Lions, Tigers and Bears-Halloween tale-PG13
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:46 am
This is a two parter, and I will do my best to get the second part finished before Halloween. Though I am away for the weekend so it may be just after.
Lions, tigers and bears. Or Moonlight in OZ
Rating PG13 to be on the safe side, some swearing.
Disclaimer- I can only dream that they are mine. They're not.
Lions, and tigers and bears oh my!
Or
Moonlight in Oz
Beth was ready for the party, her blonde hair pulled into two pony tails held with blue ribbons. She was dressed in a Gingham checked dress with sparkly red shoes on. She took a final glance around the apartment, spying Travis curled up on the sofa. She smiled at the sight of him, after Maureen’s death she had taken him in. She crossed the room, to pick up a basket that she had left on the centre table. Then everything changed, Travis hissed loudly and she grabbed him, in an attempt to calm him down. The room shook, and Beth’s world tilted on end. As she fell she hit her head on the table, and for a few minutes her world went black. When she woke, she held her head. There was a dull ache but no real pain. She was sure if that was a good thing or not. Travis was at her side in an instant, winding between her legs. “Ok Travis, lets go and find out what just happened.” She picked him up and placed him in the basket. She was a little surprised that he stayed. She headed to the door of her apartment, opening it and squinting at the bright light outside.
She spun about everything was bright colourful, the opposite of what it should have been. Then she became aware that she had just stepped out of her front door. Turning her mouth dropped. Her door was in front of her, and the hallway wall was stretching away to the corner. It was surreal, the colours were too intense, the air clean, fresh. She heard a noise and scanned the area around her. The bushes on her right rustled, and she looked at them “Who’s there?” The bushes moved once more and a small figure appeared in front of her. Beth took a step back, curiosity on her face. “Who are you?” she asked. “Who are you?” the figure mimicked. Beth laughed, “OK I’ll start, my name is Beth, and this…. ” She stroked the cat in the basket, “is Travis. Nice to meet you.” She held out her hand, and the little figure came a step closer. Sniffing. It cocked its head to the left, regarding her. Finally it spoke up. “I’m Pickles.” Straightening Pickles stepped closer still. “You have help us.” Beth was confused. “Helped. How? Who is us?” Her reporter instincts kicked in, questions ran through her head. Then as she watched more small people appeared and approached her. “Us,” Pickles said gesturing to those around Beth. “You killed her, she was nasty. And you killed her.” Beth was aghast, who had she killed, who was this nasty person. She stammered out the question, “Who? Wh. Who did I k. k. kill?” Pickles smiled at her. “Why Nola, the wicked witch of the East. You landed on her.” Beth turned and saw a pair of shrivelling legs beneath her apartment. “Ohh! I didn’t mean to.” She was now surrounded by the little people. They were all trying to touch her. “Oh dear, but where am I? I don’t think I’m in LA any more, Travis.” She sat down on the ground, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. A very small person came up to her, laying a tiny hand on her arm. “We are the Pipkins. You have helped us, but there is another you could help.” Beth sniffed back the tears and said nothing. “He is held by the witch of the West. She wants him all for herself, but he’s a warrior, need by all of us.” More questions came to Beth. “How can I help him?” A murmur went through the Pipkins. “Go and see the Great One.” Beth was taken aback. “The Great One. Who is he, and where is he?” she fired off in quick succession. A chorus of voices replied. “Follow the road, follow the red brick road.” It became a chant. Beth stood, the Pipkins about her. “So where does the road lead?” They all laughed, and Pickles chirped up, “The Ruby City. That’s where he is.” The smallest one took hold of her hand, pulling her along. Soon they were at the beginning of the road. “Follow the red brick road.” the small voice suggested. Beth looked down then up into the distance. She could see the road disappearing into the horizon. “Follow the red brick road.” She took a step then another. “Follow the red brick road.” she repeated. Take another then another step. One foot in front of the other. The mantra, in her head. Soon the Pipkins were behind her and she smiled and waved goodbye. The day was bright and sunny, and as she walked she thought that it was all a little strange. She felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. She giggled wondering if she would meet the scarecrow, lion and tin man.
