Summaries & Continuity Notes of Oz (original) (raw)
History: For eleven years (1991 to 2002) and 71 issues, The Emerald City Mirror presented an ongoing storyline, as told from various characters in Oz. Following the first six issues, which include random tales, the rest of the series encompassed nine story-arcs, plus additional contest stories (many unrelated to the arc stories) from readers. Most of the arc-driven stories follow shortly after the prior one, save for the sixth, seventh and eighth storylines, which are independent of the earlier ones. As there are no titles given for any of the arcs, each of the titles listed here is my own, and is based on the narrative.
1st Story-Arc: "Introduction and Short Stories": Issues #1-6
Mainly an introduction to the newspaper, and minor short adventures or anecdotes told by each of the characters who contributes the cover story.
Issue 1 : (Main Storyline): Now a reporter for the new Emerald City Mirror newspaper set up in the cellar of the Royal Palace, Dorothy is pressed upon to welcome new members to the Royal Club of Oz. Her job, as that of the Wizard, Wogglebug, Ozma will be to inform those in the Outside World of the latest events in Oz as if Mr. Baum were still Royal Historian. As of now, the only news fit to print is that the Wogglebug sat on the Wizard's hat, after which Billina laid three eggs in it. Chocolate pudding eased all tensions.
The Scarecrow and Tin Woodman of Oz: Reprint of the short story from [Little Wizard Stories of Oz](#Little Wizard Stories of Oz).
Happy Doings in Oz: As Dorothy sits in the Royal Gardens with Toto and Eureka, the Braided Man comes along, visiting from Pyramid Mountain. He asks Dorothy which of her two pets she likes best. Dorothy explains that they can't be compared as both have much to offer in their individual ways, so that she likes both of them equally. Accepting that response, the Braided Man goes on to talk about his Superior Rustles for Ladies Gowns. Reprinted in issue #27 and 42.
Issue 2: (Main Storyline): When the Scarecrow discovers a thin spot on the back of his head he goes to the Wizard to patch it up. The Wizard's been busy for months working on the Royal Club of Oz, and after fixing up Scarecrow, implores him to write a field report on the latest news in Oz. Accepting, the Scarecrow travels to the Munchkin Country, where he's greeted by three crows who joke that he was as bad a king as he was a scarecrow. Incensed, Scarecrow proceeds to spend the next few days charging through the cornfields scaring the crows so much one of them goes to the Royal Palace to get Ozma to stop him. A week later, Dorothy comes to tell him the Scarecrow that the Wizard's been looking for him, but he explains that in in order to get a field report, he had to be in the field. The Wogglebug is sure it'll be corny.
The Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger: Reprint of the short story from [Little Wizard Stories of Oz](#Little Wizard Stories of Oz).
One Day in Winkie Country: On the balcony of the Tin Castle, the Scarecrow asks the Tin Woodman if he remembers what he looks like when he's not around. Nick isn't sure and asks the Scarecrow the same question. He's uncertain as well, so they decide to withdraw to separate rooms to draw a picture of the other from memory. As neither feels that he's good at drawing, they each trace a picture of the other from an Oz book. When they see their pictures, they realize what they'd done, and acknowledge that if they hadn't remembered the other they'd not have been able to choose to right picture to copy from.
Issue 3: (Main Storyline): The Hungry Tiger regales how while he and the Cowardly Lion were in the Throne Room and Ozma presided over court, a Munchkin farmer burst in, announcing that a Kalidah was terrorizing them. Ozma sent the two big cats to help and they split up to cover more ground. Hearing a commotion, the Hungry Tiger climbed a hill, where the Kalidah is attacking a Munchkin family. The Kalidah runs off with the infant, and the Hungry Tiger pursues, catches up and defeats him. Recovering the infant, he warns the Kalidah to leave Ozma's people in peace and returns the baby to its parents.
Tik-Tok and the Nome King: Reprint of the short story from [Little Wizard Stories of Oz](#Little Wizard Stories of Oz).
The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses: First half of a story-contest. Winning conclusions were published in issue #4 and #54. A mechanical cuckoo-clock awakens the Wogglebug asleep in the Royal Palace. The professor wonders how he'll accomplish his duties for the Royal Club of Oz, including getting out a new issue of the Emerald City Mirror. When he can't find his glasses, he panics and calls Billina outside his window for help. She gives him a day to locate his glasses, otherwise, she'll fire him from his position.
Issue 4: (Main Storyline): Tik-Tok reports that during the holiday season, Mr. Tinker came for a visit to the Emerald City with four giant trunks, leaving everyone curious about, especially Dorothy who spies on Mr. Tinker while he overhauls Tik-Tok. On the third day, Mr. Tinker invites everyone to the ballroom. Once gathered, he has the curtains lifted up, revealing a model of the Royal Palace, replete with mechanical replicas of all is inhabitants.
Continuity Notes
Mr. Tinker: Mr Tinker first reappeared in Oz in 1902 for the story[Mr. Tinker in Oz](#Mr. Tinker in Oz). He comes back to live in Oz in The Lost Queen of Oz (yet unpublished)
A Kidnapped Santa Claus: Reprint of the short story[of the same name](#A Kidnapped Santa Claus).
Division #1 and 2: Conclusion to issue #3's "[The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses](#The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses)": When the Wogglebug consults Dorothy about his missing glasses, she laughs and informs him they're on his head! Billina had noticed this from the beginning, but decided to play a joke on the pompous Wogglebug.
Continuity Notes
Retcon: The winning entry in [issue #54](#ECM 54)can be made to fit in between these two entries with the understanding that the Wogglebug didn't believe Dorothy when she told him where his glasses were.
Dorothy Goes to School: As the snow falls, Dorothy wishes she was playing rather than in a classroom in Professor Wogglebug's college, learning multiplication. Billina arrives to remind the professor that he's needed if the next issue of the _Emerald City Mirror_is going to be on time. Dorothy leaves, as well, to join Ozma and Trot in the Palace Gardens to build snow forts. After a fierce battle, Trot declares herself winner based on the amount of snowballs each had prior to and after the attack. Declaring herself Queen of the Gardens, they retire for hot chocolate, and later on Dorothy approaches her math homework with a better attitude.
Continuity Notes
School: Although Dorothy begins schooling with Professor Wogglebug as early as 1902, in _[Dorothy and the Magic Belt](#Dorothy and the Magic Belt)_and [Eureka in Oz](#Eureka in Oz).In this 1940 date, she is going back to school, though it seems likely that Dorothy may have simply decided to expand her education in certain areas.
Issue 5: (Main Storyline): The Shaggy Man explains how he's explored all over Oz and loves each of the quadrant countries for their own qualities. Magic and beauty abound throughout the land, and wherever he goes people smile and wave, yet he considers the Emerald City his home, and has two places to rest his head, a room in the South Wing of the Palace, and a spot in the Royal Gardens. He loves Oz because people love one another for who they are.
Jack Pumpkinhead and the Sawhorse of Oz: Reprint of the short story from [Little Wizard Stories of Oz](#Little Wizard Stories of Oz).
The Scarecrow: Excerpt from the book, [How the Wizard Came to Oz](#How the Wizard Came to Oz).
Issue 6: (Main Storyline): The Gump explains how a few hours ago, he startled Billina when she passed by the hallway where his head hangs on the wall. She calls him out on being a practical joker and explains that she got so irritated by the bickering of the Wizard and Wogglebug she resigned. Glad to be done with the bossy hen, however, they accepted her resignation and refused to let her resume her former Managing Editor position unless she found a very unusual author for the next issue. She hasn't thus far, but then realizes that the Gump would be the perfect candidate.
The Astonishing Flight of the Gump: Excerpt from the book, [The Marvelous Land of Oz](#The Marvelous Land of Oz).
Jack Pumpkinhead Stumps the Wizard of Oz: One rainy day, Jack tries to see if his pumpkins grow faster in the rain or sun. As he can't tell, he turns his attention to his alphabet tiles, which the Wizard used to try and teach Jack to read. Yet no matter how hard he tries, he can't make sense of it, so he takes the names of his friends that the Wizard had spelled out for him the last time and puts them in a different order. When the Wizard arrives, Jack shows him and the Wizard realizes that Jack's scrambled them by putting each letter in alphabetical order. Reprinted in issue #28.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Issue 4 notes that it's late December in the holiday season. Assuming that at this point each issue is published a month apart would bring issue #1 to September. This changes with subsequent issues, beginning with #7, which details an arc-driven story that takes place over the course of days. Despite the year in which these magazines were published in the U.S., the events may have occurred much earlier, and there are several pieces of evidence to indicate this.
2 nd Story-Arc: "The Invasion of the Invisible Nomes": Issues #7-1 3
(Additional stories belonging to this arc can be found in issues #15-17)
This deals with a new attempt from the Nomes to conquer Oz, and how they were repelled in various parts of Oz.
Issue 7 : (Main Storyline): Just as the Tin Woodman begins telling his story, the Nome King bursts in to announce that he's the new master of Oz and has taken over the Emerald City with the help of his army and a new magical trinket he discovered a few days earlier. Ozma has been sent in chains to the Gillikin Country and the Nome Army is attacking Glinda's Palace in the Quadling Country. The Nome King tells of his plans for the Wizard and all the Emerald City residents. Only Dorothy and Toto have escaped. From now on, the Emerald City Mirror will be called the Nome King's Gazette and will chronicle the hardships of Ozma and her people. Dorothy, meanwhile, sneaks into the current issue a special magical note indicating that she's discovered the magic secret to the Nome King's army and has told Glinda, who is preparing to defeat the Nomes.
Continuity Notes
Nome King: While the Nome King of this story is presumed to be Ruggedo, his name is never actually used in the main story. Other stories connected to this arc, however, utilize Ruggedo's name, specifically the shocking revelation in "[How I Spent My Winter Invasion](#ECM 17)," in issue 17. This helps date the story, particularly as we know that it's not Kaliko whose involved. Ruggedo was set free after the events of [The Raggedys in Oz](#The Raggedys in Oz)in 1941. He becomes a wanderer again in 1984 ([Cory in Oz](#Cory in Oz)).
How the Hammerheads Came to Oz: Angry at his tall neighbor Proz for mocking short people, Shoz goes to the Wizard of the Quadlings to ask for a magical weapon of revenge. The Wizard sends him to a hill and tells him he has his weapon but can never leave the hill. Shoz is soon joined by others like him and they call themselves Hammerheads.
Continuity Notes
Hammerhead Origin: Located inParallel Histories. This very short story is considered suspect and is at best a legend. The origin of the Hammerheads is either the same as many of the other unusual inhabitants of Oz, as described in[ _The Witch Queen of Oz_](#The Witch Queen of Oz)[,](#The Witch Queen of Oz)or a product of the Magic Egg, as depicted in [The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories). Lurline utilizes the Hammerheads for a unique purpose in [The Mysterious Chronicles of Oz](#The Mysterious Chronicles of Oz).
A Trip Down Memory Lane, or How the Woozy Came to Oz: When Dorothy and the Woozy take a stroll through the Great Blue Forest in the Munchkin Country, they come upon a sign that says "Memory Lane." Thinking it will help him learn about his past, they follow it and come to another sign that reads: "O. Recall" in front of a large house. Believing it misspells oracle, Dorothy knocks on the door. An old man lets them into a room filled with photographs and scrapbooks.
The Woozy inquires about his past and the Old Man tells him that Mombi needed three hairs from a Woozy's tail for one of her spells. Rather than travel to the Land of Wooz, far across the Deadly Desert, she commanded a local farmer to obtain it. When he refused she turned his wife into a bird, forcing the farmer to agree to her terms. Giving the farmer a ring with which he can return home with, and a powder with which to put the Woozy to sleep, Mombi uses her magic to transport him to Wooz.
Once there, the farmer finds himself in a grove of trees marked "Honey Bee Grove." As he marvels that the trees grow honey bees, a Woozy walks up behind him. Using Mombi's potion, the farmer puts him to sleep. The Woozy awakens in a cage to find Mombi putting a bird in a small cage next to another caged bird. Coming over to the Woozy she recites a chant: "Magic, do as you do, do as you do, Krizzle Kroo!" Nothing happens, but every day after that Mombi tries the incantation in different ways and using different powders. At last, the Woozy grows so angry, he shoots fire from his eyes and melts the bars of his cage. Not wanting her secret out, Mombi casts a forgetfulness spell on him just before he escapes and runs to the Munchkin Country.
Thanking the old man, Dorothy rides upon the Woozy, where she falls asleep on their back to the Emerald City.
Continuity Notes
Dating: The frame story can only be dated based on the fact that it's after [ The Patchwork Girl of Oz](#The Patchwork Girl of Oz), when the Woozy's living in the Royal Stables. As he doesn't seem to know any of his history, it likely takes place prior to "[The Woozy's Tale](#Oziana 1992)" (Oziana 1992), in which he remembers another part of his history. The Royal Timeline of Oz places it in 1907, a year after the Woozy's rescued by Ojo, Scraps and the Glass Cat. The flashback portion is harder to discern. It's definitely after the Woozy's been left in the Land of Wooz by his Madou creator ([A Refugee in Oz](#A Refugee in Oz)), but the dating of that is yet unknown. That Mombi casts a forgetful spell on the Woozy means that she's either practicing magic on the sly, or the spell itself was intended to be used on someone who she doesn't want knowing about it. The time period might be easier to date from after his escape from Mombi's clutches, which would be before he's snatched up by the Bootmaker for the Wicked Witch of the East, an event that occurs in 1892. How long he wandered in Oz before that time is unknown.
Woozy Origins: This short story presents another origin story for the Woozy. It's possible to weave the other three into a workable narrative. See "[The Woozy's Origins](Appendices.htm#Appendix V: The Woozys Origins)" in the Appendices. The oracle leaves out a lot of detail, potentially because he intuits that the Woozy isn't ready for it. A lot of the Woozy's history is traumatic, and marred by abandonment (by the Madou), loss (of the Bootmaker and his family), violence (by Munchkin farmers), and privation, hunger, imprisonment, harassment, and loneliness (in the pen in the Munchkin forest). Thus, it makes sense that the Woozy finds out his back-story piecemeal.
How Eureka Found Dorothy: Chapter 1 excerpt from the book [Eureka in Oz](#Eureka in Oz).
An Art Class in Oz: One windy day, Button-Bright comes sailing out of the sky with his Magic Umbrella, landing in front of Dorothy, whose on her way to her first art lesson. Button-Bright invites himself along and they go see Mr. Paynt Binumber, who instructs them to draw the place where they live. Button-Bright draws a street in Philadelphia. Dorothy tries to draw the Emerald City, but her pen keeps smudging, so she instead writes a description of what the Royal Palace looks like. The teacher inspects their work and determines that Button-Bright should go see Professor Wogglebug, who'll give him an exhibition, while Dorothy should go see Billina, who'll give her a job as Domestic Correspondent. After they leave, Dorothy asks Button-Bright to draw a picture of her old farm hose for Aunt Em. He says he will if she writes down exactly what it looked like.
Continuity Notes
Dating: This story takes place just prior to the first issue of the Emerald City Mirror, and is the catalyst for Dorothy becoming Domestic Correspondent.
Magic Umbrella: Button-Bright must have retrieved the Magic Umbrella from his Uncle Bob's home after he died. When this occurred is unknown.
Issue 8 : (Main Storyline): Glinda explains how Dorothy and Toto told her the band news of the Nome King's invasion. The pair had been in the hills west of the Emerald City when it happened. Toto urged Dorothy to climb a tree and although they heard the army pass by, they couldn't see them until they passed them by. In this way, they knew the half-invisible attackers were Nomes. Anxious to discover the secret to their invisibility, Dorothy and Toto followed. By nightfall, the Nomes had conquered the Emerald City and were no longer invisible. Dorothy listened to them brag about their special armor made from crystals harvested deep in the mines. So impatient had the Nome King been to conquer that he only put crystals on the front of the armor. When Dorothy discovers their plan to conquer Glinda next, she and Toto rushed off to the south.
Glinda takes them to the top of the tower to watch. Upon a signal from her gatekeeper, a band of Quadling women and men charge the invisible Nomes with staffs and eggs, overcoming them. The Nomes are marched into Glinda's cellar. Glinda then escorts her gatekeeper and his band of fighters, along with Dorothy and Toto to the Emerald City, where they begin to recapture the city. Before long, Ozma, the Wizard and everyone else are restored.
Continuity Notes
Dating and the Nome King: While the Nome King of this story is presumed to be Ruggedo, his name is never actually used in the main story. Other stories that are connected to this arc, however, utilize Ruggedo's name, specifically the shocking revelation in "[How I Spent My Winter Invasion](#ECM 17)," in issue 17. This helps date the story, particularly as we know that it's not Kaliko who led this invasion.
The Enchanted Types: Reprinted from [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales).
The Secret of Tik-Tok's Origins: A long time ago in the Land of Ev lived a cruel giant named Artemus, who demanded Mr. Smith and Tinker to make him a one-of-a-kind alarm clock. Thus, Tik-Tok came to be. Yet, in one of the giant's rages, he throws him out the window. Tik-Tok winds up at the doorstep of the King of Ev, who made Tik-Tok his personal servant. When Roquat discovers his existence, he covets him, claiming the copper he was made from came from his dominions. Foreseeing his theft, the King of Ev hid him in a secret room made of rock in the Wheeler Country. Eventually, with no one to wind him up, Tik-Tok ran down, which is how he remained until the day Dorothy finds him.
Continuity Notes
Discrepancy: This story is located in Parallel Histories. This story runs contrary to what Baum describes in [Ozma of Oz](#Ozma of Oz). In that book, when Tik-Tok first meets Dorothy, he tells her "I was purchased from Smith & Tinker, my manufacturers, by a cruel King of Ev, named Evoldo, who used to beat all his servants until they died." So, it's clear that Evoldo purchased him directly from Smith & Tinker. After the king sells his wife and children to the Nome King, he regrets it and tries to get them back. Failing this, he decides to commit suicide. Tik-Tok says, "in despair, he locked me up in this rock, threw the key into the ocean, and then jumped in after it and was drowned." While it's possible based on this account alone that Roquat coveted him, Evoldo's motivation for hiding Tik-Tok from him doesn't make sense. In other stories, Roquat shows no interest in the Clockwork Man. He makes no mention of Tik-Tok when he sees him in [Ozma of Oz](#Ozma of Oz). Had he wanted him so badly, he could have asked Ozma for him in exchange for the Royal Family. Similarly, the Wizard sends Tik-Tok to him in the Little Wizard Story "[Tik Tok and the Nome King](#Little Wizard Stories of Oz)," but once again he appears to have no real interest in him, save as something to take his anger out on.
Dorothy and Her Friends Visit the Dainty China Country: Excerpt from [The Wonderful Wizard of Oz](#The Wonderful Wizard of Oz) (Chapter 20)
Issue 9 : (Main Storyline): The Tin Woodman recounts how one fine day they were attacked by an army of invisible Nomes. The Tin Emperor were thrown into a brook and as he rusted he came to realize what happened. Later, the Nomes removed him to his castle, where they hung him upside down from a pole (used for May Day celebrations, and once owned by the Wicked Witch of the West who used it punish those who displeased her) in the courtyard. They threaten to melt him to mint their new coins.
Later, his steward arrives, explaining that the Nomes were in such a hurry to invade the Emerald City that they failed to secure the castle. Many of the citizens were able to escape. With only a garrison left, the Tin Woodman forms a plan, instructing the steward to arm the people with farming tools and wait for his signal.
The next day, the Tin Woodman causes a commotion that brings the remaining Nomes into the courtyard. At that, he gives the signal for the Winkies to attack. The battle is soon over and the Tin Emperor reclaims his dominion.
Continuity Notes
Additional tale: The story "[Polychrome Helps Recapture Oz](#ECM 15)," from issue #15, takes place in the midst of this story.
How the Wizard Came to Oz: Excerpt from the Donald Abbot book of the same name.
The Assembly of the Gump: Excerpt from [The Marvelous Land of Oz](#The Marvelous Land of Oz).
Issue 10 : (Main Storyline): The Wizard is made the Nome King's barrister, but the Nome proves a temperamental customer as only half the coffee is drank while the other half is thrown on the floor. Thanks to Glinda, his maddening job is ended and everything gets restored. Ozma asked him to prepare some special entertainment to celebrate their victory over the Nomes in two weeks. The day comes and the Wizard unleashes a spectacular fireworks display. The next day he decides to take a vacation from his duties and heads to the Munchkin Country. The Cowardly Lion decides to join him.
Several days later, they step off the Yellow Brick Road to bed down for the night, but the Lion suddenly disappears. As the Wizard follows, he too falls into the pit disguised by a woven net of grass and lands atop the Lion. In the dark, a voice announces they're prisoners of the Nomes. But the Cowardly Lion proves too much for the Nome, whom he captures. The Nome confesses they dug their way out of Glinda's cellar and were preparing to attack all the important strongholds from underground. They march him to a giant cavern where the Nomes are working and the Lion commands them to return to their homes. They begin to obey until the Nome King intervenes, but the Cowardly Lion leaps at him and the terrified Nome and his subjects flee with the Lion in pursuit until they promise never to return.
The Lion reports that the Nomes tunnel connects to some natural caverns that he'd like to explore. The Wizard agrees he can begin in the morning while he returns to the Emerald City to send in his report for the Emerald City Mirror.
The Christmas Stocking: Reprint of a very short Baum essay used as the introduction for "The Christmas Stocking Series," published by Reilly & Britton in 1905.
The Glass Dog: reprint of the [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales) story.
The History of the Wheeler Country: Long ago in the Land of Ev lived the Rollers, ruled by King Roll. On the day of his troublesome son's birthday, Champ decided to find a gift for himself in Mysterious Mountain, where treasures are rumored to abound. Champ searches the underground caverns, unaware they are ruled by the Nome King. Champ is captured and sentenced to work in the mines. The king and queen follow their son's tracks into the mountain, where they too are captured and made slaves. The rest of the Rollers grow anxious and then dispirited when their beloved Royal Family doesn't return, and in time becomes surly and fearful, changing their name to Wheelers and avoiding the mountain.
Continuity Notes
Dating: This story occurs some time after the Wheelers/Rollers were transformed into the present form they're in, an event that occurred when Lurline broke the Magic Egg over Ev in 1742, as shown in the story [The Immortal Longings of Oz](#The Immortal Longings of Oz) (forthcoming). This would take place some years later, as the Wheelers/Rollers have learned to accept their fate and become "happy and contented," which is some time prior to when Dorothy meets them, when they're "cold, mean and obnoxious." The further story of the Wheelers will be revealed in the forthcoming book The Immortal Longings of Oz.
Issue 11 : (Main Storyline): After exploring the tunnel for many miles and two days, the Cowardly Lion came upon a wide crack on the cave floor from which arose a red light. After another mile, the Lion arrives at a lit circular cavern with a smooth floor and odd smell. Four dragonettes greet him and discuss the taste of Nome and the nature of fear and hunger. Suddenly, the Sawhorse arrives to ensure the Lion's report for the Emerald City Mirror is on time. Having brought food, the Sawhorse divvies it out amongst the Lion and dragonettes, as they're pleased to discover they'll be in the coming issue.
Continuity Notes
Dragonettes: For a short history of the dragonettes, who first appeared in [Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz](#Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz), see the continuity notes under [Ruggedo in Oz](#Ruggedo in Oz).
Issue 12 : (Main Storyline): The Sawhorse reports that several hours after composing his report for the Emerald City Mirror, the Cowardly Lion departed for the city, leaving the Sawhorse to continue his guest to ensure all the Nomes left Oz. Reluctantly, the Sawhorse agrees and continues on for a time until coming to a light. Emerging too fast from the cave upon the steep side of a mountain, the Sawhorse tumbles down to the bottom. He soon finds himself surrounded by silent Wooden Gargoyles. The Sawhorse explains that he seeks safe passage across their country and notices that one of his ears had broken and fallen off. The leader of the Wooden Gargoyles favors the Sawhorse and picking him up, flies him to safety out of the Land of the Gargoyles, which is filled with wooden houses, wooden flowers, and wooden birds, to Pyramid Mountain where lives the Braided Man.
The Braided Man, a frequent visitor to the Emerald City greets him and tells him that several passing Nomes told him what recently happened. He repairs his ear and transcribes the Sawhorse's adventures for the Emerald City Mirror, which he sends off with one of his flutters.
Continuity Notes For a short history of the Wooden Gargoyles, which first appeared in [Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz](#Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz), see the continuity notes under [Ruggedo in Oz](#Ruggedo in Oz).
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Nine entries in total, here combined into a single synopsis: Dorothy meets and assists Drippy Dragon, whose rainbow flame went out; the Muggymud, a mudpuddle whose watery knee tickles; an umbrella named Skip-to-my-Lou, whose top got stuck, preventing him from keeping people dry; a porcelain doll named Cindy, whose porcelain cat is chipped; a bear named Sam, who lost his magic necklace, a flathead named Halfhead III, whose head wobbles, Prince Peach of Pinkturk, who needs to find a blue lion before he can return home; a white unicorn named Uriana, whose horn tangled; and an Ork, whose searching for the Princess of Orkland's crown.
Dorothy brings out what she believes is the Wizard's searching telescope, but proves to be the trick telescope instead. She explains that she's looking for Button-Bright. The Ork remembers the boy, having traveled with him before (in [The Scarecrow of Oz](#The Scarecrow of Oz)), and Dorothy suggests they travel together. While traveling the Munchkin Country, they come upon a sign that reads "Button and Bright Lost and Found." The path leads to a small building run by a small Munchkin. He invites them into a circular room with hundreds of odds and ends, including Button-Bright. When the Ork asks about the crown, Button-Bright produces it. Thanking the proprietor they return to the Emerald City, where Ozma throws them a party, inviting Kabumpo, Captain Salt and others.
Continuity Notes
Additional Queer Meetings: Four additional short stories in this vein were published in[issue #39](#ECM 39),and another three in [issue #66](#ECM 66).
Dating: It's impossible to get a sense of when these encounters occur, if they're occurring in succession, or if they happen over multiple periods of time. There's very little plot involved in them, other than Dorothy generally helping some odd being that she meets along the titular road. The Royal Timeline of Oz lists them in Unknown Placement on the [Timeline](Oz%20Timeline.htm#Unknown Placement).
Odd Inhabitants: Dorothy must be having a particularly strange day, and if coupled with her other encounter in "Fleur Verger" ([Emerald City Mirror #14](#ECM 14)), that's a lot unusual beings along the Road of Yellow Brick. It's not known which country she's traveling through, although the oddness of the inhabitants leads one to suspect the Quadling Country, which according to [Rosine and the Laughing Dragon of Oz](#The Laughing Dragon of Oz), have more than their share of unique and interesting inhabitants.
How Dorothy Visited Utensia: An excerpt from [The Emerald City of Oz](#The Emerald City of Oz)
Dorothy Discovers Tik-Tok: An excerpt from [Ozma of Oz](#Ozma of Oz).
The Strange Adventure of the King's Head: An excerpt from [The Magical Monarch of Mo](#The Magical Monarch of Mo) (chapter 2)
The Invisible Nomes in Oz: Summary of issue #8. The title for this arc comes from this story title.
Issue 13: (Main Storyline): The Braided Man explains that although the Wooden Gargoyles don't have a spoken language, they communicate through a complex series of gestures. Thus, he know they were approaching, Nine arrive, each carrying a Nome. Thanking the Gargoyles, he questions the Nomes who confess of their failed invasion, capture by Glinda, and escape into the tunnels, where they were attacked by dragonettes. Agreeing to put them to work the next day, he tosses them in his cellar and goes to sleep.
The next afternoon, he discovers a hole in the cellar wall and the Nomes circling around, fighting off the invisible rustles which were in a crate they accidentally knocked over. At the Braided Man's cry, they flee through the hole and vanish. The Sawhorse then visits, giving him an idea to produce galloping hoofbeats for military chargers.
Continuity Notes
Given the events of "[How I Spent My Winter Invasion](#ECM 17)," in issue #17, it's clear that Ozma uses the Magic Belt to summon Ruggedo to her throne room.
The Magic Bon Bons: Reprint of the short story from [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales).
The Invisible Nomes in Oz: Having failed to defeat the Winkies and Quadlings, the remaining Nomes turn their attention to the Scarecrow, but the Straw Man is forearmed with a box of eggs, a near-invisible net, and the help of friends. When the Nomes arrive, Dorothy and the Palace Keeper Stufs cut the net releasing bushels of gluey straw, which stick to the invisible Nomes. Then they roll the eggs down the steps, causing the Nomes to flee in terror. The next day, Ozma holds a banquet celebrating their victory.
Dorothy and Her Friends Escape the Kalidah: Excerpt from Chapter 7 of [The Wonderful Wizard of Oz](#The Wonderful Wizard of Oz).
3 d Story-Arc: "Mysterious Interference on the Empyrean Plane": issues #14-19
This deals with the Good Witch of the North's attempt to save her sister Glinda from entrapment in a strange magical realm.
