The next morning, when they woke up, Nick resumed his work. As he worked, Dorothy and the Equestria residents breakfasted like royalty off peaches and plums from the trees beside the river. Behind them was the dark forest they had passed safely through, although they had suffered many discouragements, but, before them was a lovely, sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the Emerald City.
“We’re nearly there,” Sunset said.
“Oh, I’m so glad,” Dorothy smiled.
To be sure, the broad river now cut them off from this beautiful land. But, the raft was nearly done and after Nick had cut a few more logs and fastened them together with wooden pins, they were ready to start. The Equestria residents boarded the raft and sat in the middle with Dorothy, who held Toto in her arms. When Raw stepped upon the raft it tipped badly, for he was big and heavy, but, Bartleby and Nick stood upon the other end to steady it and they had long poles in their hands to push the raft through the water.
“Steady as she goes, y’all,” Applejack said.
They got along quite well at first, but, when they reached the middle of the river, the swift current swept the raft downstream, farther and farther away from the road of yellow brick. And the water grew so deep that the long poles would not touch the bottom.
Chapter 8: The Deadly Poppy Field, Sunset said internally.
"This is bad," said Nick. "For if we cannot get to the land, we shall be carried into the country of Zelena, the Wicked Witch of the West, and she will enchant us and make us her slaves."
"And then I should get no brains," said Bartleby.
"And I should get no courage," said Raw.
"And I should get no heart," said Nick.
"And I should never get back to Kansas," said Dorothy.
“What do we do?” Rarity asked.
"We must certainly get to the Emerald City if we can," Bartleby continued and he pushed so hard on his long pole that it stuck fast in the mud at the bottom of the river. Then, before he could pull it out again--or let go--the raft was swept away and the poor scarecrow left clinging to the pole in the middle of the river.
"Good-bye!" he called after them and they were very sorry to leave him. Indeed, Nick began to cry, but, fortunately remembered that he might rust and so dried his tears on Dorothy's apron.
Of course, this was a bad thing for Bartleby.
"I am now worse off than when I first met Dorothy," he thought aloud. "Then, I was stuck on a pole in a cornfield, where I could make-believe scare the crows, at any rate. But, surely there is no use for a scarecrow stuck on a pole in the middle of a river. I am afraid I shall never have any brains, after all!"
“We have to help him!” Fluttershy exclaimed.
So much for the Stork’s contribution, Sunset said internally as she started channeling her magic. However, the raft suddenly bounced on a rough wave, disrupting her concentration. “Whoa~!” The sudden jerk caused her to lose her balance and she struggled to regain it as she stood on her hindlegs.
Raw had an idea. "Something must be done to save us,” he said. “I think I can swim to the shore and pull the raft after me, if you will only hold fast to the tip of my tail."
So, he sprang into the water and Nick caught fast hold of his tail. Then, Raw began to swim with all his might toward the shore. It was hard work, although he was so big, but, by and by they were drawn out of the current and then Dorothy took Nick's long pole and helped push the raft to the land.
They were all tired out when they reached the shore at last and stepped off upon the pretty green grass and they also knew that the stream had carried them a long way past the road of yellow brick that led to the Emerald City.
“Oh, dear,” Fluttershy said, panting a bit from her fatigue. “How are we going to get back on course?”
"The best plan will be to walk along the riverbank until we come to the road again," remarked Raw.
“We’ll need to rest a bit first,” Sunset said.
“Rest is a good idea,” Rainbow said, a yawn escaping from her throat.
So, when they were rested, Dorothy picked up her basket and they started along the grassy bank, to the road from which the river had carried them. It was a lovely country with plenty of flowers and fruit trees and sunshine to cheer them up and, had they not felt so sorry for poor Bartleby, they could have been very happy.
“I do hope it won’t be too much longer,” Dorothy said softly.
They walked along as fast as they could, Dorothy only stopping once to pick a beautiful flower and after a time, Nick cried out: "Look!"
Then they all looked at the river and saw Bartleby perched upon his pole in the middle of the water, looking very lonely and sad.
“Bartleby!” Dorothy called. “He’s alright!”
At that moment, a stork flew by, who, upon seeing them, stopped to rest at the water's edge.
"Who are you and where are you going?" asked the stork.
“Please,” Dorothy said. “I am Dorothy and these are my friends. We’re on our way to the Emerald City to see the Wizard of Oz to help us, but, our friend, Bartleby the Scarecrow, is out in the middle of the water and are hoping he will be able to rejoin us without the water’s current rushing him away.”
The stork looked in Bartleby’s direction. "If he wasn't so big and heavy, I would get him for you," she remarked.
“But, he is filled with straw,” Nick said. “I assure you he is quite light in weight.”
"Well, I'll try," said the stork. "But, if I find he is too heavy to carry, I shall have to drop him in the river again."
So, the big bird flew into the air and over the water till she came to where the scarecrow was perched upon his pole. Then, the stork, with her great claws, grabbed Bartleby by the arm and carried him up into the air and back to the bank, where the others were sitting.
“Oh, thank you very much, ma’am,” Dorothy said politely to the stork. “You were wonderful.”
"I was afraid I should have to stay in the river forever," Bartleby said. "But, the kind stork saved me and if I ever get any brains, I shall find the stork again and do her some kindness in return."
