Somewhere
I Belong
Chapter 10
Rising
Elphaba stood before the mirrors, her dark chocolate eyes all but glared back at her reflection. Her stance was rigid and stiff, every muscle tensed and strained to the breaking point. Her fingers furled and unfurled with each silent tip toe of a step made by Atlas, striding regally behind her, his dark emerald eyes travel across her body.
Atlas crossed behind her, and for a moment, their eyes met.
Immediately Elphaba stiffened, her heart raced, blood pounded loud behind her ears, and for a moment, she found it hard to breathe.
Atlas stilled, and his heart raced the moment their eyes connected. A vibration rippled deep within his body. Closing his eyes, he shuddered.
Turning away, he shook the queer sensations away. Coughing into his hand, he shifted his gaze away as he resumed his icy stride.
Stiffening, Elphaba shifted her gaze back to the mirrors. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breathing became hard and raspy. For the first time ever in her life, she was becoming unnerved, and by this loathsome, disgustifying creature who dared call himself a man.
Atlas couldn't help but smirk, seeing the green witch stand so defiantly before him, become so flustered by his mere presence. Relishing his dominion over her nerves, he turns on the edge of his heels, and stepped willfully closer.
Instantly, Elphaba straightened, and her hands fisted tight against her side. Grinding her teeth, she forced her gaze to remain affixed to the mirrors, and not to the man, slowly approaching her; though truthfully, she wanted nothing more than to punch him square in his fat face.
Atlas stepped lightly towards her, the smug smile playing on his lips grew wider the closer he got.
Smiling, the raven haired witch closed her eyes.
Another step and slowly, one by one, her muscles relax with each thundering footstep echoing within her ear. She could sense him, for his presence washed over her body like silver rivulets of ice and snow. Shuddering, the hand at her side slowly curled and fisted tight.
Smirking, Atlas took another step, his dark emerald eyes never leaving the raven haired beauties face, and for a moment, his heart skipped a beat at the fragile tranquility washing over her delicate features and for a split second, he stilled; caught in the silken sweep of her hidden beauty.
A small smile graced Elphaba's lips, feeling Atlas still but a foot away.
Her fist rises, and spinning on the edge of her heels, takes aim at Atlas's smug face
A slap of skin and Elphaba stands rigid, her eyes widen at the sight of Atlas, standing tall and regal before her, a small smile pulling at the tip of his lips as his hand clenches around her fist.
"Clever" smirks Atlas, "You're fast…but not fast enough"
Growling, Elphaba violently tears her fist free before stumbling away, her dark chocolate eyes glare back at Atlas, chuckling away.
"You cheated!"
"How in Oz did I cheat?" laughs Atlas.
"You…you…I don't know but you cheated!" snarls Elphaba.
Atlas stood watching her, a wide smile painted on his lips, seeing the raven haired witch tremble with rage. He was enjoying ruffling her feathers.
"Are you not supposed to be training me?" asks Elphaba through a snarl.
Smirking, he turned and stepped to the other side of the room, leaving Elphaba even more flustered. If there was one thing she hated the most, it was being ignored.
Huffing, she folds her arms tight against her chest.
Snatching up a quiver and bow, he turns and stares at Elphaba.
"A simple quiver and bow" smiles Atlas. Rising said items up so Elphaba could see them, he gracefully threads the arrow into the bow, "One of many useful weapons We in the Resistance use to help protect ourselves when out on missions" he continues.
"I know what a quiver and bow is" snaps Elphaba
Pulling back on the bow, Atlas lets the arrow fly.
Elphaba screamed.
Closing her eyes, her arms rise, covering her face and her body tensed, awaiting the agonizing pain that was sure to follow by the piercing of the arrow into her flesh.
Lowering the bow, Atlas's free hand rises and with a wave of his fingers, stills the arrow.
Hesitantly, Elphaba lowers her arms, and blinking her eyes open, stares shocked seeing the tip of the arrow, press against her chest.
"You say you are brave…that you fight for the rights of the Animals who oppose the Wizard…yet there is great fear in you" continues Atlas. A wave of his hand and the arrow falls and clatters to the ground, "It is my job to eradicate that fear within you"
"How" slowly, Elphaba forced her body to relax, "How did you do that?"
"Control" smirks Atlas, "Control which you severely lack over your magickal gifts…and fear" he added as a side note
"I'm not afraid" growls Elphaba through clenched teeth.
