Disclaimer: I do not own anything that has to do with the Oz series.

Any mistakes made are my own.

"You're going to need some major defense on the palace, first of all. If she can get here, you all are done for. You all will stay here while I try to talk to her, and we'll see where we go from there." Ozma commands as the group stares at her with incredulous eyes.

"You're kidding." Oz stares at the small girl in shock. He was surprised that this girl had been crying on his shoulder a few minutes ago, and was now giving out war commands. He felt a strange sense of protectiveness wash over him, and he shook his head while chuckling lightly. "You're not leaving the palace, let along negotiating with her."

Ozma squints at Oz in disbelief. "Are you really trying to tell me what I can and cannot do? I hate to break it to you, but you don't just get to play the father card like that." She argues with annoyance clear in her voice. She wasn't in the mood to deal with yet another adult thinking they could tell her what to do after knowing her for a few minutes.

Oz stares at the girl in shock for a moment, before feeling annoyance rise up in his chest at the girl's attitude. It wasn't as if he was telling her to risk her life for people that she had never got the chance to know; he was trying to protect her. He can't help but feel like this little girl is the reincarnation of Theodora. Of course, the person that Theodora was before her transformation was much more innocent while the person that she was now was much more spiteful, but the girl possessed traits from both women. Oz isn't sure how he feels about this, any of it. One minute, his long-term girlfriend tells him that she doesn't want to be in a relationship with him any longer, and the next there is a feisty little kid who is supposedly his child.

It has been a long day.

Glinda can sense an argument about to occur between Oz and his long lost daughter right away, though Finley is the first to intervene. "Look, I don't mean to interrupt this little family reunion because know that you two just met and everything. I know that Ozma probably has some pent up anger directed at Oz because of all of the years that she didn't know him, and I know that Oz probably isn't too sure about what's going on, because he never really is, but if we could take a few minutes to acknowledge the fact that we'll probably be blown to bits in a matter of seconds, I would be eternally grateful." The monkey rambled, obviously frightened by the idea of the attack.

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Finley." Glinda blinks before leading the group into the throne room. "We've already alerted the civilians, and but we aren't going to prepare for battle." Glinda informs Ozma, pulling the long curtains shut so that they cover the windows.

"So you guys are just going to sit here? I mean, I guess that's fine and everything, but you should get the army ready just in case she doesn't listen to reason-" Ozma starts, but she is interrupted again by Oz.

"I thought we already established that you aren't going out there? None of us are, and neither are you." Oz commands, fixing the girl with a firm gaze. He's grateful for the parenting practice that he gained over the years as Nessa Rose grew up, and he knows that this will be the only time that he is actually glad that Nessa gave him a hard time.

"I'm not some dumb kid-" Ozma hisses, her head snapping towards Oz. she would have said more, but she's cut off by Glinda.

"We're all aware of that, dear. I just don't think that it would be wise to uproot all of the citizens and have them ready for something that most likely won't happen." Her voice contains her usual soothing tone, and only Nessa Rose notices that she sounds frazzled.

"What do you mean? She's a Wicked Witch; she's not stable. She could decide to throw a fireball and destroy the entire town." Ozma laments, realizing that she has done the exact same thing several times before.

"She wasn't always this way," Oz states simply. Ozma's eyebrows rise up her forehead, but she doesn't question any further when she sees the look that Glinda fixes the two of them with.

"Maybe I should try to distract her." Nessa Rose suggests, noticing the way that Ozma is the center of attention with her adoptive parents. She doesn't know why a jealous feeling is imbedded in her chest, because this is actually Oz's daughter, and she isn't.

Besides, she is a grown up now, and shouldn't worry about such a thing.

Glinda sighs, frustration growing on her face. "No, no, Nessa Rose, you are much too small…"

"I am not! I've grown!" Nessa Rose protests while stomping her foot.

"Barely," Finley chuckles, earning himself a glare from all parties.

"Now isn't the time for arguing," Glinda chastises, her eyes fixed on Ozma. "Oscar, I think that I agree with Ozma. She should be the one to negotiate with the Wicked Witch." She states, not taking her eyes off of the small girl. Ozma is surprised that someone is agreeing with her, but she'll accept any support that she gets.

Oz stares at Glinda incredulously. He knows that she's probably upset with him, but he doesn't understand why she would offer Ozma up the way that she is doing. She was just a little girl, and shouldn't have been tangled up in this mess.

"It's only because I know that I'm the one that she wants. Maybe I could just talk to her. I don't think that she'll hurt me," Ozma explains, remembering the way that the Witch gazed at her back on the manor. She finds it hard to believe that it didn't occur months ago.

"Ozma-" Oz starts, but Ozma shakes her head. She will not be swayed from her decision.

"I'm going to go, and that's final." She declares, daring him to challenge her.

"Not alone, you aren't. If you're going to go, I'm going with you."

Sorry for this super short (and crappy) chapter. I haven't updated in a while, and wanted to get something out. This totally isn't a Camp NaNoWriMo story anymore, seeing as I'm most likely not going to get this story to 50,000 words by the end of the month. I thought that you all should know.

Thanks to:

EvilRegal: Isn't that what we all hope of her? However, she's just a kid. She won't always know wrong from right ;)

Mary: Aw, thank you! I hope that I'm able to keep you reading!

gothgirl97: Thank you so much! I hope that I was able to answer your question in the chapter, but if not, Nessa Rose is still the same size of a doll ;)

booklover457: Interesting idea... ;)

NadezhdaSt: Thank you so much! I don't want this story to end prematurely either, which is why I don't think that I'm going to participate in Camp NaNoWriMo any longer. Perhaps one of the tinkers could administer therapy ;)
I try to include parallels and symbolism when I can, and it makes me so happy when you pick up on it. Interesting theory that you have there... ;) I hope that you feel better! Thank you again for your review!

guest: I'm sorry!

Thank you all so much for reading!