Samurai Lost in the Time Rift 2.5

2.5

The group held their breath as they watched three more eggs have hatched with the young ones feeding on the hanging corpses. The believers think they are seeing the jikininki ( human-eating ghosts ) but these came from eggs. There was also the twin headed serpent there as it moved around the eggs as if looking for something that was not there. Bento looked to the farmer who was with him then, but Fudo ignored the glare from the samurai. Suddenly the serpent shrieked out as if calling for the young ones and the three young ones moved towards it. They are so different; the serpent was an elongated creature while these young ones are like man with the limbs.

There was one young one who limped along as its left lower limb was twisted during its incubation. It was the last to approached the serpent and without hesitation, the left head of the serpent came down and snapped into the young creature before moving it towards the orifice at the bottom of its neck with the body. The tiny legs there in hurried forms pushed the young dead creature into it and let it be devoured by the serpent. The other two young creatures shrieked out in pain, and ran back towards the hatched eggs but the serpent leaned its heads down and rubbed at their sides. It was like how a mother would had comforted a sad child.

In comforting the young ones, the serpent did not see the approaching group of men with their weapons. It was a coordinated strike now as the farmer threw the sake on the necks while the samurai thrust with their yari or shoot with the arrows at the heads. The slaves meanwhile have set the spilled sake on fire before they themselves joined in the fight with the farmers. The serpent coiled back and was to retreat when it heard the breaking of the eggs by the samurai. It slither back into the nesting and fought out with the men.

"Gunso, the neck." Taisa shouted as he ducked from the lunging head of the serpent left head. He saw Edo had slashed the serpent right head with the naginata, while the farmers thrust the neck with their pitchforks.

"Hai!" Gunso jumped up and thrust the yari before pushing it downwards to open the wound. Then he twisted the yari and cut it sideways towards the middle of the neck adjoining the body.

"Drink you own blood, dark one." Gunso cursed at the serpent as he pulled out the yari on seeing the serpent had dropped its head on the side. Meanwhile Taisa Mori had turned his attack on the other neck; slashing at it with the katana. He was assisted by the other Hohei as they also removed the life from this head.

"Hai! We are getting good at killing these foul creature." Gunso shouted out as the farmers and slaves broke the other eggs and killed the unborn young ones. The two young ones was already killed by Edo and Iza. They soon cut down the corpses and lined them on the flooring.

"They looked like us, but its also hard to tell with all the decays." One of the Hohei remarked, but Taisa Mori told them to used the balance of the sake on them and burned them so that their remaining body would not be desecrated. He then looked up the vines and saw it went up high onto the ceiling. The vines seemed to be spaced out evenly in a number of small circles.

"A vine or a root; tells us of trees or growth above. It could had broken through the surface to reached here." Edo looked up. He then looked to a farmer whom he called to come forth.

"Kitui, climb up like a monkey which you are well known for. " Edo point to the ceiling. Tell me where it comes from."

Kitui stripped to his fundoshi, then jumped onto the vine. He made him way up like a monkey on the tree. The slaves had one other to joined him on another vine as the other also climbed up. Taisa then looked to Bento and asked him.

"The light you said you saw; show me." Bento looked at the Taisa and bowed.

"I did not see any but Fudo-san said he saw." Bento point to the farmer, who stepped up towards the Taisa. He bowed and replied.

"There was..." But his statement was stopped by the shout above.

"There is an entrance!" It was Kitui. Then the slave also shouted back on his discovery. More of the others now clamber to climb up but Taisa stopped them.

"Hold it, you fools!" Taisa Mori shouted out. "We would organized ourselves with each one having a turn."

The men all stopped and looked at the Taisa.

"Who among you are good climbers like them?" Three farmers and two slaves came forth. Then climbed and lowered down more vines if you can find it. The others would tied the supplies to the vines to be lifted before we climb. Those who can't climb would be pulled up."

Taisa Mori knew that some of the Hohei are not used to climbing on this type of 'ropes'. They had practiced before but none was as good as these farmer and slaves. The men sorted out themselves and the climbing began.

"I would stay back with you Taisa." Gunso remarked to his Taisa but the later told him get up there and managed the men.

"I do not know where that entrance leads to; another cavern or outside land. You are to let me know. Send out a patrol immediately when you have the numbers."

Gunso Mita bowed and walked to the vines. He pulled at it and tested the tensile strength. He then used his hands to climbed up but soon find himself being pulled up.

"Gunso, we would assist you." The words never sounded sweeter to him than that of his wife cooing him to come to bed.

D&C 2.6; Human meat by the loads

Human meats by the loads

I stood by the car on the street. I had radioed the Precinct that I would be very late; the steers are not moving. They called them that in Texas. I seen share of cowboy shows when young. I walked up to the uniformed and got the update. The truck was loaded with them steers when it broke down. While the driver was fixing the truck, some dumb fool unlocked the pen behind. Now we have twenty steers scared by the noise had gone on a rampage.

"Why was there a truck passing here on my streets?" Frank gets agitated when someone dropped shit on it. I ignored him while I walked past the traffic pileup. I have a 10-71 Shooting, to investigate across the river. I made it past the mess and grabbed the nearest patrol car I could find. I took over the wheel and drove to the other crime scene. I arrived late, but they had more than a shootout.

