It is dark and cold in the highest attic of Dear Old Shiz University. A door at the end of the attic opens violently, and in walks Elphabeux Thropp, a tallish, well-built man. Nothing of his appearance seemed out of the ordinary, and he seemed like any other Ozian should be. But one detail stood out. As he steps into the light, Elphabeux looks into a mirror adjacent to him. His emerald eyes, as bright as the city of the same name, looked back at him. He touched his face, his smooth, green face. Suddenly, Elphabeux was startled out of his stupor, as Glinda the Good Witch burst through the attic door.
Breathing heavily, Glinda looked at Elphabeux, "There you are! I thought I lost you!"
"Yeah, well, you didn't," Elphabeux snapped back.
"There's no need to get harsh, Elphabeux." Said Glinda, tartly. "For goodness sake, why couldn't you keep your temper in check! I really do hope you're happy!"
"I hope you're happy too!" shouted Elphabeux, right back at Glinda. "You and your wizard, I knew you were both out to get me."
"Get you!?" exclaimed Glinda, "Elphabeux, honestly, you are delusional. Listen to me; just say you're sorry. You and the wizard, you can still be a with him, you can still make Oz a better place."
"It's too late for that, Glinda, it's too late for everything." Said Elphabeux, somberly. "The Wizard, he wanted to use me. Have you seen what he's doing the animals of Oz? He's torturing them; morphing them into something they're not. Give me one reason, one reason at all, that I shouldn't try and stop him."
Glinda was quiet, Elphabeux was right, what could she say? Elphabeux looked back into the mirror, looking at his face. He touched his cheek, as if he was seeing himself for the first time.
"There's… something different," murmured Elphabeux. His voice was quiet. His hands were shaking, his lips were pursed, and he looked at himself in wonder, awe, and fear. It's a terrifying feeling, to see your reflection and not recognize it.
Glinda walked up behind Elphabeux, putting her hand on his shoulder.
"Elphie, what do you mean?" Glinda said, worriedly. Elphabeux looked up, straight into Glinda's blue eyes through the mirror.
"I feel… different," Said Elphabeux. "Something is different, not wrong, but different. I feel… free. I'm finally feel free."
Elphabeux looked towards the small window at the other end of the attic. He made his way over towards it, slowly, and with purpose. When he was at the window, he looked out into the Ozian sky, the stars glinting and winking at him. A crooked smile came across his face, a smile that would make the best of the Ozian Royal Guard cower in fear.
"I…," whispered Elphabeux.
"What? What is it Elphie?" said Glinda, her voice shaking in awe.
"I need to fly." Said Elphabeux, as all of Oz shook beneath him. The silence that fallowed was terrible, deafening, and Wicked.