Hello, everyone! New multichip fic time! I know I took a break from multichaps and only wrote oneshots while hosting the Greg Awards, but they're back now. This story is based off the movie 'A Royal Night Out'. It's about Queen (then Princess) Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margret, of England and how they celebrated V.E. Day at the end of World War II. I watched it on the plane back from the British Virgin Islands, but sadly, I didn't get to finish the movie. But that means I get to be creative with how I end this story. But now, enough ANs, let's get started with this story!
"The war has ended!"
"Oz has won!"
"The war is over!"
"Victory is ours!"
The thunderous cheers and applause filled Princess Elphaba Diggs' ears as she watched the crowds from her bedroom window. She smiled as she watched the people dancing in the streets, waving Ozian flags, and singing.
"Your Highness," a knock from the door came. "Your parents wish to see you in their sitting room."
The emerald princess turned around and smiled. "Thank you, Avaric," she said as she hurried past the castle steward towards her parents sitting room.
"Elphaba Melena, please do not run," a female voice said from the sitting room as footsteps approached.
"I'm sorry, Mother," Elphaba said as she slowed her pace and went to kiss her mother's cheek. "You wished to see me?"
"Yes," the queen, Melena, said, straightening the skirt of her dress. "Apparently, your father needs a second opinion on his victory speech."
"My dear, you know how important this speech must be," the man behind the desk, the Wizard, said. "This long war is finally over, and the people need to have their spirits raised."
"I believe their spirits are already raised, Father. Everyone is dancing and singing in the streets," Elphaba smiled, sitting across from her father.
The Wizard took off his glasses and tiredly rubbed his eyes. "I've never been so stressed out over a speech before. Elphaba, listen to this and tell me what you think."
In all honestly, the last thing Elphaba wanted to do was listen to her father's speech, but if she wanted to get her way, she had to sit through her father's dry run. "Of course, Father."
The Wizard recited his speech and Elphaba did her best to actually pay attention. Of course she wanted to listen to her father's speech, if only she didn't have something completely different on her mind.
"I love it, Father. Every word is perfect," Elphaba smiled, standing and kissing her father's cheek.
"Thank you, Elphaba," the Wizard smiled.
"Have you finished your lessons, Elphaba?" Melena asked, taking a sip of her tea.
Elphaba nodded. "Yes, Mother."
"And you finished practicing your music?"
"Yes, Mother."
"Very good," the Queen nodded, placing her teacup back on the coaster.
"Actually, there is something I wanted to ask the two of you," Elphaba began, choosing her words very carefully.
The Wizard took off his glasses and gave his daughter his full attention. "Yes, Fabala?"
"Well, I was wondering, since everyone will be out celebrating tonight, I was wondering… if I could celebrate, too?"
"Celebrate how?" Melena asked, sitting up straighter.
"By going out into the crowds and celebrating with the people."
The queen paled. "No. Most certainly not."
"Why not?" Elphaba frowned.
"It's much too dangerous."
"Mother, it won't be dangerous." The princess turned towards her father. "I could be able to tell you what the people though of your speech, Father."
The Wizard seemed to be considering this, but stopped when he saw the look his wife was giving him. "Fabala… I don't know."
"Father, I'm eighteen years old now. I've never been outside the palace gates –"
"Which is one reason why you shouldn't go," Melena quipped.
"But I'm not a little girl anymore. This would be a good chance to really get to know the people. Everyone else gets to celebrate and I want to celebrate, too. There's going to be this amazing party at the Emerald Diamond Hotel and…"
The monarchs exchanged a look. "Elphaba, please go back to your room," Melena said, her gaze never leaving her husband.
Elphaba, knowing what that tone meant, nodded and left. Her parents were going to discuss it over.
"Oscar, what are you thinking? Elphaba cannot go out there!" Melena said.
"Why not? You heard her. She's eighteen."
"Don't tell me you actually want her to go out there!"
"Why don't you want her to?"
"She's too innocent. Too naïve. You heard her say that she's never been outside the palace gates."
"Which is another reason why we should let her go."
"Which is another reason why we shouldn't let her go."
"Melena," the Wizard said, going over to his wife and sitting down next to her. "I understand how you feel. I know it feels like only yesterday when Fabala would cling to your skirts or my pant leg and be so dreadfully shy that she would hide her face from our guests. But she's not that little girl anymore. She's grown up."
"I know," Melena sighed. "I just… I'm worried about her."
"Don't worry. As a matter of fact, I have an idea." The Wizard got out a fresh piece of paper and dipped his pen into the inkwell.
"What are you doing?" Melena asked.
"Elphaba wants to go out tonight? Alright, she may go out."
