As had been expected, the Wizard's guards placed Theodora under arrest, although approaching her hesitantly. The green witch didn't fight, instead allowing herself to be taken down into the dungeon and put into chains. It didn't take long before she heard the sound of approaching footsteps, and the green witch looked up with a smirk.
"I was wondering when you'd come visit me."
Glinda shook her head at the sight. "Theodora… what are you doing? You and I both know that those chains cannot hold you, not with your magic. So why are you doing this?"
"As I said before, you and I are due for a chat. I figured I'd make it easy on you."
"The apple didn't work, I presume?"
"So you do know what this is about. I should have known better than to fall for your tricks."
Glinda shook her head. "It was no trick."
"You said it would change me back!"
"I said it would not be my magic that changed you."
"You'd better start making sense."
"When I asked you if you wanted to change, you said yes, but for malicious reasons. Just as the apple that Evanora gave you changed you into what you are now, my apple too draws on desire. It will only restore you to your former self if that is what you truly wish."
Theodora's eyes narrowed. "Apparently you were not listening to my sister earlier. I have no heart with which to desire; it has withered away."
"Even withered plants find new life, when given the proper care." The good witch made to touch the green woman, but Theodora jerked away. "What has turned you so fiercely against me?"
"You know exactly what."
"It has been ten years, and you know the truth now."
"The truth does not matter."
"So it does not matter to you that Evanora killed my father to keep us apart, and to claim the throne for herself?"
"Why do you care so much? After all this time… why are you forcing me to remember all this?"
"I never stopped caring, and I believe you relive your memories as much as I."
Theodora looked away. She couldn't exactly deny what Glinda had said; she did relive her memories. Thousands of times she'd replayed them in her head, wondering if perhaps they'd ever, just once, give her answers.
"What does it matter now? I am no longer that person… and you belong to the Wizard."
Glinda stiffened at that. "I belong to no one. It is true, I have affections for him… but our relationship has not been in the position to progress."
Theodora rolled her eyes. "Stop, for now you're in the position to make me nauseous. What do you even mean by telling me this? That you could possibly still have feelings for…" Theodora noticed the look on Glinda's face. "You can't possibly… you abandoned me!"
"No, you let your sister pull you away. My feelings never changed."
Ten years earlier
"I knew I'd find you up here."
Theodora looked up, seeing Glinda coming to sit beside her. She looked away, holding her knees tighter to her chest. "Just enjoying the view."
The blonde looked out across the darkened city of emeralds. "Yes, you seem to enjoy being up here quiet often."
"It's calming… for both me and my magic."
The good witch looked at her, but Theodora would not return her gaze. The brunette soon felt something under her feet, and she looked down to see a bubble up against the edge of the roof. Finally, she looked at her companion, one eyebrow raised.
"You do know that this is unnecessary, right?"
"Yes, I know. Consider it a safety precaution."
Theodora smiled, her face turning slightly pink as she looked down again.
"You've made yourself scarce lately."
"You've been busy… and Evanora said I shouldn't disturb you."
"Your sister means well, but she isn't always right."
Theodora shrugged. "She's always known best…"
Glinda moved closer, taking the brunette's hand and causing both their hearts to begin beating faster. Theodora looked up at the night sky, trying to control her breathing.
"The stars are beautiful tonight."
Theodora didn't reply, unable to contain her feelings any longer. She turned to Glinda, finding the blonde's lips with her own and kissing her. She heard Glinda inhale sharply, and after a few moments, she pulled away, looking down.
"I… I'm sorry."
Glinda turned Theodora's head gently so that their eyes were locked. "I was wondering when you'd finally share my feelings."
The brunette's eyes widened. "You… me?"
The blonde smiled before leaning in to kiss the brunette, who in her excitement, failed to realize that she was sliding off the roof. Theodora let out a cry as she suddenly fell off, and Glinda looked down to see her floating in the aforementioned bubble. The brunette offered her a sheepish grin, which caused Glinda to just shake her head and laugh.
"I was young… I didn't know any better." The green witch looked away.
"You knew exactly what you were doing, as did I."
"Even if what you say is true, what does it matter now? You are with Oz, and I am called wicked. I am incapable of returning your feelings."
"I do not believe that, and neither should you." With a wave of her wand, the chains unlocked, releasing the green witch. "Your sister is not always right."
"What are you doing? I can destroy this palace, and the Wizard."
"I will trust you not to." And with that, she was gone, leaving Theodora behind with her thoughts.
With a yell, the green witch threw a fireball, watching it smash against the stones. She could feel a fire burning in her chest, perhaps where her heart should have been. What did the good witch mean by doing this? Telling her she trusted her and still had feelings for her… how could it be true? So much time had passed, and events between them. Theodora had believed her sister's lies… so how could Glinda still see any good in her? Theodora could not settle for these unanswered questions, so she decided that she and the good witch still had business to attend to.
Once nightfall came, Theodora snuck out of the dungeon, making her way silently through the palace. Even now, she still remembered how the palace had once been set up, though once she reached Glinda's once bedroom, she found it to now be a study. The green witch entered, neglecting to close the door behind her. As she approached the desk, her eyes fell on a small ornate box.
"This was my mother's… she gave it to me when she first became ill."
