Part 10: The Uprising

Elphaba awoke to see two giant eyes surrounding by a furry face staring at her. When her eyes focused more she could see it was a Lion looking down at her.

"Thank the Unnamed God you're awake." The Lion said, as he began to finished wrapping the last of her wounds."

"I know you." Elphaba whispered, her body was still hurting heavily from where the bullets had hit her.

"Yes, and I know you." The Lion replied. "You saved me when I was just a cub those many years ago."

"Where am I?" Elphaba asked, as she rose to a sitting position.

"You're in my cave far away from human eyes. I took you here after you were shot and took care of your wounds." The Lion answered.

"Thanks for saving me...um..."

"Bert." The Lion finished for her.

"Thank you, Bert, I am grateful, but I need to get back and free Glinda and Iris."

"I know you are more than willing to face Simon again, but you'll going to need help. Even the great Wicked Witch of the West can't defeat the entire Gale Force army all alone."

"Says you." Elphaba answered with a grin. Bert chuckled at Elphaba's confidence. It still shocked him that he was once terrified of this green woman. "I must say you are the first animal I have seen around here."

"I'm afraid Simon is far more cruel to us animals than the Wizard ever was." Bert said, his voice sad. Elphaba was shocked by this news.

"What has he done?"

"Let's just say Simon is into the fur trade. I've never seen a human so obsessed with fur before. There's a rumor that his room is almost entirely decorated with fur."

"That's horrible." Elphaba replied.

"I have lost many friends to this uprising of the fur trade. To make matters worst more and more Ozians want clothing made of fur of their own. That means more and more Animals are captured for the slaughter. We Animals have learned to hide though. We are also planning an uprising of our own. As long as Simon stays in power he will promote this fur trade, but now that you are here you can help. Elphaba, the Animals will follow you. You are just the leader we have been looking for. I mean if you want to lead us, and if you're up to it."

Elphaba gave Bert a pat on the back and answered, "I'll do it."

...X...

"Have you found that Wicked Witch?" Simon asked Radcliff. His eyes were wide with a wild kind of look to them.

"We have found nothing yet, Sir, but we'll still looking." Radcliff answered.

"Well look harder! I will not have that Wicked Witch escape her punishment for the second time!" Simon shouted, as he turned away and began to pace in paranoid fashion. Radcliff could only give a bow before exiting the room, leaving Glinda and Simon alone.

"Don't think your lover has escaped my wrath." Simon spat. "I still have you and Iris and that means Elphaba will come back eventually...if she's still alive that is."

"Where is Iris?" Glinda asked, she was trying to keep Simon's way from the subject of Elphaba.

"She's in the guest room playing with some toys. It's best for her not to dwell on the situation." Simon then stopped pacing and faced the blonde Witch. "Only death awaits Elphaba here, so it she is smart she will stay away."

"I hope she does." Glinda whispered, but Simon caught it.

"Wait, you don't want Elphaba to come back?" Simon questioned in hope. Hope, that Glinda had fallen out of love with the green woman, loomed in his voice.

"I don't want Elphaba to die, so if she does come back she will. That's why I want her to stay away. I love her too much to see her die." Glinda answered, as her voice cracked slightly. "The farther away she is from here the safer she will be. The last thing I want to do is be the one to cause her pain."

"It amazes me that you feel such intense love for this Wicked woman." Simon said, as he walked over and sat next to Glinda.

"You don't know her the way I know her." Glinda replied simply.

Simon just rolled his eyes and snaked an arm around her shoulders before replying, "Forget about her. If my army doesn't find her that means she long gone. Or dead and I say good ridding."

"Stop speaking ill about her!" Glinda shouted, as she pushed Simon's arm off of her. "That's it! I can't stand it here. I'm going to get Iris and we are leaving." With that the Good Witch headed towards the door, but Simon leaped up, grabbed Glinda, and held her back harshly against him.

"I don't think so. You and Iris are staying here." Simon growled.

"You can't make me." Glinda spat back.

"Oh really?" Simon sneered. "Iris is a beautiful young girl it would be horrible if she was to get seriously hurt."

Glinda gasped when she got what was Simon was hinting to. "You wouldn't dare hurt Iris." She retorted.

