Chapter Text
“We must be over the rainbow!” Hera said with a smile before setting Luci down.
Hera turned around and saw a colorful bubble, like a soap bubble, floating towards them. She and Luci stepped back as it neared. The bubble was a little bit taller than her and landed just a couple feet from her. The bubble then disappeared and a woman with white hair appeared in a pink sparkly dress. Her dress had big poofy shoulders and she wore a tall pink crown. She also held a long silver wand with a star on it. She looked familiar and Hera swore she had seen her from somewhere before but she couldn't place where. But Hera thought she was beautiful.
“Now I know we’re not in Aragait,” Hera said to Luci. But he was staring at the white haired woman. He felt like he knew her but he didn’t know from where or how.
The white haired woman took a step towards them and spoke, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?”
“Who, me?” Hera asked.
“Who else would I be talking to?” The white haired woman tried to take another step forward but struggled with her big pink dress. She scoffed, “Hold on, let me just-” She used her wand and changed the skirt into pink pants and had a pair of big whites boots on, “There we go. I always feel better in pants and my stomping boots. So, are you a good witch or a bad witch?”
“I’m not a witch at all,” Hera told her, “I’m Hera Vestal from Aragait.”
“Well, is that the witch?” The white haired woman gestured to Luci. The white haired woman had seen Luci before and knew who he was but she didn’t know if he had his memory of her. So, she didn’t say anything.
“Why, Luci? Luci is my cat,” Hera said. The white haired woman’s heart leapt at Luci’s name.
“Well, I’m confused. The elves called me here because a new witch had dropped a house on the Wicked Witch of the East. And there’s the house,” the white haired woman gestured, “and here you are, and that’s all that’s left of her. So, the elves want to know, are you a good witch or a bad witch?”
“I already told you, I’m not a witch at all. Witches are old and ugly,” Hera said. Then, there were a bunch of giggles. Hera’s brows furrowed, “What was that?”
“The elves. They’re laughing because I am a witch. I’m Tiabeanie, Witch of the North. But you can call me Bean,” Bean said.
“You are?! I beg your pardon, Bean, but I’ve never heard of a beautiful witch before,” Hera said, Bean flushed a little at Hera’s comment but calmed herself.
“Only bad witches are ugly,” Bean said while biting back a smile. She shook it off and continued, “The elves are happy because you have freed them from the wrath of the Wicked Witch of the East.”
“If you please, what are elves?” Hera asked.
“The people that live here, it’s called Elfwood. And you, Hera, are their national savior,” Bean said to her before turning her attention away, “It’s alright, you all can come out now and thank her.” Bean then started to sing gently, “Come out, come out wherever you are and meet the young lady who fell from a star.”
Bean kept her gestures and voice gentle. The elves had been through a lot with the Wicked Witch of the East. Or as Bean called her, Aunt Becky but that was neither here nor there. So, Bean led Hera to the little stage at the pond while elves gathered in the town square. Though, if you asked Bean, it was a circle.
Bean continued to sing, “She fell from the sky, she fell very far. And Aragait she says is the name of the star.”
The elves then repeated in tune, “And Aragait she says is the name of the star.”
Bean continued, “She brings you good news. Or haven’t you heard? When she fell out of Aragait,” Bean then looked to Hera, “a miracle occurred.”
Hera then joined in, “It really was no miracle what happened was just this; the wind began to switch! The house to pitch and suddenly the hinges started to unhitch,” Hera then gestured as she sang these words, “Just then, the witch, to satisfy an itch while flying on her broomstick thumbing for a hitch.”
An elf jumped forward from the crowd and joined in, “Oh! And what happened then was rich!”
A few elves came forward to the one elf and sang, “The house began to pitch! The kitchen took a slitch! It landed on the Wicked Witch in the middle of a ditch- which was not a healthy sitch- uation for the Wicked Witch.”
The rest of the elves joined in and started to sing a little more morbidly about the state of the Wicked Witch, “Who began to twitch and was reduced to just a stitch. Of what was once the Wicked Witch!”
While they had been singing, the elven guard marched up behind a small open carriage meant for elves but nonetheless, Hera still climbed inside with Luci in her arms. She was a polite person, afterall. Two elves came up to her. A black haired female with lavender skin and another one with blue skin.
