Disclaimer: This fanfic was created three years ago.
And Wicked, of course, is not mine. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy this story.
The Emerald City, also known as the Jewel of Oz, allures both locals and tourists with its glistening gold and emeralds. Sitting at the heart of the city is the Emerald Palace, where the Wonderful Wizard of Oz resides. Various buildings that serve as home to offices, libraries, museums, shopping centers, restaurants, and other business and entertainment facilities surround the palace. Parks and recreational areas fill up most of the rest of the city's land area.
Situated in the center of Oz, Emerald City owes its economic and cultural richness to its location. For years, it has served as center for exchange of goods between the four Ozian countries, Gilikin, Munchkin, Quadling and Vinkus. Along with their respective local produce, merchants from different countries bring along their own ideas and philosophies when venturing in international trades. Goods are exchanged, along with culture. Evident in the architecture of its edifices and infrastructure, communication systems and way of life of its residents, Emerald City has become the cultural melting pot of Oz.
Layers of snow lay delicately on roofs, treetops and pavements, adding to the Emerald City's charm. Ever since the snow started five years ago, people delighted in the city's all-year Lurlinemas feel.
Despite frequent snowfall, Ozians enjoy endless seasons of autumn and winter without freezing to death thanks to the energy source introduced by the Wizard. Not many people have seen it, but it is said to take the form of green lightweight crystals, hence the Wizard refers to it as beryllite. Aside from giving warmth to the snow-laden Oz, the mysterious substance also fuels industries and lights up homes all over Oz.
Oz, however, has not always been like that. Five years ago, people in Emerald City complained about their long hot summer days, which made them uncomfortable and easily exhausted. Ventilation systems and air conditioning units inside buildings used more power than in less warmer days to lower the temperature.
The Wizard seemed to have heard the people's pleas. Madame Morrible, the Wizard's vizier whose specialty in magic is manipulating the weather, summoned her powers to the sky for it to pour down snow. Even Munchkin and Quadling, the countries onto which snow had never fallen, experienced winter.
The change was least felt in Vinkus, which has been, more frequently than the other countries, under the rage of hails and blizzards. Gilikins, like the people of Emerald City, adored the weather. Children frolicked in the snow while the adventurous young people danced on frozen lakes and played snow sports. The adults satisfied themselves with sitting down with friends with their cups of coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
The Wizard, Morrible and Glinda the Good stood at the top of the palace, overlooking the snow-covered city of emeralds. The Wizard smiled with satisfaction, seeing how happy his people have become over the years of his reign. Morrible stood boldly alongside the Wizard, proud of her work.
Everything looked perfect.
If she were in her current position five years ago, Glinda couldn't be any happier. But five years did not just pass by – things have happened and people have changed. She may not completely understand the grand scheme of things at the moment, but she didn't fail to notice how Oz seems to slowly succumb to the control of power-hungry figures disguised as beautiful blankets of snow.
Meanwhile in Munchkinland, farmers sighed as they look at the aftermath of a recent blizzard. Crops, farmlands and livestock were heavily damaged, costing the Munchkins much of their food and livelihood. The Quadlings' houses, which, under the weather conditions five years ago, were enough to shelter them, are not anymore enough to protect the people from the constant snowfall.