> Cinematic Adventures: The Wizard of Oz
>  by extremeenigma02
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Journey Begins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun shines high over the land of Equestria, as another day continued on the same as it did each and every day. Every morning, Princess Celestia would raise the sun and each and every night she would lower it. Meanwhile, her sister and co-ruler of Equestria, Princess Luna, would raise the moon. There was no doubt that Equestria was beautiful at this hour.

Today, however, Twilight Sparkle was not looking up toward the bright light of her teacher’s sun. The only thing the alicorn could see was dense forest and darkness that usually many ponies would see when walking through the Everfree Forest. The little purple alicorn trotted down the narrow path between the assortment of dark trees and brush of the massive forest. As she strolled, she kept looking over her shoulder every few minutes keeping an eye open for the creatures that are known to inhabit the forest. After the experience that she and her friends had with manticores, chimera, and all the other creatures that this forest had to offer, Twilight wasn't leaving anything to chance. 

The main reason she was out here in the first place was to gather ingredients for a potion that she was working on with Zecora. All Twilight had to go with was a map, which floated with a magic aura through her magic.

“Ok, so if the directions Zecora gave me are correct,” Twilight said, reading the map. “The last of the ingredients should be in this area. Now where could they… WHOA!!!”

Twilight was so occupied looking over the map that she took no notice of where she was going and tripped over something. She picked herself off the forest floor with a small pile of dirt on top of her head and shook it off quickly.
“Well that hurt,” She grumbled.

Twilight turned around and saw what she fell over. What she saw looked quite strange: A large dark grey square, a confusing sight to the purple Princess. She slowly approached it, as cautiously as possible in case it was dangerous. She slowly reached out her hoof and tapped the thing before quickly retracting her hoof. Seeing that nothing happened, she concentrated her magic to levitate the object and set it gently against a tree for a better look. The other side of the device, which she didn’t see before, had a reflective screen.

It was then that she knew what this thing was, having seen a few before when she visited the human version of their world. A television, as it was called.

From what she had seen in the other world, a television was a device that showed moving pictures that were called ‘shows’. She never partook of it that much, always preferring a good book any day. It seemed very strange that one of these devices were here in their world. Even more strange that it was just randomly in the Everfree Forest.

Twilight scratched her head with her hoof trying to figure out why this device was here and where it came from. Ultimately, she couldn’t understand and decided it was probably better to take it back to her castle for some tests.

“I guess Zecora’s potion will have to wait,” Twilight replied.

Lifting the television with her magic, Twilight strolled back through the direction she came. Soon enough, the princess made her way out of the Everfree Forest. As she walked out of the dense foliage, she passed by Fluttershy’ cottage and noticed the butter yellow Pegasus watering her flowers.

“Oh look at all of you,” Fluttershy softly said, a tear forming in her eye. “So beautiful I could almost cry.” 

Twilight, having heard and seen this display, couldn’t help but giggle.

“Hi Fluttershy!” She called out.

Fluttershy looked up from her gardening and smiled brightly at her friend while waving her hoof. She dropped her watering can and ran over to Twilight.

“Hi Twilight!” Fluttershy greeted. “Did everything go alright in the Everfree Forest?”

“Not exactly, it was going alright for a while before I found this,” Twilight explained, gesturing to the T.V in her magical grip. 

Fluttershy noticed the device and squeaked in fear, having never seen something like it before. She quickly leapt behind a flower bench before slowly poking her shaking head out.

“W-W-What is t-that?” She stuttered, fearfully. “Is it d-d-dangerous?” she stuttered in fear. 

“No, I don’t think it is,” Twilight shook her head. “I found it in the Everfree Forest. I’m just taking this back to my castle to do some tests.”

Fluttershy slowly made her way out from the flower bench and motion towards Twilight and the television. The object shook aggressively as Twilight tried to maintain her focus to keep it in midair. Fluttershy shut her eyes tightly as she reached a hoof out and touched the device. Twilight shook her head but smiled.

“It’s alright Fluttershy; it’s not going to hurt you.”

Fluttershy opened her eyes slightly but still looked scared.

“Are you sure?” 

Twilight smiled brightly and nodded to her friend. Fluttershy released her breath, which she didn’t even realize she was holding.

“Look Fluttershy, I need you to do me a little favor.”

“Ok. What do I have to do?”

“I need you to round up the others and meet me at the castle,” Twilight instructs. “I’ll explain everything there.”

“You got it,” Fluttershy nodded and flew off towards Ponyville. 

Twilight loved her shy yet reliable friend. The little Pegasus was always so scared of everything, yet she was always there when they need her. Twilight smiled as she continued on back to her castle.

Finally arriving at her castle, she walked inside and was immediately met by her assistant and best friend Spike. The little purple dragon wore a small white cleaning apron and held a broom and dustpan as he approached his friend. Since they day Spike hatched and lived with Twilight, they’ve shared a tight brotherly-sisterly bond that’s lasted for many years.

“Hey Twilight!” Spike greeted. “I just cleaned the kitchen, the library, and the grand hallway. Can I have a gem now please!”

Twilight giggled at the cuteness of her assistant, the little dragon begging with his best puppy-dog eye expression. She reached into her saddlebag, pulling out a big red gem. She handed it to Spike who eagerly chomped away at the tasty treat.

“There you go Spike,” Twilight replied. “But I need your help with something else.”

“Whiff whut?” Spike muffled.

The dragon’s cheeks were full of gem bits. Twilight giggled again, before getting serious.

“I need you to go down to the lab and grab me some wire and a large metal frame. Bring it to the library, if you please.”

Spike nodded as he kept chomping away at his gem, strolling out of the grand hall and down the hall to one of the labs. Twilight, meanwhile, took the television to the library. She set it down against her desk and grabbed a few books off the shelves. At that moment, the library door burst open and a pink ball zoomed into the library.

CRASH! Before Twilight could react, the pink ball slammed into the princess. Twilight groaned from her spot on the ground and looked up to see the crazy blue eyes of her party friend Pinkie Pie.

“Pinkie Pie is here; so let the party begin!”

Pinkie pulled out her confetti cannon and fired it all over the room until the whole library was covered in confetti. She then pulled out party hats and put one on her own head and the other atop of Twilight’s now messy mane.

“Um Pinkie…”

“Yes Twilight?” Pinkie asked, fluttering her eyes.

“Can you please get off of me?” Twilight groaned.

“Okie dokie lokie!!!”

Pinkie got off of Twilight, who proceeded to stand up and shake herself off. She fixed her mane and looked back to her friend who still had a huge smile on her face.

“Pinkie, I’ve told you time after time to please stop running into me.”

“Sorry Twilight! But when Fluttershy told us all that we had to get here right away I ran so fast I couldn’t stop. I figured you were throwing a huge surprise party, so I ran here at super Pinkie speed!”

As Pinkie excitedly explained herself, Rarity and Applejack made their way into the library. Applejack looked like a complete mess.

“Yep and we tried to stop her,” Applejack added, sighing. “Ah even tried mah lasso to slow her down, but she just pulled me along like a carriage!”

Applejack cracked her neck with a groan, which made Rarity cringe.

“Darling, I truly wish you wouldn’t do that,” The fashionista said. “It is so unbelievably gross and not to mention unladylike.” 

Applejack just rolled her eyes at the comment, not rewarding that with a comment. 

Just then, a sound could be heard outside causing Twilight to face the window. Before her eyes, a projectile headed straight towards her at top speed. She gasped and ducked out of the way as a cyan blue figure zoomed through window.

CRASH! The blue ball rushed head-first into a stack of books. Every pony faced the pile of books as Rainbow Dash’s head popped out. The Pegasus was dazed from the crash landing, but otherwise is okay.

“Hey guys! I got here as fast as I could.”

“Clearly,” Twilight remarked, looking at the mess.

At that moment, Spike and Fluttershy walked into the library. The little dragon held a bunch of wiring, while Fluttershy brought the metal frame.

“We’ve got the stuff, Twilight,” Spike said.

The little dragon looked around the room and his jaw fell to the floor. Before his eyes, there was confetti everywhere and a whole bunch of books strewn on the floor. He dropped the wiring and then fell to his knees before crawling to the middle of the library.

“Oh come on!” Spike grimaced. “I spent all morning cleaning this room!”

The poor dragon fell face-first into the ground, pounding the floor with his claw. Twilight gently placed a hoof over his shoulder comforting the little guy.

“It’s ok Spike,” Twilight said sweetly. “You did a really good job and I appreciate it. We’ll clean it up after we’re finished. Why don’t you take a break?”

Spike lifted his head off the ground and smiled.

“Thanks Twilight,” Spike replied, with a thumbs up.

Sighing, the dragon passed out on the ground from exhaustion.

“Oh Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity giggled.

“So wut in tarnation is all this about Twilight?” Applejack asked.

Twilight gestured them all to the television set and began to explain.

“I found this in the Everfree Forest. It’s called a television; I came across these things from my travels in the human dimension. I know most ponies have never seen one before so basically it’s a device that when turned on it shows moving pictures.”

Pinkie’s face lit up as she approached the device.

“Oooooooh! That sounds superty duperty Coolio! Can I try? Huh?! Can I?! Can I?! Can I?! Can I?!”

“No Pinkie,” Twilight shook her head. “We can’t try anything until we get it hooked up. Besides, we need to run a few tests just to make sure it works.”

Using her magic Twilight took both the wiring and the metal frame proceeding to assemble them together. Within minutes, she had the metal frame positioned to keep the television in place as the wires were sticking out all over.

“Now, the only way this thing will work is with electricity,” Twilight explained. “So Rarity, I’m going to need your help.”

The white unicorn nodded and made her way toward Twilight. Twilight hooked the wires to her own horn and Rarity’s. The two used their magic to spark electricity into the machine until it started to flicker and eventually turn on the static. The other ponies observed with bewilderment at the device.

“It’s remarkable!” Applejack said.

“It’s stupendous!” Pinkie added.

“It’s so… Strange,” Fluttershy continued.

“It’s boring!” Rainbow Dash sneered. “Where’s the moving pictures?”

“It hasn’t been properly tested, Rainbow,” Twilight answered. “I’ll need to make some adjustments. When I’m finished, we’ll hopefully be able to see something.”

All of a sudden, the television started to spark and sputter. Everyone looked in shock and feared it was going to overload on power and explode. As the television continues to sputter, Spike eventually came to and made his way over to the group.

“What did I miss?”

Just then, a large green vortex opened up out of nowhere. Like a giant vacuum, it proceeds to suck nearly every object in the room… Including the pony group and baby dragon. Every pony did their best to hold onto something, even Spike’s claws scratched against the floor. But the vortex was so powerful, they couldn’t hold on. Finally, all the ponies and the little dragon lost their grip and were sucked inside, screaming at the top of their lungs flying into the unknown. And as quickly as the portal appeared, the portal was gone until all there was in the room was the mysterious black box.



So ends the first chapter.  I would like to say quickly that recently I have updated this chapter because I have graciously been offered aid by a new friend of mine whom I really must thank for helping me put this chapter together  So shout out to Dramamaster829.  Thank you so much for your aid and I would like to say that so much credit for this story goes to you.
> Kansas
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Darkness

This was the only thing that could be seen by the group, as they fell into the seemingly endless void. They were falling for what felt like hours, which in reality was only a minute or two. The darkness was so great that they couldn’t even see one another as they continued to fall. Within another moment, another portal opened, the ponies and dragon crashing with a harsh landing upon the ground. Every pony groaned in pain from the impact before sitting up. Twilight shook off the dizziness to clear her vison before breaking the silence. 

“Is every pony alright?”

“I’m good here,” Rainbow Dash replies.

“We’re fine,” Rarity said. Fluttershy merely nodded.

“A little sore but ah’m just dandy,” Applejack said.

“Us too,” Pinkie said, gesturing to herself and Spike.

Seeing her friends were okay, Twilight smiles with relief watching every pony stand on their legs and shook themselves off. As their vision started coming back, they could make out a bit of the landscape of where they ended up. They could see grassy plains for miles and miles on end, even a few farms in the distance. There was one thing though, once they noticed it, which cause them to gasp in shock..

There was no color!

No color could be seen on anything at all. The only color everything had was a tan beige color, some darker than others but nothing else. Every pony looked around frantically trying to see if maybe their vision was still fuzzy but no matter how hard they tried, the color never came back at all.

“AHHHH!!!”

Twilight jumped back and faced Rarity, the one pony who screamed and soon noticed why. Not only was there no color on the landscape before them...

The ponies, and Spike himself, had no trace of color on their frames.

All the ponies and the little dragon looked at themselves, noticing the display. No purple, no blue, no orange, no anything. Many of them shared concerned, frightened looks on their faces as they kept looking amongst themselves and their surroundings.

“What in pony feathers is going on here?!” Rainbow asked, worriedly.

“Twilight! How could this have happened!?” Rarity shrieked.

“I have no idea!” Twilight shrugged.

The only one that seemed to be having any fun whatsoever in this situation was Pinkie. Instead of looking scared, she was rather intrigued.

“This is so weird but also very cool,” Pinkie smiled, looking at herself. “I guess since I’m not pink anymore I can’t be called Pinkie anymore. Maybe now I can be called Sandy because of the sandy color!” 

Pinkie, or rather ‘Sandy’, laughed. Every pony else just rolled their eyes. 

Leave it to Pinkie to find humor in a bad situation.

“So what do we do now?” Rainbow asked, floating in midair. “We have no idea where we are or what’s going on here and the color seemed to just magically disappear!” 
“I think the television had something to do with this,” Spike spoke up. 

The others looked at him with a ‘no kidding’ look and he just scratched the back of his head and looked away. As he looked away, he noticed something moving off in the distance. 

“Hey guys, look over there!”

The others faced Spike’s direction, as he pointed toward the distance and soon they all saw it. It was a large bipedal creature walking on two legs. Clearly from the slender frame of the creature they knew it was a female. She wore a white shirt with short puffy sleeves that stopped after her shoulders and a light-blue gingham dress. She also had two braided pigtails and black shoes. Following alongside her was a small brown terrier dog that stayed by her side as she ran down the country road.

“What is that thing?” Applejack asked. 

Fluttershy poked her head out from behind the orange earth pony, who didn’t even know she was there.

“I-I-Is it d-dangerous?” she squeaked.

Twilight looked in astonishment for she knew exactly what this thing was.

“No Fluttershy, I don’t think it is,” Twilight said, looking closely. “That’s a human. I remember traveling to the human dimension of our world and they looked just like that!” 

“Maybe we should catch up to her and find out what’s going on,” Rainbow Dash suggests.

Every pony nodded, but then it occurred to them.

“We should be careful,” Twilight said. “She might find our presence very scary.”

“But we’re ponies, Twilight,” Pinkie points out. “Every creature knows that not all ponies are ‘dangerous’.”

“Well ‘most’ of them,” Rainbow said, recalling certain scenarios.

“True, but do you think she’s ever seen a pony with horns on their foreheads?” Twilight questioned, toward Pinkie. “Or ponies with wings sprouting out of our backs?”

“Oooh…” Pinkie thought. “Good point.”

“Then how are we possibly going to follow without her noticing us?” Rarity interjected.

Twilight looked at their surroundings seeking anything worthy of a disguise or camouflage. She noticed some rather tall grass, possibly grain stalks, alongside the dirt path that the girl was rushing past.

“Ok guys, here’s the plan,” Twilight explains. “We’ll hide in that tall grass over there and follow her slowly. Make sure to stay hidden and move quickly and quietly.”

Every pony nodded and crouched down low as they made their way over towards the grass. They quietly snuck in and found themselves covered by the vegetation well enough to not be seen. As the girl continued walking along with her dog, the ponies and dragon followed them at a decent distance. Eventually, they stopped as the girl paused for a moment to look path, as if she was looking out for somebody… Or something.

“She isn’t coming yet, Toto,” The girl worriedly said, as she picked up the dog. “Did she hurt you? She tried to didn’t she?”

The girls and Spike watched quietly as she cradled the dog, Toto, in her arms. Just as they were about to question what was going on… 

Snap!

In that one instant, everything seemed to freeze. The ponies, Spike, even the girl walking, all had a look of fear on their faces. The ponies and Spike turned toward the source of the noise and saw that Pinkie had accidentally stepped on a stray stick that was hidden in the grass.

“Oops sorry,” She whispered, with a nervous smile.

The dog, Toto, leapt off the girls arms and walked towards the tall grass. The dog started to growl and bark, as every pony remained frozen trying to not be seen.

“Toto heel!” The girl spoke.

The dog immediately stopped barking and made its way back to the girl ,who then slowly approached the grass.

“Is anybody there?” She asked. “If you are, you can come on out now.”

Though the ponies did not know this creature, they could tell by her voice she is gentle and kind. Applejack could tell there was a bit of a country accent in her speech. The ponies faced each other nervously, trying to keep quiet just the same.

“If you’re afraid don’t worry,” The girl assured. “I won’t hurt you and neither will Toto.”

None of them knew what to do now. Do they show themselves? Could they try to stay hidden? So many questions with little answers.

Eventually, Twilight boldly decided to stand up from the grass until only the top of her mane was showing from the grass. Slowly, she peeked the front of her muzzle out of the brush and looked the girl straight in the eyes, the young girl doing the same. The girl then smiled a warm smile.

“Well, aren’t you just an adorable creature,” She said sweetly. 

Twilight smiled at the compliment but then stepped back slightly when the girl started to step forward towards her. 

“Oh it’s alright, I won’t hurt you,” The young girl assured.

Twilight was hesitant, but she didn’t sense any sort of falseness in the girl’s words. She slowly approaches the girl, who did the same. The girl reached out her hand for Twilight and was about to touch her...

“Wow! I’ve never seen a human before!”

The girl turned as Pinkie Pie burst out of the grass, smiling and bouncing around in excitement. The girl screamed and fell backwards onto the ground before moving back as far away as she could. The dog, Toto, ran in front of the girl and barked at the two ponies. Pinkie just smiled and walked up to the dog and petted his head with her hoof.

“Oh you’re such a cute little doggie aren’t you?” Pinkie asked, speaking baby-talk. “Yes you are, yes you are!” 

Just then all the other ponies emerged from the grass seeing no point in trying to hide now. The girl tried to move back farther away. Twilight held up her hooves.

“Don’t worry, we won’t hurt you,” Twilight assured. “We’re friendly and mean you no harm.”

“That’s right darling, we wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Rarity added.

“Well, except that one time with the parasprites…” Rainbow began.

“Rainbow, you ain’t helpin’!” Applejack said, before facing the girl. “There-there sugarcube, ain’t no pony gonna hurtcha.”

The girl just lifted her arm, pinching herself with those appendages on the end, fingers Twilight recalled. The girl cried “Ouch”, as she shut her eyes tight and opened them a second later. Seeing the ponies again, she gasped.

“What in tarnation are you doin?’” Applejack asked. 

The girl didn’t respond at first but eventually found her voice again.

“My Aunty Em told me that if I’m dreaming and need to wake up quickly to just pinch myself and I’ll wake up,” She explained fearfully. “I’m still seeing talking horses, so I believe I’m still dreaming.” 

“Hey! First things first, we’re not horses we’re ponies,” Rainbow Dash corrected, landing from the air. 

The girl just shook her head quickly not believing that she just saw a blue pony just fly out of the sky. Nor could she believe the description of the other ponies around her.

“Well... I beg your pardon. It’s just I’ve never seen talking ponies before in my life… Or with wings or… Horns?” 

“It’s alright miss, we know how terrifying it can be to meet strange creatures,” Rarity assured. “But we are very friendly, I promise you.”

The girl slowly got back on her feet, cautiously approaching the ponies. She slowly raised her hand, reaching toward Twilight. Soon as her hand touched the alicorn’s coat, she brushed along the soft fur. But when her fingers touched Twilight’s horn, she retracts her hand and turns toward the creatures.

“Why you are all real!” She said, surprised. “Are you really a unicorn?”

“Actually, I’m an alicorn to be specific,” Twilight replied, pointing her horn and wings. “An alicorn has both wings and a horn, though there are very few. The rest of my friends you see are either Earth ponies, pegasi or unicorns… Well, ‘one’ unicorn for now.”

The ponies all nodded. The girl slowly cracked a smile as she began to adjust to this new discovery. She stood in the presence of six talking ponies, some with wings and some with horns, and the ability to talk. That sort of thing doesn’t happen every day but here they are.

“My name is Dorothy Gale,” she introduced herself. “Pleased to meet you all.”

“Hello Dorothy, my name is Twilight Sparkle,” The alicorn introduces herself. “These are my friends Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie.” 

Dorothy smiles as she shook each and every one of their hooves one by one, still somewhat hesitant.

“What peculiar names. Never heard names like that here in Kansas.”

The ponies all looked at her and tilted their heads in confusion.

“Where’s Kansas?” A voice said.

Dorothy turned as Spike emerges from behind Twilight. Dorothy was about to scream again before Rainbow Dash flew up to her and placed a hoof over her mouth.

“Please don’t scream again.”

Dorothy calmed down after a second and Rainbow removed her hoof from her mouth. Dorothy observed the small purple and green dragon and looked at him in wonder.

“What are you?” She asked.

“I’m a dragon,” he replied confidently.

“I beg your pardon; I’ve never imagined a dragon being so…” 

“Charming… Cute… Handsome?” Spike suggests.

“Small,” Dorothy answered.

A bead of sweat seemed to drop, as Spike’s eyes widen. Rainbow nearly chuckled when Applejack nudged her to be quiet.

“To be fair, he is a baby dragon right now,” Fluttershy explains. 

“But mark my words, when I get older, I’ll be big and mighty,” Spike added, flexing his nonexistent muscles. 
Dorothy and the other girls giggled at this.

“But ah gotta ask the same as Spike,” Applejack speaks up. “Where’s this Kansas?”

“It’s where I live,” Dorothy explained. “You all are standing in the middle of it right here.”

“I’ve never heard of Kansas before, and I’ve read every map of Equestria at least a hundred times.” Twilight pointed out. 

Now it was Dorothy’s turn to look confused.

“Equestria?”

“We’ll explain later,” Rainbow said.

Dorothy looked off into the distance and noticed the setting sun.

“Oh my it’s getting late. I’ve got to get back home.”

“Well it was very nice to meet you Dorothy,” Twilight said. “We need to find a place to stay until we can get home.”

“That is if we ever do get home,” Fluttershy said, nervously.

The ponies and the little dragon turned and began to walk away. Suddenly, they were stopped by Toto running out in front of them.

“You know you could come back to the farm with us,” Dorothy offered. “I’m sure when I explain you all to Aunty Em and Uncle Henry they’ll let you stay.”

The ponies all turned back to the young farm girl, who had a big smile on her face as she gestured to the path in front of them. The ponies were all touched by her kindness and smiled. They really had nowhere to go and here she was offering them shelter. They nodded in response.

“Come on, we’ll go tell Uncle Henry and Auntie Em,” Dorothy said. “Come on, Toto!” 

Dorothy and Toto began to lead the ponies and Spike down the path to her farm. Eventually they arrived at a little house on the side of the path, with a big tree that had a tire swing hanging on a large branch. There was a chicken coup and a large barn off to the side as well. As they drew closer, they noticed an elderly man and woman feeding the chickens. They were both middle aged with graying hair. Dorothy quickly stopped the group before they could travel any further.

“I think you should all wait behind the house,” Dorothy said. “I need to speak to Auntie Em and Uncle Henry about something.”

“You mean about something that scared little Toto?” Pinkie asked.

“How did you know that?” Dorothy asked.

“Eh, I’ve read the script.”

Dorothy faced the ponies with a look of confusion, most of them just shrugged.

“It’s Pinkie Pie, don’t ask,” Rainbow suggests.

“I see… Well, you just hang around here and I’ll be right back.”

The ponies and Spike all nod and went to hide behind the wall of the house. Meanwhile, Dorothy walked over to the chicken coup and the elderly couple.

“Aunt Em! Aunt Em!” Dorothy called, running up to her. “Aunt Em! Just listen to what Miss Gulch did to Toto.”

“Dorothy, please we’re trying to count,” Aunt Em waved off, not listening.

“Oh, but Aunt Em she hit him!” Dorothy protested.

“Don’t bother us, honey,” Uncle Henry spoke up. “This old incubator’s gone bad and we’re likely to lose some of our chicks.”

“Lose the chicks?” Fluttershy gasped, concerned. “Oh my…”

Dorothy was a bit frustrated her aunt and uncle weren’t listening to her, again. In the past, whenever she tried talking to them, they either brush her off or ignore her altogether as they always found themselves busy. But still, even Dorothy was worried as she picked up one chick. She turns back toward the house, where Twilight and her friends peeked from behind. The purple alicorn just gestured her to keep going, as the girl nodded.

“Oh, the poor little things,” She softly said, before getting back on subject. “Oh, but Aunt Em. Ms. Gulch hit Toto right over with the back of a rake. Just because he gets in her garden and chases her nasty old cat away.”

Auntie Em was barely listening, as she grabbed the chick off Dorothy’s hands.

“Seventy,” Auntie Em counted, closing the cage. “Dorothy please!”

“It’s like they barely know she’s even there,” Spike observed.

“Well I reckon they’re busy, Spike,” Applejack points out. “Granny is pretty much the same whenever we had chores to do on the farm.”

“Oh, but he doesn’t do it every day,” Dorothy continued. “Just once or twice a week. He can’t catch her old cat anyway. And now she’s gonna get the sheriff…”

“Dorothy, Dorothy, we’re busy!” Auntie Em said, placing some chicks in Henry’s hat.

Seeing that it was useless to talk to them when they’re working, Dorothy was about to walk away.

“Oh, all right,” Dorothy said, understanding. “I just also wanted to tell you I met some new friends on the way.”

Dorothy didn’t get very far when the old couple stopped and faced their niece with surprised looks.

“You made new friends?” Auntie Em asked.

Understandably, Em and Henry knew Dorothy didn’t really have many friends. Aside from their farmhands Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke, whom we’ll get to later, they couldn’t name any other friends Dorothy has besides Toto. Nonetheless, when Dorothy turned around, she noticed a smile on their faces.

“Well, that’s wonderful, hun,” Henry said, patting her back.

“I invited them over to stay, if you don’t mind,” Dorothy said, nervously.

“Well, of course not,” Auntie Em smiled. “Are they around?”

“They’re waiting out back. But I should warn you, though, they’re a little different.”

“How different can they be?” Henry chuckled.

With that said, Dorothy turned to the back of the house and gestured the group forward. The ponies and the dragon stepped out and slowly approached her family. From a distance, they thought they saw regular ponies though had no idea what that strange creature beside them was. But once they came close, the elders were shocked at the strange sight. Not surprising since their farm practically has horses.

“You made friends with the horses?” Auntie Em asked.

“Not horses,” Pinkie said, excitedly. “Ponies… Big difference.”

"PINKIE!" Twilight shouts.

Before Twilight could react, Auntie Em shrieks as Uncle Henry grabbed a nearby pitchfork pointing toward the ponies. Dorothy ran up and tried to take the pitchfork away from her uncle, who just pulled her behind him.

“Uncle Henry, don’t!” Dorothy plead.

“Stay behind me hun,” Henry instructs. “Em, grab my gun!”

“No Uncle Henry, they’re my friends!” Dorothy begged.

“It’s true, Mr. Henry, I promise we aren’t a threat,” Twilight said urgently, raising her hoofs in the air. “We won’t hurt any of you; Dorothy is our friend.”

As Twilight tried to reason with the elderly couple, Fluttershy hid behind Twilight in fear while the others stayed as far away from the sharp spikes. Although still shocked that a pony was talking, Henry and Em could hear the sincerity in her voice and could see the genuine fear in their eyes. Although somewhat scared, they could see these ponies are capable of emotion and kindness. At ease, Henry slowly lowers his pitchfork as Dorothy emerged from behind him.

“Please don’t send them away,” Dorothy begged. “They’re stuck here, they had nowhere else to stay. Please let them stay, they won’t be no trouble. I promise.”

To help Dorothy convince her aunt and uncle, the ponies and dragon put on their biggest puppy dog faces they could make. The couple couldn’t help but smile at their huge sparkling eyes and quivering lips. A display of such a caring, attentive nature as Auntie Em stroke Twilight’s silky mane and Henry pat Spike’s little head.

“So what you suppose to be little fella?” Uncle Henry asked. “A giant lizard?”

“Dragon, actually,” Spike spoke. “Not like my bigger relatives, of course.”

“Well I’ll be…”

“Well, I suppose they can stay,” Aunt Em said. “As long as they pitch in around here with the chores.”

“I would like to take a look at that old incubator,” Applejack offered. “I’m pretty handy with tools.”

“I’d love to feed the chicks and keep them warm in the meantime,” Fluttershy politely offered. “If that’s okay, that is.”

“Well, you are the strangest group that ever offered to help,” Henry said. “But we could use the help.”

Dorothy beamed, as the ponies and dragon smiled. Giving high fives with their hooves/claws, as Rainbow Dash flew loops in the air much to the couple’s surprise.

“There should be some tools in the house,” Henry points out. “You can grab those and see what you can do.”

“I do believe we should all get settled in,” Rarity advised. “I’m not much for farm work, but if we must get the chores done… I’d want to look ‘fabulous’.”

The elderly couple ushered toward their house, as the Mane Six and Spike entered through the screen door. The whole gang couldn’t stop smiling, as they felt welcomed and figured this wouldn’t be so bad. Twilight was about to enter last, when she turned back toward Dorothy who was walking towards another part of the farm. Despite being assured a place to stay, she couldn’t help but worry about Dorothy and some things she spoke about. Which drew a bigger question:

Who was Ms. Gulch?
> Over the Rainbow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After introductions to Dorothy’s family, the Ponies and Spike are quickly integrated to the farming life. Even though the farmhands Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke were just as shocked, if not somewhat scared, upon first meeting, nevertheless they all quickly became fast friends. For Applejack, the work itself wasn’t a problem seeing as she grew up on a farm her entire life. Rarity, on the other hoof, was difficult to adjust to farming making her concerns clear of getting her precious mane and coat dirty. So Auntie Em and Uncle Henry suggested, if she preferred, she could clean up around the house and help prepare the meals. Rarity found the option appropriate and went straight to work, though she took “every” precaution to keep herself clean. Especially with Pinkie Pie helping out with the baking.

It was agreed that the ponies and Spike would bunk with Dorothy in her room, after the latter convinced her family not to sleep in a barn. Early that day, Twilight would tell her stories of Equestria and all their adventures. Rainbow would talk constantly about the Wonderbolts, while Rarity would bring up her fashion boutique and her sister, Sweetie Belle. Applejack would share her life stories of her family and working on the Apple Farm, something she found in common with Dorothy. In the meanwhile, Fluttershy spoke very fondly of all her animal friends and Pinkie… Well, she bounced around the room like a ball. 

Once they were all settled, it was high time to get back to work as every pony made their way out the yard to help the farmhands. Even though Applejack did offer to help Auntie Em and Uncle Henry with the incubator, they insisted that Zeke needed help to herd the pigs. Fluttershy, the last pony out the door, was excited to help out with the chicks. But she soon noticed Dorothy trudging very slowly, a look of sadness on her face. Fluttershy couldn’t help but feel concerned and surprisingly, she’s not the only pony who did notice.

“Poor little orphan, and her Miss Gulch troubles.”

Fluttershy turned to Uncle Henry, who was helping Auntie Em take the remaining chicks out of the incubator. His words did not go unnoticed.

“Dorothy Gale is an orphan?” Fluttershy asked.

“We’re the only family Dorothy has around these parts,” Uncle Henry added on. “Gosh all hemlock – you know, it’s a good thing you ponies came along while you did. She ought to have somebody to play with.”

“We all got to work out own problems, Henry,” Auntie Em chimed in. But the tone in her voice indicated that she knew it too.

“So Dorothy really has no parents?” Fluttershy asked again.

Uncle Henry shook his head sadly.

“No mother?”

No response. Henry just took out another handful of chicks, but the look on his face said it all.

“Oh… Oh, that’s awful.”

Understanding why it seemed her friend was so upset and unable to stand it, Fluttershy flew off after Dorothy, who turned to acknowledge her presence.

“I’m sorry to hear about this horrible mess with Toto, Dorothy,” Fluttershy spoke, flying alongside the farm girl. “I wish there was something we could do to help. At least… Something I could do.”

“I appreciate the kind offer, Fluttershy,” Dorothy said, with a small smile. “But I don’t want you to worry; this is my burden to bare, not yours.”

Nevertheless, Fltutershy placed a comforting hoof along Dorothy’s shoulder.

“We’re friends now, Dorothy. My friends and I will always be around to help you in time of need.”

Dorothy stopped walking for a moment, looking toward her yellow pink-maned Pegasus friend silent. Tears swelled in her big brown eyes, as she embraced the pony with a light hug, to which Fluttershy happily returned. Dorothy may not have said it, but she felt blessed to have friends like Fluttershy who’d listen to her, wanting to help no matter what. The two eventually broke the hug, as Dorothy dried her eyes.

“Thank you, Fluttershy. It means so much to hear you say that.”

The timid Pegasus nods to her friend, as they made their way passed the chicken coop towards the barn. It was there they saw Hunk, Hickory, Zeke, Twilight and Rainbow Dash working on an old wagon. The three farmhands and the cyan blue Pegasus held the heavy wagon up, while Twilight lifts its wheel with her magic before placing it on its axis. She levitates a hammer, pounding the wheel into place so it wouldn’t come off again.

“How’s she coming?” Zeke asked Twilight.

“It seems steady enough,” Twilight replied. “We can put the rest of it down.”

“Take it easy,” Hickory said.

Not knowing Hunk still had his hand along the frame, they accidentally set the wagon right on his finger.

“Ow! You got my finger!” He cried, shaking his sore hand.

“Well, why don’t you get your finger out of the way!” Zeke snarked.

Zeke and Hickory placed the bed of wagon into place with a loud bang as Fluttershy and Dorothy arrive. Hunk sat on the ground shaking his hand.

“Right on my finger!” Hunk muttered.

“It’s a lucky thing it wasn’t your head,” Zeke remarked.

“Don’t worry Hunk,” Twilight assured. “I’ll get a bandage to help with that.

“Thanks Twilight,” Hunk replied. “That’s mighty kind of you.”

Twilight strolls back toward the house, waving to Dorothy as she passed by. The farm girl smiled toward her friend, before making her way over to the farmhands.

“Zeke, what am I going to do about Miss Gulch? Just because Toto chases her old cat—”

“Listen, honey, I got them hogs to get in,” Zeke interrupts, walking off.

Hunk soon walks up beside Dorothy.

“Now lookit, Dorothy, you ain’t using your head about Miss Gulch. Think you didn’t have any brains at all.”

“I have so got brains,” Dorothy complained.

“Well, why don’t you use them?” Hunk asked. “When you come home, don’t go by Miss Gulch’s place. Then Toto won’t get in her garden, and you won’t get in no trouble. See?”

“Oh, Hunk, you just won’t listen, that’s all.”

“Well, your head ain’t made of straw, you know?”

Just as Hunk said that, he swung his hammer hard upon the wagon right on his hand. He quickly wrenched it away, doing a little spin before kissing his sore hand. Unbeknownst to him, Twilight had just returned with a small roll of bandages when she witnesses the whole event. She looks at Zeke, then the small roll of bandage.

“I think I’m going to need more bandages for that hand.”

Hunk just turned heel and walked off. With the wagon done, Rainbow Dash made her way over to Hickory who was tinkering with some form of machine.

“Oh! Oh, it feels like my joints are rusted,” Hickory groaned, stretching his limbs.

“Poor kid,” Rainbow Dash observed. “All this fuss over that Miss Gulch woman.”

“Listen, Dash, don’t worry about that Miss Gulch,” Hickory advised. “She’s just a poor sour-faced old maid that – Well, she ain’t got no heart left. What Dorothy needs is to have a little more heart on herself.”

“Seems she’s trying to have a heart.”

“Now look, here’s something that really has a heart,” Hickory points toward the machine. “This is the best invention I ever invented.”

“This old thing?”

“Sure. It’s to break up winds, so we don’t have no more dust storms. Can you imagine what it’ll mean to this section of the country? I’ll show you.”

Hickory turns on the motor of the wind machine, which slowly sputters to life. The Pegasus and farmhand watch it as it rumbles.

“It works perfectly now,” Hickory states. “Here’s the principle. You see that fan – That sends up air currents into the sky. These air currents –”

Suddenly the machine starts sputtering oil into Hickory’s face. Rainbow Dash looked amused as she watched the farm hand struggle to turn off the machine. Dorothy was just passing through when she saw the calamity.

“Oh, stop it!” Hickory cried, trying to turn it off.

“Oh!” Dorothy gasped.

Eventually the wind machine was shut off, but Hickory was still a mess, oil covering his face as he smeared a handful off his eyes.

“Who did it?” Hickory asked, looking around. “Now wait a minute.”

“Hickory!” Dorothy called out, but Hickory passed her.

“Now what happened? I’ll bet Hunk did that.”

Sighing, Dorothy walked on as Rainbow Dash finally burst out laughing, rolling over and clutching her chest at the display.

Meanwhile, Applejack and Zeke worked together to move the hogs into the pen. Thankfully, if there’s one thing Applejack loved to do back in Sweet Apple Acres it’s herding. Like rassling up the critters with Winona faster than Big MacIntosh, her brother, she used her trademark lasso to wrangle up the hogs leading them into the pen.

“Come on, ya’ll,” Applejack cried. “Get on in there.”

Zeke held the pen’s gate open, allowing Applejack to lead all the hogs inside.

“Say! Get in there before I make a dime bank out of you!” Zeke shouts.

“Come on, Zeke, that ain’t really necessary is it?”

“Bah, their pigs! What are they gonna do?”

“Yah know, ya’ll should really treat these critters with more respect.”

“Yeah, sure.”

Applejack frowned angrily. In the short time outside Equestria, this new world was different. Whereas all animals in Equestria were given the upmost respect and treated as equals, here in Kansas the hogs are thought of as nothing more than a workforce with less respect. If Princess Celestia and Luna were here, they’d be disgusted with how things are run here. But Applejack had no time to retort, however, as Dorothy walks up to the pen. She climbed atop and began to balance herself, walking across the beam as Zeke poured the feed into the trough.

“Listen, kid, are you going to let that old Gulch heifer try and buffalo you?” Zeke asked, feeding the hogs.

