A Mother's Curse: Chapter 3: Theodora the Good


Elphaba and Galinda had a lot more in common than one would think at first glance. Both were natural witches, bookworms, nobility and daddy's little girl. A fact Elphaba was embarrassed to admit to her new friend. The train ride to the Emerald City gave both girls the opportunity to talk about themselves and everything else. By the time their train pulled into the glistening city, the green girl and the blonde girl were like they had been best friends for their whole lives and not only friends for a few months with being enemies just a short time before. Their previous animosity was mutually forgiven on both accounts, the want to have a real friend outweighing cruel actions they had done to one another. In fact one would be surprised at the closeness of these former enemies.

The Emerald City is the center for Oz imperialism, economy, and culture. The Wizard himself is very mysterious. The official story is that he arrived in Oz in his youth in human form, befriending all of Oz before he was killed by the Wicked Witches of the East and West. It was then that the Wizard shed his mortal body and become the Supreme Being that would defeat both witches and send them into hiding at the very corners of Oz. Little has been seen or heard from the Wizard ever since, with these events having taken place two decades ago. Glinda the Good Witch of the South is the voice and face of the Wizard, although her appearances have been fewer and fewer in recent years to only a once a year public appearance. It was rumored that Glinda is the half-sister to the two wicked witches, but no proof has ever been procured to prove it. It was also rumored that she and the Wizard had at least at some point had an intimate relationship but again there was no proof. Same would be speculated about the Wizard and the wicked sisters, although in this case there was some grain of truth to it. As for Theodora the Good Witch of the West, she was officially labeled as missing, presumably kidnapped and killed by the Wicked Witch of the West. Very few know the truth about Theodora as the Wizard had done his best to cover up what had really happened to the once bright eyed brunette.


"Elphie Wake up!" screeches an impatient blonde at her roommate, both girls are sharing a room in a five star hotel in easy walking distance to the Emerald Palace.

"Huh? Linny its 6 o'clock, why in Oz are you awake you are not normally awake until noon?" asks a bewildered Elphaba Thropp as she rubs sleep from her eyes. Just for once she wants to sleep-in like her Shiz U roommate normally does.

"But we have so much to do before we meet the Wizard on our last night here!" squeals Galinda excitedly, "Shopping, site seeing, clubbing…why are you looking at me like that Elphie?"

"Galinda Upland I have no interest on doing any of these things," Elphaba complains as she goes to make a cup of coffee, the hotel room being a penthouse suite with two queen size mattresses, a small kitchen area and a luxurious bathroom, "We will only be here a week. All I want to do is go to the Emerald City's several libraries and research more about my birth mother. I wonder if she is still alive somewhere?"

"Okay. But can we please go shopping on our first day! We have five other days to do work before we meet the Wizard!" begs the blonde girl with puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, alright Galinda," concedes Elphaba, "But we are only going shopping on the first day and you are not buying me anything pink, orange, or red, got that!"

"I won't Elphie I promise!" agrees Galinda happily as she waits for her roommate to get dressed in a plain black long sleeved dress, brown boots and hair in a ponytail with the black pointed hat a top her head. The blonde girl is already wearing a sunny yellow dress and matching heels, "Come on let's go. I hear there's this big sale at…"


"Elphaba we have searched almost every library in the entire city and have yet to find anything about your mother," complains Galinda as she walks with her friend into the Emerald Palace Library. Both girls were given clearance to browse the exclusive library on the day of meeting the Wizard as they will be meeting him in the evening.

"But Galinda we have only been searching for a week, it might take me years of research before I find out anything about her at all. I just wanted to get a head start," reasoned Elphaba guiltily, "I'm sorry we haven't had much fun. This is supposed to be our winter break."

"It is alright Elphaba I understand how much finding your birth mother means to you, I've always understood this even on our first night as roommates when you unintentionally read that letter she left you out loud in our dorm while I was doing some interior decorating," shrugs Galinda good naturedly, not at all angry at her roommate. Annoyed, maybe a little, but not angry at her only friend who just wanted some closure in her life.

"Thank you, that means a lot Galinda," replies Elphaba as she does something uncharacteristic of her, she hugs her blonde roommate tightly in gratitude. Normally Galinda is the one initiating any physical contact between them. Galinda then notices a book placed backwards on a shelf, an odd sighting.

"Elphaba have you looked through this book yet?" asks Galinda curiously.

"No, what does it say?" asks the green skinned young woman now also curious.

"It says Emerald City Royalty: Emerald City University Edition No.1994," answers the blonde, she looks in the book to check the copyright date, "Sweet Oz Elphaba this book is over twenty years old since it was published right after the death of the first Wizard and before the Emerald City University became Emerald City College!"

"Well can I see it please?" asks Elphaba as polite as possible, she is tense though because she knows this might actually be some kind of lead for her.

Chapter 13: Her Royal Highness Princess Theodora Ozma the Good Witch of the West.

Princess Theodora Ozma is the fourth and youngest daughter of the late Wizard Ozan Ozma, King of Oz. She is heir apparent although due to her young age her older half-sister Evanora Gaunt, the former head secretary to their late father and his second oldest daughter, will be taking over ruling responsibilities until Theodora is of age. Their half-sister Glinda Ozma the formerly good witch of the South and original heir apparent was proven by Evanora to be the one responsible for their father's death. The witches' oldest sister has never been a part of their lives and was never considered as an heir in their father's will. Evanora cannot fully inherit the throne as she is an illegitimate daughter born out of wedlock and was refused acknowledgement as the late Wizard's daughter and was not written in his will as an heir. Evanora is mentioned only as a temporary guardian to Theodora who is not yet of age should circumstances prevent Glinda from said guardianship position.

