There was a funeral the following day in Natalee's honor. Ozma, Blue, Glinda, Anthony, Horse, Unicorn, and Liseli were among the ones to attend. Despite Liseli having betrayed us, she did still care, and paid her respects by coming. Everyone wore black. From head to toe there was not a color in sight. Apart from the green hue emanating from the City of Emeralds that we were in. The Lurlinistic Priest blessed her body in the coffin, and Commander Cherrystone ordered a 16 gun salute. It was a very touching ceremony. The singer was operatic, and everyone that knew her dearly was in tears, holding hands. 16 being how young Natalee was when the Wicked Witch of the West defeated her. All I could think of was what Glinda told us when one died in Oz coming from Earth. Everyone on Earth that knew you, has their memory wiped forever. It's as though you never existed in the first place. Trying to see his way across through his plethora of tears, Anthony ceremoniously laid down a dark purple sheer cloth covered in bright velvety red roses over the dark black wooden coffin, and then the chorus sang in unison a song of Anthony's choice as she was lowered in the ground. Amazing Grace sung out over the land, and all the Animals lowered their heads, and all the Trees lowered their highest branches, paying their respects, and mourning the loss of one of Oz's many Heroines. Anthony let out the last few tears for her as they buried the coffin over with dirt. The people left, and with a heavy heart, Anthony followed Glinda and Ozma back to the Emerald City Palace, to discuss the Trial coming soon. The case of The Imperial land of Oz vs. Elphaba Thropp.
The next week later, Glinda, Ozma and I were all talking in the Throne Room at her golden round table about how the trial is to go. There would be no witnesses to the crimes to go on trial in the defense of Oz or Elphaba. There was much better evidence to be heard.
"Well, according to Law in the Oziad, thee will have to be two trials. One here in the Emerald City, and another in a neutrally agreed location." Glinda reminded us. This slowed down our plan.
"Why do there have to be two? That's ridiculous!" I exclaimed. After loosing Natalee I had no time for bullshit.
"Because of the things she is accused of. One of them is a crime against humanity, and she did it twice." Ozma explained. I was confused, what was she being accused of besides High treason?
"We are putting her on trial for everything she has done since even before Dorothy came. So we have two kidnappings using a deadly weapon, genocide twice, homicide four times, and two attempted murders of high ranking officials. And of course, High Treason for rebelling against ever ruler in Oz since the Wizard, and always wanting to give fire to the poor Scarecrow." Ozma had discussing this with Glinda for a very long time, and they had to remember everything against Oz that Witch had done. The two kidnappings were easy: First Dorothy, and then ten years later Anthony. The Homicide was a little trickier to remember. There was Gervirah the Swan former leader off the Animals in the Conference of the Birds, Madame Morrible even though some say she was already dead. But if she was dead, why was there an IV still in her arm? And saddest of all, Natalee was on the Witch's hit list. Unbeknownst to Glinda and Ozma, there was another murder the Witch had done in her past that they wouldn't have known. Cook from jus a few last years before Dorothy came when the Witch was leaving the Cloister of Saint Galinda and heading West to the Vinkus, her Bees did the deed. And Finally High Treason for time and time again attacking Glinda who for a time after the Wizard's departure, was Queen. Then of course her many attempts at burning the Scarecrow who was Oz after Glinda. After him came the Emperor Apostle of Oz, Shell Thropp, but he was a Wicked leader too so rebelling against him was part of Glinda's plan from three years ago to depose him and get Ozma Tippetarius back. But, with all these horrible deeds, the Trial could not take place on a single day, or in a single location. The Trial was composed of two separate Court Hearings, and in two different Countries. The first would hassle all of her accusations apart from High Treason and Genocide. That trial would take place in an agreed upon location. The deadly weapon mentioned earlier was of course the Witch's broomstick. Every Witch in Oz has a magic item, without it they cant cast many spells. Just a few enchantments with their hands.
"Well, I don't have any idea where the trial with High treason and Genocide should take place. We can't go to Ev for a simple reason. And every where else is simply too far away or doesn't like us." Anthony said. Glinda stood up and started thinking, her Golden Sun staff shining on my face as she paced back and forth with her hand on her chin.
"I think we need to have this talk with Elphaba." Glinda stopped pacing and looked at Ozma square in the eye. We were all taken back a bit by that. How would we be able to discuss something? The Witch was certifiably insane, how can she be confident she wouldn't fly off the handle just because I'm sitting at the table?
"Is it safe?" I asked her.
