Three days later, and Jessie was still struggling to get back to anything resembling normal. She seemed to wear out quickly, and sleep more than she had in her life. Even with that, she worked with Glinda and the Gale Force soldiers that wanted to learn martial arts. She didn't expect Glinda to take it as seriously as she was, but was pleasantly surprised by her progress.
When it came to teaching, Jessie took Marcus's lead. He had taken her from knowing absolutely nothing to being able to take anyone down: first the basic movements, then the advanced movements, and finally the nerve holds and take downs. So far, that method had never failed, but Jessie couldn't use it this time. Glinda didn't have time for that. She had gotten the basics down well enough, and Jessie was anxious to teach her the nerve holds and take downs. Jessie met her in her room, as usual. Walking in, Jessie was carrying a training spear.
"What is that?" Glinda asked.
"A training spear. You're going to learn to take it away from me." Jessie said.
Glinda scoffed, "Jessie, you are far larger than I am. How am I supposed to do that?"
Jessie set the staff against the wall, before looking at her. "What did I tell you? Size doesn't matter. You can take that away from anyone. It's not about strength, it's about technique. If you can get them out of their center of gravity you can take it away, knock them down, and have enough time to get away."
"Jessie, that's impossible. Even if I could, Elphie would kill me for practicing on you." Glinda said, shaking her head.
"OK, don't practice on me." Jessie said, walking to the door, "Excuse me, can I get a hand from one of you?" Jessie asked the two guards posted outside of Glinda's room.
"Of course." The larger of the two said, coming inside. He immediately knelt before Glinda, who waved him up.
"Now is not the time for that, Mr. Dorin." Glinda told the muscular man, who rose, as Jessie closed the door.
"Mr. Dorin, are you familiar with spears?" Jessie asked.
"Yes, ma'am. It's one of the first weapons we learn, ma'am." He said.
She tossed him the staff, which he easily caught. "You're going to attack Lady Glinda with it." She explained, watching the man's eyes go wide.
"No, I...I can't. She's...She's Glinda." The man said, flustered.
"Dorin, I know you can't attack Lady Glinda. But with the poisonings around here, I'm trying to show her how to protect herself." Jessie said calmly.
"That's our job, Miss Jessie. To make sure that she never has to defend herself." He said. He'd heard the rumors himself, that someone had tried to poison someone in the palace.
"True, and you all do that job exceptionally well. But you can't be with her all the time. What if someone snuck into her bathroom, and attacked while she was in the tub. Or what if they attacked her in a dressing room while she was trying on clothes?" Jessie said.
"What lowly scoundrel would even conceive such things?" Dorin said, angry at the thought.
"What lowlife scoundrel would think to poison either Lady Elphaba or Lady Glinda? Someone did try, not all the people of Oz are as honorable as you are Dorin. I like Glinda myself, and I don't want to see her hurt. I'm asking for your help in making sure that doesn't happen." Jessie said.
"It's OK." Glinda said with a small smile.
"Very well." Dorin said, nervously. If he, even by accident, hurt Lady Glinda, he wasn't sure how he would deal with that.
"Thank you, Dorin. I need you to take this, and come at me in slow motion. I want to show Lady Glinda exactly how to do this." Jessie said, getting a nod.
He came at her in slow motion, and Jessie broke down each movement. Once Glinda understood the concept, she let Glinda walk her through the moves. Glinda was surprised, it wasn't as difficult as she would have thought. Jessie watched them practice with a critical eye, as the speed of Dorin's attacks picked up. She couldn't help but applaud wildly, as Glinda disarmed him at full speed. Glinda looked down at Dorin absolutely shocked.
"Mr. Dorin, did you let me do that? I expect an honest answer." Glinda said.
"No, Lady Glinda. I assure you, I did not let you do that." He said, equally flabbergasted. Glinda was barely half of his size. There was no way she should have been able to flip him and take that spear away. Yet, he was on his back, staring up at her.
"That's what I told you, Glinda. Size has nothing to do with it. It's all about leverage and balance." Jessie said, genuinely proud of how quickly Glinda was learning. Glinda extended her hand, offering it to Dorin to help him up.
"Lady Glinda, that was incredible." He said, shocked.
"Thank you! It was fun. Well, doing that to you wasn't fun...I mean...Oh, you know what I mean." She said, hugging the shocked guard.
"Miss Jessie, if it's not too late, may I join your class?" Dorin asked.
"Sure, always room for one more." Jessie said, grinning, as he headed for the door.
"Master Dorin?" Hearing Glinda, he froze in his tracks and turned around.
"Yes, Lady Glinda?" He asked.
"I know what you just did was very difficult. I want to thank you on behalf of Oz, and personally for myself, for your dedication and service. You went above and beyond the call of duty, and I appreciate your willingness to do so." Glinda said.
"Thank you, Lady Glinda." He said, snapping to attention. There was pride in his eyes and posture as he stood there.
"Resume your post, Master Dorin." She said, with a nod.
"That was very nice of you." Jessie said, getting a head shake.
