TN: So, Herald, we're finally Oz. Remember when we planned this so long ago?
TUH: Disregard Oz! I'ltorien!
TN: And we all get to get our Lollypop Guild on! (starts heaving and dying)
TUH: Oh god. OH GOD!
TN: Yes there is a lot of singing in the next chapter, so be ready.
TN: Anything you want to say, Herald?
TUH: Compulsive Backstabbing Disorder!
TN: Um. . . okay. Anyway, time for the disclaimers! Hey, you two love-birds! Get over here!
*Enter Sora and Kairi*
Sora: Hey you're not supposed to let the audience know we're dating!
TN: Well that hasn't happened yet. We're telling this story years after at it happened. The audience doesn't know when you two started dating!
Kairi: As they argue back and forth-
TUH: ZOD! KNEEL BEFORE ME!
Kairi: Um. . . anyway, you know what they don't and do own. See ya after the chapter!
Chapter V
Welcome to Oz
I'ltorien
July 16, 2010
One groaned, her consciousness slowly returning. That blow to her chest had catapulted her neck-straight into the ground. Still, she wasn't sore at all. Again, miraculous recoveries were her shtick apparently. Still, this time she was grateful for it. She woke up to a nursing Rhys, the orange haired priest chanting some quick incantations to get her up. It was obvious to her that he was simply hastening her return to consciousness, but still, she felt grateful to the white clad priest, smiling at him, wordlessly thanking him and sitting up.
Gratefulness. . . when was the last time she had felt like that before arriving at this group of obvious rebels? The answer was two years ago when they had given her. . .
"No!" She gasped after reaching to her right ear. She had lost it, her only memory of them. First it was the left one that she had left behind when escaping her captor, and now this one. Tears began to form in her eyes as a mix of frustration and sadness took over her. However, this was short lived, a brunet girl immediately taking notice and rushing to her side.
"Are you looking for this?" Mist questioned, reaching for her purse and unraveling a small water-drop shaped sapphire earring. One quickly took it from the girl's hand, caressing it with a nigh obsessive attitude, her eyes glazed upon the earring. Mist was confused, so was Rhys, who took note to have her mentally checked. The battle's sudden blood thirst and now this? "Um. . ." Mist had no idea what to call her, and as much as the young woman hated, she had to give her "that" name.
"You can call me One for now. I'm used to it," only Rhys understood just how that affected the woman, Mist agreeing immediately, quickly sating her curiosity.
"Where did you get that? It's really pretty!" the young girl exclaimed, smiling at One in a way that broke her obsessive look and forced her into a reminiscent gaze.
"Two years ago. . . the only two people I ever called friends gave it to me on my birthday. Nobody ever celebrated my birthday before," One told her, shaking her head to avoid any of the emotions, but the longing still came back. But she never expected Mist's reaction.
"Nobody? When is your birthday?!" she suddenly ask, taking One aback, but she still answered.
"O-October 18th. It's my seventeenth birthday," she explained. She didn't know how a little girl, one she didn't know, could so easily make her reveal parts of her personality. She had never willingly given up information about herself before.
"I'll talk with Eli! I bet she'll throw a party for you! She's rich!" Again, One was completely taken aback. She could only mouth:
"Why would you?" The girl barely knew her. For all she knew, One could be a spy. And yet she was already wanting to fulfill a deep desire One had always had rooted deep inside her ever since that day two years ago.
"Why not? You're nice, strong, pretty. I wish I could be like you! You deserve people giving you a party! And I know you'll get along just fine with everyone here, so you'll have a LOT of friends to have sing Happy Birthday!" It was so childish, the way she moved, the way she jumped and praised One so much. But it brought a full smile for the first time to her face. She didn't know why, but she would not wonder. For it only lasted for a few moments. Those few moments were bliss.
"You. . . you don't wish you could be like me. You shouldn't!" she suddenly screamed in a burst of aggressiveness, clutching her hands to her head and letting it hit the ground. The bloody murder of hundreds of children while she was nothing but a toddler herself flashed in her mind. She looked at her hands and saw blood. It wouldn't be cleaned. It would never vanish.
"It is not your fault," she heard a voice tell her. Turning to the side she saw the man Ike called master. Stefan was it? "We know exactly what went down in the facility now. Our spies got to know it better after the fires a few days ago. The actions you were forced to take do not define you, young one." The way he spoke was so wise. Too wise for a person that didn't look a day older than thirty. Still, this hardly preoccupied One. She cackled lowly, surprising the trio around her.
"You don't understand, do you? I enjoyed it. That's why I'm ashamed of it. The blood seeping away from their bodies. The skin palling as it flowed freely, just as free as their last breath. The thrill of survival. . . it was the only kind of pleasure I had! I am not the girl you see! I'm much more. I'm a monster!" She was screaming, shrieking by now. Her eyes completely dipped into lunacy so vast that Stefan reached for his blade. Then, as fast as it came, it vanished, leaving the girl to slowly remember what she had just said. One slowly looked around, seeing Mist hiding behind Rhys, tears streaming down the girl's face. Tears falling down her cheeks right afterward. "I- I. . ."
"Say no more. We'll help you, I can promise you that," Stefan told her, his hand caressing the girl's scalp as she cried. She could swear he whispered: "Those monsters. . ." Probably aimed at the Empire.
"Hey everyone!" Ike exclaimed as he made his way into the tent. His expression quickly shifted as he saw the situation. "Is something wrong?" he asked. One wanted to say it was. She didn't FEEL ready to take on the world just now. But she would never feel ready as long as she existed and Ike was her ticket to being heard. She shook her head.
"Not anymore," she told Ike, who, even after scuffing, decided not to prod deeper, maybe because Stefan signaled him to stop.
"Well, fine, I won't go further. Still, I have some good news. Our contractor has agreed to take you to the council today!" the mercenary exclaimed, some brightness returning to One's eyes as she was told that. Maybe now she understood why she was here and what they wanted from her.
"You mean Eli?" Mist asked, still behind Rhys' robes, albeit not grabbing onto the priest. That all changed when Ike nodded. In a flash, she ran out of the tent crying "ELIIIII!"