Issue 14: (Main Storyline): Ozma describes how she set about making arrangements to celebrate their victory over the Nomes, including having the Wizard magically create a flock of doves to send out invitations across Oz, making preparations for dinner, and teaching Dorothy the waltz and minuet. Only Glinda fails to respond.
At the party, everything turns out perfect, though Dorothy is puzzled that Glinda is unable to attend. After the feast, an orchestra plays music while the Wizard magically conjures up coffee for everyone. The Captain of the Quadling Crusaders dances with Ozma and reveals to her that Glinda went into her magical workshop and hasn't been seen since. This was a week ago. After the party ends, Ozma and Dorothy go to the Magic Picture, but it's unable to show them Glinda.
The next day, they take the Sawhorse to Glinda's Palace. Unable to enter her workshop, they read the Great Book of Records, which reveals that while seeking a spell to prevent further invasions of Oz, Glinda encountered "Mysterious Interference on the Empyrean Plane," which caused her to fall into an enchanted sleep from which she cannot awaken until the interference is cleared. If she's not wakened in one year's time, she will never awaken again! Returning to the Emerald City, Ozma and Dorothy begin searching for a cure.
Continuity Notes
Dating: This party, according to issue #8, takes place two weeks after the failed invasion, and is not the same as the banquet Ozma held the day after (as depicted in issue #13's "The Invisible Nomes in Oz")
Attack of the Nomes: While the Guardian of the Gates and Soldier with the Green Whiskers are conversing, the army of invisible Nomes attacks, ties them up, and puts them in the Royal Kitchens, where Scraps, Billina and the Wogglebug come up with a plan. Causing a commotion, a Nome guard enters. The Professor hits him over the head from behind. Escaping their prison, they join with Glinda's army which has just arrived to free the Emerald City.
Papervania: A very short description of a community called Papervania, where paper goods are made.
Fleur Verger: On their way to the Emerald City, Toto veers off the Yellow Brick Road to chase a red flower that runs and enters the door of a fifty-foot tree. Dorothy and he follow it in and discover a giant garden with every kind of flower imaginable. Suddenly, a tiny man appears speaking French. Dorothy introduces herself and the small man says he is King Giles, ruler of Fleur Verger (Flower Orchard). He explains that their people often go about in flower costumes. Dorothy is introduced to his wife Queen Fleur, and daughter Princess LaRoux, who give them a tour. Later, Dorothy and Toto resume their trip back home, where they tell Ozma of the unusual country living inside a tree.
Continuity Notes
Language: It's unusual for an inhabitant of Oz to speak any language other than Oz, but that doesn't make it impossible. It may simply mean that King Giles and his family have chosen to continue speaking in French, which is likely the land from which they (or their ancestors) originally hailed.
The Land of the Unicorns: One beautiful morning, Ozma decides to play hooky and go on a trip with Dorothy and Toto to visit Glinda upon the Sawhorse-driven Red Wagon. When they suddenly stop, the Sawhorse announces that a wagon wheel got broken by a rock. Walking to a nearby farmhouse for help, they go exploring while the farmer makes repairs. Not realizing how far they've walked they find themselves in a mist. Passing out of it, they find themselves surrounded by unicorns. A purple one transforms into a girl and announces that she is Queen Una, ruler of the land. Ozma introduces herself and Dorothy, but Una has never heard of Oz. Fortunately, Polychrome arrives and confirms what Ozma has told her. Conceding, she gives the girls a tour of her domain. Una acknowledges that she is a fairy who chose to stay after passing over the land, and rule the unicorns as one of them.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Dorothy says "I didn't think there were any real unicorns," so this story must take place prior to [Merry Go Round in Oz](#Merry Go Round in Oz), [Ojo in Oz](#Ojo in Oz), and [The Magic of Oz](#The Magic of Oz), in which unicorns appear.
Una and Unicorns: Why Queen Una doesn't know the land is named Oz is unknown, particularly as she's a fairy who knows Polychrome. You'd think the latter would have informed her at the very least. Another unanswered question is why aren't these unicorns living with Roganda ([Ojo in Oz](#Ojo in Oz)), whose a real unicorn queen? Una says the unicorns asked her to stay and rule over them, which is why she took the form of a fairy. One answer to both these questions might be that this band of unicorns got lost, perhaps migrating on their way to Roganda, and only encountered Una relatively recently. Una herself is not an Ozian fairy, but one who likely resides in either the Land of An or Burzee. If she's lived an insular life, she may not know the names of all the magical countries around. Polychrome may very well have been visiting Una to inform her and the unicorns where exactly Roganda is residing.
Billina Asks the Wogglebug: Excerpt from [The Nome King's Shadow in Oz](#The Nome King�s Shadow in Oz).
Issue 15: (Main Storyline): Button-Bright reports in on the "Quest to Save Glinda from her Magical Slumber." With the various search parties assembled, including his own with Trot and Cap'n Bill, Ozma, the Wizard, and the Wogglebug each make speeches, and the crowds cheer as they all depart out of the Emerald City.
Trot and Cap'n Bill suggest they head south to the Quadling Country to investigate the cause of the problem where it occurred, but Button-Bright suggests that since the problem is magical in nature, they should instead go north to the Gillikin Country to see if the Good Witch of the North could help them. Considering it a good idea, they make their way to the Mountain Retreat of the Good Witch of the North.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Takes place immediately after the previous story-arc. This follows through with each story-arc, indicating that the main storyline of the Emerald City Mirrors forms a single running narrative up to the sixth and seventh story-arcs, which are independent of the previous ones.
Polychrome Helps Recapture Oz: When Polychrome drops down in the Winkie Country, she's caught by Ruggedo and his army of invisible nomes. Later, after capturing the Tin Woodman's Castle, they imprison Poly in the wine cellar. Some time later, the steward appears and releases her, allowing her to join in the fight to retake the castle. After their victory, Poly's father the Rainbow appears and she departs to rejoin her sisters once again.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Takes place during the previous story-arch, filling in some gaps in the narrative.
The Capture of Father Time: Reprint of the short story from [American Fairy Tales](Summaries%20and%20Continuity%20Notes.htm#American Fairy Tales).
Issue 16: (Main Storyline): Having arrived at the Mountain Retreat of the Good Witch of the North, Trot explains the circumstances that led them to the Gillikin Country, which she describes as the "wildest, least explored region of Oz," with "an air of mystical mystery" due to the many mountains which make traveling so challenging.
One morning, Cap'n Bill awoke with an ache in his peg leg due to the misty morning dew. Continuing north, they pass through several villages, but as the people in the north are more isolated and wary, few Gillikins greet or come out to see them. Button-Bright wonders what the Good Witch of the North is like, and Trot has never met her.
Between two mountains, they find the vast stone-wood castle of the Good Witch of the North. Button-Bright finds it imposing, but Cap'n Bill assures him that she's Glinda's sister and loyal. The steward invites them into the throne room where the Good Witch sits on an amethyst carved throne. She greets them and says she knows what's going on with her sister. She's studied the magic and realms of the Empyrean Plane, whereas Glinda's area of expertise has been the Terrestrial Plane. She invites them to stay and assist her, and a week later Trot writes this report for the Emerald City Mirror.
Continuity Notes
Good Witch of the North: The text says the Good Witch of the North has not been seen for "many, many years," and she tells them that she isolated herself in order to study esoteric magic (which is correctly stated as being illegal to practice, save for those who have Ozma's approval). The identity of the Good Witch of the North is unknown, and may possibly be Locasta returning to the role. The text notes that it's Glinda's sister. If The Emerald City Mirrors are placed early in the 1940s (see the continuity notes for [issue #7](#ECM 7)), Fabia's not a good candidate for this role, even if she had been old enough, in large part because she hadn't completed her magical studies, whereas this woman was very knowledgeable and had isolated herself for her to study esoteric magic. If the story is placed later, it would more likely be Belinda ([The Enchanted Gnome of Oz](#The Enchanted Gnome of Oz)). Of course, it could be assumed that sister is meant in the sense of sisterhood of witches, and not in a familial sense, in which case, Locasta might be a candidate for this role, even though she'd retired.
A Special Dispatch from Queen Ann of Oogaboo: Queen Ann explains that while the majority of Nomes headed to the Tin Woodman's castle and Emerald City, a group was diverted under the Executioner Pang to conquer Oogaboo and punish them for the time the Royal Army of Oogaboo invaded their kingdom.
That night, while camping out in a tent, Jo Fountainpen, Jo Musket, Jo Dragon, and the young orange dragon Moretomore awoke to the sound of the nomes marching. Though rendered invisible from the front, they could be seen from behind, and the young people overhear their plans to conquer their home. Taking a shortcut through a clock orchard, they rush over to the home of Jo Files and Ozga. The couple listen, but are concerned since there's no longer a Royal Army and no way to defend themselves against the invasion. Moretomore, however, remembers how he hatched from one of the eggs Quox had brought to defeat Ruggedo long ago. Jo Dragon, whose father is Jo Egg, tells them his father has an abundance of ripe eggs. Jo Files sends them to gather the eggs and arm the neighbors. He sends Ozga to awaken Queen Ann and everyone else on the way. Jo Fountainpen is sent to get Jodie Buttons, and together change the town signs to confuse the nomes. Files goes with Jo Musket to obtain some muskets and follow the nome army.
When Jo Dragon gets to his father's house, he discovers that most of the eggs are missing. Gathering what they can, they head to Queen Ann's castle, where they're preparing for battle, and hand out the 48 eggs they'd obtained. By dawn, Pang grows suspicious that they're being misled and orders his nomes to fan out. By daylight, they find the castle and march towards it. Queen Ann spots the shadows of the encroaching nomes, but to her surprise they begin screaming and running away. As she learns, during the recent egg harvest (which occurs every Spring), the eggs ripen and turn colors on the trees, after which the Oogabunnies gather and distribute them around the castle so the children can go in search of them. The nomes had stepped on these very eggs and fled in terror.
Continuity Notes
Oogaboo: The young heroes of Oogaboo all come from the book [Queen Ann in Oz](#Queen Ann in Oz) and the short story [Jodie in Oz](#Jodie in Oz). The egg harvest is clearly reminiscent of Easter egg hunts, though whether this tradition is one that came from the outside world, was ancient in Oz, or came from the Easter Bunny, is unknown. The latter character is attested to in both_[Merry Go Round in Oz](#Merry Go Round in Oz)_ and [Red Reera the Yookoohoo and the Enchanted Easter Eggs of Oz](#Red Reera the Yookoohoo and the Enchanted Easter Eggs of Oz), so this is a possibility. This is the first mention, however, of the existence of Oogabunnies.
Trick-or-Treat in Oz: The Tin Woodman's in for a surprise when he stumbles upon two nomes in the Royal Kitchens baking straw! His fears are put to rest when he discovers they're Button-Bright and Ojo dressed up for Halloween!
Dorothy and the Great Mystery: When Dorothy comes across an interesting entry in the Great Book of Records that says a "great and unusual place is opening in Oz," she and the Scarecrow head to the Winkie Country, where they get lost in the Great Yellow Swamp. Soon, a spotted, glowing dog greets them and leads them to a cottage, where they meet a tall alligator standing upright and smoking a pipe. He tells them he's an Investi-Gator who moved out of the swamp for privacy. His name is Baskerville T. Holmes, one of the Quadling Baskerville Holmeses. The hound is named Drabble. He had been renowned in his village, where stories of his exploits were written down, such as Little Holmes on the Prairies.
Dorothy tells him about what they read in the Glinda's Book, and he acknowledges that he hasn't seen his other dogs, Dabble, Babble, or Nabble; Drabble explains that they set out days ago for a boneyard they'd heard rumor of. So, the party head out to uncover this mystery. They soon come to a brightly-lit place called Giriffic Park. A million-airdale at the gate named Thirsty Towel the Third explains that this park is his dream come true, a place filled with giraffe bones for dogs! Dorothy is aghast, as she sees live giraffes in the park, but Thirsty explains that he's going to wait for them to die naturally before taking their bones, and until then will recoup his money from the sale of merchandise. Asked how long he's lived in Oz, he says it's been seven years. The Scarecrow then informs him that money was outlawed by Ozma years ago, and besides which, no one ever dies in Oz, nor would Ozma permit him to harm the giraffes! Thirsty is upset that he'd thrown away a fortune, scammed by Ruggedo!
Some days later, after Dorothy and the Scarecrow convince the angry dogs who'd been promised bones to go home, the park reopens as a giraffe attraction with rides and amusements. The 1001 spotted giraffes decide to stay in this wondrous land. Ozma praises Dorothy for the good job she did. After punishing Ruggedo by making him the park janitor, Ozma says she thinks they'll have peace for awhile. Baskerville proposes to write his next book about the disappearance and call it The Hounds of Baskerville, though Thirsty proposes it be named The Case of the Spotted Giraffe.
Continuity Notes
Dating: The only clue to when this story takes place is the fact that Ruggedo is wandering in exile from the Nome Kingdom. This occurred from 1984 to 1991, and given the seven year span, and the seven years in which Thirsty is living in Oz, it appears this story takes place in 1991, and Thirsty was deceived by Ruggedo in 1984.
Investi-Gator: The alligator named Baskerville T. Holmes, one of the Quadling Baskerville Holmeses, is clearly based on the Sherlock Holmes character, and his family likely derived their surname from either the stories they'd read, or from the actual person himself, who came to live in Oz in 1937.
How the Wogglebug Went to New York: When the Wogglebug gets an invitation to present a paper on pedagogy at the Pedagogic Theory Conference, he gets permission from Ozma, who transports him to the hotel where the conference is taking place. A young doorman greets him and shows him in. After listening to several lectures, the Wogglebug is summoned to the Committee desk, where he's informed that the Academic Excellence Ombudsman researched his degree and discovered that T.E. is not an accredited advance degree, and thus they won't be requiring his services at the conference.
Before the Wogglebug can even respond, the young doorsman invites him instead to see an ice hockey game being played by the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Professor agrees and they go on to have an enjoyable evening, sharing stories of Brooklyn and the Emerald City, while drinking root beer. The next day, the Wogglebug makes a signal and Ozma brings him back to Oz to recount his adventures.
Continuity Notes
Appearances: Although not stated in the story, given that there wasn't a panic or even mild curiosity at the Wogglebug's appareance, it seems very likely that Ozma cast an enchantment over the Wogglebug so that whomever sees him sees an ordinary man, and not a giant insect. It's explicitly said that he disguises his appearance in [Lurline and the White Ravens of Oz](#Lurline and the White Ravens of Oz %28a myth%29).
Dating: Although this is apparently the Wogglebug's second visit to the Outside World, the first being in the [Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz](#Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz) strips, the Wogglebug begins to make more frequent trips to libraries in the outside world. In [Lurline and the White Ravens of Oz](#Lurline and the White Ravens of Oz %28a myth%29), which takes place in 1989, it notes that he's even been assisted over the years by Glinda, the Wizard, the Red Jinn, and Dorothy. This means that this story must take place considerably earlier. The New York Rangers, who the Wogglebug goes to see at Madison Square Garden, have been around since 1926, giving us the earliest date possible. The Royal Timeline of Oz places this in Spring 1940, a year after the Wizard made his trip to New York, in[_The Wizard in New York_](#The Wizard in New York), but after he complained of not having taken a vacation in a long time in [The Runaway in Oz](#The Runaway in Oz). One can assume that the Wizard's trip inspired him.
Issue 17: (Main Storyline): Although reluctant to write, Cap'n Bill tells about his role in helping the Good Witch of the North rescue Glinda from the Empyrean Plane, which resulted in her falling into an enchanted sleep. The Good Witch prepares a spell that will become a doorway to that plane, and there she'll need Cap'n Bill to accompany her. As he's worried more about his report, she gives him a magic quill which will enable him to put his thoughts on paper.
The next morning, the Good Witch warns him that he must never let go of her hand, or risk getting lost. But at times they may not feel their hands at all! The door to the Empyrean Plane appears as a blossoming flower of flame. A feeling of peace comes over him as they enter the prismatic, hypnotic, exotically-scented realm. The Good Witch leads him to the find the Hall of Mirrors. Past gigantic mountains made of fire and an ocean of blue-green flame, Cap'n Bill discovers to his dismay that the Good Witch is no longer at his side. Then a giant wave crashes down upon him!
Trot and Button-Bright come upon the words that Cap'n Bill had been writing with the magic pen and fear that he and the Good Witch are now lost as well!
How I Spent My Winter Invasion: Eureka reports that while searching for a place to nap, she wandered into an eastern part of the palace she'd never seen before, and it didn't seem as if anyone else had for a long time. Passing through a small door and up a flight of stairs, she began to climb higher and higher until coming to another door that she finds blocked. Calling out, she's met by the voice of someone who says he can't get out, and has been trying for years! Telling him to stand back, Eureka pushes from her end, opening the door. Standing on the other side is someone who looks just like the former Nome King!
Eurkea marches the dazed nome down the stairs and into the throne room, where Ozma is confronting what appears to be the very same nome, Ruggedo! When Ruggedo spots the nome Eureka released, he exclaims: "Roquat! My beloved brother!"
Eureka explains what happened, and Ozma adds that she'd closed that wing due to the "insidious handles" that the doors had, and asks Roquat to tell his tale. Roquat says that after their invasion of the Emerald City (in [The Emerald City of Oz](#The Emerald City of Oz)), Ozma sent him back in the tunnel from which his armies had all arrived, but he instead came out to find Ozma, and got lost in the palace and stuck behind a locked door! Ruggedo, his brother, meanwhile, had earlier tunneled by accident into the Outside World shortly after Ozma freed the Royal Family from Roquat. Before he could return, he was dug out by machinery and "rescued" by those who found him. When he finally escaped them and returned to the Nome Kingdom, the nomes were in confusion, with all of them believing him to be their lost king, Roquat. Kaliko, who hadn't gone on the invasion, brought him up to speed. Since he was next in line for the throne, Ruggedo let the nomes go on believing he was Roquat, though he forced them call him by his real name Ruggedo. Assuming Roquat had been taken prisoner, he came to want revenge for him, as well as for the things he'd lost (like the Magic Belt).
Eureka receives a medal of honor, while Ruggedo is put under "palace arrest." Ozma attempts to teach Roquat how to behave "in the hopes of sending both back to the Nome Kingdom."
Continuity Notes
Dating: This story takes place at the end of the most recent Nome Invasion in issue #13. After the Nomes escape the Braided Man's prison, Ozma summons Ruggedo before her.
Roquat/Ruggedo: This story adds a very significant piece of information to the Ozian mythos, namely that Roquat and Ruggedo are two separate individuals and brothers! It harmonizes with Ruggedo's behavior in "Evrob and the Nomes" (Oziana 2004) and may help to explain all the many adventures the former Nome King (s) have had until they reformed, particularly in the conflicting accounts of their reform in [Dr. Angelina Bean in Oz](#Dr. Angelina Bean in Oz) and[Ruggedo in Oz](#Ruggedo in Oz)[,](#Ruggedo in Oz)though which former Nome King appears in which stories remains under investigation. By issues #49-55, Ruggedo is said to be back to being a cactus (as is Wutz), a form he's been in and out of since [Handy Mandy in Oz](#Handy Mandy in Oz).
The U.S.S. Enterprise Meets Oz: Located in Parallel Histories: Q leads Captain Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise into a wormhole to the Land of Oz. Worf is turned into the appearance of the Cowardly Lion, Data into the Tin Woodman, Counselor Troi into Dorothy, and Picard into the Scarecrow. They encounter kalidahs and rivers before reaching the Emerald City, where Ozma recognizes that they look like some of her friends, and restores them to their normal selves. Q complains and threatens, but Ozma sends him away with the Magic Belt, which she also uses to send the others back to their ship. The Captain determines to keep a record of the location of Oz so that they might one day return.
Continuity Notes
Star Trek crossover: For numerous reasons, Star Trek cannot be part of the Oz universe. This story is the second known crossover; the first is in DC's Star Trek #39 and 40, although in those issues, the Land of Oz is nothing more than a mental construct.
Issue #18 (Main Storyline): The Good Witch of the North tells about her study and and preparation of the door to enter the Empyrean Plane, as well as what the Four Planes consist of. The Terrestrial Plane, where the Mortal Lands and Fairy Realm are located, corresponds with Earth. The Aquatic Plane, a transformational, metamorphic Plane, corresponds with water. The Spiritual Plane, the most mystical and dangerous, corresponds with air, and the Empyrean Plane, the fourth and highest Plane, corresponds with fire.
To create an Inter-Plane Gate, one needs to burn exotic and magical materials from the other three planes, which through an intensely vigorous process, results in a beautiful lotus-like Gate, which smells like pomegranate, cinnamon, caramel corn, peaches and summer rain.
Having traveled there many times before, the Good Witch of the North explains the dangers of the travel through that realm to Cap'n Bill and takes his hand. Entering the gate, they come across the frozen fire, arriving at the Mountains of Spun Fire, in search of the Hall of Mirrors, the Good Witch suddenly discovers that Bill is gone! At the mountain's highest peak, she locates the Hall of Mirrors and climbs to its multicolored arches and spires. Entering the dark and empty Hall, she passes by without looking at the mirrors for fear of forgetting which is her and which a reflection. She locates the various Empyrean Beings in the assembly room for the Council of the Empyrean. They appear as glowing, multicolored triangular beings, and as they change color and fill the room with sound and motion, they converse with multiple people at the same time.
At last they notice the visitor from the Terrestrial Plane, and the Good Witch explains that she's there to free her sister whose been trapped by a Mysterious Interference, as well as her traveling companion, who vanished. Deferring to her limitations, they speak one at a time and bring Cap'n Bill before them, along with a being resembling a floating whale. Bill refers to the whale as his friend Zith'errin, and exclaims about how magnificent the Enchanted Sea is.
As regards Glinda, however, she's been imprisoned or violating their fundamental laws. She'd arrived there hoping to find power to help her protect a portion of the Terrestrial Plane from magic native to that realm. But it's prohibited to use magic from the Empyrean Plane to influence the other three Planes. As Glinda was on their Plane, she was subject to their laws, the penalty of which is permanent imprisonment. Cap'n Bill argues that she couldn't have known the law, but the Empyrean Being explains that ignorance is not an excuse, and nothing that the Good Witch or he say can sway the assembly.
Continuity Notes
Cap'n Bill's Untold Adventures: While lost from the Good Witch of the North, Cap'n Bill has an untold adventure with a floating whale named Zith'errin in a "magnificent" Enchanted Sea.
Four Planes: This is the first time that a systematic cosmology is noted in Oz, with the Mortal Lands and Fairy Realms corresponding to the Terrestrial Plane, an Aquatic Plane, which is transformational and metamorphic, a dangerous Spiritual Plane that corresponds to air, and the Empyrean Plane, higher than the others, which corresponds to fire. The Empyrean Beings are spirit beings that assemble in a kind of divine council, and one of their laws prohibits the magic from their realm to influence the other three realms. Although not explicitly stated, the Spiritual Plane, as akin to air, appears to be dangerous (and mystical) possibly due to the influence of evil spirits that roam there.
The Wizard of Ohz: Dorothy follows the Cobblestone Trail to the Sapphire Sityafter taking the Slippy Slippers. Located inPatchwork Parodies & Poems.
The Scarecrow Visits Westport, Massachusetts: Recalling how Dorothy said he could scare crows in the U.S., the Scarecrow petitions Ozma to send him to a small seaside farm town for a day. Ozma grants him this and uses the Magic Belt to send him to Westport, Massachusettes.
Passing a cornfield in her bike, young Andrea sees something move and crashes into a tree. Seeking first-aid from a neighbor, she's approached by the Scarecrow. Startled at first, she recognizes him as the Scarecrow of Oz. Upon learning his purpose there, she leads him to the cornfields, where they run and he proceeds to scare many crows. Happy that he's been able to live up to his name, the Scarecrow goes with Andrea as she gives him a tour of the town, but at six o'clock he suddenly vanishes.
Feeling glum the next day, Andrea browses an antique shop, where she finds a wood carving of a scarecrow and a girl running through a cornfield. The proprietor gives it to her, and she feels better knowing she wasn't forgotten.
Continuity Notes
Dating: The Scarecrow's time in Massachusetts is not explicitly dated, but several factors point are worth considering. He's never scared crows before this time, and has Dorothy's words to him that he'd be successful at scaring crows from the U.S. is something he remembers from "long ago." Andrea recognizes him from the book, specifically from [The Wonderful Wizard of Oz](#The Wonderful Wizard of Oz), where the Scarecrow's mismatched eyes are first noted. As Andrea is also the author (whose 12 years old at the time of the story's composition), it arguably ought to take place a few years prior to this story. Now, assuming that the two Andreas are one and the same (and this is reasonable as she writes her portions in the first person), the Scarecrow scared crows at the beginning of The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3 in 1983, but that's only because the Wizard Zim gave him a scary face. So, perhaps that doesn't count in the Scarecrow's mind, since it wasn't really him but a false face that did it.
How Button-Bright Went to Cape Coral: While playing in a grove of trees near their home in the town of Cape Coral, Florida, Jenny and Joey Winters stumble upon Button-Bright. When he introduces himself, they recognize his name from the Oz books. He explains that he was exploring the Gillikin Country when he got lost and came upon a chest of jewels and a ring, which transported him to their town.
They speak with him for some time, after which they introduce him to their mother who takes them all to an indoor mall (the first time Button-Bright has seen one), and even treat him to ice-cream. They then go swimming at the beach. Later that night, back at the grove, Button-Bright suddenly disappears; a note appears from him appears, explaining that he was whisked back to Oz by means of the Magic Belt, but had a fun day and hopes to see them again someday in the Emerald City.
Continuity Notes:
Dating: Takes place on a Saturday in the summer. Though it does have shopping centers, Cape Coral does not have any indoor shopping malls, the nearest which Mrs. Winters would have driven them to would have been the ones in Fort Myers or Punta Gorda, which were built in the '80s and '90s. Given that this issue comes from 1994, it seems likely to take place around the same time the Scarecrow visited Westport (see the story above) in 1991.
Button-Bright: The fact that Button-Bright got lost post-Yookoohoo (cf. [The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories)) is not an issue. He was exploring the Gillikin Country, an activity that could have gotten anyone lost. His discovery of a magic ring is what brings him to Florida, but what the ring's powers are (besides seemingly random transportation) or who the treasure belonged to remain mysteries.
Issue #19 (Main Storyline): Ozma explains to Jack Pumpkinhead, whose writing the current issue of the Emerald City Mirror, that in her attempt to protect Oz from future invasions of nomes, Glinda sought to weave extraordinary spells into the fundamental enchantments that make Oz a fairyland. As this failed, she is now in an enchanted sleep. Ozma sends Jack to look after her, accompanied by the Sawhorse who can fetch a new head if Jack's spoils.
The next day, they arrive and are greeted by the Captain of the Quadling Crusaders who brings Jack in to see Glinda. He's surprised to see her so pallid-looking, and determines to make her physical body as comfortable as possible. To that end, he asks the Captain to bring in young mothers, and for the next few weeks they take turns singing lullabies to Glinda.
One day, while retrieving a new head for Jack, the Sawhorse brings the bad news that the Good Witch of the North and Cap'n Bill were unable to rescue Glinda. She will remain asleep forever. Even worse, the current singer tells them of a rumor that she'd heard. The magical aid that Glinda weaved to protect Oz from future nome incursions is unravelling, taking the magic of Oz with it! She fears that soon everyone will grow old and die. Jack argues that they must not give up hope. Nevertheless, Jack carves his new head in a frown of worry.
Over the next few days, Jack feels the magic of Oz fading as his joints begin to creak and stiffen, and the Sawhorse has difficulty walking. Even the humans start complaining of aches and pains. Jack's pumpkin begins to spoil, but this time the Sawhorse doesn't return.
Four days later, while tending to Glinda, a rose colored light begins to flicker above her head and Jack fears the worst. A smell of pomegranates, cinnamon, caramel corn, peaches and summer rain permeate the room and the light blossoms into a flower. A triangular shape appears through the gate. The being tells Jack not to fear. Jack says he's not afraid to die. The being laughs and introduces herself as the Queen of the Empyrean Night. She comes with a gift: the life of Glinda. Jack asks what changed their minds, and she explains that the Council of the Empyrean made an exception in Glinda's case because of her devotion to Oz and it to her. "Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds and Oz is a shimmering jewel in the Terrestrial Plane." Jack's devotion also played a role in their decision.
The queen vanishes and Glinda awakens, thanking him for his care and for the sweet songs which helped her come back. The Sawhorse also arrives, no longer paralyzed. The magic of Oz restored, Oz returns to the happy place it had formerly been.