“Ah agree there, Dorothy,” Applejack added. “Back home, we faced many monsters and creatures scarier than this Gulch. Why, we once fought against an evil pony king who tried to take control of Equestria and we beat him like an old rug.”

Dorothy paused briefly, as she and Zeke both turned toward the orange cow pony. They were both clearly confused wondering, ‘What the hay is she talking about?’.

“Mah point is: Ya’ll ain’t ever gonna get nowhere unless yah stand up and fight for it.”

“The pony’s right, kiddo,” Zeke replied. “She ain’t nothing to be afraid of. Have a little courage, that’s all.”

“I’m not afraid of her,” Dorothy replied, crossing the railing between pig pens.

“Then the next time she squawks, walk right up to her and spit in her eye,” Zeke advised. “That’s what I’d do!”

Applejack turned to Zeke with disgust. Just as she was about to say something, she heard a loud 
‘Oh!’ and turned just as Dorothy lost her balance and fell right into the pig pen.

“Oh, Zeke! Help! Help me, Zeke!” Dorothy screamed. “Get me out of here! Help!”

Zeke and Applejack hopped over the fence, rushing as fast as they could toward Dorothy. Zeke works to get Dorothy’s foot out of the wire, as Applejack held all the hogs back.

“Come on ya’ll, back!” Applejack shouts. “Get back!”

Zeke lifts Dorothy out of the pen, as Applejack hopped over the fence with a single bound. The rest of the ponies, along with Spike, galloped quickly after hearing the chaos. They stopped and stared at Dorothy with concern, as the other farmhands arrived.

“Are you all right, Dorothy?” Hickory asked.

“You’re not hurt are you, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Yes, I’m all right,” Dorothy assured. “Oh – I fell in and – And Zeke and Applejack rescued me!”

“Ah shucks,” Applejack replied, with a slight blush. “It was nothing, really.”

Zeke, meanwhile, breathed heavily and started sweating profusely. He pats himself down with a cloth from his shirt pocket, looking as if he were about to pass out. The ponies looked concerned while the other farmhands, even Dorothy, started laughing.

“Why, Zeke,” Dorothy chuckled. “You’re just as scared as I am!”

“What’s the matter?” Hunk mocked. “Gonna let a little old pig make a coward out of you?”

At this point, they all laughed so hard even the ponies started to get in on the humor. Even Twilight, who hardly laughed at any pony’s misfortunes, started to giggle. They didn’t notice Auntie Em walk up behind them with a plate of crullers, a deep fried pastry popular in the south.

“Look at you, Zeke,” Hickory points out. “You’re just as white—”

“Here, here, what’s all this jabber-wapping when there’s work to be done?” Auntie Em interrupts, drawing everyone’s attention. “I know three shiftless farm hands that’ll be out of a job before they know it!”

“Well, Dorothy was walking along the—” Hickory began.

“I saw you tinkering with that contraption, Hickory. Now, you and Hunk get back to that wagon!”

“All right, Mrs. Gale.”

Hickory and Hunk began to walk away, before Hickory turned and struck a pose.

“But some day they’re going to erect a statue of me in this town, and –”

“Well, don’t start posing for it now.”

Hunk couldn’t help but laugh as Hickory’s face fell. Then, Em offered everyone and every pony some snacks.

“Here, here – Can’t work on an empty stomach. Have some crullers.”

“Gosh, Mrs. Gale,” Hunk replied.

“Just fried,” Auntie Em said, sweetly.

Hickory and Hunk grabbed a few crullers, saying ‘Thanks’ and ‘Swell’ before heading back to work. Suddenly, Pinkie Pie pops out of nowhere.

“Did somepony say cruellers?!” Pinkie smiled.

Pinkie’s presence nearly scared poor Auntie Em to death. Breathing heavily, the elderly woman faced the other ponies.

“Sorry, Mrs. Gale,” Twilight shrugged. “You get used to it.”

Auntie Em nodded understandably, offering the others a few crullers and each pony thanks her. Dorothy grabs one as well, leaving the last for Zeke, who managed to catch his breath.

“You see, Dorothy topped in with the big Duroc…” Zeke explained.

“It’s no place for Dorothy about a pig sty!” Auntie Em interrupts, pointing. “Now you go feed those hogs before they worry themselves into anemia!”

“Yes’am.”

“Auntie Em, really,” Dorothy began. “You know what Miss Gulch said she was gonna do to Toto? She said she was gonna –”

“Now, Dorothy, dear, stop imagining things,” Auntie Em interrupts. “You always get yourself into a fret over nothing.”

“No –”

“Now, you just help us out today, and find yourself a place where you won’t get into any trouble.”

As Em ran off back to the house, Dorothy looks after her in shock. Never before had her aunt said anything like this before. It broke Dorothy’s heart, as the ponies could see the hurt in their friend’s eyes.

“Don’t worry about it, Dorothy,” Twilight said, comforting her. “I’m sure she’s just under a lot of pressure.”

“She’s right, sugar cube,” Applejack approached. “Ah can’t even begin to tell yah the times Granny Smith said something like that tah me, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom. But she means well all the same.”

“It’s true Darling,” Rarity spoke up. “Even the amount of times I’ve yelled at Sweetie Belle would put any pony to shame. But in the end, she’s still my little sister and I love her just as your aunt loves you.”

Though Dorothy was touched by her friends comforting words, she still pondered the last thing Auntie Em said.

“Some place where there isn’t any trouble,” She said. “Do you suppose there is such a place?”

“I should certainly think so,” Spike said.

“There must be… Like this Equestria you mentioned. It sounds absolutely perfect.”

“Well, our home still has it’s share of problems too,” Applejack said, honestly. “Aside from the occasional Monster of the Week, we have our share of Friendship Problems. Even our friends and family back home have their share of troubles.”

“Still… It must be beautiful, all the same,” Dorothy pondered. “It’s not a place you can get to by a boat or a train. It’s far, far away – Behind the moon – Beyond the rain –”



After finishing the song, she turns to Toto who listened and watched giving him a big hug as the ponies and dragon approach her, smiling and drying the tears off their eyes.

“That was a lovely song, Dorothy,” Fluttershy complimented.

“I’m not one for all the sappy-mushy-gushy-stuff,” Rainbow replied, then smiled. “But, even I can’t deny that’s pretty.”

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie started shaking uncontrollably. Every pony faced her in confusion, especially Dorothy.

“What’s she doing now?” Dorothy asked.

“My Pinkie Sense is tingling!” Pinkie replied, shakily.

“Whenever Pinkie Pie does that, it usually means there’s a doozy coming and…” Twilight explained.

Before Twilight could finish, Pinkie soon stopped shaking and noticed something pointing with her tail. The group turns and looks out toward the horizon. Riding toward the house on a bicycle, a tall, lanky woman with a hook nose rode down the country road. She wore a dark grey dress, long striped stockings, pointy shoes, and a hat. They watch her stop toward the front of Gale’s house, getting off as Uncle Henry came forward.

“Dorothy, who’s that scary looking woman?” Pinkie asked.

Dorothy looked towards Pinkie’s direction and immediately her face went from happy to terrified. She gestures every pony, and Spike, to follow her behind the house. Confused, the group follows her quietly.

“Wut in tarnation is going on?” Applejack asked.

“Remember when I spoke about Ms. Gulch earlier?” Dorothy asked.

Every pony nodded.

“That’s her,” Dorothy points out.

Immediately every pony went silent and looked back at the mean woman talking to Uncle Henry at the gate.

“Mr. Gale!” Ms. Gulch called out.

“Howdy, Miss Gulch,” Uncle Henry greeted.

“I want to see you and your wife right away about Dorothy.”

“Dorothy? Well, what has Dorothy done?”

“What’s she done? I’m all but lame from the bite on my leg!”

“You mean she bit you?”

“No, her dog!”

“Oh, she bit her dog, eh?”

Uncle Henry lets go of the gate, which hit Ms. Gulch. She keeps a straight face while facing Henry.

“NO!” She replies, before walking ahead.

The group, spying on the pair, watch as Uncle Henry lead Miss Gulch into the house. If this woman was as bad as Dorothy described her, this was not going well at all.

“What should we do?” Rarity asked.

“She can’t see any of you,” Dorothy warned. “Who knows what’ll happen? You girls and Spike sneak through the window to my room. Wait there until she leaves.”

Every pony nodded, as Dorothy led them around the house to her bedroom window. One by one, she helped each of them through the window till every pony is inside.

“I’m gonna go in and see what’s going on,” Dorothy explained. “You all just stay here and keep quiet.”

The group silent nods, as Dorothy picks up Toto and heads into the house. But after a while, the ponies grew curious about what was going on. As quiet as possible, they leaned against the door, Pinkie taking a glass out of her mane and holds it between the door and her ear, hoping to hear what they are saying. By the sounds of it, a heated argument began between the Gales and Gulch.
“That dog is a menace to the community,” Miss Gulch said, through the door. “I’m taking him to the sheriff and make sure he’s destroyed.”

Every pony nearly gasped hearing her threat. To think, this woman is so vile that she’d threaten harm on a poor, sweet innocent dog. Their anger started to boil, as they kept listening.

“Destroyed? Toto?” Dorothy cried. “Oh, you can’t! You mustn’t!”

Clearly by the tone of Dorothy’s voice, she was becoming very upset.

“Auntie Em! Uncle Henry! You won’t let her, will you?” She begged.

“Of course we won’t,” Henry assured. “Will we, Em?”

“Please, Aunt Em, Toto didn’t mean to,” Dorothy reasoned. “He didn’t know he was doing anything wrong. I’m the one that ought to be punished. I let him go in her garden. You can send me to bed without supper –”

“If you don’t hand over that dog, I’ll bring a damage suit that’ll take your whole farm!” Ms. Gulch threatened, impatiently. “There’s a law protecting folks against dogs that bite!”

“That’s it! I’ve heard enough!” Rainbow Dash said, angrily.

Dash flapped her wings hard and was about to open the door. Suddenly, her friends held her back as best as they could.

“Dashie, no!” Pinkie plead.

“You go out there, we’ll cause more trouble than we’ll solve!” Twilight reasoned.

“If that evil witch thinks she can take Toto away from Dorothy, she’s got another thing coming!” Dash growled, struggling. “I’ll give her the old one-two!”

Rainbow Dash tried to push past her friends out the door, but they held her down trying to calm her. Meanwhile, Spike kept listening through the door as Auntie Em herself tried to reason with Ms. Gulch.

“How would it be if she keeps him tied up? He’s really gentle – With gentle people, that is.”

“Well, that’s for the Sheriff to decide,” Ms. Gulch replied, pulling out a piece of paper. “Here’s his order allowing me to take him. Unless you want to go against the law.”

She hands the sheriff’s order to Aunt Em, who hands it to Uncle Henry. Neither one sounded very pleased.

“Uhh – Yeah –” Henry grimaced.

“Now we can’t go against the law, Dorothy,” Aunt Em relents. “I’m afraid poor Toto will have to go.”

“Now you’re seeing reason,” Ms. Gulch approved.

“No…” Dorothy cried.

“Here’s what I’m taking him in,” Ms. Gulch states, opening a basket. So he can’t attack me again.”

Suddenly Spike grimaced at some yelling, as if Dorothy finally heard enough of this nonsense.

“Oh, no, no! I won’t let you take him! You go away, you…! Or I’ll bite you myself!”

“Dorothy!” Aunt Em scolds.

“You wicked old witch! Uncle Heny, Auntie Em, don’t let ‘em take Toto! Don’t let her take him – Please!”

“Here! I’ve got an order!” Ms. Gulch argued. “Let me have…”

“Stop her!”

“Put him in the basket, Henry,” Aunt Em said defeated.

All the commotion drew the attention of the silent group of friends. Shocked, they could hear Dorothy crying and the sound of a dog moaning, a basket shutting. Suddenly, Spike heard running toward the bedroom door and backed away as Dorothy entered, slamming the door behind her. The pile of ponies, with Rainbow Dash in their clutches, instantly froze as the young girl fell onto the bed in tears. The ponies slowly stood from the ground and approached Dorothy’s bed, as she continues to weep.

“Oh you poor thing,” Fluttershy whispered, tears forming in her eyes.

She climbed along Dorothy’s bed, placing her hoof gently on the girl’s back. Dorothy looks up at the Pegasus with huge tears rolling down her face pulling the Pegasus into a tight hug as they both bawled.

“Oh, I can’t stand to see you two… Cry…” Rarity cried herself.

“It’s so sad and heartbreaking!” Pinkie cried.

The two joined Fluttershy and Dorothy in a group hug, crying in unison. Applejack just bowed her head and removed her hat, for every pony knew she cries on the inside… Mostly. This display of misery only made Rainbow Dash angrier.

“Why that miserable old…” She growled. “I have half a mind to go after that hag and give her a piece of my mind!”

“Rainbow, stop!” Twilight shouts, glaring. “You’ll make things a thousand times worse!”

Rainbow, in that moment, wanted desperately to make a retort and insist they take immediate action. But she knew Twilight was right. Doing anything to Ms. Gulch result in greater consequences not just for them, but for Gale as well. She just shrugged and stomped toward a corner, sat on the floor with a huff and folds her hooves.

For a while, they all just sat around doing nothing. Dorothy, along with Fluttershy, Pinkie and Rarity cried; Rainbow Dash sat in the corner in anger; while Twilight, Applejack and Spike sat in the middle of the floor trying not to look sad. Just then, a dog’s bark caused them to face the window and they see Toto crawl through the window walking toward Dorothy. Dorothy and the ponies, Spike included, all smile widely.

“Toto, darling!” Dorothy cried happily. “Oh, I got you back! You came back! Oh, I’m so glad! Toto!”

As Dorothy hugged her dog closely, all the ponies and the little dragon cheered happily for the dog’s return. Each of them hugged Dorothy and Toto in one group hug, as if all was right in the world. But then, a sudden realization occurred to Applejack, her eyes widening.

“Wait one apple pickin’ minute! If he ain’t with Ms. Gulch by now, she probably already knows he ain’t there. I reckon she’s goin’ tah get the sheriff and will be comin’ back!”

The shock and realization soon dawned on every pony, realizing Applejack was right. Any moment, Ms. Gulch would be back at the farmhouse only this time she’d bring the sheriff. And if they were to come across six talking ponies and a baby dragon… What would happen to them? What would happen to Dorothy’s family?

“You’re right, Applejack!” Dorothy exclaimed. “Oh, they’ll be coming back in a minute. We’ve got to get away! We’ve got to run away – Quick!”

“Whoa, hold on!” Twilight said. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“Yeah, where are we gonna go?” Spike asked. “Where will we live?”

“What other choice do we have?” Fluttershy asked. “If we sit here and wait, Ms. Gulch and the Sheriff will surely come knocking down the door and take Toto by force. Once they find out the Gale’s have been keeping us, they’ll not only take us away, but they’ll force her family to give up the farm!”

“She’s right darling,” Rarity agreed. “We must leave immediately!”

Dorothy takes out a suitcase from under her bed and began packing everything she’d need. Twilight peeks out the door to make sure no one’s around. Once she gave the all clear, Dorothy, Toto, the ponies and Spike slowly crept their way out the front door. Onto the open road outside the gates, they walk off to parts unknown. They may not know where they were going, but they just knew they couldn’t go back.

But little did they know, Ms. Gulch would be the last thing they’d need to worry about
> Twister
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the longest time, Dorothy and her new friends kept walking. Trudging across the countryside passing many different farms, cornfields, and a few rivers. They had no earthly idea where they were going; quite frankly, they didn’t care. As long as they were far away from Ms. Gulch as possible, even if it pained Dorothy to leave her family behind, what choice did she have?

Every now and then, Dorothy would look over her shoulder. On one hand, she was making sure they weren’t being followed. But at the same time, she was looking back toward the only place she had ever known and was now leaving behind. The ponies and Spike took notice of what Dorothy was doing and couldn’t help but feel concerned.

“Ya’ll alright, Dorothy?” Applejack asked.

“It’s not too late to turn back, darling,” Rarity assured.

“No, I’m alright,” Dorothy insists. “I miss them dearly, but I can’t go back now. I won’t let them take away Toto or my new best friends.”

Though every pony was touched by Dorothy’s kindness, they felt somewhat guilty for being one of the reasons Dorothy had to leave the farm.

“You know, Rainbow,” Fluttershy whispered. “I feel just awful about all this.”

“Me too, Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash nodded. “But that old windbag, wart-faced Gulch will be waiting for us even if we do go back.”

Rainbow Dash may not have known this Gulch for long, but just thinking about how awful this woman was made her growl. True she was always taught to ‘love and tolerate’ even the lowliest of creatures, but this Gulch was different, she could feel it in her bones. The next time she sees that woman face-to-face, no matter what any pony says, she’s giving her one-for.

As the group continued their journey, walking along a bridge over a river, Toto’s barking drew them to the side. Before their eyes, they stumbled upon what appears to be an old wagon parked along the riverbank. As they drew closer, they could make out the bit of writing along the side.

Professor Marvel
Acclaimed by The Crown Heads of Europe
Let Him Read Your Past-Present and Future in his Crystal Ball
Also Juggling and Sleight of Hand

As the group studied the sign, every pony heard a light sound as if someone was humming a tune. As they rounded the carriage to investigate, they stumble upon an elderly man stepping out of the carriage. He wore checkered slacks, a dress shirt and vest, a black dress coat and a simple tie. He soon noticed the farm girl and the ponies, not seeing Spike hidden behind the girls, and smiled.

“Well, well, well,” He chuckled. “House guests, huh? And who might you be?”

The ponies and Dorothy were just about to respond, until…

“No, no – Now don’t tell me.”

The man sat by the fire, picking up a stick with a wiener on one end as if that was going to be his supper. He studies the girl and her unusual friends, stroking his bearded chin while figuring out who they were… Or for that matter, whatthey are (Especially seeing the most unusual appendages on some of these ponies). Rainbow Dash, her eyebrow raised, leans over to Twilight.

“Is this guy for real?” She whispers.

Twilight merely shrugs as the man finally spoke again.

“Let’s see – You’re – You’re travelling in disguise. No, that’s not right. I – You’re – You’re going on a visit. No, I’m wrong. That’s… You’re – You’re running away.”

“How did you guess?” Dorothy smiled.

“Professor Marvel never guesses --- He knows!” The old man chuckled.

“Or maybe because he happened to see her suitcase,” Spike muttered, sarcastically.

“Every pony, group huddle,” Twilight announced, quietly.

Every pony, along with the baby dragon, slowly walk off along the side while their new friend spoke to that quirky old man.

“Ah can’t believe she’s actually fallin’ fur this malarkey,” Applejack whispered.

“This guy wouldn’t know a thing about magic if it came up and bit him on the flank,” Rainbow Dash agreed.

“Ok girls, so maybe he’s a fraud,” Twilight admits. “But he seems harmless enough; maybe he can help us out.”

“Twilight is right,” Rarity agreed. “We can’t judge what’s in a pony’s heart simply by first appearances.”

“Exactly, like that first-time meeting Zecora when we thought she was an evil enchantress who curses ponies,” Pinkie recalls.

“You mean the Zebra you did a whole song about how she’d turn us into soup?” Spike reminded.

“Okay, first of all I said ‘stew’ not ‘soup’. Secondly, even I can admit that maybe it was a silly mistake to make assumptions. Turns out Zecora’s one of the most stupendous, kindest, nicest ponies you could ever meet!”

“Yeah, but at least Zecora could actually do the things she claims,” Dash retorts. “This guy couldn’t predict the weather even if he had instructions.”

Little did the group know, but as they spoke Twilight was suddenly quiet at the mention of Zecora’s name. As if all at once, she suddenly remembered that errand she had neglected to finish when she first discovered the enchanted television. Twilight felt a little down about it, something that didn’t go unnoticed by a certain ‘number one assistant’.

In the meantime, Professor Marvel was still trying to figure out Dorothy’s story. The poor girl was oblivious to the fact that this man wasn’t all as he seemed.

“Now why are you running away?” The old man asked.

“Why –” Dorothy began.

“No, no – Now don’t tell me,” Professor Marvel interrupts. “They – They don’t understand you at home. They don’t appreciate you. You want to see other lands – Big cities – Big mountains – Big oceans –”

Dorothy continues to smile, believing this man knew exactly what was going on in her head.

“Why, it’s just like you could read what was inside of me.”

“Yes,” The Professor nods.

“Please, Professor, why can’t we go along with you?” Dorothy asked.

The Old Man was suddenly caught off guard by that request, completely at a loss for words trying to figure out how to answer this poor girl’s pleas.

“Well, we – Uh –”

Unbeknownst to the two, Toto snuck by and grabbed the sausage Professor Marvel was roasting over the fire, eating it. Neither realized what he did till it was too late.

“Oh, Toto, that’s not polite!” Dorothy scolds her dog. “We haven’t been asked yet.”

Professor Marvel merely chuckles, as he grabs another piece of sausage placing it on the stick back over the fire.

“Oh, he’s perfectly welcome,” The Professor assures. “As one dog to another, huh? Here now – Let’s see where were we? Oh, yes you… You wanted to go home, huh?”

“Oh, no, I want to go along with you,” Dorothy answered.

“Oh?”

“Nobody cares about me at home,” Dorothy continues. “They wouldn’t even miss me.”

“Aw, come, come, come –” The Professor waved off.

“No, they won’t – Honestly.”

“Oh –”

“Auntie Em was even going to let them kill Toto yesterday for biting Miss Gulch,” Dorothy continued. “Oh, please, Professor, why can’t we go with you and see all the Crowned Heads of Europe?”

“Do you know any?”

Dorothy cocks her head to the side, just as Professor Marvel realized his mistake.

“Oh, you mean the thing,” The Professor corrects himself, motioning toward the sign. “Yes, well, I – I never do anything without consulting my crystal first. Let’s go inside here – We’ll – Just come along and I’ll show you…”

Professor Marvel leads Dorothy into the carriage, completely unnoticed by the group of ponies and the baby dragon. They were still discussing their predicament, when Spike noticed she wasn’t by the fire.

“Hey guys,” Spike speaks up. “Where’s Dorothy?”

It was then that the ponies turned around, finally noticed the farm girl was no longer outside.

“She musta gone inside with the Professor,” Applejack concluded.

“Well, we can’t just go in there and talk to them,” Rarity said. “We saw how everyone else reacted when they met us.”

“Rainbow Dash, can you and Fluttershy please fly up to the window and see what’s going on?” Twilight asked.

“You got it, Twi,” Dash replied, saluting.

“Oh yes, of course,” Fluttershy whispered.

The two Pegasi quietly fly toward the lone window of the carriage, peering in to see what’s going on. Dorothy and Professor Marvel sat around a small circular table, where a crystal ball sits in the middle. This time the professor had placed a turban on his head, as he showed the naïve girl his ‘magic crystal’.

“This – This is the same genuine, magic, authentic crystal used by the Priests of Isi and Osiris in the days of the Pharaohs of Egypt,” The Professor explained, theatrically. “In which Cleopatra first saw the approach of Julius Caesar and Marc Anthony, and – And so on and so forth.”

Fluttershy’s eyes grew in wonder at the idea, while Rainbow Dash’s eyes had a hard time staying open.

“This… Is… So… Boring,” Rainbow moaned.

Meanwhile, Professor Marvel instructs Dorothy to close her eyes.

“Now, you – You’d better close your eyes, my child, for a moment – In order to be better in tune with the infinite.”

Dorothy closed her eyes, just the way the Professor instructed. Completely unbeknownst to her, Professor Marvel grabs her basket and rummaged through the contents. Eventually, he pulls out a picture of her and Aunt Em standing side-by-side.

“We – We can’t do these things without reaching out into the infinite,” The Professor continues.

He quickly puts the picture away, not wanting to be caught in the act as he instructs the girl to open her eyes. Unfortunately for him, Rainbow Dash had her eyes open long enough to see that.

“Why that swindler!” Rainbow Dash muttered. “He’s gonna trick Dorothy with some kinda mumbo-jumbo about Aunt Em!”

Rainbow Dash was about to jump through the window, when Fluttershy grabbed her tail in between her teeth.

“Let me go!” Dash growled. “I’m gonna knock him silly!”

“No, Rainbow!” Fluttershy mumbled.

The usually timid Pegasus proved surprisingly strong, keeping her friend’s tail clenched in her jaw. Dorothy heard a commotion and turned, only to miss Fluttershy pulling Dash away from the window before turning back to Marvel with a shrug. Twilight and the others, meanwhile, were standing at the bottom of the wagon wonder what was going on. Just then, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash returns, the latter folding her arms while Fluttershy still held her by the tail.

“What’s happening?” Twilight asked.

“That schmuck is trying to trick Dorothy into thinking something bad is happening to her aunt,” Dash replied.

“Oh my!” Rarity gasped. “Are you quite certain, darling?”

“As sure as when I finally get the news of joining the Wonderbolts!” Rainbow answered.

“Rainbow, you’re already a Wonderbolt,” Spike points out.

WAH! WAH! WAH!

Rainbow turns around toward Pinkie Pie, who happened to have a trombone on her. The Pegasus snarls and glares toward Pinkie, who chuckles before putting the trombone back in her mane and ducks behind Twilight, who looks back with annoyance. The ponies slowly make for the wagon entrance, to listen in to what’s going on.

Back inside, Dorothy and Professor Marvel studied the crystal ball. The Professor himself began to witness a ‘prophecy’ about the future.

“What’s this I see?” The Professor examined. “A house – With a picket fence, and a barn – With a weathervane and u, uh… Of a – Of a running horse. No, it’s – It’s – A crowing rooster.”

Though the Professor stumbled a bit, Dorothy’s eyes widen like saucers.

“That’s our farm!” She gasped.

“Oh yes,” The Professor nods. “Yes, there’s a woman – She’s wearing a polka-dot dress… Her face is careworn…”

“That’s Aunt Em,” Dorothy said.

“Her – Her name is Emily.”

“That’s right! What’s she doing?”

“Well, I – I can’t quite see,” The Professor looks deeper. “It’s hard to say… But she’s crying. Someone has hurt her – Someone has just about broken her heart.”

Upon hearing those words, Dorothy’s face fell.

“Me?” She asked, worriedly.

“Well, it’s – It’s someone she loves very much. Someone she’s been very kind to. Someone she’s taken care of in sickness.”

“I had the measles once and she stayed right by me every minute,” Dorothy recalls.

“Aww,” Fluttershy cooed.

Rainbow Dash turns to her yellow friend, a ‘seriously’ look on her face. The timid Pegasus squeaked and covered her mouth with her hooves. Dash merely shakes her head and turns back to look inside the wagon. Fortunately, the two were too preoccupied to notice them spying.

“What’s she doing now?” Dorothy asked.

Professor Marvel peers closely into the crystal.

“Well, she’s – She’s going into a little bedroom…”

“Has it poppies on the wall?” Dorothy interrupts.

“Oh yes, poppies on the wallpaper,” The Professor continues. “Eh, she’s – What’s this!? Why, she’s… She’s putting her hand on her heart – She’s – She’s dropping down on the bed.”

“Oh no – No!” Dorothy gasped again.

“That’s all,” The Professor concludes. “The crystal’s gone dark.”

After hearing this terrifying prediction, Dorothy suddenly jumps up from the chair.

“Oh you don’t suppose she could really be sick, do you?” Dorothy asked, grabbing her bags. “Oh – Oh, I’ve got to go home right away!”

“But – What’s this?” The Professor asked. “I thought you were going along with me.”

“Oh, no, no, I have to get to her, right away!” Dorothy insists. “Come on, Toto! Come on! Come on!”

Professor Marvel looks on as Dorothy quickly got up and rushed out of his carriage. When she came outside, every pony looked at her curiously.

“Dorothy, is everything okay?” Twilight asked.

“No Twilight, we have to get home right away!” She responds, urgently.

Dash and Fluttershy flew down from the carriage window.

“Oh, come on, Dorothy,” Dash argues. “That guy is a total sham, a sleazy con artist with nothing better to do than scamming innocent people.”

“Besides, you said if we go home, they’d send poor Toto over to the Sheriff,” Fluttershy reminds Dorothy.

“We don’t know that for certain,” Dorothy insists. “What if Auntie Em really is sick? If we don’t get back, Aunt Em may – Well, she may die!”

“Well, what are we going to do?” Rarity asked.

Dorothy paused to think for a moment, turning to Toto then back to the ponies.

“I know what I’ll do!” Dorothy declared. “I’ll give Toto to Hunk.”

“Hunk?” The girls asked, in unison.

“Yes, why didn't I think of this before? If anyone can watch out for Toto, he would. But we’ve got to hurry!”

“Here we go again,” Spike shrugged.

Spike jumps on Twilight’s back, as Dorothy ran up the hill with all the ponies following close behind. Dorothy looks behind her, one last time.

“Goodbye, Professor Marvel,” Dorothy waves. “And thanks a lot!”

Meanwhile, the Professor himself emerged from the wagon as suddenly a huge wave of wind blew the leaves around. He approached his horse as he looks around.

“Better get under cover, Sylvester,” The Professor said. “There’s a storm blowing up a whopper, to speak in the vernacular of the peasantry. Poor little kid, I hope she gets home all right.”

In the meantime, Dorothy and the ponies ran/galloped as faster than they have in their entire life, hoping to get back to the Gale Farm. It was only when they felt the wind pick up and heard a cry they stopped in their tracks.

“WHOA!”

Every pony turns around and noticed Pinkie shaking uncontrollably, again.

“Oh no!” Spike grimaced. “Not another Pinkie Sense!”

Spike hid himself inside Twilight’s mane, shaking himself as Twilight turned to Pinkie.

“What’s wrong now?” Twilight asked.

“S-S-S-Something… RE-RE-RE-Really, really… REALLY ba-ba-ba-bad is coming!” Pinkie said, shakily.

“Like what, darling?” Rarity asked.

Pinkie looks off into the distance, gasping with a horrified expression. She lifts a shaky hoof, pointing toward her gaze.

“L-L-Like that!”

Every pony turned toward where Pinkie was pointing. Once their eyes landed on what scared the pink party pony, they couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear themselves. Off in the distance, quickly coming closer, a rapidly rotating column of air made contact between the surface and a nearby cumulonimbus cloud, tearing it’s way through the valley.

“IT’S A TWISTER!” Applejack points out.

“WE HAVE TO GET BACK NOW!” Dorothy shouts.

No pony argued with her, running as fast as possible to get back home.

<>

In the meantime, back on the Gale Farm, the wind’s were picking up speed as the twister approached. The chickens flew and scrambled down the yard, running by passing weeds and dust carried by the severe wind. Uncle Henry rushed toward one of the nearby farmhands, Hunk.

“Hunk, get them horses loose!” Henry instructs. “Where’s Hickory? Hickory! Hickory! Doggone it, Hick –”

“Right here!” Hickory called out.

Henry turns and sees Hickory working on the wind machine. Henry pushes against the wind, as Hickory tried to get the machine to turn on.

“What are you doing there?!” Henry called out.

“This is my chance!” Hickory declares. “The cyclone is coming. Let me show you what my machine can do! You see, it goes—”

“Doggone you, Hick!” Henry interrupts. “Help Hunk get them horses loose!”

“All right – But you’ll be sorry.”

“Go on, hurry up! Hurry up, I tell you!”

Meanwhile, as Hunk and the others drew the horses out of the barn, Zeke points up to the sky.

“She’s here!” Zeke shouts. “It’s a twister; it’s a twister!”

The cyclone was rapidly approaching the farm, the winds growing stronger by the minute. Aunt Em ran out of the house, calling out with her hands cups to her mouth.

“Dorothy!” Aunt Em called, running to the corner. “Dorothy! Twilight!”

In the midst of all this chaos, Dorothy and her friends were trying to get back home. But the increasing winds made it difficult for them, the storm blowing them in all different directions. Twilight was able to look up just as a large mail-post flew through the air, directly toward Dorothy.

“DOROTHY, LOOK OUT!” Twilight shouts.

Twilight jumped and tackled Dorothy to the ground, just as the post almost hit her. Instead, it rammed into the fence, shattering it to pieces. But now before passing over Pinkie, who managed to duck as it took some of her mane with it. Pinkie, however, didn’t notice.

“Wow! Talk about a close shave,” Pinkie giggled.

Every pony just turned to her with shock and nodded their heads slowly. Twilight and Dorothy gat back up from the ground, brushing the dust off.

“Wow, thanks Twilight,” Dorothy said, gratefully.

“Anytime,” Twilight replied. “Now we really need to get back to the farm.”

With that, every pony kept running as fast as they could back to the farmhouse. The twister itself was getting even closer with that slight delay. All the horses turned loose, Uncle Henry and the three farmhands ran off.

“Come on!” Henry called out. “Everybody in the storm cellar!”

Dorothy, Toto, Spike and the ponies pressed on against the wind. The weeds and sticks blowing through, as the wind seemed to cause the sky to scream. Dorothy stopped to pick up Toto, leaving most of her luggage behind.

Aunt Em was still on the porch, looking for Dorothy and her new friends, when Uncle Henry and the Farmhands arrived.

“Henry! Henry! I can’t find Dorothy or the girls!” Aunt Em cried. “They’re somewhere out in the storm! Dorothy!”

“We can’t look for them now!” Henry shouts, as the farmhands opens the cellar. “Come on, get in the cellar! Hurry up!”

“DOROTHY!” Aunt Em shouts.

By then, Dorothy and her friends finally got back to the house. Dorothy pulls the screen door open, but the wind tore it right off its hinges and they watched it blow away into the sky. They just entered the house at the same time Dorothy’s family and the farmhands entered the storm cellar, shutting the door behind them. Unaware of what happened, they rushed through the house desperately searching for them.

“Auntie Em!” Dorothy cried out. “Auntie Em!”

Dorothy ran from room to room, unable to find anybody. The ponies and Spike did the same, with no luck.

“Hunk!” Twilight shouts.

“Hickory!” Rainbow yells.

“Zeke!?” Applejack cried.

“Any pony!” Pinkie shouts.

“Where are you guys?” Spike yelled.

They soon noticed Dorothy run back out toward the backyard and followed her. They stepped out briefly and noticed her banging on the cellar door.

“Auntie Em! Uncle Henry!” She screamed.

“Dorothy, ah don’t think they can hear yah!” Applejack yelled.

“The wind’s picking up,” Twilight notes. “We need to get back in the house and take shelter!”

Dorothy didn’t want to give up so easily, but as she peered over the white picket fence in the backyard she noticed the twister getting closer than before. With no alternative, Dorothy reluctantly followed the ponies and the baby dragon back into the house toward Dorothy’s room. The sounds of the wind whipping against the house was all they could hear, as the twister drew closer and closer.

“Auntie Em,” Dorothy called out, one last time.

Suddenly, in a split second, the bedroom window blew off and crashed into the back of Dorothy’s head. She screamed and grabbed the back of her head, the impact knocking her out cold as she plopped onto the bed.

“Dorothy!” Every pony shouted.

They all got onto the bed, trying to shake Dorothy awake. But she was completely dead to the Earth as they all huddled close together. It was then they could feel the house itself start to shake, the house creaking and moaning as the cyclone struck. The house began to rip off the ground and after a full minute it shot up into the sky. Every pony screamed, holding on tightly as the house spun uncontrollably. After a few minutes, the violent spin stops, and all was still.

It was during which time Dorothy stirs and sat straight up, much to their relief.

“Dorothy!” Applejack sighs. “Are yah okay, sugar cube?”

“Yes, I’m alright,” She responds, rubbing her head. “What happened?”

“We’re definitely not on the ground anymore,” Spike points out. “Look!”

A roosters call alerted the others to the window, noticing a variety of different things flying and spinning around in midair. From a chicken coop with all its inhabitants, to a little old lady knitting in a rocking chair with a little cat on her lap. Dorothy and the group were too shocked for words, as the old woman waved to them. All they could do was wave back, before the woman passed and a cow floats by mooing sending Toto ducking under the bed. As if it couldn’t get any weirder, two men rowing a boat passed by tipping their hats before going about their business. 

Even Pinkie Pie rubbed her eyes hoping her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her, as Dorothy looked down. It was in this moment, when she noticed the swirling motion, she suddenly realized what was going on.

“We must be up inside the cyclone!” She yelled.

Twilight paced around the floor, trying to figure out what to do. Just then, an idea came to her as she turned to Rainbow Dash.

“Rainbow, you’re a weather pony, can you possibly stop this twister?” She asked, hopefully.

“As awesome as I may be, I’m not sure,” She responds. “Even back with the twister in Equestria, I had a whole team of Pegasi helping me out. I’ve never had to do this by myself!”

“You’re the fastest flier in Equestria,” Spike said. “If any pony can stop this twister, you can!”

“If you need a helping hoof, count me in!” Twilight said, flapping her own wings.

“I'll help too!” Fluttershy stepped up.

“Are you sure, Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked. “You see how strong this Twister is right? We all know you’re not the best flier.”

“Yes it’s true, I’m not the best flier,” Fluttershy admits, boldly. “But I’m not entirely helpless. I said I’d help Dorothy in any way and it’s time I did so now.”

“We believe in you girls!” Pinkie encouraged.

“We know you can do it!” Rarity added.

“Just tell us what to do, Rainbow, and we’ll follow you,” Twilight said.

Rainbow looked at the determination of the two ponies, ready to take to the sky beside her. A bold expression of confidence appears on her face as she nods.

“All right, girls!” Rainbow barks, ready to take off. “Get on my flank! Follow me!”

“Spike, these winds are very strong!” Twilight shouts back. “Stay here and make sure Rarity and the others are safe!”

“Don’t have to tell me twice!” Spike said, sticking close to Rarity.

With that, Rainbow Dash zipped out of the window, Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy following close behind through the spinning vortex. They charged at full speed in the opposite direction, hoping to decrease the twister’s speed. Rainbow went so fast, her whole face looked as if it would peel all the way back, as tears streamed off Fluttershy’s eyes as she flapped harder. Rainbow started to pick up speed, hoping to pull off the sonic rainboom. But no matter how fast the girls flew, the twister was not slowing down. As a matter of fact, it seemed to pick up speed.

Suddenly, Rainbow and the others got tired and started slowing down. Before long, the twister swept the girls aside sending them screaming and flying through the air. The wind pushed them back into the room, landing hard against the wall and onto each other. Rainbow peeled off and plopped onto the floor, followed by Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy.

