Chapter 7

The Wizard Rising

"Elphaba!" Fiyero called into the castle as soon as he opened the door. "Elphaba, you need to hear this!" the green woman appeared at the top of the steps looking glad to see the man after four years but also concerned by the urgency in his voice.

"What's wrong?" a million ideas flew through her mind as to what could have been so wrong but one immediately gripped her with cold fear. Glinda had been out flying! Something must have happened! The Gale Force might have her!

"It's the Wizard and Morrible! They've increased the Animal bans," Elphaba froze at the news.

"Not here." Elphaba and Fiyero then moved to the den to talk.

After the talk with Fiyero, Elphaba went to tell Glinda of her plan to leave for a few days, Elphaba looked from the moon back to the blonde as she processed the plan Elphaba had just told her.

"Why are you even going to see them? You know what will happen if anyone sees you!"

Elphaba let out a frustrated growl as she ran her hands through her long black hair, Glinda couldn't seem to see past that road block.

"I just- I need to do something, okay! That's why I'm going! I can't just stand here anymore living under- with a constant reminder of how I messed up, and couldn't do anything." Her voice dropped for the last part as she looked to the grass, smiling inside herself as she saw Glinda's bare feet in the green blades. "I just- I just need a minute away, to go talk with Nessa and my father to try to work things out with the Animals. She should be willing to help."

"What are you saying Elphaba?" The blonde took a step back from the green witch disbelief and tears shining in her darkening eyes. "You- you want to leave me here, be-because of these- because I'm just a mistake to you that you couldn't fix!"

"No I didn't mean it like that!"

"Of course not! Because you're only trying to look out for everyone! You're only trying to do what's best and will go headlong into some bullshit plan no matter who it tears apart! How do you know she will even help you Elphaba! You tore her life apart when you left remember?!" Glinda shook with anger as she looked down taking a few deep breaths to try to calm herself, it didn't work and before she could start yelling again the short blonde turned on her heel and started running across the field.

"Glinda no!" Elphaba cried as she tried to run after her but Glinda had already taken to the sky her wings working almost effortlessly now to bring her small frame off the ground. "Glinda! Get back here!" The blonde kept flying off ignoring Elphaba's calls. "Ozdamnit!" The green witch cursed under her breath and then she held out her hand and summoned the broom from her room at Kiamo Ko. In no more than ten seconds she was cutting through the air in pursuit of her blonde winged friend.

"Just go! I don't care!" Glinda cried as she felt Elphaba come up next to her. "Go and do what you need to do, just forget about me!"

"Glinda it's not like that!" Glinda didn't reply as she turned around and headed back towards the castle.

Elphaba groaned again in frustration as she decided to just keep going to Munchkinland. With the Animal bans getting worse she knew she had to try to do something.

Glinda gently soared to her bedroom window and easily landed on the windowsill before she turned and slammed the window shut. She knew Elphaba hadn't followed her back, and as much as she tried to tell herself it didn't hurt, the fact still stung. The blonde made her way down to the kitchen and grabbed a box of salted crackers out of the cupboards.

~~OZ~~

"Nessa" Elphaba said softly as she slipped into an open window. The two week trip across Oz had only taken four days of flying during the nights to avoid being seen.

Nessa turned sharply at the use of her old nickname. Her eyes widened when she spotted Elphaba standing in front of her window.

"I should report you." Nessarose hissed as she looked back to the books she was working on. Munchkin trading routes and crop count needed organizing.

"I hate to say it but I need yours and father's help."

"He can't help you and I won't."

"What?"

"Father is dead, and why would I help a sister who never once did anything for me!" Elphaba took a step back in shock as her sister's words registered.

"Never did anything for you?!" Elphaba hissed as her anger started to flair. "Never I Never did anything for you huh?! Well then tell me what fifteen years of my Life taking care of your ass was? Tell me what putting up with shit from father all my life so you would have someone who cared there for you was for! What about that night, Nessa? Nanny was going to leave you there to be rid of you! Father wouldn't have known, what was is you said to me-"

"Stop." Nessarose flinched at the memory of that awful night.

"Why should I?" Elphaba was fuming now. "You want me to do something for you, Fine! I'll do yet another task for you!" before she fully realized what she was doing Elphaba fell to her knees and opened the Grimmerie to a page that seemed to call to her. She didn't even read the words over before she started to read them aloud.

"What are you doing?!" Nessa panicked as she felt her shoes start to heat up. "Oh! My shoes!" the brunette cried as Elphaba's chanting intensified. As Elphaba finished the spell Nessa was pulled from her wheeled chair and thrown to the floor as her shoes cooled off.

"Nessa."

