Oz: The Great and Powerful Junior Novel Disney Book Group (10 page)

Glinda waited a moment. “Very well,” she said, just as he was at the door. “I’ll be sure to send word to the sisters that you’re no longer under my protection.”

Oz stopped in his tracks. He turned and looked her in the eye. Nope, she wasn’t bluffing. “Now why would you do that? You might as well sign my death sentence.”

“The choice is yours, Wizard,” she answered.

He was defeated. There was no choice now. He would have to stay and fight if he at least hoped to live. If he didn’t, it was certain death. He narrowed his eyes. “And you call yourself a
good
witch…”

C
HAPTER
T
WELVE

VANORA STOOD ON HER BALCONY
and looked out at hundreds of her Winkie Guards. They were sharpening their pikes on grinding wheels, throwing sparks up into the night. Meanwhile another battalion was marching into the courtyard, their spikes at the ready. The Wicked Witch was pleased. Her army would be ready to fight and defeat Glinda and her people. As Theodora joined her, Evanora called down to her guards.

“My very own Winkie Guards! Soon you be facing Glinda and her army of weaklings. When they see our towering might, they will run and flee!”

“No!” Theodora yelled, interrupting her sister. “We shall not let them flee! We shall show them no mercy!” With that, the Winkie Guards let out a massive and deafening roar. And as Theodora gave them an evil smile, Evanora looked over at her sister and wondered just what kind of monster she had created.

Oz had been given no choice but to
make
a decision. And now he was going to lead a ragtag army into a war against two powerful and wicked witches—one of whom had a very personal reason for seeing him fail. Which meant he needed a battle plan.

Night had long since fallen on Quadling Country as Glinda and Oz stood in her library preparing. In actuality, Glinda was preparing. Oz was just listening, growing more bored and more tired by the minute.

“These four roads all lead into the Emerald City,” she explained, pointing to a map of Oz spread out on a table. A blazing fire burned in the fireplace behind the table, sending shadows dancing across her face as she went on. “They’ll expect us to be coming from the south. To the east are the Deadly Poppy Fields—we’ll have to steer clear of them.”

“Why’s that?” Oz asked.

“One good whiff, and it’s everlasting sleep,” Glinda replied.

Oz let out a big yawn. Sleep sounded really good at the moment. He couldn’t remember the last time he had had a long night’s rest. Was it back in Kansas? He plunked down in an armchair and closed his eyes.

“Can’t you at least
try
to participate?” Glinda asked.

“Not at this hour, no,” he said, keeping his eyes closed.

Shaking her head, Glinda went back to studying the map. At least
one
of them should be prepared. But her thoughts kept drifting back to Oz. He was such an infuriating man. Still… She peeked over at him, slumped in his chair. His dark hair was tousled and his body was long and lean. There was something about him.…

“When they said ‘wizard’, they should have been more specific,” she said under her breath.

But Oz heard her. “Just what kind of wizard were you expecting?”

That was easy. She was expecting the complete opposite of the man sitting before her. “Someone who is noble…inventive. Who puts others before himself. Brave, tall…” she said.

“I’m tall,” Oz said, almost pouting.

An awkward silence filled the room. It was broken by the sound of someone in the doorway. Turning, Glinda and Oz saw China Girl.

“Someone needs to tuck me in,” she said, looking up at Oz with big, pleading eyes.

“Oh. Of course, allow me,” Glinda said.

“But my papa used to do it,” China Girl replied.

“I see,” Glinda said, realizing. “Well, maybe you’d prefer the Wizard, then?”

He started to protest but the words died on his lips. China Girl looked so hopeful. And he knew Glinda was thinking he would never do it. But he would show her. Nodding, he reached out and took China Girl’s hand.

Moments later, she was all tucked in. Thinking his job was done, Oz turned to go. But China Girl wasn’t quite ready for sleep.

“Do you grant wishes?” she asked. He looked at her blankly. “The old Wizard could grant wishes. People would travel to the Emerald City to ask for things, and if they were good and noble wishes, the Wizard would grant them.” She stopped speaking and her eyes grew sad. “You know what I’d wish for? To have my family back.”

Looking down at the little girl, Oz’s face softened. “I know. I’m sorry. I can’t grant wishes,” he said. “I’m not that kind of wizard.”

China Girl thought this over and then nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

Oz stood there awkwardly, unsure of what to do next. Then he sat down on the bed next to her and began to speak. “You see, where I come from, there aren’t any real wizards,” he said. “Although,” he started again, “there is one. Thomas Alva Edison, the Wizard of Menlo Park. A truly great man.”

“Did
he
grant wishes?” China Girl asked.

Oz shook his head. “No, but he could look into the future—and make it real,” he said. “He invented the electric light, and the phonograph, and a camera that lets you take moving pictures.”

The little girls eyes grew wide. “Pictures that move?” she asked, amazed.

Oz was getting into this story. “Can you imagine?” he said, nodding. “Made from old wires and glass bulbs. With almost nothing, he made the impossible happen!”

“Is
that
the kind of wizard you are?” China Girl said, letting out a loud yawn.

“It’s the kind o
f
wizard I’d
like
to be,” Oz answered honestly.

Pulling up her blankets, China Girl snuggled down under the covers. “You
are
that kind,” she said. “I can tell. I’d rather you granted wishes, but that’s a good wizard, too.” Rolling over, she closed her eyes.

For a moment, Oz just sat there lost in his own thoughts as he watched China Girl drift off to sleep. First Glinda with her opinions, and now a little girl made of china telling him he could be good. What a night.