"Calm yourself Mist!" Ike sighed as that voice came from the outside. Moments later, a woman entered the tent holding the younger girl's hand. One recognized her instantly as nobility and cringed. She hadn't had the best experience with nobles. Still, Eli felt a bit off. Yes, that orange dress, trimmed with what deduced to be real gold, red heels that followed the same convention with puffy shoulders laced with gold bracelets finishing up with both a tiara and a pair of gold earrings. All of that meant she dressed like one. Yes, that emerald hair tied in a perfect bun before sliding across her back past her shoulders was far too perfectly cut for her to be a commoner that it reminded One of her. Still, behind those amber eyes there seemed to be no smugness, no discrimination towards her or anyone in the room. It was the exact opposite. She seemed. . . unsure of herself? So unsure that she simply stared at One, her lips twitching but nothing coming out of them. She couldn't help but wonder if Eli was afraid of her. She wouldn't be the first.
"This is our contractor, Elincia Ridell Crimea. She's the duchess of one of the lands around the capital, Crimea," Ike explained, seeing as the woman wasn't able to do so herself. "Don't mind her, she's just shy."
"Thank you, my lord Ike. I can take it from here," Elincia replied, making Ike take his palm to the face.
"I'm not a 'lord' Elincia," he said with quite a bit of annoyance. One took note that he didn't seem to like nobility either.
"Oh, I apologize Sir Ike. Force of habit, you see?" Ike sighed at the Sir, but felt it to be more appropriate and let Elincia do the rest of the talking. "And you must be lady. . ."
"You can call me One for now. I'm used to it." One told her, not making eye contact as she did.
"But that's degrading," Elincia replied, only to receive the bad kind of eye contact.
"As I said, I'm used to it!" Stefan winced as that voice came again. Even One didn't know it was being so prevalent. Must've been because of how she had just woken up from a loss.
"A-alright. I'm truly sorry One. Shall we go? It is already nightfall and some of the attendees are very strict with timing, even if our leader is not." One was surprised to see how outside of the tent it was in fact, nightfall. She nodded at the proposal, wondering why their leader was lax on timing. As she left though, someone grabbed her hand. A small, weak hand with a firm grip. She turned to see Mist, hope in her eyes as she extended her other hand upwards.
"You dropped this when you were screaming," she explained, handing her the earring. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. . ."Again, what was this kind of treatment they gave One? It wasn't like they were her. "I just wanted to be friends!"
"No one said we couldn't be." One didn't even think about the response, surprising herself. Was she so easy to manipulate? Or was it because this girl was just so. . . honest? Still, the reaction really brightened her day.
"Really?! I have to tell Rolf about this!" She squealed, jolting outside of the tent. Once more, One smiled. She didn't remember the last time she had smiled so much in a day. With that, she followed Elincia to the outside coming face to face with a Pegasus. Not kidding. A Pegasus.
"Climb on. Gwydion doesn't mind a second passage and we're already late as it is." One didn't even dare to ask how she had a Pegasus, let alone how did they exist. With a proud neigh, the horse took flight into the night sky up and above the fortress.
"Where are we going?" questioned One. Elincia pointed to the horizon, an imposing mountain appearing through the darkness and mist.
"See that mountain? Our last resort and most secure fortress is located inside it. We do not use it as much as only the most trustworthy members of organization even know of it, never would we want spies to know its weaknesses," she explained, and while it made perfect sense to One, she had created another question.
"And you are trusting me with it?" she asked, to which Elincia turned and weakly smiled.
"Perhaps I am too trusting, but you have gone through too much for us to impose even more hurdles for you to go through," she replied, once again giving One the rusty feeling of gratitude. It almost seemed too good to be true. "That and I know how you feel." One let her head fall to the side in curiosity. The tone had completely changed. "I too, had no one to go to before out leader helped me and my land back to our feet. He even rescued my brother and sister from the clutches of Mateus,"
"The Emperor. . ." One began.
"We missed our taxes. Once. Never again," Elincia replied as they approached an entrance to the mountain. A giant balcony to be precise. On it, One could see a large round table, four people sitting in the circle. "We're here!" Elincia tried to brighten the mood as they landed. The Pegasus landed onto the balcony and all eyes were laid upon the duo. One took a look at the people she would have to talk to.
The only woman was someone that seemed to be in no more than her late teens. She wore a white and gold cropped shirt over a leather waist swath and a bright pink mini-skirt secured by a thick light-blue belt. Her legs were protected by metal leg-guards up to her mid-thigh, and a pair of gold metal open-toed shoes with darker pink stockings underneath. Her hair was a sandy blond color, cropped in the middle and layered to outline her young but determined expression. She seemed to be annoyed at their lateness, all four of her fingers tapping away at the table.
On the exact opposite to her was a man in a sophisticated white suit, blonde hair stylized to the side. This one seemed the most angry of them all, cringing his teeth as they arrived.
And to his side, there was a man in dark woolen pants and a dark green vest. His curtained hair was a strange color, dark blue, just like Ike's. Emerald eyes stared at her, not Elincia, only her. He didn't seem angry, nor annoyed. He was passive, unreadable. To his side was a purely silver broadsword, ready for all occasions.
Finally, the last member seemed the most relaxed out of them all, feet laying on the table and hands caressing the back of his neck, where his messy, shoulder length sandy blonde hair fell. He wore the most laid back clothing out of everyone there, a buttoned shirt unbuttoned to the middle of the chest, revealing a very muscled body, yet somehow hairless. There were some baggy woolen black pants covering his legs. His expression was one of pure boredom. What was he doing here?
Elincia and One jumped down from Gwydion, who went to join a wyvern and two large black birds to the side of the balcony. Elincia walked towards them and sat down, the stares now focusing on her guest. They were only broken by the one that didn't seem to give a crap about what had just happened as he said:
"Finally we can start this! Well, you all know about our recent troubles with the local wildlife. Any of you found a way to fix it yet?" the man said, seemingly ignoring One.
"My Commander, if I may, can we change the schedule of the meeting for just this once?" Elincia asked, the bored look on the man's face vanishing as he took a better look at One. One wondered how THIS could be their commander. Their leader.