“We thank you very sweetly,” the blue one started, “for doing it so neatly.”
“You’ve killed her so completely,” the lavender one said while handing her a bouquet of flowers, “that we thank you very sweetly.”
“Everyone go and spread the wonderful news, the Wicked Old Witch is finally dead!” Bean shouted. The elves cheered and sang another morbid song about how the Wicked Witch was dead. It surprised Hera and Luci but they couldn’t blame them, this Wicked Witch, by the sounds of it, had treated them poorly. They had every right to celebrate. The procession had taken Hera and Luci over to what looked like a town hall. They only guessed this because an elf in mayoral clothing came out with his council. Hera was helped out of the carriage and stood next to the mayor and his council.
“As mayor of Elfwood, in the county of the land of Dreamland,” the mayor started, “I welcome you most reagally-”
“But we’ve got to verify it legally!” An elf interrupted, he looked like the mayor’s right hand elf.
“To see?” The mayor said.
“If she-”
“If she?”
“Is morally, ethically-”
“Physically, spiritually-” a member of the elf council said.
“Positively, absolutely!” another member of the elf council said.
They all then spoke to the mayor, “Undeniably and reliably dead!”
Then, another elf came up but he was dressed in purple and holding what seemed to be the answer to their questions. The elf in purple bowed when he approached.
The elf in purple then spoke, “As coroner, I must aver. I thoroughly examined her. And she’s not only merely dead but she’s really most sincerely dead.”
The mayor lit up, “Then, this is a day of independence! For all elves and their descendants! Let the joyous news be spread, the Wicked Old Witch at last is dead!”
The elves then sang their same morbid song from earlier before three elves in pink ballerina outfits came out and sang. They sang about welcoming Hera and Luci before bowing at the end and leaving. Then, three tough looking elves came up and sang about welcoming them but these one were from a guild. At the end of their song, they handed Hera a big lollipop and bowed. Hera had no idea what to do with the lollipop. She glanced at Luci, who shrugged. After that, all the elves sang about welcoming them to Elfwood before the mayor and his council told them that not only would the history but they would also be a bust in their hall of fame. The elves sang again as Hera and Luci were led back over to Bean at the pond.
Suddenly, the elves were interrupted mid song and a big plume of red smoke appeared. Once the smoke cleared, a green woman with white hair stood there. She had a scowl on her face when she saw Bean. Hera quickly scooped up Luci and held him close. She had discarded the lollipop on the ground. The elves had fallen to the ground, pretending they were dead.
“I thought you said she was dead?” Hera asked, her eyes wide with fear.
“That was her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East. This is the Wicked Witch of the West and she is awful. Far worse than the other one,” Bean said quietly to Hera, “She’ll do anything to get her way but don’t worry, I got you.”
“Who killed my sister?” The Wicked Witch of the West asked as she stepped closer to Bean and Hera. She spoke again and pointed her finger at Hera, “Who killed the Witch of the East?! Was it you?! Answer me, now!”
“Leave her alone!” Bean said.
“Stay out of this, Beanie!” The Wicked Witch of the West said. Her voice sounded like someone Hera knew but again, she couldn’t place it. The Wicked Witch of the West spoke again, “I’m here for vengeance,” she focused on Hera again, “So. It was you! You killed my sister!”
“No! It was an accident. I didn’t mean to kill anybody,” Hera defended.
“Didn’t mean it? Accident? Rubbish! Well, my pretty, I can cause accidents, too!” She said.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Bean asked with a smirk.
“The ruby slippers!” The Wicked Witch gasped. She stalked over to the legs of her sister and gasped again when the shoes disappeared and the legs shrunk underneath the house. She glared back at Bean, “They’re gone!” She walked back over to Bean and Hera and spoke, “What have you done with them, Beanie? Give them to me! Give them back to me or I’ll-”
“Too late!” Bean said before using her wand to gesture to Hera’s feet that now wore the ruby slippers and her blue socks. Bean smiled, “There they are and they’ll stay there.”
“Oh my!” Hera said while looking at the ruby slippers then to Bean.
