Elphaba'sGirl: Thank you for not stopping your reviews!
I'mFlyingHighDefyingGravity: That's for me to know and for you to figure out.
The Wizard Of Wicked: Thank you for not wanting to kill me. And… I can't tell you.
Elphabalover101: I reference more than I think.
ExoticPeachBlossom: Hmm… yes, very interesting. I like that idea. I'll use it! BRING ON HURRICANE NIA!
NellytheActress: Alright, Miss Tough-judge-who-wants-to-be-a-queen-but-is-really-a-duchess.
Cliffy… because I can.
Fiyero laid motionless on the ground. "I'm dead. I'm dead, I died, I'm dead, I died," he kept muttering to himself. After a few minutes, once he realized that he wasn't dead, slowly pushed himself to his feet. Next to him, the guard he was fighting laid dead. Wow, he thought to himself. Did I do that? I must have. "Fae!" he shouted, desperately trying to locate his wife.
"Fiyero?" a soft whisper came from across the dark room.
Fiyero quickly got up and followed the sound of the soft voice. He found Elphaba curled up in a small corner of the room, shaking in fear. He hurried to her side and knelt down next to her.
"Yero?" Elphaba asked hopefully, slowly turning towards him.
"I'm here, Fae. I'm right here," Fiyero whispered, taking her hand and guiding it to his cheek.
Elphaba's fingers slowly traced over the contour of his face. She quickly threw her arms around her husband, hugging the life out of him. "Thank Oz your alive."
"I'm alright, Fae."
Elphaba buried her face in Fiyero's shoulder, believing that if she let go, she would never see him again. "W-We need to find Lanie," Elphaba whispered, her face still buried in Fiyero's shoulder.
Nodding, Fiyero helped Elphaba to her feet and guided her out of the prison.
Elisa and Lanie were still scanning through the rubble. Lanie was near tears, not being able to find her aunt and godmother.
"Lanie?" Elisa whispered, placing a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. Lanie turned around, tears filling her eyes.
"We'll find them. Don't worry," Elisa smiled.
Lanie nodded. "I hope so."
"Lanie!" a voice called.
As soon as Lanie turned around, a blur of pink and blonde engulfed her in a hug. "Thank Lurline your alive!"
Another person wrapped her arms around her. Turning, Lanie saw Galinda and Castie hugging her. Overcome with joy, she started sobbing. "You're alive."
"Are you alright?" Galinda asked, pulling away and looking at Lanie.
"I'm fine," Lanie whispered, refusing to go of the blonde. "Where are Mama and Papa?"
Castie's face turned solemn. "We don't know. We haven't heard from your father and your mother was captured."
"No," Lanie whispered.
Galinda quickly gathered Lanie into another hug, tenderly stroking her hair as her tears subsided. "It's okay. I'm sure they're fine." Though she tried, Galinda couldn't believe her own words.
"Lanie? I found this old book and it matches your description," Elisa said, walking up to Lanie with a large brown book in her hands.
"Who's this?" Galinda asked, looking at the new girl.
"E-Elisa," Elisa said, not knowing if she could trust these people or not.
"She's with me. She was helping me," Lanie defended her friend.
"Okay," Castie said, eyeing Elisa up and down.
"You found the book," Lanie smiled.
"Yeah… I just said that," Elisa said, giving her friend a smirk.
"Right," Lanie muttered, searching the book for the right spell. "Found it. Now all we have to do is…"
"Lanie!" a male voice called. Lanie turned around and gasped. "Papa?"
"Lanie!" Fiyero called. Smiling, he let go of Elphaba's arm and ran to his daughter.
"Papa," Lanie whispered, crying into her father's shoulder.
"It's okay, Lanie," Fiyero said soothingly.
Gently pulling away, Lanie looked behind her father and saw her mother standing alone. "Mama!" she exclaimed, running to her mother.
Elphaba looked up and smiled. She opened her arms as Lanie ran towards her. "Lanie!"
"I'm so sorry. I don't hate you," Lanie sobbed, wrapping her arms tightly around her mother and crying into her shoulder.
"I know, sweetie. I know," Elphaba whispered, kissing her forehead. She soothingly stroked the teenager's hair, trying to calm her. "I'm so glad you're alright."
Lanie slowly calmed down in her mother's arms. Elphaba smiled softly, kissing the top of Lanie's head. "It's okay."
