Jellia heard the screaming from behind the thick Emerald City Palace door, which was made with thick green emeralds. But even that did not stop her from hearing the commotion. By the sounds of their voices, she knew who was shouting. It was the Wizard and that Munchkin lady, who was an ardent ally of the late Agatha and who had been selected as the new leader of the Emerald City Council.

Her actual name was only known by those closest to her. What was known by everyone is that she was one of King Pastoria's closest advisors but had been banished from the Emerald City during Evanora's rule, having sworn to return and avenge the king's untimely death. During the decade of her banishment, she worked secretly with Agatha to surreptitiously depose the eastern witch, but most of these plots were foiled. And when the Wizard arrived and Evanora was ultimately ousted from power, she returned along with most of the late king's other former advisors. She left the Munchkin Country with the knowledge that she would never be able to return to her homeland as long as Evanora ruled there.

However, and like Agatha, the Wizard's relationship with both women were often rocky and contentious. In his disgust, the Wizard simply called her "that little Munchkin lady" when he addressed her, his voice usually filled with scorn and mocking derision.

Jellia did not have much experience at the palace. Growing up in the Gillikin lands, she herself came from humble beginnings. But when she read an ad in the newspaper about the Wizard searching for his new "chief of staff", she jumped at the opportunity. She was a voracious reader, having been intrigued by Emerald City and palace politics for as long as she could remember. As a child, she would dream about palace life and read every account of the books that lionized King Pastoria and the long line of royals before him. She read romanticized literature about the Faeries who came to Oz and all the great Ozma leaders who ruled Oz after.

Seeking this job, she journeyed to the palace and was even interviewed by the great Wizard himself. Taken aback by his rather mortal-looking appearance, he was quite jovial and charming. He asked about her background and told her what the job responsibilities would entail: arranging the Wizard's calendar, scheduling who could see him, drafting and proofreading speeches, coordinating meetings with other Ozian officials, and supervising the entire palace staff. To her, it sounded like a huge responsibility, but she was confident and proudly proclaimed that she could perform the job and meet his expectations.

The Wizard then hired her on the spot, who replaced Finley as his new chief of staff.

As she stood in the hallway alone and waited for the Wizard to leave his latest argumentative meeting with the council, she suddenly heard the low pitch click of the door's lock. As the door opened, the muffled voices of what the pair were arguing about became clear.

"WIZARD, THE COUNCIL WILL NOT APPROVE THIS APPOINTMENT!" But the Wizard, who was clearly enraged, already had his back to her as he stomped out of the council's chamber room. The door remained open as the Munchkin lady continued to scream at him before finally throwing her hands up in frustration. "WIZARD!...WIZARD!" But he paid her no heed. Jellia could tell that this meeting did not go well and that he was incredibly angry. He began to walk in stride, and she followed as quickly as she could alongside him.

"If they want this job, they can have it!", the Wizard fumed at her. "None of this brings me any joy…"

Jellia reviewed the piece of paper she was carrying as they proceeded to walk down the long hall of the palace. The green glow of Emeralds dotted the walls and the ceiling along with various intricate gold patterns. "Wizard, you have a meeting with the mayor of the Loons at seven. He wants to know if you are confirming that meeting before he leaves Loonyville…" As she spoke, the pair then turned and entered the Wizard's bed chamber, which was also being used as his makeshift office. He slammed the door behind them as they entered. "Can the meeting", he angrily stated. "I am devoting all my time to this nonsense now. This Munchkin woman has been the bane of my very existence!" The Wizard was pacing back and forth in his room as Jellia sat on his bed. His face was red from anger. He continued to fume. "I don't care what it takes", the Wizard continued to shout. "If they want a war with me, they are going to have it! This is not right what they are trying to do! They are NOT me! They don't have my responsibilities, but they expect all the privileges! None of them govern the Emerald City, but they always act like they do!"

He continued to speak as Jellia simply watched him, his facial expressions, and his animated hand mannerisms. "I am going to hit her where it hurts! When this is over, they are going to regret crossing me!"

"Achem…" The Wizard was then interrupted by his assistant, who motioned with her hand while clearing her throat. He then stopped pacing back and forth and simply stared at her. "What", he asked sharply.

She gave him a small but nervous smile. "Don't take this the wrong way, but when you get angry like this, you sound a little like…a villain." She then held her hands up not wanting to offend the Wizard. "I don't mean this as an insult, but you sound like this diabolical wicked wizard-y schemer…" She then held her hand to her mouth and giggled.

This made him cross his arms over his chest as he thought to himself. "Does this really make me sound like a villain", he then asked her. "A little", she said. "But I kinda like it." This made her giggle again. "What are you going to do?"

The Wizard was not sure. Just moments ago, he had presented his update to the council, including that little Munchkin woman who previously presided over his trial. He told the group that he was creating a new Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the palace. During the meeting, he rationalized that it was in the best interest of the land if they started to establish diplomatic relations with other countries outside of Oz and that "someone else" should carry the burden of that responsibility. Of course, the real reason the Wizard wanted this position created was because he was burnt out from his current duties, he wanted to attend to his inventions, and he didn't want Glinda to take on yet another official responsibility. Deep down, he was also afraid of her gaining more power and influence and pushing him out entirely. After what happened with Agatha, how the Emerald City turned against him and the fiasco created by his trial, he didn't trust anyone at the palace.

