Oz: The Great and Powerful Junior Novel Disney Book Group (5 page)

Theodora looked up at him, pleased. “You’re going to make the best king Oz has ever known,” she said. “And I’ll be so proud to be…your queen.”

Oz stopped smiling. Then he blinked. “My queen?” he repeated.

“Of course,” Theodora replied. “We’ll spend a lifetime together. Right now there are thousands of people in Oz waiting to witness your miracles!” Letting out a giddy little squeal of joy she reached up and gave him a kiss. Then, turning, she ran off down the hill.

Thousands? That was quite a lot of people. The biggest show he would ever have done… Could he handle it?

“What now, Wizard?” the small flying monkey asked.

Noticing Finley, Oz turned to him. “Monkey,” he said as they began to follow Theodora down the hill. “Tell me again about that life debt?”

Proudly, Finley explained. “I devote my life to you. Whatever you wish, whatever you want, it’s my sworn duty to deliver for you until the end of my days.”

“And there’s no getting out of it?” Oz asked.

Finley nodded. “None, sir. It is irrevocable.”

“Good,” Oz said. “Because I’m not the Wizard.” He didn’t know why, but he had felt the need to tell someone the truth. And if the monkey was in debt to him, he could never tell anyone the truth…

Finley let out a laugh. “Oh, sir. Your sense of humor is as boundless as it is wondrous. You remind me—”

“I’m not the Wizard,” Oz repeated.

For a moment, the monkey didn’t say anything as he tried to process Oz’s words. Then, when he realized the man wasn’t kidding, his eyes grew wide. “But you could have told me before I sealed the life debt!” he complained. “You gotta come clean for that innocent young girl.”

Oz nodded. “I’ll deal with her later,” he said. “As my new assistant, all you need to know are the three ups: show up, keep up, shut up.”

“But I…” Finley began.

Oz held up a finger. “What’s the third up?”

Finley scowled.

“Right,” Oz went on. “Now listen, I’m depending on you. We need to convince the good people of Oz that they found their Wizard.”

Before Oz could go on, he saw that they had caught up with Theodora. She was standing in front of a line of very, very tall men wearing uniforms. These were the Winkie Guards who protected the Emerald City. And standing in front of them was a small man with a very sour expression. Nearby was a jewel-encrusted carriage being pulled by two snow-white horses.

“Theodora,” the little man said, “we’ve been expecting you.”

“Hello, Knuck,” Theodora said. “
This
is the Wizard.”

“How do you do, sir?” Oz said as he extended his hand. But the small man just continued to stare at him.

“This is the Wizard?” Knuck said, not wanting to believe his own eyes.

The Munchkin’s reaction immediately put Oz on the defensive. “Is there a problem?” Oz asked.

Knuck looked Oz up and down skeptically. “Yeah. I thought you’d be taller.”

Oz forced himself not to laugh. This coming from a guy who barely came up to his belt?

Turning back to the Winkies, Knuck raised a large staff. “All hail the Wizard!”

“
ALL
HAIL THE WIZARD!” the Winkies cried.

Beside Oz, Finley raised an eyebrow. “All hail the Wizard! The mightiest of the mighties!” he hissed under his breath. “The greatest, most powerful and most
genuine
of real and true wizards.”

Oz shot the monkey a glare. Enough was enough, but the monkey just kept going. “A Wizard above scrutiny, with no covert agenda or subversive intention whatsoever. A Wizard of the highest moral rectitude. He’s just a real, good, solid Wizard, everyone.” Oz finally caught Finley’s eye, and the monkey finished his rant. “The Wizard,” he said. “Here he is.”

Ignoring him, Oz followed Knuck, who opened the door to the carriage and ushered Oz inside. It was time for Oz to see inside the Emerald City.

C
HAPTER
S
IX

HE
E
MERALD
C
ITY
had once been a magnificent place. Towers, spires, and fountains dominated the skyline, everything the same shade of green. But when Oz got closer, it was clear that the city had fallen upon hard times. The towers were crumbling and shop windows were broken. On one wall, ominous claw marks could be made out, causing Oz to shudder.

He shook his head. It was all just cosmetic. A few coats of paint and some new windows and the place would look good as new.

“The kingdom needs a little sprucing up!” Oz said. He would make this his first order of business.

Theodora saw the confusion in Oz’s eyes and put a gently hand on his. “The Wicked Witch sends her baboons on nightly raids,” she explained. “My sister has set up sentries along the wall, but there’s only so much they can do. Things will be different now that you are here.”

As they moved down the road, however, Oz noticed something, well, off about the people as well. No one looked particularly happy. They passed a woman hanging laundry, her shoulders slumped. A bricklayer repaired a wall, his face drawn. When the carriage moved by a young boy and his mother, both of whom were filled with fear, the mother called out to him. “Help us, Wizard!” she begged. “Please!”

