Dorothy Meets Alice

I wrote a little piece for the latest Down the Yellow Brick Pod Pod Squad Party. Sharing it here... This is set just before the opening of Ozma of Oz.

 Dorothy Gale found her way to the chicken coops on the deck. It had been a few days on board the steamship to Australia with Uncle Henry and although she wasn't feeding these chickens, going to them reminded her of home in Kansas.

"Birds are funny things, aren't they?" asked a voice behind her.

Dorothy turned to look at the person behind her, a tall, stately woman wearing a shawl over her dark blue dress. Under her stylish hat, Dorothy could spot blonde hair with a light streak of silver.

"I live on a farm," Dorothy explained. "I miss the chickens at home."

"Ah," the woman continued. "Where do you come from?"

"Kansas," Dorothy replied.

"You're a long way from home, but you seem to handle it well."

"And you?"

"Ah, I suppose that depends on which way you want to look at it, though I suppose I'm about the same distance either way. I'm from London."

"Oh, that is a very long way away." Dorothy looked down shyly. "I wish my dog Toto could be here, but he wouldn't like how much the ship rocks."

"Have you got your sea legs?" the woman asked.

"I just have my own legs," Dorothy replied, only to find the woman laughing softly.

"It means you know how to handle being at sea."

"Well, I hope I do." Dorothy realized she didn't know the woman's name. "My name is Dorothy."

"Dorothy, I'm glad to meet you. My name is Alice. Australia is where I'm headed next."

"I'm going with my Uncle Henry, he's been very ill lately and the doctor said the trip will help him."

"I hope it will. How did you find the journey from Kansas so far?"

"I thought the train was nice, I liked looking out the windows."

"Met any people?"

"Oh, yes, lots. Some of them were very kind, but some of them were very... different."

Alice sighed. "It takes all types to make a world, they say. Some people are kind, others can be disagreeable. Others are quite mad."

Dorothy looked up. "Some can even be wicked, or humbugs."

"The important thing," Alice said, "is to know who you are and stay true to that."

"It always helps to have a friend, too," Dorothy added. "With good friends, you can get through anything."

"You're already a very wise little girl!" Alice commented. "I'm impressed. Have you ever had tea before, Dorothy?"

"I have. It's a nice drink."

"Oh, I mean a proper tea, inviting someone over to have a proper social."

"Oh. I don't think so, but I have been to some wonderful celebrations."

"I should like to hear about them, if you'd like to visit my cabin this afternoon. Why don't you ask your Uncle Henry? He can come along as well if he'd like."

"I'm sure he would. We're in the big cabin with all the other people."

"You're traveling light, I take it. Not too much luggage?"

"Yes, we didn't have much to pack."

"That's fine, just bring your best selves."

"Thank you."

Alice gave Dorothy her cabin number and the two parted.

Dorothy gazed at a yellow hen giving her what looked like a friendly glance.

"It's nice to meet you too," she commented.

How The Nome King Stole Ozma!

 I've had a little Dr. Seuss parody in mind for years, and decided, with a little help from using Google's Thesaurus functions, to make something of it. This isn't intended to be a proper canon Oz story, but if one insisted on adding it, I suppose it'd fit in after The Emerald City of Oz, but before Tik-Tok of Oz.

Every Ozian in Oz loved Ozma a lot, 

But the Nome King, who lived somewhere under Oz, did not.

The Nome King loathed Ozma, her grace and her charm. 

Her kindness, her laughter—it set off alarms! 

He grumbled and growled in his deep, rocky hall, 

“I’ll snatch her away—she won’t rule at all!”

For the Nome King had hatched a most terrible scheme,

“I’ll kidnap that Ozma, that goody-two-shoes queen! 

Without their dear ruler, those fools will despair, 

And Oz will be mine—what a marvelous affair!”

So one winter eve, while Oz danced with delight, 

He snuck to the surface, cloaked by the night. 

With a clever disguise—a humble old man, 

He mingled with Ozians to put forth his plan.

He shuffled through streets with his head bowed low, 

But he couldn’t resist seeing what he’d overthrow. 

In the heart of the city, there Ozma stood tall, 

Welcoming all to her grand Emerald Hall.

“Come one, come all, there’s room for each guest!” 

She said with a smile that shone of her best. 

The Nome King froze, his plan paused a bit, 

For he saw her console a child whose gift had been split.

