All of Oz was celebrating. The streets of the Emerald City were buzzing with the happy chattering, busy bustling and joyful music that accompanied every Ozian festivity.

People dressed in every possible shade of green were dancing on the streets, children were playing and everywhere only one phrase was heard, gleefully shouted like a greeting and yelled by the newspaper boys distributing the special edititon:

"The Wicked Witch of the West is dead!"

No one knew exactly how it had happened, but several rumours were starting to spread, especially concerning the Wizard's rather hasty departure.

There was only one person now that would be able to answer all their questions: Glinda the Good.

She had taken the matters into her hands after the demise of both the Wizard and the Wicked Witch and was now the officially appointed ruler of Oz.

Of course she wouldn't miss the chance to join her fellow Ozians in their celebrating and soon the infamous shimmering bubble was sighted near the Emerald Palace, descending towards the cheering crowd.

"Glinda, look, children, it's Glinda the Good in her bubble! She's coming to celebrate with us!"

Celebration. Happiness. Cheering.

Glinda put a smile on her face as she descended into the crowd, the bubble popping with a clearly audible 'Plop' that resulted in more cheering from the crowd.

"My dear Ozians", Glinda's voice sounded across the huge place in front of the Emerald Palace, "I have come here to confirm the numerous speculations and rumours, the innuendo and outuendo concerning the death of the Wicked Witch of the West. It is my great and high honour to confirm that once again good was to find victory over evil, that we conquered the cause of all the wickedness going on here over countless confusifying months and that there will never ever be any more disturberations in this beautiful land as long as I am in charge.

I, Glinda the Good, promise you..."

"Glinda!"

Gasping went through the crowd. Who dared to disrupt the mighty ruler of Oz?

The petite blonde woman looked startled for a second, then she raised an eyebrow, waiting for the disruptor to reveal himself.

A little man with graying hair and a wornout forest green jacket worked his way through the crowd, squeezing through until he stood face to face with the blonde witch.

"Exactly how dead is the Wicked Witch now? Do you have any proof of her decease? Maybe it is just another of her tricks, a spell perhaps?"

Glinda's gaze became cold for just a moment, before her features relaxed again, obtaining a serious expression.

"According to the Time Dragon Clock, the melting of the Wicked Witch occurred at the thirteenth hour, initiated by the throwing of a bucket of pure water.

We have to thank a certain little girl, Dorothy Gale is her name, for freeing us from this malicious villain and teaching us that being courageous, good-hearted and clever are virtues that the wicked will never be able to beat! Because being wicked is a one-way-ticket to being lonely and miserable! No one mourns the wicked once they're gone! It is a fact that..."

"Glinda!"

The little man tapped on her shoulder.

The gasping was louder than the last time. How dare he!

Glinda twisted her lips, slightly piqued by the man's unrespectful behaviour.

But then she put on her best smile again and directly faced the elderly man.

"Yes?"

"There is one more thing I wanted to ask you", he began, a daring look on his face.

"And that would be?", Glinda replied smiling, yet reserved.

"People have been talking about you", he proceeded, only to be interrupted himself this time.

"Oh, dear, people have been talking about me since I have been born, that's nothing new for me. I just seem to have that effect on people, you see?"

Unperturbed, the man finished his sentence, "about you and the Wicked Witch."

Another round of gasping. The Ozians hadn't expected Glinda's appearance to turn out like this. The witch's features hardened and she began twirling her glittering staff between her fingers.

"What have you heard about me and the Wicked Witch?"

"That you knew her! No, not only knew her, that you were her friend!"

The man had raised his voice, making sure everyone could understand him perfectly. This time the Ozians were too shocked to pick up the gasping again and remained deadly silent instead. All eyes were resting on the woman standing in their middle, her sparkling blue dress sticking out remarkably between all the green fabric.

She looked to the ground, a short moment of hurt shimmering across her face before she looked back up again, taking a deep breath before answering,

"Yes, I have been her friend, however", she added, before the gasping started again, "that strongly depends on what you understand as 'being friends'. It is true that we have known each other, a long, long, LONG time ago we went to school together. Not that I would have liked her very much, just to make that clear."

Nobody moved. They were still staring at their ruler expectantly, curious to know the backgrounds to this particular rumour.

"Alright, alright", Glinda huffed, "I will tell you.

But be warned, this is going to be a long story."