Dawn of the Great Wonderful

By John Pirillo

In the previous volume Johnnie found his everyday life destroyed by a creation from a parallel world where fairies and monsters existed. His mother is taken during the night before he can learn what is going on and he now must seek the help of a girl, who he just can't seem to get along with, but without whom his quest might surely fail. Soon the two of them are pursued by a feral creature that possesses the town sheriff. Unable to defeat the monster that has taken over the sheriff, the two end up in the

Great Wonderful, a parallel world which has co-existed between ours and another's forever. The land is called the Great Wonderful, but unfortunately, they find out that wonderful it is not. Chased by one monster after another, they are almost ready to give up when they start meeting denizens of the land who befriend them.
With their newfound friends, but oddly disturbing at times creatures and sometimes almost enemies, they get closer and closer to discovering the mystery surrounding Johnnie's father's disappearance, as well as the kidnapping of his mother. But the biggest surprise is yet to come. For the fallen Land of the Great Wonderful has many more secrets yet to reveal and its OZ, unlike the one of Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz, is not nearly so safe to find.

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Pirillo
• Release date: May 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311776624

John Pirillo

The author was born in Washington, Pennsylvannia. He loves animals and birds. Has two pet cockatiels that keep him company while he writes. He has a lovely daughter and a rascally grandson. He is rich in friends that matter and well adjusted to a life of challenges. He writes and draws every day. He loves anything science fiction, fantasy or extremely well written. Same goes for movies and TV. Not married currently, but has an eye and ear open to possibilities. :)

Book preview

Dawn of the Great Wonderful

John Pirillo

Copyright 2014

A Smashwords Edition

Chapter One

Johnnie couldn't remember when he had fallen asleep. When he woke up, all the soreness of the hiking, all the pains of the cuts and bruises on his body were gone. Laying to his right, her head pillowed on her arms, Pat snored lightly, and her eyes fluttering as the first rays of the morning suns glanced across her brows. Blue, purple and green stains from the fruit she had eaten marked her cheeks and lips.

Johnnie smiled to himself. She sure was cute when she slept. He felt sudden warmth being next to her. A comfort and security that he liked. He yawned lazily, stretched, and then noticed the suns in the sky.

Suns! A blue and a green one. Even as he watched the suns began changing color, turning from blue to yellow and green to orange. The light around Johnnie was magical; turning the green leafs of the flowers to chartreuse, magenta and gold, then to violet, amethyst blue and lavender. Johnnie was wondering how any being here could identify anything under such circumstances, when the two suns began merging together into a larger sun that turned a deep amber and gold color.

The rays of the new sun were warm and soothing, calming to his nerves. The shifting colors steadied until everything around Johnnie assumed a regular pattern of color. Johnnie could have sat there forever, enhanced by the aura of magic that enwrapped himself and Pat, when a sudden gust of wind blew across his face. He tossed his hair back out of his face, and then came alert. Spinning rapidly from the forest towards him and Pat was the dust- devil he had seen in his crystal. Johnnie grabbed Pat by her shoulders and shook her hard. Wake up, Pat. Quick. We've got company.

Let me sleep. I'm so tired.

Seriously, something's coming.

Pat sprang awake, sitting straight up like a jack in the box. She wiped at her eyes to get the sleep out of them, and then saw the dust devil whirling swiftly towards her and Johnnie.

Johnnie.

I know.

Do you think it'll hurt us?

Depends on how much your scream frightened it, I suppose.

Pat hit Johnnie on his shoulder. You turkey!

Gobble-gobble.

Funny!

It's the dust devil we saw in your crystal, Johnnie. I'm certain of it.

I'm counting on it.

The dust devil spun towards them, spinning leaves, dirt, debris and grass around its whirling circumference as it made its way closer and closer. The flowers along the path sucked out- wards, leaning towards the dust devil as it plunged forward. Petals broke free and spun like miniature helicopters towards the spinning being, catching up into its orgy of debris. It stopped short of Johnnie and Pat, making small, nervous circles about them, as if examining them from every possible angle. It was obviously sentient. It showed a curiosity uncharacteristic of a true dust devil and when it would stop for a moment, its short form whirling slowly, then quickly in front of them, like an engine revving up, then slowing down, it would make excited sounds.

Pat moved closer to Johnnie and took his hand. Johnnie gave her a comforting look, then pulled her to her feet and confronted the dust devil. What do you want? He demanded, putting on his fiercest sounding voice.

