Of Courage
Lost Beneath the
Mirrors Edge
AN: Sorry this chapter is shorter, but I wanted to save some fun stuff for the next one. Okay, so I hope you like this new chapter, and a new chapter will be coming real quick! Thanks for all the reviews, I loved reading every single one of them. And, I just want to say, I apologize for any misspellings or strange grammar in this chapter. Was in a bit of a rush, work time! Major Shoutout to L8lyzytwner! Thank you so much for your review! You are such a sweet person! RavenCurls, thank you, your review made me laugh, and thanks for being the first one! ComingAndGoingByBubble, thank you so much for reviewing, and thanks for catching the Oz reference! That was totally by accident. Lol. To my lovely reviewers, you all kick butt! Thanks again. Wells, I hope you all like this chapter and don't forget to review! Reviews are love!
The hostile sun gently rose above the cresting horizon, casting the darkness away from the horizon, and splaying the sky in a crimson stain; blood had been spilt that night, its secrets hidden beneath the rays of the silver moon, sparkles of yellow and orange glimmer across the sky, casting golden diamonds to flicker across the ebony sea.
A dark figure gracefully glides across the sea of gold, and crimson, the bristles of the broom dancing across the sky. Her long raven hair billowed behind her like a sea of silk. Her dark, ebony eyes scanned the horizon, and narrowing at the sight of darkness, shadows, spreading across the land.
A rapid snarl slips past her lips, steering the broom towards the land, her eyes narrow, as the shadows submerse out of the darkness. Her eyes widen at the sight of Animals of all species, striding with rage in their eyes, hate ablaze within the sparkling orbs, as they approach the invisible line between the Animal Resistance, and the Wicked Witch's army of Darkness.
Lithe like a fairy, the emerald witch's toes touch the ground still stained in blood from previous battles. Patches of grass have been ripped away, shredded beneath the feet of those whose lives have been lost to the shadows.
Her delicate feet dance along the edge of the ground, before gracefully tucking the broom beneath her cape. Her eyes narrow as she glares at the imposing figure of the Leader to the whole Animal regime; Brr, the self-named King of the Jungle. She takes a couple steps forward, before stilling along the edge of the cliff. A hard wind blows past her, sending her raven tendrils, and the tails of her cape to billow around her.
Slowly, a slender hand rises up to her chest, and slowly curl into a loose fist, the other, rests placidly by her side.
"Brr" growls Elphaba, her voice dark, and acidic.
Brr the great Lion stands tall beneath the rays of the golden sun, splints of crimson flicker across its golden surface making the rich brown of his mane to shine. A wave of fur flutters beneath the gentle breeze, and his golden eyes glare acidic, back at the evil witch.
He was massive as he was strong. His body was massive, with rippling muscles and a towering built. His teeth were like razors, and his claws were stronger than steel; strong enough to slice through a sword, or suit of armor.
He had a courageous heart, and he was very protective of his Animal brethren. So when news spread of the emerald witch eviscerating many of his people, Brr, called forth the Animals of Oz to amass a great army to not only head strong into a battle against the Wicked Witch, but the Wizard himself.
So today, as the sun rose over the horizon, the Animals of Oz, stood against the Witch of the West, determination thrummed within their hearts. For they would either die as hero's or martyrs. Either way, they were sure to go down in Oz's history as the first sacrifices, to ignite the flames of a revolution.
Clutched tight within his massive paws, Brr struck his sword deep into the Earth, and a thundering roar ripped through his throat, before he turned towards his Animal army.
"Kill the witch!" roars Brr.
Elphaba and her army watch, a smirk on her lips as a thundering roar boomed across the sky, making the ground shake beneath her feet.
"Leave now Brr…before the skins of your people hang from my windows as curtains" snarls Elphaba.
"You do not scare us witch! Your blood will stain the land. Your meat shall be feasted upon by my people for months to come, and your bones shall be made in jewelry for our Kings!" roars Brr.
