Here it is, everyone. The final chapter!
"Elphie, stop squirming!"
"Well, you're pulling my hair!"
"I wouldn't be pulling if you would just hold still!"
"I would hold still if you stopped pulling my hair!"
Raya and Jemiya held back their laughter as they helped Elphaba get ready. It was the day all of Oz would meet Elphaba not as the Wicked Witch of the West, but as their new crowned Princess.
"Almost done!" Glinda sing-songed as she curled and styled Elphaba's hair into a bun, and allowing the rest of her hair to flow down her back.
The emerald princess' dress was a beautiful shade of fuchsia with short sleeves and a long, flowing skirt. Pulling the emerald girl to her feet, Glinda grabbed the matching ribbon and tied it in a large bow around Elphaba's waist.
Glinda was wearing a light blue ball gown with a very large skirt and sequins. Her blonde hair was curled and tied in an elegant bun.
"There, you're all ready," Glinda smiled, but frowned when she saw the unenthusiastic look on Elphaba's face. "Elphie, what's wrong?"
Elphaba pulled away from Glinda and walked towards the window. "I can't do this, Glinda."
"Why not? This is all you've ever wanted. You could have all you've ever wanted."
"I know. But I don't want it. No…" Elphaba whispered, placing her hand against her abdomen. "I can't want it… anymore."
Glinda exchanged a look with Raya and Jemiya before cautiously stepping over to Elphaba and placing her hand on her shoulder. "Elphie, it's alright."
"He should be here, Glin. With me."
"I know, Elphie. You've made such good progress and I'm very proud of you."
"I can't do this without him, Glin."
"You can, Elphie." Glinda gently turned her friend towards her. "Everything will work out. All of Oz will love you."
"I don't want all of Oz if it means I can't have Fiyero."
"Miss Glinda? Miss Elphaba? The announcement…" Raya whispered softly, hearing the sounds of trumpets from the ballroom.
Elphaba stiffened and whirled around to face the maids. "I don't want to be anywhere near the man who caused my love's death!"
As the green girl screamed, the lights flickered on and off. Glass broke and shattered all over the floor. A wild wind whipped through the room like a hurricane. Startled by the princess' sudden change in demeanor, Raya yelped and jumped behind Jemiya, who was trying to hide her shaking.
"Elphie!" Glinda shouted, grabbing Elphaba by her arms. "Stop!"
The green girl blinked and slumped against Glinda as she cried. Glinda flashed the maids a pleading look and they nodded, understanding, and left the room.
"Elphie…" Glinda whispered, rubbing soothing circles on Elphaba's back.
As Elphaba calmed down, the room returned to normal.
"Good," Glinda whispered, gently pulling away from Elphaba. "Is that better?"
Elphaba sniffed and nodded. The blonde smiled softly, seeing Elphaba's makeup starting to run. "Here," she said, leading Elphaba back to her vanity to redo her makeup.
Elphaba sat in silence as Glinda redid her hair and makeup. Her breaths were long and slow as she tried to compose herself.
"There. Good as new," Glinda smiled, looking at Elphaba through the mirror.
Elphaba reluctantly lifted her gaze and looked at her reflection.
"You look beautiful, Elphie."
Elphaba sighed and slowly pushed herself up. "I'm ready."
"Elphie?"
"The sooner we get this thing over with, the sooner I can get away from that horrible excuse of a man."
"He's your father."
"He is not my father!"
Glinda stepped back and looked down. "I'm… I'm sorry."
Elphaba exhaled and looked at her friend. "No. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. And I shouldn't have lost control of my magic." The green girl self-consciously rubbed her upper arm as she maintained her gaze on the floor.
Glinda chuckled softly and grabbed the green girl's hands. "Are you ready?"
Elphaba nodded. "Y-Yeah. I guess so."
"Then let's go!" Giggling, Glinda hurried out the room, dragging Elphaba behind her.
"My fellow Ozians!" the Wizard boomed from the balcony. Glinda stood next to the Wizard, a beaming smile on her face as she looked over the crowd of gathered Ozians. "We have been through a very trying time. But, as terrifying as terror is…"
"I would be very careful about how you phrase this if I were you," Glinda whispered.
The Wizard nodded and sighed. "I have made a very personal discovery… about the proclaimed 'Wicked Witch of the West'."