Young Theodora currently fourteen years old lost her mother at the age of five years due to an illness the princess had only barely survived from. Winkie Fever caused a strange condition in which Theodora had acquired an allergy to water, requiring special magically treated water for her use or risk painful if not life threatening complications. Otherwise the princess' health has greatly improved. At the age of ten Theodora had earned the title of Witch, her magical skills of a prodigy level. As of last year, Theodora has been campaigning across her mother's native homeland the Vinkus Territory, giving aid to those in need. Her many selfless acts and charity has earned the young witch the title of the Good, an honor the ruler of Oz bestows to those who have done great things for the benefit of Oz's citizens. Shortly before his untimely death, King Ozan granted the title of the Good to his youngest daughter only a year after granting the title to his second youngest daughter who is ten years her sister's senior. Theodora's genuine pure heart and honest kindness are rare for a child who has had a life of unlimited wants and needs.

The death of her father and betrayal of her closest sister has devastated the beautiful child at the mercy of her other distant sister. The Wizard's death has brought an end to Theodora's good will rally for the time being as she will be guarded in the palace for an unknown amount of time. Although not having a previously close relationship, in the wake of this crisis both sisters appear to be comforting one another and are not seen separate from one another in public. Only time will tell if Oz's kind hearted princess will overcome this tragedy and re-enter the world stronger than before.

Elphaba is stunned about what she just read out loud to her best friend. Her mother was not just a good witch, she was at one time the rightful ruler of Oz. Elphaba remembers from her history tutor back at home and of some of Dr. Dillamond's lectures that at one time Glinda the Good was considered the wicked witch, before the truth was discovered that she was being framed by the wicked witches of the east and…west? West? Theodora the Good Witch of the West…

"Galinda is there any time left to look through old newspaper articles before we have to go meet the wizard?" asks Elphaba hopefully, now that she finally has some useful information about her birth mother.

"Yeah Elphie, we have at least two more hours, we did get here right after breakfast. Turns out it was clever thinking on your part," replies Galinda with a smile, happy to see her friend getting somewhere with their investigation after a week of tiring research.


"Here Linny check this out!" exclaims Elphaba loudly. The Palace Liberian gives her an angry dirty look but says nothing.

Emerald City Times Morning Edition 18th December 4991

Theodora the Good Reported Missing After Wizard Returns to Power

Story by: Muriel Morrible, Professor of the Ozian Language at Shiz University.

The Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz himself just announced the abduction of Theodora the Good by the vile Wicked Witch of the West. The witch who was to be his future bride is now at the mercy of a twisted monster. While the Wizard's power is unparalleled, the situation is bleak since her abduction was sometime before he had shed his mortal body. The whereabouts of Theodora and the Wicked Witch of the West are currently unknown. There is little hope she is alive although many would like to believe the Good Witch can be saved. The Wicked Witch of the West is a ruthless murder, if Theodora has found a way to escape her evil clutches, she maybe be harmed beyond recognition. At this time the Wizard has decided that there will not be a memorial service as there is no actual proof that Theodora is no longer alive. The wizard will wait at least one year of searching before any further decisions regarding Theodora's status of living will be officially decided.

"This is all there is?" asks Elphaba out loud, her voice bitter, "She was the rightful ruler to Oz and all she gets is a brief mention in the paper!"

"Elphie at the time there was so much going on," argues Galinda, "The Wicked Witches, the Wizard finally taking on his final form! There was too much to write about all at once. Besides at least now you have a picture of your mother."

"You are right Galinda, at least now I know what my mother looked like," agrees the green girl as she looks at her mother's colored portrait in the book from early she decided to "acquire permanently without permission". Galinda made no move to demand Elphaba return the book. The woman had peach tan skin, warm brown eyes, shiny brown wavy hair, a small nose, and wore a dark maroon coat and matching wide brimmed hat with an even wider smile. She was beautiful and so innocent in that picture.

"I see where you get your taste for odd hats Elphie," laughs Galinda, "You look just like her, well minus your green skin."

"You really think so?" asks Elphaba shyly, not believing she resembled the beautiful woman in the picture.

"Yeah, you really do look just like her Elphaba," reassures her blonde best friend.


"The Wizard is ready to see you now!" announces a guard loudly, "Follow Me!"

"Oh Elphie we finally get to meet the Wizard I'm so excited!" hyperventilates the young blonde witch.

"Breathe Galinda. Stop for a second and breathe," orders Elphaba concerned for her friend's health. Once her friend calms down Elphaba suggests, "Let's go meet the man who will change our lives forever"…

"Elphaba Thropp of Munchkinland and Galinda Upland of Gillkan have arrived your worship," announces the head guard.

"OPEN THE DOOR!" yells a mechanical amplified voice angrily.

"Yes sire," squeaks the guard as he opens the door.

"ENTER ELPHABA THROPP AND GALINDA UPLAND!" orders that same mysterious angry voice.

Both young witches enter the long hallway towards the throne, the large double doors slam shut aggressively behind them. They stand before a floating head and amazing feats of controlled pyrotechnics, a kind of magic neither are familiar with.

"I AM OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL!" announces the angry volumous noise, "FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AND COMFORT AS HONORED GUESTS I WILL NOW TAKE ON A MORE APPROACHABLE FORM!"

Green smoke first completely engulfs the entire room than clears away to reveal a man standing in the space that once held the floating head.

The older man, about Frexspar Thropp's age, dressed in grey robes with short-cut graying hair and a dark mustache looks at the two witches, especially staring into the eyes of the green skinned one, and the first thing he says is, "Theodora?"…