Maybe it doesn't understand English. Pat said, when the dust devil didn't respond.

Are safe? Came two tentative words from the dust devil.

Johnnie almost burst into a giggle at the sound of the voice. It was like something out of one of the old Loony Tunes cartoons. It was preposterously funny and real at the same time, fuzzy and focused, deep and amused, as if ready to burst into a moment of sudden pandemonium and wackiness. The dust devil whirled faster a moment in agitation, then circled them again and came closer to Johnnie, until it was almost touching him.

Are safe? It asked again.

Johnnie decided to play along with this game. Whatever the creature was, it seemed to be harmless. Sure. We're safe. Johnnie assured the being.

Suddenly, the two big eyes and nose that Johnnie had seen in the crystal before exploded from the dust devil's depths and pressed against his face. Not you! Me!

The eyes and nose withdrew back into the dust devil and angry mutterings emitted from it. Understand English not! You!

Pat and Johnnie both couldn't help it. They broke into laughter. It was healing. All the tension that had been building up in them again released like a flood through a broken dam's barrier. Being bawled out by a pair of disembodied eyes and nose. What a joke. A funny, incredible cosmic joke.

The eyes and nose popped out again. The eyes were narrowed with anger. The nose shone a bright red to match the anger. Nice not! Like not!

The dust devil's eyes and nose withdrew again inside itself and it began to whirl away. Johnnie hurriedly moved after it. Wait! Don't leave! He pleaded.

Not nice! Leaving. Insisted the dust devil.

Johnnie stopped pursuing the dust devil. He fought to keep his thoughts lucid. Somehow this crazy creature was the key to their situation. He couldn't let it get away. Not after all they'd been through. Johnnie thrust through his fears of being abandoned and hollered after the dust devil. We weren't laughing at you. We were just relieved that you were safe.

The dust devil stopped. It spun for a long time in the same spot, as if weighing Johnnie's words, then it slowed slightly. The tip of the dust devil's nose poked partly out. Safe? You?

Johnnie nodded his head. Pat came forward and joined him. He looked at her. Safe. You. And us. All safe.

The dust devil began whirring faster and faster, but it didn't move from its spot over the grass. It stayed in the same position a long time, speeding up, and then slowing down. Pat glanced at Johnnie. He shrugged his shoulders, and then looked back at the dust devil. Pat strove to keep her own excitement down. She didn't want to be alone on this world. She wanted to find a way back. And this creature might be the ticket. She almost choked on that thought. She laughed inside of herself. Who would've thought her life would ever depend on a clump of dirt, grass, and leaves?

The dust devil moved back towards them. The eyes and nose peered out at them tentatively, as if not yet decided whether to commit itself to further conversation with these human creatures.

At me laughed. Nice not.

Pat smiled gently at the being and put a hand out. We're sorry. We didn't mean to hurt your feelings. We'd really like to be your friend.

The being's great big eyes began welling up with tears. Feelings me. Hurt. Hurt.

Pat moved closer and stroked the dust devil's nose. I'm sorry. Please forgive us, won't you? We really need a friend now. If you'll be our friend, we'll be yours.

The dust devil began making a rumbling, purring sound. His eyes widened and his nose twitched beneath Pat's stroking. Johnnie almost laughed again, but held himself in check, knowing this would only precipitate a new problem with the creature. So instead he said. Yes. Please, don't be mad at us. We're new here. We want to be your friend. Honestly.

Friend me? The dust devil asked.

Pat and Johnnie nodded their heads. The dust devil whirled in small circles about them, thinking over this new situation. It wasn't sure what a friend was. It had never had a friend. At least it didn't think so. Curiosity finally got the best of it.

Okay. It agreed. Friend me. Friend you. That like.

Johnnie sighed with relief.

Friend what?

Johnnie started to laugh again. Pat clamped a hand over his mouth and leaned closer to the dust devil. She smiled. A friend is someone you share with. Share food. Share travel. Share life. Friend. Someone who loves you, and you love back.

Love me. The dust devil asked. Love me?

No. Pat answered quickly, trying to clarify its confusion without making matters worse between them. Not that we don't love you. I mean, we love you, but it's a love that grows as friendship grows. It takes time. Like the way flowers grow.

Grow flowers. Fast. Boom. Boom. Bam!

