The Blue Wizard felt he had grown a little more serious. His crown reminded him constantly that he had a kingdom to protect not just rule. He also had friends and family here now, and was therefore more vulnerable. His friends were behind him, and they walked together towards Mockbeggar Hall. The gems on the medieval shaped crosses that gave height to his crown now illuminated slightly blue. It was still in the dead of night and the moon lit the way well enough, grinning though it may have been.

"I believe now, "Lanse said solemnly, patting his old friend on the back.

"She didn't die in vain," Em added.

"Thank you, it really helps to be with friends in this dark moment. I mean what I said though. I will not give up the throne so easily! If she wants it, she's going to have to take it!" I yelled.

"She's gone too far, killing a friend is an act of war, she's finished," Argy vowed.

"Thank you brother, I knew I could count on you," I replied. Argy noded. I tried very hard but just couldn't help it. The brutal death of my beloved friend was too hard to bare for the time and tears steadily fell, among us all. This was his first low moment: to watch a good friend die at the hands of an old enemy. He waved his hands in a criss cross pattern sending all of them to the cemetery, and buried Julia's body.

"Anthony, you may want to take a look," Lanse said again raising his eyebrows. The rythematic chant of "HO" on every left foot meant only one glorious thing.

"Your Ozness, what perfect timing! What do you think of your army?" Commander William shouted while riding on a very familiar Horse. Adonaie, formerly Glinda's War Horse, was now the noble steed that Commander William was given to use for marching his full flank of troops. All of them were looked perfect: the long dark green coats flaired from the waist down; the black combat boots; the dark green shako hats; made them look as serious as they were strong. Armed with the halberd spear and rifles on their backs, they were ready to fight. They were marching down the Yellowbrick road heading West making a treck along all of the Emerald City borders.

"Your Ozness!" Will dismounted the Horse. "How great to see you again!" We had an interesting history: his father, Commander Cherrystone knew Glinda very well, and served the crown for many important but wicked years.

"Tis great to see you as well my friend! What an excellent choice for commander! Glinda still knows best I see," I smiled.

"Indeed! So your Ozness, any orders for your first army?"

"Maintain a full watch at all times. Answer only to me and Lady Glinda, and never assume it is actually us. Post men at every border, and at very entrance to the Emerald City. I want the people and my friends to feel safe and protected with their King's Army."

"It shall be done," He bowed and mounted the noble Horse again, marching away woth the chanting army.

Anthony grabbed his heart, and turned his head at Mockbeggar Hall's general direction, dropping another tear.

"Come we must return to Mockbeggar hall!" I shouted while running hard.

"Why?!" Em shouted back following me Argy and Lanse.

"Something bad is happening I can feel it! Come on!"

Back in Mockbeggar Hall, Glinda was hosting Aunt Mara and Anthony's cousin Strom, talking about her visions first.

"Please my dear friend sit with me, and Strom, you as well please. We have much to discuss." This was in the Great Hall of the hall. Huge antler made chandeliers lit the enormous room. Books lined walls on either side, and a large fireplace with a beautiful marble mantle was opposite the Quoxwood table they sat at.

"I know you have had visions of the new enemy we face here in Oz and as you are an outsider to this Land, I would like to know how your visions occur, and when they first started," Lady Glinda asked. She was not wearing the enchanted pearl necklace...

"Well, let me think. It all started when I became a mother really, I just had a sense about danger for my kids, and knew correctly if they were in trouble, serious trouble, or not. When the tornado came, I had no idea I would end up here. Now I know it was a portal, but Glinda, did you summon it?" Aunt Mara asked.

"I did not. That is why I am interested. Normally, when Anthony calls to Earth for aid, the same group of people come. Now that that's changed, I fear this new enemy knows Anthony very well, or about him at least. Which means only one thing: She or he is a relative of an enemy we have previously dealt with, who before now, was also dead,"

"Maybe we came for another reason," Strom said now clearing his throat. All eyes turned to him.

"What do you think dear?" Glinda asked politely and softly almost sounding british Mara thought.

"Well we are family to Anthony, not just friends. We share the same blood in our families. Maybe that tornado brought my mom and I because of that. We haven't been a large part of each other's' lives growing up, this could be our chance to change that," he said. Lady Glinda smiled.

"I hope you're right. Time will tell too. Mara, you must know that as you are family to Anthony you and your son are in grave danger," Glinda cracked her neck, an odd body move for her… Mara watched Glinda grow more irritated as the minutes passed.