Beth continued down the ruby road, hey feet skipping across the stones. She passed a small shack, not really looking at it. It was dilapidated, and the windows dull and dirty. She passed by without a second thought, until she came to a split in the road. “Oh my Travis. Which way should we go? Both roads continue on.” She took two steps towards the left, then went to the right. “I really don’t know.” Then she remembered the shack. “I wonder if there is a map in that shack I saw.” Turning on her heels she headed back the way she had come. Soon she was stood before it. Now she took in all the details. The path to the door was used, but not often, as it was overgrown, but trodden down. The windows were grimy, but a couple were slightly open and she could hear guitar music. Taking a breath she walked up the path, and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so she knocked louder and harder. This time she heard a squawked as the music abruptly shut off. The door opened to her, and there was a familiar face. “Logan?” her brow creased in puzzlement. The man at the door looked just as confused as she did. “Pardon, sorry no Logan here.” and he went to close the door. Beth made to stop him, “Please I’m sorry. Erm, I was hoping you might be able to help me.” she continued without stopping. “ I’m trying to get to the Ruby City, but the road splits, and I don’t know which fork to take.” Her blue eyes search his face. The man opened the door further, and walked back into the room, leaving her at the door. She peered into the gloom. Then with a final look behind her she took a big step into the dark interior. Closing the door behind her. The gloom became all encompassing, and she put out her free hand in an attempt to stop herself stumbling over things she couldn’t see clearly. She suppressed a shudder, and she felt Travis shift in the basket. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, and she took the opportunity to glance about. The room was dusty, and a mess. There were boxes everywhere, clothes strewn about the place. Beth just shook her head at it all. She listened as the noise of an electric guitar started up again, and she followed it to another room. It was filled wall to wall with computers, and parts of computers. “Do you want to play?” he asked he never took his eyes from the screen in front of him. His chubby fingers flying over the plastic fret board of the guitar in his hands. “Er, I don’t know how to.” she stared at him gracefully, playing the pretend instrument. “I really need to get going. I just want to go home, I’m not sure where I am right now. I feel lost.” She shrugged her shoulders, and scanned the room for anything that look remotely like a map. She saw nothing. “Oh! So why are you going to the city?” He shot a sideways look at her, as he continued playing. Beth stepped to his side, so she could see what was on the screen in front of him. She was silent for a moment, “Oh, umm, to see the Great One.” The music abruptly stopped, and his eyes were wide as he looked at her. “Your going to see the Him!” he swallowed. ”No-one has seen him for a very long time. Why?” It was an all encompassing question.
Beth straightened up. “The Pipkins told me I should see him after I killed a witch called Lola. My apartment landed on her. The said there was someone else I could help, that I was the one.” He had taken a step back. “So can you help me? Just tell me which road to take and I’ll get going. This is just a little bit too strange, and I really want to go home.” She wrapped her free arm about herself and rubbed it up and down. A meow came from the basket. “Oh sorry Travis, I know you want to go home too. I just not sure where home is from here.” “Just let me get a few things and I’ll come with you.” Beth was taken aback, she had just wanted to get directions. “What? Why?” she spluttered. “Well I know the way, and I have to collect something while I’m there. So I’ll come with you.” Beth looked at him suspiciously. “Okay, so lets start this again.” she walked over to him and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Beth.” He shifted uneasily, his head down. “Nice to meet you Beth.” he still didn’t look at her, as he took her hand. He didn’t say any more. Beth’s gaze softened. “What do I call you, you must have a name?” Her hand dropped to her side. As she watched him, he appeared to be embarrassed. “Geek, or nerd.” He still refused to look at her. “It’s what they call out, when I’m in the city.” Beth’s heart went out to him. “What did your mother call you? You have to have had a name.” She reached out to put her hand on his arm, but he took a step back away from her. He shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, okay. I’ll call you…… Lando. Yes Lando.” He finally looked up at her, a look of happiness on his face. “What?” she asked. “No -one has ever been nice to me, or not called me names.” He continued to gather a few bits and put them in a bag. “Shall we go. It’s best to travel while it’s light.” Then with a smile he led the way to the front door. Beth smiled and followed him out. Soon they were at the junction. “So which way do we go?” “Well it depends. If you want to take the short route, through the forest. Or, the slightly longer route, which is very pretty and goes across the country.” Beth went to take the shorter road. “Let’s go, Lando. The faster we get there, the faster I can get home.” She stopped after taking two steps and looked back, Lando hadn’t moved. “Come on, I want to get there before it gets dark.” He still didn’t move. “Okay what?” She walked back to his side. “I have never gone that way. I don’t like the forest. It’s scary, haunted.” There was fear in his eyes. “I know the other road. It takes longer, but it doesn’t scare me.” His head dropped and he scuffed his feet on the ground. “Look, I can see that it makes you nervous, but you won’t be alone. You have me, and I don’t scare me.” He lifted his eyes but not his head. He saw the determination and truth on her face. She reached for his arm. Threading it through the crook, she gave a gentle tug. “Come on. With two of us nothing can scare us.” He let her lead the way reluctantly. Soon they were strolling down the road, the trees about them becoming more dense. Soon the canopy had enclosed the path, and the way ahead became darker. Still Beth kept them moving, here senses all on alert for anything strange.
