Oz: Crossroad of Legends

June stares at Bowser's menacing claws and reflexively touches the hatchet on her waist. She runs her thumb along the edge. Still as sharp as ever. And no match for this giant turtle monster if he decides he actually wants to bury a claw in someone. Good thing he seems friendly enough...

"Ah... I guess you don't have that expression in your world?" June asks. "It means that I want the two of you to settle your argument and get along. And now that we've heard your side of the story, I'd like to hear from Miss... Mystic, Sophie said?" She looks over at group, waiting for a break in their conversation. "Miss Mystic, could you tell me what happened between the two of you?"

Bowser

"Hey you fruad leave my breath out of it," Bowser said to Mystic. "You try being able to breath fire on a daily basis and keeping your breath fresh," Bowser said to Mystic. "Oh wait you can't breath fire because your not as awesome as me," Bowser huffed towards Mystic.

"Besides you get mad at me about my fortune telling," Bowser said. "Please my fortune telling is about as good a yours not that its hard," Bowser told Mystic. "If you don't want me mocking Fortune Telling then find a better gimick," Bowser said to her. "I mean really what "skill" (as Bowser does air quotes) is requied to look at a shiny ball and talk," Bowser said. "Please the only thing I did wrong was I didn't have a pretty ball to talk into," Bowser said.

"Please fortune telling as a whole is a whole bunch of Goombas," Bowser told her. "Well whatever Ms. July wants us to bury something, or another," Bowser huffed. "Yet as an all mighty king I don't have to worry about getting m claws dirty," Bowser said as he grabbed his magic wand and summoned a couple of confused Koppa Troppas.

"You two are to bury something with Ms. Mumbo Jumbo fortune teller, a hatchet or something," Bowser commanded the two koopa troopas who were looking around like where they are. "Okay July these two losers will bury Mystic, the hatchet, or both," Bowser said as the two minnions just stood there.

Lana

After receiveing a free sample from Anna. Lana went back to the fountain and noticed Bowser was talking with June. "Oh no, poor June," Lana said as she began runinng towards the fountain

Bowser looked at July extremely shocked at what just happened. The koopa troopas hid in there shells completely scared of what was going to happen. Starlow, Mario, Sophie, and Ann stood there in stun silence like there body wanted to strike down Bowser but it couldn't move fast enough. Aylassa and Baron appeared by June's side ready to intervene if they had to.


Bowser looked unsure of what to say. "What is up with July, no body ever had the nerves to slap me like that," Bowser thought to himself. "Was I just scolded was this what Kammy has been doing to me, everytime I did something stupid," Bowser thought as he just had a blank stare on his face. "Why would everyone react like I am going to bury mean fortune lady girl, July is the one telling me to bury people," Bowser moaned.

Bowser just turned to Mystic and tried to say Sorry but he has no idea what that word is or what it means. Basically, Bowser just moved his mouth and something that sounded like words came out but nobody could make out what it was.

Lana comes sprinting towards the fountain jumps off of one the ledges and springs herself high into the air. Lana landed right on top of Bowser's head driving him to the groud and knocking him out temporarily. "Bad boy, very bad, sit boy sit," Lana said scolding Bowser who was just laying there knocked out.

"Ms. June I am so sorry for leaving this brute with you, he is normally not this ill tempered," Lana said glaring at the sleeping Bowser. Some of the other outlanders who knew Bowser just rolled there eyes "Please forgive me," Lana said apologizing to June

Lana

"Okay guys you heard the June," Lana said as the guards began to clear a path for the pincess and her guest. "Umm what do we do about Bowser though," Lana asked.

"Its fine," Aylassa reasured Lana. The Koppa Troopas that were summoned disappeared as soon as Bowser was knocked out. "Hmmm Baron can you help out," Aylssa asked.

Baron just lifted Bowser onto his shoulders almost like he weighed like a feather.

"Showoff," Aylassa teased Baron as they left the fountain.

"Hey I am half vampire, super human strength is one of the benefits," Baron said

"Umm what just happened?" Starlow asked Mario.

Mario just shrugged his shoulders as thet went to catch up with the rest of the group.

"Alvis," Glinda asked, "how is Leonard?"

"He has awoken," the general by her side answered. "As you might expect, he is ranting at the workers to allow him to return to work despite his incomplete recovery. I would've recommended a sedation if I did not already know that would not work. If his rate of recovery continues, he may be allowed to leave in a day or two."

"I see," said Glinda. "I will send word that he is to quietly remain there until he makes a complete recovery. Perhaps a direct order from me will quell his behavior."

Alvis nodded at Glinda's suggestion as a soldier walked in.

"Pardon me, your highness. Lana has returned. It seems she has brought Outlander newcomers."

"Truly?" Glinda said. It would seem her daughter is a magnet for them. "Allow them inside. I wish to welcome them."

"At once, your highness."

A few moments later, the door was opened as Lana and the Outlanders entered. Alvis brought his hand over his chest and bowed at Lana as she entered.

"Welcome back, Lana," Glinda said. "I have been informed that you have found some new guests?"

Noob...?

"Well, thank you Lana," Glinda said, "but I wish to introduce myself to our new guests as soon as possible. I am sure they must have many questions."