“Give me back my slippers!” The Wicked Witch demanded, “I’m the only person that knows how to use them. They’re of no use to you, give them back to me!”
Bean leaned close to Hera and spoke, “Keep them on tightly. Their magic must be very powerful or she wouldn’t want them this badly.”
“You stay out of this, Beanie!” The Wicked Witch said. It was almost like a mother scolding a child.
“No way! You don’t have any power here. Now leave, before someone drops a house on you!” Bean said before putting her wand in front of Hera and Luci to protect them.
“Fine! I’ll bide my time,” the Wicked Witch then pointed to Hera, “And as for you my fine lady, it’s true, I can’t take care of you here and now as I’d like but just try to stay out of my way, just try. I’ll get you my pretty, and your little cat too!”
The Wicked Witch then let out an awful cackle and another plume of red smoke encompassed her before a flame flew up and she vanished. It smelled of sulfur and everyone made a face at the smell. Hera was terrified but not as much as she thought she would be. She felt a little braver but she did want to get back home.
“You all can get up now!” Bean said, “She’s gone!”
Hera looked around and held Luci close. He was still in shock from everything, he too had recognized the Wicked Witch’s voice and it scared him. Bean started to lead them to the middle of the swirl in the town square.
“I’m sorry but you made a bad enemy of my- The Wicked Witch of the West,” Bean told Hera as they walked, “The sooner you get out of Dreamland, the safer you’ll sleep.”
“Why did she call you Beanie?” Hera asked.
“Oh, it’s just-” Bean struggled to find the words, “We have a history- not like that! We just- bad things happened between us.”
“Oh,” Hera said. She had been hoping for a better answer or more of one than that. Hera then asked, “How do we get out of Dreamland?”
“We can’t go the way we came,” Luci said.
“No, you can’t-” Bean started.
“Did you understand me?” Luci asked.
“Of course! I am a witch, remember?” Bean said. Luci nodded. Bean spoke again, “The only person that would know how to get out of Dreamland would be the Wizard of Dreamland himself.”
“The Wizard of Dreamland?” Hera asked. The elves bowed at the name of the wizard. Hera looked around then back to Bean, “Is he good or is he wicked?”
“He’s good but mysterious. No one’s ever really seen him,” Bean said, “He lives in Steamland and that’s a long journey from here. Did you bring your broomstick with you?”
“No, I didn’t,” Hera said.
“It looks like you’ll have to walk, then. The elves will see you safely to the edge of Elfwood. And remember, don’t take those ruby slippers off your feet at all or the Wicked Witch of the West will get you,” Bean said.
“But where do I start to get to Steamland?” Hera asked.
“At the beginning, like most things. Just follow the yellow brick road,” Bean replied.
“But if I need to see you?” Hera said as she felt panic rise in her.
“You’ll be fine, I promise,” Bean said. She then kissed Hera on her forehead, “Just follow the yellow brick road, okay?”
“Okay, but what if I-?” Hera started.
“Just follow the yellow brick road,” Bean said as a bubble formed around her and she floated away. The elves ran and said goodbye until the bubble disappeared over the horizon.
“People come and go so quickly here!” Hera commented. The elves agreed with her. She then set Luci down and spoke, “Follow the yellow brick road?”
Hera then walked on the yellow bricks that led out of Elfwood. A few elves came up to her and reminded her to follow the yellow brick road. Then, they all broke out into song as everyone skipped to the border of Elfwood. There was a little tune of the violins at the gate and once Hera and Luci passed it, she turned back and waved at them.
It had been a little bit until Hera and Luci had made it to a corn field and a junction in the yellow brick road. Hera looked around and was puzzled. Luci tried to sniff but to no avail.
“Follow the yellow brick road? Follow the-” Hera said, “Which way do we go now?”
“Beats me,” Luci said, “Should’ve hitched a ride with Bean.”
“That way seems nice,” a voice said. Hera and Luci shared a look before looking around for the source of the voice. They saw the scarecrow with an eyepatch pointing in a direction but Hera dismissed it.
“Who said that?” Hera asked.
“The scarecrow?” Luci asked with a gesture of his head.
