The next morning brought no relief to the Wizard's worries as Theodora and him ate their breakfast in the main dining room. The witch was smitten with him as she placed her hand on his. She was not an early riser. Before the Wizard's arrival, she would routinely be a late sleeper as she was often caught in the throes of regular depressive episodes. On other days, she didn't even feel life was worth living enough to get out of bed as she suffered from deep shame and sadness. For the Winkies, her late awakenings gave them somewhat of a reprieve since they were left to their own devices, with no one being around to shout, scream or threaten them. They were especially relieved when the witch was absent, as she wouldn't generate massive fireballs from her hands while she was raging at some poor Winkie child to make a point.

But since the Wizard's arrival, things were different. The witch started to smile more and she started to lose her temper less. And she began her day when her guest began his. It was almost like she was becoming a different person.

For the Wizard, this all seemed like a dream. To him, Theodora seemed like a perfect girlfriend. She was so kind, caring, affectionate and loving to him. She would shower him with praise and always desired to please him.

But despite all of this, the Wizard had a nagging feeling that something was not right. Maybe there was something beneath the surface that the witch was desperately trying to cover up or maybe it was simply his gut telling him that something seemed off. Whatever this feeling was, he did his best to make light of the situation and suppress it.

As the witch looked at him lovingly, used her fingers to caress his cheek and started to ask him questions about "their" future, the Wizard's focus was completely off her. As he stared into the expanse of the opulent dining room, questions swirled around his head. When would Glinda finally come? Why was she taking so long to arrive and what was the real purpose behind his visit?

As soon as these questions surfaced, his mind put himself at ease. Soon Glinda would come and he would finally find out the reason for him being there. He reassured himself that the only reason why Glinda would send him there would be for diplomatic reasons and she never told him this due to the sensitive nature of this assignment. He told himself that Glinda knew what she was doing.

"Wizard, do you want Finley to be with us?" This question caused the Wizard to snap out of his daydream as he turned his head and looked at the witch, her eyes beaming brightly at him from under her red hat. "I'm sorry…what?", he asked.

"Do you want Finley to join us now that you are going to live here with me? We can be one big family!" The witch beamed at him earnestly.

While the Wizard never agreed to this, he still had trouble expressing his feelings to the witch. On one hand, he was scared to tell her the truth that this was going to be a temporary visit. In his mind, these concerns of his were valid. On the other hand, he also didn't want to hide anything from her. As he gazed into her eyes, he saw such hope and expectation. He didn't want to hurt her again.

"Theodora, I—"

Suddenly, the captain burst into the dining room. Being out of breath from sprinting, he quickly caught his composure as he eyed the pair. "Mistress, good morning." He then gazed at her companion. "Wizard, there is a visitor for you…from the Emerald City."

As the Wizard smiled and sighed in relief from the captain's message, the witch narrowed her eyes and looked at him. "Wizard, what is he talking about?"

He ignored her question. "Finally…" the Wizard muttered to himself as he arched his back with relief. He continued to gaze at Mitchell. "I was expecting this", he said. "Who is here to see me?"

But surprisingly, the captain shook his head. "I don't know. They wouldn't give their names to the guards at the gate, but they are wearing plain clothes from the Emerald City. According to the guards, they appear to be civilians and are not recognizable."

The Wizard was taken aback by this. He placed his fingers on his chin as he contemplated who the visitors might be. He was fully expecting Glinda to show up. However, if she did, this may not have been the wisest strategy, since she would be instantly recognizable. Theodora could be impulsive and Glinda's presence would undoubtedly trigger a hostile reaction from her. Glinda was smarter than this, and no doubt sent plain clothed civilians to send a message to him. He anticipated that this message would be one of an alliance between the Winkie Country and the Emerald City. Inwardly, the Wizard beamed at this possibility.

After giving the situation a moment of thought, the Wizard turned to the witch. "Come with me", he exclaimed excitedly. "Of course", the witch said as she nodded her head. As the pair proceeded to stand from the plush dining room chairs, the captain interjected. "Mistress, I think it would be a good idea if I am to accompany you…" But his concerns were brushed off by Theodora. "It is okay captain. The Wizard is here. I trust him and I will be fine."

