[Part 1]

Chapter 7: Glinda the Good

-Yellow brick road-

*~Oscar~*

Oz stood at the southern gate of Emerald City, steeling himself for the challenge ahead. He hadn't had much time to prepare for his trip – barely had enough time to find the Dark Forest on the nearest map – but he could understand Theodora's insistence and rush.

After speaking with her the night before he had not asked about Evanora again, but his impression, despite the physicians' doubts, was that she had survived the night. Theodora had said her condition was due to a curse, but unless he can break the wicked witch's wand, he will have to fight her magic somehow.

Inhaling deeply and bathing in the early morning sun, Oz tightened his grip on his suitcase and righted his hat before setting off down the path.

"Wait for me!"

He stopped and turned, then was almost barreled into by Finley who frantic flying had too much momentum. He managed to hold himself upright whilst Finley tumbled over the bricks of the road, tail over head a few feet down the path.

"Really?"

"Sorry," Finley apologized sheepishly, dusting himself off. "I thought you were going to leave without me."

He had tried.

"C'mon."

Thankfully the monkey did not protest and quietly followed him. The silence, Oz learned, was artificial. Finley had been deep in thought and now he wanted to voice all manner of opinions.

"So you're really going to do this?"

"How hard can it be to kill a wicked witch?" He brushed off with a smile, though in the safety of his own mind he repeated the phrase with far more anxiety. How would he defeat the witch?

"Hard! Really hard! It's very, very hard to kill a wicked witch!" Finley stressed, not helping his nerves or his odds. "And what about those poor girls back there? Theodora seemed to really like you."

"She'll get over me," he waved away, "they always do. She's a pretty young witch, there will be plenty of wizards knocking at her door."

"You know nothing, do you?" Huffed the monkey. "Wizards are fewer than witches, most of them preferring to stay away because witches are usually more powerful. I doubt that offers her many prospects."

He was reminded of Theodora's confusion in regards to the third rule she knew and Evanora's startled reaction. "Well. Witches then. Or maybe a kind young gentleman with a flair for the dramatic. They could talk shop while out on a picnic."

"Oh, every lie you tell gets us one step closer to the Emerald City dungeons!" Finley bemoaned.

"Don't think of them as lies," he placated, "but as dreams unrealized. Think of them as stepping stones, to the road of greatness." He gesticulated grandly.

"Wait, I've got it! We'll turn around and go back. You'll come clean. You'll apologize for lying about being the wizard and for lying to that poor girl, okay? You got to really seem contrite. You have to sell it, maybe you could even cry! Can you cry? I could cut up an onion."

He would rather not face Theodora with the truth after what happened to her sister. Some part of him worries that if Evanora dies, Theodora might come after him in retribution. "We're not going back. We're gonna find this Wicked Witch, steal her wand, I'll get that big pile of gold and you can have a nice pile of bananas, alright?"

"Bananas?" The monkey did not seem impressed. "Oh I see, because I'm a monkey, I must love bananas, right?" He gesticulated angrily. "That is a vicious stereotype."

"You don't like bananas?" Oz asked baffled. What monkey didn't like bananas?

"Of course I like bananas! I'm a monkey, don't be ridiculous. I just don't like you saying it."

Rolling his eyes, Oz returned to his planning, trying to recall anything Evanora may have mentioned that could be useful in his upcoming confrontation.

"How about this: we offer to wash all the windows in the Emerald City for an entire year. They'd have to forgive us! Or- or we could give them help with their infrastructure, I noticed some yellow-brick potholes back there."

Finley chatted away, but Oz had long since stopped paying him any mind. The walk wasn't too long. They were perhaps two hours out from Emerald City, when they reached a crossroad, smoke billowing up and hovering over the horizon to the right and a the Dark Forest marked to the left.

"That looks bad." Finley whispered, gaze pinned to the black cloister in the sky.

"We're not going down there." Oz warned firmly, sensing where the monkey's mind was wondering.

