A Boyfriend Really did Fall from the Sky

I walk down a hallway though the grand hall. As I pass maids, butlers, and servants move to farthest wall I watch my sister pass. Nessarose wearing a black leather dress, with green tights, and tall black leather boots. She wears a circlet of black thorns today. A gold neckless around her throat. Gold spike earrings. I walk past no problem. Nessarose making room for me. I move out of the way for two munchkins holding laundry baskets to pass. Then I make my way into the dinning hall. Sparkling emerald green every wear. Even the tables, and chairs are made out of green crystal. Large green windows let in enough day light the wooden touches don’t need to be lit yet. People busy about setting tables, and laying out a banquet for dinner. I pass Glinda who plops a fruit square into her mouth.

“We’re are you off too?”

“Why do you assume I’m going somewhere.” I say.

“Traveling crown. Umbrella.” The crown I could explain perhaps explain away, but I never leave the castle without my black umbrella. Even on a day as clear, and blue as this.

“Fine I’m going to the Beast Forest to get an update, work on relations, and see if there’s any truth to these rumors.” Ozdains don’t eat much in the way of meat given most are of human level awareness, and intellect. Most have given up on the consumption of meat completely. Including myself ironically due to moral reasons. (Glinda’s pestering helps.) But it is still necessary for us to have a small amount of cattle. The Beasts of the Forest get the animals (non people ones), and more out of tradition than anything else. We in Oz are very big on tradition. We give the small amount of cattle to those who need it for health reasons, and those who choose to eat meat can sometimes get whatever’s left over. Most of Oz stick to no meat.

“Yes, yes I think that would be best. Mother and Father are talking to him now. They don’t seem to be getting anywhere.” Glinda admits.

“I’ll be back before dusk tomorrow.” I say. I walk out into the clear day. I rest one end of my umbrella on my shoulder. A few people stare as I walk past. The weather in the Emerald City is almost always warm, and sunny. Mostly people are dressed in green. Some add other colors to their outfits though, and a few don’t wear it all or only as a ribbon in their hair. Green is Emerald City’s color. People wear green gowns with green corsets, green suits, and green tail coats. The building are made out of shimmering emerald, and green glass. A few building are silver, or other colors. All of Emerald city had been sliver once. The Good Queen changed it to emerald. Hence the name. Most are green, sometimes with accents in other colors. Our city is the largest, and most relevant. I pass a Winkie, and a Gillikin. Then I carful step around a group of people made of glass china. I pass a horse carriage. A rare sight in Oz. Most people walk were they need to go here, but here in the city you can see many horses. Most people don’t need to travel very far though. I’m just going past the valley. That’s were the forest starts. In the south. What will be Glinda’s one day. I notice a brick mason fixing up the yellow brick road. Yellow is the main roads. It’s more like gold. Sliver brick roads are the side roads. Normally to homes. I turn to the right to the most direct way to the forest. The Beast Forest has no King. (Although no one is higher than our family in status and power. King in this case would really mean mayor, or Lord.) There for the closest in power would be Mr. Wise Bear. Who has been orchestrating which diplomats comes to which meetings over the last generation. He’ll be the one I want to see. I walk over the flat grass valley. That then dips into rolling hills. This place kept unkept has been taken over by wild flowers. I pick a red poppy. Rolling it between my fingers before placing it behind my ear. I sneeze from the flowers pollen. Stupid allergy’s! I keep going. Then a vision pops into my head. One of me being crushed under a flying machine. My legs sticking out from underneath. I back away even before looking up. Then a giant thing lands in front of me. I hear a cry, and a crash. The top part of it leans to the side. The rest looks like a big wicker basket. It’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen, and my bar is very high.

“Hello! Is anyone in there? Are you alright?” I call. I get the feeling it wasn’t supposed to land like that. A head pops up from over the side of the basket.

“Hello, and no I don’t think so.” I hurry over. The person leans on one leg. I help them out of their flying contraption. They grab a bag. “Thank you Miss. Miss?”

“Elphaba Thropp.”

“Elphaba what a beautifully unique name.” They say. “I Miss. Elphaba am Oz the Great and Powerful. (He, him.)” I look this person up and down. They’re my age. Maybe a year older. Golden hair to my raven locks.

“Powerful. Are you a witch?” He doesn’t seem like a witch. He wears a light tan waist coat, and a white tie. Tan slacks, and shoes. A black pocket watch hangs from his belt.

“Witch no, no Miss. Elphaba. Aren’t witches supposed to be ugly?”

“Excuse me?” I snap. I feel a fire ready to ignite at a wave of my finger tips, or a snap of my fingers. I hold it back though it makes my chest ache. It hurts to resist what we are. I am wicked. How dare he speak about me that way. I would not be me if I wasn’t wicked. Though not all of the wickedness always feels like me. Though I wouldn’t be me if I was good like Glinda. I’d be someone else entirely. Some of the desires feel foreign like setting this man on fire. Though I don’t hate the idea of burning a bunch of flowers. I don’t want to hurt this strange traveler.

“Oh I’m sorry have I said something to offend you.” He says says gently.

“Yes.” I say a little coldly.

“Then I apologize. I’m not from around here. As you can probably tell. I imagine this isn’t Kansas.”

“Kansas? I’ve never hear of it. You said your name was Oz?”

“Yes.” That does not feel coincidental. Fate perhaps brought him here. “That’s were you are, and I’m Elphaba the Good witch.”

“I’m so sorry. You are definitely a radiant witch.” I look away a little flustered.

“You can tell me your story on the way to the palace. My sister can heal you.” I say. He leans on me as we walk. “You said you were powerful?” I bring it back up.

“Yes. Do you know what a magician is?” I shake my head. “Wizard then. I am a wizard.” Wizards were like witches except not real. Fantasy, fairy stories. There powers differed greatly from who was telling it. I glance back at their flying machine, but they must have some sort of great power to fly that.