Walking hand in hand, it took many minutes for the pair to walk past the lush castle grounds and approach the edge of the estate. As they did so, the witch asked him many questions. "Wizard, who are we to meet? Do you know who they are? What is this all about?" With a smile on his face, he downplayed her inquiries and simply said it was a surprise.

As the pair approached the opened gate, their hands parted as they made their way past the guards who were standing watch. The walls at the far edge of the castle grounds were thick, meant to withstand an enemy attack. However, the allures at the top of the walls were left unmanned.

The pair walked past the guards and saw that the three mysterious visitors were about one hundred paces away. As they approached, the Wizard recognized the tall woman who was in the center. She was flanked by two other women that stood nearby. It was Agatha, Glinda's chief lieutenant.

"Wizard, my dear! It is so good to see you…"

But he was confused by her presence. "This welcome is unneeded, Agatha. Why have you come to greet us? I was called here by another." He began to wave her off with his hand. "This is too important to waste time on you…"

The witch then whispered into the Wizard's ear as she suspiciously eyed the lieutenant. "What's going on, Wizard?" But he merely gestured with his hand, indicating that he could not give her a full explanation as his focus remained on Agatha.

"Ahh, I know full well the importance of your visit here. Let's just say that I know why you are here and what your ultimate purpose is. It was I who called both of you out here to meet me."

The Wizard was surprised by this. "You! You are not Glinda! What is going on here?"

The lieutenant chuckled as the witch gazed at him with growing suspicion. Theodora's mind was filled with anxiety. What was going on? Was the Wizard betraying her for Glinda again?

The lieutenant shook her head. "My Wizard, is this such a surprise? With Glinda spending her time primarily at the Emerald City, which I have to say, is because of your ineptitude and gross incompetence at governing the city yourself, the Quadlings lack a genuine ruler. I seek to establish myself as such, with Glinda's blessing, of course." Seeing the Wizard's bewilderment, Agatha smirked. "Glinda never told you this, did she?"

She gestured with her hand as the Wizard eyed her suspiciously. "Well, it is a very recent development, you may not have known. But you will help by doing what's right." The lieutenant started to smile at him deviously. "You know what is right, don't you?"

The Wizard glared at her. "All I know is that you are and always have been an opportunistic fool. You are not the ruler of the Quadlings and you cannot be sanctioned to act on Glinda's behalf. I was sent here by her." This made Theodora turn to him and gasp in shock, but he ignored this and kept his gaze on Agatha. "You are not even a witch, so I don't know how you could even be here on behalf of the Quadlings. The position of ruler requires…"

The lieutenant interrupted him. "The position of ruler requires the will to actually fulfill the position. Glinda decides this, as her time has become quite occupied by her Emerald City duties. Really, Wizard, this is a matter aside. You should know this. You were sent here to do a job and now I will do mine. And it will start by asking the young witch here a series of questions…"

The Wizard's voice grew more irritated. This was not at all how he envisioned things would go after spending three days at Theodora's castle. "Fine. Set about with this so we can get on with the ultimate purpose of why I was sent here…"

Theodora frowned. She tugged at the Wizard's jacket with greater urgency as she irritatingly whispered to him. "Glinda sent you here. Why didn't you tell me?" She had suspicions that Glinda was visiting the Wizard at the Emerald City, and now her suspicions had been confirmed. The witch was even more upset that Glinda was somehow involved in the Wizard's visit. She thought he came on his own accord. Theodora did not know what was going on.

However, Agatha was satisfied. "Very good. As the Wizard, you serve the greater good that we all do." The lieutenant then turned to the young witch who was standing next him and slyly smiled at her. "Now then, Theodora, do you know why the Wizard is here?"

The witch looked at him and then looked at the lieutenant with apprehension. She was visibly confused. She was about to speak, but her self-doubt took over. She started to fidget with her hands.

"I-I-I…" the witch began to stammer as her gaze shifted between the Wizard and the lieutenant. For all of these years, there was something about Agatha's domineering personality that was intimidating to her. The young witch was surprised by this turn of events and she didn't know what to say. She innocently thought the Wizard just wanted to visit her and begin their relationship anew. She didn't know what was going on. She looked at both of them, but especially the Wizard, with much awkwardness.

"…I really don't know why he's here…", she finally blurted out.

