Night was falling as Elphaba sat on the back of cart transporting corn from the Corn Basket to the Emerald City. After it became apparent that running would take far too long, she had hitched a ride (unbeknownst to the driver) and was passing the time examining her torches. The cloth would have to be replaced soon… it was almost completely burned away from all the use she'd put into them. The green woman sighed and replaced her torches, laying back and looking up at the night sky. The stars still looked the same… how could this still be Oz?
After much deliberation, the green woman had finally come to the conclusion that after Morrible had frozen her, she had somehow managed to go back in time and keep the blonde from ever meeting her wife. It was the only way she could explain the circus being disbanded and Sri Chuffery still being alive. Without the couple to oppose her, it had been easy for Morrible to find the Grimmerie and take power.
Elphaba sighed. Finding Galinda would only be half the battle. What if the blonde had lost her memories, just like everyone else? Would she be able to convince her of the truth? And why did she still have her memories? Had Morrible subconsciously created a loophole when she'd frozen the green woman? Or had it been intentional? There were too many unanswered questions and Elphaba didn't like being thrust into this strange, new world.
The carriage suddenly shuddered to a stop and Elphaba sat up, turning to look over her shoulder. They had reached the entrance to the Emerald City, but one guard had stopped the driver, while another was moving to inspect the cart. Elphaba quickly hopped off, sliding underneath the cart and clinging to the undercarriage. She held her breath as she saw his boots pass by, but luckily, he didn't look under the cart. After a few more moments, the driver was sent on his way, and she was inside the city. The only question now was where would Galinda be?
Elphaba let go of the undercarriage and got up quickly after it passed. Even in the darkness, Elphaba could tell that the Emerald City was not the same place it had once been. With the Wizard's absence, it had lost some of its grandeur, and the buildings looked much more austere than whimsical and inviting. The green woman took a few steps, still looking around, when the light of a lantern fell on her. She put a hand up to shield her eyes, pausing.
"Halt citizen. What business do you have at such a late hour?"
She couldn't see who the voice belonged to, but she assumed it was a guard.
"I—"
"No one is allowed to be out after hours. You'll have to come with me." He grabbed her arm and out of instinct, Elphaba yanked it away. "Do not resist."
"I'm not going with you."
He grabbed her again and Elphaba punched him across the face before fleeing, hearing him sound the alarm after her.
"Stop her! Don't let her get away!"
The green woman ran, ducking into a side alley. She looked over her shoulder to see how close the guards were, and felt a sudden hand grab her and yank her to the side, slamming her up against the wall.
"Shh!" they hissed, putting a hand over her mouth before she could protest. The green woman saw the light of the guards' lanterns and heard their footsteps pass. The stranger released her, taking a step back.
"Um—" Elphaba started, but they took off. "W-wait!" She started after the stranger, noting how fluidly they moved through the obstacles in the back alleys. Elphaba vaulted over a dumpster and ducked under a low overhang, seeing the other person turn a sharp corner. She skidded around the same corner just in time to see the stranger disappear through a doorway. She threw herself through it and found herself in mid air. The green woman let out a cry of surprise as she fell, hitting a hard surface and sliding down.
Elphaba tumbled through a smaller door at the bottom, rolling a few times before coming to a stop. She got to her feet and found herself in what appeared to be a dingy bar. Those present looked at her with slight interest, but she didn't see the stranger she'd followed here. The silence was becoming hard to tolerate, so finally she decided to break the ice herself.
"I'm looking for Galinda Upland."
Everyone immediately turned to whisper amongst themselves, casting glances back at her.
"Hey. You."
Elphaba turned towards the voice, seeing it was the bartender.
"Come here."
She approached the bar and the person beside her inched away slightly.
"You've got some nerve, coming down here and asking to see Miss Upland like you own the place."
"Well I didn't mean—"
"Too late now to make excuses. You've already condemned yourself."
"What? But I—"
"She doesn't see just anybody, you know. You've got to prove you're not weak first."