“Twilight!” Spike shouts, concerns. “Girls, are you okay?”

Rainbow was so dizzy, tiny little Wonderbolts float around her head.

“You spin me right round baby, right… Right round,” Rainbow replied, before falling unconscious.

Dorothy looks back out the window and noticed a very familiar figure.

“Oh!” She gasped. “Ms. Gulch!”

Every pony else looked out the window, noticing the very same tall, lanky woman riding her bike just as she had before. But then suddenly, Ms. Gulch’s appearance changed as her wardrobe shifted into a black dress with a long flowing cape. Instead of a bicycle, now she appeared to ride a broomstick and wore a large pointy hat. As this evil woman wasn’t scary before, now Ms. Gulch had turned into an evil witch cackling loudly as she flew away.

“SWEET MOTHER OF BANANAS!” Rarity cried, fainting onto the bed.

The room kept spinning over and over, as Dorothy and the girls screamed for their lives. All the furniture was tossed around and about, as they huddled together in a tight embrace. Suddenly, the house began to fall faster and faster towards the ground. Where it would land, no pony knew as it kept falling… Falling… Falling, till suddenly…

CRASH! And then… Silence…
> Munchkinland
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

None of them, human, pony or dragon, knew what happened. The last thing any could remember was being caught in a massive twister. So powerful, it tore through Kansas and ripped the whole house into the sky with all of them in it. They remembered being sucked inside the tornado itself, seeing all sorts of strange things. They remembered Rainbow Dash, leading Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy as they flew into the sky attempting to slow down the twister, only to fail.

And then… Nothing.

Eventually, a soft pair of purple eyes slowly open as Twilight Sparkle took note of her surroundings. All the other ponies, even Spike, were huddled together in Dorothy’s room and had been holding each other while the house plummeted out of the tornado. One by one, her friends open their eyes and started looking around, including Dorothy. Furniture was strewn everywhere, the entire room completely in shambles.

“Are we dead?”

Every pony, even Dorothy, turned to Rainbow Dash, who broke the silence. They just looked at her, eyebrows raised.

“What?” She shrugged. “Just asking.”

“I’m sure we ain’t dead if we’re talkin’, Dash,” Applejack said.

“Boy, that was the most bizarre ride I’ve ever been on,” Spike said. “What the heck happened?”

“Well, the house stopped spinning and I’m pretty sure we’re on the ground,” Twilight informs Spike. “That’s the good news.”

“Indeed,” Rarity nodded. “But Celestia knows where we ended up after being consumed by that monster of a tornado.”

“Oh… My… GOSH!” Pinkie jumped up, laughing. “That was so much fun! We spun around and around so much, going ‘WHOO! WHOO! WHOO!’ and I almost got sick. But the good kind of sick, like when you eat too much cake kind of sick, heh-heh. Definitely not the bad kind of sick like eating something super icky, blergh!”

Every pony rolled their eyes at their pink friend’s excitement. Here they are having just dropped out of a twister and Pinkie Pie was laughing and bouncing about as if nothing happened. One of the ponies, Fluttershy, pokes her head up from the bed.

“I-Is it o-over?” She squeaked, shakily.

Dorothy ran a comforting hand over Fluttershy’s pink mane.

“It’s alright, Fluttershy,” Dorothy reassured. “It’s over now.”

Dorothy strokes Fluttershy’s mane until the timid Pegasus eventually stopped shaking and stood fully up. Twilight smiles at the display, but as soon as she looks over her shoulder her eyes widen. She looks around frantically, as if she’s just noticed something missing.

“Oh my goodness! Guys, my saddlebag is gone!”

Every pony, Spike and Dorothy turned to the lavender alicorn Princess, clearly very confused.

“Twi, we didn’t even know you had your saddlebag this whole time,” Rainbow points out.

“Yeah, that was never brought up during this whole story,” Pinkie adds. “Wait, was it?”

Pinkie pulls out a copy of the ‘Cinematic Adventure’ script and starts flipping through the pages, while Fluttershy looks on with surprise.

“After falling into an unknown vortex, ending up in an entirely new world and dropping out of a tornado, I’m surprised we noticed anything at all,” Rarity adds.

Every pony couldn’t help but nod at that very true fact. Twilight, however, kept scrambling around the whole room searching for her lost ‘saddlebag’.

“Where is it?! Where is it?!”

“Oh no…” Spike muttered. “She’s ‘Twilighting’ again.”

“’Twilighting’?” Dorothy asks.

“It’s what we refer to when Twilight starts getting hectic, turning something small into a big deal,” Spike explains.

“Don’t even get us started when she ‘sings’ about it,” Rainbow adds.

Concerned, Dorothy gets up from the bed and approaches the frantic mare. Twilight stops when she feels a gentle hand on her back, turning toward the farm girl.

“No need to worry, Twilight. I’m sure it’s in here somewhere.”

“I’m sorry, Dorothy,” Twilight apologized. “I just ‘really’ need to find it. Can every pony please help me?”

Every pony nodded quickly, instantly searching every inch of the room. Twilight opened and checked an old chest at the far side of the room. Rarity and Rainbow Dash searched the closet, while Fluttershy and Dorothy peeked under the bed. Applejack and Spike looked every other place the others haven’t found. Just as they were about to give up…

“Say Twilight!” Pinkie calls out. “Was your bag lightly gray, with a dark blue strap and with a six-pointed star that holds it together?”

“Yes, why?” Twilight asked.

Pinkie points to a bag sticking out from a large pile of books and clothes.

“Because I think it’s made a few friends, hee-hee!”

“Oh thank, Celestia!” Twilight said, relieved.

Twilight approaches the pile and pulled the saddlebag out. The princess hugged it tightly close as though if she put them down they’d disappear off the face of the earth. No pony could make out what to think of this.

“Uh, Twi, ah really don’t think it’s that big-a-deal if we couldn’t find yer saddlebag,” Applejack said.

“Couldn’t you just get another one back in Ponyville?” Spike asked.

Twilight faced the group of friends, looking between them and the bag.

“Um, well… You see… Um…”

Every pony stared at Twilight, trying to figure out why she was so worried in the first place.

“There are some very important ingredients in here for Zecora,” Twilight explains. “I was supposed to get them to her, but I never got the chance because… Well, you know.”

“Oh, the ‘errand’,” Spike realized. “Right… Almost forgot about that.”

“Yeah, I think the writers might have forgotten that detail too,” Pinkie added. “Else they’d have brought up the bag in the ‘last’ chapters.”

<>

From an undisclosed location, two figures sitting in front of computer screens acknowledged each other.

“I told you she would bring up that slight detail,” One narrator stated.

“Oh hush!” The other narrator replied.

<>

“Well regardless, darling,” Rarity said. “You have them back, that’s all that matters. May we please try and figure out where we are?”

Twilight nods, as she placed the saddlebag over her back securing it.

“Alright, let’s all stay together,” Dorothy advises.

The farm girl, with Toto in her arms, leads the ponies and the baby dragon out of her room and through the rest of the house. It was eerily quiet, not a single sound was heard. No birds, cows, pigs or any animal one would normally hear in Kansas. Eventually they make it to the front door, as Dorothy slowly pulls it open. Before their eyes, what they see is so surprising that every ponies’ mouth dropped in sync.

Outside the house lies an entirely new world. Gone were the cornfields and farms of Kansas; in it’s place, an endless landscape of mountains and green fields. All around them are different types of flora, a wide range of flowers, enormous mushrooms, and an assortment of tiny huts and houses. They stepped out to what appears to be the middle of a quaint little village.

But the one thing they noticed about this alien world was a wide variety of color all around them. No longer was everything just a tan beige color. Even the coats and manes of the ponies, along with Spike’s scales, were once more restored of their color. But they were so mesmerized by their new surroundings, however, they didn’t even notice.

“Toto… Twilight…,” Dorothy spoke, breaking the silence. “I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”

“It sure doesn’t look anything like Kansas,” Twilight observed.

“So, where in tarnation are we, anyway?” Applejack asked.

As Dorothy, with Toto in her arms, and all the ponies, including Spike, looks around this strange landscape, a peculiar group of little people peek from the flower bushes. The plants on their heads appear to be either hats or perhaps part of their anatomy, keeping watch over the mysterious visitors who stumbled onto their grounds. The group were so distracted by this colorful environment, they were blissfully unaware they were being watched. Spike, on the other hoof, got suspicious and turned, just as the creatures ducked back into the bushes. Seeing nothing, Spike shrugged and rejoined the group. Finally, after a moment of silence, Rarity speaks up.

“Why, we must be over the rainbow!”

Fluttershy couldn’t wipe the smile off her face, admiring her surroundings.

“It’s so lovely here; there’s so much color!”

“There’s more color here than on Rainbow’s entire mane!” Spike said.

The Pegasus in question nods, fully unaware of what was said.

“There sure is…”

Suddenly, the realization hit her like a ton of bricks as she faced Spike.

“HEY!”

As they admired this strange, yet beautiful new world Pinkie turns behind her and gasps.

“Say! There’s even a colorful looking bubble in the sky!”

“Don’t be silly, Pinkie,” Twilight replied, distractedly. “Bubbles don’t usually have color unless…”

The purple alicorn paused quickly and turned to Pinkie.

“What bubble?”

“That ominous looking one in the background,” Pinkie points out with her tail.

The groups turns to Pinkie’s direction and were stunned at the sight. A glowing bubble in different shades of color, green then yellow and pink, slowly descends from the sky. At a loss for words, they slowly back away as the bubble touches the surface. But rather than popping upon contact with the floor, something strange and unusual happened. The bubble fades and revealed a mysterious creature standing in its place.

It appeared to be human, a beautiful yet slightly middle-aged woman. She is dressed in a glittering pink gown adorned with silver stars and butterflies, a long metallic magic wand in one hand, and short, wavy strawberry-blonde hair.

“Oh my!” Fluttershy softly gasped.

“Now I – Now I know we’re not in Kansas,” Dorothy said.

The woman slowly approaches the group, standing before them with a smile on her face.

“Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?” She asked Dorothy.

The farm girl, confused by the question, turns around behind her quickly thinking the woman was asking someone else. The ponies and dragon shrug not understanding the question themselves. Seeing no one else, Dorothy realized this woman was talking to her.

“Who, me?”

The woman nods.

“Why, I’m not a witch at all,” The farm girl answers. “I’m Dorothy Gale from Kansas.”

“Oh! Well is that the witch?” She asks, pointing her wand toward Toto.

The ponies and dragon giggle to themselves.

“Is she serious?” Rainbow whispers.

“I have no idea,” Twilight answers.

All the other ponies and Spike just shake their heads.

“Who Toto?” Dorothy speaks. “Toto’s my dog.”

The woman giggled slightly, before facing the ponies and the dragon smiling warmly. As Twilight looks at Glinda, a part of her reminded the princess of her mentor, Princess Celestia.

“And who might you all be?” The woman asks.

Every pony looks at each other before Twilight steps forward.

“Well, I’m Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship,” Twilight introduced, pointing to her friends. “These are my friends Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike.”

“Sup?” Spike greets.

The other ponies wave at the woman, who waves back.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Twilight Sparkle and friends,” She bows, sweetly.

At this point, every pony was confused. Twilight spoke only a few words and this woman reciprocated it as if it was normal. A contrast to their initial arrival in Kansas, where talking ponies and a baby dragon was a shock to everybody.

“You’re not surprised we can talk?” Rainbow saked.

“Oh no, my dear,” She responds. “In this world, talking animals are all too common.”

Every pony was impressed at this revelation, nodding approvingly toward the woman. She turns back to Dorothy, giggling a bit.

“I must confess I’m a little muddled. The Munchkins called me because a new witch has just dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East.”

She points her wand to the house, then back at Dorothy.

“There’s the house, and here you are, and that’s all that’s left of the Wicked Witch of the East.”

Underneath the house, the group noticed a set of legs in black and white stockings. On the feet were two high-heeled slippers made entirely of pure red rubies. Dorothy and her friends gasp upon the sight.

“Oh my goodness,” Rarity gasped. “That’s awful!”

“I can’t believe we just crushed some pony,” Twilight said, horrified.

All the others nod, equally horrified and guilty. Perhaps the only member unfazed was a certain cyan blue Pegasus, who just folds her hooves.

“Well, I mean she’s called the ‘Wicked Witch’ so maybe we provided a public service.”

Every pony and Spike faced Rainbow Dash, horrified at her words. They had just possibly crushed a human being and she made it out as if it was a good thing.

“Why would you say that, Dashie?” Pinkie gasps.

“What?!” Rainbow shrugged. “She must’ve been a terror here; is getting rid of her that bad?”

“She’s dead, Rainbow!” Twilight yelled.

“Oh, the poor old woman,” Fluttershy moaned, tearfully. “Only a pony without a head would do a thing like that. Poor thing…”

Having seen enough, the woman-in-pink steps up.

“No need to criticize Rainbow Dash, my dears. She is quite right.”

Every pony faced the woman.

“What do you mean?” Fluttershy whispered.

“You all have done this land a great service,” The woman replies, turning back to Dorothy. “And so what the Munchkins want to know is, are you a good witch, or a bad witch?”

“Oh, but I’ve already told you, I’m not a witch at all,” Dorothy said. “Witches are old and ugly.”

Suddenly, high-pitch giggling made every pony, including Dorothy, turn around seeking the source. Surprised, Fluttershy quickly hid behind Twilight.

“W-W-What was t-that?” Fluttershy asks, fearfully.

“The Munchkins,” The woman smiles at the frightened yellow Pegasus. “They’re laughing because I am a witch. I’m Glinda, the Witch of the North.”

Dorothy’s mouth fell somewhat, as did the others. Being polite, the little ponies and dragon gave a small bow.

“You are?!” Dorothy said, with a small courtsey. “Oh, I beg your pardon! But I’ve never heard of a beautiful with before.”

“Same here,” Spike added.

“Only bad witches are ugly,” Glinda smiled.

The ponies and dragon agreed, reflecting their previous encounters with Queen Chrysalis. One of their most dangerous adversaries, she was as evil as any witch they could imagine and so scary that ‘ugly’ is not enough to describe her.

“The Munchkins are happy because you have freed them from the Wicked Witch of the East,” Glinda continues.

“Forgive me for asking, Miss Glinda,” Rarity speaks up. “But what are these Munchkins you speak of?”

The giggling returns, causing every pony and Dorothy to look around again. But they still couldn’t find where it was coming from.

“The little people who live in this land,” Glinda answers. “It’s Munchkinland, and you are their national heroines, my dears.”

“’Hero’ actually,” Spike points out. “I am a guy, but it’s a common mistake.”

Glinda nods understanding as she turns toward the bushes.

“It’s all right now!” Glinda calls out. “You may all come out and thank them!”



Suddenly, the ponies, dragon, and farm girl notice many of the flowers started moving. Turns out these flowers are indeed giant hats, worn by a band of little people and all dress in odd-looking colorful clothes. They all looked really happy, as they approached the group.

The Munchkins cheer and applaud, as a horse-drawn carriage rode up before the group and Glinda ushers them inside. Dorothy, the ponies, and Spike climb into the carriage as a few Munchkins approach.

“We thank you very sweetly,” One Munchkin said. “For doing it so neatly.”

“You’ve killed her so completely,” Another said. “That we thank you very sweetly.”

They hand Dorothy, the ponies and Spike a small bouquet of flowers, which they gratefully thanked with a gesture or two. Soon, they all turned toward Glinda who proudly declares:

“Let the joyous news be spread: The Wicked Old Witch at last is dead!”

Every Munchkin cheered and applauds, as the carriage, surrounded by a procession of soldiers, moves through the town with the whole village following close behind.  The carriage came to a halt at what could only be described as the village’s town hall. Three heralds emerge, blowing a fanfare with their giant bugles. The Mayor of Munchkinland comes forward, followed by the Barrister and city fathers. They help each and every one of their guests out the carriage and lead them up the steps.

“As Mayor of the Munchkin City,” The Mayor declares. “In the County of the Land of Oz, I welcome you most regally.”

“But we’ve got to verify it legally,” The barrister said. “To see…”

“To see?”

“If she…”

“If she?”

“Is morally, ethically, spiritually, physically, positively, absolutely, undeniably and reliably dead!” The barristers said.

Soon, one Munchkin, the local coroner, makes his way up the steps toward the group and unravels a large scroll. 
Confirmed, the Mayor stands before the mass along with the group.

“Then this is a day of independence, for all the Munchkins and their descendants!”

“If any!” The Barrister adds.

“Yes, let the joyous news be spread,” The Mayor announced. “The Wicked Old Witch at last is dead!”

Once more, the Munchkins cheer with song and dance. Pinkie pulls a baton from out of her man, leading the Munchkin patrol like a parade.

Pinkie Pie leads the Munchkin soldiers through the streets, smiling widely and laughing. Soon, she led them back to the town hall along with the whole town and rejoins her friends, who all laugh and roll their eyes at Pinkie’s randomness. Just then, three ballerina Munchkins, in pink tutus, tip-toed to the front of the group.  Then, three tough-looking Munchkins in slacks and sweater vests danced up to the group. The one in the middle held a lollypop, hence the name of their troupe. 
Twilight, Dorothy, and the rest of the group couldn’t believe this was happening. Here they were, strangers in a strange land, praised by the little people for ridding them of their greatest enemy. Reminding them of something they do on a daily basis. The citizens lead them through the streets toward the center of town as they waved at Glinda passing by which she did the same. Everything seemed right in the world, even Rainbow basked in the praise as the Munchkins sang and dance.

Suddenly, a large explosion of red smoke changed the entire mood knocking several Munchkins down. Those still standing screamed and ran for cover, as Dorothy and her friends ran toward Glinda. From the red smoke emerged a tall, lanky green-skinned woman wearing a long black dress and a pointy hat. She held a broomstick in her hand, which she waved around the Munchkins passing by. Dorothy, the girls and Spike gasp at the sight of this woman, who loomed over the house where she noticed the pair of legs sticking out.

“I thought you said she was dead,” Dorothy whispered to Glinda.

“That was her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East,” Glinda explains. “This is the Wicked Witch of the West and she’s worse than the other one was.”

“North, East, and West?” Pinkie said. “I hate to imagine what the ‘South’ Witch is like.”

“Pinkie, please!” Twilight groaned.

Fluttershy hid behind her friends, while Rainbow and Applejack stood defiant ready for anything. The green-skinned witch soon approached them.

“Who killed my sister?” She asked, menacingly. “Who killed the Witch of the East?”

The witch points accusingly toward Dorothy.

“Was it you? Answer me!”

“Leave her alone, you creep!” Rainbow threatens.

“So it was you, was it?” The Witch continued. “You all killed her, didn’t you?”

“No!” The farm girl shook her head, fearfully. “No, it was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill anybody!”

“Really, she didn’t,” Twilight insists, frightened. “We didn’t know, we swear!”

“’Didn’t mean it’, eh?” The Witch mocked. “’Aciddent’, eh? Well, my little pretty, I can cause accidents, too and this is how I do it!”

Before The Witch can do anything, Rainbow Dash and Applejack stood in front of Dorothy, snarling at the woman.

“Ya’ll best be leavin’ her alone yah hear?” Applejack growled.

“Yeah! Or you’ll get a worse rap than your sister!” Rainbow threatens.

The Wicked Witch fully acknowledged the little ponies amongst Dorothy, even a tiny baby dragon who sat on Twilight’s back. She leans closely toward the ponies, who were intimidated by her face.

“Oh, what a couple of cute little ponies,” She mocked. “What are the like of you to do? Hug me to death?”

“There’s no need to be so mean,” Pinkie said. “Can’t we all just get along?”

The Witch just hissed at the party pony, who nearly leapt out of her skin and hid alongside Fluttershy. Before The Witch can do anything else, Glinda jumps in.

“Are you forgetting the ruby slippers?” Glinda asked.

The Witch’s mood began to lighten, as if remembering something very important.

“The slippers,” The Witch whispered. “Yes… The slippers!”

The Witch turns around, approaching the house where her sister was crushed. She reaches to grab the slippers in her bony grasp. But just as she had them in reach, the shoes vanish before her eyes and the stockings roll up till they disappeared beneath the house.

“They’re gone!” She gasped.

The Witch kneeled down to the house for a better look, hoping to find them. But there was no luck. She turns around angrily, storming toward the group.

“The ruby slippers! What have you done with them? Give them back to me or I’ll…”

“It’s too late!” Glinda interrupts, pointing down. “There they are, and there they’ll stay.”

Dorothy and the girls look down toward their feet and instead of the black shoes she wore before, now the ruby slippers took their place. Dorothy gasped along with the group. They look back up toward the Witch, see the look of hate in her eyes.

“Give me back my slippers!” She growled. “I’m the only one who knows how to use them. They’re of no use to you! Give them back to me! Give them back!”

“Keep tight inside of them,” Glinda whispers in Dorothy’s ear. “Their magic must be very powerful, or she wouldn’t want them so badly!”

“You stay out of this, Glinda,” The Witch threatened. “Or I’ll fix you as well!”

But Glinda merely laughed.

“Oh, rubbish! You have no power here. Be gone, before somebody drops a house on you, too.”

The Witch looks up in the sky, in case that did happen again.

“Very well, I’ll bide my time,” The Witch relents, pointing to Dorothy and the ponies. “And as for you, my fine ladies, it’s true, I can’t attend to you here and now as I’d like, but just try to stay out of my way… Just try! I’ll get you my pretties and your little dog and dragon too!”

The Witch cackles madly, as she proceeds to disappear through the red smoke which began to envelop her. But Rainbow Dash would not have it.

“She’s getting away!” Rainbow shouts, charging.

“Rainbow, don’t!” Applejack shouts.

But Rainbow was just inches from the smoke, when a large explosion erupts knocking the Pegasus back as the Witch disappeared while the smoke clears. All the ponies and Spike gather around Rainbow, as Dorothy stood shocked by the impression. All the Munchkins cautiously appeared from their hiding spots.

“It’s all right,” Glinda announced. “You can get up, she’s gone. It’s all right. You can all get up.”

The Munchkins emerge once more, many of them shaking in fear. As they helped their neighbors off the ground, Glinda leads the farm girl, ponies and baby dragon from their spot to the middle of the crowd.

“Phew, what a smell of sulphur!” Spike moaned, clenching his nose. “Worse than timberwolf breath.”

“I’m afraid you’ve made rather a bad enemy of the Wicked Witch of the West,” Glinda said. “The sooner you all get out of Oz altogether, the safer you’ll sleep, my dears.”

Every pony nodded toward that statement. They all wanted to leave Oz more than ever now that an evil witch will soon be after them.

“I don’t I’ve ever seen anything quite as scary since Chrysalis!” Rarity said.

“Yeah, my new nickname for that Witch is ‘Greenie Meanie’,” Pinkie added, realizes. “Say Fluttershy, she reminds me of our first Grand Galloping Gala. Remember? When you were trying to get all those cuddly animals together with that net.”

Fluttershy just hid further behind Twilight. That night certainly wasn’t her fondest memory, recalling how crazy she had been. Her twitching eyes, her mad cackle, her insane obsession with catching those animals. She didn’t like that side of her at all.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Fluttershy said, softly.

“Oh, I’d give anything to get out of Oz altogether,” Dorothy spoke. “But which is the way back to Kansas? We can’t exactly go the way we came.”

“Unless… Someone knows how to conjure up a tornado that can somehow transport us back?” Rainbow adds.

“No, that’s true,” Glinda nods. “The only person who might know would be the great and powerful Wizard of Oz himself!”

Hearing the name, all the Munchkins bow in respect. As the ponies and Spike look around, clearly this wizard of theirs was a very powerful and respected person to garner much respect.

“The Wizard of Oz?” Twilight asked.

“Is he good or is he like that old wart-faced hag?” Rainbow asked.

“Oh, very good, but very mysterious,” Glinda explains. “He lives in the Emerald City, and that’s a long journey from here. Did you bring your broomstick with you?”

“No, I’m afraid I didn’t,” Dorothy shook her head.

“And you all?” Glinda asks the ponies.

“Well, only three of us can fly…” Twilight began.

“’Four’!” Spike points out, fluttering his own wings.

“Right… ‘Four’,” Twilight corrected herself. “The rest of us would have to walk and we can’t exactly carry everyone.”

“Well, then, you’ll have to walk,” Glinda declares. “The Munchkins will see you safely to the border of Munchkinland. And remember, never let those ruby slippers off your feet for a moment, or you will be at the mercy of the Wicked Witch of the West.”

Glinda gives Dorthy and all the ponies a quick kiss to the forehead, possibly for luck. She then lifts the little dragon for a huge hug and a kiss on the forehead. The dragon blushes furiously, scratching the back of his head as Glinda gently lays him down.

“So, how do we start for Emerald City?” Spike asked.

“It’s always best to start at the beginning,” Glinda explains. “And all you do is follow the Yellow Brick Road.”

Glinda motions to the yellow-and-red bricked road in the middle of the village. The group slowly makes their way to where the yellow brick road starts. Then, as if Dorothy thought of something, she looks back to Glinda.

“But, what happens if we…” Dorothy began.

“Just follow the Yellow Brick Road,” Glinda said.

Then, Glinda began to fade away as another giant bubble took her place. As the bubble floated into the air, many Munchkins ran up and waved toward the bubble yelling their goodbyes. Dorothy, the Mane Six and Spike just gaze toward the bubble, as it disappears into the clouds.

“My!” Dorothy replied. “People come and go so quickly here.”

The ponies, Spike and all the Munchkins nod in agreement. The group peer down toward where their feet, hooves and/or claws meet the yellow bricks.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” Dorothy said, beginning to walk.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road?” Twilight asked, following Dorothy.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” The Mayor said, as they pass.

“’Not’ the ‘red’ road?” Fluttershy asked.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” A Munchkin said.

“Oh, okay,” Fluttershy said, then continues.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” A female Munchkin said.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” The Barrister said.

“Hey, that’s kind of catchy!” Pinkie said, cheerfully.



The Munchkins cheer and wave after the group pass the gates of Munchkinland, to begin their journey beyond the borders of their kingdom. Dorothy and her friends turn around, waving goodbye to the Munchkins as they turned back and continued their journey down the Yellow Brick Road. The road that would surely lead them to find the one person who can help them get back home…

Hopefully…
> The Scarecrow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Having officially made it out of the Munchkin territory, the Mane Six, Spike and Dorothy continued their trek along the Yellow Brick Road. They had already passed many mountain ranges, as they marched through fields of flowers toward the Emerald City. As they walked, they couldn’t help but recall their last encounter with the Wicked Witch and why she hates them so much.

“Ah mean, it ain’t like we meant to hurt her sister,” Applejack mentioned. “That there was just a freak accident.”

“We didn’t even cause the tornado or wanted to end up here,” Rarity added. “I cannot even begin to understand what she wants to get us.”

“If she knew what’s good for her, she’s stay away from us,” Rainbow Dash spoke up. “We’ve defeated baddies ten times more dangerous than her.”

Every pony recalled their previous battles from the past. From Discord to Tirek, Chrysalis and Sombra, they were all dangerous in their own way. It’s true they only met this Witch once, not enough to know if she was just as bad as their old foes... Or worse!

“I think ole Greenie Meanie needs a big party!” Pinkie said, excitedly. “I’m talking multi-layer cake and party games... Oh! Like ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony’! She’d have so much fun, she’ll forget about being mean and start having fun ‘Pinkie Pie’ style!”

Once again, the whole group turned toward the ‘Element of Laughter’ staring at her with that ‘seriously’ look. Pinkie just kept smiling, bouncing ahead.

Spike, who had been riding on Twilight’s back the whole time, heard a growling sound. He looks down and noticed his little stomach rumbling.

“Man, I didn’t think I’d ever get this hungry,” Spike moaned. “I haven’t eaten since we left Kansas!”

“Don’t worry, Spike,” Twilight reassured. “I’m sure we’ll find some food once we find the nearest town or some place.”

But had Twilight actually been watching Spike, she would have noticed he wasn’t paying attention. His eyes lit up instantly having caught sight of the ruby slippers Dorothy was wearing. His mouth began to water, as he licked his scaly lips at the thought of how good they must taste. If there was even the slightest chance he’d have a taste at those crunchy gemstones, he’d take it.

Eventually, Twilight did feel a drop of water on her shoulder like rain. But there wasn’t a cloud in the sky so it wasn’t raining. She turns over her shoulder and had just caught her little dragon friend eying Dorothy’s slippers.

“SPIKE!” Twilight yelled.

Twilight’s yell snapped Spiky back to reality, shaking his head rapidly.

“Huh? What?” He asked. “What happened?”

“Spike, don’t even think about it!” Twilight warned. “The Wicked Witch wants those slippers badly and she’s mad at us already. You eat those slippers we may as well be going to the Emerald City in a casket.”

The baby dragon grumbled, folding his claws with a huff. But of course, Twilight was right as usual especially when it was important. Still, Twilight could notice Spike was finding it difficult to ignore the grumbling of his stomach. If his face didn’t give it away, seeing him rub his rumbling stomach like massaging an ache longing to be filled put pity in her eyes.

“You know, Spike,” Twilight said, digging into her bag. “While I was collecting ingredients for Zecora, I happened to find something you might like. I was saving it for later, but... Here you go.”

Twilight immediately pulls out a huge, red ruby from her saddlebag presenting it to Spike. The baby dragon’s eyes immediately perked up, as he snatched the gem away and stuffed it into his mouth.

“Phank woo,” He mumbled, between bites.

Twilight giggled, as she gently ruffled the scales on her number one assistant’s head with her hoof.

Eventually, the group came upon a cornfield, the talk stalks stretching for miles. But the corn itself wasn’t the major detail they noticed: The Yellow Brick Road split into three separate directions. There were now four paths going North, East, South, and West, the latter of which they just came from.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road?” Dorothy asked, confused. “Follow the Yellow...?”

Every pony stopped at the crossing point for the Yellow Brick Road, searching all the directions. But none of them knew for sure which way would lead them to Emerald City.

“Well, this is just great!” Dash grumbled.

“I reckon we should’ve asked for a map,” Applejack agreed.

“Now which way do we go?” Twilight asked.

Just then, Pinkie bounced up and down, reaching her hoof high in the air.

“Ooh! Ooh! I know! I know! Pick me! Pick me!”

“Yes Pinkie?” Twilight sighs, rolling her eyes.

“Um... Actually, could you excuse me one moment?”

<>

As if the story itself froze, Pinkie Pie seems to jump into a new paragraph. She looks up toward the sky.

“Oh... Mr. Author!” Pinkie calls out, sing-song. “Can you please tell us the way to Emerald City?”

Sorry Pinkie, but you know I can’t do that.

“Aw!” Pinkie pouts, frowning. “Come on, Mr. Author why not?!”

My job as the narrator is to follow the story as closely as possible and observe how you would react to certain scenarios. I cannot interfere under any circumstances.

“But you write the story, silly. Can’t you just type a few words and just ‘poof’ us into the Emerald City?”

I could... I would... I should... But I won’t. If I did that, this would be the shortest FanFic in online history. There’d be no point to writing this story at all.

“You are such a party pooper, sometimes!”

Pinkie, don’t be that way... Look, if you can just go along with what I have in mind for the story it’ll be a big help. I’ll even throw in a big party for later at my place with cake... Lots of music...

YOU’RE NOT THROWING ANY MORE PARTIES!!! I’ve just cleaned up the last one!

*Calls out* Oh no, no, no, no! Of course not! Heh-heh... Just kidding! *Pause, whispers* Look, I’m already delaying this chapter enough as it is. We’ll talk about this later. Okay?

“Okie-dokie-lokie!” Pinkie giggled.

<>

In an instant, Pinkie bounces back into the scene while every pony else faced her wide-eyed and confused.

“I’m back!” Pinkie smiled, with a squeak.

“Uh Pinkie, what just happened?” Dorothy asked. “And who were you just talking to?”

“Hmm... No one important,” Pinkie brushes off.

“Okay seriously, does any pony know which way to go around here?” Dash asked.

“Pardon me, that way’s a very nice way.”

The group turns toward where the voice came from, only to quickly realize however no one was around. The only thing besides them in this cornfield was a Scarecrow, raised above the stalks of corns by means of the pole stuck up to its back pointing east. Its head was a small sack stuffed with straws with painted eyes, a mouth and a brown nose representing a face. An old, pointed black hat perched on his head, and the rest of the figure was a green suit, worn and faded, which had also been stuffed with straw. On the feet were some old boots, such as every man wore around the time Dorothy came from.

“Who said that?” Dorothy asked.

Fluttershy noticed Toto barking toward the Scarecrow. She walked up toward the little dog, leaning toward him.

“What’s that Toto?” Fluttershy asked.

The dog barked at her, as the Yellow Pegasus nods her head understandingly. Of course, given that Fluttershy can understand the language of all creatures this wasn’t too difficult.

“What’s he saying Fluttershy?” Spike asked.

“He says the Scarecrow was the one who said something,” Fluttershy answered.

For a moment, every pony looked at each other silently. Then they immediately burst out laughing, while Fluttershy just stood there blinking.

“Good one, Fluttershy,” Applejack chuckled. “Now that’s a real knee slapper.”

“But it’s still possible, isn’t it?” Spike asked.

“Don’t be silly, Spike,” Dorothy told the little dragon. “Scarecrows don’t talks.”

“It’s pleasant down that way, too.”

They turn back toward the Scarecrow, only this time he’s not pointing toward the northernmost direction. They all froze, with a slight twinge of fear.

“Uh... Not to sound c-crazy,” Rainbow whispered. “But w-wasn’t he pointing the other way?”

“Why yes, Rainbow Dash,” Dorothy told her friend. “I think he was.”

“Of course, people do go both ways!”

They turn back just in time to see the Scarecrow point both north and east, left and right, simultaneously. All their collective mouths dropped to the ground, as they slowly approached this surprising spectacle.

“Why you did say something, didn’t you?” Dorothy asked.

The Scarecrow shook his head ‘no’ rapidly, but quickly smiled and nodded his head ‘yes’. Fluttershy gasped and hid behind Rarity, while every pony else looked on in shock and wonder.

“Well ah’ll be a chimera’s Great Aunt Fanny,” Applejack smiled, intrigued. “You really are talkin’!”

“This is incredible!” Twilight observed. “Some pony must have cast a spell upon this Scarecrow, granting him communication skills and a personality!”

The Scarecrow was about to say something, thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“Nope,” He replied, with a smile. “I was just stuffed and sewn together one day, next thing I know I’m left up here. I’ve been talking ever since.”

“Are you doing that on purpose, or can’t you make up your mind?” Dorothy asked.

“That’s the trouble. I can’t make up my mind. I haven’t got a brain, only straw.”

To prove his point, The Scarecrow lifts his hat a bit revealing a bit of straw sticking out of his head.

“Not to sound rude or anything dear,” Rarity spoke, curiously. “But if you have no brain, then how are you able to speak?”

“Yeah, how are you talking anyway?” Rainbow asked, suspiciously.

The Scarecrow thought for a moment, and then shrugged.

“I don’t know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking don’t they?”

“Ha, guess he got there Rainbow Dash,” Spike chuckled.

“Watch it pipsqueak,” Rainbow glared at the little dragon.

The baby dragon in question hid himself in Twilight’s mane fearfully. Meanwhile, Dorothy and the others smiled at the friendly Scarecrow.

“Well, we haven’t really met properly, have we?” Dorothy asks, kindly.

“Why, no!” Scarecrow realized.

Dorothy gives a curtsy, while the ponies all bow their heads.

“How do you do?” They ask, in unison.

“How do you do?’ Scarecrow asked back.

“Very well, thank you,” Dorothy responds.

“Oh, I’m not feeling at all well. You see, it’s very tedious being stuck up here all day long with a pole up your back.”

Fluttershy gasps and flew up toward the Scarecrow. She peers behind him to see nailed right along the post, unable to get anywhere.

“Oh, you poor thing,” She sympathized. “That must feel terribly uncomfortable.”

“Well, can’t ya’ll just get on down?” Applejack asked.

“Down?” The Scarecrow asked, shaking his head. “No, you see, I’m – Well, -- I’m –“

Before the Scarecrow can finish, Dorothy and the others immediately approach the post.

“Oh pfft, no need to fret, darling,” Rarity spoke. “We’ll gladly help you down.”

“Oh, that’s very kind of you,” Scarecrow said, thankfully. “Very kind.”

Dorothy began looking around the back, trying to find a way to get the poor Scarecrow down.

“Well, oh dear – I don’t quite see how I can –“

“Of course, I’m not bright about doing things, but if you’ll just bend the nail down in the back, maybe I’ll slip off and...”

“Oh yes!”

Dorothy did just as the Scarecrow suggests: Bending the nail down causing the Scarecrow to fall off the post and landing on the ground. The impact causes him to lose some of his stuffing.

“Whoops! Ha-ha, there goes some of me again,” He laughs, picking up the straw.

Dorothy and the ponies, meanwhile, couldn’t help but look concerned.

“Doesn’t it hurt you?”

“Oh no, I just keep picking it up and put it back in again.” 

The Scarecrow stuffs the straw back through his chest, laughing as he stands back on his own two feet.

“My, it’s good to be free!” The Scarecrow cheers.

The Scarecrow whiles around and about, but in doing so falls over the cornfield fence. Dorothy screams at the sight, immediately rushing toward the fallen Scarecrow, as the other ponies follow.

“Did I scare you?” He asked.

“No, no,” Dorothy assures. “I just thought you hurt yourself.”

“But I didn’t scare you?” He asks, disappointedly.

“No, of course not,” Dorothy answered.

“I didn’t think so,” The Scarecrow pouts, looking dejected.

Twilight and the others approach the Scarecrow, sitting beside him as Twilight places a hoof on his straw shoulder.

“Don’t feel too bad, Scarecrow,” Twilight said, comfortably. “We don’t scare too easily.”

“’Cept fur Fluttershy here,” Applejack, gestures to the shy Pegasus.

“I-I-I do not s-scare easily!” Fluttershy defended.

“Come on, Flutters,” Dash said, humorously. “You get scared when the wind blows!”

Fluttershy didn’t find it funny at all, shrinking down in shame.

“Oh now really, Rainbow Dash,” Rarity scolds, as she comforts Fluttershy. “There’s no need to tease Fluttershy that way.”

“Rarity’s right, every pony is afraid of something,” Twilight adds.

Just then, a crow flew up and lands upon Scarecrow’s shoulder and starts picking at his stuffing.

