Don't really have much to say. You'll hear less and less from me as the story goes on (thank God).

Anyway, here's the next chapter.


"It appears Mother left behind a veritable treasure trove," Theodora noted as the sisters searched their castle dungeon. "Though I doubt it's anything of real worth to us."

"On the contrary," Evanora was holding a large crystal ball similar to the one she had used in the Emerald City, "this will be our access for seeing what's going on in the Emerald City among other places. Theodora, be a dear and fetch me a dagger."

"A dagger?"

"Anything with a sharp edge will do, really."

"Sister, I don't-"

"Do as I said," Evanora carried the orb up the stairs as her sister stayed behind confused.

"It is rather peculiar how I'm not more familiar with this palace," Glinda was talking with the Master Tinker as they entered the throne room. "It always seems there's something new to discover."

"Well your highness has stayed at her castle in Quadling Country a long while," Tinker reminded.

"Perhaps too long a while," In a moment of quiet remembrance, Glinda slowly ran her fingers against the arm of the throne. "This was once where my father sat as king."

"And now where you will sit." There was a brief moment of silence. "I meant what I said: your father would have been more than proud of you."

"Thank you Tinker; but I still wish he was here with me."

"Your father may not be here with you, physically, but he will always be with you in spirit." Glinda smiled at the tinker. "And you'll always have the love of the people of Oz. Plus you've got a good support system here: you've got me, you've got Knuck, you have the China Girl and the flying monkey, and of course you have-" as if on cue, Oscar entered the throne room…

…and Glinda lit up the moment he did. "Oscar!"

Oscar went over to her and bowed. "For the most beautiful witch in all of Oz," he magically produced a bouquet of flowers for her.

"Oh," Glinda breathed as he gave her the flowers, "they're lovely."

"Not as lovely as you, of course."

"Why Wizard, you're such a charmer." She set the flowers on the throne. "And I suppose you got them for me so that I'd overlook you not helping prepare for this celebration?"

Oscar feigned shock. "Why Glinda, I'm shocked that you would think that." She quirked a brow to him. "Okay, yes that's partly true; I could never lie to you. Those flowers are also a way for me to show how I much I truly appreciate you."

"And I do appreciate the gesture." As they leaned in for a kiss, Glinda suddenly pulled back.

"What?" Oscar was put off guard by her maneuver.

"I sense danger."

"With a kiss?" Oscar wasn't being serious.

"With the witches," but Glinda was serious. "Oscar, they're going to come back! I just know they are; I can feel it!"

"I don't see how that's likely. You took away Evanora's magic when you destroyed her necklace thing."

"But Theodora-"

"-can only scare us. You were able to determine the source of her magic is anger and all she can do is some parlor tricks and make those fireballs that can't even kill us. Weren't you the one who told me that witches can't use their magic to kill?"

"There was a way."

"Was?"

"Before you destroyed it."

"Destroyed it?"

"When you burned all of the wicked sister's possessions the day that I put up the protection spell."

"Yee-ah," Oscar nervously rubbed the back of neck. "That uh…that killing spell…what exactly was it?"

"It's one of the three Forbidden Spells," the Tinker indicated his presence to Oscar. "Spells that should never be, but are. All Ozians know of the legend of the Forbidden Spells."

"And it was believed that the sisters found them," Glinda continued explaining. "That's probably how they were going to kill me when they held me captive in the town square."

Oscar looked confused. "Need I repeat what we just established about witches not being able to use their magic to kill."

"Not unless they use the Forbidden Spell that brings instant death."

"Instant death?"

"The Forbidden Spells are the power of alteration, the power of creation, and the power of instant death."

"The first two out of three don't sound that bad."

"But they have no limitations. You can alter anything, including living creatures. And with the power to create…there's no telling what you can create from thin air."

"Like a weapon?"

"Or even a monster; you can create living things."

"So it's like those spells are only bad when put into the wrong hands?"

"No good can ever come from those spells."

"We don't know that."

"And we never will since you destroyed them."

"Okay but, and this is hypothetical, let's say that I didn't destroy them."

"But you did."

"But let's pretend for a moment that I didn't."

"Oscar," Glinda caught onto him, "what are you hiding from me?"

"Who says I'm hiding anything?"

"You don't need words to convey your message. I understood everything from how you spoke, not what you spoke."

"Glinda-"

"Tell me the truth, Oscar. Please."

The two seemed to have forgotten the tinker until he cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse me: I'll give you two some privacy so that you can have your little…discussion," Tinker bowed to them before fast-walking out of the room.

"Huh," Oscar tried to switch subjects, "I kind of forgot he was there."

"Oscar, please," but Glinda decided to remain on focus, "what aren't you telling me?"

Oscar sighed. "Follow me," he led her toward the back of the throne room. "I literally stumbled upon this room by accident after I tripped and fell against the wall," he pushed a part of the wall away to reveal an entrance to a hidden chamber.

Glinda cautiously entered. "What is all this?"

"This is my secret room. The only one else who apparently knows about this is Finley because he was there when I discovered it." Oscar made his way over to a table where a sinister looking chest sat. "I found this among the witches' possessions," he didn't need words when he gestured for Glinda to open the chest (which she then did). "I didn't really understand what they were until our conversation in the throne room." A stunned Glinda looked up at him. "These are the formulas for the Forbidden Spells."

Glinda couldn't bring herself to even touch the notes. "Why do you have these?"

"I figured they were notes for spells and I thought maybe I could learn to use them."

"Oscar, no!"

"Now that we know what they are, maybe we can use the power of these spells for good."