"Holy— you're up and running already?!" he questioned, sitting normally for the first time. "Okay, okay! We're discussing her! Begin!" How was this guy a leader again?
"If I may ask, what should we do with One? The Empire will surely double their efforts against us just for her. We are all in danger, even her." The show of concern from Elincia really cemented One's trust for her.
"We should do our best to hide her from the Empire. If they capture her, it will be a true disaster," The woman suggested, and while she didn't say it was for One's good, there was no detachment in her voice. So, as of now, two of the council members seemed like decent people. Still, the man with the blade shook his head.
"Come now Amalia, you cannot tell me you believe you can hide HER of all people from the gaze of Mateus. She would be of much bigger service to both us and herself if she enlisted in the army. She would at least be able to protect herself." This one was colder than the last two, but again, he seemed to treat her as a person. One was flabbergasted at how they acted. Every single one of them was one in a thousand where she came from. But then, he talked.
"I agree with Zelgius. Let's face it, we have the weapon they most desperately want, why not use it against them?" It. Again with it. He had called her it. Not her. It.
Lava wouldn't burn as hot as her insides were. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, all of them harkening to the scientist that endlessly treated her as they would a tool. This man saw her as a tool. . . he wanted to use her as a tool.
"It. . .?" She was losing control. Everyone's stares concentrated into her hair. She knew what was happening, but was powerless to stop it. "Who the hell do you think you ARE?!"One screamed, throwing the table outside the balcony and down the mountain. Zelgius tried to reach for his sword, but before he could do so, the man in white had been slammed against the wall, One's hand crushing his larynx as her eyes burned violet, slitting much like a feline's. "What gives you the right to call us a thing? She wanted to trust you. She wanted to believe you weren't all the same stinking piles of shit! But I knew. . . I knew it all along!" One. . . or whoever was talking, started to increase the pressure, the man in white starting to go purple by lack of oxygen. He was begging her to stop. "Give me a reason why I shouldn't just let you die you scum!"
"Because you will be sinking as low as he did," The commander to the organization replied, easily taking her wrist and pulling her hand from the man in white. He then looked at her, his eyes red and slit much like hers. She was. . . afraid of this man. His expression had completely changed. Everyone seemed to be paralyzed at his mere presence. Now she understood why he was the leader. He then told her: "Get her back, I don't want, nor do I think, talking to you will solve anything." No one but Zelgius knew what he meant, as Zelgius nodded his head in understanding. But the girl did. She started to laugh. A dark, somber laughter, much different from what Elincia was used to.
"You. You're interesting. I guess there's some merit in sticking around if she wants to. Here, have your pretty little princess back." And with that, One went back to normal. Zelgius seemed to let his guard down a bit, and the woman sat back down on their now table-less chairs. The storm had seemed to have passed, for both their leader and their would-be recruit.
"I'm. . . so sorry. I can't control it. She does what she wants when I get angry," One explained, the leader shaking his head and touching her head gently.
"I know, don't worry about it. We went about this the wrong way. What we should be asking is not what we want to do with you, but what YOU want to do now," he explained, One's eyes jolting open at the offer. Complete liberty?! "You see, we can't let you go. The Empire will simply find you and kill you. . . or worse, take you back in." He shook his head again, as if exorcizing some of his ghosts before giving the second part of his speech. "You can either join us in our battle or ask us for shelter. Either way we'll be happy to have you here, away from those monsters." He was almost spilling venom with that last line. Whatever the Empire had done to him, it was bad.
One didn't know what to do really. A part of her cried out for revenge, but the other one just wanted peace, to be left alone, run away from everything, like what her and her best friend had promised to do if they had escaped together. She couldn't decide. Not in so little time.
"I need some time. Please, it is too much for me to answer in such short notice." She was surprised to see the man smile brightly at her request, nodding and saying:
"I'll be here tomorrow. . . and the day after it, and the one after that. Come to me when you decide, no rush." And with that and a pat on the top of her head, One knew that she was in a better place.
HoL:TS
Oz
July 23, 2010
Sora unbuckled himself from the pilot's seat, his muscles hurting and sore from the rough landing. He groaned as he stood up and looked around to his friends. In the commotion, Roxas and Naminé had fled into Sora and Kairi respectively. Merideth had been thrown out of her seat due to the violence of the tornado, and Sora rushed over to her, despite the pain in his muscles.
"Merideth, are you okay?" Sora asked as he helped her sit up. She had a a knot on her head and a bruise forming under her eye, over her cheek. Sora cast a simple Cure spell and relieved both ailments. She muttered her thanks before letting him help her to her feet. He then glanced at Kairi who was just getting out of her seat. The three of them walked to the side door of the gummi ship and opened the door. Right in front of them was a window. A window to a wooden house. On the inside was a girl with reddish brown hair in braids. She was wearing a blue and white dress and a brown and black dog was licking her face. Sora opened the window and climb through, once again helping a girl up.
"Oh my, thank you, sir," the girl replied. She stood up hurriedly, grabbing a picnic basket and and her terrier. She looked past the window and into the ship.
"What kind of house is that?" she asked, peering into it.
"It's a. . ." Sora just remembered that he couldn't interfere with the world order, which he broke all the time anyway.
"A mobile home," Kairi answered smartly.
"Oh, it's nice," the girl answered, satisfied with the answer. Sora thanked any deities that she did not take the mater further. She then looked at Sora and his company.
"Hi, I'm Dorothy, Dorothy Gale. And this is Toto," she said, introducing her and her terrier. "And who're you?" she asked.
"I'm Merideth Richards," Merideth replied, shaking Dorothy's hand. Dorothy shook back, quite enthusiastically in fact.
"I'm Kairi and this is Sora," Kairi said, indicating herself and then Sora. They shook Dorothy's hand as well, and then a confused look dawned over her face.
"Don't you two have last names?" the fifteen year old asked them. Sora and Kairi looked at each other. Even Merideth was looking at them with interest.
"Where we come from, you don't have a last name until you marry someone. Then you choose to share any last name that you wish," Sora explained. Kairi nodded to back him up.
"Oh, well that's very odd," Dorothy replied. "Those are also such strange clothes you all are wearing. Where did you all come from, might I ask?" Dorothy inquired. Sora looked from Kairi to Merideth before answering. He had a feeling by the time they left this world that he would have broken the world order, so he tried not to now.
