Chapter 9
Revelation and Invasion
Anthony the Blue and Alec the son of Ozma began hiking back up the mountains to cross to the eastern side, as they changed their destination from Quadling to Munchkinland in search for the Dragon Cupboard or Graveyad more than likely, it gave the two of them the chance to explain things. They both had many questions.
"So Alec I have a lot to understand that I don't. I was unconscious for nearly ten months. Please tell me what happened," I asked.
"I'm sorry Anthony I was a baby, I don't really know what happened either. To be honest, I don't know how I know anything from how to walk and talk to cast a spell, I was never taught naturally," Alec replied. Anthony frowned but nodded. HE was disappointed to realize Alec of course was right.
"Alright, well do you mind if I think out loud? That might help us both," I said.
"Sure, go for it," Alec smiled. Anthony took a deep breath thinking hard so as not to leave out anything.
"Alright so this is what I know. Last time I was sent to Oz, it was because Mombi had returned, and was planning the overthrowing of the Emerald City, and of course to kill me my friends and most importantly, Ozma her self. In the process though I found out she was the Wicked Witch's grandmother- Nanny, and the one who imprisoned Ozma into a boy all those years ago. When my friend who was actually Mombi's son from earth (you know about Mombi having split time to allow her self to reside in both worlds simultaneously)killed her, we thought everything was fine. So me and my friends stay here deciding not to return to Earth, and are awarded and granted political positions in the government. Just a few short months later, the ozmist Natalee disappears. From the time she is gone until now, bad thing after bad thing has occurred, and I heard from Glinda and Ozma that she had an affair with the new person who applied for Nurse Arcem's old job. Then we discover that this man is Elphaba's brother Shell, and most appalingly that Natalee was a secret double agent for the Witch, leaking information as it reached her ears to Liseli, Langwidere's Owl. Then my friends start disappearing. Ozma gets pregnant. She and her King make a formal announcement to the people at which point Shell curses you to be bewitched into an adult on the time of your birth, and be banished immediately after to Earth. Lucky for Oz he forgot who you were the son of. After that, I somehow go into a coma. I remember talking to Glinda, so it was before Ozma's baby announcement… IT was when Shell introduced himself to me the 'first' time. I say quote because Ive met him before, the first time I came to Oz, he overthrew Glinda to help bring his sister back. I thought I killed him, but like his sister, he just came back stronger. I don't know, I guess he must have," Alec interrupted, proposing an idea.
"Or, maybe something else. Maybe something rather than someone put you into an enchanted coma. No doubt planned by Shell of course, but maybe it was an object,"
"You smellin something bud?" I asked.
"Well, I do but again don't ask me how I know anything, but I do know of something dark, something magical," Alec finished.
From deep within the city walls of the once sparkling beautiful Emerald City, the Emperor Apostle used his late sister's large crystal ball to spy on Anthony and the son of Ozma. The City was dark and conveyed an impression of "do not enter" at every corner. The Emperor was not alone in this dark, lit by fire on the walls, black marble, and obsidian made palace. With him, was none other than Bael, the leader of the Draculls, twisted, bewitched, wingless magical Dragons that once were hell bund on burning every last friend Anthony had. Now reborn, they awaited in slumber their master's order to bring a reign of fire and ice to consume every last remaining soul in Oz.
"Sire, the boy is beginning to learn our secret, we cannot allow this to happen, we must act, now," Bael raspily hissed. His smooth, black scales were dotted with whiskers at the chin and jaw, and his green eyes fit perfect with his master's family color. The enormous snake –like dragon had razor sharp fangs and his breath was of sulfur and ash. The Emperor wore the black suit, with the poisoned version of Ozma's crown, but it appeared as if his own poisonous terrible rule affected his own appearance as well. He now had a cape made of snake skin, and a tunic made of black dragon scales with growths of pointy ebony spikes on his shoulders. Together with his gleaming white skull head, and bone hands, he was quite the daedric lord. Sheltergard Thropp was holding a bottle of a message from the Ozmist.
"Silence Bael! I cannot tolerate anymore of your incessant whining. None of it matters now, she has finished. The Ebony Amulet is complete, I need now only wear it and then I will be able to break every heart in the Land!" The emperor said, his voice low and his mouth grinning.
"You are serious my lord? What thrillifying news, we must meet with her at once," Bael said. The Emperor shot him a glare and engulfed his skull in flames.
"Aye aye, your deadliness," Bael slithered down the hall, knowing his mission was to bring Natalee from the Death Marshes to the Black City (former Emerald City), and to first, set the Dragons free, to attack every living thing in Oz remaining. Bael lept out of the room from the balcony and headed to the Dragon Cupboard not far, east of the city walls, underground. There was a guard but Bael used his fire breath to explode a gaping hole in the ground through the locked cage, and slithered down inside.
"Get up you miserable Wretches! Your time for attack approaches, Natalee has returned! Rise up! Burn every village! eat every man woman and child you find! NOW! Fly! Fly" As Bael gave the order, every evil dark twisted wingless dragon flew out of the hole with incredible mass and wind. Bael laughed a crazed hard to keep up with, fast laugh. When he was sure all the Dragons were gone, so was he.
He looked down and saw for the last time the colorful green vegetated, and alive with good tasty water Oz was. For in just a few moments, it would all be naught but ash and sand, and blood.
Back in the Black City Castle, The Emperor paced back and forth in the throne room waiting for a progress report on the workings of Natalee his mistress, and the status of the invasion of Oz.
"Let them burn and break their hearts on these cursed walls, and bring me my prize," The Emperor gazed out over the lands from the balcony as the Dragons took their strategic positions in the sky amidst the rain and rising screams of innocent Ozians.
Anthony and Alec were halfway down the mountains this time on the proper side, when they saw. Alec, being the son of Ozma, was brought to tears seeing the heinous act carried out before him. Anthony watched biting his upper lip hidden behind his bottom lip, equally as sad. He pat his new truly compassionate friend on the back and said nothing. There was nothing they could do but watch. The freakishly large Dragons expelled rivers of flame and frost down on the land, killing everything. AS Anthony looked up at the sky, he recognized one, and fell to his knees.
"How can this be?! You were killed 13 cycles ago!" I asked no one it seemed. Bael shot a fireball down at us and immediately we lept from each others side and took evasive action. I used my new staff, and my hands and Alec used his eyes for destructive magic. All I could think to my self was memories of my brave and wonderful friends who by this time would have sprung into action in my defense faster than I could fathom, but were now kidnapped and god knows what else in an underground lair. Ben, the kind, gentle and humblingly gracious funny guy, Argy, once a hilarious Squirrel, now a fishing expert and knight, was the most loyal of them all, throwing himself in the line of fire more times and without expectation than anyone else. Julia the beautiful loving and compassionate warrior who always knew how to comfort him and restore his hope. Lady Glinda, the mother figure of the group, by far the mos powerful, most beautiful and elegant always wearing ball gowns even in battles, and able to stop any foe with the swish of her rose topped scepter, and encouraging words. Most troublingly, Ozma Tippetarius and King Evardo. Ozma with her guardian angel like overseeing and protecting qualities, and her constant faith in my ability to succeed in anything I try. I loved and missed them all. After this pointless battle that Shell clearly made to stall me, I was going to look for my friends, and by Lurline I'd bring them back.