The Crumbling
Of Oz
Companion to Bullet Proof
AN: Alright, here's the story that follows Bullet Proof. I hope you all enjoy and depending on the reviews, I'll post the next chapter soon. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews to the one-shot and God Bless!
Whoa-oh! Oh Angel!
Time passed slowly, for the battle had long since been won, the war fires still burned bright against the heated sun, great plumes of charcoal smoke, rose and twisted high into the sky. Millions of bodies, both belonging to the rebels, and that of the Gale Force littered the square, blood stained the once ethereal emerald stone pathways, Buildings smoldered, many crumbled into heaps of ash and smoke, and some still burned bright into the midday sun.
The cries of the people echoed in the distance, and yet Elphaba heard none of it, she was too lost in her grief, in her anguish to care for the others. She remained, clutching Fiyero's limp body tight in her arms, his head cradled in the crook of her arms. The edge of her lips trembled, and brushed against his blood stained forehead. A tear fell from her eye, and splattered onto his face, leaving a trail of crystal liquid to fall and crest at the edge of his chin.
Come greet the dawn, it's a brand new day!
Silently, Glinda grieved in her solitude, she cried out her anguish in silence, for the man she once loved, but most importantly, for the friend lost in the riptide of anguish and despair. Slowly, her hands rose to her chest, and lacing in a silent prayer, liquid silver danced down her cheeks, yet she made no move to wipe them away.
The surrounding rebels, and what remained of the Gale Force stood by, watching the emerald witch of the West, cry out her anguish. The rebels, her allies, her friends who had fought tooth and nail for the freedom they had so long desired stood idly by, not knowing what to do, nor how to comfort their savior.
She had promised them freedom, and with that promise, came a terrible price; her heart. And that alone, broke the Animals, the humans who fought for the equality of others, hearts.
Slowly, Elphaba lifted her head, her eyes, red rimmed stared broken down at Fiyero's still face. Fresh tears flooded her eyes, and taking in a shuddering breath, leaned down and kissed the top of her lover's forehead.
Her trembling hand rose and cupped the side of Fiyero's face, the feel of his cold skin pressed against the tips of her fingers cracked her heart all the more, for it was confirmation, affirmation, that his soul had long since flown from this world, leaving her and her unborn child, alone.
"You kissed me to fiercely…I held you too tight…I cannot believe…we were together last night" whispers Elphaba, her voice choked with tears.
Slowly, Glinda stepped towards her friend. Fresh tears spilled down her eyes, smearing her makeup.
Whoa-oh! Oh Angel!
"Mes folles rêveries ... ne peuvent pas croire ... votre plus avec moi ce soir" sings Elphaba, her voice breaking at the end. My wildest dreamings…cannot believe…you're no longer with me tonight.
Let burn the passion that fires your soul!
Weakly, Elphaba lowered her head down towards Fiyero's, and gently rested her forehead against his pale skin. The feel of the Death felt ripe on his skin, cracking her heart. A hard sob slips past her trembling lips.
"Et juste pour ce moment ... tu étais mien" Cries Elphaba. And just for this moment…you once were mine.
"Elphie" whispers Glinda through choked tears. A tinkle and her eyes dart down to the ground. A fragment of green half buried in blood glistens in the sunlight.
Quirking an eyebrow, Glinda slowly kneeled to the ground, the ends of her gown billowing out. Hesitantly, she extended out her hand, and fingers trembling, reached for the object.
A gasp and the feel of smooth glass presses against the tips of her fingers, gently, the petite blonde plucks the object from the ground. Her eyes widen, as she stares at the bottle, half cracked from battle, glimmer in the palm of her hand.
Absently, her small, delicate fingers run down the smooth surface of the bottle, stopping at the crack, split up the center. Smears of blood stain the surface. A gasp and Glinda's eyes snap up towards her friend, trembling violently but a few feet away.