A few minutes later, Oz stood in the doorway to Glinda’s library. It had taken a girl made of china, but he was ready now finally to accept his role. He was willing to take this chance—for real. Now he just needed to tell Glinda.

Walking into the room, he found her sitting in a chair, her nose deep in a book. “Glinda! I’ve got it!” Oz exclaimed, but Glinda didn’t know what he was talking about. “I’ve got a way out of this mess. Look, I know I’m not the Wizard you were expecting, but I might just be the Wizard you need.” And for the first time in a long time, hope returned to Glinda’s eyes.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTEEN

Z MARCHED INTO THE
T
INKERS’ WORKSHOP
with a set of blueprints rolled up under his arm. He stood in the center of the room and called all of the Tinkers to gather around. Oz unrolled his blueprints and began to bark out orders. “This is what you’re going to build. Where I come from it’s called a praxinoscope, though I’ve made a few modifications. It allows you to project an image through space.”

“Impossible!” the Master Tinker said.

“Nothing’s impossible if you believe,” Oz said.

“Bully!” the Tinkers cheered in unison. It was time for them to get to work!

After hours of work, Oz and the Tinkers had moved on to basic stagecraft, with the magician from Kansas teaching the Tinkers some trade secrets. “In the conjuring business, flash is always good. Gives the audience a little ‘wow,
’
” he said.

Nearby, Finley put on some protective goggles, worried that there might just be too much flash.

As Oz continued to speak, he combined several different ingredients into a pot over the fire, which caused a bright and impressive flash before them that made them all jump.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the factory floor, Glinda the Good surveyed the scene and walked past rows and rows of Munchkins, all of whom were hard at work at sewing machines, making clothes and stuffing hay into burlap sacks.

Oz then directed a group of Munchkins who worked in an assembly line. One set of Munchkins loaded powder into tubes, while another set sealed the tubes, and yet another set attached the fuses. Oz gave them a satisfied smile. His fireworks were almost ready.

Oz was happy with the work. They were making progress—fast. Which was good, as they didn’t have much time to waste. “Good work, gentlemen,” Oz said. “Let’s see that teamwork on the battlefield, all right?”

As Oz shook the hands of the workers, Glinda
watched from afar, proud of the man Oz was becoming.

After making sure the Munchkins were on schedule, Oz made his way back to the Tinker workshop. He had asked the Master Tinker to work on something special—his own version of Edison’s projection screen—and wanted to see how it was coming along.

The Master Tinker was excited to show off his work. “Now I’ve added this adjustable lens to your design, as well as a few other things. Have a look,” the workman said as he rotated the lens turret so that a new lens snapped down in front of the camera.

Oz nodded, looking over the machine. “Yes! Edison
himself would be proud,” he said, pleased with the results.

Putting his arm around the old man, Oz led the Tinker off, and whispered into his ear. “Do you know how to make a hot-air balloon?” Oz asked as they disappeared down a long hallway.

Dawn rose over Quadling County. The time had come. The Tinkers had finished tinkering, the Munchkins had finished sewing, and the Quadlings had used all the hay they could find. Inside the castle courtyard, everyone made last-minute preparations.

Oz and Glinda watched as the horses were hitched to their carts. “This is all very impressive, but you still haven’t told me how we’re getting all this into the Emerald City,” Oz said.

“Relax,” Glinda said. “I know someone.”

What did she mean? Whom did she know? Oz wondered. As if on cue, Oz heard a voice from behind him. “Hello, Wizard,” the voice said. Oz turned around to see Knuck the Munchkin. As usual, he was scowling up at him.

“Well, whaddaya know, if it isn’t ol’ Sourpuss!” Oz said with a smile.

“My name is Knuck!” the Munchkin said in his usual unhappy demeanor.

“You two be nice to each other,” Glinda said, moving between them. Knuck and Oz exchanged a few more barbs, then the Munchkin walked off, leaving Oz standing alone with Glinda.

“Guess I’m up,” Oz said to Glinda. “Gotta do what I do. Cue the con man.”

Glinda frowned. “Would you stop?” Glinda said, frustrated that Oz was being so hard on himself. “A con man couldn’t have done all this.”

Glinda moved in close and removed his hat. “You’re much more than that,” she said softly. For a moment, both Wizard and Witch were silent as they looked at each other. So much had been said and yet so much was left unsaid. Glinda knew that there was a good chance Oz would still try to run. Oz knew it, too. It felt like something was ending that had never had a chance to start.

Then, slowly, delicately, Glinda leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. “For protection,” she said. “Not that you’ll need it.”

Oz stood on the Yellow Brick Road outside Glinda’s castle. The sun shone brightly on the ragtag army of Quadlings, Munchkins, and Tinkers. With everyone together in one spot, Oz decided that he needed to give his troops a rallying speech.

“Great people of Oz,” Oscar began, “Today we fight to free the land from the villainy of the Wicked Witches. We are few, but we are mighty. Quadlings, Tinkers, Munchkins. We face great odds, but we are armed with our courage, our hard work, and most of all…our faith in one another,” Oz said. “We have nothing to fear as long as we believe! For when we believe, anything is possible. Onward!”

The army released a mighty roar, and Oz smiled. For the first time ever, he actually looked and behaved like a great man. Even China Girl, Finley, and Glinda saw the change in him. They all watched with pride.

Oz divided the army into thirds, with each group heading down a different part of the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City. Glinda smiled to herself. Maybe, just maybe, they would defeat the Wicked Witches after all.