Dorothy: The Darker Side of OZ v5

by Scott Stanford

  Hearing its last cries the she-wolf turns to see the large spider, dead on the ground as the brave lion stands on its head, roaring out at the forest. Smiling at him the she-wolf walks towards the dead arachnid, looking her hero in the eyes as his scarred face stares down at her with pride. Then the she-wolf gives a strong howl, echoing through the land as animals of all species and sizes slowly come out of hiding. Looking at the lion atop the dead monster they cheer in howls, grunts, squawks and cackles, free of the spider as Dorothy and the others watch their friend, proud of him as he leaps to the floor. Running to him the young girl wraps her arms around the strong warrior, and the tin-man and Scarecrow congratulate him as the she-wolf bows her head:

  ‘We have much to thank you for, it will still take time to be rid of the spiderlings but we couldn’t have killed the mother without you. We have to rebuild our society, we are a pack, a herd…a pride, and we would be honoured to have you in it, please stay!’

  Looking at her, and the land of strange creatures around him the lion feels at home, but turns his head to Dorothy, thinking of how he betrayed her trust, and how she saved him. Then he thinks of a promise he made to avenge his lost friend, to punish the vicious Mr Jack. So with strength, a confidence he’s never felt before the lion thinks of what matters most to him, and looks at the she-wolf as he answers:

  ‘I can’t, the girl needs my help, but I’ll come back, I promise you.’

  Gently the lion turns to Dorothy, watching her open the compass as he looks back at the she-wolf one last time, asking, ‘What is your name?’ Strongly she replies, ‘Ealora, yours?’ and the lion shakes his head with, ‘I was never given one,’ as the she-wolf smiles, ‘We’ll have to change that when you come back.’

  37

  Heading south, the four travellers pass through the rest of the forest safely, watching out for the spiderlings and crushing as many eggs along the way as they can.

  After journeying through the almost endless land they finally rest at the bottom of a very steep hill, one that Dorothy hopes will take them to the Quadling country. Looking up at the tall mound of rocks Scarecrow scratches his head as the young girl watches him ponder, wondering how his new brain will change him. He seems different to Dorothy, and as she asks, ‘Are you okay?’ he mutters to himself as he walks ahead, ignoring her. Following him she calls his name, but he doesn’t answer, and when she places a hand on his shoulder he turns around with an evil grin. Calling, ‘Scarecrow…Scarecrow!’ she shakes him, his button eyes gazing into oblivion as he suddenly looks Dorothy in the eyes and smiles, just like he used to. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says, ‘I was just thinking, thinking things I can’t say because…well because. Let’s send you home.’ Stretching a hand out to her the gangly scarecrow leers and she takes his bony palm begrudgingly, wondering what’s wrong with her friend as he leads her up the hill. Mumbling to himself at first Dorothy wonders why he’s not surprised anymore, why he wasn’t interested in the pretty china village, or the strange animals. Thinking about the Emerald city Scarecrow swiftly raises a hand in the air, shouting, ‘The witch will help me get rid of the Carnivorous won’t she. Then I’ll be king. I’ll be like the wizard.’ Pulling her hand away from his Dorothy looks him in the eyes, worried as she shudders, ‘I don’t like the way your acting!’ Responding with a quizzical expression at first the straw man taps at his head and points at the young girl:

  ‘I know why…you preferred me when I didn’t have a brain, when I couldn’t think. But now I can and so much is in my head, too much. There’s things I want to do but shouldn’t, and things I think that I don’t want to. There’s too many voices to know which ones are right and they won’t stop. Do you know what that feels like, feels like fire, and it hurts. I need to get back to the Emerald city, it needs, it…’

  Looking at Scarecrow, unsure of how to stop his madness the young girl simply utters, ‘You’re scaring me,’ and his thin mouth twitches as his buttons widen. Then gently he extends his hand to her and quivers, ‘So sorry, so sorry. I’m just confused, think the wizard gave me a bad brain…let’s take you home.’ Still uneasy Dorothy takes her friend’s hand, feeling sorry for him as she smiles sympathetically. She can’t imagine how it must be for him to suddenly have more thoughts than he’s used to, and holds his thin arm tightly, worried. Behind them the lion walks up the rocky hill and looks back at the forest as he smiles. ‘Soon,’ he whispers under his breath and turns to the tin-man, who hadn’t said a word in such a long time. Looking at his monstrous face, a pair of sad eyes hiding in-between the metal the lion asks, ‘What’s wrong, shouldn’t you be happy?’, ‘I am,’ scrapes the tin-man, ‘But I’m scared too, scared that my love won’t recognise me, that she’ll be scared of me because I look like this.’ With a slight huff the lion steadily lifts a paw, patting the tin-man on the back. Although he doesn’t know the tin-man’s story he knows how he feels, being feared because of his appearance even though he’s gentle inside.