"I have a charm around the Palace. The Witch can't do anything or go anywhere without our permission, and because she has no magic item anymore, she can't attack us." Glinda said. In her head though she thought that because Elphaba was so incredibly powerful, surely she would have made some sort of agreement with The Nome King to give her a new magic item? Only discussion with the source would tell. Ozma walked out, and went over to the room that Elphaba was in.
"Elphaba, we require your presence at the table to discuss where you, the defendant would like to have one of your trials. One of them can't be in Oz." Ozma asked her. The Witch was behind the gold bars, but she said nothing at first.
"What are you saying Tip? I am allowed to move about with out having to be caged like on of the WIZARD'S ANIMALS? OR DO I HAVE TO SUPERVISED LIKE SOME SQUABBLING LITTLE RUNT?" The Witch turned her head as she screamed at Ozma, showing Ozma how her green skin glowed whenever she got angry about something. Ozma let out a small yelp of terror, and then told her
"I will let you out, but know that you cannot leave this room unless you have Glinda's and mine permission, which of course you don't. So don't even try, you'll just exhaust yourself." Ozma explained, her proper and beautiful green and gold dress added traditional Oz style to any room.
"So I hear 183 years in prison for my "crimes against humanity". That's the most I've heard." Elphaba grinned, pleased with her wickedness.
"That's not good Witch." Ozma frowned.
"BUT MURDERING MY FAMILY AND STEALING MY RUBY SLIPPERS IS?" The Witch stood while cackling, up her full six feet with her enormous cloak and famous pointed hat, and terror inspiring asymmetrical black dungeon made gown. She was pleased to know she was taller than Ozma.
"Feels weird walking with out holding something, I always had my broom." Elphaba said, as she walked over to the table. She actually hissed and glared her eyes when she saw Glinda. She was wearing a light yellow gown today, and Couldn't bear having to sit so close to her. The Witch's metal pointed shoulder boards looked menacing, and she kept her hat on of course. It still had the strange black smoky stuff swirling around the base of the cone portion, which draped down to her back behind her. She held her hands together on the table, her long silver colored nails shined like bullets on the table.
"Well let's begin. I assume you know we are putting you on Trial for all the things you have done." The Witch nodded while grinning widely. The shadow created by the brim of her hat made it look like her eyes were glowing eerily.
"We want to start out by saying that normally, we would give you the chance to apologize and you wouldn't be banished, but because of your lies, and other things, we no longer trust you, and feel that for Oz's sake and future, you should not stay here." The Witch knew what was the catch for her for banishment. It meant she could never return, she would be physically punished, and she would forget everything that happened up to the time of the trial. She would still remember who she was and her power and things like that, but anything revolving around the Wizard or Oz, would no longer be recalled. This could be accomplished by taking a helping of Oblivion Juice. Anthony was comforted by this. The possibility of the Wicked Witch being in Earth conscious of everything we have done, was terrifying. On Earth Anthony would have no magic. The Witch on the other hand would keep all of her power.
Anyway, Ozma continued and asked The Witch where she could agree to have the second trial.
"Quox. There are none of my allies there, and if memory serves, none of your friends are there either. It would be an unbiased jury to either side of this case." Glinda and Ozma looked at each other when The Witch said this.
"Alright then, it's agreed. The First will take place here in the Emerald City tomorrow, and the next will take place in Quox the following week." Ozma wrote down with the enchanted self writing quill. Elphaba stood up again and left the room going back to the balcony looking out over the lands. I followed her, and now that she seemed calm, I wanted to talk to her.
"Elphaba, do you have any regrets about this? I mean after tomorrow it will be said officially that you will no longer be allowed to stay here, and you'll be in the same world I live in." I said to her, I still kept my distance, but the Witch was not focused on me. She didn't want to leave Oz I could tell, and was a little shocked that justice was going to treat her. She knew it was going to happen eventually, but never thought that it would actually happen. Now with things set in motion, it startled her a bit.
"I do not have any regrets. Your stupid girlfriend stole my shoes, killed my brother, and then killed me! But I am actually thankful. Because now I am going to be sent to your world, more powerful than you have ever seen me before." The Witch grinned.
"But you have no magic item, how will you cast spells?" I asked her.
"You think The Nome King was going to hand me over to you empty handed? No no no. Think opposite from what I used to have." The Witch explained. Her long cloak flowed gently in the wind, but I still had goose bumps. She was not trying to kill me for once. Maybe she understood my pain for loosing someone I love. She knew that pain very well. Then she pulled something out from behind her cloak, and held it like a cain in front of her.
