Somewhere
I Belong
Chapter 1
Defiance
Okay, so this is the backstory of Atlas and Elphaba's love story that will start from the time she defied the Wizard, to when she surrenders herself to the guards, hence the beginning of I'll Protect You. I hope you all enjoy the first chapter, and if there's enough of an interest, I'll continue it, of not, then I'll scrap it and continue trying to get more chapters out for I'll Protect You. Thank you for reading and God Bless!
Glinda shivered, hearing the creaking of the heavy quoxwood door cracking, snapping, and bending against the force of the Gale Force, bashing violently on the other side. Slowly, she stepped away, her dark cerulean eyes never lifting away from the door. Her heart skips a beat, watching as pieces of wood fly off in different directions; splints of fire flicker through the cracks, catching the dark blues of her eyes, and casting her face in shadows. Trembling, the petite blonde backed into the darkness, watching, fear quaking in her heart as the last barrier between her, and the impending threat of Southstairs, slowly cracks away.
One final lurch and the door would break away, allowing the guards to surround her, beat her, torture her for a crime she never committed. Unconsciously, she cursed Elphaba for not only dragging her along to the City of Emeralds, but for shattering not only her future, but the raven haired witch's as well.
"Elphaba" whimpers Glinda. A whimper and the small blonde stiffened, feeling her back bump against the cool walls. Only half of her body was concealed by the shadows, the small splints of sunlight streaming in through the window, crested over half her body, easily giving away her position to the guards, thirsty for her blood. Trembling, her small fingers fisted against her side, a whimpering cry and her hand rises and cups over her quivering lips. "Why did you have to be so Ozdamn stubborn?"
A loud crack echoes throughout the room, shaking its very foundation. Dust and cobwebs fall from the ceiling, causing Glinda to jump back in fear. The ground beneath her shakes, and for a moment, an abhorrent takes hold. Tears stream down her slender cheeks, as she turns her face away from the wretched light. This was it, her life was over.
"Curse you Elphaba" whispers Glinda. A flicker of a tear and the door breaks down. The Gale Force guards swarm the dust covered attic. The thundering footsteps of the guards, charging towards her was deafening, drowning out the sound of her heart, jackhammering hard within her small chest.
A whimper and her quivering fingers rise and cup her ears. Squeezing her eyes shut, she turns, wishing, wanting more than anything to shut out of this humiliating nightmare, crashing in around her. A cold shiver rippled down her back, feeling the ice cold fingers of Death, slowly wrap around her fragile heart.
The sounds around her vanished, all that remained, was the slow, echoing beat of her own breathes, shattering the air around her. An exhale and Glinda weakly shifts her gaze towards the window. Her eyes soften, as she stares at the golden shimmer of sunlight, sparkling like star dust through the cast iron bars, and for a moment, the world around her fades away. The decrepit walls of the attic fade before her, giving rise to the lush, emerald fields surrounding the outskirts of Shiz University, the bubbling burbling of Suicide Canal whispering softly in the distance. A soft mistral of a summer's breeze wafts past her, threading through her hair, lifting a few curls up to dance lithely in the soft edge of the eastern currents.
Slowly, her hammering heart stills, her body relaxes, as her mind drifts further into the dreamscape of times gone by, of that wonderous day, when she and Fiyero kissed passionately in the light of the golden sun, when two bodies, when two hearts, beat as one.
A strong grasp, shattered the dream enveloping around Glinda's already fractured mind. Reeling, her eyes widen, as she stares back into the cold, steel blue eyes of the Gale Force.
Crying out, she struggles to free herself from the vice like grasp of the guard. A flash of emerald and two others step beside her. One grabs hard onto her arms, the other onto her waist. She could feel herself being pulled out of the safety of the shadows, and though her heart screamed for her to fight, her mind, silently pleaded for her to remain still, and allow the guards to take her away.
Fight my sweet…fight…never surrender…never give in…
Elphaba's voice floated like silk through the air, dancing around her, enticing her senses, and awakening the fervid flame once lying dormant within her heart, to ignite, and spark to life. Floating embers wafted on the edge of the silver breeze, flickering past her. The air stills, and the embers floating before her flutter, and reflect deep within the pools of her eyes.
A pregnant pause and the world once again crashed around the blonde. Enrage burned within her eyes. Whipping around, she leaped forward, her teeth bared, a fire crackled deep within the darkened pools of her dark, cerulean eyes, chilling the three guards, standing around her, pulling her out of the haven of darkness and shadow.
"What are you doing?! Let me go!" Startled, the guard standing close to the fiery blonde lurches back, his eyes widens and his heart leaps into his throat. Quivering he struggled to keep his iron grasp on the petite blonde's thrashing arms.