"I don't understa—"
"You'll have to fight Angelo now."
"Who?"
She was suddenly being pushed towards the fighting ring in the middle of the room, which she had neglected to notice before. Elphaba was shoved inside, the fence closed after her. She began to protest; this wasn't what she had intended, all she wanted was to see Galinda, but a laugh behind her stopped her.
"This is who I am to fight? A green woman? It seems almost a shame."
Elphaba turned, saying, "Now listen here you—" but cut herself off when she found herself face to face with a man twice her size. "Uhhh…" She looked up at him. "Oh…"
"Set down your weapons… and we will begin."
The green woman took a few steps back, removing her torch holster and whip, setting them aside. This was going to hurt. She approached him again, taking a fighting stance. He grinned, taking a similar one. Elphaba suddenly turned her gaze down, and pointing as if something was there. Angelo looked as well and Elphaba kicked him in the chest before throwing a punch. He looked at her, unfazed before throwing his own punch, knocking the green woman right to the ground. The crowd cheered and laughed.
Elphaba rolled over, getting to her feet. Damn that one had got her! She wouldn't last long at this rate. She faced Angelo again, swinging. He caught her fist before another punch made contact. The green woman was knocked to the ground again and she groaned, trying to get up, but a kick to the ribs stopped her. Elphaba fell back down, gasping for air.
"Come on, get up. That can't be everything you have."
Elphaba used the fence to pull herself up. She looked at Angelo, shaking her head. "That's it… you win big man." She started for the exit; she'd find another way to Galinda. This wasn't worth the—
A sudden wet feeling on the back of her head stopped her. She put a hand back, and felt it. A low growl; the beating she could take, but spitting? Elphaba turned around, glaring at his smug face. Before he could react, she lunged forward, punching him in the left side of his face. She blocked his angry punch, bringing a knee up to his ribs, feeling them crack. Another punch to the right side of his face dislocated his jaw, thereby disabling his ability to spit. He swung wildly at her and Elphaba ducked before jumping up and kicking him square in the chest, sending him sprawling backwards. Angelo didn't get back up. The crowd had gone silent, with occasional whispers such as "Where did that come from?"
Elphaba picked up her holster, replacing it and her whip before she approached the stunned barkeeper, picking up a bottle of rum and pulling the cork out with her teeth, spitting it aside before taking a drink.
"Can I see Galinda now?"
The bartender could only gape at her, not able to reply.
"You."
Elphaba turned towards the voice and saw the cloaked stranger from earlier pointing at her.
"Come with me."
The green woman followed the stranger to a small back room.
"Tell me… what business do you have with Galinda Upland?"
"The business is my own, and it is vital that I speak with her."
A pause before the stranger lowered their hood, blonde curls spilling over their shoulders.
"Tell me your business."
Elphaba could only stare. "Galinda… it is you…"
It was indeed Galinda Upland. She hadn't changed a bit. The green woman was so overcome with joy that she forgot this wasn't the same Oz and moved forward to kiss the blonde… and received a punch in the stomach.
"What the hell?" Galinda shouted.
Elphaba put a hand to the spot with a wince. "Sorry… I keep forgetting this isn't the old Oz…"
"Well don't forget yourself again! Is this your vital business with me?"
"N-no..." Elphaba lowered her hand, looking at the blonde. "I came because I need to tell you something. This Oz… it isn't… there was another time… oh, how to explain this?"
"You're rambling, and I don't have the time or patience to deal with it."
"Morrible made Oz this way!"
"Yes, we're all aware of that."
"No, that's not what I meant! She… manipulated time! This isn't how Oz used to be! Your father… he had a circus, and you and I met there…"
"I've never met you before in my life."
"Not in this life, but before Morrible changed everything… you and I… we were in love. We've been through so much… remember, Morrible turned you into a doll and I changed you back before we jumped off the train… when I died and came back, living on borrowed time?"