"An umbrella? That's it?" I noted that in almost a comical way, water could still harm her so why not use an umbrella? I chuckled a little.
"WHAT'S THE MATTER? I DON'T IMPRESS YOU?" The Witch held it out so the metal spike on the end of it was pointed at my neck. It was a waist high Umbrella, and had a curved wooden handle. It was checkered gold and black, and the spike at the end of it was chrome. The spike started shining red, and black smoke bellowed out form it.
"I could incinerate you in a flash. Just a flick of my wrist could turn you into ash. Don't toy with me foolish little boy." She walked away hiding her Umbrella again, and sat down on the couch, reading through a dark black old book. I could tell it was the Grimmerie. Then I started thinking, If she has the Grimmerie, and made the Nome King give her another magic item, what did he get in return? So I went back to Glinda and told her, and she thought the same thing I did.
"Elphaba, what is the Nome King doing right now?" Glinda asked, he pearl awaiting her answer.
"Oh I'm sure he's enjoying Ev, somewhere beyond the Deadly Desert." She laughed silently through her closed teeth. Not to our surprise, the pearl turned black, that was a lie.
"YOU KILLED THE NOME KING! DIDN'T YOU?" I yelled, Ozma came running in, until now, she always thought he was the mightiest bad guy, and all that, but now, the old one took down the flashy new one. She also saw her new magic item, the gold and black checkered umbrella. Elphaba stood up and showed her Umbrella, pointing it at me.
"I MAY LIE A LOT, BUT REALLY ANTHONY, I KILL THE NOME KING? HONESTLY! HE WAS JUST HERE HOW COULD I DO THAT?" The Witch explained. I realized that was true and felt a little foolish, so I sat on the couch across from Elphaba, and Ozma frowned at my ridiculous acusation, but decided to change topics so as not to dwell on it. From that moment on though, it was proven that the Nome King was still alive, and now madder than ever, but back in his underground dominion in Ev. Ozma was about to open her mouth
"If you all want that trial to go on, you better hurry up, I'm getting impatient, and that Throne is looking pretty good right now, especially since I am also immortal now." The Witch stared right into Glinda's eyes. She was happy the Nome King was defeated, but, this was bad now because it proved she didn't need time to rejuvenate, she was instantly more powerful than last time.
Ozma agreed we should have the trial right now, and so it was called. Everyone walked into the enormous old courtroom, and Glinda was not allowed to be on the Jury, simply because of bias issues. Same with me. We sat next to each other in the pews and waited for everyone to show. Ozma came in and sat in the Judge's seat. Then, Munchkins and Quadlings, Gillikinese men and emerald city folk walked in forming the jury. We were all talking amongst each other. Glinda was in her light purple gown again, and then everyone stopped talking. The door flung open, and all the lights went out. Elphaba walked in, breaking down the door with her Umbrella. The Munchkins and Quadlings screamed at the sight of her again. She sat at the table over to the side in front of Ozma, opposite end of me and Glinda, and she winked at us as she walked by and sat down. I knew that just meant she enjoyed making an entrance, and scaring Munchkins all the time. Ozma called for silence, and Commander Cherrystone held a copy of the Oziad, and Elphaba Thropp was sworn to tell,
"The hole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me Lurline." She had trouble saying Lurline, she was many things but never religious. But just for authenticity, it had to be said, and then she sat down on the hot seat, and waited for the harassment to begin.
"I call the case of Elphaba Thropp vs. Oz now in session on this the sixth day in Augustuv, in the 15th cycle. In this hearing I will see evidence both for and against the accusations of the following: Count One: Homicide using a deadly weapon, on three occasions. Count Two: Kidnapping two different people using a deadly weapon on two separate occasions. Count Two concurrent to Count One. Count Three: Attempted Murder of a high ranking Official on repeated encounters, using a deadly weapon, and harming intentionally, innocent bystanders. Count Three Concurrent to Count Two." Ozma began shuffling through the many documents that covered the legal issues that Elphaba had broken. Glinda and I sighed together afraid of what was about to come. The Witch was sure to be extremely defensive and probably violent. She had indeed acquired a new magic item the entire time she was imprisoned in the Throne Room, she only showed me because I asked her about it.
