Applejack woke up before the others. She stepped outside to see that the sun was rising. Remembering that she wasn’t on her farm, Applejack had no chores to pass the time. However, she noticed Bartleby still awake.
“Howdy, Bartleby,” she said. “Good mornin’.”
“Good morning, Applejack,” the scarecrow said politely. “You’re up early.”
“Force o’ habit,” Applejack said as she took a seat next to him. “Normally, ah get up early ta do chores ‘round the farm.”
“What sort of chores?” Bartleby asked. “I’ve never seen anyone do them before.”
“Well,” Applejack said. “There’s sweepin’, moppin’, cookin’, n’ mah personal favorite, applebuckin’.”
“Oh,” Bartleby said. “Was that what you did to that one apple tree yesterday?”
Applejack nodded. “Ah can’t fly er use magic,” she explained. “N’ ah ain’t got no hands like y’all, so, ah have ta make due with what ah got.”
“So,” Bartleby ventured to ask. “With you being awake now without chores to do, what are you going to do?”
“Well, that there’s the problem,” Applejack said. “Ah ain’t got nothin’ ta do. Since yer awake, too, ah may as well chat with ya ta pass the time.”
“I hope I won’t be too dull for you,” Bartleby said.
“Let me tell ya somethin’, Bartleby,” Applejack said. “We got scarecrows in Equestria n’ yer a far cry from bein’ dull compared ta ‘em.”
“Why, thank you,” Bartleby said with a smile. Suddenly, they heard a light growling sound. “What’s that sound?”
“That’s mah belly grumblin’,” Applejack said, patting her belly. “We better look fer some food.”
“Alright,” the Scarecrow said, willing to help.
When the others awoke, the sun was shining through the trees and Toto had long been out chasing birds around him and squirrels. They stepped out to find Applejack supporting Bartleby on her back as he picked nuts off a nearby tree.
“Good morning, Applejack,” Pinkie said cheerily. “Good morning, Bartleby.”
“Why are you picking nuts like that?” Rainbow asked.
“Ah ate more’n mah fair share o’ apples yesterday,” Applejack said. “N’ y’all need the rest in case o’ injury. These nuts should help tide us over since ah doubt Dorothy has enough bread fer all o’ us. ‘Sides, after yesterday, ah ain’t chancin’ buckin’ trees while we’re here.”
“Thanks, guys,” Sunset said. “The protein in the nuts should help us.”
Bartleby climbed down with nuts. “We best search for water,” Dorothy said to him.
“Why do you want water?" he asked.
"To wash my face clean after the dust of the road and to drink, so the dry bread will not stick in my throat," Dorothy said and the others agreed.
"It must be inconvenient to be made of flesh," said Bartleby thoughtfully. "For you must sleep, eat, and drink. However, you have brains and it is worth a lot of bother to be able to think properly."
They left the cottage and walked through the trees until they found a little spring of clear water, where the fleshy travelers drank and bathed, and ate their breakfast. Dorothy saw there was not much bread left in the basket and the girl was thankful the Scarecrow did not have to eat anything, for there was scarcely enough for herself and Toto for the day. Much less the Equestria residents.
When they had finished their meal and were about to go back to the road of yellow brick, Dorothy was startled to hear a deep groan nearby.
“Geez, Applejack,” Rainbow said. “You need to stop thinking about apples so much.”
“That ain’t me,” Applejack said.
“She’s right,” Twilight said, holding a hoof up to her ear. “The sound is coming from this way.”
Just then, another groan reached their ears and the sound seemed to come from behind them. They turned and walked through the forest a few steps when Dorothy discovered something shining in a ray of sunshine that fell between the trees. She ran to the place and then stopped short, with a little cry of surprise.
One of the big trees had been partly chopped through and standing beside it, with an uplifted axe in his hands, was a man made entirely of tin. His head and arms and legs were jointed upon his body, but, he stood perfectly motionless, as if he could not stir at all.
