Chapter Text
[Scene 11 - Donella’s Demise]
“I have one more favor to ask of you,” Donella whispered softly, afraid to break this moment that they were sharing. But reality was a cruel mistress.
“Name it and it’s done.” Ulla reached up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear and pull her hat down firmly on her head like she was getting her ready for a long journey. She tilted her head as Donella whispered into her ear, nodding. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She scrunched her face a bit, both their tear-stained cheeks dried now. Ulla nodded and pulled her into a fierce hug- the sort where all the air was knocked from your lungs. And maybe it was getting excessive at this point- but she was trying to squeeze in a lifetime’s worth of embraces, so no- it wasn’t too much in the slightest.
Smiling, she held her back before her eyes grew firm. “You have to hide,” Donella pulled away, straightening and firmly shoving the book back into Ulla’s hands from where it was thrown to the side previously. “No one can know you were here! Hide yourself!”
A pause, she took a moment to gently lift the taller’s chin up and push her shoulders back, giving her a look as if to say for old time’s sake. As if reminding her to never forget to stand tall. Quickly, the shorter hid behind some curtains and boxes of the old decrepit castle, completely obscured from view.
And goodness knows the wicked’s lives are lonely. Goodness knows the wicked die alone.
The hunters ran into the room, the sounds of a struggle filled the air. The mob surrounded the Witch- Ulla stared at the shadows on the wall as they depicted the action. She held her breath and pressed a hand over her mouth to muffle her sobs. As much as she wanted to look away- she knew she couldn’t- for it was such a deep sort of sadness to die without someone mourning.
A bucket of water was thrown and- with a harrowing scream that rang through the castle and chilled Ulla to her very bones, she watched as the silhouette of her dear friend sank and sank as she melted. The mob, victorious, left. And Ulla was alone.
She stepped out- part of her expecting to see Donella standing there teasing her for how terrified her face looked. But there was no one except- she gasped and brought her hands to her mouth. There on the ground sat her black hat.
Running over, Ulla fell to her knees as she picked up the garment. She held the cloth delicately in her hands- staring at it in mild horror as reality caught up to her. And she knew this would be the last piece of her friend she’d have. Hugging it to her chest tightly, she tried to find a sense of her in the garment. A sob gripped her, then another, then another- to mourn once was given, to mourn twice excessive. But she didn’t care. And she squeezed it to her chest until her arms hurt- and she cried out in the castle that no one inhabited. She screamed until her throat ran raw and then some- the metallic sting of blood lightly coated the back of her tongue.
Ulla cradled the hat close, burying her face in it. She sat there for a long while, until the grooves of the castle brick carved sharp angry red lines and indentations into her legs, until her fingers held the hat so tightly that her nails pressed crescent moons into her palm. She stayed there until she could no longer smell Donella on the hat- and then she sat there a little longer, remembering when she could.
~~
The Emerald City. Madame Morrible and The Wizard talked quietly in the main room.
“Well, I don't know why you're so despondiary, I thought it went quite well! They seem thrilled to shreds with their brains and their hearts, and this and that!”
The man seemed glum, solemn as he barely responded to her words.
Ulla walked in, newfound determination on her face. She held her staff tightly, lifting her head high.
“Oh, Miss Ulla! I thought you'd be out festivating.”
“Oh well- who could festivate on a day like this when-”
“Right right, so sad that you’ve called off your engagement.”
She pulled a face at Madame Morrible- who seemed surprised that her smile dropped so quickly. “No not that. Actually, I was doing a little bit of reading and discovered a few- interesting things.”
“What sort of interesting things?” The Wizard looked up cautiously, minding her tone.
Ulla shrugged, “Well, you two just keep the most page-turning private records in that spell-locked safe of yours! And for good reason too, if word of that got out,” She laughed, wild and bubbly, “Oh, imagine the chaos that’d ensue!”
The both of them stiffened as they looked at her, Madame Morrible took a small step back. “How did you-”
“That spell was really hard to break, luckily Donella gave me some fascinating reading to do.” Her voice cracked a bit at the name.
The Wizard stood, “What do you want then?”
“That’s more like it.” Ulla glanced over her shoulder, “I want you to leave Oz. I'll make the pronouncement myself that the strains of wizardship have been too much for you and you are taking an indefinite leave of absence.” A pause, she turned back to him, “Did you hear what I said?!”
He jumped and nodded, “Yes, your Goodness!”
“You’d better go get your balloon ready. Guards!”
The man quickly ran out, followed by two guards to make sure he did as he was told.
Madame Morrible approached her cautiously, “Ulla, dear, I know we've had our minuscule differentiations in the past-”
She scoffed, “Madame, have you ever considered how you'd fare in captivity?” She asked with a sweet tilt of her head.
“What?”
“Captivity. As in prison!” Ulla continued, “As in where you’ll be going if you do not find room on that hot air balloon! Now, I suggest you go.”
The two women stared at each other before Madame Morrible nodded and hurried out of the room. Leaving Ulla standing there. Alone.
[Scene 12 - Finale]
Back to the present as the citizens of Oz celebrated the death of the Wicked Witch. Ulla floated above them in her bubble, her eyes glistening with tears as she stared into the sky. She blinked them back quickly, her bottom lip trembling as she brought her arms in close- a wind tossed her hair lightly towards the setting sun.
Somewhere, outside a castle in Kiamo Ko, a trap door opened to reveal Donella stepping out. In the woods, on the edge of Oz, she turned back as if she could see the Emerald City. She held onto her broomstick. A soft breeze blew through the air, wrapping around her from the direction of the yellow brick road- carrying on to distant lands beyond.
No one mourns the wicked. Now at last she’s dead and gone. Now at last there’s joy throughout the land.
Ulla swallowed hard and gritted her teeth, lifting her chin, “Fellow Ozians, friends, we have been through a frightening time. There will be other times and other things that frighten us.” She ran her hand up her staff, “But if you let me, I'd like to try to help. I’d like to open up libraries, provide forums for intellectual discussion for knowledge will protect us against more than fear! I’d-” She thought about all the things Donella stood for, all the things she’d honor her by. “I'd like to try to be- Ulla the Good.”
Good news!
Donella took in a breath as she felt the sun starting to set in the west. She turned to it. “It’s time to go,” She spoke to no one in particular. “Never back to Oz-” Shaking her head, she allowed herself one more glance over her shoulder. “Goodbye, Ulla.”
They were girls together. And that’s all they’d be. And maybe, somehow, that was enough.
Good news!
Floating in her bubble, Ulla tried to make out whether there was a figure in the western sky. Her eyes burned but she kept looking and looking and looking. She had helped her in her disappearance, one more spell for old time’s sake. And while she didn’t have proof it worked she just knew it did. Because she believed that if Donella was truly gone she would have taken a piece of her heart with her.
So she held onto and embraced that heavy feeling in her chest, of the grief that tugged at her. But it was tricky, mourning the living- one would think that it’d be over quickly but it wasn’t. Because with every passing second, she was losing a moment they could have had together. And she’d have to find a way to live with that one day, somehow- some way. “Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But-”
Because I knew you.
No one mourns the wicked.
Because I knew you, I have been changed.
Ulla bowed her head, Donella stepped away towards the unknown horizon.
No one mourns the wicked! Wicked! Wicked!