“Boo! Scat! Boo!” The Scarecrow shouts.

But it’s no use. The crow completely ignores the Scarecrow’s attempt to scare him. It just grabs a piece of his hat, before flying off squawking as if the little bird was mocking him.

“You see, I can’t even a scare a crow!” The Scarecrow frowned. “The come from miles around just to eat in my field and laugh in my face! Oh, I’m a failure, because I haven’t got a brain.”

Dorothy, the ponies, and even Spike couldn’t help but feel bad for the poor straw man. After all, the whole purpose of a Scarecrow is to keep the corn fields crow free and to hear them flapping along just to taunt him made them all feel bad.

“Well, even if you did somehow manage to have a brain,” Twilight pondered. “What would you do if you had one?”

“Do? Why if I had a brain I could...”

The Scarecrow’s face lit up brightly, as he began to sing.



Dorothy, the ponies and Spike watch as during the Scarecrow’s song he starts dancing around and about. He starts to whirl and jig, at one point falling onto his knees. The ponies and Dorothy reach to help, till Scarecrow holds a hand saying ‘stop’ and lifts himself back, with a twirl. He starts twirling round and round, that he nearly loses his step and starts hopping backward down the road. Fluttershy and Pinkie quickly follow The Scarecrow, managing to get behind him and stop him from falling.

The Scarecrow soon dances forward, with Pinkie copying his moves down the street, even Fluttershy gets into it in a cute way. The Scarecrow even dances toward the cornfield, falling over the fence, and then rolls back under it as the girls and Spike rush in to help. He sits himself onto the curb of the road while he feels about his coat. Dorothy and Twilight point to some of his straw on the road.

Just then, a crow flies onto the scene and lands near the straw, which causes the Scarecrow to quiver in fear as his friends try to comfort him. The crow picks up the straw and flies off over the cornfield, as Dorothy, the Scarecrow and the girls watch from the fence.

“Hey, give that back you ole’ buzzard!” Applejack shouts, shaking her hoof.

The Scarecrow dances back to right along the road, as Dorothy and the others rush to him, stops him in his tracks and points out toward the Crow, which lands in the cornfield.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get it back!” Rainbow said. “Hop on Spike!”

Spike makes his way onto Rainbow’s back. Dorothy and Twilight look concern, but Scarecrow assures the girls they’ve got this. Rainbow bends down and wiggles her hips as she and the Scarecrow get ready. Spike holds onto Dash’s mane tight as the Scarecrow and Rainbow dances forward, gaining momentum and makes a big jump over the cornfield with Rainbow flapping her wings.

“TALLY HO!” Rainbow shouts.

Scarecrow and Rainbow Dash, with Spike on her back, pile into the cornfield sending several crows scattering through the corn, as Dorothy and the others run forward to the fence overlooking the crazy scene.

“Go on! Beat it!” Rainbow shouts. “Pick on some pony your own size!”

“Yeehaw!” Applejack shouts. “Get ‘er done, Dash!”

The Scarecrow searches through the corn stalks and then points to Rainbow Dash toward one direction. He bends down, finds his straw and stuffs it back into his coat. With a nod, the Scarecrow and Rainbow Dash soar over the field onto the road, as Dorothy and the others wave to him. The Scarecrow lands onto the Yellow Brick Road and begins to dance again, doing a series of splits.

“My, you’re a limber one, Mr. Scarecrow!” Rarity replies.

“Gee thanks!” Scarecrow replies, between splits.

Meanwhile, back in the cornfield, Spike was brushing past the stalks trying to reunite with the group. Just then, he accidentally bumps into a pumpkin, causing it to roll onto the Yellow Brick Road.

“Oops!” Spike yells.

Spike rushes out and tries to stop the pumpkin, but can’t keep up with his short legs. The pumpkin rolls forward, right in between the Scarecrow’s legs! The impact hits the Scarecrow, launching him high into the air, as Dorothy and the others look on frightened.

“Don’t worry, girls!” Pinkie shouts, running around. “I got him! I got him!”

Eventually, the Scarecrow falls back toward the road and ends up running along the Yellow Brick pathway. The Scarecrow finds himself dancing forward, bumping into one side of the fence, and then bouncing from that to the fence on the other side of the road. Back and forth, left fence and right fence, heads turning from one side to the next, so on and so forth! Eventually, the Scarecrow runs right past Dorothy and her friends falling through another fence which breaks under his weight. The Scarecrow sits up, looks about blinking his eyes wondering ‘What happened’.

Dorothy and the others were about to help him, when something incredible happens. The Scarecrow gets back up and the fence fixes itself back into place as if time was going backwards. Magic or no, it was astounding for the ponies and Spike as the Scarecrow bounces off the sides of the fence only backwards. Finally, after The Scarecrow bounces off the last fence rail, he starts dancing forward and sings to Dorothy.

With those final lyrics, The Scarecrow plops onto the floor after some straw fell from his coat. Every pony clapped their hooves, or in Spike’s case his ‘claws’, for such a wonderful performance.

“Well that there’s what ah’d call a scary performance!” Applejack said. “That’d put any ol’ Scarepony back home tah shame!”

“Totally!” Rainbow agreed. “Even Tirek and Chrysalis would be scared silly, they’d never set foot in Equestria again!”

Dorothy kneels by the Scarecrow, helping him put back some of the straw into his chest.

“Wonderful! Why if our Scarecrow back in Kansas could do that, the crows’d be scared to pieces!”

“They would?” Scarecrow asked.

“Um-hmm,” Dorothy nodded.

“Where’s Kansas?”

“Kansas is where Dorothy lives,” Twilight explained. “But my friends and I come from Equestria, very far from here and there. It’s kind of a different land entirely, but it’s home.”

“Where’s Equestria?” Scarecrow asked.

“It’s a long story, darling,” Rarity spoke up. “Trust me.”

“The Narrators would probably be able to explain where Equestria is,” Pinkie replies. “But they’re not exactly great at conversation.”

The Scarecrow scratches his head, more confused than before. Spike just pats his shoulder.

“Don’t ask, buddy. Just don’t...”

“We want to get back home so badly we’re going all the way to Emerald City to get the Wizard of Oz to help us,” Dorothy said.

“You’re all going to see a Wizard?” Scarecrow asked.

Every pony nods in unison. Then it seemed an imaginary light-bulb went off in Scarecrow’s non-existent brain, but nevertheless a thought came to him.

“Do you think if I went with you, this Wizard would give me some brains?”

The ponies, Spike and Dorothy all faced each other, wondering the same thing. If this wizard is really as great as everyone said he is, then that may be a good possibility. Still...

“I couldn’t say,” Dorothy shook her head.

“Beats being nailed on a pole all day long,” Rainbow Dash replies.

“Or feeling insecure for not scaring crows,” Fluttershy added.

“But even if he didn’t, you’d be no worse off than you are now,” Spike concludes, patting Scarecrow’s back.

“Yes,” Scarecrow mumbled. “That’s true.”

“It probably ain’t a good idea if he comes along,” Applejack suggests. “We got a Wicked Ole Witch mad at us and we all don’t want ya’ll gettin’ in no trouble.”

“Witch?” Scarecrow asks, confidently. “Huh! I’m not afraid of a witch! I’m not afraid of anything!”

“Every pony is scared of something, Scarecrow,” Twilight argued. “There must be something you’re afraid of.”

Scarecrow looks around, then behind him and back to the group. He gestures them all to lean in, which they did.

“Except a lighted match,” He whispered.

“I don’t blame you for that,” Dorothy understands.

“Me neither, fire and straw generally don’t mix well,” Applejack nods.

“So you’d best be careful, Spike,” Twilight said. “We don’t want you blowing fire if he gets caught in between.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Spike assures.

“But I’d face a whole box full of them for the chance of getting some brains,” The Scarecrow insists.

Feeling the group still wasn’t convinced, the Scarecrow is practically on his knees imploring them to reconsider.

“Look, I won’t be any trouble, because I don’t eat a thing, and I can’t manage things because I don’t think,” He pleaded. “Won’t you take me with you?”

Dorothy and the ponies, even Spike, felt bad for this Scarecrow. All his life, if any at all, he felt like a disappointment and failure. It’s clear all he ever wants is a chance to be smart, if only so he’d feel less of a loser than he sets himself to be. So the decision was pretty unanimous.

“Why, of course we will!” They all said.

Thrilled, Scarecrow cheers and jumps in the air. Then, he lifts the little ponies and little dragon in a tight embrace.

“Hooray!” He cheered. “We’re off to see a Wizard!”

The ponies and Spike groan from the tight squeeze Scarecrow gave.

“Boy, for a sack of hay he sure is strong,” Rainbow wheezed.

“I love this!” Pinkie replied, hugging Scarecrow back.

“This certainly isn’t starting off very well,” Rarity coughed out.

“Oh, I’ll try!” Scarecrow assures. “Really, I will.”

The Scarecrow places them back on the ground, while he himself stumbles to keep himself balanced. This gave the ponies and Spike time to catch their breath, while Applejack bent so far backward she heard a loud ‘crack’ coming from her spine. But she rubs it off like it’s nothing, as she regroups with Dorothy and the others.

“To Oz?” Dorothy asked.

“To Oz!” Scarecrow declares.

“To Oz!” The Mane Six and Spike declare.



And so, Dorothy, the ponies, Spike, and now the Scarecrow, skip their way down the Yellow Brick Road going east into the forest onward towards the Emerald City once again.
> The Tin Man
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wandering down the Yellow Brick Road, the motley crew spent their time conversing with their new friend, the Scarecrow. Though not truly human, he acts more like a person than just a giant bag of straw. To pass the time, the ponies and Spike told their new friends stories about Equestria, along with the amazing adventures they’ve been on. Their stories drew the attention between Scarecrow and Dorothy, who found their adventures amazing.

“So we trekked through the Everfree Forest, encountering all sorts of danger,” Twilight explained. “Manticores, giant serpents, but we almost got killed many times just by nearly falling to our deaths.”

“Oh my!” Dorothy gasped, concerned. “Were you hurt?”

“Eh, nothing we can’t get up from,” Rainbow brags. “We’re just that awesome!”

“Anyway, we finally reach the Castle of the Two Sisters ready to gather the ‘Elements of Harmony’ all together,” Twilight continues. “Then Nightmare Moon arrived and destroyed their statues. I admit I almost thought she won, and the night would last forever like she planned.”

“But…” Spike joins in. “It wasn’t until the others showed up that Twilight realized ‘what’, or rather ‘who’, represented the Elements themselves.”

Spike gestures to all the other ponies in the group, all of them waving.

“Honesty,” Applejack smiles.

“Generosity,” Rarity added.

“Kindness,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Loyalty!” Dash continued. “And major awesomeness!”

“And I represent laughter!” Pinkie cried, bouncing excitedly. “And fun parties! But let me tell you, it’s a TON of responsibility. I mean always making sure every party is the most supertastic party ever, bigger than the last one. Besides, it’s not the best party if not every pony is smiling like Gilda or Svengallop or Cozy Glow…”

“PINKIE, CHILL!!!” Twilight yells.

The party pony instantly stops bouncing and appears to be frozen in mid-air. Dorothy and the Scarecrow look at Pinkie’s position, completely amazed while Twilight shakes her head.

“Would you mind coming down, Pinkie?” Twilight asked.

“But you told me to ‘chill’!” Pinkie said, between her teeth.

“Alright, alright, ‘un-chill’!”

All at once, Pinkie Pie plopped onto the ground comically while all the other ponies slapped their heads.

“Thank you,” Twilight sighs. “Anyway, after we realized we represented the ‘spirits’ of the Elements we all joined together and defeated Nightmare Moon. Course, we never would’ve won if I hadn’t realized that by making friends like Celestia wanted me I wouldn’t have discored that I represent the last element of friendship: Magic!”

“Wow, that sounds amazing!” The Scarecrow exclaims.

“It most certainly does,” Dorothy nods. “What happened next?”

“By defeating Nightmare Moon, Princess Celestia returned to say how proud she was of us for joining together and discovering the Elements,” Twilight continues. “As it turned out, Nightmare Moon was really her sister, Princess Luna, who was only freed from the darkness thanks to the power of the Elements themselves. Reunited for the first time in a thousand years, Celestia insisted they put the past behind them, to move forward, and rule Equestria together as they were meant to. Luna accepted and has ruled over Equestria with her sister peacefully ever since, we even became great friends… But that’s another story.”

By the end, Scarecrow and Dorothy couldn’t help but applaud. The ponies bow to them, as their new friends continue clapping.

“Well, I certainly didn’t know you were all heroes,” Dorothy said. “Now this Equestria of yours sounds more amazing than I imagined.”

“You know, I’d give all the stuffing from my left leg to visit such a place,” Scarecrow adds.

Every pony giggled at his choice of words.

“That won’t be necessary, darling,” Rarity replies. “But maybe after we meet the Wizard, I don’t see why you can’t come over for a visit.”

“Ah mean, we’ve had a hoot-and-nanny time traveling and meeting ya’ll,” Applejack smiled. “Mind you, I dunna know how it works but we ponies sure like meetin’ new friends.”

“Oh yes, we love meeting new visitors,” Pinkie said, excitedly. “Spoiler alert: If you do come, I’m throwing the biggest welcome party Ponyville… No, ALL of Equestria has ever seen! Oh yeah!”

The group laughs as they proceed down the path leading them through the forest. As they trek down, from the corner of her eye, Twilight thought she saw a flash of black-and-green disappear behind a tree.

“Hold on a moment,” Twilight announced, pausing a moment.

The group stops, turning to her with confusion. They watch as Twilight slowly and cautiously trots toward the tree. Slowly, she looms behind the tree only to find… Nothing. Nothing stood there, which was rather strange as she thought she saw someone… Familiar.

“You okay, Twilight?” Scarecrow asked.

The alicorn Princess turns back after a moment.

“Yes, it’s alright,” Twilight nods, uncertain. “I just thought I saw something… Or someone.”

“Oh!” Dorothy cried. “Apples! Oh, look!

The whole group turn to Dorothy, then face toward where she’s looking. Before there very eyes, there were indeed large apple trees all around them. Granted, not as many as Sweet Apple Acres, but there was such an abundance of fresh, juicy red apples ready for picking.

“Awesome!” Rainbow Dash said. “I’ve been dying for some chow.”

“There was plenty of corn back in the fields,” Rarity points out “But I do agree: I could go for a bite myself.”

“Well, come on ya’ll,” Applejack said. “Least we can do is gather up some viddles while we’re here.”

Dorothy approaches on apple tree, reaching toward one apple just within arm’s length. Suddenly, just as she picked the apple off the tree branch, the tree itself seemed to snatch the apple and smack her hand away.

“Ouch!” She cried.

The group, wide-eyed and shocked, witnessed the scene before their eyes.

“G-G-G-Girls,” Fluttershy whispered, fearfully. “D-Did that t-tree just m-move?”

“No way!” Rainbow scoffed. “It’s probably this place playing tricks on us, again.”

“Hang on, ya’ll,” Applejack said. “Ah’ll get ‘em down.”

Applejack stretches her hind legs, approaches toward one tree, turns herself around, and delivers a nice, strong buck against the bark.

“Hey, that hurts!” A voice cried.

“Sorry about that,” Applejack replied, then turns back. “Huh?!”

“What do you think you’re doing?”

Every pony froze. They all looked up at the tree and the other one, noticing not only was it moving… But they were talking. As if that wasn’t enough, they could see the front of the tree motion as if it had almost a human face… Almost.

“We’ve been walking a long way and I was hungry and –” Dorothy began.

“Um Dorothy, I think we’ve got a bigger problem,” Twilight interrupts, facing the tree. “Excuse me, uh… ‘Sir’, did you say something?”

“She was hungry!” The tree said to another.

“She was hungry!” The other tree said, mockingly.

“Well, how would you like to have someone come along and pick something off of you?” The first tree asks, facing Applejack. “Or kicking you on the side?!”

“I’m terribly sorry ‘bout that,” Applejack apologized. “It’s just what ah do back home fur harvest season. Nothin’ personal.”

“Oh dear, I keep forgetting I’m not in Kansas,” Dorothy said.

“Or Equestria,” Spike said. “I mean we do have trees that move in the Everfree Forest, but that’s beside the point.”

But Scarecrow merely frowns at the tree. He knew Dorothy and her friends were hungry after such a long walk. There was no telling when they’d find the next village or town and they wouldn’t get far without nourishment or sustenance. Then, as if an idea popped in his head, he beckons Applejack and the others. The ponies, Spike and Dorothy lean in to listen.

“I’ve got a plan on how to get you all some apples,” He whispered.

“Whatcha got in mind, partner?” Applejack asked.

“Trust me,” He answers.

Although they didn’t know what Scarecrow was planning or even if it was a fool-proof one, nevertheless the ponies and Spike nod showing they trust him. The Scarecrow stands back up and puts the plan into motion.

“”Come along, ladies and Spike,” The Scarecrow began. “You don’t want any of those apples.”

“Huh?” Spike asked, not following.

Whatever Scarecrow was doing, the Tree itself took great offense to the straw man’s words.

“What do you mean ‘they don’t want any of those apples’?” The tree asked, offended. “Are you hinting my apples aren’t what they ought to be?”

“Oh, no!” The Scarecrow mocked. “It’s just that they don’t like little green worms!”

“Oh you…!”

The tree lunged toward the group, but they all escaped and ran off to the side as the Scarecrow brushed off the tree’s attempt. Fortunately, seeing as how they were rooted to the ground, the trees were unable to follow them.

“That was your plan?!” Rarity shouts. “How is verbally bashing those trees going to help us?!”

“I’m showing you how to get apples,” Scarecrow whispers.

The Scarecrow makes a mocking gesture at the trees, who start picking apples off their branches and hurl them toward the Scarecrow, who fell back after getting an apple in the face.

“Oh, now I get it!” Spike realized, stepping. “Hey blister lips! Your momma was a rocking chair!”

“You can’t… Say that to me!” The trees yelled, between throws. “I’ll… Show you! I’ll give you little green worms!”

The girls and the rest narrowly dodged the apples the trees were pelting, the latter completely unaware of what they were doing. Rainbow narrowly dodged the airborne apples, as if this were a game of dodgeball. This was making one tree very mad.

“Hold you still, you little…!” The tree barked.

“HA! You couldn’t even pitch ONE inning!” Rainbow mocked, shaking her rear.

“WHY… YOU…!”

Meanwhile, Twilight and Rarity dodge the other apples and at one point using their magic to actually catch the apples in mid-air and casually stuff them into Twilight’s saddlebag. Poor Fluttershy barely dodged an apple as some would bounce right in front of her or having to duck some near her mane. Before she knew it, she catches a few apples with her tail (Like during her ‘Buck-ball’ games) and surprisingly starts juggling them between her hooves.

“Hey,” Fluttershy said. “I didn’t know I could do this!”

“Hey, you can’t do that!” The trees shout. “STOP THEM!”

Meanwhile, Pinkie made this out to be like a fun little game with the trees hurtling apples at her, some of which ended up going through her mane. Like what she did with the trees, she merely laughed and giggled at their attempts even blowing a few raspberries. The trees were far from pleased.

“MISS ME! MISS ME!” Pinkie said, singing. “NOW YOU GOTTA KISS…”

One apple did manage to get into her mouth before she finished, interrupting her little song. Pinkie eventually clamps her jaw against the side of the apple as it fell to the ground. She starts chewing the juice slice in her mouth, as a smile forms in her face.

“Mmm! Juicy!”

Meanwhile, Applejack was dodging apples and managed to duck one, when suddenly there was a loud ‘CLANG!’ In the chaos, Applejack paused and looked back as if the tree hit something very hard.

“Now that’s an odd sound for an apple to make… OW!”

An apple hit the farm pony on the side of her head, causing her hat to fall off. Now Applejack turned to the tree angry and had just about enough with being pelted by fruit, even though the plan was working. To add a slight comeback, Applejack reels around and bucks one apple so hard it explodes right on a tree’s face as the tree tried to clean it off.

“Sorry… NOT sorry!” Applejack said, putting her hat back on.

Eventually, enough apples were stripped from most of the branches. Though the Scarecrow took the worst of it, being pelted by so many, the entire group found enough apples on the ground to collect. More than enough to eat for the remainder of their journey.

“Hooray! Hooray!” Scarecrow cheered. “I guess that did it! Help yourselves!”

“I gotta admit, buddy,” Rainbow praised. “That was a pretty good idea!”

“Don’t you mean an ‘awesome’ idea?” Pinkie asked.

“Ah, come on, Pinkie. I don’t see ‘awesome’ all the time!”

“Sure, ya don’t,” Applejack smiled.

“How did you know that would work?” Spike asked the Scarecrow.

“I didn’t,” The Scarecrow replied.

Every pony were about to ask what the Scarecrow meant to say, but they were too hungry to care and just shrugged it off.

“I’m just glad my mane wasn’t too messed up,” Rarity replied, turning to one side. “Um, Fluttershy dear. You can stop doing that right now.”

The group soon noticed that Fluttershy was a little carried away, distracted by her juggling with the apples. Upon being spoken to, Fluttershy immediately stops as all the apples, apart from one, fell onto the ground. Fluttershy smiles nervously, cheeks blushing, then proceeds to lightly eat the one apple she caught.

Every pony else wandered the grounds, picking up every apple they could find. Twilight, Applejack, Scarecrow and Rarity went off in one direction, taking their share and filling it into Twilight’s bag. In the meantime, Dorothy, Fluttershy, Rainbow, Spike, and Pinkie went to the other side to gather their own pile.

As Dorothy leans down to pick up one apple, she noticed something rather… Odd. There was a large metallic object that looked strangely like a foot. She gave a light tap on the foot and the leg, which made a metal clanging. As she slowly gets up and looks upward, she notices more metal made out legs… Then a torso… A set of arms, one holding an axe… And even a human-like head. 

As Spike met up to give Dorothy whatever his little arms could carry, he gave a little cry of surprise and almost dropped his stash. Before the two, standing by a rather big tree partly chopped through and near an abandoned looking cottage, with an uplifted axe in his hands, it appeared to be some sort of man, yet made entirely of hollow tin. He was slightly rusted, but he appears to be some tin-smith’s masterpiece. His tin head and arms and legs were all jointed upon his tin torso, but he stood perfectly motionless, as if he could not stir at all. This was one of the most astonishing things either Dorothy or Spike had ever come across in their young lives.

“Hey, guys!” Spike called out. “I think we found something over here!”

“What is it, sugar cube?” Applejack called out.

“Why, it’s a man!” Dorothy called out. “A man made out of tin!”

Every pony else and the Scarecrow immediately rushed over to see what Dorothy and Spike were talking about. Sure enough, it was a tin man standing there clear as day.

“Wow!” Rarity marveled. “This is the most bizarre, yet intriguing piece of art I’ve ever seen!”

“Must be some kinda sculpture or something,” Applejack suggests.

“Yeah! Like something made for a commercial on pasta, with hungry children chasing it!” Pinkie added, gleefully.

“Yeah, sure Pinkie,” Twilight said, distractedly. “Whatever you say.”

“It does look rather charming,” Fluttershy admits, brushing off the leaves.

“Well, whoever made it sure put a lot of detail into this hunk of tin,” Rainbow said, tapping the torso.

It was then they all heard something, like a very muffled voice they could barely hear. But the oddest part was that it was coming from the tin man himself. The group leaned close trying to make it out, as if the voice tried to speak.

“Did you say something?” Dorothy asked.

The muffled voice squeaked again, desperately trying to communicate. Pinkie smiled so huge it’s impossible to describe the length in words.

Or because we didn’t want to make this chapter any longer than it is.

What are you complaining for? I'm doing all the writing.

I'M the one you asked to do the editing!

Oh, hush!

“Ooh! Ooh!” Pinkie bounced. “I love guessing games! Okay, let me see. Um… Him… Two words. Okay, let’s see. Two words… First word…”

“PINKIE PIE!” The group shout, loudly.

“We’re trying to concentrate!” Twilight shouts, exasperated.

Pinkie Pie instantly hushed, as her demeanor changed slightly to sadness and disappointment. As if that wasn’t enough, her mane went flat like a deflated balloon.

“I’m just trying to have some fun,” Pinkie said, sadly.

The ponies and Spike felt bad, they knew Pinkie was trying to lighten the mood. One thing they’ve known about her over the years is that she’d make fun out of ‘everything’, even at the worst of times. But right now, they are separated from home (Two homes, technically), lost in a world completely different from their own, a homicidal witch out to get them, and there’s barely a time or place for jokes. Nevertheless, snipping at their friend didn’t make it any easier as they sat alongside Pinkie Pie.

“We’re ever so sorry darling,” Rarity said, sweetly. “We didn’t mean to shout.”

“We’re just under a lot ah pressure, that’s all,” Applejack added. “We’re just tryin’ to get Dorothy and ourselves home.”

“We never meant to hurt your feelings, Pinkie,” Fluttershy offered, quietly. “We’re oh so very, very sorry.”

Pinkie was touched by her friends words, but still she felt a little disheartened. But for more than what just happened.

“You think I don’t know how important it is to get home? You think I purposely make a fool out of myself just because we’re in a bad situation? That I’m just the ‘silly, side character whose only meant to be the butt of jokes amongst her friends’?”

“Pinkie Pie…” Twilight began.

“I’M… NOT… FINISHED!” Pinkie yelled, then took a deep breath. “We’re stuck in another world, with no idea how to get back to either Kansas or Equestria, and ole ‘Greenie Meanie’ chasing us for reasons that don’t make sense even to me! I’m not as stupid as every pony makes me out to be, or those ‘writers’ on the internet. I know we’re in a pickle and chances of us succeeding our unlikely. But I’m just doing what Pinkies do best: Keeping every pony’s spirits up. Is that really so wrong?”

“We appreciate it, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight understood. “And you’re right… Maybe we’re not being fair to you… I’m not being fair to you. You’ve never let us down when it matters, and we should ‘never’ forget that. You’ve been a good friend and I promise you this: When we get back to Equestria, if and when we do, we’ll have a humongous party and you can plan whatever you want.”

“… Anything?” Pinkie asked, her spirit lightens.

“Anything,” Twilight nodded.

The whole group, especially Spike, nods. Then suddenly, Pinkie’s mane pops back to normal, as she jumps and cheers, prancing around the Tin Man.

“OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! OH MY GOSH! This is gonna be so amazing! Oh, I better get cracking on party plans, plot permitted. I’m going to think of a recipe for a cake fitting for the occasion. Hmm… We’ll definitely need some decorations… Oh… I’m so happy!”

As Pinkie rambled on, the whole group looked at each and smile at having Pinkie Pie back. Suddenly, they hear another muffling sound coming from the ‘Tin Man’ whose been trying to get their attention for hours.

“Mmm mmm!” The tin man muffled. “MMM MMM!”

“Any pony figured out what he’s sayin’?” Applejack asked.

“Oil can!” Pinkie Pie said.

The whole group turned to the party pony flabbergasted.

“How’d you know that’s what he said?” Dorothy said.

“That was going to be my first guess!” Pinkie smiled, then thought. “Okay, maybe my second… Seventh… Upteenth?”

“He said ‘oil can’,” Dorothy thought.

“Oil can what?” Scarecrow said, confused.

“No, no, no,” Twilight shook her head. “’Oil can’, like something you use for maintenance.”

“Oil can?” Dorothy wondered. “Oh!”

It was then she noticed a small tin oil can, just sitting on a nearby tree stump. She quickly runs and snatches it up.

“Oh, here it is!” Dorothy replied, coming back. “Where do you want to be oiled first?”

She asked the Tin Man, but only a muffled response came out from his mouth. The Scarecrow listened very closely, then grabbed the oil can.

“He said his mouth,” Scarecrow answered.

Making sure the can works, the Scarecrow begins spraying oil all over the Tin Man’s mouth.

“Here,” Dorothy points out. “Here.”

“The other side,” Scarecrow instructs, handing the can to Dorothy.

“Yes…” Rarity said, inspecting. “A little over here… And there… Ooh! Careful, don’t get any on me!”

After spaying both sides, they watch the Tin Man’s mouth slowly shift side to side. Each motion made a loud creaking sound, as it slowly started to open.

“Mm… Mm… Mm… M… My, my, my, my, my goodness!” The Tin Man sighed. “I can talk again! Oh – Oil my arms, please – Oil my elbows.”

They did just as Tin Man asked, oiling his arms and elbows as he sighs with relief.

“Hang on,” Twilight said. “I’ll help you out.”

Using her horn, which began to glow, Twilight Sparkle quietly summons a magical aura surrounding the Tin Man’s arm. The Tin Man looks on as she uses her magic to carefully pull the Tin Man’s arm down. This was very difficult as it gave a bit of resistance. Finally, after a bit more effort, his arm came down along with the axe, which barely missed Spike.

“WHOA!” Spike shouts, jumping out of the way. “Now ‘that’ was a close shave!”

“Sorry, Spike,” Twilight apologized.

She turns toward the Tin Man, who breathed heavily as his eyes were barely open.

“Oh, I’m sorry sir. Did I pull too hard? Did that hurt at all?”

“No, it feels wonderful,” Tin Man answers, relieved. “I’ve held that axe up for ages. Oh…”

“Oh you poor, poor soul,” Fluttershy replied, soothingly. “How did you ever get like this?”

“Oh… Well, about a year ago,” Tin Man explained. “I was chopping that tree – Minding my own business – When suddenly it started to rain and right in the middle of a chop, I… I rusted solid. And I’ve been that way ever since.”

Dorothy, Scarecrow, and the ponies, yes even Spike, started shifting his tin limbs around getting them in working order. Scarecrow and Dorothy, in particular, kept oiling him to keep him in motion.

“Well, you’re perfect now,” Dorothy said.

“My… My neck. My… My neck. Perfect? Oh – Bang on my chest if you think I’m perfect. Go ahead – Bang on it!”

As instructed, Dorothy bangs on his tin chest. What they receive in return was a perfect echo.

“Beautiful!” Scarecrow said. “What an echo!”

“It’s empty,” Tin Man shook his head sadly. “The tinsmith forgot to give me a heart.”

“No heart?” The group asked.

“No heart. All hollow.”



Tin Man starts to walk, but his legs are still a bit rusty. Tin Man stops as one of his joints sticks. Dorothy quickly re-oils them again, Tin Man walks a few more steps, then the other knee sticks. Meaning more oil for him. He turns to bow toward the group but stumbles backward a bit. He quickly caught himself and before their eyes he starts to dance.

The others watch him dance in amazement as he moves around. He stops for a moment to tap his chest, makes the whistle in his funnel hat blow as two tuffs of smoke pop out amazing every pony. They all look over and notice Dorothy and Scarecrow whispering something back and forth. Dorothy gestures Twilight to her, as the princess leans over so her friend can whisper in her ear.

“I think we should let him come with us,” Dorothy suggests. “To see if the Wizard can get him a heart.”

“That’s an amazing idea!” Twilight whispers back. “I feel bad for him; such a poor soul.”

They both nod in agreement, as the Tin Man continues dancing. He jumps forward slightly, folds his arms, then locks in that position. Suddenly, he starts leaning to his side and the whole group rushes to steady him. As he steadied, he starts leaning the other way. This continues for a moment or two, until Scarecrow and a few ponies stay on one side while Dorothy and the others stand on the other to keep him still.

Just then, the Tin Man starts to fall again but Scarecrow grabbed onto his arm while the ponies bit into his back to pull them both back. But the Tin Man stumbles so greatly, the Scarecrow and the ponies tumble to the ground. Eventually, he collides his back upon a tree stump and every pony runs to his side.

“Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, are you alright?” Dorothy asked.

“I’m afraid I’m a little rusty yet,” He responds.

“Sweet Celestia, that was so cool!” Rainbow pats Tin Man’s back.

“I must agree, darling,” Rarity agreed. “A momentous performance! Simply divine!”

“Now that’s what I call some good old-fashioned Pinkie Pie fun!” Pinkie added.

Dorothy and Twilight both look at each other, nodding as they approach the Tin Man. Dorothy oils the Tin Man some more while he’s still sitting.

“You know, we were just wondering why you couldn’t come to Emerald City with us to ask the Wizard of Oz for a heart,” Dorothy offered.

“You really deserve to have on, Mr. Tin Man sir,” Twilight said. “If we’re able to help you get it anyway, we certainly will.”

“Emerald City?” Tin Man asked. “Why, that’s a long and dangerous journey. And it might rain on the way.”

“But you’ve just been saying how much you want a heart,” Spike points out.

“We promise to keep the oil can handy,” Fluttershy added.

“Well, suppose the Wizard wouldn’t get me one when we got there?” Tin Man asks.

“Oh, but he will!” Dorothy insists. “He must! We’ve come such a long way already.”

Suddenly, a wicked cackle startles the group causing them to turn toward the roof of the little house. There, looming over them, the Wicked Witch herself cackled at them.

“You call that long? Why, you’ve just begun!”

The Witch turns toward the ponies, Spike and Dorothy smiling evilly at the frightened menagerie.

“Forgotten about me, eh?” The Witch asked, snarling. “Well, I haven’t forgotten about you!”

“I knew it was you!” Twilight glared. “It was you standing behind that tree when we got here!”

The Witch merely cackles again before she continues.

“Helping the little ladies along, are you, my fine gentlemen?” She growled. “Well, stay away from her! Or I’ll stuff a mattress with you!”

The Witch refers to the Scarecrow, pointing toward the frightened man. Even the Tin Man points to the trembling Scarecrow before she turns to him.

“And you! I’ll use you for a bee-hive!”

Just then, she summons a ball of fire in her hand, ready to hurl it.

“Here Scarecrow! Want to play ball?”

Cackling, the Witch hurls the fireball toward them. Hitting the ground, it burst into flames starting a bigger fire. Scarecrow scrambles to get as far away as possible, while Dorothy screamed in terror. Rainbow Dash watches Fluttershy and Tin Man, who remove his tin funnel hat, put the fire out. She turns back, frowning toward the Witch and gets in a fighting position.

“Alright, that’s it!” Rainbow shouts. “I’ve had enough!”

Rainbow Dash takes off into the air, hurtling straight toward the Witch, who readies herself with her broomstick in hand.

“BATTER UP!” She shouts and swings.

Dash manages to duck the oncoming blow, flying around her.

“Missed me tall, green and ugly!” She mocks.

The Witch swings the broomstick again, with the same results as Rainbow ducks and dodges.

“Strike Two! Strike Three! Four! Five! Six! YOU’RE OUT!”

Rainbow flies away, blowing a raspberry at The Witch’s face. Growling, the Witch prepares another fireball. Just as she was about to throw it, she found the flame entrapped in a magic aura. The flame itself turned into a little ball of snow and ice, much to her confusion. Then the aura vanishes, and the snowball explodes in the Witch’s hand, making it steam. Gasping, the Witch quickly smacks the melted snow off along her dress and quickly blows the steam away while her hand slightly sizzles. She turns toward Twilight and Rarity, their horns glowing and fighting faces on.

“Why, you little…”

Before she can do anything, Rainbow Dash flew down and lands a right hoof to the Witch’s nose. She groans in pain and recoils slightly, clutching her nose. Twilight flew up and knocks the broomstick out of her hand. It fell off the roof and lands toward the ground, as Pinkie Pie snatches it in her teeth and runs off.

“NO!” The Witch screamed. “GIVE THAT BACK!”

Just as Twilight and Rainbow join together, diving for another attack, the infuriated Witch threw her arms out toward them. A magical force seemed to halt the two ponies and propel them back in the air. She disappears in a puff of red smoke, before reappearing on the ground. She runs after Pinkie Pie but stops and ducks a purple ball of magic flying passed her.

“Don’t you dare touch her, you monster!” Rarity warns.

“Oh, I’ll do far worse than that, my dear!” The Witch snarls.

Rarity fires off a barrage of magic beams from her horn, as Spike breathes fireballs beside her and fires at the Witch. The Witch conjures a forcefield that deflects the attacks, which the two barely duck. With them momentarily distracted, she continues her pursuit toward Pinkie Pie, who feels her tail caught in a magic grip. Pinkie feebly tries to run, toward nowhere, as the Witch approaches Pinkie Pie and snatches her broomstick back. The party pony in position, The Witch gets ready to swing.

“FORE!!!”

She swings and nails Pinkie in the rear, causing her to scream and fly toward Rarity and Spike, crashing into them like a bowling ball and piling onto the ground. The Witch cackles victoriously, but it’s short lived when a lasso came flying. It snatches her broom and tugs it away, as The Witch turns toward Applejack who caught the broom. The Witch growls and lunges her arm out, as the rope comes to a halt and released her broom.

Diving from the air, Twilight and Rainbow recover and charged toward the Witch on foot. The Witch had flicked her wrist, grinning evilly as the lasso hogtied Applejack by itself (Much like how a certain ‘Great and Powerful’ pony did), as Twilight and Rainbow charged. They were about to strike the Witch, who teleports behind them and grabs Rainbow’s tail and Twilight’s saddlebag. She twirls them around and around like a double hammer throw.

“I’m… Gonna… Be… Sick…!” Rainbow shouts.

After a few more seconds, she hurls them toward Applejack as the lasso hogtied them as well. Twilight’s saddlebag came loose during the throw, now in the clutches of the Wicked Witch who looms toward the fallen ponies.

“This was very amusing, but I’m not done with you yet, pretties!” The Witch warns. “Mark my words: I will get those ruby slippers back and as soon as I do, I will destroy each and every one of you ponies, and your meddling dragon, once and for all. I will even make your friends watch!”

The Witch cackles madly again, grabbing her broomstick before disappearing in another cloud of red smoke. Dorothy, Scarecrow and Tin Man run up to help the ponies and baby dragon back on their feet. Dorothy unties Rainbow, Twilight and Applejack. Fortunately, years living on a farm in Kansas taught Dorothy a thing or two about hogtying. Eventually, every pony was back on their feet, but they were sore and dizzy from their little battle.

“Ow, my aching head!” Pinkie cried, rubbing her noggin.

“Your head?!” Rarity complained. “What about my mane? It’s a mess! It’ll take me ages to restore it to its former glory!”

“Sure, because that’s the ‘worst possible thing’,” Rainbow mocks, stretching her wings.

“Oh, don’t mock me, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity whines.

“Seems we’re the ones a bit rusty,” Applejack sighs.

“That was the scariest encounter we’ve had all day!” Fluttershy whimpered.

