"Sorry for the confusion dear," the man chuckled. "I am the Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
"But…" Elphaba trailed off.
"That head is just for show," the Wizard explained. "It helps solidify my image." Galinda shoved aside her confusion; they hadn't come here to learn the Great Oz's secrets.
"Do you believe what we told you about the appearance sorcerers?" she wondered.
"Of course I do," the Wizard replied. "But you must understand, what my sorcerers do to people is necessary. Without it our great nation would fall into turmoil." The blonde paled. They were in big trouble.
"Well that clears everything up," Galinda exclaimed brightly with a false grin. "Thank you for answering our questions your Ozness. Now we'll just be leaving…" She grabbed Elphaba's arm and pulled her towards the exit.
"I'm afraid that cannot be allowed," the Wizard called sadly after them. He clapped his hands and several guards rushed in. Their green and gold uniforms glinted menacingly in the light of the throne room. They were followed by a slower moving man in velvety, emerald robes. His eyes were a sickly yellow just like his hair. Even so he looked like a sorcerer.
"That's him," Elphaba whispered shakily into her friend's ear. "That's the man who changed me." She shook violently.
"This is Telor," the Wizard introduced. "He's my most talented appearance sorcerer."
"Your Ozness is too kind," Telor responded. His voice was sharp and oily.
"Please let us go," Galinda begged. "We won't tell anyone about what you're doing here."
"I'm sorry ladies," Oz's ruler sighed, as if this truly pained him. "You can't be let free." He then gestured for the guards to seize Galinda. For some reason no one touched Elphaba. Though the formerly green witch looked absolutely terrified her hands were beginning to tingle with magic. The blonde beamed. All was not lost. Elphie's magic could still save them.
Then Telor started chanting. Immediately Elphaba went rigid. The green girl's body twitched and her pupils dilated. "No!" Galinda screamed, lurching forward. "Get the hell out of her head!" But it was too late. A goofy grin spread across Elphaba's face as her eyes resumed their dazzling flatness.
"Elphaba why did you come to the Emerald City?" the Wizard asked, striding towards the smiling witch. She looked at Oz's ruler with absolute adoration, as if he were some beloved fatherly figure. It made Galinda want to puke.
"Galinda and Fiyero kidnapped me," she explained.
"Who's Fiyero?"
"He's a scandelacious Winkie prince," Elphaba giggled.
"Ah. Fiyero Tiggular," the Wizard realized. "Where is Fiyero now?"
"He's outside the City waiting for us." Oz's ruler considered this for a moment.
"Elphaba why did your friends kidnap you?"
"They thought there was something wrong with me," the witch chuckled, as though it was the silliest thing she'd ever heard.
"Do you think there's anything wrong with you?"
"Of course not," Elphaba chirped. "I'm pretty and happy." Tears budded in Galinda's eyes as she squeezed them shut. This was too much to watch.
"Take Miss Upland away," the Wizard instructed his guards. Apparently he'd been reading up on his guests before they arrived.
"Don't hurt Glinny!" Elphaba shouted. Several pairs of shocked eyes turned their scrutiny on her. "I mean, please don't hurt Glinny," the witch amended, pouting. "You're not going to do anything to her are you?"
"No, your friend will be perfectly safe," the Wizard assured her. "We're just going to make her pretty and happy like you." Galinda's blood ran cold.
/
"Let me go!" the blonde shouted, struggling against her captors. They were headed towards the wing where beautification magic was done.
"Give her the serum," one guard suggested. His companion nodded and proceeded to jab a needle into Galinda's arm. Her muscles went limp and she slumped into the guard's arms. Galinda fought to make her body work, but every limb felt like a loose rubber band. The guards scooped her up and proceeded at a much faster rate.
Before the blonde knew it she as pressed onto a cold metal table. Steel bands secured her arms and legs. Telor's awful face leered into view. "Hello Miss Upland," he greeted. Galinda wanted to spit some sort of vulgar retort, but her lips wouldn't work right. "We learned from your friend Miss Thropp that if a subject resists the changes being made to them it causes great pain," Telor explained as he waved a bottle full of bubbly liquid in front of the blonde's face. "This is our solution. It's called laughing juice."
Without any more explanation than that Telor pried open Galinda's mouth and stuffed the end of the bottle in. She sputtered but eventually swallowed large portions of the syrupy sweet liquid. Seconds later Galinda learned why it was called laughing juice. Exquisite, giddy happiness bubbled through her mind, erasing all negative sentiments. She felt like a child floating through a dream of unicorns and ice cream. A weak smile tugged at the blonde's lips and her body surged with contentment. Galinda's eyes slid closed to she could better enjoy the giggly sensation.
"You know," Telor was saying in a voice like tinkling bells, "you're one of those special people who doesn't really need beautification magic to look pretty." Fireworks went off; this man said she was special. He said she was pretty. "But the Wizard said that I should work especially hard to make you happy," Talor went on. "So I can make any changes that you want. I can make you the most beautiful girl in the world."
Galinda was almost ecstatic. The most beautiful girl in the world? That was a dream she'd had since…well since before she could remember. In this childish state of mind it didn't seem silly at all to request the same features she'd wanted as a three year old.
When Telor was finished with all physical modifications, which made Galinda's body feel rather tingly, he casually announced that it was time for changes to her brain. In response she giggled. The magic felt like tickling feathers working at her mind; it was actually rather enjoyable.
No, Galinda thought as some deep seated unease filled her. This isn't right. You should be resisting this.
But it feels so nice, another part of the blonde argued, eagerly relaxing into Telor's magic.
Remember Elphie? Remember what they did to her? Slowly Galinda's mind emerged from a haze of laughing juice. Panic seized her muscles, followed almost instantly by lances of slicing pain. The blonde screamed.
"I need more laughing juice!" Talor called to an assistant. "Quickly Aro; we don't have much time." Meanwhile Galinda continued to writhe on the table.
"Talor stop," came a familiar voice. "I believe it's necessary for this stage of the operation to be continued later."
"Your Ozness," the sorcerer exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't expect to see you down here. Why is it necessary to…"
"That's not your concern," the Wizard interrupted. It was the first time Galinda had ever heard his jolly voice take on a stern edge. "Put Miss Upland out and have her brought to my chamber."
"Yes your Ozness," Talor consented with a confused bow. Again the blonde felt a needle. Her mind slowly sank into a dreamlike state. Everything felt unfocused and fuzzy, even as her eyes drifted closed.
What will happen next? I update faster when I have more reviews…
And please don't get any ideas about the Wizard's motivations with Galinda. I promise that this story is not going to take a dark twist into the M rated category…