"Elphie" Hesitantly, she turns and stares at the Wizard, standing at the bottom of the grand staircase leading to the Palace of emeralds. Two of the rebels stand on either side of him, grasping his arms, and preventing his escape.
Here…it dulls the pain…
"J'ai perdu toute résistance ... et traversé quelques borderline ... et il se trouve que ... notre amour fini de jeûner!" I've lost all resistance…and crossed some borderline…and as it turns out…our love ended to fast!
Each lonely night I get through without you becomes my victory!
Weakly, Elphaba took a long, shuddering breath, remembering those sleepless night spent staring up at the moon, her mind adrift in a sea of thoughts, of longings for Fiyero, to have him by her side, holding her close.
It had been harder, when she first had fled the Wizard's palace, for the nights were cold, alone in the forest, with only the cloak that Glinda had given her before she defied gravity. Many of those first nights, Elphaba spent crying herself to sleep, her heart cracking just a little bit more with each tear that fell from her eyes.
Her loneliness faded, the night Fiyero went with her and together, they made love under the moonlight, making up for the time lost due to vengeance hand. The taste of his lips on hers, the feel of his hands caressing her bare flesh, wafted over her skin, a ghost of a tingle vibrating deep within the broken recesses of her mind.
Each empty night I fight against the light that is my destiny…
Her heart twisted tight in her chest, feeling Fiyero's phantom caress on her skin. Weakly, she closed her eyes and buried her face in his torn and bloody shirt.
Yet, I know that having might don't mean your right…
Mechanically, Glinda rose to her full height, and turning, walked with lithe steps over to the Wizard.
At first, the Wizard tried to break the hold of the two brutes keeping him bound in place, for all he wanted to do, was run. A flash of blonde, and the Wizard stills, and his eyes widen.
"Lady Glinda?" asks the Wizard, the anger within him melted, seeing the broken look on the beautiful blonde's face. She may not have been that powerful, but he still loved her, cherished her like the daughter he never had, yet longed so long for.
"Do…do you recognize this?" asks Glinda softly as she reveals the bottle.
"How…how did you get that?" asks the Wizard shocked.
"It…it's Elphie's" whispers Glinda softly.
"Elphie's…the Witches?" asks the Wizard confused.
I can't be both cruel and kind!
"She's not a Witch!" snarls Glinda. It was time, time to set the record straight, and clear her friend's name. To do what she should have done, ages ago.
Weakly, the Wizard turns and stares at Elphaba's writhing form. Tears flood his eyes. Shaking his eyes, he turns and stares back at Glinda, standing tall before him.
When nothing makes sense I look up at the clouds in the sky
"How?" asks the Wizard at last.
"It was her mother's…I've only seen one other bottle before…you offered me a drink from it" explains Glinda.
"This was her mother's?" asks the Wizard. Suddenly, the Wizard stands tall, his body rigid as the echoes of the past, wash over his frail body. Have another drink my dark eyed beauty…
Slowly, the Wizard relaxes and his eyes soften. Motioning towards the good witch, he reaches a hand out towards her. Nodding, she gently places the bottle in the palm of his hand.
"That's why she had such power…isn't it…she's your child…a child of both worlds" whispers Glinda.
They don't answer but I still ask why!
"Oh Oz…what have I done!" cries the Wizard.
Tears flood her eyes. Shaking her head, her gaze hardens, as she lifts her eyes up towards the two men, standing tall before the Wizard.
"Take him to his room in the palace…lock him away…and don't let him leave...I'll take care of him later" orders Glinda.
"Yes…your Goodness" bows the two men.
"Glinda!" cries the Wizard. Freeing his arm, he reaches out and grasps firm, onto Glinda's wrist, stilling her. "I am sorry" whispers the Wizard.
Stand tall you won't fall!
"I'm not the one who needs the apology" is all Glinda says, before turning and walking away. The sound of the Wizard's sobs barely reach her ears, and yet she could hear him, as he's dragged away.
Even a wolf gets away!