"It's not her" echoed a melodious voice, haunting, yet beautiful at the same time; a sweet ribbon of silk, dancing like snow, twirling on the silver tide of the western breeze. Freezing, each one of the guards stiffen, their muscles tense, as they frantically search the darkness for the owner of the voice. "She has nothing to do with this"
"Elphie" whispers Glinda. For a moment, a flicker of hope, rippled across her heart, before the swells of darkness envelopes her fragile once more, cloaking it within the tides of her own selfish, wanton desires.
"I'm the one you want" echoes the raven haired witch's voice, dark, and tinged with malice. Fear flickered in the eyes of the guards, and for a brief moment, within the blonde's as well. "It's me…up here!"
A gasp and the darkness is suddenly casted away by an explosion of emerald light. Stumbling back, the guards grip on the blonde's arms loosens as the darkness gives way, revealing a tall, statuesque figure, standing tall, and defiant before them. Shards of shadows fall over body the brim of her hat is pulled over the edge of her right eye, darkening her appearance. Her long, raven hair billows majestically around her, tangling in the sea of ebony from her cloak, the edges sweeping lithely across the ground. Trembling eyes lower, and widen, eyeing the broom, clutched tight in the green witch's hands. A cackle and the witch lifts the broom high above her head triumphantly in the air.
"Elphie!" Glinda's eyes widened, and her mouth dropped into the perfect "o", for she knew exactly what her green friend was planning, and though a part of her yearned, wished to follow her, she knew that deep down within her feeble heart, that she just couldn't. The hands grasping her fall away, smirking, she throws her hands out to the sides, freeing her from her captives. Turning, her hand sweeps down and scoop up the edges of her dress. "Elphie!" Desperation raged on within the blonde's heart, pushing away, she ran towards her friend.
A crash and a large contingent of guards swarm the attic, each with their rifles pointed directly at the raven haired witch's heart.
Time froze, no sound could be heard. The sunlight streamed in through the windows, illuminating the flickers of dust particles dancing and twirling in the air.
A hard breath, and Elphaba's eyes shift back and forth; iciness shimmered within, as her darkened gaze swept over the faces of the guards, each one holding an acidic smirk on their thin lips. A bead of sweat shimmered in the crystalline reflection of the sunlight, slowly dancing down the emerald witch's forehead.
A breath and Elphaba's eyes glanced to the right, beholding the blonde's, and for a moment, her breath hitched tight within her throat, for she could see the fear shimmering within her friend's eyes. A pregnant pause and the two friends gaze back at each other, a silent plea whispered on the edge of the whistling breeze. A whisper and a current of air blew past the green witch, a whistle, and a tuft of air sweeps up, threading threw Elphaba's hair, and taking with it, a few loose tendrils of raven hair to twirl across her face.
The click of the hammer, and the moment between the blonde and the green witch is shattered.
Turning, Elphaba's eyes darken as each of the guards cock the hammer of their rifles. Their gloved hands tighten around the hilt of the gun, a gloved finger quivering against the trigger, ready to pull back and fire the bullet that would end the wicked witch's reign of darkness.
"Let it go" Whispers the blonde. Slowly, Elphaba's hands lower to her sides, the bristles of the broom bend against the ground. Her slender fingers curl tight around the handle of the broom as her eyes slowly shift towards the blond.
"I can't" mouths Elphaba. Growling, the emerald witch raises the broom high into the air, a growl and she races towards the guards, a look of darkened defiance shimmering in her eyes.
"No! Elphie!" screams Glinda.
"Stop her!" screams one of the guards.
A smirk and Elphaba throws her broom at the guards. Each one of the guards laughed watching as this feeble broom flies towards them.
"You think your pathetic broom can stop us!" roars one of the guards. Shouldering his rifle, he takes aim, and pulls back on the trigger.
"No" cackles Elphaba. "But an enchanted broom…yes" throwing her hand out, an emerald aura shimmers around the broom. Shuddering, the broom abruptly shifts directions and slams hard into the guard, ready to fire the cannon. A cry of pain and the guard falls to the ground, clutching his stomach.
With a graceful gesture of her hands, the broom shifts, plowing down the large contingent of guards standing in her way. One by one, they crumble to the ground, each clutching their guts, arms, or groins.
An icy cackle and Elphaba dashes towards her broom, a flicker of emerald and ebony.
"Elphie!" screams Glinda. Stiffening, the blonde's hands rise and cup over her mouth as she watches her friend leap out of the window, the edges of her skirts billowing around her, caught in the screaming torrents of air and ice. Emerald fingers close around the handle of the broom, floating a few feet away, a lurch and the broom zips up towards the icy blue skies.
