Return to Oz
 

After a little discussion with those in the chatroom I now have my cast. Like my last one, the beginning is fairly small but it's only the introductory. Things will get bigger, and grander, like last time. Those who have seen the movie, the opening isn't exactly like that of the movie. A bit too creepy I think, for Mac to go in for electro shock therapy. :wiltshock:

~*~


Mac lay awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. How long had it been since he'd gotten a good night's sleep? Ever since the tornado had struck Fosters, and he and Bloo had been caught in the middle of it and off guard. There they had huddled in a room of Fosters, waiting out the storm. That's when, he thinks, he and his friend had been transported to this fantastic, magical land known as Oz. Where scarecrows talked, tin birds rusted and lions were scared of their own shadows. Coming back from it, he felt it must have been a dream brought on by a bump on the head he had received from the storm. But he had found those glasses, the souvenir that Bloo had gotten which made them late catching that darn balloon ride back home with the rabbit, who turned out to be a version of Mr. Herriman.

Rolling over he stared out the window, glaring at the moon that was peeking in through the window. It was past two o'clock in the morning now. He'll be a wreck for school tomorrow. Suddenly he saw a star shoot right across the night sky, and vanish into the horizon. Still being a child, and still believing that wishing on stars more or less came true, he made a wish. But being the rule is if you tell it, it won't come true, I won't say what he wished for.

The next day, Mac was making his way down his apartment's stairs to the ground below when he heard the all too familiar wailings of a certain yellow imaginary friend. A door was kicked open, and Cheese came running from the apartment that was Louise, waving his arms madly in the air as if impersonating a certain green muppet frog. He stopped as he hit the railings and stopped, wheezing. Louise hurried out after him. "Cheese!" she scolded like a little mother, shaking her finger at him. "Don't be stupid, Mum says we gotta dress nice for the photo 'n you hafta look nice!"

It was then Mac realised Cheese was actually in clothes. They didn't look right on him at all, polka dog scarf, blue pants too long in one leg and a red shirt. He looked irked to be wearing them, but instead of voicing his anger he just chewed on the scarf.

"Hey Louise." Mac said, being neighbourly even if he didn't like Cheese that much.

"Oh hi Mac!" Louise replied, helping Cheese to his feet. It had only been a week ago she'd gotten her retainer off, and it had improved her teeth 100%. "It's photo day," she said, "'N Mum doesn't want him naked in the photo. I said it's stupid, cuz he's naked all the time but you know Mum's."

"Oh yeah, do I know..." he cast a weary glance over his shoulder to his apartment, even if his mother wasn't home.

"Goin' to Fosters huh?" she asked,

"Yeah, Bloo says there's this hen friend who doesn't talk camping out in his bed 'n he wants me to chase it off. Besides, I go there every day anyway. Later Louise!" with that he waved his neighbour off, and began his walk across town to reach Fosters. He knew the walk off by heart, moving around hedges, houses, narrow street ways until he saw the large shadow of the mansion fall over himself. Grinning he began to cross the street, when a shout made him stop.

"YOU BRAT, GET OFFA MY LAWN!!" he turned, to see it was Old Man Winter at his porch, shaking his clenched fist at the perpetrator who had tried to step on his lawn. It was Phil, one of the flying unicorns that normally took up residence in the Fosters stables. But what was he doing out here?

"Ey, buddy," Phil snapped back; for being a pure white unicorn with rainbow coloured hair he was in no way a lady horse, or even a gentleman horse. He spoke with a thick New York accent. "I was flyin up there 'n my wing hurt so I figger best to land then crash so shut yer yap!"

"Phil!" Mac hurried over to him.

"Oh Mac, 'ey guy! Cin you believe that jerk?" he moved a wing to Old Man River, who was still shaking his fist and throwing expletives. "Fella steps on his lawn 'n he's off his rocket."

"Yeah I know, just ignore him. C'mon, I'll take you to Frankie so she can check your wing."

"Thanks very much."

But as Mac was leading Phil away he saw something sparkle on the grass of Old Man River's front lawn. Blinking he made his way over to it, ignoring Old Man River's shouting still. "Dagnabbit don't people respect well grown lawn anymore?!" and picked up the item. It was a key, a very old, well worn key with dirt and mud covering it. Phil trotted back over, lowering his head to peer at it.

"What's that?" he asked,

"A.. key I think." Mac mumbled, turning it over in his hands. He cleaned some dirt off, and picking up a stick he poked a hole in through some of the dirt that fell away. What met his eye wasn't what he was expecting. A large 'O' topped the key, with 'Z' within the 'O'. Oz. "...Oz." Mac read aloud.

"Oz? What's that, some kinda band?" Phil inquired, turning to leave, ruffling his wings at Old Man Rivers who was still prattling on. "C'mon Mac, let's get someplace you can check that lil' thing out without the noise pollution."

Mac led the unicorn around to the stables, ensuring him he'd go tell Frankie about his wing hurting. Making his way up to the house he spotted Bloo, who seemed to be occupied with something of more importance. A game of 'freeze when I say so', a game Bloo had come up with a while ago. His victims so far were Eduardo, Coco, a few other various imaginaries including EuroTrish and even Red. He'd allow the group to do as they please, jump up and down, talk, make wild gestures or whatever but as soon as he yelled 'STOP' they had to freeze, no matter what. Whoever twitched or blinked first lost. He decided to leave the guys to it, since he had to find Frankie.

But on the way towards the house Mac stopped short, for he heard something that sounded like a cry for help from further away. He looked to the near by imaginaries, but it seemed they were too occupied. Eduardo's tail had twitched, so Bloo declared him out and Eduardo was putting up an argument since sometimes his tail did as it wanted and he shouldn't be blamed, or loose, because of his tail.

Walking towards the noise, Mac finally came to a small stream making its way through the Fosters property. But as Mac stood there watching it, wondering just how long it had been here since he certainly didn't remember seeing it here before, it suddenly began growing wider and wider. The calls for help seemed to be coming from the water itself. Was someone drowning? He couldn't tell, since as soon as he edged closer an actual arm shot up from the water and grabbed his ankle, pulling him in. Mac wasn't even given a chance to call for help since the water was so rough, and fast, he was tumbling over and over within the watery depths but every time he thought he was about to drown the water seemed to sense this, and lift him up for a good helping of air, scream, then dive back down again.

