AN: Right, a short chapter. The next chapter will feature Elphaba's pardon, the wedding and sadly, Rachel's departure. So it will be longer than this chapter.

I hope you will enjoy the short Chapter 25.

Chapter 25:

As the group journeyed to Gillikin Country, Rachel looked out in awe at the beautiful scenery.

The mountains were picturesque and had a beautiful blue yet tinted with a hint of purple sky behind it. The hills were a lush green, and the surround area gave an aura of safety, and yet, you could tell that the area had an aura of the wealthy in it.

In the carriage, the five were sat comfortably enough, Rachel, Izzy and Lion Quinn on one side and Elphaba and Glinda on the other.

Elphaba was reading a little earlier in the trip, but Glinda had managed to coax her into small talk which usually consists of endless talk about nothing in particular.

Lion Quinn was lying down and napping on the seat next to Rachel with Izzy in her arms…paws.

Izzy too had fallen asleep from the long journey.

Rachel would have joined in in either the conversation or the nap, but she loved looking out the carriage window and seeing a world that was unaffected by things unclean, for now anyway.

A small jolt in the road woke the Lion up who pricked her head up quickly and looked around.

"Just a jolt Quinn," Rachel smiled.

The Lion was still lying down, but kept her head up, as she made sure Izzy was safe between her front legs.

"How long until we get there?" she asked.

"Not long now," Glinda answered, "The town is just up over that ridge,"

Everyone, except for Izzy of course, looked out the window to see the apparel of Frottica starting to appear.

As everyone was slowly getting themselves ready to exit from the carriage by packing their knick knacks and that, Izzy chose that time to wake up.

"Well good morning," Rachel said as Izzy turned and looked at her tiredly, the sleep not quite gone just yet.

The little girl turned around and snuggled into the Lion's chest as Lion Quinn looked down at her before leaning down and softly rubbing the bottom of her chin against the top of the girl's head.

Izzy just let out a small groan in annoyance as she tried to go back to sleep but the Lion wouldn't let her.

"We're almost there," Lion Quinn said as Izzy just looked up at her.

Still the girl didn't move so the Lion nudged her a bit with her paw.

"No," Izzy said as she grabbed onto the Lion's mane.

"Ow, of all things I had to inherit, a mane, seriously," Lion Quinn grumbled as Elphaba laughed at her and picked Izzy up.

"No, Quinn," Izzy grumbled as she struggled out of Elphaba's grasps and climbed back onto the seat with the Lion and snuggled up to her.

"She's not a waking up person is she?" Elphaba laughed.

"Nope, doesn't look like it," Glinda said as she ran her fingers through Elphaba's hair.

As the carriage pulled up into the town centre, Glinda got out first as people gasped at her return.

The gasps and muttering started when Elphaba exited the carriage next to stretch.

A couple of screams were heard when Lion Quinn zoomed out next so that she could stretch her legs. She hated being cramped for too long.

The Lion let out a small roar in comfort as she finally could stretch as she wanted; uncaring of the people around her who were terrified.

Izzy was being carried by Rachel as the brunette exited and stretched her legs a bit.

"We're here," Izzy said as she looked around, "Why is everyone staring at us?"

Lion Quinn just glared back at everyone as they whispered.

"I'm an Animal you know, I can hear what you're saying," she grumbled at them.

Everyone stopped as Elphaba laughed at their facial expressions.

"C'mon, Momsy and Popsical are probably at home so we'll stop by the inn first and get a room," Glinda said.

"Why don't we stay with them?" Rachel asked.

Glinda stopped for a moment before saying, "Because there's a chance they won't approve and I'd rather not be there,"

"Okay,"

Lion Quinn just followed everyone's lead as Izzy sat comfortably on her back.

"That Lion has nothing on, clothe him," a citizen said.

"For your information I'm female, thank you," Lion Quinn snapped as Izzy patted her back.

"Well you should be clothed, wearing nothing is indecent,"

"I'm a Lion, you won't see anything unsavoury, unlike you humans,"

"If you're offended by the Lion, then don't look and keep your nose away from us," Elphaba said as she stood by Lion Quinn and placed a supporting hand on the Lion's head.

"She's huge, she's almost up to your chest and that's her staying on all fours, how can you trust her with your child?" the woman said turning her nose at them.

"Because she saved me and she's awesome," Izzy said as she giggled and leaned on top of Lion Quinn's head and kissed it.

"Filthy, you just wait, she'll turn on you,"

Lion Quinn snarled at the woman and was attempting to pounce at her but Rachel placed a hand on her head to calm her.

"Let it go Quinn, people like her are prejudiced not because she has reason to, but because she needs something to complain about without looking into the facts, let's just go," Rachel said to her.

The woman huffed at them as the five walked away.

"Quinn, I'm hungry," Izzy said.

"We'll get something soon, I promise," Lion Quinn said as she looked at Elphaba who nodded her head.

"We just need to get a room at the inn for the five or us first and then we'll get something, okay," Elphaba said to Izzy who nodded her head.

After the five found a nice room to rent out, they had a meal before taking the carriage to Glinda's family home.

When they arrived, Glinda was greeted by the servants.

"Your parents are waiting for you," the maid said as she bowed her head at Glinda, "They had word that you were heading home,"

"Thank you," Glinda said as the maid lead them to the family room where her parents were sitting.

"Ah, Galinda, good to see you alive, we heard tales of your battle against Mombi and Morrible, I must say I didn't see that coming," her father said as he got up to greet her followed by her mother, "And who are they?"