"Don't be foolish Lion. Don't allow your blind stubbornness and stupidity to be cause to the downfall of your species" threatens Elphaba.
"Your bones shall be bleached by the sun!" roars Brr.
Elphaba stood tall as a thundering roar of Animals converged over the cresting tops of the hills. With a massive roar by the great Lion, the army of Animals charged down the hill, weapons and teeth barred, ready to slice through the Witch, tear her to pieces, and drink her blood and feast on her meat.
Princess Langwidere slowly appeared next to her Mistress in a plume of lavender interlaced in cherry blossoms. Her long raven hair is twisted and braided in an elegant design. Her shimmering emerald eyes glisten with fear.
Unconsciously, she reaches out, and tangles her delicate fingers around Elphaba's arm. Her eyes wide with child-like innocence stares back into Elphaba's dark ebony eyes as she presses her body against hers.
"Mistress?" whispers Langwidere.
"Don't worry Langwidere" coos Elphaba gently. Softly, her fingers rise and tangle within Langwidere's soft locks. "They can't harm us"
Gently, almost lovingly, Elphaba presses a tender kiss to Langwidere's forehead. Emerald fingers once tangled within her raven locks, gently cup the back of the witch's head, the other, and cup her cheek. Unconsciously, Langwidere rests her head against Elphaba's chest.
It was but a tender moment, lost in time, drifting within the ages of time, and scattered along the edge of the crisp breeze of war. A moment of peace, to which the Witch herself had not had, since…
The Animal Legion grew nearer, making the timid witch tense, and her arms to tighten around the emerald witch's slim waist. Her eyes brimmed with tears, tangling within her long, black lashes. A few fly away strands of raven hair billowed around her.
Brr raised his massive sword in the air as he charged towards her; his eyes gleamed in rage, glittering with blood lust, and his fangs glistening in the midmorning sun.
She knew that gleam, she had seen it before. Mainly with those who wished to rip her throat out, tear her heart from her body, hold it up in the air, and have her watch it, as her life slipped away. That alone, brought a wicked smile, to slide across the Witch's face.
Straightening her stance, her arm wrapped tight around Langwidere's waist, as she watched as the Lion was but a few feet away.
A roar, before Brr swings his sword towards Elphaba's neck, intent on slashing her throat and drinking her blood.
Fiyero's breath caught in his throat, his body stiffens, and every muscle in his body tenses, twists and knots. Sweat percolates across his forehead, and his heart thumps madly within his chest, threatening to burst through his ribcage. Unconsciously, his hand tightens around Galinda's shoulder, making the petite blonde wince in pain.
"FiFi?" whispers Galinda.
"Die bitch!" roars Brr.
The sunlight glistens off the blade, temporarily blinding the Prince and the Witch of the Light. The sounds around him fade, leaving everything numb, as silence reigns.
His blood runs cold, his heart twists and his mind races. Did the great Lion succeed in what he himself could not, would not do?
A part of him hoped for this to be the One, the one strong enough to shatter the Darkness, to relieve his Fae of her suffering, and return her soul once more, into the Light.
The sound of blades of steel striking each other, echoing a thundering roar to ring throughout the battlefield, reverberated and shattered the air. Everyone stilled, watching, unable to move, for all eyes were on the two towering figures, facing each other, both intent on taking the other's life.
And for one infinitesimal moment, Fiyero could not find the strength, the will within him, to move a single limb, for all he could do was stare, as his heart throbbed with agony within his chest.
For a split second before the blade of emerald sliced through the air towards the Witch's neck, a flash of light flickered and pulsed. Fading, Fiyero and the others stared in awe at the massive sword made of ebony crystal clenched tight within Elphaba's. The hilts edges were razor sharp, sparkling in the fading sun. A large crystal cut in the shape of two crescent moons surround ebony pearl; lavender decorations in a delicate design splay across the pearl. The blade itself was long and thick, with delicate designs carved deep into the blade, making it look threatening.