"Detective, we came here on a 10-71 and found this." The uniformed opened up the back of the truck. It was parked on level five in the multi-level carpark. The truck contained ten bodies; shot and left for dead. They looked like migrants from across the southern border; long drive to be buried here. 

"No witnesses, only the reports of the shooting heard as far as one block. We are running then plate checks but we reckon it would turned out blank." The uniformed gave me the update. I looked at the uniformed.

"If you want my job, get in line." I told the uniform. There are some of these smart ones which tries to be too smart. I drove back to the Precinct when the Forensics took over. I did not want to meet Dan when he sees those ten bodies. He would go bazooka and it won't be for days he would grumbled on his workload. I avoided the morgue for that reason while I searched the web, for leads. I narrowed my search to who would drive those poor souls so far to execute them. Or had them executed.

There was a new operation in the city; forced labor in the shops. Shops that processed designer drugs. It used to be garment shops but then they moved upmarket. I got a few names; Adrian Drew and Gareth Drew, cousins or some claimed blood brothers with the same father. They have a long list on the activities that was considered as felonies but there were no convictions due to lack of evidence. I would like to have them picked up, but there are rules. The Commissioner backed me up for a stakeout on them. He had to when the Mayor came calling with harsher words. It was the fifth day when I went down to see Dan.

"They were shot with 9x19mm Parabellum, and based on the trajectory, I would said they were shot with an automatic." Dan told me on his findings while I stood by his desk. He did not offered me seat and neither did I asked.

"From the trajectory and bullet counts, I would not exclude the Uzi. I found 30 bullets on them. That's one while clip." Dan demonstrated the shooting with the sub-machine gun. He then collated his thoughts and continued on his report.

"There was a discarded Uzi in the scene. Ballistics are checking the prints but I am sure its the Uzi. I found something interesting." Dan adjusted his reading spectacles. "There was a note in one of the deads. It read as

'La Guardia. In Spanish, it meant ...."

"The Guard." I knew that word. I also knew that the name also applied to a organization that deal in smuggling. They are the front for Adrian Drew. I decided to check on the stake out on Adrian.

The results were 'nothing to report'. But there was something interesting that happened that day. I got a call for a 415 ( Disturbance ) downtown. I don't know they called for us as that was handed by the uniforms but the call later became a 187 ( Homicide ). I reached the place which was a scrap yard for metals.

I met Frank there. It was him that called. The uniformed had trapped the shooter in the scrap yard office.

"It was a fight among the Drew' boys and these outsiders, they ran towards here, and we arrived." Frank updated me. "We broke the fight but they got loose with more outsiders coming in to rescue their friends. In the ruckus, there was a shot."

Frank pointed to the dead body that was hauled to the side of the patrol car.

"He's dead. Head shot from the rear." Frank pointed to the rear side of his head. "We all split to each other boundaries. The Drew boys bolted and so did some of the outsiders but there are two of them in them. They armed; shot at us three times so far."

I saw Frank looking at the arrival of the SWAT team. The specialist came prepared; bullet vest and high powered rifles. They took their positions and then we all waited. Its the standard procedure to negotiate, then the shooting would start. Or in this case resumed. We did that all the way; the SWAT had no choice, they had to charged in. They came out with two bodies; double tap on the chest.

"Frank, we can dropped the 415 and proceed to 187." I told Frank while making the call for Dan.

"It was a 187, Jimmy. You are getting old." Darned, for Frank to tell me that was a loud ring in my ears. I took off and checked on the Drew' stakeout. I got better news; Adrian was seen rushing out of his house. They are tailing him but lost him in the streets. I widen the search and then Dan called me up.

"Jimmy, I screwed it. The gun was not a Uzi. It was a Beretta M9; military issue. They shoot 9x19mm Parabellum. I should had not concluded until Ballistics came back. There were four guns." Dan moaned out his misconception."I also found two Beretta M9 at the last shooting. Ballistics are checking those guns."

I slammed the phone down. I really want to kill those bastards; anyone would do. I was angry when someone does a multi homicides on my turf. I went off to Di Angelo. I drunk three coffees, and half a dog.

"Jimmy, you getting worked on for nothing. Have you seen a doctor lately? He could do some blood test for you."

That last statement threw me up over the roof. If I had been friends with Di Angelo long, I would had socked him then. I walked off and the portable rang. I got my wanted news; Adrian Drew was seen with his boys. They had him staked out, and we got a warrant for possible homicide involvement. I owed one to the Commissioner; he twisted some judge for the warrant.

"Police!" The SWAT member smashed the door with the ram, and then his mates all rushed in with their rifles leveled for short bursts. Once I got the all clear, I walked in with my bravado drawn on my face. I found Adrian and three more of his boys cuffed to the back. The uniforms took them down, including some guns but no Beretta M9. I was to released my anger on them in my special room when Dan called me up.

"The earlier results matched to the guns we collected from the scrap yard."

I was back in the starting block.

I was back in the Precinct to run a series of checks; from army deserters to who was in the military in my city. I was searching wild and mad, with all kinds of presumptions. I was getting mad with the task. Frank walked in on me and placed the coffee with the scones.

"Di Angelo said you needed detoxification; Too much rotten meat." I was to lash out when I recalled the words. I punched in the names of our dead subjects from the scrap yard. And also the one who got shot in the head. Their names came out and one common factor; they all had a military stint together in Iraq. More to it, they did a short stay in Argentina as gaucho' or cowboys.