The reticent lieutenant eyed the meek witch. "Then I shall keep you waiting no longer, though I am certain you do indeed know why we are concerned about you. Your anger, your rage, your aggression. How you treat the Winkies. How you have treated the Wizard. How you have treated all of Oz. Yes, there is much cause for concern…"

She proceeded. "Let me ask you a few things straight away, Theodora. Nothing too intrusive, I promise you. First question…what is your earliest memory? Is it a happy one?"

The witch furrowed her brow as the Wizard cringed. While he presumed the lieutenant was acting under Glinda's directive, this is not at all what he expected his assignment from Glinda to be. Why didn't Glinda tell him about this? Was this her way of getting back at him for some unintended slight? Was she secretly angry at him that their relationship ended? How could she not tell him that Agatha of all people would be appearing? Glinda knew that he loathed her. Why didn't she tell him? How could Glinda keep him in the dark like this?

As these questions raced through the Wizard's mind, Theodora looked down at the ground timidly. She tried to answer as best as she could.

"My first memory was one of abandonment. I just remember having dreams of running away. No one wanting to be friends with me, including my family. Being bullied…" She looked up, a sorrowful expression on her face as memories of her unhappy childhood and unwanted intrusive thoughts entered her mind.

But this did not shock Agatha in the least. She merely nodded her head. "Ahh, memories filled with aggression and anger. Memories that are not filled with goodness. Not good. Not good at all. This only supports my position, as I knew it would. Next question then…"

The Wizard silently cringed more noticeably as the lieutenant continued to stare at Theodora was a remorseless expression on her face. "Now, what is your favorite color?"

The Wizard angrily objected. "What does *THAT* have to do with anything?"

But Agatha was unmoved. "Wizard, I trust you will be cooperative with this. The questions will continue. I do hope that there will be no further outbursts", she snapped at him.

The lieutenant turned back to the scarlet clad witch and placed her hands on her hips. "Well?", she asked impatiently as her icy cold stare looked into Theodora's pleading eyes.

But the witch simply gave a small smile as she stared meekly at her. "Red would be my favorite color." She then smiled assuredly in the belief that not only was this the truth, but that this would be the right answer.

Agatha gasped. "Red…the color of blood, violence and carnage. Why am I not surprised? I should have guessed!"

The Wizard interrupted angrily again, his voice becoming even more irritated and frustrated. "And the color of love, passion and roses! What is the point of this, Agatha?"

The lieutenant continued unabashedly as she brushed off the Wizard's concerns. "My point will become clear for all parties soon enough. Now, Theodora, do you ever have violent thoughts?"

The Wizard quickly turned to the witch who was standing beside him. His voice was booming mad. "Theodora, do not answer that question!"

Agatha was irate. "Wizard! I told you once before to cease your interruptions. I question your loyalty to our cause! As I mentioned previously, my method will become clear in the end." She then turned and glared at the witch as she cocked her head to the side. The lieutenant's voice became more hostile and domineering as she repeated the question. "I ask again, Theodora, do you have any violent thoughts?"

The witch was becoming increasingly anxious once more. She began to stutter from fear. Somehow, Agatha always made her feel small and insignificant. And despite being a fire witch, she always felt that the lieutenant was not only imposing but also omnipotent.

After a period of hesitation, the witch finally responded. "I-I mean…sometimes, I guess. I try not to use it and I don't want to use it. I-I guess it may have happened when I got really upset, b-but I don't mean to hurt anyone if it's not warranted…" She placed her hand on her neck as she stared awkwardly at the ground.

Agatha nodded her head in confirmation. "Hmm…she finds that violence is unavoidable. Certain to be expected from a witch who is as wicked as her…"

The Wizard was so angry that he started to shout. "You are twisting her words, Agatha! This is not what she meant!"

"Wickedness is woven into her very being, Wizard. That you cannot see what we all see shocks and surprises me. Can you comprehend the thoughts of a Kalidah or a Nome? No, of course you cannot. Theodora is akin to this." She shook her head in disbelief. "You know, for a Wizard, your abysmal performance of your duties at the Emerald City merits disqualification. And these irrational and erroneous beliefs of this wicked witch's supposed 'goodness' merits immediate resignation." The lieutenant shook her head in disappointment. "I really sometimes wonder what Glinda sees in you…"

But the Wizard was defiant. "You coming here has nothing to do with me! You are merely using me to try and go after Theodora! And her being evil is only in your mind! This is a farce! You are so intent on seeing what you want to see that the answers do not matter!"