A smirk pulled at Elphaba's lips, feeling the power of the blade pulse beneath her fingertips. Her dark, ebony eyes stared maniacally back at Brr, standing toe to toe with the Witch, his lips curled, and eyes narrowed. His paws tighten around the hilt of his blade as he grunts in frustration. Sweat drips from his brow as he struggles to gain advantage over the Witch.
Langwidere and Fiyero watch stunned, for the moment the Lion's strike came thundering down, Elphaba with lightning speed, had raised her blade of Darkness, parrying his attack.
For Galinda and the others on the battlefield, the movement had been done within a blink of an eye, yet for Langwidere and Fiyero; with seasoned sight, was able to see the movements perfectly.
Now the two stood watching, each of their body's tense, fear spiraling within as the two great figure heads fought for control over the other.
"Fiyero" whispers Galinda.
Unconsciously, Fiyero wraps a gentle arm around the blonde, and gently presses her against his chest. His other hand clutches tight to his emerald sword, still stained in the vile blood from the Witch's minions.
"You were supposed to be our Savior…the one who stood with the Animals not against us! Killing our kind, mutilating our skins, our flesh for your own sick sadistic purposes!" growls Brr, as he struggles to gain the advantage against the Witch.
"The Vessels promise…not Ours" sneers Elphaba.
"Why have you sided with the Wizard? Why have you betrayed us!" roars Brr.
Elphaba watches amused as Brr's patience begins to wear thin, his strength, wanes beneath her power. She knew, that is would only be but a mere slip, and the Lion's head would be hers. And this war of the Animals would be over.
Growling in frustration, Brr uses what's left of his strength to push Elphaba's blade off of his own, throwing her off balance. Glee sparkles in his golden eyes as he watches as the Witch stumbles back.
Using that to his advantage, Brr takes his massive sword and swings it back till the blades edge rests against his heaving side. And, with a massive roar, swipes the blade out toward the Witch, intent on slicing through her abdomen.
Catching his actions, Elphaba thrusts her blade upwards, blocking his attack, and pushing his blade away from her body, making him stumble back.
Stumbling, Brr catches his balance. His golden eyes glare back at the Witch; blood lust sparkling within the honey pools of his once majestic orbs as silence surrounds the two once allies of Oz.
Swinging his blade once more, Brr very precisely sheaths his sword. His legs part, one massive paw remains curled; a finger tips length away from the handle, the other hand remains unfurled out in the air.
Elphaba's stance remains tense, her eyes never leaving Brr's. One hand holds loosely around the handle of her ebony blade as it rests lax by her side.
A growl, before the great Lion once again charges towards Elphaba. "Die!" roars Brr.
Again, Elphaba once again blocks the Lion's attack. Smiling Elphaba swings her blade towards Brr, and hitting her target, manages to slice through his arm.
Roaring in pain, Brr jumps away from the Witch. Dropping his sword, his massive paw clutches onto the wound, stifling the blood pouring from the large gash.
Maniacal laughter fills the air, chilling Galinda and Fiyero's hearts.
Galinda's dark cerulean eyes survey the battlefield. So many bodies of Animals and humans lay strewn on the ground stained in crimson gore. Their bodies twisted in metal, pieces of flesh missing, limbs torn off, some of the bodies no longer had a head.
"So much death…so much destruction…and for what?" whispers Galinda. Her eyes fill with tears as she curls herself against Fiyero's chest.
"The unfortunate remains of war" whispers Fiyero, half to himself, half to the White Witch.
"Pain!" laughs Elphaba.
Screams of pain shatter the air, making Galinda's heart clench within her chest. The tears in her eyes spill down her face, smearing her make up as she watches the great Lion thrash and writhe in agonizing pain on the ground.
"Suffer Lion…feel the pain of Chaos!" laughs Elphaba.
With a wave of her hand, a dark light ripples across Brr's body, making him thrash and writhe harder against the ground. His screams were like a symphony of music to the dark witch's ears.
