Oooh, my first Oz the Great and Powerful series! Hope it turns out well! By the way, if you're wondering about Emerald Prince, I will finish it, so don't worry!
Just give me a reason, just a little bit's enough
Just a second, we're not broken just bent
And we can learn to love again
It's in the stars, it's been written in the scars on our hearts
That we're not broken, just bent
And we can learn to love again
"Theodora… I know your wickedness is not of your own doing. If you ever find the goodness within your heart again… you are welcome back."
A million thoughts went through the Witch's mind, but what came out was "NEVER!"
From where she sat on the Hallowed Throne, Glinda heard Theodora's reply, and it brought a few tears to her eyes. She had hoped that Theodora would have been able to see past her sister's wickedness, but the bond between family is strong. She knew that first hand, which was why losing her father had hurt all the more. But she could not dwell on the matter of Theodora's newfound wickedness now; she still had the other sister to deal with.
"Evanora." The blonde witch stood, gripping her wand. It was time to bring this evil to an end.
There was little place left to run… everyone knew of her wickedness. The Quadlings, Munchkins… the only part of Oz that would accept her now was the Vinkus, where her sister's Winkie guards hailed from. Kiamo Ko looked in the distance, silently beckoning her, and the stone tower greeted her with silence, broken only by her boots on stone.
"Curse him… curse that Wizard, and Glinda too!" The Witch stalked down the stairs, her feet moving of their own accord, even though she'd never been inside the castle before. He should have died… how could he not be mortal? "He wouldn't have even made it to the Emerald City if not for me!" Theodora threw a fireball angrily, and it severed the chain holding a chandelier, sending it crashing to the floor.
The oak doors suddenly opened, and Theodora looked down from the top of the stairs, seeing two baboons helping a decrepit figure inside.
"Curse that Glinda… look what she's done to me!" she hissed as the baboons released her.
"Sister… is that you?" Theodora called, descending the stairs.
"Theodora… go. I do not wish for you to see me like this," Evanora replied, pulling her cloak up to hide her face.
The green witch knelt before her sister, pulling the fabric away. She was met with the sight of an old woman, barely even a shadow of the Evanora she'd always known. Her sister had always been so beautiful and strong… to see her so weak and vulnerable…
"Glinda did this to you?"
"She removed the source of my power…" Evanora looked up at her younger sister, almost jealous of the looks she had once called hideous. "At least you have retained your youth…"
"I will find a way to restore your power. They will pay for what they have done to us," Theodora growled.
Strange: in Kansas, a year felt draining, as if pulling him ever closer to a dusty death, but in Oz, a year went by no slower than a day, and he felt more alive than ever. The colors, the people, the riches… and not all in gold, he might add.
"Glinda, I have never felt this way before. I feel as though I can do anything here," Oscar announced one night as they prepared for bed.
"Apparently you can. In a year's time, you have succeeded in restoring Oz to her natural beauty, and the people are very happy," the blonde replied with a smile.
"And still no sign of any witches."
Glinda raised an eyebrow.
"Wicked witches, that is."
"It is true, the sisters have kept their distance, though I fear what they may be planning."
"Let them plan what they may; they are no match for the Wizard of Oz. Besides, you told me that Evanora had lost all her power."
"Evanora, yes, but Theodora remains strong as ever. She is a scorned woman, Oscar, and a broken one. She has nothing left to lose… and you do not know the power such a woman possesses…"
Oscar turned, sensing the uneasiness in Glinda's voice. "Hey," he said gently, sitting beside her and putting his hands on her shoulders, "don't worry. We anticipated the return of wickedness, and we have prepared. Oz will not suffer again… not while I'm Wizard."
Glinda put a hand over his, turning to offer him a smile. "I believe you."
A year… a year of following every dead-end clue, a year of fruitless searching and spell casting… and every day, her sister grew weaker and closer to death. Theodora was running out of options; if she wanted to keep her sister alive, she'd have to come out of hiding.