Agatha chuckled as she shook her head. "Oh, please, Wizard. So, her attempt at incinerating you in the Quadling Country in front of those townsfolk and her trying to murder you in your own balloon in front of thousands of Emerald City witnesses is now irrelevant?"

Theodora started to shake her head in shame. She placed her hands over her face as she pleaded with the lieutenant. "Agie…please!..." The Wizard surmised that this must have been some pet name that the witch would call her.

But the lieutenant was unapologetic. "No!", she barked. "Apparently, the Wizard has a short memory of your misdeeds and of your inherent wickedness. But he will be made to see!"

Agatha chuckled heartedly again. "Wizard, did you know that before his untimely passing, the king organized a ball and invited everyone to it, except for his youngest daughter?" She pointed to Theodora, who was slowly and painfully shaking her head while her hands covered her face.

"Please…don't do this…", the witch started to plead with Agatha as shame, humiliation and embarrassment consumed her.

But Agatha was unmoved by her pleas. "Shut up!", the lieutenant angrily chided the groveling witch before continuing in a mocking tone. "So, the king finally relented and told his daughter that she could go if and only if a young man invited her to the ball. And upon the condition of inviting her, that young man would have to dance with her." The lieutenant grinned sadistically as the witch was almost on the verge of tears.

Agatha continued, her tone biting and sarcastic. If the Wizard knew any better, it was almost as if the lieutenant was trying to psychologically break the witch and knew exactly which buttons to press.

"And after many months of posting notices all throughout the city, no man had taken up the king's offer. Poor Theodora had to remain all alone in her bedroom when the ball happened. Every single person from the Emerald City got to attend and dance with someone except her. Not a single young man out of thousands wanted anything to do with her. Awwww…" The lieutenant sneered at the witch sarcastically. Theodora continued to lower her head in embarrassment as her big ruby hat covered her face.

The lieutenant gazed at the Wizard as she finished her story. "They all knew, Wizard. They all knew not to get close to this witch because she is inherently wicked. Her own father knew, which is why he gave this condition to her daughter. He knew that no young man throughout all of Oz would take that risk to dance with her." Agatha snickered again. "It was as simple as that! And the fact that you as the Wizard cannot see the danger of this…thing… boggles my mind!"

As he looked at this pathetic and sad display unfold, the Wizard found it odd that the witch, who was often full of confidence towards her Winkie Guards, and at times bitterness towards her Winkie subjects, was now acting meek and totally helpless in front of Agatha. Figuratively speaking, the infamous witch that the people of Oz feared so much was now melting right before his eyes. It was a rather strange sight to see.

The Wizard clicked his tongue as he looked down at the ground and frowned. Whatever effect Agatha hoped this story would have on him was backfiring. He felt genuinely sad for Theodora.

After a brief moment of silence, the lieutenant continued. "But I suppose you are right, Wizard. In part, these questions do not matter. Obviously, this witch causes much disturbance wherever she goes. My interview of her is just to clarify the matter and to prepare for what comes next…"

The Wizard stared at Agatha as he continued to try and reason with her. "But, were you to see Theodora as she is, and not as you expect her to be, you would have an entirely different opinion! And perhaps Ozians not being willing to associate with her says more about them than it does about her! I came here so…"

But he was quickly interrupted again. "You came here because you did as you were told and this wicked witch is here only because you are here. You were being used as bait and you did your job nicely, even if you didn't know the reason for this visit. However, the ultimate purpose of why we are here was always clear."

Theodora was silent as the Wizard and Agatha traded barbs. She finally mustered the courage to wave her hand and speak in a small, but anxious voice. "Excuse me, but I am still here. What is it that you intend?"

"Indeed, Agatha! What is it that you intend? This is NOT at all what I expected this to be!"

But the lieutenant remained calm and collected. "No Wizard, this was not discussed with you as you only needed to know enough information to come here and for Theodora as well. Extraneous information would have endangered the mission. As beings of goodness and all that is right, we…"

The Wizard interrupted her angrily again. "As good people, we respect others!"

But Agatha was resolute. "We have a greater duty to protect the land and all of its inhabitants who reside here. How can you as a resident…how can you as THE WIZARD no less, sanction the freedom of this witch? What will she do to all of the goodness here? I think you already know the answer to this question."