"Yet you cringed when I let the arrow fly" smirks Atlas.
"I wasn't ready" shrieks Elphaba annoyed.
"It does not matter…whether you are ready or not…the enemy will not hesitate to shoot you where you stand…you must always be on guard…at the ready…no matter where you are or who you are with" turning, he grabs another arrow and threads it into the bow, "the ones who serve the Wizard are everywhere"
"Teach me then…or are you enjoying shooting arrows at my head?" quips Elphaba.
Smiling, Atlas pulls back on the shaft of the arrow, and taking aim, lets it fly.
Elphaba stiffens. Clenching her fists, she grinds her teeth as she forces her body to not move.
Atlas smiles, watching Elphaba stand tall as the arrow nears. A flick of his wrist and the arrow veers off into the other direction, and implants deep into the wall.
"Better"
"I'm a fast learner" smirked Elphaba.
"Really?" setting the quiver down, Atlas turns and steps towards Elphaba. His piercing emerald eyes never leave hers. Standing toe to toe with the raven haired witch, he leans closer, "Let's see how fast you really are"
Before Elphaba can retort, Atlas grabs her and flips her over his shoulders. Slamming to the ground, Elphaba winces.
Stepping up in front of her, he bends down, and smiles at her.
"Then let's begin"
When this began…
"Oh…I'm so looking forward to wiping that smile off your face" growls Elphaba in pain.
"You have a long way to go"
I had nothing to say…
The first rays of dawn break over the fading edge of the distant horizon, sweeping across the land, and casting away the last remnants of the night.
Elphaba lays half curled, fast asleep in bed, a small smile pulled at the edge of her lips. Her long raven hair fanned out across the pillow, cascading down the edges into a soft river of silk. One arm remained curled against her chest, the other, tucked protectively against her abdomen.
Creeping through the shadows, Atlas, tip toes his way into the room, and standing but a foot away, stills. His dark emerald eyes sweep over Elphaba's slender body, half hidden beneath the sheets.
A light moan escapes past the raven haired witches' soft lips, and Elphaba shifts in her sleep.
Atlas's heart skips a beat, and for a moment, he falters. Backing away, his eyes widen.
"Hmm…Fiyero" whispers Elphaba softly
Stilling, Atlas's eyes harden. Stepping closer, he bends low onto his hunches and leaning closer, waits. A pregnant pause, and he launches himself at Elphaba.
"WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD!" screams Atlas in Elphaba's face.
Startled, Elphaba jerks up from the pillows, and throwing herself back, tumbles off the other side of the bed in a heap of blankets and quilts.
"Good morning sleeping beauty…rest well?" chuckles Atlas.
Growling, Elphaba throws her arms up on the bed, and lifting herself up, glares back at Atlas. A few strands of her raven hair fall over her face, darkening her appearance.
"I suppose you think that's pretty funny?" snarls Elphaba.
"Priceless" turning, he snatches up her pillow and throwing it at her, turns and walks out of the room, "Get up…meet me in the Chamber of Mirrors in fifteen minutes"
Grunting, Elphaba takes the pillow into her hands, "Now!?"
"No in an hour from now…yes now!" huffs Atlas
"But" turning, she casts her eyes at the rising dawn, splitting across the horizon, "Morning light has just started"
"No time like the present" he says.
Growling, she throws the pillow at Atlas's retreating form.
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me…
Elphaba stands tall before the mirrors. Her eyes were closed, and her hands fell limp at her side. Light breezes swept past her, tussling a few lose strands of raven hair over her shoulder.
A flash of movement and Elphaba spins on her heels, just as Atlas races past her. Stumbling, he skids on his heels before turning to face Elphaba.
"Amazing" whistles Atlas.
"Told you I'm a quick learner" giggles Elphaba. Relaxing her stance, her eyes drift down to her nails, "You gotta be quicker than that to-" but her words are interrupted at the feel of hands grabbing her arm. A scream and Elphaba is thrown over Atlas's shoulder.
Landing with a thud a few feet away, she turns and winces.
Laughing, Atlas steps up behind her, and bending down, smiles smugly down at her, lying on the ground before him.
"What was that about being fast?"
I was confused…
"Okay…shooting a bow and arrow is easy" Turning, Atlas snatches up a quiver and arrow from off the table, and turning back around, steps up to Elphaba. Holding it out for her, he waits.