"Theodora…"
"I'm coming." The green witch carried the delicate cup up to her sister, who sat in bed, almost too weak to move anymore. "Here; drink," she said, holding the china at Evanora's mouth. It was almost embarrassing, having to watch and listen to her once proud sister now sloppily slurp up her tea, but Theodora did it not out of compassion (her heart had long since withered away), but because she needed her sister. She could not bring down the Wizard alone, and even though Evanora had fled out of fear before, Theodora believed she could persuade her otherwise.
After all, I'm the one with power now.
"I believe we have one last option of reviving your power," Theodora said once her sister paused in her drinking.
"You have tried everything else… what makes you think this time… will be different?" Evanora wheezed.
"I do not know for sure, but I am willing to try. I need your power added to my own, sister. Only then can we bring down the Wizard and Glin—"
"You're still… holding onto that hatred?"
"The hatred for the Wizard is what fuels my power. It is the reason you made me like this." Theodora looked away. "It is all I have left…"
"I heard him… he said you could return…"
"Return to him?" Theodora spat. "You mean crawl back to the Emerald City to prostrate myself before that oh-so-good couple? How dare you even suggest such a thing!" The green witch strode away angrily, stopping to look out the window. "Once you get your power back, we will bring him down, and then nothing will stop us from ruling Oz together."
"If you're so set on it… what's your plan?"
"You will see…" Theodora left the room and started up the stone staircase to the northern tower, grabbing her broom on the way. Opening the door revealed the new flock of flying baboons, chattering and screeching. "Come, we fly to Quadling Country! If any defy us, they will fall!"
The baboons screeched their approval, and followed Theodora through the night sky, ominous clouds forming as they streaked through the darkness.
"Glinda! Oz!"
The couple, who had been enjoying a rather quaint breakfast, looked up at the sound of Finley's voice.
"What's wrong, my friend? Have you run out of bananas again?" Oscar asked.
"Now is not the time for your stereotypes, Oz! Theodora has resurfaced!"
The grin slid from Oscar's face. "Where is she?"
"She led the ambush on Quadling Country last night!"
"But the bubble… she cannot get through," Oscar said, looking to Glinda for support.
"If she did once, she certainly can again," the blonde replied before getting to her feet. "Whatever she is planning does not bode well for the Quadlings. We must evacuate them to Munchkinland, where they will be safe." She started from the room, but Oscar soon stopped her.
"Glinda, think about what you're saying. By the time we even reach Quadling Country, Theodora will have already finished whatever mayhem she's planned."
"We cannot just abandon them."
"Of course I know that, but what would you like me to do?"
"You're the Wizard, and the Quadlings are your people. It is your duty to protect them."
Oscar sighed. "Glinda, the Wizard is just a con; smoke and lights behind a throne. The man is dead… I can't leave to help them."
"Then I must."
Oscar took her hand gently, pressing a kiss to it. "Be safe."
"If you don't hurry up with those shoes, I'll find someone else who can make them faster!"
The Quadling cobbler trembled as he nodded, working as fast as he could. Meanwhile, the glass blower blew yet another bead, willing it to cool quickly enough to appease Theodora. Outside, the flying baboons kept guard, practically daring any villager to approach and try to be a hero.
"So tell me… where is your great Wizard now, hmm? That bubble Glinda put up to protect you was no match for me; if she really cares, let her come up with something stronger."
"It's Glinda!"
"She's come to save us!"
The calls from outside caught the workers' attention, and they paused to look up. Theodora let out a growl, and a fireball shot from her hand, smashing a nearby window.
"Do not think she will save you! Continue working if you wish to keep your pitiful life from coming to an abrupt end."
Outside, the baboons keeping guard screeched at the intruder, but their sudden silence led Theodora to believe that Glinda had taken care of them. Not that she had expected any different. The doors opened, and there the blonde witch stood, always so poised and perfect… it made the green witch sick.