  Finally reaching the top of the hill Dorothy and the scarecrow look out at the land, the beautiful red country spread before them as burgundy houses rest on lavish vermilion grass. Cardinal brooks flow under stone rose bridges, chestnut trees grow along the clean carnelian path, and beyond it lies a beautiful crimson castle as the sky above it glows a bright cherry red. Smiling at such a sight Dorothy’s eyes widen and even the scarecrow coos again as he turns to her and presses, ‘Please, if I act odd help me, I don’t mean to.’ Squeezing his hand tighter she gently offers, ‘I know,’ as Tin-man and the lion walk behind them.

  Ready to make their way down to the Quadling country, the lion hears a rumble along the rocky hill and Dorothy turns to see a short stout man; with no arms, a heavily wrinkled neck and a large flat head, almost like a hammerhead shark. Standing atop the hill his husk voice chars, ‘No way past!’ as all of a sudden a slew of them stand from the rocks. Looking at the deformed wild people Dorothy stares, she’d seen men like these at the carnival, but not dressed the same. The others wore normal clothes made of fabric, but these are clad in stone, wearing it like armour as it covers everything but their wrinkled necks. Gripping tightly at his axe the tin-man’s ready to attack and the lion roars, trying to dominate the unusual men as Dorothy pushes, ‘We’re passing whether you like it or not!’

  Chuckling boisterously the hammerheads jeer, as the one in front of Dorothy sneers, ‘Go back little girl!’ Gritting her teeth, and with no fear of what these wild men could do she ignores the landscape of scars over her body, blood crusted to the gingham dress and screams, ‘I’ve come too far to have you stand in my way!’ With a clenched fist she lunges for the hammerhead, punching him in the throat as he falls down the hill and his wrinkled body buckles with every rock. Hearing their friend cry at the bottom of the mound the wild people back away and Dorothy watches them, ready to send every single one down the hill if she has to. Slowly retreating, the hammerheads grunt and mesh with the rocks as the young girl and her friends make their way down to the Quadling country.

  Reaching the bottom of the rocky mound the strange friends walk along the carnelian path as the scarecrow thinks it would be good to whistle, starting to feel like his old self. Watching his thin happy smile, and the way he looks out at the chestnut trees Dorothy wonders if it’s being further away from the Emerald city that’s made him happier. So close to the end of her journey the young girl feels Toto in the bag around her shoulder and smiles at the red country. Walking along the path, they pass a scragged wooden hut and look ahead to the beautiful houses and barns. Dorothy and the scarecrow walk in front, arm in arm towards the village as the lion roars and the young girl turns, looking back as the tin-man stands still, frozen outside the dingy hut. Walking to him quickly Dorothy asks, ‘What’s wrong?’ and he solemnly looks at her young face, for a second almost reminding him of his lost love as he groans, ‘I have to go inside, it’s where she lived, where my…’ Stopping him Dorothy whispers, ‘It’s okay, it’s okay, go inside, be brave,’ and he walks to the h
ut, leaving his axe outside, slowly opening the door.

  Remembering the tale the tin-man told her, how an evil old woman treated the girl he loved like a slave, and didn’t want her to marry, Dorothy wonders how such an evil person could live in a good witch’s land. Still she waits patiently with her friends outside the hut, looking in the distance past the red village as Notou’s beautiful castle glows, hoping they’ll reach it by nightfall. Then abruptly the tin-man walks out of the hut, picking up his axe along the way as Dorothy smiles, ‘Is she still there, is she happy to…’ but she suddenly notices the fresh blood along his metal skin, dripping from his gauntlets as his eyes fill with tears. Looking at him concerned Dorothy asks, ‘What’s wrong?’ and he feels the tears in his eyes, not caring if he rusts as he mourns, ‘I don’t want a heart anymore,’ and walks past them. Watching the tragic tin-man move along the carnelian path alone his friends run to his side, unsure of what happened but trying to comfort him the best they can, though now he feels more hopeless than ever before.