After a few minutes, Mac finally ran into something in the water. It was a coop, apparently, or at least a box with pieces of wood missing. Climbing inside he clung to the planks of wood, hoping and wishing this river would calm down soon and he'd be able to get the heck out of here. But the river didn't calm down, or slow. If anything it got bigger, and bigger, and bigger... so big, until... it was the ocean.

To be continued

Having never read or seen the sequel, I'm looking forward to this quite a lot... :D

Nice introduction. I look forward to reading more of this. ;)

This just in: CG needs a life!

Chapter 2: The city of Stone

The moon actually set whilst Mac was still drifting in the crate, and the sun finally peeked itself in from the horizon, casting strong rays of sunlight across the ocean. Mac, curled up in a ball and still finally sleeping after so many nights of not being able so, shifted as the light hit his face. He whined, waving his hand in a way to deter the sun from awaking him, but it was too late. Groaning he woke up, and he suddenly realised he wasn't by himself in the box anymore. Or maybe he had always had company, and just didn't realise it. The company in question, was a chicken. A yellow chicken, clucking as loudly as it could and making an odd face.

"Uh... right..." he said as he stared at the chicken.

Hearing his voice, the chicken's eyes snapped open. "Ah, you're awake!" she declared.

Mac could only stare a few moments longer, "Wait. What, wait. H... hello?" maybe this was one of those imaginary chickens that children on farms thought up?

"Good morning sun shine!" the chicken replied brightly, "Sorry for waking you deary. I was trying to lay my egg. Haven't laid on in years." she sighed sadly. "What good is a chicken that can't lay eggs? I'll tell you. Dinner!"

The young boy got to his feet, and rubbed his eyes. "I guess so..." Mac started, "So what's your name?"

"Bill." the chicken known as Bill said.

"Bill?"

"Yup. Good strong name, Bill." the chicken looked as proud as a hen could.

"But you're not a boy." Mac pointed out the obvious.

"So?" she asked, "When I was hatched the little boy of the farmer named me Bill. But when I grew up and realised I wasn't a rooster, I still kept the name Bill. It's a good name." she repeated.

"I guess... look. How about, I call you Billina? That way you're still Bill but... a bit more feminine." Mac tried to ignore how bizarre this conversation was sounding. A chicken should be just clucking, not talking about the masculinity of a name.

"..fine, if it'll make you feel better deary." the hen now known as Billina replied. "How big is this pond anyway?" she finally asked.

"Oh, no. It's not a pond, it's-" Mac turned to search the horizon but stopped. The ocean was gone, where it had snuck away to and when was anyone's guess. Mac had been so occupied with a talking chicken he hardly noticed it had slinked to nothingness. In its place was sand, miles of sand stretching as far as he could see on one side of the crate, on the other was the beginning of some green grass, trees, and a field. He blinked, before slowly looking around him. "...wait a minute..."

Now it all made sense. How a river had grown from nothing to an ocean, then shink into a desert. And why a chicken could suddenly talk. "I think... we're in Oz." he finally said after long enough thought.

"Oz?" Billina asked, fluttering up to perch on the crate. "What's Oz?"

"It's this whole other world," Mac said, looking towards the greenery ahead of them. "Where animals talk, just like you can. There are witches, flying monkeys, and all types of things! That explains why you can talk now rather then before!" he was besides himself, all this time he had wanted to find out if this had been a dream or not. And seemingly, it wasn't. He had returned to Oz after all! But just then he saw Billina was about to jump clear of the box onto the sand, but grabbed her. "Wait!"

"SQWARK!" Billina released a cry of surprise, "What's wrong?" she asked, ruffled and surprised.

"If this really is Oz, then this is the Deadly Desert." Mac said wearily. "The Tin Bird told me about it last time; any living thing that touches it turns to sand."

"I'm not thinking much of this Oz place, Mac." the hen replied, in a sour voice. But holding tight to her, Mac managed to hop from one rock to the other, until he finally landed on the grass. Pleased with himself, he set the hen down and began walking. "This'll be great Billina, you can meet the Scarecrow, Tin Bird and Cow-I mean, Lion!"

"Scarecrow? Tin.. Bird? A big cat?" the poor hen seemed confused to the nines as they walked.

"Yep." Mac nodded, "See, before I came here the first time there was a Wizard in charge. He wasn't really a Wizard though, just a big Rabbit who fooled everyone. When he left - see he was meant to take me home with him but left without me - the Scarecrow became the new ruler of Oz because of the brand new brains that the Rabbit had given him. So now, he's in charge. Then there's the Tin Bird, she was made without a heart so once she got one she went to rule in the West, where the Wicked Witch had been. She had been the one who wanted the shoes the Good Witch of the North gave me, but we had to kill her to prove we were worthy of the Rabbit's good graces. Lastly the Lion was once really Cowardly, but thanks to the Rabbit and all our help he became King of the Beasts." Mac stopped, looking down at the hen. "It's a lot to take in huh?"

"If I were to lay an egg right now it'll be scrambled like my brains." Billina replied.

"Yeah sorry." Mac apologised, and the two continued along across the fields for quite a few hours. They actually found a few trees growing lunch boxes, and it suddenly made sense just how the Scarecrow had found one last time he was here. Lunch box trees! For sure they were in Oz now, so whilst Billina ate up a few worms and grubs, Mac age a tuna fish sandwich that he picked. Unbeknownst to them, somebody was watching them. A rock, just a little bit away, suddenly grew rocky eyes and observed the duo. Its eyeless sockets looked from Mac, to Billina, then vanished back into the rock.

Deep below the ground a face formed in a wall, besides a room of roaring fire. The figure in the room was hunched over something, the flames flickering causing its shadow to dance across the walls. The face spoke, "Your highness. He has returned." it spoke, the voice sounding like rocks being rolled together to make noise.

"Has he now?" the figure answered, sounding old and wheezy. "The Mac of Fosters has returned to Oz. Keep an eye on him."

But the face paused.

"What is it?" came the royal voice again.

"He... he has a chicken with him, sire." replied the face in the wall, voice shaking all the more. The reaction was cataclysmic, fire roared in all directions as the royal one hidden by flames and shadowed yelled in both horror and anger. A chicken, a CHICKEN? How dare they bring a chicken into the land of Oz! That Mac shall pay dearly.

Back on the surface, Mac and Billina, now well fed and well rested began their journey again. This part of Oz Mac had never been, it was probably South given he had been to the North, East and West. What lay in the South he didn't know, so he hoped it wasn't anything vicious like the Extreme-O-Saurs of the East. But swallowing his fear for Billina's sake they continued. At least until he tripped over something.