"Glinda, tell me something please. What was Anthony's musical instrument of choice? Surely even in Oz music lives on,"

"Oh indeed it does my dear. You are here to answer my questions, not the other way 'round!" Glinda yelled for the first time in a century… Strom got up, and the door slammed shut seconds before he left.

"Oh, no no no it shall not be. You're not going anywhere, EITHER OF YOU!" Glinda screamed. Strom saw a guitar or something that looked like it on the wall. It was indeed the enchanted instrument Candle used to play. She was the wife of Liir (Elphaba's son), and daughter to Princess Nastoya, the leader of the Scrow Tribe in the Vinkus. It's magic was true, and powerful. Mara had a flash: that a monster in this room would attempt to strangle Strom within the next few seconds. Her hands formed fists.

Strom heard his mother in his head through yes, magic, say, "Son, this is it. You play that guitar harder than you ever have your entire life," Strom looked at her and nodded. Before he could strike a note, Glinda struck him with a bolt of lightning from her fingers.

Mara stood up and threw her chair at "Glinda". "NOT MY SON YOU DEMON! NOW SON!" she yelled.

Glinda shouted, "YOU WILL ALL DIE ONE, BY, ONE! I WILL DRINK THE BLOOD OF MY ENEMY AND TAKE BACK THE THRONE! AND AVENGE MY SISTER, BROTHER, AND GRANDMOTHER!"

Mara was having another flash and knew the truth now. She threw another chair and caused exactly what she wanted: Glinda fired again, but this time at Mockbeggar Hall, destroying it. Aunt Mara jumped on her son, shielding him from damage, and picking her head up from debris, noticed a blue shield in turn around her.

"NOW STROM! NOW!" Mara yelled. There was an enormous crowd indeed, as the citizens were trying to make their way towards the Palace to hear Anthony's next speech, but this interrupted them. Strom struck hard with no pick using just his bare thumb, and the instrument shot a pulse of powerful magic towards the thing posing as Glinda.

"FROM DUST TO DUST!" Strom yelled as he played notes of power and fury on the enchanted device.

The magic hit the "Glinda" and the woman screamed, and laughed as a cloud of black flames engulfed her. Through the firey curtains everyone watched in muted horror as the being shed the appearance of Glinda, and whirled around in the black fire. Slowly she morphed into the wretched, vile vampire wearing the rooster feather cape and infant bone collar and shoulders on the dark obsidian gown, and horns sprouted from her forehead. Her hair was white as snow, her nails were long as rivets, and she was very tall. Yes, the Wicked Witch of the East: part Vampire, part demon, stood only feet away from Strom and Mara. The instrument Strom was playing held the woman still in a magical forcefield thank heavens.

"Good work son!" Mara said to him.

"Thank you! You too!" Strom congratulated his mother. Then, the situation changed.

"No, no you have not won. You have no idea what you have just done. I am Nessa Evanorah Thropp, the Evil Witch of the East. And now I'm going to feed on your son, and then you! AND I WONT STOP ThERE OH NO! I WIL EAT THE BLOOD OF EVERY MAN WOMMAN AND CHILD WHO EVER UTTERD THE NAME ANTHONY OR GLINDA! AND THEN I'LL BE QUEEN OF THE LANDS!" The woman laughed maniacally, and then in an explosion of lightning, the forefield was broken. The woman stood hovering above the ground, and raised a cursed hand to Strom. A red stream began flowing from him to her, and Mara screamed in protest. It was unspeakable.

"NO!" She yelled, and then began crying. Strom tried to keep playing the instrument but couldn't strike it hard enough for an affect.

There was another explosion f plaster and stone. Anthony the Blue burst through and punched the air throwing a fireball at the Witch.

"How about a little fire Nessa? SOUND FAMILIAR? MAYBE A LITTLE FAMILY TRIBUTE IS IN ORDER!" Anthony spiraled both hands, and formed a small tornado made solely of fire and lava around the Witch of the East, and then his eyes flashed blue. A purple cloud teleported the Witch away, breaking the vampiric drain spell on Strom, and he fell to the floor.

"Mara, it's ok, stay awake you're alright! Everything is under control, the Witch is gone," While kneeling down to let my Aunt in shock grab my arm I waved my right hand at Strom healing his wounds, and blood loss returning skin color. Lanse, Em and Argy looked from around the corner but didn't come in yet. Anthony remained in the room for a moment ensuring Mara and Strom were alright and hugged them both tightly.

"We are family god dammit, nothing is gonna break that, ever! Not even some cursed Witch from Hell can stop us," he said, tears fell everywhere.