Chapter 32

I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz.

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Dorothy walked along the battlefield along with Oran, Ami, Oscar, Glinda, Tin Man, Lion, and King Jonah. Joining them were ambassadors from other lands, including Aglas.

It took six days for the battle to finally be over, and they had successfully defeated Ozma's armies of Nargol, but Dorothy was not in any mood to celebrate their victory. They had unsuccessfully been able to capture Reginald.

No matter how much Glinda and Dorothy used the magic they possessed there were still many casualties.

The worst part was there was no word from Scarecrow as of yet. All they had heard was he was able to get through into Oz without any problems according to the spies, and Kronos.

Dorothy was sick over worry for him. He should have been in Emerald City by now, and she had heard the spell over Oz was still in place, and that casualties from the illness were causing almost genocide like conditions.

Dorothy knew it was wrong, but all she could think of was Scarecrow, and if he was safe.

She wanted so badly to leave Mifkit and go find him, and help him defeat Ozma once and for all, but she knew better.

She had no idea if the emerald could protect her from the illness. Glinda had tried to enter Oz when they were still traveling back from Aglas, and she was almost overtaken with the symptoms.

They reached Dorothy's tent that she once shared with Scarecrow, and they began to plan their attack of Oz once they hear from Scarecrow.

She could see Jonah giving her side-glances after Scarecrow left. She knew he was angry that she had resorted to magic on the battlefield, but she would not regret her decision.

She had overheard him and Oran arguing over it the other day, and she almost stepped in, but Oran had ended the conversation without another word. She would wait until they could speak in private before anything more was said.

They thought they had heard that Reginald found another way into Oz that they would use to follow his trail, but Dorothy thought they would probably set traps that way.

Finally, after a while Dorothy was grateful to be alone with her thoughts for a while.

Khali came in and looked at her and said, "You need to stop worrying. Scarecrow is a great warrior, and will be able to get to Ozma."

Dorothy raised an eyebrow in question. "I have no doubts about that, it is your brother who will try to stand in his way."

Khali sighed, and set down the water pitcher. She rubbed her eyes, and said, "I know. I wish I could change things about this."

"Ozma will give him his powers back," Dorothy commented. She knew it was almost time to give the shape shifters their powers again. It wasn't fair on all of them to pay for something one has done.

Khali looked down, and said, "I know, but what will she give him?"

Dorothy looked at her friend. "I don't know, but it will be up to you to talk some sense into him if the time comes, but just remember one thing."

Khali eyed her questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"Khali, if Scarecrow does come face to face with him, then he will kill him. I hope you can accept that," Dorothy said.

Khali's eyes teared up for a moment. Dorothy knew she was fighting her inner battle, and it was between her loyalty to Tin Man and to her brother.

"I know," her voice shook as she spoke. "I understood that the moment my brother decided to be loyal to Ozma."

Suddenly, Khali looked at Dorothy and could see another inner battle going on with the emotions in her eyes.

"Dorothy, I think there is something you should know," Khali began.

Dorothy turned and scrunched her eyebrows at Khali's hesitation.

"Another secret?" Dorothy asked. "Haven't we had enough of those?"

Khali nodded furiously, and Dorothy could see the tears in her eyes. "It's about the baby you lost."

Dorothy froze. Her miscarriage haunted her enough as it was. Everyday and every night there wasn't a moment that she didn't think about what could have been. Scarecrow and her had talked about over and over again. Dorothy had also gone over it in her head, and knew she wasn't hurt enough to miscarry. At least, that's what she wanted to believe.

Dorothy looked over her friend steadily, and asked, "What about it?"

However, before Khali could speak more, Jonah and his advisors were calling for Dorothy. Dorothy was agitated about being interrupted about her baby, but knew she had to see Jonah. After their conversation she would let Ami, and Khali know she would restore their powers.

"I have to see him, Khali," Dorothy muttered turning to the table and taking a deep breath trying to calm her nerves.

Ami entered the tent and said, "I could tell him to come back later, your grace."

"No. I need to speak with him anyway," Dorothy answered.

Ami nodded and held back the tent flap for the King to enter. Oscar who was muttering curses under his breath, and Oran who was also looking angry followed him closely behind.

Dorothy sighed. She was never a drinker, but after this week she thought a nice glass of red wine would do right about now.

Dorothy knew she had to face up to what she did, and did not want this to come back down on Scarecrow.

"I know what you want to speak about, Jonah, and you can punish me, but don't punish Scarecrow for my decision," Dorothy said taking a sip of water.

