felt useless, but he loved watching every moment of it.
Ami turned and could see horses kicking up dust. He readied his own sword. He did not know if they were friend or foe, but he would still do his best to not only protect his mistress but his friend.
He then spotted the green and black uniform and the unique face of burlap coming through the dust, and relaxed a little. He wondered how the Scarecrow King would react to his wife taking to the battlefield. He smiled widely.
….
"Dorothy!"
Dorothy stopped her fighting and turned to see Scarecrow riding up to her on Kronos. She cringed a little as he stared wide-eyed at her. She knew he would be angry, but she had to help him somehow make his way to Oz.
Oscar made his way to Glinda, and Tin Man, Lion, and Ami were still holding off Nargol. Oran rode up behind him. He must have been the one to fetch Scarecrow.
Scarecrow dismounted an obviously exhausted Kronos, and both walked up to each other.
Scarecrow wanted to take her shoulders and shake some sense into his wife, but he had seen her taking out the Nargol, and could not bring himself to be angry. He could only hope that Jonah hadn't spotted her and Glinda. Magic was forbidden in war, and Scarecrow could pay the price for what Dorothy did.
Dorothy stood there breathing heavily. The use of the emerald had taken a lot out of her, but she seemed satisfied.
"Go Scarecrow," she said.
Scarecrow's burlap eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
She lifted her chin in defiance, and she walked closer to him with tears suddenly in her eyes. "It is time for you take Oz back."
"Reginald is on the battlefield, I can't," he said.
"I will take care of him. You must go now, or he will know you left the battle," she said the tears running down her face. She didn't want to be parted with her husband again, but they both knew this was the only way.
He looked at her in surprise, and looked towards the others. He knew Dorothy was taking a huge risk for them, and for him to make his way to Oz without notice.
Oran and Oscar nodded in agreement.
"I will protect her, Scarecrow King," Ami chimed in as they stood and stared at each other.
Scarecrow lowered his head. Dorothy knew he was fighting the inner battle too about leaving her, but it had to be done.
"Can I have a moment with my wife?" He asked looking around.
Making sure the area was now safe the others formed a circle around them.
The couple came together for a moment, and their foreheads touched as their hands began to wrap around each other.
"I love you," Dorothy whispered, her voice catching.
Scarecrow could not cry in this form, but it still hurt him to leave her again.
He held her as tight as he could. He knew she was right, and he had to go. The people of Oz needed him. Dorothy began to sob quietly into his shoulder.
It couldn't have worked out better with Reginald showing up. It took the spotlight off of him to slip quietly away.
It would take him five days to get to Emerald City. He had to go now, and defeat Ozma once and for all.
He cupped her face with his gloved his hands, and looked on his beautiful, brave Dorothy Gale. Never in a million years would he would have thought that the little girl with the basket and the dog would turn into his queen, and the love of his life.
He swiped away wisps of her auburn hair, and their lips came together. Their embrace tightened even more as they clung to each other for a few short moments.
"I love you more than life itself," he whispered into her ear.
She tightened her grip in answer, and he wiped away her tears.
"Stay alive no matter what occurs," she said her lips quivering. "I will find you."
Scarecrow smiled slightly. He remembered saying that to her once when they battled Drigka, and now the tables were turned, and it was her turn to be the warrior and the leader.
He then called Ami over to them as he still held his wife.
"Watch out for her," he ordered.
Ami nodded in understanding and the men shook hands.
"I will, Scarecrow King. Go get your land back," he said.
Scarecrow did have the time to say any more goodbyes. He knew he had to slip away now before they were noticed.
He kissed Dorothy one more time, and finally they parted.
He mounted Kronos, and took off towards the woods to slip through the clearing they had made for him.
He knew he could not look back as he heard the fighting begin again.
His breathing became heavy as he thought of leaving Dorothy alone once more. He could not protect like he promised in his vows, but he swore he would make it up to her.
"I promise we will rest soon, Kronos," he said to his trusty horse.
"I know, sire," Kronos said. "I hope Dorothy stays safe," he added as they galloped through the woods towards the desert that lead to Oz.
"Me too," Scarecrow said.
….
In the distance green eyes that were shaped like a reptile watched and waited patiently.
….
I'm back! What an adventure our move was, but it was worth it.
I am now nursing sunburn. Oh how I've missed the beach.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed badass Dorothy; there is more to come.