Beauty and the Scarecrow

Chapter Fifteen: Protecting the Castle

As they walked into the castle, Oscar voiced his concerns. He remembered Henry talking about the objects being alive so Oscar was concerned that the castle may be haunted. But Jester assured him not to lose his nerve. As the villagers looked around the place, some of them felt as if they knew the place already. Jean expressed it, feeling as if he had been to the castle before. As Oscar explored, he stumbled upon Glinda and Dorothy on their tea tray. Seeing the cup, Oscar recognized it from Henry's story about there being a talking teacup. He turned to Glinda, assuming that she was Dorothy's grandmother.

She seemed offended by this, waking up and ordering the rest of the castle staff to attack. The castle suddenly lit up as everything that could move came to life. Instantly, they all started to attack the villagers, ensuring to keep their home safe from the intruders. As the coathanger went to attack Jester, he pulled Oscar in front of him, making Oscar take the hits instead. The coathanger started punching Oscar in the face before giving him one big punch. Oscar escaped Jester's grasp only to meet Marshal Mellow who fell on top of him. Looking up at his friend, Oscar asked Jester for help. Unfortunately, Jester wouldn't help. He was off to slay the Scarecrow, leaving Oscar under Marshal Mellow.

Even Marshal Mellow was starting to feel a little bit of pity for the man he just almost crushed. Back at the village, the coachman suddenly realised that the padlock on the doors of the carriage had disappeared. Opening the doors, he saw no one inside. Henry and Maddie had escaped. He closed the doors again to reveal Henry with the padlock. He handed it back to the coachman just as Maddie raced off on Philippe back to the castle, leaving her yellow dress behind. Back at the castle, the villagers were still being attacked by the castle staff. Marshal Mellow had gotten off of Oscar who was just barely recovering from what had happened. Meanwhile, Jester was exploring the castle, trying to find Fiyero.

Dorothy was throwing up saucers at people around her as Zeke cheered her on. And, at last, China Princess had left the East Wing, ready to join the fight. A table with some books arrived at Zeke and China Princess and Zeke ordered them to fly and attack the intruders. Which worked until the three men who attacked Henry earlier gave Zeke a glare. He took that as his sign to leave. The three men ran up the stairs to get to Zeke. But China Princess stepped in, showering the three in fabrics. And, when the fabrics floated down, all three were dressed in wigs and dresses. Two of them screamed and ran while one of them didn't seem to mind the new outfit. He smiled at China Princess with a slight curtsy before walking elegantly down the stairs.

As Maddie continued to make her way back to the castle, China Princess threw Glinda onto the chandelier which started to spin while she poured boiling hot water onto the people below. But she got distracted when she saw a familiar face. Jean. Though Glinda addressed him as 'Dear'. Either way, the distraction caused her to fall but Oscar caught her. Glinda thanked him before helping her attack two men who lunged at the two. Glinda complimented Oscar's help. After what Jester had said and done, Oscar wanted to join the castle staff in the fight. Glinda agreed and suggested they continue the fight. Marshal Mellow was doing well to fight off everyone around him, making them all fly when he kicked them, all while still playing his music.

But soon, the old woman told everyone to shut him up. Hearing this, China Princess stood up on the banister, greeting her long-lost love. China Princess jumped down from the balcony, sending the woman flying. Once she was dealt with, Marshal Mellow shot the keys of his piano self at everyone around him. Meanwhile, Boq had set up some gunpowder and lit it, making everyone over it jump out of the way. This caused everyone to run away. All except one. Ozma had managed to walk through the chaos and was making her way up the stairs as everyone fled. As everyone left, Maddie finally made it to the castle. But, despite everyone fleeing, Jester was still inside, climbing up the stairs to find Fiyero. He had seen the lights from across the palace and followed them. Once he reached the top of the tower, he found Fiyero staring into the darkness below him. Seeing him, Jester dropped his torch, gaining Fiyero's attention. Jester held up his pistol.

"Hello, Scarecrow," Jester cocked his pistol, "I'm Eggman. Maddie sent me."

Hearing this, Fiyero looked away, devastated that she had sent this mob after him. And yet not all too surprised. He did have her trapped in the castle for a while. But his heart broke hearing these words from Jester.

"Are you in love with her?" Jester asked him, "Did you honestly think she'd want you?"

Noticing Fiyero's silence, he took the opportunity to shoot him in the shoulder. Fiyero yelled out in pain as he fell off the tower. But he managed to catch himself on a nearby rooftop. Fiyero climbed up, saving himself from falling. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity, Jester reached for his arrows only to see that they weren't in their holder. Turning to see if he had dropped them, he saw Maddie in her white underdress and coat, arrows in hand. She snapped them in half and threw them off to the side.

"Where is he?!" Maddie asked Jester

"When we return to the village, you will marry me," Eggman said once again reaching for his pistol, "And that Scarecrow's head will hang on our wall!"

"Never!"

Maddie tried to snatch the pistol from him but he kept a tight hold. Unfortunately, when he had her let go, the platform below him broke, making him fall and throw the gun. But he managed to grab onto the ledge and fall safely into an open room below them. He watched the pistol land on the other side of the castle so he left to get it. Seeing it, Maddie took her coat off and went to try and stop Jester from gaining back his weapon to finish Fiyero off.