Chapter 5: The Rescue of the Tin Woodman, Sunset said internally.
The party looked at the figure in amazement while Toto barked sharply and made a snap at the tin legs, which hurt his teeth. Fluttershy helped to soothe Toto’s sore mouth.
“Did you groan?” Dorothy asked the tin man, whose reply was muffled due his mouth not moving.
“It’s his mouth,” Rarity noted. “It’s rusted shut.”
“I know what he said,” Sunset said. “He said, ‘Yes, I did. I've been groaning for more than a year and no one has ever heard me before or come to help me.'”
“Surprisingly intricate for one single groan,” Rainbow said. “So, how can we help?”
The tin man’s reply was once again muffled. Sunset translated, “‘Get an oil-can and oil my joints. They are rusted so badly that I cannot move them at all. If I am well oiled, I shall soon be all right again. You will find an oil-can on a shelf in my cottage.’”
“Wait, aren’t you made of tin?” Starlight asked. “Isn’t it iron that rusts?”
“Not the time to discuss metallurgy, Starlight,” Sunset said before directing her attention to the tin man. “Since that cottage is the only one around, it must be yours.”
The tin man groaned a muffled yes. Dorothy at once ran back to the cottage and found the oil-can and then she returned and asked anxiously, "Where are your joints?"
“For ease of communication,” Sunset suggested. “Let’s oil his mouth first.”
After Sunset levitated her (as she was shorter than the grown-up sized tin man), Dorothy oiled the sides of the tin man’s mouth. The joints in his jaw squeaked as they began to move again.
“Oh, thank goodness,” the tin man said clearly. “I can talk again! Quickly, please. Oil my arms, elbows, legs, and knees.”
“Is it okay if we start with your neck?” Sunset asked.
“Yes, please,” the tin man said. So, Dorothy oiled it and, as it was quite badly rusted, Bartleby, held up on Applejack’s back, took hold of the tin head and moved it gently from side to side until it worked freely and then the man could turn it himself. “Ah, I can see more things again! Now oil the joints in my arms.” And Dorothy oiled them and Twilight and Sunset bent them carefully until they were quite free from rust and as good as new. “That’s much better. Thank you all so much.”
The Tin Woodman gave a sigh of satisfaction and lowered his axe, which he leaned against the tree.
"This is a great comfort," he said. "I have been holding that axe in the air ever since I rusted and I'm glad to be able to put it down at last. Now, if you will oil the joints of my legs, I shall be all right once more."
They did so vigorously. Once he could move his legs freely, he thanked them again and again for his release, for he seemed a very polite creature and very grateful.
"I might have stood there always if you had not come along," he said. "So, you have certainly saved my life. How did you happen to be here?"
"We are on our way to the Emerald City to see the Great Oz," Dorothy answered. "And we stopped at your cottage to pass the night."
“Oh, thank goodness,” the tin man said. “I’m glad that my cottage was available and still being used by those who need it.” Then, he found himself curious. "Why do you wish to see Oz?" he asked.
“We want to ask him to see if there is a way he can send me back to Kansas,” Dorothy answered.
“And I’m going to ask if he’s able to give me some brains,” Bartleby added.
The Tin Woodman appeared to think deeply for a moment. Then, he said:
"Do you suppose Oz could give me a heart?"
“A heart?” Fluttershy asked.
"Why, I guess so," Dorothy answered. "It would be as easy as to give Bartleby brains."
"True," the Tin Woodman returned. "So, if you will allow me to join your party, I will also go to the Emerald City and ask Oz to help me."
“The more the merrier,” Pinkie said.
“If it’s not too much bother,” the Tin Woodman asked Dorothy. “Could you put my oil can in your basket?”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Dorothy answered politely. She put the oil can in her basket.
“Thank you,” the Tin Woodman said. “If I should get caught in the rain and rust again, I would need the oil-can badly."
“If only I had thought to bring an umbrella,” Rarity said.