There were five of them.

The only surviving ones were Timmy Gardens and Micheal Cain. These two were not locals but had leased a warehouse at the industrial area. I went over there and found the place locked. If I was younger, I would had scaled the walls but at that time, I decided a cutter would suffice. I cut the lock and then went into the yard. I had to clobbered the two dogs who had bad manners. They won't be chewing bones for a while. I did not go inside the premises but looked in past the windows.

I had my reason for entry.

I called in and the Narcotics came with siren blazing. We found a drug factory but no workers. The state was alerted to find them; for murder, narcotics and human trafficking. It was not long when one turned up; Timmy was shot dead in street shootout with the uniforms when he resisted arrest. Then there was only Micheal Cain.

The call came in and I was blaring on the streets with the siren. Micheal Cain was in Adrian Drew' house. He had shot three guards and holding the owner hostage. We had the house surrounded; the SWAT was getting edgy with the calls, but I told them to backed off while I walked to the house. I went in by the front door, stepping over the dead guard, before convening on Micheal Cain in the library with Adrian Drew hogtied with razor blade wires to the armchair.

Micheal was wounded; I saw the bleeding from his chest and right thigh, but the Beretta M9 was threatening. He also had a razor blade wire on his neck; and it was constricting the air flow.

"Micheal, we could negotiate." I made slow insteps towards the military personnel. "We could also place the Adrian if you helped me."

"No, Detective." Micheal waved the gun at me. "We take care of our own. Just like when we were a squad."

I was running of time. I cornered him on the things I needed to know.

"Tell me about Argentina."

Micheal told me everything. They went over to Argentina, did some sightseeing to clear their head. They ended up in La Guardia. They were approached by the local drug cartel; they claimed they would finance the operation from drugs to guns and also the workers. All the boys needed was a place to work., preferably near the seaport or airport. It was a simple arrangement.

The problem was when Adrian Drew found out. He wanted in or they don't do. The boys were smarter. They negotiated with Gareth Drew. They severed the Argentinian line, and worked with Gareth on a new line. The issue was how to removed the workers which was on the way up. It was like in Iraq, no one cared if they are not known. They planned it like a bad deal that went down. The Uzi was to throw the scent off. It did not worked. Adrian went for them at the scrap yard; their new operation base with Gareth. Adrian still wanted to work with them, so it was a no gun talk but the brawl took place, and the Police came. It was then one of them pulled a gun and fired. Micheal and Timmy escaped during the fight. That was when they went crazy on the whole deal.

Until then.

"Detective, we do the works together." Micheal shot Adrian in the face while I shot him on the chest. He went down with the last shot. The SWAT stormed in but they held their fire.

Soon we picked up Gareth but he was let off for lack of evidence. I hit the coffee again. It was my preference to liquor. I tried to call Rose, but gave up before the phone rang. I went back to Jenny. She was sleeping when I reached the bed. I wanted to reached for her but held back. We have our marriage, but we had our love.

The next day, I got the news.

Gareth Drew was shot dead; on his body was the hot brand 'Gauchos'.

Justice was served. Late but it was a matter of time.

Footnote:

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html.

It only take a few minutes to understand it but it may take years for us to work out the issue.

Oz; a remake of the tale 2.19 & 2.20 ( The end is here. )

19.        Cat fights.

I stepped out of the Main Building and find myself facing my team all unarmed and forced to sit down on the ground. Standing at the back of them were the Kalidah; all twenty of them.

"Hello. Dorothy. Do you remember me? I am Kalin." I remembered that striped creature who fell into the river. It was supposed to had drown in there.

"Well, Dorothy. I did not drowned as expected. We are rather good swimmers although I did lose a claw or two off my paws, but they replaced it with a titanium one now. All sharpened and ready to slit some throats."

Kalin struts his paws towards Hinkley and placed his new claw there at the throat.

"Throaty here I come." Its claw juts out and prepared to do the cut on Hinkley's throat.

"Stop it, Kalidah. Fight me like a ...tiger and stop being a pussy cat."

I turned to look behind me and saw Puss standing there in his boots. He also holding his cutlass in a fighting stance. He meowed back to me and twitched his whiskers. He removed his sombrero hat and bowed before me. He then meowed back.

"Dorothy, this is my fight. We cats need to settle a personal issue." Puss looked at the Kalidah. "Pussy, pussy cat. Are you afraid of poor me?"

"Puss, I am Kalin of Kalidah. I feared no one, and not one like you too. Your reputation precedes your .....size. I heard them all; pussy cat, tomcat, alley to the main arena fighter, sea faring pirate, mercenary and above all, a pussy cat lover." Kalin stepped out. "Their throats can wait for later. I got a pussy cat to skinned alive."

"Kalin, you talked too much." Puss placed the sombrero on his head and adjust his eye patch. "I have not forgiven you for the cut on my eye."

Kalin did not wait the signal and lunged at Puss. The first strike drew a streak of blood across the cat' left forearm.

"En garde, I presume." Kalin licked at his bloodied claw. "More like delicious to me. First cut is the deepest, but the second cut is more painful, eh?"

Kalin started laughing out loud but Puss was beyond laughter. The cat sneaked in an attack on the rear limbs of the tiger causing it to spring back in pain. Puss had took two cuts on the rear limb knees joints which now the tiger is finding difficulty to stand.