Stilling her emotions, she took her place at the center of the square, and raising her arms, motioned for all to gather around her.
Hesitant at first, the Animals, the rebels, and the citizens of Oz step closer to her Goodness, ignoring the Wicked Witch.
"My fellow Ozian's…there has been troubling times…and yet we still stand…united as one…the Wizard's reign of terror…of lies are over…Oz shall be a free state…where every citizen, no matter their race…shall be equal" replies Glinda.
Now and then run into the sun…
"But…the Wizard said the Animals were evil…bent of destroying the Ozian race" came a timid reply.
Regally, Glinda turns and glares down at a woman, dressed in a dark crimson dress, an ebony cloak tied tight around her shoulders. Her auburn hair fell like rivers of silk down her shoulders. Small smudges of soot stained her cheeks.
Sharpen your claws, bare your fangs and go on!
"He lied to you…to all of you" continues Glinda as she turns to address the people. "But most importantly, his lies had destroyed the life of an innocent…one who only wanted freedom for all"
"What?" gasps the people. A loud murmur fills the square, as the people tried to think of who had suffered the injustice of the Wizard's words.
"You know her…as the Wicked Witch of the West" replies Glinda calmly.
"She's evil! She hexed people!" cries a person in the crowd.
"She murdered thousands of people!" cries another.
"Set fire to fields!" screams another.
"She cursed the land of the Munchkins with the drought that nearly destroyed their fields!" cries another.
"She steals babies and drinks there blood!"
"She turned me into a newt!"
Stunned, everyone turns to see a gangly man stand a few feet away. He was dressed in rags, his shirt covered in blood. His raggedy long brown hair hung tangled at his shoulders, unshaven and unkempt.
"She…turned you into a newt?" questions Glinda, quirking an elegant eyebrow.
"I got better" shrugs the man.
Sighing, Glinda turns and stares at the crowd gathered around her.
"All lies brought on by the Wizard and then Press Secretary! Morrible was the truly Wicked one! She brought on the droughts…made the citizens of Oz disappear, setting fire to houses and crops and blaming it all on the Witch of the West! My friend…who only wanted to make good!" screams Glinda.
Run your own race—why go for second place?
"But…she's green?"
"So is the City of Emeralds…and yet we praise it's beauty…the leaves of the trees, the grass…the fields…the stems of flowers…do we admonish them for their color? No…we praise it…love it…so why can we not love her?" asks Glinda.
"But…she's wicked"
Go on and grab a star!
"Only by what the Wizard says….all this time…when these horrendible feats of revenge happened around Oz…my friend…the Witch of the West hid deep in the forest, helping and protecting the Animals…she flew to those who needed her help, her protection…she never cursed any of the people of Oz!" replies Glinda, her voice strong.
"But…why would the Wizard condemn her so if she were innocent?"
"Cause…she had stumbled across the Wizard's plot…and because she chose to fight for what she believed in, she was labeled wicked. It was the Wizard who wanted to silence the Animals…who wished to start a war between the Ozian's and the Animal race…not the Witch…not Elphaba"
"Who's Elphaba?" asks a woman.
Standing tall, Glinda cocks her body to the side. Elegantly, she raises a delicate finger out towards the crowd. Slowly, they turn, and their eyes widen, seeing the Witch, the Wicked Witch of the West, hunched over, crying out her sorrows.
You can survive. You gotta stay alive!
"She's Elphaba" replies Glinda softly. "Her real name is Elphaba Melena Thropp…the Governor of Munchkinland's daughter…and the Witch of the West…the woman who held the Prince of the Vinkus's heart"
Heaven is not that far!
"Her…but…but she's just a child" replies a woman tenderly.
"She had been forced to flee…after being condemned Wicked…forced to hide out in the woods…alone" continues Glinda.
"But"
"She's a powerful sorceress…more powerful than Oz has ever seen…she's the one with the real talent…not I…she's the one with the passion…the drive, the heart to help guide Oz towards hope, to prosperity" continues Glinda. Her eyes soften, watching Elphaba nuzzle her bloodstained cheek against Fiyero's.
