(Bonds of Friendship)
*December 21st, 1900*
*Emerald Palace*
Jack Pumpkinhead stood in front of Rosy and the rest of the army while holding the wishing pill in one hand as he vowed to handle Jinjur's army; however, he decided to plead with them before using his trump card.
"I-I won't allow you guys to harm my friends ever again! Mombi is also tricking you guys as well and once she kills my mother then she'll do the same to you guys.." Jack Pumpkinhead had pleaded to Rosy and the rest of the army while Flora laughed rather loudly at his statement.
"Tricking us? The good Mombi will never do such a thing! She had promised us that Jinjur would remain Queen of Oz while she would simply become her bodyguard and advisor, So the one that's tricking us is YOU but we don't have time to waste on someone like you anyways since you are already arriving on death's door" Flora had spoken back in a rather cruel tone of voice while motioning her hand for the rest of the army to attack Jack Pumpkinhead while Tin Woodman quickly began to speak out.
"Jack! You can't reason with them! I believe that Mombi has also used her magic to brainwash them so they can't be reasoned with! You just gotta fight and also find a way to undo the brainwashing!" Tin Woodman had cried out to his friend while trying to fend off some of Jinjur's soldiers who were attacking him while Jack Pumpkinhead nodded his head in understandment.
"I-I see! I guess I have no choice! Wishing pill! Please give me the power to hold off Jinjur's army!" Jack Pumpkinhead had spoken back while finally taking the wishing pill as he began to count to seventeen by twos which made Rosy laugh.
"Have you gone insane?! You truly believe such a silly pill is gonna save you and that bucket of scraps? You must truly have a death wish or something?! Well! No matter, I shall finally end things, once and for all.." Rosy had spoken out in a rather smug tone of voice as she slowly began to prepare an attack from her hands while smiling rather cunningly.
"NOW DIE!!!" Rosy had cried out in rage as she unleashed the magic that was given to to her by Mombi as the beam was heading towards Jack Pumpkinhead.
Jack Pumpkinhead quickly deflected the blast as it was sent flying back thus hitting Rosy as it sent her flying back until she crashed into a wall which surprised her.
"Like I said, I shall fight for my friends! I don't care what happens to me at this point!" Jack Pumpkinhead had spoken out in sheer motivation while this had surprised the girls as they were confused on what just happened.
"W-What!? Where and how did he become strong all of the sudden?! He's practically almost dead yet he still..." One of the girls had spoken out in confusion while they could see Rosy slowly getting back with an angered expression on her face.
"Girls! You guys handle Tin Woodman while I handle this creep! We can't let Jinjur and Mombi down! We gotta attack with everything that we have!" Rosy had commanded the army as the girls nodded their heads and quickly focused their sights on Tin Woodman as they charged towards him as Jack Pumpkinhead quickly ran after them; however!
"Don't worry about me! I'll handle them! You take care of Rosy and Flora!" Tin Woodman had cried to his friend while he was met with a nod of understandment from Jack Pumpkinhead as the lad had finally focused his attention on Rosy as her eyes were filled with fury.
"You men are always overzealous and confident! It's so darn annoying! That's why I'm gonna enjoy tearing your little pumpkin face LITTLE BY LITTLE!!" Rosy had spat out in anger.
She quickly dashed towards Jack Pumpkinhead with such speed while managing to grab him before slamming him across the palace with such force as this caused him to be sent flying before crashing into a stack of dishes.
"You don't realize that Mombi is the bad one! She just wants to usurp the throne from Jinjur and conquer the Emerald City and the rest of Oz for herself, DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT!!" Jack Pumpkinhead had cried out to Rosy while dodging each of her attacks with quick succession as despite his new powers, he still didn't want to harm her.
"That's all lies! Jinjur would have noticed through her lies by now! You're just jealous that a woman finally has power in Oz, aren't you?! I'm so sick of you men always thinking you guys are better than us?! Who brought you into this world?! HUH?!" Rosy had cried back in anger while finally landing a blow on Jack Pumpkinhead's skull as mushes of pumpkin slowly dripped from his head; however, the lad refused to give up.
"I-It's because Mombi is good a-at h-hiding things. She's taken advantage of you and everyone's desire for a good change and turned it into something evil. I understand that you want a woman like Jinjur in charge and there's nothing wrong with that but you can't just force that change but rather wait and why? Because my mother, Ozma shall become the next ruler of Oz..." Jack Pumpkinhead had finally responded back while slowly getting up as the pumpkin mush slowly dripped off from his head.
"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT THE HELL UP!!!" Rosy roared in anger while quickly firing her gifted witch powers towards Jack Pumpkinhead as this caused him to collapse on the ground; however. She wasn't done with him yet as she walked towards him.
"It seems that you are at death's door, any last words?" Rosy had spoken out to Jack Pumpkinhead as she could her opponent slowly getting back up which made her eye twitch.
"Mother, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Woggle Bug, and Glinda, Thank you for everything. I feel like I'm at death's door and if it wasn't for my head expiring than It's me dying to protect my friends.." Jack Pumpkinhead had thought to himself as he knew his time was nearing its end; however he still refused to give up as he quickly used his arms to create giant branches in hopes of keeping Rosy at bay.