"Mac!" the hen fussed, hurrying over to him. "Oh dear are you all right?"

"Yeah I'm fine.." Mac sat up, rubbing his knee. But then he saw just what he had fallen over. It was a shattered remains of a brick, and only then did he realise there was a whole lot of them making their way through the trees. "...oh no..." he gulped as he picked up the remains of the brick.

"What's wrong? It's only a brick." Billina observed, eyeing the brick.

"No Billina," Mac stood up, looking at how it travelled from one way to the other through the woods. "This is... this used to be the yellow brick road. I travelled it before, with my friends. I knew it," he dropped the brick. "Something's happened to them, something awful has happened to them and that's why I ended up back here! Come on Billina, we gotta get to the Emerald City!"

He picked the chicken up, and carrying her he ran. The urgency in his heart and head were pulsating now, ever since he had arrived in Oz he hadn't seen a living soul. And he knew for a fact Oz was meant to be well populated in all directions, and when he had found the remains of what once was one of the numerous yellow brick roads his fears had been confirmed. Something had happened. The key landing in Old Man Rivers house wasn't just a coincidence, somehow it was sent to him on purpose.

It wasn't long until they finally saw something man made and green peeking in over a few tree tops. Mac hurried faster, but what he saw made him fall dead in his tracks. It was the Emerald City, but not as he once remembered it. If a city could be gutted, its innards removed and left to dye like a carcass in the sun that is what had happened to the once grand city. The sparkling green colour was gone, the windows shattered, the gateways open and empty. Billina looked at the city from Mac's arms. "...it doesn't look that impressive." she said.

"It didn't always look like this." Mac said quietly as he walked up to the same large gate he and his friends had once walked through. The girl who guarded the door was no longer there, in fact, it seemed like no one was. At least, until his eyes adjusted.

There were people, but they weren't moving. Or human anymore. They were stone statues, all frozen in looks of horror and shock upon their faces. Mac walked up to a few citizens, a woman clutching her child to her side and looked to be begging for mercy from whoever had attacked them. The child was crying, stone tears upon her face. Mac swallowed deeply, and continued on once he let Billina down on the floor. The whole city was like this, every ounce of colour was gone from sight and all remained of those who once lived here was now stone.

"So we come all this way to see a bunch of stiffs, that's luck for you." Billina said as she walked around a corner.

Mac spotted a few bodies of small children, he guessed they were girls from the gowns they wore. But... their heads were missing. He reached out to touch one of the necks when he heard Billina erupt into a squawk of alarm.

"MAC! MAC! HELP!!"

He was quick to rush to where she was, "Billina what is it?!" he asked, and stopped in horror as he saw what had frightened Billina.

It was the Tin Bird. She was on a bench, one leg up showing she was about to jump off and she had the fiercest face he had ever seen her with. Besides her were a few Winkies, one was hurt, and being held by the other who looked just as scared or angry as the Tin Bird was. But she was no longer tin. She was stone, and her beak had been held high ready to strike whoever it was that had been in front of her. Mac stared, wide eyed for a few moments. He had seen the Tin Bird frozen so many times before, but that was through her tears of either sorrow or happiness. She had been still alive, well, as much alive as a Tin Bird can be. But she wasn't that anymore, she was stone.

He had to look away to prevent getting too upset, even if he felt already upset from what he'd seen. A beautiful city reduced to rubble, one of his friends turned into a statue. He guided Billina along, making their way towards where the Wizard once lived. But then he saw someone else who was very familiar, and it broke his heart all over again.

It was the Lion, the same Lion he had left behind before with the Scarecrow and Tin Bird. With him was the Tiger they had spoken with back in the woods, and a good many other animals. All of them looked angry, ready to attack at the command of the Lion who seemed to be in mid attack. He was up on his hind legs, one of his paws already reaching out and his claws extended. His massive jaws were open in a now silent roar, his teeth as stone as the rest of him. "Lion..." Mac said quietly, reaching out and putting his hands to the face of his friend. Even if the Lion looked as fearsome as he possibly could, all Mac could really see, and think of, was the large purple scaredy cat who used to cry in terror of his own shadow.

Who could do such a thing? To so many people? And to such a dramatic result that not only were the Winkies, led by the Tin Bird came to assist but also the beasts led by the Lion?

It was then he saw something scrawled into the dirt on the floor, apparently made by the beaver whose hand was just finishing off the last letter. Mac walked over to it, and looked down. Billina joined him, after avoiding the look of the angry cats.

"What's it say?" she asked, not being able to read.

"...beware the Wheelers." Mac read.

"What's a Wheeler?" the chicken asked again, in a world where she knew nothing made her feel kind of stupid. But you only learn by asking.

"I don't remember them... not at all."

To be continued

Oooo, you've definitely got my attention...

Whoa...... :(

Very impressive chapter.

Mine too! *Paces floor* waiting for the next chapter.

Ooooohhhh.... This is getting intresting!:D

Yay! Another Return to Oz fan!

You've got a good opening here, and kept everything in-character with Foster's, as opposed to RtO's uber-creepiness.

I always thought Ivan would make a good Jack Pumpkinead for some reason. And Uncle Pockets for Professor HM Wogglebug TE (from the books). I'm not ordering you to put them in; it's just my opinion. ;)

Woooah...*freaked out* I never read the Return to Oz! THIS IS CREEPY. I should go rent and read that book sometime...

I never *knew* there was "Return to Oz"!:wiltshock:

Technically 'Return to Oz' wasn't written by Baum, it was based on two of his stories. Ozma of Oz, and another one I can't recall. But the movie itself is very good indeed. Now, on with the show!

~*~

Chapter 3: Rescuing Tik-Tok

Having learnt of the new threat, even if they didn't know what they were exactly, Mac and Billina continued along the now ghost city of Emeralds. Everywhere they looked there were statues of people, some random Beanielanders, and animals. Their faces were all the same, they were afraid, attacking or begging for something. Mercy, probably. Disturbed by these sights Mac set his eyes to the ground to avoid the statues. He was about to speak when he heard something pierce the silence, and send jolts of alarm up his spine.

Squeeeeeeaaaaaak went the noise, and both froze. It sounded like a wheel on a rusty trolley in a super market. The noise filled the air again, but this time four times as powerful. Mac hurried his pace, carrying Billina in his arms as he continued towards the large tower where the Wizard had once taken up residence.

