Couldn't be Happier
Disclaimer – I do not own Wicked, nor do I own Legally Blonde. I do not own any characters mentioned within this story.
Three years later…
"Did you hear?"
One woman whispered to her companion. Her companion in turn shook her head, and the woman giggled, a mysterious look in her eyes. Deciding to let her friend in on the secret, she leaned forward and quietly whispered something into her companion's ear.
Whatever it was that she said, the companion's eyes widened and a grin appeared on her face. Glancing around, the companion spotted someone else she knew, and quickly scurried off to see them.
"Did you hear?" She whispered, glancing around suspiciously.
"No, I haven't." Her friend said, brows drawn together in confusion and curiosity. "What is it?"
Much like the person who had told her, the woman giggled and crooked a finger at the person she was speaking to, motioning for them to come closer so she could tell them the secret.
The air was abuzz with murmurs, much like it was on a certain fateful day almost four years ago – the fateful day that changed Glinda's life completely.
Yet it seemed that there were several noticeable differences between that day so long ago and the day that was this day.
For you see, four years ago, Galinda's friends and sisters and been standing in a sorority house in Upper Gillikin, squealing and screaming and sighing and swooning and signing cards as they prepared for what was then Galinda's imminent looming proposal and engagement.
Four years later, Galinda's friends and fellow students were sitting in Shiz's grand hall, smiling and whispering and wondering and waiting as they anticipated the ceremony's beginning- the ceremony that marked the day that they had all been waiting for ever since entering the hallowed halls of Shiz University.
Graduation day.
Three years after they had entered Shiz law school, the grounds outside were still and prestigious and pristine as they were back then. Yet, the campus was emptier than ever and felt even emptier than that for all the soon to be graduates – for after this day they would all be leaving Shiz. The thought made some misty eyed, while others could only bounce in joy.
However, between all those mixed emotions and equally mixed ideas, one thought, one sentence hung over them all.
"Glinda Upland is-"
A sudden rapid clicking of heels cut through the sound in the hall. All graduates to be, guests, professors and parents fell silent as the sound grew louder and louder until a tanned and dark haired woman strode confidently up to the podium set up at the head of the room, a graduate cap on her head and a black gown on her body.
Turning to face the audience, the woman cleared her throat. As she did, her eyes sailed over the sea of black, and a small smile quirked her lips.
Opening her mouth, Sarima began to speak.
"A great man once wrote 'to accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but believe.'"
This statement is a poignant one, written with trust and honesty. I believe that we must all follow it and have, at least at some point in our lives, lived these great words. However, I believe that this applies to no one better than I woman I know and have come to deeply respect."
Sarima smiled humourlessly as she took a breath, her eyes a little sad and ashamed as she went on.
"Three years ago, I had little faith in her. I thought she was bound to drop out, bound to fail herself and all others. Yet, over the past years, this woman has taught me; taught us so much more than we ever believed we could know. She taught me to never forget that being true to one self is like the colour black—it never goes out of style."
The sadness melted out of her eyes, and her mouth became a wide, wide grin as she proudly shouted-
"Ladies and gentleman, I would like to proudly introduce our valedictorian, GLINDA UPLAND!"
The graduating class let out a raucous cheer as their claps echoed thunderously around the room. Amidst the noise, Glinda stepped onto the platform, her graduate cap perched upon her impeccable blonde curls and her smile nearly as wide as the yellow brick road.
Her graduation gown swished around her ankles as she walked to the podium,, where she stood to face the sea of eyes and faces.
Taking a deep breath, Glinda took a moment to compose herself. Murmuring a quick spell, the blonde faced the audience once more.
"Fellow Ozians." Glinda began , her magically amplified voice ringing in the room. The blonde woman paused for a moment, looking around at the people before her. Her smile faded partially, growing smaller but certainly no less jovial.
"Friends." Glinda began again. Whereas before, her opening words seemed too formal, now a sort of intimacy was brought into the room as the petite girl cleared her throat once more and continued with her speech.
"For four years, we have been together at Shiz. For four years, we have laughed together, cried together, eaten together, and learned together and even more. However, we have all come along to this point with the help of others. I thank you one and all for this, personally. Some of you taught me how to fail- and in the same way, you taught me how to rise up and become better than I ever thought I could be. You helped me and others like me find their way."
The emotion, emphasis and truthfulness of Glinda's words revealed a completely different woman than the one who had flirted and flounced into Shiz four years ago. That woman's enthusiasm and amazing people skills remained- but her shallowness had become deep, her intelligence unlimited, her attitude, behaviour and skills humbled and tempered until she had become the mature woman who had always been lurking under the surface.
Yet Glinda was not the only one subject to change. In the three years that passed, many students had undergone changes of their own, and in the coming years, change would once again come and go- some change for the good and the better and some… well, change did not suit everyone.
As Glinda continued to speak with passion, her eyes glowing bright and her cheeks flushing pink, she watched the crowds, coming across familiar and unfamiliar faces alike.
Like Nessarose, who sat quietly in her wheelchair, smiling at the friend standing in the podium above her.
In the years to come, Nessarose would attend the Shiz University of Law. Once she graduated, she would move back to Munchkinland to live with her father. However, Nessa would not remain there for long; Boq, her beau from her pre-Shiz days would eventually convince stalwart Frex Thropp to give him Nessa's hand in marriage.
