Oz: The Great and Powerful Junior Novel Disney Book Group (13 page)

Evanora raced into the throne room and began grabbing her things. She needed to make a quick getaway. Turning, she let out a gasp. Glinda was there, sitting in the throne, waiting…her wand at the ready.

“Not so fast,” the Good Witch said. “You and I aren’t finished yet.”

“You have the throne, Glinda!” Evanora replied. “What more could you want?”

“You can’t give me that,” Glinda said. “You took what mattered most to me—my father. I will never again feel the comfort of his kindness. But I’ll settle for the freedom of his people.”

Evanora nodded. “Of course, Glinda,” she said, trying to appease the other witch. “At the very least, they deserve that.”

But as she spoke, she was creating a charge of electricity. Whipping her hands out in front of her, blue light slammed into Glinda, throwing her back against the wall.

Glinda crawled to her feet, her body aching. Watching, Evanora smiled and began to circle the Good Witch. As she walked, her feet began to leave the floor, and soon she was floating around Glinda.

“What’s the matter, Glinda?” Evanora asked, taking pleasure in Glinda’s pain. “Out of bubbles?”

To Evanora’s surprise, Glinda didn’t panic or look scared. Instead, she stood up taller. “Don’t need them,” she said, as she too, began to float. “Bubble’s just for show.”

With a cry of rage, Evanora unleashed another bolt of electricity. Raising her wand, Glinda caught the bolt and then flung it straight back at Evanora. ZAP! Evanora slammed against the wall, causing her amulet to shatter.

“Nooooo!” Evanora screamed. “What have you done?”

Standing in front of Glinda was something that looked like Evanora, but much, much older. Without the power of her amulet, the Wicked Witch had rapidly aged and had been transformed into her true form—a ghastly, old, yellow-skinned hag.

Looking at the pitiful creature, Glinda nodded. “Now everyone will see you as you truly are,” the Good Witch said. It was a fitting punishment. But there was still one thing left to do. “In the name of my father, I banish you from the Emerald City. Never to return.”

Hanging her head, Evanora began to crawl off toward the balcony. But she wasn’t going to go without one last fight. Spinning around, Evanora let out a shriek and charged at Glinda.

Startled, Glinda raised her wand. ZAP! A burst of energy shot out and hit Evanora square in the chest. The force was so strong that she was flung back out through the balcony doors and over the railing. Rushing over, Glinda watched as Evanora plummeted toward the ground. Just as she was about to smash into the ground, the last of her baboons swooped down and grabbed her in their hairy arms. Howling, they flew off into the night.

Glinda watched until they were nothing but specks on the horizon. Then, smiling, she turned and went back inside. She had to address her people. Then she had to go find a certain Wizard. At long last, they had won, and the good people of Oz were finally free.

E
PILOGUE

URROUNDED BY CHILDREN,
Glinda sat on the steps and looked out at the Quadlings and Munchkins. “Good people of Oz!” she said, addressing the crowd. “I have here a missive from the Great Wizard himself! And I quote…” She lifted up a parchment and began to read.
“
‘With little more than pluck and belief, we made the impossible happen. As your Wizard, I hereby decree that henceforth and hereafter the Land of Oz will forever be free!
’
”

The crowd let out a deafening roar. With one last wave, Glinda made her way inside, the cheers fading only slightly as she closed the balcony doors behind her. In front of her, the Master Tinker and Knuck were busy moving the projector into place in the middle of the room. China Girl and Finley looked on, intrigued.

“Okay,” said the Tinker, “give it a try.”

Knuck flipped a switch and suddenly, Oz’s large, transparent head appeared. Smoke filled the room. Everyone laughed and began clapping. It worked! They had been nervous that moving things around would have made the machine inoperable, but the Tinker had worked his own form of magic. They would be able to use the machine over and over again.

Oz stepped out from behind a green screen in the corner of the room. Walking over, he joined the others. “Well, if it isn’t the most beautiful witch in all of Oz. Hello, Glinda,” he said with a smile.

“Hello, Wizard,” she said with a smile of her own. Then she turned to address the Master Tinker. “Well done, Tinker! The machine is beautiful. It looks like it was made for this!”

“That’s workmanship,” he responded. “What you displayed is real courage. Your father would’ve been more than proud. He would have marveled at the woman you’ve become.”

“Zim Zallah Bim!” Oz exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention. “Excellent work, everyone. And now we’re ready!” he began. “Should anyone need to speak with the Wizard…” he said, nodding at the hologram. Everyone nodded. They understood. This was the only way that they could keep the citizens of Oz believing in their Wizard. It was a trick, true, but a trick for the better good, as Glinda had pointed out.

