Sorry for the wait...

X(

-Essence

Chapter 4

Elphaba was beyond angry. She was furious.

Glinda stared at her nervously as the green woman fumed. "Elphie?"

Elphaba suddenly whirled around and stormed towards the dresser the two girls shared. She threw open the wooden doors and shoved through various articles of clothing.

"What are you doing?"

Elphaba ignored Glinda as she picked out her cloak, sending dust into the air from the months of disuse.

"Oh no-"

She then felt the familiar sharp pointy tip of her traveling hat. It was covered in a layer of dust as she drew it out of the closet depths, blowing on it. Without bothering to fix her hair, she placed it on her head, tipping it to the side as she always had done in the days when she was on the run from the Wizard. She shuddered at the memory.

"You're not going anywhere." Glinda gripped Elphaba's arm as she fixed the collar of her cloak.

"I need to get it back," Elphaba growled, looking around for her boots. She glanced over her shoulder towards their still untidy bed and spotted them underneath her side of the bed.

Glinda could only watch as her lover hurried across the room and reached under the bed to drag out those filthy boots. The blonde had insisted more than once that they needed a good wash, but Elphaba wouldn't have it, saying: "If they get dirty anyway, why wash them?"

Glinda would just roll her eyes, coming to the conclusion that not washing the boots saved water anyway.

"Where's my broom?" Elphaba asked as she tied the multiple laces on the boots.

Glinda's blue eyes narrowed. "You're not going anywhere," she repeated firmly.

Elphaba looked up at her, her brown eyes burning fiercely. She tied the last lace and got up from the edge of the bed. "Please understand, Glinda-"

"It's not me who needs understanding," Glinda said, "it's you. Can't you see you can't just waltz out there? You of all people should know that!"

"What are you talking about? I need the Grimmerie, Glinda!" Elphaba walked past the blonde, not even bothering to glance at her as she started down the stairs.

Glinda had no choice but to follow her, saying, "It's been months since anyone's seen us, Elphaba-"

"So?" She had found her broom leaning in the kitchen's far corner, tucked away from clear sight. She grabbed it, turned around and stopped just to see Glinda standing only a few inches away from her face.

"Oz thinks we're dead, Elphaba."

That caused Elphaba to hesitate. The blonde had a point. She then shook her head and reached a hand to caress Glinda's cheek, but the blonde drew away. Elphaba sighed heavily.

"It's about time they know the truth," Elphaba said heavily. She closed her eyes and tightened her grip on the magical wooden broom, who jerked in response. "The Wicked Witch of the West lives!"

"Are you insane?"

Elphaba gave her one of her characteristic smiles, the ones that drove her blonde love mad. "I guess I am."

"Elphaba Thropp!"

"I can't just let her get away with my book!"

Without letting Glinda have a chance to reply, Elphaba brushed past her and headed towards the kitchen door. She felt a tugging at her cloak as soon as she turned the handle. She reluctantly turned around, facing the blonde again.

Her eyes were starting to swim with tears. "Is the book really that important to you?"

Elphaba gave her a nod. "Yes, but your safety is more important to me, Glinda. Stay, please."

Glinda then clenched her fists and lifted her chin, staring right into Elphaba's strong gaze. "Then I will go with you."

"No."

Elphaba's quick and firm response made her flinch. The green woman slowly shook her head and put her hand on the handle again.

"It is too dangerous for you, Glinda, I told you-"

Glinda forced herself to roll her eyes. "Elphaba, stop treating me like I'm a defenseless child!"

Elphaba gritted her teeth. She should have known Glinda would be difficult. "I'm not treating you like a-"

"That's funny," Glinda said humorlessly. "It sure seems like it."

"Glinda, please!"

"Then let me go with you!"

"No!"

"Fine."

"Fine?" Elphaba didn't know it would be that easy.

"I'll just take myself." Glinda took out her wand from her skirt pocket, figuring its end with her dainty fingers.

Elphaba was beyond herself. "What? No! Absolutely not!"