"Kalin, I guess there would be no standing ovation for you." Puss lowered the cutlass to the ground so the blood would dribble off it.

"Puss....I would get you for that." Kalin motioned to his other tigers to attacked the cat. Two of the Kalidah came pouncing towards Puss. Puss ran towards them with every intent of meeting them face on. At the last moment, all three felines leap up to mid air in a deadly flight of claws and cutlass but Puss had it all planned. He shove his sombrero into the left Kalidah and thrust his cutlass into the right Kalidah. Then he somersault to jumped over their heads and land on his feet. The right Kalidah fell down dead with the cutlass jutting out of the back of its neck. The left Kalidah fell down too trying to remove the sombrero stuffed into its throat. Its futile attempt to removed the hat soon expired and it laid there dead.

"So Puss, no more cutlass means you are one dead cat soon." Kalin raised itself up on the injured joints. "I still have my claws."

"I am called Puss in the Boots for a reason." The Puss jumped up and tapped his boots at the rear of it. At the tip of the boots front, a set of sharp daggers appeared. "I had a French master who taught me savate. Now I shall demonstrate to you the moves."

Puss jumped up and deliver a round house kick making contact the toe end of the boots where the dagger juts out. The kick landed on the Kalidah' left forearm.

"Thats the fouette or a whipping kick." After dropping down in front of the Kalidah, Puss performed the next kick, the chasse frontal; a action front kick with the toe to the underbelly of the Kalidah. Then Puss followed on with the left leg on a reverse kick on the right shoulder with the inset of the boots. The final kick was the sweep kick to the rear of the shin of the left rear limb with the inner edge of the right heel. Kalin fell onto his back and could only catch glimpse of the hand chop that severed the air tubes in the neck.

"Mon Dieu! Its over." Puss stood up and bowed to the stunned audience. "Anyone keen, can signed for my next bout. Or see me tomorrow for your first lessons."

The remaining Kalidah all took to flight on seeing Kain defeated by Puss.

9.        The End is here.

I stood there as the Hammer Heads collapsed the last piece of the castle. This final piece of destruction was viewed by all of those who are in Land of Oz; there were the Nomes, the Munchkins, the Flutterbudgets, the Rampsies, the Winged Monkey, the Ants, the Kalidah, the Winkies and even the Guardian of the Gate was there to offered ice cream at one silver piece each. When the last piece was taken down, I was asked to make a speech as the new Queen of Oz.

"People of Oz, I give you back your land, and freedom." They all cheered me loudly. "But I would not be your Queen."

The people congregating there at the forest went silent; it has reverted back to its original shades of green and brown, the leaves green and even the birds are back at there.

"Why, My Queen?" Puss stepped forward to asked. "You are our only surviving royal family."

I leaned down to pat the cat and the addressed the people.

"I would not be your Queen, but its Guardian. In my place, there would be a new Queen. She is Cen Krow." I pulled Scarecrow up to be seen by everyone. Someone in the crowd shouted out.

"She's a Munchkin." The crowd went into a gloomy look.

"Does it matter? You are all different and yet you lived here. She can be a Munchkin, but she can also be your Queen." I addressed the people. "All of you can be Kings and Queens. You can be married to one.I could marry one of you and then he can be King."

Wrong words to use as I was almost swarmed by eligible bachelors from Nomes to Flutterbudgets. I held them back and explained myself.

"Cen Krow is part of royalty now. The Prince of Miz have proposed to her. She would be accepted into his royal family but Prince Miz would not be King of Miz. His brother has already taken the throne. So in return, I am offering to Cen Krow the throne of Oz, as Queen. She will ruled the land with her husband, Prince Micheal Mancock." That was the cue for Micheal to appear in front. Hinkley had lifted the curse of the metal suit and now Micheal is back in his physical self. He was dressed in the red coat over his blue vest and tight leggings tucked into a knee high boots laced with the leather laces.

"Oh, mine. I wished I was young again. I'll marry him." A lady in the crowd shouted out and several others fainted on their seats.

"Do you accept my choice?" The crowd was silent and then it slowly roared to agreement. The Land of Oz have their new Queen now.

As for me, it back to being Dorothy Gale. I walked to my friends who were all standing there. First, I hugged my father who was reinstalled in as the Great Wizard of Oz. Puss was appointed as Chief of Guards to Emerald City while the Guardian kept his old job.

I looked at the Uncle Henry and Aunty Em. They are staying on here to ensure that all is well and would be well.

The boys however are going back as Uncle Henry given them the farm to take care of. I looked at Hicks who stood there looking rather sheepishly at what needed to be said or asked. But he did asked me then.

"Are you coming back with us? We do need a housekeeper and cook." It was Zeke who kicked at Hicks' knees and caused him to fall on his it.

"Dorothy, what Hicks meant to said was that he needed you there as he is one hopeless cook. More to it, he needs a wife soon and there are no better ladies in that area where the farm is." Zeke looked to Hunk and smiled. "Did I say it right?"

Hunk gives him the thumbs up. But Hicks rushed up onto his feet and tried to explained himself.

"Dorothy, I mean to say......I love you. Please come back with us." I did not know what happened next but I did know that I was kissing him on the lips. And he to me then.

"Hunk, that means she coming back with us. You don't have to worry about the laundry no more."