Grabbing the quiver and arrow, Elphaba quickly threads it just as Atlas steps up behind her.
Cupping the edge of her elbow, he gently brings it back, as his other hand reaches and wraps around her wrist.
"Pull back on the string…feel the tension between your fingers" he instructs.
Growling in irritation, Elphaba does as told, strumming the arrow back and forth on the string of the bow.
"Good…feel the tension tighten the more you pull back" Pulling back, her grip slips from the bow and flies back, smacking Atlas directly in the face with the back of her hand.
Stiffening, Elphaba's eyes widen and her mouth drops open in shock. Whirling around, the edge of her elbow hits his gut.
Doubling over in pain, Atlas's emerald green eyes narrow, and glares back at Elphaba, staring back at him with wide eyes.
"Oops" blushes Elphaba.
Rolling his eyes, Atlas straightens. His emerald eyes never leave Elphaba's as he reaches out and snatches the bow from her slender fingers.
"Did I not say to keep tension on the bow!?" he snarls before stringing the bow over his right shoulder.
"Yes…but you never said to not let go" shrugs Elphaba.
"Oz!" turning, Atlas throws his hands up in the air.
And I let it all out to find…
Atlas stands off to the side, his back pressed against the mirrors and his arms folded neatly across his chest. One foot rested flat against the silvery surface, the other, remained planted firmly on the ground.
Every now and again his eyes would shift, an annoyed snarl pulled at the tip of his lips, watching Elphaba grapple with one of the members of the Resistance.
Squaring off, the two stand toe to toe, each one's eyes glaring darkly into the other. A pregnant pause and Elphaba's eye shift towards Atlas.
"Keep your sights on your opponent…no one else" instructs Atlas from the corner of the room.
Growling, Elphaba's eyes narrow back at Atlas. Rising to her full height, she makes to step towards him when a flash of movement catches her attention. Turning, she gasps as her opponent grapples her and throws her behind his shoulder.
"Ozdamnit!" swore Elphaba through gritted teeth.
"How's the training going?" came a silvery sweet voice.
Atlas's eyes remained on Elphaba as she weakly rose back on her feet. Her dark, chocolate eyes glaring like daggers back at her opponent. Beads of sweat glistened across her forehead and matted in her long raven hair.
Sighing, Atlas closes his eyes and bows his head.
"She's not even close" he replied coldly.
"Give her time…" smiling, Aeryella rests a comforting hand on his broad shoulder, "these are techniques that her body is not yet used to"
"It doesn't matter" roughly he jerks away from Aeryella's touch, "If she's really the "One" then she should be getting these fighting skills right away"
Again, Elphaba is thrown to the ground and pinned.
"Face it Aeryella…she's not the One we've been waiting for" pushing off the wall, Atlas turns and walks out of the training room.
Turning, Aeryella's eyes follow Atlas out of the training room. Sighing, she shifts her sights back to Elphaba. A scream and she cringes, watching Elphaba being thrown to the ground again.
That I'm not the only person with these things in mind…
Midnight, alone and in pain, Elphaba limps back to the sanctuary of her room. A wince and she steps past one of only a few windows, peeking out into the outside world. The light of the silver moon pours over her body, revealing every bruise and cut made from her hellish ordeal.
Pushing her door open, she limps numbly towards her bed. Stilling, her dark chocolate eyes drift towards the window; half cracked open. A soft, summers breeze wafts past her, threading through her long raven hair.
She's not the one!
Shuddering, Elphaba collapses onto the bed. Her dark chocolate eyes stare listlessly out at the moonless night, drifting past the window.
Inside of me…
Atlas's cold, emerald eyes glare back at Elphaba's backside as he steps beside her. Candles rise around her, each with a wick as black as coal.
"Now…in order to tame your powers…you must first learn how to control them…these candles" gracefully his hand sweeps across the room, "are your tests"
"Candles?" turning, Elphaba quirks an elegant eyebrow back at Atlas.
"Light them with your magick" he says. Backing away, he snaps his fingers. A crackle of light, and one by one the candles burst to life.
"Wow" whispers Elphaba astonished.
"Now you" raising his hands up, he slowly lowers them, as he does, the small embers flicker, before snuffing out one by one.
"But I" protests Elphaba.
"You're supposed to be powerful…do it…I'm sure a witch with your talents can at least light one insignificant candle" cackles Atlas.