"Someone might need our help." The furry bellhop argued, glaring. "Not that you care." Finley marched down the path on the right, ignoring him completely.

"Get back here!" He was ignored. "You get back here!" Chasing after Finley, Oz gesticulated toward the path they had left. "We've got to get the Wicked Witch, what are we doing over here?"

When his words garnered no reaction he sighed and followed behind, falling silent. It may have been a few minutes or even an hour, nonetheless they came upon ruins when they entered China Town. The ground was scorched, glass shards scattered all over and the occasional smouldering fire.

"What happened here?" He whispered, but Finley did not answer, instead leading him over a short little bridge. Crouching down, He picked up a plate of glass and turned it, noticing a fractured face. A glance back at Finley proved the winged monkey was spooked and Oz drew in a deep breath as he realised China Town likely housed china citizens.

Quiet sobs pulled his attention and he motioned Finley to follow. Oz kept his footsteps silent, careful of where he stepped until he stepped through a hole in the side of what appeared to be a house shaped like a teapot.

He looked around, trying to find the source of noise, uncertain what to do. "Uh, hello?" The cries cut off abruptly and he scanned over the area again, his eyes catching movement behind an upended table. After a moment, two eyes cautiously peered over the edge.

"Hey here. Are you alright?" The doll shrunk back, afraid. "Don't worry, we're not gonna hurt you." He said gently. "This is Finley."

"Hi," the monkey said softly, waving ever so slightly.

"And my name is Oz."

"Are you..." The voice was shaken and child-like, feminine in sound. "Are you the Wizard?"

"You've heard of me?"

"Everyone has."

"Good, then you know there's nothing to be afraid of." He placated, beginning to gesticulate. "So just, come on out of there."

She looked at him and back at her lap, sounding on the verge of tears. "But, I can't."

"Oh, uh," the table must be blocking her, "alright. Hold on." He watched his step and crouched to get a hold of the table. "Let's get this off of you." Lifting it away, he set it aside, heart sinking when the doll came into view. "Oh no."

Like all the other dolls, she was made of glass and her legs lay splintered at his feet.

"I'll never get back together." She sobbed into her hands.

He ached for her, remembering the girl in the wheelchair, believing and praying for a miracle. He couldn't do anything for her, but for a china doll, perhaps...

"Don't worry, I think I might have something. Give me that bag." Taking his bag from Finley, he began to rifle through, "I packed something- there it is."

"What is that?"

He lifted up the little bottle, showing her the label with 'glue' printed across in bold letters. "Magic in a bottle."

"Magic?" She asked, confused and hopeful.

"Let's give it a try." Gently, he picked up the largest piece – her right leg – and brushed at the edges of the stump. "Just give it a little dab like so. Okay." Careful with his movements, he located the matching stump and pressed the broken pieces together. "Gently." He held them in place, waiting for the glue to dry, then slowly retracted his hands. "And there we go. Tada."

A screech vibrated across the town, the earth shaking beneath them, the broken houses rattling. "Oh no, no, no! They're coming back!" China Doll cried and Oz moved his arms to cover her, afraid something might fall and break her. There were a few more tremors and then it was quiet.

"It's okay. I think they're gone."

"The Wicked Witch sent them," she whispered.

"Why?" It would be best to keep her talking as he reattached her limbs, a distraction from the grim task.

"Last night, the whole town was celebrating – out in the streets – because we heard you finally arrived." She began.

"Me?"

"Everyone was so happy," she smiled tearfully, "but then-" she hiccuped "-then those things flew in." Her voice grew thick, "And then-" she shook, voice breaking, "-and then they..." She broke down into tears, crying into her hands.

He didn't need her to continue, sharing a glance with Finley. The devastation had told them enough.

"Here we go," he said, hoping to draw her attention away, "last piece." With the same care he had practiced before, he fixed the stumps together and briefly held them in place. "Would you like to stand?"

She nodded, eyes wet.