Theodora touched the box lightly, lifting the lid. Her eyes fell on the glint of emerald, and she picked the box up, fully opening it. Her eyes widened at seeing the gifts she'd given Glinda so long ago.
She kept all these? But why?
"I told you: my feelings never changed."
Theodora dropped the box, where it spilled its contents upon hitting the desk. She turned to see Glinda closing the door before approaching her.
"You kept all these worthless—"
"Yes." Glinda reached the desk, turning the box upright before beginning to put the gifts back inside.
"Why?"
"I've told you enough times, and you still won't believe me."
"Because I am not the woman you remember! You loved me as I was before; not as this disfigured, green witch!"
The good witch looked at her. "I know my Theo is still in there… and your outward appearance means nothing to me."
"Now that is a lie."
Glinda gave her a look before moving to the windows, shutting the curtains and thrusting the room into pitch darkness.
"What are you do—"
A finger over her lips stopped her, and Theodora wondered how Glinda had reached her so quickly.
"I told you: your appearance means nothing. In the darkness, you and I are equals."
Theodora felt hands running through her hair, and down her face. The green witch's eyes closed at the feeling, though she wished they wouldn't. "Aren't you loyal to the Wizard?"
Glinda sighed. "My mind and my beliefs are loyal to him and what he stands for… but my heart still protests."
Theodora felt the blonde take her hands, raising them up to her face. The green witch inhaled softly at the smoothness of Glinda's skin. "You could get in trouble for this. The stakes have risen in the past decade."
"I know."
Theodora understood then that this was not easy for the good witch. So, though her sister would surely condemn her for it, Theodora allowed herself to be drawn into the moment. Her hands ran across the blonde's shoulders and down her arms. Closing her eyes, the green witch could remember her youth, and how she had felt whenever she was with the good witch. Her dress was suddenly on the floor, and the brunette's eyes snapped open, straining to see Glinda through the darkness.
"Stop."
It was gentle, but firm. Theodora complied, closing her eyes and allowing her own hands to wander over Glinda's nightdress. It wasn't long before they were both bare to the world, letting their hands explore the changes their bodies had gone through over the lost time. However, though their hands did wander over skin, their relationship progressed no further. While the embers of their youthful love still smoldered, they were not yet ready to reignite its passionate fire.
As the sun began to rise over Oz, it became clear to them that Theodora could not stay. With what she believed to be reluctance, the green witch pulled away, dressing herself before starting for the window.
"Theo."
The green witch turned, seeing the blonde holding out her broom. She took it, her gaze on the floor.
"A fortnight." That was all Theodora said before she was gone.
When Glinda did return to the master bedroom, clothes back on, she found Oscar gone, and the bed empty. Her brow furrowed, and she left the room, heading downstairs into the dining hall.
"You're up early," she said upon seeing Oscar setting the table.
He smiled at her, setting the food filled plates down. "I figured I'd do something nice for you. I haven't been entirely fair to you lately."
"It's all right. I understand why." Glinda sat in her seat, and as he gaze traveled down, it fell on a small open box. Time seemed to slow, and she could her blood pounding in her ears. Oscar was looking at her with an expectant smile.
There, sitting before her, was a proposal of marriage.
Theodora didn't remember flying back to Kiamo Ko, but her echoing footsteps on the stones proved she had indeed made it. The green witch crossed the room, setting her broom down to lean against the wall. Her mind was reeling, and she found the memory of last night replaying itself over and over.
"You're certainly back early."
Theodora turned towards the voice, seeing her sister emerge from the shadows. "The Wizard… he and Glinda did not fall for my ruse."
"Oh I think they did. You were especially convincing around Glinda."
Theodora's dark eyes narrowed. "You were watching me?"
"Of course I was! I knew you couldn't be trusted, and I was proven right! What were you thinking?"
The green witch looked away, having no answer to provide.
"I thought I had eradicated these foolish thoughts from your childhood, but apparently, I failed. Never fear, for I will not give up on you. You will not see her again, Theodora. I forbid it."
"You cannot forbid me. I am no longer a child!"
"Yet you continue to act like one! Glinda has no feelings for you, and she is only using you, just as she did when we were young!"
"Glinda never loved you, and you allow your jealousy to rule your actions! You are the hypocrite who cannot be trusted!"
Evanora's eyes narrowed, and she approached her sister, slapping her. Before Theodora could recover, her sister grabbed her face, pulling the green witch back to face her. "Now you listen to me: I don't know what lies Glinda has put into your head, but she is turning you against me, just as she did before. You might think otherwise, but that is the truth."
"That is your truth, not mine." Theodora smacked her sister's hand away before turning, starting for her broom.
"Don't you dare walk away from me!" Evanora thrust her hand out, summoning her sister's broom into her own hand.
The green witch turned, a fireball in her hand. "Do not try and stop me."
"You would strike me down? For her?"
Theodora didn't reply, but threw the fireball at her sister instead, who deflected it with a swipe of her hand. However, she was not prepared for the second one that knocked her off her feet, sending her to the floor. Evanora looked up at her younger sibling, unable to speak out of surprise.
"Without me, you would still be a wasting away in a bed. I gave you your power, and I can take it away." Theodora held her hand out, summoning her broom back. She began towards the window, leaving her sister to struggle to her feet.
"Where will you go? Do you really think she will be waiting for you?" Evanora wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. "Theodora! She doesn't care about you! No one loves the wicked!"