"Enough!" roars Elphaba.
Her hand slashes down towards her side, and instantly, the dark light encompassing the Lion's body fades. Slowly, Brr's rigid body goes slack; his pants slow and even out as his thundering heartbeat once again returns to normal.
Slowly, gracefully, Elphaba steps towards the Lion, glee sparkles within her eyes. The war between the Animals and the Wicked Witch was long over, before it even began, victory was hers, and she was ready to claim her prize.
Brr's eyes flicker to the side watching, waiting at the towering figure of the emerald witch, standing but an inch away from his fallen body.
"You've lost Lion" starts Elphaba, glee laced deep within her voice.
For a split second, Brr's eyes snap to the other side, and glare at his sword, lying now a good two feet away. There was no way he would be able to grab it and block whatever attempt the Witch would make, at ending his life. It was over, now, all he could do was lay her, and accept his punishment, his Death.
"It was over, now, all he could do was lay her, and accept his punishment, his Death.
"Kill me Witch. Add my name to the long list of Animals, people whose blood stain your hands" snarls Brr.
"What's this nonsense you speak of?" laughs Elphaba.
"You killed my people! Murdered them, skinned them alive, and tortured them until they begged you to end their lives!" roars Brr
"Perhaps you have misplaced yourself…none of the Animals blood stain my hands" sneers Elphaba.
"Liar! I've many who have seen you slash the throats of Lions and cubs…tore the limbs from helpless Animals, Boars and Pigs!"
"Liar…Liar!" roars Elphaba.
In a flash, Elphaba tears an ebony blade out of thin air. Lunging towards the Lion, she holds the blade against his chest. Slowly, she lowers her head down till she was nose to nose with the Lion's.
"Perhaps you should seek out other sources, before jumping to conclusions" sneers Elphaba, a glint of insanity sparks within her ebony orbs.
"It doesn't matter!" Thunders Brr. Rearing his head back, Brr spits in the Witch's face. "Your wickedness has poisoned this land…killed any who've your twisted fingers have touched! You're wicked…evil through and through!" Roars Brr.
"This coming from one who has never been broken inside and out" replies Elphaba, her voice soft, barely above a whisper, a bell chiming in the distance, fading beneath the hurricane winds.
The others may not have heard her, but Fiyero did, and hearing that admonishment, nearly broke his heart. He didn't know all that Elphaba had endured throughout the time of her disappearance to now, nor of the horrors, the tortures lashed upon her broken body day and night, yet that didn't matter. All that mattered was that the Wicked one was punished, and put six feet beneath the ground.
"A soul shattered to crystalline pieces upon the ground, only to be eviscerated into dust beneath the heels of the Wretched…their blackened heart ripped from their bodies, watching in agonizing pain, as the one you trusted…you once love, crushes it beneath their boot" with each word spilling from Elphaba's quivering lips, her voice rises higher.
Rage bubbles within her eyes, making the great Lion tremble beneath the Witch.
Snarling, Elphaba points the blade in Brr's face, the fine crystal point lithely presses against his nose, making it wrinkle in fear.
"Do not speak such words of Divinity Us…not until you've walked the path of Darkness" snarls Elphaba.
"Fae!" roars Fiyero.
Having had enough, Fiyero steps away from Galinda's side; his one had fists in the air, the other remains placid by his side. His dark sapphire eyes gleam in the sunrise, and a light breeze sweeps past him, tussling a few loose strands of wheat blonde hair.
"Don't do this…walk away now…you and your army" replies Fiyero, his voice dark, and menacing.
For Fiyero, all his feelings beating within his heart, quelled against the rage. He didn't care, nor would he ever, not as long as those who were innocent remained trapped within the ensnaring net of Death by the Wicked Witch of the West.
"A Prince with a heart…how divine…tell me great Prince Fiyero" replies Elphaba, sarcasm dripping from her lips. Mockingly, she bows to Fiyero, infuriating him even more.
