Fiyero blinked. He looked to his right then looked to his left. He tried to stand. Stumbled. Fell. Stood again. Then spoke.

"What on Oz happened to me?"

Elphaba couldn't seem to find it in herself to reply, she was too busy kissing him and letting her tears fall onto his face.

Glinda didn't respond because she was preoccupied running after Morible, who had a made a break for her freedom, and yelling obscenities.

She probably wouldn't have been able to get very far anyway but Glinda, in her greatest magical feat to date, managed to whisk her up into a bubble and send her away to the land of sepia and gingham. She couldn't bring herself to bestow any warm welcomes on the happy couple, so instead she snuck them in a secret entrance and gathered her people together."

Glinda was standing at the podium where she had once announced her engagement to Fiyero. She had changed back into one of her glittering dresses and already felt much more at home.

"Fellow Ozians," she said "I have excellent news; I have found the true heir to the throne of Oz"

The crowd started to murmur, mainly in confusion rather than excitement.

"She is the daughter of our great and noble Wizard."

The murmurs became excited words exchanged between people.

"She is very smart and very magnanimous."

A few people started to applaud in anticipation.

"And she is also my best friend."

Then they really started to cheer and whistle and carry on.

"Please welcome Elphaba!"

The noise was almost deafening by this point but Elphaba did not step onto the stage.

She was cowering behind the curtains and she was absolutely positive that this was a terrible idea. What if they hated her? What if she made them scream? What if they threw things at her? But Fiyero gave her an encouraging nudge and said.

"Don't worry, it will be fine, I promise."

So she pushed aside the green curtains and they walked onto the stage hand in hand.

A terrible hush fell over the crowd. No one screamed, no one pointed or threw anything. But everyone ever so slowly backed away from the stage.

"Citizens of Oz," said Glinda, "you may not recognise the man at her side, but that is Fiyero, the prince, returned to us because of Elphaba's bravery. She saved his life don't you know."

And still the silence endured.

"Please, don't let yourselves be governed by fear, Elphaba is good and she always has been!" yelled Fiyero.

"Is it true Glinda?" yelled someone brave from the crowd.

"Tell us Glinda, tell us how she can be good!" yelled another.

"I will," said Glinda, "it all started at school…"

When she had finished her story there was no one person in the whole of Oz without tears in their eyes.

Later that day Elphaba was sitting beside Fiyero in the throne room looking over the constitution.

Glinda was busy tying up loose ends.

"Boq you have been demoted and will return to Munchkinland where we will be keeping a close eye on you."

"Yes miss Glinda."

"And you, oh courageous lion, I have appointed you as the new principal at Dear Old Shiz, try and keep an eye on Doctor Dillamond and the other animal professors will you? And let us know if they start making strange noises."

"Thank you Glinda."

Then she picked up her skirts and climbed the stairs to her old bedroom where the re-decorators were already hard at work restoring it to its former glory.

She sat on her day bed window seat and stared out at the blue skies wondering how life would be now that Oz had a fair and just ruler who wasn't only a pretty face.

Elpaha knocked on the door.

"Glinda," she said, "Do you think you could help me?"

"What is it?"

"There is an inauguration ball tonight for Fiyero and I and I don't know what to wear."

"I thought you would never ask."

The End.