Free Oz: The Great and Powerful Junior Novel Disney Book Group by Disney Press

new appearance. “Oh, sister. You’re hideous . Fear not, I can cast an enchantment, and you’ll look just the way you were.”
    Staring at herself in the mirror, Theodora shook her head. “No,” she said. “This is who I am now. And I want him to see me like this, I want him to know that he was the one who made me this way.”
    She stopped and touched her nose one more time, taking in her new, grotesque appearance. Then, she let out an unsettling cackle. Yes! Oz would see exactly what he had done. The old Theodora was gone. She was now the Wicked Witch of the West!

C HAPTER E LEVEN

    NSIDE G LINDA’S LIBRARY , the Good Witch paced back and forth. Time was of the essence. She needed to get Oz up to speed and prepared—fast. As she moved across the room, he lounged in a chair, an amused expression on his face.
    “It’s imperative that you behave like the great leader they think you are,” Glinda said. “Morale is essential if we have any hope of defeating Evanora.”
    “I assume you have a plan,” Oz said.
    Glinda shook her head. “ You have a plan,” she corrected. “You’re going to lead us into battle, and take back the throne.”
    “I see,” Oz replied. “And do we have an army to do this?”
    There was a pause, and then Glinda answered, “Of sorts.”
    Oz narrowed his eyes. That didn’t sound promising.
    And he was right. It wasn’t promising. Leading Oz outside, Glinda brought forth the assembled troops, if they could be called that, for his inspection. It was a ragtag group. First there were the Quadlings, who were farmers, not fighters. As they offered to bake bread, hoe land, and even make scarecrows, Oz felt his hope for an easy victory begin to fade.
    Next up were the Tinkers. Unlike the Quadlings, who were short and stout, the Tinkers were tall, thin, and for the most part, decrepit old men. They had long white beards and pointy ears. Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Glinda spoke up. “What they lack in stamina, they make up for in ingenuity. The Tinkers can build anything .” Oz held back another groan. How could they build things when half of them couldn’t hear and the other half looked like they could barely stand?
    Glinda led Oz to the last group. “And finally, the Munchkins,” she said, gesturing to rows of little people dressed in very frilly clothes.
    “Ah. You saved the best for last,” Oz said sarcastically.
    The Munchkins all began to giggle.
    “What did I say?” Oz asked, confused.
    “Nothing,” Glinda replied. “They do that when they’re nervous.”
    Perfect. That would be extremely helpful on the battlefield. “Do any of you fight?” he asked.
    One of the Munchkin women stepped forward. “No,” she said. “But we can make pretty clothes.”
    Then a Munchkin man spoke up. “Also, we sing.”
    Without warning, the Munchkins broke into song and began to dance around the courtyard. “The prophecy was clear! The wind would bring you here! And so it was, a man named Oz, did magically appear!”
    Oz watched, unsure of what to do. When the Munchkins started a second verse, Oz yelled to them to stop. The Munchkins instantly grew quiet…and then they all began to giggle again.
    This was ridiculous. There was absolutely no way he was going to be able to lead any of these people into battle. “Wanda—” he began.
    “Glinda,” she corrected.
    He nodded. “ Glinda , these are all lovely people, but do you honestly think they can kill a witch and an army of flying baboons?”
    Glinda shook her head. “I don’t expect them to kill anyone.”
    “What do you mean?” Oz asked.
    “I mean, the good people of Oz are forbidden to kill, even in battle,” she answered.
    Oz shook his head. Had he just heard what he thought he heard? Pulling Glinda aside, he leaned in close. “You want me to lead an army,” he whispered, “that can’t kill?”
    She nodded. “If it was easy, we wouldn’t need a wizard, would we?” she said.
    So the Witch’s army could kill but his