"We come from very far away. Our clothes are probably made differently than here," he told her smartly. She eyed him suspiciously before nodding her approval. Then her face changed into revelation.
"Come on, let's go check on Aunt Em and Uncle Henry." She said, dragging Sora by the wrist, Kairi and Merideth just plodding along.
"Who's that?" Merideth asked as they weaved through the house to the front door. They stopped, Dorothy letting go of Sora and placing her hand on the door handle. She looked back at them with shock.
"Why, it's Auntie Em and Uncle Henry, of course. And then there's Zeke, Hickory and Hunk," she replied. Sora just nodded, going along with her. She turned the door handle. The door opened. And they were exposed to a whole new world.
They tentatively stepped out of the house and into the most colorful environment Sora had ever seen. There was color everywhere. There were conflagrations of red, blue, yellow and green, pink, white, and everything else in between. There were waterfalls and ponds and plants of every kind. They were large blooming flowers of orange, yellow, and all the other colors. There were houses and buildings, all different colors and there were trees lining different paths. There was a center that held a giant fountain, spewing crystal clear water in a spray. The town was beautiful and grand as birds cruised by, chirping and singing their songs of mystery. Splashes sounded in the streams as fish frothed and frogs plopped, their croaks audible. The sun burst through the trees, shining the with its warmth, love and security. The place was marvelous.
"Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore," Dorothy said to her dog. They group slowly walked to the center, and then from the distance came an enlarging pink bubble. Sparkles twirled and winked within it as it approached them. Then in a flash, where the bubble was, was now a a beautiful woman. She wore a massive pink ball dress and a magnificent crown. She had curly red hair and held a large wand. She looked at them with a motherly smile.
"Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" the woman asked Dorothy, not even recognizing the others for the time being. Dorothy looked surprised.
"Who, me? Why, I'm not a witch at all. I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas," she replied earnestly. The woman sighed.
"Oh! Well. . . is that a witch?" she asked, pointing her wand at Toto.
"Who? Toto? Toto's my dog," Dorothy replied, picking the dog up.
"And what about you two?" she said, pointing at Merideth and Kairi. They both told the woman no, and then her gaze landed on Sora.
"And are you one?" she asked Sora. Kairi and Merideth giggled at him as his face turned red from embarrassment.
"Hey! I'm a boy!" Sora retorted, flailing his arms a little. The woman just looked at him with a chuckle.
"I know, young man," she replied. Kairi and Merideth, now with Dorothy, giggled harder than before. He just huffed and crossed his arms, looking away.
Come now, milady, don't act this way, Roxas said, breaking into laughter.
Can it.
"Well, I'm a little muddled. The Munchkins called me because a new witch has just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. And there's the house, and here you are, and that's all that is left of the Wicked Witch of the East," the woman explained, pointing over at Dorothy's house. And underneath the house were two feet protruding. The stuck out at odd angles, the legs being broken no doubt. There were black and white striped leggins on them and the feet were adorned with slippers. They were made out of ruby! Dorothy, along with Sora, Kairi and Merideth looked at them with shock and then back at the woman.
"And now all the Munchkins want to know is whether you are a good witch or a bad witch?" the woman said, that motherly smile never leaving her face.
"Oh, but I've already told you, I'm not a witch at all, and neither are they. Besides, witches are old and ugly," Dorothy exclaimed. Then there was a squeaking laughter and rustling of plants. Sora and company looked around and saw nothing, though they knew they heard something.
"What was that?" Sora asked the woman.
"Those were the Munchkins. They were laughing because I am a witch. I'm Glinda, the Witch of the North," she explained. Sora figured as much, but Dorothy was shocked.
"Oh! I beg your pardon, but I've never heard of a beautiful witch before," Dorothy exclaimed. Glinda just kept that smile.
"Only bad witches are ugly," Glinda replied. Then, little people appeared from everywhere. Their clothes were very strange, or at least Sora thought so. Plants sprung from the toes of the shoes and they wore many different colors, just like their surroundings. They varied in sizes, but none were taller than 1.2 meters. They wore weird glasses, and odd jewelry and nothing was normal about them. Int his world, Sora thought, normalcy was extremely overrated.
They were all excited and approached the group surrounding Glinda cautiously. "The Munchkins are happy because you freed them from the Wicked Witch of the East," Glinda told Dorothy.
"But what are Munchkins?" Merideth asked as one tugged at her clothes.
"The little people who live in this land. It's Munchkinland, and you are their national heroine, my dear," she said, ending with a point to Dorothy. Then she looked at the remain Munchkins still somewhat hiding. There were so many! Sora had a hard time spotting them all.
"It's all right national heroine, my dear. It's all right you may all come out and thank her. It's all right now, you may all come out," Glinda said. Then the rest emerged. There must have been hundreds of them. Then Dorothy broke out into song.
It really was no miracle. What happened was just this.
The wind began to switch - the house to pitch and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch.
Just then the Witch - to satisfy an itch went flying on her broomstick, thumbing for a hitch
"Do you think she normally just starts singing?" Sora asked to Kairi. Kairi just shrugged her shoulders, seeming not to care. Merideth looked a tad annoyed. But Sora was having fun. He liked her little song. If only he knew that the Munchkins were about to break into song as well.
And oh, what happened then was rich.
The house began to pitch. The kitchen took a slitch.
It landed on the Wicked Witch in the middle of a ditch,
Which was not a healthy situation for the Wicked Witch.
The house began to pitch. The kitchen took a slitch.
It landed on the Wicked Witch in the middle of a ditch,
Which was not a healthy situation for the Wicked Witch.
Who began to twitch and was reduced to just a stitch of what was once the Wicked Witch!
Then a couple of Munchkins walked up to the group of teens. Sora was smiling radiantly right now, having a great time with the songs and singing. The first Munchkin raised his voice.
"We thank you very sweetly, for doing it so neatly," he said with a bow. Then the second one bowed and completed the line: "You've killed her so completely, that we thank you very sweetly!" Everything stopped, and Sora was just a bit let down before. . .