Melena looked at the letter her husband was writing and smiled softly. "You're wonderful, Oscar."
"That's why they call me the 'Wonderful' Wizard of Oz," the Wizard chuckled, kissing his wife.
Elphaba giggled as she skipped through the hallways of the Emerald City Palace. She couldn't believe that her parents had actually allowed her to go out tonight.
"They said yes, Mitt!" Elphaba smiled as she took one of the guard's hands and danced with him.
The guard was taken by surprise, but quickly joined the princess in her little victory dance. "I'm glad, Your Highness."
"I can't believe they're actually allowing me to go out tonight! I was almost certain Mother would say no again." She laughed as she gave the guard a quick wave before sprinting down the hall.
The guard chuckled to himself as he resumed his post, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
Elphaba ran into her room and flung open the door to her wardrobe, wanting to choose the most perfect dress. She ended up choosing a royal blue dress with short sleeves and a slightly puffy skirt. She ran over to her victrola and put on some music. She turned to her reflection in her large mirror and smiled, holding the dress up against her figure. She called her maids to help her freshen up and change into the dress.
"You look beautiful, Your Highness," one of the maids said as she brushed Elphaba's hair and curled it.
"Thank you," Elphaba said as she looked at herself in the mirror. Despite her emerald skin, which made her stand out more than she liked, she had always believed herself to be beautiful in her own right. She had been told she was beautiful her entire life, so of course she believed it. She was the princess of Oz, after all.
"All finished, Your Highness. Will there be anything else?" one of the maids asked.
Elphaba looked at her reflection in her full-body mirror. "No, that will be all. You're dismissed."
The maids curtsied and left. Elphaba smiled as she grabbed her shawl and purse and, slipping her feet into her one-inch heels, walked out the door.
"Ah, Your Highness," Avaric smiled when he saw the princess. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you, Avaric," Elphaba said as she took the steward's arm and allowed him to escort her down the stairs.
"Have a wonderful evening," he said once they reached the bottom of the stairs and he kissed the back of her gloved hand.
"Fabala, my dear, you look lovely," the Wizard said, coming into the foyer with Melena.
"Thank you, Father," Elphaba smiled, blushing.
"I hope you have a lovely evening at the Scarlet Garden Hotel, darling," Melena smiled.
Elphaba blinked. "I'm sorry. You said the Scarlet Garden Hotel?"
Melena nodded as the palace doors opened. "Yes. There is a private party at the Scarlet Garden Hotel with only the most dignified people in the Emerald City and it is a wonderful event for you to attend. And these men," she gestured to the two men in Emerald City guard uniforms, "Colonel Kean and Colonel Rudker will be your chaperones."
Elphaba's shoulders slumped. "Chaperones?"
Melena nodded. "They will escort you to the party at the Scarlet Garden Hotel, stay with you the entire evening, then bring you back tonight."
"We thank you for this great honor, ma'am," one of the guards said and they both bowed.
"Thank you, gentlemen," the Wizard said, nodding to the guards. He turned back to his daughter. "Have fun, darling."
Elphaba had to fight a hurt and confused expression as she kissed her parents goodbye. Why wasn't she going to the party she told them about? She wanted to go where there would be music, dancing, singing, and people having a good time celebrating Oz's victory.
The carriage ride was uneventful. Elphaba refused to speak to the guards, too upset to formulate words, much less full sentences. And she also had to admit that it felt weird being escorted to a party she didn't want to go to by two guards she didn't even know.
"We're here, Your Highness," Colonel Kean said as the carriage slowed to a stop.
Elphaba looked up and nodded, thanking Colonel Rudker as he helped her down. The Scarlet Garden Hotel loomed over them and Elphaba found herself straining her neck to see the top of it. The guards ushered her inside, holding off all the people screaming and reaching for her. Elphaba did her best to smile and wave to the people, but the guards were very insistent on getting her inside.
"We're here for the dignitaries party," Colonel Rudker said to the man working at the reception table. He's gaze fell on Elphaba and he immediately bowed before ushering the three to the ballroom.
"And now, presenting her Royal Highness, Princess Elphaba Melena Diggs of Oz," the man said as the doors opened.
All heads turned and a polite applause followed. Elphaba nodded to everyone and noticed that they were forming lines to speak to her. She bit her lip and forced herself to remain smiling. Hopefully, this night wouldn't turn out to be so bad.
So, what do we think? This is going to be very different than the movie for you who may have seen it (mostly because I don't have a Princess Margret character, which means a large part of the movie won't happen. I know I could have used Nessa as a Princess Margret character, but that would mean that I would just be rewriting the movie, and I want to be a bit more creative.)
Elphaba's dress is on my blog! Leave me a review and tell me what you think!