No Place Like Home

by Erik Schubach

  Vermillion giggled and pulled my hand out of Ella-Marie's, and took each of our hands – hers feeling so small, like those of a child – as she giggled and pulled us through a group of what looked to me like huge walking stick bugs in tuxedos, with top-hats and monocles.

  She said breathlessly as we came up to a stone railing on a terrace above an awe-inspiring sight,

  “Behold, the Fountain of Tears!”

  Ella was whispering, “Bloody hell.”

  I nodded agreement.

  There in front of us was a great fountain that started in a pool below us, where the yellow bricks swirled to a stop at the base of the creation. The fountain climbed into the air, soaring forty feet above even the level of the terrace. It looked to be made of flowers and gems. It spouted crystals that sang out in sweet and sad tones and splashed impossibly into the pool below as drops of water.

  I could see colorful shadows in the ice blue water, swimming gracefully, and from time to time impossible clockwork fish dove out of the water turning into birds which chirped and flew up to drink the crystals of the fountain at their source.

  I couldn't take my eyes off of it as I mouthed the only word I could think at the moment as sunlight refracted through the crystal tears and the jewels of the fountain to bathe the courtyard below in prismatic rainbows. “Wow.”

  Then we were being dragged to a stone staircase by Vermillion who was giggling at us in glee.

  “Come on, come on!”

  I exchanged a smile of wonder with my girl as we ran down the sweeping staircase.

  I almost jumped after we reached the courtyard, and the stairs readjusted themselves as Ver curtsied them. Then I blinked when I realized the stairs were actually hundreds of little rock creatures that reminded me of mini golems who waved at us, accidentally knocking a Munchkin off of them in the process.

  I made a sound of distress, but the man was caught by a half dozen clockwork birds and lowered to the courtyard where the man tipped his hat to them and straightened his lapels, which looked like oversized corn husks, then he strode jauntily off.

  We were swarmed by a cyclone of the clockwork birds as their chirps sounded distressed, I caught dozens of tiny voices warning, “Dark-ness,” as they swirled around Ella-Marie.

  Vermillion shooed them off, waving her hands as she admonished, “She is a friend of Dorothy of Oz.”

  This seemed to excite the birds, and two landed on my girl's shoulders, making cooing sounds like pigeons as the others flew off to the fountain again. I felt disoriented as Marie came forward and said to the wind-up birds, “Yes, there eez darkness in us that we must fight every day, but my Ella has heart enough to keep zat darkness at bay.”

  I took her hand again as Ella re-exerted herself. I sighed, knowing that same black magic ran through my veins, and I knew the temptation to take more. I squeezed her hand as Ver looked at her with a profound sympathy. Then she waved us over to the pool and sat down on the rim of the fountain. We joined her.

  The red-headed Munchkin gave us an encouraging look as she scooped her hand into the pool like

  so many others around us were doing. She brought the water to her lips and sipped as she said, “Try it.”

  We dipped our hands into the refreshingly cool, clear water, seeing the clockwork fish swimming happily in the pool. I hesitated when I saw the people around us all shedding silent tears that dripped into the pool. I brought the water to my lips and sipped after my girl did.

  A feeling came over me. Of beauty and warmth, of love and loss, of contentment and belonging.

  And I heard a single tear drip from my cheek into the pool. I looked up at Vermillion in wonder, Ella-Marie doing the same with wet cheeks.

  Our guide of small stature smiled up at us with glistening cheeks as she whispered in reverence,

  “Every tear of happiness that has ever been shed in Oz finds its way here, along with the memory which caused it to be shed. If you ever feel down or feel the weight of the world crushing you, you can come here to remind yourself of all the good things in this world of ours. And your burdens can be taken off your shoulders, if just for a while.”

  I felt so... happy and content. This was a magic beyond all others in my opinion. A bastion of love and happiness in our shared journey of life. And the water tasted of the memory of a smile.

  I looked at our escort and said the only thing I could, “Thank you, Ver.”

  She hopped off the fountain and smiled, inclining her head and curtsying. “It was my pleasure.