"LOOK OUT!" Fiyero shouted, pushing Elphaba and Lanie to the ground as an explosion shook the ground. Elphaba quickly wrapped her arms around Lanie, trying to protect her from anything that might fall from the sky. Another explosion shook the ground, causing everyone to scream.
"Fiyero!" Elphaba called.
"I'm right here," Fiyero said. He crouched down next to her, wrapping his arms around her. "It's okay."
"What was that?" Lanie whispered.
Another explosion and more screaming. The explosions seemed to be growing louder and louder, meaning they were getting closer and closer.
Lanie quivered in her mother's arms. Gasping, she suddenly realized something. She didn't have the Grimmerie anymore.
"The book," she whispered, gently squirming out of her mother's arms.
"Lanie!" Elphaba shouted, pulling her daughter back. "Stay down!"
Obeying, Lanie shrank back down. Once the explosions stopped, Fiyero helped Elphaba and Lanie to their feet. Blinking her eyes, Lanie saw a familiar figure standing a few feet away from her.
"Arlis," she growled.
"Lanie, I…" Arlis began.
"What are you doing here?" Lanie snarled. A pause and her eyes widened, realization smacking her across the face. "It was you, wasn't it? You bombed my castle and attacked us just now!"
Arlis looked down at his feet. He didn't mean to hurt Lanie, but it was the only way he could make sure his family stayed safe. "I didn't mean to," he tried to defend himself.
"You didn't mean to attack us?" Lanie asked incredulously.
"Lanie, please, I…" Arlis stopped. Looking down, he saw a large, brown, leather bound book. Running over to it, he picked it up and looked at the cover. The Grimmerie. The generals' words rang in his mind.
Whatever you do, do not come back here without the Grimmerie. That's what we need. Fail at this task and everyone you love will die a horrible and painful death.
This is what they wanted. He had succeeded. Well… almost succeeded.
"Arlis!" Lanie snarled, thrashing out of her mother's arms.
"Lanie!" Elphaba called, reaching for her. Fiyero quickly pulled her back and wrapped her in a protective hug.
"Fae," Fiyero whispered.
"No, Yero! Let me go!" Elphaba shouted.
"I lost you once. I don't want to lose you again. Please," Fiyero begged her.
Slowly, but surely, Elphaba calmed down. Fiyero lovingly stroked her hair and smiled. Kissing her forehead, he whispered, "Thank you."
"You evil jerk!" Lanie yelled.
"This is the book of ancient spells," Arlis muttered to himself, completely ignoring Lanie as he admired the cover.
"Arlis!" Lanie shouted, her anger boiling over inside of her. Elisa appeared behind her, trying to keep her friend's temper at bay.
Arlis quickly muttered the first spell he saw. The sky darkened and the ocean roared, sounding as mighty as a royal lion.
Growling, Lanie created a fireball and hurled it at Arlis. Ducking, Arlis avoided the fireball. This went on for a while, Lanie throwing fireballs and Arlis avoiding them. Tired and about to give up, Lanie sank to her knees. Arlis grinned wickedly. This was his chance. And he was going to take it.
Muttering another spell, Lanie was lifted into the air. Arlis pointed his finger towards the precipice that fell into the rocks of the beach. Lanie looked up and realized what was happening.
"Arlis, put me down this instant!" she commanded.
"I don't think I can, Princess," Arlis sneered.
"Oh, I'll princess you, you little…" Elisa snarled, taking a defensive stance.
"You stay out of this," Arlis spat, glaring at Elisa. He turned his attention back to Lanie, who was still struggling against the magic holding her. Finally, gathering all the strength she had left, she broke the magic barrier. She fell to the ground, taking in deep breaths of fresh air. She looked up and saw Arlis approaching her. She looked behind her, noticing the long way down to the violent waves crashing along the rocks of the beach.
"Looks like this is goodbye," Arlis said, standing face to face with Lanie.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lanie saw that they were standing dangerously close to the precipice.
"Any last words?" Arlis asked.
"Yeah," Lanie smiled. "Bah-bye!" Raising her hands, she pushed Arlis off the cliff.
"I will not go down alone!" Thinking quickly, Arlis grabbed Lanie's wrist and pulled her down with him.
"LANIE!" Fiyero, Elphaba, Galinda, Castie and Elisa shouted.
A scream, a crash, and then... dead silence.
Huh, would you look at that… a cliff for a cliffy. I'm so funny! *Crackles* Review with you favorite lines, please? From this chapter or from the story so far.
I'm officially on spring break for the next week and a half! Yes!