Part 1 Untold Mysteries
Chapter 1: The journey into a new life

Today was an important day in the life of the Cain family. Around twenty people were gathering around the old farm at the south side of Old Munchkin Country, as Wyatt Sr. and his wife Elisabeth were putting the last package of clothes on the covered cart that Wyatt's brother Nathan had lent them. Friends, neighbors, brothers and sisters had come to say goodbye to the Cain's and barely an eye stayed dry.

Wyatt Cain sr. was a successful Tin Man in Central City, which the elders had called the Emerald City during the reign of Dorothy the Great, and his superiors had suggested that he go to the Palace for a job as a Palace Guard. Due to his good references and a job interview that couldn't have been any better, it had only been a question of time until the Captain of the Guard had offered him the job. His wife Elisabeth was the daughter of a good earning farmer in Old Munchkin Country, who had allowed his oldest daughter to go to school and learn reading and writing for a living. She taught the children in their little village and now she would be a nanny and a teacher to the children in the Palace.

Their life had been calm and peaceful in the old village, they had started a family on their farm and they had been surrounded by good and honest people. However they had to feed and take care of their children and times were a little rough for a teacher and a Tin Man after the sudden death of Queen Dorothy, five years ago. Not that her granddaughter, Lucasta, caused the people to live in poverty, but the economy wasn't in bloom and teachers hadn't been needed even 10 years ago. They had three children and a fourth was on the way and even if they had to give up their normal life in harmony, they would face their new home with enthusiasm and hope.

Saying their goodbyes to their loved ones was proving to be difficult and harder than they had thought. Wyatt's brother Nathan and his wife had brought along their five children and Elisabeth's father had come to see his grandchildren before they would go off to the big city. The children were grumpy and the adults were sentimental and sad, which made it only worse for the two parents.

"And don't forget to send a messenger once you have arrived at the Palace! Have you heard what I said Liz dear?" The old Mr. Lloyd was sitting on the porch of the Cain house, little Wyatt Jr. sitting on his lap with big teary eyes.

"I've heard you loud and clear, pa. I will send a messenger as soon as I get into the Palace and find some piece of paper and a pen. You shouldn't worry so much, especially at your age. Central City is a three day walk away from Old Creek and we will stop and rest at each big town that we come across. Wyatt is a Tin Man and we have Nathan's son Ty as an extra guard. We will only travel when the sun is shining so nothing will happen to us." Elisabeth knew that this wasn't the only thing that was troubling her father but there was no way back now so she only laid her hand on his thin shoulder, hoping that her touch would soothe his pain a bit.

"Mommy, why do we have to leave all our friends and family!" Little Wyatt suddenly whined. He was only six annuals old yet and not as excited about their new home as his seven annuals old sister Anne and his nine annuals old brother Robin. Besides Ty, who was sixteen now, and who was going with them to start his Tin Man training , four of his other cousins were staying in Old Creek, two of them were around Wyatt's age and his best friends. He looked so small and innocent when he was looking up at her with his watery icy blue eyes and his thumb resting behind those pink lips. It wasn't fair to rip him apart from his known surroundings at such an early age, but her son wouldn't stop them from going now.

"Because your ma and your pa want to be able to give you the life that you deserve my little one, they want you to go to school and learn hard so that you may become a Tin Man like your old father over there. They don't mean any harm and you will be able to visit us all in summer and next winter," Mr. Lloyd said and the boy seemed to calm down for a moment.
Elisabeth stood there and didn't know what to say when she watched her son and dad sitting there in their warm embrace. She had to fight back tears herself so that she wouldn't break down completely and declare that she wanted to stay at the place of her birth. Instead of crying though, she only looked at the picture in front of her, until her dad raised his gaze and looked her in the eyes again.

"Thank you," she mouthed and her father nodded with a faint smile on his face.

"But what about Neal and Roland? And Uncle Nathan and Aunt Pat? Or you? I don't know if I can wait that long. Who will play with me and who will tell me awesome stories like you? I don't think that I will like that new place Grampa!" Now the tears were coming back and even the calming noises of Grandpa Lloyd and his soft hand on Wyatt's straw blonde head couldn't do anything to stop them from rolling down the boys cheek.