The council backed the Wizard on this, that is, until he brought up who he wanted to name to this office. "Out of the question!", the short Munchkin woman shouted at him as she stood from her seat. The other council members were initially undecided, but the council leader swore that Theodora would "never be appointed to this position." Their argument then delved into a screaming match, with the council leader swearing that she would "again ruin his reputation and his character" if he proceeded with his "inane scheme". He then furiously stormed out of the room.

The Wizard hated this woman. He knew who he wanted for this office and Theodora was his first choice.

The Wizard didn't have an answer for his assistant, who then beckoned her to leave him to his thoughts. As she did so, Glinda walked briskly into his bedroom. Her step was longer and more energetic than he was used to.

"Are you insane?", she asked him with a fierce expression on her face, which was very atypical of her. The Wizard, who was now seated at his desk, slowly cocked his head towards the southern witch in annoyance. "Oh, another voice to be heard from", he said as he narrowed his eyes and glared at her. He then waved his hands as if daring her to proceed. "What is it now?"

"Out of everyone in Oz, you choose MY SISTER? How could you choose Theodora over everyone and anyone else? She should be in no position of power in the Emerald City. She's wicked!"

"SHE'S NOT WICKED!", he flailed his arms in frustration and screamed at her in a tone that was angrier than he anticipated.

Glinda started to compose herself as she sighed, not wanting to start an argument with him. "Wizard, I backed you at your trial because I believe in you. But this insane decision makes me start to doubt that I did the right thing…" She was then interrupted by the Wizard, who pointed his finger at her in defiance. "Watch it, Glinda. You only get to call me 'insane' once! And besides, I am the one who can appoint who I want. And I have decided that Theodora will be the best person for the job…"

Glinda then took several steps towards his position and started to kneel. "Interview some other candidates first. I beg you, Wizard. Reconsider your choice. You will find plenty of beings throughout the land who will do an exemplary job. You will find someone who will benefit your legacy. You will find someone who will make you proud."

"Out of the question", he responded in a sharp and biting tone. "I know who I want, and it is her."

"But why? Why her?"

The Wizard turned his head away from her, planted his elbow on his desk, placed his hand on his chin and didn't respond.

"Is it…is it because of some love infatuation? Wizard, if you want to have a personal relationship with her, that's your business but—"

He angrily interrupted her. "No! That's not it!"

Glinda started to plead with him to answer her. "Then what is it?"

When he didn't respond, Glinda quietly sighed in exasperation. She then stood up, turned her back to him and gracefully walked towards the door. She then shifted her head to him once more before leaving. "You're on your own with this. I can't support you with this decision and neither will I be responsible for the fallout. I don't see how the council will support you, either. I really hope you reconsider…"

As she left, the Wizard then rubbed his hand over his eyes. A familiar figure, clad in her usual black and white garb, appeared behind him from across the room.

"I was wondering when you would arrive", he pleasantly said.

Annie placed her hands on her hips. She then stared at the bedroom floor, as if she was deep in thought. "Are you sure you are doing the right thing here?"

"I told your daughter that I would do whatever it takes to prevent this future. I gave her this promise…"

Annie then looked at him with subtle discomfort on her face. "Yeah, but by making Theodora a high public official? Who most Ozians view as an archenemy of the Emerald City? I'm sure there are many other less controversial avenues you could take…"

The Wizard did not turn his head completely to Annie and simply continued to stare into space. "I need to do this", he said.

"You're taking an awfully huge risk here. It could legitimize your fiercest critics that you are not up for this job…"

"I've faced this before", he quietly replied. "I'll be fine."

"Barely", she said. "Dorothy said that you are in a new timeline now. Which means that anything can happen. This not only includes Theodora, but it also includes you, Oscar. You're not the invincible protagonist of your story who is guaranteed to live a ripe old age. You may not ride off with your balloon into the sunset this time…"

She paused to place added emphasis on what she was about to say. "Anything can happen."

The Wizard turned his head completely towards Annie, but she was gone.

He knew what he had to do. And if Glinda, the council and even the Emerald City did not approve of his decision, then he would fight this battle on his own. He remembered what Dorothy had told him about the prophecy. He remembered how Ozians were singing and dancing after her younger self threw a bucket of water onto the witch. She made him promise to do whatever it took to avoid this future. And since Dorothy was the daughter of Annie, a woman who he admired greatly, he was going to do whatever was necessary to prevent this future from happening. Come hell or high water, he was not going to give up. He would fight the council tooth and nail if he had to. He was not that weak and meek Wizard who hid from the world while being easily manipulated and controlled by Glinda and the council. Those days were over.

The Emerald City was wrong to discriminate and unfairly ostracize people they disagreed with. Mombi was right. The city and its entrenched culture were toxic. Theodora had flaws. She had many flaws, but that did not make her a wicked person. Most importantly, she was learning from her mistakes and how to be a better witch. In the Wizard's mind, King Pastoria was truly a wicked wizard and yet he was rewarded, his wicked deeds covered up. This was a travesty of justice.

No, he was not going to give in or give up. He was going to fight with every fiber of his being. He was the Wizard, and this was his choice. Who were they to say otherwise?

He was determined to fight this to the bitter end. He would destroy them all if that's what it took.