Continuity Notes
Forbidden Magic: Glinda's attempt to weave a spell to prevent future nome incursions did not only fail, but the spell she cast began to unravel all the magic in Oz. It's uncertain how this happened, save that the spell Glinda used was a forbidden one from the Empyrean Plane, which appears to have had consequences she didn't foresee. With the Glinda's awakening, it appears that the Queen of the Empyrean Night, along with the other entities that govern that realm, fixed the problem. It's interesting too that they consider Oz a "shimmering jewel in the Terrestrial Plane," indicative of their benign sympathy towards the Terrestrial Plane, as well as a moral standard that while acknowledging the importance of laws, recognizes that those who keep consistently maintain rules for their own sake are small minded.
Button-Bright in the Land of Lost Socks: Heading to Seebania to visit Ojo in Shamsbad, Button-Bright gets himself lost in the dense trees of one of the Munchkin Country's blue forests. Although a farmer had warned him to avoid the wild forest between him and Seebania due to its beasts and peoples, Button-Bright decided he'd rather not lose a day's travel. Following a brook and getting tired and hot, he removes his shoes and socks and wades into the stream. Suddenly, his socks start crawling away!
Chasing after them, Button-Bright winds up in a rocky basin where a voice with a Scots brogue instructs him to leave the socks alone. The voice belongs to Colonel Campbell, the leader of a group of argyle socks, who tell him his socks no longer belong to him now that he's in the Land of the Lost Socks. Button-Bright argues that he didn't lose them; they ran away; so the Colonel takes him to the Footman to judge the case.
Button-Bright sees all the living socks going about their business. The Footman is a long black silk with gold clocks on its sides. He hears the case as Button-Bright's former socks explain that the boy was lost, which made them lost. Also, he'd forgotten them by the stream, where they felt their country close by. The Footman explains that socks usually just appear there, but they exclaim that they want to be free, and the way he walks and runs so much, he'll wear them out! The Footman explains that if they stay they'll have to live on the other side as part of the Great Unwashed, and there they see a large pile of socks with those at the bottom struggling to get light and air, and those on the top struggling to stay there. This side is only for socks lost between the time they're laundered and the next time they're worn.
With that realization, they decide to stay with Button-Bright, who discovers that all the missing socks from all over the world arrive there. They were once located in the Valley of Lost Things in Merryland, where the Queen was very kind to them. But it got so crowded she permitted them to seek out a new home. Crossing the Deadly Desert, they found this location and received permission from Ozma to settle. It was more comfortable at that time, but people in the Outside World kept losing socks so frequently that it soon grew overcrowded. Button-Bright promises to let Ozma know of their dilemma, for which the Footman is grateful, pointing the boy in the direction of Shamsbad, where he departs with socks in hand.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Although no date is explicit, the narrative notes that "Button-Bright was lost so often that he was used to it," which places this story prior to [The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories). Yet, as he's traveling alone to visit Ojo in Shamsbad, it must take place after [Ojo in Oz](#Ojo in Oz) whenhe's no longer a young child. His anxiousness to get there, as well as his lack of knowledge of the Blue Forest, as well as the farmer's directions, appears to indicate that this is his first time visiting Ojo in his new home in Seebania, thus placing this story in 1921.
Overcrowding: Button-Bright said he would report the problem to Ozma, and it appears that the solution to the overcrowding problem of the Land of Lost Socks is solved in the issue #57 story "[Sockville](#ECM 57)," in which socks start appearing in a Gillikin community in the Forest of Gugu. As those socks are not sapient, the problem in this story doesn't repeat itself.
Ozma Discovers Smallsville: While looking at Glinda's Great Book of Records, Dorothy brings to Ozma's attention an entry that reads: "The Smalls have completed building their underground city of Smallsville." Ozma agrees it would be a fun idea to investigate, and they return to the Emerald City where Ozma appoints the Scarecrow to rule while she's away. Taking her magic wand and Dorothy the Magic Belt, Ozma uses her wand to direct the Sawhorse to Smallsville.
At last they arrive at a large hill on the side of which is a door. Going inside they discover a large dome with glass paneling from which hangs thousands of Chinese lanterns. The active community of Smalls (who average the size of a ragdoll) go about their business, shopping and strolling the streets, as Ozma and Dorothy descend the spiral stairs. A small group gathers before them. Joseph Coofwedge introduces himself and offers them a tour of the city. Everyone works at the Root Factory, where they grow and cultivate their primary food source. The children go to gardening school where they learn how to grow plants. As they live underground with no beating sun, they have a giant heating and fan unit to help stave off temperature extremes. Ozma announces who she is and appoints Joe the official ruler of Smallsville.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Although no date is explicit, it's noted that Ozma was visiting Glinda because she "needed her opinion on a matter of justice," which appears to suggest that it's still early on in Ozma's rule, though after she acquires her wand ([The Magic Carpet of Oz](#The Magic Carpet of Oz)).
Smallsville: The text does not elucidate on who the Smalls are. They don't appear to be leprechauns, brownies, or reddies, though they're closer to the latter group, who are more human in behavior and nomenclature than some of the other little people of myth and legend.
Jack Pumpkinhead Asks Some Questions: While digging holes for his pumpkin patch, Jack ponders how high is up, how deep is down, how far is the middle of nowhere, and why right is the opposite of left. When the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman come to visit, he presents these questions to them. The Scarecrow answers that up's as high as one's imagination can soar, and down as deep as it can dig. Left is the opposite of right because otherwise "wrong" would be its opposite, which wouldn't be any use to anyone; and the middle of nowhere is as far from everywhere as is possible. Grateful, Jack marvels at the Scarecrow's brains.
Continuity Notes
Dating: There's not much to go on in this very short story, though the discussion of 'how far is nowhere' likely takes place before the discovery of the island of Nowhere in the Nonestic. Currently in 1916.
4th Story-Arc: "The Talking Spell": issues #20-26
A near war starts as animals across Oz can't cease talking incessantly and saying whatever comes into their minds.
Issue #20 (Main Storyline): After barking good day, Toto explains that he woke up with a tickle a few days ago. Dorothy wonders if he caught a cold, but Toto reminds her that in Oz, not even dogs get sick. Dorothy's amused to hear Toto talking so much, and as it helps to alleviate the tickle, he wonders if that's why people talk so much, especially since so much of what they say is foolish. Toto asks why Dorothy, a princess, should wear gingham as much as she does. Abashed at the criticism, she explains that she grew up a simple farm girl and intends to remain so despite her royal status. Besides, she likes it. Toto counters that it might be seen as a display of false modesty, which is pride. Dorothy rejoins that what others think is their business and that they'd hopefully withhold judgment until getting to know her better. She also suggests he ought not keep talking the way he's doing, but while sorry, he notes that the tickle's getting worse. When she suggests they should find Ozma, Toto teases his mistress, asking why she's forever running to her. Annoyed, she retorts that Ozma's the ruler and her best friend.
When they meet Ozma, she remarks that it's pleasant to see them, but Toto asks why that's so since they each other every day. Ozma replies that she usually doesn't see them until the afternoon. Dorothy and Toto complain that his tickle makes him unable to shut up about every little thing that pops into his head. Ozma remarks that the Royal Chef just complained to her about the very same issue regarding the mice in the kitchen. Eureka's also been prattling about, and when she awakens she gets into a spat with Toto. Concerned that a plague has befallen the animals, Ozma appoints Toto and Eureka as special deputies in charge of finding out what's going on and how to stop it.
Continuity Notes
Dating: As with all the primary stories in The Emerald City Mirror, this one takes place consecutive to the prior one, as the protagonists are often still correspondents for The Emerald City Mirror newspaper in Oz.
Toto's Tickle: This is a play on the time Toto lost his "grrr" in[_The Lost Princess of Oz_](#The Lost Princess of Oz)[,](#The Lost Princess of Oz)only in reverse, as it makes him (and all the animals) loquacious to the point of rudeness. Toto's speech is actually humorous to us in the Outside World because it reflects some of the lighthearted criticisms readers have expressed over the years., e.g., why is Dorothy always portrayed as wearing gingham (which isn't the case in the Oz books illustrated by John R. Neill, but pretty much every other book outside that), why is she always running to Ozma for help (considering how independent and plucky she was in her first adventure in Oz) and why Ozma is always so glad to see her friends that she sees every day? Toto also expresses philosophical concerns that Baum would have in his day, such as why do people talk so much when most of what they have to say is so foolish?
Modern Fairy Tales: Reprint of L. Frank Baum's essay on the titular subject, first published in The Advance, August 19, 1909.
Jack Pumpkinhead's Pumpkins: Six entries from the Fill in the Blanks and Write Your Own Oz Story Contest. None are actual stories, but snippets about Jack's pumpkins. Found inPatchwork Poems and Parodies.
Courtships of Mistakes: Long before Dorothy came to Oz, Princess Angelique ruled a kingdom in the Gillikin Country. She was much loved by the people, but they felt it was time for her to marry. So her aunt, Lady Agatha, sent for suitors to win her hand. The princess had no desire to marry, but the law stated that she could not become queen otherwise.
After a trying week of listening to prospective husbands, the Princess had her maid Amy dress in her clothes and pretend to be her while she retired to the private garden. The first suitor was a rich and greedy old Munchkin. Amy poses a riddle to him: Spring follows winter/Sunshine follows rain/The more of me you give away/The more of me you gain. The miserly Munchkin scoffs at the idea of giving things away, and Amy dismisses him. When the next suitor, a handsome and vain Winkie, arrives, she poses the same riddle. He answers "beauty," believing most would want to be as beautiful as he. She dismisses him, but he refuses, believing that she must want to marry him as he's better looking than she. Guards escort him out.
Princess Angelique, meanwhile, reads a book and tells a dove that she wishes someone would love her for he she is and not because she's a princess. The gardener Allen overhears this. Having secretly loved her for years, he returns to his cottage, but the best clothes he can find come from the mismatched ones on a scarecrow. But upon returning to the garden, he's dismayed to find out she's departed. Crashing through the bushes to find her, he startles the Princess who, thinking him to be a multicolored creature, hits him with a hoe! Stunned, but unharmed, he hands her allerflowers, not realizing she's allergic to them. Sneezing, she trips on him and both fall to the ground laughing.
Amy, meanwhile, meets the third duitor, a young Quadling named Alec. She poses the riddle to him, but he answers "love" as that's the only thing you gain by freely giving it away. As he asks for her hand in marriage, Lady Agatha enters the room, angry at the ruse. Alec defends the false Princess and picks up his sword just as the real Princess enters, and seeing a conflict, Allen picks up her hoe in defense of her aunt! Amy then starts laughing, and explains the situation. Lady Agatha determines that her niece will marry Alec, but the Princess has other plans and announces that she's go marry the gardener Allen. Lady Agatha is aghast, but when the Princess reminds her that he was ready to defend her, she concedes, but determines to find decent clothes for him.
Alec then asks the Princess' permission to marry Amy, unconcerned with the fact that she's not a princess. Amy adds that she would like to marry him as well, and the two couples are soon married. Allen's mismatched outfit is sent to the miserly Munchkin who sells it to a farmer who uses the pants for a scarecrow he's making. The other pieces wind up in a rag pile for Margolette, the wife of Dr. Pipt. In the following years, Queen Angelique and Prince Allen are among the first to pledge their allegiance to Princess Ozma, and their coat of arms becomes a garden hoe crossed over a toy sword.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Some time prior Dorothy's arrival in Oz, but the text does not state it's before the Wizard's arrival. Although the dove in the story doesn't seem to speak, it cannot be prior to Lurline's enchantment, and, in fact, must take place shortly before the creation of the Scarecrow, as Allen's mismatched pants go to the miserly Munchkin who then sells them to the farmer who created the Scarecrow. Also, the rag pile that goes to Margolette ends up as Scraps, the Patchwork Girl. While that could take place over the course of many years, the fact that Princess Angelique and Prince Allen are around and still ruling when Ozma later comes to the throne appears to indicate a later date. Currently set in 1895.
Gillikin Kingdom: One of the more pleasant kingdoms in Oz, and in a secluded part of the Gillikin Country, Princess Angelique and Prince Allen's kingdom was unfortunately not given a name in the text. As suitors from the three other quadrants arrived to ask for the Princess' hand in marriage, the kingdom cannot be too secluded. Although it appears to not be a major player in later events, it's possible those stories remain untold.
Bungle: Dr. Pipt transports himself and his shop to DeKalb, Illinois, where a young Jamie Kreiner enters. Dr. Pipt introduces himself and the boy recognizes him from the Oz books. Dr. Pipt gives him some Powder of Life, advising him to use it wisely. Jamie rushes home to sprinkle it on a glass cat that he'd recently added to his collection. The cat comes to life and thanks him, explaining that she is Bungle the Glass Cat of Oz. Margolette secretly turned her into a solid figurine and sent her to the Outside World. Instructing the boy to sprinkle the remaining Powder on a picture in The Patchwork Girl of Oz, Bugle jumps in the book and returns to Oz through the picture.
Continuity Notes
Dating: That the author is himself in the story means it must take place in a short time before the publication of the issue, and appears to show the consequence of the talking curse upon Bungle, who came upon Margolette and who she probably into an argument with. Thus, the events of this story likely place in between issues #21-22. That Dr. Pipt appears to be making Powder of Life is in keeping with the permission Ozma's granted him during this time period.
Dr. Pipt: It seems likely that Dr. Pipt, likely with the help of the Magic Picture, helped Ozma tracked down the Glass Cat after she disappeared from the Royal Palace for a few days.
Margolette: Margolette's sneaky (potentially illegal) action was probably prompted by her annoyance at Bungle, who given the time-frame, likely insulted her. It was fortunate for Bungle that she ended up with a boy who was an Oz fan. It's also likely she had to later apologize for her rash actions (particularly as it could have cost her husband his license).
Issue 21 (Main Storyline): Eureka reports on the recent phenomena compelling animals to talk all the time and how in the interest of peace, she and Toto were charged to figure out the problem. But the two are soon arguing, first over Toto's perceived imprecise question and her strict standards of exactitude, and then over her perceived verbosity and his rudeness. Eventually, they're able to put aside their differences for the sake of the greater good and all the other animals in Oz.
Eureka suggests they visit the King of the Beasts to see if he knows what's happening. Glad to see them working together, Ozma has the Wizard fashion collars for them filled with food for their journey to to the Cowardly Lion, whose currently in the woods of the Munchkin Country.
Passing through the friendly farms, they discover that the animals have been driving the farmers to distraction with their incessant chattering. Going into a rough area with a bad reputation, they hear a sound and hide inside a log. Bungle appears, but when Toto rushes out, she scolds him, concerned that she might break. Toto and Eureka explain to her the reason for their quest, and the Glass Cat admits that even she's been affected by it. They travel together for a time and the next morning she sets off, promising to keep her eyes peeled. Eureka and Toto continue to the Court of the Cowardly Lion, where he and the Hungry Tiger are presiding over numerous disputes, trying to figure out how they'll stave off a war between animals!
Continuity Notes
Cowardly Lion: While it might seem odd that the Cowardly Lion is presiding over his old post in the woods of the Munchkin Country (apparently the original forest where Dorothy found him west of the Scarecrow's beanpole on the road of yellow brick), a position he left to a kalidah years ago during [The Mysterious Chronicles of Oz](#The Mysterious Chronicles of Oz) and hasn't returned to since Oz-story Magazine #3 story, "[Ozma Sees Herself](#Oz-Story Magazine No. 3)[,](#Oz-Story Magazine No. 3)" it's clear that he does so because of the emergency situation that is affecting all animals. In this case, the Kalidah King likely deferred to the Lion's greater authority. One might expect that he's also meeting with Gugu ([The Magic of Oz](#The Magic of Oz)), King Magnus ([The Crocheted Cat in Oz](#The Crocheted Cat in Oz)), and other animal rulers of the various forests in Oz. The Queen of the Field Mice is revealed to be with them in the next issue.
The Queen of Quok: L. Frank Baum story reprinted from [American Fairy Tales](#The Queen of Quok).
Issue #22 (Main Storyline): The Cowardly Lion explains the current dilemma facing Oz's animals and the compulsion that is making them speak incessantly. Presiding at his court in the middle of the Munchkin Country, where Dorothy first met him, the birds and beasts make a terrible din as they argue. A group of foxes and wolves argue their case before the Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger, with each claiming the right to chase rabbits at the border of the country. As there are no rabbits there to offer their opinion, the Lion refuses to render a decision until he can speak with them, but the wolves and foxes are unhappy about that and cry out for war. The Hungry Tiger informs them that he's resisted his desires in order to avoid jeopardizing the peace animals enjoy with humans, but they ignore him. The animals depart, leaving only the Queen of the Field Mice, Toto and Eureka with the two frustrated cats.
Billina suddenly appears, sent by Ozma to assist. The Lion asks her to get help from Glinda and instructs Eureka and Toto to travel to the Mountain Retreat of the Good Witch of the North, while they attempt to restore peace amongst the animals.
Continuity Notes
Good Witch of the North: See her entry in the continuity notes for[issue #16](#ECM 16).
The Christmas Stocking: L. Frank Baum short story, reprinted originally in[issue #10](#ECM 10)[.](#ECM 10)
How Santa Claus Came to Oz: Santa Claus stumbles into a hole in the North Pole, where after walking for a long time, he arrives in the Nome Kingdom before Ruggedo. He tells the Nome King that he's trying to reach Ozma, as he'd heard she had a letter from him. He instructs the nome to go across the Deadly Desert to retrieve it for him. Frightened of Santa, the nome obeys and gathers certain nomes that have no living blood in them to transport him across the Deadly Desert. There, Ozma's waiting for him with the letter, threatening Ruggedo that if he doesn't bring the letter to him, she'll turn the nome into a statue with the Magic Belt. When Santa gets the letter he sees it's an invitation to her birthday party at 2:00. Santa then tells the nomes to carry him across the Deadly Desert. At the party, Santa and Ozma become friends.
Continuity Notes
Non-canon: This story is noncanonical, in large part because both Santa and Ozma are portrayed as tyrannical in their dealings with Ruggedo. While the latter is certainly villainous, his bad behavior doesn't excuse theirs, which is very out of character in this short story. Additionally, the story is lacking narrative logic in several areas, and has clearly been written by a very young person.
Santa Claus in Oz: Not to be confused with the [Oziana 1986](#Oziana 1986) parody.
As Santa lands on the palace of the Queen of Ev, he receives a letter from Jockston Barukka, a resident of Sky Mountain (near Mt. Munch) in Oz, explaining that they cannot come down from their mountain, and are thus cut off from the rest of Oz, and running out of food. Santa ponders how he can help, as he cannot cross the Deadly Desert for fearing of sickening his reindeer.
Finishing his duties in Ev, he returns to Burzee, where he dons a scuba diving tank and boots. His reindeer take him to the edge of the Deadly Desert, where he proceeds to march across the burning sands. Santa is surprised to meet one individual, but with his mask is unable to communicate with him, and departs. Then, in the midst of sandstorm, a large desert dragon appears! Santa runs, but the creature pursues and scorpions attack him from below. Finally, his foot hits a rock and stumbles upon the Quadling ground. The dragon roars but departs.
Leaving his gear at the edge of the desert so that he can cross it again later, he uses a remote-controlled car to ride him across Oz to the Emerald City. There, Ozma is having a late-night party with the Wizard, celebrating his return to Oz the prior month. Santa apologizes for the intrusion, but explains that he's there to give gifts to the people and help Jockston and those on Sky Mountain. Ozma gives him her wand, which he uses to give Christmas gifts to everyone in Oz, and Ozma promises to help the people of Sky Mountain. The next time, Santa informs Ozma that Jack Frost has given him a packet of powder that will freeze the Deadly Desert next year and for the next 500 years. Ozma's glad and reminds Santa to return for her birthday party.
Continuity Notes
Dating: The date is explicitly set a month after the end of [Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz](#Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz). There appears to be a dating issue, as the latter is set in late April, while this story takes place on Christmas Eve, yet the narrator indicates that the Wizard had come back to live in Oz "just last month." This can be easily reconciled, however, by interpreting the narrator as meaning he came back to live in the Emerald City last month. The fact is that the Wizard went to live with Glinda after he arrived back in Oz for several months in order to study magic under her and later came back to live in the Emerald City.
Deadly Desert Resident: The small individual that Santa bumps into on the Deadly Desert can be one of several creatures who live there. See[Appendix R: Deadly Desert Inhabitants](Appendices.htm#IX. Deadly Desert Inhabitants).
Evanana: This name for the Queen of Ev is in error. Her married name is Queen Evraline ([The Tired Tailor of Oz](#The Tired Tailor of Oz)). Her original name was Princess Bevina, as noted in "[The Princess of Ev](#The Princess of Ev)." The mistake made here can be chalked up to historian error, and was probably based her daughter's name, which is Princess Evanna.
Santa Claus: L. Frank Baum brought his version of Santa Claus in continuity both with the release of his epic [The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus](#The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus), as well as in his[Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz](#Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz) newspaper strips, and more visibly, in [The Road to Oz](#The Road to Oz), where Santa's a distinguished guest. This narrative chronicles the first time Santa comes to Oz. While he's been aware of the fairyland (recall that he first met some Ozites in the[Queer Visitors](#Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz) strips), and has flown near to it, the presence of the noxious gases of the Deadly Desert has always prevented him coming to visit, as he would not risk the health and safety of his reindeer. Here, he at last finds a way across by literally trudging across the Desert. While it's said that his "resisting boots" prevent him from turning to dust on the sands, and his scuba mask that prevents him from breathing the noxious fumes, it may simply be the fact that he's immortal which keeps him alive. This story has a reindeer named Vixen, which presumes the veracity of the 1823 poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," (commonly known as "The Night Before Christmas") which first introduced the names of the various reindeer. Baum's own ten reindeer have different names, Flossie and Glossie are Santa's principal reindeer, along with Racer and Pacer, Fearless and Peerless, Ready and Steady, Feckless and Speckless, but those deer are from ancient times, and while Burzee animals may or may not be eternal (it's unclear), it does not follow that they would eternally pull Santa's sleigh, nor does it preclude the idea of other teams of reindeer having that honor. The idea of Vixen pulling the sleigh, presumably along with Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen (Rudolph would not have come along until some time prior to Robert May's 1939 poem) in 1902, when this story occurs, means that he's been doing it for nearly 80 years.
Desert Dragon: This appears to be the same creature known as the Sand Serpent that plagued Oz in the 1400s and during the Scarecrow's reign in[The Amber Flute of Oz](#The Amber Flute of Oz). Glinda had banished that creature to the Deadly Desert, where it's fate was unknown. Here, it appears that he continues to live, but cannot pass the boundaries of the Deadly Desert.
Santa's First Trip to the Land of Oz: Santa is invited to visit Oz and brings along Dasher and Dancer and the elf Spiffy. He thanks Ozma and Glinda for keeping him abreast of news in Oz. As this story conflicts with Santa Claus in Oz (above), and has Santa living in the North Pole at a time when he's still living in the Laughing Valley, it is placed in the Parallel Histories.
Billina's Missing Chicks: First part of a story contest. The second part appears in[issue #24](#ECM 24).
On a cold bright day in the Emerald City, Ozma has the Scarecrow summon Billina for a consultation, but having just hatched a new brood of chicks, she's reluctant to leave. So, the Scarecrow volunteers to stay with them until she gets back.
The Wizard, meanwhile, concocts a new secret spell for Ozma, but after mixing all the ingredients, there's a flash of thunder and lightning. When Billina returns to her henhouse, she finds all ten of her newborn Dorothy chicks, along with the Scarecrow, missing!
Continuity Notes
Dating: Although no explicit dates are given in this or the later part, Billina stopped having chicks some time after [The Patchwork Girl of Oz](#The Patchwork Girl of Oz) ([The Royal Explorers of Oz](#The Royal Explorers of Oz)). However, the main storyline ([issue #24](#ECM 24)) reveals that she's just had a new brood of chicks. She'd originally had Ozma cast a spell to sterilize her eggs (she had 7,000 by the time of [The Patchwork Girl of Oz](#The Patchwork Girl of Oz)), so she must have asked her for permission to have a few more chicks, perhaps making this a special occasion of sorts. The reason for this is unknown, but it may simply be that she missed having babies. In any case, this story would take place prior around the main storyline in[issue #20](#ECM 20). The story contest is repeated in [issue #41](#ECM 41), with additional winning conclusions in[issue #43](#ECM 43), and in[issue #66](#ECM 66), with additional winning conclusions in [issue #69](#ECM 69). One of latter stories, considered canonical, involves the Wizard's switcheroo spell gone wrong, which would further narrow the date to the end of the 4th story-arc: [Transference of Spirits](#ECM 32).
Issue #23 (Main Storyline)
The Hungry Tiger announces that the spell over the animals of Oz has, in the Munchkin Forest, brought them to the brink of war, for which there is never a good reason. On their way to restore peace, he asks the Cowardly Lion if he thinks the awful spell will compel him to eat a fat baby for the first time. The Lion hopes not, as he would be afraid to fight the Hungry Tiger. Yet the Tiger acknowledges that guided as he is by his conscience, he has the strength of discipline and knows that the desire for something does not determine its rightness.
Suddenly the two large cats fall into a pit from which they can't climb out of. From above come the two fox leaders from the day before. They declare they intend to leave them there until they decide in their favor. As the night falls, the two big cats grow hungry and soon fall asleep.
It is Billina who awakens them. Having returned from Glinda, she reports that although she couldn't figure out what's happening to the animals, she did find an entry in the Great Book of Records reporting that the sly foxes entrapped them in a pit. With a plan of rescue in mind, Billina flies off again.
The Box of Robbers: Reprint of the L. Frank Baum story from [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales).
The Horrid Hags of Oz: Story details how Lurline's evil sister Mariva found a hut full of hags that she turned into wicked witches: Warla for the west, Malvonia for the east, Mombi for the north, Pheetinius for the south. Lurline, meanwhile, falls into an enchanted sleep due to a prick by the poisonous Beddy-Bye Beetle. Four young sisters come across her and use magic medicine to restore, Glinda, Tattypoo, Kaleena and Dazzla. Lurline turns them into good witches, who soon battle with the wicked ones.
Continuity Notes
Despite foreshadowing the name of the Wicked Witch of the East, Malvonia ("[How the Wizard Came to Oz](#How the Wizard Came to Oz)") and the conflict between Lurline and her sister Enilrul ([The Witch Queen of Oz](#The Witch Queen of Oz)), this very short story contradicts several canonical and deuterocanonical works in its simplistic depiction of how the good and Wicked Witches came to be, and has been placed inParallel Histories.
Pin the Tail on the Cowardly Lion: At Trot's birthday, Dorothy introduces the game Pin the Tail on the Cowardly Lion. The Wogglebug wins, claiming it's due to his "outstanding manual dexterity," but Trot thinks he really peeked.
Continuity Notes
Dating: No explicit date given save for Trot's birthday. Placed in her 100th year at 1993.
Issue #24 (Main Storyline): Billina explains how the wicked spell on the animals of Oz is causing them to say whatever is on their minds, a dangerous situation affecting even her own recent brood of chicks. On her way to Glinda's, Billina stops at a coop for the night, where they welcome the famous Royal Hen of Oz and press her for news from the Emerald City. The next morning she takes off for Glinda's Palace and upon arrival Glinda's Honor Guard permit her entrance.
Glinda hears her report and checks the Great Book of Records, but is unable to trace the source of the spell. She does discover that the foxes have trapped the Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger, at which point Billina sets out to help them, obtaining the services of the Queen of the Field Mice, who knows a way to stop the war between the foxes and wolves.
Billina stops at a local woodman's home. The family are fearful due to the strange doings in recent days, but agree to help anyway. With logs, ropes, and pullies, the woodsman and his sons pull out the grateful felines, but they're suddenly charged by the irate foxes. The roars of the big cats sends them scurrying, the Lion and Tiger resume their journey to find a way to stop the war and break the spell.
Billina's Missing Chicks: There are three published conclusions to the first part of the story that had been published in [issue #22](#ECM 22). The contest was repeated in [issue #41](#ECM 41), with new winning entries in [issue #43](#ECM 43), and in [issue #66](#ECM 66) with the winners in [#69](#ECM 69). The Royal Timeline of Oz considers the second entry in this batch and the second entry in the last batch canonical.
1. Non-canonical, as it contradicts canonical and deuterocanonical stories. Mombi steals the titular chicks amongst other things and winds up disintegrated. Located in Munchkinland.
2. The canonical ending. When Billina reports the loss of her newly-hatched chicks and the Scarecrow, Ozma goes to the Magic Picture to find them, but it shows nothing but pale blue. Inquiring after the Wizard, he explains that he's been at work all day on the OZone, the protective shield which renders Oz invisible from the outside. A hole had appeared above the Emerald City, and Ozma had requested he repair it. Unfortunately, the Wizard was unable to, and it appears to be affecting magical instruments.
Ozma then reasons that the chicks and Scarecrow were pulled up into the hole. Racing to the window of the highest tower, the party are able to spot the Scarecrow floating inside the hole. Using magic, the Wizard floats a flagpole over to the Scarecrow. As soon as he grabs it, the Wizard summons it into the window. The Scarecrow then brings the chicks out from inside him to show a relieved and grateful Billina how he saved them. The Wizard returns to repair the hole in the OZone.