“No, scarecrows don’t talk,” Hera said.
“But that way seems nice too,” the voice said again. Hera and Luci looked at the scarecrow. Both of them had a small bit of fear in them.
“That’s funny, wasn’t he pointing the other direction?” Hera asked and looked at Luci.
“He was, what the hell?” Luci said, looking back at her.
“Of course people do go both ways,” the voice said. Hera and Luci looked up at the scarecrow, who was now pointing both ways.
“Why! You did say something, didn’t you?” Hera asked. The scarecrow shook his head but then smiled and nodded. Hera tilted her head, “Are you doing that on purpose or can’t you make up your mind?”
“That’s the trouble!” The scarecrow said, “I can’t make up my mind. I haven’t got a brain,” he then lifted his hat, “Only straw.”
“How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?” Hera asked.
“Good question,” Luci said.
“I don’t know. But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t they?” The scarecrow said.
“Yes, I guess you’re right,” Hera said.
“Nailed that one on the head,” Luci commented.
“More like nailed into this pole,” the scarecrow said.
“You can understand me too?” Luci asked. Hera had a look of confusion on her face. For the longest time, only she could understand him and now- here people could understand him?
“Of course,” the scarecrow said. Hera then walked over to the scarecrow and stepped over the fence into his corn field.
“We haven’t really met properly, have we?” Hera said with a smile.
“Why, no!” The scarecrow smiled.
“How do you do,” Hera said.
“How do you do,” the scarecrow said with a smile.
“Very well, thank you,” Hera said.She was excited, he was now another nice person that she had met here in Dreamland.
“Oh, I’m not at all well,”the scarecrow complained, “it’s very tedious and uncomfortable with a pole up your back all day long.”
“That sounds terrible,” Hera said with concern, “Can’t you get down?”
“Down? No, you see,” the scarecrow reached behind, “Well, I’m-”
“Here, let me help,” Hera said before going to stand behind him.
“That’s very kind of you,” the scarecrow said.
“Well, oh dear,” Hera said with a pout, “I don’t see how I can-”
“I’m not the brightest about things but maybe if you bend the nail down in the back, maybe I’ll slip off!” The scarecrow said.
“Oh, I see,” Hera said. She then bent the nail and he did in fact slip off. They both shouted as he tumbled and landed right before the fence. The scarecrow laughed and Hera looked at him with concern.
“Whoops! There goes some of me again!” The scarecrow said before stuffing the straw that fell out of him back in.
“Oh! Does it hurt you?” Hera asked as she stood next to him and looked at him with concern.
“Not at all. I just pick it up and shove it back in,” the scarecrow said.
“Why is everything so morbid here?” Luci asked, mostly to himself. The scarecrow then stood.
“It’s good to be free!” The Scarecrow said as he fell over the fence and to the ground. Hera jumped over the fence with a small scream and was at his side. The scarecrow looked up at her, hopeful, “Did I scare you?”
“No, I thought you hurt yourself,” Hera said as she sat beside him.
“But I didn’t scare you?” He asked.
“No, of course not,” Hera said.
“I didn’t think so,” he pouted. A crow then flew over and landed on his shoulder. The scarecrow then tried to scare the crow but to no avail. The crow then took some of his straw before flying away. The scarecrow sighed, “See? I can’t even scare a crow. They come from miles around to eat in my field and laugh in my face. Oh, I’m a failure because I haven’t got a brain.”
“Well, what would you do if you had a brain?” Hera asked.
“What would I do? Why,” the scarecrow said and then sang, “I could while away the hours. Conferring with the flowers, consulting with the rain,” he then wiped at his brow while leaning back and then standing, “And my head I’d be scratching while my thoughts were busy hatching- if I only had a brain! I’d unravel every riddle for every individ’le- in trouble or in pain!”
He then fell to the ground, landing on the yellow brick road, and Hera knelt next to him. Luci watched from the grass.
Hera then sang, “With the thoughts you’d be thinking you could be another Lincoln. If you only had a brain.”
She then helped him stand. He straightened himself out and she flattened her dress.