“Remember,” Oz went on. “Our secret never leaves this room. Oscar Diggs died so that the Wizard of Oz could live. When those witches come back, and they
will
come back, believe me, we’re going to need everyone to believe.”

The group nodded solemnly. No one would ever say a word.

Oz smiled. “Good. And now, a few gifts.”

“Gifts?” China Girl said, confused.

“You know I can’t grant wishes,” he replied, “so this’ll have to do.”

The group gathered around him, curious. Smiling, he turned and pulled out his satchel. He opened it.

“First, to the Tinker—the man who can make anything, I bestow upon you…my lucky, uh, thingamajig.” Reaching in, he pulled out his all-purpose tool. “May it assist you in the reconstruction of the Emerald City.” He handed it to the Master Tinker, who held it up, examining it closely.

“I will treasure it forever,” he said, touched. “Thank you for your faith in me.”

Oz smiled. “And now for Sourpuss,” he went on, turning to the Munchkin.

“My name is Knuck,” the Munchkin said, his expression grim as always.

“And now for
Sourpuss
,” Oz repeated, “I grant the thing you’re in need of most.”

Knuck cocked his head. What was he in need of most? Gold? Jewels?

“A smile,” Oz went on, pulling out a smile made out of cardboard attached to a stick. He held it out to the Munchkin. “It is yours.”

Knuck grumbled and tried to give it back, but Oz refused. He would make Knuck smile, one way or another.

Next, Oz turned to the flying monkey. “And for Finley,” he said, all joking aside. “You stood by my side when any monkey in his right mind would’ve flown away. To you I give you something I’ve never given anyone.” He held out his hand. “My friendship. Now you are my partner. You are my friend. For life.”

Finley paused, touched. Then, he reached out and took it, shaking hard. Oz grinned. “For life,” Finley repeated, still shaking Oz’s hand.

Next, Oz turned to China Girl.

She was looking up at him expectantly. His face softened. “I’m afraid I can’t give you what I know you want most. All I have for you…is this…” He motioned to the others. “It’s
us
. I know it’s not the family you had in mind, but I can promise you, with all my heart…”

China Girl cut him off, leaping into his arms. She hugged him as hard as she could. “It’s
perfect
,” she whispered into his ear. “Thank you.”

Tears pricked Oz’s eyes and he blinked, trying to stop them. Then China Girl looked to Glinda. “I wonder what you’re going to get,” she asked.

“I don’t need anything, child,” she said.

“You better have something for Glinda,” China Girl demanded of Oz.

“Why, of course!” he said. “I’ve saved the best for last! For you…” His voice changed, sounding once more like he was back at a carnival, hawking his show. “A sight envied by all! And viewed by none! You will be astounded by what you see…”

Taking her hand, he pulled her into the booth and pulled the screen shut. It was barely big enough for one person, let alone two, so Oz and Glinda found themselves nose to nose.

“Oh my,” Glinda said softly. “It’s very tight in here.”

Oz wiggled his eyebrows. “Isn’t it nice?”

“I know what you’re up to, Wizard,” she said, smiling despite herself.

“What?” Oz asked, trying to sound innocent. “I’m giving you a tour. And I wanted to thank you.”

Glinda looked up at him, her eyes big. “For what?” she asked softly.

“For opening my eyes,” he said honestly.

“And what do you see?” she asked, smiling.

“That I have everything I ever wanted,” he said in a whisper. And it was true. It had taken him traveling through a tornado and landing in another land to figure out what mattered most, but now he knew. Friends, family, a place to call home, and being a good man? That was all that mattered. There was no way he would ever turn his back on that…ever.

Silence filled the small room as they looked into each other’s eyes.

“For the record,” Glinda said, breaking the silence, “I knew you had it in you all along.”

“Greatness?” Oz asked.

She shook her head, a grin on her face. “No. Even better than that. Goodness.”

Oz grinned right back. He couldn’t imagine being anywhere but right there, in that booth with a Good Witch named Glinda. It felt like he had known her his whole life.

Leaning forward, he brought his mouth closer to hers. He closed his eyes, waiting for that first kiss. And then…

“Hey!” China Girl said from outside the screen, “What are you doing in there?”

She heard hushed whispering and then Oz’s voice came echoing out. “Nothing!” he called.

China Girl giggled and then skipped away. Inside the booth, Oz smiled. He could really get used to this whole screen thing. But first, he needed to get something out of the way once and for all. Something he had been wanting to do for a
very
long time. Turning back to Glinda, Oz leaned down and kissed her.