"It was a small gesture that he will remember for the rest of his life. One act of kindness burned into his memory, will instill more loyalty than ten thousand threats." Glinda said. There was more to Glinda than anyone realized, and Jessie was learning all about that.
()
Fiyero was reviewing the interrogation of Antoin in his mind. Apparently he was just hired help, paid in cash to add it to Glinda's tea by a man in a black cloak. According to Antoin, he didn't know what the liquid was. The scary part was, Fiyero believed him. The man held no ill will and regarded Glinda with the upmost respect, as did most of Oz. He was devastated when he found out exactly what that liquid was. Fiyero could only shake his head in disbelief. He was known as being not very thoughtified most of the time, and he would agree with the assessment proudly. Even he wasn't dumb enough to just take an insanely large amount of money to add something to someone's drink, and not know exactly what that liquid did. He insisted that Antoin be held in the palace, at least until Glinda decided what to do with him. If they locked him in Southstairs general population, he would be dead inside of an hour.
"Hey, what are you up to?" Jessie asked, seeing Fiyero staring out of the window of the throne room.
"Just thinking." Fiyero said, distractedly.
"I try not to do that. Gives me a headache." Jessie said.
Fiyero chuckled, "You and me, both. However, some things are worth the headache."
"She's still going through with this tour?" Jessie asked.
"Oh, yeah. Nothing is going to stop her, despite everyone's objections." Fiyero said.
"She does have a point, though. With Oz on the verge of civil unrest, the tour is necessary." Jessie said.
"I know. It's her safety I'm worried about. Antoin didn't even know what was in that vial, according to him. Just took the money and did as he was told." Fiyero said, shaking his head in disgust.
"Hopefully with that failure, that'll be the end of it." Jessie said.
"Hopefully, but when it comes to Glinda's safety, hopefully isn't good enough." Fiyero said.
"So what's the plan?" Jessie asked.
()
When Morrible returned to her cell after the 'interrogation', the last thing she expected was to see Her.
"Well, don't you look positively dreadful. Incarceration does not suit you, Ester." She said.
"Perhaps you should remove me from it, then." Morrible said, hoping she would. After all, she had served her amicably for nearly fourty years.
"Now, if I did that, what kind of example would that set? Besides, you were obviously the weak link of our organization. An Earthling did this to you, even with all of your powers?" The disappointment and amusement in her voice was unmistakable.
"What was I to do?" Morrible asked, angrily.
"Prove yourself worthy of the emerald city ring would have been a very good start. I do not tolarate failure, Ester. You know this." She said.
"But...but..." Before Morrible could respond farther, she found herself pinned against the wall.
"I reclaim your powers." She said, before releasing Morrible with a shocked gasp, "Who has your powers?"
"The Wicked Witch of the West." Morrible answered.
"So that freak has even more power than before? Wonderful. If she figures out how to master your powers as she has her own, you've effectively endangered us all." She said angrily.
"It wasn't my fault." Morrible pleaded.
A red beam flew from her hand, connecting with Morrible, who howled in pain. Her body slowly turned into dust, her prison uniform was piled onto the pile of dust that used to be Morrible.
"Sorry, Ester, loose lips and the like." She said, cackling before she vanished.
()
Fiyero was trying to teach Jessie to dance, and laughing at her two left feet.
"What does this have to do with leading again?" Jessie asked, trying to keep up with Fiyero.
"You have to learn how to follow if you're going to learn to lead. Plus, it's fun." He said, laughing, as he changed steps again. Jessie tripped, landing in his arms.
"For who, exactly." Jessie said, obviously frustrated.
Fiyero patted her shoulder. "Let's take a break. You're trying too hard."
"Says you. You'll lead Glinda around that floor like you were born to. I don't want to look like an idiot with Elphaba." Jessie said.
"Elphaba wouldn't care if you didn't dance a single dance with her. Jessie, she loves you. That's unconditional, I know from experience." Fiyero said, a touch of sadness in his voice.
"You love her, too, don't you?" Jessie asked.
"I do, very much. But it's not the same love that you and her share. She told me so herself. Besides, I hate to admit it, she's right. I've loved Glinda since we were at Shiz. I imagine I always will." Fiyero said.
"So what made you go with Elphaba, and not marry Glinda when you had the chance?" Jessie asked, curiously.
"She told you about that?" Fiyero asked, Jessie nodded, "Elphaba needed help, and I love her. I couldn't just let the Wizard's men cart her off to who knows where and hurt her. Even now, if it were Elphaba they were trying to kill, I would give my life to prevent it. But I don't have the same passion I have for Glinda. Just as Elphaba doesn't have the passion for me she has for you." Fiyero said.
"I understand all about that." Jessie said, smiling.
"However, you do understand, I will be watching you. If you do anything to hurt her, you and I will have words." His threat brought a nod and a grin out of Jessie.
"As long as you understand it's the same for Glinda." She said.
"I see why Elphaba loves you. Come on, let's find our ladies before they start worrying." Fiyero said, offering her a hand up.
"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something. I was thinking about that ball..." Jessie said, leading him out.