The sun once again dipped below the horizon as the subtle hues of dusk gave way to a brilliant and silky-smooth indigo. The evening hours were a wondrous time to explore the outdoor markets, the lush green gardens with peaceful fountains and the charming, but well-lit pathways of the Emerald City. The city itself glowed a dark shade of green and numerous stars twinkled above as a vivid tessellation of dots appeared across the young night sky. A warm and gentle breeze filled with soft lavender, orchids and scents of jasmine drifted past the well-heeled inhabitants who were fortunate enough to be wandering along the quaint pathways that were furnished with multiple benches and lined with softly hued streetlamps.

Tonight was the night, Evanora told herself. It was going to happen.

For her, the gruesome killing of her mother by King Pastoria, and his subsequent cover-up which followed, was the final straw.

But he was the king. This wouldn't change, no matter what she said or told others. In her mind, her father had total and complete omnipotent power. Even if the magnitude of his crimes against his own family were uncovered and made public, nothing would be done. Nothing could be done, for he was the king and the absolute ruler throughout the land. His total power was further cemented by the brutal murder of the queen. Her mother.

Still, it was a mistake to assume that darkness—like the night Ozian sky itself—was completely black. In fact, the silver of starshine and the subtle hues of indigo presented a mosaic of colors and emotions. While these shades were complicated and brilliant, they ultimately remained hidden and unseen.

And so, it was the same with Evanora. While determined in her goal, much anxiety still hung in the periphery of her mind. As such, the witch was greatly conflicted. Despite believing her path to be the right one, could she really do it? Could she truly slay her own father?

The witch slowly emerged from her quarters and quietly made her way to her parents' bedroom. The double doors, embedded with green emeralds and the gold figure of a mighty lion, were now wide open. She knew that Pastoria was in the throne room, so she stepped inside. As she did so, she saw that the spot where her mother met a brutal end was perfectly cleaned. It was like nothing had ever happened. It was like the queen was never murdered. Evanora got a queasy feeling as she turned and walked out of the bedroom with a stone-cold expression on her face. She knew full well what this room really was now: a crime scene. But there would never be justice.

Tonight would be different. As she now approached the throne room and was mired in her own thoughts, scores of Ozians were seated and had turned out for the queen's memorial. As Evanora dutifully entered, she saw her father weeping at the podium in sorrow. Fake tears, she thought to herself. She quietly entered and took a seat next to Glinda.

Normally, the king would use the throne room to address his Winkie subjects. Scores of Ozians would visit the palace daily to ask for the king's blessings and to see if their wishes would be granted. The king delighted in this, even if it was simply to fill his own ego. And even though no one knew, sometimes the king would create problems for his subjects to flock to him and beg for his intervention. When Pastoria would make these self-induced problems inevitably disappear, his denizens would then laud him and extol his virtues. It was yet another way for the king to cement his power and hold over his gullible subjects.

"Queen Lurline was a wonderful leader. She was a wonderful wife and a wonderful mother", King Pastoria said as he tearfully addressed his subjects in the packed room. The crowd was silent except for the occasional and intermittent sounds of sobbing. "She had the brightest smile that would fill even the most wondrous places in the land. She was incredibly selfless and passionate. She will be greatly missed."

The king then gazed around the room until his eyes landed on Evanora, who was now sitting in the front row. His gaze then shifted to the throngs of spectators who were seated around her and behind her. "The Emerald City will persevere through this crisis. It will emerge stronger than it has ever been before. And with my daughter as my advisor, it will be so. Our city will rise from the ashes and will continue not be a shining beacon of Goodness for the rest of Nonestica!"

The king was silent for a moment, but then he continued as his lips quivered and he muttered for added sympathy. "The queen's death was…h-horrible. It was almost t-too terrible to bear, for I had found the queen lying in a pool of blood. Her pool of blood. She had tragically hit head. I tried my best to save her, but no amount of magic would work. She!" The king then stopped speaking as a crocodile tear fell from his eye. The room became incredibly silent as every Ozian—save for Evanora—waited on every word with much anticipation. "She was dead!", he then thundered. "And there was nothing I could do to save her!"

As the king spoke and continued to spew falsehoods and deceits to the naïve Ozian populace, Evanora could not help but subtly curl her lips into a mild look of disgust. If she could, she would kill her father right then and there. However, she knew that if she did so, she would be banished from the Emerald City forever. She needed to bide her time and to do it discreetly.

