The Siege of Oz
Prologue.
It has been only a few months since Anthony had for the second time, returned from Oz. This time however, he landed back in bed in his dorm in Massachusetts at the Academy. In the wake of recent events in Oz, let me be clear as to the current situations in Oz and now on distressed Earth. The Wicked Witch of the West after having successfully killed Natalee, his girlfriend, (Langwidere taking her head), was put on trial with Ozma Tippetarius as the Judge. At the end of the hearing, Elphaba Almira Thropp, was found guilty of all charges, and banished henceforth from Oz, and sent to be imprisoned on Earth. She was to be without memory, magic, and never to be allowed entrance in Oz by the magic of Oz's foundation book the Oziad. Furthermore, Ozma still holds proudly the Hallowed Throne of the Emerald City, the Tin Man controls the Vinkus, The Lion controls Quadling, and the Scarecrow controls Munchkinland. Lady Glinda the Good still holds a firm spot in the Emerald City as Protector of the Crown, and the nation.
As was previously told by Glinda and Ozma, whenever people from Earth travel to Oz and one of them dies, after returning to Earth, every person who knew that person who died, has their memory wiped of them. It will be as if they never lived. As strictly enchanted with the deep and old founding magic of Oz through the Oziad, the results of the thank Lurline successful trial in Court of the case Elphaba Vs Oz, she has been banished, and sent to Earth. With that banishment her appearance has, changed.
So here Anthony lies peacefully asleep in his dorm room, stressfully waiting for his alarm to buzz and start his maritime day at the academy.
It was an unusually sunny day for Buzzard's bay. Anthony had finished classes for the day and was sitting on the docks with his two best friends. Argie was a guy Anthony's age, about his height, but very thin. He had dirty blond hair, glasses and loved cold weather. He loved all of nature really; he could sit for hours on the docks enjoying the sights and sounds of the great bay. He was also in love with a fantastic girl who was another one of Anthony's friends at the school. Ashley was a somewhat short girl compared to us, had dark hair to her shoulders, and dark tanned skin. They were incredible friends to him. They defended him when it wasn't popular, and helped him focus on the better parts of himself so he could always try to be a better person. No matter what happens, the three of them always try to defeat every conflict, and usually, at least one of them emerges victorious. It had been a hard and long two years. Classes, bullies, and stresses of being away from family had made life miserable. The only people he loved, and who loved him, were Argie and Ashley. That much had been made apparent, and was always challenged.
"Hey Anthony did you hear what's going on with Admiral George?" asked Ashley.
"No I didn't I've been studying Rules of the Road with Argie all day," Anthony gave Argie a sarcastic excited look.
"Studying? Yeah goin to Dunkin donuts and subway is real great studying!" Argie laughed.
"No I'm serious guys, how did the Admiral go from running in a marathon fund raiser thing, to being in the Emergency Room?" She asked.
"Well, he was old, is it his heart?" asked Anthony.
"Naa, I heard he was burned in a house fire," Argie countered. This raised all our eyebrows. All of us were equally saddened, and kind of shocked.
"What?" Asked Ashley looking both surprised and worried. Not many people here at the Academy agreed with Admiral George's diplomacy techniques, but no one would ever wish pain, or what now sounded like possible death. Fires were an uncommon way for this to happen, especially given our extensive level of safety emphasis, and fire fighting redundancy while at the school. So naturally, there was an air of concern and worry on campus; among students and faculty alike. Some of the people in our company (platoon but larger) wrote emails or skyped their parent alerting them to the possible death at the school. Rumors of course spread like wildfire. Some said murder, others said accident, but whatever the version, by now everyone knew. Due to the time of year, though wearing short sleeved uniform shirts, everyone was already wearing black almost as if for the occasion. Ashley, Argie and Anthony continued with their schedules for the day sticking together as much as possible for the remainder of it though. Dinner together in the mess deck, and then a movie in Argie's room. The next day they hoped, more news would settle everyone's concerns. Knowledge we all agreed in believing, was power.