Bryson's eyes fluttered open. He looked at his surroundings, very confused, to say the least.
He was in a.. cabin?
It looked fairly similar to Tin Man's, but it was a bit different. It was larger, the way furniture was set up wasn't quite the same...
Where am I? How did I get here.. He thought to himself.
He then realized he was tied up to a chair in a white rope. He panicked and looked around. Suddenly, a munchkin decked in a brightly multicolored outfit and a white beard walked opened the door to the cabin and walked up to him. "Who are you?" it demanded in a high pitched voice.
"Um... I'm Bryson..."
"Bryson.. Bryson who?"
"Bryson Scott..." Bryson hesitantly replied.
"What were you doing running with Finley and Dorothy Gale?"
"Um... running from those guards..."
"Yeah and why?"
Bryson shook his head, sighing. "Listen, it's a long stor-"
The munchkin walked up to Bryson and slapped him. Bryson gasped and reeled back in surprise.
"Whoah! What was that for?!" Bryson asked in shock.
Before the munchkin could reply, a familiar friend walked through the door. It was Tin Man!
"Earl! Did you just slap him?!" Tin Man asked.
The munchkin, who was apparently named Earl, turned to Tin Man.
"Yeah I did! I'll do it again!" Earl raised his hand in preparation, but Tin Man rushed up to him and grabbed his hand. "No, Earl.. I know this young man, he's okay, he's on our side.. he actually just got to Oz a few days ago, he's trying to get back home, he's innocent in all of this."
Get back home? I'm not sure that's even my plan at this point.. Bryson thought to himself.
"Oh.. well uh.. if you say so." Earl replied as he started untying the rope around Bryson. Bryson sat up from the chair and stretched his arms. He was only there for a few minutes but he got ancy easily. "Sorry..." Earl muttered, walking out the door.
"I apologize about him, usually he's not like that.. ever since the recent attacks in Oz he's been rather... uptight, I suppose you could say.." Tin Man explained.
"It's no problem, I understand." Bryson replied. "So uh, what happened? How did I get here?"
"Well, apparently one of the guards knocked you, Finley, and Dorothy out and almost captured you, but luckily, Glinda came to save the day.. she always seems to know when to come..."
Suddenly, Glinda walked into the cabin, she smirked and winked. "I have my ways."
Tin Man chuckled. "You sure do. Listen, I'm gonna go check on Dorothy and Finley." He turned to Bryson. "I'll see you later, Bryson. Nice to see you again."
"Nice to see you too." Bryson replied. Tin Man smiled warmly and walked out.
"Hello, Bryson." Glinda spoke up. "There's been a lot of talk about you, lately... you're on Rabadan's most wanted list, along with Dorothy and Finley. He's got several guards looking for you."
"Well, that's comforting to know... is this... Rabadan everyone's going on about.. is he.. middle aged... tan.. muscular.. big scar on his cheek?" he asked.
Glinda nodded with a frown.
"Yeah... we ran into him at the China Town... looked like he had some.. flying monkeys with him wrecking the place... it was awful.. burning houses... China people screaming and crying... I think we saw some other places he wrecked... like some of those trees... a lot of them had been chopped down... it was quite depressing... what do you think he's planning?"
Glinda sighed deeply and shook her head. "I guess to destroy Oz... he's done small things.. like re-arrange things.. and some bigger things such as what you mentioned. He's very powerful. He's so powerful that if I get near him.. my magic doesn't even work. Even if he's close, it starts to diminish. I haven't the slightest idea of where he got his power..." She explained as she stroked her wand in thought.
"Do you know who he is and where he came from?" he asked.
She nodded, putting her ear behind her ear. "I do, actually. He arrived in Oz about a decade ago. He was a lot like you, actually. Enchanted by this place..."
"How do you know I'm enchanted?"
"Well, I can see it in your eyes. They've been lit up the whole time. Like his were." She said, starting to smile. "He came from a bad family... abusive parents... in his world.. the same you come from.. there was a war going on. I suppose you've heard of those 'drafts' they used to do.. well.. he was drafted, and one day, he came here. And he wanted to stay. Oz was his escape. But it wasn't safe. There were these two witches that were... well... doing something quite similar to what he's doing now. It wasn't safe for him. I sent him back home. He was sobbing. It was difficult for me to do, but at the time... I just assumed that war was safer than the witches. Maybe I was wrong.. I don't know. One day, just a few months ago he came back. Had this... awful scar. He was brawny... he.." Glinda sighed. "He had fire in his eyes. Not enchantment. Not anymore. Now, he had this immense grudge for Oz. And me, for sending him home. A few weeks later.. he started all of this... I imagine the war really tore him up. Scarred him, really. I should have never sent him home. It's one of my biggest regrets..."