  You two seemed to need it.”

  We stood to join her, and I realized we seemed to be the center of attention. People of all shapes, sizes, species, and mechanical configuration were watching us. Vermillion Chrysanthemum waved them all off with breezy waves of her hands. “Go about your business all of you. You'd think you've never seen giants from the Kansas Realm before.”

  They grudgingly turned away, surreptitiously watching us rather than blatantly. I had to grin at the small woman. She shrugged at me. “Well, who can blame them? It isn't often witches from Dorothy's realm come calling.”

  I started to protest, “We're not...”

  She rolled her eyes and looped her arms in mine and Ella-Marie's and pulled us along with her.

  “Please, Parker. All have heard the story of the glass maidens fighting at the side of Dorothy and Toto of Oz today. One who disappeared later. And the golden-haired giant who was slinging a new magic on the field of battle to protect Oz.”

  She indicated Ella with the last, though technically it had been Marie in her own body at that time.

  I was thankful to Dorothy for the chance to see Ella on her own as well, if only for a short time. I couldn't help smiling at that thought, amazed such fire could come from such a cute package, I saw

  easily how Marie had become smitten with the chambermaid.

  Then I considered what she was saying. I guess from their point of view that us using magic made us witches... even though it was dark magic. Did that make us wicked in their eyes?

  We spent the rest of the afternoon with Ver dragging us from wonder to wonder in that amazing city of emerald. It seemed everything was touched in some way by magic, and I started to wonder if that is why it all seemed too bright, too vivid. I was fascinated with the various people who crowded the streets.

  We were having such a wonderful time with our diminutive guide that I almost forgot about our situation, cut off from our friends in Perchta's Garden, my worry for them was overshadowed by the impossible things we were seeing around us. I wondered if they were trying to find us or if the Elders would sense them if they left the protection of the garden.

  A gong sounded off in the distance somewhere, and the sun, which I hadn't realized had never moved in the sky all day, slid down to the horizon, casting the world in purple and orange light. Ver smiled and said, “The day is over, night will fall at the next gong. Did you wish to return to the castle now?”

  I yawned, it had been a full day. Ella-Marie smiled and wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Our girl here is beat, we should get her back before she turns into a pumpkin.”

  Vermillion's eyes widened. “She's enchanted? Like Pumpkinhead Jacklyn?”

  I chuckled. “No, well yes, but not like that. It was just a figure of speech from our land.”

  She nodded suspiciously like I was hiding the truth from her, and it amused her. I bet she really thought I was going to turn into a pumpkin. She curtsied acquiescence, the cheeky girl, then spoke a single word into the air as people seemed to be moving off the streets to their homes. “Fenriss?”

  We all looked to the sky searching, I was about to call out too when we heard the whupping of wings and scrabbling of claws on bricks, then I jumped when a tail wrapped around my hand. We looked back to see Fenriss had arrived.

  He smiled at me, his fangs gleaming. I sighed and smiled back at the transformed Munchkin.

  Wondering how long he had been a monkey since his ma
nnerisms were more animalistic than human...

  well than Munchkinian, I suppose.

  Then he bowed to return the curtsy Ver gave him as she said, “The witches of Kansas wish to return to the castle.”

  Fenriss let go of my hand his tail twitching as he ran around us, eyeing the castle wearily. Then he charged our redheaded guide, she didn't even flinch when he popped up on two legs and looked into her eyes when we heard a rumble from the castle. “The Dorothy misssed her time with her love today.

  Sshe iss in the thrall of the wickednesss, the Toto dog iss keeping her contained. It is besst if the Vermilion lady hosstss them tonight.”

  Without waiting for a response, he leapt over her head and with a powerful stroke of his wings he was airborne, calling back, “Bring them to the receiving hall firsst thing in the morning.”

  Ver just waved and acknowledged, “Goodbye, sir Fenriss.”

  She smiled at us and said, “This is indeed a treat, I've the chance to supper with you at my home tonight.”

  Just like that? She accepted that we were foisted upon her and seemed pleased about it? I think I was beginning to really like the people of Oz.