“And yet she just let us go!” Spike points out. “But why?”

“I don’t know, Spike,” Twilight sighs, breathing heavily.

“I’m not afraid of her,” Scarecrow speaks up. “I’ll see you all get safely to the Wizard now, whether I get a brain or not! Stuff a mattress with me! Hah!”

“I’ll see you all reach the Wizard, whether I get a heart or not,” Tin Man adds. “Bee-hive – Bah! Let her try to make a bee-hive out of me!”

Tin Man snaps his fingers, which makes a ‘clanking’ noise to his surprise. Dorothy embraces her pony friends and Spike in a big hug.

“Oh goodness, are you all alright?” She asked, concerned.
Every pony groaned, but nods, nevertheless.

“Just fine and dandy,” Applejack responds. “A little banged up though.”

“Just wait till I see that Witch again,” Rainbow growled. “I tell you it… Is… On!”

“I can’t believe you’d put yourselves in danger like that,” Dorothy said, frantically. “You could have gotten killed.”

“Believe it or not, Dorothy,” Twilight said. “We do this all the time back in Equestria.”

“Indeed darling,” Rarity adds. “You won’t believe the number of times we’ve stared danger in the face. Usually we come out victorious, to every pony’s shock… Even ‘non’ ponies.”

“It’s just that the Witch is so wicked,” Dorothy said, frightened. “I don’t think either of you ought to come with me. I’ll only get you into more trouble already.”

“Oh, don’t think we’re going to stand by and let her get away with fireballs,” Scarecrow said. “Are we, fellas?”

“No, sir!” Tin Man nods.

“No way, no how!” Spike adds.

“We’d do it all again, if only to protect ya’ll,” Applejack assures.

“Oh, you’re the best friends anybody ever had!” Dorothy smiles, then thinks. “And it’s funny, but I feel as if I’ve known you all the time.”

“Now that you mention it,” Fluttershy said, facing Scarecrow and Tin Man. “They do remind us of some old friends we met in Kansas, almost as if we never left them. But that couldn’t be true, could it?”

“I don’t see how,” Scarecrow replies. “You all weren’t around when I was stuffed and sewn together, were you?”

“And I was standing over there rusting for the longest time,” Tin Man adds.

“And it was a freak accident we ended up here in the first place,” Twilight spoke.

“Still, I wish I could remember,” Dorothy sighs, then smiles. “But, I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. We know each other now, don’t we?”

“That’s right,” Scarecrow smiled.

“We do,” Tin Man smiled too.

“And we wouldn’t trade you guys for anything!” Twilight added.

The ponies and Spike all gather together with their new friends, giving them all a big group hug.

“To Oz?” Scarecrow asked.

“To Oz!” Tin Man declares.

“To Oz!” The group announced.



The group proceed down the Yellow Brick Road, past the abandoned cottage and through the dark forest. It wasn’t until a few moments later Twilight remembered something. She looks behind her, then twirls around, only to face a stunning revelation.

“Oh no!” She cried frantically. “Oh no, oh no, oh no! This is bad! This is bad!”

“Twi, are ya’ll alright?” Applejack asked, concerned.

“No, no I’m not alright!” Twilight panicked. “My saddlebag’s gone!”

“Oh, come on!” Spike groaned.

“Really Twilight, darling,” Rarity scoffed. “It’s just a saddlebag. You can get another one at the shops back home.”

“Besides, if this is about Zecora’s errand, she’s not one to get angry,” Fluttershy assures. “Maybe when we get back, you can just go to her cottage and explain what happened.”

“No girls, you don’t understand!” Twilight insists. “Zecora’s ingredients are one thing! But the entire future of Equestria itself rests in that bag!”

In an instant, as of the world itself stood still, Twilight’s friends and Spike froze on the spot. Slowly, they turn toward Twilight, who appeared to have a look of regret.

“Twilight, what are you talking about?” Rainbow asked.

“Girls… Spike…,” Twilight sighed. “There’s something I should’ve told you…”

<>

Meanwhile, in the darkest corners of Oz, where nothing but an old castle rests on the cliffs of foreboding mountains, the Wicked Witch of the West flies toward the place she calls home. The Witch herself flew through the archways toward her private chambers, greeted by a single inhabitant, Chistery, her faithful flying monkey. The Witch storms through her chambers toward her crystal ball sitting at the center of the room.

“Those stupid, meddling little ponies!” The Witch growled. “I swear I’ll bring an end to them and that horrible little girl if it’s the last thing I do!”
The Witch conjures her magic, summoning a huge fireball and lunges it toward a large stack of books sitting in a corner. Chistery jumps with fright, hooting and hollering as the burning pages float from the air as she fumes.

“Where did they even come from, anyway? What makes them so special?”

It was then she realized she still had Twilight’s saddlebag clutched in her other hand. She quickly approaches a table, setting the bag down.

“There has to be something in here that can tell me about them.”

The Witch claws her way through the saddlebag and pulls out an assortment of items. A bouquet of flowers (Ripping the heads off the stems), some apples (Too fresh for her), and even some gemstones, all of which she hurls out the open window. But it was the next thing she pulled out that intrigued her. In her hands, it appears to be an ancient tome bound in a golden cover, a pony head fashioned on it. There was one thing she noticed, as she banged her green fist on the cover.

“A hollow book?” She asks herself.

She proceeds to open the book, turning the pages toward the middle. It was there she found a large section had been hollowed out as what she see leaves her stunned. Inside there appears to be five golden necklaces and a golden tiara, each of them with jewels shaped in a different symbol: A balloon, a butterfly, a diamond, a lightning bolt, an apple, and a magic star.

Though these symbols looked familiar, it wasn’t the jewelry itself that made her smile. No, what really peaked her interest and let a cackle loose is what the page called them and what they do…

”The Elements of Harmony,” The Witch cackled. “Yes… Tell me more, so I can unlock your secrets and exploit those ponies!”
> The Cowardly Lion
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

While Dorothy and her new best friends continued down the road, the ponies and the baby dragon stayed behind to listen to Twilight’s confession. As Twilight Sparkle explained herself, the Mane Six and Spike could not believe their ears. They just couldn’t believe it; the Elements of Harmony were still intact. Now currently in the Wicked Witch’s grasp, Celestia knows what untold horror she could unleash. For a while, neither one said a single word after this shocking revelation… But not for long.

“So wait a minute!” Rainbow Dash spoke. “Let me get this straight: You, Twilight Sparkle, supposedly the smartest pony in our team, had the Elements of Harmony with you… The wholetime?!”

“Yes,” Twilight nodded, guiltily. “I’m afraid that’s true.”

“How in the hay is it even possible?” Applejack asked. “Didn’t Sombra destroy ‘em that there one time?”

Twilight kept looking toward the ground, brushing her leg back and forth. The Princess of Friendship was too embarrassed and ashamed to even look at her friends, not even Spike.

“Well… It’s like this,” Twilight began, sighing. “It was after we defeated Sombra and saved Equestria. I had returned to where the Tree of Harmony stood, to gather the remaining pieces of the Elements to return to the Princesses. But when I got there, I had discovered that the elements themselves have restored themselves. I couldn’t believe my eyes they were still intact after that horrible battle; but there they were, just sitting right near the tree as if nothing happened. And soon enough, the Tree of Harmony restored itself too.”

Every pony faced each other, more confused than they’ve been so far. True, the Tree of Harmony ‘did’ regrow when their pupils, the Student Six, decided to make it into their clubhouse, but hearing about the Elements was brand new to them. As if this whole journey wasn’t confusing enough, this revelation really took the cake. Still, they kept quiet as Twilight kept explaining.

“I couldn’t figure it out myself,” Twilight continued. “So I gathered the Elements and brought them back to my castle for further research. I studied through each and every page of that tome, over and over, not just trying to find out ‘why’ they were restored… But ‘how’ they managed to survive. But no matter how many times I searched or how much time I spent studying, I couldn’t find anything. I was about to give up right then; until, I realized something.”

This grabbed every pony’s attention, as they leaned closely to hear it.

“What did you find out, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

“It was when we realized it was ‘never’ the Elements themselves that granted us our power, when our ‘friendship’ was our greatest magic to put an end to Sombra, the same magic that helped us defeat Chrysalis, Tirek and Cozy Glow all at once. I may have put too much thought into the ‘actual’ Elements, but I was wrong! It was always ‘us’ who represented them, our friendship that always wins in the end. Soon as I realized that, by using that ‘power’ to defeat Sombra back then, that was more than enough to restore them.”

Every pony thought about it, something none took into consideration. Sure, they always knew their friendship was ‘strong’, but they usually realized on the Elements to solve their problems… Perhaps, too much. But that day, it took them fully using the power of their friendship (And a craft draconequus) to save Equestria from a revived monster. If what Twilight was saying is true, that it took them to ‘fully’ embracing the friendship that saved their home on multiple occasions, it’s possible that same power is what restored the Elements of Harmony themselves.

“You know, when you put it that way,” Spike spoke. “That actually does make sense.”

“Maybe so, Spikey-wikey,” Rarity said. “But that still doesn’t explain why Twilight Sparkle brought the Elements in the first place!”

“Why did you never tell us in the first place?!” Rainbow asked, accusingly.

“Believe me, I wanted to tell you guys so badly,” Twilight said, shamefully. “I've been testing the Elements to determine if the magic is truly intact; apart from turning into the tiara and necklaces, they weren’t doing anything. I didn’t know ‘how’ I was going to tell you without getting your hopes up. For a while, I’ve kept them hidden in the library until I could determine the right time to explain. But then Zecora’s errand came up, so I figured I’d hide them in the book in my saddlebag to perhaps ask her for advice on what to do. Then that television appeared, we end up in one place then another, and… And… Well, you know the rest.”

“So what you’re sayin’ is… You’ve been lyin’ to us for weeks?” Applejack asked, disappointed. “Months? A year?”

Twilight merely nods, unable to say anything.

“Well… That’s just great!” Rainbow shouts, frustrated. “I think I speak for every pony else when I say… That was the STUPIDEST thing you’ve ever done!”

“I know…” Twilight said, regretfully.

“We’re barely here for a day and now the Elements are in the clutches of a dangerous witch, one we know nothing about, and we can’t even go back home until we get them back!”

“Rainbow does have a point,” Spike admits. "It wasn't a very smart move to bring them here."

“And all this would be avoided if you told us the truth,” Rarity added.

“Not like this is the first time you’ve done this,” Pinkie points out. “You should know by now we’d understand!”

“It is what friends are for,” Fluttershy whispered. “We always hoped you’d remember that.”

“You’re right… You’re absolutely right,” Twilight nods. “I’m really sorry, but I’m more than just sorry. I promise you, from now on, no more secrets. I will tell you absolutely ‘everything’… I swear.”

Twilight Sparkle opens her arms, but every pony was a bit hesitant at first. Not even Spike was sure he should approach, without rubbing his friends the wrong way. But the tempting offer was too much for a certain party pony.

“Ooh… I just can’t stay mad at you!” Pinkie cried.

Pinkie bounced over, hugging Twilight so tight her eyes nearly pop out. But nevertheless she was relieved as eventually every pony else joined. Even though what Twilight had done was rather foolish and against her better judgment, she’s not just a ‘flawed’ friend… She is ‘their’ flawed friend.

“Alright, I suppose I’ll take you at your word,” Rarity said. “But, when we get the Elements of Harmony back, then I’ll properly forgive you.”

“We will get them back,” Twilight assures. “Our friendship is strong. No witch, wizard or any other magic will say otherwise.”

“What about Dorothy?” Applejack asked, looking ahead. “Does ‘she’ know about this?”

“No, not just yet,” Twilight shook her head. “Like I said, I’m not sure if it’s the best time. I’m the one who lost the Elements, not ‘her’.

“Twilight… Dorothy Gale is goin’ to that Wizard, assumin’ he’ll get her home. What’ll she say if she learns ‘we’ can’t leave until we get our elements back? We promised we’d stick by her to get to Emerald City; don’t you reckon she’d do the same fur us?”

“When we get to Emerald City, I’ll tell her the truth,” Twilight assures.

"And you promise you're not hiding anything else?" Applejack asked.

"You have my word!" Twilight nods. "I promise."

“Do you ‘Pinkie Promise’?” Pinkie leans in.

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Twilight spoke.

To demonstrate, Twilight crosses her heart, flaps her wings and pretends to smash said pastry into her eyeball… But unlike her first time, she didn’t poke her eye. Pinkie eyes her carefully, as Twilight smiles nervously.

“I’ll be watching you,” Pinkie said, slowly walking back.

Every pony else nodded, knowing full well what happens when some pony breaks a ‘Pinkie Promise’. Nevertheless, they put it to rest and rushed ahead to catch up to Dorothy and the others. As they continued down the Yellow Brick Road, they noticed the forest grew thicker and dark. Eventually, it was so dark further down the road, the woods almost looked… Spooky. It reminds them of the Everfree Forest back home: The assortment of animals cries echoing, the trees seeming to sway, and a light breeze sending a chill. Even Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow looked frightened as the whole group paused.

“I don’t like this forest!” Dorothy shivered. “It’s – It’s dark and creepy!”

A screech of an owl makes Fluttershy jump onto Dorothy, holding her in a death grip while quivering in fear.

“Wh-Wh-What was that?!” Fluttershy cried, shaking.

Dorothy instinctively stroked her hand along Fluttershy’s mane, trying to calm the startled Pegasus.

“Don’t worry, I know it’s scary,” Dorothy said, comforting. “We’ll get through this, I hope.”

“Please come down Fluttershy, darling,” Rarity smiled. “We’ll keep you safe.”

Seeing her friends reassurance, Fluttershy felt a little better… But not completely. Still, it was more than enough to let go of Dorothy and fly over to hide behind Rarity.

“Of course, I don’t know, but I think it’ll get darker before it gets lighter,” Scarecrow said.

“No… You think?” Spike asked, sarcastically.

“Got the nail right on the head there, Scarecrow,” Applejack agreed.

“Do – Do you suppose we’ll meet any wild animals?” Dorothy asked.

“We might,” Tin Man replied.

Now this made Fluttershy hide further behind Rarity. The fashionista merely rubs her hoof along her friend’s back, doing her best to comfort her. But even Rarity found herself a bit scared.

“Animals that – that eat straw?” Scarecrow gestures himself.

“Some,” Tin Man nods. “But mostly lions, and tigers, and bears.”

Now this caught every pony’s attention, rather quickly.

“Lions?” Dorothy asked.

“And tigers?!” Scarecrow gasped.

“And bears,” Tin Man added.

“I just hope for Celestia’s sake we don’t run into monsters like in Equestria,” Twilight shook. “Chimera, manticores, hydra… Those are the worst!”

“Eeek!” Fluttershy whimpered.

Fluttershy crouched and hugged her hooves around her face, not wanting to look.

“Oh don’t start with that now,” Rarity said. “Fluttershy’s frightened enough already.”

“Please, even if there are monsters in this forest, let ‘em come,” Rainbow boasts. “I’ll lay ‘em faster than a bedsheet!”

“Oh! Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!” Dorothy gasped.

“Chimera and manticores and hydra! Oh, my!” Twilight added.

Soon, the very idea of any creatures Dorothy and Twilight imagined running into began playing in their heads. As they each repeated all the beasts they could find, their friends joined in as they cautiously stepped down the road and slowly turned into a trot.

“Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!”

“Chimera and manticores and hydra! Oh, my!”

“Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!”

“Chimera and manticores and hydra! Oh, my!”

Suddenly, somewhere deep within the forest, a startling roar, was heard. The two groups stop in their tracks looking around in fear.

“What sort of animal is that?” Pinkie asked, looking left and right.

“I-I-I-I dunno!” Spike shuddered. “It-it-it-it – It sounds huge!”

“D-d-d-don’t be fr-fr-frightened,” Scarecrow stutters. “I-I’ll – I’ll protect you.”

“That’s comfortin’!” Applejack shivered.

“Look!” Twilight points.

They all jumped back as a great big Lion, nearly as big as a full-grown horse, bounded onto the road. It growled as it jumped from its perch toward them, causing a few to stumble back.

"Out of the way, fur ball!" Rainbow shouts.

Rainbow Dash zoomed toward the lion, a hoof raised to throw a punch. But with one blow of his paw, the Lion sent the Pegasus spinning over and over into the air.

“WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!” Rainbow screamed, spinning.

“RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight and Fluttershy shout, flying toward her.

The alicorn and Pegasus managed to catch Rainbow Dash, who began seeing lions running around as her eyes roll. Dorothy, Pinkie, Applejack and Rarity hid behind a tree while Spike ducked behind a rock just his size. The Lion growls at Scarecrow, then Dorothy and finally the Tin Man. His golden colored eyes watch them, waiting for them to make a move. Then, to the surprise of the group, the Lion stood upon his hind legs and raises his paws like he was ready to fight.

“Put em’ up! Put em’ up!” The Lion beckons. “Which one of you first? I’ll fight you bother together if you want! I’ll fight you with one paw tied behind my back. I’ll fight you standing on one foot. I’ll fight you with my eyes closed.”

He shuts his eyes quick, then opens them to catch Tin Man clutching his axe, trembling in the corner.

“Oh – Pulling an awe on me, eh?” The Lion asked.

The Tin Man merely shook some more, as the beast looms toward Scarecrow.

“Sneaking up on me, eh?” The Lion asks. “Why!”

The Lion then snarls toward Tin Man, trying to intimidate him. Sure enough, it worked.

“Here – here,” Tin Man shuddered. “Go ‘way and let us alone!”

“Oh, scared, huh?” The Lion chucked. “Afraid, huh? How long can you stay fresh in that can?”

The Lion laughed at his own joke, much to poor Tin Man’s expense.

“Come on,” The Lion beckons. “Get up and fight, you shivering junk yard!”

Then the Lion turns to Scarecrow again.

“Put your hands up, you lop-sided bag of hay!”

“Oooh… I’m gonna press him into jerk cider!” Rainbow shouts.

It took every ounce of Twilight and Fluttershy’s strength to prevent Rainbow Dash from rushing down there to teach the lion some manners. But still, they feared for their friends as they looked scared.

“Now that’s getting personal, Lion,” Scarecrow points out.

“Yes,” Tin Man smiled. “Get up and teach him a lesson.”

“Well – What’s – wrong with you teaching him?” Scarecrow shook.

“Well – Well --, I hardly know him.”

Suddenly, Toto’s barking drew everyone’s attention. Thinking he now had an enemy to face to protect his mistress, Toto barked toward the lion. The little dog and Spike stood by a tree with their fighting faces on, Spike having emerged from hiding with his stubby arms raised.

“You leave our friends alone, you big bully!” Spike shouts.

“Well, I’ll get you both, anyway, Pee-Wee,” Lion grumbled.

Spike yelped, as he and Toto quickly run behind the tree. The great beast had his mouth open to bite their heads off.

“Twilight, help!” Spike shouts.

Twilight and Dorothy, fearing their friends would be killed, and heedless of danger, quickly run behind the tree, searching for the baby dragon and the dog as the lion searched as well. Reunited, all four of them ran away, with Spike on Twilight’s back and Dorothy carrying Toto. As the lion chased after them, Dorothy turns around and slaps his paw. The stunned lion backs away, crying.

“Don’t you dare bite Spike!” Twilight yelled.

“Shame on you!” Dorothy yelled.

“What – What did you do that for?” The lion whimpered. “I didn’t bite him.”

Seeing the lion cry, the others emerge from hiding, Fluttershy and Rainbow landing on the ground, and stood side-by-side with Dorothy.

“No, but you tried to!” Rainbow growled.

“It’s bad enough picking on a straw man,” Dorothy added. “But when you go around picking on poor little dogs and dragons—”

“Well, you didn’t have to go and hit me, did you?” The lion whimpered. “Is my nose bleeding? Is that a bump?!”

“Of course not,” Fluttershy whispered.

The ponies and Spike shook their heads in disbelief, seeing the Lion practically use his own tail to wipe away his tears. Such a might beast and he’s no more harmless than a pussycat.

“My goodness, what a fuss you’re making,” Rarity scolds. “Well, naturally, when you go around picking on things weaker than you are – Why, you’re nothing but a great big coward!”

“You’re right – I am a coward,” The Lion cried. “I haven’t any courage at all. I even scare myself. Look at the circles under my eyes. I haven’t slept in weeks.”

“Why don’t you try counting sheep?” Fluttershy offered. “That’s what I’d do whenever I’m afraid to sleep at night.”

“That doesn’t do any good,” The Lion replied. “I’m afraid of ‘em.”

“You’re afraid of sheep?” Spike asked. “Oh, that’s too bad.”

“Don’t you think the Wizard could help him too?” Scarecrow asked Dorothy.

“I don’t see why not,” Dorothy responds.

“Agreed,” Twilight nods. “Mr. Lion, why don’t you come along with us? We’re on our way to see the Wizard now.”

“To get ‘em a heart,” Applejack motions to Tin Man.

“And him a brain,” Tin Man motions to Scarecrow.

“I’m sure he could give you some courage,” Dorothy added.

As reassuring as they sound, Lion continues to cry and whimper.

“Well, wouldn’t you feel degraded to be seen in the company of a cowardly lion?” Lion asked, crying. “I would.”

“Oh, of course not, darling,” Rarity said, sweetly. “That just gives us all the more reason to help you.”

“If we can help you get your courage in any way, we will!” Pinkie smiled.

“Gee, that’s – That’s awfully nice of you,” Lion cried. “My life has been simply unbearable.”

“Oh, really?” Twilight asked, frowning.



“To Oz?” Twilight asked.

“To Oz!” Spike declares.

“To Oz!” The ponies announce.

Now fully revamped, strong and confident, the whole team skip merely down the Yellow Brick Road once again. There they were, fully prepared to reach the Emerald City to meet the Wizard himself. The Wizard who could, hopefully, make things better for each and every one of them. And this time, nothing could stand in their way…

Or, so they thought…
> Poppies
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

On the outskirts of Oz, at the castle of the Wicked Witch, the green-skinned sorceress herself was hard at work studying through the Tome in search for the answers she craved. Ever since she discovered the Elements of Harmony, she intended to use their magic to further enhance her power, along with the ruby slippers, this way her power would be unmatched. Once she finally seizes control over Oz, she’d set her sights on this ‘Equestria’ the ponies came from and whichever worlds are out there. But for the moment, however, she found… Nothing.

The Wicked Witch searched everywhere, page after page, neither which told her how to use the crystals for herself. All it said was whomever ‘owns’ the Elements can harness their magic. She slams the heavy book shut.

“Stupid little ponies!” She groans, irritated. “There has to be something in here that will allow me to use these powers for my own purpose! But what could it be!?”

Growling, blinded by anger and frustration, the Witch hurls the tome across the room, and it hit hard against the wall.

“I must find a way,” The Witch thought, scratching her chin. “But how do I get it?!”

Just then, her thoughts are interrupted by the screeching of Chistery, who jumps up and down near her crystal ball.

“This better be good or I’ll cook you for dinner,” She threatened, then thought. “Hmm… I always wondered what ‘monkey’ tastes like. Bah!”

The Wicked Witch strode over toward the crystal ball, as the image of the ponies and their friends appear. Before her eyes, they were walking side-by-side through the dark forest. The very sight brought a smile to her face, as the Witch cackled.

“A-hah! So! You won’t take warning, eh? All the worse for you, then. I’ll take care of you now instead of later! Hah!”

The Witch makes her way back to the table she was at, grabbing a few ingredients sitting next to her ornate hourglass with red sand. She mashes the ingredients together with a pestle and mortar, as she returns to her crystal ball.

“When I gain those ruby slippers and discover how these Elements work, my power will be the greatest in Oz!” The Witch declares. “And now, my beauties! Something with poison in it, I think. With poison in it, but attractive to the eye – And soothing to the smell!”

The Witch laughs, as the smoke slowly rose from the mortar. She waves the pestle in a circular motion around the crystal ball. The image of the group quickly disappears, soon replaced by a field of beautiful pink-and-red flowers.

“Poppies! Poppies! Poppies will put them to sleep! Sleep… Now they’ll sleep…”

<>

Meanwhile, the motley group continued their trek through the woods. Eventually, they notice a light at the end signifying the end was upon them.

“Hey guys!” Twilight calls out. “I think I see the end of the forest up ahead!”

“Oh, thank goodness!” Dorothy sighs, relieved. “I thought we’d be stuck in this forest forever.”

“M-M-Me too!” Fluttershy whimpered.

Rarity continues comforting Fluttershy, just as she’d been doing since they first entered the forest.

“No need to worry, Fluttershy dear,” Rarity said, sweetly. “We’re almost out of the woods.”

“So, you guys have faced danger and dastardly villains where you come from?” Lion asked the ponies. “And on a daily basis, too?”

“Yep!” Rainbow nods, flipping in mid-air. “We’ve tussled with the biggest, toughest and meanest villains Equestria has to offer. I don’t need to brag…”

“Too late,” Applejack bluntly said.

“… We always come out on top,” Rainbow concluded, glaring at Applejack.

Lion just kept hold of his tail, quaking with fear.

“B-B-But, w-weren’t you s-scared?” He shook.

“Ah course we were scared,” Applejack responds. “We done battles with some ah the worst beings in Equestria. We never know whether or not we’d actually survive.”

“Why didn’t you just run away?” Lion asked.

“Because Equestria is our home,” Rarity answers. “We’re not about to let no pony destroy it.”

“Rarity’s absolutely right, Lion,” Twilight agreed. “When some pony, or ‘something’, threatens your home and the people you care about, running away only makes it worse. Sometimes, you’ve got to put your fears aside and fight for those you care for. It’s all part of being courageous.”

“Wow!” Lion smiled. “I hope when the Wizard gives me some courage, I’ll be just as brave as you girls.”

“Uh-hum,” Spike coughed, folding his claws.

“Oh yes, you too little fella.”

Nevertheless, the Mane Six and Spike felt touched by Lion’s words. Of course, they’ve heard the same thing back in Equestria, hundreds of times and from thousands of other ponies… Even ‘non’ pony clans. But hearing it from a new friend, in an entirely new dimension, for some reason it made them feel… Special.

Soon enough, the light in the clearing grew brighter as the group got close. Finally, the group reached the end of the woods with Dorothy walking slightly ahead of the others. She stops just at the edge of a huge field, where poppies bloomed all over the hills, gazing ahead wide-eyed.

“There’s Emerald City!” Dorothy pointed.

As every pony emerged from behind her, they all caught of glimpse of what she said. Their eyes grew wide, their smiles so bit it’s impossible to describe.

And there is was, sitting on the opposite side of the poppy field, lies a towering city made entirely of sparkling, green emerald. As the sun bounced off the surface, many of the Emerald towers seem to glisten and sparkle brightly. There also lied a faint outline of emerald-green light emanating from the glistening city. Never before had this close-knit group seen anything as beautiful as the city itself. Even Canterlot pales in comparison to such a beautiful sight.

“I’ve never seen anything so magnificent in all my life!” Rarity said, teary-eyed.

“No kidding!” Rainbow marveled. “This place outshines Canterlot, Cloudsdale, and Manehatten put together!”

“No disrespect to any of those cities,” Twilight assured. “But I must agree with you, Rainbow Dash.”

“Yowie wowie!” Pinkie exclaimed, excitedly. “You have could have one super-duper, big party in there every day!”

“Ah can’t believe we’re almost there at last!” Applejack said.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Dorothy praised. “Just like I knew it would be. He really must be a wonderful Wizard to live in a city like that!”

“Well guys, we’re on the last stretch,” Twilight announced. “We just need to pass these fields and we’re home free!”

“Well, come on, then,” Lion ushered. “What are we waiting for?”

“Nothing!” Scarecrow exclaimed. “Let’s hurry!”

“Yes, let’s run!” Dorothy agreed.

Dorothy, along with Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity take off in a run and/or gallop, brushing past the poppies. Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy took advantage of their wings, flying above the group. They were all in a mad dash to cross the poppy field, to reach the one place they’ve sought for throughout the entire journey.

Scarecrow and Tin Man managed to get a bit further ahead of the group, gesturing the others to move faster.

“Come on!” Scarecrow shouts. “Come on!”

“Hurry!” Tin Man adds. “Hurry!”

The rest of the group ran as fast as they could. But for some reason, they quickly found themselves slowing down.

“Hey, what’s going on here?” Applejack asked, struggling.

“I don’t know, darling, but I…” Rarity said, tiredly. “Ah… Excuse me. But I seem to be getting tired…”

“Me… Ah!” Pinkie yawned. “Me too…”

By now, Scarecrow and Tin Man reached the top of a little hill. From there, they got a clear view of Emerald City itself.

“Oh! Oh, come on, come on!” Scarecrow encouraged them.

“Look!” Tin Man admired, pointing. “You can see it here! It’s wonderful!”

“Emerald City!”

Lion managed to catch up, but Dorothy struggled to keep up. She and the three ponies finally made it up the hill, breathing heavily. She, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie seemed to stagger a bit.

“Oh… Oh…” Dorothy slurred. “What’s happening? What is it?”

The ponies and baby dragon in the sky observed this, quickly descending down. They land upon the ground wondering what’s up.

“What’s wrong, guys?” Rainbow asked. “You look as if you just ran a marathon!”

“Ah don’t know, sugar cube,” Applejack responds, yawning.

Concerned, Twilight studied Applejack, her eyes struggling to stay open.

“Gee A.J., I haven’t seen you look this tired since you tried harvesting your entire apple crop by yourself,” Twilight observed.

“I can’t run anymore,” Dorothy sighed, her hand on her head. “I’m so sleepy.”

“I know how you feel, darling,” Rarity said, tiredly. “It has been… Ah… Been a long day…”

“Here, give us your hands,” Scarecrow told Dorothy. “We’ll pull you along.”

“And we’ll… Ah,” Rainbow yawned, tiredly. “Um… We’ll carry you guys.”

“Oh, no – Please,” Dorothy staggered. “I have to rest for just a minute. Toto! Where’s Toto?!”

“And… Spike?” Twilight asked, looking around. “Where’s Spike?!”

The little dog and dragon in question had been lying completely on the ground, fast asleep beside each other. Sure enough, Dorothy lays on the ground beside them and fell asleep herself.

“Oh, you can’t rest now!” Scarecrow urged. “We’re nearly there!”

“What did she…” Lion spoke, tiredly. “… Do that for?”

“You know, now that I think about it,” Rainbow replied, lying down. “A little nap… Doesn’t sound so… Bad…”

“Agreed, darling,” Rarity said, falling over.

“Oh… My…” Fluttershy whispered.

“We’ll move along… Momentarily boys…” Twilight said, between yawns. “But first… I need to close my eyes… For just a… Few… Minutes…”

One by one, all the other ponies fell to the ground and were out cold.

“Hey, Twilight!” Scarecrow shouts.

“Rainbow Dash!” Tin Man shouts.

“Fluttershy!” Lion shouts.

“Everyone, please! You can’t sleep here!” Tin Man cried. “You can’t sleep in the middle of the field! Spike! Girls!”

<>

Back within the castle, The Wicked Witch and Chistery spy through the crystal ball as the plan soon put into motion. She laughs at the scene as they all succumbed to her spell, one-by-one.

“Call away! Call away!” The Witch cackled. “They won’t hear any of you again! And there’s nothing you can do about it, either! The plan is working smoothly; soon those ruby slippers… Will be mine!”

The Witch cackles while Chistery hoots and hollers, jumping up and down as the magic continues.

<>

Back in the Poppy fields, seeing all his friends losing consciousness upon the fields seemed to hurt him. Tears swelled down his tin cheeks, as he started to cry.

“Oh – Oh, poor them!” Tin Man cried.

“Don’t cry!” Scarecrow yelled. “You’ll rust yourself again!”

“Comin’ to think of it,” Lion said, tiredly. “Forty winks wouldn’t be bad.”

The Lion was about to fall over, until Scarecrow and Tin Man caught him and held him up.

“Don’t you start it, too!” Scarecrow said.

“Oh! We ought to try and carry Dorothy and the girls,” Tin Man suggests.

“I don’t think I could, but we could try.”

“Lets!”

“Yes.”

Releasing Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow reached out to Dorothy. But in doing so, Lion fell over and fell fast asleep.

“Oh, now look at him!” Tin Man exclaimed. “This is terrible!”

“Here, Tin Man,” Scarecrow instructs. “Help me!”

They try to lift Dorothy, but they couldn’t lift her up. It seemed as though she was rooted to the ground. They tried the same for the ponies, even Spike and Toto, but much like Dorothy they were stuck to the ground.

“Oh, this is terrible!” Scarecrow realized. “Can’t budge her an inch! This is a spell, this is!”

“It’s the Wicked Witch!” Tin Man shouts, panicking. “What’ll we do? Help! HELP!”

“It’s no use screaming at a time like this!” Scarecrow shouts. “Nobody will hear you! Help! HELP! HELP!”

They yell for help for but a minute or two, nothing seemed to happen at first. Then suddenly, something strange happened. Snow began falling from the sky, the sky filled with little flurries that soon littered the poppy fields. Little did anyone know, Glinda herself was orchestrating this magic having bee watching the group for some time.

Course, if we were to let it slip this was Glinda’s doing, we’d be here all day.

Quite right, good sir.

“Look, it’s snowing!” Scarecrow said, excited. “It isn’t snowing. It couldn’t be! But it is! No, it isn’t! Yes, it is! Oh, maybe that’ll help!”

At that moment, oblivious to Scarecrow and Tin Man, Dorothy and the others slow stirred and opened their eyes.

“Oh, but it couldn’t help!” Scarecrow sighs, looking down. “It does help! Dorothy, girls, Spike, you’re waking up!”

Dorothy and the others sat up, yawning to themselves. They all looked around and noticed the snow flying around them.

“What happened?” Twilight asked, rubbing her eyes.

“I’m not sure,” Fluttershy admits. “But I think it’s a lovely sight!”

“Hey! Hey girls,” Pinkie nudged her friends, pointing. “Look at Dashie!”

They turn toward Rainbow Dash, who was still sleeping, lying besides Applejack, her hat off to the side. If you could imagine the scene, in Pinkie’s perspective, this was adorable. Applejack lying on her side, her head on top of Rainbow Dash’s hoof even holding it with her own. Meanwhile, Dash herself lied alongside her and looked so comfortable. Applejack’s ears flick on Rainbow’s nose, as the Pegasus scrunched her face a bit. But then she smiled, leans in and gives a light peck on the ear as Applejack adjusts and smiles. Until, she frowns and slowly opens one eye as she came to her senses.

“Dash?” Applejack said.

“Hmm?” Rainbow responds, opening one eye.

“Why'd ya kiss my ear?” Applejack asked.

Confused, Rainbow looks at Applejack then notices something else.

“Why are you holding my hoof?”

Applejack paused, when another thought came to her and felt something… Off.

“Where’s yer other hoof?”

“Between two pillows.”

All at once, Applejack’s eyes went wide.

“THOSE AREN’T PILLOWS!”

The two girls screamed and jumped into the air, shaking themselves off realizing what just happened. All the others looked on, Twilight looking away, Fluttershy ducking down, and Pinkie just barely containing a chuckle. Even those who were still waking up turned to the side, not quite getting what just happened.

You really wanted to do that joke badly, didn’t you?

Mm-hmm *Smirks*

Taking deep breathes, rubbing their hooves and adjusting themselves, while Applejack grabs and puts her hat back on, they never take their eyes off each other.

“WE NEVER SPEAK OF THIS!” The two ponies yelled. “Agreed? Agreed!”

To ensure they are cool, Applejack and Rainbow Dash give a hoof bump as the others looked confused, unsure of what to say. Rainbow Dash in particular looks toward Twilight Sparkle, who casually lifts her eyes to the falling snow in the sky. Rainbow Dash looks up, then to Twilight, then up again.

“Hey, don’t look at me!” Rainbow said, defensively. “How could I produce this weather if I was asleep?”

“Too bad it was so short,” Spike replied. “That was the best nap I’ve had in days.”

“Unusual weather we’re having, ain’t it?” Lion chuckled.

Every pony else chuckled at this scene. Then Dorothy looks over and noticed that Tin Man had since rusted stiff again, standing in place like a statue.

“Look! He’s rusted again!” Dorothy cried. “Oh, give me the oil can! Quick!”

They all scurried back onto their feet quickly, as Scarecrow hands Dorothy the oil can. Urgently, she oils Tin Man’s joints as every pony starts shaking them about to get them working again.

“A hot water bottle would be good if we had one,” Spike remarks.

“Hmm… I knew I forgot to bring something for this story,” Pinkie thought.

“PINKIE PIE!!!” The girls exclaim.

<>

Back at the Witch’s castle, the Witch and Chistery watch the whole scene unfold from the crystal ball. One moment the farm girl and ponies were fast asleep, next thing they knew it starts snowing and somehow it got them awake.

“Curse it! Curse it!” The Witch shouts, angrily. “Somebody always helps that girl and those pathetic ponies!”

The Witch walks away from the crystal ball, returning toward the table where the Elements of Harmony lay in position. She snatches them up, clutching them in an iron grip as she snarls.

“What is it with these cursed stones?! How can I unlock their magic?!”

The Witch slams them onto the table in frustration, growling to herself. It was then she noticed the tome, which she threw aside earlier, was slightly open. She slowly approaches it and picks up the book. On the page, it showed a huge circular diagram, section off into six areas, each marked by one of the Elements. It showed how they all came together at the very center of the page. The Witch eventually put it together.

“So, that’s how it works, is it?” She smiles, evilly. “I must have them together in one place to get these things to work. But how do I get them here?”

The Witch thought as she walked back to the crystal ball, gazing at the image of them fixing the Tin Man. Her eyes narrowed in on a certain little dragon, sitting on Twilight’s back, helping them move his tin joints. She smiles wickedly again, as an idea sparks in her head.

“Yes… I know exactly what I must do to bring them here! Shoes or no shoes, I’m still great enough to conquer them. And woe to those who try to stop me!”

She begins digging through her things, seeking her broomstick as the image continues.

<>

Back with the group, they had just finished fixing Tin Man. To their relief, he was as good as new once more.

“Oh, thank you all so much!” Tin Man sighed. “I thought I’d be stuck forever!”

“It was no trouble at all dear,” Rarity responds.

“Guys, look!” Fluttershy points.

They turn toward Fluttershy’s direction, until they could see they were halfway still to Emerald city.

