Well this is the final chapter of this story. As I promised, this chapter will be longer than the other chapters. And also, there will be special guests at the ending.

Chapter 14: Seize the Moment

A month after her graduation, Elphaba spend time with her boyfriend, Jiminy, one last time together before he leaves Oz, by taking a stroll on the park. Their time at the park was really peaceful and never worried about the break-up. "Oz, I'm really gonna miss Munchkinland by the time I'm gone." Jiminy said.

"Yeah, I'm gonna miss this place too." Elphaba said.

Jiminy looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I'm going to the college outside of Munchkinland. You know. The one you always wanted to go."

Jiminy knows what Elphaba was talking about and started to laugh. "Oh, you're really lucky that you're going there."

"I know that saying that name of that college will bother you. That's why I didn't told you about it."

The two stopped walking and sat on the bench by the pond. "You know, out of all the people here in Oz, I will miss you most of all, Elphaba." Jiminy told her.

"Thanks for the compliment. Along with my friends and my family, you're my favorite person in Munchkinland."

"It's too bad that I have to leave early than what I expected. Seems my family really wants to get out of Oz as fast they can."

"Why can't you stay in Oz all by yourself?"

"Turns out I can't. My parents won't give me enough money for me to stay here and my relatives mostly don't live in Oz. I just hope my new home is like Oz."

"I wonder how other people outside of Munchkinland will be like?"

"Well, I hope your next boyfriend will be as smart as me." Jiminy remarked and the two laughed. "Seriously though, I won't get mad if you found another boyfriend after I'm gone. It's your life to control, Elphaba. I'm not the one who makes the decisions for you. And besides, with this face, many people will flock all over me."

"That might be the most ridiculous thing you have ever said." Elphaba remarked.

"Oh, and also, happy early birthday, Elphaba."

"Thank you. And good luck on life outside of Oz, Jiminy."

Elphaba leaned on Jiminy's shoulders as they watched people having fun in the park.

A few weeks later, Johnny, Layla and Chistery, one last time at the same arcade Elphaba and her sister would spend time with her uncle. "Why are we at the arcade again?" Layla asked.

"It's just a good way to spend our last minute of childhood in a place where young people play." Elphaba said.

"I think of it as a sweet yet cheesy thing to do." Chistery said.

The three went to the batting cage and Chistery went first. "So where are you going to college, Layla?" Elphaba asked.

"Gilken State University. Gilken history and a high population doctors and they have reasonable housing there too."

"And what about Chistery?"

"I heard that he's going to be a police officer like his father. He's going to attend the greatest police academy at Vinkus. They also have good treatment for Animals in that region as well. And you?"

"I'm going to Shiz University, considered to be the best school in all of Oz."

"That's a really good choice, Elphaba. I'm really jealous for you."

Chistery cheered when he hit a home run on the batting cage and gave Johnny the bat. "It's too bad that none of us are attending the same college together." Chistery said.

"I know, man. But it's better than attending the some college at Munchkinland. I don't think none of us will survive after we graduate college here."

"I hear you. Most of the people here won't accept us."

"I think we'll just scare them." Elphaba joked and they laughed.

"I remember you told me that you had step siblings from your mom's second marriage. What ever happened to them?"

"Heard that they're living with their biological mom a year ago and now attending college in Quadling Country."

"Wow. Quadling Country is a really nice place to live."

Johnny also hit a home run and high fived Layla as he gave the bat to her. "I heard that you are getting close to Layla." Elphaba said to Johnny.

"That's right. After four years being friends with her, I think I might ask her out. Luckily both of us are attending the same college in Gilken Country. She might be pushy, but that's what I like about her."

"Well good luck, buddy. It's also a good thing you didn't date her during high school."

"I hear you. I remember what you told about high school relationship doesn't last after your mutual break up with Jiminy."

"No problem, old friend. Both of us got aren't sad about it. My uncle and Jiminy both said that I might find someone new in college. And Jiminy might find someone as me as well."