"Theodora… I see you have decided to show your face again, though I do not understand why you have chosen to waste it on tormenting these poor people," Glinda said.
"Glinda… I haven't the time or patience to explain it to you," Theodora said, gripping her boom. "But it is so touching that you cared enough to come all the way out here… to take time from your busy schedule of being queen."
"What business do you have here?"
"I'm just having a pair of shoes made for my sister. You remember Evanora, don't you? You threw her out a window after destroying her power!" Theodora lunged at Glinda angrily, a fireball ready, but Glinda calmly pointing her wand at her throat stopped her mere inches away.
"You should learn how to control that temper of yours," the good witch said.
Theodora smiled slightly, taking a step back. Glinda lowered her wand, but only a fraction.
"I'd love to stay and chat with you, my pretty, but I believe my business here has concluded," the green witch said, snatching up the finished slippers. "However, I'd like to leave you with this parting gift." A fireball formed on Theodora's hand, and Glinda's eyes widened as she realized what the green witch meant to do.
"Theodora, don't—"
The fireball shot into the roof, setting it ablaze immediately and sending wood crashing to the floor. Glinda raised an arm, trying to shield her face from the heat as the trapped Quadlings ran around in a panic. She heard Theodora cackle before taking off on her broom, and the blonde was left to protect her people alone.
"Sister, I have returned," Theodora announced, removing her hat as she ascended the stairs. She opened the door to Evanora's room, finding her sister with her eyes closed. "Wake up, I have found the solution."
Weakly, Evanora opened her eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "Theodora… it is no use…"
"Trust me." The green witch pulled out the silver slippers. "Once I imbue these with our family magic, you will be just as powerful as you once were."
Upon hearing what had happened in Quadling Country, Oscar wanted nothing more than to run to Glinda's side, but he knew he couldn't, not if he wanted to keep his secret safe. Instead, he was forced to pace his throne room, waiting for the good witch to return.
"Has there been any word yet?" he asked Finley.
"Not since you asked five minutes ago," the Monkey replied. "Oz, I know you're worried, but you know Glinda can take care of herself. She brought down Evanora."
"She only weakened her… and I fear what Theodora has up her sleeves." Oscar didn't admit his guilt, as if he could make it go away by merely refusing to acknowledge its existence. But it sat there, heavy in his gut. He knew it was partly his fault that Theodora had gone sour… no matter how hard Glinda tried to convince him otherwise. Then again, he hadn't exactly told the blonde witch the truth about his past with Theodora.
Not much of a past… just one night that she took to mean far more than it did.
"Has Glinda returned yet?"
Oscar looked up at the delicate voice of China Girl. "No… not yet." He picked her up after she walked over to him. "But she'll be back soon…"
The doors opened, and the three looked up to see Glinda standing there, her dress charred and ripped, and her skin smudged with ash and soot.
"Glinda!" China Girl was the first to react, jumping down and running to the blonde, who knelt tiredly. China Girl jumped up, and Glinda caught her, raising her up and receiving a hug. "We were worried about you."
"I'm all right, child."
"What happened?" Oscar asked, going to her side and taking her arm, fearing that she'd collapse at any moment.
"Theodora was forcing the Quadlings into crafting something for her… I do not know why. I tried to talk her down… but she refused to listen."
"Of course she did, she's wicked now!" Finley said.
"Glinda, she could have killed you," Oscar said.
The blonde shook her head. "She could have, but she didn't… instead, she brought down the building, trapping the Quadlings inside. She knew I would choose to save them over following her… and I did. I fear what she and her sister are planning."
"Evanora? She's hardly a threat," Oscar said, as though he could convince himself and everyone else by repeating that phrase.
Glinda looked at him, her blue eyes lacking the warmth he was so used to seeing. "I wouldn't count on that for much longer…"
That's chapter 1! Hope you all enjoyed it!