3. Non-canonical. On Warmoz Day, the first warm weather day after winter, everyone in the Emerald City is asked to wear coats. Inside Ozma's coat are Billina's little chicks. The Scarecrow returns from the closet, where he got locked inside.
Continuity Notes
Dating: See the entry in[issue #22](#ECM 22).
Magical Barrier of Invisibility: Although not mentioned in some time, this story makes it clear that the Magical Barrier of Invisibility is still in place over Oz, and has been coined the OZone. The hole and the OZone are references to the time in 1985 when scientists claimed they'd discovered a hole in the Ozone Layer�a shield in the sky protecting us from harmful solar radiation�above Antartica, which was blamed on Ozone depleting chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFS) used in refrigerants and hair sprays.
Sequel: In order for the other winning entry in issue [#69](#ECM 69) to also work, the ending has to be amended with the sudden odd behavior of the chicks and Scarecrow, all of whom run off, causing Billina to wonder at their strange behavior.
Masquerade in Oz: Excerpt from the[book of the same name](#Masquerade in Oz).
Issue #25 (Main Storyline): The Queen of the Field Mice offers greetings and recounts her history with Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Tin Woodman when they saved her from a wildcat and she later saved them from the Poppy Field. When the Cowardly Lion was crowned King of the Beasts, it was she who first befriended him.
Now, with the threat of war between the foxes and wolves as to who has the right to chase rabbits on the edge of the Munchkin Country, she has taken it upon herself to solve the dilemma, and heads off to visit the rabbits. Passing by the incessantly yapping wolves and foxes, the Queen is nearly caught by a patrol of foxes, after which she makes her way to a small town of rabbits to whom she explains her mission and need for shelter for the night. The sentry welcomes her to Rabbit-Town-by-the-Brook, and leads her through a tunnel to a burrow where upon a mound sits the mayor, who offers his help.
Later, a small rabbit inquires how the Queen has managed to escape the curse, since she is so quiet. The Queen explains that despite how calm she appears on the outside, she's exerting all her self-control, which is causing a tickle in her throat.
By morning, the Mayor prepares to accompany her to Bunnybury, knowing the foxes are changing guard. Along with a group of sentries they head out. As scouts had already informed the King of the Rabbits, the Queen of the Field Mice is welcomed by the King's rabbits who escort her to the King and the Keeper of the Wicket. She first inquires if they mind being chased by wolves and foxes. The King explains that they don't since the wolves and foxes are solely interested in the thrill of the chase and not actually catching them, and it provides good exercise for everyone. With that, she recommends he summon the Cowardly Lion, Hungry Tiger, and leaders of the wolves and foxes.
The king dispatches runners and before long the Lion and Tiger arrive with a band of bears who'd captured the fox and wolf leaders. The Queen then suggests that since the foxes and wolves each have well-marked borders, any rabbit found in either territory can be chased by those whose territory it is until the rabbit enters the other territory. Everybody agrees to this, including the King of the Beasts who declares the war over and pardons the leaders of the wolves and foxes.
The King of the Polar Bears: Reprint of the L. Frank Baum story from [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales).
Issue #26 (Main Storyline): Bungle the Glass Cat gives her greetings and explains how several days after bumping into Toto and Eureka, she went to the castle of the Wicked Witch of the East, now a desolate ruin that few ever visit. Bungle was started by a raven who told her that speed is needed since a war was brewing in the Munchkin Country and the Cowardly Lion and Hungry Tiger were taken captive. The raven assures her she'll find something.
Bungle reasons that since Glinda's Book held no mention of what's going on, the spell either predates the Book or is canceling out whatever spell makes the Book work. But why would it come now and who has the power to outwit its magic? Realizing the Wicked Witches, who Glinda used to keep track of, would have more reason than most to cancel out the Book's magic, Bungle begins searching the ruined castle. Finding nothing, she sets off for the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West, which is still standing in the Winkie Country.
Stopping by the castle of the Tin Woodman, she greets him and the Scarecrow. Heading to the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West [see Continuity Notes below], they search the towers, where her magic laboratory had been, and all of the rooms and corridors. A few hours later, Bungle, who has a good nose for magic, starts to smell something in the dungeon. The Tin Woodman comes upon a door he'd never seen before and wonders if it was magically hidden. Breaking open the door, a foul smell emerges from pools of strange liquids that had spilled on the floor. Within the room's phosphorescent glow are rotting crates and drums.
Suddenly, Glinda appears! Praising the Glass Cat, she explains that this is the former Witch's magical garbage dump. Not as careful as she should have been with leftover magic and failed spells, the mixture created when the ruined drums spilled over their contents is what led to the current problem plaguing the animals of Oz. A blanking spell placed on the room prevented her and Ozma from finding it years ago, and is the reason the Book of Records failed to mention it. With the cleaning of the room, the problem is at last solved!
Continuity Notes
Great Book of Records: There's a minor error in this issue in which Bungle claims that she learned from the Wogglebug that "Glinda created the Book of Records in order to keep track of whatever foul deeds the Wicked Witches were plotting." This isn't quite the case, so perhaps Bungle got her facts mixed up. Since Glinda actually found the Book (see Oziana 2011: "[The Solitary Sorceress of Oz](#Oziana 2011)"), which was a present of Lurline's ([The Law of Oz](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories)), Bungle's statement should read "Glinda employed the Book of Records in order to keep track of... the Wicked Witches."
Wicked Witch's Castles: Bungle visits both the castle of the Wicked Witch of the East and West, indicating that, although abandoned, both are still standing. There is, however, a discrepancy in that the story conflates the castle of the Tin Woodman with that of the Wicked Witch of the West. In fact, the Tin Woodman did initially move into her castle, but shortly moved into his own newly constructed one (see [The Tin Castle of Oz](#The Tin Castle of Oz)). To retcon this, it must be understood that after meeting with the Tin Woodman at his castle, they then together went to the Wicked Witch's castle, a detail omitted in the story.
Double Dorothys: One Halloween, while in costume as Dorothy, young Julia Beers is whisked to the Emerald City, where she's greeted by Ozma and Dorothy. They explain they've started a custom in which one of Oz's emigrants from the U.S. will switch places with one of the biggest Oz fans so that the "twin" can experience life in Oz, and the Ozite can get information as to what's going on in the U.S. Julia is then introduced to more famous Oz residents, including others who have their "twins" with them, such as Button-Bright, the Wizard, Billina and others.
In Ozma's Throne Room, they watch as a delegation of weasels looking to start a community on the edge of the Munchkin Forest, leaves behind a gift, a brass cage, inside of which is a dove wearing a gold chain with an emerald charm which lights up whenever the bird swings or chirps. Jealous at the attention the bird is getting, Billina departs.
Later, Dorothy remarks to Julia that the more time people spend listening to the bird, the more they seem to forget things. Jellia forgets what time dinner is; the Wogglebug's students are falling behind, and the Hungry Tiger's forgotten to be hungry. Julia suspects the weasels are trying to steal everyone's knowledge. Dorothy gets an idea, and rushing to the cage, removes the emerald charm from the dove and shatters it. With that, the problem is solved and the weasels' plan thwarted.
That night, Julia finds herself back home with a tiny piece of the emerald charm that she keeps as a reminder of her time in Oz.
Continuity Notes
Dating: As the protagonist of the story is the writer, the dating points to a recent Halloween (when the story occurs) prior to the publication date of 1995. The Royal Timeline of Oz places it in 1993.
Twin Custom: The idea of bringing some of Oz's best fans from the U.S. to Oz to serve as "twins" is an odd one. The twin idea must be understood not in any literal sense, and not because it's Halloween and they're dressed as that person, like Julia is. The only thing that makes sense is that "twin" means a fellow young girl for Dorothy, a fellow young boy for Button-Bright, a fellow older man for the Wizard, a fellow chick for Billina, etc. Halloween is incidental, as is the fact that Julia happens to be dressed as Dorothy. Putting this aside, the custom itself serves as a way of rewarding Oz fans by giving them a trip to Oz, and allows Dorothy, the Wizard, and others from the U.S. to engage with those who live in the country they formerly lived in, "so as to find out important news and such." This latter line may reveal the real reason behind this unusual "custom," but as to what it portends remains unknown. Technically, the Ozites can get information about the outside world from the wireless radio, as the Wizard has done ([The Magical Mimics in Oz](#The Magical Mimics in Oz),[The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3](#The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3: Zim Greenleaf of Oz),[The Wizard in New York](#The Wizard in New York)).
The Dummy That Lived: Reprint of the L. Frank Baum story from [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales).
The Mystery of the Tin Woodman's Oil Can: The first part of a story contest. The conclusion appears in[issue #28](#ECM 28). This story contest was reprinted again in [issue #59](#ECM 59)[,](#ECM 59) with additional winning entries appearing in [issue #61](#ECM 61).
When the Tin Woodman arrives at the Wondrous Winkie Waxing Emporium, where he goes 2-3 times a week for a buff and polish, he greets his personal buffer Arlo, who proceeds to shine him up. But the Tin Woodman discovers that his oil can, which he'd laid next to his axe, is missing. Arlo suggests he hire a detective to find out who stole from the Emperor of the Winkies.
5th Story-Arc: "Transference of Spirits": issues #27-32
The Wizard's latest spell goes awry causing the personalities of various persons to inhabit the bodies of other persons.
Issue #27 (Main Storyline):Some days after Bungle solved the magical crisis facing animals in Oz, Dorothy visits with the Wizard looking for something interesting to do. The Nine Tiny Piglets entertain her for awhile, after which�still bored�the Wizard reminds Dorothy that she's lucky to live in the Land of Oz, where all she has to do is look around to find something to do. Dorothy acknowledges that she might be a bit selfish as she always wants to be entertained, and ponders if she should find Trot, Ojo, and Button-Bright to teach themselves new dance steps, but the Wizard suggests she stay, as he'd invited the Hungry Tiger to join him. Since he's always having trouble filling his appetite, he's going to give him a new invention, an orange that's as filling as a banquet.
When the Hungry Tiger arrives, the Wizard tells them to be absolutely still and silent. After a series of magical passes and rhymes, the spell builds to its climax, but there is a sudden crash, flash and peal of thunder. The Wizard suddenly speaks out of the Hungry Tiger's mouth and the Hungry Tiger out of the Wizard's mouth! One of the piglets had broken the Wizard's concentration, ruining the spell and causing their spirits to switch!
As Ozma, Glinda, and the Good Witch of the North have left for a Council of Fairy Rulers and won't be back for weeks, they decide to consult with the Scarecrow whose been left in charge.
Continuity Notes
Council of Fairy Rulers: Ozma and Glinda attend a second Convocation of Fairy Rulers fifty years after the first[ ](#The Magical Mimics in Oz)([The Magical Mimics in Oz](#The Magical Mimics in Oz).) That this is the same type of conference is evidenced by the fact that in the following issue (#28), the Wogglebug calls it a "Convocation of Fairy Rulers." With Lurline back on good terms with her brother Tititi-Hoochoo, she can now meet more openly and frequently.
Dating: Dorothy notes that the issue with the enchanted animals (in the 4th story-arc) occurred recently.
Magical Missteps: The Wizard's spell is similar to the one he earlier cast in [The Magic Bowls of Oz](#The Magic Bowls of Oz). But there are significant differences in form, function, and intent. In that case, he intended to switch Button-Bright and Ojo's personalities using a magical device when things went wrong. In this case, he was distracted from a spell in which he was trying to make the Hungry Tiger feel full.
Betsy's Birthday:Excerpt from the[Masquerade in Oz](#Masquerade in Oz).
How I Used the Magic Powder of Life to Escape a Witch: Located in Munchkinland. The Wilted Witch chases a six-year old.
My Escape from the Wicked Witch: Located in Munchkinland. A boy invents a way to escape a Wicked Witch.
Happy Doings in Oz: Reprinted from_[The Emerald City Mirror #1](#ECM 1)_.
Issue #28 (Main Storyline): When the Scarecrow departs to visit the Tin Woodman, he leaves Jack Pumpkinhead in charge, but after three days, Jack feels overwhelmed and calls in the Wogglebug to help. The Professor arrives in time to settle a dispute between a salesman and shopekeepers. At lunch, Dorothy, the Wizard, and Hungry Tiger burst in the Throne Room, where, based on their words and actions, they discover that the Wizard's spirit is in the body of the Hungry Tiger, while his spirit is in the body of the Wizard. But when the Wogglebug goes to scratch an itch behind the Hungry Tiger's ear, a flash occurs, and the Wogglebug finds himself in the body of the Hungry Tiger, with the Hungry Tiger in his body! They both follow the Wizard to his lab to see what can be done.
The Farm: Chapter 1 excerpt from [The Giant Garden of Oz](#The Giant Garden of Oz).
The Mystery of the Tin Woodman's Oil Can: Part II: There are two stories that comprise the conclusion to the story-contest began in [issue #26](#ECM 26). The Royal Timeline of Oz considers both canonical. Additional winning entries appeared in [issue #61](#ECM 61) after the story-contest was re-used in [issue #59](#ECM 59).
1. Nick Chopper summons Bungle the Glass Cat to his Tin Castle. Two days later, she arrives and the Tin Woodman asks her to be his detective. She soon sniffs out a pumpkin and finds several pumpkin seeds. They head to Jack Pumpkinhead's house, where he acts suspiciously. Finally, he apologizes and admits that he stole it. Four or five days earlier, he'd accidentally carved a head with cruel eyes and a mean mouth. When he put it on, he became fierce and mean, and took the oil can. Yesterday, the head began to spoil, "as evil things are naturally rotten," and carved his new head with the usual friendly disposition. Nick forgives him and Bungle yawns.
2. Arlo calls in the services of Ozlock Holmes. He arrives and proclaims the case solved, arranging for the Tin Emperor to meet his assistant Matson in the garden, while he departs to visit Professor Nowitall. Matson turns out to be a fly. He leads Nick into the Emporium, where he's attacked by Wildfire Flies. After failing to harm the Tin Woodman, the flies explain that the oil is their food. Nick explains that he has plenty of oil and they needed only to ask for help. They happily fly off and he retrieves his can from his statue in the garden where they'd hidden it. Matson is surprised he didn't punish them, but the Tin Woodman explains that Oz is the land of love and forgiveness helps others to do what's right.
Continuity Notes
Canonicity: In order for both stories to occur, the latter has to conclude with Jack Pumpkinhead NOT finding the oil can, and discovering that it was, in fact, stolen from him. This then leads to the second story, with the Wildfire Flies, who were apparently in the Tin Palace (or near it) when they steal the can from Jack after witnessing him steal it.
Dating: This can be assigned to any time after Sherlock Holmes comes to live in Oz in 1937.
Jack Pumpkinhead: It is of interest that Jack's personality was radically altered by the carving of his head. When he carved evil features, his behavior appears to have become evil. How Jack accidentally did this is another question that goes unanswered, and given what happened to Jack in Oziana 2017's "[Angry Jack](#Oziana 2017)," one can speculate if was actually repressed anger that caused him to carve his head in that fashion.
Sherlock Holmes: Utilizing the name Ozlock Holmes is akin to other Oz stories that used the term "the Great Detective," perhaps due to the authors/editors fearing copyright infringement (Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Homes stories are in public domain, but there was some uncertainty for a short period of time). As far as the Royal Timeline of Oz is concerned, Ozlock Holmes is Sherlock Holmes, who came to live in Oz in 1937.
Jack Pumpkinhead Stumps the Wizard of Oz: Reprint of the story from [issue #6](#ECM 6).
Issue #29 (Main Storyline): Glad to be back in his own body, the Wizard thinks of a way to restore the Wogglebug and Hungry Tiger, who are trapped in each other's bodies. The Wogglebug, meanwhile suggests to Jack that he declare a holiday in order to shut down the government until things are restored. Jack tells the Royal Scribe to compose a Declaration of Indefinite National Holiday.
The Wogglebug also suggests that the phenomena be studied by philosophers and theologians, who would find the ontological ramifications fascinating, and wonders if he'll take on any feline traits while in the tiger's body, but the Hungry Tiger doesn't want to remain in the Wogglebug's body a moment longer. The Wizard jokes that it would make for a good carnival act. He retrieves the book Spells of Transposition and Transformation and discovers that since he'd been affected by the spell, another sorcerer has to break the spell. Since Glinda and Ozma are away, it will have to wait until their return.
Just then, Button-Bright entered. Walking over to scratch the Hungry Tiger's itchy ears, there's a flash and the tiger is back in his own body. Unfortunately, now Button-Bright is in the Wogglebug's body and the Wogglebug is in his!
How Tik-Tok Came to Be Made: Excerpt from [Ozma of Oz](#Ozma of Oz).
My Favorite Person From Oz: Poem found in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
Tik-Tok and Off-On in Oz: Found in Munchkinland.
My Favorite Person From Oz: Poem found in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
I Like All the People in Oz: Poem found in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
One Day in Winkie Country: Reprint from [issue #2](#ECM 2).
Issue #30 (Main Storyline): Button-Bright gets used to living as a Wogglebug, having an extra set of limbs, exoskeleton, and faceted eyes. The irritated Wogglebug, meanwhile, determines to get back to work at his college, and though the Wizard advises against it, he departs. With nothing else to do, Button-Bright determines to carry on and offers to play a game with Dorothy. They find Trot and explain to her what's happened.
During a game of hide and seek, Dorothy shows Button-Bright a good hiding place atop a shed behind an apple tree. But just then, Button-Bright grows dizzy and when his consciousness returns in the body of Ozma! The Wogglebug, who'd seen Glinda's sky chariot, returned to the Emerald City to meet with Ozma and Glinda, unhappy to learn he's still in Button-Bright's body.
The Scarecrow and Tin Man: Reprint of the W.W. Denslow story of the same name: located in the[Deadly Desert](DeadlyDesert.htm#Denslows Scarecrow and TinMan)section.
The Scarecrow and the Mirror: Bored one day, the Nome King secretly goes to the Deadly Desert where after many hours he finds the Silver Shoes. He then travels to the Emerald City, and once inside the Throne Room, uses the Shoes to transform the Tin Woodman, Dorothy and Ozma into mixed-up animals, which he puts in cages. But the Scarecrow arrives and uses the Magic Belt to undo the Nome King's enchantment. The Nome King flees back to his home.
Continuity Notes
Canonicity and Dating: The canonicity of this story is in question. Although it's obvious that it must take place some time prior to Ruggedo being removed from power, the fact that he travels onto the Deadly Desert seems contrary to [The Emerald City of Oz](#The Emerald City of Oz). If Roquat/Ruggedo were so easily able to cross the Deadly Desert, he'd have had no reason to dig an underground tunnel. He'd also have more frequently attacked Oz. The story doesn't mention what Roquat/Ruggedo does with the powerful Silver Shoes, though if this story is to be believed, he must have apparently lost them while traveling (likely magically) back across the Deadly Desert to his dominions. The Royal Publisher of Oz places it in Parallel Histories.
The Bad Man: Reprint of the L. Frank Baum 1901 story from "The Home Magazine." Collected in [The Collected Short Stories of L. Frank Baum](#The Collected Short Stories of L. Frank Baum).
Issue #31 (Main Storyline): At the Council of Fairy Rulers being held on Sky Island, Ozma and Glinda served as ambassadors of Oz. Also in attendances were Santa Claus from Burzee, the Queen of Ev, the King and Queen of Hearts from Wonderland, the Monarch of Mo, the Queen of Merryland and the Candy Man, King John Dough and Chick the Cherub, Queen Zixi of Ix, and others. Their discussion focused on unfriendly visitors to their fairy realms and how to best deal with those who use illegal magic.
Upon returning to Oz, Ozma is greeted by Professor Wogglebug in Button-Bright's body. He explains what happened, and in the the Royal Palace, she's met by Jack Pumpkinhead whose certain she'll fix everything. As Ozma examines the problem, she touches Button-Bright's shoulder and finds herself suddenly in the Wogglebug's body! Ozma's puzzled by the fact that the Wogglebug wasn't returned to his own body. The Wizard is puzzled as well, suspecting the spell's evolving. He contacts Glinda.
The Girl Who Owned a Bear: Reprint from L. Frank Baum's American Fairy Tales.
One Day in Oz: Polychrome and Betsy awaken Randy, a young resident of the Outside World, to let him know Ozma's granted his wish to spend a day in Oz. After he gets dressed, he asks to go to the Tin Woodman's castle. Once there he hugs the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman and asks Poly to bring Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead. They eat, exchange stories, play hide-and-seek, and are greeted by Ozma, Dorothy, Glinda, Billina, Trot, Cap'n Bill, Toto, Eureka, Scraps, Shaggy Man, Wogglebug, the Wizard, Sawhorse, the Cowardly Lion, Hungry Tiger and others. After food and games, the time comes for Randy to say goodbye and go home. Reprinted again in[issue #60](#ECM 60).
Issue #32 (Main Storyline): Packing a magic kit and using a Transposition Spell, Glinda transports herself to Oz, where she instructs all the affected parties to settle down. With a ruby-tipped Silver Wand, Glinda casts a sealing spell to ensure the Wizard's accidental runaway spell doesn't leave the Throne Room. Procuring a silver mirror from her bag, Glinda uses it to look at the now quiet Wogglebug in Button-Bright's body, Button-Bright in Ozma's body, and Ozma in the Wogglebug's body. It reveals a crackling glow around them, indicative of a runaway Flame Spell. With a polished Yarrow stick she touches each of their shoulders, causing a thunderous peal. With a red silk fan and a magic word, Glinda clears the air of magical residue. At last Ozma, Button-Bright and the Wogglebug are back in their own bodies.
Sequel: If the events of "[Billina's Missing Chicks](#ECM 69)" in issue #69 can be placed after this story, it appears that the Wizard tried to figure out what went wrong with his initial spell, and ended up causing further problems, which they then had to go to Glinda to fix.
Silver Wand: The sorceress Gayelette had a silver wand, which she used to enslave Krizzle Kroo's wolves, crows and black bees ("[The Woozy's Tale](#Oziana 1992)" from Oziana 1992). The Wicked Witch of the West took it from her, after which its fate is unknown. It is possible that Glinda took possession of the wand, though if so she's using it in a different way. This wand is also ruby-tipped. It seems more likely the Gayelette retrieved her wand after the Witch's demise, though this can't be stated for a certainty.
The Glass Cat of Oz: Excerpt from the Chapter 1 of [The Glass Cat of Oz](#The Glass Cat of Oz).
6th Story-Arc: "Invasion of the Jabberwocks": issues #33-40
When Jabberwocks from Wonderland begin abducting residents of the forest, even the Kalidah King grows concerned enough to contact Ozma.
Issue #33 (Main Storyline): The Kalidah King leaves the forest between the Gillikin and Munchkin borders in order to the Emerald City to ask Ozma for help. It began when a monkey reported that monsters were capturing animals and dragging them into their cave. Summoning 42 kalidahs, the Kalidah King went to explore, only to discover large, bat-winged lizards with serpentine necks, sharp teeth and red eyes. A battle ensued, but their numbers were greater and they soon overpowered and chained the kalidahs. One of the creatures ordered them into the heart of the cave to dig. Any who refused were jabbed with their sharp claws.
Deep inside the cave, they're made to join the other large animals in digging through a wall. The smaller animals were charged with breaking up the dirt to pick out and pile up diamonds. This puzzled the Kalidah King as he knows diamonds were common in Oz and he reasoned the creatures must come from elsewhere. Looking for a means of escape, he comes across the Lonesome Duck who promised to free him from his chains if he'll get word to Ozma. The creatures had destroyed her Diamond Palace and he wants revenge, but his magic doesn't work on them. The kalidah agrees and the duck utters a spell releasing him. The Kalidah King escapes to the Royal Palace, where he gets an audience with Ozma. She checks the Magic Picture, and seeing the creatures, commands the Magic Belt to send them back to where they came from. Nothing happens. The Wizard tries some of his spells, but nothing again, and they conclude they'll have to do some research. Ozma invites the Kalidah King to stay, provided he agrees to harm no one, and he does, so she has meat prepared for him "that nothing had to die to provide."
Continuity Notes
Dating: This is the first actual break in the ongoing narrative of The Emerald City Mirror since issue #6, as there is no mention of the previous adventures that occurred in succession. Due to reasons discussed in [issue #41](#ECM 41), the start of this and the 7th story-arc (which mentions this arc) are considered to have taken place decades earlier, in 1923, but are being told years later.
Location: Although the text doesn't specify it, the cave is not far from where the Lonesome Duck lives, which is also where the community of abducted kalidahs live.
One Day in Oz: Located inMunchkinland
What I Would Do with One Day in Oz: Located in Munchkinland
One Ordinary Day in Oz: Located inMunchkinland
My Day in Oz: While flying his kite, Darrell was lifted into the air and after a few hours dropped before the Scarecrow and Tik-Tok who welcome him to Oz. Ozma then arrives with the Sawhorse and gives him a tour of the Emerald City. After a banquet, Glinda arrives to tell him his parents and worried, but she gives him a wishing pill to enable him to return.
Continuity Notes
Dating of Days in Oz: It seems that Ozma, Glinda and the Wizard decided it might be nice to accept a random selection of fans into Oz for a day. For this reason, all of these stories are placed in the same year that The Emerald City Mirror gets up and running.
The Librarian Visits Oz: As the titular librarian wonders which book will win the "My Favorite Book" contest at her library, she's magically whisked away to Glinda's Palace. The Sorceress explains that she's granting her life-long wish to visit Oz. On her Swan Chariot, they travel to the Emerald City. There, in front of Ozma's throne, besides the usual favorites of the court, stand the Royal Historians, L. Frank Baum, Ruth Plumly Thompson, John R. Neill, W.W. Denslow and others who recorded the history of Oz, each wearing a ruby-encrusted heart with the word "Oz" in diamonds. Ozma announces that she's rewarding these mortals for their service in telling the world about Oz and its neighbors. They're now citizens of Oz, can visit whenever they wish, and can serve as counselors in matters pertaining to the Outside World.
After several speeches and dances, Roberta makes a speech. Later, Dorothy, Trot, Betsy, Peter and Speedy take Roberta on a Sawhorse-driven tour of the Emerald City, which is also celebrating the holiday and wearing their newest outfits from Jenny Jump's Style Shop. Later that night, Glinda thanks her for coming and tells her to relay to the world that the "window of wonder is always open" and the "young-at-heart" can visit anytime. The next morning, Roberta discovers that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has won the library contest.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Dating is based on the date of the last Royal Historian listed in the story to have died, which was Ruth Plumly Thompson. While the story does not explicitly state that they're all dead, the implication is there, particularly with Ozma stating they're now citizens of Oz and can visit whenever they wish.
Issue #34 (Main Storyline): As their magic fails to stop the strange creatures enslaving animals, Ozma and her counselors determines to find out more about them. The Wizard has never seen them before in any book, while Ozma's Book of Magic Tribes will take time to examine. Dorothy, however, seems to recall that the creatures sound like the Jabberwock from the poem of the same name, which had been her favorite poem when she lived in Kansas. When she recites a few lines, the Kalidah King exclaims that those are the very ones.
The Wizard pulls out an old book and under "J" is the Jabberwock. It reveals that they belong to the race of Erbs, along with the Phanfasms and Mimics, though they cannot shape-shift. The book reveals no way to stop them, but Dorothy notes that in the poem, the hero used a "vorpal blade" to kill them. Ozma doesn't want to kill them, but the blade might perhaps scare them to leave, if they can find one. The Scarecrow pulls out the book Mysteries of Magical Metals and finds a description of the vorpal blade. It's difficult to forge, requires titanium, beryllium and unobtanium, forged by a left-handed nome in the fires of Bendoobius, tempered by the fruit of a potato tree, milk of a hen, and diamond from a Rak hoard.
The Wizard thinks they can get the ingredients but it must then be wielded by an experienced soldier. As Omby Amby won't do, the Scarecrow suggests Jo Files of Oogaboo. While the Kalidah returns to his home, the Sawhorse is sent with the Scarecrow to first see if Glinda's magic can help. If not, he should bring back unobtanium of which she owns an ingot. The Wizard is in charge of procuring the other metals.
Tik-Tok is sent to speak to Kaliko to find a left-handed nome, Shaggy to find fruit from a potato tree, Dorothy the milk of a hen, Betsy and the Hungry Tiger to retrieve Jo Files, and the Glass Cat to bring back a diamond from a Rak's hoard.
When the Scarecrow and his steed reach Glinda's, she tells him that she's already tried her magic to no avail and gives them a small slab of bluish metal that is unobtanium, which is the lightest and strongest metal there is, but difficult to work with. Then, back to the Emerald City they rise.
Continuity Notes
Book of Magic Tribes: This book was first revealed in [The Scalawagons of Oz](#The Scalawagons of Oz).
