Changes

Chapter 4

Lost

The next week, Elphaba and Rosalie left Kiamo Ko. They couldn't stay there any longer. It would be searched soon enough. They had to go back to the Badlands and Elphaba would come back to save Fiyero.

At this point, they were just going over the border from Oz into the Badlands. It was easy to get through the gates of Oz this time. All the guards were out searching for her. They walked silently into the forest, Elphaba praying that they wouldn't be searching here.

Without much effort, they made it out of the forest and into the field; Elphaba thanking Oz the guards weren't there. They walked at a slow pace to get to the Animal Village; they weren't in a hurry anymore.

When they got there, several Animals came to welcome them. Elphaba smiled, happy to be welcomed somewhere again and to have such great friends.

But what she saw next made her stand gaping in shock.

Glinda.

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Glinda searched in the Badlands for days on end for Elphaba. She had no luck finding her. Finally, she decided she would go back to the Animal Village and stay for a while. Someday, Elphaba might come back.

This was her fifth day living here. She was just waking up when she heard a commotion outside. She quickly got dressed and headed out to see what happened.

All the Animals were gathered around someone. That someone she saw made Glinda gasp in shock.

Elphaba.

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Glinda ran towards Elphaba yelling her nickname, "Elphie". When she finally reached Elphaba they hugged each other, jumping up and down.

"Sweet Oz Elphie! It's really you! I missed you so much! You left me all alone……" Glinda trailed off sadly.

Elphaba simply hugged her again and said "I'm sorry. I had to. If I ever wanted to live a normal life, I had to leave."

Glinda smiled "It's ok. I understand…..and who is this?" she said sweetly looking down at Rosalie. "She looks just like you only blonde."

Elphaba picked up Rosalie. "This is my and Fiyero's daughter Rosalie. She's 1." she said happily.

Glinda smiled at Rosalie. "So Fiyero's still alive too? And you're married? That's so wonderful!" she said happily.

Elphaba nodded smiling. "Come to my house and we can catch up with each other. I have so much to tell you and I'm sure you do too; especially since I found the Grimmerie at Kiamo Ko.*ahem*" she said glaring at Glinda.

"I know, I know I'm sorry. It's just……it reminded me too much of you and my life would be so full or grief. I have your hat though……it's more of a meaningful reminder." Glinda explained.

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An hour later, after Elphaba was done catching up with the Animals, they went to Elphaba's home. The sat in the main room chatting.

"So this is what happened," Elphaba began. "Fiyero and I went through the Time Clock Dragon and found ourselves here. We found this house to live in and soon got married. And, well, less than a year later, I had Rosalie. She turned one on October 15th. A week later, we were talking and he got mad at me because I was wishing I was normal….and we…..well…..got into a fight and he left with Rosalie. Two weeks past and I was completely lost without him and Rosalie. He found me in a cave near the Ozian border; I tried to sneak in because I needed to see you, but they discoverated me. We stayed in the cave for about an hour and they were outside. Rosalie and I left through the back, but he insisted he leave through the front, but he was captured……..I have to save him…."

Glinda put her hand on Elphaba's. "Everything will be ok. I promise. I'll help you set him free." She promised.

Elphaba smiled. "Thank you so much. Now, let's hear your story of why you're not in Oz anymore."

Glinda took a deep breath. "Ok, but you're not going to like it. So I got extremely tired of the Ozians celebrating the one year anniversary of you being dead, so I told your story. They all turned against me and forced me to leave….."

Elphaba smiled triumphantly. "I told you they'd turn against you. But no…."

Glinda hit her playfully. "Shut up and let me finish. So anyways, I wandered through the forest and found myself here. I spoke to a Cow and she said she'd heard you left. I searched all through the Badlands, but obviously I didn't find you. So I decided to come back to this lovely village and here we are now." she finished.

Elphaba nodded. She stood and walked over to the window and looked out. Glinda stood to follow her. 'She's really lost without him. She looks so distant….' She thought.

Glinda put a hand on Elphaba's shoulder. "You're really lost without him, aren't you?" she asked.

Elphaba nodded, a tear sliding down her cheek. "I can't live without him. I'll go insane. Besides……there's something wonderful I never got to tell him….." she trailed off.

"What? What the wonderful thing you never got to tell him? Whatever it is, you can tell me Elphie. I won't tell anyone. Not that there's anyone to tell….." Glinda told her.

Elphaba shook her head. "I'm sorry I can't. I want to tell him first. He deserves to know first."

Glinda nodded understandingly. "Ok. Now, let's work on a plan to get him back. We need to work fast, and then we can go save him."

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For the next two days, they worked on a plan to save Fiyero; only breaking to eat and sleep. On the third day, they were ready to set him free.

"Ok Glinda, I'm going to take Rosalie to stay with an Animal family that I trust and then we can be on our way. I'll meet you at the center of the village." Elphaba told Glinda.

Elphaba carried Rosalie to the Animal family's house. Before she left, she hugged Rosalie. "I'm going to miss you Rosalie. It won't be long though. I'll be back before you know it. Just….if anything happens to me…..I love you….so much." She told her.

Rosalie hugged her back. "I'll miss you too mama. I love you too and nothing can ever happen to you." Rosalie told her.

Elphaba smiled, almost at tears, and left the most precious thing in her life.

Glinda didn't have to wait long for Elphaba to get there. When she walked up, Elphaba was still wiping her tears away. "Ok….let's go." She said shakily.

And they made their way to save Fiyero fearing nothing.