"You know.. you know that cave that's not too far from there?"
"Yes, but I've never been in it."
"Well... me, Dorothy, and Finely were... and I found this."
Bryson stopped.
"Oh wait... um... I had a backpack on when I was knocked out.. do you know where it is?"
Glinda nodded and walked over to the bed in the cabin, she lifted it up. "Oh, my.. it's pretty heavy. I suppose it's been fairly tiresome carrying it around all day?"
She handed it to him and he set it down on the floor. "Yeah... glad to have it off my back." He unzipped it and searched for the green notebook he had found, he took it out. "I think this might be Radaban's, but I'm not sure. In fact, I think that cave might be his little hide-out. There was a map of Oz with red and blue pins in it. I think they marked the areas he destroyed. There were other notebooks and papers there, I believe.. but I didn't get the chance to grab them... you might wanna take a look at it. The handwriting is pretty messy." He handed it to Glinda, who had a curious look on her face. She lifted up her wand. "Could you.."
"Sure." Bryson replied, taking the wand. It felt odd to be holding Glinda's wand.
She studied it carefully, slowly flipping through the pages. "No... I'm afraid I can't make it out... perhaps I could get someone to study it... maybe they could figure it out."
She handed it back to him. "Well... I'm glad you informed me about that cave... I could try to get some people to check that out too... in the mean time, we need to get you to the Emerald City quickly and keep you safe. He's managed to get passed everything through Oz but there. It has the best security out of anywhere in Oz. In fact, I think you, Dorothy, and Finley need to get going as soon as possible."
"Can't you come with us?" Bryson asked.
She shook her head. "No.. I'm sorry. You think Rabadan wants you captured? He wants me dead. If I came along you could get in serious danger."
"But.. I could die.." He replied softly and fearfully.
She shook her head with a smile. "No, child... I already kissed your forehead. It's a special kiss, it protects you, remember? Nothing bad will happen to you. And I did the same to your friends while you were asleep. And even if I didn't... I think you would be fine. I can tell by looking at you, you're a special kid. I think you could be the one to save Oz, to be honest." She told him, rubbing his arm.
He shrugged. "Well.. thank you, Glinda... but... I dunno.. are you sure you can't come with us? I'd still feel safer and... I enjoy your company, to tell you the truth."
She smiled. "Well thank you... I enjoy yours too, Bryson." She sighed. "I guess if you really want me to... I'll go."
Bryson smiled. "Thank you." He said as he handed her wand back to her.
"No problem." She replied with a smile.
"Well, uh.. I'm gonna go check on Dorothy and Finley and tell them you're coming with us."
Glinda nodded and Bryson walked out the door, admiring the now orange sky. There was a large yard. He searched for Dorothy and Finley, then found them standing next to a river. He walked up them. "Hey, guys!" he greeted.
"Bryson!" Dorothy and Finley greeted at the same time.
He waved. "Hey, guys! You okay?"
"We're alright, what about yourself?" asked Finley.
"I'm good with the exception we're on Rabadan's most wanted list... according to Glinda he has several officers looking for us..."
"Yeah, we heard." replied Finley.
"That's a scary thought.." Dorothy replied softly, looking at the ground. "We'd better get to the Emerald City quickly.
"Well.. if it makes you feel any better, Glinda said she'd come with us. And maybe Tin Man can, too." Bryson explained.
Dorothy smiled. "Wonderful!"
"I guess we should get going now, I know it's starting to get late.." Finley said.
Bryson and Dorothy nodded. "Yeah.. let's go tell Tin Man and Dorothy." Dorothy told them.
They nodded in agreement and walked up to Tin Man and Glinda, who were in conversation.
Finley cleared his throat. "Hey, guys.. I think we should go ahead and get going now. Wanna join us, Tin Man?"
Tin Man looked down and nodded at the primate. "I would.. but I need to stay here and guard the cabin."
Earl walked out from the cabin. "Don't worry, Tin Man. I'll take care of it, you can go along."
Tin Man smiled and nodded at the munchkin. "Are you sure, Earl?"
He nodded.
"Alright, then. Thank you." He turned to the group. "Alright, let's get moving then, shall we?"