“Look how close we are!” Twilight exclaimed, happily.

“Come on, guys!” Rainbow shouts, flying into the air. “We’re almost there!”

“You’re right!” Dorothy said. “Emerald City is closer and more beautiful than ever!”

Pinkie (Sings):
We’re out of the woods
We’re out of the dark
We’re out of the night!

Pinkie and Fluttershy (Sings):
Step into the sun
Step into the light!

Twilight and the others shrug and join along, being it’s not the first time they break out in song.

Ponies and Spike (Sings):
Keep straight ahead for
The most glorious place
On the face of the earth or the sky! 
Hold onto your breath
Hold onto your heart
Hold onto your hope.
March up to that gate
And bid it open…

As the ponies and Spike sing a travel song, they, along with their new friends, skip and galloped through the rest of the poppy field (Rainbow Dash preferring to fly over). Soon, they were back onto the Yellow Brick Road and it wouldn’t be long till they finally reach the Emerald City.

<>

At the same time, the Witch pulled her broom from down below. She rushed out onto the balcony of her chambers, cackling as Chistery looked on.

“To the Emerald City, as fast as lightning!” The Witch declares.

Soon, the Witch flew off the balcony, cackling madly as she flew off toward Emerald City. It was a race against time for the Witch, as her pursuit for that horrible farm girl and those meddlesome ponies continues…
> Emerald City
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


(Start at 0:48 and stop at 1:01)

“Open!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Pinkie belts out, in a high voice.

“Pinkie!” Twilight shouts.

Pinkie pauses during that long note and cheerfully turns toward Twilight Sparkle.

“Yes, Twilight?” Pinkie asks, fluttering her eyes.

“We’re already here,” Twilight points ahead.

Sure enough, in between the merry tune and cheerful stroll, the entire group stands upon the gates leading to Emerald City.

“Huh, that was fast,” Pinkie replied.

The other ponies and Spike just shook their heads, but they were pleased nonetheless. After everything they’ve been through, their final destination laid just inches away and soon the time to meet the man who can help them will soon come to pass. Of course, there was still the Wicked Witch to deal with and the fact the Elements of Harmony are in her clutches… But they agreed to cross that bridge when it comes to it. But for now, they’re just happy to arrive at Emerald City.

And there they stood, the end of the Yellow Brick Road, right at the big emerald door leading into the city itself.

“Well, that’s certainly one heck of a gate,” Applejack points out.

“It simply must be one amazing city, darling,” Rarity added. “No wonder they’d need a gate this big to keep it all in.”

“So, how do we get in?” Twilight asked.

“Simple really,” Pinkie answered. “Check this out!”

Suddenly, they heard a ‘RING-RING!’ as every pony turned toward their pink party pony friend, swinging from a rope just by the giant door. Doing so made a ringing sound from the bell just hanging above the gate. After two rings, a man with a bushy handlebar mustache and weird hairdo opens a circular portion of the door. He wore an emerald green goat, with large buttons and a high-green collar.

“Who rang that bell?!” He yelled.

“That would be me, Mister Mustache sir!” Pinkie answered, waving while holding the rope.

“Pinkie, don’t be rude,” Rarity scolds.

“I’m terribly sorry about our friend, sir,” Twilight apologized. “She’s just really excited to finally be here.”

“Well, can’t you read?” He asked.

“Read what?” Scarecrow asked.

“The notice!”

“What notice?” The group asked.

“It’s on the door, plain as the nose on my face!”

The man points toward the door, but saw nothing was there while every pony looked rightfully confused.

“It – Oh –“

Quickly, the little man peeks back inside and returns carrying a board with words on it. He slaps it into place along the nail against the door, slamming his little window shut.

“'Bell out of order, please knock',” The group read.

Dorothy grabs the nearby door-knocker, giving it a good hard knock. The doorman opens his window once more and stuck his ehad out.

“Well, that’s more like it,” He replied.

“Was that really necessary?” Rainbow asked. “You were there the first time; why not just open the door?”

“She’s got a point, yah know?” Applejack agreed. “Why go through all the fuss puttin’ up a board when yah already answered?”

“Bah, you don’t understand because you don’t man the gate,” He responds. “He who controls the gate, makes the rules.”

“Is that really how it works here?” Spike asked Pinkie.

“I don’t even know how it works in the books,” Pinkie replied, taking out a copy. “But to be fair, it ‘is’ a good read.”

“Now come on, sir,” Twilight implores. “We didn’t come to cause trouble; we just want to come inside.”

“I’ll be the one who makes the calls,” The doorman responds. “Now, state your business.”

“We want to see the Wizard,” They all said, in unison.

“Ooh!” The doorman gasps. “The Wizard?”

“You bet,” Rainbow said. “We gotta get in because we need his help.”

“Yeah, it’s ultra-super-duper-REALLY important,” Pinkie rambles. “We wanna get inside to meet this Wizard guy, who everyone says is the best! I hope he’s really nice, sweet, grants wishes, and loves ponies. Oh! Oh! Maybe we can have a big party—“

Nobody was really paying attention to the party planner’s rant, as the doorman starts talking over her.

“But nobody can see the Great Oz!” The doorman shouts. “Nobody’s ever seen the Great Oz! Even I’ve never seen him!”

“Whoa! Whoa! Time out let me get this straight!” Spike spoke. “You’re saying you’ve never seen your own Wizard?”

“Then h-how would you k-know there is one?” Fluttershy squeaked.

“Because he – I – Oh, you’re wasting my time!” The doorman barks, frustrated.

Just as the man was about to go back inside and shut the window, Dorothy’s voice stops him in his tracks.

“Oh please! Please sir,” Dorothy begged. “We’ve got to see the Wizard! The Good Witch of the North sent us!”

“Prove it,” The doorman said, uncertain.

“Oh, I know!” Twilight spoke. “Dorothy, show him the ruby slippers she gave you.”

“Oh, right!”

The doorman and every pony else peeks down toward Dorothy’s feet. The rubies seem to shimmer and glimmer in the sunlight. This immediately makes the doorman smile in wonder.

“Oh, so she is! Well, bust my buttons! Why didn’t you say that in the first place? That’s a horse of a different color! Come on in!”

The doorman laughs as he slams the small window and the large emerald door slowly opens. Before their very eyes, the entire group smiles at the sight that greeted them. There were so many people walking along the streets, all in different sizes. They each wore a set of green clothing, each one with a variety of haircuts. Some of these inhabitants noticed the arrival of this strange group of visitors passing through their doors; needless to say, Dorothy and the ponies found them rather strange too. All along, Spike couldn’t keep his eyes off all the shiny emeralds that covered the streets and buildings as Twilight Sparkle kept a close watch.

Just then, upon their arrival, a horse-drawn carriage pulls up right in front of them as the driver steers his white horse to stop.

“Cabby! Cabby!” He calls out. “Just what you’re looking for! Take you any place in the City, we does.”

“Well, would you take us to see the Wizard?” Dorothy requests.

“The Wizard? The Wizard?” The cabby thinks. “I – can’t – Well – Yes, of course. But first I’ll take you to a little place where you can tidy up a bit – what?”

“You mean… This place has a ‘spa’!?” Rarity smiles, her eyes widen.

“Ooh boy, here we go again,” Applejack shakes her head, smirking.

Hearing the words ‘tidy up’, Rarity was the first to jump right into the carriage.

“Oh darling, I thought you’d never offer,” Rarity speaks, dreamily. “You have no idea how long I’ve been meaning to get my mane fix and dip myself into a much needed hot bath!”

“Leave it to Rarity,” Rainbow remarks, folding her hooves.

Nevertheless, every pony else hopped along into the carriage. Whether they’d say it or not, they had been traveling for an entire day or so and desperately needed a chance to relax.

“Oh, thank you so much,” Dorothy speaks. “We’ve been gone such a long time, and we feel so mess—“

Dorothy didn’t get to finish when she took a good look at the horse pulling the carriage. Every pony else eventually noticed and were amazed to see this was no regular horse, least not like their Earth Pony friends back home. No sir, this horse, once white in color, now had a purple fur coat just like Twilight’s.

“What kind of a horse is that?” Dorothy marveled. “I’ve never seen a horse like that before!”

“Tah think ya’ll had the company of six colorful, talking ponies with yah this whole time,” Applejack joked.

Dorothy and the other ponies giggled at that statement, they knew Applejack made a good point.

“But even I must admit, I’ve never seen a horse from another world,” Twilight said. “Much less, one with the same color coat as me.”

“It’s a little more ‘grape’ colored,” Spike observed. “But yeah, I kind of see it.”

“No – And never will again, I fancy,” The driver remarks, chuckling. “There’s only one of him, and he’s it. He’s the Horse of a Different Color, you’ve heard tell about!”




The driver laughs as he begins driving the ponies, Spike, Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion all around the city. As they pass through the city, its citizens begin to sing a merry tune.  The entire group was soon led through a set of double doors marked Wash and Brush-Up Co. Once inside, they each were pampered and cared for so magnificently, like they’ve never felt such care in weeks. Three masseurs in particular were currently re-stuffing Scarecrow with the finest straw, not so much he’d get a six pack but to look young and healthy.  There were a few polishers on the other end, oiling the Tin Man and buffing him up a bit.  A few female masseurs gave Dorothy a makeover, even a new hair job. A few gave the ponies massages, brushing their manes and tails till their nice and smooth. Surprisingly, even Rainbow Dash found herself more relaxed than she ever felt before.  Finally, a few masseuses turned Lion’s mane topping it off with a red bow. They also polished and cleaned Spike’s scales, so clean he could see his own complexion. He too gets a red bow atop his little head.

Having been pampered, refreshed and rejuvenated, the entire team was making their way toward the center of town, laughing and chuckling. Suddenly, there were gasps as they were drawn to look toward the sky. Up in the sky, the Wicked Witch flew overhead on her broom, cackling as she created a trail of black smoke behind her. It appeared she was spelling something in the sky.

“Who’s her?!” Lion asked, fearfully. “Who’s her?!”

“It’s the Witch!” Dorothy exclaimed. “She’s followed us here!”

“Can’t that woman just take no for an answer?” Rainbow asked.

“Look!” Spike shouts. “She’s writing something out!”

They all look back toward the sky, seeing the words the Witch had written out.

“’Surrender Dorothy’,” Lion read.

“That no good Witch don’t know when to give up!” Applejack frowned, glaring.

“Hmm…” Pinkie thought, scratching her chin. “That’s strange.”

“What’s that?” Twilight asked.

“Well, we’ve been with Dorothy everywhere. You’d think the witch would at least bring us up.”

“Perhaps that’s a good thing,” Spike spoke, optimistically. “Maybe this means she’s forgotten all about us!”

“Uh, Spike?” Rarity speaks, frowning. “Hate to burst your bubble, darling, but—“

Rarity points toward the sky, as the whole group looks up again. They realize the Witch was NOT quite finished with her writing, as she put some additional words by the message:

“‘And Twilight Sparkle, Spike and Friends,’” Lion finished.

Pinkie turns toward Spike, with that disappointed look.

“And you say that ‘I’ pick the worst possible times?” Pinkie asked, shaking her head.

Spike chuckles nervously, scratching the back of his head.

“Whoops! Heh-heh! Guess she’s still pretty mad at us, after all.”

“Oh dear…” Fluttershy said, nervously.

Dorothy can only gasp in concern, as her friends held onto her protectively.

“It that hag comes anywhere near Dorothy, I’ll knock her so hard it’ll make her henchmen dizzy,” Rainbow growled.

“Wait! You know she’s got henchmen too?” Pinkie asked.

Before the ponies can elaborate, chaos erupts within Emerald City as the welcoming party and the city’s residents began expressing their concerns over the situation.

“Dorothy?” One woman asked. “Who’s Dorothy?”

“And what ponies is she talking about?” Another man asked.

“The Wizard will explain it!”

“To the Wizard!”

“To the Wizard!”

Soon every citizen of Oz, men, women and children, ran towards the center of the city, shouting the Wizard’s name.

“Dear, whatever shall we do?” Dorothy cried.

“We need to get to the Wizard right away!” Twilight said, urgently.

“She’s right, everyone,” Rarity agreed. “We simply must hurry if we’re to see the Wizard!”

Nodding in unison, the whole group raced through the city following the citizens toward the town center. They knew they had to get there as quick as possible to meet the man himself, the very Wizard they’ve been searching for.

For at this moment, he was their one and only hope.
> Oz the Great and Powerful
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The motley crew, consisting of Dorothy Gale, little Toto, Twilight Sparkle, Spike, and all their friends, rushed as quickly as possible toward the center of Emerald City. A large group of citizens gather before the entrance, which they can only assume leads to the Wizard himself. Ever since witnessing that threaten message written in the sky, courtesy of the Wicked Witch, they knew they had to meet with the wizard as soon as possible. They knew little to nothing about this magical man, other than what the locals mention of him. But that did not matter to either one.

Even if the ponies themselves could not get back to Equestria, not with the Elements of Harmony in the Witch’s grasp, he was their only hope to ensure Dorothy is safe. 

They maneuver their way through the citizens, trying to get to the front. A guard to the Wizard’s chambers tried to calm the crowd down.

“Here – Here – Here – Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Stop – Stop – Stop! It’s alright!”

Fortunately, the guard managed to calm the crowd to a degree. As everyone settles in, the ponies and their friends found it easy to sneak through the group as our heroes reached the door.

“Every – It’s all right! Everything is alright! The Great and Powerful Oz has got matters well in hand – I hope – So you can all go home – And there’s nothing to worry about. Get out of here now – Go on! Go on home – I… I… -- Go home.”

As the crowd began to disperse, everyone returning to their homes, the group made it passed the citizens and stood before the guard, who took notice of such an unfamiliar ensemble.

“What do you want?” The guard asked.

“If you please, sir,” Dorothy spoke. “We’d like to see the Wizard right away – All eleven of us.”

“Yes, please sir,” Twilight added, urgently. “It’s very important.”

“Like super-duper-looper urgent!” Pinkie emphasized.

“Orders are: Nobody can see the Great Oz!” The guard explained. “Not nobody – Not no-how.”

Rainbow Dash flew right up toward the guard’s face, glaring deeply.

“Alright, look here buddy!” She growled. “We’ve been through enough obstacles and trouble to get here! We’re not leaving until we meet the Wizard and we’re going in, right now!”

“Oh please!” The guard mocked, chuckling. “I’ve faced more terrifying creatures than you!”

“I’ll show you terrifying!”

Rainbow reeled her hoof back ready to punch the guard, who practically dared her to do it. But suddenly, she found her hoof magically held back by Twilight’s aura. The princess pulled the pegasus back down to the ground, while she frowned.

“Rainbow, please!” Twilight scolds. “We’ve come so far already; don’t throw away a punch on a poor guard.”

“You bet I am,” The guard nods, realizes. “HEY!”

“I’m really sorry about my friend, good sir. “But we must see the Wizard. We’ve all been taken from our home and all we ask is for him to use his powers to send us back!”

Fluttershy slowly walks up beside Twilight, giving her best puppy-dog eye look.

“Please, sir,” She said, innocently.

The guard looked deep in the buttery-yellow Pegasus’ giant eyes; he seemed to sympathize with her.

“Well, I certainly didn’t know that. I suppose when you put it that way… NOT NOBODY NOT NO HOW!!!”

Fluttershy screams, rushing back behind Rarity and Pinkie Pie. She hid behind her friends fearfully, crying as Pinkie tried to soothe her timid friend.

“Don’t you dare talk that way to our friend,” Rarity snarls. “You… You… BRUTE!”

“Nobody sees the Wizard missy,” The guard said. “He’s in conference with himself on account of this trouble with the Witch. And even if he wasn’t, you wouldn’t have been able to see him anyway on account of nobody has – Not even ‘us’ in this Palace!”

“Oh but – But please,” Dorothy begged. “It’s very important.”

“And – And I got a permanent just for the occasion,” Lion spoke up.

“Not nobody, not no-how!” The guard yelled, frustrated.

Suddenly, the guard pulls a horn from inside his cape. He gives a loud blow, that causes the group to reel back and fold their ears.

“Pardon me. We’ve gotta change the guards.”

With that said, he turns heel and makes his way into the sentry house. While in there, unnoticed by the group, he takes his mustache (Which turns out to be fake) and flips it upside down. He turns around and makes his way back from the sentry house, standing before the group once more.

“Now what do you want?” He asked.

“We want to see the Wizard,” The group said, again.

“Not nobody, not no-how!” The guard barked, loudly.

“Hee-hee-hee, that’s super funny!” Pinkie smiled, pointing at the guard. “That’s exactly what the other guy said. Come to think of it, girls, he looks just like that other guy too. Maybe their twins!”

Incredulous, Rainbow Dash slaps her face with her hoof, stretching it down till her face slapped back into place. She takes a deep breath and slowly approaches Pinkie Pie, who merely smiles comically.

“Pinkie Pie… THAT IS THE OTHER GUY!” Rainbow yelled.

Pinkie Pie turned back toward the guard, looking him up and down. Then, she turns back toward Rainbow Dash with a smile.

“Oh Dashie, can’t you tell the difference? This man has an upside-down mustache; the other one didn’t. But ya gotta admit, they’re both very silly!”

Rainbow Dash just hoof-faced at her nutty friend’s incomprehension. Even the guard was getting annoyed, raising his eyes at Pinkie for that remark about his mustache. He was about to shout when the Scarecrow stepped up, having heard enough.

“But she’s Dorothy!” The Scarecrow told the guard.

Wide eyed, the guard takes a good look at the farm girl.

“The Witch’s Dorothy?”

“Yeah, that’s right!” Spike spoke up.

Dorothy and others all nod simultaneously. The guard stutters a bit, as if this new information took him off guard. Nevertheless, he was quick to regain his composure.

“Well – That makes a difference,” He said. “Just wait here – I’ll announce you at once.”

The guard turns heel again, making his way into the Wizard’s sanctuary, closing the two emerald doors behind him. The entire crew could not feel any more ecstatic, knowing that they’d finally meet the Great and Powerful Oz himself.

“Did you hear that?” Scarecrow asked, excitedly. “He’ll announce us at once! I’ve as good as got my brain!”

“I can fairly hear my heart beating,” Tin Man said, clutching his chest.

“I’ll be home in time for supper!” Dorothy smiled.

“We’ll get our Elements back and be on our way home to Equestria!” Twilight said, as her friends nod.

“In another hour, I’ll be King of the Forest,” Lion proclaimed. “Long live the king!”

Gasping, Pinkie Pie digs through her mane and after tossing out some random instruments (Including a certain Yovidaphone) before pulling out a long horn, the kind with a flag on it (In which case, the symbol of their homeland, Equestria). As she plays, the sound of other bugles could be heard as Lion walks up a small flight of stairs to a lush garden as everyone looks on.

Lion (Sings):
If I were King of the Forest,
Not queen, not Duke, not Prince.
My regal robes of the forest
Would be satin, and not cotton, and not chintz.
I’d command each thing, be it fish or fowl.
With a woof and a woof, and a royal growl.

As I’d click my heel
All the trees would kneel
And the mountains bow
And the bulls kowtow
And the sparrow would take wing
‘F – I… ‘f – I… Were King!

Each rabbit would show respect to me.
The chipmunks genuflect to me.
Though my tail would lash
I would show compash
For every underling.
‘F – I… ‘F – I… Were King
Just King!...

Dorothy, Tin Man, and Scarecrow (Sings):
Each rabbit would show respect to him.

Ponies and Spike (Sings):
The chipmunks genuflect to him.

Scarecrow (Sings):
And his wife would be Queen of the May.

Lion (Sings):
I’d be monarch of all I survey…

Every pony bowed for Lion, as Scarecrow and Tin Man grabs a rolled-up emerald carpet before straightening it out. Dorothy and the ponies lead Lion along the carpet, to a large rug embroiled with flowers. Rainbow and Fluttershy lift the ends with their mouth, wrapping it around Lion’s shoulders like a cloak. The others grab along the back and sides, as Lion struts back toward the garden. Tin Man picks up a flowerpot and smashes it with his axe, so it took the appearance of a crown. He places it atop Lion’s head, as Dorothy and the others bow before him again.

Lion (Sings):
Monarch of all I survey…
Mah-hah-hah-hah-hah-hah
Hah-hah-ha-narch!
Of all I survey!

Dorothy slowly approaches Lion, as if she were speaking to a real king.

“Your majesty, if you were king you wouldn’t be afraid of anything?” She asked.

“Not nobody, not no-how!” Lion said, mimicking the guard.

Every pony couldn’t help but giggle at his display.

“Not even a rhinoceros?” Tin Man asked.

“Imposserous!” Lion responds.

“How about a hippopotamus?” Dorothy asked.

“Why, I’d thrash him from top to bottomamus!” Lion brags.

“Supposin’ you met an elephant?”

“I’d wrap him up in cellophant!”

“What about a chimera?” Twilight asked.

“I’d topple him in this or any era!” Lion said.

“Well, how would you deal with a manticore?” Rarity asked.

“I’d scare him from now till evermore!” Lion responds.

“What if it were a brontosaurus?” Scarecrow asked.

“I’d show him who’s King of the Forest!”

“How?” The group asked.

“How?!”

Lion removes the cloak off himself, as he stands high and proud.

“Courage! What makes a king out of slave? Courage! What makes flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?”

“Courage!” They all answer.

“You can say that again!” Lion chuckled.



The Lion laughs for a moment or two, until he realized what just happened. Before he could respond, however, the guard came back out.

“Go on home!” The guard shouts. “The Wizard says go away!”

“What?!” Spike shouts. “But sir—”

“NO BUTS! The Great and Powerful Oz has spoken! Now… Good day!”

The guard turns heel, strolling back into the sanctuary and slams the doors loudly. The mood in the room instantly turns dark, as every pony faces each other.

“Go away?” They asked, in disbelief.

“I – I don’t understand,” Twilight spoke. “How can he just turn us away, just like that?”

“After everything we’ve been through, only to be sent away,” Rarity grumbled. “That – That – That’s just rude!”

“Looks like we came a long way for nothing,” Scarecrow said, defeated.

Dorothy herself could not believe what happened. They finally make it all this way, Glinda promising that the Wizard himself could help her. But now, the Wizard refuses to even see them for only a minute. That she may never get to see either her aunt or her uncle or anyone in Kansas ever again. So crushed, so helpless, she fell to the ground sobbing in defeat.

“Oh – And I was so happy!” She sobbed. “I thought I was on my way home!”

Twilight, Spike and the others couldn’t bear to see their friend in despair. They all approach her, giving her a warm, group hug.

“I’m so, so sorry, Dorothy,” Fluttershy whispered, trying not to cry.

“Me too!” Pinkie frowned.

Twilight uses her magic to conjure up a tissue, which she gives to Dorothy who quickly begins to wipe her eyes.

“Don’t cry, Dorothy!” Tin Man assures. “We’re going to get you to the Wizard.”

“We certainly are!” Scarecrow agreed. “How? How are we?”

“Maybe we can come back tomorrow,” Applejack suggests. “When he ain’t too busy.”

“If it were up to me, I’d go straight in there,” Rainbow adds. “Drag that crummy old Wizard out here and make him see you, myself!”

Dorothy giggled slightly at her spunky friend, but it didn’t stop her from crying. Unbeknownst to this close group of friends, the guard opened the window on the door, watching them all.

“Auntie Em was so good to me,” Dorothy sobbed. “And I never appreciated it. Running away – And hurting her feelings.”

“It’s alright, darling,” Rarity said, softly. “I’m sure your aunt knows how much you love and appreciate her. Nothing can ever change that.”

“I may never know,” Dorothy sobbed, louder. “Professor Marvel said she was sick. She may be dying – And – And it’s all my fault!”

“That ain’t true, Dorothy,” Applejack spoke up. “You know that!”

“Besides, I’m tellin’ ya that guy was just trying to scam you,” Rainbow said. “He doesn’t know anything!”

“Oh, I’ll never forgive myself! Never – Never – Never!”

As Dorothy sobbed, someone else was crying too. They all turned back toward the door and caught sight of the guard, crocodile tears running down his face.

“Oh, oh!” The guard bawled. “Please don’t cry anymore! I’ll get you in to see the Wizard somehow!”

“You will!” Fluttershy cried, tears of joy. “Oh, thank you! Thank you, sir!”

“Come on, thank nothin’ of it! I had an Aunt Em myself once!”

The guard continues to cry, as he closed the window and the doors themselves opened. Dorothy got back to her feet, locking arms with the others as they slowly made their way passed the doors. They walked through a long-arched hallway, which seemed to get darker the further along they went. The ponies and Spike stuck close behind the others, who shook as they walk.

“Wait a minute, fellas!” Lion suddenly spoke up.

“What’s wrong Lion?” Fluttershy asked, quietly.

“I was just thinkin’,” Lion responds, fearfully. “I really don’t want to see the Wizard this much. I better wait for you outside.”

The Lion was about to leave when Scarecrow and Tin Man pull him back.

“What’s the matter?” Scarecrow asked.

“Oh, he’s just scared again!” Tin Man said, shakily.

“Everything will be okay, Lion,” Twilight assures. “This is what we wanted, right?”

“She’s right!” Dorothy agreed. “Don’t you know the Wizard’s going to give you some courage?”

I’d be too scared to ask him for it,” Lion shook.

“That’s okay, Lion ole pal,” Pinkie said, excitedly. “We’ll all ask him for you, right guys?”

Every pony else nodded and smiles assuredly. But the cowardly lion continued to shake, as if unconvinced.

“I’d sooner wait outside,” Lion said.

“But why? Why?” Dorothy asked.

“Because I’m still scared!”

“Oh, come on!” Rainbow Dash groan. “Show a little backbone, will you?!”

Lion was about to respond when suddenly his eyes widen and turns in a circle, screaming in fright!

“What happened?” Scarecrow asked.

“Somebody pulled my tail!” Lion cried.

The Scarecrow looked down and saw Lion had been holding his own tail, scratching the end with his paws.

“Oh, you did it yourself!” Scarecrow points out.

“I…” Lion stutters, looks down. “Oh, I’m such a butter-paws!”

“Oh, brother!” Spike groaned, facepalming himself.

“Here!” Scarecrow said, tugging the tail away. “Come on!”

They all lock arms once more, slowly walking down the hallway. They all stop abruptly when the doors at the end opened themselves.

“COME FORWARD!” A voice boomed.

Every pony and Spike were so frightened, they all jumped on Twilight’s back much like they did at the Castle of the Two Sisters.

“Oh! Come on, guys!” She groaned, knees shaking.

“S-S-S-Sorry Twilight,” Fluttershy shook. “W-W-We j-just feel s-safer here!”

“Tell me when it’s over!” Lion cries, covering his eyes.

Twilight rolls her eyes as the group continues down the corridor. They finally make it into the room, at the very end of the hallway, and what they see next left them stunned.

“Look at that!” Lion cried, pointing. “Look at that!”

Every pony looked as they saw a giant emerald throne, flames shooting from all around, generating red smoke much like the Wicked Witch. Suddenly, a ghostly bulbous green head emerged from the smoke. Fluttershy leapt up, squeaking as she and Lion held each other close.

“I want to go home!” Lion cried. “I want to go home!”

“Me too!” Fluttershy squeaked.

Every pony else just looked upon the giant head, shaking so fearfully they couldn’t move.

“I am Oz, the Great and Powerful!” The Wizard announced. “Who are you?”

The group didn’t answer right away. They just stayed glued in place like they were stuck in cement, quivering before his presence.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” The Wizard boomed.

The others and Spike eventually got off Twilight’s back, pushing her forward. Dorothy slowly started walking forward besides the princess.

“I-I-If you please, I-I am Dorothy,” Dorothy introduced. “The small and meek.”

“And I am Twilight Sparkle,” Twilight adds. “The Princess of Equestria!”

“We’ve come to ask you –”

“SILENCE!” The Wizard boomed.

The flames grew larger, frightening Twilight and Dorothy. They both ran back to their friends, shaking greatly.

“Ohhh!” Dorothy gasped. “Jiminy Crickets!”

“The Great and Powerful Oz knows why you have come,” The Wizard proclaimed. “Step forward, Tin Man!”

The Tin Man shook, trying to protest. But the group push him forward and there he stood in the presence of the Wizard himself.

“You dare come to me for a heart, do you? You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk!”

The flames shot out again, as Tin Man gasped. Though he shook he fear, eventually he found his voice.

“Ohhhh – Yes… Yes, sir – Y-Yes, your Honor. You see, a while back, we were walking down the Yellow Brick Road, and –”

“QUIET!”

Tin Man jumped in fear, running back to the group.

“And you, Scarecrow…”

The Scarecrow clumsily scrambled forward, bowing to the great Wizard.

“… have the effrontery to ask for a brain? You billowing bale of bovine fodder!”

“Y-Yes – Yes, Your Honor,” Scarecrow responds, shaking greatly. “I mean, Your Excellency – I – I mean – Your Wizardry!”

“ENOUGH!”

Scarecrow scampered back to the group quickly.

“And you, Lion!”

Lion shook even more so than all the others, as he placed Fluttershy on the ground. He shakily makes his way forward before the Wizard.

“WELL!”

But this was all too much for poor lion, who staggered a bit before fainting and falls backward with a hard thud. Every pony quickly runs up to him to see if he’s alright.

“Lion?” Twilight asked, worriedly. “Lion, can you hear us?”

“You should be ashamed of yourself!” Rarity yelled, toward the Wizard.

“That weren’t necessary in the least!” Applejack added.

“Frightening him like that, when he came to you for help!” Dorothy concludes.

“Silence whippersnapper! The beneficent Oz has every intention of granting your requests!”

Like a splash of cold water just rushed over him, Lion stood straight up.

“What’s that? What’d he say?”

“Oh – Oh, come on,” Dorothy said, helping him up.

“Huh? What’s he say?” Lion asked.

“It’s okay, Lion,” Fluttershy assures. “He’s going to help us!”

“But first, you must prove yourselves worthy by performing a very small task,” The Wizard explained.

“Oh please, your highness,” Spike chuckled, waving his claw. “We can handle anything you can throw at us.”

“Yeah, so hit us with your best shot!” Rainbow bragged. “We’ll do anything!”

“Bring me the broomstick of the Witch of the West,” The Wizard commands.

Spike and Rainbow’s demeanor instantly went from cocky and brave, to shaky and scared. Rainbow’s eyes turned small as pinpricks, as Spike walked backward towards the others.

“What?” Rainbow asked, quietly.

“BRING ME THE BROOMSTICK…” The Wizard repeats.

“DON’T SAY IT AGAIN!” Rainbow begged.

“If that’s his definition of ‘small’,” Spike said. “I’d hate for him to ask us to do something major!”

“You do realize, in order to get that broomstick, we’d have to kill her right?” Twilight asked.

“Bring me her broomstick, and I’ll grant your request. Now, go!”

“But --- But what if she kills us first?” Lion asked.

“I SAID, GO!” The Wizard shouts.

Lion, so startled, bolted right out of the room and through the corridor as the ponies look on. He ran and ran through the hallway so fast, he jumped right through one of the windows. The ponies, with Spike on Twilight’s back, rushed after Lion and looked down through the smashed window.

“Is he gonna be alright?” Applejack asked.

“Hard to say,” Rainbow answered.

They could hear the faint groan of the lion from somewhere below, like he just had a hard landing.

“He’ll be fine,” Pinkie assures, bouncing away.

“Well girls, looks like if we want those elements back, we have to get them ourselves,” Twilight said.

“Considering all the requests we have to clean up after the princesses,” Spike concludes. “I’d say we’re pretty use to it.”

Twilight Sparkle merely glares at Spike, who chuckles nervously.

“I’ll be quiet.”

All the other ponies faced each other nervously, after Twilight made this conclusion. The only sort of hope they had of getting home, with the Elements safely in their possession, was to go straight to the lair of the nastiest villain they’ve ever met and confront the Wicked Witch themselves.

I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT, YOU –
> Captured
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As the sun descended from the sky, the entire atmosphere took a severe left turn. A once great adventure to meet the Wizard turned dark and sinister, as pitch black covered the land. Our heroes could feel their hearts beat rapidly in their chests, as they slowly crept their way through the heavily wooded, the scariest region of Oz: The Haunted Forest.

An array of creepy sounds and animal noises was all that could be heard, other than their own shaky breathing. Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Lion and even Little Toto weren’t much better, walking shakily through the forest. But they did not go in unprepared: Tin Man held his axe at the ready along with a giant wrench, Scarecrow had a little silver revolver, and Lion brought a huge butterfly net and a mallet. Twilight, Spike, and their friends followed close behind them, looking around. Fluttershy clung very close to Rarity, hiding her face in her mane so as not to see all the spooky things.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, Fluttershy dear,” Rarity consoled her friend. “I’m right beside you.”

“So, let me get this straight,” Rainbow spoke, unbelievably. “Lion’s plan is to catch the Wicked Witch… With a ‘butterfly net’?”

“Don’t see how that there’s gonna do much good ‘gainst her magic,” Applejack agreed. “Not like she’ll just stand idly by and let ‘im capture her.”

“Good thing we’ve still got magic on our side,” Twilight points out. “After all, it’s eleven of us against one of her, right?”

“Hopefully we do better than the last time we took her on,” Pinkie replied. “I still got that feeling my flank from the last meeting; I’d sure like to lose it right now.”

“No sweat, Pinkie,” Rainbow smiled, confidently. “Sure we weren’t ready, but now that we know what we’re up against that Witch is going down tonight!”

As they all continued down the path, they stumbled upon an old sodden sigh with a rather creepy smiling face pointing to the West. On the sign, it read:

Haunted Forest
Witch’s Castle 1 mile
I’d turn back if I were you

Every pony leaned close for a good hard look at the sign.

“I’d turn back if I were you,” Lion read aloud.

Lion nods quickly and turns around to leave, but Tin Man and Scarecrow quickly stop him.

“Oh no, mister,” Twilight scolds. “You’re not sneaking off again; we’re seeing this through to the end.”

Every member of the group nod their heads, in unison. Despite his very cowardly instincts, Lion reluctantly agreed to go on. He starts growling loudly a few times, hoping to intimidate any creatures in the woods. Suddenly, the sound of screeching caused them to turn and spot two red-eyed owls on the branch of a tree. Lion suddenly panicked and turned away running, but soon found himself stuck in a magic purple aura as his legs kept running.

“Put me down!” He cried. “Put me down! Please put me down!”

“Sorry buddy!” Rainbow shook her head. “You’re sticking with us no matter how chicken you are!”

Twilight reels Lion, who was still crying and shaking, back toward the rest of the group. It didn’t get any better when they spot two red-eyed crows looming off another tree.

“From now on, we’re on enemy ground,” Tin Man informs. “You ponies should have something to protect yourself with.”

“Already planned ahead, darling,” Rarity said, showing a spray bottle. “The gentleman at the store were nice to give me this Witch Remover!”

“Does it work?” Dorothy asked.

“No, Dorothy,” Applejack shook her head. “That there’s just some fancy-pants perfume bottle.”

“True,” Rarity nodded. “But I did get a rather charming discount; only cost a few bits.”

“Yeah, great idea, Rarity. We’ll ‘fight’ that there Witch, while you make ‘er smell like a springtime meadow.”

“There’s no need to be snippy with me, Applejack!”

To prove her point, Rarity shoots a small spray in Applejack’s face. Applejack scrunches her face from the smell and gives a light sneeze, before glaring at her friend, who just smirked.

“Gimme that!” Applejack shouts, taking the bottle.

“HEY!”

Applejack hurls the spray bottle onto the ground, which suddenly vanishes in an instant. Applejack and Rarity look at the scene wide-eyed.

“Did – Did you see that?” Rarity whispered.

“Uh-huh!” Applejack nodded.

“Look out!” Tin Man shouts.

In an instant, the butterfly net flies right out of Lion’s paw and they all gasp and scream as it vanishes above the trees. If the group weren’t scared before, they were really feeling the terror of this place now.

“You know something?” Scarecrow asked, shakily. “I believe they’re spooks around here.”

Tin Man scoffed at the idea, even if he was a bit scared himself.

“That’s ridiculous! Spooks! That’s silly!”

“Don’t you believe in spooks?” Lion asked, frightened.

“No. Why only – Oh!”

Tin Man never finished his sentence, when an unseen force pulled him into the air.

“Tin Man!” Pinkie cried out.

“Oh! Oh, Tin Man!” Dorothy cried as well. “Oh!”

“Where’d he go?” Applejack asked, frantically.

Suddenly, they heard a loud ‘BANG’ causing them to turn down the path. Tin Man had fallen from out of the trees, landing hard onto the ground and all his supplies scattering. They all rush up to help him up, aside from Lion.

“Are you – Are you all right?” Scarecrow asked.

“Boy, that was one heck of a fall!” Rainbow said.

Lion just stood in place, clutching onto his tail rather tightly.

“I do believe in spooks! I do believe in spooks! I do! I do! I do! I do! I do!”

<>

Meanwhile, at the Witch’s castle, a large ensemble of flying monkeys loomed around the Wicked Witch herself. The Witch observed the team’s progress through her crystal ball, smirking while seeing the frantic Lion blubbering.

“I do believe in spooks! I do believe in spooks! I do! I do! I do! I do! I do! I do!”

“Ha-ha! You’ll believe in more than that before I’ve finished with you,” The Witch cackled.

She quickly strolls away from the crystal ball towards Chistery.

“Take your army to the Haunted Forest, and bring me that girl, her dog and that pitiful little dragon. Do what you like with the others, but I want that girl and those ponies alive and unharmed! They’ll give you no trouble I promise you that. I’ve sent a little insect on ahead to take the fight out of them. Take special care of those ruby slippers! I want those most of all. Now, fly! Fly!”

As instructed, Chistery and the other monkeys took flight into the sky. Soon, a huge army of flying monkeys followed them, each one screeching until the sky filled with their calls.

“Fly!” The Witch commands. “Fly! Fly!”

<>

The group continued their trek thru the Haunted Forest, hoping they were close to the castle. Suddenly, a yell causes the group to turn around and saw Lion growling at something.

“What’s that? What’s that?” Lion cried, twitching his nose. “Take it away! Take it away!”

Fluttershy nervously approached the Lion and took a close look. Just standing perched on it’s nose was a tiny little bug. Though not like any bug she’s ever seen, it seemed pretty harmless.

“There, there, hold still,” Fluttershy spoke, quietly. “I’ve got it.”