But just as he turned a corner, something wheeled out in front of him and stood it's ground. It was yellow in colour, with black stripes visible where its fur was. Over its fur was clothing, black and ripped. But what was most startling was the creature was hunched over, its legs and arms longer then usual and instead of hands and feet, wheels took their place. It had spiked hair/fur atop its head, and wild eyes that latched with Macs, before grinning maliciously.

"Heh heh heheehh.. ya know.." it started, before slowly rolling forward causing Mac to back up. "Somethin' tells me ya better hand over the chicken." he paused a few moments before screaming, "NOW!"

"What? Why?!" Mac asked, taking another step back, hoping the uprooted trees and uneven bricks would cause the wheeled monster to fall over. It didn't. He seemed adapt to the terrain.

"Aw don't ask why. Just do it." he added, giggling at the end of his sentence as if he had been gassed with laughing gas.

"No!" Mac shot back, before turning and run off.

The Wheeler, since that was what he was, sighed and shook his head before releasing a high pitched noise which was not unlike a scream or a call either. It echoed around the destroyed city, and it was answered back by what felt like hundreds of calls. The call to arms had been alerted, there was an intruder in the Princesses city! Out from behind pillars, out of the shadows, came more and more Wheelers and launched their chase against the young boy and more importantly, the chicken in his arms.

Who at this point, was clucking in terror. "Mac I don't know about you but I want to go home right now!" she cried, looking behind her to see not one, not two, but five various Wheelers of different size and colour after them.

Mac kept quiet, focusing on maundering around the statues and pavement. He passed quite a few young children statues; the girls were all missing their heads. But he could barely take that in, since he suddenly saw another heard of the creatures coming right at him. Now surrounded both behind and in front, he turned and ran down a narrow passage way in hopes it would lead somewhere.

It didn't.

He skidded to a halt and stared up at the high wall in front of him. Hearing the squeaking wheels and laughter echoing behind him he began searching, desperately, for something that would help him and Billina.

"Mac, Mac! There!" Billina was pecking at a piece of the rock, "Look!" she sqwarked. Mac looked, and sure enough there was a key hole. Fumbling in a pocket whilst still holding Billina in one arm, he found what he was looking for. The key he'd found on Old Man Rivers front lawn. He managed to push the key into the lock,

"C'mon please work please work..." he begged out loud and some higher being must have heard him, for a 'CLICK' filled the air. The large door swung open, and Mac vanished inside and slammed it shut behind him, just as the Wheelers had caught up. The larger ones couldn't fit down the narrow pathway, and the smaller ones ended up crashing against the door, which had become a wall again.

In the darkness Mac and Billina gave out a sigh of relief.

"Ya can't stay in there forever!" shouted the Wheelers Mac had met from outside. "When you come out we'll have you! And your CHICKEN!" the laughter bounced off the walls outside. "Oohh Princess is going to be so furious with you!"

"Princess?" Mac asked out loud, peeking through the keyhole. "What Princess, where's the Scarecrow? What did you do to him?"

He got no answer other then more shrill cries of laughter, and the sound of squeaking wheels filled the air as they wheeled away giggling some words like 'Scarecrow', 'Chicken' and 'Princess'. Soon they were gone, and Mac had a wave of both relief yet concern wash over him. The Wheelers had a point, they couldn't stay in here forever.

Lucky for them there was a broken window high in the ceiling, casting some light upon a dark situation. But what they didn't expect, was company. Sat in the middle of the spider web covered room, was a large square. Well, it looked like a square at first. Mac walked slowly towards it, before he realised it wasn't just a square. It was someone, something. He had a face, two large eyes that were shut and a gaping mouth which was also open as if he had been shouting. Arms stuck out on either side of his square body, but he wasn't flesh and blood. He looked similar to the Tin Bird, made of metal. But whilst she had been tin, he was copper.

"What is it? A cube?" Billina asked as she examined him with her beady eyes. Once upon a time he probably would have shown her reflection, but now he was dust covered and well worn.

"A... mechanical thing." Mac said after long enough, before spotting a coat of arms just above his right arm. "The Royal Army of Oz." he read, before staring back at the creature.

"Pretty small army." the hen said.

Mac made his way around the mechanical marvel, before he spotted instructions on its back. "Presenting Oz's Patented Army of Oz. Does everything but live. To turn on thoughts, wind up key in back. To turn on voice, wind key on left side. To turn on actions, wind key on right side."

"Seems simple enough." Billina said, "Go on. Turn him on."

"Might as well, if he's the Army of Oz then he'd be on our side." Mac replied, and wound the key that was on his back as tight as it could go. Once that was done, it very slowly began to rotate back, ticking like a clock as it did. "...wonder what he's thinking." Mac said, as he heard some gears within the square's body begin to turn on.

"Turn on his speech so he can tell us, lets just hope it isn't anything naughty." Billina hurried around to left side of the square, and Mac did just as he had done with the back key.

It took a few moments before the creature seemed to realise it could talk again. His eyes snapped open and his eyes, also made of copper, looked around the room until Mac and Billina walked around to his front so he could see them. The grin on his face grew, showing some badly made teeth. But they weren't the problem at hand. "Hel-lo litt-le boy!" he spoke finally, his voice sounding metallic but very deep. "Me Tik-Tok, Roy-al Ar-my of Oz."

"Uh.. hi, Tik-Tok. I'm Mac, and this is Billina." Mac motioned to the hen, who clucked a greeting.

"Chic-ken!" Tik-Tok declared, proud of himself for saying the word apparently. Maybe the springs in his brain wasn't as tight as they once was.

"Tik-Tok, what are you doing in here?" Mac asked.

Tik-Tok looked back to Mac for a moment, looking in deep thought. "Wait. Mac?" he asked, if he could he probably would have tilted his head to the side. But given he couldn't move yet, or have possession of a neck, his huge copper mono brow rose against his forehead making a squeak as it did. Mac suddenly wished he had picked up the Tin Bird's oil can. But he nodded. "MAC!" Tik-Tok shouted in joy, "Oh me knew you come, me knew it! Scare-crow put me in here when all bad stuff was happ-en-ing! Shout-ing, yell-ing. Scare-crow told Tik-Tok, to wait here un-til Mac would come. So Tik-Tok wait, me wait-ed until yell-ing stop. Then I call for help un-til me voice run out. Then I pace un-til act-ion run out. Then Tik-Tok thought and thought. Tik-Tok no re-mem-ber an-y-thing un-til you wound me up."

It took Mac a few moments to grow used to just how this odd, Tik-Tok spoke. Obviously being man made he wasn't alive like the Tin Bird had been. He had problems saying long words, and maybe he had suffered some damage to his thought mechanisms since he could hear them squeaking from here. "The Scarecrow... I knew it!" Mac said.

