The next morning they continued on their journey after Lion went into the forest to get his own dinner. When they came to the crossroads Scarecrow smiled softly as his mind replayed his meeting with Dorothy. He missed her greatly but was glad she was able to get home safely.

He pointed to the pole that now held a lifeless, ordinary scarecrow. "That was where I was when Dorothy found me."

"How'd you come to life anyway?" Lion asked curiously.

It made him think. "Honestly I have no idea…"

"Wanna go ask?" Lion asked. "I can wait here for you."

Scarecrow drew in a breath and nodded. "Just give me a moment." Scarecrow studied the scarecrow on the pole before entering the field and going towards the house. As he approached he found the farmer, an old munchkin named Boq preparing to begin his day.

Boq looked up and blinked when he saw him! "What…?"

Scarecrow smiled awkwardly. "Uh…hi…um…"

"You're my old scarecrow!" Boq said raising a hoe in defense! "What kind of witchcraft is this?!"

Scarecrow stepped back nervously. "I mean no harm I just…how did I come to life?"

Boq frowned. "I don't know…I didn't know you were alive. You're not supposed to be!"

"Oh w-well…ok…I'll just go then…sorry to have troubled you…!" Scarecrow said sadly as he turned away

Boq lowered his hoe. "Mighta been that metal monster…it's said that it's a cursed munchkin that brings things to life because of the WItch's magic that corrupted him…"

Scarecrow stopped and stood rigid, hands clenched. "He's not a monster…!"

"It's a shame really. Nick was a nice young man. Her evil took his heart and darkened his soul."

Scarecrow stood there stunned. "You know him?"

"Well I knew of him. His Dad was a friend of mine. We'd trade wood for corn. The Choppers were a good family. Shame what happened to the boy. Forever a heartless monster…"

"HE"S NOT A MONSTER!" Scarecrow yelled, startling the farmer. He glared. "I can't believe you created me! I had thought that you might have some answers for me…that maybe I could be apart of your family since I'm alive! I'm not JUST a common scarecrow…I'm the king of Oz! I have a brain!" With that he pulled out his diploma he had gotten from the wizard and showed him! "That "metal monster" helped us get to the Emerald City! Tin Man helped us rescue Dorothy from the Wicked Witch of the West! He received a heart from the Wizard! He's going to become King of the West! He's not a monster…he's a hero!"

Boq watched stunned as Scarecrow turned and walked off back to the Lion. His hand clutched his diploma as he tried to calm down.

Lion saw him coming and took in the rigid stance of his normally carefree friend. "What's wrong?"

Scarecrow looked at him. "I don't want to be in the East any longer than we have to!"

Lion frowned. "Scarecrow what happened?"

"The farmer didn't have any explanation for me. Turns out all of Munchkinland thinks he's a monster!"

Lion drew in a breath. "Give it time. Actions speak louder than words. When he's crowned the entire country will know who he really is. They'll see what we see. Know what we know." He smirked. "They're afraid of me too. I'm a lion after all…a meat eating, vicious animal!"

Scarecrow frowned. "You're not…"

"That's just it. It's how everyone will always see me because I am a predator and we are known to eat meat…any kind of meat. As cowardly as I used to be is how afraid of me others are. I have sharp teeth. I have sharp claws." WIth that he held up a paw and showed him his sharp claws. "People see what they want to see."

Scarecrow swallowed. "What about me? He was scared of me! I've never hurt anybody in my life!"

"It's not you…well not entirely I bet."

"He said I wasn't supposed to be alive…he didn't know and blamed Tin Man saying that he'd somehow cursed me…!"

The crack in his voice made Lion frown and pulled him into a hug. "You know that's not true! You came to life for a reason. You may never get your answers but you have already done more in your short life than many do in their entire lives!"

Scarecrow returned the hug wishing that he could actually feel the fur and warmth that he knew had comforted Dorothy at night.

"Come on…let's get outta here," Lion said kindly.

Scarecrow nodded as he lead Lion down a different path, leading farther away from Munchkinland and in the direction of the West.

As they walked Scarecrow put his diploma back in his chest and linked arms with Lion, hearing a pleased growl from him.

The farmer didn't want him…that wasn't his place. Boq wasn't his family.

He glanced up at his friend seeing him in a whole new light.

The sun gleaming on his golden mane…his fur soft…his body strong…his mind wise…his medal shining proudly.

The Cowardly Lion was now every inch the courageous king he was supposed to be.

Scarecrow looked away and towards their destination. He could still feel the weight of the journal in his body, safely stored.

Perhaps he had become a part of a family after all.