“You’ve broken your toy? Oh, let’s fix that right here,” 

Ozma said gently, erasing the tear. 

With a wave of her hand and a soft little hum, 

The child’s broken toy was as good as new—done!

The Nome King blinked, his disguise growing slack. 

“Bah! Just a trick! A cheap little act!” 

But as he skulked closer, he heard more and more— 

Ozma helping the weary, the hurt, and the poor.

An old Munchkin farmer bowed low to her grace, 

“Your kindness, dear Ozma, none can replace.” 

And from every corner, the gratitude rang, 

In laughter, in stories, in songs that they sang.

The Nome King, bewildered, forgot his dark ploy. 

He stood in the hall, feeling something like joy. 

Why did they love her? Now he understood: 

It wasn’t her power, but her heart that was good.

Summoning courage, he approached her at last, 

His sinister scheme now a thing of the past. 

Ozma turned gently, her eyes met his own, 

“What troubles you, friend? You’re not here alone.”

The Nome King stammered, his malice all gone, 

“I planned to take you, to make Oz my pawn. 

But seeing your kindness, your love for your land, 

I cannot proceed with the scheme I had planned.”

Ozma smiled warmly, her hand touched his arm, 

“Everyone’s welcome, no need for alarm. 

Join us in friendship, there’s no need to flee. 

What can I do to bring you some glee?”

The Nome King pondered, his heart feeling light, 

“I wish you well, Ozma. I’ll return to my night. 

But know that your goodness has softened my heart, 

Perhaps in the future, we’ll make a new start.”

So he slunk back to his cavern, his plan left undone, 

Though his heart, just a little, felt touched by her sun. 

And each year after, though still rough and gruff, 

He’d send Ozma tributes, some real pretty stuff!

For the Nome King had learned what the Ozians knew: 

True greatness is kindness, and it shines through and through.

Button-Bright's Pocket & Ozma's Nightstand - Two micro Oz stories

 While in the Pod Squad meeting for Down the Yellow Brick Pod, host Tara asked us to imagine what Oz characters  would have in their pockets or their nightstands and write a little piece. I picked Button-Bright.

I promise, no ChatGPT was involved.

My concept is that Button-Bright travels Oz and often stays with welcoming citizens who open their home to him. So, as he goes to bed...

Button-Bright rolled over in the bed and felt the items in his pocket push against his thigh.

Sitting up and reaching in, he removed a dozen marbles, a shooter, a pack of matches (they had long since been soaked and dried out and were useless), a coil of string and an odd looking pebble he had found that shimmered with all the colors of the rainbow.

Setting them on the bedside table, he laid down again, this time with nothing pressing against him.

Many of these items would be forgotten by the boy, being left for his hosts and their children to find some use for. He'd keep the matches, though.

Fellow attendee Eric Gjovaag sent me his story to post as well, so enjoy another one!

Ozma lay in her bed, blinking repeatedly.

“Darn it,” she thought to herself, “insomnia again!”

It didn’t happen to the young ruler of Oz very often, but when it did it really hit her hard, and she couldn’t sleep all night.

She sat up, reached over to her nightstand, and opened the drawer. 

Something in here may help, she thought.

Then she pulled out the jackknife.

Most of her friends might be surprised at it, but she’d had it longer than just about anything else, and had used it to create Jack Pumpkinhead, back when she was still a boy.

She then knew what she had to do, and rummaged around in her closet.

She put on the shirt, pants, and hat, and stepped out.

Tip was going out to look for an adventure!

Diverse Dancers of Oz - A ChatGPT generated Oz story

We've heard a lot about AI lately and there's definitely concern about it as people believe language models like ChatGPT could ultimately replace writers.

There's certainly some concern as you could certainly use ChatGPT to quickly write copy you might need for a website or a press release. When it comes to writing research pieces and creative fiction, it's limited. It's hard to put all the needed information to give a piece context without essentially writing it yourself.

When it comes to creative works, it lacks the human element to help the writer connect to the reader. Still, it can be fun to give it a general goal. It's essentially like having it ghostwrite for you. There's other uses, like using it to brainstorm story ideas. While its output can be serviceable, a good writer's take on the same concept is much better when it comes to a finished pieces.

With that in mind, I decided to ask it to write some pieces of an Oz story about two characters I haven't seen interact much. What I'm presenting are my prompts and what I got from ChatGPT. (My prompts are in italics.)