The road was obviously less well travelled, as the bricks became uneven. Beth had the strangest feeling of being watched. She just couldn’t tell where it was coming from, even though she tried her best to look about herself to find the source. Whatever it was made her uneasy. The two of them were walking in silence, all they could hear was the screeches and screams emanating from the depths of the forest. They hugged closer to one another. One giving comfort to the other one. Under her breath Beth started up the chant from the Wizard of Oz. “Lion and tigers, and bears oh my! Lions and tigers, and bears oh my!” Lando looked at her and asked. “What are you saying?” She had become silent, and a blush rose up her neck. “Oh it’s nothing. Just a line from a film, back where I come from. A young girl and her friends are walking through a forest just like this one. She repeats it like a mantra.” He looked bemused for a moment. “Does anything happen to her? Does she get hurt?” The question were quickly fired, as if he didn’t really want to know the answers to them. “Oh no, she makes another friend, after getting a shock. She was a very strong person.” Beth looked up ahead. “Don’t worry I’m here and I can see the forest getting lighter up ahead.” She gave him a gentle tug. “We’re nearly out. Let’s get a move on.” They got moving again, but Beth still had the feeling of being watched, or stalked. It wasn’t a nice feeling. Slowly the path beneath them improved and the way got lighter. As they left the forest, they came to another junction in the road. Lando indicated the other road. “That’s the longer road, it rejoins here.” Beth smiled as they left the forest the sensation of being observed left her. There was only one road ahead, and they once more walked, again a slight spring in their feet, and the foreboding of the forest was left far behind them. “Lando, what is this place called?” she turned to look at him while they walked. “Oz.” Beth’s breath hitched in her throat in surprise. It was a minute before she could speak again, as her brain took the time to process everything that had happened to her. “How much longer till we get to the city?” she hadn’t been paying attention to where they were. A smile lit Lando’s face. “Not far, we’re almost there. Look.” He pointed to the towers in the near distance. The towering edifices glowed blood red in the sunlight. “That’s the Ruby City?” He laughed a deep chuckle. “Yes come on. I can drop you off and do my shopping. Not long after they reached the gats, Beth stared in awe at the monumental size of the gateway. And at the closed gates.
She twisted to look at Lando, he was confused and puzzled. “Umm, shall I knock?” She enquired. “What, oh I guess so. I’ve never seem the gates closed before.” Shaking her head she stepped up and grabbed the knocker. Banging it loudly on the plate. No reply came, so she knocked again. This time a small window opened and a guard appeared. “State you business?” He was brusque. “My name is Beth Turner, and I’m here to see the Great One. My friend is Lando. He has his own business in the city.” The guard laughed, “Ha! No-one sees the Great One, and as for the nerd there. No loss.” he then slammed the window shut. Beth was taken aback, and incensed. She knocked again, this time on the window. She kept it up until the window opened again. “ I told you no-one sees Him.” He went to shut the window again, but this time Beth grabbed it and pulled it open. With her temper simmering she asked him a question. “My friend Lando says the gates are never shut. So why are they?” The guard huffed. “It’s true they are normally open, but we are expecting an attack. Someone killed the witch of the West’s sister Nola, and she will retaliate.” There was fear in his voice as he finished. “That was me.” She stated, “When I arrived here, my apartment landed on her. She was squashed. The Pipkins said I should see the Great One. Said something about another I could help.” Astonishment crossed the guards face, as he disappeared from view and he reappeared at a small door in the main gate. “If that was you, then you better come inside. It’s safer, she has spies everywhere.” He ushered then inside and closed then bolted the door. “You look like you could do with a rest, especially if you have travelled from the land of the Pipkins. Follow me.” He led them to a salon, which had rooms for them to rest, and get cleaned up. “Rest here, and I’ll go and see if I can get you an audience with Him.” Then he was gone and Beth and Lando, were guided through to get washed and rested. The guard returned a couple of hours later. “You look better. The Great One will see you now. Come, come, let’s not keep Him waiting. Both of you follow mw.” Lando paused. “I’m not going to see him. I just brought her here. I have things to do.” “I’m just following orders. He said he wanted to see the both of you. So both of you he will see.” Reluctantly he followed, shuffling his feet. They were taken to a waiting area, “I have to announce you. I know your name, but what’s his?” He motioned to Lando. Giving him a disdainful look. “I’m..” “Lando Calrissian.” Beth finished for him With a shake of his head, the guard left. Then a booming voice made her jump, and Lando had a spooked look on his face. “Beth