Rinkitink in Oz by L. Frank Baum, 1916 Retelling

🖋 The Thorned Quill

From the Ink & Thorn Studio, somewhere in Grimmveil

Rinkitink in Oz - Retelling

Written by L. Frank Baum, 1916
↪ A Grimmveil Fairytale

Rinkitink. Yes, that is a name. You might giggle. You should not. He is a king. A tiny king. A tiny king with a big heart and a small army of someone-should-really-have-trained-him companions. And somehow, in Oz, that is enough to get you into an epic, dangerous, completely absurd adventure.

Dorothy is back, obviously. She sighs. Again. She is with her usual crew: the Tin Woodman, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, and a cast of children who are stubborn enough to survive the nonsense Oz keeps throwing at them. They also pick up new companions because Oz cannot leave well enough alone. There is Prince Rinkitink himself, and two children named, appropriately, of course, who are in serious trouble right away because Oz enjoys testing bravery in ways that make Kansas look polite.

The land outside the Emerald City is a trap disguised as countryside. Monsters, pirates, and armies exist, all polite, all deadly, all entirely unreasonable. Rinkitink and his tiny army bumble through, Dorothy correcting mistakes, sighing at the absurdity, and somehow keeping everyone alive. Because that is her gift. Survival by exasperation. She sighs a lot. You will notice.

Then there is magic. Of course there is magic. Oz is never subtle. It animates, deceives, and kills politely while still smiling. Rinkitink uses his wits. Dorothy uses her stubborn glare. Tik-Tok ticks, as always, keeping time and occasionally saving the day in ways that defy logic but, frankly, are spectacular when they happen.

By the end, the villains are dealt with. The day is saved. Everyone is alive, somehow, against all odds. Rinkitink is celebrated for courage he barely understands. Dorothy leaves again. Of course she leaves. She remembers Kansas. She remembers that comfort without risk is a trap. Oz watches. Polite. Perfect. Waiting for the next group to stumble onto its roads thinking they understand adventure.