Layla smiled when she got a home run and then gave the bat to Elphaba afterwards. As she was preparing herself in the batting cage, she remembered what her uncle told her about ten years ago. As the ball was fast approaching her, Elphaba concentrated and finally managed to hit a home run. Her friends cheered and high fived her.

Later that night, Elphaba had another chat on video phone with her uncle in her bedroom. "That's really great, Elphaba. You're going to Shiz and you manage to hit a home run on that old batting cage. Consider that your last ever childhood achievement."

"Thank you, Uncle Avaric."

"Hey, did you got my package I sent to you today?"

"Yes, but I haven't open it yet."

"Well open it up. I wanna see your reaction to your gift."

Elphaba opened her package and it was revealed to be an old camera. "Wow! It's like an early birthday present, Uncle Avaric."

"I knew you like it. Since photography is like a hobby to you, your old grandpa's camera is good present for college. Your grandpa would use that camera to create art and it's perfect for you."

"I promise to keep it safe with me."

"Listen, it's getting late, I have to go to bed now. Bye, Elphaba." Avaric waved.

"Bye, Uncle Avaric." Elphaba waved and turned her phone off.

A week before she heads off to college, Elphaba spend lunchtime with her sister and her mother to a fancy restaurant where they talk about selling their old stuff. "Okay guys, I'm breaking this in four categories." Melena said, "1. Anything you keep from childhood. 2. Throwing away. 3. Donating. And 4. Whatever we're selling at the garage sale. But whatever we don't sale, we're donating."

"Doesn't the apartment have an attic or something?" Elphaba said.

"No, you're missing the point. We're not gonna take a bunch of crap to mom's tiny apartment."

"Can't believe we're moving again." Nessarose remarked.

"No I'm moving. You moved out almost two years ago. You have an apartment on Augustus and Elphaba's going to Shiz next week. I'm done raising you now. I could get some of my psychology writing done and get it published."

"But what about Lurlinemas? What are we going to do?" Elphaba asked.

"I'm not sharing a room with her again." Nessarose said.

"Yeah, I don't want her to hit me with a pillow again." Elphaba continued.

"I'm gonna let one of you take the couch and sleep there." Melena said.

"But what about laundry?" Nessarose asked.

"Nessarose, I'm gently pushing you out of the nest. If you're worried about laundry, the laundromat is in the corner of the apartment. Now what are you having?" Melena asked both of her daughter over what they're eating.

"Veggie burger." Elphaba said.

"Nothing. I feel sick." Nessarose mumbled.

"What do you mean?" their mother asked.

"I really got hungover from that party last night."

"She's drunk." Elphaba joked.

Nessarose laughed. "No, I'm not. I'm just really tired. That's all."

"No, no. That doesn't mean you're getting out of helping me move." Melena said, "You could just help me pack some of them in boxes."

Nessarose smiled at her mother. "Oh, mom. You always know ways to kill fun." she joked.

"Oh, and do any of you want one of my pair of slippers? The silver and the ruby one?" Melena asked.

"No thanks, mom. I'm fine wearing regular shoes." Nessarose said.

"I don't want them too, mom." Elphaba said.

Melena sighed. "Okay. I'll just donate them anyway."

The three stopped talking for few a few seconds just to look at the menu. "You know, you should have gone to Shiz with me." Elphaba said, "I mean you're a lot smarter than me, and Shiz would be a breeze for you."

"I know, but I'm going to stay here in Munchkinland. After college I'm going to be a social worker. Help those who are disabled and maybe try to start a charity organization."

"I'm really proud of you honey." Melena said.

They were interrupted again when an Animal, who's the manager of the restaurant, came to their table. "Erm, excuse me. Are you Melena Evans? she asked.

"Yes, this is her." Melena replied.

'Well you may not remembered me, but I used to go to school with you, remember?"

Melena took a closer look at the manager and she recognized her. "Oh my Oz! Is that you Sheila?!"