Jabberwocky and Erbs: This story indicates that the Jabberwocks from Lewis Carroll's poem (in Chapter 1 of [Through the Looking Glass](#Alices Adventures in Wonderland)) are actually part of the race of Erbs. Although the Jabberwocks seem primarily interested in mining for diamonds, to what end we're never told. We also don't know how these particular Erbs got to Wonderland, or how they escaped imprisonment in Mount Illuso or Mount Phantastico. Glinda acknowledges that they are sorcerers, though she claims they're not powerful ones. Jabberwocks do not seem to have the ability to shape-shift as their sibling Erbs do.
Wonderland: The crossover between Wonderland and Oz has a long history. More on this later.
The Witchcraft of Mary-Marie: Reprinted from L. Frank Baum's [American Fairy Tales](#American Fairy Tales).
The Origin of the Silver Shoes: Located in Parallel Histories.
Issue #35 (Main Storyline): In the Royal Gardens, Shaggy tries to recall if he'd ever come across a potato tree, as its fruit is one of the ingredients needed to create a vorpal blade to fend off the invading Jabberwocks. Shaggy asks his brother if he's heard of any potato trees, but he suggests they gather a group to search the library for references. Together, they enlist Trot, Button-Bright, Cap'n Bill, Professor Wogglebug, Omby Amby, Em, and Dr. Pipt. All nine search the botany section and other areas, but after some hours they're no closer to a solution. Scraps comes by singing and claiming to know how to find it. The Professor is doubtful, but Dr. Pipt knows she had good brains. She suggests they use the Magic Picture.
The Magic Picture reveals an umbrella-shaped tree with blue flowers and fruit that resembles potatoes. It stands in Jinjur's orchard, two miles from the Emerald City. The Sawhorse (just back with the Scarecrow) takes Shaggy to see her. Jinjur's happy to help, explaining that she got the seed from an ork who'd stopped there to rest. He'd gotten it from Mo. The crop is actually white like ordinary potatoes, but grows blue on the outside due to growing in the Munchkin Country. Jinjur gives him two dozen.
Back at the Emerald City, Shaggy discovers the Wizard has returned from the outside world with beryllium and titanium.
The Land of the Sea Dragons: Located in Munchkinland.
Woot's Way: At the same time the Sorceress Maetta discovers that the Ring of Life has been stolen, Woot the Wanderer explores a forest with no name, near the China Country. Intrigued by the lack of name, he soon spots a giant-sized crow flying towards him. He hides from sight and watches as the bird settles nearby and coughs up a ring. As the crow begins shrinking, Woot exchanges the ring with the one Glinda had given him, which could take him anywhere in Oz.
The crow flies off with his ring and Woot moves on. He locates a dark cottage and enters inside. He hears a faint voice and sees a light on the floor. He opens the trapdoor and walks down the stairs, where he overhears a plan to use a ring to bring to life bread-people who will replace Glinda, Ozma and the Wizard. Woot is suddenly spotted by the villain who throws flour on him, freezing Woot in place. He introduces himself as Baker's Dozen, and has 13 fingers and toes. As no one liked his pastries, he found a way to make a name for himself. Placing a ring on the forehead of his baked version of Glinda, he recites magic words and commands her to bring the other bread-people to life. She refuses, however, and flings leaves from her pouch upon him, commanding him to sleep, which he does. She releases Woot from the enchantment, explaining that she's the real Glinda. When Woot's ring was used for a different purpose than transportation, she became alerted that something was wrong, and after finding out, came to the cottage. She sends Baker's Dozen to Ozma for judgment, and informs Woot that the forest is now named Woot's Way.
Continuity Notes
Dating: There are no dating clues in the story, save that it must take place after [The Tin Woodman of Oz](#The Tin Woodman of Oz). The Royal Timeline of Oz has it currently placed in 1977.
Maetta: The sorceress Maetta is from_[The Magical Monarch of Mo](#The Magical Monarch of Mo)_.
Woot's Ring: There is no story showing the time Glinda gave Woot a magic ring.
Jack Pumpkinhead Asks Some Questions: Reprint from [issue #19](#ECM 19).
Issue #36 (Main Storyline): Betsy prepares for her mission to retrieve Jo Files from Oogaboo. When she goes to the Royal Stables to get the Hungry Tiger, however, she finds Hank sad to be left behind, so she invites him along. The three embark upon a fun, but uneventful trip to Oogaboo, reaching it on the third day.
Queen Ann is surprised to see them. While the animals play with the children, Ozga invites Betsy over until Files gets home, at which point Betsy explains the situation and Ozga volunteers to come too, as it's been years since her latest visit and she wants to catch up on the latest fashions.
The next morning the five head out. All goes smoothly until they pass through a forest. The Tiger thinks he hears something and goes to investigate. Suddenly, they hear roaring and find out that the Hungry Tiger's been caught in a net. Suddenly, two seeming big game hunters emerge, excited about their catch. Hank kicks one and Files grabs the other. They promise to let the cat go, and are surprised to hear the animals talk. As they free him, they explain they're Englishmen who'd been in India. They don't hurt any animals, just photograph and release them. They had taken shelter in a ruined temple when a storm broke. When they reemerged discovered they discovered they were lost, though one of the traps they'd set caught the tiger.
They introduce themselves as Cecil Bugginton-Smythe and Cyril Smythe-Fortescue, and agree to accompany the party back to the Emerald City. Along the way, they're amazed at all of Oz's wonders. Once in the Royal Palace, Jellia Jamb offers them all rooms, but the two Englishmen fear they'd best depart after dinner lest their guides get blamed for their disappearance. They tell entertaining stories at dinner, after which Ozma uses the Magic Belt to return them to India.
Continuity Notes
Smythe: Another Smythe, a Von Smythe came to Oz around 1700 ([The Magic Umbrella of Oz](#The Magic Umbrella of Oz)) and proved to be an ancestor of Button-Bright. If these Smythe's are related is a question that has not been addressed, but in Oz it's certainly possible.
How I Got to Oz: Located in Munchkinland.
How I Got to Oz: With a beat pair of skis, Leah takes the lift up to the trail called Dreems Cumtru. After going down the steep slope, she flies off the jump and suddenly watches as the country flies by beneath her. Two hours later, she finds herself in a green country, the Emerald City of Oz! Ozma and her friends come to greet her, and Glinda notes how she'd heard of the magic skis. Leah has an untold adventure in Oz, in which she's made a princess.
Continuity Notes
Dating of Days in Oz: It seems that Ozma, Glinda and the Wizard decided it might be nice to accept a random selection of fans into Oz for a day. For this reason, all of these stories are placed in the same year that The Emerald City Mirror gets up and running.
A Tunnel to Oz: Karyl Carlson, her friend Marilyn, and grandson Sam leave Portland, Oregon on the way to the Winkie-Con in California. But when they go through a familiar tunnel in the mountain, the road veers a different way than it usually does. They stop at a peppermint striped guardhouse where the Soldier with the Green Whiskers says they've been expecting them.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Given that Karyl Carlson is a real person (and the author of [Queen Ann in Oz](#Queen Ann in Oz)), it can be assumed that this happened on one of her trips to the Winkie-Con. Currently, placed in 1996.
Issue #37 (Main Storyline): Billina accompanies Dorothy to ask Aunt Em and Uncle Henry about this "milk of a hen" ingredient that they need to create the vorpal blade. At first they think it's a joke, but then Em remembers the passenger pigeons from her youth. Billina clarifies that unlike passenger pigeons, hens can't make milk in their gizzards. Eureka wants to help, but has no clue.
They go visit Jellia, but she doesn't know and they ask all the maids and kitchen staff, and even check the Magic Picture, but nothing. Later, while resting from all the activity, Billina is greeted by the Gump. She explains the problem they've been having. The Gump has a solution. Back when he was living in the forest, a farmer would give him salt in exchange for watching his children. The farmer had a hen with a glossy coat that he claimed came from her drinking a saucer of milk every day. As she referred to that treat as her milk, the Gump points out that it's truly the milk of a hen.
Excited, Billina tells Dorothy, the Wizard, and Ozma, who orders Billina a saucer of milk. With that, they have all the ingredients, which they only have to send to the Nome Kingdom to be forged by a left-handed nome in the volcano Bendoobious.
Issue #38 (Main Storyline): To help ensure that the Nome King helps them in their endeavor, Tik-Tok suggests bringing Kaliko a magical gift. The Wizard recalls a conversation with the Wise Donkey, who told him of a ruby casket the sorceress Maetta had given the Monarch of Mo. Whenever it opened, it would reveal something never before seen in the world. The Wizard decides to create something similar and later returns with an emerald-studded box. When he opens it, out emerge a hundred three-inch wooden soldiers who perform all manner of amusing tricks and maneuvers. The Wizard winds Tik-Tok and informs him that the box will reveal something different each time it's opened. With the basket of ingredients in hand, Tik-Tok is sent to Kaliko's throne room by means of the Magic Belt.
Kaliko is surprised to see him, but Tik-Tok assuages his concern, explaining the favor they need and presenting the gift, which Kaliko opens to reveal a troop of tiny horses performing various tricks. Pleased, Kaliko agrees to help. The volcano Beendoobius is nearby, but finding a left-handed nome will prove challenging. Kaliko asks Guph, but he responds that all nomes were created right-handed. He remembers Klank, whose right hand was injured ruing a rock-slide in which he saved several nomes. As a result, he learned to use and favor his left hand. Summoning Klank, Kaliko explains what he needs from him. Considering the ingredients, he argues that it will be challenging, but he can forge them into a blade.
Kaliko winds up Tik-Tok's thoughts while they wait for Klank to return. Finally, the nome returns tired but content to have forged a good sword and very sharp. Kaliko says if Ozma doesn't need it when she's finished with it, he wouldn't mind it as a present the next time they need a favor. Ozma then whisks him back to Oz with the Magic Belt.
Continuity Notes
Guph: The militaristic nome Guph had overthrown Kaliko in _[The Red Jinn in Oz](#The Red Jinn in Oz)_and restored Ruggedo in[A Refugee in Oz](#A Refugee in Oz). His presence here as Chief Steward (listed as such in issue #47) points to a much earlier placement for this series. See the dating notes for[issue #41 ](#ECM 41)for more details.
Escape from Hobble: Located in Munchkinland.
Esspy, Mombi, and the Watch Books: Dr. Pipt's maid Esspy is none to pleased to find Mombi at the front door. Looking to get away from her, Esspy finds the Powder of Life and sprinkles it over Dr. Pipt's books. When Mombi bursts in, the books flap and fly at her, causing her to return to her gingerbread house. When the Pipts return home, they credit Esspy for her quick thinking, but explain that Mombi had come to collect her usual 10%. As for the books, they're content to remain perched on their shelves, through Margolette posts a sign "Watch Books on Guard Duty."
Continuity Notes
Dating: Nothing concrete is indicated in the text, but it's clearly prior to[ _The Marvelous Land of Oz_](#The Marvelous Land of Oz)[,](#The Marvelous Land of Oz)but after Dr. Pipt has created his first batch of Powder of Life in 1900, some of which he'd traded to Mombi, and some of which he used to bring to life various creatures, including the Glass Cat. As the latter is not present in this story, it must be assumed that she was out during the time of Mombi's arrival.
Mombi: Why is Mombi collecting a 10% tribute from the Pipt's? Even if the author assumed that the Pipts were living in the Gillikin Country (this appears to be the case when Mombi met up with the Crooked Magician in [ The Marvelous Land of Oz](#The Marvelous Land of Oz)), and the text notes that Mombi lives not far away in a gingerbread house, which has never been identified before. She has a pumpkin-shaped house and a cottage she later moved to, but it's possible she has another residence. Yet, as Esspy's making blueberry muffins, a fruit that grows in the Munchkin Country, it seems the author had the Munchkin Country in mind, which would mean she intended Mombi to have a residence in the Munchkin Country. Now, Esspy calls her a witch, but during this time period, Mombi's not considered a witch or the Wicked Witch of the North (see the first chapter of [ The Marvelous Land of Oz](#The Marvelous Land of Oz)). So, Esspy's designation should be understood as a colloquial one, not a technical one, and Mombi must, therefore, be collecting "her usual ten percent" for something else other than what a ruler would collect. Is she charging them for some kind of magic ingredients, perhaps, that she provides Dr. Pipt? That would appear to be the most logical solution.
Twitch: Mombi has a cat at this time named Twitch.
Watch Books: Where did the Watch Books go? Even though they claim to want to stay on their shelves, they make no attempt to protect the Pipts when they're attacked by the chimera in[Bungle and the Magic Lantern of Oz](#Bungle and the Magic Lantern of Oz). Did they fly to Bookville, perhaps? The Royal Library of Oz? It's anyone's guess.
Issue #39 (Main Storyline): The Glass Cat explains how she accomplished the most dangerous task of all, getting a diamond from the hoard of a Rak, which are the most dangerous mythological beasts. Huge creatures who can defeat dragons, have an internal furnace, and are impervious to magic, Ozma could not even use the Magic Picture to transport Bungle near to the Rak's cave. Ozma sends her a bit further away and Bungle makes her way into the salt-and-pepper smelling passage, where she discovers a pile of gold and jewels.
The Glass Cat selects a large diamond, puts it in her mouth, and proceeds to depart when the Rak returns to its cave and notices the diamond's been stolen. She hides in a narrow cave where the creature's head can't reach, but Bungle has to evade its groping claws. The Rak asks how dare she steal from his hoard, but Bungle clarifies that she's only borrowing it and will return it in a few days. The Rak roars that he's not a library who lends to lesser creatures and will starve her out. Bungle, however, doesn't eat or drink. The Rak retorts that he'll get her in her sleep, but she doesn't require sleep though she'll do so if she gets bored. Since he cannot allow lesser beings to defy him, he will dig her out!
In the ensuing diggings, there is a cave-in, and Bungle takes advantage of an opening to the daylight and races back to the place where Ozma transported her there. Suddenly, she's back in the throne room. After a bath, she tells Ozma the story and they go to the Wizard's lab where the vorpal blade has just been brought back to the Emerald City by Tik-Tok. Bungle suggests they have the head chef, Reeda Voe, sharpen it.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy encounters one of Santa's elves whose sled is broken. With a branch, Dorothy fixes it.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy encounters a pink elephant named Pennelappywhose Tutu has blown away in the wind, and who can't dance without it.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy encounters Taffy, the gooey duck, whose escaped David the Baker, but whose wing has begun to melt in the heat. Dorothy uses her lollipop to repair his wing. Dorothy uses a giant red poppy blossom, which does the trick.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy encounters a hen named Layer whose body puffed up, and can't unpuff until she lays an egg. Dorothy uses a laying machine to help her lay her egg, after which she returns to normal.
Continuity Notes
Additional Queer Meetings: The first nine of these were published in [issue #12](#ECM 12), and another three in[issue #66](#ECM 66). These are all located in Unknown Placement on the[Timeline](Oz%20Timeline.htm#Unknown Placement).
Door-to-Door from Oz: The Wogglebug, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman and Frogman go house to house selling games. Located in Munchkinland.
Issue #40 (Main Storyline): In the Emerald City, Jo Files tests the new vorpal blade for strength and sharpness. The Wizard gives him a sheath that repels unobtanium so that Files doesn't accidentally cut himself or anyone else. As he doesn't know the way, he asks for a guide and the Cowardly Lion agrees to accompany him. The pair camp out the night a short distance from the forest.
The next day, while heading to the cave of the Jabberwocks, a squirrel warns them that a patrol is heading their way. The creature soon spots and descends on them in a clearing, and as he extends his claws to capture them, Jo Files wields the vorpal blade to cut off the creature's claws. The Jabberwock rears back in terror, screaming "Vooor-paaalll!" as it flees.
In one hour they reach the cave and find the Jabberwocks have all fled. With a flashlight, they go inside and find the chained-up animals, who tell them which tunnel the Jabberwocks fled. The tunnel leads to a dead-end. Glinda suddenly appears and explains that so long as the gate from their world was opened, she couldn't close it from this end. Now that they've closed it, she can seal it from here. The Jabberwocks are not skilled magicians, she says, and likely discovered how to open the gate by accident.
Files and the Lion free the small animals first, then the larger ones, then the Kalidahs. The Prime Minister Kalidah expresses gratitude to Ozma for rescuing them, and promises that no kalidah will harm a human who enters the forest unless he tries to settle there. The pair return to the Emerald City, where Files assures Ozma he only trimmed the Jabberwock's nails, and expresses how valiant the Lion was. He requests a marble statue of them fighting off the creature. Ozma says the Wizard will get right on it and declares a holiday in honor of them.
Continuity Notes
Kalidahs: The kalidahs of the forest near the Magic Isle were the ones abducted by the Jabberwocks, and they keep their promise to harm no human unless they try to settle in their woods. Years later, the Shaggy Man passes through their woods in[issue #65](#ECM 65).
Santa Claus and the Nomes: On December 20th, upon discovering one good nome, Kaliko's son, Prince Kalamine, Santa borrows an elf-suit so he can travel amongst the nomes undetected in order to deliver a Christmas present. The next day, the other nomes are surprised to discover he's outwitted them.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Given the fact that only one nome is found to be good in the Nome Kingdom, this would appear to take place before 1905 when the nomes got to hear King Rinkitink's book How to Be Good ([King Rinkitink](#Rinkitink in Oz)). Given its proximity to "[Santa Claus in Oz](#ECM 22)," in issue #22, it made sense to place it just prior to that story.
Santa as Nome: The premise of this story, Santa going undercover as a nome, is based on what Baum wrote of King Roquat in [Ozma of Oz](#Ozma of Oz), noting that he looked like Santa Claus.
Santa Claus and the Nome Hijacking: Santa's first stop to Oz during the holidays is to the Pipts, where he drops off abandoned and misused toys for them to clean, repair and refurbish. This year, however, Santa is mugged by two young nomes who put him inside a giant mug and run off with his bags, unaware that they're filled with broken toys. Santa explains to the Pipts that they'd likely wanted the toys to trade for chocolate in New Bunnybury, and says he has a plan.
Upon leaving the Pipts, he's waylaid again by the nomes, who put him again in the giant mug. This time, they leave the sack of old toys and run off with the new sack, assuming that it's filled with good toys. Mrs. Pipt is amused to note that it's actually filled with chocolate eggs, a clear warning of what will happen to them if they try this stunt again.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Since Dr. Pipt is practicing magic (he shrinks down a tea set for use in a dollhouse), this must be either before [The Patchwork Girl of Oz](#The Patchwork Girl of Oz) (but after [The Road to Oz](#The Road to Oz)), or after Dr. Pipt gets his magic license. As Santa has been visiting the Pipts each year for some time, and the earliest year Dr. Pipt could've gotten a magic license was in 1982, it stands to reason that it's been some years after that. The Royal Timeline of Oz currently places this story in 1992.
How the Wogglebug Went to New York: Reprint from[issue #16](#ECM 16).
7 th Story-Arc: "Shipwrecked: The Royal Wedding of Inga and Zella": issues #41-48
A wedding at sea goes all wrong when a storm comes, taking the Nome King Kaliko down to the very depths of the Nonestic.
Issue #41 (Main Storyline): Dorothy explains how after the recent Jabberwock invasion, a seagull came with a note from Pingaree, announcing the royal wedding of Prince Inga and Zella to take place on January 25th. After the ceremony, they'll be sailing to Rinkitink. Dorothy, Ozma and their friends are all invited. Dorothy considers how those in the fairylands outside Oz age slower than those in the outside world, but they still age.
Ozma says she'll go with her as far as Pingaree, and will leave them with the Magic Carpet so that they can return to Oz afterwards. The Wizard agrees to go, as do Trot and Cap'n Bill, who haven't been on the ocean since before coming to Oz. As Betsy has no desire to see another ocean again, she declines. Button-Bright agrees to go on the condition that he not get lost. Dorothy sends back word to Pingaree via pigeon.
As they prepare to depart, two days later, Ozma gets a message from Glinda informing her that there's a problem in Jinxland that requires their help. The Wizard offers to accompany her, but Ozma says the affair is important, but not that important. Using the Magic Belt, Ozma sends her friends to Pingaree.
Continuity Notes
Dating and Aging: That the residents of Pingaree and Rinkitink are still aging, albeit slower than those in the outside world, presents a very clear case for why the stories in this seventh arc and the eighth (which is connected to this one) have to take place decades earlier than the mid-to-late '90s timeframe when they were published, since by that time the fairylands outside Oz had been given immortality (which was not the case before 1965). Additionally, the marriage of Inga and Zella would very likely not have taken place over a century after they met! Dorothy notes that "people from the fairy countries outside Oz do age slowly � not nearly as fast as people do in America... they don't stay the same age forever the way we can in Oz." Although Dorothy doesn't give us a figure, if it can be said that they age at say half the rate that mortals do, it would take lnga and Zella twice as long to enter sexual maturity. Dorothy says "he was only my age when I knew him." Assuming, then that Inga and Zella are around 12 years old at the time of their adventures (in [King Rinkitink/Rinkitink in Oz](#Rinkitink in Oz)), it would take eighteen years (nine years times two) to age to that of standard 21 year olds. Given that they met in 1905, why then didn't they marry in 1923? While it's certainly possible to imagine various adventures and royal affairs keeping them apart for a few years, it's much harder to envision anything longer than that, particularly since, unlike the Ozites, they can't choose to remain children. The author's originally conceived date of the 1997 (see [issue #55](#ECM 55)) would put Inga and Zella in their 50s (aging half the rate of mortals) when they marry! A better possibility, given that from issue #33 forwards, there's no connection to the previous stories in the Emerald City Mirror, is that these stories took place much earlier than their publication date. While the Emerald City Mirror is being published in the dates listed on each issue, it may simply be that Dorothy and the others have chosen to tell previously untold stories that occurred years in the past. This would account for the reason that Trot and Cap'n Bill say they haven't been on the ocean since before they arrived in Oz, and the reason that the former General Guph is serving as Chief Steward to King Kaliko, a highly unlikely scenario given Guph's betrayals in the early 1940s (in fact Guph is removed from a position of authority some time prior to _[The Wishing Horse of Oz](#The Wishing Horse of Oz)_where another nome is Kaliko's chamberlain). This earlier dating of 1923 also allows the events that occur in Jinxland in this story to be linked to what occurs at the end of [The Gardener's Boy of Oz](#The Gardener�s Boy of Oz).
And the Winners Are...
The Wheeler Creature, The Foozy, The Onkie, The Tifferan: These are small children's descriptions of creatures they invented for a contest.
The Lyrebirds of Oz: Unlike the other entries, this is an actual story written an adult. En route to the Quadling Country, Dorothy is amazed to see gorgeous multicolored birds flying overhead. The Scarecrow explains that they're lyrebirds, whose delicate feathers play extraordinary music that can be heard from miles around, often before sunrise. They also eat harmful insects that cross over from the Deadly Desert, and in that capacity, they keep watch over any impending dangers that might cross.
Continuity Notes
Dating: It's impossible to get a sense as to when this story occurs, save that it's after Dorothy comes to live in Oz, and some time when she and the Scarecrow are making a trip to see Glinda. The Royal Timeline of Oz currently has this in the[Unknown Placement](Oz%20Timeline.htm#Unknown Placement) section until more research can be done.
Billina's Missing Chicks: Reprint of a story contest from [issue #22](#ECM 22).
Issue #42 (Main Storyline): Cap'n Bill describes how upon arriving at Pingaree, they met King Rinkitink, King Kitticut, Queen Garee, Prince Bobo, and King Kaliko, who explains that they trade with Pingaree for their pearls through the country of Rinkitink.
The days leading up to the wedding are filled with feasts, games, dramas and fireworks. The Wizard joins in the fun, conjuring up a purple, singing, dancing dinosaur, which he later confesses would get tiresome very quickly. On the morning of the wedding, everyone dresses in their finest and sits at the front of the auditorium. Zella enters with a dress studded with multicolored pearls. After the ceremony and a toast to the new bride and groom, Zella announces that whoever's sailing to Gilgad should change for the journey.
When they're ready to depart, Kaliko reveals that his wizard Potaroo is unable to transport him back home. Inga invites him to sail with them to Rinkitink, but Kaliko fears that being an earth spirit, his presence onboard will be resented by the water spirits. They reassure him that they're friends with the mermaids, and as the next pearl fleet won't arrive from Gilgad for another six months, he agrees to go with them, concerned that if he doesn't get back to the Nome Kingdom soon, he'll be deposed.
Captain Blevegar introduces himself to his crew and to Cap'n Bill, who he calls Mr. Wheedles, requesting his help at the tiller. Sailing is smooth on the first day, but on the second, a storm arises. Kaliko worries that it's because of him and offers to jump overboard to save everyone, but just then a giant wave cracks the ship in two!
How Jack Pumpkinhead Came to Palo Alto: Located inMunchkinland.
Jack Pumpkinhead Comes to Metuchen: Located inMunchkinland.
Jack Pumpkinhead in Watsonville: Located inMunchkinland.
Eight Tiny Piglets Lost in St. George: Located inMunchkinland.
Happy Doings in Oz: Reprinted from[issue #1](#ECM 1) (and #27).
Issue #43 (Main Storyline): When their ship goes down, Trot uses the ring Queen Aquareine gave her years ago to summon her help. Suddenly finding herself with a tail, Trot is greeted by the sea fairy Clia. Trot asks her to help everyone else, and Clia agrees to make an exception to the rule, giving everyone mermaid tails. The only one missing is King Kaliko, and Clia explains that his presence may be the reason the storm brewed. As Fairy magic cannot affect earth spirits and vice versa, he'll likely sink to the ocean bottom, but as an immortal, he can't die.
The travelers decide to rescue him and find the Wizard's black bag, which also sunk, but Clia warns them that she cannot protect them from the dangerous creatures that swim the ocean bottom. Since Aquareine lost her fairy wand that had protected Trot and Cap'n Bill the first time they journeyed underwater, the others will not be protected. Inga wishes he had his pearls and Dorothy wonders if the Good Witch of the North's kiss will protect her. Regardless of any dangers, they all agree to go, save for Captain Blevegar and his crew. The sea fairy Merla arrives to escort them to the mainland. Clia leads everyone else to the sea bottom, but neither Kaliko, the black bag, or the wreckage are there.
Continuity Notes
Trot's Ring: This is the first time chronologically that Trot uses the ring Aquareine gave her at the end of [The Sea Fairies](#The Sea Fairies). See that entry for the other three times that follow.
Billina's Missing Chicks: Story contest winners from[issue #41](#ECM 41).
Entry 1: Noncanonical: The Wizard's invisibility powder turns the Scarecrow and Billina's chicks invisible.
Entry 2: Noncanonical: The spell for the Wizard's formula to make unappetizing foods taste good ends up sending the Scarecrow and Billina's chicks to the Professor Wogglebug's college.
For the canonical conclusion to the story contest, see[issue #24](#ECM 24).
Issue 44 (Main Storyline): As they search underwater for Kaliko and the Wizard's black bag, King Rinkitink sings a song. But they're soon attacked by the sea devils who release their ink into the water. Although most swim to the surface, they discover that Button-Bright and Toto are missing, and fear the former servants of Zog have captured them. Clia summons help and several mermaids appear. She sends Darina to summon King Anko's aid, while she confronts the sea devils.
The large squid tells her that this part of the ocean belongs to them, but Clia counters that they have permission from King Anko to go anywhere in the ocean. King Anko arrives himself to correct the sea devils, and explain that their permission to inhabit this realm does not give them ownership and that they'd have more freedom if they'd cease causing trouble. Anko clears up the waters and sends word through the waters that all tail-wearing mortals are under his protection. After he departs, Toto appears with the black bag.
King Anko: The giant sea serpent that rules the Nonestic Ocean first appeared in [The Sea Fairies](#The Sea Fairies). Here, he teases Dorothy that Christopher Columbus' name was Christopher Cincinnati.
A Poem About Tik-Tok: Located inPatchwork Parodies & Poems.
Jenny Jump Jumps Into Oz: Located inPatchwork Parodies & Poems.
My Favorite Oz Character: Located inPatchwork Parodies & Poems.
Issue #45 (Main Storyline): Toto explains how he got separated from the group when the sea devils turned the waters inky. As he swam forward to escape, he spotted the Wizard's bag and tries to grab it, but a nearby octopus spots him first, curious about the kind of creature Toto is. Toto says he's a dog, but he doesn't look like any dogfish the octopus knows. Three dogfish soon join them, and identify Toto as a mer-dog due to his tail. Toto convinces them to help him, and leads the octopus away from the Wizard's bag. Just as the creature decides to eat Toto, King Anko's warning sounds out and he releases him. Thanking the dogfish, Toto grabs the bag and departs to find his friends.
Adnilg of Oz: Located in Munchkinland.
Ozma's Surprise Birthday Party: A surprise party is thrown for Ozma for her 82nd birthday. Everybody screams. Located inPatchwork Parodies and Poems.
Jack Pumpkinhead Loses Head: A Stop Press Story: After Ozma dedicates the new Sea Fairy Fountain at Oz Water Park and Water Slides, Jack's head falls into the water basin. In the attempt to rescue it, Tik-Tok, Miss Cuttenclip, the Scarecrow and Glass Cat all get knocked over until the Wizard rescues Jack's head and the five sunfish that have gotten inside the Glass Cat's body.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Unknown. Given that there's a water park (probably located around Lake Quad) seems a more modern invention. Although arbitrary, the Royal Timeline of Oz has placed it in 1996.