The Wizard responded in earnest. "And what if Theodora is misled, but her intent is good?"

Agatha shook her head. "Only wicked witches in Oz are ugly, Wizard. You should know this. Have you seen how hideous she looks? Of course you have. No, there is no choice in the matter. It is simply not worth the risk." A slight sadistic grin slowly spread across the lieutenant's face.

"Theodora, you are to be…confined…"

The witch gasped. "No!", she began to whimper. Inwardly, her chest became tight as she was visibly upset. She did not want to be confined to her bedroom at the Emerald City again. "Nooooo!", she cried out. "I don't want to be confined to my bedroom again. Please, not again!" She clasped her hands together as she started to plead with the lieutenant. "Please…don't do this…"

But Agatha gestured with her hand and smiled reassuringly. "No, Theodora, I don't mean to lock you away in your bedroom. It will be far better than that. We will…set the Hundred-Year Alarm Clock. You will find yourself in a small container a few leagues under the earth for the next hundred years, at minimum. Quite peaceful."

But the witch began to sob. "Nooo…please don't. I am begging you. Don't do this…"

The Wizard was irate. "This is a death sentence and you know it!"

Agatha looked at the sobbing witch with zero empathy as the two captains that flanked her began to make taunts of their own. "You better get used to this freak! There is no place in Oz for you!" The second captain chimed in. "Yeah! Your castle of horrors with the Winkies ends today!"

The lieutenant spoke calmly again as she addressed the sobbing witch. "You have no voice here and little choice in the matter, Theodora. Certainly, you can fight, but…" She eyed the field. "You have four people here to contend with, including the Wizard. It is four of us and just you. None of your henchmen will dare intervene. Do they want to be cast out of Oz forever? Of course not. The odds are quite clearly…"

The Wizard furiously interrupted. "No Agatha!" He shook his head resolutely. "There is but you and two of your minions. I will have absolutely no part in this!"

An ominous expression appeared on Agatha's face. "You have made a terrible mistake, Wizard. With her imprisonment, I could rule the Winkie Country! But now you fight Glinda's army with this wicked and dastardly monster?! How dare you go against goodness like this! She is a freak!"

And with that, Agatha reached into her pocket and pulled out something that the Wizard instantly recognized-one of his creations no less-and pointed it directly at him. "If you aren't going to do what is necessary, then Glinda clearly misjudged you." Her tone was sharp and biting as she gazed intently at the Wizard. Get out of the way!"

He froze. "W-w-where did you get that?" He was shocked to see Agatha pointing a colt derringer at him.

"I got this from the master tinker. He told me where he kept your prototypes, this 'magical trigger' as you like to call it. I took it with me in case the witch gave me any unneeded trouble. I never thought that this trouble would be you." Agatha continued to point his derringer at him. Her voice became angrier as she scowled at him. "Stand aside…now!"

The Wizard briefly glanced at the scarlet clad witch, who had stopped sobbing, and then glared at the lieutenant. "And what if I don't?"

She looked at him as her eyes narrowed. "Then I will do what I have to do…"

The Wizard, however, was brazen. "You really believe that if you go back to Glinda without me that she isn't…"

Agatha raised her hand as she interrupted him. "Just be quiet!" Hush!" But the Wizard spoke over her. "You think Glinda is going to buy whatever bullshit story you make up…"

The lieutenant looked at him with no emotion as she continued to point the derringer at him. "You see, it isn't a made-up story. The witch attacked me in a fit of rage. During the scuffle, she grabs this magical trigger thingy of yours. She kills you with it." Agatha quickly glanced at the Wizard's vest. "Take it out", she directed, indicating she knew the Wizard concealed the other derringer in his own pocket. "Now."

The Wizard removed it and placed the weapon on the ground. "You are going to have to kill an unarmed man…you're not going to be able to live with that…"

"You don't know what I can live with", the lieutenant barked at him. This made her go on a rage filled tirade. "I've been through famine! I've been through war! I've been through poverty! You don't know what I've been through! What have you been through Wizard? Huh! What have you been through!" Agatha seethed with rage as she spoke. "Here I am…the head of one of the most powerful armies in Nonestica! Me! I came from nothing and I worked for everything that I got! What did you work for Wizard? Huh? You worked for nothing! That's right! You worked for nothing! Everything was given to you unearned!"