"That's all right," said the stork, who was flying along beside them. "I always like to help anyone in trouble. But, I must go now, for my babies are waiting in the nest for me. I hope you will find the Emerald City and that Oz will help you."
“Can I at least know your name?” Bartleby asked.
“I am Snow,” she replied.
So, the traveling friends said goodbye to the stork as she flew away back to her nest.
They walked along listening to the singing of the brightly colored birds and looking at the lovely flowers which now became so thick that the ground was carpeted with them. There were big yellow and white and blue and purple blossoms besides great clusters of scarlet poppies, which were so brilliant in color they almost dazzled Dorothy's eyes. Trixie, however, looked a bit panicked as she stepped back a bit. Fluttershy noticed this.
“Is something wrong, Trixie?” she asked.
“Those red flowers are poppies!” Trixie said. “I can’t go near them!”
“Why not?” Applejack asked. “Are ya allergic ta ‘em?”
“Yes, I am,” Trixie said.
“Oh,” Applejack said. “That’s goin’ ta be a problem. Sunset, are there any differin’ roads away from the poppies that Trix can walk on?”
Sunset checked the map. “According to this map,” she said. “There aren’t any paths near this field. Since we’re following the riverbank, there’s not much wiggle room.”
“I was afraid of that,” Trixie said. “Does anyone have a clothespin I can clip onto my nose?” No one gave a positive answer. “Didn’t think so.”
“Try holding your breath as we walk through,” Sunset said.
Trixie nodded and she took a deep inhale away from the flowers. She then held her breath. Dorothy continued to admire the poppies.
"Aren't they beautiful?" the girl asked, as she breathed in the spicy scent of the bright flowers.
"I suppose so," answered Bartleby. "When I have brains, I shall probably like them better."
"If I only had a heart, I should love them," added Nick.
"I always did like flowers," said Raw. "They seem so helpless and frail. But, there are none in the forest so bright as these."
They now came upon more and more of the big scarlet poppies and fewer and fewer of the other flowers and soon they found themselves in the midst of a great meadow of poppies. Now, it is well known that when there are many of these flowers together their odor is so powerful that anyone who breathes it falls asleep and if the sleeper is not carried away from the scent of the flowers, he sleeps on and on forever. But, Dorothy did not know this nor could she get away from the bright red flowers that were everywhere about, so, presently her eyes grew heavy and she felt she must sit down to rest and to sleep.
Spike saw this. “I think the poppies are making Dorothy sleepy. It might happen to those of us who can breathe, too!”
"We must hurry and get back to the road of yellow brick before dark," Nick said and Bartleby agreed with him. So, they kept walking until Dorothy could stand no longer. Her eyes closed in spite of herself and she forgot where she was and fell among the poppies, fast asleep.
“If this carries on,” Twilight observed. “Most of us could fall asleep in here, too! And who knows how long it’ll be before we stir?”
“The constant exposure to the odor will keep anyone in the field asleep until they die,” Sunset said.
The others, sans the sleeping Dorothy, gasp in shock.
“There’s a way to save those who fall asleep here,” Sunset continued. “You have to… have to…” In seconds, Sunset fell asleep, too. She fell to her side with one of her forehooves pointed forward, as if giving a clue.
“Have to what?” Pinkie asked. “Have to what?! Don’t leave us in suspense, Sunset!”
“Wait, Pinkie,” Twilight said, looking where Sunset was pointing. “Everyone, look over there.”
They all looked where Sunset was pointing and could see where the field ended.
“That’s it,” Bartleby said. “If constant exposure to the smell is keeping them asleep, removing them from the field will wake them up!”
“So,” Nick said. “We must move our sleeping friends out of the field!”
Raw nodded. "If we leave them here, they will die," said the lion. "The smell of the flowers is killing us all. I myself can scarcely keep my eyes open and the dog and dragon are asleep already."
It was true. Toto had fallen down beside his little mistress and Spike beside Twilight’s legs. But, Nick and Bartleby, not being made of flesh, were not troubled by the scent of the flowers.
“We have to hurry,” Twilight said as she began levitating Spike. “Before we all…” The poppies had gotten to her as well and she fell asleep, embracing her dragon son.
So, the ones who were still awake made quick work of helping their sleeping companions out of the poppy field. This was difficult as, one by one, the Equestria residents fell asleep. At that point, Trixie and Raw were the only ones made of flesh still awake. Soon, Raw himself fell asleep. Trixie could no longer hold her breath and released it.
“Oh no,” the unicorn mare said before she began wincing in preparation for a sneeze. “Huh… huwugh… huhh… hehh… hoo! Haaaah~ CHOO!”
“Oh, this is a sorry state of affairs,” Nick said.
“Our dear friends,” Bartleby added. “So close and yet so far.”
“I’b not gibing up,” Trixie said nasally. “I caaaCHOO!!! Carry one dat a tibe on by back. You two worry aboud Dorothy.”
“Oh, my,” Nick said. “You are very brave, Trixie.”
“Sabe da waderworks, Nick,” Trixie said. She then levitated Spike onto her back. She then trotted outside the field. Nick and Bartleby likewise carried Dorothy out.
Spike and Dorothy were placed on the soft grass, waiting for a soft breeze to wake them.