 

Write a story in which Polychrome, the graceful dancing daughter of the Rainbow, visits the Emerald City of Oz. She dances to music being played by the royal coronet band. She's joined by the fun-loving Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, who does her own dance along with her, but definitely isn't trying to copy. Dorothy Gale, Princess Ozma and other Oz citizens watch enraptured and amused by the two very different but very dedicated dancers.

In the vibrant and enchanting land of Oz, a special event was taking place in the majestic Emerald City. Polychrome, the graceful dancing daughter of the Rainbow, decided to pay a visit to her dear friend Dorothy Gale and the beloved ruler of Oz, Princess Ozma.

As she arrived at the Emerald City, Polychrome's radiant presence filled the air with an array of sparkling colors. The royal coronet band, playing cheerful melodies, welcomed her with joyous tunes. With a twirl of her ethereal gown, Polychrome gracefully began to dance, her movements perfectly synchronized with the music.

Meanwhile, the fun-loving and whimsical Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, couldn't resist joining in the celebration. She had her own unique style of dancing, filled with quirky moves and spontaneous jumps. As she danced alongside Polychrome, she made sure to add her own flair to the performance, never trying to imitate the Rainbow's daughter but reveling in her own exuberant dance.

Dorothy Gale, Princess Ozma, and the other citizens of Oz gathered around, completely enraptured and amused by the spectacle before them. The contrasting styles of the two dancers created a captivating display, showcasing the beauty of individuality and the power of celebrating uniqueness.

With every twirl and leap, Polychrome displayed the fluidity of the rainbows, while Scraps showcased the vivid patchwork of her personality. Their joyful energy seemed to fill the Emerald City with even more magic and wonder.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the city, the dancers' enthusiasm showed no sign of waning. The crowd joined in, clapping to the beat and encouraging the duo with cheers and laughter.

In that moment, as the two very different but equally dedicated dancers wove their artistry together, it became evident that friendship and acceptance knew no boundaries in the Land of Oz. Their dance represented the harmony that existed between them and the celebration of their diverse talents.

As the night wore on, the Emerald City became alive with merriment and camaraderie. Polychrome and Scraps continued to dance, feeding off each other's energy, and inspiring everyone around them to embrace their own uniqueness.

From that day on, whenever festivities graced the Emerald City, Polychrome and Scraps were inseparable on the dance floor, their enchanting performances leaving a lasting imprint on the hearts of all who witnessed them. And so, the friendship between the graceful dancing daughter of the Rainbow and the fun-loving Patchwork Girl grew even stronger, a testament to the beauty of embracing one's true self and celebrating the differences that made them who they were.

Polychrome appreciates that she inspired Scraps to let loose and be herself.

Polychrome couldn't help but feel a warm sense of joy and fulfillment as she noticed how her dance had inspired Scraps to be her true self. Seeing her fun-loving friend embrace her uniqueness and let loose on the dance floor brought a smile to Polychrome's radiant face.

After the festivities had ended, Polychrome and Scraps found a quiet spot in the lush gardens of the Emerald City to catch their breath and share a moment of reflection. Scraps looked at Polychrome with a grateful expression, her mismatched button eyes gleaming with happiness.

"You know, Polychrome, your dance was simply amazing! I couldn't help but feel like dancing along with you, but I didn't want to copy your moves," Scraps said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Polychrome chuckled softly, her melodious laughter echoing through the garden. "Oh, Scraps, you were wonderful! Your dance was filled with so much energy and spontaneity. I loved every moment of it. You didn't need to copy me because you have your own unique style that is simply delightful."

Scraps beamed at the praise, her colorful patchwork glowing with pride. "Thanks, Polychrome! I've always felt a bit different from everyone else, but today, dancing with you, I realized that being different is what makes me special. Your grace and beauty inspired me to embrace who I truly am."

"That's the spirit, my dear friend!" Polychrome exclaimed, placing a reassuring hand on Scraps' patchwork shoulder. "In Oz, we celebrate uniqueness and individuality. It's what makes our land so magical. Embracing who you are is a beautiful thing, and your dance was a true reflection of your vibrant spirit."

As the two friends sat together in the moonlit garden, they shared stories and laughter, deepening their bond even further. Polychrome felt a sense of fulfillment knowing that her presence had encouraged Scraps to be herself fully and unapologetically.