It had been an awful day. At first, the sun had been shining as normal and the citizens of the great Emerald City had been living their lives as they had every day. No worries, no nothing. But then the ground began to shake, something that had never happened before in the land of Oz. It was a square flat piece of land, without fault lines. So how could there be an earthquake? The Scarecrow had rushed to a window, and watched as some of the buildings began to fade from the shining green he knew to regular stone, but what he saw next chilled him to his non-existent bones. Creatures were erupting from the ground itself, it took him a moment but he realised what they were. Gnomes.

He ran as fast as he could through the hallways until he found two of the flying monkeys that had taken up home in the Emerald City since their freedom from the Witch. He begged them, pleaded, never one to give orders was the Scarecrow, to go to the West and the North to get the Lion and Tin Bird. He needed their help, and the monkeys flew away as fast as they could. The attacks were still happening when the Lion and Tin Bird arrived. Both with their own armies, of both animals and Winkies. The Scarecrow didn't know what else to do, and in a panic he grabbed the Royal Army of Oz, Tik-Tok, and managed to get their way through all the fighting to the room. "I'm sorry but please, wait! Mac will come, I know he will! You have to wait, he'll save us, he will!" the door had slammed shut and that was all Tik-Tok had witnessed.

Realised they were being over powered by the animals and Winkies, the Gnomes had asked their King for help. Using powers he had never had at his disposal before, he cast everyone to stone. All but the Scarecrow. Everyone having been turned to stone didn't witness the Gnomes grabbing their ruler, and pulling him right down into the Earth never to be seen again.

Now, all what was left 'living' of the Emerald City was a copper, square Army who didn't even know half the story that had happened whilst he had been locked up. Mac soon wound up his actions, and explained to the Army what was going on outside. How Wheelers had taken over, the city in ruins, and talk of a Princess. Tik-Tok didn't know a lick of any of this, but given Mac was renown throughout Oz and good friends with the Scarecrow, agreed to come with him and protect him as an Army should. Unlocking the door, Tik-Tok peered down the narrow pathway. No Wheelers in sight.

"They is hid-ing to make us think they is gone." the Army said quietly as he could. "But we get to cast-le, see Prin-cess, and find out where Scare-crow go."

"Right." Mac replied, nodding his head and holding Billina close.

The trio set off down the hallway, it seemed instead of walking like regular people Tik-Tok actually bounced along like a huge, square kangaroo. He clanged as he walked, and Mac wished he had been made with legs since the noise would surely attract the attention of the Wheelers. And it certainly did, just as they were finally seeing the gates that lead to the Wizard's Palace, a whole herd of Wheelers suddenly attacked.

But what Mac didn't anticipate was Tik-Tok's reaction. He suddenly all but transformed, his whole body opening up, legs erupting from the bottom of his body and more arms from his sides. He hollered loudly, "TIK-TOK SMASH WHEEL-ERS!!!" and he did just that. He grabbed them by the wheels before throwing them away, smacked two together at a time with his new arms, and pretty much gave the Wheelers a run for their money. The first Wheeler Mac had met, the yellow one, had been caught by the scruff of the neck by Tik-Tok (who now had quickly turned back into the copper cube). He was screaming and wheezing in shock and pain, having now recieved a black eye by Tik-Tok.

"Talk for Mac!" Tik-Tok shouted, shaking the Wheeler in front of Mac.

Mac, still surprised by Tik-Tok's show of strength and power to transform, took a moment to find his voice. "W-what happened to the Scarecrow?" he finally asked.

The Wheeler growled, refusing to talk until Tik-Tok shown him his fist again. He blurted, "The Gnome King took him! The Gnome King! Only he knows where the Scarecrow is now!"

"Gnome King? Who is he?" Mac asked, having never heard of him.

"He's the ruler of Oz now! No more straw men in charge but a man of rock! And the Princess is in charge of the City! It is HERS now!"

Tik-Tok, Mac and Billina glanced at the other with some concern. So the Scarecrow was kidnapped, Emerald City in ruins, a Gnome King in charge and a Princess owns the city. Well obviously the two worked in cahoots with each other, so maybe the Princess knows. "We'll have to see the Princess then." Mac said finally. After some more 'talk' with the Wheeler, he agreed to show them to where the Princess was. He didn't like to, of course, but it was better then being beaten up by the copper square again. He'll have nightmares for weeks.

To be continued

Poor W- I mean, the Scarecrow. :(

Yay Re- I mean, Tik-Tok! XD

Attaboy, Tik-Tok!! Show these Wheelers who's boss. ;D

Great to see Red in action! Go Tik-Tok! ;D

Tik-Tok is AWESOME! But OMGSCARECROW!! Is he okay? They'll find him, right? He'd better be all right, or I'ma be mad....I KNEW gnomes were evil!!! *quivers with distress* They have taunted me for years...Staring, always staring...*eye twitch*

But yes, AWESOME. MOREMOREMORE!

The story's going great, but I still don't get the discription of the wheelers, so if it's okay, can you draw one, CG?

I'd kind of like to see that, too. :)

And some more pics of Frankie the Good Witch of the North...

Poopy MSPaint doodle to get the idea across just what a Wheeler looks like:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l4...ndywheeler.jpg

BENDY!!! YAY!!! :D :D :D

Bendy yay. :p


The bedraggled Wheeler, caught tightly by the tail of his coat, made his way through the ruins of the Emerald City until arriving at what was once the Wizard's, then Scarecrow's, palace. It too had suffered some of the attacks, but it was still one of the only buildings to haven't had lost an entire wall. Thus, it was still presentable. They reached the stairs, and the Wheeler tugged at his coat.

"Okay okay, I shown ya the way. Lemme go now. I been good." he whined, lowering himself as low as he could to appear smaller and more frail then he was.

Tik-Tok growled, but released him. Once he did, the Wheeler kicked him with a wheel, erupted into his high pitched squeals of joy before wheeling off again into the ruins. Tik-Tok shook a fist after him, but knew it was best if he didn't follow. Mac was already climbing the stairs, Billina shifting uneasily in his arms.

"Something tells me this is a bad idea." she mumbled, "I can feel it in my tail feathers."

"Well what else can we do?" Mac asked, "It's either this, or leave the Scarecrow... wherever he is." Mac replied, reaching up and knocking on the large wrought iron doors.