"You mocking me?" snarls Elphaba.
Shrugging his shoulders, Atlas takes another step back. An elegant swish of his hand, and he waits.
Huffing, Elphaba turns and glares at the candles laid out before her. For a moment, her darkened eyes follow the light trail of silver mist rising from the wick of coal.
Letting out a low breath, she closes her eyes and concentrates. Slowly, her fingers rise as tiny emerald sparks, flicker at the tip of her hands.
Atlas's heart races, watching the flickers grow brighter, and for a moment, hope, floods his withered veins. Perhaps, just maybe, he had been wrong.
Feeling the hard vibration of her powers wash over her body, Elphaba's head snaps up, and her eyes blink open, as she pushes her hands out to the sides.
A whoosh of air and everything stills.
Frowning, Elphaba glares at the flameless wicks.
"I really thought I felt something there" bowing her head, she sighs in frustration at her lack of skill
"You did" came Atlas's curt reply.
Stilling, Elphaba turns. Looking over her shoulder, her eyes widen at the sight of Atlas, standing a couple feet away, arms folded tight against his chest, a crossed expression on his charred face.
"What…what happened to you!" breaking into a laughing cackle, Elphaba turns completely around.
Half of Atlas's body was covered in soot, small tendrils of smoke rise from the edges of his scorched dress shirt.
"Gee…I wonder" coughing, a huge cloud of smoke escapes past his lips.
"You look so funny!" cackles Elphaba.
"Oz! Your utterly useless!" roars Atlas in frustration.
But all that they can see…
Alone, Elphaba walks down the half lit hallways of the Underground, a piece of toast clenched pinched tight between her teeth as her hands quickly plait her hair into a tight braid.
"She's useless!" roared Atlas's voice.
The words revealed…
Skidding to a halt, Elphaba stiffens. Slowly, she steps closer to where she had heard Atlas's voice. The door had been left cracked open, allowing a small splinter of light to break through the darkness of the Underground.
"Give her time Atlas…you've only been training her for a week! You can't expect her to pick all these skills up immediately!" screams back Aeryella.
"Face it Aeryella! She's not the "One"…she's useless…stupid…and incompetent!"
Is the only real thing…
"Atlas!" a crack and Elphaba winces at the sound of skin slapping hard against skin, "Don't you dare speak of Miss Elphaba in such a fashion! If the High Elders believe her to be the Savior…then it must be so"
"She's not the Savior Aeryella…that's what I'm trying to get through your thick skull! She has no skill! I mean for Ozsakes woman…she can't even light a simple candle!"
Closing her eyes, Elphaba pulls herself against the wall. Her dark chocolate eyes stare listlessly at the void of darkness, swirling just above her head. The words of her father and those of the Munchkin's echo loud within her mind.
That I've got left to feel!
Closing her eyes, she shuts the voices away. Clenching her eyes, she forces herself off the floor, and rising to her full height, turns and storms down the hallway, a revived purpose thunders within her heart.
Storming into the Hall of Mirrors, she stills, her dark chocolate eyes all but glare at the man, shadow boxing a few feet away.
"Teach me" replies Elphaba darkly
Startled the man turns and stumbles. He was tall and muscular, with long black hair and gentle blue eyes. His muscles rippled in the flicker of the firelight, catching and refracting the small glimmers of sweat, covering his bare chest.
Elphaba watched amused at the man as he struggled to regain his balance.
"Elphaba! What in Lurline's name do you think you are doing!?"
"Train me Rohan…teach me how to fight" returning to her hardened expression, Elphaba stands tall before the man.
"You are already assigned to Atlas" smiling, Rohan turns and snatching up a towel, waves Elphaba away.
"I refuse to train with that ape that sees fit to admonish me at every turn" growls Elphaba through clenched teeth.
"You do not approve of his training techniques?" laughs Rohan.
Elphaba's eyes narrow back at Rohan as he absently rubs the towel through his wet hair.
"If you could call it that" she snarls.
Rohan couldn't help but chuckle at Elphaba's seething rage towards her Master, for it was the same anger he had once felt when Atlas had trained him in to the fold.
Relaxing, he lowers his head and smiles.
"You think it's funny?" growls Elphaba in an irritated tone.
Nothing to lose!