  The ground shook again, and she cast a look full of pain and compassion toward the castle.

  Ella mumbled, “Throwin' tantrums like a bloody child.”

  Ver was quick to move to her and place a hand on my girl's crossed arms, shaking her head and saying in earnest, “Because Dorothy took on the volatile magics for us, they are constantly warring in her mind... explosive... trying to get out. It has stripped away her impulse control as there are only the two extremes in poor Dorothy's mind, wicked and good, battling for dominance. She took on this burden for all the people of Oz. It is just best to give her space when she is in a mood, only First Protector of Oz, Toto, can face her and calm her at times like this. Dorothy would never hurt the one she loves.”

  To my and Marie's surprise, Ella looked down, embarrassed, and nodded, “I understand. My apologies.”

  Ver just inclined her head then brightened. “Have you ever had the magical food from the Kansas Realm, pizza?”

  We chuckled, following the small redheaded Munchkin to her home as she excitedly told us all about this mystical treat that was pizza, which Dorothy shared with Oz. Vermillion was going to make it for us.

  Ella was mumbling, “Maybe the witch isn't a total loss after all.”

  We were pulled along by the excited redhead.

  Chapter 10 – Prophecy

  The next morning we got up, backs aching from laying on the floor in Vermillion's guest room.

  The bed was too small for us, so we put pillows and blankets on the floor instead. The house was surrounded by monkeys when Vermillion rushed us out, saying, “We slept past the morning gong!

  Dorothy might get into a wicked mood if you don't join her for breakfast. Or worse, a playful mood.”

  She shuddered at the comment about Dorothy being playful.

  We hadn't taken two steps outside when monkeys swarmed us, Fenriss wrapping his tail around my hand, saying quickly, “We musst hurry. You sshould have been there already, glasss maiden.”

  Then I squeaked as six monkeys hauled me up into the sky, Ella-Marie whooping beside me, and Vermillion being brought along by another group, looking calm and smiling down at the city below us.

  The wind ruffled my hair as the sun sat halfway up the horizon and I tried not to look down. I didn't know how far I could fall without my crystal shattering. I didn't ever want to find out. So I tightened my grip on Fenriss' tail. I called out in concern as I glanced back at Ver, “Why are they bringing you? It isn't your fault we slept in.”

  She said simply like it explained everything, “Sir monkey – Fenriss, hasn't given me leave yet.”

  What? Was she like, I don't know, assigned to us or something? Just because Fenriss had told her she was to guide us the prior day? Not that I'm complaining mind you, I enjoyed the happy Munchkin girl and felt we were already becoming friends.

  Then she chuckled over the wind of our passing and the whupping sound of leathery wings. “You didn't turn into a pumpkin last night, I peeked in on you to see.”

  We all shared a laugh. Fenriss laughed too, though he didn't know what we were tittering about.

  I called out, “No, no I did not.”

  With surprising speed, we were deposited on a balcony on the central spire of the castle. Then Fenriss hissed violently and all the monkeys dispersed into the sky. He smiled at us as Vermillion started fussing over us, straightening our clothes and pulling scarves out from somewhere to drape around our necks. The fabric was gorgeous, in multiple emerald shades.

  She inclined her head at our flying simian, and he smiled at her then opened one of the huge glass doors and ushered us in. We started at the bark of a huge dog, Fenriss screeched and dove into the air and grabbed onto the draping fabric of the curtains at the door as Ella-Marie slid in front of me, ready to protect.

  I had to get my heart pounding in my chest under control as the big dog fell to the ground...

  laughing? And it morphed into a very amused... very... naked Antoinette who was holding her belly

  laughing. She rolled to her feet and pointed at the embarrassed looking Fenriss where he was clutching the drapes for dear life. Ver was giggling too.

  Toto said, “Payback! I got you this time Fen. Don't even try to tell me you weren't scared.”

  Ella and I were dutifully looking anywhere but at the naked cheerleader as she reached to a chair for a kimono.

