Chapter 40
Who would have thought this story would have gone 40 chapters? I never intended that, and I still am sad to say goodbye to my heroes, but I can only put poor Dorothy and Scarecrow through so much.
I never thought I would be writing this long either. It has been an emotional journey on this one, but well worth it.
I am going to post an epilogue after this chapter for an idea I have, I hope to get some feedback on it.
Thank you to all of you. You guys are the best readers on fanfiction.
I do not own anything from Wizard of Oz, the books, the movies, or anything else like Wicked.
Scarecrow could not help but stare at Dorothy in shock as she fired the gun into the air.
He had no idea what her thoughts were in exposing them to Oz, but she had to have a good reason.
She turned to the crowd, and everyone quieted to listen to their savior. Scarecrow always said she could get the citizens attention better than anyone including himself. Though she hated every moment of it. Which he could tell she was now. He could see she was almost shaking like a leaf, and he didn't think it was still her recovering from her illness.
Like him, she had enough of everything. They had already been through a war, a kidnapping, and death too many times to count on their fingers. She was done with this, and how could he even blame her?
Scarecrow could have run up on the stage to join her, even take over, but this was her moment, and he was going to go by whatever she wanted. Who knows she might even agree to be queen, but he didn't know. If she did that, then he would step up, but he seriously doubted it.
He knew she would make the right decision.
She looked around and caught his eye for reassurance. Scarecrow smiled slightly and nodded to her. She was scared, but she needed to do this.
"Is this what you want for Oz?" She began after looking around a little more. "Is this what people have risked their lives for?"
"Yes, Scarecrow and I are alive and believe me we are grateful to everyone who helped us, but that does not mean that we can fix all of your problems. It does not mean that Oscar or Glinda can solve all of your woes," she said gesturing to the couple standing behind her.
"It is your decision to take back Oz, and make it the land of enchantment that I remember so well from my childhood, not ours, and certainly not the councils," she continued.
She turned and smiled at Oran in apology, and Oran winked at her.
"Scarecrow, myself, and my friends are tired of the fighting, the war, and whatever else fate has thrown at us. We don't want to see you suffer anymore, that is why we love this land so much. This is why, if you all agree, I say you make a decision to seize control of Oz now, and make your other leaders stand up and do what is right for your land," she finished.
The people began to murmur, and some even welcomed Scarecrow back as they stood there.
Some people, and Scarecrow recognized them as local leaders begin to step up from the crowd, and said things to Dorothy that Scarecrow could not hear.
Dorothy nodded and said, "I hope when we come back to Oz one day, this will be as I remembered from when I was a young girl."
Scarecrow's eyes widened in shock, and there was a collective gasp among the people and creatures.
Some people began to cry, and others were just astonished.
Scarecrow looked around sadly at his beloved home, but he knew this is what they both wanted.
They had spoken at length about it when they were still in Dorothy's world, and they both knew without saying it they had come to their final decision.
Tin Man walked up to Scarecrow with Khali by his side, and said, "I always knew it would come to this, brother. I wish I could change your mind, and ask you to stay."
"It is time for Oz to take a new direction, and that means for Dorothy and myself as well," Scarecrow answered embracing the couple.
Tin Man looked over at Khali and smiled, and in turn she smiled back. "We feel the same way."
"Us too," Lion said trying not to get emotional. Leandra had tears coming down her fur, and was wiping them away.
Loila and Lorna were clinging to Dorothy on the stage as she kneeled and spoke to them. The people began to discuss things amongst themselves, and everything seemed to be settling down as the council began to speak. The people and the creatures were starting to agree on what needed to be done. Scarecrow could see a few arguments going, but nothing that concerned him at the moment.
Dorothy nodded to Oran who picked her up in a bear hug, and told her everything would be all right.
Scarecrow tried not to cry, but knew it was futile.
Dorothy finally whispered something to Glinda that Scarecrow could not hear.
There were gasps behind him as the portal between their two worlds opened.
Dorothy finally said goodbye to the last of her friends. The tears rolled down her cheeks as they did so long ago when she decided to go home the first time. However, this time was a little different. She had a Scarecrow she could take with her, and that made her smile.
Scarecrow and Dorothy stared at each other for a moment, and he took her hand in his.
Dorothy took a deep breath. She was scared to what their future was, but excited at the same time. She knew they would have to adjust to the whole new life, and one they were not familiar with. It would take some getting used to, but they were ready and willing.
They could always come back if all else failed.
They stepped through the portal and Dorothy saw things that she couldn't have imagined in her wildest dreams even living in Oz.
Dorothy looked around, and was satisfied they were now in her world again. They stood in the middle of a field, and Dorothy knew she was back in Kansas.
Suddenly, she looked down, and opened her closed hand.
"What is it?" Scarecrow asked looking down at Dorothy concerned.
Dorothy gasped and couldn't even speak for a moment as the emerald began to glow in her palm.
Sunlight comes creeping in
Illuminates our skin
We watch the day go by
Stories of all we did
It made me think of you
It made me think of you
Under a trillion stars
We danced on top of cars
Took pictures of the stage
So far from where we are
They made me think of you
They made me think of you
Oh lights go down
In the moment we're lost and found
I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
Oh damn these walls
In the moment we're ten feet tall
And how you told me after it all
We'd remember tonight
For the rest of our lives
I'm in a foreign state
My thoughts they slip away
My words are leaving me
They caught an aeroplane
Because I thought of you
Just from the thought of you
Oh lights go down
In the moment we're lost and found
I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
Oh damn these walls
In the moment we're ten feet tall
And how you told me after it all
We'd remember tonight
For the rest of our lives
If these wings could fly
Oh lights go down
In the moment we're lost and found
I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
Oh damn these walls
In the moment we're ten feet tall
And how you told me after it all
We'd remember tonight
For the rest of our lives
The end.
Stay tuned for the epilogue!
Credit to Birdy the song is "Wings."