"Never seen anyone care so much about a man made of straw." Billina said as she glanced around, fearful of any more Wheeler attacks.

When no one answered the door, Mac gently gave it a push and it swung open.

"Isn't this breaking and entering?" Billina asked.

"Not really. It wasn't locked, so it isn't breaking. Just entering." Mac said back, and the trio made their way into the palace. It still looked highly respectable, with the large crystal chandeliers, vases on display. But the odd thing was, where the walls had been merely walls before were now all mirrors. Mac could look up at the ceiling to see what a flying bird would see, or look at the ground to see what an ant would. It was unnerving.

Tik-Tok didn't seem to take in the eeriness of mirrors all around, his hops to move around somewhat cautious. He had been in the palace before, and it had indeed changed. In the far distance, echoing from another room came the sound of an instrument being played. Or, a cat being tortured. The player couldn't play their way out from a can of beans.

The trio entered a main room, which was once a stateroom. Once again, mirrors were everywhere and sat there in the middle of the room was a sofa and upon the sofa was who Mac could only guess, was the Princess.

She had dark skin, and thick black hair tied into a plait which rolled down over her shoulder. Even as they approached she didn't look up, seemingly concentrating as hard as she could with the instrument. Mac, Tik-Tok and Billina came to a stop in front of her, and finally she glanced up at them. It was here Mac noticed, her head might have had dark skin but the colour of her hands was pale.

"Um." Mac started, before giving a small bow, not wanting to anger a princess. "Hello your highness, I'm Mac, from Fosters, and-"

"Help me up." she said, in a somewhat Hispanic accent. Her hand was being held out to him.

"Oh uh sure." Mac took her hand, and helped her up.

Once she was standing the Princess (no older then Mac) observed him for a few moments, "I need to go change into something more suitable for such honourable guests. Your friends may wait here, come with me." Mac didn't get a chance to argue, she gripped his hand in hers and pulled him away.

"So, you're Mac from Fosters. I always wanted to meet you." she said casually as they walked through a door way.

"Look, your highness, we're looking for the Scarecrow. I need to-" Macs voice stopped in his throat as he realised where they were. It was a long hallway, with cabinets on either side of the room. Within the cabinets, were pedestals on which you'd place things to be displayed. But instead of jewellery, or other expensive items, there were heads on display. Heads of young girls, in each and every display case. But even creepier, was that they were alive. Their eyes blinked, and they watched the duo walk past them with curious looks.

"I think I'll try number 42 this afternoon." the Princess said, more to herself then Mac. She walked up to the cabinet reading 42, and the head inside stared up at her blankly. The head inside had red hair tied in pony tails towards the back of her head. A key was attached to the Princess' wrist, and using that she unlocked the cabinet but also the one besides it, which was empty. She then did what Mac was dreading, she grabbed the head upon her shoulders and turned it counter clockwise. A loud 'click' echoed in the hallway, and she removed her head. The head with black hair was placed in the display case next to 42, then locked. Then the Princess' headless body picked up 42, and turned to face Mac.

"Well what do you think?" the head asked, in a totally different voice.

Mac was too stricken with horror to answer.

"Yes, I thought so too." the head replied simply, before being reattached to the shoulders and finally a full body stood before her. She eyed Mac again, with a new found interest it seemed. "Well well. Mac of Fosters. This is an unexpected surprise..." she reached out and brushed his fringe out from his eyes. "You know something Mac?"

"W-what?" Mac asked.

"I'm going to marry you." she said.

"What?!" he asked again, now in shock.

"Well not now, obviously. We're too young. But I can tell you're going to be a handsome devil when you grow up." her hand went to his wrist, tightening her hold on him and began to drag him from the room. "Course it's improper for a boy to live with a girl before they're married and being so young, even if I am a princess. I know! I'll lock you in the tower until you're old enough!"

"No! No you can't do that! I don't want to marry you! Let me GO!" Mac pulled at his wrist, but she was stronger then he thought. He honestly thought of hitting her, since he had a free hand. But even in the face of being locked in a tower and marry someone he didn't want to, Mac still couldn't hit a girl. Even a bad one at that. "TIK-TOK! BILLINA!" he finally shouted. "HELP!"

Out of no where Billina suddenly launched herself at the Princess' head. "Let him go! LET HIM GO!" she clucked, scratching at the Princess' hair and face with her clawed feet, and hitting her with her wings and pecking with her beak. The Princess screamed but didn't let go of Mac, but managed to grab Billina by the feet.

"You, I'll COOK yo-"

A large shadow suddenly enveloped the trio, and there stood Tik-Tok. He looked less then happy.

"Me show you man-ners Prin-cess!" he bellowed and raised his fist, obviously not afraid of striking a girl, but then froze. Had he been struck with a conscious? Apparently not. "Uh oh. Me move-ments have run down." it was obvious his fight with the Wheelers had used up far more usage of his power in his actions to warrant him to defend and save Mac now. All he could do was stand there, arm raised.

The Princess, quickly overcoming her brief lapse of horror smirked. "Hah! That'll show you, copper head."

"Tik-Tok."

"Whatever!"

Poor Tik-Tok could only watch, with the best of his ability since he had no neck and no movements, as the Princess dragged both Mac and Billina away. He groaned. "Bad Tik-Tok let Mac down." he mumbled sadly.

Mac continued to pull at the Princess' hand, but she really was strong. Maybe the power of having more heads made her so, or maybe she was a Witch Princess? That would make a lot of sense. But he didn't have time to ponder over it since soon enough they were taken through a mirror door and taken up a long flight of stairs. Kicking a door open the Princess threw Billina in first, then Mac before slamming the door shut.

"Don't worry Mac!" she said through the door, "You'll warm to the idea of marriage after a few years in here with only a chicken for company!"

Then it was quiet.

Mac banged on the door, hoping maybe it was old and didn't lock as well as it once did. He was wrong. The lock was as strong as ever. Groaning he turned, leant against the door and finally had a look around the room. It was like an attic, relics of the past were gathering dust everywhere. Awards, paintings, even the map the Scarecrow had used to find the Good Witch was tossed in the corner. The Good Witch. What if something had happened to her too? She would have helped by now if she could, she was the only good Witch in Oz! He shuddered to think that she too had been turned into stone. Billina sadly watched Mac make his way through the junk, and then stop.