"Oscar: nothing good can come from those spells."

"But Glinda, we don't know that. I mean, maybe we can do some good with the altering and creating spells. I mean, just so long as the wicked witches don't get a hold of the notes, right?" Glinda turned her back to him. "Glinda?"

"How could you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper and even though she wasn't looking at him, Oscar could tell she was trying not to cry.

"To be fair, I didn't know what these spells did and-"

She quickly turned and faced him, "You're not capable of change." And with that, Glinda started to walk away.

Oscar blinked back confusion before chasing after her. "Wha-" he set the chest with the spells back where he found it, "what are you talking about?"

"I was foolish to think you were completely changed. Once a con man always a con man." Her words stung. "And what hurts the most is what you said to me before all this." Oscar tried to think back on what he said. "How could you say that you would never lie to me when you've kept this secret?" Now he remembered. "Why is it that I should believe you, when you won't believe me?"

"Glinda," Oscar took her hands in his and made direct eye contact with her, "whether these spells are destroyed or not, the witches can't hurt us. And even if they tried, I promise I'll keep you safe from any danger.

There was a brief bout of silence before Glinda responded, "Why don't I believe you?" She pulled her hands out of his and left him standing alone in the throne room.

With a solemn sigh, Oscar slumped onto the throne. "You can come in now, Monkey," he called.

Finley, who had been standing outside of the throne room and witnessed Glinda leaving, reluctantly entered. "I hate to be the one to tell you so," he began, "but I did tell you to burn those notes the moment we found them."

"Why does she even think we're in danger?"

"I don't know," Finley flew over to his friend, "but witches seem to have a sixth sense about things like that. If Glinda believes the wicked witches are coming back, I'd take her seriously." He noticed Oscar deep in thought. "Whatcha thinking about?"

"She doesn't believe I'll protect her." A beat. "I get the feeling that she doesn't think I love her."

"I know it's none of my business…"

"Then keep your mouth shut."

"…but maybe if you would just ask the girl to marry you, already-"

"Whoa! Whoa! Who said anything about marriage?"

"Well excuse me for thinking that if you love someone, you marry them."

"That's not how it always works, Finley." Oscar took a moment to reflect. "I guess I'll just have to prove to Glinda that I still love her."

"That marriage idea might be proof enough. Ooh, maybe if you actually followed through on destroying the notes for those spells…"

"Did you not just get done saying this was none of your business?"

"I thought maybe if I could help-"

"You want to help?" Finley nodded. "Here's how you can help," he waited for Finley to lean in closer as if Oscar was about to tell him a secret. "Don't help." Finley frowned at him. "Why don't you go bother someone else?"

"Because you're my friend and you clearly need the help."

"The last part of that statement is false."

"Are you sure it's not the first part?"

"Please Finley, I don't want, or need you mad at me too." Finley didn't say anything. "I do appreciate your willingness to help—and I thank you—but I think this is something I need to do by myself."

"Then why didn't you just say that in the first place?"

"I thought I made that clear without words."

"No, not really. I'd recommend you work on your communication skills."

Oscar showed Finley to the door. "Goodbye, Monkey."

"Now that's a good choice of words because I got the message." Oscar rolled his eyes at him before shutting the door.

Evanora winced a little as she poked her finger with the dagger that her sister retrieved for her. Once she started bleeding, she placed her fingers over her crystal ball and let her blood flow onto it. Theodora understood now: in order for the crystal ball to work, it needed the blood of the person who would be accessing it (Evanora). The sisters watched as the orb clouded and soon gave them viewing access into the throne room of the Emerald City palace. "Well, Sister," Evanora began, "it seems as though we're making progress."

"How maliciously wonderful," Theodora watched Oscar exit the throne room, "but it appears our timing is off."

"You underestimate what this crystal ball can do," Evanora waved her hand over the orb and the image projected inside of it appeared to rewind. "It can show us anything, anywhere, at any point in time." She ensured the orb stopped at a moment where Oscar and Glinda were in the Emerald City palace's throne room.

"Is that…" Theodora was stunned by this revelation that she was at a loss for words.

"This happened at an earlier point in time. Now let us listen to their seemingly private conversation." With another wave of her hand, the sisters were able to hear the discussion Glinda and Oz were having before they left the throne room. As Oscar began leading the way, Evanora waved her hand to ensure the crystal ball would follow them.

"Where is he leading her?"

Evanora watched closely. "It appears to be a secret chamber in the throne room." Her eyes widened in excitement as Oscar picked up the chest and showed it to Glinda. "Sister! Sister, it's the spells!"

"What?"

"The formulas for the Forbidden Spells!"

"The fool didn't destroy them?"

"No! They're there and they're intact. Granted, he's burned all of our other possessions, but not our forbidden spells!"

"We can get our spells back?"

Evanora faltered a bit. "Not personally, no," she watched Oscar set the spells back. "We can't access them while they're in the Emerald City."

"And no one will bring the spells to us."

A sudden idea came to Evanora. "Or will they?"

"Sister?" Evanora hurried back down to the dungeon. "Sister!" Theodora followed.

"I thought I saw it somewhere," Evanora was searching a collection of spells their mother had left behind.

"Saw what?"

"A section devoted to the controlling spells. Perhaps an answer lies somewhere among those formulas." Evanora flipped through the pages until she came across what she was looking for. "The options here are severely limited." She perused through them. "The only one we seem to have any chance with is to gain control of an animal."

A wicked smile flashed across Theodora's face. "And I think I know which animal."


Thought it best to stop there.