"Let the joyous news be spread, The Wicked Old Witch at last is dead!" Glinda shouted to all. Then every Munchkin broke out with joyous song, laughter, and even music from a marching band. Sora had been to many worlds, but this was probably one of the most festive he had seen yet. Kairi still seemed not to care but Merideth was crossing her arms and furrowing her brow.
"Come on, Merideth, have some fun," Sora tried to tell her.
"We're her on a mission, not to have fun," she spat back. How to the point can she get? Sora thought. Then more song was sung as they hopped into a carriage with Dorothy.
Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
Below below below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!
Then the carriage stopped outside a building with stone steps. Horns blared and out came a male Munchkin, a bit taller than the others, from the same building. Based off of his manner and appearance, he could be surmised as the mayor of Munchkinland. Two others followed him, a barrister and some city fathers. He then began to talk to the group, mainly Dorothy.
"As mayor of the Munchkin City, in the county of the Land of Oz, I welcome you most regally!" he declared to them. Sora had never received such a warm and upbeat welcoming before in any other world.
"But we've got to verify it legally, to see," the barrister said from behind, poking his way into the conversation.
"To see?" the mayor replied.
"If she," the barrister retorted.
"If she?" the mayor asked dumbly.
"Is morally, ethically," the barrister said. Now the two city father joined in.
"Spiritually, physically, positively, absolutely, undeniably and reliably dead."
How do they rhyme EVERYTHING? Roxas exclaimed, mentally slamming his head into a wall, or so to say.
I was just about to ask the same question, Sora responded, not really answering Roxas' question.
Then another Munchkin approached, his badge stating that he was the coroner. Yet, even with his profession, the mood did not drop the slightest. He unfurled a scroll and began to read.
"As coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her. And she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead," he declared, to which there was applause. The mayor quieted down and continued.
"Then this is a day of Independence for all the Munchkins and their descendants," the mayor shouted.
"If any," the barrister piped up.
"Yes, let the joyous news be spread the wicked Old Witch at last is dead!" he shouted, flailing his arms. Then after another chorus of The Witch is Dead, three girls appeared before the group of teens. Sora still hadn't lost his pep. Kairi was about to arrive on Merideth's impatient boat, too.
And of course, they sung.
We represent the Lullaby League.
The Lullaby League.
The Lullaby League.
And in the name of the Lullaby League we wish to welcome you to Munchkinland.
Then three boys did the same.
We represent the Lollypop Guild.
The Lollypop Guild.
The Lollypop Guild.
And in the name of the Lollypop Guild we wish to welcome you to Munchkinland.
Okay, now for the first time, Sora was annoyed. He didn't like the Lollypop Guild. But that annoyance was soon gone. Then, after much singing and dancing, which Sora joined in on, the was a terrible explosion of red smoke and fire, wind curtaining that area. All music and singing stopped. The Munchkins ran for cover and out of fear. The Oblivion was out within the blink of an eye. The person emerging from the fire and the smoke was a witch. Like your stereotypical witch. She had green skin with warts. Eyes as black as pitch to match her gown, cloak, and pointed hat. He held a broom with sagging ends. She twisted in multiple directions looking at all the Munchkins cowering and scared. She smiled at this, exposing yellow and horrid teeth, a fierce smile. She then saw the house and inspected it. She noticed the feet protruding.
"I thought you said she was dead?" Sora said to Glinda.
"She is, but this is her sister. This is the Wicked Witch of the West. And she is worse than the other witch," Glinda responded, her smile now gone and her eyes on the Wicked Witch of the West.
"Who killed my sister? Who killed the Witch of the East? Was it you?" she screeched, pointing her broom and Dorothy and the other teens.
"Leave them alone!" Glinda shouted.
"Stay out of this! I'm here for vengeance! So it was you, wasn't it?" the Witch asked of the teens.
"No! It was an accident! No one meant to kill her," Sora said, stepping protectively in front of the girls.
"Is that it? An accident, eh? Well little ones, I can cause accidents, too. Like this!" the Witch screamed. But just then, Glinda stopped her.
"Aren't you forgetting the Ruby Slippers?" Glinda asked, hoping to distract the Witch.
"Ah! The slippers, yes, the slippers." The Witch spun around and ran to the house. She reached for them, but they disappeared and the feet shriveled and curled in under the house. The Witch's face contorted into anger and shock.
"What?! The slippers are gone!" she screeched. She flailed around and marched up to Glinda and the teens. Sora flashed his Keyblade threateningly at the Witch. It seemed to have no affect.
"Get that Keyblade out of my face you brat!" the Witch yelled.
"How do you know what one of these are?" Sora asked. The fact that she knew was an intimidating factor.
"That doesn't matter! Now give me my slippers!" she howled.
"It's too late. There they are and there they'll stay," Glinda said, pointing to Dorothy's feet. Her shoes had been replaced by the slippers.
"Girl, give me my slippers. I'm the only one who knows how to use them. They are of no use to you!" the Witch said. She was almost pleading with Dorothy.
"Don't give in. Their magic must be powerful or else she would want them so badly," Glinda said to Dorothy and the others.
"Stay out of this Glinda, or I'll fix you, too!" the Witch spat.
"Oh, rubbish! You have no power here. Begone before someone drops a house on you, too!" Glinda spat back.
"Fine, I'll bide my time. As for you my dear, it is true I can't attend to you here as I'd like, but just try to stay out of my way. Just try! I'll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!" she screeched with a cackle. "And I won't forget you three!" she said, pointing at Sora, Kairi and Merideth.
And with a flash of smoke and fire, she was gone. The Munchkins returned cautiously and approached the group. Glinda sighed and looked to Dorothy and Sora.
"You two have made a mean enemy out of the With of the West. It'd be best if you two got out of Oz altogether and fast," Glinda told them. Sora new he could, but he would have to help Dorothy and seal the Keyhole.
"Oh how I wish, but how to I get back to Kansas?" Dorothy asked Glinda, fear in her voice.
"Well, the only person that could help you would be the wonderful Wizard of Oz himself," Glinda replied.
"Is he good or wicked?" Kairi asked.
"Oh very good, but very mysterious. He lives in the Emerald City, and that is a long way away from here. Did you all bring your broomsticks?" she asked them. Sora thought that was an absurd question. He had left his at home. They told her no.