Glass Cat: As far as we know, the Glass Cat doesn't have any openings to allow fish inside him, and even if he cracked something, Bungle is solid glass, not hollow. This has to be chalked up to some magical mishap.
Issue #46 (Main Storyline): Button-Bright explains how he got separated from the others and swam along the sea bottom until spotting a shark and veering off. An annoyed moray tells him he's scared off his dinner, so Button-Bright swims up and comes upon a school of tuna who points him in the direction from where they came. After some searching, he comes upon a group of small sharks. As they've heard King Anko's warning to leave the fish-tailed mortals alone, they won't harm him, but King Kaliko is trapped by them and some crabs. Button-Bright grabs Kaliko and swims to safety. Kaliko can barely speak and has no strength to even stand, but Button-Bright guards him until Prince Inga comes along and leads them back to their friends.
The Message from the Blackbird: Rachel Silverman suggests putting a wall in Oz and sending a message than anyone who touches it will turn to a statue.
A Way to Conquer Oz: Patricia Rudolphsen suggests the nome army ride upon a jeweled boat across the Deadly Desert. Once in Oz, leave the army behind, go to the Forbidden Fountain and pretend to drink of the Forbidden Fountain. Then, when everyone's asleep hide the Magic Picture, Ozma, and Book of Records. Before everyone's up put a pitcher of water from the Forbidden Fountain on the breakfast table, so that everyone forgets. Then, summon the army of nomes.
Ruggedo says he received a lot of great ideas that had minor flaws.
How the Nome King and Kaliko Conquered Oz: Jemma Brown writes that Kaliko, forced by Ruggedo to conceive of a plan, convinces a pigeon to do a favor in exchange for a wish. The bird is to fly to Glinda and tell her the nomes are preparing to conquer Oz, and give her a copy of the Magic Carpet that's slower than the real one, which the pigeon should retrieve. The pigeon asks to be turned into a dove, and Kaliko grants him that request. The dove does as requested and returns with the Magic Carpet, upon which Roquat and some nome soldiers take to get to Oz, narrowly missing the Ozites on their way across the desert to their dominion. Once in the Emerald City, Roquat steals magic and puts on Ozma's crown and has his nomes trap everyone inside the palace.
Ruggedo responds that the plan wouldn't work because Kaliko no longer works for him and has no interest in conquering Oz, let alone helping him.
A Way to Conquer Oz: Emma Krueger suggests Ruggedo build a time machine, and ask Generals Washington and Napoleon to help him conquer Oz.
Ruggedo claims he's tried it, and that Washington was too much of a goody two shoes to help.
A Way to Conquer Oz:Daniel Silverman suggests Ruggedo turn everyone in the palace into ornaments. Then throw all of them, along with a giant sack of jewels into the Hollow Tube to prevent Quox from interfering.
Ruggedo likes the plan, but explains that it was the Magic Belt that gave him the power to turn people into ornaments.
Continuity Notes
Ruggedo comments on the above five suggestions sent by fans (for a contest) for how to conquer the Emerald City. The entry "How the Nome King and Kaliko Conquered Oz" is written as a story, but Ruggedo treats it as a suggestion. In issue #48, the story "[The Nome Will Never Learn!](#ECM 48)" has Ruggedo try aspects of some of these suggestions.
Issue #47 (Main Storyline): King Kaliko explains how being a rock fairy means that nomes are denser than humans and sink more readily, for which reason they generally avoid deep waters. He probably shouldn't have come to Prince Inga's wedding, but he'd come to admire the boy's courage when he was in the Nome Kingdom trying to free his parents. Potaroo had admitted that transportation magic is tricky, and requires woofle-dust, which can only be found at the places where the Rainbow's Daughter has touched the ground. Recalling that Polychrome had been in the Nome Kingdom years earlier, Kaliko discovers that Potaroo had collected some back then. Potaroo doesn't think attendance at a wedding is a wise use of the rare substance, but retrieves it. There's just enough for two spells. King Kaliko commands him to use one to send him, and when the Long-Eared Hearer hears that he's ready to come home, to use the other to bring him back.
Thus, he arrived at King Kitticut's palace, and went on to have a wonderful time in Pingaree. Yet, upon announcing that he was ready to return, nothing happened. And again a few hours later. Kaliko, realizing he'd left his Chief Steward Guph in charge, he began to worry, recalling that he used to be in command of the army and might yet have some generals loyal to him. Thus, he boarded the ship to the mainland. After the ship crashed and he sank, he was after awhile surrounded by crabs and sharks. Realizing that immortality doesn't mean staying in one piece, he began to berate himself for coming to Pingaree. Thankfully, he was rescued by Button-Bright and Inga. The Wizard then gave him a bubble of air, allowing him to breathe and move again. Clia asks the party if they wish to tour the undersea wonders, but they decline, and she escorts them to the mainland, upon which everyone regains their normal legs. Soon, they arrive at Gilgad, where they spend the night. Anxious to get back to his kingdom, King Kaliko asks the Ozites if they might accompany him just in case anything untoward has happened in his absence. After Rinkitink has his cook prepare several baskets of food, they set out for the Nome Kingdom.
Continuity Notes
Guph: It's clear from Kaliko's story that he has not yet been betrayed by Guph, necessitating these stories take place before Guph's betrayal of him in _[The Red Jinn in Oz](#The Red Jinn in Oz)_and [A Refugee in Oz](#A Refugee in Oz)(both in 1941)
What If...? Leah Barber story that explores what might have happened had Polychrome not been with the adventurers of [The Tin Woodman of Oz](#The Tin Woodman of Oz). The Tin Woodman, Scarecrow, and Woot return to the Emerald City, where Ozma uses the Magic Belt to bring Nimmie Aimee to them.
What If...? Darrell Spradlyn story that explores what might have happened had not Ozma used the Magic Belt in [Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz](#Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz). The mother dragon of the dragonettes arrives, fully from having eaten elephants. She agrees to help them get to the surface and over the Deadly Desert to the Emerald City.
Continuity Notes
What If: Another exploration of what might have happened had Ozma not used the Magic Belt in [Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz](#Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz) appears in Oziana 1977, called "[What If They Had Taken the Other Path?](#Oziana 1977)"What If...? Jared Botes story that explores what might have happened if Johnny Dooit hadn't built the sand-boat that carried Dorothy and her friends across the Deadly Desert. Eventually, the Rainbow comes to retrieve Polychrome, and everyone hitches a ride on the rainbow.
Issue #48 (Main Storyline): The Wizard explains that because King Kaliko is kindhearted and a good ruler for the nomes, he and the others agree to accompany him back to his kingdom. In case of any trouble, they keep a basket of eggs with them. Overnight, the Wizard has everyone hold hands, then with some tools, powders and magic words, Oscar casts a protection spell over everyone which will keep everyone safe from magical attacks for a week. After completed, they tell stories, and Kaliko tells them of the time he allowed Ruggedo back in the Nome Kingdom, after which he tried to organize a rebellion against him. Although he hasn't heard from Ruggedo in a long time, the Wizard assures him that they have him under control in Oz.
The next day they reach the entrance to the nome caverns. A nome greets Kaliko, explaining how the Long Eared Hearer, who was supposed to hear Kaliko's request to come home, had gone deaf after listening to music in the outside world about rocks and heavy metal. Button-Bright spots something and nearly gets lost, but Toto retrieves him, and Kaliko explains it was a nome lookout, and tells him he shouldn't wander off as he could lost down in the nome caverns forever. Button-Bright promises not to. As soon as they bathe and rest up, Kaliko prepares a huge banquet for them, and honors everyone, especially Button-Bright, to whom he gives a medal and enchanted penknife, which will summon the nearest nome if ever he gets lost or in trouble while underground.
After a few days of relaxation, they say goodbye and head for the Deadly Desert where they use the Magic Carpet to cross it. The Carpet protects them from not only the sands but the noxious gases. Upon reaching Oz, the Sawhorse and Red Wagon await them, and they ride back to the Emerald City.
Continuity Notes
Dating: The idea that the Long Eared Hearer had gone deaf after hearing music in the outside world about rock and heavy metal is clearly a joke about those musical genres. It seems highly unlikely that even the Long Eared Hearer could hear anything in the outside world, but even if he could rock and heavy metal didn't come into existence until the late 1960s (with the term coming into use for certain hard rock bands a decade later).
Magic Carpet: It's explained that the Magic Carpet, which was first utilized in [Ozma of Oz](#Ozma of Oz), not only protects its users from the deadly sands, but from the noxious gases that arise from the sands.
Magic Strength Index: The Wizard indicates that there is a magical strength index rating for the various magic workers. He casts a protection spell that will prevent any magical strength index lower than than seven to affect them. He believes Potaroo's strength is no greater than five. This appears to indicate that the Wizard himself has a magical strength rating of seven.
Ruggedo: Ruggedo is said to be "under control" in Oz. At the time frame in which this story's been place, he is in the form of a stone jug.
Defeating the Nome King: Contest winner Amy Rinkle suggests how to go about accomplishing the title.
That Nome Will Never Learn!: Ruggedo attempts three of the five suggestions made in[issue #46](#ECM 46) for ways to conquer Oz. Reading over The Emerald City Mirror, he considers Patricial Rudophsen's idea and has rebel nomes build a jeweled boat with which to cross the Deadly Desert. The nomes push it into the desert and climb in. Once they reach the Winkie Country, Ruggedo leaves them behind and heads to the Emerald City.
Realizing that it will take a long time to get there, Ruggedo uses Jemma Brown's suggestion to use magic to turn himself into a dove. Flying to the Emerald City, he turns back into himself, and pretends to drink the waters from the Forbidden Fountain while Ojo and Dorothy look on. He feigns forgetfulness and the pair bring him before Ozma.
Taking precautions, Ozma puts on the Magic Belt before going to sleep that night. This prevents Ruggedo from acquiring it, as he abducts Ozma and the Magic Picture, both of which he hides in a cave in a forest outside the Emerald City. Blocking the entrance, he considers making this Patricia his queen or princess. Turning back into a dove, Ruggedo now flies to Glinda's palace, where he disguises her Book of Records as another book, and puts it on a shelf.
Flying back to the Emerald City, Ruggedo decides to employ Rachel Silverman's suggestion and conjures up an invisible wall, which he places along the road to keep Glinda from reaching the capital. Once inside the Royal Palace, he puts the Water of Oblivion in a pitcher on the breakfast table, locks the room in which the Lion, Tiger, and various magical creatures had assembled, and hides the Wizard's black bag. Finally, he watches as Jellia pours everyone the water. But as Ruggedo begins to raid the palace, eggs come flying into the windows at him. Ozma then appears, explaining that she'd been wearing the Magic Belt and saw everything he did in the Magic Picture. Glinda walks in and says she saw through his nome magic and restored the Book of Records. She also easily flew over his invisible wall in her chariot and switched the water he poured into the pitcher. Ruggedo gripes that he should have used Emma Krueger or Daniel Silverman's ideas, and Glinda makes the nomes vanish, concluding that he'll never learn.
Continuity Notes
Dating and Ruggedo: Due to the fact that Ruggedo is directly referencing the authors and their suggestions from[issue #46,](#ECM 46)that locks these issues into the years in which they were published, 1998 and 1999 (the suggestions were published in 12/98). That does not, of course, necessitate that the main storylines are from this time period, but only the individual stories and contests from these issues. Ruggedo is also living in exile in Ev, not in Oz. That he's reading The Emerald City Mirror there would indicate that Ev is getting this Ozian paper, however, the authors of the suggestions are contemporary ones from the U.S., which indicates that this Emerald City Mirror is the same as OUR Emerald City Mirror.
Jeweled Boat: Ruggedo must have had this boat originally constructed a decade earlier in 1984 because he uses it to get to Oz in [A Wonderful Journey in Oz](#A Wonderful Journey in Oz). It may be Kaliko had it dismantled after he regained power, which would explain why he'd have to have it rebuilt.
Magic: The only way any boat, including a jeweled one, could cross the Deadly Desert would be with the aid of magic. Similarly, Ruggedo has some kind of magic to turn himself into a dove, to create an invisible wall, to sneak Ozma and the Magic Picture out of the palace and Emerald City, and transform Glinda's Book of Records into an ordinary looking book. The narrative has Glinda call it nome magic, so it appears that Ruggedo regained his memory of the magic he learned years earlier (in "[Ruggedo and the School of Magic](Summaries%20and%20Continuity%20Notes.htm#Ruggedo and the School of Magic)").
Ruggedo: Ruggedo starts off the story in Ev and comes to Oz. It's uncertain what exactly Glinda does with him at story's end. also means he likely was made to bathe (again) in the Water of Oblivion after this failed attempt, and that he was then again confined to exile in Oz. This also harmonizes with the idea, revealed in the issue #17 story "[How I Spent My Winter Invasion](#ECM 17)," that Roquat and Ruggedo are two separate individuals, as one of them (possibly Roquat) was redeemed years earlier in 1993 in[Dr. Angelina Bean in Oz](#Dr. Angelina Bean in Oz). This Ruggedo then would be the same one living in exile in Oz in [Ruggedo in Oz](#Ruggedo in Oz).
8th Story-Arc: "The Disturbing Disappearances in Oz": issues #49-55
When all the humans (and human-like beings) in Oz go missing, it's up to the animals to figure out what happened and how to fix it.
Issue #49 (Main Storyline): Hank the Mule dictates to Professor Wogglebug the disastrous news that's befallen Oz. It began when the morning Betsy came to visit Hank in his stall in the Royal Stables. Betsy had just returned from visiting the Tin Woodman With Dorothy, Trot and Button-Bright for a few days. They joke about Button-Bright not getting lost for a change, when suddenly Betsy vanishes into thin air. Hank assumes Ozma must have summoned her with the Magic Belt, but he can't imagine what would be so urgent. Hank considers going into the Palace, but he knows that while Jellia is nice about it, she can't be too pleased at the fact that he marks up the floors with his hooves (which is why she puts down runners for big parties). So, he instead sends the Munchkin boy, Nippok, who fills his manger and brushes him. But when he calls to him, he finds his room empty.
Going to next stall, he inquires of the Sawhorse, who saw him go into his room, but not come out. Hank expresses his concern and tells him what happened to Betsy, and the Sawhorse agrees that Ozma wouldn't normally use the Belt for someone in the palace; she'd have sent someone to fetch her. Hank determines to find out what's going on, and as he walks the drive that circles the palace from the stable, he sees no one on the grounds. Entering the kitchen, there is no on about; then going through the palace, all he finds is Eureka. She agrees there's something amiss and dashes off to check. The Woozy walks by, inquiring after Scraps, and Hank explains his worry. Eureka returns with the Frogman, who have discovered that all the humans and human-like beings like Scraps and Tik-Tok are missing.
The four of them decide to see if people are missing from the Emerald City, as well, and indeed, all they find are animals. Finally, the Wogglebug arrives, explaining that his classroom at the College of Athletic Arts and Science was empty, as was the entire campus. Together, they go to check the Magic Picture, where they find the Cowardly Lion, Hungry Tiger, Glass Cat and Sawhorse. But all it reveals is a black screen, and the palaces of Glinda and the Tin Woodman are similarly empty. Thus, they determine that it's up to them to rescue the missing people of Oz!
Continuity Notes
Dating: In issue #50, the Wogglebug notes that Kaliko was rescued from the ocean depths "not long ago," a reference to the seventh story-arc. This has to be seen as historian error (unless the Wogglebug is thinking in relative terms since they live eternally). An internal date is provided in[issue #55](#ECM 55), which places this story an average of 80 years from the time of [The Lost Princess of Oz](#The Lost Princess of Oz). As only Ozma, Glinda and the Wizard are allowed to practice magic, and Ruggedo and Wutz are still in their cacti forms in the Royal Conservatory, the latest this can take place is 1982, and the earliest 1976 when the Dove of War makes his first attempt to abduct Ozma. The Royal Timeline of Oz places it in 1982.
The Royal Stables: Nippok is the name of a Munchkin boy who looks after Hank and his stall, and occasionally does things for the other animals and Sawhorse.
My Favorite Moment in Ozstory: Poem, located in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
An Ozstory Tale: Aranaia's Daughter: Poem, located in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
Issue #50 (Main Storyline): Kabumpo the Elegant Elephant tells of what happened when his Gillikin boy Keedy didn't come to arrange his robes one morning. When he blew his trumpet loud to summon him, no one responded except the rabbit Wag, who was visiting Pumperdink at the time. Wag and Kabumpo search Pumperdink, finding no one, with King Pompus, Queen Pozy Pink, Pompa, Peg Amy and Pajonia missing. In the town outside the palace, there are no people either! Kabumpo determines they must go to the Emerald City at once.
About halfway through their journey, they stop at a farmer's cottage for food and rest. When no one answers the door, they ask the nearby cow. Arabella says that the farmer Grindok gave them extra hay before sunset, but haven't stirred from their cottage since. Wag worries that everyone in Oz has disappeared. Arabella says Grindok is generaous and grants them permission to eat, asking that they open the gate so she can ruminate as well.
Resuming their journey to the capital, the pair are dismayed by how empty and eerie things are, meeting only animals along the way. Finally at the Emerald City, they meet with the animals on the palace lawn, along with Professor Wogglebug and the Frogman. The former explains that Ozma and everyone else is gone. Wag suspects it's Ruggedo, but the Frogman said they checked in on the Royal Conservatory and he and Wutz are still there are cacti. They checked in on Kaliko, and everything is fine in the Nome Kingdom, noting that Kaliko had been rescued "not long ago" from the ocean depths. Kabumpo asks if the Magic Picture can show them whose responsible, but the Wogglebug explains that it needs a more specific designation, else Ozma would have been able to round up all the illegal magic workers in Oz by simply asking to see them. As regards the Great Book of Records, the Sawhorse and Glass Cat return with information.
The Glass Cat reports that the book only said "All of the human beings of Oz have disappeared," but the Frogman reasons that the book would have reported on a human magician if one had been responsible. The Woozy wonders if there are any animal magicians, and the Wogglebug lists the Lonesome Duck, the Kalidah King, the King of the Fairy Beavers, though he doesn't live in Oz, and neither the Lonesome Duck or Kalidah King are powerful enough to have cast a spell of this magnitude. Nor will either willingly help them. The Professor thinks he could use his diplomatic skills, but the Hungry Tiger tells him he's about as diplomatic as Kabumpo, the Frogman or Eureka, and the Lonesome Duck hates the Glass Cat, who mocked his Diamond Palace. The Cowardly Lion and Hungry are too intimidating, while Hank and Wag are too excitable. This leaves the Woozy as their most diplomatic member. The Woozy agrees to try and bring him to the Emerald City. The Glass Cat will guide him to where he lives.
Continuity Notes
Wag: The six-foot tall rabbit Wag made his first appearance in[_Kabumpo in Oz_](#Kabumpo in Oz)[ ](#Kabumpo in Oz)(and chronologically in "[Much Ado About Kiki Aru](#Oziana 1986)" in Oziana 1986). This is his only starring appearance since then.
My Vacation in Oz and the Sand Storm: The author and his family are whisked to Oz where they have fun until the Guardian of the Gates announces that the sands from the Deadly Desert have come blowing into the Winkie Country. Ozma tells him not to worry, and Scraps sings a poem, but the wave of sand soon comes into view. Glinda and the Wizard try several spells, but when they don't work, they run with the others. Finally, Ozma puts on the Magic Belt and wishes all the orks in Oz. Once there, she asks them to blow the sands back into the desert, which they do. Located inMunchkinland.
How I Spent My Summer in Oz: Poem, located in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
Issue #51 (Main Storyline): After traveling some time, the Woozy needs to stop for food and water. The Glass Cat helps the Woozy get the bag of cheese that the Frogman had tied around the Woozy's neck, and after eating, he sips from a nearby spring. But while they had stopped, giant spiders had spun webs around them. Recalling the incident that happened to Dorothy and Ozma (in [Glinda of Oz](#Glinda of Oz)), they try to find a way out, but none presents itself. Bungle realizes she can climb over, but that won't help the Woozy. Finally, a giant spider appears, but upon looking at them she declares that neither would be able to help them keep house, though the Woozy might make for a square meal. This makes the Woozy angry, and his eyes start to flash fire. Bungle says "Krizzle Kroo" and fire shoots out, melting the web around them. The spider backs away, and they dash through.
Heading out again, they soon spot the Lonesome Duck, and while Bungle hides, the Woozy goes over to introduce himself and explain what's been happening in Oz. The duck doesn't care, as he finds everyone boring or annoying, but the Woozy reminds him that it was humans who got rid of the Jabberwocks, who had earlier tore down the Lonesome Duck's Diamond Palace, and Ozma who rebuilt the palace. The Woozy asks if he might return the favor and give them some advice as to what might be going on.
The Lonesome Duck explains that the kind of spell to make everyone disappear is beyond his skill level, but he'll accompany the Woozy if he'll carry him. Following the river that leads to Lake Quad, the Woozy emerges from at sunset, at which point the duck requests sleep. Trotting up to a local deserted farmhouse, they enter. After the duck falls asleep, Bungle comes in and gives the Woozy directions for the rest of the way back to the Emerald City. After the duck awakens, they resume their journey, and after a time, meet up with the other animals at the Royal Palace. There, the Lonesome Duck says he'll try some incantations to see if they can determine who cast the spell.
My Oz Costume: Poem, located in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
The Tin Woodman Costume: Poem, located in Patchwork Poems & Parodies.
Issue #52 (Main Storyline): After the Glass Cat and Woozy head off to retrieve the Lonesome Duck, the Frogman remembers the Lavender Bear and Link Pink Bear from Bear Center in the Winkie Country. Kabumpo inquires why Ozma allows him to work magic, since only the Wizard, Glinda and herself are permitted, but he reasons that it's partly because the Little Pink Bear helped save her from Ugu the Magician, and partly because he only uses it in his own small country. Besides which, Ozma isn't strict with minor magic workers who do no harm.
Determining to go get his help, the Wogglebug pulls out his Atlas of Oz, explaining that they can avoid the Merry-Go-Round Mountains and Great Orchard by traveling south of west. Kabumpo says she'll take the Frogman on her back first thing in the morning. Wag suggests they leave right away, but Kabumpo rebuffs him, explaining that she needs sleep and he need not go. Wag and the others concede, retiring to the Royal Stables.
The next morning, the pair travel along the prescribed path and soon cross the Winkie River, following it for a time until turning west by south until coming to the Trick River, which they follow upstream, where they find a place to ford it. Traveling south of the Merry-Go-Mountains, finally, they come to Bear Center, where they're met by Sergeant Waddle, who leads them to a clearing in the forest where the Lavender Bear comes to greet them. He and Kabumpo introduce themselves, after which the Frogman explains about the missing humans in Oz.
The next morning, with the Little Pink Bear in tow, the Lavender Bear and Frogman ride upon Kabumpo back to the Emerald City.
How Santa Claus First Came to Oz: Button-Bright gets lost on a flying boat which brings him to Oz. Santa, who has a present for him, goes to find him there. Located in Munchkinland.
How Santa Came to Oz: Santa has never heard of Oz until he gets a letter from Dorothy of Kansas. Located inMunchkinland.
The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses: Reprint from the story-contest in [issue #3](#ECM 3). New winning entries were published in[issue #54](#ECM 54).
Issue #53 (Main Storyline): The giant rabbit Wag tells how the Lonesome Duck sent them on missions to retrieve certain items he'd need to determine knowledge about the vanished humans in Oz. Among the necessary items is clover, a silver spoon, a gold nail, twigs from trees in the palace gardens, a rubber ball, and more. That night, the Lonesome Duck announces that they can decide either if their friends are safe, or what kind of creature cast the spell. They opt for the former, and the their friends does his magic, after which he tells them they're all safe, but enchanted.
The next morning, the Lonesome Duck says the can decide either what the enchantment was, or what kind of creature did it. Again, they choose the former, and the duck does his magic. He announces they're unconscious and have been shut up in a dark place, and possibly shrank. The magician is powerful and is keeping him from learning the details. After breakfast and some rest, the Lonesome Duck begins on the next task: identifying what kind of creature did this. At last, he determines that it was performed by a bird! Even the Wogglebug is unaware of any feathered magicians. As the duck requires more rest, the others go about foraging for food, but as they'd come to depend on the humans for their food, lunch isn't as tasty as usual.
After the Lonesome Duck wakes and has lunch, he goes about with the next incantation, determining what kind of bird it is. He discovers the spell was worked by a dove! Toto and some others recall that the magician Ugu had been turned into a dove. With his identity, they call go to the Magic Picture and ask to see Ugu. The Lonesome Duck confirms that he's been using magic, as he can see a variety of items on the floor below him. The Professor can see he's in a tower, possibly in the Quadling Country, given the coloration of the trees. Eureka determines that it's not Glinda's palace. The Hungry Tiger notes that there are fifty or sixty castles and palaces in the Quadling Country, and wishes they could get into the safe to use one of the magical devices stored there, such as the Magic Belt, the Wishing Necklaces, the Silver Hammer. The Woozy tells them that the Little Pink Bear should be able to tell them the combination.
Continuity Notes
Ugu: According to author Paul Dana ([The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories)), "there�s a lot of confusion at the end of Lost Princess, when Dorothy uses the Magic Belt to perform at least two transformations in short order. The text also says that she�s only just learned how to use the Belt. She tries turning Ugu into a Dove of Peace, but he is able to alter the transformation and become a giant Dove of War. Then she tries making him a small Dove of Peace... with her magic and his colliding violently through all this, he splits into two doves � one dove that fulfills Dorothy�s Dove of Peace spell and another that fulfills Ugu�s own Dove of War spell... The dove that escapes in the Dishpan is the Dove of Peace, panicking. This is the dove that Button-Bright and Ojo meet in [Time Travelers of Oz](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories). Meanwhile, the defeated Dove of War conceals itself in the castle and waits till the invaders are gone."
Whereas the reformed Ugu, the Dove of Peace, returned in[ _The Gardener's Boy of Oz_ and](#The Gardener�s Boy of Oz) [The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories), and [The Royal Explorers of Oz: Book 3: Terra Obscura](#The Royal Explorers of Oz), it is the Dove of War who appears in this story-arc. Having failed in his earlier attempt, in "[The Mystery of the Missing Ozma](#Oziana 1984)," (Oziana 1984) he decides upon a more extreme form of conquest here.
I Meet Blinkie: Poem, located inPatchwork Poems & Parodies.
The Undeclared Witch: The author and the Wizard come across a green witch who hasn't decided whether to be good or bad. The Wizard presents several scenarios to help her make a wise choice. Located in Munchkinland.
Dorothy Goes to School: Story-contest reprinted from [issue #4](#ECM 4). Winning conclusions appear in issue #54.
Issue #54 (Main Storyline): The Hungry Tiger explains how he wasn't involved in the adventure to rescue Ozma from the clutches of Ugu the Magician (in [The Lost Princess of Oz](#The Lost Princess of Oz)), as he was visiting friends in the forest, and didn't hear about it until it was over. Now, he knows the old magician is not reformed.
Soon, Kabumpo and the Frogman arrive with the Lavender Bear and Little Pink Bear, and they ask him where he is, and the small bear says he's in the dovecote of the palace of Azarine the Red. The Cowardly Lion remembers being a prisoner there on Red Top Mountain (in [Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz](#Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz)). They all discuss how to go about capturing a dove, but coming up with no ideas, the Wogglebug determines that they'll have to ask the Little Pink Bear for the combination of Ozma's safe. The Lavender Bears calls his companion an oracle, and asks for the combination, but he realizes his mistake when the Little Pink Bear tells them in the form of a riddle. When he asks again for the letters to open the safe, the bear is silent. The others try to puzzle out the riddle: "Hard as a slipper rock, clear as a pool, vain as a peacock, nobody's fool." Eureka suggests they try B-U-N-G-L-E. The Professor tries it, and much to the Glass Cat's chagrin, it works.
The Wogglebug takes out the Silver Hammer and strikes the floor with it. Suddenly, Himself the Elf appears! The Hungry Tiger asks if he can break Ugu's enchantment of all the humans in Oz, but the elf says he can't break the enchantment of other magicians, and promptly disappears. The Cowardly Lion suggests they tri again, and again the Professor strikes the floor with the hammer. When Himself reappears, he commands him to apprehend Ugu and bring him before them. In a moment, he's back with Ugu the dove, who the Frogman quickly grabs before he can fly away. They ask what he's done with the humans, and dove sneers that he's shrunk them and hidden them someplace they'll never find them. Although Eureka recommends squeezing him, the Frogman declines, reminding them that Ozma would not want that. When the dove refuses to speak, the Wogglebug bangs the hammer again, and asks Himself if he can discover where the enchanted humans are. He assents and vanishes. When he doesn't reappear, the Professor bangs it again and tells him to bring them there at once.