The lieutenant then pointed the derringer at Theodora. "Just like this witch. She never had to do anything to get to where she is today! She's had everything given to her on a silver platter since she was a little girl! She's never known true suffering! She's never known hunger! She's a spoiled, privileged little girl who's been given unearned power and privilege!"

Agatha spat in the Wizard's direction. "And look at you, what have you done in your life, Wizard? You've done nothing! That's right! You've done nothing in your life! Yet you had power and riches fall into your lap." She snarled at him bitterly as she started to scream at him. "Well, I am a better person than you are, Wizard! I am a better leader and a better ruler! I am better friend to Glinda than you are! I am better for the Emerald City, for the Quadlings and I will be better for the Winkies too! This is what I should have had!"

She then huffed and puffed as she furiously glared at the Wizard with fire in her eyes and contempt in her voice. "It should have been me that Glinda sent to retake the Emerald City! It should have been me! It should have been me who went after this witch and the Winkies! It should have been me! Not you, Wizard! Not you!"

She glared at him. "You're standing next to a broken woman. Yeahhhhh", she said mockingly as she tilted her head towards Theodora. The Lieutenant glared at the Wizard again with fiery, jealous hatred. "You got a weak city ruled by a weak, feckless leader. That's you. And you ain't got the first clue on how to fix any of it."

She then shook her head. "No, I will easily be able to live with this…"

For the Wizard, what Agatha then said next changed everything. "Glinda will get over you. She has once before. She will again…" She unlocked the safety as both her hands were now on the trigger.

The Wizard's eyes became wide. His heart started to beat loudly in his chest. He remained calm. He had to. But what transpired next happened so quickly. He began to act on instinct. His focus narrowed and shifted entirely to the lieutenant and to her alone. He started to move slowly towards her position.

"Listen to me, Agatha. There's still a way we can come back from this. Nothing has happened here yet." Agatha was breathing heavily as the Wizard took small non-threatening steps towards her. "You are going to put down your weapon. Because the good people of Oz don't kill. Remember? The good people of Oz don't kill…"

The Wizard flashed a ghost of a smile to the lieutenant as she began to give a small smile as he continued to reassure her. "And we will deal with Theodora. And then we will walk back to the Emerald City. Together. Back to China girl. Back to Knuck. Back to Glinda. Back to everyone…"

Agatha's smile brightened as she continued to point the derringer at him. "We will put this all behind us", he continued to confidently assure her as his left hand reached into his back pocket and pulled out his pocket knife.

And when the lieutenant became distracted by the movement of his hand, the Wizard struck. He roared as he stabbed Agatha forcefully and quickly in her chest. The lieutenant cried out in pain as she stumbled to the ground, blood gushing out of her open wound. This happened so quickly that neither of them heard the witch shriek behind them. Agatha's eyes were wide with fear as she looked up at the Wizard in shock and disbelief.

But it was too late. The lieutenant was mortally wounded as she began to cough and sputter up blood. She held her hand to her chest as blood continued to pour out of her gaping wound. The Wizard was on his knees. "God damn you, Agatha", he lamented as he started to quietly sob. "This was you! Not me! This was you!" She gurgled up more blood as her bloody hand touched the Wizard's cheek.

"The Wizard killed Agatha!", one of her captains yelled, a shocked expression clearly palpable on her face. "Let's get out of here!", the other captain exclaimed. And with that, they ran away from the clearing and towards a nearby road.

"You….you…ki…" was the lieutenants last words as her head rolled to the side. Her eyes were wide as she remained motionless.

She was dead.

Time slowed as the Wizard pressed his bloody hands to his forehead. He stood up and started to feel dizzy as he only heard the sound of his heart thumping loudly near his ears. He felt so disoriented and shocked at what had just occurred that he did not hear or even acknowledge the witch who had darted to his side and was attempting without success to get his attention.

Without responding to the witch, the Wizard quickly kneeled and reached for Agatha's weapon that was now laying on the ground. He opened the chamber.

It was empty. There was not a single bullet inside.

That was when the realization hit the Wizard like a ton of bricks. Agatha did not come there to kill him. She did not come there to kill anyone.

Because the good people of Oz do not kill.