  Fenriss rolled his eyes and smiled, showing those fangs of his as he dropped to the floor and made his way quickly to the chair. He stood on it and helped drape the kimono over her shoulders. “Yess, Fenriss wass caught off guard! You won't be able to get me again, Toto lady.”

  He wrapped his tail around her offered hand, and he hopped off the chair and led her to us by his tail. She had been playing with the armed and armored flying monkey? I had the feeling these two tried scaring each other frequently. He and Vermillion seemed to act like dogs turning into a naked woman was just normal.

  A bubbly laughter and the French-accented voice of Marie filled my head. “For us eet sort of ees, my Parker. Are not a few of our friend's werewolves? And Daria is a huge wolf, and Illy a unicorn?”

  Ok, she did have a fair point. But I still felt awkward when they transformed back naked too. I silently prompted her, “And hey, eavesdropping on my thoughts?”

  She chuckled.

  Toto took first my hand in hers then Ella-Marie's, “Parker, Ella-Marie. I'm glad you could join us.”

  Then she looked at our guide, “And?”

  Ver dropped into a deep curtsy, her eyes wide in apparent hero worship as she looked at her feet and said, “Vermillion Chrysanthemum, my lady protector. Sir Fenriss bid me escort.”

  Toni was very gracious as the Munchkin stood back up. “We thank you for watching over them.

  You know how much trouble us people from the mortal realm can be. Worse than a saucer in a teacup's house.”

  They shared a laugh. She was really good with both Ver and Fenriss. A saucer in a... did I even want to know? This was Oz, and the answer was sure to confuse me.

  Fenriss shared, “Sshe took them for the night when Dorothy...”

  Toto nodded understanding, then she warned with a mischievous grin, “Well she's in a playful mood this morning.”

  Fenriss stopped and swallowed, and Ver slid slightly behind us. Ok, so why did they seem more afraid of that than when the wickedness overwhelmed Dorothy? Ver tried to give us an encouraging smile as Toto chuckled. “Come now, she's not that bad.” She hesitated. “In the earlier days, maybe.

  But she's in a genuinely good mood right now.” She spoke behind her hand to Ver, “I had to make up

  for not being able to share her bed last night.”

  Oh dear god, we were going to meet a woman with no impulse control and power that rivaled the only goddess I knew, and she was on a se
x high?

  Antoinette said as she motioned for us to follow, “She is in the audience chamber, we should collect her and have breakfast. We must discuss the demons and Elders.”

  I nodded and then smiled when Ver looped an arm in mine and Ella-Marie's, and we followed Toto and Fenriss, who was giving the blonde the stink eye for his earlier scare.

  We took impossible corridors, passing dozens of people going about their business. We went up a spiraling corridor to go down two levels, then headed toward the outer wall to reach an inner chamber, where there were people and creatures all lined up by doors guarded by flying monkeys with pikes.

  Toni crinkled her nose playfully as people started whispering and murmuring her name, and dropping into low bows and curtsies. She brought us to a low door... a Munchkin, or monkey sized door off to the side as the monkeys bared their teeth to Fenriss who was doing the same. A greeting?

  We ducked down and through the door to find ourselves on a balcony above the room we entered.

  This sort of warped fabric of space was disorienting. I bet this is what Doctor Who's companions felt like navigating through the rooms in the Tardis.

  The audience chamber was huge, like an opera house. There were viewing boxes all around the second, third, and fourth floors, and all manner of people were watching the big throne in the center of the floor below where Dorothy sat sideways, her legs draped over the arm of the chair, a huge smile on her face. She looked stunning.

  A Munchkin came up to the throne with a cage full of chickens. He bowed low, and she hopped up, full of energy as she moved over to look into the cage. The man said as he stood, “A blight has taken my farm, my chickens have taken ill and have stopped laying Lady Dorothy.”

  She held a hand up and smiled at the man. “Say no more.” She made a motion, and I could feel the magic in this world swirl down into the cage with nothing but a thought from her. She motioned to the cage. “Their health is restored, and they'll lay a dozen a day each now. Now go tend your farm and have a spectacular day.”