Galinda was staring at her as though she were crazy. "I don't know what in Oz's name you're talking about, but I think you have me confused with someone else." She started to move past the green woman, but Elphaba would not give up so easily. She grabbed Galinda's left wrists, holding it up.
"You still have your ring!"
"I've had this ring for as long as I can remember."
Elphaba raised her own left hand. "Look… I have to same one… we were married, Galinda…"
The blonde looked at the two rings before pulling her hand away. "An interesting theory… but I'm not the type for marriage."
That nearly broke the green woman's heart, but she wouldn't give up. This wasn't her Galinda. "Galinda… you used to sing… that's how I first fell in love with you."
"I don't waste my time with frivolities such as singing."
"Galinda!"
"Kindly let go of me before I break your wrist."
Elphaba released the blonde, who started to leave again, but the green woman quickly got in her way. She'd make Galinda remember… somehow.
"What are you—"
"I am in misery. There ain't nobody who can comfort me. Why won't you answer me? The silence is slowly killing me. Girl you really got me bad, you really got me bad. Now, I'm gonna get you back, gonna get you back."
Galinda was about to say something when she felt something stir in the deep recesses of her mind. Could… could this green woman be telling the truth? Immediately the blonde reprimanded herself for even thinking that.
"You're stubborn, you know that?"
"I know it, but I won't let you go, Galinda. I love you far too much, even if you don't remember."
"What did you say your name was?"
"Elphaba Thropp."
The blonde inhaled softly. "Elphaba Thropp is dead."
"Maybe the one you knew, but this whole world is what Morrible made it. I'm not part of it, which is why I remember everything. I'm sure her demise would set things right."
"So you are against Morrible as well?"
"I have been for quite some time now."
Galinda was about to reply when a familiar person came into the back room.
"I hate to break up the meeting, but it's time to head out, Galinda," Fiyero said.
The blonde nodded before looking at Elphaba. "Our time has come to an end, Miss Elphaba. If you wish to speak to me again—"
"I'm not leaving you. You don't know what I've been through just to get here."
"What you've been through? Miss Elphaba—"
"Oh, drop the honorific, would you? Galinda, I am not going to lose you again. I don't care if you can't remember an Ozdamn thing from before. I remember everything clearly, and I'm not going to give up. Wherever you're going, I'm coming with you."
Galinda didn't look happy, but she could tell that Elphaba would not be swayed. "Fine. You can tag along, but if you fall behind, you'll be left behind."
It surprised Elphaba how quickly Fiyero and Galinda could move through the darkened city, and she found it almost a struggle to keep up as they scaled walls and leapt across rooftops. It became apparent that they were heading towards the palace, and Elphaba had a bad feeling about all of this.
After scaling the side of the palace, Fiyero tied a rope around one of the emerald points, making sure it was secure before pulling up a slab of emerald from the roof and dropping the other end of the rope down inside.
"Galinda—" Elphaba started, but the blonde was already sliding down the rope. Elphaba sighed and her gaze met Fiyero's briefly before he followed after the blonde. The green woman shook her head before going after them.
The palace interior was eerily quiet and as her feet touched the tiled floor, Elphaba felt very conspicuous. She saw that Fiyero and Galinda were already slinking off, so she quickly followed them, the uneasy feeling building inside of her.
"What exactly are you two planning on doing?" she hissed once they stopped to peer around a corner.
"Shush!" Galinda hissed back.
Elphaba didn't appreciate being shushed in such a manner, but they were on the move again, so talking was out of the question. Up the stairs and into a master bedroom, which Elphaba soon realized was Morrible's. Fiyero moved to keep watch at the door while Galinda drew a silver knife from a holster on her thigh. The tourmaline in the hilt shone in the moonlight as the blonde raised it.
It can't be this easy… the green woman thought and just then, Morrible's eyes opened.
"Put that toy away, Miss Galinda."
The blonde brought it down with a yell, despite Elphaba's yell of "No, don't!" She was instantly thrown back into the wall, crashing down on a small bureau. Elphaba ran to the blonde's side just as Fiyero gave the signal that a guard was coming before he headed out to deal with him.
