Disclaimer:If we'd own them we wouldn't write here, would we? Right!

Summary: There was a time when the land of OZ was in peace, that time is long gone. A tyrann has taken power and it's up to two witches to take the lead and free their country.

A/N: Okay so this is a story by me and Write For the Soul. We thought that Wicked needed an ending without Glinda being more or less broken ;) So we came up with this and we or I got a bit inspired by a story I read a while ago... at least some chapters of it. So if it's author reckons similarities with the plot at the beginning I hope you're okay with it (It's the whole Morrible thing at the beginning ;) ) So enough with this... back to the story

The Last Stand

Glinda lay on the ground and had her eyes closed. It wasn't really comfortable, but it was much better than anything she had for a couple of days now. Everything was better than mud and wet grass so she really appreciated the dry and flat stony ground. Slowly she opened her eyes which had adjusted to the semi darkness by now. Glinda let her eyes wander through the huge cave which gave so many people in Oz at least a roof over their head. And now she belonged to them and she didn't even care. She had lost the most important thing in her life a year ago anyway and it wasn't her money. A sigh escaped her throat.

"Are you all right, Glinda?" a voice somewhere in the cave asked.

The small and fragile woman nodded, because she didn't feel like talking, but then she remembered that Blair probably wasn't able to see her.

"I'm fine, Blair. As fine as I can be..." she added her voice barely a whisper.

Honestly she felt worse, much worse. But Horrible Morrible's return wasn't really the reason. Her grief had started over a year ago and was caused by Elphaba Thropp's death. Though for everyone else in Oz it was the death of the Wicked Witch of the West and everyone celebrated that day, she didn't. For her Elphaba was still her best friend and she still missed her more than anything else.

She sat herself up and stared into the fire before her. It was warm, but she shivered anyway. Then she felt something warm and soft against her arm.

"How are you, Miss Glinda? And don't give me your 'fine', because I know you're not."

Of course it was Lion. He had always been the caring type towards her. He and Boq had been with her after Elphie's death, but still both were no fans of her friend. Especially Boq hated her. Elphie had told her not to clear her name so she didn't. It was the last thing her best friend wanted her to do, or better not to do, and she was a person who kept her word. Glinda lent against the soft fur of Lion and her trembling started to get better.

"How do you think I'm feeling, Lion?" she asked back and tried to hold her tears back.

He put his paw on her back. "Not fine, I suppose, Miss Glinda. Not after what happened in the Emerald City. I can't believe she's actually back."

"Me neither, my friend. But she is. Though this isn't what troubles me, actually." Her voice sounded sad. She had lost her true brightness a while ago. The Lion looked more than surprised.

"What is it then, Miss Glinda?"

"It just Glinda now, Lion. I told you so many times by now. And you won't understand my grief." She saw his hurt look. "Not because you're an Animal, Lion. You should now better than that. It's just that you won't, can't understand it."

"Try me!" he smiled and his voice was calm.

"Oh, Lion." She actually smiled a bit. Lion was always able to make everyone smile. It didn't matter who or which situation. "I miss my best friend."

"And why do you think I wouldn't understand that? I do, Miss Glinda. I'd miss you, too, when you wouldn't be here."

"It's just Glinda, Lion." She really started to get a bit annoyed about his politeness. "And you would hate her. No, actually I know you do." She explained and saw Lion's confused look.

"So I know her? But I..." he couldn't finish his thought, because Glinda interrupted him.

"Yes, you do. But it doesn't matter, Lion. She died over a year ago. But I still miss her."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Glinda." He replayed and his answer seemed honest. "And I'm sure if she was your best friend she had been a good person. And I don't hate good persons."

The witch smiled sadly and nodded. "Yes, Lion. She was."

The last few days were only a blur in Glinda's head. Everything had happened so fast and was so unbelievable. Until a few days ago she has been the ruler of Oz and now she was on the run. Though all Ozians were probably told that her beloved Glinda was captured by activists who still fought for Animal Rights.

But truth be told she was the one who helped them, but the Wizard had done too much to undo everything instantly. But those were the ones who helped her now, at least that's what she thought.

She was running from Morrible who somehow had managed to bring the soldiers on her side and against Glinda. She hated the feeling to leave the Ozians behind, but when she wanted to survive and rule in the future she had to run now. That was the only way. Ironically she understood now why Elphie had to leave her though now it was too late to tell her that it had been all right.

She remembered how she had heard those demanding knocks against her door and when she had opened the door two guards had grabbed her. Just then she saw Madame Morrible standing in the door frame and grinning at her wickedly, because she was the Wicked Witch here and not Elphaba. Glinda had been too shocked to defend herself or say anything at all. She was just confused and starred at her former headmistress.

Glinda would be probably dead by now if it wasn't for Blair who had been her maid since the one of her incumbency in Oz. The woman had somehow managed to surprise the two guards who were bringing her the unnamed Gog knows where and to knock them out. She had help from Boq and Lion and then they ran off. As fast as they possibly could, but it was hard under the circumstances that she and her friends were now the most wanted in Oz.

Now she was in the middle of nowhere in a cave together with some other refugees. All she knew was that she was somewhere between the Emerald City and the Vinkus, but that was it. Not more, not less.