While the poppies found near the city were deadly, the flowers were often picked by sentient beings who did not need to breathe air. This included animated objects that did not have noses. One example was Sporkie, the leader of a walking and talking fork and spoon kitchenware set that oversaw the palace kitchen. They would head to the field on a regular basis and collect samples of these poppies. It would then be broken down by them in the kitchen and be used for medicinal purposes. While this flower would lose most of its lethality when consumed in liquid form, this was only true when Ozians consumed it in miniscule amounts. This could still be deadly when used in larger quantities.

After Lurline's death, Evanora secretly took some of this liquid. She poured a large amount into a porcelain cup and let it rest in her bedroom.

She wasn't just doing this to avenge Lurline. The tumult caused by her father's capricious and mercurial behavior had taken its toll on her family, except for Glinda. Because of this, the witch vowed to never have a male rule the Emerald City again. And even though Evanora was treated fairly and courteously by Pastoria, she was affected by the way he had treated others, namely her sisters and her cousins.

When his passionate speech ended, throngs of attendees surrounded the king as he made his way from the podium and towards the entrance of the throne room. Many of these Ozians had wished him their sincere condolences. Right by his side was Glinda, who was also thanking many of them for their support during this trying time. Evanora merely stood from her seat and eyed the pair. If Glinda had any suspicions about her mother's death, she did not show it in the slightest. From Evanora's perspective, her sister had believed everything their father had said.

But this was nothing new. Glinda had been the king's loyal supporter ever since she was very little. The king would flower her with gifts. He even would tell her that she became the most powerful witch in Oz because of him. Because of this, every time Evanora would approach her and tell her the latest transgression their father had done—whether it was towards Theodora or Mombi or Lurline or Gayalette or Singra or a host of others—Glinda would merely excuse his behavior, would say that he is doing the best to "spread Goodness across the land" and then look the other way.

This time, Evanora believed that it was a lost cause to tell Glinda what she saw. She was convinced that action needed to be taken by her alone and then to deal with the fallout.

Despite knowing what she was going to do that night, she really didn't have a plan. She knew that poppies would never be detected in the body after it was synthesized into liquid form. She could merely say that the king died in his sleep, and no one would be the wiser.

But then what would happen after that? She really did not know. She truly wanted her mother to take over, but that was before the king brutally murdered her. Locasta had already stated she had no interest in running the country and renounced the throne before she left the Emerald City and settled in the north. And Glinda? She never outwardly expressed interest in ruling, but she had always kept her true personal feelings to herself.

Still, Evanora was highly envious of her sister's beauty and her lofty standing with the king. Furthermore, she was incensed that Glinda would always enable their father's worst behavior. If anything, Evanora had to dispose of her older sister. She just needed to find an opening.

As the king slowly made his way past the crowd, his youngest daughter approached him. For the first time since the dance, Theodora had been allowed out of her room. Unlike Glinda, who was quietly sobbing during the king's heartfelt speech, and Evanora, who was quietly seething, their youngest sister barely showed any emotion at all.

"Father", she said in a sweet and quiet voice, which was still full of hope. Despite everything that he had done to her, she was hoping to reconcile with her father after the untimely death of her mother. She hoped that their shared grief would finally bring them together.

But the king had none of it. "Don't you dare address me as father!", the king spat quietly at her and out of earshot of those around them. "If it was up to me, you wouldn't even be here in my presence!"

This made the young witch exhale sharply out of her mouth as she spoke to him tearfully. "How could you say that? I am your daughter. I was just hoping that…I was just hoping we could become…that we could become…that we could become closer because of this." She held her hands up to him as a gesture of goodwill. "I am your daughter and I love you!"

"You are not my daughter!", the king quietly barked at her. "You are a monstrosity!"

"P-p-please", Theodora whimpered to him. "Please don't—"

But her father interrupted her without any remorse. "You know what I truly think? I think you will never be as beautiful or as gifted as your sister, Glinda. And I wish you had never been born! You disgust me! Do you hear me! You are pathetic!"

As he quietly hurled insults at her, the young witch's jaw was locked as she stared at him with simmering rage. Yet, she could not say or do anything as the king gave her yet another verbal tongue lashing.

