The Truth Pond is a magical pond near the Deadly Desert in the Winkie Country of the Land of Oz.
Description[]
The Truth Pond is surrounded by a circle of trees just far enough apart that their thick branches touch. The water in the pond is crystal clear and still as glass.
The Truth Pond has the power to break unwanted enchantments, reverting transformations to their true forms. A side effect is that anyone who bathes in the Truth Pond is compelled ever afterward to tell the truth.
When the Frogman visited the Truth Pond, it was lined with light pink tiles, except for a hole at the bottom, where the water bubbled up from a spring. The tiles were not mentioned during an earlier visit by the Shaggy Man and Button-Bright; it is not clear whether the pool was lined at that time, or if the tiles were added between the two visits.
Similarly, when Button-Bright and the Shaggy Man visited the Truth Pond, the only signage noted was a silver plate with the words "THE TRUTH POND", fastened to a rock just below the surface of the water; later, when the Frogman visited, the silver plate had been replaced with a golden plate above the water's surface, with the more detailed inscription:
THE TRUTH POND
Whoever bathes in this
water must always
afterward tell
THE TRUTH
History[]
During their journey to Oz, the Shaggy Man and Button-Bright had their heads transformed into those of a donkey and a fox. A dip in the Truth Pond returned their heads to normal. Later, after arrving at the Emerald City, the Shaggy Man had to admit that he had stolen the Love Magnet. (The Road to Oz)
The Frogman also took a dip in the Truth Pond. Afterwards, he was forced to admit to Cayke that he did not possess any special wisdom. (The Lost Princess of Oz)
Background[]
The Truth Pond plays a crucial part in Atticus Gannaway's short story "Toto and the Truth."
The Truth Pond also appears or is mentioned in The Forbidden Fountain of Oz, The Law of Oz, and "The Final Fate of the Frogman".