Jonah's pale eyes narrowed, and Dorothy could have sworn he began to glow. "Dorothy, you don't know this, but I too possess magic, but I chose to fight along side you to win against the evil that is in Oz. When you break the rules there is a price to pay."

Dorothy looked him square in the face. "Like I have stated. Do not punish Scarecrow for what I chose to do. We were losing, and I had to do something."

"If the rest of the counsel finds out…."

"I don't care what they find out!"

Dorothy slammed her glass onto the table in anger making everyone jump.

"They do not reside in Oz. People and the creatures there are dying! What don't you understand about that? My husband is risking his life for them, and I will be damned if I just stand by and watch them die."

King Jonah stood there silently for a moment in thought. Dorothy and the rest of the group awaited him to say something.

Dorothy leaned back against the table in thought for a moment. She was now figuring out what Scarecrow went through so many years as King. What the price was for that kind of power. She often teased him for the flecks of gray beginning to show in his dark hair, but now she knew, she knew why they were there. Even though he had been made of straw his whole reign, there was still a price to pay for the stress.

"I remember when I came to Oz. I was so enchanted by it. I was even convinced I had dreamt the whole thing. In fact, I never knew in a million years I would be standing here and defending a land I fell in love with not too many years ago. I would now die to defend it, and bring it back to what it once was. I would also die to defend the man I fell in love with when I came here," Dorothy continued breathing heavily as she challenged Jonah.

Jonah nodded. "I understand Dorothy. You have fought bravely, and you are not from this world…"

Jonah couldn't even finish his sentence as screams resonated through the allies' encampment.

Ami suddenly ran into the tent. "Your grace! There is a dragon flying into the camp!"

Everyone stood there frozen for a moment. Then Dorothy heard the roar, and suddenly felt the heat as the fire began to engulf the tents and the camp.

Ami grabbed Dorothy by the arm before she could do anything else, and the group exited the tent to their horror.

Dorothy could only see the shadow of wings as it flew over them. She wanted to cover her ears at the screams that surrounded her.

"Arm yourselves!" Oran cried out as the dragon passed over them again.

"Dorothy! We have to go!" Oscar yelled to her.

Dorothy looked up to sky to get a good look at the dragon, and caught a flash of yellow eyes.

Her own brown eyes widened in horror as she realized who it was.

Boren!

Everyone scattered as Boren began to breath fire over him or her once more. Dorothy could smell the burning around her, and she could only stay still as he left scorched ground and things in his wake.

Dorothy turned to Oscar who stayed by her side, and said, "It's Boren!"

Oscar's eyes widened in horror and fear at the revelation, and began to look around for Glinda.

More screams and sickening sounds came as Boren came through the camp once more.

"Boren! No!" Khali screamed as Tin Man stood in front of her to protect her from the fire.

Boren seemed to ignore her and Dorothy knew he was coming right for her.

Lion came out of his tent with Leandra, and roared loudly, but he knew he could not do anything.

Boren landed right in front of Dorothy, and Dorothy turned and pushed Oscar out of the way.

His wings flapped gently as he landed. His color was a purple and black color of a lizard. His eyes glowed yellow in the darkening sky.

"Come with me Dorothy, and no one else has to die," Boren said through heavy breaths that smoked.

Dorothy immediately grabbed the emerald, and began to say the ancient words of Oz. She willed it to stop Boren before destroyed everything.

Boren saw what she was doing, and laughed, but it was more of a snort of fire that just barely missed Dorothy.

"Your powers can't touch me anymore," he said to her.

Dorothy didn't know if he was bluffing, but she had to try. She threw fire at him, and then more and more, but he just continued to laugh.

Suddenly, Khali ran up to her brother, and yelled. "Boren! Stop this!"

"Move, Khali, and you will live," he said in a deep voice to her.

Dorothy suddenly thought of something. Had he already gotten to Scarecrow? Had he burned him to ash? Was Scarecrow already dead?

Dorothy felt the tears in her eyes as she thought the worst about her husband.

She looked around the burning encampment, and knew she would have to go with him.

Everyone stood off to the side, and she could see Glinda trying a spell, but Boren turned to her and laughed at her as well.

Whatever Ozma had done to Boren he was no immune to their powers.

Then King Jonah walked up beside Dorothy. He was really glowing now. He began to chant something Dorothy did not understand, and Boren began to shake, and then he screamed in pain as Jonah continued chant with his eyes closed, and his hand pointed to Boren.

Boren fell to the ground, and began to writhe around as Jonah walked towards him still saying the chant.