"You really were the one who killed your mother! She's dead because of you!" As he turned away from his daughter, he glanced at a group of his subjects and gave them a glowing smile. His expression then darkened as he turned back to Theodora. "Never speak to me again", the king snarled quietly to her. "Because if you do, I will kill you myself!"

As her own father turned away from her, the king believed that the contemptuous words he had said were not heard by anyone. However, Evanora had good hearing and she was behind him as he berated her youngest sister. While every other Ozian did not take note of what was said, she did. And she vowed to relieve her little sister of this monster.

The throngs of mournful subjects had left the palace. Theodora was once again locked away in her room where she spent most of her lonely days and her lonely nights. Glinda acted like nothing had ever happened and the last thing Evanora remembered when she left the throne room was seeing her older sister smiling with the king.

It was now time to act. She retrieved the porcelain cup and stood outside of the king's bedroom. Pastoria had yet to return, but normally a servant would leave him his evening drink—typically Ozian soda—on his wide emerald cabinet before he went to bed. Evanora planned to leave the cup on the left side of this cabinet, which meant that a servant left the mug there for the king to drink. Once it was empty or the king did not want to drink it, the mug would then be placed on the right side of the cabinet. To denote which side was which, a white line was clearly marked on top of the dresser.

Evanora entered his spacious and opulent bedroom. She then turned and stared at the cabinet. This was it. This was her chance to rid the sole person who had tormented her family. This was her chance to be rid of an abusive lout. Someone who had unfairly banished her cousins and destroyed her aunt's life. In her mind, someone who was twisted and irredeemably wicked.

Yet, her hand quivered as she held the mug. She dithered. For some reason, she simply could not do it. She could not kill her father.

Finally, she placed the mug forcefully down on the thick white line. She then briskly turned and left the bedroom.

A short while later, Pastoria entered his room. As he made his way into his bed, Glinda followed to wish him a good night.

"Daughter", her father finally said softly as he rested on his bed and propped up by a pillow. "There is something I must tell you…"

As she slowly and gracefully walked towards him, she turned her head and eyed the porcelain mug that was sitting on his cabinet. Believing it was a drink that had been prepared by one of his servants, she took the mug and handed it to her father. "Here, father. Before you do…drink." As she extended the mug to him, the king slowly and casually took the mug and started to drink its contents.

"Ozian soda", he murmured. "The only thing that is sweeter and purer is you, my dear."

She smiled brightly at him as he then eyed his daughter. "With the tragic passing of your mother, I want you to know that one day, you will have the throne…"

This made Glinda continue to smile at him weakly. "You have always been a kind and fair king", she said to him softly. "But you will be so for a very long time. Your kindness towards our people knows no bounds…"

Deep down, Glinda knew that her father had flaws. For better or for worse, she was deeply loyal to him, and she believed that he greatly cared for the land and its people.

"But there is something else you must know", the king said. He continued to drink the entirety of the Ozian soda before he continued. "As our future Ozma, you need to know that I had a vision. Or maybe it was a dream, but it must come to fruition if our city is to truly have peace. You must be the one to ensure that it comes true."

He gazed into her eyes as he spoke. "I foresaw a great prophecy in our land. One day, a being of immense power from a faraway land will descend into Oz. Wickedness will be vanquished once again. In fact, the Wicked Witch who plagues us will be no more…" The king began to cough as Glinda began to adjust his position. "There, father", she responded with much compassion and support in her tone. "This should help."

The king then gave her a piercing stare as he held his hand out and touched his daughter on the shoulder. "My daughter, you must do everything you possibly can to make sure that this vision I've had, this prophecy, becomes true. I foresee troubled times for our land, and this being of light will destroy the Wicked Witch. If I am not able to do it, then it must fall to you to carry out my wishes. The king's voice then became weak and muted as his head started to slump. "This….wii…..this…..wiiiiiii…"

The king's hand fell from his daughter's shoulder as his head shifted to its side and he groaned. His eyes remained open.

"Father?", Glinda said as her voice became one of concern. "Father?" She started to shake Pastoria's lifeless body, but he didn't respond.

The king was dead.

It wasn't until the following morning that the palace received news of the king's untimely passing and his advisors had gathered in the throne room along with his daughters. There was great shock and much confusion.

"The king is dead! How is this possible?", one advisor grunted.

"How could he have died so soon after Lurline? This doesn't make any sense!"