Just as Fluttershy got the little bug, she gave a tiny yelp and waved her hoofs.

“It bit me!”

“Oh!” Dorothy cried. “Something bit me, too!”

Before the ponies can react, they suddenly felt tiny bits on parts of their body. Even around a few… Unmentionable spots.

“AH!” Rarity gasped, glaring at Pinkie. “Pinkie Pie! This is no time for your pranks!”

“Hey, that wasn’t me… YEOWCH!” Pinkie leapt, rubbing her ear.

“OW!” Applejack screamed, rubbing her neck. “Rainbow, quit it!”

“What are you talking abo – OW!” Rainbow cried.

The Pegasus held a part of her flank, where she felt a bite, and hopped in mid-air, running her legs. Spike and Twilight felt bites along them, as Scarecrow and Tin Man looked incredulous at this scene.

“Now come on, girls,” Tin Man spoke. “You’re acting silly – EEEK!”

“Calm down, everybo – OW!” Scarecrow screamed.

Scarecrow jumps in the air, falling to the ground and hopping about. Suddenly, they react to the quivering trees and noise looming all around them. Dorothy and the others tremble and shake, moving around as suddenly they burst into song.  The group start running around, past the quivering trees. Huddling close together, looking around.



The howling wind causes the group to split up. Lion starts running toward a tree, only for said tree to catch hold of Lion’s tail. Scarecrow and Rainbow dash in and frees Lion. But the tree soon catches Scarecrow, who struggles a bit before Dash swipes away the branches freeing him. They rush over to Dorothy and Twilight, who are caught by another tree. Tin Man raises his axe to chop the tree.

“Thar she blows!” Tin Man shouts.

Tin Man strikes the limb, which hits him over the head causing Tin Man to stagger. Soon they all bundle together and sure enough the tune starts getting them to start dancing around in the center as the trees wave side-to-side around them.

“Say!” Pinkie said, cheerfully. “This is actually kind of fun!”

“Yeah, I don’t know why we were so scared,” Spike chuckled, waving a finger.

But sure enough, while the group were cutting the rug, it didn’t long for the flying monkeys to reach the Haunted Forest. As they descended down the area, their screeching caught the attention of some of the group.

“Oh my!” Rarity gasped, pointing. “Look at the size of those birds!”

“Oh, those aren’t birds,” Tin Man replied. “Those are flying monkeys.”

“Oh, well that’s different,” Fluttershy sighed with relief, then her eyes widen. “Huh?!”

“FLYING MONKEYS?!?!” They all screamed.

“INCOMING!!!” Twilight yelled.

Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion quickly dash off into the forest, splitting off in separate directions again. The monkeys soon land on the ground and proceed to chase them. The ponies and Spike all took a stand and decided to fight any monkeys upon them.

Twilight and Rarity shot balls of magic towards the flying monkeys. While some were hit and hurled back, the rest easily ducked and dodged the oncoming projectiles. Rainbow Dash threw several punches, most missing their mark, while Applejack gave a few hard bucks toward a group of monkeys. Some staggered and fell over each other like bowling balls, but they regained themselves and pressed on with the attack. Fluttershy and Lion huddled together, shielding each other as Pinkie took out her new confetti-bazooka and drove the monkeys back firing streamers and everything else.

“Go away now!” Tin Man shouts, swinging his axe.

The Monkeys soon overwhelmed the Tin Man, as one took his axe and cast it aside. Many of them trampled over Scarecrow, ripping him apart piece-by-piece.

“Help! Help!” Scarecrow cried.

“Why, I’ll…” Rainbow shouts, when a monkey tugs her tail. “HEY! Foul! Foul!”

Meanwhile, Dorothy ran as hard as she could calling for ‘help’. But eventually, two monkeys caught up to Dorothy, grabbing both her arms and carried her into the air.

“Help! Toto!” She called out. “Help! Twilight!”

Unfortunately for her, Twilight and the others were too busy fending off the rest of the monkeys. Spike was the only one who noticed and ran up toward Toto, who barked toward the air while Dorothy screamed.

“Hang on, Dorothy!” Spike shouts. “Help is –”

Suddenly, his little mouth was clasped shut by a flying monkey, who holds him tight leaving him unable to move. Another one grabs Toto and together they flew off into the air, the other monkeys following behind. Unaware of what happened, Twilight and the other ponies all gathered together again, just as the last of the monkeys flew off.

“Spike!” Twilight yelled, looking around. “Where’s Spike?!”

“Those mangy monkeys must’ve nabbed him!” Rainbow said.

“Spikey-Wikey!” Rarity exclaimed, loudly.

“Oh, poor Spike!” Fluttershy squeaked.

“We have to go save him,” Applejack said.

Before she could take off after the monkeys, Twilight flew ahead and stops her with her hoof up, shaking her head.

“Twi, what are yah doing? We need to get Spike back!”

“I know, Applejack,” Twilight responds. “But we can’t just run off after them. They could really hurt Spike!”

“Twi ah am surprise at ya’ll!” Applejack said. “I’d figure ya’ll would be the first to wanna go get your number one assistant back!”

Applejack’s words cut Twilight right to the core. Tears streamed down her face, as her anger began to build until she explodes right in Applejack’s face.

“YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT?!?!” Twilight shouts. “You think I want to just leave him? You think I meant for him to be stuck here with us?! I want him back more than anything. But we go after him right now, those monkeys could drop him over the cliff… Tear off his wings… Or worse than that! WORSE than that… What if the ‘Witch’ did that?”

All at once, the tears freely fell down her face, as she collapsed to the ground crying into her hooves. She could not believe it: In one short day, the little baby dragon she hatched from an egg and practically raised her entire life was now in the clutches of a malicious witch. All the other ponies stood quiet; Applejack tipped her hat feeling somewhat ashamed.

“It’s ain’t just about Spike, is it?” Applejack asked, quietly.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen; we weren’t supposed to be here!” Twilight cried. “Ever since I found that television, nothing’s gone as planned. I did not plan to neglect Zecora’s errand to research a human relic or have a portal suddenly pop us here! I did not plan for the Elements of Harmony to be captured or putting any of our friends in danger! All those lessons we learned together, all those adventures we’ve had… And I’m still taking matters in my own hoofs and dragging you along. I’m never going to learn…”

Twilight kept crying, at first no pony said a word. But then, she felt a gentle hoof touch her shoulder. Slowly, she looks up and with the same equally teary eyes, Fluttershy looked onto Twilight.

“We’re so sorry, Twilight,” Fluttershy said sadly. “We didn’t mean to make you feel bad; we should’ve been more understanding.”

“And I should’ve been honest right from the start,” Twilight said, quietly. “Thank you…”

Fluttershy hugs her purple alicorn friend before Twilight can finish. They quietly cry during the embrace, as the others join.

“Don’t you worry, Twilight,” Rainbow said, with conviction. “We’re getting Spike back, together.”

“Yah got that right,” Applejack agreed. “Whatever happens next; we’re in it together.”

“Help! Help! Help!”

Scarecrow’s cries for help draws the ponies to him and they quickly ran over to help. Lion and Tin Man, recovering from their own encounters, ran up toward their friend who they find lying on the ground in a huge mess.

“Oh! Well, what happened to you?” Tin Man asked.

“They tore my legs off, and they threw them over there!” Scarecrow explains, pointing. “Then they took my chest out, and they threw it over there!”

“Well, ain’t that you all over Scarecrow,” Applejack shook her head.

“They sure knocked the stuffing out of you, didn’t they?” Lion asked.

“Don’t stand there talking!” Scarecrow said. “Put me together! We’ve got to find Dorothy and Spike!”

“Dorothy’s been taken too?!” Rarity cried.

“Then we really need to hurry!” Twilight said. “Come on, girls. Help me fix Scarecrow!”

“Now let’s see – This goes…” Tin Man muttered. “Oh, I wish I were better at puzzles.”

Tin Man grabbed different parts of straw off the ground, trying to find the right pieces to put Scarecrow back together. Applejack and Rarity helped out, the latter using her sewing work to mend the pieces. After a little more consoling, Twilight and Fluttershy joined in to help until every pony pitched in.

“Wait a minute,” Lion said, grabbing more straw. “This is the left one. He walks bad enough already.”

“Poor Dorothy and Spike,” Fluttershy whimpered. “Where could those monkeys have taken them?”

“And why did they take them?” Scarecrow huffed. “A fine thing – To go to pieces at a time like this!”

“Now, now, don’t fret,” Tin Man said.

“No need to worry, darling,” Rarity assured. “We shall get you back together in no time.”

“Oh dear, dear…” Scarecrow muttered.

Every pony, and everybody, got back to work putting Scarecrow together. As they collected the straw, they couldn’t help but wonder if Dorothy and Spike were alright.

<>

Back at the Witch’s castle, things looked pretty grim for both Dorothy and Spike. The two found themselves prisoners within the Witch’s personal chambers, the little dragon chained to the crystal ball with a steel collar tight around his neck. The Witch herself held Toto in her lap, stroking the dog’s scruffy head.

“What a nice little dog!” She said.

Chistery held Dorothy’s basket open, as the Witch placed the little dog inside and locks it shut. The sound of a rattling chain draws the Witch toward the little dragon, who tried to pull the chains off.

“You can pull on that chain with all your might, little lizard, but you’ll never get it off,” The Witch chuckled. “Only I can remove it off… IF I choose to.”

“Oh yeah, watch this!” Spike growled.

Spike drew a deep breath and shot a huge flame of green fire onto the chain. But instead of melting the cold steel away, however, the flame merely bounced off. The Witch just cackled at the dragon’s weak attempt to escape.

“What? B-B-But – How?!” Spike stuttered.

“You simple fool, it’s an enchanted chain!” She taunts. “No amount of flame, strength, or anything else will take that chain off you but me!”

The Witch then turns her attention to the teary-eyed farm girl.

“And you, my dear. What an unexpected pleasure! It’s so kind of you to visit me in my loneliness.”

Dorothy turns away from the horrid witch, eyeing the little flying monkey holding her basket. She reaches to grab it, but Chistery screeched and she quickly backs away. She turns to face the Witch once more.

“What are you going to do to my dog?” Dorothy asked, pleading. “Give him back to me!”

“All in good time, my little pretty,” The Witch responds. “All in good time.”

“Oh, please give me back my dog!” Dorothy begged again.

“Certainly – Certainly – When you give me those slippers.”

Dorothy looks down at the slippers, then over to Spike. The little dragon shook his head vigorously and Dorothy looks back toward the Witch.

“But the Good Witch of the North told me not to.”

“Very well!”

The Witch then approaches her faithful pet.

“Throw that basket in the river and drown him!” The Witch instructs.

Chistery was about to toss the basket, but that was the last straw for Dorothy.

“No! No – no!” Dorothy cried. “Here – You can have your old slippers – But give me back Toto.”

“That’s a good little girl,” The Witch smiled. “I knew you’d see reason.”

She bent down to grab the slippers. But when she reached out, the shoes emitted Golden sparks that burnt her hands. The Witch screamed in pain and reeled back.

“Ahh! Ah!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t do it!” Dorothy tried to reason. “Can I still have my dog?”

“NO! Fool, that I am! I should have remembered – Those slippers will never come off, as long as you’re alive.”

Spike jumped up, running toward the Witch. But the chain on his neck stopped him from going any further, gasping and clutching at the steel pressing into him.

“Twilight and the others will stop you!” He growled.

The Witch merely laughs at the dragon, kneeling down to his level.

“No, my little dearies, I don’t think they will,” She smiled, wickedly. “For you see, this is all part of my plan!”

Spike, very confused, cocked his head to the side while facing the evil sorceress.

“What do you mean?”

"Why did you think I took only you, and that girl, and her dog? I want all your little friends here for one purpose…”

The Witch walks over to the table and grabs the tome with the Elements of Harmony still inside. She displays it to the little dragon, who’s eyes went wide, and he gasps loudly. The Witch cackled at his sudden fear.

“That’s right, I know how to gain the power of these stones. I merely need your friends to give themselves to me willingly and relinquish their power to claim as my own!”

As she talks, the Witch approaches the little dragon and grabbed the chain around his neck. She pulls him up to face her, as he held onto the collar. His little clawed feet dangled, as he felt the metal collar choking him out.

“Now that I have you here, they will do anything to save you,” She growled. “That, of course, includes giving up their powers to save your scrawny little neck!”

She hurls Spike back to the ground, before stroking her chin.

“But that’s not what’s worrying me – It’s how to do it. These things must be done delicately, or you hurt the spell.”

Unbeknownst to the Witch, little Toto stuck his furry head out of the basket enough force to loosen the lid. He scampers out and bolts for the chamber door. Dorothy, however, noticed this.

“Run, Toto, run!” Dorothy yelled.

The Witch noticed the dog running away and turns to Chistery.

“Catch him, you fool!” She demands, growling.

The Witch and the little flying monkey ran after the dog, who scurries down a flight of stairs. He just ran out of the castle but stops short as the drawbridge rose. Then, the Witch’s guards, green faced as her and dressed in Russian-like uniforms, pursue the dog with their spears raised. The little dog jumps over the drawbridge to the rocks below. Dorothy and Spike watch from the archway.

“Run, Toto, run!” Dorothy shouts.

“Keeping running little guy!” Spike yelled. “And find the others!”

The guards threw their spears at the dog, who ran away and the spears clatter against the stones.

“He got away!” Dorothy cried. “He got away!”

“Atta boy, Toto!” Spike praised.

The Witch was even more infuriated, growling at the pair.

“Ohhh! Which is more than either of you will! Drat you and your dog and those stupid ponies! You’ve all been more trouble to me than you’re worth, one way or another – But it’ll soon be over now!”

The Witch walks back to the table and grabs her ornate hourglass. Flipping it upside-down, the red sand starts falling.

“Do you see that? That’s how much longer you’ve got to be alive! And it isn’t long, my pretty! It isn’t long!”

As Dorothy and Spike watch silently, the Witch placed the hourglass back on the table and grabs the tome, the Elements of Harmony inside.

“I can’t wait forever to get those shoes!” She growled.

The Witch ran out of the chambers, slamming the doors shut. The sound of the door locking was the last thing Dorothy and Spike heard as they watched the sand of the hourglass fall.

“I hate that woman so much,” Spike seethed, growling to himself.

Dorothy runs toward the door, tries to open it. Indeed the door was locked and wouldn’t budge. She searches for another door, but finds it locked also. As Spike tries to think of a way out, he suddenly hears a light sob and turns to Dorothy, who starts pacing the room as tears fall down her face. As if that wasn’t sad enough, she starts to sing…

Suddenly, Dorothy collapsed near the crystal ball and starts sobbing heavily. Spike slowly approaches her, the chain just long enough to reach her and sits on her lap. Dorothy looks down at the little dragon in her lap, tears in his eyes, and she hugs him fiercely.



“I’m frightened,” She whispers, crying.

“I know,” Spike said, softly. “But we’ll get out of this somehow; I promise.”

But it seemed all Spike’s words fell on deaf ears, as Dorothy looked around the chambers.

“I’m frightened, Auntie Em – I’m frightened!”

For a few moments, the two just sat there hugging each other as Dorothy cried.

“Dorothy – Dorothy!”

They both heard a voice rang out through the chambers, a rather familiar voice. They turn over to the crystal ball, as an image of Aunt Em appears. She looks as though she was looking frantically for someone.

“Where are you? It’s me – Auntie Em. We’re trying to find you. Where are you?”

Dorothy cried even harder, clutching the sides of the crystal ball and calling out towards one of the few relatives she has left.

“I – I’m here in Oz, Auntie Em!” Dorothy cried. “Spike and I are locked up in the Witch’s castle… And I’m trying to get home to you, Auntie Em!”

But just as quick as it appeared, the image of Auntie Em’s face vanished.

“Oh, Auntie Em, don’t go away!” Dorothy begged. “I’m frightened! Come back! Come back!”

But now, instead of an image of her aunt, a haunting image of the Wicked Witch herself appears in its place.

“Auntie Em – Auntie Em – Come back!” The Witch mocked.

Dorothy reels back, hugging Spike close to her chest as she cried.

“I’ll give you Auntie Em, my pretty!” The Witch growled.

The evil woman cackled loudly, as her image slowly disappears off the crystal. Dorothy can only sob, scared out of her wits, as Spike looks back toward the hourglass. With each second, the sands were getting smaller and smaller. Time was not on their side.

“Twilight…” Spike whispered. “Please hurry!”

<>

Climbing down the rock terrain, Little Toto ran as fast as his little legs could carry him. He leapt over rocks, even crawls under them, before eventually returning to where the group was at. As it turns out, they were not that far from the Witch’s castle and during which time they just put Scarecrow back to his old self.

“Now, that’s the best we can do without any pins, darling,” Rarity told Scarecrow.

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” Scarecrow said. “I’m all right. We must worry about Dorothy and Spike.”

“But how are we going to find them?” Rainbow asked. “We don’t even know where they are.”

Suddenly, the sound of Toto’s barking made them turn just as a familiar little dog approached them.

“Look!” Tin Man points out. “There’s Toto! Where’s he come from?”

Toto barked and yipped at them, trying to communicate. Fluttershy floats toward the dog, leaning in to listen to what he’s saying.

“Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy gasped. “Are you absolutely sure?”

Toto barked again, as Fluttershy nods her head before turning back to the group.

“Well, what did he say, Flutters?” Rainbow asked.

“Why, don’t you see?” Fluttershy asked. “He’s come to take us to Dorothy and Spike!”

“She’s right!” Scarecrow proclaimed. “Let’s go save our friends!”

“Come on, every pony!” Applejack added.

“Time to rock!” Rainbow shouts.

Every pony ran after Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Man as they ran after Toto up the rocky hill. The time had come not only to save their friends, but to retrieve the Elements of Harmony… 

Once and for all…
> Rescue
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Climbing up the rocky cliffs, what remained of the group followed the little terrier. It was a bit of a struggle ascending the terrain, many found it difficult to find their footing or even to stay balanced along the smooth stones. But they knew one wrong move, just one, could send them plummeting to their doom in a second.

Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash flew up in the air, so they didn’t do much climbing. Nevertheless, they helped their friends make the dangerous climb up the mountain. Lion climbed behind Rarity and Applejack, with Tin Man holding onto his tail for balance and Scarecrow following close behind. At one-point, Tin Man accidentally stepped on an uneven rock, which tumbled down the mountain. Tin Man slipped and struggled to regain his balance.

“Hold on, Tin Man!” Twilight shouts.

Quickly, she flew toward her tin friend and used her magic to help him regain himself. This way Tin Man could step onto a more secure rock. Tin Man turns toward Twilight and nods as a way of showing gratitude, as Twilight nods back and flew ahead.

Meanwhile, Rarity and Applejack continue climbing. Rarity also steps on an uneven rock, but instead of falling down the mountain she face-plants into a small puddle of mud, which accumulated in a small pool in the rocks. Seeing this, Rainbow Dash and Applejack burst out laughing, as the fashionista pulled her head out of the muck. Her face and mane were completely covered in mud, her eyes twitching from shock.

“Looks like you finally got that mud bath you wanted, Rarity,” Rainbow laughed.

“Eeyup!” Applejack chuckled. “Now all ya’ll need is a few cucumbers over them eyes and you’re good tah go!”

Rarity slowly turned, sending a heated glare at the two ponies, her eyes full of fire and fury. The two giggling ponies dropped silent and turned away, Rainbow Dash whistling. Rarity turns to her soiled mane and cringed.

“Dear me,” She said. “I hope my mane holds out!”

“I hope my nerves hold out!” Fluttershy squeaked.

“I – I – I – I hope my strength holds out,” Lion said.

“I hope your tail holds out!” Tin Man said.

Twilight Sparkle had just flown back toward her friends before she noticed Toto stopped along the top.

“Come on, every pony!” Twilight called out, confidently. “Not much farther now!”

The others follow her and Toto up the mountain, until they eventually reached the top. Once there, they took a good hard look toward the Witch’s castle sitting just over the river. Lion came from behind the ponies, beckoning Tom and Scarecrow to join. Lion shook as he points his paw toward the castle.

“What’s that?!” He asked, nervously. “What’s that?!”

“What do you think it is?” Rainbow responds.

“Well, if that’s what I think it is, it must be our doom!”

“That’s the castle of the Wicked Witch,” Twilight observed.

“Dorothy and Spike are in that awful place!” Scarecrow exclaimed.

Tears streamed down the Tin Man’s metallic face, as he started to cry.

“Oh, I hate to think of her in there,” He cried. “We’ve got to get them out!”

“We will, Tin Man,” Rainbow Dash said. “I promise you that!”

Feeling sympathetic, Fluttershy flew toward Tin Man, placing her soft hoof along his tin back and gave a light pat.

“It will be alright, Tin Man,” Fluttershy assured, softly.

“Oh, I sure hope you’re right,” Tin Man continued crying.

“Don’t cry now,” Scarecrow scolds. “We haven’t got the oil-can with us and you’ve been squeaking enough as it is.”

The sound of marching and drums drew Lion’s attention back to the draw bridge.

“Who’s them?!” He points out, eyes wide. “Who’s them?!”

Marching as a cohesive unit by the drawbridge, following the beat of the drums, the Witch’s Winkie Guards patrol the castle grounds. They march across with their spears sharpened to a point, chanting: ‘Oh-Eh-Yah! Ee-Oh-Ah!’. As Scarecrow observes the patrol, he turns toward the group and smiled.

“I’ve got a plan how to get in there,” He said, happily.

“Fine!” Lion said, nervously. “He’s got a plan!”

“It might not work…”

“Might not work…”

“But it’s got a chance!”

“It’s got a chance!”

“And you’re going to lead us,” Scarecrow told Lion.

“Yeah…” Lion nods.

Every pony looks at Lion, smiling. It wasn’t until Lion noted their smiling faces that he realized what he just agreed to.

“Me?” He shook.

“Yes, you,” They ponies respond.

“I – I – I – I – Gotta get them outta there?” Lion asked, fearfully.

“That’s right,” Scarecrow nods.

“Come on, Lion,” Rainbow encouraged. “You can do this this! Remember: Who’s King of the Forest?”

Lion did not respond at first, still quivering in fear.

“I said… Who’s the King of the Forest?!” Dash asked, louder.

“I am…” Lion whispered.

“I don’t believe we heard that, darling,” Rarity spoke. “Who’s King of the Forest?”

“I am!” Lion said, a bit louder.

“Who’s King of the Forest?” Pinkie asked, enthusiastically.

“I AM!” Lion shouts.

“SHH!” The ponies hushed.

The ponies looked from the guards then back, making sure they didn’t intentionally give away their position. Lion looks between the ponies, then the Scarecrow and Tin Man, before facing the castle with a fierce look of determination.

“All right, I’ll go in there for Dorothy and Spike – Wicked Witch or no Wicked Witch – Guards or no guards – I’ll tear ‘em apart. I may not come out alive, but I’m going in there. There’s only one thing I want you all to do.”

“What’s that?” They asked, in unison.

“Talk me out of it.”

Every pony was a bit confused over what he meant, until they noticed he turned to leave. They all quickly grabbed him.

“No, you don’t!” Tin Man said, loudly.

“Oh, no!” Scarecrow added.

“No?” Lion squeaked. “Now, wait a minute.”

“You can do this, Lion!” Rainbow encouraged.

“I really can’t,” Lion argued.

“You’re a big strong Lion,” Twilight added.

“Not emotionally!” Lion cried.

“There ain’t nothin’ yah can’t do,” Applejack agreed.

“No…” Lion whined.

Scarecrow and Tin Man pushed Lion ahead as they made their way forth toward the castle grounds. They didn’t get very far when they noticed the other ponies weren’t following.

“Aren’t you girls coming?” Scarecrow asked.

“We’re going to try and sneak in there to scope the place out,” Twilight explained. “If we’re lucky, we’ll find Spike and Dorothy.”

“We must also find the Elements of Harmony,” Rarity added.

“Don’t worry, you guys can make it into the castle,” Fluttershy encouraged. “We believe in you!”

All three friends looked between each other, then back to the ponies with a smile.

“Good luck to you!” Scarecrow said.

“Be careful in there,” Lion warned.

“We’ll meet up again soon,” Tin Man said.

The ponies nod to their friends before the two groups split in different directions. Twilight grabbed a hold of Applejack, Fluttershy grabbed Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash grabbed Rarity. They all flew up toward the castle, taking care to avoid the gaze of any guard patrols along the rooftops.

“So, what’s the plan, Twi?” Rainbow asked.

Twilight Sparkle scours the region around them, until she noticed an open window.

“There’s a small window over there. We’ll sneak in through there and search the castle for Dorothy, Spike and the Elements.”

“We gotta be careful, though,” Applejack advised. “There’s guards walkin’ all around that there place.”

“I sure hope the boys have as much luck getting in as we do,” Rarity looked back.

<>

At the same time, Lion, Scarecrow and Tin Man moved along the rocks until they stopped just short of the castle grounds. They eyed the guard patrols quietly, waiting to make the next move. Suddenly, barking drew them to Toto who yelped toward the guards.

“Shh!” Scarecrow hushed, picking up Toto. “Toto, be quiet.”

Scarecrow picked up Toto, stroking him trying to keep him calm. Little did they know, three Winkie Guards appear from the rocks above them. They slowly motion toward the trio, who are whispering to each other. Lion feels a chill of sorts, sniffing the air. He turns around and sees the Winkies looming behind them. Lion tries to say something, but is speechless with fright, while his friends try to silence him.

The Winkie Guards, disposing their spears, jump toward the trio, seizing the three. They drag them behind the rocks, as chaos ensues amongst the group. Legs kick out, arms wave, and even bits of the Winkie’s uniforms are tossed around as a fight ignites amongst the entire group.

<>

Twilight, with Applejack in her grasp, enters the castle through the open window while the others followed suit. The window was so small, that they barely squeezed through. But they managed to land safely along the cobblestone floor, as they took the time to look at their new surroundings.

Based on where they are, they appeared to be a giant room and the only light stemming from a burning fireplace off to the side. All around the room, there were giant raven statues all around and their eyes seemed to be watching them. There was a set of giant wooden doors leading Celestia only knows where, but otherwise nothing more.

“Okay, we made it in,” Rainbow observed. “Now what?”

“Stay close and keep quiet,” Twilight instructs.

Every pony nodded, following Twilight closely as she used her magic to slowly open the large wooden doors. After peaking their heads out the doors, one after the other, they quietly crept out the room and strolled down a long, dark corridor. They froze at the sound of footsteps coming their way followed by the chant:

“Oh-Eh-Yah! Ee-Oh-Ah! Oh-Eh-Yah! Ee-Oh-Ah!”

“The Guards!” Fluttershy squeaked.

“Quick! Hide!” Rarity whispered, harshly.

The ponies duck behind a few pillars in the corridor, as a troop of green-skinned guards made their round. They marched through the corridor chanting ‘Oh-Eh-Yah! Ee-Oh-Ah!’ as the ponies stood perfectly still. Once the guards finally passed through, the ponies slowly emerge from hiding.

“Phew!” Pinkie sighed in relief. “That was close.”

“Come on, let’s hurry!” Applejack urged.

The ponies continue down the corridor, leaving through a large archway. Eventually, they found themselves in what appears to be the main hall. As they trotted to the center of the room, they couldn’t help but notice something was rather… Off.

“Any pony else think it’s too quiet in here?” Rainbow asked.

The other ponies didn’t want to say anything, but they nodded their heads in agreement.

“Hmm… Something doesn’t feel right,” Twilight said, looking around.

No sooner did she say that, when she bumped in a large green barrier knocking her back towards the group. They all gasp as they saw the barrier completely surrounding them.

“Now what’s going on?” Twilight asked.

Rainbow tried to ram through the barrier, flying at full force. But the barrier only knocked her back, as she massaged her throbbing head. Twilight and Rarity aimed their horns, shooting magic beams at the barrier, which seemed to absorb the magic while glowing. Even Applejack gave a few hard bucks, but no matter what they tried it had no effect.

“Oh great!” Rainbow shouts. “We’re trapped!”

Suddenly, the sound of cackling drew their attention to the staircase off the side. The Wicked Witch of the West came down the stairs, dragging poor Spike by the chain.

“Well, well, well!” She chuckled. “Look what we have here: Six little ponies falling right into my little trap!”

Every pony glared at the evil witch, gritting their teeth.

“Let Spike and Dorothy go!” Twilight demands.

The Witch cackles again, as she pulled Spike up. She holds him toward Twilight’s eye level from the opposite side of the barrier. Twilight’s face shifts from a scowl to a look of concern.

“Spike! Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Spike responds, weakly. “Don’t… Let her win…”

Twilight once more glares at the Witch, as she pulled Spike back. The little dragon dangling as he tried to pull the collar away from his neck to breathe.

“Let him go now!” She growled.

“Oh, most certainly, my dear,” The Witch smiled, evilly. “But before I do, there’s just ONE thing you must do for me…”

Chistery runs up to the Witch, screeching as he held the tome. The ponies gasp at once at the very sight of the book, as The Witch opened the page to the hollowed-out section where the Elements lay inside. The barrier disappears, as the Witch approaches with a tight grip around Spike’s neck. A magical surge of electricity forms within her other hand, as she eyes the ponies.

“Now, relinquish the power of the Elements to me,” She threatened. “Or tonight’s menu will consist of deep-fried dragon!”

“You coward!” Rainbow shouts. “This is between you and us; let him go!”

“You are in no position to give orders here!” The Witch yelled. “What’s it going to be? Your magic… Or your friend?!”

Tears sprang from Twilight’s eyes, seeing her little assistant/brother held hostage and barely able to keep his strength. Spike would not have been in this position had she not brought those Elements along in the first place. But there he was, too weak to even struggle against the Witch and she is responsible for it all. All the ponies gathered around Twilight, sharing the same tears that fell from their eyes.

“Twi, what should we do now?” Applejack asked, holding back tears.

Twilight took a deep breath, then slowly approached toward the Wicked Witch. Then, to the surprise of them all, she slowly bows her head to her.

“Twilight, no!” Spike yelled. “You can’t give in; don’t throw yourself away for me!”

“HUSH UP YOU!” The Witch shouts.

Every pony could not believe what Twilight was doing. Willing bowing her head to submission, surrendering herself to the Wicked Witch. But they realized if they did not do so, the Witch would willingly hurt Spike… Even worse, she would kill him without hesitation. Reluctantly, they ponies stepped forward one-by-one, bowing their heads as Spike looked on.

“Yes,” The Witch cackled, victoriously. “I knew the right leverage would have you bend to me eventually. Now… Get these Elements to work!”

Closing her eyes and concentrating, Twilight used her magic to levitate the tome from Chistery slowly bringing it before them. As the book came close, the Elements lifts themselves off the hallow page as a hexagon forms connecting each Element The Wicked Witch watches as a bright rainbow light forms in the center of the room.

“Yes!” The Witch smiled, viciously. “Yes!”

Unbeknownst to her, while she was busy watching the rainbow, Twilight had one eye open to her friends and blinked. The ponies all smiled at each other, finally catching on to her plan and close their eyes. Suddenly, the rainbow light began to get enlarged as Spike smiles brightly and the Witch’s eyes went wide with shock.

“What are you doing?!” She growled. “Stop! STOP!!!”

But her commands fell on deaf ears, as the light grew ever larger. All at once, the rainbow light explodes sending a huge wave of energy through the whole room. A light so great it shined through several areas of the castle and even toward the night sky. By the time the light faded, and all the ponies opened their eyes, the Witch sat crouched in a corner unconscious and Spike smiled brightly while sitting on the cobblestone floor.

“SPIKE!” Twilight shouts.

Twilight rushes toward the little dragon, as the other girls followed behind. Twilight hugs her friend tightly, as Rarity cautiously approaches the unconscious Witch and finds a key inside her hat. She proceeds to unlock the collar off Spike’s neck, as it falls loose.

“Oh Spike!” Twilight smiled. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I knew you guys would come!” Spike said. “Never doubted you for a second.”

After a long embrace, Rainbow stepped in between and separated the two.

“Hate to spoil the moment here, guys,” Rainbow spoke. “But that Witch won’t be out for long. We need to find Dorothy and get the heck out of here!”

“You’re right,” Twilight agreed. “Let’s go!”

They gallop out of the room and into the next corridor. Not seeing where they were going, they stumbled into a few Winkie guards. Every pony screamed fearfully, while Fluttershy actually waved her hooves against them without looking.

“GET AWAY! GET AWAY! GET AWAY!” Fluttershy screamed.

“Fluttershy, take it easy!” A guard spoke.

“Huh?” Fluttershy spoke, opening her eyes.

When the ponies and Spike took a good look, they realized that the ‘Winkie Guards’ were just Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion in disguise.

“Don’t be afraid,” Scarecrow assured. “It’s just us!”

Every pony breathed a sigh of relief, chuckling a bit.

“Boy, are we glad to see you guys,” Pinkie said, excitedly.

“We knew you guys could get in here yourselves,” Twilight nodded.

“By the way, lovely work with the disguises,” Rarity praised. “They make you look rather dashing!”

“It wasn’t my plan,” Scarecrow admits. “But something happened!”

“You girls should’ve seen it,” Tin Man added. “Lion put up a great fight!”

“That big lug?” Rainbow smirks, pointing.

“Oh shucks!” Lion smiled.

“I don’t know what we’d done without him,” Tin Man spoke, proudly.

“Heh, I – I must have bitten those guards a couple of times!” Lion replied.

“So… Where do we go now?” Tin Man asked.

“Yeah,” Lion said.

Toto barks loudly and starts climbing up the stairs. Spike is the first to point it out.

“She’s up there,” Spike shouts. “Follow me!”

The whole group follows the little terrier and Spike up the stairs. They climb until Toto and Spike stop at the locked doors to the Witch’s chambers, Toto even trying to paw his way through. The whole group finally manage to catch up.

“This is where we came in!” Spike explains. “Dorothy was in there before that Witch dragged me out!”

“Wait! We better make sure,” Scarecrow said, calling. “Dorothy, are you in there?”

“Darling, if you’re in there, please answer!” Rarity called out. “It’s us!”

“Yes, it’s me!” Dorothy answered, from the other side. “She locked me in!”

“Listen, everyone,” Lion said. “It’s her. We gotta get her out! Open this door!”

“Oh, hurry!” Dorothy cried. “Please hurry! The hourglass is almost empty!”

“Stand back!” Tin Man shouts.

Tin Man used his axe to try to break down the door, but even after several chops it was taking a while. Any moment the Witch could recover and if not, the noise would attract the Winkies to their location. Applejack stops Tin Man’s chopping and ushers him back.

“Stand back, partner,” Applejack said. “Let a pro show ya how it’s done!”

Applejack stretched her hind legs, approaches the door, turns around, and reels her legs until… WHAM! Applejack uses her strength to break the door down, splintering it to pieces. Seeing the door broken down, Dorothy quickly rushes out the room reuniting with her friends, the trio removing their uniforms and Dorothy embraces Toto.

“Oh – Oh, Toto! Toto!” Dorothy cried.

“Did they hurtcha?” Lion asked.

“Lion, darling!” Dorothy cried, hugging Lion. “I knew you’d come! I knew you would!”

“Oh, Dorothy!” The ponies shout, hugging Dorothy.

“Hurry!” Scarecrow urged. “We’ve got no time to lose!”

They quickly rush out of the room, running down the stairs. They could just see the open doors leading to the front of the castle.

“We’re gonna make it!” Pinkie shouts, optimistically.

Suddenly, the doors slam shut so fast and so hard a loud bang echoed through the castle. Tin Man reels his axe to chop it down when a loud cackle stops him. The group looks toward the top of the stairs and shook fearfully. There the Wicked Witch stood, conscious once more, holding the hourglass in one hand and Chistery perched by her side.

“Going so soon?” She smiled evilly. “I wouldn’t hear of it. Why, my little party’s just beginning!”

“You know, guys,” Pinkie shook. “I never thought I’d say this: But this is one party I DON’T want to be part of!”

“No kidding, Pinkie,” Rainbow nodded.

“Trapped!” Lion shuddered. “Trapped like mice – er – Rats!”

“Lion, can’t you roar at them or something?” Spike asked.

“What good’ll it do us?” Lion asked.

The Witch cackled, as her Winkie guards rush into the room. Toto barks at them, as they aimed their spears toward them leaving our heroes pressed against the door. Tin Man raised his axe in defense, while the ponies stood up front waiting to see who makes the first move.

“That’s right,” The Witch said. “Don’t hurt them right away. We’ll let them think about it a little, first!”

“Oh, give us a chance!” Pinkie begged. “Be a sport, Elphaba!”

The Wicked Witch paused, raising her eyes while the guards faced each other confused.

“Who?” The Witch asked.

“Oh… Right, wrong continuity,” Pinkie sheepishly grinned. “Uh, quick question: What is your opinion on ‘Theodora’? I mean I feel you could really use some counseling. Maybe, a little get together, a tray of cupcakes…”

“URGH!!! I’ve had enough of your foolish rambling!” The Witch growled. “Oh, the things I’m going to do to all of you. Can you imagine how it’s going to feel… My Little Ponies?”

But sure enough, this distraction worked in favor for Scarecrow, who managed to get Twilight’s attention. Scarecrow motions toward the rope holding the chandelier above the guards. Finally, the Witch screams and threw the hourglass down to the ground where it explodes on impact. Twilight quickly used her magic to untie the rope, causing the chandelier to crash atop several guards knocking them out.

“EVERY PONY RUN!” Rarity shouts.

“Seize them!” The Witch yelled.

While the Winkies were recovering, Dorothy, Twilight and the others burst off in the other direction, running as fast as they could.

“Stop them, you fools!” The Witch shouts. “They’ve gotten away! Seize them! Seize them!”

The other guards follow the Witch, as she pursues the group. As they round the corner, Dorothy, Twilight, and their friends emerge from behind the corner. Seeing there would be no time to open the doors, they make a break for the stairs and climb up searching for another exit. The Winkie Guards and the Witch round the corner again, spotting them before the group disappears up the stairs.

“There they go!” The Witch points. “Ah – Now we’ve got them! Half you go this way – Half you go that way. Hurry! Hurry!”

The entire team had run out from the tower of the castle, racing along the battlement. The group end up in the second tower, which leads to a near dead end.

“Oh dear, which way do we go now?” Rarity cried.

“They’re probably right behind us!” Fluttershy squeaked.