Himself returns with a large egg, and tells them not to harm the egg or they'll be destroyed. Ugu mocks that the book he got the spell form didn't have a counter-charm, so they'll be there forever. The Wogglebug asks Himself to bring them a cage to hold Ugu in. They all try to figure out what to do next. The Cowardly Lion says the Magic Belt is generally used for transformation and transportation. The Glass Cat notes that the emerald Wishing Necklaces might do the trick, as Skamperoo had used them for something similar. They ask the Little Pink Bear what the scret of Lorna the Wood Nymph's Wishing Necklaces are, and the bear says they must be worn by someone other than the one making the wish, who must begin counting to six, and blink both eyes. The Hungry Tiger warns the Professor that the wish must be worded precisely.
The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses: Winner of the story-contest "[The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses](#The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses)" from issue #3 and #53: The Hungry Tiger mistook them for fruit and ate them. Consider noncanonical.
The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses: Winner of the story-contest "[The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses](#The Wogglebug Loses His Glasses)" from issue #3 and #53: The Wogglebug retraces his steps, realizing at last that they're still on top of his head!
Continuity Notes
Retcon: This can be made to fit in-between the Division #1 and 2 winning entries from[issue #4](#ECM 4) with the understanding that the Wogglebug refused to believe Dorothy when she told him where his glasses were.
Jack Pumpkinhead Stumps the Wizard of Oz: Reprint of the story-contest first published in [issue #6](#ECM 6) and [#28](#ECM 28).
Issue #55 (Main Storyline): The Wogglebug restricts his vocabulary to tell the story of how they used the Wishing Necklaces to restore all the enchanted humans in Oz. Deciding upon who would wear the necklaces proved challenging, as all the animals (except the Lonesome Duck who flew back to his Diamond Palace) wanted to be the one. The Wogglebug does a counting rhyme, and although the other animals grumble about his methodology, it falls to Eureka to wear the necklaces. They move outdoors to an unoccupied area, and wishes that all the citizens enchanted by Ugu released from that enchantment and restored to where and what they had been at the time of the enchantment. He then counts to six, and Eureka blinks her eyes. Suddenly, everyone poofs back into existence. The Ozites have no memory of being enchanted, but are surprised to find that morning had suddenly become dusk. The Wogglebug goes to see Ozma, whose just as confused as anyone, explaining that she and all the humans and human-like beings, have lost several days due to enchantment, which he and the animals have just broken.
Ozma invites them to tell her the story, but Wag wishes to return to Pumperdink and Kabumpo to escort the bears back to Bear Center. But Ozma says she'll send them back with the Magic Belt. Ozma has the rest come to the throne room, including courtiers and servants, where the Wogglebug tells the tale and reveals Ugu, which the Frogman holds up in his new cage. Dorothy scolds the dove. Ugu explains that he was content for a time, but after so many years grew bored, which is why he began studying magic again. Ozma considers what to do with him. She feels that transforming him into a cactus would be drastic. Scraps suggests the Forbidden Fountain. Ozma acknowledges that while its forgetfulness wore off for Ruggedo (more than once), the Wizard has since learned that the effects of the Waters of Oblivion are temporary for immortals like nomes. Ugu's memories, on the other hand, will be gone forever. Ugu thinks that will be no better than killing him, though the Wizard tells him he'll still know how to do normal behaviors. He'll only forget all of his past life and magic. Ozma says she can give him back his normal body or any body he'd like. Ugu says he'd like a human shape, but not that of Ugu the Shoemaker, who was ugly. He asks to be a handsome boy like Button-Bright. Ozma complies and the Shaggy Man brings him a cup of water from the Fountain of Oblivion. Button-Bright tells the bewildered boy that he's his new brother.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Ugu states that the reason he enchanted everyone was that he got bored after being a dove for 80 years. This would place this story in 1988, 80 years from 1908 when [The Lost Princess of Oz](#The Lost Princess of Oz) occurred, though the author was probably thinking of the latter book's publication date of 1917, and was intending this story to take place in 1997. This latter time-frame conflicts, however, with the other evidence that suggests an earlier date. It's noted that only Ozma, the Wizard, and Glinda can practice magic, though that law softened in 1982, when they allowed individuals to obtain licenses. Because this story is linked to the 9th story-arc, there is good reason to place it in 1982.
Ugu: The Ugu of this story is not the Dove of Peace, who is still around and still reformed by the time of [The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories) and [The Royal Explorers of Oz: Book 3](#The Royal Explorers of Oz), but the Dove of War. For more details about the two doves, see the continuity notes for[issue #53](#ECM 53).
9 th Story-Arc: "A Giant Problem": issues #56-64
Ozma's tour of Oz leads her to release the slaves of Herku, but the giants have other plans.
Issue #56 (Main Storyline): Ozma reveals how after telling everyone what just happened, and introducing everyone to the former Ugu, Ozma declares that she's going to tour the countryside for two to three weeks, since it's been "several years since" she's done so (apart from visiting Glinda), and she wants to visit citizens who've never met her, or who haven't seen her in years. Glinda asks who'll rule in her absence, but most would rather travel with Ozma. As she intends to bring Dorothy and Omby Amby, and the Red Wagon can only seat six comfortably, the others must decide amongst themselves. The Wizard and Glinda agree they should stay behind, and others reason the same. Drawing lots, the others that get to go are Scraps, the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman. Ozma then designates Jack Pumpkinhead to rule in her place, with the Wizard and others to guide him.
Dorothy's happy to go, and and determines to bring a shirt and jeans, as well as a dress in her backpack in case she needs it. Ozma notes that fashions have changed in the last few years due to the influence of their most recent immigrants from the U.S., and the next morning, they head out, Ozma dressed in jeans and a sunbonnet. Deciding it best not to visit the Cuttenclips, they instead head off to visit the Fuddlecumjigs. Ozma advises the Sawhorse not to go too fast. Dorothy recalls her trip with the Wizard, Uncle Henry and Aunt Em just prior to the Nome King invasion, and Ozma's glad he's been "safely transformed for a long time now." The people wave and cheer as they pass, until finally they come to the sign for the Cuttenclips, and stop at an inn. The innkeeper welcomes and his wife feeds them, while the Scarecrow and Scraps play with the village children and Nick Chopper tells them stories. Ozma asks if she can do anything for the innkeeper or his wife, but as they are more than content, they resume their journey.
Continuity Notes
Date: As with his book, [The Glass Cat of Oz](#The Glass Cat of Oz), author David Hulan sets a modern date for this story by having Dorothy and Ozma wearing jeans, noting that modern fashion came into Oz from recent arrivals. This arc is directly connected to the 8th story-arc, which for the reasons discussed in [issue 60](#ECM 60), takes place in 1982.
Emerald City Mirror: Ozma assures readers that despite problems, the Emerald City Mirror will be back on schedule. This has to be understood as a reference to the paper's production schedule in the year 2000 (or 1999, whenever it was actually composed in Oz before being transmitted to the writers and publishers at Books of Wonder), not to the story itself, which from issue #33 on, are older.
Issue #57 (Main Storyline): Omby Amby tells how he polished his green whiskers, put on his best uniform and shoes, and accompanied Ozma and her friends on their journey aboard the Red Wagon. After leaving the inn, they came upon the sign for Fuddlecumjig, a place where the residents are made up of puzzle pieces that tend to fall apart at the slightest provocation. Ozma notes that she's never visited them before, but is glad to note that friendly citizens enjoy putting the collapsed pieces of Fuddles back together. They attempt to arrive quietly to see how they live before they fall to pieces.
Getting close to the houses, they see that they live as most people do. Dorothy points out Larry the Lord High Chigglewitz's house, but as they peer through the window, his grandmother sees them and falls apart. Larry goes next. Scraps thinks they're crazier than she is, and Dorothy thinks it's all fun, explaining that they don't do it out of fear, but because it's who they are. They'll stay together once they're put back together. Omby Amby suggests finding the cook so they can get some food, and soon the Scarecrow finds him in a nearby house. Scraps helps find pieces to fit together, while the others use their nimble fingers to do that. When at last the cook's reassembled, he bows and promises to make a fine dinner. They then put together Larry, who compliments them on being excellent puzzle-solvers and recalls Dorothy from the first time she came. She reminds him that Omby Amby had been with her, but he doesn't recognize the soldier. Omby explains that it was because he'd shaved his beard off during that time.
When they notice Larry's knee is missing a piece, they go looking for it, but explains that happened many years ago, and he expects a bird flew off with it. Ozma offers to replace it, but he warns her that Ozma has banned the practice of magic, except for herself, Glinda and the Wizard. She laughs and introduces herself. The Fuddle bows, explaining that they never leave their city for fear of losing their parts. Ozma introduces the others, and the Lord High Chigglewitz invites them to dine with them. Ozma then takes out her wand and restores Larry's knee and begin assembling Grandmother Gnit. After a pleasant dinner, they make camp before departing for Bunnybury, as Dorothy realizes the citizens of Bunbury have a reason not to welcome strangers.
Continuity Notes
Fuddles: This is the first time since _[The Emerald City of Oz ](#The Emerald City Mirror)_that Fuddlecumjig has featured in a story, and sees the return of Larry the Lord High Chigglewitz and Grandmother Knit. Her husband Grandpa Gnit lives apparently still with the Knit-Wits (Oziana 1987: "[Button Bright and the Knit-Wits of Oz](#Oziana 1987).") That fact that they were once ordinary citizens of Oz explains how they can eat, if not why they physically fall into pieces upon being startled.
The Land of Galsoo: With winter approaching, the Quadling Nep and his red cat Pimpken head one morning to the marketplace on Raspberry Road where Nep wishes to trade his apples, strawberries and raspberries in exchange for a blanket. But along the way, Pimpken discovers a path they'd never seen before stretching forward into the woods. Although Nep is afraid of forests, to please Pimpken, he goes down the path into the silent woods. But after noon, Nep tells Pimpken he's hungry, and she agrees to stop for a rest and food. Pimpken eats some meat she found along the way, after which they resume their journey and come to a fork. A sign points to the left and says "To Forever, land of the Never-ends." A sign to the right says "To Galsoo, land of the Glooms and the Brights." Nep chooses the path to the right.
In the late afternoon, they come to a twelve-foot high marble wall. Nep eats some nearby berries while Pimpken looks for an entrance. She finds two gold signs. The sign on the north side of the wall says "Galsoo: Land of Gloom." Laughing, singing or being happy is prohibited. The sign on the south side says "Galsoo: Land of Bright." Crying, singing sad songs, or being sad is prohibited. Pimpkin hits the sign on the north wall with her tail, which opens to a tunnel. They crawl in.
Entering the Gloom country, they find everything colored grey, with slouching people singing sad songs. Owls cry and cows moo, and so Nep and the cat try to look sad too. They knock on a door of a nearby houses, where a stout woman laments and complains that Pimpken's red color is ugly. They ask directions to Bright, but she doesn't know, so they move on down the road to the bottom of a valley where they can see that Galsoo is a circular, bowl-shaped land, half-grey, half yellow. The yellow side is the Land of Bright. At the bottom of the bowl lie two palaces, one silver one on the grey side, one gold one on the yellow side. In between is a large spiral tower of indeterminate color. They enter the door to the Bright palace, where the king and queen greet them happily. Realizing they'd discovered a new country, Pimpken thinks they should inform Ozma. Nep asks the queen permission to do so, to which she agrees, but notes that they must ask the Gloom rulers, as well.
Entering the Silver palace, the rulers of Gloom glower at them, and deny them permission. The king says that because the Bright rulers said yes, there is a disagreement, and to resolve it they must go before tower, say "the Secret Verse" and enter. There, they'll meet the ruler of Galsoo. Nep and Pimpken obey and enter the spiral tower as instructed. A beautiful and scary voice of indeterminate sex or description announces that "I am the great Conilios of Galsoo. No one has seen me. No one ever will. But I am in this tower. Go. Tell your ruler what you wish." The man and cat bow and depart. After saying goodbye to the Bright rulers, they returned home, where Nep wrote Ozma a letter, explaining what they'd discovered, after which they went to the market the next day to bring home a blanket. They soon became famous for their discovery, though not as famous as Pimpken might wish.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Apart from its autumnal season, it's impossible to know in what year this story takes place. Ozma is clearly on the throne at this time, and as the story isn't tied to any other tale in Oz, it can readily be placed anywhere after 1902. Putting it near the author's birth year, the Royal Timeline of Oz places it in 1988.
Galsoo: Similar to certain other Baumian lands of opposites, e.g., the Pinks and the Blues of[Sky Island](#Sky Island), Galsoo is made up of a Land of Gloom, and it's gloomy inhabitants, a Land of Bright, with cheerful inhabitants, and a mysterious ruler named the Conilios, who no one has ever seen, and whose very nature is unknown. The word "concilios" means council, and, in fact, the rulers of Gloom and Bright, who each have their own tower, defer to Conilios whenever they disagree. The two regions seem to have little to do with one another, and how their situation came about is yet another mystery.
Sockville: When Mark, Cathy, Pamela and Tony Polo come to Oz, they wind up by in a clearing in Gugu Forest (in the Gillikin Country), in a town called Sockville, where they soon discover is the place where lost socks go. This is a reprint from material in Chapter 10 of [The Borrowing Shop of Oz](#The Borrowing Shop of Oz).
Issue #58 (Main Storyline): The Tin Woodman notes that although Omby Amby is not oof much use if they encounter danger, he has his sharp axe. After leaving Fuddlecumjig, Ozma conjures up some tents and chairs for her friends to spend the night, as well as a campfire. She suggests songs, and leads off with a pretty one in her soprano voice, which the others join in on. Nick himself has a tin ear, and was content to listen and enjoy. When the meat people go to bed, Scraps and the Scarecrow enter their talk, while the Tin Woodman stays up to guard camp. He recalls the year he spent rusted in the middle of a forest. In the morning, after breakfast Dorothy recalls the place they met the zebra, and they continue on into the forest, coming to the signs for Bunbury and Bunnybury. The road to the latter is narrow, but the Sawhorse manages to trod it. They reach a high marble wall with a small square door.
Ozma rings the bell. It opens, revealing a barred window, with a white rabbit behind it. Ozma explains that she'd like to see their city, but the rabbit says that without a letter of introduction from Ozma or Glinda, no one can enter. Ozma laughs, realizing her clothes have made her unrecognizable, while Dorothy explains to Bristle (the rabbit, who she met when first she went there) that this is Ozma of Oz. Embarrassed, the rabbit welcomes them in. A door in the wall opens, leading to a small room, where Bristle explains that they must be reduced to rabbit size. The Sawhorse opts to stay outside while the others follow the rabbit to the wall opposite the door, shrinking each step of the way until they pass through.
Ozma and the others marvel at the white marbled beauty of the city, and its richly attired inhabitants. Bristle doesn't believe they've had visitors since the last time Dorothy came, and leads them to the town square, where a large state of Glinda and Dorothy stand. Bristle explains how Dorothy helped the king stop being miserable, which meant that the residents of Bunnybury were made happier as a result. The king then arrives and bows before Ozma, who introduces him to the others. He invites those who can eat to dine with them, and orders Blinkem to bring lunch to the garden. Blinkem says they're expecting rain, so to the throne room they go instead.
Continuity Notes
Bunnybury: The rabbit Bristle says they haven't had visitors since last Dorothy came. This is contradicted by one of the stories in this very magazine. In[issue #25](#ECM 25), the Queen of the Field Mice comes to Bunnybury to speak with the King of the Rabbits. No doubt in the 72 years since the time of [The Emerald City of Oz](#The Emerald City of Oz), there have been plenty of visitors, so this statement, as with other needlessly definitive states that certain authors tend to make, this has to be chalked up to historian error (see also the continuity notes for[The Glass Cat of Oz](#The Glass Cat of Oz) for similar issues).
Tin Woodman's back-story: Here again, Nick Chopper confirms what was stated in "[The Enchanted Tree of Oz](Summaries%20and%20Continuity%20Notes.htm#The Enchanted Tree of Oz)," that he was standing rusted in the forest, before Dorothy, Toto and the Scarecrow found him, for one year.
A Winter Oz Story: Kiki Aru attacks the Emerald City, but Ozma turns him into a snowman, while Button-Bright returns to Oz with his parents. Considered non-canonical and located inMunchkinland.
A Snowy Day in Oz: On December 22nd, there is a blizzard in Oz, which continues for the next few days. Santa worries that it's snowing too hard to deliver presents to Oz, particularly since Rudolph died some years back. Hearing this on a radio in the barn. Toto summons the Winged Monkeys with a spell he heard Glinda use, and asks them to help Santa deliver presents with the use of spotlights from Munchkinlands' new mall. Considered non-canonical and located in Munchkinland.
Santa's Surprise: The Tin Woodman and Scarecrow come into the throne room to announce that a comet is heading for the Emerald City where it will ruin their solstice festival. Ozma looks into the Magic Picture, which reveals that the comet is actually a sleigh pulled by white wolves, while white reindeer drive polar bears who blow horns leaving trails. All are made of snow and ice. The driver, in white fur, is Frostoria, a fairy elemental, and cousin of Polychrome. With her will come snow, so Ozma has the flora and fauna prepared for the cold, along with Cook, Jellia Jamb, and the Town Crier who can tell everyone to dress warmly if they're attending the tree lighting. She and the others make other preparations, including having the Chimney Sweeps bring their own chimneys to warm up the area, and tiny dragons to keep the food warm.
Frostoria arrives, bringing snow, and landing nearby. Ozma lights the tree and greets Frostoria, her cousin, who turns out not to be a Snow Queen, but a stout grandmother wearing a babushka. She greets Dorothy and explains that Santa asked her to bring some snow. She invites them to visit her ice palace on the South Pole. With that, she leaves. Dorothy comments that it was fast, and inquires where all the furs they're wearing came from. The Wizard explains that they come from Sea Tigers and other sea creatures who shed their skins every five years like dragons. Just then, Santa arrives.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Apart from taking place on Christmas, it's impossible to ascertain what year this takes place, but it's certainly after [The Road to Oz](#The Road to Oz).
Issue #59 (Main Storyline): Polychrome explains that, according to the Shaggy Man, rainbows in the outside world are very different than in Oz, where rainbows can happen anytime it rains and the sun comes out. Recently, she danced down the rainbow to a garden in the middle of a tiny city with marble buildings. There she saw it was a city of rabbits, and soon found her friends dining there. Shrinking down to everyone's size, Poly comes to greet the king and say hello to her friends, while the rainbow vanishes behind her. Ozma invites her to come along with them, as they depart Bunnybury, and Polychrome is certain her uncle the Rain King will bring a shower soon enough. Ozma dries off the Sawhorse and Red Wagon and they decide to pass by Flutterbudget Center and Rigmarole Town in favor of Herku, who Ozma says she should have visited years earlier to do something about the giant slaves who live there. Taking out one of Wogglebug's maps, they figure they can travel west, south of the Merry-Go-Round Mountains, crossing the Trick River to get to Herku.
They spend the night at a friendly farmers' home, while Polychrome and Scraps dance in the moonlight. Scraps says she feels clumsy by comparison, but Poly says she's been doing it for thousands of years. In the morning, they move on to a range of hills, and skirt by the Hoppers and Horners and homes of the Tottenhots. Coming to a river, Ozma takes out a small square of cloth which turns into the Magic Carpet. It fords the river as a green bridge and they turn north of west to an uninhabited countryside by a large forest. Scraps announces that they're riding by the Great Orchard, which is near Herku. They sleep in tents again, with Poly only getting an hour or two before dancing again with Scraps, and in the morning, they make it to the walled city of Herku.
The Effects of Letting a Wicked Witch in the House and What Can Be Done to Stop Her: Coo-ee-oh drinks from the Forbidden Fountain, returns to a human, and pays a visit to a boy in California to demand he help her regain her kingdom. Located in Munchkinland.
Escaping From the Locked Room: Locked in his bedroom on the third floor of his house by a witch's spell, Howard Diggs looks for a way out. Taken from Chapter 2 of the book [Helda and the Purple Witch from Oz](#Helda and the Purple Witch from Oz.).
The Mystery of the Tin Woodman's Oil Can: This is a reprint of the story-contest first published in[issue #26](#ECM 26)(with winning entries in [issue #28](#ECM 28)). The winning entries to this re-used contest appear in[issue #61](#ECM 61).
Issue #60 (Main Storyline): Scraps sings to Ozma, reminding her of how short-tempered and strong the Czarover Vig could be. Ozma's certain her wand is protection enough if she needs it. Polychrome reminds Ozma that she's not dressed for a state visit, and she and Dorothy agree it's best to change. After doing so, they arrive at the gate, which the Tin Woodman pounds upon. A row of giant heads appear above the wall, and Nick tells them that Princess Ozma has arrived to pay a royal visit. Fifteen minutes later, the gates roll back and the Sawhorse drives threw the row of giants on either side, wearing gold collars. Dorothy reminds everyone that the zosozo is what gives the skinny-looking humans their strength, and what keeps them in charge.
The Czarover's palace is in the city center. After dismounting, Ozma explains to the palace guard that she's come to meet one of her subject rulers. They're escorted to meet Vig in the throne room, but he objects to being called a subject. Nick clarifies that this is Ozma of Oz, and that just as Vig is subject to him, Emperor of the Winkies, so too is Vig is subject to Ozma. The Czarover says he's ruled Herku for over a hundred years, and this is the first time anyone's referred to him as a subject, but that he doesn't care so long as he's left alone to rule Herku. Ozma says that so long as her people are peaceful, she generally allows them to do as they please. Vig then invites them to lunch, during which he discusses the history of Herku, explaining that they lived in fear of a tribe of savage giants. He invented zosozo, which allowed them to conquer the giants. Fearing that if they only drove them off they would terrorize some other country, they made them slaves. Ozma asks how he'd feel if she sent them someplace where they could do no harm, and Vig assures her that that would be fine since they've only kept them to prevent them harming others.
Vig then tells his major-domo to remove the gold collars from the giants and sends them off with warm wishes. When giants discover they're to be freed from Herku, they ask who will feed them, and Ozma tells them they can feed themselves as she's bringing them to a fertile valley in a remote part of Oz.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Due to the fact that Vig allows Ozma to take all of their giant slaves, this story must take place after the visit to Herku in [The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3](#The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3: Zim Greenleaf of Oz), in which Zim Greenleaf, Tip, Royal, Scraps, the Scarecrow, Tim Woodman, Aleda, the giant Orlando and Dorothy go to Herku to free Orlando's mother and husband. At that time, Vig had never released any giants before, and agreed to sneak out Orlando's mother on the grounds that they do so at night, knowing that the other giants might want their freedom as well.
Herku: This is now the the third time that Dorothy, the Sawhorse, and Scraps have visited Herku. Their first visit was in[_The Lost Princess of Oz_](#The Lost Princess of Oz)[,](#The Lost Princess of Oz) and the second time was in [The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3](#The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3: Zim Greenleaf of Oz). For the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman, who were also on that latter adventure, this is their second visit. Although this story doesn't reference this second trip, it doesn't contradict it either.
[ Birthday Magic](#ECM 60): The author visits Oz on her birthday. Located in Munchkinland.
How the Polos Got to Oz: When Tony Polo opens up the packet of pictures from last Christmas, he's surprised to find it's not of them, but of people from Oz. This is a reprint of material from Chapter 3 of James Fuller's book [The Borrowing Shop of Oz](#The Borrowing Shop of Oz).
One Day in Oz: Reprint of a story published in[issue #31](#ECM 31).
Issue #61 (Main Storyline): The Sawhorse isn't happy to be giant by huge giants, but he obeys Ozma, leading them north to a part of Oz he's never been in. After Ozma creates tents for her and Dorothy to change into traveling clothes, the giants are surprised by her use of magic. The group keeps just right of the Great Orchard, allowing the giants to pick fruit on their way. Omby Amby wonders if they'll return, but Ozma says that if they don't, she can cause a magic field to push them back out of the forest. Dorothy marvels at this, but Ozma explains that Lurline taught her some additional fairy powers the last time she visited with her. Had she known of these powers, she'd have used them to stop the Flatheads from approaching the Skeezer's lake.
They soon come to Gloma's Black Forest, where Dorothy reminds them that although it seems gloomy, the realm appears quite beautiful after one has ducked in the black waters inside the forest. Neither Nick, the Scarecrow or Scraps care to do so. Ozma says they can visit Gloma after they settle the giants in their new land. To rest for the night, Ozma conjures up the usual tents, as well as some giant ones, along with big cauldrons of stew and giant spoons and bowls. Later that night, the Sawhorse could hear them muttering. He approaches the Scarecrow with his concern that the giants are happy about being free. The Scarecrow hopes they're just tired from the journey.
The next morning, Ozma prepares a breakfast repast for everyone, but when she turns to take care of the tents, one of the giants takes her wand while another seizes her. Nick raises his axe to defend her, but another giant grabs him. The Sawhorse runs south as the giants grab the others, while Dorothy vanishes into the Black Forest. Once Polychrome reaches him, the Sawhorse bolts full speed back to the Emerald City, where he summons the Wizard. He suggests the Sawhorse go see Glinda, while he checks the Magic Picture. Polychrome stays there.
Continuity Notes
Gloma: The Good Witch of the West made her first appearance in [The Wishing Horse of Oz](#The Wishing Horse of Oz). Given that the latter story first occurred nearly sixty years earlier, it seems highly improbable (and needlessly restrictive) for the author to claim that Gloma never came to the Emerald City and that no one ever came to visit her. Considered suspect and under investigation at this time.
The Mystery of the Tin Woodman's Oil Can Part II: The Tin Woodman gathers Scraps, Professor Wogglebug, and the Scarecrow, but when he accidentally kicks Toto, he begins to cry and soon rusts, leaving the other three to solve the mystery. They decide to ask Omby Amby, but he doesn't know where it is. They ask the Magic Picture who stole the oil can and it shows them Jack Pumpkinhead. En route, they avoid the Itsy Ants and approach Jack, who says he thought it was fertilizer for his pumpkins. With the winning entries in [issue #28](#ECM 28) considered canonical, this is considered noncanonical. Located inMunchkinland.
The Mystery of the Tin Woodman's Oil Can Part II: Arlo and the Tin Woodman head off to find the Scarecrow. Meanwhile, Jack takes the missing oil can to Tik-Tok, thinking he needs it because he's not moving, and begins squirting him all over. When he runs out, Tik-Tok still can't move, so he heads back to the Tin Woodman's castle to look for a spare. On the way, the Scarecrow, Nick and Arlo spot him, and notice that his head is melting in the heat. Arlo begins scooping some up for a pie. Jack explains that he needs oil for Tik-Tok. At his home, the Scarecrow picks a new head for him, and it's then that Jack realizes that what Tik-Tok needed was a good winding, and they head back to Nick's castle. With the winning entries in [issue #28](#ECM 28) considered canonical, this is considered noncanonical. Located inMunchkinland.
Issue #62 (Main Storyline): Jack Pumpkinhead describes his time ruling the Emerald City while Ozma's away. A delegation of Munchkin farmers bring a complaint against the farmer Divoq, who unlike their blue corn, bluebells, blueberries and bluegrass, has planted a field of yellow pumpkins, which destroys their color scheme. Divoq explains that he simply loves pumpkins, and that they bring sunshine into his life, which is otherwise blue. The Munchkin farmers retort that that's how one should feel in in the Munchkin Country, and that it's a fine feeling. After some arguing, Jack invites Divoq to emigrate to the untilled fields near his own farm in the Winkie Country. Divoq had never considered that, believing that since he was born a Munchkin he was required to remain one. Jack explains that he, the Emperor of the Winkies, and the Scarecrow were all born or created in different lands. Divoq decides then to pack up and move immediately.
Another morning, Jack got a case in which a Quadling man named Tonden says he was visiting Jondon in the Emerald City, only to find a lock on his door, with him refusing to let him back in. He complains that that goes against the spirit of Oz as a land of love. Tonden explains that Jondon's visit has been going on for 20 years, during which time he's done nothing to help around the house. They are hospitable people, but would like to be so to someone besides a lazy Quadling. Jack asks if Tonden ever lived on the south side of the Trick River. He has, and Jack recalls Scraps and a Scarecrow once met a lazy Quadling there. Tonden explains that he got tired of his wife nagging him to work, which is when he went to visit Jondon and his family." Jack rebuts that the law of Oz is to behave yourself, and that includes consideration for one's host. "It is the duty of a good host to make his guests feel at home. It is the duty of a good guest to remember that he is not." Jondon has well fulfilled his duties as good host, but Tonden has failed in his duties to be a good guest. Jack suggests he return to his wife and resume his duties, and if he does not, word will be circulated throughout Oz that no one is obliged to offer him hospitality. Tonden departs angrily.
A young woman enters the throne room next. She objects to Jack calling her dear, as he doesn't know if she's deserving of that term, and goes on at some length to describe the reasons she might not be. Yet, others walk away whenever she appears. The Shaggy Man recalls the kind of speech she uses, as does the Wizard, and they soon try to ascertain whether she's from Rigmarole Town. In a very longwinded way, she explains that she's a Gillikin and has never heard of it. Jack recommends that she go there, as she'll be welcome by those who are like her, and Shaggy ushers her out of the throne room.
