Thank you to everyone who reviewed and especially to those of you who reviewed almost every chapter (you know who you are)…I love you guys…
If you've been reading this whole time I would really appreciate it if you would leave a review just so I know if you liked it…keep a lookout for the sequel…there will be one (it just might take awhile for me to get to it…I've still got to finish 'One Short Week' and do a sequel to 'The Emerald Apple'…but I will eventually get to it)
If you Author Alert me you'll be sure to know when the sequel is published (wink wink nudge nudge)
Madame Morrible fainted dead away at the sight of the entire public allowing Elphaba to live. Unfortunately the former headmistress never woke up. All hell broke loose in Oz and for awhile each of the four provinces was dictated by its respective ruler, while the Emerald City fell into complete pandemonium. An investigation was launched into the truth of Lady Glinda's speech. Raeb sang like a canary and the Wizard's personal journal was unearthed from a sealed chamber. A lot of research gathering and interviews took place and slowly but surely the witch's real story was pieced together. It was decided that, as the Wizard's daughter and considering her political knowledge, Elphaba Thropp was the most appropriate candidate to be Oz's new ruler. She accepted the position and began to reform the country's government.
Fiyero was reinstated as Captain of the Guard and Glinda returned to her role as a pretty figurehead. She delivered the speeches that Elphaba wrote, for the green girl was still unsure about making public appearances. Besides, she argued, the people of Oz would much rather see the blonde witch's pretty face than hers. Brrr became Oz's Animal ambassador and Caya was his assistant. Chistery and most of the other flying Monkeys joined the Gale Force to ensure that it would never again be used as a means to bully Animals. Though not perfect Oz was content and happy.
***
"Did you finish negotiations with the governor of Munchkin Land?" Elphaba asked as she joined her husband on a cushion beside the fireplace.
"Elphie we're on vacation!" Glinda huffed in exasperation from her place on the couch. "Can't you put politics out of your head for one short week?"
"No," the green girl grumped. "I don't think I can." It was winter and the whole gang was taking a short vacation in the castle at Kiamo Ko. For most of them it was a welcome relief but for Oz's new ruler the break only seemed to amplify her stress.
"Don't make me put pinnoble in your tea Mom," Selky threatened, carrying a tray of beverages over to the gathering of adults. Elphaba and Fiyero adopted the surly seventeen year old and they had become a happy family in the months since.
"Thank you Selk Selk," Boq exclaimed as the dark haired girl offered him tea, knowing how much Selky loathed that nickname. The former Tin Man mussed his unofficial niece's hair.
"You're very welcome Uncle Boq," Selky responded with a good natured glare.
"Honey leave her alone," Glinda insisted, cuddling into her fiancée's side. "She's nice enough to get us drinks."
"True," Boq shrugged with a playful grin. "And you were nice enough to marry me, so I'll let it slide." Elphaba was about to remind the munchkin that bringing up the wedding around Glinda was a surefire way to get the blonde gushing about sea foam green and bubble gum pink bridesmaid dresses. However, before that could happen, the door opened and a blast of cold air rushed in.
"Hey guys," Caya called as she and Brrr marched through the entryway beside two adorably furry Liger Cubs. Animal children mature much faster than their human counterparts so the cute little Cats were already pros at walking and talking.
"Shay! Izo!" Glinda crooned, opening her arms for the exuberant Ligers. The blonde woman loved kids and most kids immediately loved her back. Shay and Izo were no exception. "They're beautiful," Glinda told their proud parents as the two Cats settled in.
"Would Shay and Izo like to fly around the castle on Chistery's back?" the flying Monkey asked from his chair. He no longer stuttered but was still working on perfecting his grammar.
"Sorry Chistery," Caya apologized. "We've been traveling all day, these two need to get to bed."
"Mom can we stay up a little later?" Shay begged. "I want Elpha to tell us a story!"
"I'm sure Elphaba's very tired," the Tiger insisted, sending the green girl a 'you'd better play along' look.
"I'll tell you a story in the morning," the witch promised. "But right now I'm much too sleepy."
"Would you like me to tuck you guys in?" Chistery asked helpfully. As Shay and Izo gleefully followed the Monkey upstairs Brrr cast him a grateful look.
"He sure loves kids," Elphaba observed.
"Doesn't everyone?" Boq questioned.
"No," Selky snorted. "Mom doesn't. That's why she got me readymade."
"Actually teenagers are even worse," the green girl replied teasingly. "And I have no problem with children; as long as they aren't mine."
"She's a piece of work isn't she?" Fiyero sighed.
"Not to change the subject," Glinda began. "But I believe there are certain things that need to be discussed while we're all here."
"Uh oh," Elphaba groaned. "Here it comes."
"Don't complain Elphaba Thropp," the blonde growled. "I didn't even get to come to your wedding."
"No one got to come to my wedding," the raven haired witch pointed out.
"That's irrelevant," Glinda chirped. "We need to discuss some important things."
"Like what?"
"Like what you're going to wear."
"Black," the green girl said immediately.
"It's my wedding," the blonde insisted.
"It's my dignity," Elphaba retorted. "Some people just aren't meant to wear anything remotely colorful."
"Amen!" Caya agreed.
"I still can't believe you wore a black wedding dress," Glinda told the Tiger, trying to disguise her horror.
"I'm orange!" Caya exclaimed in exasperation. "I didn't really have many choices."
"I think black wedding dresses look good," Brrr interjected.
"It's my wedding!" Glinda pointed out again.
"Hey don't I get a say in anything?" Boq questioned indignantly.
"No!" all three women answered at once.
"Apparently not," Selky chuckled.
"Can we please change the subject?" Fiyero suggested with a twinge of mild irritation. "It would be nice if we chatted about something us men can relate to." Elphaba cast her husband a thankful look.
"How about we work on Elphie's nickname?" Glinda squealed.
"I'm fine with my name the way it is," the green girl responded curtly.
"But the Wicked Witch of the West? That won't do anymore."
"How about the Wonderful Witch of the West," Selky suggested.
"That sounds like a throwback to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz," Elphaba snorted.
"Well you are his daughter," the blonde witch pointed out.
"I don't think of family as something defined by blood," Elphaba insisted. "The people who love you unconditionally and forgive you even when you're an idiot; that's your family. It has nothing to do with blood."
"It will if you and Glinda don't settle this dress debate peacefully," Selky interjected with a smirk.
"Leave it to you to ruin such a sweet moment," the blonde witch pouted. "Be gone oh Selky the Annoying."
"Selky the Annoying?" the dark haired girl chuckled. "I like it. You can be Glinda the Cheesy."
"What about me?" Fiyero cried in mock indignation.
"Fiyero the Showoff," Elphaba snickered.
"And you can be Boq the Charming," Glinda told her husband with a delighted squeak.
"And then there's Caya the Fierce and Brrr the Gentle," Selky continued.
"What about Elphie?" the blonde witch questioned.
"That's easy," Fiyero laughed. "She's Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West; and I wouldn't have it any other way." Then he pulled his wife in for a kiss.
It's a cutsie ending and there's plenty of sequel potential so I will be doing one…
As a side note I was going to add the following lines to the end of this chapter:
"Eww…stop it you guys!" Selky groaned, turning away. "Get a room."
"Don't say that," Boq warned. "They will."
However I figured that it wasn't necessary and spoiled the perfect little ending…but I thought that you readers might get a kick out of it…