Like the trees do. Johnnie hurriedly interjected.

Ahhh. Tree time. Yes

Pat gave Johnnie a look of relief. Well, it's settled then, we're friends.

Time what? The dust devil asked.

Pat threw her hands up in the air and looked at Johnnie. Your turn.

Johnnie stepped closer to the dust devil and held out a hand. What's your name?

The dust devil's eyes went in wide orbits. Name? Name what?

Now it was Johnnie's turn to be confused. He puzzled it over a moment, and then came closer to the dust devil. He reached out and touched the nose. The dust devil's purring sound became so loud it frightened him for a moment. He jerked his hand back.

Stop not. The dust devil pleaded.

Johnnie put his hand back on the dust devil's nose, alongside Pat's. A name is something special. It makes you unique. It lets others know who you are, identify you.

All me know. The dust devil replied. Twist me. Turn me. That me. Me that.

Pat giggled. The dust devil gave her a wary look. Pat stifled her giggle and gave the dust devil an apologetic look. Its eyebrows relaxed.

Johnnie means a word that is yours and yours alone.

Johnnie? Me Johnnie? Dust devil asked, and then he began whirling in tight, happy circles. Johnnie, Johnnie, Johnnie. Johnnie Me. Me Johnnie. Johnnie Me!

No, no, no, no. You're not Johnnie. Johnnie's Johnnie.

The dust devil stopped spinning and looked at her, his huge nose twitching. Johnnie me not?

No. Pat answered.

The dust devil let out a wailing sound and burst into tears. Not me. Not me. Not me.

Not you, but my name. You have a better name. Johnnie blurted out.

Do me! The dust devil said.

He does? Right, he does. Pat said upon a sharp glance from Johnnie. A much nicer name. Much, much nicer.

The dust devil cocked a big eye on Johnnie, squinting at him with the other. His nose began to curl upwards, as if sniffing for the truth from Johnnie. Name me better?

Oh much better than mine. Johnnie replied. He gave Pat a quick look, hoping for some help. She looked away, devoid of any further ideas. Uh, your name is, is...

Is name? The dust devil asked.

It's, it's, it's...

Johnnie gave Pat another pleading look. She refused to look at him. She crossed her fingers behind her back. He saw that and groaned. Your name's... He said, totally stuck.

Name me? Name me? The dust devil asked over and over.

Johnnie looked at Pat's fingers twisting in knots behind her back. TWISTER!

The dust devil screamed and shot several yards straight up into the air. Yay! Then it dropped back down and stuck its nose and eyes out again, giving Johnnie a puzzled look.

Twister what? What? What?

Well, you see, where I come from there's little winds that turn round and round.

Dust devils. Pat blurted out.

Twister's eyes bugged out of their sockets. NO!

No, she doesn't mean you're a devil, Twister.

Devil no, yes?

Uh, I think so.

Good.

Twister what? What?

A twister is like those things that Pat said, but they're bigger, more powerful. They turn round and round.

Twister suddenly spun around so fast that a wave of debris flung into Johnnie and Pat's faces. Twister me. Twister me. Twister me. Oh happy, happy, happy!

Twister stopped, and then shot into the forest, his glad cries filling the night with joy. Pat wiped at the dirt and dust in her eyes, shaking the leaves and pieces of debris from her shoulders and hair. Messy little thing.

That was a close one.

Pat stopped cleaning herself and plucked a leaf from Johnnie's hair. You know, you're not half so bad Johnnie, when you're not busy being a goof off and clown.

And you're not half so bad when you're aren't acting like you know everything and mean and arrogant.

Ouch! Pat said, laughing lightly. I guess I deserved that. I have been a royal butt for awhile, haven't I?

We both have. Let's face it, we haven't exactly been living a normal life for the last forty-eight hours.

You know, Johnnie. I'm beginning to like this place. Under other conditions, I might even want to live in a place like this, if mother and Jake could be there too.

Don't worry, Pat. They're alright, I'm certain. I have the feeling that Darkmind will leave them alone until he's finished his business with us.

Then you don't think the talisman destroyed it?

There's no way to be sure. When it fought Doc, I thought there was a chance it had been destroyed then. I suspect that this talisman can't be used to destroy.

What about the slugs?

I think they were just displaced.

What do you mean?

Sent back to where they came from.