"Well then you'll have to walk, and the only way to walk there would be to follow the Yellow Brick Road.
"Follow the Yellow Brick Road?" Dorothy asked. She mindlessly started walking along it, Sora, Kairi and Merideth following her. Sora thought it was obvious, but he wondered where the Red Brick Road went? He looked and flashed his goofy grin at Kairi and Merideth.
"Ready for an adventure?" he asked through that grin. Kairi giggled at him, covering her mouth. Merideth sighed.
"It's about time," Merideth said, shifting her magical staff.
Song was broken into again as Sora and the girls followed the Yellow Brick Road.
You're off to see the Wizard
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
You'll find he is a whiz of a Wiz
If ever a Wiz there was.
If ever oh ever a Wiz there was
The Wizard of Oz is one because
Because, because, because, because, because. . .
Because of the wonderful things he does!
Sora turned around along with Dorothy and waved at the Munchkins. He was giddy and having so much fun already. Kairi turned to him.
"Sora, how can you always have fun and be happy all the time? The Witch knows the Keyblade. That means she has to know Maleficent and that means Heartless," Kairi asked him. He looked to her as they walked down the road.
"Because Kai, after everything I have seen, it is best to just have fun. If you dwell in dark and depressing thoughts, then you will lose. If you doubt for just one second, failure will follow. I have to be happy and have a goofy time because it will help me win in the end. That's why," he explained to her. She just gave him a small comforting smile before turning and talking to Merideth. Then they came to a fork in the road about two hours later. It was already late afternoon and the sun was sinking. It would be night soon.
"Oh, now which way do we go?" Dorothy exclaimed in frustration.
"Well that way is a very nice way!" a voice announced. They all looked around for the source. All they saw was a scarecrow, its arm pointing to the right.
"Was it the scarecrow?" Sora asked, looking at the startling detailed scarecrow.
"Now Sora, don't be silly," Dorothy said. "Scarecrows—"
"It's pleasant that way, too" the voice said.
"—don't talk. . ." she said. They all looked at the scarecrow. Its arm was now pointing to the left.
"Wasn't he just pointing the other way?" Kairi asked. They all looked at him as his arms crossed, pointing both ways.
"Of course, people do go both ways," he said to them.
"HA! I knew it was the scarecrow," Sora exclaimed, fist pounding the air.
"Well can't you make up your mind?" Merideth asked it.
"Well that's just the problem!" he told the group. "I can't make up my mind 'cause I haven't got a brain!"
"How can you talk without one?" Sora asked. He looked down at them
"I don't know, but would you help me down, please?" Sora ran up to him and unhooked the nail holding the Scarecrow up. The Scarecrow fell and straw flew out of it.
"Oh, there goes some of me," Scarecrow said. He picked it up and stuffed it into the clothing he wore.
"Doesn't it hurt?" Kairi asked him.
"Aw no, I just pick it back up and shove it back in!" he explained to her, or them as it seemed. A crow landed on the shoulder of Scarecrow and he tried to shoo it away, but it wasn't scared. Sora just snapped his fingers and it flew off.
"Oh, I'm such a failure, all 'cause I haven't got a brain," he said glumly.
"Well, what would you do if you had one?" Sora asked. He was interested in knowing what a brained Scarecrow would do.
I could while away the hours
Conferrin' with the flowers. Consultin' with the rain.
And my head I'd be scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
I'd unravel every riddle
For any individ'le
In trouble or in pain.
Oh, I could tell you why the ocean's near the shore
I could think of things I never thunk before.
And then I'd sit and think some more.
I would not be just a nuffin'
My head all full of stuffin'
My heart all full of pain.
I would dance and be merry. Life would be a ding-a-derry
If I only had a brain!
Sora clapped at his song with Dorothy, to which Scarecrow bowed. Kairi just smiled a bit while Merideth seemed not to have cared less.
"That was wonderful! If our scarecrow could do that back in Kansas, the crows would be scared to pieces," Dorothy told him. Sora was sure he would blush if he could.
"Is that so?" Scarecrow asked.
"Yep," Dorothy answered.
"Where's Kansas?" Scarecrow asked.
"Why, that's my home. And I'm so eager to get back that I'm going all the way to Emerald City to ask the Wizard of Oz for help," she explained to him.
"Do you think if I went with you all to see this wizard, that he would give me some brains?" Scarecrow asked.
"Well, I don't see why not," Sora replied, helping Scarecrow to his feet.
"But there's an evil Witch after us," Merideth told him. "It may be dangerous."
"A witch? I'm afraid of no witch. Only thing I'm afraid of is a lighted match, but I'll go through a box full fr a chance at some brains!" he told them.
"Well, then come on!" Sora said.
"Really, well this is great! We're going to see the Wizard!" And together, Sora, Scarecrow and Dorothy started skipping and singing the song the Munchkins had earlier. Sora had a blast. Why was he skipping and singing with people he hardly knew on a different world? The answer was simple and couldn't be argued. That answer was because he wanted to. After the skipping and singing, they continued until evening was descending and the sun left the world, casting night.
"Oh, we better find some shelter," Dorothy said, Toto prancing at her heels. They strayed off the Yellow Brick Road and into a nearby thicket of trees. The overhanging, thick boughs were enough to protect from any rain. And the soft, treadled ground was spongy and soft, perfect for sleeping.
"Scarecrow, you may want to back up. I'm going to make a fire," Sora said after he returned to their little campsite with a lot of wood. He tipped it into a pile and arranged some of it in a more orderly fashion. After Scarecrow backed up he pointed his Keyblade at the pile.
"Fire!" he shouted, and with a rush and whoosh, fire sprung from the wood. The wood crackled and pitched as the fire took full effect.
"Are you a wizard?" Dorothy exclaimed. Sora chuckled and took it as a compliment as he sat down before the flames, letting the heat seep into him. It felt good after a long days travel. All the nights that he, Goofy and Donald would travel, a warm fire had always boosted his morale. He loved the feeling of adventuring, saving the worlds and fighting darkness. But there were times he wish he didn't have to, because while he was saving one world, another one would fall to Maleficent. He looked over at Dorothy.