"So if you care to find me!" cackles Elphaba. Floating before the sun, the witch turns, and glares down at the guards staring back at her. Cackling, the green witch points towards the western horizons of Oz. "Look to the Western Sky!"
The guards and the citizens of the City of Emeralds dash out of their houses, fear flashing across each one's faces. The, followed by Morrible, step onto the emerald balcony, each glaring up at the witch who dared defy them.
"She's a wicked witch!" screams Morrible, as she points a fat finger up at the emerald witch.
"And if I'm flying solo…at least I'm flying free!" cackles Elphaba. Visibly, Glinda winced at her friends words. Tears shimmer in her eyes, trembling, she turns away. "To those who ground me, take a message back from me!"
"She's a wicked witch! Responsible for the mutilations of these…poor…innocent Monkeys!" cries Morrible, struggling to elevate her voice above the witch's.
"No!" gasps Glinda. Stunned, she turns and glares up at Morrible, standing tall but a few feet away.
"I'm flying high defying gravity!" cackles Elphaba, as she steers her broom high above the dawning sun. Stilling, she half turns on her broom her dark, chocolate eyes glare down at the Wizard, the fraud stand below her, quivering against the fish woman's skirts. Growling, she points a menacing finger down at the emerald balcony. "And soon I'll match them in renown" hisses Elphaba.
"Her green skin is but an outward manifestation of her twisted nature…" continues Madame Morrible, unfazed.
"And nobody in all of Oz…no Wizard that there is or was!" growls Elphaba, her rage rising with each lie spewing free from the fat woman's lips.
"This distortion"
"Is ever going to bring!"
"This repulsion!"
"Me!"
"This...Wicked…Witch!"
"Down!"
Throwing her head, back, Elphaba emits a bone chilling cackle. Gracefully, her hand rises, and her fingers curl, slowly her head lowers, and her lips move, as she whispers a silent enchantment. Closing her eyes, she blows on the tips of her fingers. A flicker of light and an emerald ball of light appears at the tips of her fingers, dancing and twirling high into the air.
Turning, she glares down at Morrible and the Wizard, standing tall before her, a large contingent of guards, surrounding them.
"Bring me down!" growls Elphaba, silently challenging both the fat witch of a sorceress, and the Wizard to try and lift a finger against her. Throwing her head back, she hurls the ball of light at Morrible and the Wizard.
An explosion of light and Morrible and the Wizard leap in different directions. Emerald smoke rises high from the smoldering hole the energy ball had made. Weakly, Morrible lifts her head from the ground her eyes narrow, as she watches the emerald witch disappear off into the horizon.
"Be warned Miss Thropp…this will be the last time you make a fool out of me"
"I hope your happy" whispers Glinda.
A flash of light, and seven figures appear out of the darkness, each draped in long cloaks of ebony and ash, their faces obscured by the shadows surrounding them.
"Atlas!" booms one, his voice sounded like ice.
Slowly, a man steps center stage. He was tall, with a muscular built and sandy blonde hair. His face was strong, and defiant, holding an edge of malice.
"My lords" bows the man.
"Atlas…the Sovereign we have been waiting for has finally appeared" replies another, his voice sounded dark, and rustic.
"Our savior?" asks Atlas, as he rises to his full height. "He has finally appeared?"
"She has indeed" growls another.
"A female?" frowns Atlas. "Forgive me my lords…but how is a female going to lead us to victory against the Silent Shadows?"
"She is strong…her magick powerful…beyond any that I have seen or felt here in Oz…she will help bring down the Darkness…the Silent Shadow's that threaten this world"
"But" stammers Atlas. He couldn't believe it, after all this time their savior had finally come, in the form of a female. Oh this was going to be fun.
"No buts!" roars a fifth, his voice dark and menacing. "Go to the Great Gillikin Forest!"
"Why?"
"That…is where you shall find her…bring her here to the Underground" orders the First.
"And?" asks Atlas, quirking an eyebrow up at the Elders. Never before had he questioned the High Elders, but this time, he inwardly wondered if having spent their time in the Mysts hadn't rotted their brains.
"Train her…watch over her"
"If she is as powerful as you say…then why in Oz would she need my protection?" asks Atlas confused.
"DO AS WE SAY!" Roars the Second.
"NEVER QUESTION OUR COMMANDS…NOW GO…BEFORE THE SILENCE FINDS HER!"
"Yes" grumbles Atlas. Gracefully, he bows before the Elders. "My Lords" a flash of light, and the Elders disappear. Grumbling he turns and leaves the Chamber of Mysts. "Great…now I get to play babysitter to some weakling female who's supposed to be our "great and wonderful" savior!"
Little did Atlas know, his future, and the future of Oz would change forever…A new destiny was about to begin, and he, blindly following down it's hidden pathway.