Dorothy was very sad that Oz was gone. She lost her hope to get home. Her friends were also sad. The Tin Woodman wanted to cry for Oz. "Please wipe my tears so I do not rust," he asked Dorothy. She got a towel and helped him.
The Scarecrow was now the ruler of the Emerald City. The people were proud of him. "Our city is ruled by a stuffed man!" they said. "There is no other city like it."
The four friends met in the Throne Room. The Scarecrow sat on the big throne.
"We are very lucky," said the Scarecrow. "We have this beautiful Palace and city. A short time ago, I was on a pole in a cornfield. Now I am a ruler. I am very satisfied."
"I am also happy with my kind heart," said the Tin Woodman.
"And I am happy because I am brave," said the Lion.
"If Dorothy was happy to live here, we could all be happy together," said the Scarecrow.
"But I don't want to live here!" cried Dorothy. "I want to go back to Kansas!"
They did not know what to do. The Scarecrow thought very hard. His head got bigger with all the thinking. "Why don't you call the Winged Monkeys?" he said. "Ask them to carry you across the desert."
"That's a great idea!" Dorothy said. She got the Golden Cap and said the magic words. The Winged Monkeys flew into the room.
"This is the second time you have called us," their King said. "What do you want?"
"I want you to fly with me to Kansas," Dorothy said.
But the Monkey King shook his head. "We cannot do that," he said. "We cannot leave this country. We are sorry, but we cannot cross the desert." Then the monkeys flew away.
Dorothy was very disappointed. "Now what will I do?" she said.
The Scarecrow thought again. "Let's ask the soldier with the green whiskers for advice," he said. They called the soldier to the Throne Room.
"This little girl wants to cross the desert. How can she do it?" the Scarecrow asked.
"I do not know," the soldier said. "But maybe Glinda can help."
"Who is Glinda?" Dorothy asked.
"She is the Good Witch of the South," the soldier explained. "She is very powerful and very kind. Her castle is at the edge of the desert. Maybe she knows a way to cross it."
"How can I get to her castle?" Dorothy asked.
"The road goes south," the soldier said. "But it is a dangerous journey. There are wild animals and strange people."
After the soldier left, the friends talked. "It seems I must go to the Land of the South and ask Glinda for help," Dorothy said.
"I will go with you," said the Lion. "I want to be in the forest again. And you will need protection."
"My axe will be useful," said the Tin Woodman. "I will go with you too."
"I will also go," said the Scarecrow. "Dorothy gave me all my good luck. I will not leave her until she is safely on her way to Kansas."
"Thank you, my dear friends," Dorothy said. "You are all so kind."
They decided to start their new journey the next morning.