Home

Meeting with the Wizard

After being welcomed into the Clover City without a problem, Katie and her comrades were amazed at how everything was colored in many shades of green. When asked to sign up for times to meet with the Wizard, Katie promised to assist Liam during his meeting with the Wizard before the other three worried if she and Alfie would be alright on their own, so they decided to all sign up for the same time slot. With that, they went to get changed and beautified for their appointment with the Wizard, complete with maids and servants making sure everyone looked their best.

Once everyone was ready to go, the Wizard's assistant brought them into the Wizard's throne room, where everyone was stunned at their new surroundings. While Tómas heard his knees knocking together and Liam began stuttering in fear, Shane was making sure that Katie and Alfie were steady before a giant clover was visible on the wall. It was at that moment that they heard some haunting music, causing the four of them to look around the room before the clover on the wall started changing colors. After each petal changed to a color of either their skin color or their clothes, an image of everyone's wants appeared on their designated leaf: a brain for Shane, a heart for Tómas, courage for Liam, and her farm for her. That was when they heard a disembodied voice deeply chuckle, causing Katie to gasp before holding Alfie close.

"Welcome! I am the Wizard of Laz, and I have been awaiting you for quite some time. Please step forward when I call your name... Liam."

While Katie was shocked at how the Wizard would call the scared lion up first, she took Liam's hand and rubbed it gently as she helped him step forward, letting him know that she'd be right behind him to help. Liam's meeting with the Wizard was short due to his constant worrying, so even though Katie tried to help him, he was soon sent back to the troop before Tómas was called on next. After trying to briefly explain why he wanted a heart, Tómas was shocked when the Wizard told him to step back and have Shane approach, but the scared tin-man did as he was told. While Shane tried to say the right things when explaining his need for a brain, the Wizard's temper almost exploded as he sent the scarecrow back to the others, but his mood quickly changed when he heard Alfie whimpering in fear.

"I'm... I'm terribly sorry for scaring you and your dog, Katie. Now, please... you wish to go back home to your Uncle and that farmhand you love... Declan, right?"

"Yes, Your Wizardry, but I'd rather have my friends get their wishes granted before I get mine."

Touched by Katie's unselfishness, the Wizard chuckled a little before promising to grant all of their wishes, but only after they did something for him first. When Katie eagerly asked what the Wizard wanted, she stood tall and the others cowered when they heard that they had to bring the Gypsy King's golden fiddle to the throne room. Until the fiddle was physically placed on the throne, none of their requests would be granted, and that seemed like a fair deal to Katie. While the others looked at her in disbelief, Katie saw this as a chance to show how brave she could be on her own, and she saluted to the Wizard before heading out of the throne room with Alfie in her arms. Even though Liam was leaning towards staying in the throne room, the other two - along with the Wizard - convinced him to follow their friend outside, where they could help her with their mission.

After a guard pointed her toward a second path leading out of the Clover City, Katie followed a black-brick road from the city, where she saw that it was leading towards a darker forest than the last one. With a deep breath and her shoulders squared back like a soldier entering battle, she held Alfie in her arms as they walked down the road, unaware that her friends were coming behind her.