I pulled away from Hicks and looked at the three boys.

"I ain't washing nobody's laundry. You wear them, you washed them or be done; I don't care if you are buck naked then." They all laughed.

Good byes are sad but there are something more than sad. I am concerned as during the last fight, Glinda got away with the help of Napoleon. We never did find them and they could be a menace in this land. Uncle Henry assured me that he would hunt them down and sent them off to Limbo. I gave my family a lady hug before I left for home with my darling in tow. I told them if they ever need me, just holler my name. When I was about to leave, I was sure I saw a pack of griffins over head in the red skies. I said my good by to Toto.

Soon after the sent off, Hinkley walked back to his private chamber. He closed the door and latched it.

"You can come out now. They are gone."

Two figures stepped out from the hidden compartment in the wall.

"Father, why do you not mourn mother's death? Or even Kay'?" Glinda asked her father as she stood there with new lover Napoleon.

"Glinda, I loved your mother but the things she did are unforgivable. More to it, I can't cry in front of them. It would betray my feelings and ....loyalty." Hinkley looked at his last surviving daughter. "Go and live another life without all of this feelings. Be happy there and don;t ....come back."

Hinkley dismissed his daughter and led her to the secret walkway to outside the city. He then retired back to his chamber and drink down his sorrows.

Glinda and Napoleon rode to the borders of the Land of Oz. They turned back one last time to see the land.

"We will be back, Land Of Oz. Mark my words." They rode over the border to the Land of Miz. "Come on, Napoleon. We got an appointment with King of Miz. He needs to know that his brother is alive; the one which rightfully should be King.

Last rites????

Dear Marlene, you probably wondering why I am writing to you. Well, its just that I had decided to end our relationship for good. In fact, by the time you read this letter, I would  had been dead. Please with my blessing marry John. He is not better than me, but he would loved you more than I ever did. I was a loser in your life, and more so unfaithful bastard. We marry out of necessity; true he was the only one I ever did to you. But by all means, please cursed me for myself. I knew you were having an affair with him all those years, with me being away for long periods. How else could I had known? It was simple, I was never far from where the apple fell from the tree. My so called trips were nearby and I had the chance to come back to watched you two. You were more beautiful with him, graceful and above all, darned sexy. But guess what, I won't missed much of that as I am leaving this world. I am dying with two weeks left in my life. The doctor was kind to let me know six months ago but I kept it from you. So whatever it was, you never did lose me. I lost you first. Love, Micheal.

P.S. Don't worry about the house. I already sold it. The new owners are moving in next month. You have time to packed. I kept the proceeds in my son's trust. He needed that last bit of love from me.

Oz; a remake of the tale 2.18

18.        Final Bout.

The third landing of the building housed the witches secrets, in which this case was not much to be seen except for the single statue in the chamber. Its the figure of an old man dressed like a King.

"Is that..." I felt silly to ask but my answer was forth coming.

"That's King Pastoria. We encased him in bronze there; alive and perhaps not breathing." Mother Witch gloat on her capture. "He was a whinny when we were encased him. He was a bad example for a King."

Mother Witch looked at me. Then she smiled.

"You looked like your mother. If she was not dead, I would had reckon she is back now." Mother Witch walked to stand beside the statue. "He would had been proud but he also disliked him. You see, your father was a meek when seen by the King. Pastoria never liked his daughter to your father. He wanted her to marry her to an equivalent of her but she selected the magician."

"Enough on my father and mother! I am here to battle you for my mother's revenge." I shouted at her.

"Revenge?Is that all about?" Mother Witch looked at me."What happened to the mission to topple my daughters to resurrect the old Kingdom? Is that forgotten now?"

I looked at her and slowly shake my head. She is confusing me. I am getting confused. I lashed out in the only way I know; I screamed out loud. My sonic vocal boom did come up as expected but I was facing the statue. It broke the statue into fragments and pushing the Mother Witch to the back.

"Wow! Girl, you got a mouthful there." Mother Witch stood up and brushed the dirts off. She picked up a piece of the fragment and smiled. "There goes grandfather. Perhaps we can sell parts of him."

Mother Witch laughed out loud. Then she stared back at me.

"Murderer! You killed your grandfather." She seem to enjoyed it but I am getting irritated.

"Mother Witch or ....Witch's Mother, I don't care. You are still the person to be removed. I intent to do that." I glared at her. The Mother Witch just twitch her nose and drew out the red hilt with a shiny red blade. Its was mother's. Then the streak of red waves appeared with a spiral twirling direction towards me.

I jumped clear of the wave and tried to use my voice on her but she's fast. She evaded my booms and I am getting hoarse. Then she made a mistake; she tripped on a loose plank and fell on her face. It was when she lost her hold on the dagger. It flew to my feet and I picked it up.

"Dorothy, do it." I heard the voice in my head and I know its telling me to do it right. I held the dagger and watch it glowed. I looked to see Mother Witch standing up and realizing her missing dagger.

"Oh, I am in the poo poo house." The streak of red wave went for her but it was aimed at her right shoulder. Mother Witch groaned in pain on the hit.

"I did not aimed at your heart as I felt you would had none. I am telling you this one time; get out of Oz or you would be buried here." I lowered my arm and turned to walk away. Mother Witch is not giving up. She pulled out her wand and point it at the ceiling. She blew a hole in the roof that open it to the red skies.