Scarecrow searched left-and-right, until he found another path to follow.

“This way!” Scarecrow shouts, leading the group. “Come on!”

They ran as fast as they could across the wall. But before they could go further, the stop and scream as they discovered the path was blocked by Winkie Guards. The guards themselves were rushing toward them.

“Go back!” Rainbow yelled. “Go back!”

They all obliged, turning around quickly and running back the other way. As they returned to the other tower, more Winkie Guards entered from the other side. Soon, the team discovered all the exits were blocked by one group of guards after another. They had them pinned into a corner… Trapped, as the Wicked Witch emerged from the staircase, cackling as Chistery followed.

“Well – Ring around the rosy – A pocket full of spears! Thought you’d be pretty foxy, didn’t you? Well, I’m going to start in on you right here – One after the other!”

The Witch glared fiercely at the little ponies, along with the rest of their friends.

“And the last to go will see all the rest go before her! And you mangy little dog, too!”

The Wicked Witch looks up for a moment, then a wicked smile formed. She slowly raises her broom up to the torch above, watching the ends catch fire. The Scarecrow knew exactly what she was doing and shook his head fearfully.

“How about a little fire, Scarecrow?” She threatened.

“No – No – No – No!”

The Witch brushed the burning end along Scarecrow’s arm, which caught fire quickly. Scarecrow screams and jumps, waving his arm trying to stop the fire.

“Help!” Scarecrow screamed. “I’m burning! I’m burning! I’m burning! Help! Help! Help!”

Twilight looked around desperately, until she noticed a bucket of water sitting conveniently by the windowsill. She used her magic to levitate it toward Dorothy, who takes the bucket and hurls the water onto Scarecrow’s arm. But in her haste to douse the fire, it also hit the Wicked Witch who started shrieking.

“Ohhh!” The Witch screamed, in agony. “You cursed brat! Look what you’ve done! I’m melting! Melting! Oh – What a world – What a world! Who would have thought a good little girl and six little ponies could destroy my beautiful wickedness?! Ohhh! Look out! Look out! I’m going… Ohhhh! Ohhhhhhh….”

Within moments, the once all-powerful Wicked Witch of the West was slowly reduced to nothing more but a steaming pile of black clothes and her pointy hat. Every pony looked at the floor where the Witch once stood, shocked by what just happened. One guard used his spear to poke and prod at the garments before slowly looking toward the group.

“She’s… She’s… dead!” He said, in disbelief. “You’ve killed her!”

“I – I didn’t mean to kill her…” Dorothy explained. “Really I didn’t! It’s… It’s just that he was on fire!”

“We really didn’t mean for it to happen,” Fluttershy implored. “Please don’t be mad at us!”

The guards all look at each other, then they all smiled.

“Hail to Dorothy!” The head guard cheered. “The Wicked Witch is dead!”

All the guards knelt to one knee, shouting:

“Hail! Hail to Dorothy! The Wicked Witch is dead!”

If the ponies weren’t confused before, this really took the cake for this colorful group.

“Alright, just one apple pickin’ minute,” Applejack spoke up. “You’re sayin’ that an all-powerful witch, such as her, could be destroyed by water?”

“That doesn’t even make any sense,” Twilight stared, bewildered.

“No one can truly explain it,” The guard explained. “But the Witch has always had a weakness to water. Some say her soul was so unclean, water was more than enough to melt her. Not a day went by where one of us didn’t try to grab a bucket and douse her. Alas, we were too afraid.”

“You mean,” Dorothy spoke. “You’re all happy about it?”

“Very happy,” The guard nodded. “Now she won’t be able to hit us with that broom anymore!”

“Well, I guess it all worked out then,” Rainbow smiled.

Dorothy and all the others smiled as well. But then, they realized that there was still one measure of business to take care of.

“The broom!” Dorothy spoke to the guard. “May we have it?”

The guard quickly picks up the broom, the end now burnt off, and offers it to her.

“Please! And take it with you!” He responds.

“Oh – Thank you so much!” Dorothy said, happily. “Now we can go back to the Wizard and tell him the Wicked Witch is dead!”

“The Wicked Witch is dead!” The Winkie guards and ponies cheer.

While chanting the news, the guards led the motley crew outside of the castle, bidding them farewell. After such a perilous journey, everyone looked forward to their return to Emerald City, so they can finally have their wishes granted.
> Going Home
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Let the joyous news be spread! The Wicked Old Witch at last is dead!”

Though their journey back to Emerald City was long, shortly after defeating the Wicked Witch, the group of heroes felt a sense of confidence and joy that had gone astray for some time. After everything they’ve been through, they were going to see to it they’d finally get their wishes. The thought of achieving their goals swam through their minds, as they matched through the Emerald City. The citizens of Emerald City clapped and cheered, letting everyone know ‘The Wicked Witch is Dead at last!” spreading the news for all of Oz to hear.



A large procession leads the group through the crowded streets, flower girls surround our group of friends, as The Scarecrow carries the Witch’s broomstick. There they strolled, smiling before the singing crowd and waving to them as the reprise continues.

“Behold!” Some declared. “The heroes of Oz!”

“They have saved us all!” Others shouted.

All the while, as the citizens celebrated their triumph, the entire group found themselves enjoying their newly earned fame.

“This is amazing!” Dorothy admired.

“You can say that again,” Lion added, smiling. “I’ve never been praised like this in my life!”

“This happens on a daily basis back in Equestria,” Twilight noted. “But since we’ve been here, it seems to take on a new meaning.”

Rainbow and Fluttershy flew high above the others, both with smiles on their faces. Rainbow’s, in particular, being the biggest of them all. Dash was really soaking in the fame, ushering them to cheer louder and even doing a victory dance.

“Breathe it in, Flutters,” Rainbow bragged, showing off. “I don’t think this song will ever get old.”

“As long as the people are happy, I’m happy,” Fluttershy said, waving to the crowd.

Eventually, they made it to the center of Emerald City as the doors to the long corridor open wide, it’s guard inviting them inside while waving. Through the long corridor to the Wizard’s sanctuary, marching ahead of the cheering crowd before the doors shut, they eventually appeared before the Emerald Throne where the Great and Powerful Oz himself made his presence felt.

“Can I believe my eyes?” He asked, loudly. “Why have you come back?”

The whole group ushers Dorothy forward, as she presents the broomstick to the almighty wizard.

“Please sir, we’ve done as you’ve told us,” Dorothy explained, placing the broom down. “We brought you the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West; we melted her.”

“Oh, you liquidated her, eh?” The Wizard asked, impressed. “Very resourceful!”

Hearing such praise from the Wizard, all for a job well done, was enough to make the nervous group break out in smiles.

“Yes sir,” Dorothy nods. “So, we’d like you to keep your promise to us, if you please sir.”

“Not so fast,” The Wizard yelled. “NOT SO FAST!”

The moment the Wizard suddenly yells, the group went from pleased to intimidated in an instance.

“I’ll have to give the matter a little thought. Go away and come back tomorrow!”

All at once, every pony’s mouth dropped in shock at the Wizard’s words. They could not believe he’d demand that they should come back tomorrow. After everything that happened, after agreeing to help them, the Wizard decides to delay their requests for another day. Here the group stood, having risked their lives for a broomstick, and he was in no hurry to help them.

“Tomorrow?!” Dorothy yelled. “Oh, but I want to go home now!”

The others, also frustrated and angry, stepped forward and stood beside Dorothy.

“You’ve had plenty of time, already!” Tin Man said, angrily.

“Yeah!” Lion agreed.

“We done risk our lives for ya’ll getting’ the broomstick from that awful witch!” Applejack said, loudly.

“One way or another, whether you like it or not, you’re going to help us right now!” Rainbow growled.

“Yeah!” Twilight, Spike, and the others agreed.

“Do not arouse the wrath of the Great and Powerful Oz!” The Wizard shouted. “I said come back tomorrow!”

Though their legs still quivered and shook, they would not leave their ground. They were so angry and frustrated, not one noticed Little Toto run off to the corner of the room and sneak behind a curtain.

“If you were truly great and powerful, you would keep your promises instead of breaking them!” Twilight yelled. 

“Do you presume to criticize the Great Oz?!”

As the Wizard spoke, Toto pulls back the curtain to reveal a mortal man in a fancy suit, fiddling with some sort of mechanism. By the looks of the controls and his voice booming along the microphone, it was as if this machine controlled the ‘Wizard’. Spike instantly noticed, his eyes going wide, and nudges Twilight’s leg. Twilight turns her attention to Spike, who gestures toward the blonde man pulling the cables and twisting the levers. Shocked, they both drew their friends’ attention showing them this stunning revelation as the man kept ranting.

“You ungrateful creatures! Think yourselves lucky that I am giving you audience tomorrow, instead of twenty years from now!”

Eventually, the man at the machine turned around and realizing he was being watched. Gasping, he turns back to his machine.

“Oh – Oh, oh! The Great Oz has spoken!”

Quickly, the man rolls back the curtain and pulls it shut. Curious, Dorothy and Twilight slowly approach the curtain as their friends stayed behind.

“Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! Go, before I lose my temper! The Great Oz has spoken!”

Twilight grabs the curtain with her teeth, drawing it back once more revealing the man working the machine. He looks at them with wide eyes, realizing he’s been caught.

“Who are you?” Dorothy asked.

“Well I – I – I am the Great and Powerful – Wizard of Oz,” He responds.

“YOU?!” Twilight asked, in disbelief. “You’re the Great and Powerful Wizard?”

“Uh – Yes…” He answers, nervously.

“I don’t believe you!” Dorothy frowned.

“No, I’m afraid it’s true,” The man admits. “There’s no other Wizard except me.”

The group approaching Dorothy and Twilight were just as shocked with dismay, when the truth became clear. They glared, frowning upon the man who turns out was no Wizard… But another ‘Con Man’.

“You humbug!” Scarecrow fumed.

“Yeah!” Lion growled.

“Yes-s-s… That’s… That’s exactly so,” The man admits, ashamed. “I’m a humbug!”

“So you’re saying you have absolutely no magical ability?” Rarity asked.

“Afraid not, dear.”

“You’ve been lyin’ to us all along!” Applejack glared.

“Oh… You’re a very bad man!” Dorothy added.

“Oh no, my dear – I’m – I’m a very good man,” He insists. “I’m just a very bad wizard.”

After hearing the man admit the truth, some deep breathing caused everyone to turn behind them. Fluttershy, who had silently taken in the entirety of this conversation, took deep breathes and her one eye started to twitch. It became so much for her, that something in her mind completely snapped. No longer was she the meek and shy yellow Pegasus through the whole adventure, now she angry. So mad, she flew right up to his face after finally hearing enough.

“How dare you?!” Fluttershy shouts, pointing at his face. “You should be ashamed of yourself; conning a poor little girl who only wants to go home!”

“Uh – Now please, don’t be angry, dear,” The Wizard shuddered, frightened. “I’ll – I’ll do anything you say, only… Only please don’t shout at me; it makes me nervous!”

“It makes you nervous?” Fluttershy growled. “You mean I make you nervous?!”

“Um… Yes?”

“WHAT ABOUT US?! You send us to that Witch’s lair, expecting us to claim a broomstick you refuse to collect yourself! We’ve almost died numerous times, practically scared to death, and you’re saying you can’t help us!? You’re a fake, a fraud and those people don’t deserve to think highly of you!”

Before Fluttershy can go on, Twilight and the others pull their friend away from the Wizard. They pile onto her as she struggled to get back up.

“Let me up!” Fluttershy shouts. “Let me up! I’m not finished!”

“Fluttershy, please relax!” Rarity said.

“No, Rarity! I’ve had enough of this nonsense! He’s going to help us and he’s doing it NOW!”

“Flutters, please calm down!” Rainbow urged. “I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be. But this isn’t you!”

“Yeah!” Pinkie agreed. “Remember the Iron Will seminar? You nearly turned into a big meanie pants trying to be assertive! Please come back, Fluttershy!”

After taking the time to hear her friends, Fluttershy eventually calmed down and realized what she was doing. Out of all the ponies, Pinkie Pie was absolutely right. True she was just as frustrated as her friends, but her anger nearly turned her into a monster like that one time in Ponyville. Realizing she almost broke a promise, tears stream down her face as Fluttershy weeps into her hooves.

“I’m sorry,” She cried. “I’m so, so sorry, girls. I don’t know what came over me.”

The other ponies just shush Fluttershy, hugging their Yellow Pegasus friend so she can let it all out.

“There, there, sugar cube,” Applejack assured. “This has been shocking for us all.”

“Yeah… Talk about a ‘Scooby Doo’ moment,” Pinkie nodded.

“Hmm?” Fluttershy muttered, opening one eye.

“Never mind… I’ll tell you later.”

“What about the heart that you promised Tin Man?” Scarecrow asked, loudly. “And the courage you promised Cowardly Lion?”

“And Scarecrow’s brain?” Lion and Tin Man asked, in unison.

“Well, I…” The man began. “But you’ve got them. You’ve had them all the time!

“Oh, no we haven’t!” The trio said, in unison.

“You’re not getting around us that easily!” Rarity warned.

“You promised our friends real things,” Spike added. “A real brain, a real heart, and real courage! That’s what they want!”

“They do?” The Wizard asked. “Everyone, you’re friends have been aiming low. You not only surprise me, but you grieve me.

“How do you mean?” Scarecrow asked.

Regaining his composure, the Wizard smiles and places a hand on Scarecrow’s shoulder.

“Why anybody can have a brain. That’s a very mediocre commodity. Every pusillanimous creature that crawls on the Earth – Or slinks through slimy seas has a brain. From the rock-bound coast of Maine to the Sun… Oh – Oh, no – Ah – Well, be that as it may. Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning – Where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts – And with no more brains than you have… But! They have one thing you haven’t got! A diploma!”

As the Wizard rambles, he pulls out and reaches inside a black bag. He proceeds to pull out a small scroll, tied with a red ribbon, and hands it to Scarecrow.

“Therefore, by virtue of the authority vested in me, by the Universitatus Committeatum e plurbis unum, I hereby confer upon you the honorary degree of Th.D.”

“Th.D.?” Scarecrow asked, confused.

“Yeah – That… That’s ‘Doctor of Thinkology’,” The Wizard explains.

Scarecrow grabs the hem of his hat and recites the Pythagoras Theorem.

“The sum of the square roots of any two sides of an isosceles triangle is equal to the square root of the remaining side.”

Every pony and the others turn toward Scarecrow, wide-eyed and their mouths falling to the floor.

“Scarecrow…” Twilight gasped.

“Yes, Twilight?”

“I consider myself to be a very smart pony. I’ve studied every textbook in Equestrian history and aced every test I’ve ever took. What you just said… Was something ‘I’ didn’t even know! That has to be the smartest thing I’ve ever heard!”

Scarecrow eyes also grew wide, as his mouth hung open in shock.

“It was, wasn’t it? So… You’re saying…”

Twilight nods, as she and every pony else smile brightly.

“I think you have a brain!” Twilight declared.

Scarecrow smiled as well, gasping as he looks upon his friends.

“Oh joy, rapture! I’ve got a brain!” He cheered, turning to the Wizard. “How can I ever thank you enough?”

“Well, you can’t,” The Wizard chuckled.

As The Wizard turns his attention to Lion, Pinkie slowly leans in toward Twilight.

“Uh… Twilight,” Pinkie whispered. “You do know the theory applies to the “right” triangle and it refers to “squares” and not “square roots”, right? You’ve been obsessed with that during Trivia Trot last week.”

“Of course, Pinkie,” Twilight whispered, smiling. “I just wanted him to have his moment.”

“Oh… I get it…”

“Acting!” Twilight and Pinkie said, hoof-bumping.

“As for you, my fine friend,” The Wizard spoke to Lion. “You’re a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger, you have no courage. You are confusing courage with wisdom. Back where I come from, we have men who are called heroes. Once a year, they take their fortitude out of mothballs and parade them down the Main Street of the city. And they have no more courage than you have… But! They have one thing you haven’t got! A medal!”

The Wizard then pulls out a medal, in the shape of a cross with the word ‘Courage’ on it.

“Therefore – For meritorious conduct, extraordinary valor, conspicuous bravery against Wicked Witches, I award you the triple cross!”

He pins the medal upon Lion’s coat, as every pony smiled brightly.

“You are now a member of the Legion of Courage,” The Wizard announced, proudly.

The man kisses Lion on both cheeks, smiling proudly. Lion smiles as well, his cheeks turning red.

“Shucks folks, I’m speechless!” He blushes.

“Congrats Lion,” Applejack smiled. “We always knew yah were courageous!”

“Really?” Lion asked.

“After kickin’ the applesauce outta them guards and stormin’ the castle, ya earned it!” Applejack praised.

“Gee… Thanks, A.J.,” Lion blushed, again.

The Wizard turns his attention to Tin Man next.

“As for you, my galvanized friend, you want a heart! You don’t know how lucky you are not to have one. Hearts will never be practical until they can be unbreakable. I could have been a world figure, a power among men, a – A successful wizard, have I not been obstructed by a heart.”

Though the Wizard meant well, this was not the news Tin Man wanted to hear. His face turned sad with disappointment.

“But I still want one…”

The Wizard smiles at the metal man, as if he understood.

“Back where I come from, there are men who do nothing all day but good deeds. They are called phil… Er – Er – Phil – Er…”

“Philanthropists?” Twilight asked.

“Yes… Good deed doers,” The Wizard nods, facing Tin Man. “And their hearts are no bigger than yours… But! They have one thing you haven’t got! A testimonial!”

The Wizard pulls out a small red heart shaped clock on a chain, bestowing it to Tin Man.

“Therefore, in consideration of your kindness, I take pleasure at this time presenting you with a small token of our esteem and appreciation. And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.”

As the Wizard speaks, every pony approaches Tin Man with smiles on their faces.

“He’s right, Tin Man,” Fluttershy smiled. “We all love you and that’s what makes a heart.”

They all hugged Tin Man tightly, giving his cheeks a kiss for good measure. Tin Man sighs happily, as he holds the clock up to his ear and hears it tick.

“Ahh – Oh, it ticks!” He said, happily.

“It sure does!” Spike exclaimed.

“Read – Read what my medal say,” Lion points, proudly. “’Courage’! Ain’t it the truth? Ain’t it the truth?”

“Oh – Oh – They’re all wonderful,” Dorothy praised.

“Oh, excuse me Mister Wizard, sir,” Pinkie spoke. “But what about Dorothy and us?”

“Oh yes, what about them?” Tin Man asked.

“Dorothy and the girls next!” Lion said.

“Yes, Dorothy and your friends,” The Wizard pondered. “Ah – Oh –”

“Oh, I don’t think there’s anything in that black bag for us,” Dorothy said, sadly.

“Unless you can somehow pull Kansas out of there,” Rainbow frowned.

“Well no, no…” The Wizard shook his head. “On the contrary. Well, you force me into a cataclysmic decision. The only way to get Dorothy and her friends back to Kansas is for me to take them there myself!”

Dorothy gasped, as she, the ponies, and Spike look toward each other with wide smiles and big eyes.

“Seriously?!” Twilight gasped.

“Oh, will you?!” Dorothy asked, joyfully. “Could you?”

“That’s fantastic news!” Applejack said, happily.

“But my dear sir, are you truly a clever enough wizard to manage such an amazing feat?” Rarity asked, curiously.

“Oh yes, I really must agree with Rarity,” Dorothy nodded. “This is quite a task. Are you sure you can accomplish it?”

“Child – You cut me to the quick,” The Wizard responds. “I’m an old Kansas man myself… Born and bred in the heart of the western wilderness – Premier balloonist par excellence to the Miracle Wonderland Carnival Company.”

“How did you manage to wind up here?” Pinkie asked.

“Well, that is quite the story my dear. One day, while performing feats of spectacular stratospheric skill, never before attempted by civilized man, an ‘unfortunate phenomena’ occurred. The balloon failed to return to the fair.”

“It did?” Lion asked.

“Yes,” The Wizard replied. “There I was, floating through space – A man without a continent.”

“Oh, you poor man!” Fluttershy gasped.

“Weren’t you frightened?” Dorothy asked.

“Frightened? You are talking to a man who has laughed in the face of death – Sneered at doom and chuckled at catastrophe… I was petrified. Then suddenly, the wind changed, and the balloon floated down into the heart of this noble city, where I was instantly acclaimed Oz, the First Wizard de Luxe!”

Every pony laughed at such a story but marveled it just the same.

“Times being what they were, I accepted the job – Retaining my balloon against the advent of a quick get-away. And in that balloon, my dear Dorothy, you and I and of course your dear friends too will return to the land of E Pluribus Unum!”

Once again, the group laughed as they prepared to leave. But before they make their way through the doors, the Wizard stops quickly and turns to the colorful ponies and their little dragon friend.

“Oh, I nearly forgot,” He replied, facing Twilight. “Ms. Twilight Sparkle, you mentioned on our last visit you are a princess in this land you come from, yes?”

“Yes I am, sir,” Twilight nodded. “In fact, there are other princesses as well. There’s our faithful co-rulers, Princess Celestia and her sister, Princess Luna. My sister-in-law Princess Cadence and my brother Shining Armor, who rule over the Crystal Empire. Then, of course, there’s my niece Princess Flurry Heart.”

The Wizard chuckles, as he kneels down and places a hand on Twilight’s back.

“My dear, it is not so often the good people of Oz can have a chance to be aligned with a foreign world, with powers unimaginable to their own eyes. When you return, might it be possible to discuss with your fellow princesses the possibility of an alliance with Oz?”

Twilight thought for a moment. Then with a huge smile, she shakes the Wizard’s hand with her hoof.

“I think that can be arranged,” Twilight agreed.

“Splendid,” The Wizard chuckled. “Then it is my most honorable decree, as Wizard, to proclaim you and your good friends here as the Royal Equestrian Ambassadors to Oz!”

Twilight and the others look at each other happily and cheer.

“Oh, thank you, sir!” Twilight cheered.

“We’ll do ya’ll proud, I assure!” Applejack said, proudly.

<>

Some time afterward, eventually the Wizard gathered all the citizens of Emerald City in the square as he, Dorothy, and the ponies piled into the Wizard’s balloon. The Wizard addressed the crowd, all cheering for him. The balloon was managed by Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion, waiting for the cue to release it into the air.

“Good people of Oz,” The Wizard announced. “This is positively the finest exhibition ever to be shown – Yes – Well – Be that as it may – I, your wizard par adua ad alta, am about to embark upon a hazardous and technically unexplainable journey into the outer stratosphere.”

As a fanfare plays, the crowd erupts in cheers and hollered again.

“To confer, converse, and otherwise hob-nob with my brother wizards. And I hereby decree that until what time – If any – That I return, the Scarecrow, by virtue of his superior brains, shall rule in my stead… Assisted by the Tin Man, by virtue of his magnificent heart… And the Lion – By virtue of his courage! Obey them as you would me! And – Ah – Well, that’s all.”

“Finally!” Rainbow groaned. “I never thought he’d stop talking!”

“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity scolds. “Don’t be rude!”

In the midst of this, Toto, held in Dorothy’s arms, caught site of a Siamese cat held by an Oz Woman. Barking, Toto leapt out of the basket to pursue said cat.

“Oh, come back here!” Dorothy called. “Toto!”

Dorothy quickly leapt over the side of the basket, drawing her friends’ attention.

“Dorothy, what are you doing?” Twilight asked.

“Toto ran off!” She answered, loudly.

“Oh, that silly little dog!” Applejack huffed.

The ponies and Spike jump out as well, scampering down the steps to recover Toto.

“Toto, come back here!” Spike yelled.

“Oh, don’t go without us!” Dorothy told the Wizard. “We’ll be right back!”

“Stop that dog!” Rainbow shouts, overhead.

“This is a highly irregular procedure!” The Wizard proclaimed. “This is absolutely unprecedented!”

The balloon basket slowly rose to float off into the air, as the Oz citizens watch. Scarecrow and Tin Man try to keep the balloon on the ground but it’s all in vain.

“Oh! Help me!” Tin Man hollered. “The balloon’s going up!”

“Oh! Come back!” Dorothy cried out. “Don’t go without us! Please come back!”

“I can’t come back!” The Wizard called out. “I don’t know how it works! Goodbye, folks!”

The citizens of Emerald City cheer once more, bidding farewell to their beloved Wizard as he floated higher into the clouds. Dorothy and the others look on sadly from below, watching Dorothy’s only ride home disappear into the heavens.

“Oh, now I’ll never get home!” Dorothy cried.

“Our one hope of getting back,” Twilight added, sadly. “Now it’s gone.”

Every pony, including Spike, looked down at the ground sadly. Absorbing the fact that they’ve run out of chances of ever returning to their homes.

“Stay with us, then, girls,” Lion offered, sadly. “We all love you. We don’t want you to go.”

“Oh Lion, that’s very sweet,” Rarity said. “But we have our own families and friends to get back to and they need us.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Dorothy sobbed. “But this could never be like Kansas. Auntie Em must have stopped wondering what happened to me by now. Oh, Scarecrow, what am I going to do?”

“Look!” Scarecrow pointed, looking ahead. “Here’s someone who can help you?”

Confused, the whole group turns toward the sky and sure enough a very familiar pink bubble gently floats down from the sky. A group of Oz men bow and step back, as the bubble lands upon the square fading away to reveal the Good Witch of the North, Glinda. The crowd gasps quietly, as she slowly steps forward to the group.

“Oh, will you help us?” Dorothy begged. “Can you help us?”

“Yes, please Glinda,” Fluttershy added. “We have no other way to leave.”

“You don’t need to be helped any longer,” Glinda smiled. “You’ve always had the power to go back to Kansas.”

Hearing her words, the whole group faced each other, confused over what she said.

“I have?” Dorothy asked, confused.

“She has?” Twilight asked. “How come you didn’t tell us that before?”

“Because she wouldn’t have believed me,” Glinda explained. “She had to learn it for herself.”

“What have you learned, Dorothy?” Applejack asked.

“Well, I…” Dorothy thought. “I think that – That it wasn’t enough just to want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em – And it’s that – If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look any further than my own backyard. Because if it isn’t there, I never really lost it to begin with! Is that right?”

“That’s all it is,” Glinda nodded, smiling.

“So, after all this time, you’re saying all she had to do was realize her true happiness was always in Kansas?” Rainbow asked, bewildered.

“That’s right, my dear,” Glinda answered.

“But that’s so easy!” Scarecrow said. “I should have thought of it for you.”

“I should have felt it in my heart,” Tin Man added.

“No,” Glinda replied. “She had to find it out for herself. Now those magic slippers will take you home in two seconds!”

“Oh Toto, too?” Dorothy asked.

“Toto, too.”

“Oh, now?”

“Whenever you wish.”

Dorothy had the biggest smile on her face, so huge nothing could wipe it off in this moment.

“Oh dear – That’s too wonderful to be true!” Dorothy proclaimed happily.

As Dorothy embraced the wonderful news, Twilight and the others trot toward Glinda.

“What about us, Glinda?” Twilight asked. “Will we be going back with Dorothy?”

Glinda looks down toward the ponies, her smile quickly fades. This made the ponies very nervous.

“What is it?” Rarity asked.

“Well, my dear,” Glinda began. “I’m afraid neither you nor your friends will be returning to Kansas with Dorothy.”

The ponies and Spike gasp, a wave of sadness washed over them.

“B-But why not?” Fluttershy asked, tearfully. “Did we do something wrong?”

“Oh no, of course not,” Glinda assures, smiling. “Your journey here in Oz has come to an end.”

They all cock their heads to the side, confused.

“What does that mean?” Applejack asked.

“Ever since your journey began, I have discovered that the magic which brought you to this world to begin with is the same magic to reopen the portal to Equestria. I trust you know by now what that means.”

Twilight Sparkle thought about it for a moment, then a realization came in.

“The Elements of Harmony,” Twilight spoke. “I remember Sunset Shimmer, a friend of mine, mentioned that Equestrian magic had leaked into her world and created some phenomenon upon ordinary household objects and such. When this television came into Equestria, even though I still don’t understand how or why, the magic of our world was building a means to come here. Our Elements were practically the ignition once it was turned on. Is that correct?”

“Yes, indeed,” Glinda smiled.

“Okay, I barely know half of what you said,” Rainbow said, then yelled. “But that’s so awesome!”

Every pony cheered, before turning back to the rest of the group. It was then they noted the sad looks on their faces, even if they were happy for them. Seeing this nearly took the joy out of the ponies, once they realized what this means.

“Oh, it’s – It’s going to be so hard to say goodbye,” Dorothy sobbed. “I love you all, too.”

“Yeah, we’ve been on one heck of a journey together,” Applejack said. “Now that it’s over, I don’t want it to end.”

“We’ve truly come to see you all as great friends,” Rarity added.

Pinkie Pie suddenly burst out crying, just as she did when she first babysat the Cake Twins all by herself. Fluttershy quietly hands Pinkie Pie a tissue, which she takes swiftly.

“Oh, it’s so sad and heartbreaking,” She cried, blowing her nose.

As Fluttershy silently comforts her friend, Dorothy approaches Tin Man, tears streaming down his face.

“Goodbye, Tin Man,” Dorothy cried. “Oh, don’t cry. You’ll rust so dreadfully. Here – Here’s you oil can. Goodbye.”

Dorothy hands Tin Man his oil can, kissing his cheek.

“Now I know I’ve got a heart,” Tin Man said, sadly. “’Cause it’s breaking.”

Dorothy soon approaches Lion, as the ponies look on.

“Oh – Goodbye, Lion. You know, I know it isn’t right, but I’m going to miss the way you used to holler for help before you found your courage.”

“Well – I would never’ve found it if it weren’t for you,” Lion replied.

Dorothy then turns to Scarecrow; they look on silently and embrace with a warm hug.

“Goodbye, Scarecrow. I know you think you didn’t have much of a brain – But ever since we met, I’ve always thought you were the wisest person I’ve ever met.”

“Well, there is one thing I know for sure,” Scarecrow smiled, sadly. “This isn’t the last time we’ll meet.”

Finally, Dorothy turns her attention to her six pony friends and the little dragon. Tears formed in their eyes, but they allowed them to fall freely. Dorothy gives them a huge group hug.

“I think I’ll miss all of you, most of all,” She sobbed.

“We’ll miss you too, Dorothy,” Fluttershy cried.

“Don’t forget about us,” Twilight said.

“We certainly won’t forget you, darling,” Rarity sobbed.

Dorothy stands up, wiping her eyes. She holds Toto in her arms, facing the group one last time.

“Say goodbye, Toto,” She said, shaking his little paw.

The whole group waves goodbye, standing back as Dorothy faces Glinda.

“Yes, I’m ready now,” Dorothy answered.

“Then close your eyes, and tap your heels together three times,” Glinda instructs.

Dorothy shuts her eyes, clicking her heels together as Glinda said. Glinda waves her wand in a circular motion, as the group looks on.

“And think to yourself – ‘There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home…’”

“There’s no place like home; there’s no place like home; there’s no place like home…”

As Dorothy repeats the saying, over and over, a bright light engulfs her body. It glows so bright, the ponies and Spike had to look away, Pinkie even wearing sunglasses to shield her eyes. Eventually, the light extinguished, and Dorothy Gale of Kansas vanished. Once more, everyone felt tears flow freely down their face as Glinda smiles toward Twilight Sparkle and her friends.

“Now, are you all ready, dears?” She asked.

None of the ponies said anything, they were too distraught to speak, so they nodded. They all approach Scarecrow, Lion, and Tin Man, giving each of them a hug. The ponies gather to form a Hexagon shape, Twilight putting on her tiara while her friends put on their necklaces. With a wave of Glinda’s wand and as every pony concentrated, their combined magic opened a green vortex, the very same portal that drew them to the new world in the beginning. Spike hopes onto Twilight’s back, holding on as Twilight lead her friends toward the portal. They all look back, one last time, silently bidding farewell before stepping into the portal.

<>

It was dark for a moment or two, until Twilight and her friends woke up finding themselves lying on the floor. Twilight, the first to sit up, rubbed her eyes and absorbed the familiar surroundings of her castle library. Her eyes went wide as saucers, as she shook her friends awake.

“Guys! Wake up, wake up!”

“I don’t wanna go to school,” Spike groaned, groggily. “Five more minutes…”

Twilight smiled, with a mischievous look.

“Okay… Guess I’ll get the water bucket…”

Spike’s eyes immediately shot open, sitting up very fast.

“I’m up! I’m up!” He said, realizing. “Hey!”

Before Spike can retort, he looks around and recognizes his surroundings. As he smiled, the rest of their friends sat up, stretching their limbs and groaning.

“Is it mah turn to milk the cows?” Applejack asked, tiredly.

“I gotta get to Wonderbolt practice,” Rainbow yawned.

“I simply must get that order filled, stat,” Rarity stretched.

Once their senses came back, they too noticed their familiar surroundings. They all look around, amazed.

“I can’t believe it,” Rainbow said, amazed. “We’re actually back!”

“It feels so good to be back,” Rarity said.

“Yeah!” Fluttershy cheered, quietly.

“Wait a minute, ya’ll,” Applejack realized. “How do we know we didn’t just dream it all?”

Twilight Sparkle looked at her friends, wondering the same thing. She then noticed something else and looked at her side. There, strapped around her, was her saddlebag completely intact. As she took it off and opened her bag, she saw that everything she brought along was still there. Sitting between some ingredients she collected for Zecora, there was the Tome with the Elements as if it hadn’t been touched.

“Hmm… It’s a rather puzzling thing,” Twilight said. “But it feels as if we never left here.”

“Well, whatever the case, that was the realest dream I’ve ever had,” Rainbow said.

“How could we all have the same dream?” Pinkie asked.

Every pony just looked at each other, trying to figure it out. If Pinkie Pie herself couldn’t determine if this was real, how could any of them. That maybe, all this time, it was all just a dream that barely felt like it had taken only more than an hour. They really couldn’t answer this question, not without proof of what really happened. They were just about to forget the whole thing, until…

“Hey guys! You might want to come see this!”

The ponies turn toward Spike, who smiled while looking at the T.V. They slowly approach their friend and noticed it wasn’t all static anymore. A familiar sepia tone was shown, as they witnessed what played out.

<>

On the screen, Dorothy Gale lied on her bed muttering ‘There’s no place like home’ over and over. Someone placed a damp washcloth on her head, she muttered.

“Wake up honey.”

Dorothy slowly opens her eyes, as she kept muttering. Her eyes suddenly went wide, as she noticed she was once more back in her room in Kansas. More than that, there they were: Auntie Em and Uncle Henry, gather around her.

“Dorothy,” Aunt Em said, sweetly. “Dorothy, dear. It’s Aunt Em, darling.”

“Oh, Auntie Em,” Dorothy said, in disbelief. “It’s you!”

“Yes, darling.”

“Hello there! Anybody home?”

Just then, Professor Marvel approaches the bedroom window and peeks in.

“I – I just dropped by because I heard the little girl got caught in the big…” Professor Marvel said, seeing Dorothy. “Well she seems alright now.”

“Yeah,” Uncle Henry chuckled. “She got quite a bump on the head – We kinda thought there for a minute she was going to leave us.”

“Oh, but I did leave you, Uncle Henry,” Dorothy exclaimed, loudly. “That’s just the trouble. And I tried to get back for days and days.”

Henry and Professor Marvel merely look at each other, chuckling.

“There, there, lie quiet now,” Aunt Em said, soothingly. “You just had a bad dream.”

Soon enough, Hunk, Hickory and Zeke kneel down by Dorothy’s bedside.

“Sure – Remember me – Your old pal, Hunk?”

“And me – Hickory?”

“You couldn’t forget my face, could you?”

“No,” Dorothy said. “But it wasn’t a dream – It was a place. And you – And you – And you – And you were there.”

Dorothy pointed toward Hunk, Hickory, Zeke, and Professor Marvel. The four men just look at each other trying to figure out what she was talking about.

“But you couldn’t have been, could you?”

“Oh, we dream lots of silly things when we—” Aunt Em began.

“No, Aunt Em,” Dorothy interrupts. “This was a real, truly live place. And I remember that some of it wasn’t very nice but most of it was beautiful. But just the same, all I kept saying to everybody was, I just want to go home. And they sent me home.”

Everyone else looked at each other, chuckling at Dorothy’s seemingly wild story.

“Doesn’t anybody believe me?” Dorothy cried.

“Of course we believe you, Dorothy,” Uncle Henry chuckled. “Heck, after meeting them new friends ah yours, we ain’t got much choice.”

<>

While watching, the ponies were surprised by Uncle Henry’s words.

“Is he referring to us?” Spike asked.

“Shh…” Fluttershy hushed, whispering. “Let’s wait and see.”

<>

“Oh yes,” Auntie Em replied. “Where are they, dear? After the tornado passed, we couldn’t find any of them.”

“Oh…” Dorothy pondered. “I guess… They all went back home.”

“Are they alright?”

“Oh yes… I’m quite sure they’re just fine.”

“Well, if you see them again, you tell them anytime they wish to come and visit, they’re always welcome here.”

“Oh yes… I certainly will.”

Before their eyes, Dorothy seemed to look straight ahead where the screen was. Her eyes gaze upon our heroes, as if she herself was breaking the fourth wall… Something a certain ‘party pony’ is familiar with.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Dorothy began. “If you’re all out there somewhere, I just have something I want to say. I already miss you all so dearly. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash… And yes, even you too, Spike. You asked me to ‘not’ forget you, and I promise not a day goes by when I won’t remember meeting you. I hope one day, we all get to see each other again. But if we never get that chance and this truly is goodbye… I love you all, so much.”

Everyone in the room smiled brightly. Then, as Toto jumped into Dorothy’s lap, the whole scene seems to play out as if nothing happened.

“Oh, buy anyway, Toto, we’re home! Home! And this is my room – And you’re all here! And I’m not going to leave her ever, ever again, because I love you all! And – Oh, Auntie Em – There’s no place like home!”

As the last scene played out, huge tears fell along Twilight’s face, as well as her friends. They all hug each other, not wanting to let go.

“Now I know it was all real,” Twilight sobbed. “And you know what? I think Dorothy’s going to be just fine.”

“Ah’m just glad she made it back home,” Applejack nodded.

As they all nod in agreement, Pinkie Pie looks straight ahead, looking toward the viewers reading this story.

“Don’t you just love a happy ending?” Pinkie smiled, with a wink.

The End