The crowd started muttering and the Wizard motioned for them to be quiet again. "The Wicked Witch of the West is not wicked at all. In fact… she's my daughter."
The crowd went dead silent. The Wizard turned to Glinda, who nodded. "May I present… Princess Elphaba Melena Thropp-Diggs, Princess of Oz." He gestured behind him, waiting for Elphaba to emerge. The green girl didn't come out.
"Elphie!" Galinda stage whispered. Elphaba still refused to emerge. "Excuse me for just one clock tick," the blonde smiled to the crowd before turning around. Huffing, she marched through the doors and grabbed the green girl's arm. "Elphie, get out here right now!" She pulled Elphaba out onto the balcony with a satisfied humph.
The green girl's eyes widened at the sight of all the Ozians staring up at her. Blinking, she gulped down the lump in her throat.
Little by little, the Ozians started to clap and cheer for her. Once it sunk in that they no longer hated her, Elphaba allowed herself to smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the Wizard slowly walk up to her and she subtly stepped away. She still didn't trust him. Not yet.
Later that evening, the grand ball was held in the parlor. Elphaba conducted herself with perfect sangfroid, smiling and speaking to the Ozian officials like the perfect princess. Glinda smiled as she watched her friend smile and laugh.
"Hi," she whispered, walking up to Elphaba.
Elphaba turned and smiled. "Hi."
"How's is going?"
"Fine, I guess."
"Are you tired?"
"A little."
Smiling, Glinda took her friend's arm and began to lead her away.
"Princess Elphaba!"
Stiffening, Elphaba turned around and forced a smile onto her face as a royal couple walked over to her. The woman was wearing a royal blue ball gown with golden stitching. The man's suit matched his wife's dress. Both wore crowns and had kind smiles on their faces as they approached the emerald princess.
"Hello," Elphaba smiled, wondering who these people were.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves. I'm Amalie and this is my husband, Raal."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Elphaba," Raal smiled.
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Elphaba said, still not knowing who they were.
"We're the king and queen of the Vinkus. Fiyero's parents," Amalie said softly.
Elphaba's blood ran cold. She was standing in front of Fiyero's parents. How was she supposed to tell them he was dead because of her?
"Fiyero told us so much about you," Raal smiled. "I just wished he had introduced us sooner."
"I… I'm sorry… about your son," Elphaba muttered, looking down.
"You have nothing to apologize for, my dear," Amelia said, taking Elphaba's hands and holding them within her own. "Fiyero loved you very much. He's never wrote us a letter without saying, usually in three or more pages, how much he loved you."
"He made his choice," Raal said. "We've always taught him to follow his dreams."
"And we both know how brainless he was." Elphaba cracked a small smile and the queen chuckled. "He never really grasped the concept of thinking… until he met you."
"We're not upset with you Elphaba, and we don't blame you for what happened. We just wanted you to know that. You're always welcome in our home."
"Both of you," Amelia smiled, gently placing her hand against Elphaba's abdomen.
Elphaba smiled as she was pulled into a hug. "Thank you," she whispered, relaxing into the embrace. "Thank you so much."
Elphaba screamed out in pain as another contraction seized through her body. Sweat glistened across her forehead as she gasped for air.
"You're almost there, Your Highness," the palace doctor said from the foot of the bed. "Just a few more pushes!"
"Only a few more pushes, Elphie!" Glinda said, clutching the green girl's hand.
"Kill… me… now!" Elphaba groaned, leaning back against the bed as Jemiya dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth.
"You're almost there, Princess! I can see the head!" the doctor said.
"You can do it, Elphie," Glinda said, squeezing Elphaba's hand. "Keep pushing."
"Don't tell me what to do!" she hissed.
"Keep pushing, Princess!"
"Okay," Elphaba whimpered as she pushed with all her strength.
The Wizard nervously paced outside the door, having been thrown out by Elphaba. He stopped when he heard her screams and contemplated going back in, but decided against it. Sighing, he resumed his pacing.
After what seemed like an eternity, a light scream pierced the air, followed by an "Elphie, you did it!".
The Wizard stopped and looked at the closed door. It was over. His daughter had given birth to his grandchild. Taking a deep breath, he slowly opened the door. Glinda was the first to turn around and smiled softly at the older man. "Hi."