"Dorothy, do you know why the castle have four towers. They are position to amplify the lightning that would strike it, but I also improvised it to collate the four lightning power and have it direct to my wand." The red skies starts to flicker and then the lightning came. Four of them struck the towers and the conductor relayed the power towards the wand. Then Mother Witch direct her wand at the flooring near Dorothy; it blew a hole big enough for a new staircase.

"That was for show. The next one would be on you. So write your own obituary."

I hate myself then; I actually smile at her. My mother's murderer and I smiled at her. I stood there and brace myself for her next attack; flexing my muscles and shrug my shoulders. This would be a split second decision on the cue. 

Mother Witch took her new move with the wand pointing at me. Just as she strike, I took the run along the flooring with the witch burning up the planks behind me. She was so absorb into killing me; she did not see the damages she was undertaking. The damaged flooring creaked under her lightning strikes and was soon collapsing under loose flooring. Mother Witch fell down one level and her wand fell out of her hand. It pointed downwards and was aiming at her when the lightning arrived.

"Aargh!" That was the last we heard of Mother Witch.

I then went over to picked up the pieces of the bronzed statue, and tried to piece it together but it did not fit or some parts are missing. Probably got vaporized in the battle. I would never get my grandfather back. Just as then, an image appeared before me; its my mother in her red dress.

"Dorothy..." She called out to me. "Its me, your mother."

I looked up and saw her floating there on mid air. My tears welled up in my eyes on seeing my mother again. This was no magic but a true love gift.

"I am fine, my child. I am also happy to see you here today. When you killed the Mother Witch, you released my soul from the prison she created for me. I am now free to join your grandfather and mother." The image of my mother points to the skies. On it, I can see the image of the old King and his Queen.

"Mother Witch lied to you. There was no one in the statue but the metal. She had that built sometime back to appease the people of their old King, but they did not believe her. So she hid the statue here." The image looked around at the damaged level. "There was no secrets here. She was never a Witch but one who stole others ideas. She only knew one magic which was to direct the lightning but that now is over. She is dead and I am free to go."

"But before I leave, I wanted to see you." The image of my mother looked at me. "You grown up beautifully, my child."

Then the image of my mother left for the skies to rejoin her parents. I am left alone again. I heard my name being called.

 "Dorothy Gale, you are needed here in the yard." I recognise not the voice. I rushed down to see to my friends.

Oz; a remake of the tales 2.17

17.        A castle with too many Witches.

 The witches saw the fight below and then they retreated into the chambers. They had their battle plans setup too. Mother Witch was coming for me, while Kayellete takes on Droid and Glinda onto Scarecrow. They send the castle rats to corner the Puss.

 "Remember this girls." Mother Witch told her daughters. "To win, we need to fight them on their weakness."

Droid was first to meet its match; Kayellete. The witch was dressed in a white suit; close fit to her body. We left Droid there and move on to seek our own.

"I am impressed that they left you here to fight me, Droid; or shall I addressed you as Prince Micheal Mancock, late of the Kingdom of Miz." Droid slit for the eyes gleamed in response to the long introduction done by the Witch.

"I am impressed, Kay. You still remember me after such a long time." The droid moved his joints as though he awkward standing there greeting the lady he once came to proposed a hand in marriage. "How long has it been, Kay? You took my heart and left me in this metal suit."

"Long enough, Micheal." Kay reached into the box that she had placed in front of her at her side. She drew out the crystal image of a heart that still throb in its crystalline form.

"I still hold it dear to me. When I felt the need to feel my loving side. I doubt you would mine." Kay blinked her eyes at the droid.

Prince Mancock of Miz came courting for the Princess of Oz, not knowing there was none but four Witches ruled the land now. He was elated to meet the first one when he arrived here; the one they named as the White Witch. He was attracted to her at first sight, and was to sacrifice himself as her slave of love. He spent his short stay there bearing her gifts and working to her whims. But that was never enough until she came up with the vile request. He was asked to transfer his soul into a metal suit they found in the forest. It must had traveled from another dimension to this one.

Micheal without hesitation agreed to it. He bowed to his love and stepped forward to be magically transformed. It was a painful assimilation as man of flesh was never designed to be a droid of wires and components. There was a part which cannot fit no matter how they tried; so he offered his heart to the White Witch to keep in her care. Then without a heart, he was to merged into the metal suit. His first words were; 'how may I serve you?"

The droid served his mistress for many years but never in the heart. He was soon to become cold and listless to the feels of a man of flesh. Soon his mistress grew tired of him and discard him like the metal scrap he was to become. He was sent off to wander the land without a heart and not knowing love, he soon became lost. Not until he found Scarecrow. Just before he step in here, Scarecrow spoke to him; "Love with or without a heart does not matter if the mind is not going to work at it. In you, your mind are directing you to me. And for that, I would share my heart with you. Together we would beat as one."

"Kay, if I was the previous Micheal, I would begged you give me back my heart, but I am now the new Micheal. I can still live without my life as long as my mind work out my feelings." Droid cocked the double barrel rifle and point it at the White Witch. "I would not need my heart but I would take yours. Not for love but for the people you hurt in this land. That's one thing I learned in my travels; you are heartless. I want to show them you have one but its empty of love."