"Come along," said Bartleby heartily and Dorothy added that she would be pleased to have his company. So, the Tin Woodman shouldered his axe and they all passed through the forest until they came to the road that was paved with yellow brick.
It was a bit of good luck to have their new comrade join the party, for soon after they had begun their journey again, they came to a place where the trees and branches grew so thick over the road that the travelers could not pass.
“Stand back, everyone,” the Tin Woodman said. He set to work with his axe and chopped so well that soon he cleared a passage for the entire party. The party members thanked the Tin Woodman for his efforts.
“Out of curiosity,” Rarity said. “Do you have a name?”
“Indeed,” said the Tin Woodman. “I was born Nicholas III of the House of Chopper.”
“A pleasure to properly meet you,” Rarity said.
“Is it okay if we call you Nick for short?” Pinkie asked.
“Certainly,” Nick said. At that moment, Bartleby stumbled into a hole and rolled over to the side of the road. Indeed, he was obliged to call to the others to help him up again. Rainbow and Fluttershy were able to help him out of the hole easily. "Why didn't you walk around the hole?" Nick asked.
"I don't know enough," replied the scarecrow cheerfully. "My head is stuffed with straw, you know, and that is why I am going to Oz to ask him for some brains."
"Oh, I see," said Nick. "But, after all, brains are not the best things in the world."
"Have you any?" inquired Bartleby.
"No, my head is quite empty," answered Nick, banging on his head as it made hollow noise as if to prove his point. "But, once, I had brains and a heart, also, so, having tried them both, I should much rather have a heart."
“Wait, what do you mean?” Spike asked.
"I will tell you my story and then, you will know," Nick said.
The party sat down as the tin woodman began his story.
"I was born in Munchkin country as the son of a woodman who chopped down trees in the forest and sold the wood for a living,” Nick said. “When I grew up, I, too, became a woodchopper and after my father died I took care of my old mother as long as she lived. Then, I made up my mind that instead of living alone, I would marry so that I might not become lonely.”
“Uh, question?” Rainbow said, raising a hoof.
“Yes?” Nick said.
“Does that mean you were a Munchkin?” Rainbow asked. “If so, why are you so tall compared to other Munchkins we’ve seen?”
“It’s true that I was born in Munchkin Country,” Nick said. “But, my status as Munchkin is only half true. My mother was a Munchkin, my father was a Winkie who moved here with his brother from Winkie Country, which accounts for my height.”
“Oh~” Rainbow said. “See, we haven’t met a Winkie yet, so we didn’t know.”
“Winkies,” Nick said. “Resemble Munchkins, but, taller and their color preference is yellow.”
“I see,” Fluttershy said.
“Anyway,” Nick continued. "There was one of the Munchkin girls who was so beautiful that I soon grew to love her with all my heart. Her name was Nimmie Amee. She, on her part, promised to marry me as soon as I could earn enough money to build a better house for her, so, I set to work harder than ever. I learned that she worked for the Wicked Witch of the East, Evanora.”
“Oh, my,” Twilight gasped.
“The witch did not wish Nimmie to marry anyone,” Nick said. “For she was so lazy, she wished the girl to remain with her and do the cooking and the housework. Knowing Nimmie was enslaved by the Wicked Witch of the East strengthened my resolve. I would marry her not just for love, but, to save her from her fate.”
“That is quite commendable of you,” Rarity said.
“But,” Nick said. “I didn’t account for the witch’s determination. She stole two cows and a sheep for a spell to prevent the marriage. Thereupon, the Wicked Witch enchanted my axe and when I was chopping away at my best one day, for I was anxious to get the new house and my wife as soon as possible, the axe slipped all at once and cut off my left leg.”
“That’s awful!” Spike said in shock.
"This at first seemed a great misfortune, for I knew a one-legged man could not do very well as a wood-chopper,” Nick said. “So, I went to my uncle, who was a tinsmith, and had him make me a new leg out of tin. The leg worked very well once I was used to it. But, this angered the witch, who was determined to stop the marriage. When I began chopping again, my axe slipped and cut off my right leg.”