From that day forward, Polychrome and Scraps continued to dance together whenever they had the chance. Each time they took the stage, their performances were filled with even more passion and joy, inspiring others to embrace their own uniqueness and follow their hearts.

In the land of Oz, their dances became legendary, a symbol of friendship, self-expression, and the beauty of being true to oneself. And as they twirled and leaped through the colorful tapestry of their lives, Polychrome and Scraps knew that their bond was a testament to the magic of acceptance and the power of inspiring others to let loose and be themselves.

Scraps listens to Polychrome talk about living on the rainbow and wishes she could go.

As the moon continued to cast its gentle glow over the garden, Polychrome and Scraps found themselves lost in conversation. Polychrome spoke animatedly about her life on the rainbow, describing the breathtaking vistas and the wondrous experiences she had enjoyed.

"Scraps, you won't believe the beauty of living on the rainbow," Polychrome said, her voice filled with nostalgia. "It's like dancing on the very colors of the sky. Each day brings a new adventure as I travel from one end of the rainbow to the other. The hues blend and flow, creating a breathtaking display of light and magic."

Scraps listened intently, her button eyes reflecting both admiration and a hint of longing. "Oh, Polychrome, that sounds so amazing! I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to live on a rainbow. The thought of dancing among the colors of the sky sounds like a dream come true."

With a gentle smile, Polychrome replied, "It truly is a magical existence. But you know, my dear friend, you don't need to live on a rainbow to experience magic. The Land of Oz is filled with wonders and enchantment. You bring your own special magic to our world with your vibrant personality and unique dance."

Scraps nodded, absorbing Polychrome's words. "You're right, Polychrome. I may not be able to live on a rainbow, but I can find magic and joy right here in Oz. I have incredible friends like you and Dorothy, and the adventures we have together make every day extraordinary."

Polychrome placed a hand on Scraps' shoulder and said warmly, "Absolutely! The magic of Oz comes from the friendships we forge and the moments we share. Your presence brings so much happiness and laughter to all of us. You're an essential part of the tapestry that makes our land so special."

Feeling reassured, Scraps smiled brightly. "Thank you, Polychrome. I'm grateful for your friendship and for showing me that being myself is a wonderful thing. I'll cherish the memories of our dance together, and I promise to keep embracing my uniqueness."

Polychrome hugged her dear friend, a shimmering display of colors enveloping them both. "And I'll cherish the memories of our dance too, Scraps. Our friendship is a treasure, and I'll always be here to share in your adventures and celebrate your joyful spirit."

As the night continued, Polychrome and Scraps sat side by side, basking in the beauty of their friendship and the magic of the Land of Oz. While Scraps may have wished to live on the rainbow, she knew that her true home was among the friends who accepted and celebrated her for who she was—a vibrant and cherished member of the wonderful world they called home.

The Rainbow returns to the Emerald City to pick up Polychrome. Scraps says a loving goodbye to one of her best friends and makes up a little song about Polychrome to sing in tribute.

Polychrome hugged her friend Scraps tightly, tears of both joy and sadness sparkling in her eyes. "Oh, Scraps, my dear friend, thank you for the wonderful time we had together. Your dance and your friendship mean the world to me."

Scraps wiped away a tear with her patchwork sleeve, trying to maintain her cheerful spirit. "Oh, Polychrome, you're one of my best friends! I'm going to miss you so much, but I know you'll have an amazing time on the rainbow. Just remember, I'll be dancing and thinking of you here in Oz!"

With a playful grin, Scraps suddenly burst into a lively tune, singing a tribute to her graceful and radiant friend:

🎶 Oh, Polychrome, a rainbow bright,
 Your dance brings colors, what a sight!
With grace, you twirl upon the sky, 
In Oz, your spirit soars up high. 🎶

🎶 From hues of red to violet blue, 
You paint the sky with every hue, 
A dancer of the rainbow's crest, 
Your magic shines, you're truly blessed. 🎶

🎶 We danced together, side by side, 
Our friendship's woven, far and wide, 
Though now apart, our bond won't fade, 
In heart and soul, our memories stay. 🎶

🎶 So, as you fly on rainbow's art, 
Remember this, we'll never part, 
With every dance, your colors gleam, 
In Oz, you'll dance in every dream. 🎶

Tears welled up in Polychrome's eyes, touched by Scraps' heartfelt tribute. "Oh, Scraps, that's the sweetest song anyone has ever sung for me. I'll carry it in my heart wherever I go, and I promise to visit you and our friends in Oz whenever I can."