Glinda then started to speak. She then said words that would haunt her for the next ten years. "I saw him last! He spoke about a prophecy…"

"What do you mean?", another advisor interjected. "What did he say?"

"He said something about someone coming and saving the land from a Wicked Witch." Glinda then furrowed her brow as her eyes narrowed. "While he didn't say it completely…I think he mentioned…a Wizard! Yes! A wondrous Wizard from a faraway land would descend upon our land and save us all from a Wicked Witch!"

This made Evanora glare at her with piercing eyes. "Then it must have been you he was talking about! You must be the Wicked Witch!"

The room gasped as she leveled this accusation towards her sister. In response, Glinda stood from her chair.

"What do you mean? I've done nothing but defend and cherish every Ozian before us! I've always had the interests of the people at heart!"

Evanora then gasped as she made another accusation at her sister. While she was unsure if she wanted to kill her father last night, his death now brought her an unexpected opportunity. Since it was highly fortuitous that Glinda admitted that she had been in the room with her father at the time of his death, she could now frame him for his murder. Because of this, the accusation lobbied by Evanora carried weight.

"You killed the king", she gasped as she looked at Glinda in utmost shock and dismay. "You were with him at his last moments! Maybe you poisoned him!"

Glinda then started to become defensive. "No! I would never do that! How could you possibly accuse me of that? I loved him!"

"Oh, really?" Evanora stood from her chair with much emotion in her voice and incredulity on her face. "He was a king in the best of health. He still had many years left on the throne! But he died suddenly? And you were the last one who was with him! Your alibi and excuses make no sense!" Evanora's lips parted as she gasped at her sister once again. "But this all makes sense now! You killed father to take over the Emerald City!"

Many of the king's advisors gasped and groaned. Some held their hands to their face. Others remained silent, but simply shook their heads.

"Murderer!", one yelled.

"Wicked Witch!", yelled another.

"What? Glinda loved her father! She would do no such thing!", said another in defense.

"Glinda is a Wicked Witch! One who was hiding amongst us the entire time!"

"No! This cannot be true!"

"Silence!", Evanora barked. "The time has come for judgment. Our king is dead." She then looked at Glinda with little sympathy. "What will you do now, Glinda? Will you fight and show all of Oz how wicked you really are? Or will you show us that there is some semblance of Goodness left in your fowl heart and leave?"

When her sister lowered her eyes with much disbelief, Evanora then began to yell as her voice echoed throughout the throne room. "Answer us now!"

Glinda then turned and stared at Theodora with pleading eyes. She clasped her hands together as she spoke to her earnestly and with much hope. "Sister! Please! You know I wouldn't do this! You know I wouldn't kill our father! Please! If Evanora won't, then you must believe me!"

At this time, Theodora could have defended Glinda. But something happened over the past few weeks that had completely shifted her outlook towards her sister. Once the best of friends, Glinda had betrayed her, not once by talking to a servant boy that she had eyes on, but twice when she sided with their father, who not only prevented her from attending the dance, but also kept her confined to her room.

While Theodora was still unsure if Glinda really killed their father, the details of which were still incredibly muddy, she believed Evanora at this point. As she glared at Glinda, her eyes narrowed. "You are not my sister anymore", she growled.

"You have no choice", Evanora finally stated. "Leave now or your decision to stay will lead to much suffering and pain. Or maybe that is what you want as a witch who is as wicked as you!" She then began to smile deviously as others in the room the king's advisors exchanged heated words.

"Yes, leave!"

"Leave the Emerald City, you Wicked Witch!"

"You are the Wicked Witch the king mentioned!"

"Murderer! Yes, leave! Leave and never come back!"

Ultimately, Glinda relented. Despite Agatha's forceful objections to her in private that they stay and fight, she made the decision to depart the Emerald City that same day, along with her entire all-female army.

Evanora was pleased. Not only was the family's tormentor dead, but Glinda had been banished as well. This was fitting justice, considering her sister had been an active supporter of the king. And Theodora could live in peace. She was finally free.

But something happened that shocked her more than anything else. For when the king's body was taken out for Ozians to view, it was Theodora who was crying the most. She wailed. She pleaded with him to come back to life. She begged. She wept so much over the king's casket that tears streamed down her face and burned her.

Evanora was shocked. This was a response that she never expected to happen. Not in a thousand years.