"Enough of talks. We shall end the matter once for all." The White Witch pulled at her hair and dragged it down over her face; she soon pulled the skin off her face to her toes and off her gown. Beneath it all, she was a metal droid in white gold. She then raised her arms and showed her talons which lengthen her fingers by a feet length.

"Not another she-wolf? Ain't that enough of you talons' around?" Droid did not wait for the attack, but fired off the twin barrel rifle but the other had jumped clear of the shots.

"Is that the best you can do?" She taunt at Droid who reloaded his rifle. "Let me get this done for you."

The female droid reached out with his talons which grew to triple length that hit at Droid. The talons drew its mark by cutting onto the droid skin surface to exposed the wires beneath. Droid fell back and dropped the rifle while grabbing his broken skin.

"Micheal, do you think its time for you to re-consider your loyalties?" Droid looked at the female who took his heart.

"Not until you melt me down." Droid pulled himself back from her but the female droid drew back her talon and exposed her wrist. At the bottom of her wrist was a small nozzle which she was to released the liquid that would melt down the droid. Just as activated the nozzle, Droid rushed forth and grabbed the female wrist and point it backwards towards the female droid head.

The liquid burned into her head and exposed the wires. The female droid reached back but the liquid had eaten into the processor at the head. It caused her to mal-function and soon she stopped moving. The Droid was hit by the liquid when he rushed over with areas of his chest and left shoulder affected, but his processor was protected in the head.

"Kay, I am sorry." But the female droid was not able to reply. Its dead as it circuitry frizzled out.

"Glinda, you are mine." Scarecrow confront the witch standing there. Glinda was in new dress of the shade of red with white too, but in her hands, she carried the wand. There are two Crows on her shoulders waiting for her command. The witch frowned on seeing Scarecrow's similar shades and naturally better enhanced features.

"Scarecrow, I hate to tell you, but you looked beautiful in the suit. I wondered how you would feel if I was to showcase you on the wall in my castle." Glinda then swing her wand and point it at Scarecrow. "But I prefer you crisp and burnt."

The wand produced a fire streak towards Scarecrow who blocked it with her umbrella force field from her staff. She drawn it out from the bag on her side.

"Glinda, you were once my friend. We used to play on the plains; you, me and some of the Nomes then. You used to laugh when they dig into the ground. We used to play by the river; you raised up the water level to make those fountains...." Scarecrow was taunting the Witch to remember her childhood.

"Stop it, Cen Krow. You were never my friend. You were there to see my time occupied with play time then. So stop reminding me of the good old days." Glinda hissed back in disgust. "What if I tell you that you stole my first boy friend?"

"Glinda, I did not. Nichtic never liked you. You always make him act like your servant. He dislike it. He told me so." Scarecrow shouted back. "Don't ever used my name. You are not my friend anymore."

"Nichtic is a Munchkins. All Munchkins are my servants. All of Oz are my servants." Glinda shouted out. "You are my servant too."

"Not anymore." Scarecrow took up her staff and adjust the force field. Now the force field does not block the fire aimed at it but shoots it back to where it came from. The first streak hit out at Glinda and she fell on her back.

"You can't do that. I am the Witch. You are supposed to listen to me. You are to lose to me." Glinda cried out when she saw her wand was broken in the fall. She now can see Scarecrow approaching her.

"Not today, Glinda. Not ever again." Scarecrow took the wand off Glinda' hand, and threw it away. Then she clasped her fingers together and punched the witch in the face. "That's for Nichtic. He was my first boyfriend."

"Hello, Dorothy," The Mother Witch spoke up when I reached the top landing. 

Oz; a remake of the tale 2.16

16.        The Brawl at the Yard.

"Hinkley, the last time we fought; you shot out four of my pistols before I could even pulled the trigger. Now I improvised; I am pulling the trigger when I draw." Dirt drew all his pistol while firing them. Both Henry and Hinkley did not expected this; they thought it would be a standard showdown, but Dirt cheated. The older men jumped aside but Dirt drew first blood. One of his shots hit Henry in the left thigh. Henry collapsed on the ground holding his leg and shouted out.

"Hinkley! I am shot." That caused Hinkley to looked at his brother for a split second which was enough for Dirt to fired off the next wave of shots. This time the second wave of shots hit Hinkley at the right forearm.

"Aargh! The bastard got me too." Both brothers crawled over to reach each other; and then they looked at the Dirt.

"Dirt, you ain't playing it fair. That's treachery in our books." But Dirt laughed out at the two older men.

"Old Man, the rules are out in this dimension. Here you play to survive in whatever rules you made yourself. It seemed I have hit both of you first. So that is two to me and zero to you." Dirt replied to the older men.

"I guessed we would need to catch up now." Both Hinkley and Henry fired from the hips with their short barrel rifles. The rifles were set to full automatic and in seconds they emptied the ammo clips while laying down. Dirt took the full clips on his body; knocking him back by ten paces spread eagled to the ground.

Both the older man then helped themselves to their feet and limped over to their adversary. Dirt's still alive or barely alive; but he smiled at the older men.

"Never thought you had it in you. But I guess its six to you and two to me. You shot out all my arms,and I am impressed." Dirt looked at his messed up six limbs now hanging by their sockets only. "Never reckon you would do such shots. I had on the bullet proof vest on the chest but not on the arms."

"You said so earlier, hombre. There ain't no rules in this dimension. And there ain't no rules to say we must shoot you in the heart. So we aimed for your arms instead."