When you're on the edge you pledge to live just for today!
"She's so young" whispers a man.
"She can't be more than twenty" came another.
Ain't no sense livin' in the past…
"She's nineteen" answers Glinda. With that, the heads of the citizens turn and stare back at Glinda. "She's only nineteen"
"A child…too young to have to suffer such atrocities" shakes a man.
"There's more" adds Glinda. This, she grew hesitant. It was one thing, telling the Ozian's the truth regarding Elphaba and her Wicked Witch persona. But it would be another, to reveal to the people and Elphaba alone, her true parentage.
Look ahead and you'll see that tomorrow has already begun!
"Her powers…are because she is a child of Both Worlds" replies Glinda, licking her lips and waiting in anticipation.
"Of Both Worlds?" asks a man confused.
"She has the blood of Oz running through her veins…and that of the Other World…that's why she's so powerful…for her mother was Melena Fae Thropp…and her father…"trails off Glinda.
Slowly, Glinda turns her eyes towards Elphaba, kissing Fiyero's pale lips, and staining her own in his blood. Her hands were covered in his blood, a smear of crimson spread across her cheek. Her long, raven hair billowed and danced wildly around her, the ends of her cloak twirled and swirled around her. Small petals of cherry blossoms dance around her.
Time heals all wounds and love does go on!
Closing her eyes, she once again returned her gaze to the citizens, all staring eagerly at the Good Witch standing before them. Most believed her story, others were still somewhat hesitant, and Glinda couldn't fault them. After all, it had been several years that the Wizard and Morrible had fed these empty-headed citizens with lies. It would take time, to undo the damage done, and yet she was willing and able to help.
"The Wizard" replies Glinda.
"What!" gasps the people.
Stand tall, you won't fall!
Glinda's eyes snap towards Elphaba, who had lifted her head, and now stared wide eyed back at her. The color in her face drained away, and her breathes became short and raspy.
Forgive me Elphie…"Yes…the Grand Wizard of Oz…is the father of the Witch of the West" proclaims Glinda.
"But…how do you know this?" asks another.
"The Wizard had spent many years in Munchkinland…as a travelling salesman…he fell in love with the Governor's wife and the two carried on a life-long love affair…but when he was called to the Emerald City to take his place as our illustrious leader, he was forced to leave her…with a child growing within Melena Thropp's womb…that child…ended up being the Witch the Wizard later condemned" explains Glinda.
"My Oz" whispers the people.
"What'll happen now?" asks a woman.
"Who'll lead Oz?" asks another.
Courage! You stumble and then
"Lady Glinda can do it! She's all powerful!" shouts another.
"Yes Lady Glinda…the Good Witch! Lead us!" cries the people.
Closing her eyes, Glinda shakes her head no. Slowly, the people fell silent.
Opening her eyes, she gazed out at the crowd.
"Though I'm honored to be considered…I must respectfully decline…Oz needs a leader who is strong…smartified…who can shift Oz in the right direction…a leader of Men and Women…of the People and of the Animals"
"Who?"
Slowly Glinda points towards Elphaba who seeing the movement, turns away.
Please Elphie…
"The Witch?"
So that you can run into the sun…
"She's the rightful ruler of Oz…the daughter of the Wizard…the rightful Princess of Oz" replies Glinda softly.
"But" starts a person in the crowd.
"She's a strong leader…she will protect Oz from danger…ensure the freedom of Her citizens are first and foremost in her mind…she'll guide Oz towards hope and peace" replies Glinda.
"As the Wizard's daughter…she is the rightful heir to the Throne of Oz…should the Wizard step down" explains a Leopard, a General in Elphaba's army, who once served beneath the Wizard.
"The Witch of the West…the new Sovereign of Oz?" questions a woman.
"You need not worry…for now…let us try and put aside our differences…our fears…our pain…and heal the hearts of those who had lost a loved one in battle" replies Glinda.
