"Well, that went well, didn't it?" The girls had been back in the tower for nearly 15 minutes now, and Glinda was the first to break the silence. It earned her little more than a groan from Elphaba, who was now floating near the top shelf of the bookcase.

"Well, it wasn't all my fault, was it? I did manage to read that ridiculous speech."

"You also managed to float up to the royal balcony." Glinda giggled. "It would have been quite funny had it not been such a disaster for your father."

"It being a disaster for my father is exactly what makes it funny." Elphaba countered with a smirk. "But either way, it's over now. We're home, we're safe-"

"Until the Winkies come to tear out your heart." The blonde interrupted. This earned her another groan from Elphaba. "Oh Glinda, forget it!"

"No!"

The fierceness of the tiny blonde's voice startled Elphaba. She often forgot how determined Glinda could be when she truly had her heart set on something. For some reason, she had chosen Elphaba's safety as one of those things, and she seemed truly distraught at the idea of Elphaba's heart being ripped from her chest. Despite the fact that Glinda was worrying about something that would never happen to a girl who had never been the kindest of people, Elphaba felt slightly guilty about making her feel that way.

Slowly making her way down, later helped by Glinda pulling at the ribbon, she wrapped her arms around the blonde to comfort her. "Pretending it never happened won't mean it actually never happened, you know." Glinda pouted, and Elphaba smiled.

"I know, my sweet. But we're up in this tower, and there is no way Winkies are coming up here." Glinda looked up at her. "You promise?"

Elphaba nodded. "I promise. If the world's a mess, that's their problem, and I want no part in it." That seemed to be enough to please the blonde, who had begun resting her head on Elphaba's shoulder.

Running her green fingers through the girl's hair, Elphaba sighed. "I do feel sorry for you though, sometimes. You're stuck in this tower just to keep me company, that can't be something that makes you happy."

Glinda hummed in contentment. "You're right, it wasn't the bright future I envisioned when I was little. But now I'm just happy if you're happy, Elphie."

Grinning at the use of the nickname, Elphaba floated a few inches upward again. "Speaking of stories, how about we read another one of mother's books. The little match girl, maybe?"

This time, it was Glinda's turn to groan in annoyance. "Must we? We've read all of these a thousand times already!"

Elphaba laughed. "Very well then. How about I think of a story myself this time? Something new, to amuse you."

Glinda seemed to consider this for a few seconds, but then nodded. "Fine. As long as you don't float all the way up to the ceiling again. I'm much to comfortable right now."

"I'll try." Elphaba promised, though doubting the blonde's weight would be enough to keep her down. "Alright. Another day, another fairy story. Once upon a time there lived a match girl-"

"Elphie!" the blonde interrupted her, swatting her chest. "You promised a new story, you're just retelling the little match girl."

Wincing in pain – the blonde could apparently pack quite a punch when she wanted to – Elphaba continued. "It is a new story, I promise. Anyway, the little girl would light up her matches in the dark, because she could see her seventh heaven in the flames.

"In the flames, she would see both her parents were still alive, and they were king and queen. The little girl herself was a princess, trained to ride and fight like a champion. And later, when the day was done, she would tell her parents a story, a new one each night. Together, the three of them for a true loving family, and the little girl couldn't be happier."

As Elphaba spoke, losing herself in the world she was creating, Glinda cuddled up closer to her best friend. It didn't take a genius to figure out who the little girl was Elphaba was talking about.

The princess had told her she felt sorry for Glinda for being locked up in a tower for over 10 years, but Glinda felt just as sorry for her princess. Elphaba deserved everything she was dreaming up in that story of hers, and Glinda's heart ached for her, because she knew the green girl would never get it.

"The little girl's father loves her so much, he throws her a huge party every year on her birthday, with games that he leads. And the little girl gets to compete against children her own age that day, all of whom she beats. She rides the best, and always climbs the highest walls. She likes climbing, because she can look out over the entire kingdom when she reaches the top and pretend she is already their queen, ruler of all the people down there.

"But always as she is racing back when her father calls, her match flickers out, and her dream turns into a nightmare. Here, her mother is dead, and her father only thinks her useful when she brings in the money she gets from selling matches. So she lights another match, and her dream family flickers to life again. Her mother is there when she goes inside, waiting with a hug and a kiss. And so is her father, who lets her do as she pleases.

"That's why the match girl lights match after match until she dies in the snow. And no one ever knew of the exquisite life she dreamt for herself in the clouds and the light of the flame. The end."

Throughout the story, Glinda had begun to tear up a little, but before she could ask Elphaba what the story was about (as if she didn't already know), she was interrupted by the king storming into the tower.