"You will find new friends and you will find someone who can tell you even better stories than your old grandpa. You will see five months will fly away in no time. It´s nothing more than a blink," the old man promised and now the young boy had to sniff while he tried to brush off his wet cheeks.

"In no time?" Wyatt asked innocently.

"Promise," his grandpa answered and hugged his youngest grandson.

"So and where are my sweet Anne and my feisty grandson Robin? I would like to give them a last hug as well." With that Grandpa Lloyd raised himself up and disappeared in the old Cain house where he found his two other grandchildren.
Wyatt was left behind and alone now, since his mom was saying goodbye to his aunt and uncle.

The little Cain boy didn't want to make new friends or play with someone who wasn't Neal or Roland. He didn't want to leave the farm, his tree house and all his childhood memories, no matter how small he was but he had collected memories as well and he was a member of the family so wasn't he allowed to state his opinion too? The thing was that Wyatt's dad had promised him to buy the little puppy from Mrs. Haggin that he and his siblings had been looking forward since the summer of the last year, but instead of a little dog under the Christmas tree his father had announced that they would move to the Palace in Central City. Cain felt cheated, he wanted a dog and his cousins and not an unexpected future in a cold huge palace. He was the son of a Tin Man and a teacher but he grew up on a farm and he felt like the profession of his uncle Nathan, who was a farmer and horse breeder, would suit him more. But he was only six annuals old and his father had told him that opinions and feelings could change and that he only wanted the best for his son and his family. There was no turning back, so it would be better if Wyatt learned to accept his destiny, whatever it had in store for him.

"I'd say that we'd better be off now or we won't reach the next town before sundown. It's already hard enough and it won't get easier Liz. Wyatt, Anne, Robin! Say goodbye to your aunt and uncle and then up with you onto the covered cart we will be on our way any minute now!" The rough and deep voice of Wyatt Sr. echoed over the farm and it surroundings which made it hard to pretend as if they hadn't heard his call.

Even Anne and Robin were sad and less excited now and all three children came out of the house with sunken heads and dropped shoulders. For Wyatt jr. it was still the hardest to say goodbye to his cousins and even if he had promised himself to stay strong in front of Roland and Neil he couldn't hide two tears that were rolling down his face. His Aunt Pat only gave him a light kiss on the cheek, but when she hugged him the little Cain thought that she broke every single bone in his body. His Uncle Nathan didn't say much, he secretly admired the youngest Cain the most because he shared his passion for horses, but he gave all three children a deep hug before he turned around so that they wouldn't see the sadness and pain that was written on his face. Nathan gave his son Ty some last advice and a hug as well before he let him accompany his younger cousins to the covered cart.

"May I lend you a hand Lady Anne," Ty teased his cousin as they had reached the cart and the young girl had trouble to reach the edge of the vehicle.

"I might live at a Palace soon but I´m far away from being a Lady you old stinker," Anne responded and stuck out her tongue at the teenager. Ty left with a smile on his face and a shake of his head. A few minutes later their father came walking towards the cart, with a low whistle he caught the attention of their horse Rupert and with a tuck at the reins the cart started to move. Their parents, the same as Ty, would be walking, while the children were too small to walk long distances at once.

"Do you think we will like it in our new home?" Wyatt asked his older sister as they were sitting in the shaking cart. The road was bumpy and Rupert seemed to find every single rock that was lying on the path that was leading towards the famous road made out of yellow bricks. The children had been silent once Old Creek had vanished from their vision and it was the first thing spoken after hours of serenity.

"It will be different but I think we will learn to like it," his sister answered and for a moment Wyatt thought that her voice broke. But her words comforted him and he knew that he would 'survive' this journey into a new life as long as he had his family.

A.N: I hope you enjoy it so far. Well this is what I meant when I said that Cain can't be his tough old self . That the Cain's move into the palace is the 'alternative' , I was speaking of and I guess that's it for now since nothing really confusing has happened. Thanks for reading.