Then the talisman acts as some kind of slingshot, sending whatever it touches back where it came from?

Maybe at least that much, perhaps more. It's just one more mystery I hope to solve here.

It's been so peaceful, I'm beginning to hope that the worst is over with.

Pat began to look very sad and small. Johnnie reached out to take her into his arms and hold her.

Joy. Joy. Joy.

Twister shot between them, breaking them apart, then whizzed back, whipping around them in happy little circles, his eyes and nose bobbing up and down, making funny faces. He finally stopped between them, honked his nose, and then smiled. Happy me Twister.

I'm glad, Twister. Johnnie replied.

Twister cocked an eye on Johnnie, then on Pat. From here not? Sad you. Why?

No. We were fleeing something terrible. Johnnie said.

Twister's eyes turned as large as saucers. Terrible something?

Pat nodded her head. Huge globs of Jell-O with tongues that burn holes in you. She said.

Twister backed up, made a sound of disgust. Is Nasties is. Yucky. Awful. Gross.

Nasties? Johnnie asked. What do you mean...Nasties?

Twister moved closer, his eyes half-shutting as he thought for a moment. Nasties bad are. Bad. Bad. Bad. Life enders.

They were horrible. And slimy! Pat remembered with a shudder. And evil. Pure evil. I couldn't feel an ounce of anything good in them.

Twister nodded his nose. Nasties slimy ugly. Nasties. Nice not. Dark yes. Dark always. Darkness serve.

Where are we, Twister? Johnnie asked, trying to turn the topic away from those horrible things when he saw Pat flinching at the memories and looking worried again. He also wanted to do something about the growing knot of fear he was feeling in his own stomach. He hadn't exactly liked his last encounter with the slugs from hell.

Are where are you. Twister replied, his eyes twisting around his nose in confusion. Are now. Now where are.

Johnnie means, what world are we in, what country? Pat explained. She took a deep breath, looked at Johnnie, then continued. Is this the Wonderful?

Twister gave her a puzzled look. Wonderful not.

Johnnie and Pat exchanged disappointed looks.

Twister moved closer, observing their glances. Wonderful not. Darkmind and Nasties here are.

But the dragons, the centaurs... Protested Johnnie.

Twister shook his nose. Not care. All... Twister's nose gestured to the forest surrounding them. All here is...good...only here is. Bad not forest is. Wonderful not.

Not safe where, Twister? Johnnie asked, perplexed by Twister's response.

Johnnie silly. Silly. Silly. Silly. All Wonderful know. Not safe Wonderful. Twister replied, his eyes twisting with fear and memories of dark things. Darkmind there is. Here safe. Darkness there is. Darkness. More no Wonderful. Wonderful not.

Twister's eyes and nose popped back into its shifting form. Twister made soft moaning sounds and began whirling away. Johnnie watched the creature leaving and felt a pang of sorrow for it. Whatever had happened here, Twister was lonely and frightened. Very frightened. Just like them. Creatures from two different worlds, all alone and frightened.

Johnnie glanced at Pat. He could see she was thinking the same thing he was at that moment. Their eyes touched. She tried to hide her fear from him, but she couldn't. He could see a darkness striving to reach out and entangle her within it.

A sound made Johnnie turn around. Twister was spinning back to them. It popped its big eyes and nose out again. Humans dense all as two you. On come. On come.

Pat's face darkened with anger. Her right hand exploded out so fast that Twister couldn't retract his nose from her grip. She took his nose in her hand and squeezed it so hard that his great big eyes threatened to pop out.

Owwww! Pain is me! Pain is me! Twister shouted.

Pat's eyes narrowed and she jerked him closer. We are not stupid. You apologize or I'll squeeze your nose until it pops like a big, nasty pimple!

Owwwwww! Owwww!!! Go let me. Go let me. Twister pleaded.

Let him go, Pat, he's our only friend here. Let him go. Without him, we're lost!

Pat let Twister go. Twister's straining form shot like a rocket, hit a tree, bounced off it, shot up into the air, ping ponged off a thick upper branch, then hurled back at the ground. He struck the ground, then rebound into the air again. All the time his voice shrilled the air with, Owww! Owww! Owww! Owww!

Pat! Johnnie scolded her. Can't you control that temper of yours? He didn't mean anything by it! He was worried about us. You probably alienated the only friend we have here!

Pat turned away, folding her hands