Before him, gathering dust like everything else, was a portrait. It was half covered with a sheet so Mac had to pull it back. Standing in the centre of the portrait was the Scarecrow, his outfit was no longer patched and old but green and new. Stood to his right was the Tin Bird, grinning at the artist as much as the Scarecrow was. Then to the Scarecrow's left, was the Lion. He still had the ribbon on the top of his head, and tail. In the far distance was a window, stained glass, like something out of a Church. But instead of a Saint or Goddess, it was Mac and Bloo in the foreground. In the background you could see the hills of the East of Oz, the yellow brick road trailing into the distance and in the background, was a twister.

He sighed, sitting down in front of the portrait and stared at it solemly looking at the faces of his friends, from an obviously happier time. The three rulers. Scarecrow of Oz, the Tin Bird from the West and the Lion of the Animals. Now two were frozen in stone and the other was missing.

And what could he do?

What could he do?

To be continued

This is a hell of a lot more engrossing than I'd planned on. Well done! :)

Very engrossing! :D Go CG ~ the author AND artist!

Oh yes, LOVING THIS. I keep asking Mom to take me to the library so I can get all the Oz books but when she isn't busy, I am.

Maybe Mombi stole Nina's head too. XD

Heheh, definitely engrossing -- what the others said. Great work. ;)

Thanks! I was wondering that! Oh, and great story!:D

Chapter 5: Pumpkin Head

It was now in the late afternoon, and Mac had long since moved away from the portrait. Moving around the different pieces of artefacts he found quite a few different objects. Some vases with the Wizards large green head upon them, some more of those sunglasses Bloo had gotten from their last trip, and many more. Out the window, which was also barred, Mac could see the distant horizon. There lay the woods, beyond those were the deadly desert and finally, a spot in the far distance was a mountain. The Gnome King’s mountain, as the large map had read.

"What this place needs is a woman’s touch." Billina said as she ate a spider which had made a home on one of the chest of drawers.

"Mooommmmyyyyy...?" came a voice from somewhere. Mac and Billina froze, and so did the whole room. The voice came again. "Mommy?" it sounded like it was coming form far away, an echo.

Mac and Billina observed the other, before making their way cautiously towards where the voice had stemmed from. Around a few more large portraits that had been placed up here, was a couch and leaning up against the couch in pieces was... well. Something. His head was orange, not only orange but a pumpkin. The pumpkin had been carved into a face, large wide eyes and a mouth forever stuck in a grin. Just like the Scarecrow. His body was made of twigs, odd in length so it gave him a rather lanky appearance with the clothes that didn't seem to fit him either. Once Mac stepped closer, the head turned suddenly and stared at him, somehow without eyes. "Aww..." it whined gently. "Not Mommy." It looked greatly disappointed.

"What is that?" Billina asked in a half whisper. "A man or a melon?"

"Pumpkinhead!!" the figure sang loudly, suddenly. "Jack, Jack Jack Pumpkinhead." Jack introduced himself by waving the remains of his right arm. "Daddy help Jack back togetheerrrr?"

"I'm not your Daddy." Mac replied, uneasily. This Jack was a peculiar fellow, maybe his head was beginning to go rotten. But, he couldn't hold that against him. Jack seemed to be as much a prisoner of Mombi as he was. Setting Billina down he walked over to him. "How'd you get in here?" he asked, looking at what pieces of Jack were strewn around, just out of his reach.

"Mommy make Jack, to scare mean Princess lady!" Jack explained as Mac picked up one of his arms. "I scare Princess, but then she get mad. GRRRRRR!" he emphasized with a growl, which failed since he had no sharp teeth or claws like the Lion. Mac began tying his arms and legs back on. "So she use magic sprinkle fairy dust and Jack is alive! ...but then is thrown away, to be made into pie! But meanie Princess lady forget about Jack."

Even if Jack's voice was a strain on the ears, Mac was taking in everything the pumpkinheaded man was saying. So Princess Mombi could bring things to life? Maybe that explained those heads she had. And if she had something to make things come to life... his eyes scanned the room quickly. There were a lot of couches, an old palm tree and more interestingly enough, the head of an animal mounted on the wall gathering cobwebs and dust. His mind already ticking away at an idea, Mac helped Jack to his feet. "Jack, think really hard now."

"Mmmmmmm?" Jack asked,

"Do you know where Mombi keeps the powder?" Mac asked, hoping he had an idea where.

Jack stood there, unsteady on his shaky feet and looked to be in thought. Or watching a dust particle make its way through the air. It was hard to tell.

"Jack!" Mac called out. "Do you know?"

"32!" Jack cheered.

"32?" Mac asked, "That's the answer?"

"32." Jack echoed, nodding his head as best he could.

Now normally that would mean nothing, but it meant something to Mac. When he had been taken down the hallway of heads, every single cabinet was a see through glass. Except 32, which had a mirror instead. That must be where Mombi keeps the powder of life!

"Jack. Billina. I've got a plan."

"Yay plan!"

~*~

Using Jack's thin fingers, Mac was allowed to break the lock of the door. He reattached Jack's arm, and the two began down the long winding steps to the floor below. Lucky for him, despite how unsteady Jack seemed, he was totally fine with walking unlike the Scarecrow who used to tumble over by just stepping on a rock. He explained the plan as he went, every now and then asking Jack if he could remember what he said. It took a while, but eventually Jack had the gist of what to do. Finally they reached a door, and pushed it open to reveal the large foyer Mac had entered with Billina and Tik-Tok.

Carefully the two crept along the foyer, but then Mac felt a cold hand land on his shoulder. He almost leapt out of his skin before he realised it was Jack. "What, what is it?" he asked through his teeth, in a hushed tone.

"Daddy?" he asked.

"No, I'm not." Mac said back.

"Daddy?" Jack asked again, looking as sad as a pumpkin could.

"No! I'm..." Mac grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Fine. Daddy."

"Yaaaaaaaay." Jack said in a hushed voice, tapping his fingertips together in a silent clap. Mac rolled his eyes. Maybe his pumpkin head really was going rotten.

But finally he spotted what he was looking for, Tik-Tok was still frozen as they had left him. Mac hurried over to him, and whispered. "Tik-Tok. Don't talk. This is Jack, he's going to take you upstairs and tell you what has to be done." he said this whilst he wound up his actions again.

Tik-Tok blinked and looked over at Jack, with a look of bewilderment but did as Mac said. It was a fete of prowess for Tik-Tok to make it back across the foyer to the hidden door without making much noise, but he managed and the two vanished back up the stairs, leaving Mac to his mission. He swallowed bravely, and began his quest down one of the hallways, luckily labelled with a sign reading "PRINCESS SLEEPING - SILENCE!" He snuck around hallways, until finally he found the bedroom. He guessed that at some point it had been the Rabbits, and then the Scarecrows; evident from pieces of straw still on the floor here and there. Mac looked to the bed, where the form of the sleeping princess resided. She slept quietly. This would make things more difficult.