As the Rainbow gently descended, Polychrome climbed aboard with a final wave to her dear friends in the Emerald City. Scraps stood below, singing her song with love and pride, watching her friend ascend into the sky until she disappeared within the colorful arc of the rainbow.

And so, Polychrome returned to her home in the sky, carrying with her the cherished memories of her time in Oz and the love of her friends. Scraps continued to dance and sing, celebrating the magic of their friendship and looking forward to the day when the radiant dancer of the rainbow would grace the land of Oz with her presence once again.

The Strong Man in Oz

A friend named Jon Miranda wanted to try out a new character he'd created in an Oz story, so I helped him come up with this. He wrote as Theo, I wrote the Witch of Dreams and the classic Oz characters. Deciding we had a fairly decent little story, I asked him if it'd be all right if I posted it. I did some editing for better reading and clarity, so enjoy.

Theo was a beloved strong man in his traveling circus. He was always a crowd favorite, the children loved him, and the ladies and some of those odd gents even more.

He slicked his hair back and made sure his mustache was curled to perfection as he winked to himself in the mirror.

"Theo Saint James, you are a marvelous man," he chuckled as he stepped out of his trailer, but found he was not in the circus grounds. Instead he was in some strange stone room. "What this now?"

"Hello..." said a soft, stern voice.

Theo raised a brow. "Who are you?" he called, wearing only his leather pants and boots.

"Who I am is not important, but what you know is..."

Theo crossed his arms.

"This is not funny!" he shouted. "I have a show to put on!"

"I'm afraid it'll have to be cancelled. You're a very long way from home."

Theo looked around and raised a brow once more.

"I have never cancelled a show before! Now enough of this."

He puffed his chest out and marched up to the door.

"Yeah, that magic only works one way, I'm afraid."

A tall, stately woman walked toward him.

Theo raised a brow and laughed.

"Oh, I see. Listen miss, why don't we go back to the tent and enjoy the show?"

She opened the door, and revealed a bare storage room.

"Welcome to the Kingdom of Dreams," she said.

"Kingdom of dreams?" Theo walked in and looked around. "There is no way out..."

"There have been outsiders here before, but they've typically found a way out. Now, what do you know of the mighty Wizard of Oz?"

"Wizard of Oz? I don't know a thing." Theo crossed his arms and approached her. "And you are starting to make me angry! Now show me the way out or else."

A few little gremlin soldiers appeared behind the woman. They were tiny, fuzzy men with stocking caps who wore shimmering pastel-colored costumes.

"Really?" she asked, tilting her head. "Because he seems to dislike you a lot. In the Kingdom of Dreams, we can see into your dreams, into your heart, and in the heart of the Wizard, you are particularly loathed. Now stop lying. What do you know of him?"

He shook his head and backed up a bit. "I don't know anything about this Wizard of Oz! Honest!"

"Perhaps he knows the Wizard by another name!" suggested one of the gremlins.

Theo crossed his arms and shook his head. "Let me outta here!"

The woman crossed her arms.

"I shall have to keep you here, then," she said quietly. "Do not try to enter a dream or you will be but a hazy memory by morning."

"Where are these dreams!?" he demanded, looking around, puzzled.

"We do not monitor them here," she replied. "And I don't have to monitor them, the dream gremlins do that for me. And as I said, if you try to escape in someone's dream, you will become part of that dream."

"So where am I supposed to go?" Theo asked, flaring his nostrils.

"You will have to stay here with me," she said, grinning. "Whether you want to..." she then frowned. "...or not."

"Hmf," Theo grunted. "Well I think one of us is going to be very comfortable and the other one will not be. I don't want to have to fight a woman, but if I have to..."

"Gremlins!" called the woman. "Tie him up!"

The gremlins giggled and began swarming around Theo with ropes. Theo fought and struggled as he tried to get free.

"GET OFF OF ME YOU LITTLE BOOGERS!" he shouted as he was knocked down in a sitting position, his hands and upper chest already roped up tightly. "I THINK A GENTLEMAN'S BEATING WILL SHOW YOU ALL! LET ME GO!"