"No! Don't help me." Nessa's voice was small as she shakily got to her feet.

"Nessa!" Elphaba was shocked to see her sister standing. Nessa made her way with clumsy steps over to her table.

"Boq!" she called in her happiness. "Boq, come quick!" Elphaba tried to run into a hiding place but Boq had opened the door before she could find one.

"AH! It's you!" He cried as he pulled out his dagger and held it up to the witch to ward off an attack. "Get away!"

"Boq it's just me! I'm not going to hurt you!"

"You're lying! That's all you ever do!" Boq cried. "You, your sister, and Glinda they're all as wicked as you are!" Elphaba paused at that.

"What are you talking about?!"

"I'm talking about my life ever since Glinda tricked me into dating your sister my life has slowly been stripped away from me!" He seemed frantic now as he kept pointing the dagger at the Thropp sister who moved. "She's taken all of the Munchkin's rights, and we didn't have too many to begin with! At least now I can gain favor with the Wizard by killing the Witch!" Elphaba moved from her spot quickly as he moved to sink the knife into her shoulder. Elphaba dodged his blow easily and hit him with a well aimed fist to his gut.

Boq recoiled into himself but then came out again and caught Elphaba's arm with the blade. Elphaba hissed as she grabbed her bleeding arm and then they heard someone chanting in a forgotten language.

"Nessa no!" Elphaba called as she moved to stop her sister but was cut off by a squeal of pain from the Munchkin boy. Boq screamed again then collapsed as Nessa's face went pale.

"I was just trying to stop him!" she cried. "Elphaba do something!" the brunette shoved the Grimmerie into her sister's hands. "Save him!"

"I'll try." Elphaba said as she moved to stand over Boq and started to chant a spell.

Two days later the green witch snuck through shadows behind the Wizard's machine head as she dodged a few of the Gale Force guards on patrol.

Suddenly a hand caught her around her head and covered her mouth as an arm pinned hers to her sides. Elphaba struggled until her captor rested their chin on her shoulder.

"What are you doing here?" it was Fiyero.

"Yero!." Elphaba hissed quietly as she removed herself from his arms. "You scared me half to death! And if you must know I came to free the Monkeys that the Wizard had me give wings."

"Ah alright. Then you'll go back to Kiamo Ko? It's not safe for you here in the heart of the Emerald City! And who's looking after Glinda?"

"Yes, I'll go home once I get the Monkeys and Glinda can look after herself."

"Good, that lever over there." Fiyero said pointing to a lever on the wall. Elphaba smiled and pulled the lever as Fiyero left joining the oncoming parole group and leading them away.

Elphaba freed the Monkeys telling them to stay quiet as she started to lead them away into the night towards Kiamo Ko.

~~OZ~~

Elphaba landed her broom on the rooftop of Kiamo Ko, the Monkeys landing behind her. It was late, possibly midnight as the moon hung high in the dark sky. Shaking off the lingering chill of the night she silently moved into through the castle halls towards her room.

Upon entering her room she immediately knew something was off. Turning on the lights she saw what was different. Glinda lay in Elphaba's bed sound asleep. The green witch smiled at the sight and moved into the bathroom to wash up and change into her nightclothes.

Glinda stirred as Elphaba was leaving the bathroom and sat up in the bed stretching her shoulders and rubbing her eyes. "Elphie?" sleep hung off her voice as Elphaba moved to sit on the bed next to her.

"Yes, it's me. I just got back."

"You've been gone for weeks, Ephaba! I thought the Wizard had gotten you! What happened?" green eyes were now almost fully awake as Glinda looked to Elphaba for answers.

"Boq saw me, Nessa tried to spell him but ended up killing him. I turned him to tin in an attempt to save him, then Fiyero and I freed the Monkeys from the Wizard's palace. They all chose to stay up in the attic and are getting comfortable." Elphaba pulled Glinda into her arms in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry I took so long, I didn't plan on being gone for more than a few days." the two moved to lay down on the bed still holding tight to each other.

"It's alright Elphie. I'm sorry I got so angry with you, I know it must be hard with me being the only other person around for so long."

"Don't be sorry for getting angry at me, you had every right." Elphaba rested her chin atop the blonde's curls as she smiled. "And I wouldn't trade having you around for all Oz. I love you my sweet." Glinda smiled as she shifted closer to Elphaba.

"Good because you're not getting rid of me anytime soon." The blonde yawned "And I love you too," Glinda whispered quietly as she fell asleep again only this time in the green witch's arms.

"Thank the Unnamed God for that." Elphaba whispered into golden curls before she kissed the top of Glinda's head and then drifted off to sleep.