Chapter 3

The next day was a very special day indeed. Lady Glinda was asked to announce a State of the Family address to the People in every state, to get everybody's attention for the gloriously happy news. Lady Glinda was far too busy dealing with the damned confusing information about Shell, so she delegated the duty to her sort of colleague, Captain William, who did the job perfectly and in short time.

By noon, all of Oz it seemed gathered around the Emerald City gates in front of where the Palace Balcony lay, where no doubt the King and Ozma would announce whatever the glory may be. The Palace was ordered to let out absolutely no information to add to the suspense.

Glinda set off fireworks with her scepter, Captain William (who by the way was Captain Jinjuria's executive officer in the Mombi ordeal) had cannon salutes. Green and gold and blue and white fireworks exploded sporting the patriotic colors of Oz and Ev together. Lady Glinda stood to the side wearing now a red silk gold studded gown and Ozma held hands with Evardo.

"My loving Ozians! I cannot thank you all enough for taking time in these our once again dark and frightening days to celebrate with me!" The cheers and fireworks erupted with cries of joy and smiles that Made Glinda tilt her head in the loving quirky way she always did.

"Loving Ozians, as your Regent King I am proud to call you my ally and subjects! But none of that compares with my overwhelming joy today, as a father! Last night your stunning magnificent Queen told me she is due to deliver a baby!" Again the cheers and cannon fire exploded with the happiness they all shared. Regent here having the meaning of being King only by marriage not of blood and therefore not wearing the Oz crown, but the crown of Ev.

"Yes, fellow Ozians, it is with a shining heart that I announce to you today, I bear a son! In honor of my family and my husbands I have decided to name him Pastoria Alec Tippetarius," The Queen concluded. It is interesting the way she came up with the name. Pastoria, was Coleane's father, the blood relative and previous King of Oz. That one made sense. What was lesser known however, was the baby boy's middle name significance. Alec. King Evardo, the eldest son of King Evoldo of Ev, was one of many children, including Langwidere, born from Evoldo and his wife named Aleciya (pronounced A*lee*she*ah). Believed by many to be the most beautiful woman Ev had ever been graced with before or since. She immersed herself in charity work and regularly helped those impoverished poorer citizens. Always helping without a thought those she felt were in need.

Just as fireworks continued, suddenly the sky went dark. Throughout the crowds, women here are there screamed in terror and some men burst into tears. Glinda angled her scepter in a threatening do not enter sort of fashion, and stood infront of Ozma Coleane and Regent Evardo.

Just then a large black cloud of smoke formed over the heads of the enormous panicking crowd of civilians and directly infront of the Big Three on the Emerald Palace balcony. Then the smoke formed a white skull this time facing the crowd and with an open jaw as if the symbol for death was happy. When the black smoke cleared, Shell Thropp was floating in mid air and his true form that of a glowing white skeleton wearing a black tuxedo appeared; chilling the bones of those beneath and infront of him.

"Bravo Evardo, congratulations on becoming a daddy, I wish to bestow an old mage's gift to your unborn son. Yes, he will grow to be as powerful as his mother, and as strong in heart as his father, and live to be loved by all who meet him. BUT! When the Jackall Moon rises and becomes Full, he shall age to twenty, and vanish to my lair under the South, FOREVER!" Before Glinda could counter his curse, Shell threw a green fireball with his flaming right boney hand and the green fireball struck Ozma's belly, sending her back, and making her cry in physical agony. The spell hurting her child, not actually herself. Glinda shot white lightning at him and it struck, but did not cause injury it seemed.

"BE GONE DEMON! YOU WERE NOT SUMMONED AND WE HAVE NO DESIRE TO MINGLE WITH GROSS SINNERS AND TRAITORS AS YOURSELF!"King Evardo drew his ceremonial sword, which magically grew in length and threat. Shell laughed and swished his cape around with a magic sneeze, and disappeared, leaving a slowly dissolving glowing figure of a white skull in his place.

Lady Glinda coughed and picked up her scepter to announce the people.

Dear friends, please do not fret. We are in the hands of very strong powerful leaders, and I can assure you as long as there is magic in my blood, by Lurline Oz will not fall while I am here! Please return to your homes and unless absolutely necessary do not leave them for a moment or you will be at the mercy of The Grimm Emperor, Shelltergard Thropp" AS Glinda finished elevated over the heads of the people in her bright pink bubble, the people left, worried but still excited for Ozma. The King and Queen returned to their chamber, and as luck would have it, a new person arrived at the City gates to take th role of Doctor for the Emerald City.

Captain William was closest to the gates having just dismissed the Home Guard cannon team, and answered the knock.

"Madame the timing is most threatening ight now if its not important please return tomorrow," Captain spoke. The mysterious gypsy looking woman (wearing a white dress with a purple layer over the skirt and big blue circular earings) was rather old, but still had plenty of kick in her personality. The captain noticed she had no fingerprints, nothing to identify herself on her oddly smooth hands..

"Oh please sonny, if cared for pleasantries I would have been shot years ago. Now where is the unmarried blonde sorceress? I have urgent matters to discuss without needing to explain myself to a loveless, scared, man with clearly no balls. Seriosuly hon if youre afraid of me I don't know what youre gonna do against Shell," The woman walzed right in after the nonchalant bashing of both Glinda and himself, and with a speechless jaw dropped, face, let her walk in and find Glinda, clearly she needed no help there.

"Oh and by the by my name is Yackle, Lurline be praised, you are one pathetic guard, letting some crazy strange old woman walk right in. What if I was really Mombi? Hell if you knew or even cared for that matter! Go play with yourself boy, find me when =you really are a man and Captain of the Guard, sheesh," and with that, Yackle walked up the stair, looking for Glinda or Ozma, whoever she found first.