"Yes, it is."

"How are you? I haven't seen you since high school."

"Well ever since I graduated high school, I was having a hard time fending for myself. I thought it was too late for college, but when I heard from a friend of mine told me that you went back to college and became a teacher, it inspired me to go to college. You're really an inspiration, Melena."

"Why thank you, Sheila."

"Well, it's kind of like giving back after helping you through high school." Sheila said and turned to Melena's daughters. "You two should listen to your mother. She's a smart lady."

"We will." Nessarose said.

"Well I better be going. And don't worry about lunch. It's on me." Shelia said and left their table.

On the day she's leaving for college, Elphaba spend her first half of the day by helping her mother move to a new apartment. Elphaba was the only one helping her mother unpacking while Nessarose left early for Augustus so she could start her second year of college after they pack their mother's stuff. Melena only brought clothes and a few furnitures and memorabilia since her new apartment is really smaller than any of the previous houses she and her daughters lived before.

"I mean, it's kind of crazy when a machine knows who you are by just 20 questions from a form." Elphaba said while she helped move her mother's boxes. "I guess there's eight types of people in the world. Apparently, we're not as unique as we want to think we are?"

"Did you met your roommate in person yet?" Melena asked.

"Not yet. But a representative from Shiz gave their students contact info on our roommates. Apparently, they're the only college in Oz to do that since they want us to know each other. But my roommate seems like a really cool person, though. She told she's really social all the time. She thinks it's kind of spooky how a machine assigns us roommates."

"Well, she'll be a good roommate then."

"Yeah. At least it's not some kind creepy fish lady assigning us a roommate."

"I don't even know how to imagine that." Melena laughed.

While double checking her stuff for college, Elphaba was surprised when she saw a little kids book in there. "Did you put this, mom?" she asked and Melena nodded. "But don't want it."

"Oh come on. It's the first book I read to you when you were little. You could read them to your child."

"Well, I think it's a good reason to leave it behind. To remind you that you're a good mother." When Elphaba looked around to put the book somewhere, Melena started to cry. "Mom, what is it?"

"Nothing."

"Mom..."

"This... This the worst day of my life."

Elphaba looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I knew this day was going to happen. I didn't know you were so fucking happy to be leaving."

"It not that I'm happy. I'm still going to miss you."

Melena took a deep breath. "You know what I'm realizing? My life is going fast. Getting married. Having kids. Protected you from people bullying you on your green skin. Getting divorced. The time I taught you how to ride a bike. Moving places. Getting remarried and divorced twice. Getting my master's degree. Sending Nessarose off to college. Sending you off to college. You know what's next? It's my fucking funeral! I... I just thought there would be more." Melena covered her face as she wiped the tears away. "So go. Go and leave the book!"

"I... don't understand, mom." Elphaba hesitated.

Melena sniffled. "What... I'm trying to say is that I will miss you and Nessarose and I just wish that I could relive it all over again."

Feeling bad for what her mother said, Elphaba hugged her mother. "Don't worry mom, I will be there for you always." Elphaba said while she tried to hold back her tears.

Melena started to feel a little better and kissed her daughter in the head one last time. "Go and make me proud." she told her daughter.

After helping her mother, Elphaba's off to Shiz University. While refueling her car at a gasoline in a town that is connected to the four regions of Oz, Elphaba took the time to take some pictures of the locals there. The town she was in is in a state of decaying, but the people are diverse and are happy to live in that town.

After refueling the car and taking some pictures, Elphaba finally reached Shiz at 3 o'clock. While traveling to her dorm, Elphaba was amazed by how the place was huge and how the students there are different from the people in Munchkinland. When she made to her dorm and started to unpack her stuff, a girl with blonde hair entered the room and was surprised to see her.

"Oh, you must my roommate." the girl said.

"Yeah. And you must be mine?" Elphaba said.

