Dorothy lived in the middle of the vast prairies of Kansas. The sun had dried the land until it turned gray, and the wind blew with a constant force. But Dorothy wasn't alone; she had Toto, her little black dog who made her laugh even on the dustiest days.
One day, the sky turned dark and a sharp whistle filled the air. A tornado! Uncle Henry and Aunt Em ran to the shelter, but Dorothy stayed behind looking for Toto. The wind lifted the entire house, carrying it into the air as if it were a bird's feather.
The house landed with a thud. When Dorothy opened the door, she was amazed. She was no longer in gray Kansas. Before her stretched a land of vibrant colors, giant flowers, and skies of crystal blue. She had arrived in the land of the Munchkins.
As she stepped out of the house, Dorothy saw that it had fallen on the Wicked Witch of the East. The Good Witch of the North, a kind woman dressed in bright white, appeared to thank her. 'Take these ruby shoes,' she said. 'There's magic in them, although no one knows what it is.'
'How do I get back to Kansas?' Dorothy asked. The Good Witch of the North pointed to a path paved with shining yellow bricks. 'Follow this road to the Emerald City. There lives the Great Oz; he is the only one who can help you return home.'
In a cornfield, Dorothy found a Scarecrow hanging from a pole. 'I don't have a brain, just straw,' he said sadly. Dorothy helped him down and the Scarecrow decided to join her. 'Maybe the Wizard will give me some intelligence,' he exclaimed hopefully.
Further ahead, among the trees, they heard a metallic groan. It was a Tin Man, stiff from rust. Dorothy oiled him carefully until he could move. 'My chest is empty,' he sighed. 'I would go to Oz if the Wizard could give me a heart to love.'
Suddenly, a roar shook the leaves. A huge Lion leaped onto the path, but when he saw Toto, he backed away in fear. 'I'm a coward,' he admitted through sobs. Dorothy comforted him, and the Lion joined the group, dreaming that the Wizard of Oz would grant him the courage he lacked.
The four friends crossed fields of red poppies whose scent was so sweet that Dorothy and the Lion fell into a deep sleep. The Scarecrow and the Tin Man, who didn't breathe, carried them through the field before the sleep became eternal.
At the end of the road, the horizon turned green. They stopped before a door of solid emerald glass. As it opened, the light was blinding. Everything—the streets, the buildings, the very air—shone with an emerald glow. They had reached the heart of Oz.
Inside, the city was a prism of light. The streets were of green marble and the towers of carved crystal. The inhabitants wore silks that shimmered like emerald water. It was a beautiful world, but overwhelming, seen through the green lenses everyone was required to wear.
In the Palace of Oz, the ceiling disappeared into green shadows. Their footsteps echoed nervously on the polished floor. They felt small, like four ants waiting to be judged by a god. The air smelled of ozone and ancient magic.
Above a throne of green fire floated a giant, incorporeal Head. 'I AM OZ, THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE,' boomed the voice, making the walls vibrate. Dorothy, trembling, could barely speak before those eyes that burned like coals.
The Wizard's response was cruel. He would grant their wishes, but only at a price: 'Bring me the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West.' Oz offered them no help; he was sending them on a suicidal mission against the most wicked creature in the realm.
With heavy hearts, they left the shining city behind. As they walked toward the setting sun, the landscape died. The trees turned black and twisted, and the sky was stained a violent purple. They were walking straight into a nightmare.
The Wicked Witch of the West had an eye that could see everything. From her highest tower, she watched the four friends enter her domain. With a cry of rage, she blew her silver whistle to summon her wolves. The hunt had begun.
A pack of wolves with bristling fur and red eyes surrounded them. But the Tin Man wielded his axe and the Lion roared with a force that shook the ground. They fought against the darkness, proving that courage is acting despite fear.
Desperate, the Witch used her last resort: the Golden Cap. She recited the spell and the horizon turned black, not from clouds, but from wings. She had summoned the Winged Monkeys, a horde of creatures forced to obey.
It was chaos of wings and claws. The monkeys descended like a living storm. They captured the Lion, tore apart the Scarecrow, and lifted Dorothy into the air toward the Witch's castle. It was a total defeat.
Dorothy was enslaved in the castle's kitchen. The Witch wanted the shoes, but when she touched them, sparks of light burned her hands; Glinda's mark protected the girl. The Witch could only wait, lurking in the shadows for a moment of weakness.
In a fit of anger, Dorothy threw a bucket of water over the Witch. She screamed as she began to melt. 'I'm melting!' she shrieked as she turned into a shapeless puddle. In seconds, only her pointed hat remained on the stone floor. Dorothy was free.
Back in Oz, Toto knocked over a screen and revealed the truth: a small, trembling old man pulling levers. He wasn't a wizard; he was an illusionist from Nebraska. He had no real magic, just machines and tricks. 'Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!' he shouted.
The 'wizard' gave them what they sought: a diploma for the Scarecrow, a silk heart for the Tin Man, and 'liquid courage' for the Lion. 'You already had these things,' he told them. 'You just needed to believe in them.' For Dorothy, he prepared a giant, multicolored silk balloon.
The balloon left without her, but Glinda appeared: 'The Ruby Shoes can take you home in three steps.' Dorothy said goodbye to her friends, who were now the wise rulers of Oz. She clicked her heels three times: Click. Click. Click.
Dorothy felt the dry grass of Kansas beneath her feet. The gray farm was there, but now it seemed beautiful to her. Her uncles ran to embrace her with tears in their eyes. 'There's no place like home,' she whispered. The magic of Oz would live in her heart forever.
