by M.H. Ungar 2025

Chapter One

March your army at once to the Land of Oz, capture and destroy the Emerald City[1]

Enitty braced herself as the coven descended toward the glowing green city. The sleek towers and sharp pinnacles of the fabled metropolis appeared far more wonderful than images in books. Every building was glass, brilliant emerald-green, and glinting. There was whimsy in the city’s design, as if an artistic child dreamed it into being. The sight should warm her.

 Enitty was cold. What she most desired and dreaded waited in Oz. She would not have chosen these witches to travel there with her, but that was always out of her hands. It was time for her to go onto the viewing platform. She hesitated; her agitation may be apparent. After a deep calming breath, she took three steps down and stood with the others.

  Glinda gave Enitty a considering gaze before turning away. It was unsurprising she found no fault with that witch, who timed everything perfectly. Midday was when citizens of Emerald City headed outside for a meal.

“Now,” Glinda said, stretching out a hand to dangle a black onyx crystal on its gold chain.

 Mirrored on the gem’s gleaming surface were all three witches simultaneously sharing an incantation. It was the eleventh stroke of noon. They cast. The crystal morphed into a dark ball of smoke immediately sucked into the sky. In the next second, towering black clouds appeared with shocking speed to create an unnatural nightscape. Thunder rumbled so loudly every sheet of the city’s glass shook. The swift and dramatic darkening of a formerly clear sky drew all eyes up. Then, a pinprick of sunlight struck their ship. It grew brighter and wider.

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[1] The Emerald City of Oz by L. Frank Baum, Chapter One.
 

Here is the first page of the story I’m currently writing. It may change. I wanted to post that I am enjoying getting this story down.