"Oh, that's Rachel from Lima, she helped with Morrible's demise," Glinda started.

"I see,"

"And this is Elphie,"

"I'm aware who this green monstrosity is, you may have others fooled with your story about her goodnes but she shouldn't even be here, she is filth, she is a sin,"

"Popsical, Elphie is good, Queen Ozma even said so,"

"Pwah what does that young ruler know?"

"A lot actually,"

"And why is there an animal in my lounge?"

"That's Quinn, she helped defeat Morrible, and saved the little girl who is on her back,"

"She is still an animal,"

"Animal Popsical, big A,"

"It doesn't matter, I want her out,"

"Just give us a moment, please Popsical,"

"Fine, what are you here for?"

"I uh, I wish to get married,"

"Splendid, to that Chuffery I assume,"

"Chuffery? No, goodness no, I,"

"Oh, is it that Fiyero? Where is he now?"

"Gone, and no, I, I wish to marry Elphaba,"

"You what?"

"Elphaba proposed to me and I said yes,"

"I FORBID IT,"

Izzy started to cry as the man raised his voice at them.

"And who is this…child?" Glinda's father demanded, "This child that you so carelessly place on a wild animal? No regard for her safety,"

"Quinn isn't a wild animal, and that child is the Queen's daughter," Glinda answered, "Quinn, why don't you and Rachel take her out of here, I don't think we'll be very long,"

Lion Quinn nodded her head as she snapped her jaws angrily at Glinda's father for upsetting Izzy; making the man flinch.

Rachel just shook her head as she walked away.

"Popsical please, Elphaba loves me more than anyone I've ever been with," Glinda started.

"You have been with her? Have you no shame? No decency," Glinda's father said as her mother gasped.

"I love her,"

"Get out,"

"But,"

"I said Get OUT,"

"Popsical please,"

"GET OUT, all of you, you want to marry this green thing that will give you no future then go, leave, and don't come back, I will not give my blessing for this,"

"So be it, Father," Glinda said as she took Elphaba's hand and left.

"I mean it Galinda, you walk out that door and marry...IT, this family and its fortune will be gone to you,"

"What is a life of riches and popularity if there is no one to share it with? I'd rather be with Elphaba," Glinda said as she turned away, "Oh, and Father, it's Glinda, the gah is silent,"

When they got outside, Glinda tried hard to hold her tears back.

"I'm sorry my sweet," Elphaba started as she hugged the smaller blonde.

"Don't, I knew that there was a chance they'd say no, so," Glinda said as she hugged Elphaba back.

"But it's okay to cry,"

"Maybe later when we're alone,"

"Okay, but remember I'm here for you,"

"I know," Glinda smiled as she kissed Elphaba's lips softly.

"Ew, gross," Izzy said as Rachel laughed at her.

Lion Quinn just rolled her eyes.

"So, what are we going to do now?" the Lion asked.

"Well, we're here, would you like to see the more of the upper uplands?" Glinda asked.

"Yes please," Rachel said, "I mean, I'll probably never get the chance to again, so, yes please,"

"I want to roll down the hills, Quinn you'll roll down the hill with me right?" Izzy asked.

"Sure," Lion Quinn answered as the child squealed happily.

"And hey, now you don't have a Tin Man kicking your butt while you're rolling down the hill," Rachel teased.

"Oh shut up," Lion Quinn growled but laughed at the same time, "And if she wasn't cheating I would have won,"

"I'm sure you would have,"

As the group arrived at the hillside of the Upper Uplands, Izzy squealed again in delight as she jumped off Lion Quinn's back and ran through the grass as she observed some of the grass grazing creatures around them.

"She's a squealer," Lion Quinn said as she looked at Rachel.

"She's five," Rachel said back.

"Quinn come play with me," Izzy called out.

"Oh fine," the Lion said as she stalked the little girl through the grass.

On instinct she let out a roar as she pounced.

Izzy let out a scream as she ran.

The Lion was happily playing pounce with her.

"C'mon you two, time for some food," Elphaba called out.

"Aw, do we have to? I want to play," Izzy said but Lion Quinn picked her up with her teeth and carried the little girl to the other three, "Quinn, put me down,"

"Offay," Lion Quinn grunted as she dropped Izzy by Rachel.

"Hey,"

"Is for horses,"

"Huh?"

"Never mind,"

"So, when do you think you'll have the wedding?" Rachel asked as she bit into a vegan sandwich.

"Everything is more or less ready, I was just hoping that my parents would come," Glinda said.

"That's quick, where I'm from people take forever to set things up and get married, you did it in a day,"

"It's Oz, magic,"

Rachel laughed a bit, "So, when?"

"Day after tomorrow, Brittany plans to do the whole pardon of Elphaba first,"

"Oh, right,"

"I'm the flower girl," Izzy said happily.

"Yes you are," Glinda said with a smile.

"So, who are you going to get to walk you down the aisle?" Rachel asked.

"Well, I figured, perhaps the Wizard would walk me down after Elphaba,"

"I'm sure he'll say yes, he adores you and your bubbly nature," Elphaba laughed.

Glinda just smiled, "And then we rule the Emerald City with an iron fist," she said jokingly.

Again Elphaba let out a small laugh as she looked at Glinda and kissed her.

"Whatever happens next, we'll always have each other," Elphaba said to her.

"We're unlimited," Glinda said and Elphaba nodded her head in agreement.

Rachel was left sighing at this heart warming moment.