  Walking through the beautiful village the strange travellers are welcomed by the quadlings, short round people with rosy cheeks who curiously come from their houses and greet the strangers. Bringing water and bread to them, Dorothy smiles at their hospitality and watches the tin-man’s eyes glisten as one friendly old man says:

  ‘So good to have visitors, now don’t go letting that evil old woman give you a bad impression of us.’

  Sceptical of their politeness Dorothy smiles the best she can, and when one family offers that they stay for the night she kindly refuses. Still, the courteous villagers offer food for their travel and give Dorothy some fruit as she slowly warms to them, unable to think how folk like these could be less than genuine. Asking them, ‘How long will it take to get to the castle?’ Dorothy feels relieved as one short woman says, ‘No more than two hours, just follow the path.’

  The group of friends walk for a while longer, the scarecrow smiling at the different shades of red and the lion proudly strutting his body as children run away from the beast, shouting in excitement. Still the tin-man walks emptily, sad as Dorothy tries to hold his gauntlet without cutting herself. Trying to smile at him and still unsure what happened in the hut she says, ‘You’ll always have us, we’re like family, and when I go you’ll have Scarecrow and the lion by your side.’

  The tin-man groans, his tears still glistening slightly as he utters in pain, ‘No I won’t, when you’re gone the scarecrow will go to the Emerald city and the lion will find the carnival or go back to the other animals. I won’t have anyone, I’ll be alone. I may as well just rust in the rain again.’

  Looking into his eyes Dorothy tries to comfort him with, ‘That won’t happen, you can help Scarecrow rebuild Emerald city, you can…’ but a sudden wail of people interrupt her as children shout, ‘The carnival’s back!’ and the young girl quickly turns to the lion. Dorothy continues to comfort the tin-man as she notices the animal approach a short round man, asking, ‘Is it true, the carnival’s here?’ and the friendly fellow smiles, not even afraid of the beast:

  ‘Yeah they’re in the forest, heard they couldn’t head north so they came back through the west, mighty brave of them!’

  With a sudden glint in his eye the lion turns to his friends, looking at Dorothy as he feels pride in his heart and says, ‘Follow the path, I’ll find you before you reach the castle, I promise.’ The young girl nods at him as he presses his fur against her skin, giving a heartfelt, ‘Good luck!’ worried about what may happen to him as he bounds fearlessly into the woods.

  Soon dusk creeps over Quadling country, and the lion sits patiently in the forest. He’d waited next to Mr Jack’s trailer for an hour, watching him, waiting for him to be alone as he pushes away the odd families and screeches to himself, ‘Goddamn quadlings, I hate the quadlings, and now I can’t go north, lost my damn star attraction, perhaps I should start digging up a new act.’

  The lion keeps a keen eye on Mr Jack, watching him walk to his trailer as the animal cracks a twig with his paw, moaning pathetically as the creepy ringleader hears the sound. Listening carefully to a faint whimper he looks into the forest and shouts, ‘If you’re trying to mess with me remember I own shoes made of many species and I ain’t picky!’ Looking through the dulled red trees at the outline of a lion, Mr Jack’s dry lips stretch and his dirty teeth gleam. Walking closer with a big smile the ringleader smatters, ‘It can’t be,’ as he slowly pulls a chaney-knife from his pocket and approaches the animal. Lying on the floor, whimpering like a cub and looking to the skinny Mr Jack with fear in his eye, the lion watches him crouch down and lets him gloat, ‘I never thought I’d see you again my little coward.’ Holding the knife firmly and ready to stab, the ringleader pokes at the lion with a finger, looking at the seemingly pathetic beast as it unexpectedly groans, ‘Do you believe in fate Jackie?’ Mr Jack smiles, ‘What’s that, can I smoke it?’ and the lion growls, attacking quickly. Giving a terrific scream the ringleader tries to run away as the lion attacks, biting off his hand and playing with his food as he refuses to kill the vermin, just tear off enough pieces to make him look…different.

  Getting closer to the castle Dorothy and her friends walk hand in hand; the tin-man buries his hurt for now and Scarecrow tries not to think about Dorothy leaving. Spotting the lion in the distance, running toward them with his head held high he makes a satisfied sound and leaps to the path, brushing his mane against Dorothy with a smile. As excited as she is at the thought of going to Kansas, seeing aunt Em and uncle Henry again she’d be lying if she said she wouldn’t miss Oz, but the thought of being home overwhelms her. She can imagine them living at the farmhouse, her aunt and uncle probably too weak to sow the crops and milk the cows, but when she gets home she can do it for them, look after her Henry and Em like they wanted to look after her.