"You can't stop me."

Elphaba wanted to hit something out of pure anger. She then gave up, heaving a huge sigh. "Fine, fine! Go! But I was just looking out for your safety, you know!"

"I know," Glinda told her, pocketing the wand back into her skirt pocket. "I love you."

Elphaba grumbled something and opened the door outside. The wind hit her head on and she had to grip her hat in order to stop it from flying away. What a horrible day to fly, she thought angrily. Just my luck.

Glinda walked beside her in order to avoid her billowing black cloak.

Once they were well away from their small house, Elphaba stopped, mounting her broom. It felt uncomfortable between her legs since the last time she flew. The broom jerked a few times, not helping any at all.

"Are you coming?" Elphaba yelled to Glinda over the roaring wind. She looked hesitant, as if she was having second thoughts. "You could always go back, you know!" Elphaba offered her, her heart rising in hopes that she might agree.

"No!" Glinda said as she hurried to Elphaba's side. So much for hope.

Elphaba felt the blonde's arms tighten around her waist as she mounted the boom behind her. She gave a little hop, feeling the familiar jerk of the broom as it rose off the ground. She felt Glinda's hold tighten as they started to climb higher and higher into the sky.

The wind rocked them back and forth as Elphaba tried to find a friendly stream of air to ride through.

"Do you even know where we're going?" Glinda asked her after a few minutes.

Elphaba glanced over her shoulder to look at the blonde. "Where else? The Emerald City."

***

"A blonde girlfriend?"

Bolynda blinked in surprise. "She's a l-"

"Yes." Frynda shuddered as she recalled the memory of the two girls kissing right in front of her.

"That's disgusting."

Zafryna shot Bolynda a look. "That's not important now. What's important is that we got the Grimmerie. Let's take it to her-"

Bolynda then shook her head, gesturing to Frynda. "She wants to go back to that place."

Frynda glared at her. "Mind your own business!"

"I can't help it if I can read your mind!"

Zafryna quickly stopped their bickering with a clear of her throat. She looked at Frynda, her emerald eyes piercing through her red-colored skin.

"Why do you want to go back there? You already look like you've been through a lot."

Frynda almost forgot about her obvious bruise on her bottom jaw where Elphaba had clipped her. "It was just a skirmish. Nothing really bad."

"It was her, wasn't it?" Bolynda asked her, her clear blue eyes examining the rest of her younger sister's body.

"Yes." Frynda shook her head. "I…I just want to stay there for a little longer. That world is so different from ours. I want to learn-"

"It's too dangerous." Zafryna said. "And besides, I only had enough magical strength to bring you there and back. The Traveling spell is an energy consuming-"

"So is Seeing," Bolynda added lightly.

Frynda looked at the eldest sister, a brow raised. "You tried to See me?"

Zafryna glared at her blue-skinned sister, who shrugged innocently. "I was worried for you-"

"But I told you not to!" Frynda groaned.

"You are not one to tell me what to do or not do!" Zafryna growled. She stroked the crystal ball she was carrying with her yellow hands lovingly, as if it was her baby.

Frynda then abruptly grabbed the Grimmerie from Bolynda's hands.

"You don't understand," she said angrily to the both of them as she headed towards the door of the grand living room. "I want to see what's beyond this dreadful castle. I want to learn what's out there!"

"You're suicidal." Bolynda crossed her arms. "She will never approve."

Frynda held the Grimmerie tighter to her body as she replied, "I at least have to try."

Zafryna shook her head. "Trust your sisters, Frynda. Don't even try it."

Frynda ignored her and pushed through the door, the Grimmerie tucked under one arm as she made her way to see the Great Witch.

***

The red-skinned woman looked at the ornate handle in front of her hesitantly. What if they are right? She thought in dread. What if she won't listen to me?

She then turned the handle quickly before she could change her mind.

"Who is it?" a strong, feminine voice came from within the room.

Frynda swallowed and answered,

"It is me, Frynda, your Highness."

"Do you have it?"

