Scarecrow now it's time to hatch.
The Wizard of the Bandom
A/N: This part is dedicated to Pantanamo/Amelia for her dedication
Mikey walked along the path and watched the flowers shrink in height until they were fairly normal sized. The forest of bright florals turning into a feild near a meadow. The meadow trailing into a sea to one side of the path. Mikey wasn't sure how long he'd been walking by now, but Hemingway just kept trotting along and time lapsed peacefully.
That was until a large splash of water flew up and completely soaked Mikey's hoodie. Hemmy ran to the side of the path, that was lined with an old boat dock, and barked down into the water. Mikey cautiously peered over the edge, he saw a flash of something shimmery and then another splash. Disgruntled, Mikey looked around to see the water pooling out slowly in rings where...whatever that was dove back under.
"Sorry about Brendon." Mikey practically fell into the water jumping back from a large post he hadn't noticed. On the post was what could only be a scarecrow. It's arms and legs were tied in the regular position for one anyway. It was made from old scraps of fabric, it's face covered in paisleys and a very confused expression, "Or..I think he said his name was Brendon..."
Something flashed in the sunlight and a head popped out of the water, spitting a mouthful of the salty sea in the scarecrows direction, "Of course it's Brendon, and you're Ryan!"
"I am? ...I am." The scarecrow-Ryan nodded. A smaller splash came from Brendon's direction, that's when Mikey saw his tail, which positively glittered just below the surface. Mikey was beginning to think something might be wrong again.
"So that's Ryan, I'm Brendon..who are you and what is that?" Brendon asked pointing to Hemingway.
"I'm...Mikey and that's Hemmy." Mikey replied cautiously, Brendon's eyes widened to the size of the moon.
"I've never seen a ...Hemmy before!"
Ryan tilted his head down to see Hemingway sniff at his post and said, "I think I might have..maybe...I don't remember...."
"Ryan never remembers anything! It's like getting to meet someone new everyday when I come and visit..."
Mikey frowns, "That's terrible."
"Yeah kinda! So what are you doing here?" Brendon switches subject again.
"Oh...I'm...sort of hear by accident, I think I killed a witch and now I'm going to find, " Air quotes, " 'The Wizard' so I can get back home...." Brendon's eyes widened again and he gaped like...well, a fish.
"Ryan, he's the witch that killed Ash! Oh my gosh, you should take Ryan with you to The Wiz! I bet he'd be able to help Ryan remember anything! I wonder if it hurts to get smushed, did you say hello to Dr.Benzedrine for me? Wait, never mind!"
"Uhh..." Mikey was more than a little confused at this point. Even Hemingway tilts his head to the side quietly.
"it'd be great to be untied...I think..." Ryan speaks up. Mikey shrugs and starts trying to untie the cords wound around the scarecrow's ankles.
"You know Ryan and I always had not walking in common. I hope he comes back, but he should after he remembers me! I mean Ryan's fun to talk to but he's kind of redundant. Do you know what time it is?"
Mikey pulls the last knot that was tied around Ryan's wooden neck and the post, he falls with an 'oomf!'.
Both Brendon and Mikey try not to laugh as Mikey apologises and helps Ryan to his feet. Ryan blinks and almost falls into the water when Mikey lets go of him.
"You two should get going before it gets too late, I'll see you later Ryan and hopefully you too Mikey and your Hemmy!" Just like that there was another slpoosh and Brendon was gone. Ryan was walking about as wobbly as a newborn baby calf back towards the Walk of Fame.
Mikey shook his head and called to Hemingway as he joined Ryan on their way to see The Wizard.
"Why'd you let me come with you?" Ryan asks briefly resting a hand on Mikey's shoulder for support.
"You remind me of someone...and...I don't really know." Mikey shrugs, accidentally making Ryan lose his grip and fall over again. Mikey just helps him back up and asks, "Did you want me to leave you there?"
Ryan looks determinedly thoughtful, "No..I think not...So why are you going to see The Wizard?"
"To go home."
"Why don't you just go home then, what do you need him for?"
"I..don't know how to get home? Guess you could say I'm lost."
"I think I'm lost too." Ryan looks thoughtful again and almost trips of Hemingway. "You think The Wizard could give me a brain?"
"No idea."
"Me either." Mikey almost smiled but then, "Who are you again?"
"Mikey."
"Mikey, where are we going?"
"To see The Wizard." Mikey said, feeling a sense of Deja Vu.
"Oh...Okay..." They both fell silent as the sea turned back to meadows that turned into deserted farmland. Mikey didn't really mind this place, whatever it was, it was the perfect temperature, colorful, it made him happy. Hemingway barked at a purple squirrel, and then Mikey started worrying again. He starts worrying about the rest of everybody back at the venue, and if anyone has noticed he or Pete's dog were missing, or if Vicky is still angry or if Alicia replied to, ' Yeah, I guess, pizza or tacos?'
Mikey wishes he had chosen a better last text, if that's what it was. He takes the sparkly red Sidekick out of his pocket and examines it, no bars. He sighs and puts it away.
"Are you alright?" Ryan asks.
"I hope so...just worried about everyone."
"Oh....who are you again?" Mikey stops walking and so does the scarecrow. Ryan's eyes are earnest in his questioning, and Mikey realizes it's gonna be a long time before he gets back home. That's when the sky begins to grow dark with thick black smoke.
TBC....