She then turned to the newcomers and bowed in greeting. "Forgive us for the late introduction. I am Queen Glinda of Yuleia. You have already met my daughter, Lana. Our people welcome you to the world of Oz. Before I begin to explain the circumstances behind your arrival to this world, might I have the pleasure of your names?"

"I am the mysterious fortune teller, Mystic." Mystic tips her large hat to Glinda. "I am a master of the magical arts and divination. Training under my grandfather, I hope to continue the tradition of my family and become a mage greater than all others, there to stop calamity in its steps. So in short, I look into the future and prevent disasters from occurring by aiding heroes in their journeys as my ancient ancestors had. A pleasure to meet you."

Alice brushes her duster along a large, high wooden shelf in a small, out-of-the-way sitting room.  A collection of knick-knacks lies on the ground around her.  She finishes dusting, runs a finger along the shelf to inspect it - perfectly clean, even in those hard-to-reach corners.  With a satisfied nod, she begins returning the decorations to the shelf.  As she picks up a vase, she feels a chill run down her spine.  The room seems to grow colder.  She whirls around.  No one there...?  She turns back to see Geraldine stretching up to return a picture to its rightful place.  Alice chokes back a shriek and fumbles with the heavy vase.

"Forgetting the queen's chair.  Tsk, tsk."  Geraldine shakes her head as she places a decorative plate.

Alice reaches up and places the vase.  Slowly.  Carefully.

Geraldine continues in a calm, steady voice.  "You know, we used to have a very... special chair for such forgetful servants.  Hm.  I wonder if it may still be buried deep in storage somewhere?  I do believe I'll pay a visit later and check.  Perhaps you should join me?"

"N-No, thank you, ma'am," Alice says, praying it was a suggestion and not an order.

"Of course, of course.  I'm sure there are much better uses of your time.  Let's see...  Ah.  You are to clean every chair, seat, bench, and other surface that may even possibly come in contact with her royal hindquarters.  I expect them to be spotless, dustless, and fit to eat off of by the end of your shift.  Otherwise, tomorrow, you'll be cleaning the basement storage with me.  Deep into the storage.  Far and free from prying eyes...  Understood?" Geraldine peers over the rim of her glasses.

Alice nods and starts to jog out of the room.  "Right away, ma'am."

Geraldine clears her throat loudly.  She nods to the few decorations still on the ground.  "Finish what you started, Alice."

Alice bends down to pick up a small tome.  When she stands up again, Geraldine is gone.

Ignius slides a heavy, worn tome to Horatio.  "Be extra careful with this.  It's the most complete anthology of essays, accounts, and speculations about the abominations in existence.  Completely one-of-a-kind, unimaginably invaluable and utterly irreplaceable."

Horatio nods, gingerly opening the cover.  The table of contents slides out of the back cover.  The first pages are wrinkled and yellow, handwritten.  Later pages are newer and cleaner, set in typeface.  Horatio starts from the beginning.  Even by his standards, the opening is dry, thick, dull, cryptic, poorly-worded, overly-fancy, dated, and boring.  Ignius gives him a patient smile.  He forces himself to keep reading.

"Oh, you're that Outlander from before.  Good to see you're fitting in."  An irritating, familiar voice steals Horatio's attention.  That guard from before.  The one with all the annoying questions.  "Er.  Sorry, I don't believe you ever gave your name?"

"General Horatio," Horatio says with a bored tone.

"...General Horatio," Franklin echoes.

"General Horatio," Horatio confirms.

"General Horatio!" Ignius cuts in.  "Ignius Wright.  Private Franklin Delano.  Oh, Franklin, how are you?  It's been far too long since you stopped by."

"It's been less than two hours, Mr. Wright..." Franklin mutters.

"Far too long.  It gets lonely in here," Ignius complains.  "You kids these days just don't read like you used to.  Buncha whippersnappers...  Ah, well, when I was your age, sonny, I guess I didn't much care for reading either.  I much preferred to... er... whippersnap.  With a whip.  Oh, Lisa was such a good little whip.  Crisp as a daisy and fresh as an egg.  Yes, I named my whip.  I know you and yours all name your rifles.  Don't tell me you don't.  Bet ya named yours after that pretty young thing you're always chasing...?"

Frankling looks away awkwardly.  "Formerly... always chasing."

"Oh, sonny, what happened?" Ignius says.

Horatio sighs in frustration and tries to ignore Franklin blathering on about some ludicrous wager with a maid and how she blew up some Outlander's room.  Nothing as interesting as a sentient suit of armor.  How could they make such a thing...?  And how does this Glinda expect the Outlanders to deal with it?

Ignius nods in sudden understanding.  "Oh, that was you making all that loud noise this morning?  Woke me from my mid-morning nap.  Which Outlander was it again?  The scary one?  Or... no, it was the short, fat one with the silly voice?  Oh, the one with all the nasty little demons, right?"

Franklin shakes his head.  "No, the knight.  The one that likes black so much.  Always carries that little axe.  June."

Horatio rips a page out of the anthology.  Ignius screams in panic.  "Ah!  No!  What's wrong, General?"

"Nothing," Horatio says tersely.  "My hand slipped."