Frynda stepped inside the door and gently closed the door behind her. She then looked upon the woman in front of her. She was tall and graceful, with sweeping white hair and sharp, pale features. Her eyes were a clear gray as she looked upon the young witch. She was sitting at her ornate ruby-covered throne and her long white cloak draped over the seat and onto the floor.

Frynda bowed immediately at the sight of the magnificent woman.

"Enough with the formalities. I see you do have it. Bring it here to me."

Frynda hurriedly scurried down the red-colored carpet until she stood in front of the Great Witch. She quickly bent down on one knee and presented the Grimmerie to her.

The Great Witch smiled, her teeth a perfect row of pearly whites. She gently took the offered spell book, fingering its worn cover with delicate, alabaster white fingers.

"It's just like how I remembered it," she sighed.

Frynda kept her head bowed as the Great Witch looked at the book, hoping she would be pleased enough to listen to her request.

"A little worn through, but it's the very same one from my school days, even down to my doodles in the corners."

That's when Frynda realized the Great Witch was talking to her. She looked up at her, meeting those steely gray eyes.

"I want to send you three someday to the University I went to."

Frynda blinked. "University?"

"Yes," said the Great Witch. "Shiz University."

"I've never heard of it, your Highness."

"That's because you've been stuck in this castle for most of your life. Someday I want you three to go to the Land of Oz and study something else other than sorcery."

"Oz?"

"Where I lived before I discovered this place. And where you just traveled to in order to get this book."

"It seemed so different there."

The Great Witch laughed. "That's because it is!"

Frynda was confused. "Then why did you want the book, your Highness?"

"To make sure Oz still existed. To make the Wizard hasn't-"

"The Wizard?" Frynda seemed shocked. "What do you mean? There's a Wizard in the Land of Oz?"

"Not the type of Wizard you and I know. A Wonderful Wizard, or so he says."

Frynda wanted more than ever to go back to Oz. The red-skinned woman felt the hair on the back of her neck rise with the notion of this strange land.

"Enough about that. How did you get that awful bruise on your jaw?" The Great Witch seemed genuinely concerned.

Frynda once again forgot about the unsightly discoloration on her face. "I…I saw her. The green woman."

The Great Witch froze, her hands gripping the armrests of the throne. "Elphaba."

"Yes, that's her." Frynda wondered how the Great Witch knew the name, but then again, the elegant woman confused her about everything.

"She…she's alive?"

"Very much so," Frynda replied tiredly, touching the aching bruise with her hand.

"By the Named God."

Frynda looked up again at the Great Witch, who had stood up from the ruby throne. She was staring off into space, her gray eyes glazed over with some faraway memories.

"We have to get her."

The Great Witch's words surprised Frynda so much she barely noticed the woman brush past her and run towards the door, her white cloak billowing after her.

"Wait, your Highness!"

Frynda quickly stood up, picked up the Grimmerie that had been on top of the throne, and ran after the woman.

***

Elphaba found it hard to keep the broom from straying off course as they soared through the sky. She also found it hard to breathe as Glinda was crushing her lungs as she held on tight to the green woman's waist.

The blonde had her eyes squeezed shut as they brushed the tips of the clouds with the tips of their shoes. "Are we there yet?" she asked Elphaba.

Elphaba looked down at the faraway ground under them, seeing nothing but meadows and that tell-tale Yellow Brick Road that led towards the Emerald City itself. "Nope," she huffed. "Not yet."

"I think I'm getting sick," Glinda groaned.

Elphaba panicked and the broom jerked a bit. "D-don't throw up just yet!"

"I meant it figuratively," Glinda growled as she leaned her head against Elphaba's back. "I hate heights."

Elphaba smiled. "Then how can you stand to be in a bubble way up here in the sky?"

"That's different," the blonde replied matter-of-factly. "Stop talking to me. Concentrate on flying."

Elphaba shook her head at her shaky voice and stared ahead at the great expanse of blue sky before them.