The Winkie Guard pushed the woman aside so that the carriage could continue on through. Then a ragged old man yelled directly at Oscar. “Save us from the Wicked Witch!” he pleaded.

Oz didn’t understand. What was going on? Why were these people so desperate for help? Shouldn’t these people be happy? Theodora had told him they would cheer when they saw him, as he was their savior. This behavior was decidedly
un
excited.

“Don’t worry,” Theodora said, trying to reassure Oz. “Things’ll be different now that you’re here.”

But Oz had no more time to ponder the strange behavior of the people. The carriage had reached the palace. Unlike the rest of the city, the palace was in pristine shape. It glittered and sparkled in the sunlight and seemed to go on forever. Pleased, Oz got out of the carriage and followed Theodora inside and down a long vaulted corridor. At the end stood a set of tall double doors that opened all by themselves when they approached.

Oz’s eyes grew wide. Behind the doors was the most opulent room he had ever seen. It was a large chamber, decorated in green, with huge windows that looked out upon the city. The floor beneath his feet was made of green marble and covered with an intricate design. Hanging above them were huge chandeliers, their soft light casting warm shadows on the walls. At the far end of the room, a short flight of stairs led up to a huge emerald throne.

“Is that it?” Oz asked. “Is that my throne?”

But it was not Theodora who answered. From behind him, a voice responded, “Do you like it?”

Turning, Oz found himself looking at a stunning woman. She appeared to be a bit older than Theodora, but with the same dark hair and ruby lips. But while Theodora’s eyes were full of innocence, this woman’s were penetrating, as though she knew more than she was willing to let on. Smiling, she looked Oz up and down as she brought a hand to her throat and touched the large emerald jewel that hung around her neck.

“I’ve personally kept watch over it,” the woman went on, “waiting for your arrival.”

“Much obliged,” Oz said, tipping his head and giving her one of his most charming smiles.

The woman responded in kind. “Praise be you’re here at last, and the prophecy shall be fulfilled. This is a glorious day for us all.” Then the woman gave Oz a charming smile. “And may I add,” the woman said with an extra glint in her eye, “you are as handsome a king as we’ve ever had.”

“Flatterer,” Oz said, as he turned back toward Theodora. “Who is this fetching woman?”

Theodora stepped up, placing herself by Oz’s side. “Wizard,” she said, “this is my sister.”

“I am Evanora, the royal advisor,” the woman added. “I have protected the Emerald City whilst we awaited your arrival. I am here to serve you as I have served the king before you.”

Oz waggled an eyebrow. “I look forward to being served,” he said, his voice teasing.

Evanora flashed a wicked smile. “Oh, sister,” she began, “I like him already.”

As Theodora glanced jealously between the two of them, Oz bounded up the stairs and took a seat on the throne.

The smile on Evanora’s face faltered briefly. But before Oz could notice, she forced a new one. “Yes, have a seat. How does it feel?”

“Fits like a glove!” Oz exclaimed.

“Knuck will show you to your quarters. We’ll chat more later?” Evanora asked.

“Can’t wait!” Oz exclaimed. He was like a kid in a candy store. Spotting Finley, he called out to his newfound friend. “Monkey, my bag!” he barked.

“Yes, Wizard,” Finley said as he grabbed Oz’s bag. “Right away, oh great and powerful one,” he said with a hint of sarcasm that went undetected by the sisters, but not by Oz, who quickly ushered the monkey out and followed him close behind.

When they were alone, Theodora turned to her sister, giddy. “Isn’t he wonderful! Didn’t I say he would come?” But her sister didn’t agree.

Evanora’s features hardened and the smile completely
vanished from her face. She was not pleased. Not pleased at all. What was her sister
thinking
? Theodora had always been the young and impulsive one, but this was pure madness.

“You dare escort that oaf in here!” Evanora spat. “Allow him to climb into that hallowed throne—”

“And why not? He
is
the Wizard,” Theodora protested.

Evanora scoffed. “Or so he
says
! Did it not occur to you that he might be an impostor, in league with the Wicked Witch? Sent here to
kill
us?”

“The Wicked Witch?” Theodora repeated. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

Evanora raised a sculpted eyebrow. “
I’m
not the one underestimating her cleverness,” she pointed out. “Or maybe it’s you I’m underestimating. Have you finally joined her side, sister?”

“Do you honestly think I could conspire against you? With
her
?” Theodora protested. “You’re my sister, Evanora, and I love you. But we must all step back and allow fate to take its course,” she said as she took her sister’s hand and looked into her eyes.

“You’re right,” Evanora agreed. “But I want proof that he is who he claims to be,” she said.

“He’s already proven hims—” Theodora began, but Evanora was quick to cut her off.

“Not to me he hasn’t,” she stated.

Theodora let her sister’s words hang in the air as she considered them. “Very well,” she said.

Satisfied, Evanora pulled her sister to the side and led her out of the throne room. “I just need to give him one little test,” she said as the two disappeared down the long green hallway.