Boren then lay there very still, and Jonah stopped what he was doing.

Khali began to scream in grief as Tin Man held her. Dorothy could not see Boren breathing anymore. She felt relief wash over her as everyone began to approach cautiously.

Dorothy began to walk up behind Jonah when Boren suddenly moved.

A sick feeling went through her stomach as Boren began to laugh on the ground, and suddenly rose and spread his wings, and roared.

Jonah stood back in shock as the dragon that stood before him dwarfed him.

"Puny man. You have no power over me," Boren bellowed.

Dorothy had to turn away as the fire came from Boren's mouth, and Jonah was no more. His screams of pain would haunt her dreams for the rest of her life. Just one of many that would. His soldiers, and advisors began to scatter like ants.

"Boren!"

Everyone turned to Dorothy who now stood near Jonah's ashes.

"I will go with you, just don't hurt anyone else," Dorothy yelled up to him as his hot breath hit her face. She could have sworn her eyebrows began to singe from the heat.

His lizard shaped head looked down at her, and he smiled with his fangs showing.

"Smart move, Dorothy Gale," he said.

Before Dorothy could walk into his talon, Ami stepped in front of her stopping her.

"No, Boren! It does not have to be this way, my friend," Ami said putting Dorothy behind him.

"Ami…no…." Dorothy said trying to push him out of the way, but he stayed put.

"Let her come to me, Ami. I don't want to have to kill you," Boren said.

"Boren….. I sworn an oath to Scarecrow to protect his wife. I will not rescind. If you kill me then you feel the wrath of the Scarecrow King," Ami said to him.

Dorothy began to whisper behind Ami, and Boren could see it and his eyes narrowed. He began to roar, and both of them jumped back in fear.

"You were changing him back!" Boren snarled at Dorothy.

Dorothy became defiant, and stood beside Ami. "Yes, and what are you going to do about it?"

Boren snarled, and said, "Dorothy Gale, if you don't come with me now. I will kill everyone here, and then I will find Scarecrow and he can join you all!"

Dorothy felt a slight relief that Scarecrow must have been safe for the moment.

Then Ami began to change into a dragon, but he was much smaller than Boren. Dorothy had jump back and was pulled out of the crowd by Oran as the two dragons began to fight through the air.

Dorothy had seen many things living in Oz, but never thought she would see two dragons fighting. Dorothy could only watch in awe and horror as the gargoyles flew through the air and try to help Ami, but they were easily overtaken.

Then she heard a cry as Tin Man watched Khali shape shift, and become a smaller dragon herself. Her color was gold. It was something Dorothy could have never imagined in her wildest dreams.

It was not to be. Boren flung his sister with his mouth through the air easily, and she landed off in the distance. Tin Man took off running after her.

Dorothy screamed as Ami landed hard in front of her. His lizard like skin was singed to the point he was almost unrecognizable.

Dorothy ran over to him and he became human again. She cried, because she knew he was dying. She began to get out her emerald, but Ami stopped her.

"No, your grace," he said stopping her hand. "I am sorry I could not protect you."

Dorothy felt the tears run down her cheeks as she rubbed his head. "Go. Your son awaits."

Ami smiled slightly, and she felt him stop breathing in her arms.

Boren landed in front of her. She could see the regret and sadness in his eyes.

"Are you happy now?" Dorothy asked angrily still holding Ami's corpse.

"You must come with me, Dorothy. Please don't make me do anymore," he said with guilt in his lizard eyes.

Dorothy laid Ami gently on the ground. She began to walk over to his open talon. She ignored the screams around her. She could not take any more chances. Too many lives were lost already. She was ready to face Ozma now. It was time to end this. She had made a promise to Scarecrow she would kill Ozma, and she intended to keep that promise.

She wondered where Scarecrow was now, and knew it would shock him to discover her back in Oz. She wondered if she would get sick from the spell. She wondered if she could protect herself from with the emerald.

Still ignoring the pleas from her friends. Boren sat her on his back, and they took off high into the air.

…..

Scarecrow hid in the trees as the dragon passed over his head. He had seen the dragon leave Emerald City a few days ago, and it was heading in the direction of Mifkit.

Scarecrow knew who it was, and knew what he wanted.

Deep down Scarecrow knew Dorothy would give up to save lives, and she was probably on that dragon. He could only pray that the spell, which he now witnessed first hand, would not affect her.

Scarecrow looked down at his gloved hands. He was straw, and not a man. He had defeated a dragon before being straw. He could do it again.

It was now down to Scarecrow and Dorothy fighting Ozma.