"Fist, Count One. Homicide. Elphaba Almira Thropp, you are charged with the murder of Madame Morrible, Gervirah and Natalee, using a deadly weapon. We all know your old deadly weapon, the broomstick. I see you now use an Umbrella, but the deeds done are to be addressed now. Do you deny these acts?" Ozma asked. There was a long pause, and then finally, Elphaba spoke.
"No. Actually, I am quite impressed with myself. Natalee was pretty powerful. But after she got cocky for thinking she killed me for good, intimidating the Nomes, I think I put her in her place, no pun intended of course," Elphaba was proud of her murder and that she killed her. I was greatly insulted that someone would actually be proud of killing another.
"And what about Madame Morrible? Do you deny killing the Wizard's Press Secretary?" Ozma asked. There was no pause this time, Elphaba was very pleased with that one.
"I originally planned to kill her the winter before, but instead, the Wizard thought'd be wonderful to kill my lover, adding another wondrous deed in my very happy life. So no I do not deny killing Madame Morrible, although since you were still bewitched to look like a boy, and trapped with my Grandmother Mombi in my castle, I would like to point out that Morrible was in fact dead when I beat her to death with my broom."
"And finally Gervirah how do you plea for his murder?"
"Guilty of course, he was a dreadful little rat with wings, and very annoying. He always thought up ways to try and stop me at those measly Conference of the Bird conventions, but little did he know I had my own flying allies." Elphaba smiled, but did very much mss her dear flying monkeys.
"So at this time ladies and gentlemen, we have Count One 100% sentenced guilty overall. I hearby announce you to face 16 years in prison for every murder. That's a total of 48 years. Count Two then: Kidnapping two different people using (again) a deadly weapon, on two different occasions. I understand that Dorothy Gale is with us today, so Elphaba, do you have anything to say to her?" Ozma asked. Dorothy stood up in the audience, and walked towards The Witch, who also stood up pointing her Umbrella at Dorothy, who was a full grown adult now, and raised a hand in attack mode, ready to activate the Umbrella's force.
"YOU KILLED MY SISTER!" The Witch screamed loudly in that ear piercing screech, and everybody covered their ears trying not to hear it.
"You kidnapped me, and you know as well as I do that was an accident, and as I found out, Madame Morrible summoned that tornado so your sister could be killed."
"WHY DO YOU THINK I KILLED HER TOO? BUT IT WASN'T MORRIBLE WHO WALKED OUT OF THAT HOUSE! IT WASN'T MORRIBLE WHO FIRST STOLE MY RUBY SLIPPERS!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH! ORDER, ORDER! DOROTHY, sit down, and Elphaba, you will not cast a single spell unless you'd like to spend the rest of your days, in the disappointments, locked away with Langwidere, UNDERSTAND?" Ozma called for order so the trial could continue. Glinda was itching to stand up, but I whispered to her,
"Just wait I'm sure she'll mention you soon enough." I told her.
"Alright it has become painfully clear, that The Witch is not sorry for anything she has one as of yet so we shall continue on to Count Three: Attempted murder of High ranking Officials, using a deadly weapon, and intentionally harming innocent bystanders. Do you deny and I ask you personally, as I am included in this illegal crime, do you deny on infinite accounts, attempting to murder either my self, Lady Glinda or the Scarecrow, and the Wizard?" When Ozma looked at Elphaba, she stood up and pointed at Glinda, but looked at Ozma and said,
"I will always be fighting Glinda, she was responsible for so much of my torment, and the theft of my family heirloom, and MORE! THE WIZARD WAS A LYING DICTATOR, AND THE SCARECROW WAS AN IDIOT!" Glinda could stand no more, and finally stood up.
"YOU MADAME WITCH HAVE CONSTANTLY STOOD IN MY WAY THINKING I'M SEARCHING FOR WAYS TO SPITE YOU, WHEN IN REALITY, I'M TRYING TO PROTECT Oz! YOU ARE A HUGE THREAT TO ALL THAT'S GOOD ABOUT OZ! SO, I try to help, as I promised so long ago." Glinda the Good did not sit back down yet, but waited for the Witch's response. There was nothing the Witch had to say in return, and before she could defend her self because the Witch dropped her mouth widely open, in complete disagreement and disgust of what Glinda just said, Ozma again called,
"ORder, ORDER! SILENCE IN MY COURTROOM! Now, that went a lot faster than I expected, so, if the jury has not made a decision yet, although I can't imagine they need anything to make their choice further, I call for a recess until they are ready. Meeting adjourned." Ozma smacked the podium with the mallet, and everybody left. The Witch stayed behind, and decided to leave when all the horrid Munchkins had gone