Turner, Lando Calrissian. Step forward and show yourselves.” Tentatively Beth stepped forward, pausing she glanced behind herself. Lando hadn’t moved, she stepped back and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Then she tugged him forward. Together they passed through an archway and into a huge auditorium., lights flashed in a dazzling display about the room. Then it all went dark, and Travis who up until then had been calm, bolted from his basket. Beth heard him hissing and went to find him. “Travis, Travis come back here.” but in the dark she had little chance of finding him. Lando grabbed her hand tight, as a single spot light illuminated an area of the raise stage in front of them. Beth was dumb struck as a young man strolled into the light holding Travis no less. “Is this yours?” ha asked in a slightly annoyed tone. Holding the cat at arms length to avoid the claws that were trying to find purchase on anything they could. “Oh yes sorry, he escaped from his basket, scared.” She moved forward then stopped her hands just short of the frantic cat. “Josef?” She was unsure, because so far no-one was who she thought they were. “o I’m not Josef, whoever he is. Are you going top take this thing.” He held the cat further away from himself. “Oh of course, sorry.” She took the cat, stoking him until he calmed down, then put him back into the basket. She then turned her attention back to the man stood in front of her. “Really I am sorry, you just reminded me of someone.” She tried to curtsey but it wasn’t very graceful. The young man smiled at her. “The guard told me you are the one who killed the witch of the East, Nola. So Why are you here?” Beth studied the man for a moment before she gave her reply. He was the spitting image of Josef, and even acted like him. Yet he was different. “The Pipkins said I should see you. But I just want to go home.” She missed Mick, and wondered what he was doing. “They said there was someone else I could help, but I don’t understand what they meant.” The man kept his expression neutral, as he faced Lando. “What about you? Why are you here?” He was glaring at Lando. “Err, umm, umm…. “ He stammered trying to get an answer out. “Speak up, why are you here?” Lando’s knees gave way, and he sat down hard on the floor, an amused look on the young mans face. Beth stamped her foot, and glared at him. “Stop being such a bully. You asked, no ordered him to come here with me. He only showed me the way to the city. He had his own dealing to conclude.” Her gaze never wavered from his face. The young man laughed at her. “You may well be the one.” “The one what? That was what the Pipkins said as well.” The mans demeanour softened. “Please sit down, and take a drink with me. I’ll tell you a story, legend if you will. Of a hero, and his saviour.” Beth helped Lando to his feet and they made their way to a small seating area. He gesture for them to sit, standing until they had done so. He then poured each of them a glass of water. He then told them both the story of a warrior who had been taken by the witch, and how it had been foreseen that one would come to his rescue. Beth listened intently to everything that was said. “So you think I’m the one?” He just nodded. “If I was how would I go about this rescue?” She pause looking at the two men sat next to her. “I don’t even know where he is being held.” Lando shifted, he had been silent the entire time. “I know. It’s in the game. It’s the castle in the hills.” Beth twisted to look at him “What game?” He smirked, “The online game, I keep playing it. I’m on the final level, but I just can’t defeat the final bad guy.” “Ahh!” said the young man, it was if something had become clear to him. “That’s why you’re here. Your going to help her.” Lando sat back as far as it was possible, fighting the urge to get up and run away from all this insanity. “Who me, no way. I’m just going to get my stuff and go home. Online is fine, butfor real. I could get hurt or worse. No, no I’m not going.” This time he did make to leave. Beth’s soft voice stopped him in his tracks. “Lando please. If you know what is ahead, then I would have an advantage.” Some thing in him shifted. She had been the first person who had been kind to him, she had stood up for him. He couldn’t help himself, as he looked into her big, blue, pleading eyes. “Oh what the hell, I’ll help you. But if you get hurt it’s not my fault.” He raised his eye brows at her, sitting back down next to her. “Right” she said sitting forward her hand resting on Lando’s knee in support and thanks. “Let’s work out a plan.” So the three of them went to work, on the best way of getting into the castle in the hills, they had been at it several hours when Beth gave a massive yawn. “Sorry, it must be late. I’m so tired.” The last word was almost obscured by another yawn. Her head and eyed drooped. “Beth, you can rest here tonight. And leave in the morning.” She gave a small moan, and fell sound asleep.. The young man shook his head, and with ease lifted her sleeping form. He carried her to a nearby room, laying her on the bed. He called to someone then left the room. “That goes for you too, my reluctant friend. There’s another room next door.” Then he was gone and Lando quickly made his way to his given room.