The two would eventually move to an area just south of the Emerald city. Nessarose, trying to overcome her dependence on others, opened a small salon. The salon, surprisingly, became quite popular. Nessarose, pleased with her success, began to not only treat Animals at her salon but hire them as well, eventually taking a step back from the nail-work to instead run the business and help her husband, Boq, run his own delivery service.
Glinda smiled back at Nessarose as she paused for air and then continued speaking. As her words moved on, so did her eyes. They roved along randomly, eventually coming to a spot in the audience where two shining faces and one sullen one stared back at her- Kumbricia, Lurline, and the Wizard.
Kumbricia would go on to practice law as a prosecutor. However, even as she continued her practice, she took on a new study as well- that being the study of sorcery under Lurline herself. As Lurline taught Kumbricia spell casting, Kumbricia would teach Lurline about legal matters and the law itself. Eventually, Lurline would return to school to earn and receive her formal law degree at Shiz.
As for the Wizard, after his fall from grace in Glinda's eyes, things took a turn for the worse. Shortly after the graduation of Glinda's year, the Wizard resigned from Shiz, making his law career his full time focus. Soon after, the Wizard announced he would be running in the democratic race for the new leader of the Emerald city. However, he lost, ending up dead last in the race. His opponent won by a landslide vote, making him the loser and Lurline the new leader of the central hub of Oz.
Crushed and nursing his wounded pride, the Wizard returned to Shiz, expecting to receive his old position immediately. Yet the former professor did not become one again, as his old position had been filled by someone who was less volatile and even more brilliant than the pompous Wizard himself. Though he did not quit the practice, the Wizard's law firm was never quite as successful ever again.
Moving on from her mentor, her classmate and her disgruntled teacher, Glinda set her sights on someone else sitting close by them – a smiling tanned face, owned by no one other than Sarima herself. Behind her was another familiar face, that being Fiyero's. Fiyero, however, was cross armed and pouting, slouched in his seat.
Sarima went on to become an amazing defense attorney. She opened her own firm, joining with a few others to create a larger, and even more successful and profitable firm.
In a few years' time, Sarima was offered a lucrative position teaching the youth about criminal law- she was offered the very job the Wizard had quit. Without debate, Sarima took the job, smoothly juggling running her law firm with teaching at Shiz. She quickly becoming one of the most favoured and learned teachers there.
Fiyero, on the other hand, had a very different life after Shiz. Graduating without honours, awards, or a girlfriend, the Vinkus price returned to his homeland. Humbled somewhat from Shiz, when Fiyero was made the King of his tribe he was as eager to dance through life as he had been in Gillikin. Although he was a shaky ruler at times, the people loved him. As their King he earned the title 'Scarecrow' for the loose limbed dance and ruling style he held throughout his life.
Finally, as Glinda was coming to the end of her speech, she drew in a breath. As they watched her, some people smiled, some frowned, and some teared up. All the students waited with bated breath, and even with the smiles and frowns and tears, all of them had the same look on their faces – scared, yet hopeful, ready for what life after Shiz would bring them.
"When we started at Shiz years ago… when I started at Shiz years ago, I was a completely different girl." Glinda told them all, a small smile on her face. "As Sarima said, three years ago she thought I was bound to drop out and bound to fail. She was not the only one who thought that- many people did, and at one point, I did as well.
Thanks to you all. To those who didn't believe in me, you taught me how to learn from my mistakes. To those who did, you taught me true faith and friendship. To everyone…"
Glinda paused again, breath catching in her throat as she stared out at the audience before her. Was this it? Was this the end? So many years spent at Shiz, so many people she had met… was this the last time she would see them?
Glinda didn't want it to end just yet. Tears came to her eyes and she tried to clear her throat and go on, but she found she just could not.
It was only when she caught a green smear in her line of vision did Glinda's sadness clear. Through her blurry vision, Glinda could see Elphaba. Front row and centre, staring up at her. No judgement, no sadness, no ridicule at Glinda for crying. Only a small smile on her face and a warm look reserved for Glinda alone that meant encouragement, strength and courage. It was the small look reserved for Glinda that meant 'you can do it.'
Taking in a deep breath, Glinda blinked once. The tears rolled down her cheeks, but even as they did, she opened her mouth and quirked her cheeks upwards to reveal her dazzling smile.
"I know I'm who I am today because I knew you. All of you. Through each other's help, we've found our way. And as Valedictorian, I want to say to you all that that will always stay the same."
Glinda stepped back from the podium and even before her foot touched down, everyone in the audience was clapping and cheering wildly, all on their feet (or as best as they could) as they gave Glinda a raucous standing ovation, loud enough to make the hall roar and the ground tremble.
As Glinda watched them all clap, her mind wandered. In her mind, she saw them all four years prior – how they had changed from who they were to someone completely different. How she, herself had changed from a silly young girl into something, someone more than anybody ever thought she could be. A few more tears slipped down her cheeks, but they were not the tears for who she had been.
They were tears of happiness for the change in herself, for her successful years at Shiz, for knowing that the future was frightening but knowing also that she would have all these memories and people to fall back on when times turned rough yet again.
And slowly the tears dried and her smile grew wider.
Grabbing the brim of her cap, Glinda threw it high, high into the air. Her hat was joined only moments later by hundreds and hundreds of her classmates' hats.
When the hats began to fall like rain, Glinda's eyes, too, fell, first and foremost on Elphaba.
Grinning at each other, Glinda stepped off the podium and ran into Elphaba's open arms, whispering to her amidst the noise,
"I couldn't be happier."