He held out his hands, taking hers in his and carefully pulled her up, stopping when she was on her feet. "Alright. I'm going to let you go," he warned and slowly released her. She wobbled and he reached out on reflex, but she regained her balance, arms outstretched at her sides. "Okay," he half praised and half sighed, feeling like he was holding his breath, "now, walk to me."

"I don't think I can," she admitted, looking down at her legs.

"I think you can." He encouraged. "Come on."

She moved one foot, little black shoe shaking as it took the first step. She moved her other leg, wobbling slightly, but still standing. She moved slowly, each step careful and stopped in front of him.

He smiled, laughing. "Alright!"

"You did it!" She whispered in disbelief then jumped, barely giving him time to catch her. Her arms wrapped around his neck as best as she could manage, her head resting on his shoulder. "Thank you."

Finley wiped away a tear and looked away, leaving Oz to uncertainly return the china doll's embrace.

-Emerald City-

*~Theodora~*

There had been no change in her sister's condition, though the healers claimed Evanora a fighter when their predictions did not occur. Theodora could have told them that without needing to see her sister's limp form lying in bed, eyes closed as though in sleep.

Her cheeks hurt from the tears she had shed, but mostly she just felt numb. Almost like she was empty. It was a strange sensation, one she had never felt before. She hoped she would never have to feel like it again.

She closed her eyes and prayed for strength, then rose from her sister's bedside, wondering what she would do, what she would say. The council had taken agreed to take over her sister's duties, some of them asking after Evanora's condition, but most seemed pleased, only making pretenses and faking sympathy. They're the ones that caused fire to flood Theodora's veins.

The ministers think her too naive to understand, too gullible and childlike to see the contentment in their eyes, they think her senseless and have no fear for speaking of hopes in regards to her sister's demise.

Had she any power, they would all be locked away in the dungeons, sealed away where their toxic thoughts would have no room to grow and their venom would be wasted on the walls.

Theodora had ignored comments about her sister before or gently persuaded others to say something a tad kinder, but it seems now that her sister cannot overhear, they all spoke their minds and spread their foul-tongued rumors to the edges of the city.

The guards encouraged tender words where they could and calmed concerned citizens. Theodora itched to help, but felt too numb to move. Talking seemed far too great an effort, so she wandered the halls like a phantom until they brought her to the throne room.

She had noticed yesterday that her sister had set up station in Queen Lurline's magic nook and allowed her fingers to glide over the surface of the crystal, power humming beneath her fingertips. It made her think of the Wizard. Has he reached the Dark Forest? Has he apprehended Glinda?

The smoked in the crystal parted without her intend and she slid her hands to the sides to clear her vision, wanting to push through now that she could see.

-Dark Forest-

*~Oscar~*

"That must be her..." China Girl gasped in surprise as they watched the cloaked figure glide across the ground toward the gate. Oz had never considered himself superstitious, but watching the Wicked Witch glide through the fog felt a bit like seeing a ghost.

"She put down the wand," he observed, eyes locking in on the cart.

"But how are we going to-" The witch turned and Oz ducked with Finley, pulling China Girl down with him. "Hey!"

"Shh."

"Listen up." Sparing a quick glance over the tree root they were hiding behind, he grabbed the nearest stick and evened out the sand by his feet. "Here's the plan: the Wicked Witch is the triangle, Monkey, you're the 'x', I'm the 'o', China Girl, you're the squiggly line-"

"I want to be a heart! Can I be a heart?"

Sighing he waved away the line, redrawing. "Alright, fine, you're a heart. Okay. Now, heart stays here. As O makes his way over here, X counters thusly. Clear so far?"

Within an instant, Finley's head rocked forward, air blasting across the sand, wiping away the map.

"Bless you."

"Good work. You just sneezed the plan away." Oz deadpanned, unimpressed.

"Sorry."

Frustrated, he threw away the stick with a sharp, "Never mind!" Jabbing a thumb over his shoulder, he continued, "Just go over there and make some of your animal noises. I'll grab the wand when she's not looking. Get out of here."