Lions, tigers and bears. Or Moonlight in OZ
Rating PG13 to be on the safe side, some swearing.
Disclaimer- I can only dream that they are mine. They're not.
Lions, and tigers and bears oh my!
Or
Moonlight in Oz
Beth was ready for the party, her blonde hair pulled into two pony tails held with blue ribbons. She was dressed in a Gingham checked dress with sparkly red shoes on. She took a final glance around the apartment, spying Travis curled up on the sofa. She smiled at the sight of him, after Maureen’s death she had taken him in. She crossed the room, to pick up a basket that she had left on the centre table. Then everything changed, Travis hissed loudly and she grabbed him, in an attempt to calm him down. The room shook, and Beth’s world tilted on end. As she fell she hit her head on the table, and for a few minutes her world went black. When she woke, she held her head. There was a dull ache but no real pain. She was sure if that was a good thing or not. Travis was at her side in an instant, winding between her legs. “Ok Travis, lets go and find out what just happened.” She picked him up and placed him in the basket. She was a little surprised that he stayed. She headed to the door of her apartment, opening it and squinting at the bright light outside.
She spun about everything was bright colourful, the opposite of what it should have been. Then she became aware that she had just stepped out of her front door. Turning her mouth dropped. Her door was in front of her, and the hallway wall was stretching away to the corner. It was surreal, the colours were too intense, the air clean, fresh. She heard a noise and scanned the area around her. The bushes on her right rustled, and she looked at them “Who’s there?” The bushes moved once more and a small figure appeared in front of her. Beth took a step back, curiosity on her face. “Who are you?” she asked. “Who are you?” the figure mimicked. Beth laughed, “OK I’ll start, my name is Beth, and this…. ” She stroked the cat in the basket, “is Travis. Nice to meet you.” She held out her hand, and the little figure came a step closer. Sniffing. It cocked its head to the left, regarding her. Finally it spoke up. “I’m Pickles.” Straightening Pickles stepped closer still. “You have help us.” Beth was confused. “Helped. How? Who is us?” Her reporter instincts kicked in, questions ran through her head. Then as she watched more small people appeared and approached her. “Us,” Pickles said gesturing to those around Beth. “You killed her, she was nasty. And you killed her.” Beth was aghast, who had she killed, who was this nasty person. She stammered out the question, “Who? Wh. Who did I k. k. kill?” Pickles smiled at her. “Why Nola, the wicked witch of the East. You landed on her.” Beth turned and saw a pair of shrivelling legs beneath her apartment. “Ohh! I didn’t mean to.” She was now surrounded by the little people. They were all trying to touch her. “Oh dear, but where am I? I don’t think I’m in LA any more, Travis.” She sat down on the ground, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. A very small person came up to her, laying a tiny hand on her arm. “We are the Pipkins. You have helped us, but there is another you could help.” Beth sniffed back the tears and said nothing. “He is held by the witch of the West. She wants him all for herself, but he’s a warrior, need by all of us.” More questions came to Beth. “How can I help him?” A murmur went through the Pipkins. “Go and see the Great One.” Beth was taken aback. “The Great One. Who is he, and where is he?” she fired off in quick succession. A chorus of voices replied. “Follow the road, follow the red brick road.” It became a chant. Beth stood, the Pipkins about her. “So where does the road lead?” They all laughed, and Pickles chirped up, “The Ruby City. That’s where he is.” The smallest one took hold of her hand, pulling her along. Soon they were at the beginning of the road. “Follow the red brick road.” the small voice suggested. Beth looked down then up into the distance. She could see the road disappearing into the horizon. “Follow the red brick road.” She took a step then another. “Follow the red brick road.” she repeated. Take another then another step. One foot in front of the other. The mantra, in her head. Soon the Pipkins were behind her and she smiled and waved goodbye. The day was bright and sunny, and as she walked she thought that it was all a little strange. She felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. She giggled wondering if she would meet the scarecrow, lion and tin man.