“That’s scary,” Fluttershy said in a frightened tone.
“Again, I went to my uncle and again, he made me a new leg out of tin,” Nick said. “After this the enchanted axe cut off my arms, one after the other, but, nothing daunted, I had them replaced with tin ones.”
“No matter how many parts of the body are cut off,” Rainbow said. “It’s still freaky to think about.”
“The Wicked Witch then made the axe slip and cut off my head,” Nick said. “And at first, I thought that was the end of me. But, my uncle happened to come along and he made me a new head out of tin.”
“It’s lucky your uncle is able to help you,” Starlight said.
“Indeed,” Nick said. "I thought I had beaten the Wicked Witch then and I worked harder than ever, but, I little knew how cruel my enemy could be.”
“Oh, boy,” Applejack said uneasily.
“She thought of a new way to kill my love for the beautiful Munchkin maiden,” Nick said. “And made my axe slip again so that it cut right through my body, splitting me into two halves. Once more, my uncle came to my help and made me a body of tin, fastening my tin arms, legs, and head to it, by means of joints so that I could move around as well as ever.”
“That’s intense,” Trixie noted.
“But, alas!” Nick said. “I had now no heart so that I lost all my love for the Munchkin girl and did not care whether I married her or not.”
“That’s so sad,” Rarity said.
"My body shone so brightly in the sun that I felt very proud of it and it did not matter now if my axe slipped, for it could not cut me,” Nick said. “But, once again, I underestimated the witch’s cruelty.”
“Is there any low she won’t stoop down to?” Rainbow asked.
“She placed a curse on my joints,” Nick said. “This curse made them rust faster when exposed to water. Even if for only a moment.”
“That explains it,” Starlight said.
“But, I kept an oil-can in my cottage,” Nick said. “And took care to oil myself whenever I needed it. However, there came a day when I forgot to do this and, being caught in a rainstorm, before I thought of the danger, my joints had rusted and I was left to stand in the woods until you all came to help me.”
“That must have been a lonely time for you,” Fluttershy said sympathetically.
Nick nodded. “It was a terrible thing to undergo, but, during the year I stood there, I had time to think that the greatest loss I had known was the loss of my heart. While I was in love, I was the happiest man on earth, but, no one can love who has not a heart and so, I am resolved to ask Oz to give me one. If he does, I will go back to Nimmie Amee and marry her to save her from the Wicked Witch of the East."
“Uh, you might be a little late on that last part,” Rainbow said.
“How do you mean?” Nick asked. He then gasped. “Is Nimmie hurt?!”
“What Rainbow means,” Sunset said. “Is that the Wicked Witch of the East has been dead for two days now.”
“Oh!” Nick said in surprise. He then sat down with his chin in his hands and a sad look on his face. “Even in death, the Wicked Witch continues to plague me. I should feel hope that I can finally be with Nimmie, yet, without a heart, all I feel is this cursed indifference.”
“We’re so sorry,” Dorothy said.
"All the same," said Bartleby, trying to be helpful. "I shall ask for brains instead of a heart, for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one."
"I shall take the heart," returned Nick. "For brains do not make one happy and happiness is the best thing in the world."
“Come on, y’all,” Applejack said. “This ain’t the time fer fightin’ ‘bout ideals. Ah’m sure both o’ ya have yer reasons fer wantin’ what ya want n’ we are still on our journey together n’ all.”
Dorothy did not say anything, for she was puzzled to know which of her two friends was right and she decided if she could only get back to Kansas and Aunt Em, it did not matter so much whether Nick had no brains and Bartleby no heart or each got what he wanted.
What worried her most was that the bread was nearly gone, and another meal for herself and Toto would empty the basket. To be sure neither Nick nor Bartleby ever ate anything, but, she was not made of tin nor straw and could not live unless she was fed.