"No it's just" sighing, he lifts his gaze back towards Elphaba, the same smug smile still remained plastered to his thin lips, "You remind me of how I was…when Atlas trained me"
"You?! That brute of a boar trained you!?"
"Atlas has single-handedly trained every member here into the Resistance…save for those who came before him" smiles Rohan.
"How in Oz was he charged with such a responsibility?" frowns Elphaba confused
"Cause he's the best" chuckles Rohan. Turning, he takes the towel and threads it around his neck, "Give him a chance and stop being such a pest"
Just stuck…
Elphaba and Atlas stand toe to toe, each one's hands grapple hard onto the other's shoulders. Sweat drips from Elphaba's forehead, tangling and meshing a few strands of raven hair to stick to her forehead. Her dark chocolate eyes glare icily back into shimmering emerald.
"You've gotten stronger" smirked Atlas.
"Glad you noticed" smiles Elphaba.
"Oh I've noticed…but your still off balance" he chuckles.
Inwardly he smiled watching Elphaba struggle to knock him off his feet. Though in truth, he too was finding this grappling match to be a bit of struggle. She had grown stronger yes, but he could see that she had not yet found her balance, and he knew he could easily win this match with just a flick of his wrist, but of course he was enjoying this way too much to have it end now.
"Am I?" cackles Elphaba.
"Yes" smirking, he leans in and kisses Elphaba on the lips. Thrown off, her stamina wavers slightly.
Feeling her stiffen, he turns and throws her over his shoulder. Spinning on his heels, he watched amused as Elphaba's body flies through the air. Course the smile fades, watching her crash into the mirror.
"Elphaba!" cries Atlas in horror. Running over to her crumpled form, he falls to his knees and his hands rise and shake, seeing the large shards of broken glass glisten on top of her body, and around her. Small splatters of blood stain the surface of each crystal fragment.
"MEDIC!" screams Atlas over his shoulder. Turning back he carefully lifts each bloodied shard off her body. His eyes scan over her, trying to locate the worse of her injuries.
Aeryella and the other Sprytes run into the room, followed by the Resistance prime Physician and a few stragglers who had heard the noise.
"Atlas! What in Lurline's name do you think you were doing!" cries Aeryella.
"We were sparring…I never meant to throw her into the mirror!" Tears bubble along the soft edges of his eyes beholding Elphaba's limp form, lying in a sea of glass and blood. Her long raven hair snaked and rippled around her; a few strands lay curled across the surface of broken glass and crimson, "I'm so sorry Elphaba" he whispered brokenly.
The Physician pushes his way through and falling to his knees, gently presses a withered hand on Atlas's shoulder.
Stiffening, he turns and glares at the man.
"Help her…please" he begs.
"It'll be alright son" gently he pushes him aside before setting his bag down to his side. A deep frown spreads across his face, seeing the glass surround her. Closing his eyes, he mutters a quick enchantment.
In a flash, the glass disappears.
Sighing, he gently pulls back the fabric of Elphaba's clothes and cringes, seeing the numerous cuts spread across her back, and bleeding profusely.
"She's been cut up pretty bad" sighs the Physician. Waving his hand over her back, the cuts slowly heal, leaving dainty little scars in its place, "Help me turn her please"
Nodding, Atlas glides his hands beneath her, and gently turns her onto her back.
"Looks like the majority of the damage happened to her back" smiling, he clasps a hand over Atlas's shoulder, "She'll be alright now son…she'll just need to rest"
"Are you sure?" asks Atlas.
"Yes" smiles the Physician, "Just…no more throwing this young lady into mirrors…okay" he laughs.
Hollow and alone…
Elphaba awakens a few hours later in her room. The world spun and her head and body hurt. Groaning, she lifted her fingers to her forehead.
"Your awake" came a relieved voice.
Stiffening, Elphaba turns and her eyes widen, seeing Atlas sit before her, half hidden in the shadows, both his hands clenched into a fist at his sides. Only his emerald eyes pierced through the darkness as he stared back at her from the shadows.
"You…why are you here?" she asks confused.
"I wanted to make sure you were alright…do…you remember what happened?" he asks hesitantly
"We were sparring and…and you threw me into a mirror"
"I'm really sorry about that" he apologizes softly. Slowly, he leans closer, as he does the shadows fall away, revealing for the first time, the turmoil which played on his soft features.
For a moment, Elphaba found it hard to breathe. Stiffening, she shifts her gaze towards the candle, billowing softly in the darkness.
