The wizard gives her a certificate to prove that she had fulfilled her quest and advises her to follow the Yellow Brick Road back to the Emerald City. Here she says her farewells to the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion, promising to come and visit them. However, they are unaware that Dorothy may never find her way out of Oz as the Wizard and his hot-air balloon had just floated away without her.
Just when Dorothy feels dejected, she remembers her charmed Silver Slippers and decides to try their effect. She clicks the heels together three times, and the magic works. She finds herself at her aunt's house in Kansas, where she learns that Gale had rescued Toto from the cyclone.
Dorothy is welcomed home, and shares her extraordinary adventures with her family and friends. She realizes that the journey to Oz and her encounters with fascinating friends had all been a dream. Nevertheless, she values the friends she made and the things she learned during her time in Oz.
In the end, the denouement of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” showcases the resolution of the protagonist’s quest and reinforces the central theme that true courage, heart, and wisdom lie within oneself.