He tip toed up to the bed, and saw one of her arms were stuck out from beneath the large blanket. It was the hand with the key tied to it. Reaching over, and holding his breath as he did, Mac began untying the ribbon that held the key in place. It was extremely difficult since the bow was tied very tightly.

Mean whilst upstairs, Tik-Tok, Jack and Billina were at work. The two had already pushed two couches together to meet, and Billina was collecting rope and cords to tie them together. Tik-Tok was doing the knot tying and ordering Jack to collect various things they'd need. They had to work fast.

Finally the ribbon was untied, and Mac pulled the key into his hands. This opened all the display cases. Now he could get to 32 and get the powder. He crept as quietly as before from the room directly into the display hallway. They were connected to make life easier, he guessed. All of the heads were asleep, snoring or whimpering in their sleep. After counting them, he finally reached 32. His own image stared back. Taking a deep breath he put the key into the lock and turned it, then slowly pulled the door open, afraid it would squeak.

It didn't.

But what he saw wasn't what he expected. Another head was sat in the corner of the cabinet. This one had red hair, cropped around where the base of her neck would be. Freckles splashed her cheeks and nose. It must be her original head, surely! He made a face. No wonder she wanted so many other pretty heads instead of that one. But then he spotted it, on a small rack of shelves besides the head, was a canister that read 'Powder of Life'. Mac took another deep breath and reached out, and picked up the powder. But just as he was pulling his hand away, the real Mombi's eyes suddenly opened.

The two stared at the other in silence. Mac in fear, Mombi in hate. Then she screamed. "MAC OF FOSTERS!" she shrieked, "MAC OF FOSTERS!!!!"

He slammed the door shut and locked it, but already it was too late. All the heads around him were awake, eyes all on him and all screaming as one filling the air with the shrieks of over 40 young girls. Then Mac saw the bedroom, and the figure on the bed was standing up. She was headless. Knowing he had a chance to get past the headless body he made a run for it, the heads screams ringing in his ears as he avoided the grasping hands of the body, and away down the hallways. The screams echoed throughout the palace, and finally Mac found the foyer again.

But where was the door way? Tik-Tok and Jack had shut the door, and now he couldn't tell which way was wich in the room of mirrors. Looking frantic now, Mac began banging on the glass walls hoping to find the entrance. Then something caught his eye, in the far corner a blurry shape drifted on a sheet of glass before vanishing. Having no other choice, Mac ran to it and pushed on the glass, it popped open and Mac rushed in and ran up the stairs as fast as he could.

What he found he wasn't expecting.

The two couches were tied together as he had instructed, and some of the palm leaves had been tied on and the head was in place, but Jack was running around with a chicken with his head cut off whilst Billina was still trying to tie a few more knots into the rope. Tik-Tok, meanwhile was crashing into walls and talking like a maniac.

"Tie hog to-ge-ther feed fish-ies pret-ty flow-ers!!" he was yelling.

"What's happened?!" Mac shrieked.

"Tik-Tok go WAAUUU!!!" Jack replied, waving his arms to indicate something had gone wrong with the copper friend.

"His thoughts ran out!" Mac realised, and hurried over and quickly wound up the right key and Tik-Tok calmed instantaneously.

"Oooh. Thank you Mac. Me bet-ter now." he sighed in relief, loosing power of ones thoughts was a distressing situation, even for a copper army.

"We have to hurry guys! Mombi's coming!" Mac said as he hurried to the new beast before them and began sprinkling the powder of life all over it. The tail (which was a familiar looking golden broom), the couches, the wings which were finally tied on properly and lastly the head. The head looked like a horse, only its ears were much larger and it had a horn growing from the middle of its forehead. But the horn split down the middle, growing into what looked like antlers instead of one neat horn. Once it was all powdered Mac stepped back and waited.

They waited a good few moments.

"Nothings happening!" Mac wailed.

"Magic weeeerrrds." Jack pointed out, pointing to the powder.

"Oh." Mac felt foolish as he looked at the canister. "Eaugh. Weaugh. Teaugh!" he called out.

The creature sprung to life in an instant, ears flapping and eyes blinking. "Woah!" he shouted, "What the heck was that?!"

He got no answer since Tik-Tok was being pulled into the couches, and Billina was now in. Mac climbed in and he was just taking Jacks hands to help him in when the doors of the attic were thrust open and there stood Mombi. "MAAAACCC!" she shouted in a fury.

"Go, FLY FLY!" Mac screamed. "FLAP YOUR WINGS!"

The strange creature, with the head of a Gump and body of a sofa, shocked by all this happening lumbered forward. His large body smashed through the large locked window, and the terrace outside. Jack ran after them and jumped, managing to catch the tail as the large creature with his passengers toppled down below. Mombi rushed to the window and stared down, watching in amusement as he heard the shrieks and screams of those on the Gump's possible one way trip.

But just as they were about to crash into the floor, the large palm leaf wings caught an updraft and the Gump swerved, missing the ground and soared off over the city. Mombi's good mood ruined could only watch as the figure flew off into the distance. She could barely see them pull that pumpkinheaded man into the couches with them before they vanished. Screaming she stormed back through the castle, bursting out into the streets where the Wheelers were sleeping. "GET UP! GET YOU UP SQUEAKING IDIOTS!" she shouted, jolting them awake with a few kicks before pointing to the skies. "HE'S ESCAPING! MAC'S ESCAPING! GO GET HIM!! KILL THEM! Oh and by the way? BRING ME THAT CHICKEN!"

To be continued

OMGYAY! Jack is Cheese, right? xD

Seriousleh, CG, you es muy awesome. =D

Getting pretty wild, here. :)

"BRING ME THAT CHICKEN!"

Who knew that people would go crazy over chickens in Oz. XD

Jack: "Daddy?"

Mac: "No, I'm not."

Jack: "Daddy?"

Mac: "No! I'm..." *grumbles, rolls eyes* "Fine. Daddy."

Jack: "Yaaaay."

8D You're doing great, Ceeg.

Great story so far! You're managing to avoid all the problem areas in the movie.

By the way, if you did not see Return to Oz as a child, you have something to be thankful for--headless Mombi (with this really creepy scream coming out of her neckhole) was a resident of my nightmares for weeks after the first time I saw it.