After a few minutes, Glinda couldn't help herself but to talk again.

"I can't believe we're finally going to reveal ourselves to Oz."

Elphaba raised a brow. "You mean I am going to reveal myself to Oz."

"No, us."

"You're going to do no such thing."

Glinda became indignant. "And why not?"

"It'll be safer if it's just me. Now with this new Emperor as ruler, the people would have forgotten all about me."

"And what's so different about me?"

"You're Glinda the Good. People loved you. There's probably a statue of you somewhere in honor of your memory."

She felt Glinda give a little giggle. "Really?"

"I wouldn't doubt it." Elphaba then went straight to the point. "You'll be an attention grabber, Glinda. We don't need that right now."

"But-"

"Listen to me. I'll just be the girl in the cloak."

Glinda then gave her a poke between her ribs. "It's not like you can blend in, green girl in the cloak."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "I've done it before; I can do it again. Besides, the Emerald City's so green I can just camouflage myself in the walls."

Suddenly the broom jerked backwards. Both Elphaba and Glinda cried out as they were thrown backwards. Elphaba managed to keep both of her hands firmly on the handle, used to the broom's rash behavior, but she felt the more inexperienced Glinda's arms slip through her waist as she started to fall off the broom.

"Glinda!"

Elphaba's piercing cry ripped through her throat as her arms searched through the air, trying to grab Glinda's flailing arms. She managed to grab hold of one of the blonde's thin arms, but it was slippery with sweat. Elphaba tried hard not to cry out with pain as she let her other hand go from the broom's handle. Using her hips and legs as an anchor to the broom, she tried to heave Glinda back on the broom.

But suddenly the blonde's screaming ceased. Elphaba's heart nearly stopped but then realized Glinda just fainted out of shock. She slipped her arms under the blonde's armpits and heaved upwards, managing to place the unconscious girl in front of her, swinging her legs around in order to keep her from falling forwards.

Elphaba secured her arms around Glinda's thin waist as she grabbed the broom's handle with both of her green hands.

"I swear you're going to burn right after this," she growled at the broom under her. She could almost imagine it being smug behind those hard bristles.

She felt Glinda's body slowly lean forwards and Elphaba quickly jerked her chin into the blonde's shoulder, using her head as a brake for Glinda's momentum.

Just to add icing to the cake, her hat flew off her head as the broom surged forward into the clouds.

"Shit."

She decided to forget about it as she made the magical broom slowly descend to the ground, figuring Glinda needed a place to get over her fainting spell. Quickly she touched the earth-worn ground, sending dust into the air as her boots stomped unto the earth. She let the broom drop to the ground as she caught Glinda before she fell.

Grimacing, she managed to get her lanky arms under Glinda's back to carry her bride-style. That's when she got a chance to look at her surroundings. They were near the front porch of a small cottage-like house. Judging by her knowledge of architecture—even though Glinda was much better at it—she guessed it was Munchkin made.

She half walked, half limped towards the quaint house's front door, hoping someone was home. As she climbed the few steps towards the door, she felt Glinda stirring in her arms.

"Elphie?" she asked groggily.

"Shh," Elphaba told her as she stood in front of the door. She used her foot to gently kick at the door, as if she was knocking. She waited patiently, breathing a sigh of relief when she heard the sounds of stirring inside.

Glinda started to play with her hair, still in her half-groggy state. Elphaba rolled her eyes and watched as the door creaked open a bit. A blue eye poked out of the crack, examining the sorry pair.

"Who is it?" It was a woman.

Elphaba was about to answer when she heard something fall and break. The eye disappeared quickly and the door swayed open as whoever it was ran out of sight, yelling at the top of her lungs:

"It's her! It's her!"

Elphaba couldn't help but poke her head inside the door. She looked at the floor, noticing the shards of colored glass scattered all over. She guessed it was the remnants of a glass vase.

"What the-"

Elphaba looked up at the suddenly familiar voice. Her brown eyes opened wide with recognition and shock.

"Elphaba?

"Boq?"