Beth continued down the ruby road, hey feet skipping across the stones. She passed a small shack, not really looking at it. It was dilapidated, and the windows dull and dirty. She passed by without a second thought, until she came to a split in the road. “Oh my Travis. Which way should we go? Both roads continue on.” She took two steps towards the left, then went to the right. “I really don’t know.” Then she remembered the shack. “I wonder if there is a map in that shack I saw.” Turning on her heels she headed back the way she had come. Soon she was stood before it. Now she took in all the details. The path to the door was used, but not often, as it was overgrown, but trodden down. The windows were grimy, but a couple were slightly open and she could hear guitar music. Taking a breath she walked up the path, and knocked on the door. There was no answer, so she knocked louder and harder. This time she heard a squawked as the music abruptly shut off. The door opened to her, and there was a familiar face. “Logan?” her brow creased in puzzlement. The man at the door looked just as confused as she did. “Pardon, sorry no Logan here.” and he went to close the door. Beth made to stop him, “Please I’m sorry. Erm, I was hoping you might be able to help me.” she continued without stopping. “ I’m trying to get to the Ruby City, but the road splits, and I don’t know which fork to take.” Her blue eyes search his face. The man opened the door further, and walked back into the room, leaving her at the door. She peered into the gloom. Then with a final look behind her she took a big step into the dark interior. Closing the door behind her. The gloom became all encompassing, and she put out her free hand in an attempt to stop herself stumbling over things she couldn’t see clearly. She suppressed a shudder, and she felt Travis shift in the basket. Slowly her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, and she took the opportunity to glance about. The room was dusty, and a mess. There were boxes everywhere, clothes strewn about the place. Beth just shook her head at it all. She listened as the noise of an electric guitar started up again, and she followed it to another room. It was filled wall to wall with computers, and parts of computers. “Do you want to play?” he asked he never took his eyes from the screen in front of him. His chubby fingers flying over the plastic fret board of the guitar in his hands. “Er, I don’t know how to.” she stared at him gracefully, playing the pretend instrument. “I really need to get going. I just want to go home, I’m not sure where I am right now. I feel lost.” She shrugged her shoulders, and scanned the room for anything that look remotely like a map. She saw nothing. “Oh! So why are you going to the city?” He shot a sideways look at her, as he continued playing. Beth stepped to his side, so she could see what was on the screen in front of him. She was silent for a moment, “Oh, umm, to see the Great One.” The music abruptly stopped, and his eyes were wide as he looked at her. “Your going to see the Him!” he swallowed. ”No-one has seen him for a very long time. Why?” It was an all encompassing question.
Beth straightened up. “The Pipkins told me I should see him after I killed a witch called Lola. My apartment landed on her. The said there was someone else I could help, that I was the one.” He had taken a step back. “So can you help me? Just tell me which road to take and I’ll get going. This is just a little bit too strange, and I really want to go home.” She wrapped her free arm about herself and rubbed it up and down. A meow came from the basket. “Oh sorry Travis, I know you want to go home too. I just not sure where home is from here.” “Just let me get a few things and I’ll come with you.” Beth was taken aback, she had just wanted to get directions. “What? Why?” she spluttered. “Well I know the way, and I have to collect something while I’m there. So I’ll come with you.” Beth looked at him suspiciously. “Okay, so lets start this again.” she walked over to him and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you, I’m Beth.” He shifted uneasily, his head down. “Nice to meet you Beth.” he still didn’t look at her, as he took her hand. He didn’t say any more. Beth’s gaze softened. “What do I call you, you must have a name?” Her hand dropped to her side. As she watched him, he appeared to be embarrassed. “Geek, or nerd.” He still refused to look at her. “It’s what they call out, when I’m in the city.” Beth’s heart went out to him. “What did your mother call you? You have to have had a name.” She reached out to put her hand on his arm, but he took a step back away from her. He shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, okay. I’ll call you…… Lando. Yes Lando.” He finally looked up at her, a look of happiness on his face. “What?” she asked. “No -one has ever been nice to me, or not called me names.” He continued to gather a few bits and put them in a bag. “Shall we go. It’s best to travel while it’s light.” Then with a smile he led the way to the front door. Beth smiled and followed him out. Soon they were at the junction. “So which way do we go?” “Well it depends. If you want to take the short route, through the forest. Or, the slightly longer route, which is very pretty and goes across the country.” Beth went to take the shorter road. “Let’s go, Lando. The faster we get there, the faster I can get home.” She stopped after taking two steps and looked back, Lando hadn’t moved. “Come on, I want to get there before it gets dark.” He still didn’t move. “Okay what?” She walked back to his side. “I have never gone that way. I don’t like the forest. It’s scary, haunted.” There was fear in his eyes. “I know the other road. It takes longer, but it doesn’t scare me.” His head dropped and he scuffed his feet on the ground. “Look, I can see that it makes you nervous, but you won’t be alone. You have me, and I don’t scare me.” He lifted his eyes but not his head. He saw the determination and truth on her face. She reached for his arm. Threading it through the crook, she gave a gentle tug. “Come on. With two of us nothing can scare us.” He let her lead the way reluctantly. Soon they were strolling down the road, the trees about them becoming more dense. Soon the canopy had enclosed the path, and the way ahead became darker. Still Beth kept them moving, here senses all on alert for anything strange.