When the Sawhorse and Polychrome arrive with the news of Ozma's capture by the giants, they go to the Magic Picture and find that five of them are in a camp by the Black Forest, but Dorothy is not among them. The Wizard comes up with a plan.
Continuity Notes
Lazy Quadling: Tonden first appears in The Patchwork Girl of Oz. He must have left his wife in 1962.
A Day in Oz: When Emma and her cat Marmar trip and fall through a window they end up in Oz, where they meet Dorothy and Eureka, play games, talk, and eat. Marmar asks Glinda if she can become a human for a few hours. Glinda obliges and she does. They make a trip to Ev to meet the king, his mother, and brothers and sister. After dinner, Marmar becomes a cat again, and Glinda sends them home, where they discover no time has passed since they left.
A Day's Visit to Oz: After summer vacation begins, Daniel Y. Silverman receives a letter from the Wogglebug, signed and sealed by Ozma, to visit Oz. His mother thinks it's a trick by a kidnapper, but Daniel goes upstairs and recites the magic word, causing the Good Witch of the North to appear and escort him to Oz. They go to visit the Scarecrow at his mansion, Glinda at her palace, the Tin Woodman at his palace, and finally the Emerald City. After a feast, he utters the magic word and returns home to his angry mother.
A Day in Oz: On Glenda's birthday on March 24th, Glenda's friends send her to Oz. There she meets the famous celebrities and has a wondrous day.
Continuity Notes
Dating of Days in Oz: Other stories like this were published in issues #31, 33 and 36. It seems that Ozma, Glinda and the Wizard decided it might be a nice idea to accept a random selection of fans into Oz for a day each. For this reason, all of these stories are placed in and around the time that The Emerald City Mirror was up and running, but outside of the main storylines. The idea of bringing people from the outside world to visit Oz was apparently discontinued.
Issue #63 (Main Storyline): Dorothy explains how she'd stepped into the Black Forest to see if the spell from years ago, allowing her to see the forest for what it was, still worked. It did, and it also meant she was away from the giants when they made their attack. The giants attempted to go into the forest, but were unable to see anything, so Dorothy proceeded in to find Gloma's castle uncertain of where exactly it lay. At last she comes upon a tall black forester, and she asks to be taken to Gloma. He seems doubtful, but she explains that General Blotz had dipped her in one of the streams long ago, which allowed her to see in the forest. He then realizes she must be Dorothy and escorts her into the wall that surrounds the castle, and Dorothy revisits the beautiful black garden in the center of which sits Gloma flanked by two black leopards and ten tall foresters. Gloma greets her and offers her help, as Dorothy explains about the giants and tells her plan to darken the forest where the giants are holding Ozma and the others captive. Gloma instructs General Blotz to go with Dorothy and six of his best men, while she prepares the Powder of Darkness and puts it in a box that Dorothy can control.
The plan proceeds and in the giants confusion at the sudden darkness that surrounds them, Dorothy goes to free Ozma while the other foresters free the others. The forester that had met Dorothy went to free the Tin Woodman, using the blunt side of an axe to hit the giant holding him. With everyone free and inside the Black Forest, Dorothy closes the box and the darkness dissipates. Although Ozma can't see in the forest, she thanks her rescuers. The foresters ask if she'd like to see, and she and Omby Amby agree to be dipped in a creek. Once they do so, they're amazed at the beauty of the forest. The non-meat creatures decline getting wet, and are content to the follow the others blindly to the castle, where Gloma feeds those guests who can eat.
An Ozzy Halloween: Poem, located inPatchwork Poems & Parodies.
Costume Halloween Party: Ignacio J. Paz explains that when he dressed up as the Wizard for Halloween, the mask wouldn't come off and everyone thought he was an old man.
Issue #64 (Main Storyline): Glinda tells of how she read an entry in the Great Book of Records that said "Ozma has a giant problem." Just then, the Sawhorse appeared, explaining what the entry meant. She sends him back to the Emerald City while she prepares a spell to show her the land outside the southwestern part of the Black Forest. There she sees her friends captive of the giants. She decides upon a spell to freeze the giants, but after preparing the ingredients, she returns to find the image is all black and she figures out that Gloma must have gotten involved. Once the darkness resolves, she casts her spell, freezing the giants. After that, she takes her swan chariot to the Black Forest just as the Wizard arrives upon the Sawhorse. The Wizard says he wanted to use a Stasis Spell, as well, but was out of a key ingredient. Dorothy leads her friends out of the forest, explaining how Gloma had helped. Ozma wants her wand back, but Glinda is reluctant to shrink the giant against his will, so Nick Chopper hoists up the Scarecrow, who retrieves the wand.
Glinda opines that the Herkus were right to keep the giants in subjection since they don't appear to want to be good citizens. Scraps suggests taking them back, while Omby Amby advises building a wall around the place they were taking them. Ozma disagrees with both suggestions. The Scarecrow thinks they should be shrunk to normal size or smaller so they couldn't do harm. Then he has a thought, and wonders aloud if they really are ordinary sized people who were magically transformed into giants. Ozma uses her wand with a Word of Power to see if this is the case. The wand emits a certain bell-like tone which confirms that they are enchanted. Glinda, the Wizard and Ozma have the non-meat people back off just in case the spell affects the Powder of Life that brought them to life, and they begin. Suddenly, they begin to shrink to their original form, the size of the Munchkins Dorothy first met when she came to Oz. They're not happy about it, but explain that the Wicked Witch of the West transformed a tribe of Winkies that she deemed lazy. Her intent had been to use them as muscle, but they refused to take orders from her and ran away, where they were captured by the Herkus. Ozma tells them she'll leave them in this plain where they can plant and build homes, and will even provide food from the royal storehouses until they're self-sustaining. With the adventures over, everyone returns to their respective homes.
Continuity Notes
Giant Slaves: As revealed in [The Law of Oz and Other Stories](#The Law of Oz and Other Stories), the original 24 Herku giant slaves were Herku citizens enchanted by the Yookoohoo Grandma Natch, but they would have had no memory of this, or any event prior to the Lurline's enchantment of Oz. The giants in this story include those captured by the Herkus years later, after having been transformed by the Wicked Witch of the West. It seems reasonable that the original 24, not knowing their origins, took on the origin story of these giants. Other giants that the Herkus enslaved include Orlando's mother from [The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3](#The Seven Blue Mountains of Oz: Book 3: Zim Greenleaf of Oz).
How I Would Spend a Holiday in Oz: Kasey Kopp is brought to Oz and given a wish, which she uses to come to Oz every Christmas Eve.
How I Would Spend a Holiday in Oz: On Valentine's Day, Aaron meets Dorothy and Ojo, whose visiting the Outside World for the first time. He doesn't much care for New Jersey and wants to go back, but Aaron asks if he could come. Dorothy grants this and he gets to meet all the famous celebrities in the Emerald City, as Dorothy tells Ozma about Valentine's Day being a celebration of love. The Scarecrow grows morose, as he has no heart and there is no day celebrating the brain, but Ozma reassures him that he doesn't need a physical heart to love, and for his benefit introduces Einstein Day the next day to celebrate the brain.
Continuity Notes
Dating: As with the "A Day in Oz" stories published in issues #31, 33, 36 and 62, these must take place prior to the time they were published and during the run of the Emerald City Mirror when Ozma and Glinda thought it might be nice to allow a random selection of Oz fans to visit for a day.
Happy Doings in Oz: Reprint of a story published in issues [#1](#ECM 1), #27 and #42.
10th Story-Arc: "The Purple Peril": issues #65-71
Gillikin thugs threaten peace with the Munchkins along the border when mysterious blue flowers show up in the North lands.
Issue #65 (Main Storyline): The Shaggy Man explains that although he has a nice suite at the palace, he likes to roam. He helped Jack Pumpkinhead during the time Ozma was away, but upon her return, Shaggy was ready to travel again. Filling his pockets with Square Meal Tablets, he says his goodbyes and heads out to the Gillikin Country. He comes to a sign that warns of Loonville. Shaggy recalls that the Scarecrow, Nick and Woot once went there, and decides to investigate for himself. Coming to a clearing he finds a community of round, light-bodied people, and recalls that they're akin to animated balloons, but hostile. Returning to the path, Shaggy wonders where to go. West to the Winkie Country is well-known to him. North goes to unfamiliar territory, but he doesn't feel like crossing rivers. East goes to the part of the Munchkin Country where most of the food for the Emerald City comes from. Choosing a path northeast, he walks until sundown, then rests for the night.
Shaggy wanders for the next three days, not paying attention to directions, and winds up near the mountain where Dr. Pipt once lived. He chooses to stay in the Gillikin Country and comes to a forest, where he hopes to find interesting places and adventure. What he finds is a kalidah. Luckily for him, the kalidah asks if he wishes to settle in this forest, and he tells him no. The kalidah reminds him of the time years ago when the humans saved the kalidahs from the Jabberwocks, after which they pledged not to harm any human unless they try to settle in the forest. Relieved, Shaggy asks direction, and the kalidah advises him to go upstream. As he does, the Lonesome Duck warns him not to step on his Diamond Palace. The Shaggy Man hadn't met him before and though finding the rude duck amusing, moves on to the Magic Isle and beyond. But Shaggy is puzzled to see a wide track of blue flowers. The Glass Cat suddenly surprises him, and remarks that it's going to spark problems.
Continuity Notes
Dating: Takes place right after the[9th Story-Arc](#ECM 56). Shaggy leaves as soon as Ozma returns from having disenchanted the Herku giants. The reference to the Jabberwocks is from the [6th Story-Arc](#ECM 33). This is the final story-arc of the Emerald City Mirror.
Location Confusion: While skirting the border of the Gillikin and Munchkin Countries, Shaggy claims to have passed the mountain where Dr. Pipt once lived. This is because the author/narrative follows the erroneous placement of Dr. Pipt's home in the north Munchkin Country on the Martin-Haff map, as opposed to the south where the majority of evidence points to it being. The easiest way to reconcile this is to say that Dr. Pipt had a home in the north and south Munchkin Countries.
Catalina's Wish: Princess Catalina of Nekoosa, a country of cats and cat-people on the border of the Winkie and Quadling Country, explains that long ago her parents, the rulers of Nekoosa, refused to pay tribute to the Wicked Witch of the West. They were punished by being dropped into the Deadly Desert. The witch then made Nekoosa invisible to those outside of it. It's residents became trapped within their own small country. They are aware of events in the rest of Oz, as the witch ensured they would see it, and one day the Oz books appeared in each house.
Then one day, recently, the Magic Belt suddenly appeared in Catalina's chambers. She wasn't sure at first what it was, but taking a guess, she wished to see what Princess Ozma was doing, and suddenly her mirror showed her. She has her advisor Carson summon all of Nekoosa's citizens to the castle. The next day, when everyone has gathered, she lets them know that finally, after two centuries of confinement, they'll be able to rejoin the rest of Oz with the help of the Magic Belt. She then wishes for the curse on the kingdom of Nekoosa to end once and for all. The sky shatters above them, as if a snow globe were breaking, and suddenly, they're free.
Continuity Notes
Dating: There is no explicit date given, other than the date Princess Catalina disenchants Nekoosa, which is 200 years from the time the Wicked Witch of the West turned the kingdom invisible and inescapable. The Royal Timeline of Oz has placed this latter event in 1800 and the time of this story in 2000.
Nekoosa: Nekoosa is a kingdom of cat people located on the border of the Winkie and Quadling Countries, an area that is largely unexplored. Apart from the cat people, the other residents of Nekoosa are cats of all shapes and sizes. Apart from the fact that the former king and queen refused to pay tribute to the Wicked Witch of the West, it's not known why she treated this kingdom and its rulers so harshly. She had the king and queen thrown in the Deadly Desert, and then made the kingdom invisible to those outside it, and inescapable by its residents. As this country was in the southern part of the quadrant, it's not known if Gloma, who ruled as Good Witch of the West, knew of their plight. Gloma was in power in 1871, but there's no indication of how long before that she ruled the southern quadrant. She was ruler by right of succession, so one or both of her parents might have been ruling at the time. If they were not as powerful as she, they might have lost territory to the Wicked Witch of the West during this period, which would explain how Mordra had control over Nekoosa, and why she was so harsh to the southern Winkie kingdoms.
M.A. Returns Home from Oz: With the Fred the Cab Horse having thrown a shoe, the Shaggy Man away, and a strong dislike for bubble transport Margaret Ann Buckholt wonders how she's going to get back home to her husband. Aunt Em tells her not to fret, but with Ozma away, Ma doesn't know what to do. When Dorothy shows up, Em asks her to use the Magic Belt. She obliges and gets home in time to order pizza.
Continuity Notes
Margaret Ann Buckholt: or Ma, is the name Margaret Berg (or M.A. Berg) uses to refer to herself, noting in the intro that the "name has been changed to avoid interviews by the press regarding her visits to Oz." The other adventures of Ma in Oz are awaiting publication.
Issue #66 (Main Storyline): The Glass Cat tells how she'd been visiting friends in the Forest of Gugu before deciding to cross over into the Munchkin Country to see the mountain where she'd been brought to life. Traveling through the Kalidah Forest, she came to the Munchkin River and followed it downstream when she saw a dozen young Gillikin teenagers, a rarity in Oz, as most either stayed young, or grew past their teen years into adulthood. A few choose to stay as teenagers, but the Glass Cat doesn't care for them, and this noisy group qualified. Upon spotting Shaggy near the Magic Isle, she informed him that they were not going to like seeing blue flowers in what they consider their territory. The pair move out of sight so as not to draw attention, but when the Lonesome Duck flies by, the boys notice the blue flowers and grow angry. Shaggy emerges to try and deflect their anger, claiming it's probably magic, but the largest of the boys disagrees, believing that Munchkins planted their flowers on their turf. Shaggy points out that the type of flowers are normally purple, and that something turned them blue, but the boy thinks they were probably breeding them blue for years. Shaggy asks the Glass Cat to inform the Wizard and Ozma about it, but the boys say they don't need them. They're the "Purple Peril," and will handle it themselves. The Glass Cat takes off anyway.
Reaching the Emerald City by sundown, Bungle discovers from Jellia Jamb that Ozma and the Wizard are visiting Glinda with Dorothy and Scraps, and the Scarecrow's in charge until tomorrow. She tells her what's transpired and both agree that teenagers rarely pay attention to good sense. In the throne room, she encounters Cap'n Bill and the Wogglebug, as well, and explains what she and Shaggy encountered. As the land belongs to the Kalidahs, who don't care about colors (the Wogglebug thinks they might be colorblind), it's unlikely it was an act of malice. More important is to stop the Gillikins from picking fights with their Munchkin neighbors and find out why the flowers turned blue. As the matter is urgent, the Scarecrow decides to delegate rule to Cap'n Bill, while the Glass Cat suggests he take the Woozy to the Magic Isle.
Continuity Notes
Nationalism: It's interesting that from a sociological perspective, it's the teenage gangs from both the Gillikin Country, known as the Purple Peril, and the Munchkin Country, known as the Blue Devils, who express nationalistic anxiety over flowers from one country growing on their side, intolerance towards outsiders, rash behavior, and violence. The only others to express this combination of negative traits are the bizarre and irrational insular kingdoms spread over Oz. Most human communities, however, are free of this, and it's likely for this reason that the Glass Cat proclaims her disdain for teenagers. The issue of borders is brought up in [Dr. Angelina Bean in Oz](#Dr. Angelina Bean in Oz), and finally settled in that year, so that by the time of[Ozallooning in Oz](#Ozallooning in Oz), there are recognized transition zones in between some quadrants.
The Glass Cat: It's again reiterated here that the Glass Cat does not like the name Bungle and that her friends refer to her simply as "Cat."
Polychrome: Poem, Located inPatchwork Parodies & Poems.
The First Friend: Essay on why Andrew Dusing finds the Scarecrow his favorite character in Oz.
Dorothy Goes to School: Reprint from issues [#4 ](#ECM 4)and 53.
Issue #67 (Main Storyline): The Scarecrow tells of how he and the Woozy made good time to the Magic Isle, where the Shaggy Man has been waiting, whittling a branch (a habit the Scarecrow doesn't understand). He greets and tells them the teenagers had camped there, then took their raft the next day and floated down the river some hours ago. The Scarecrow wants to follow, but the Woozy tells him he has to eat first. The Woozy agrees to eat some square meal tablets (though he's not crazy about them). Saying goodbye to Shaggy, whose going to continue his wandering, they head downstream into Munchkin Country.
Soon enough, they come upon the Purple Peril arguing amongst themselves. The Scarecrow greets them, but one of the boys calls him a "weird stuffed guy" and the Woozy a "square freak." The Scarecrow reminds them of who he and the Woozy are, and that he's in charge of Oz while Ozma's away from the capital, but another boy retorts that no one rules the Purple Peril and that he's never heard of any Scarecrow. The Scarecrow concludes that these are the rudest people he'd ever met. Deciding, from his blue clothing, that he must be the Munchkin who planted the blue flowers, they attack him. The Scarecrow tries to warn them, but they ignore him and beat him up. One boy suggests burning him, at which the Woozy warns them that Ozma will turn them into maggots if they do so. Their leader Chandar decides against it, so they consider tying him to a tree and un-stuffing him. Another boy, Darfur says it won't buy them enough time to find some more Munchkins to rough up, so Chandar decides to dump him in the river. The boys cheer as they toss him in the river and the Woozy plunges in after him, but the Woozy is unable to get him to shore without drowning himself, and opts instead to go for help.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy comes across a bug named Rainbug whose mood just broke. Dorothy gives her some cake, which improves her mood.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy encounters a purple duck named Bobo dancing in the middle of the road because her magical pond has gone dry and she needs to swim in it before she can lay her chocolate eggs. Dorothy gives her a jar of magic water that she pours over his wings while saying the magic words. With that, she can lay her eggs again.
A Queer Meeting on the Yellow Brick Road: Dorothy meets a talking book named Bookie, whose come flying down the road. The book is angry because his cover broke. Dorothy takes out some tape and tapes the cover. The book thanks her and continues on his way.
Continuity Notes
Additional Queer Meetings: The first nine of these were published in [issue #12](#ECM 12), and another four in[issue #39](#ECM 39). These are all located in Unknown Placement on the[Timeline](Oz%20Timeline.htm#Unknown Placement).
Talking Books: There are several of these in Oz, from the Bookman of The Gnome King of Oz, to Bookville in [_The Hidden Valley of Oz_](#The Hidden Valley of Oz)[,](#The Hidden Valley of Oz)to Dr. Pipt's flying Watch Books in "[Esspy, Mombi, and the Watch Books](#ECM 38)" in issue #38.
Billina's Missing Chicks: Reprint of a story contest from [issue #22 ](#ECM 22)and 41.
Issue #68 (Main Storyline): Note: This issue was incorrectly numbered issue #67. Trot arrives at the throne room to find Cap'n Bill in charge. He's worried about the Scarecrow, who doesn't have any experience with teenage boys. Trot notes that most in Oz don't. Cap'n Bill does, since most of his crew in years gone by had been teenagers, and he wants to leave Trot in charge while he goes off to see if the Scarecrow needs help. But as she wants to go with him, as well, so Cap'n Bill appoints Jellia Jamb. At dinner Betsy and Button-Bright volunteer to accompany them too.
In the early morning, they take a basket of food that the cook Reeda Voe had packed for them, and they head to Lake Quad where Cap'n Bill has a sailboat. Trot takes control of the windbag the Wizard made for Cap'n Bill's boat, which lets them to sail where they want regardless of the wind. The boat races down the lake to the mouth of the Munchkin River through the green country and into the Munchkin, passing by the Wogglebug's college, villages, farms and woodlands. After lunch the river turns west and they slow down to keep an eye out for the Scarecrow, Woozy, or a gang of boys. They spot the latter first, and the group taunts them as being "little kids and an old dude," but as they're wearing Munchkin colors, Cap'n Bill ignores them and sails on. Finally, they spot the Woozy who runs over to tell them what's happened and show them where the Scarecrow sank.
How the Wogglebug Went to New York: Story reprinted from issues [#16](#ECM 16)and 40.
Issue #69 (Main Storyline): Betsy tells how she and Trot changed into swimsuits and along with Button-Bright jumped in the water to rescue the Scarecrow. After some splashing, they dived down, but despite the clean water, they don't see him. They swim upstream and split up to widen their range. Finally, Betsy catches sight of the soggy Scarecrow. Calling Cap'n Bill over, he considers what kind of knot to tie so that they can best bring him up. Trot decides to try a bowline around him, and they soon pull him up. The Scarecrow thanks them and tells them to throw his straw into the water, as it has crawfish and other river creatures that belong in the water. Cap'n Bill agrees with that idea, and the others go about rinsing out his clothes and boots, and putting them in the sun to dry. The Scarecrow wants to be stuffed again, hoping to get oat straw in the farm country, but as there's a nearby patch of clover, he agrees to let them stuff him with that. But when the Woozy discovers it's made up of six-leaved clovers he warns them not to pick it after all.
Billina's Missing Chicks: The Scarecrow and chicks go to the Land of Invisibility. Located in Munchkinland.
Billina's Missing Chicks: Part II: The Wizard thinks a spell he was working on went wrong. Scraps informs them that the Wizard did a Switcheroo spell, and Ozma, Jack, Shaggy, Dorothy, Jellia, the Scarecrow and Nick are really the chicks, while the chicks are scattered about the palace. A demonstration with chicken feed proves her point. They gather up the chicks and people and go to Glinda.
Continuity Notes
Dating: See[issue #22](#ECM 22).Additional entries appeared in issues [#24](#ECM 24)and [#43](#ECM 43).
Retcon: For the first canonical conclusion to the story contest, see[issue #24](#ECM 24). For entry #2 in this issue to also work alongside it, it should be understood that at the end of the latter story, the chicks and Scarecrow began acting strange and ran off.
Switcheroo Spell: This is the third time a switcheroo spell goes wrong, the first was in [The Magic Bowls of Oz](#The Magic Bowls of Oz); the second in fourth story-arc (issues #27-32):[The Transference of Spirits](#ECM 27).
Issue #70 (Main Storyline): Button-Bright explains how he warned everyone about the Purple Peril hooligans he heard coming. Betsy and Trot hid the Scarecrow and themselves as the Gillikin teens approach. In a commanding tone, Cap'n Bill tells them to pull ashore. When they do he instructs them to go back to their homes and stop disturbing the peace by trying to pick fights with Munchkins. They complain about the Munchkins planting blue flowers, but he counters that he doesn't care otherwise they'll get on his bad side. When Chandar calls him "some old one-legged gimp," Cap'n Bill grabs him hard on the spot between the neck and shoulders, causing the boy to cry out. When another boy complains, he does the same thing to him.
The boys capitulate to Cap'n Bill wishes, asking to make camp there for the night. He agrees, but when a band of Munchkins come along singing, they grow irritated. Bill reinforces his command and goes off to deal with the Munchkin teens. He warns them about the other gang of kids and tells them that as Ozma's representative he's there to prevent a fight. They're called the Blue Devils and their leader Tosc worries that it will look like they're backing down from the Gillikins, something they don't do, but Cap'n Bill reminds them that what they're doing is obeying the law. They ask him if they can make camp there for the night, which Bill allows on the promise they don't go further upstream. Cap'n Bill determines to make his camp in-between the two groups to keep them from getting tempted to cause trouble.
The girls return with the Scarecrow, stuffed from the wheat straw of a mattress in a nearby cottage, not ideal for the Scarecrow, but better than nothing. Cap'n Bill makes a campfire and they settle down to eat. Just then, Tosc arrives and asks if his group can sit with them. Cap'n Bill allows it on the promise that they stay on the downstream side of the fire. He goes off to inform his friends, just as Darfur comes to ask the same thing. Cap'n Bill doesn't thing it's a good idea for both of them to be so close to each other, but since he's fair, he says it's ok so long as they promise to stay on the upstream side of the fire.
The Munchkin boys arrive and settle to eat their can of pork and beans that were growing nearby. Tosc hands a sandwich to Cap'n Bill, but this angers Chandar whose just arrived with his group, and thinks they're buttering up Cap'n bill. He throws a soft tomato at Tosc. One of Tosc's friends then throws a handful of beans back at Chandar, and in seconds, food goes flying everywhere!
The Frogman Teaches Me Biology: An Epic Tale of Knowing Your Insides: Poem, Located inPatchwork Parodied & Poems.
Streetlamp Meeting: Coming home from school Friday afternoon and failing to pay attention, Whitney walks headlong into a streetlamp and drops her books. She hears laughter behind her and turns to find a familiar girl dressed in gossamer looking at her. The girl remarks that mortals are very stressed-out these days. Whitney is different in that she hasn't lost the spark that most teenagers do, even if she is as daft as most. Whitney explains the pressure she's under with Finals approaching, but the girl says this is the problem with mortals, always running around obsessed with the future and being ready for the world. Whitney finds her speech strange and asks who she is, but the girl takes her hand and flies her up into the sky!
Thought startled and scared at first, Whitney marvels at the beauty of the world from above. The girl has them land, but when Whitney recalls that she left her books behind, the girl suggests she take some learning pills from Wogglebug's school, and gives her hints as to who she might be. Whiteny hopes she won't be like Rumpelstiltskin, but the girl's never heard of him. The girl begins dancing in the air, and at last she realizes who she is. In a recent assignment, she had to draw her favorite character from her favorite children's book. She drew Polychrome. The two properly introduces themselves. Too soon, the Rainbow comes to collect his daughter, but rather than be parted, Polychrome brings Whitney with her.
Dating: That the protagonist is the author, and a teenager points to a date in the three years leading up to 2002. The Royal Timeline of Oz places it in 2001.
Issue #71 (Main Storyline): Cap'n Bill explains that although the other boys weren't that bad, Chandar was a real troublemaker. Cap'n Bill jumps up and loudly shouts, but not before Chandar throws another overripe tomato. At that, Cap'n Bill grabs him hard. The boy says he'll behave, but the former sea captain doesn't believe him. His friend Darfur suggests they tie him up to make sure he behaves. Button-Bright grabs some rope from the boat and Darfur helps tie up his friend, assuring him that he's doing it for his own good. Cap'n Bill then orders both groups to go back to their campsites, warning them that the Scarecrow will be keeping watch.
Nothing happens that night, and the next morning Cap'n bill announces he'll be escorting the Gillikins back to their country so they don't start anything. The Scarecrow decides to take the Woozy back to the Emerald City. Cap'n Bill instructs the Munchkins to head away from the Gillikin border, and Tosc says he'll obey, though they'd wanted to explore other parts of Oz. Cap'n Bill suggests they either visit the Emerald City or go southwest. The boys like the idea and head southwest, singing as they go. Cap'n Bill heads to the Gillikin group and finds Chandar still tied up. Darfur says he'll untie him later and that they won't make trouble, though they're still curious why blue flowers were growing in Gillikin Country. Cap'n Bill suggests the Wizard will figure it out, but it's probably magical.
They find out, however, when they sail upstream, following the Purple Peril up the bank. There, on the Magic Isle is Glinda and the her swan chariot. She'd read what had happened in the Great Book of Records and came to see if any assistance was required. Cap'n Bill notes that it was just a food fight, but when Chandar and the others walk up, Glinda unties him, and says something must be done about him, so magically puts a steel-barred cage around him. When he complains, she says he's behaved badly and will deal with him. Cap'n Bill asks if she can figure out why blue flowers are growing here. After making passes with her wand, she concludes that it's the Magic Isle. After the Magic Flower was taken away years ago, the wicked magic festered without an outlet, and eventually made its way under the river to start a new enchanted trap on this patch of land. So that it doesn't develop any further, she determines to get rid of it once and for all. The spell was cast by a nasty Gillikin witch called Aunt Gentian, who the Good Witch of the North defeated years ago, long before the Wizard came to Oz. Then, drawing a diagram in the ground and chanting in an unknown language, Glinda removes the evil spell, manifest as a red glow, and destroys it. Turning her attention to Chandar, she gives him an option: come with her and serve as gardener's assistant for five years until he grows out of his teenage years, or be sentenced to the Fountain of Oblivion. The boy says that neither is what he wants, but he'll go to her palace. With that, they fly off...
Witches: In the Gillikin Country, long before the Wizard arrived, the Good Witch of the North defeated an "ingenious" and "very nasty" Gillikin witch named Aunt Gentian, who was responsible for creating the changing flower that lured people to the Magic Isle, where they shrank to nothing. Even with the flower removed ([The Magic of Oz](#The Magic of Oz)), the wicked spell found another way to manifest years later until at last Glinda destroyed the spell once and for all.
When I Met Mombi: A hot-air balloon trip takes a grandmother and granddaughter to Oz where Mombi kidnaps the girl to ransom for the Silver Shoes. Located in Munchkinland.