“Oh I!” He started singing again, “Could tell you why, the ocean’s near the shore. I could think of things, I never thunk before!” He spun around and knelt, “And then I’d sit, and think some more.” He then spun around, causing Hera to smile. He sang, “I wouldn’t be just a nothing, a head all full of stuffing, my heart all full of pain.”
Hera smiled a sad smile at him before he moved to dance about in the middle of the crossroads.
“I would dance and be merry!” He sang as he danced chaotically, “Life would be a ding-a-derry, if I only had a brain!”
But he stopped and turned towards her before linking his arm with her. He sang, “Gosh, it would be awful pleasin' to reason out the reason, for things I can't explain.” He then smiled as he sang, “Then perhaps I'll deserve ya. And be even worthy of ya. If I only had a brain”
“Wonderful!” Hera said with a smile, “Why, if our scarecrow back in Aragait could do that, the crows would be scared to pieces!”
“They would?” The scarecrow asked, hopeful.
“They would!” Hera reassured him.
“Where’s Aragait?” He asked.
“That’s where Luci and I live,” Hera told him, “And I want to get back there so badly, I’m going all the way to Steamland to the Wizard of Dreamland to help me.”
“You’re going to see a wizard?” He asked. Hera nodded. He then leaned in, “You think if I went with you to see this wizard, he would give me some brains?”
“I couldn’t say,” Hera said with a small frown but tried to lighten the mood, “But even if he didn’t you wouldn’t be any worse off then you are now, right?”
“Yeah, I suppose,” he said.
“Well, maybe you better not. I have a witch after me and I don’t want you to get into trouble too,” Hera said.
“Witch?” He said with a scoff, “I’m not afraid of any witch! I’m not afraid of anything!” He then leaned in to whisper, “Except a lighted match.”
“I don’t blame you for that,” she said.
“But I’d face a whole box of them for a chance at getting some brains!” He said before getting on his knees, “Look, I promise I won’t be any trouble because I don’t eat a thing and I won’t try to manage things because I can’t think. Please, take me with you?”
Hera smiled, stood then offered her hand to him, “Why, of course I will!”
“Hooray!” He said before jumping up clumsily, “We’re off to see a wizard!”
Hera grabbed him, to keep him from falling, “Oh, well, you’re not starting out very well.”
“Oh, I’ll try, really I will!” He said.
“To Dreamland?” Hera said with a grin.
“To Dreamland!” He grinned back. Luci rolled his eyes before getting himself next to Hera.
The two then sang a little tune about making their way to see the wizard. They had travelled until the sun had set over the horizon. The scarecrow looked at Hera and asked if they should stop for the night. Hera yawned and nodded. They had found a secure little spot near the yellow brick road to rest for the night.
“So,” Hera started, “Do you have a name?”
“A name?” He asked. He then thought about it as hard as he could before answering, “No, I don’t think I do.”
“Well, you should have a name,” Hera said. Her eyes squinted as she looked at him. He smiled awkwardly but she knew he looked and sounded like someone she knew.
“What is it?” He asked.
“You remind me of someone back home,” Hera said, “What if you used their name?”
“I would be honored,” he told her.
“Then, Pendergast is your name,” Hera said. He looked at her with a little confusion. She giggled, “It is a long name but everyone calls him Pen for short.”
“That works!” Pen said. He then furrowed his brow, “I don’t think I’ve got your name.”
“I’m Hera, and this is my cat, Luci,” Hera said while also gesturing to Luci who was lying next to her and asleep.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Hera,” he smiled.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Pen,” she smiled back. Hera then shivered at the sudden cool breeze. The temperature dropped quite a bit after the sun had set. Pen had noticed this and he thought of something- which surprised him.
“You seem cold,” he said, “why don’t you lay next to me for the night and I can keep you warm?”
“That’s awfully kind of you but-” Hera thought of the implications but another shiver ran through her body, “that’s a good idea.”
They then got comfortable on the grass. She had her head on his chest and his arms around her. She swore he felt human and not like a scarecrow. It was like there was also body heat coming off of him but Hera knew that couldn’t be possible. He was a scarecrow- with an eyepatch but that wasn’t the biggest concern right now. And she swore she heard a faint heartbeat as she drifted off into sleep.