The road was obviously less well travelled, as the bricks became uneven. Beth had the strangest feeling of being watched. She just couldn’t tell where it was coming from, even though she tried her best to look about herself to find the source. Whatever it was made her uneasy. The two of them were walking in silence, all they could hear was the screeches and screams emanating from the depths of the forest. They hugged closer to one another. One giving comfort to the other one. Under her breath Beth started up the chant from the Wizard of Oz. “Lion and tigers, and bears oh my! Lions and tigers, and bears oh my!” Lando looked at her and asked. “What are you saying?” She had become silent, and a blush rose up her neck. “Oh it’s nothing. Just a line from a film, back where I come from. A young girl and her friends are walking through a forest just like this one. She repeats it like a mantra.” He looked bemused for a moment. “Does anything happen to her? Does she get hurt?” The question were quickly fired, as if he didn’t really want to know the answers to them. “Oh no, she makes another friend, after getting a shock. She was a very strong person.” Beth looked up ahead. “Don’t worry I’m here and I can see the forest getting lighter up ahead.” She gave him a gentle tug. “We’re nearly out. Let’s get a move on.” They got moving again, but Beth still had the feeling of being watched, or stalked. It wasn’t a nice feeling. Slowly the path beneath them improved and the way got lighter. As they left the forest, they came to another junction in the road. Lando indicated the other road. “That’s the longer road, it rejoins here.” Beth smiled as they left the forest the sensation of being observed left her. There was only one road ahead, and they once more walked, again a slight spring in their feet, and the foreboding of the forest was left far behind them. “Lando, what is this place called?” she turned to look at him while they walked. “Oz.” Beth’s breath hitched in her throat in surprise. It was a minute before she could speak again, as her brain took the time to process everything that had happened to her. “How much longer till we get to the city?” she hadn’t been paying attention to where they were. A smile lit Lando’s face. “Not far, we’re almost there. Look.” He pointed to the towers in the near distance. The towering edifices glowed blood red in the sunlight. “That’s the Ruby City?” He laughed a deep chuckle. “Yes come on. I can drop you off and do my shopping. Not long after they reached the gats, Beth stared in awe at the monumental size of the gateway. And at the closed gates.
She twisted to look at Lando, he was confused and puzzled. “Umm, shall I knock?” She enquired. “What, oh I guess so. I’ve never seem the gates closed before.” Shaking her head she stepped up and grabbed the knocker. Banging it loudly on the plate. No reply came, so she knocked again. This time a small window opened and a guard appeared. “State you business?” He was brusque. “My name is Beth Turner, and I’m here to see the Great One. My friend is Lando. He has his own business in the city.” The guard laughed, “Ha! No-one sees the Great One, and as for the nerd there. No loss.” he then slammed the window shut. Beth was taken aback, and incensed. She knocked again, this time on the window. She kept it up until the window opened again. “ I told you no-one sees Him.” He went to shut the window again, but this time Beth grabbed it and pulled it open. With her temper simmering she asked him a question. “My friend Lando says the gates are never shut. So why are they?” The guard huffed. “It’s true they are normally open, but we are expecting an attack. Someone killed the witch of the West’s sister Nola, and she will retaliate.” There was fear in his voice as he finished. “That was me.” She stated, “When I arrived here, my apartment landed on her. She was squashed. The Pipkins said I should see the Great One. Said something about another I could help.” Astonishment crossed the guards face, as he disappeared from view and he reappeared at a small door in the main gate. “If that was you, then you better come inside. It’s safer, she has spies everywhere.” He ushered then inside and closed then bolted the door. “You look like you could do with a rest, especially if you have travelled from the land of the Pipkins. Follow me.” He led them to a salon, which had rooms for them to rest, and get cleaned up. “Rest here, and I’ll go and see if I can get you an audience with Him.” Then he was gone and Beth and Lando, were guided through to get washed and rested. The guard returned a couple of hours later. “You look better. The Great One will see you now. Come, come, let’s not keep Him waiting. Both of you follow mw.” Lando paused. “I’m not going to see him. I just brought her here. I have things to do.” “I’m just following orders. He said he wanted to see the both of you. So both of you he will see.” Reluctantly he followed, shuffling his feet. They were taken to a waiting area, “I have to announce you. I know your name, but what’s his?” He motioned to Lando. Giving him a disdainful look. “I’m..” “Lando Calrissian.” Beth finished for him With a shake of his head, the guard left. Then a booming voice made her jump, and Lando had a spooked look on his face. “Beth