As a result, the Wizard sent word that they were to come to the throne room at a certain time the next day.
But when they entered the throne room, there was no one there.
"Hello?" Daria called nervously.
"I am the Wizard." Came a voice that seemed to come from everywhere at once.
"Where are you?" Isaac asked.
"Everywhere!" the voice laughed. "But for the benefit of the mortals that you are, I will sit on my throne."
"We've, we've come for you to fulfill the promises you made us. I want to go home." Daria said.
"And I want my brains." Taylor said.
"And I want my heart."
"And my courage."
"Is the witch truly dead?"
"Yes."
"Hmm... Hmm, I will have to think this one over." Said the voice. "I wasn't expecting results so... so soon."
"You've had plenty of time already." Zac grumbled.
And then, quite out of the blue, Zac let loose a mighty roar. Next thing they knew there was a clatter and a curtain that was in the corner of the room fell down, and with it a man.
"Who are you?" Taylor asked.
"Umm, ahh..." said the man, standing up awkwardly. "The Wizard of Oz?"
They stared.
"Please don't hurt me." He whimpered. "I... I'll do anything. Please."
"Are you really a Wizard?" Daria asked.
"No. No, sorry to say, I'm not. I'm sorry I strung you along like that. I shouldn't have even agreed to meet with you in the first place. Then I wouldn't have been found out. And that's been my biggest fear since I got here."
"So, you can't give me brains?" Taylor asked.
"You don't need one. Experience is what brings knowledge, not brains."
"Still, I would like some."
"Well..." the false Wizard contemplated. "I'm no Wizard, but come to me tomorrow and I'll see what I can do."
"What about my heart?" asked Isaac.
"You're better off without one. Hearts can be broken and bring much unhappiness."
"But they can bring happiness too." He argued. "Please, I so much want a heart."
"Very well, come tomorrow and I'll see what I can do."
"And my courage?" Zac inquired eagerly.
"Courage is being able to face danger, even when you're afraid. And this I'm certain you have plenty."
"Yes but I want the kind of courage that doesn't make you afraid in the first place!"
"Well, I've been playing the Wizard for many years. No reason to stop now. Come tomorrow and I'll do just that."
"I don't suppose you can get me back to Kansas?" Daria asked.
"That's something that will take a lot of thought." He replied after a long pause. "Give me a few days to think it over. The main problem is getting over the desert. I only ask that you keep my, ahh, my little secret to yourselves."
And to this they agreed.