They nodded. "Let's go!" exclaimed Finley, who started to walk.
Glinda stopped him. "Wait, Finley. I can just make a bubble for all of us, instead. I'm sure your feet are just killing you by now." Finley stopped. "Oh, thank Oz.." he muttered to himself.
Glinda giggled and started to make a bubble with her wand. But as she started to spin her wand around.. nothing happened. She tried again. Nothing. She tried one last time. And again.. nothing. "Oh no.." she whispered.
Suddenly, they heard a deep, booming laugh. They all turned around to find Rabadan down by the river. He slowly walked up to them, the scepter in his hand, his laughter becoming more audible as he started to close in on him.
Bryson gulped and got closer to his friends, absolutely dreading what was gonna happen. He was not just a few feet away from them. He glared at them. "Glinda.." he spat, showing obvious disdain for the good witch. She fingered her wand, her face showing that of fear. Rabadan chuckled at the sight. "Glinda, Glinda, Glinda... never did I think you'd be afraid of me. But here you are, cowarding behind a man made out of tin and a few kids. How cute. I bet you already told them how special they were, hm? Like you did me?" He cackled and looked at them. "Well.. guys.. I'd hate to say it... but she's just full of it. She makes her self out to be a saint... but don't fall for it. Don't. She's not. She is a manipulative.. well... WITCH." He walked back in forth, glaring at them. "Now... you three..." He pointed at Bryson, Dorothy, and Finley. "YOU guys... have something of mine. Give it to me. Right. Now."
Bryson was shaking in fear, unsure of what to do, he could feel yet another anxiety attack coming on, but fought to ignore it, clenching his fists. Tin Man walked away from them and stood in front of them. "They don't have to do anything you tell them to. You're the manipulator here, not Glinda, and you know it." He turned to the three. "Don't listen to his nonsense."
"Me? No, no, no... I'm not doing anything. I'm doing these kids a favor. I'm destroying this god forsaken land before anyone else can be hurt by it."
"A favor?! You have several guards out to capture them! How is this a favor?!" Tin Man hollered.
Rabadan shook his head. "No... not capture them. I'm trying to save them. I'm trying to get them back to their world. Not capture them."
"You killed those trees. You killed China people. You killed... who knows what else!"
"They deserved it. Don't jump to conclusions."
"No one deserves to die!" Tin Man argued.
"Glinda does." He spat in anger. He quickly lifted up his scepter and pointed at Glinda, suddenly, she was lifted up in the air. Raadan roughly threw her to the ground. She lay in pain next to him. Tin Man rushed up to Rabadan but he was thrown back effortlessly by Rabadan's scepter, and violently landed a few feet away.
Dorothy gasped. "Tin Man! Glinda!" She yelled, rushing up to Rabadan, who pointed his scepter at her. "Stay back, Gale. I don't wanna hurt you... it's not you I have a grudge against.. but if you get in my way, I'll do what I have to."
Dorothy gave him a furious look. "Oh yeah? Go ahead! Do it! Does it make you feel tough? You're just a coward, threatening kids that are half your age! I'll bet if you took away that.." She pointed to his scepter. "You wouldn't have the guts to do anything! You're not a man.. you're a monster." She spat.
Bryson and Finley looked on in amazement at their friend's courage. God.. she's cute when she's mad.. Bryson shamelessly thought to himself.
Rabadan growled. He looked furious. He reached out to grab Dorothy but stopped, gritting his teeth. His face changed to his previous demeanor. "As I said before... you better not get in my way. Or I'll do what I have to. Or... surrender.. and I'll happily send you two home. And the monkey... I'll send him with you." He then put his scepter next to Glinda and pointed it at her, soon, a light flashed from it and she dissipated, causing them all to gasp.
"Glinda!" They cried.
Dorothy's face now showed that out of outrage, but before she could do anything, he vanished as well.
They stood there, breathing heavily for a few moments, unsure of what to do, Tin Man slowly waked up to them, in pain.
Dorothy ran up to him. "Tin Man! Are you okay?"
He sighed and nodded. "I'll be alright.. I just need to rest.." He explained as Dorothy had a look of severe worry.
Then, Bryson remembered something. "He forgot to get what we took..."
Finley turned to Bryson and looked up at him. "His notebook?"
Bryson nodded. "I've got a plan.."
Dorothy turned to him, curious. "What is it?"
"Well, first of all.. does anyone have something I can write with?" He asked.