Turner, Lando Calrissian. Step forward and show yourselves.” Tentatively Beth stepped forward, pausing she glanced behind herself. Lando hadn’t moved, she stepped back and took his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Then she tugged him forward. Together they passed through an archway and into a huge auditorium., lights flashed in a dazzling display about the room. Then it all went dark, and Travis who up until then had been calm, bolted from his basket. Beth heard him hissing and went to find him. “Travis, Travis come back here.” but in the dark she had little chance of finding him. Lando grabbed her hand tight, as a single spot light illuminated an area of the raise stage in front of them. Beth was dumb struck as a young man strolled into the light holding Travis no less. “Is this yours?” ha asked in a slightly annoyed tone. Holding the cat at arms length to avoid the claws that were trying to find purchase on anything they could. “Oh yes sorry, he escaped from his basket, scared.” She moved forward then stopped her hands just short of the frantic cat. “Josef?” She was unsure, because so far no-one was who she thought they were. “o I’m not Josef, whoever he is. Are you going top take this thing.” He held the cat further away from himself. “Oh of course, sorry.” She took the cat, stoking him until he calmed down, then put him back into the basket. She then turned her attention back to the man stood in front of her. “Really I am sorry, you just reminded me of someone.” She tried to curtsey but it wasn’t very graceful. The young man smiled at her. “The guard told me you are the one who killed the witch of the East, Nola. So Why are you here?” Beth studied the man for a moment before she gave her reply. He was the spitting image of Josef, and even acted like him. Yet he was different. “The Pipkins said I should see you. But I just want to go home.” She missed Mick, and wondered what he was doing. “They said there was someone else I could help, but I don’t understand what they meant.” The man kept his expression neutral, as he faced Lando. “What about you? Why are you here?” He was glaring at Lando. “Err, umm, umm…. “ He stammered trying to get an answer out. “Speak up, why are you here?” Lando’s knees gave way, and he sat down hard on the floor, an amused look on the young mans face. Beth stamped her foot, and glared at him. “Stop being such a bully. You asked, no ordered him to come here with me. He only showed me the way to the city. He had his own dealing to conclude.” Her gaze never wavered from his face. The young man laughed at her. “You may well be the one.” “The one what? That was what the Pipkins said as well.” The mans demeanour softened. “Please sit down, and take a drink with me. I’ll tell you a story, legend if you will. Of a hero, and his saviour.” Beth helped Lando to his feet and they made their way to a small seating area. He gesture for them to sit, standing until they had done so. He then poured each of them a glass of water. He then told them both the story of a warrior who had been taken by the witch, and how it had been foreseen that one would come to his rescue. Beth listened intently to everything that was said. “So you think I’m the one?” He just nodded. “If I was how would I go about this rescue?” She pause looking at the two men sat next to her. “I don’t even know where he is being held.” Lando shifted, he had been silent the entire time. “I know. It’s in the game. It’s the castle in the hills.” Beth twisted to look at him “What game?” He smirked, “The online game, I keep playing it. I’m on the final level, but I just can’t defeat the final bad guy.” “Ahh!” said the young man, it was if something had become clear to him. “That’s why you’re here. Your going to help her.” Lando sat back as far as it was possible, fighting the urge to get up and run away from all this insanity. “Who me, no way. I’m just going to get my stuff and go home. Online is fine, butfor real. I could get hurt or worse. No, no I’m not going.” This time he did make to leave. Beth’s soft voice stopped him in his tracks. “Lando please. If you know what is ahead, then I would have an advantage.” Some thing in him shifted. She had been the first person who had been kind to him, she had stood up for him. He couldn’t help himself, as he looked into her big, blue, pleading eyes. “Oh what the hell, I’ll help you. But if you get hurt it’s not my fault.” He raised his eye brows at her, sitting back down next to her. “Right” she said sitting forward her hand resting on Lando’s knee in support and thanks. “Let’s work out a plan.” So the three of them went to work, on the best way of getting into the castle in the hills, they had been at it several hours when Beth gave a massive yawn. “Sorry, it must be late. I’m so tired.” The last word was almost obscured by another yawn. Her head and eyed drooped. “Beth, you can rest here tonight. And leave in the morning.” She gave a small moan, and fell sound asleep.. The young man shook his head, and with ease lifted her sleeping form. He carried her to a nearby room, laying her on the bed. He called to someone then left the room. “That goes for you too, my reluctant friend. There’s another room next door.” Then he was gone and Lando quickly made his way to his given room.