Curling his lip, a low growl slips past Fiyero's lips. Instantly, his hand which had remained placid at his side reaches back and grabs the hilt of his sword. A zing, and he unsheathes his silver sword; an almost divine mixture of diamond stones, and emeralds molded into one. The Vinkun royal symbol was carved into the center of the hilt.
Growling again, he holds his sword out in front of him, as he takes a threatening stance towards the Witch.
Laughing, Elphaba twirls her ebony blade gracefully between her slender fingers, before plunging the sword deep into the ground before her feet, and a hairs length away from plunging into the Lion's chest.
"Was it good for you?" asks Elphaba.
"I…I beg your pardon?" stammers Fiyero, a blush dances across his cheeks. For a Prince, he really could be brainless sometimes.
"The Night of the Solstice Moon…or has that night filled with stars…escaped your straw-filled head of yours?" laughs Elphaba.
Before Fiyero could answer, Brr kicks his leg out, tripping Elphaba and sending her crumpling to the ground. Quickly, he twists around and pulls himself towards his fallen blade.
Unconsciously, Elphaba's hand flies to her abdomen. Her eyes widen in both surprise and rage as she watches the Lion scramble towards his sword.
"You son-of-a-!" roars Elphaba.
Her rant is cut off as a blade of diamond stones and emeralds glistens before her eyes, the point of the blade, pressing lightly against her neck.
"You're down…leave with dignity, both you and your army" growls Fiyero.
"I will not be defeated so easily!" roars Elphaba.
In a flash, Elphaba kicks her foot upwards, and hitting the Prince directly between the legs, smirks as Fiyero doubles over in pain. His hands immediately fly towards his crotch.
"Just as good as last time?" teases Elphaba.
Jumping to her feet, her eyes scan the ground for her ebony sword.
Chaos once again erupts around the battlefield as the remaining Animals and the Army of Darkness once again rise up in arms against each other.
Seeing her distracted, Brr quickly grabs the hilt of his sword, and jumping to his feet, brings the blade up above his head. His golden eyes fill with rage, as he charges towards the Witch, bloodlust once again sparkling within his majestic orbs.
In the melee, Galinda spins, as she nearly dodges an attack by one of Elphaba's cohorts. With a flick of her wrist, she sends the demon hurtling through the air.
"That's what you get" scolds Galinda.
The demon, scared, scrambles back up onto his feet and instead of attacking, turns and runs away.
A smirk crosses her lips, but the victory is short lived, as something big, and golden runs past her.
"What the?" mumbles Galinda.
Turning, Galinda's cerulean eyes widen in horror at the sight of Brr charging towards Elphaba, unaware of the danger, and still searching for her sword.
"Elphi-" Her scream is silenced by a hand clamping tight over her lips.
"Don't" whispers a familiar voice.
"Fiyero?" whispers Galinda.
Fiyero having seen what Galinda was about to do, had stepped up behind her. Gently, he pulls her against his chest; his eyes remain fixated on the Witch, and the Lion.
"Die Witch!" roars Brr.
An inch away, Brr swings the blade downwards, ready to stab the blade through the Witch's heart, and end her miserable existence.
But, just as the great Lion's sword was about to pierce the Witch's skin, she turns. An evil glint sparkles within her eyes, freezing the Lion in place.
With a wave of her hand, a strange golden myst rises out of the Lion's body, and, like the wings of a butterflies, starts to flutter within the breeze, before vanishing into the crimson rays of the sun.
Never, had Fiyero and Galinda witnessed anything so horrendible, for once the golden myst had vanished the Lion Brr, skidded to a halt, fear alight within his eyes. Frozen to the spot, Brr stands rigid as his eyes remain fixated at the Witch's.
A wicked smile slides across Elphaba's lips. Gracefully, she closes the gap between her and Brr. Her face, hovers but mere inches from the now trembling Lion's.
"Boo"
A cry, and Brr the great King of the Forest stumbles back. Tripping over his feet, he falls to the ground.