"If I were, there'd be no darkness in the worlds," Sora told her. He looked into the fire with a blank face.
"Sora, what's wrong?" Kairi asked him. He looked over to her.
"Nothing, Kai. Nothing at all." He looked at them all before crawling into his tent and sleeping for the night.
HoL:TS
Oz
July 24, 2010
They had been on the road for a couple hours when they came across an apple orchard. Sora was in a great mood as the sun was shining bright and he was with his friends. Riku may not have been there, but he was still having a great time. He thought he saw movement behind one of the trees but he quickly dismissed it. Then they heard a squeaking of rusty metal. They glanced over and Sora saw a man. A man made out of tin! Sora thought you could find anything in this world. They rushed over to him. He was frozen in place, his hand holding up an axe. He was trying to talk.
"What?" Sora asked him. He responded and Sora thought he heard him say oil can. "He said oil can." Sora then saw one and retrieved it by the house. He tapped it a couple times until the thick oil began to ptyalize out of the spout. He then applied the lubricant to his mouth hinges. After some movement he was able to fluently move his jaws.
"My- my- my- my goodness! I can talk again! Oh please, oil my arms, my elbows!" Tin Man pleaded. Sora not only did that, but started oiling everywhere, getting quite a bit on himself, as he helped out Tin Man. The girls and Scarecrow helped him get his hinges and joints moving again.
"Oh!" Tin Man shouted.
"Oh, did I hurt you?" Kairi asked him. Sora looked up and saw that she looked worried.
"No, no. That felt wonderful. I've held that axe up for ages," he explained to her.
"How did you end up like this?" Merideth asked.
"Well, one day I was out here chopping wood when it started to rain. In mid-chop, I just rusted up. I've been here ever since, just rusting away," he told the group. Sora thought about how awful that would have been to endure.
"Well you're perfect now," Sora said, wiping the oil off of his hands onto a nearby rag that was sitting with the oil can.
"Perfect? If you think I am perfect then bang on my chest. See that I'm not! Go ahead and bang on it!" Tin Man told him. Sora obliged and pounded on his metal chest. A hollow echo met their ears.
"See? It's empty. The tinsmith forgot to give me a heart," Tin Man said.
He can have no heart and still not transform into a Heartless?
Or not be a Nobody? How odd.
He should consider himself lucky.
"No heart?" Sora asked. The Tin Man nodded before, you guessed it, broke into song.
When a man's an empty kettle
He should be on his mettle
And yet I'm torn apart
Just because I'm presumin'
That I could be kind-a human
If I only had a heart
I'd be tender, I'd be gentle
And awful sentimental
Regarding Love and Art
I'd be friends with sparrows
And the boy who shoots the arrows
If I only had a heart
Picture me a balcony
Above a voice sings low
I hear a beat
How sweet!
Just to register emotion
Jealousy, Devotion
And really feel the part
I could stay young and chipper
And I'd lock it with a zipper
If I only had a heart!
This time Kairi joined in on the clapping as Tin Man had taken it a step further and added a dance routine to his song. He then plopped down on his metal butt and looked at them.
"We were talking and we wanted to know if you want to come with us. The Wizard of Oz should be able to get you a heart along with his brains!" Dorothy said to the Tin Man while pointing at Scarecrow. Sora nodded happily.
"Really? That'd be great. I'd love to get a heart," he said. "But what if when we get there, he doesn't give me one?"
"Well he has to. We've already come so long to see him," Scarecrow said. Just then a mad and high pitched cackling came from above. They all turned and Sora spotted the Wicked Witch of the West standing on Tin Man's roof. She had her broomstick and was pointing devilishly at them all. Toto yapped at her.
"You call that long, eh? You still have a very long way to go!" she said to them, her voice dripping with poison and deceit. "You've only just begun and you've already forgotten about me! I haven't forgotten about you, though!" the witch screamed at them, that sick laughter commencing. She eyed the Scarecrow and Tin Man and Sora. Her lip twisted in a snarl of disgust.
"Helping the little lady along, are you, my fine gentlemen?" she asked. Sora just glared up at the old hag. Tin Man and Scarecrow just nodded, both shaking a small bit.
"Well stay away from her!" she screeched. "Or I'll stuff a mattress with you!" she said, pointing at Scarecrow. He jumped back a bit out of fear.
"And I'll make a beehive out of you!" she said, making Tin Man retreat as well.
"Oh, and you, Sora," she said eying him down. Her voice had become far more serious. "Maleficent has told me about you. You are to stay away from that Keyhole or I shall send the Heartless after you and your friends. I will make sure you DIE!"
"You will not hurt us!" Scarecrow piped up through his riveting fear.
"Eh, Scarecrow? You want to play ball? Fine!" She screeched. She held out her hand.
"Firaga!" And with that a ball of flame ejected and caught the ground at his feet on fire. He screamed in terror and jumped away from it. Tin Man, Kairi and Merideth put the fire out as Sora and Dorothy stared up at the Witch.
"And as for you Dorothy, I wish you the best of luck with The Wizard of Oz, and that you have a safe trip back to Kansas," she beckoned before disappearing in a flash of more red smoke and hot fire. Sora was starting to hate that Witch when he turned to make sure no one was hurt. After everyone had recovered and was up on their feet again, they continued down the Yellow Brick Road, now more weary and cautiously than they had before.
"Whether I get brains or not, I'll make sure you get there," Scarecrow told Dorothy and Sora. Tin man said the same but about him getting a heart.
"I'll take you there because he needs to tell us where that Keyhole is," Sora said with that big grin.
"All of you, all five of you are the best of friends anyone could ask for," Dorothy said. Everyone shared their moments of blushing, minus Scarecrow and Tin Man. They continued on their way, Sora skipping ans singing with Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man, leaving Kairi and Merideth to walk behind them.
More hours crept by as they made their way into a tangled forest. The boughs hung low, full of dread. Creatures stirred and rustled through the thick undergrowth. Wind howled and blew leaves around their feet. Dorothy and Scarecrow were scared as the sun was blotted out by the avaricious leaves overhead. Tin Man was also scared as he hunched close to Dorothy. Merideth was having no problem as was Sora. Kairi seemed a bit on edge though. Water gurgled in the distance from a nearby stream. Toads croaked and bugs chirruped. The forest was eerie as mist started to creep.
