Red Shoes and Kansas Blues: Chapter Three

Hiccup panicked. Should he admit to his crime? Should he deny it?

Could he deny it, considering he was standing right over the dead body?

" I...I-I....i didn't-"

" And you're wearing the ruby slippers! You must be some powerful magician- intent on destroying evil! Or maybe you're some farmer gone mad with lust for revenge, and you've finally fulfilled it! GASP- i forgot to ask! Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?"

The kid suddenly look scared, shaking where he stood as his imagination got the best of him. He couldn't decide whether the teen in the dress was the good guy or some sort of inexplicable evil.

" ..? Witch? I'm not a witch! But....who are you? And who's this..Warlock?" Hiccup asked, feeling himself shaking a little too.

" I'm Jamie, Jamie Jingles. I'm one of the Munchkins- just down over there, behind the trees. The Warlock's name was Pitch Black, and he was a tyrant in our country. Now that he's gone- that means you have to be our ruler!"

" Me?! I don't know anything about ruling a country!! My house just fell out a' the sky and i'm in a lot of pain! I just want to go HOME!"

Hiccup realized he'd started crying. The 'munchkin' in front of him gave him a pitying look.

" Don't cry, mister witch. Maybe Glinda can help you!"

" Glinda?" Hiccup asked, wiping his eyes with his hands.

" She's another witch, like you. She's very powerful, and she's very nice. I bet she could help you to get home to....um..?"

" Kansas."

" Canvas. Got it. Follow me!"

Toto jumped to Hiccup's arms. The teen snuggled his cheek against the dog's soft fur and took a deep breath.

" Yeah- we're not in Kansas. I'm not even sure we're in America."


He took tentative steps in the dirt, following after the tiny boy.





.....





The Munchkin village was entirely blue. Everything- the grass, the flowers, the homes; blue. The people were dressed from head-to-toe in blue, with little silver bells that jingled as they walked. A small group of the munchkins were like Jamie- only slightly smaller than Hiccup. The rest looked like little fairies- they were all different hues of blues and green and pinks. They were beautiful to look at as they fluttered around, dressed in satiny little blue dresses.

Upon seeing the teen, swarms of the little fairies circled around Hiccup, chattering on about the pretty hue of his blue dress and how charming he looked. He gave them a shy smile, and they complimented on what a 'pretty mouth he had'.

" Don't mind them," Jamie told Hiccup, " They migrated here from Glinda's country- they're Quadlings who wanted to be Munchkins. So they moved here, with us full-blood munchkins." Jamie gestured to the group of what looked like children. One of them, around four or five, came speeding from the group and launched herself into Jamie's arms.

" Hiya Soph!" He turned to Hiccup, " This is my sister, Sophie Sprinkles. Sophie? This is...wait, what's your name?"

" Hiccup." The teen said softly, absent-mindedly stroking Toothless' head.

" This is Hiccup. Go say hello."

" Hello!" Sophie giggled, wrapping her tiny arms around Hiccup's lower leg and looking up at him, " Have you seen my mommy? Jamie says she went in the woods- and she hasn't come back yet. Did you see her?"


Hiccup's face fell, and he quickly faked a smile, " N-no, no i haven't seen your mommy. I'm sure she'll come home...come home soon."


" I saw Mr.Pitch take her. I don't know where he took her. Will he take me there too?"


Hiccup knelt down and put his hands on her tiny cheeks.


" No. No. He won't take you anywhere. He won't take anyone anywhere....not anymore."


The pained heaviness in the air was quickly banished by some sort of inexplicable joy. A sweet voice rung out, and Hiccup turned to see it's owner.


" Are you the new witch?"


She was beautiful. She resembled the little fairies, with colors of blue, green, pink, and yellow. She had wings that were an ever-so-slight pink, and her dress was a frilly pile of pink feathers that resembled a ball gown. Her eyes were a lovely magenta. She held a wand in her right hand.

Hiccup quickly got to his feet, shaking again.

" I-i'm not a witch at all, i'm Hiccup, from Kansas!"

" Is this Kansas far from here?"

" I don't know...i don't know where 'here' is. I crash-landed in a tornado."

" Your side!! Were you hurt??" She exclaimed, putting a hand to his wound. Hiccup winced.

" It's...it's nothing."

" It is most certainly NOT nothing! You need medical help! Luckily me and my little darlings are quite adept at wound care. Baby Wand! Gather 10 of your sisters and meet me in the medicinal cottage!"


Before he could protest, Hiccup was pulled away from the crowd that had gathered, and rushed through the streets of Munchkin-land by the beautiful woman.





His adventure was only beginning.