"It's alright…it's part of the training right" she whispers.
"The grappling part yes…being thrown into a mirror…no" he answers after a few minutes of silence.
"Atlas" sighing, she shifts her gaze back, "I…I'm sorry…for everything"
"Sorry…for what?" gasps Atlas surprised.
"For being such a pain…for not listening and giving you such a hard time while training me…I know you don't want to and in truth I don't blame you…if you want, I can go and speak to the High Elders on your behalf and request someone else to finish"
"Elphaba" sighs Atlas.
"I'm a pain in the butt Atlas and my stubbornness doesn't help any either…and I know this was not a mission you were looking forward to so it makes sense to release you from such a burden and find someone else more willing to complete the work that you have already started"
Sighing, Atlas rises on his feet and stepping closer, presses a soft finger against her lips, silencing her.
"Do you ever let anyone else talk?" he asks softly.
"No" smiles Elphaba.
"I can tell" chuckling he takes a seat beside her on the bed, "Elphaba…the High Elders requested me to train you for several reasons. One is I'm the best…the second is that it's my job to train all new recruits initiated into the fold"
"But you don't want to…and don't try to lie cause I can see it in your eyes Atlas…you don't want to be around me nor spend the time to train me" whispers Elphaba softly.
"It's not that I don't want to train you Elphaba…that's not the reason why I've been so hard on you" shaking his head, he shifts his gaze towards the shadows, dancing alone in the farthest corner of her room.
"Then what is it?" asks Elphaba softly.
Silence reigns, save for the soft beating of her heart. Weakly, Elphaba shifts slightly in the bed as she awaits his answers.
"I'm afraid"
"Of what?" asks Elphaba gently
"Of many things…of what you do to me…your mere presence alone does things to me…and it scares me" he answers softly.
"I'm…sorry…I know my green skin isn't something a lot of people find attractive" nodding, Elphaba lowers her gaze to the sheets. Nervously, she fists the sheets between her fingers. 'Will I ever find a place where I belong?'
"It's not your green skin Elphaba…that's not what makes me afraid of you" chuckles Atlas.
"It's not?" snapping her eyes back to Atlas, she stiffens. A part of her was afraid of his answer, and another part, was anxious to hear it, "Then what is it?"
"I…care about you Elphaba…greatly…and it scares me to feel this again…especially after…" he trails off.
"You lost someone you loved…didn't you?" it was more of a statement than a question. Slowly her hand rose and cupped his shoulder, "I'm sorry for your loss"
And the fault is my own…
Turning, Atlas smiles back at Elphaba.
"Thank you" Atlas's heart skipped a beat as he stared back at Elphaba. It took everything within him not to lean forward and capture her lips with his own.
And the fault is my own…
"Get some rest…we start training in a couple of days" rising from the bed, he slowly turns and steps towards the door.
"What about tomorrow?" frowns Elphaba.
Elphaba didn't know what was happening to her, the feelings, and the butterflies fluttering in her stomach had only happened once, and that was when…
"You've just been eviscerated by glass after being thrown into a mirror but a few hours ago…I think you've earned your rest" chuckles Atlas.
"No" lifting her gaze, she stares determined back at Atlas, "No my training begins at dawns early light"
"But…you've been hurt Elphaba…it's only right that you be given time to heal and rest"
"No time like the present…that's what you once said to me…my training cannot be put on hold just because of a few mere cuts and bruises…the Wizard and his hold over Oz grows stronger by the day…the Animals and those who oppose His rule are being oppressed…tortured and slaughtered with each setting of the sun…taking time off to heal is not an option…not when there's those who need our help"
I wanna heal, I wanna feel, what I thought was never real…
Proudly, Atlas turns and faces Elphaba, a wide smile pulls at the tips of his lips, beholding the emerald beauty sitting before him.
I wanna let go of the pain I've felt so long…
"Very well…I'll be here at the break of dawns early light to fetch you" nods Atlas.
Erase all the pain till it's gone…
"At daybreak" nods Elphaba
I wanna heal, I wanna feel, like I'm close to something real…
I wanna find something I've wanted all along!
At daybreak, Atlas returned, just as he had promised. Pushing open the door, he sighs, seeing Elphaba's limp form lay curled beneath the covers.