"This is no way to treat your host," said the woman, rolling her eyes. "You might as well forget about your show. You won't be making it. Gremlins, tie up his legs, and some of you, bring me a record of his dreams."

Theo growled a bit as some held him still and bound up his ankles as well.

"Yes ma'am!" one gremlin said as it ran off.

"Would you get off of me!" Theo huffed. "Just wait until I am free from this!"

One gremlin smirked and looked to the woman.

"He's all yours, Witch of Dreams!"

The gremlin who had left ran back in with a folder. The Witch of Dreams pulled a picture from it and showed it to Theo.

"Does this man look familiar?" she asked. "We found his face in a dream of yours."

Theo blinked a bit and looked it over. "That's Oscar! He was in our circus."

Theo remembered how he and his father traveled with a circus. His father worked as a lion tamer, and he had trained to be a strong man. Oscar had befriended and encouraged Theo, who in return became arrogant and soon started to make fun of his old friend.

"He is the Wizard of Oz!" the Witch laughed. "You did know him by another name! What can you tell us about him?"

Theo blinked and tilted his head.

"I don't know! I haven't talked to him since I was a child." This was a lie. Oscar had vanished for a time, but years later had suddenly returned and rejoined the circus. That was when Theo had made him a target for ridicule. "He was a foolish man, and then one day he disappeared."

"What was foolish about him?"

"He was always causing trouble and such..." he struggled against the ropes. "Just let me go!"

"Tell me. What kind of trouble?"

"He'd just... gamble, sleep around with women in town, stuff like that..."

"Gambling? Is that his weakness?"

"I guess you could say that. Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked. "Ozma of Oz has grown too powerful. It's time to take one of her allies out of the equation. Glinda is too strong, but the Wizard..."

"I don't know any of those people! Now, let me go!"

"I'm afraid you're in a bit of a pickle," she chuckled. "You see, I only lead this place and could only muster enough magic to bring you here. I don't know how to send you back. I suppose I could let you wander out there. If you're lucky, you might get eaten by a Rak and it'll be all over."

Theo thought fast.

"Err... don't you think that the Wizard would want to see me again? He would want to know that you had me captured! Maybe even get him to gamble for me and see what he does? I'm sure he would take it."

"I don't want the Emerald City. I just want the Wizard out of the way, so maybe you will be reunited after all."

"Yes, perhaps we will!" said a voice.

Theo huffed and struggled as the gremlins looked around to see where that voice came from. Wearing a bright blue coat, a red vest and yellow trousers, out of the shadows stepped Oscar Diggs.

"Hello, Theo, fancy meeting you here! Now, for some reason, the Witch of Dreams wants to bring chaos to the dreams of the people of Oz?"

"YES!" she snarled. "Their dreams are so ... happy! It's BORING!"

Theo raised a brow and looked over the man.

"Oscar!? What are you doing here?" He shouted as the gremlin gagged him and the two picked him up. The others started to charge at the Wizard.

"Protect the mistress!"

"Oh, ho, ho!" laughed the Wizard. "You're all needles and pins today!"

He waved his hands and all the gremlins turned into straight pins on the floor. The Wizard pulled some shears from his pocket and cut Theo's bonds. Theo took off his gag.

"Oscar, what is going on?" He muttered as he shoved the rope off of him.

"Well, son, you may have turned on me badly back when I got back with Bailum & Barney's, but that's in the past. Wouldn't think of leaving you here!"

Theo looked down. He felt awful about what he'd done to Oscar, but was too proud to admit it. "You...wouldn't?"

"You can't leave!" snarled the Witch. "I won't let you."

"You're barely even a sorceress!" the Wizard laughed. He waved his hand and he and Theo vanished as the pins turned back into gremlins.

Oscar and Theo were standing in the throne room of the Emerald City now, in front of the throne of Ozma of Oz. On one side of the throne sat the Cowardly Lion, on the other, the Hungry Tiger. Just below Ozma's throne sat Princess Dorothy on the steps.

"Welcome to Oz!" chuckled the Wizard.

Theo looked around and was still taking this all in.

"Where... where am I?" he asked as he stayed close to Oscar.

"Welcome to my palace," said Ozma, smiling. "You're in the Emerald City, capitol of the Land of Oz. Now, what did the Witch of Dreams want with you?"

Theo looked to her. "You? You are just a little girl."

She smiled at him, and he relaxed.