"She is waiting upstairs for you.." Dirt told Hinkley. "She is one mean wildcat."

Dozen laid his head back and wished he had not come here to this dimension. Hinkley signaled the Recovery Team. They are the Munchies with the stretcher to carry out the dead or wounded.

"Henry, thanks for teaching me how to shoot then. I never thought I would uses that here instead of magic." Hinkley thanked his twin brother. Henry used to teach Hinkley how to shoot but the later was into the books. Now it paid off, skills are sometimes best learned not from the books. They need your direct intervention of the hands.

It was Bonnie who did the first move; after all it was always ladies first. She raised up her automated mini six barrels cannons rifle and fired off at the boys. Her first spread of six shots was a scattered one.

"Heehaw!" The three boys drove their hover board to the air. They went into different directions while Bonnie kept on firing into her third rounds. Hicks shot off to the right and ended up skirting on the stable roofing edge before zooming into a mid air somersault and landed on the board in the rebound. That path took him clear of the firing edges. Hunk went vertical and did a half turn to slide down the fore just skipping Bonnie' hair edge by inches before he whirl the hover board back in a 180 degree turn to land at where he started off from. Zeke was the more acrobatic one as he rode his hover board on the walls of the left building and using it to shoot off into mid air before landing on the Main Building. He then hovered down the walls and parked himself at the rear of Bonnie.

Clyde had then joined in and loose off mortar bombs in a 360 degree swing while holding the launcher his hand. The bombs exploded in mid air causing the boys to ducked or fall off their hover boards.

"I did said that you're one crazy dude" Bonnie applauded her boyfriend who just bombed out the boys. Everywhere was smoke and the boys cannot be seen anywhere no matter where you turned.

"You looking for us." The boys appeared walking out of the smoke cradling their rifles and hover boards.

"You know it ain't nice to throw those bombs like that." Hunk spoke out as he rubbed the dirt off his elbows.

"Yup, we could had been hurt in the fall." Zeke added on to the statement as he shake the dirt off his knees. But it was Hicks who did not rub or shake any dirt off, then told them what to do.

"We are going to burned your britches for doing just that." The boys threw down their hover boards and jumped on it. They came in on three directions and as they flew past the crazy young couple, they let loose with their short barrel rifles firing on full burst.

Hicks took out Clyde' mortar launcher with multiple holes on it while Zeke fired at Bonnie' rifle causing her to drop the mini six barrels cannons rifle. Then it was up to Hunk who came in from the front and fired at them from there. He shot at them at their heels and got them running for cover as he laid his shots near their feet. The couple retreating soon fell on their butt and stared at the hovering three boys holding their rifles.

"You think maybe they want to go for a honeymoon now?" Hicks looked at the couple who nodded. "Hunk, can you please send in the Nomes now. I think they have one just suitable for them as a holiday resort. Its a Gold Digger Dream Holiday."

The couple followed the Nomes to their new holiday as gold diggers.

Hunk away. Hicks then looked at the remaining of us.

"Sorry, we think its time you take back the tale now." I smiled at Hicks but Aunt Em stopped me.

"You can wait for a few more lines. I got Mama there to spank." Aunt Em approached the lady in the yellow dot dress; now holding a katana instead of a rifle.

"Emily Worth; first disciple of Sensei Kuno, the House of Fighting Arts." Aunt Em introduced herself.

"Patricia 'Mama' Bone; self taught on the Internet, www.wetechyouarts.com Its free to download, and comes with tutorials. I guess you are not tech savvy." Mama Bone pulled out her katana from the scabbard. "I bought this too, from the auction site."

"Mine's handed to me by my Sensei." The blades clashed and the vibration of the two blades can be heard in the yard.

"But unlike yours, mine has a full money refund if sent back before fourteen days. I still got another day life of the warranty." Mama Bone crowed her achievements.

"Too bad. They won't refind on a chipped off blade." Aunt Em katana is the true craftmanship of the masters; the blade horned to perfection in the burning lava of the volcano and grinded to the sharpness that a falling hair would cut on its edge.

"Aargh!" Mama Bone screamed out but that was all the Mistress of the blade needed; a minor diversion and she swing her blade in from the side to removed he apron strings from the apron.

"Ms.Bone, your days of fighting is over. I suggest you seek a early retirement instead." Mama Bone looked at her discarded apron and frown. She pulled at her yellow dot dress by the shoulder and tore it off. Underneath the dress is her other uniform of a black suit from her neck to her knees; matching corset and leggings with a dozen darts lined on each side of her uniform. She has on another dozen at the shoulder pads. She did not hesitate and drew on the darts with the speed of a rolling dough on a oily surface.

Fling! Fling! Fling! It must had been more than a dozen in that split second when Mama Bone released her darts.

"It can't be!" Mama Bone screamed out. All her darts are lined up in a row embedded on the blade held by Aunt Em. "No one could stop my darts. It my House Special."

Aunt Em fell on her right knee while using the katana to hold her up. A dart did find the mark; it sunk into her knee cap.

"You are good, Mama, but I am better." Aunt Em pulled the kitchen chopper with her left hand from the apron and fling it like a frisbee at the other lady. Mama Bone was cleaved of her head with the chopper.

 "Dorothy, now you can go on." Aunt Em told me as she was helped by Uncle Henry.