Immediately, the two girls jump apart. Glinda fixes her dress and curtsies, and Elphaba casually lets herself float upwards again. "Hello, father."

"What do you think I should do, Elphaba?" The king asks, looking older than ever.

"I was a disaster, I know-" but the king interrupts her before she can finish. "Never mind the Vinkuns, our own people may kill us!"

The green girl laughed. "I'm certain it wasn't that bad. Do you remember when I was three and you gave me that wooden bird-" but once again she was interrupted.

"You're sixteen now! When your sister was only fourteen she had already commanded the army and won ten battles."

Glinda was watching their conversation with great interest. If she was perfectly honest, though, it seemed more like two monologues clashing rather than an actual conversation. Neither the king nor the princess were paying any attention to what the other was saying.

"Father, can we visit mother's grave?"

"A declaration of war. They murdered my daughter. Our soldier's spirits are crushed. And what do you do? You fly!"

"Float, actually! You don't understand that I can't help the way I am-"

"I father you, you throw your love back into my face!"

This hit a nerve with Elphaba, who laughed before glaring at down at Frexpar. "Your love, father? Sorry, I'm confused, because I can count the times you've visited me here on one hand, and it's twice. Today."

Fuming with anger, she continued. "I embarrassed you, and you banished me. You may have been 'father' to Nessarose, but not to me!"

"They look to you for strength-" The king either hadn't heard Elphaba, or he had simply chosen not to pay attention. Glancing down at Glinda, Elphaba groaned. "Is he deaf?"

"Elphaba, come down here!"

"How many times do I have to say it, no!" Turning back to face Glinda, Elphaba smiled, attempting to ignore her father. "How about another story, Glinda. Peter Pan? Or maybe you should think of a story this time."

Glinda could only smile politely at Elphaba. As much as she loved her princess, she really didn't want to be involved in the fight between the girl and her father. Luckily for her, Frexpar Thropp wasn't even closed to finished.

"You will change, Elphaba. You are the crown princess of Munchkinland now, for heaven's sake act like it!"

"Yes, I know! You've been yelling the same lines at me for the past few hours. Your precious Nessa died, and now I have to take her place because you fear the wrath of our people. But I am not interested!"

"We'll lose Munchkinland. Our survival depends on your ability to commend our soldiers." The king was nearly begging now, but Elphaba would have none of it.

"I know, I know. It's my supposed duty and destiny to take Nessarose's place. Might I remind you that people used to think my destiny was to bring peace, after which my destiny changed to cursing this land for all eternity. But as I've told you a thousand times now; I don't want anything to do with it. Even if I wanted something to do with 'destiny', I'll pick the one where I'm the one cursing this land to kingdom come."

"You cannot choose your destiny, Elphaba." Frexpar growled. "You are the king's eldest child, your destiny is to lead the army to glory. A royal child is a general, that is how it's always been. It is what's expected of you."

"Eldest, you say? I think I missed the memo where my sister who was two years younger than me was actually older than I am." Elphaba laughed. "Ten years ago, you said 'to hell with the royal line' when you locked me in this tower. Ten years ago is when you decided the family business wasn't for me. I think we call this 'reaping what you sow', father."

It was becoming more and more difficult for Frexpar to stay calm. "I understand that this is difficult for you, Elphaba. I too am a king's child, I know of the weight of a task like this. Ruling a kingdom is not an easy feat, and my father forced it upon me. I do not want to be the man he was and force this upon you, but I need an heir. For Oz' sake, be reasonable!"

"Father, forget it! That birdie's flown ten years ago. I'm not queen material, and everyone knows it. Even you did, which is why you locked me away in the first place. For all I care, you can shove that crown up your-"

"Enough!"

Everyone in the room fell silent, and even Elphaba realized that she had crossed a line. The king was angry, and dangerously so.

"You will change, Elphaba. You will find your gravity one way or another, and you will learn how to fight and lead our army with two feet on the ground, by whatever means necessary. Do I make myself clear?"

Without waiting for an answer, he turns to the serjeant-at-arms. "Bring her down and keep her down. Find the servants, have them bring the royal items again. And you," he turns to Glinda, "make sure she wears them, or there will be hell to pay."

With that, the two girls were left alone again. This time, when the servants came in to redress Elphaba under the keen eye of Pfannee, even she was wise enough not to put up a fight.

A/N: Surprise one-day-earlier update because I'm headed to London for the remainder of the week. No Filter, Water Babies, Once, Avenue Q, and of course Wicked are all the shows I've got lined up for my trip. Especially excited to see Water Babies with Wicked alumni Louise Dearman. For those of you who haven't heard of her; she is the first person to play both Elphaba and Glinda in a production of Wicked, she is an incredibly wonderful person, and her voice is to die for.