"She wanted information about the Wizard of Oz..."

"She wanted to get me out of the way to bring chaos to the dreams of our people," Oscar explained.

"All right," sighed Ozma, "so that's another person we shall have to keep an eye on."

"Theo is one of the last people in the Great Outside World who's still alive who knew me very well."

Theo crossed his arms. He was still holding his grudge at Oscar, although it seemed that Oscar was over it.

"Oh, what is this, Oscar? Another group of people you have conned?"

Dorothy chuckled. "Well... yes!"

Theo blinked. "What do you mean by 'yes,' little girl?" he asked, confused.

"The Wizard fooled us all by making us think he had magic," Dorothy explained, "but he was just an ordinary man who knew some tricks. But since I brought him back, he knows real magic."

"Thanks to Glinda," added the Wizard.

Theo huffed and looked around, scowling.

"Of course, everything works out for you so well."

The Wizard laughed. "Well, old boy, how is the circus working for you these days?"

Theo shook as he grabbed the Wizard by his jacket and pulled him up angrily.

"How dare you!"

"Whoa, whoa, relax!" the Wizard grunted.

In a flash, the Hungry Tiger had pinned down Theo.

"Do not abuse our Wizard!"

"N-no! Please don't eat me!" Theo shouted.

"My conscience wouldn't let me," the Tiger growled. "Besides, you're not a fat baby."

The Tiger backed away from Theo.

"I just wanted to know how you were..." the Wizard explained, softly, getting back up.

Theo sighed and dusted himself off.

"Well I was still with the circus," he said at last. "Everyone was wondering where you were! What happened to you?"

"My balloon descended in a crack in the ground during an earthquake and I made my way back to Oz," the Wizard explained. "I decided I'd stay this time."

"Of course," Theo huffed. "Everyone said you left town again. Why did you come and save me? I would have gotten out myself."

"And gone where?" asked the Wizard. "If you made it past the Raks, you probably would have wound up in the Scoodler Country and been made into soup."

"Me? Soup? HA!" Theo gave a hardy laugh as he shook his head. "Well, thank you for the help, now point me the way home."

"Dorothy, go get the Magic Belt," said Ozma, and the little girl scampered off.

"How is the circus these days?" the Wizard asked again.

Theo looked over at the Wizard. "Just fine, I guess, but... it's sort of falling apart. We got bought out recently."

The Wizard looked at him curiously. "And they're not holding it together well?"

"We're all looking for new work..." Theo muttered, shaking his head.

"Then I have an idea," the Wizard mused. "Not long ago, a clown named Notta Bit More and a boy named Bob Up came to Oz and started a circus. They could use some more acts. If you like, I could recommend you. You're the best strong man I know."

"Why are you doing this?" asked Theo curiously. "Being so nice to me?"

"You were unkind to me, but is that any reason why I should treat you the same way?"

"You were my hero when I was a kid," he muttered.

The Wizard patted him on the back. "So, should we tell Dorothy to put the belt back? It's what Ozma was going to use to send you back.

"You—want me to stay?"

"Well, would you like to?"

Theo smiled and nodded his head.

"I think I'd like to," he said. "I'd get to live in the palace right?"

"Well, you can visit," Ozma said. "But I was thinking of putting you up in a nice apartment near the gates. That's where Notta Bit More and Bob Up live."

Theo smiled and nodded his head.

"I'd love that!" He bowed to her as he took her hand and gave it a kiss. "Your highness."

The Wizard chuckled. "Well, then, how about I show you to your guest room?"

The Characters of Oz — Aunt Em and Uncle Henry

I've written about Aunt Em and Uncle Henry before in 2009. As that blog still works quite well, I'll take a different approach to this one.

A gentle knock was heard on the door of Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's room in the palace.

"I wonder who that could be?" asked Em, who was comfortably dressed in a night dress and robe.

Henry, dressed in slippers and pajamas (he would have to ask Jellia about getting a night shirt the next day), got up from the love seat and answered the door to find the Wizard of Oz and the Shaggy Man standing in the hall.

"Pardon me," said the Wizard, "but I thought you might like to get a little more acquainted on your first night in Oz."

"Well, come on in," replied Henry.

The two men entered the room and sat down on a couple of chairs. The Shaggy Man had brought a bottle of Gillikin wine and poured a few glasses.

