A/N: Next chapter!! There's yet another song, a reprise of Thank Goodness with a few different lyrics.

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Chapter Seven: An Interrupted Welcome

Glinda sighed as she peered through a window in her public address parlor. All of the Emerald City citizens were out there, filling the streets and sidewalks, making a sea of constantly moving green. They were waiting for her to make a special speech on what a joy it was to have Madame Morrible back at the palace.

It's a joy all right, Glinda though sullenly, Having a murderer in our midst is sooo much fun. She glanced into the room behind her. Her officials were milling about the room impatiently, and Boq had his eyes glued to the door, with the occasional flick back to the clock on the wall. Madame Morrible was now almost twenty minutes late to her own welcome speech. Granted, it had given time for Glinda to think of something fake to say, but it had also given her unnecessary time to think. She was now almost certain she would be unable to stand in front of everyone and lie through her teeth, much less smile into the face of her best friend's little sister's murderer.

Glinda clenched her fists. She couldn't believe this was happening! Morrible should be in chains, not restored to her old place of influence. Well, if she was forced to accept the fact that Morrible was returning for good, then Glinda was going to make sure that her hold on the government didn't get tight. Hers or Boq's. She was still the Ruler, and it was her job to make sure the land of Oz prospered. Now that she was alone in the world, that job began now.

Just then, the doors were thrown open and the woman of the hour swept in as if she owned the place. Glinda studied her. She looked none the worse for her time in Southstairs – her dress was as elaborate as ever and her hair just as wild.

"Madame Morrible! It's so good to see you again!" Boq exclaimed, tearing his eyes away from the clock and rushing to greet her, his tin limbs creaking loudly.

Morrible half hugged, half shook hands with the man of tin, smiling eerily all the while. "Can it really be my former student, Boq the Munchkin? Now Personal Advisor to the Supreme Ruler of all Oz? I always knew you'd go far! It's all in talent." Then she released Boq and turned to Glinda.

"Is it Your Majesty? Or Your Goodness? Or Lady Glinda?" she inquired.

"You may call me Lady Glinda. And enjoy the little time you have here, Horrible Morrible, because soon you will be returned to prison, where you belong.

Madame Morrible's smile vanished, and she leaned close, narrowing her eyes and speaking so only Glinda and Boq could hear. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way, missy. Here are the facts: You have no evidence against me, except your own word. And I would advise you not to pretend you have the upper hand in this situation, because I know a secret involving you and the Witch that I'm sure you wouldn't want all of Oz to hear about. You've gotten what you wanted, so just remember to smile and wave and SHUT UP!" She stepped back and resumed her smile.

Glinda opened her mouth to say something in return, but she couldn't think of what to say with all her ministers watching, so she closed it.

"Glinda, Madame, I'm sorry to interrupt this touching reunion, but the people are waiting…" Boq said pointedly. Not giving Glinda a chance to respond, he stepped forward and opened the door to the balcony. Pasting a bright smile on her face, Glinda stepped into the sunlight, waving to the crowd as they erupted into applause.

"Good afternoon, dear friends and citizens of our fair land Oz. It's a beautiful morning, isn't it? No need to respond, that was rhetorical. Fellow Ozians, I bid you to look around. Our grand city was shrouded in darkness until recently. Now, the darkness has lifted. A great burden comes off our shoulders, and we can watch as our City brightens more with each day. This is certainly a new beginning, and I invite you to embrace it with a full heart. We have made it through the dark days – now it is time to rebuild our own lives, and as we do this, to rebuild the very framework of our government. I come before you today to welcome back one of the best Press Secretaries the Emerald City has ever seen. It is time to rejoice, for out of the gloom and despair of an unfair rejection comes to her rightful post the one and only Madame Morrible!"

As predicted, the crowd erupted again as Morrible made her grand entrance onto the balcony to stand beside Glinda. She waved as Glinda had moments before.

"Thank you, good people of the City. I would like to thank Her Supreme Ozness Lady Glinda for this opportunity to speak with you, and to tell you how I came to be trapped in the dark heart of Southstairs Prison itself." The crowd gasped, but Morrible took it in stride.

