Authors Note: HERE I AM.
Finally, after lurking the fandom so long, my first fanfiction of Wicked. This'll be mainly bookverse with musical elements- particularily strong ones. Wouldn't want to give anything away, though, so i'll leave it here. Please review and tell me what you think~!
She awoke with a start, life seeping back into her as her breathing became consistent.
Surprisingly, despite her figure being restored to its full health, it took Elphaba a while to form the conscious conclusion that she remained in existence. The cold chirped and bit at her furiously, making her shiver as her mind fumbled around, searching for answers that simply did not come. Her eyes still prised shut, Elphaba both feared and anticipated what she would wake to.
Was she truly dead? Was that it?
All she was aware of, through closed eyes, was darkness. No blinding lights, no bubbling pits of hell. Just darkness. She both longed to know and feared of the truth. A grim look plastered her face as her eyes fluttered open, after a few long minutes in pensive thought. It took her a moment to register where she was, a moment for her eyes to respond to the trickle of light spilling from curtained windows. Blinking in disbelief, Elphaba rose to her feet, her bareness mirroring the love affair conducted in the room with a cold irony. She emitted a noise between a sigh and a choked gasp upon the knowledge of her whereabouts. She had almost missed her comfortable apartment in Emerald City.
Was she dreaming? She still did not know. Was she dead? How did she get here, most importantly?
Her feet rising, she steadied herself by holding out her arms, regaining her balance. She flicked on a lantern, and at that precise moment, Elphaba became aware of the substantial change that had occurred to her after the incident with the Dorothy girl. (Her death?) Her skin. Pale in colour. Sweet- well, sweet whoever, whatever- she wasn't green. Elphaba marvelled in her milky white complexion, the pink tinge in her hands. She gave a pained laugh. Had she been younger, she would have rejoiced. Now, she did not care much, but having normal skin had merely eliminated one inconvenience- being noticed by the people.
Elphaba let a rare smile grace her lips as she came to the realisation that a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. She laughed, almost joyously as the weights lifted. No longer would she be the Wicked Witch of the West, no longer did she have to care. Selfish as it was, to disregard what was left of her family and friends, but that mattered very little. For once, she wanted time to herself. For once, it was her and only her, no one else. She embraced the prospect of a new identity, although reluctant to admit there would be a large portion of her life still unfulfilled.
Her facade faltered for a moment when she became aware of the vast amount of dried blood that caked the walls and the floor, the stench cleared over time. However, it was sickening to her eyes. She doubted she could even wash it off after so long. The reminder of her faults gathered in every object in the room, tarnishing its initial welcoming feel. She could never live here, not when she wanted to forge a new identity. No- it would be impossible having to live with the thought of Fiyero's death practically painted upon the walls. Dressing hastily, Elphaba gathered a few of her old possessions and the stash of money that she had used in case of emergencies, and exited the room before could she could vomit.
She needed a new beginning.
Her breath becoming heavy as she stepped outside, Elphaba really had no idea how cold it was. The dilapidated buildings of the street certainly looked more worn since her leave many years back. They lay there with an eerie, sunken look, as if life had been taken away from them as time dragged on. The moon was a polished piece of china in the sky, illuminating her vision. Snow fell in her black tresses, making her flinch and recoil on instinct from the contact. Elphaba's eyes widened in abrupt shock as the ice fell on her arms, melting to form drops of water on her skin. She brushed the water away but realised it no longer burnt her. She was going to freeze to death if she attempted to sleep on the streets tonight.
Too tired to think, she held her breath as she made her way back into her apartment, dusting off her old mattress and blocking out the thoughts that drifted into her head about a certain sensitive subject. Her hair fanned across her pillow, Elphaba slept, for once, content.