Seek out those songs which have not yet been sung!
One by one the people disperse, helping to give aid to those who had been injured in battle. The remaining Gale Force guards are led away, to be dishonorably discharged. Many though, having turned against the Wizard, kept their positions.
The Animals, the rebels, and indeed those of the Gale Force who never wanted to partake in this war, helped clean up the bodies, and wash away the blood.
Slowly, Glinda stepped towards her friend, shaking and trembling violently on the ground, Fiyero held tight within her arms, and her head, resting languidly in the crook of his neck.
"Is it true?" asks Elphaba softly.
"What? What are you?" starts Glinda. Slowly, she kneels beside her friend, but makes no move to touch her. She knew, just by looking at her, that she didn't want to be touched. Not at the moment.
"Is he really my father?" asks Elphaba, her voice empty of any emotion, of awareness to her surroundings.
"Yes Elphie…it's true" replies Glinda softly.
Nodding, Elphaba rests her forehead against Fiyero's. A hard sob slips past her lips, feeling the cold tremble of death tingle against her skin.
People do fall in love!
"I'm sorry Glin" whispers Elphaba softly.
"For what?" gasps Glinda.
"For taking him from you" replies Elphaba softly.
"Elphie…I forgive you…his heart never really belonged to me…he belonged to you…he's your match…your soul mate…the other half of your heart" replies Glinda softly. It hurt still, the betrayal, and yet she couldn't bring herself to care. Fiyero never belonged to her, she knew it back at Shiz, yet she turned a blind eye to the fact.
"I killed him Glinda…I killed him" cries Elphaba brokenly.
Though they may swear that the pain won't let go forevermore!
"No Elphie! Don't even think that!" cries out Glinda.
"He never would have died…if he hadn't followed me" sobs Elphaba.
"He would have regardless Elphie…he loves you" whispers Glinda softly.
"He'd still be alive…if he'd stay with you…he'd be here…standing by your side" cries Elphaba.
I'll burn the flame of your dreams in my soul!
"And you'd be dead in his place…how does that justify his death with yours?" asks Glinda gently.
"My death is inconsequential!" roars Elphaba. "He had a family who loved him…friends who cared about him…a woman who could have kept him out of danger…"
"Elphie…you have that too…you have a family who loves you…friends who would do anything for you…and a man who loved you fiercely…he sacrificed his life, in order to protect you Elphie…don't let his sacrifice go in vain" pleads Glinda.
Silence falls. Glinda stares worriedly back at her friend, tears shimmer in her eyes, seeing the heartbreak, the anguish, sparkle within Elphaba's dark, chocolate eyes.
"I miss him!" cries Elphaba.
Swiftly, two Animals step up beside the Witch. Not saying a word, the two bend down and scoop Fiyero's body out of Elphaba's hands.
"Wait!" cries Elphaba.
Ignoring her pleas, the two turn and carry Fiyero's body back into the palace. They could hear the Witch's wails, and yet they ignored it. Their hearts broke, hearing their normally stoic leader, crumble and fall so far. They didn't want to cart the body of her lover away like this, but they knew that if they didn't do something, she would never let go, and she would never move on.
Instantly, Glinda lunged forward and grabbed onto Elphaba's shoulders, stilling her.
Wildly, Elphaba thrashes in Glinda's arms, as she tries to break free from her arms hold. Yet with each thrash, each lung, each jerk, she could not break free.
"No! No Fiyero! Fiyero! Come back! Please! Don't take him away from me Fiyero!" cries Elphaba.
Weakly, Elphaba collapses in Glinda's arms. The tears spill from her eyes, as she cries out her anguish. Gently, Glinda wraps her arms tenderly around Elphaba's seizing body. The tips of her fingers lithely brush against her tear-stained cheeks.
"I'm here Elphie…I'm here" soothes Glinda.
"No…no Fiyero…Fiyero!" cries Elphaba.