"Well the Brave is now the Cowardly…how pathetically poetic" sneers Elphaba.
Galinda watches, as Brr's teeth chatters in fear, his great claws dig into the Earth as he clambers back to his feet.
"Be gone Coward!" roars Elphaba. Throwing her hand down towards the ground, a great plume of crimson smoke rises from the ground.
Crying out in fright, Brr scrambles to his feet. Finally gaining his footing, the great Lion manages to jump onto his feet. Once the pads of his claws hit the ground, the King of the Forest runs as fast as he can, to the vanishing horizon.
"Be hold…the Great Cowardly Lion of the Gillikin Forest!"
The day the Lion lost his Courage seemed like ages ago. For many, that simple day signified the true darkness dwelling within the emerald Witch. And it was the day that Fiyero had convinced himself that the heart he had longed to give to the woman named Elphaba, no longer existed, for she had died ages ago, beneath the flames of hatred and betrayal.
Now, now his heart belonged to another, a witch bathed in golden light, which walked the path of Divinity, powerful, and touched by the Heavens.
No matter how much his heart still ached for the emerald witch, he stilled such facades of deception, by taking the Witch of the Light to the sheets, each giving in to their carnal desires.
Course, that opinion changed the night when the Witch of the Southern Border appeared before him, beseeching his help for a Mistress he had casted into the Shadows long ago.
Unwillingly, he journeyed with her through the silk of the night, unwilling to allow his perception of the emerald witch to be swayed. And yet, once his eyes fell upon the horrors the Witch endured the hardened shell around his heart, cracked, and caved. The pieces picked up by the breeze with each whimper, each cry of pain.
His heart cracked, once learning that not only was the woman whom owned his heart was with child; his child no less, but was forced to lose it by the vile, twisted hands of the King of the Gnomes.
With new hindsight, Fiyero was determined to do what he could, fight whatever demons and face unspeakable evil, if only to break the chains of Chaos, and once again free the woman who he truly loved, from Chao's wretched symphony of Darkness.
He had gone to confess his sins to the Witch of the Light, when suddenly she appeared, and before he could say a word, the Witch of the Light pulled his now straw-filled body through the various halls of the palace, back out to the courtyards of the Emerald Palace.
He stared stunned, speechless, at the wall of shimmering crystal surrounding the palace; a wall of protection, that's what Galinda called it. Course that wall, wasn't as impenetrable as she had claimed, for no sooner had she said those words, then a ball of fire had crashed through the barrier and landed dead center before their feet.
Now, Elphaba stood once more, encased in flames, rage and insanity burning bright within her soulless eyes. Unspeakable pain flickered within her eyes, pain that only Fiyero and Langwidere knew of its origins.
The citizens of Oz gathered around the ring of fire, all too afraid to speak, or move. And in the crowd, stood the now Cowardly Lion, hidden behind two guards to the Palace of Emeralds, a collar of spikes around his neck, and a broken chain swaying in the breeze.
A few feet away, stands the Tin man, ax raise and resting against his tin shoulder, his steel blue eyes glaring back at the Witch, who had cursed him into this soulless body of twisted tin and metal.
The flames slowly fade away, leaving only Elphaba to stand alone within the giant crater, her dark ebony eyes scan the crowd, looking for her unsuspecting target. Her broom clutched in one hand, her umbrella in another.
Fiyero holds his breath as he slowly slides himself behind a tall gentleman. It was pathetic he knew, but he wasn't ready to face Fae yet, nor risk the chance of being set on fire…again.
Scanning the faces, her dark eyes finally come and rest on the imposing figure of the petite blonde, her dark cerulean eyes glare icily back at the emerald witch. Clutched tight within her hand is a wand with a long silver handle, a crystal snowflake glitters in the sunlight.
"Galinda…or should I say…Galinda the Good" laughs Elphaba darkly.
"What do you want Wicked Witch" snarls Galinda.
Laughing, Elphaba points the end of her umbrella at Galinda's heart.
"Just you"