"Yeah. I'm Galinda Upland from Gilken Country by the way, but everyone calls me Glinda." she said.

Elphaba shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, Glinda. I'm Elphaba Thropp from Munchkinland."

"Hi, Elphaba. Can I call you Elphie?"

"Sure. Why not." she happily replied. "Oh, are you going to the Shiz party today?"

"Going to the party today. Hell, no! I'm not going to that and you're not going to that as well. We got better stuff to do."

Suddenly, a boy knocked on the door and entered. "Hey, Glin, are you ready?"

"Yeah, I'm ready. Oh, hey Boq, this is my new roommate, Elphie."

Elphaba and Boq shook their hands. "Hey there." Elphaba said.

"Hi." Boq said.

"So do you two know each other since both of you are from Munchkinland?" Glinda asked and the two shook their heads. "No? Oh that's too bad."

"So, are you coming with us?" Boq asked Elphaba.

"To where exactly?" Elphaba said.

"Hiking." Boq said.

"Yeah, you should come as well." Glinda said, "We're hiking at Ruby Canyon right now. Have you ever been there before?"

"Not since I was a little child with my uncle."

"Then it's one of the good reason to come along." Boq said.

They were interrupted when another boy knocked on the door. "Oh, Elphie. This is Boq's roommate, Fiyero Tiggular from Vinkus. Fiyero, Elphaba." Glinda introduced them to each other.

Fiyero waved. "Hey, what's up?"

"Hi." Elphaba said.

"You look beautiful with green skin."

Elphaba blushed. "Wow. Thank you."

"So Elphie, are you coming along?" Glinda asked.

Elphaba nodded "Sure. I could come along"

Boq took a bag of food out of his backpack and gave some pieces to Elphaba. "Here. They're trail mixes. It's good for the trip."

Elphaba ate some and found it really good. "Alright, let's hike!" Glinda exclaimed and started to hike.

While hiking in Ruby Canyon, Elphaba had a conversation with Fiyero. "Do they allow you to major that in Shiz?" Elphaba asked.

"Well, it's not that serious here, but I got a backup. I'm majoring in Jazz music and be a legendary Jazz drummer. But if that doesn't work out, I'll be a dancer."

"Did you have training for Jazz drumming?"

"I did, but my old Jazz instructor was, how you say, a 'little' mean. He once threw a chair at me."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Just one, but I find my family, including me, to be weird."

Elphaba looked confused. "How weird?"

"Well, my brother might have the weirdest experience out of all my family. He was working as a lobby boy in that grand hotel place but I heard that he and the concierge he's working with stole a painting that the concierge got from a will after he was framed for murdering her."

"What happened to them?"

"After that, my brother helped him cleared from all charges and succeeded him as concierge after the concierge now owns the hotel."

Elphaba laughed. "That... is weird. My family is a little bit normal. My mom's a college professor at Munchkinland and my sister is nice but could be hard to get along."

When they reached to the end of the mountain area, Glinda and Boq whooped loudly while Elphaba and Fiyero watched them. "Glinda can be really crazy sometimes." Fiyero said.

"She seems cool though." Elphaba said.

"Yeah. They're both really cool. Both Boq and Glinda are friendly to other Ozians. Including the Animals. So how are you feeling actually?"

"Oh great. Really great, to be honest."

"Citizens of Oz! I have an announcement from Glinda the Good." Glinda joked while shouting at the scenery. "From this day forth, I will help you to become popular, but not as me!" Glinda shouted and Boq cheered and Elphaba and Fiyero laughed.

"You know how everyone's always saying 'Seize the Moment'?" Fiyero asked and Elphaba nodded. "I don't know. I'm kinda thinking it's the other way around. You know, like, the moment seizes us."

"Yeah, I know. It's constant. The moments, it's just like always the moment is right now." the two of them laughed and traded smiles at each other.

Well, that's the end of the story. I want to say thank you to all those who followed and reviewed this story. Leave your thoughts on the review section.