He moved out of cover together with Finley, each taking a different route around the large tree. Oz tried to keep as quiet as he could while still hurrying to the next object of cover. He made it behind the cart just as the Wicked Witch pushed open the gates to the cemetery, her back turned.

Seeing his chance, Oz reached for the wand, only to snatch his hand back when her head snapped toward the cart. He held as still as he could, trying not to breathe, but the she began reaching out, her hand inches from the cart edge.

"Mooooooo."

He couldn't tell who was more startled, himself or the Wicked Witch, nonetheless it was true. Finley was haloed by moonlight in the distance and he could just barely make out China Girl mouthing 'A cow?' with a bewildered expression. The Wicked Witch turned away, Evanora's warnings of her might reverberating in his ears, pushing Oz to take his chance.

He grabbed the wand and made a run for it, sprinting for their make-shift headquarters and diving for cover. "I've got it!"

Finley came running around the tree moments after, whisper-shouting "Break it!" with China Girl following up with an equally frantic "Break it, Wizard!"

He rose the wand above his head, a hand on each end, preparing to bring it down and break it over his knee.

-Emerald City-

*~Theodora~*

"Break it, Wizard!"

Theodora was uncertain what made her heart pound faster, the fact that the Wizard had all but rendered Glinda powerless or that he was about to break the object guarded most closely by any witch.

"Did you say 'Wizard'?"

"No!" She exclaimed under her breath, brow furrowing in concern and dread as a black cloaked figure swept in front of the Wizard and his companions, their screams surprised yet frightened, all knowing the danger they were in.

She could only hold her breath, palms itching to unleash her magic, but all she could do was watch and pray for the Wizard to remain unharmed.

-Dark forest (graveyard)-

*~Oscar~*

"Are you really the Wizard?" The Wicked Witch asked, towering over them.

His wit left him, Evanora's warnings ringing in his ears. He began to babble, saying whatever eloquence came to mind, but then the witch's hood came down and Annie was looking down at him, eyes soft and steady and he rose up as though beckoned out of a bow.

"Yes. I'm the Wizard."

She was gentle and smiling, face void of the expected wickedness. "Then there's hope."

"What's going on?" He heard China Girl whisper, Finley responding with equal befuddlement, "Not sure – I sneezed the plan away."

Amusing as the exchange was, his eyes were locked on Annie, not quite sure how to respond. Could it really be her? Her voice and appearance suggested so. But then Finley was somewhat like Frank and China Girl was like the girl in the wheelchair, only their resemblance was not so striking.

Was this Annie or was this a witch?

"I've waited so long to meet you."

"So, we've never met?"

-Emerald City-

*~Theodora~*

"So, we've never met?"

The words ran through her mind, playing on loop, repeating over and over. The Wizard recognizes Glinda. The Wizard knows Glinda. Evanora was right.

"Certainly not. I'd remember a thing like that."

"You've never been to Kansas?"

"Kansas? Is that where you're from? My, you must have traveled very far to get to the Land of Oz."

Clarity came to her and Theodora grappled with dread, vainly attempting to warn the Wizard through the crystal, trying to pull him from Glinda's spell, trying to stop him from making a mistake, from falling, from dooming her sister.

"I did."

"Don't be pulled in!"

"Is it much different in Kansas? It must have been difficult to leave. I can't imagine ever leaving Oz."

"You've never left?"

"No, focus Wizard! She's enchanting you!"

"Why would I want to?"

"It's just... I'm sure I've seen you before."

"Theeeodddorrrrrra..."

She started, concentration broken as she stumbled back, scanning the throne room. "Who's there?"

"Ccoome to mee..."

The voice was wispy, echoing, low, but there was no mistaking it.

"S-sister?"

"Coome to meee, Theeeoddorra..."

-Dark forest (graveyard)-

*~Oscar~*

He could see the confusion in her eyes, how she tipped her head in acknowledgement just like Annie when she didn't quite understand. "I'm Glinda," she eventually said, "Good Witch of the South."

And there's the hook.

R&R, I hope to hear from you!

– L.L.