Elphaba slowly turned her head and as soon as her gaze fell upon the Wizard, she scowled.
"We'll give you two some time alone," Glinda smiled, motioning for the doctor, Raya and Jemiya to follow her out of the room.
"How are you?" the Wizard asked, reaching for Elphaba's hand.
The green girl scowled and pulled her hand away. "I'm fine… as if you care."
"Elphaba –"
"What?" Elphaba snapped.
The Wizard sighed. "I know you probably still don't trust me, but I want to be a father to you."
"If you even think about starting that sentimental man crap, I will…"
"What is it going to take, Elphaba? What do you want me to do?"
Elphaba frowned and turned away. "You'll stop abusing and tormenting the Animals. You'll treat them like citizens and restore their rights," she muttered.
"Deal."
Elphaba nodded and looked at the sleeping infant lying next to her.
"Is it a boy or girl?" the Wizard asked softly.
Elphaba slowly lifted the baby into her arms. "Boy."
The Wizard smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed. "He's beautiful."
Elphaba stiffened and the Wizard jumped up, seeing that he was making the green girl feel uncomfortable.
"Th-Thank you," Elphaba whispered, gently stroking the baby's cheek.
"Does he have a name?"
"Yes."
A long and awkward pause past between father and daughter. The Wizard sighed as he watched how gentle Elphaba was with her newborn child. Her voice lost its edge he was so used to hearing. She softened her gaze and smiling down at the child.
"I'll give you two some time to get to know each other," the Wizard said, smiling gently at Elphaba before turning and walking out of the room.
"Your Ozness, Princess Elphaba has requested to see you," Raya said, knocking on the Wizard's door an hour later and timidly sticking her head inside.
The Wizard looked up from his paper work and nodded. "Thank you, Raya," he said as he stood up and walked up to Elphaba's bedroom.
"Come in," came a quiet voice after he knocked.
The Wizard slowly opened the door and looked at Elphaba, who was sitting up in the bed, her baby boy cradled in her arms, fast asleep.
"Hi," the Wizard said, awkwardly stepping into the room.
"Hi," Elphaba said, smiling slightly.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes," Elphaba nodded, motioning for the Wizard to step into the room.
The Wizard obeyed and approached the green girl. "What is it?"
"His name… his name is Liir," Elphaba smiled, looking down at the sleeping infant. "Liir Fiyero Tigulaar."
"That's a beautiful name."
"I'm glad you approve. Would you… like to hold him?"
The Wizard nodded and Elphaba gently placed Liir in the Wizard's arms. Liir fussed and slowly opened his eyes, but stopped when he saw the Wizard's face smiling down on him.
"He looks like you."
"Yeah… and Fiyero."
"I… I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Elphaba said, looking down as she twirled a section of her hair around her finger.
Liir whimpered and the Wizard handed him back to his mother. "It's okay, sweetie. Mama's right here," Elphaba cooed softly, gently rocking the baby in her arms.
"Elphaba," the Wizard started. "I know you will probably never fully trust me, but I want you to know that I will always be here for you and Liir."
Elphaba nodded wordlessly as she continued to rock Liir. The Wizard sensed it was time for him to leave and gently patted Elphaba's arm. "I'll see you later."
The Wizard was almost to the door when Elphaba's soft voice stopped him.
"Thank you… Father."
The Wizard turned around and smiled. "Your welcome, Elphaba." Giving Elphaba a short nod, he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Elphaba sighed as he looked down at Liir. "You look a lot like your daddy, you know."
Liir slowly opened his eyes and looked up at his mother. Elphaba chuckled. "I'll make sure to tell you lots of stories about him. He was a great man. He would have loved you very much. Would you like that?"
She got a yawn in reply.
"I would like that, too. You would have loved him. You will love him. And he'll always be with us you know. He's in here," she whispered, placing her hand over her heart. "And he'll be in here," she gently pointed at Liir's heart. "He'll always be with us."
Liir blinked and his eyes slowly fluttered closed.
"I love you so much, Liir." Elphaba gently kissed her son's forehead and smiled. A soft breeze slipped in through the opened window and the green girl's smile widened, feeling Fiyero's presence all around her. "I love you, too, Yero my hero."
That's the end, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this little three-shot! Thank you so much for reading!