"I was, as all of you know, Press Secretary of Oz during the dark days. I remained faithfully by the Wizard's side, and felt that I shared his burden. Of course, it was very hard for both of us when the Wicked Witches surfaced and sent all of Oz into a great panic. It was a great victory to us when a house chanced to drop out of the sky and onto the Wicked Witch of the East. Eventually, the Wicked Witch of the West was melted. All should have been solved, all happiness returned. But the Wizard was unhappy with the way things had ended, with several Animals still running amok and a selfish wish to have taken part in the grand murder. Preposterous, of course. It was clear he was not himself, but when I tried to calm him, in a fit of rage he had me flung into prison. The same day, his balloon took flight, but I was still stuck in Southstairs until Royal Advisor Boq and Captain of the Guard Lion found me and arranged for my immediate release. Now I stand before you, willing to retake my former position and ready to help put the past behind us as we look to a bright future!" The Ozians broke into applause and whistles as Glinda took the fore once more. Knowing what the Ozians wanted, she began to sing:

GLINDA: Now you see, dear Ozians

How our country can change

How we can make things get fixed

That's the way it all goes

When disaster strikes

We bounce back, the better for our trials.

Citizen 1: Though it can be hard we know we'll be okay

Citizen 2: With our dear Glinda here leading the way!

Citizen 3: And we know that this is right, we hope she's here to stay!

Citizen 4: The good Madame Morrible returns today!

GLINDA: Oh, what a –

Her voice broke, and she fought back the tears and frustration threatening to overcome her. Taking a deep breath, she began again.

GLINDA: Oh what a celebration we'll have today!

OZIANS: Thank goodness!

GLINDA: Let's have a celebration the Glinda way!

OZIANS: Thank goodness!

MORRIBLE: We'll have a day that's totally carefree

OZIANS: We couldn't be happier! Thank goodness!

GLINDA: Yes, we couldn't be happier

Right here

Couldn't be happier

Look what we've got,

A fairy tale plot,

Our very own happy ending

Where we couldn't be happier,

Simply couldn't be happier

Well – not simply

'Cause getting your dreams,

It's strange but it seems

A little, well, complicated…

This part was the hardest because it was so true. The pain felt as it had been originally, when Elphaba had disappeared, was increased tenfold now that Elphaba and Fiyero were dead.

There's a kind of a sort of…cost

There's a couple of things get lost

There are bridges you cross you didn't know

You crossed until you've crossed

And since that joy,

That thrill

Didn't thrill like you thought it would

Still…

With this new beginning,

The cheers and the ballyhoo

Who wouldn't be happier?

So, I couldn't be happier

Because happy is what happens

When everything comes true

Well, isn't it?

Happy is what happens

When your dreams come true!

OZIANS: We love you Gli-

But they were interrupted by a yell from among them.

"Boo! Down with Horrible Morrible! Boo!"

There were gasps in the crowd, and a general ripple as those surrounding the speaker moved away from her. The voice was that of an old hag woman standing in the midst of the other citizens. Her hood hid her face, but she was stooped and grasped onto a knotted cane. Whispers began to well up, but died down again as the woman began again to yell.

"This woman is a murderer! She killed Nessarose Thropp, the Munchkinland Governor. Nessarose was not evil! Nor is Elphaba! She lies! They all lie! Murderer! Murderer! Boo!"

Glinda did not know what to do. Who was this woman who knew the blatant truth about the Witches? The face was too far away to be seen clearly, but Glinda almost felt as if she recognized the voice. A sudden urge to speak to this mysterious woman overwhelmed her. She glanced behind her at Boq. He was frowning down into the crowd as well, but seemed to be watching another area. Following his line of sight, she saw two of the Palace guards making their way boldly to the woman. Swiftly they grabbed her, and began to drag her away through the sea of whispering Ozians.

"Elphaba lives! It is in the air, shouted by the Birds! Elphaba lives!" The woman shouted out before she was silenced.

Glinda, horrified, ignored the frantic whisperings of the Ozians and swept abruptly back into the parlor. "I want to see that woman in my personal parlor at once." She ordered one of her ministers, who bowed and swiftly went out.

"Glinda, do you really think that is a good idea?" Boq asked, joints clanking as he followed her down the hall, "I mean-˝

"Yes, I think it is a very good idea!" Glinda snapped, not slowing her pace as a fresh wave of painful memory swept into her body. Elphaba lives!

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A/N: Review!