Rolling his eyes, he makes his way towards the bed. Wiggling his fingers, a pail of ice cold water appears in his hands. Tiptoeing closer, he lifts the bucket over his head, intent on spilling the contents on Elphaba.
"Wa…" starts Atlas, but movement catches him off guard as a dark figure swings around and kicks him in the gut.
Stunned, he stumbles back and losing his hold on the bucket, crumples to the ground. A gasp, and the ice cold water spills over his head, followed soon after by the bucket.
A thump and footsteps pad their way over to his side. The bucket lifts, and dark chocolate eyes stare back at him, amused.
"Good morning sleepy head!" laughs Elphaba.
Somewhere I belong!
Atlas holds Elphaba in a choke hold in the Chamber of mirrors.
"Now how you gonna get out of this?" smirks Atlas.
"Like this" grins Elphaba. Casting her eyes to the floor, her foot rises and stomps hard on top of Atlas's.
Gasping in pain, Atlas's hold on her loosens. Feeling his grip relax around her, Elphaba grabs onto his wrists, and spinning on her toes, throws him over his shoulder and onto the ground.
Holding onto his wrist, she twists it into a gruesome position as she steps around him. Triumphantly, she slams her foot on his stomach.
"I think this match goes to me" she smiles smugly
And I've got nothing to say
I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face
Elphaba stands before the thousands of candles surrounding her. Closing her eyes, she slowly lifts her fingers up towards her chest.
Atlas stands off to the side; some safe distance away, and watches her.
A huff of air and Elphaba's eyes snap open.
Atlas waits, his eyes scanning the room, watching to see if any of the candles had lit from her magick. After a few minutes he sighs and steps towards her.
"Let's take a break…you've been at this for a while now"
"No" smiles Elphaba.
"No…but…you've been trying to light these candles for a while now and you still haven't-" starts Atlas, but stops feeling Elphaba's hand grab onto the front of his shirt. A pull and he stumbles to her side.
"Look" smiles Elphaba as she points off to the side.
Following her finger his eyes widen seeing one of the candles a few feet away spark to life.
"You did it!"
I was confused…
The warm breeze threads through Elphaba's hair as she stands tall and regal in the pale sunlight. Atlas stands behind her, one hand tenderly threaded through her fingers, and holding the tip of the arrow, the other, holds the bow.
"Good…now feel the tension through your fingers…and let it spread through your arm…good…now take a deep breath…and pull back…and let it fly" he instructs softly in her ear.
A pregnant pause and Elphaba lets the arrow slip through her fingers.
Looking everywhere only to find…
Atlas steps closer, his eyes never leaving the arrow as it slices through the air. A twang and the arrow meet its mark a few yards away.
"Wow" turning he watches Elphaba stand a foot away, a smug smile playing on her lips.
I'm awake…I'm alive…now I know what I believe inside!
Atlas watches from the corner of the room at Elphaba, shadow boxing in the mirror. Her stance was stiff, every muscle flexed. Her dark eyes all but glared at her unseen opponent.
A smile, pulled at the edge of his lips, watching her, for she had gotten better, and he couldn't help but smile at her accomplishments.
Now it's my time! I'll do what I want, cause this is my life!
Alone in the Chamber of Mirrors, Elphaba spins as she swings the sword clutched tight in her hands in the air. For those watching, it looked like an elegant dance of grace and poise, but for those of the Resistance, it was ancient sword techniques, passed down from Master to student.
It had taken her several weeks just to hold the sword right, let alone to wield it correctly, and Atlas had almost all but given up.
Growling, she swings the sword to the side, as she flips in the air. Her long raven hair ripples in waves over her head, before cascading softly over her right shoulder.
Here, right here, right now, now
I'll stand my ground and never back down…
"Can you light all of them?" asks Atlas smirking
Turning, Elphaba snaps her fingers. Instantly, one by one, the candles spark to life.
"You were saying?" she asks smugly
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake
Spinning, Atlas hurls a dagger straight at Elphaba's backside.
Whipping around, Elphaba snatches the blade and spinning on her heels, hurls it back at Atlas.
Atlas stiffens, feeling the dagger race past him, slicing open his shirt and revealing his muscled chest.
"Nice try" smiles Elphaba
I'm awake I'm alive
Now I know what I believe inside
Now it's my time
I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life
here (right here), right now (right now)
I'll stand my ground and never back down
I know what I believe inside
I'm awake and I'm alive