An ear-splitting sound hovered in the air as a light, non-scented stream of water vapor accompanied it's tune. Momentarily, the thumping of footsteps joined it, and with a clatter, the sound ceased to annoy the old man.
He was ripe with age-- his face, flat and saggy with an extremely long nose. His white searing hair combed and tucked back while his big green eyes shined through. His body was a bit stiff; very frail and skinny. His arms and hands bulged with visible veins. He was dressed seemly and regally-- a green suit accompanied with a gold tie and large dark brown shoes.
The old man grasped the kettle tightly and tilted it towards his tea cup, where the hot, boiling water intermixed with the light green groundings of herbs. A similar color rose within the cup as more water was pored into it. He then added half a spoonful of sugar, stirred it lightly and cautiously walked off to a lightly-dimmed empty balcony patio. He walked over to a table setting-- complete with a luxurious satin chair, a fine, hand-crafted wooden table made of Quoxwood and a giant umbrella that was closed. He moved over to the chair and he sat down rather slowly, minding his tea. He took a quick sip and then set it down on the table. The old man then set his eyes out on the horizon ahead.
The sun was slowly rising, it's first beams hitting the glints of green that was the Emerald City. The orange rays upon the glittering green is a sight this old man enjoyed daily-- especially from his point of view; from atop the highest tower in the Emerald Castle. The old man gave a sigh and moved his sight towards the table, where not only his teacup lay, but also a large leather-bound book. The old man gave a large grin before picking it up and reclining back into his seat.
His eyes studied it. His curious fingertips examining the many crevices of the age- old cover--exploring every bump, every fold and every symbol that was carved into it. He opened it with extreme caution, making sure the loose, yellowish pages don't fall out. He turned each page over; his mind collecting the bits of incomprehensible information. The old man then closed the book and placed it back down on the table. He grinned once more and soon after, picked up his tea cup and took a large intake of tea.
"The Grimmerie is a fascinating book is it not, Mr. Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz?" Elphaba exclaimed from air as she hovered on her broomstick.
The Wizard's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in hesitation. In a state of shock, he rose from seat, and tilted his head up towards the sky, and in the process dropped his teacup, it's small shattering sound lingering for a few moments. Nothing up there. He leered at the Grimmerie, and quickly picked it up. He headed towards the banister at the edge of the balcony. His eyes were marked with suspicion as they narrowed slowly and cautiously. His eyeballs moved left-- then right-- then up-- then down-- while his sweaty palms tightened their grasp on the Grimmerie. He would not lose it again. The Wizard gave a sigh of relief and soon convinced himself that it was nothing but a passing fancy gone wrong. The Wizard spun around and his vision fell upon a dark figure that was perched atop his chair.
"Who are you?!" the Wizard proclaimed loudly, clutching the Grimmerie closer to his chest.
"What's wrong, Sir Wizard? I thought you loved surprises…" Elphaba's sarcasm now giving away, " You certainly surprised me when you sent a girl to do a man's job."
The Wizard didn't budge. His face peered at the dark figure in front of him. His suspicions getting the best of him.
"Reveal your face", The Wizard slowly managed to say.
"Gladly", Elphaba said smugly as she raised her arms and grabbed hold of the hem of the hood and tossed it backwards. Her hair dropped down the sides of her face--her green skin basking in the dim morning light of Oz.
"No… No! You're dead! Damn that girl! Lying to me. The nerve… the audacity… the…"
"Truth." Elphaba interrupted. "She did the only sensible thing-- tell you exactly what she saw. I melted away with water. That's what she saw and she didn't question that, correct?"
"But… You aren't dead!"
" Well… otherwise I wouldn't be here, would I?" Elphaba remarked, hiding a smirk.
" How…? Water… a whole bucketful…", the Wizard blubbered loudly.
" I wouldn't be much of a Witch if I didn't have a few tricks up my sleeve. What that girl threw at me was indeed water. However, it wasn't me that had intercepted her that night. It was the mere illusion of me. With my looking glass, and with the help of the Grimmerie, I was able to cast a full-length reflection of me, one you could feel and touch. When the water was thrown, I melted it down."
The Wizard gritted his teeth, and his face scrunched forwards, his eyes filled with contempt. His grip on the Grimmerie was very tight, causing the leather to stretch from it's setting. The Wizard never moved his off Elphaba's smirking face.
"I have come here to recover my property. The Grimmerie", Elphaba said coolly.
The Wizard shifted his sight and sought an opening into the palace. He took the straight and narrow path--sprinted across the balcony, with the Grimmerie in hand. Elphaba did nothing as she saw the Wizard slam the door.
"So… he wants to play it that way…" Elphaba said softly, eyes on the horizon.
( )
The Wizard walked quickly into his throne room and hid behind his mechanical head. He slid the Grimmerie into an open drawer and then he leaned into the microphone he installed into his invention.
" Guards! Guards!" The Wizard frantically yelled into the microphone, expecting to soon hear the footsteps of his Gale Force. He waited for a few moments. Not a stir.
" Guards!!!" He bellowed. Nothing.
The Wizard hesitantly peered through the Mechanical Head's binoculars and he saw two female figures in the center of the room. He gawked at them in shock as he leaned again into the microphone.
" Who in the Hell are you two?!", the Mechanical Head's thunderous voice roared.
No answer. The Wizard then focused the sight of the binoculars to the two females. They were drenched in blood, yet, not a scratch on them. Both held swords, but one held something more-- a round figure. He, took the binoculars for a more focused look and he discovered that it was the head of his Gale Force high ranking First officer. The female holding the head then threw hard against the Mechanical Head, causing sparks to fly from the Wizard's invention. The Wizard jumped back to escape the sparks, but ended up being thrown forwards, for Elphaba had entered the room by smashing through the giant green window that was behind the Mechanical Head. Elphaba hovered in the air.
"I am growing impatient Wizard. Give me the Grimmerie." Elphaba said coldly.
"Not for as long as I am alive", the Wizard spat.
"So be it." Elphaba replied.
Elphaba raised her hand and the Wizard began to float in midair. Elphaba began to close her extended fingers very slowly into a fist. Gagging noises filled the room, growing quieter as Elphaba continued to stiffly close her fingers.
" You wicked bitch ", the Wizard puffed out while struggling to breathe. He twitched and turned, but it did no good. He gave a loud moan as Elphaba fully closed her fast, and his breath was gone. He hovered in the air for a few moments, Elphaba making sure he stopped moving completely. Elphaba gave her hand a push and the Wizard's carcass was sent flying in the air and out the broken window.
Elphaba went behind the mechanical head and pulled out several drawers before finding the one with the Grimmerie. She smiled before grabbing hold of it.
" Was it there?" one of the females asked.
"Yes." Elphaba replied.
" Now, to Kiamo Ko." the other one spoke.
" No. Go out to Munchkin Land and protect our visitor… Take it to Quadling Country. I shall meet you there. It's not over yet. The revolution has just… begun." Elphaba waved good-bye to the females and she mounted her broom, the Grimmerie safely in her hand once more.
"Well, to Munchkin Land." One of the females said and turned to face the other.
" You go. Take the visitor to the trove. I need to tend to something there."
" Fine."
Both females took a look at each other, put their swords in their sheaths and sprouted wings. They flew off.
The Wizard's body lay flat on its back on the street-- a few stories below his throne. His head was cracked open--his white hair inheriting the color of his crimson blood. The sunlight hit his position-- his lifeless wide-opened eyes basked in the bright rays for a final time.