  Dorothy smiles, so happy as they approach the castle wall, wishing Notou can send her home as she imagines no more fake-families, no more orphanage, just home, just Kansas.

  38

  With a nervous hand young Dorothy presses her palm against the stone wall, whispering, ‘Please,’ as she closes her eyes tightly and knocks at the Castle gates. With her eyes still closed she hears the sound of metal screeching, letting her heart beat anxiously as the gates open and a soft voice whispers through the air, ‘Come to the garden Dorothy!’

  Smiling at her friends, Tin-man and the scarecrow hold the young girl’s hands whilst the lion walks beside them, entering the castle grounds. Bedazzled by its beauty they walk under the vermilion archway, looking up at the castle as they wander through the domain and stare out at a lavish garden. Cardinal grass spreads through the grounds, with orange-red hedges and alizarin trees of many shapes and sizes. In the distance lies a small rosewood maze, a Persian red bridge over a still cerise pond, and in the centre of it all a large circle of ruby pebbles, as Notou sits on a throne made of red emeralds. Even though the strange travellers are far away from the witch, her gentle voice still breezes softly to their ears; calming the anxious Dorothy, the saddened tin-man, a confused scarecrow and even the joyful lion. ‘Please come forward,’ she says, and the friends walk along the grass and admire the beautiful rose flower archways along the pebbled circle. Smelling their sweet scent, Dorothy smiles and the lion twitches his nose trying not to sneeze.

  Gently letting go of her friend’s hands the young girl walks in front, stepping into the ruby circle first as she looks at the witch. With her red hair flowing in ringlets, her face so soft and gentle she smiles delicately and asks, ‘What can I do for you, my child?’ Walking closer Dorothy kneels before the witch, feeling the pebbles press into her skin as she clenches her hands together tightly. With her dry lips trembling, her eyes glazing at the thought of finally going home she asks:

  ‘Please, please help me. I’m not from this land and I…I need to get home. My, my uncle and aunt need me and I miss them so much. I need to…’

  ‘Get back to Kansas,’ Notou says lightly, a
nd the young girl gleams, ‘Yes, yes!’ in excitement, looking at the witch as she leans forward. Kissing the young girl lovingly on the cheek she smiles, her face glowing as she speaks: ‘The silver boots can carry you over the dessert and take you home.’

  Just about to smile, feel a sense that home is only a breath away young Dorothy crumbles to the floor, sitting on the pebbles as she looks to the silver boot on one foot, and an odd black shoe on the other. Her lips trembling she says, ‘I…I lost one of the boots, can…can I still get home?’ as the beautiful witch stands from her throne and offers the young girl her hand. Helping her up from the floor Notou smiles softly, ‘Bless your dear heart,’ as she lifts her hand in the air. Then the slightest of breezes gently comes, and from nowhere the lost silver boot appears in her palm. Amazed, so happy she could cry Dorothy looks at the witch and takes the boot excitedly, asking, ‘How did you do that?’ and the witch replies with a gracious, ‘I’m very powerful I’ll have you know.’ Throwing the black shoe to the floor Dorothy slips her foot into the silver boot and looks at the witch, whispering ‘Thank you,’ as Notou says:

  ‘The silver boots have many powers, and if you want them to take you home, simply concentrate and knock your heels together three times.’

  So excited, her eyes filled with tears of happiness Dorothy looks to the witch and thanks her again, turning to her friends quickly. Running to them she wraps her arms around the lion, so hard that she almost chokes him as he huffs, ‘I’ll miss you,’ and she sobs ‘I’ll miss you too,’ kissing his big head and stroking his mane. Then she looks up to Tin-man, staring into his sad eyes as he cries, mumbling, ‘Having a heart hurts.’ Dorothy hugs him lovingly, not even caring about his jagged metal as she smiles, ‘It’s worth it, otherwise we wouldn’t feel love.’ He nods his head and the young girl sobs, ‘I hope you find your place,’ to him, before looking at the poor scarecrow. So sorry she’s leaving him more confused than when she found him she holds his skinny body, and he wraps his arms around her as she cries. Rubbing her back he comforts, ‘Don’t be sad Dorothy, you’re going home,’ and she whispers quietly in his ear, not to upset the others, ‘And I’ll miss you most of all.’ Letting him go gently, she steps backwards as he holds the tangine necklace between his fingers, smiling innocently, ‘I’ll never forget you Dorothy.’