"And who have you brought along with you on this sorry attempt at an assassination?" Morrible said, her eyes falling on Elphaba. Confusion crossed her face, but only for a moment as the windows suddenly shattered, allowing hail to pour in. The green woman raised an arm, hissing as the wet burned her skin.
Galinda, meanwhile, had recovered and was getting to her feet, running for her fallen knife.
"Galinda, wait!" Elphaba called, but the ruler of Oz had already thrown the blonde's knife back at her. The green woman got to her feet, but couldn't get to Galinda in time. The blade sank into Galinda's shoulder and she let out a cry, putting a hand to the wound while glaring at Morrible.
"I expected more from a rebel with your reputation, Miss Galinda."
"I'm not done with you yet!" She yanked the knife free and leapt for Morrible again, but the older woman raised a hand, stopping Galinda in mid air.
"You're just a child… how can you possibly hope to kill me?" She threw Galinda back again, and Elphaba decided it was time to intervene. She drew one torch, lit it, and pulled out her oil flask just as Morrible turned to look at her. Before the empress could react, Elphaba blew a fireball at her, forcing Morrible to turn away. The green woman ran to Galinda's side, and helped her to her feet before fleeing.
"What are you doing? Let go!" Galinda shouted.
"No! You don't know what you're dealing with—OW!"
Galinda had thrust her knife into Elphaba's hand and the green woman yanked it away with a growl, pulling Galinda's knife free.
"I can handle myself!"
"I will NOT allow you to be killed over your pride!" Elphaba grabbed her around the thighs and heaved the blonde over her shoulder before she continued running.
"PUT ME DOWN!" the blonde shouted, pounding her fists into Elphaba's back.
"No! I won't lose you!"
"I don't even know you!"
"I know you!"
Elphaba threw herself against the doors of the palace, only to find that they were locked. She turned to see guards coming after them as well.
"Shit… of course," Elphaba muttered.
"What's your brilliant plan now?" Galinda asked.
"I'm making this ups as I go, okay? You're not helping!" Elphaba replied as she started running down a hallway, the guards in hot pursuit.
"I had a plan, which was ruined, thanks to you!"
"Your plan was an awful plan! Morrible was going to kill you!"
"Then I'd die trying to help Oz!"
"I'm not going to let you DIE at all!"
"Why do you care so much?"
"Because you're my wife!" Elphaba skidded around a corner, finding herself in the throne room… and the guards were streaming in. She backed away, her eyes scanning the room for an exit.
"We are NOT married!"
"Well, we were, and we still have our rings!"
"You're infuriating!"
Elphaba noticed a large window behind the throne. It was their only way out. "Keep your head down!" she said before she ran at it, bracing her shoulder and preparing for the crash.
THUNK
The green woman stumbled back, somewhat dazed. "Oh, come on!"
Galinda rolled her eyes. "Nice work."
"Yeah? I'd like to see you try!"
"Gladly." Galinda slid down her back, catching herself in a handstand before standing up and swiftly kicking the green woman square in the chest, sending her backwards through the window. The glass shattered around her and Elphaba let out a yell as she fell, crashing into a bush at the bottom. Before she could sit up, she saw Galinda diving towards her.
"No, Galinda, wait—"
The blonde caught herself in a roll at the bottom, getting right to her feet before running. Elphaba let out a groan, rolling out of the bush and staggering to her feet before she followed Galinda, disappearing into the night.
It was possible that she had inadvertently created a loophole… still, she hadn't expected the green woman to ever unfreeze. She'd killed the Elphaba Thropp she'd created… but if the original still had her memories… Morrible told herself that it didn't matter in the slightest. Oz was changed; the people were changed as well. It was apparent that Elphaba was already figuring that out with Galinda…
"It's no matter. Even if she can convince the blonde of the truth… those two will never be together again. I have made quite sure of that."
Song used: Misery by Maroon 5