"We didn't get much company in Kansas," admitted Em after a sip. "The last visitor we had was that man from the bank, and it wasn't such a happy visit."

"You're from America, right?" Henry asked the Wizard.

"That's right," the Wizard replied. "Omaha born and bred, until I ran off with the circus. By the way, you can call me Oscar. It's my real name, after all. I could go on with my whole name, but it's late."

"I just go by Shaggy," added the Shaggy Man.

"Well," said Uncle Henry, "my name is Henry Carpenter, and my sister Matilda was Dorothy's mother."

"I'm sure she was a delightful sister," commented Oscar.

"Oh, she was such a dear," said Em. "A little wistful, I'd say, but very much a dear."

"She was a dreamer," Henry replied. "I thought Dorothy was, with all her tales about the Land of Oz, but now I see she really wasn't."

"It certainly is a delightful place," the Shaggy Man said. "I'm sure you'll grow to love it."

"I hope so," Em said.

"How did you two meet?" asked Oscar.

"Oh, dear," chuckled Em. "My family had just moved in near Henry's family's farm, and he came home from the war between the states, and decided to pay his new neighbors a visit."

"What's so funny about it?" the Shaggy Man wondered.

"Well," Henry grinned, sipping from his glass, "Emily was the prettiest girl I'd ever seen. I thought she was their maid!"

"We started courting and then we got engaged," Em added. "Then we got married and spent our honeymoon at the Topeka Hotel!"

"Yes," Henry added. "I'd come down with scarlet fever, and she would come by and check on me every day. After the doctor said I'd recovered, I offered to make her go from Emily Marie Stanton—"

"—to Emily Marie Carpenter!" finished Em. "After the honeymoon, we stayed with our folks until the Spring when we loaded up a wagon and built our little house on the Kansas prairie to start our farm."

"Did you have any children?" asked the Shaggy Man. "I heard Dorothy had a cousin."

"I think you mean Zeb, her second cousin," commented Henry. "No, we never had any children. We almost did, though."

Em suddenly looked a little sad and uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry," said Oscar. "We didn't mean to pry."

"I was pregnant once," explained Em, "but I lost the baby."

"Well," interjected the Shaggy Man, attempting to change the subject, "how did Dorothy come to live with you?"

"Matilda married almost thirteen years after Em and I did!" explained Uncle Henry. "She was my sister. Married a fine chap named Charles Gale. About a year later, Dorothy was born."

"Charles was a military man," Em added. "He and Matilda and Dorothy lived in town, but when he had to be away for awhile, Matilda and Dorothy would often come out to the farm and live with us."

"What happened to Charles?" asked Oscar, curiously.

"He died while in service," Henry answered. "Quite honorably, I must say."

"That was how Dorothy lost her father," Em replied. "We tried to help Matilda stay strong, and she tried, but before long, she'd gone too."

There was a moment of sad silence in the room.

"There was no question about who should take in Dorothy," Henry continued. "She'd already learned to love us, and even though she'd lost her parents, she was still such a merry thing. Quite a wonder."

"No," interrupted Em. "Dorothy was very sad for quite some time after Matilda died. Lucky for us, a friend gave her a puppy to play with."

"Toto?" asked Oscar.

Em nodded.

"It gave me such a start to hear her laugh when she first got him," Em remembered. "And that's really most of our story. A few years later, the cyclone blew away our old house with Dorothy and Toto inside."

"That was when I realized how much Dorothy meant to me," remarked Henry. "I stayed quiet and somber for years, feeling much worse over Dorothy's losses than she was herself. But it took losing her and getting her back again to make me realize how much we really cared for each other."

"And then your health broke down," Em said. "That was when we had to get another mortgage so we could send you and Dorothy to Australia so you could get better again."

"And as we know now," Oscar commented, "Dorothy visited Oz twice during that trip."

"And then she disappeared again during last August!" Em exclaimed. "That girl has had such a knack for slipping away and then coming back with the most outlandish tales. But as outlandish as they might have been, they were true!"

"So they were," commented the Shaggy Man, standing and collecting the bottle and the now empty glasses.

"Well, you're part of the Land of Oz now," said Oscar, likewise standing. "And you're among friends. I'm very glad Ozma brought you to live with us."

"I'm glad as well, though we're still getting used to things," admitted Henry. "Still, in a land like this, I'm sure our best years are yet to come!"