"Don't underestimate me, Glinda, for desperate times calls for desperate measures." Simon replied, as he tightened his grip on the blonde.

"If you hurt Iris in anyway I'll..."

"You'll do what? You won't be able to prove anything! Just do what I say and Iris will be safe. Disobey me and there will be punishment that follows... not only for you but for your little girl as well." With that Simon pushed Glinda away from him. His eyes had a insane quality about them. Simon then muttered something and left without a second glace.

...X...

Glinda sat on her bed trying her best to hold back tears as she was holding the butterfly pin Elphaba had made her. Glinda found herself praying and over and over for Elphaba to be alive. She was just thankful Iris wasn't around to see Elphaba being shot. Just then her door opened the blonde witch was surprised to see Madam Morrible walk inside.

"Please don't snap at me." Morrible said, her voice gentle.

"I won't snap at you but I still don't trust you." Glinda replied, as she turned her head away slightly.

"Fair enough." Morrible answered, as she walked over and sat on the Good Witch's bed. "So...I heard you're engaged."

"I was just as surprised as everyone else in the crowd." Glinda whispered, as she felt a tear escape down her face. Her voice was cracking with every word she spoke. "Sweet Oz, I wish I knew if Elphaba was alright."

"Shh, my dear, don't cry." Morrible said, as she laid a boney hand on Glinda's shoulder. Madam Morrible was even more surprised when Glinda turned around and buried her head against her shoulder instead.

"I just don't know what to do. If I disobey Simon in anyway he'll hurt Iris." Glinda answered, through her tears.

"Calm yourself." Morrible replied, in a soothing manner. "You haven't run out of time just yet. Don't lose hope." As much as Glinda wanted to be scornful towards Madam Morrible she could sense a change about the old woman. She was clearly not the same crafty, sinister, old headmistress of Shiz. Just then the door slowly opened and Iris walked inside.

"Mommy are you okay?" Iris asked, as she walked over and to the blonde.

"Yes, I'm okay." Glinda answered, as she pulled away from Madam Morrible. Morrible then began to search through a bag she had brought with her. After a moment or two she found what she was looking for and held it out to the young girl. Glinda gasped when she saw it was the Grimmerie.

"Where did you get that?" Glinda asked.

"I have my ways." Morrible answered, as she turned her attention to the young girl. "Iris, I want you to try to read something in this book." Morrible said, as she placed the book on the girl's lap.

"I'm not too good at read though." Iris replied, as she started to flip through the pages before stopping at a random page.

"Just try." Morrible insisted, as she gave a nod.

"Okay, here goes." Iris said, as she took a deep breath and began to speak the words. "ITGO, SEEAY, PANS, ERUTCARF." Suddenly after she was done a vase that was on the table next to them cracked.

"Sweet Oz, Iris, you can read the Grimmerie!" Glinda exclaimed.

"Is that a good thing?" Iris asked.

"It's a wonderful thing." Glinda answered, as she hugged her daughter tightly.

"Indeed. Your Mama is the only other one that knows how to read the words that well." Morrible replied, as she patted Iris on that back. "With Iris reading the Grimmerie she can help keep at bay the Simon's troops if a battle goes happen."

"Wait, a moment, I don't want Iris in the middle of a battlefield." Glinda said.

"She doesn't have to be." Morrible corrected her. "She can stand on top of the hill and read it."

"Do you really think there will be a battle?" Glinda asked, her voice soft.

"Oh, I know so. This battle has been over due as it is." Morrible said, as her eyes shifted from side to side. "Simon must be stopped."

...X...

A few days passed before Elphaba felt like she was well enough to fight. The Animals were already in their groups waiting for the word to start towards Simon's forces.

"Here, take this." Bert said, as he handed the green woman a sword. "I know you are better at fighting with magic, but it doesn't hurt to carry one of these around."

"Thanks." Elphaba answered, as she tied the sword to her belt.

"You ready?" Bert asked, as he led her to the front of the massive Animal war group.

"Yeah, let's go." Elphaba replied, as Bert allowed her to get on his back. "Let's MOVE OUT!" Elphaba shouted, as they started off to the battle that would decide their future.