Chapter 5
Dream of the future

Anthony dreamed of the arrival of Mother Yackle former Superior Maunt, Lurline knows how many centuries ago that was. Yes, it was true she was an ancient old crone. But not a hag. She had incredible divination powers, to the point where she knew things about people in the room they themselves didn't even know.

As it turns out, she sometimes didn't actually even need to be in the room, as was the case now it seemed. No, Yackle did not pay a visit to the Emerald City, or Ozma's Palace. Instead, she visited sleeping Anthony's mind through a dream to alert him of something; something dreadful and until now unthinkable.

He writhed and stirred in his unnatural dream. He was in a bright green room, the throne room. Only, Ozma was no where to be found. There were bodies on the floor, bleeding and dead. Some had familiar faces… He continued walking forwards. There was a baby crying, screaming for his parents. In Ozma's chamber, Ozma and her Husband were trying with all their magic to resist Shell's attempts. Shell's glowing skeletal hand was reaching for the baby and then he woke up sweating profusely and instantly alert. When he woke, Yackle hadn't quite left him yet so he was unbalanced, listing and bouncing like a drunkard. Were it not for his staff he would have fell repeatedly. "I have to find Glinda, and Ozma!" I thought to myself stumbling down the Hall of Elements, which lead to Ozma's chamber. It was in the middle of the night and the jackal moon grimaced brightly through the windows. One small detail should have been taken more notice of, but the silence went undetected. There were also eggs everywhere, stinking to high heavens of sulfur. They were huge, the size of dinner tables, and appeared shiny as if wet.

I tried harder to run down the hall desperately trying to keep my balance and needing to speak with Glinda. When I burst through the door, I wish I hadn't. Her bed was disheveled, with pillows and pictures, rugs, candles all thrown about the room, and a broken window.

"Unnamed God what has happened here?!" I asked myself. Anthony began to panic, what the hell was happening? Just before he left, something sparkled. It was Glinda's Rose Crown, on the floor. As he watched it changed. The crown suddenly burst into flame and roared like a beast. When the fire went out the roses turned black, and wilted. He ran out yelling for anyone and freaking the hell out. There had clearly been an ambush, and appallingly, someone had taken Glinda. But by Oz, Coleane and Evardo damned well better still be here, if not, we are doomed, Oz is doomed, how am I supposed to do anything completely alone?! I called for Ozma several times but no answer.

On I ran now beginning to cry myself, passing more bodies of fellow workers in the Palace. Eventually I made it back to Ozma's chamber. Apparently I had been out and unconscious long enough for Ozma to have already given birth. I remember the announcement of her pregnancy, but the delivery was missed. Nonetheless the newborn's crib was not alone. Shell Thropp had tied up Ozma and Evardo with a strange rope that hissed and rattled like a snake. They hadn't seen me yet but I saw them and immediately fell to the ground in hiding. I wasn't quite myself still and wouldn't be able to fight, so I'd watch.

Shell was in his true form now. The hat was ripped in half looking like devil horns and the glowing skull had flamed eyes. He held the baby boy in one hand and from the other read a spell from the Grimmerie. Ozma and Evardo were screaming through their binds, trying to break free but cutting themselves in the process of their squirming under the snake like ropes. Shell was rambling in the unfamiliar language, but Ozma finally managed a few words.

"NO NOT AGAIN! YOU SWINE! NOT TO HIM, YOU FIEND! LEAVE MY SON ALONE!" She yelled. Shell did something to the baby, he was gone, in a whirlwind of mystery, literally. As for Ozma and Evardo, Shell did to them what I assume he did to Glinda and to all my friends. In a red flash, the two disappeared and then I stepped in.

"NO! YOU WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL I SPEAK TO YOU!" Shell was surprised to see me but didn't care much.

"Well well well, what good timing you have. You must be wondering what is going on, this must be all very confusing for you and whatever. If you must know, You really shouldn't be talking to your Emperor like that." He smiled, and began laughing. He was a Thropp alright.

"What in Lurline's name do you mean? Ozma has the Crown, she alone is Queen of Oz!" Shell stopped laughing and in less than a blink of an eye, raced towards me, and slammed his boney hand against my throuat and the wall a good fifty feet behind me.

"TAKE A LOOK AROUND, SONNY! WHAT DO YOU SEE? IS YOUR PRECIOUS OZMA AND YOUR DOILY GLINDA ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND? PLEASE BOY PRAY TELL ME WHERE THEY ARE!" Shells words for some reason brought tears to Anthony's eyes, it seemed his mere presence brought unfathomable misery and despair to any living thing.

Anthony being choked, naturally couldn't speak so he just grunted loudly, and Shell chuckled deeply.

"You are right, I do know where they are, and you know it's somewhat funny. You see child, they all have one thing in common, apart from the little one. Well not so little anymore, twenty years is hardly a baby anymore, though you do seem to disprove of my previous theory on that. They are all alive dear boy. But you will never find them. Not in your lifetime. Not your great grandchildren will ever find the faintest scent of anyone living with royal blood, or any of your fellow earthling comiserates." Shell said. When he finished, he released me, and I lay on the ground coughing an thankfully still holding my staff. But I wasn't in my good robe anymore. Just clothes of the House of Ozma.

"I'm curious, after everyone you loved is gone, what is it you plan on doing next?" After Shell said that he cast a spell on me, throwing a black obsideon rock down on the ground, and teleporting me away. Somewhere I had never been, and had no friends around at all.

Back in the throne room, Shell picked up Ozma's crown from the ground and as he placed it on his head walking towards the throne, everything changed. The emeralds and gold melted away into a terrible black marble with gargoyles instead of angels, skulls instead of past royal rulers, all the color and light of the heart of the city and of the great nation, darkened. The crown also turned black. The round gems changed into obsidian rocks, grew intimidating and tall spikes, looking like oversized thorns masked behind ash and death. He sat down on the throne, and claimed the city with the heart wrenching old words.

"The City was dying, and her crown defeated. My will is divine, and now Oz is mine." When the right was sealed, storm clouds formed and brought endless thunder and lightning and rain, washing away any trace the former Good leaders left. Anthony had no idea where he was, and was completely alone and without protection in a new and terrible place. The Jackall Moon's phase changed from the grimace to a scowl, and he felt Yackle had finally left his mind.