(Year 0)

After five minutes of pacing and gathering confidence, Glinda slowly opened the door to the office of the Wizard's vizier. With a piece of parchment in hand, she marched into the room.

"Good morning, Madame Morrible," greeted the young lady.

"Ah! Good timing, Glinda dear. I was looking for you," the vizier replied. "The Annual Convention on Sorcery and Magic will commencify in three days. Preparifications must be in order."

"Y- You're coming, too, Madame?"

"Of course. That is why I need you to finish these for me." Morrible dropped a pile of papers onto Glinda's dainty hands. "One of the speakers will not be able to come, so they gave me a slot for a presentation. Ugh! The nerve of those neophyte conference staff! How dare them make me, the Grand Vizier, a replacement!"

"I've heard Doctor Daniel Penrose is also one of the plenary speakers, Madame," the young lady said, slightly diverting the conversation to lighten her senior's mood. "He rarely shows up in public festivations but I've attended his seminar. I've actually read some of his published works, too. He's very reputable."

The old sorceress snorted. "The leader of that little clan of magical craftsmen, huh?"

Excitement was evident in the young lady's eyes. "Yes, Madame! He's exactly the reason I'm attending…" She covered her mouth upon realizing what she just said. "Want to attend the…" she corrected.

"The convention is week-long," Morrible interrupted. "The Wizard needs these reports soon, but they will not write themselves, won't they?"

Glinda tried to hide her dismay from the turn of the conversation. "Of course."

"Oh. And this one, too," Morrible said as she added some more papers on the already tall pile, almost making Glinda flinch from its weight. "Place them here on my desk once you've finished them. The Wizard needs them by Tuesday. I still have a presentation to finish."

"There's not enough time, then. Tuesday is well within the dates of the conference. This must be finished by…"

"Oh, no dearie. I don't have to finish all of this because the Wizard and I are lucky enough to have you here."

"B- but…"

"Ugh. I haven't got much time. I'm taking a leave so I can prepare my piece." Morrible swiftly gathered some papers, her scarf and her bag and walked towards the door. "I shall see you after the conference, then."

Glinda sighed as she struggled to pick up the only piece of paper she had before she entered the room. It contained a letter, which supposed to save a seat for her in the sorcery conference.

"Oh um…" Morrible, her head popping into the door of her office, returned suddenly. Glinda almost jumped in surprise. "Just think of the people who would kill to have a chance of working with the Grand Vizier." She smiled conceitedly. "And the Wizard of Oz, of course."

Determined to catch the sorcery convention, Glinda the Good skipped a few meals and some hours of sleep to finish the reports. She may be the same perky blonde she had been known as in college, but she has also grown some sense of responsibility through the years. While she had dreams and goals of her own, she made sure kept up with Oz's expectations.

She barely made it to the first day of the convention. Luckily, she was just in time to be fashionably late for the fellowship dinner in the evening. Like the college student Galinda, she graced through the crowd, blending in while standing out at the same time.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us all welcome Lady Glinda, the Good!" announced the master of the evening ceremony. The audience clapped their hands as Glinda waved at them. "May we have a few words?"

Truth be told, Glinda was taken aback; she was standing in the midst of professors and sorcery professionals, after all. While Ozians consider her very magical – mainly because of her signature giant bubble – she did not really consider herself as a practicing sorcerer like Morrible or most of the people in the room. She tentatively looked around. Where is Madame Morrible, anyway?

Did that stop her? Of course not.

"Fellow sorcerers and masters of magic," Glinda started. "It has been a wonderful and prosperific year for us." She continued her speech by mentioning some notable discoveries, inventions and achievements made by sorcerers in the past year.

Some critics among the audience quickly observed how she had been remarkably updated in the field of sorcery despite her lack of practice. "Wow. She must have been reading a lot," they whispered among themselves.

"But now," Glinda continued. "Let us put aside our deadlines and busy schedules." The audience laughed. "And celebrate!"

Everyone followed suit as Glinda raised her glass.

Of course, Glinda had anticipated the sorcery convention mainly for the lectures and updates on the current research trends in the field. That night, however, being true to her word in her little impromptu speech, she thought about nothing but the party. She effortlessly mingled among the people, especially with the young sorcery students. Being able to talk at par with some professors, she surprised herself with some stock knowledge she didn't know she had.

"You've picked her well, dear," the Wizard told Morrible as he scanned through one of the reports Glinda wrote for the old sorcerer. "See how efficiently she works? It seems that she can finish our week's worth of work in a day. And they aren't badly written. Here, take a look."

Morrible pulled out a set from the stack of papers on the Wizard's desk. "Take a look at this one. I told her to list down the names according to…"

"Oh, be nice to her will you?" the Wizard interjected. "She has worked hard. Give her the credit. Besides, this was supposed to be your job, wasn't it?"

"Says the one who hardly does any real work," Morrible muttered.

The Wizard lifted his eyes from the paper he was reading. "What did you say?"

The old sorcerer huffed. "What I'm saying is hard work is nothing if you it doesn't give the right results. Try teaching that brat and see how slowly she feeds on people's patience."

Fiyero did not fail to notice the unusually thick makeup or powder under Glinda's eyes. What's it called? Concealer? He restrained himself from commenting about it and settled with a simple "You look tired."

Glinda stopped midway as she stuffed her things into her purse and looked at Fiyero incredulously. "Me? Tired? Of course not! I'm…" She yawned. "A firecracker!" Another yawn.

"We could cancel the dinner and set it on another date. You really look like you could use some sleep."

"B- but…" Yawn. "We haven't seen each other in ages!"

"We get to see each other everyday, Glin. We work in the same place."

"The same building. But you're always in official travels. And we never get to talk to each other. Fifi, don't you miss me?"

"Of course I do." He sighed. "You truly are a firecracker. You've managed to make it to the convention. Dream come true, huh?"

"Uh-huh!" Glinda stood up and smiled smugly.

"In exchange for your five days' worth of sleep?"

"I had to, Fifi! I didn't get the chance to present my paper after graduation like everybody who graduates from the Sorcery program does! I tried but…"

The lack of sleep was really taking its toll on the young lady. Noticing that tears are about to fall, Fiyero gathered her in his arms to comfort her.

"Shh. You did well. Who knows? Maybe you'll get another invitation next year."

Tears have fallen down her cheeks but she smiled upon hearing his soothing words. She wiped her tears away.

"Glin," Fiyero continued as he tried to give more soothing words. "I know we've been searching for her and we haven't gotten close. But we don't need another Elphaba, okay? Don't work yourself too much. It might destroy your health."

"Oh Elphie!" Fresh tears once again began their descent. Glinda buried her face onto his chest as she let herself cry at the thought of her lost best friend.

Fiyero wanted to punch himself. I really have talent in making girls cry, huh?