"I don't like this forest," Dorothy said. Sora silently agreed. "Do you think we'll meet any wild animals?" she asked.
"Oh we might," Tin Man observed.
"Any that eat. . . straw?" Scarecrow asked fearfully, holding himself as if to protect his innards.
"Maybe, but mostly lions, tigers and bears," Tin Man replied. This earned even more fearful looks from Dorothy and Scarecrow. Sora looked back to find Merideth once again not caring and that Kairi looked a tad scared.
"Lions, tigers, and bears? Oh my!" Dorothy. She ended up running with Scarecrow and Tin Man, repeating that over and over again until a roar sounded. Out of the depths of the dark and twisted forest jumped an anthropomorphic lion. Merideth took Dorothy to hide behind a tree. Merideth and Kairi tried to join Sora as he stood in front of that tree with his Oblivion out. He motioned Kairi back having Merideth step up next to him, Firaga ready in his mind should he need it. Tin Man and Scarecrow were scared so badly that they just collapsed to where they were. The lion growled and bellowed at Tin Man and Scarecrow. It eyed Sora but decided not to advance. Then it stood on its hind legs, its tail wavering back and forth as it brought its paws into a boxing stance. Sora just about started laughing at it.
"Put 'em up! Put 'em up!" Lion said as he looked between Tin Man and Scarecrow. "Which one of ya want to go first? I'll fight you both if you want. I'll fight you with one paw behind my back. I'll fight you on one foot," Lion said. Sora thought he seemed rather scatterbrained.
"I'll fight you with my eyes closed—eh. Pulling an axe on me, eh?" Lion said approaching Tin Man, placing Scarecrow behind his back. He seemed to notice this and whipped around.
"Trying to sneak up on me, eh?" he asked
"Just let us go," Scarecrow said.
"Afraid, huh?" Lion asked. "Are ya scared?" he turned to Tin Man. "How long can you stay fresh in that can? Come on and fight you junkyard! Fight you lopsided bag of hay!" Lion was still putting up that stance. Toto barked and ran at him. Dorothy ran and picked Toto up. Lion advanced at the girl before Sora stood in between them and he punched Lion. Lion then backpedaled and started crying.
"Shame on you!" Sora shouted at him. Kairi and Merideth approached while Scarecrow and Tin Man got up.
"What'd you do that for? I didn't bite 'em!" Lion said in between sobs. Sora dismissed his Keyblade.
"It's bad enough you picking on a straw man, but going around trying to bite dogs and little girls is completely uncalled for," Sora reprimanded.
"Well you didn't have to go and hit me, did ya? Is my nose bleeding," he asked, holding his head and face up. Dorothy approached him.
"Well of course not. Why, with you going around picking on those weaker than you, you're nothing but a big coward!" she told him. He continued crying.
"You're right, I am a coward," he said, his sobbing getting worse. Sora was starting to wonder how he could speak through all of that crying. "I haven't any courage. I scare myself even and I haven't slept for weeks. Look at the circles under my eyes," he explained, the crying finally lessening.
"Why don't you try counting sheep?" Tin Man suggested. Lion just looked at him.
"I can't 'cause I'm afraid of 'em," he explained. Okay, now that was pathetic.
"Maybe the wizard can help him, too?" Kairi asked. Everyone nodded in agreement. "I'm positive he'll give you some courage."
Now that he was in a better mood, he began to dance and sing. Sora was expecting it by now after seeing the rest of the world thus far.
Yeh, it's sad, believe me, Missy
When you're born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve
But I could show my prowess
Be a lion not a mouse
If I only had the nerve
I'm afraid there's no denyin'
I'm just a dande-lion
A fate I don't deserve
Then the others joined, including Sora.
I'd be brave as a blizzard
I'd be gentle as a lizard
I'd be clever as a gizzard
I'd find the Keyhole better
If the Wizard is a Wizard who will serve
Then I'm sure to get a brain
A heart
A home
The nerve
The Keyhole!
They had finished and now the forest wasn't so gloomy. They all locked arms and began to sing and skip. Sora looked over at Kairi and beckoned her to join them. She finally gave in and joined, leaving Merideth behind as they all skipped and sang, following the Yellow Brick Road. They made clear of the forest as night finally cast its deathly gaze over the world. Another fire was made and stories were told by Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion. Sora laughed and told them stories of his and Kairi's home world. He decided not to even regard the world order any more because he had broken it so many times before. Merideth never shared anything about her home world, but Sora never pressed her for details. After another hour they all went to sleep, unaware of the plotting taking place so far away.
HoL:TS
The Wicked Witch of the West stood in her large tower that overlooked her realm and castle. Sharp, jagged and toothy mountains rose in the distance, the snow peaked caps reaching hungrily into the sky. Dark and dead forests lurked at its base and evil flying monkeys chorused a war chant as they marched. A torch flickered in the room, casting dancing shadows all over her papers, books, potions, supplies and large crystal ball. Her general stood next to her as she gazed at the sleeping group, so calm and peaceful.
"Aha! So! You won't take warning, eh? All the worse for you, then. I'll take care of you now instead of later! Hah! When I gain those ruby slippers, my power will be the greatest in Oz! And now, my beauties! Something with poison in it, I think. With poison in it, but attractive to the eye and soothing to the smell! Poppies! Poppies! Poppies!" She magically sprayed the poison over the poppy field near the group.
She cackled madly into the darkness.
TUH: MUST KILL LOLLYPOP GUILD!
TN: At least you didn't have to write it!
TUH: I'd rather write LIGHTNING!
TN: God bless your soul.
TUH: God? I think you mean ZOD!
TUH: ZOD ZOD ZOD
TN: Yes, simple-minded Herald, Zod.
TN: Anyway. . .
TN: While he is in a rant, drop us a review. There are MANY MORE people reading this than there are reviewing, so look at that big box below and drop us a comment! Thanks and see you in the next chapter!
May the Love of Anuwëy guide you when all Hope is lost
TorNathan
The Unknowing Herald