"Now what are you trying to do?! Whatever it is just know that It's hopeless!" Rosy had spat out in annoyance as she destroyed the branches that were coming towards her; however, Rosy didn't notice the branches that were above her as it successfully captured Rosy which angered her.
"Y-You Little.." Rosy had spat out once more as she could see Jack Pumpkinhead looking rather weak as the once lively pumpkinhead was now nearly gray and moldy.
"You shall stay here until the battle is over but please know that Mombi is tricking you, You, Flora, and the others aren't bad people but rather misguided. I hope that you guys can find peace..." Jack Pumpkinhead had spoken out for the final time as the room was covered in branches which was quite a beautiful site despite the situation while Rosy could see Jack Pumpkinhead slowly molding away as his body had stopped moving.
"Goodbye, Mother, Goodbye Scarecrow, Goodbye Tin Woodman, Goodbye, Woggle Bug, and Goodbye, Glinda, I love you all so much..." Jack Pumpkinhead had thought to himself for the final time as he had finally passed away due to his battle injuries and him expiring as well while his body collapsed into the ground with only his body remaining.
"That fool..." Rosy simply uttered out as she could do nothing and remained pinned to the wall until the battle was over; however, she felt a twinge of guilt within her.
*Mombi's Throne Room*
Ozma and Mombi were battling it out as it was quite tense as the both of them were in high tensions.
"You are holding back, aren't you? You don't want to kill me but rather imprison me, eh? I know the daughter of King Pastoria and Queen Lurline can't be weak?" Mombi had asked Ozma while she waited for an answer as Ozma eventually began to speak.
"Yes, If I wanted to than I could easily destroy you right here and than but you are failing to realize that I don't want to kill you despite everything; however, if it came down to your death meaning everyone in Oz is safe than I won't be afraid to land the killing blow" Ozma had responded back as this made Mombi cackle rather manically.
"Oh really? The power to blow me away? NONSENSE! If you want to see power like that than I'll be your guest!" Mombi had spat out once more to Ozma while quickly charging towards Ozma with such speed; however, Ozma dodged the upcoming attack.
"Take this!!" Ozma had cried out while firing an attack towards Mombi; however, the old hag managed to dodge it before smiling once more.
"Let's see if you can dodge or take this attack, my witchcraft is far more stronger than yours..." Mombi had spoken out to Ozma once more while opening her mouth to fire a huge attack as the blast quickly came towards Ozma's direction.
"C-Crap!!" Ozma simply cried out as her eyes widened in surprise while she quickly used her arms to block the attack as this proved to be helpful since she was able to fend off the blast until it dispersed.
"Now It's my turn, Old Mombi!" Ozma had cried out with a smile.
Ozma had quickly dashed towards the old hag witch such speed before delivering a mighty blow to her face while also delivering a slew of attacks towards her chest which caused Mombi to cry out in pain as the evil witch had fallen below the palace eventually landing in the exact same location where Jack Pumpkinhead had sadly passed away.
"Y-You impudent brat!" Mombi had spat out while looking up to see Ozma descending towards her with a serious expression on her face while Rosy watched everything.
"M-Mombi!? Is that you?! What happened.." Rosy had asked the witch in a tone of curiosity before quickly being silenced by Mombi.
"SILENCE!! Once I'm done with the brat then you and your little friends are next! I do appreciate you for forcing that pumpkinhead to give his pathetic life so maybe I'll just turn you into a marble statue.." Mombi had spat out to Rosy in a tone of anger and happiness as Rosy's eyes widened in shock as she had realized that Jack Pumpkinhead was right all along and to make matters worse, Ozma had heard those words which had made her eyes widen.
"W-What do you mean?! Jack Pumpkinhead can't be dead! He can't!" Ozma had spoken out in denial while quickly running towards his destroyed body before noticing a seed in what was his head which caused her to cry.
"I-It's all my fault. I should had told Jack Pumpkinhead to stay with Glinda and the others and now he's dead, he was my friend..." Ozma had quietly spoken to herself once more while silently sobbing and mourning for her dead friend; however, Ozma knew that she must continue to fight for the sake of her loved ones as she placed the seed into a safe place and locked her eyes into Mombi as her eyes were filled with fury,
"Pathetic? The only person who's pathetic in this room is you! You've stolen my life! You tried to kill Dorothy! And now you are mocking my friend?! Jack Pumpkinhead was my amazing friend and I won't tolerate you slandering his name!" Ozma had cried out to Mombi in righteous anger while tears flowed down from her eyes as she and Mombi had quickly resumed their battle while Rosy could do nothing but watch.
*Emerald Roads*
Scarecrow and Woggle Bug were riding Sawhorse as they were heading towards the Emerald City alongside Glinda, her army, and Gump.
"Don't worry! We're coming! Just hang tight everyone!! We shall be there in less than ten minutes!!" Scarecrow had cried out while also feeling Sawhorse picking up speed as the once motionless creature was now traveling at marvelous speeds out of sheer motivation to save his creator and friends and now!
The final stage for the fate of the Emerald City was now officially beginning.