Oz Victorious

Chapter Ten: Another Day

Sitting upon the Throne of Oz, the brunette-haired man held his fist to his mouth, his thumb placed below his chin. His eyes focused on the stainless green metal doors before him, the troubled thinker mused over the distressing issues his life now threw at him; Things had changed since his childhood. His face, now partially covered with a light goattee, bore the signs of sleep deprivation and worry. Dressed in the finest silk the Emerald City could afford, the self-proclaimed Wizard debated a new law being passed in Gillikin Country: was it right or wrong? Either way, he had no say in the matter, and the people suffered.

"A penny for your thoughts?" a familiar, comforting voice interrupted the man's thinking.

"Katrina," the brunette happily replied, rising from his seat. "I've missed you. What's been going on in Munchkinland? I haven't heard anything."

"The people are debating the construction of another Golem out of fear for the Witches' return," the good witch answered. "They have not consulted anyone outside of their own kind, I fear."

"They don't have the supplies for that," the Wizard responded. "...I thought the nations of Oz were uniting. Maybe I've failed."

"You mustn't blame yourself," Katrina argued, maintaining her composure.

"The countries need a leader...one leader," the man persisted. "Someone who knows about the past...someone who won't make the same mistakes the old leaders did."

"And might that be the Great and Powerful Oz?" the good witch concluded.

"I'm not so sure anymore," Oz answered, falling back into his chair. "My presence is feared and respected in the Emerald City, but what if the scare tactic doesn't work with the other countries? I mean, I want the people to feel safe, and I want what's best for them...but I can't do that as a flying head. It's like I need to be different places at once..."

"Don't you fear you're becoming something of a god?" Trina asked, leaning against the Throne.

"I just want to set an example," the Wizard explained. "Where I come from, there're places called North Korea and Iran. They're in turmoil. I mean, Korea blindly follows their leader, or at least they did before I left. They're living in poverty and suffering because no one'll take a stand against him. I want to stop something like that from happening here...I want to be more than just the man who scared the Wicked Witches away."

"The people of Oz have never fallen into such things before," the dark-haired woman replied. "What do you think has changed?"

"...Me," Oz answered. "I'm not the shining example the other countries need. I need to prove myself to them...become a leader to them. Maybe under a united rule, Oz can prosper."

"But what will stop them from blindly following you like North Korea follows their ruler?" the good witch argued. The man stared down at the floor, doubting every word he spoke.

"...How did your father rule?" the Wizard finally asked. "How did he inspire loyalty?"

Turning to her dear friend, Katrina smiled a caring smile, and lightly stroked Oz's cheek. "He trusted himself enough to do what he thought was right," she answered, her voice gentle and loving. "He aspired for greatness."

"That's what I've always wanted," the man replied. "...To earn a name for myself...to help other people. You and Addie showed me that. Maybe...maybe it's time Oz became a monarchy."

"Is that what you think is right?" the good witch asked.

"...Yeah it is," Oz answered. "I think that's what I was brought here for." Standing up, his confidence restored, the man turned to his council. "Where is Addie?"

"Just back from Munchkinland," the china doll answered, walking in through the green doors. Dressed in a white dress laced with ocean blue fringe, the teenager's heels clicked on the floor with each step. "I think I'm losing my job. They're trying to build Golems without permission. Do we have the grounds to do anything?"

"You are the official overseer of all Golem production," Oz answered. "Under our wartime agreement, they must consult and follow you on all Golem decisions."

"I think the Munchkinlanders are getting tired of their deal," Addie replied. "Some of the Tinkers are fearing a revolution."

"No," the Wizard whispered. "That can't be an option...look, tell them to wait...not a yes or a no...just wait. I'll come up with something."

"They're terrified, Dad," the teenager whispered. "They won't wait forever. And we can't keep relying on the robots."

"Okay...tell them," Oz stuttered. "...Tell them I'll send someone...someone to talk things over with the head of the country." Katrina gazed at her old friend.

Silence filled the room for a second. "But Dad, you haven't left the castle in years," the china doll finally said. "I mean, how are you gonna..."

"I'll find a way," the Wizard answered. "Just tell them, angel...I'll work it out." Oz kissed his daughter's smooth forehead, stroked her hair out of her face, then let her go.

"Okay," Addie said. "Good luck." With that, the young woman ran out the door, headed for Munchkinland.

"What do you have in mind?" Katrina asked the Wizard.

"Do you have any disguise spells?" Oz answered. The good witch grabbed her wand with both hands. "Oz needs a representative...someone human. Besides, the Emerald City is at peace, and they don't have to know I'm gone."

"...Be wise in you choices, Wizard," Trina replied, waving her wand over the man. In a flash of light, the Wizard became unrecognizable; his hair growing blond and his eyes dyed to a deep blue color. "I shall protect the city while you're away. The rest must be your doing."

"Hey, you taught me everything I know," Oz confidently answered before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Katrina smiled, knowing the man's actions would lead to a brighter future.