Hello all! Welcome to chapter 28 of "Darkness of the Night". It is the concluding chapter from the previous chapter where Elphaba has the task of trying to find Glinda in the Emerald Palace. She will get some help from Fiyero and Ares, who make a guest appearance in this chapter. I must break some bad news to you all. I think this story is starting to run it's course and it's time to wind it down. So I am telling you now, there will only be two more chapters or maybe three. So in the upcoming week will I bring this story to an end. I don't think I can do anymore to keep the plot going. It's time to bring this chapter of Elphaba and Glinda's life to an end. I might do a sequel but that will be awhile as I'm going to focus on trying to hash out my books. On that note, I will let you read this chapter. Read and enjoy!

Chapter 28

Elphaba gives a frustrated sigh as she opens the door to leave Glinda's old bedroom. She realized, while she was taking the shower, that she has no clue where Glinda could have run off to and the Emerald Palace is one of the biggest structures in all of Oz. The blonde could be anywhere and she would have no clue where to start. It could take her hours or a day or two. Glinda knows this place like the back of her hand. The green woman puts her damp hair up into a high ponytail. It's time to get serious.

"Time to start looking." She mumbles to herself before she walks out into the hallway. Already Elphaba feels overwhelmed when she looks down the ever stretching hallways. Who knows how man rooms are in this hallway or in the entire palace.

"Oh boy." Elphaba whispers to herself. This is more of a daunting task then she realize. How is she going to tackle this? She exhales shakily as she tries to psyche herself up about the search. She needs to find her wife so they can talk things over and get over the tiff they had not too long ago. The green woman knows that she has to start the search by choosing to go left or right. Elphaba looks to her right and licks her lips. Her heart is telling her that this is the right way. Her instincts almost never let her down. Almost.

"Glinda?" Elphaba calls out but, in an instant, she realizes how silly it is to being calling out the good witch's name. Glinda wouldn't reply after the two of them just had a very tense talk. Glinda is famous for giving her the cold shoulder whenever they had a fight. It shouldn't be any different after all these years the two of them have been separated. Elphaba will just have to follow her head and instincts. The green woman continues down the daunting hallway which seems like it seems like it would take hours to walk especially since it's just a huge space that she is walking down. She realizes that there have been no servants or other people walking down this path. Are people scared to roam the halls where the Wicked Witch of the West lives now or has Tidus been telling people not to disturb them so they can have their peace before the political shit storm hits the fan. Elphaba kind of hope somebody would walking around so she could ask them if they have seen Glinda lately.

Elphaba comes to a spot where the hallway breaks off into a four way cross section. She stops in the middle of it with a finger to her lips in thought. Now she has four choices to pick from. Why couldn't there be a sign that just says 'This way to Glinda Upland'.

"Watch out." Ares's voice echoes from her left. Brown eyes look towards the left hallway before they widen in fear at a huge Tiger running at full speed towards her. Ares is trying to put on the breaks last minute when he first saw the green woman but his paws get caught in the carpet and he becomes a tumbling ball of orange fur rolling closes and closer towards her. Elphaba couldn't even think about try to dodge Ares when the 300 pound Tiger slams into her.

"Ugh." The green woman grunts in pain as she backwards onto the hard ground with fur in her mouth. Stars burst from her eyes the second the back of her head connects to the floor. She doesn't know if it's hard to breathe because she has a Tiger on her chest or some of her ribs are broken.

"Ares, Elphaba, are you ok?" Fiyero asks with heavy concern as he runs over to the jumble of Tiger and human limbs. Ares's eyes are still twirling in his head when his adoptive father goes down on his knees to inspect them.

"I will be if you get him off of me." Elphaba's muffled answer comes from below the muscular body. Fiyero nods his head before he stands up and wraps his arms around the front part of Ares.

"Come on, I'll help you move." The prince whispers to his son. Ares's ears twitch in understanding and with help he gets off of Elphaba's body. He gives a purr when he feels Fiyero rub his head with love. It makes his head hurt less that's for sure.

"Thanks dad. I'll be ok. Help Elphaba." Ares says as he puts his head on top of his paws. At least his eyes stopped spinning now. Fiyero gives a soft smile at him before setting his sight on the still lying down green woman.

"Fabala, are you ok?" The prince asks as he goes to her side. Elphaba holds up a hand so he could grab it and help up into a sitting position. She doesn't see stars anymore along with her head isn't swimming back and forth anymore. Though her ribs are still throbbing in pain.

"My ribs hurt but other than that I feel good for being run over by a Tiger." Her voice is strained in pain when Fiyero helps her up into a sitting position. Both he and Ares have the same guilty look on their faces. They were playing around in the hallways of the palace. It has been mostly in joy of finally being free from the Wizard.

"Sorry, we were just having fun." Fiyero apologizes while Ares rests his tail over the closest green hand to show his sign of apology because his head is still hurting. Elphaba gives a reassuring smile. She isn't mad at the two of them plus she is feeling better already. Breathing is easier and her ribs are now only a dull ache. Maybe there is a positive side to what Glinda did to the potion. She shakes her head slightly so she can refocus. She knows Fiyero has stayed with her wife at the palace for years. He has to know all her hideaways.

"It's' all right. No harm , no foul. Fiyero, you lived here. Where would Glinda go if she was upset?" Elphaba asks while trying not to show that the two of them just had a heated discussion to which the good witch fled in tears. The prince can see the guilt written all over her face and raises an eyebrow slightly. He won't bring up whatever argument they had because it just better to help the green woman out without making her feel worse.

"Well…she usually would go to the green house. Gardening helped her a lot. It's very beautiful there." Fiyero answers as he puts his hands into his back pockets. He has watched Glinda use love and magic to make the gardens what they are today. It was the only time she smiled and seem at peace when living at the Emerald palace.

"Just go outside and walk around the palace until you see the green house. It's not hard to miss." He instructs what Elphaba needs to do to find her wife. She nods her head before she runs off. She will thank him later. The green woman needs to make things right with her. Ares gives a slight moan as he puts a hand on top of his head.

"No more running, dad." He says while the Winkie prince goes to his side in an instant to comfort his adoptive son. IN the back of his mind, Fiyero knows the two witches will kiss and make up.

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Glinda is humming to herself as she holds a watering can over a patch of pink roses. She is glad that the Wizard didn't destroy the green house where she would labor on her down time. It was her pride and joy when she lived her. It would also just make her forget out her horrible situation or whenever she missed Elphaba she would work in the dirt to forget about her broken for a little bit. She gives a happy sigh as she watches the droplets hit the dry soil until it turns into a dark pasty consistency. She feels the stress and anger melt away with each drop hitting the dirt. This was her favorite pastime. She had much alone time along with the peace and quiet away from all the people who wanted to see her.

"It's beautiful in here."
Glinda gives a squeal of surprise and drops her watering can on top of her roses. She turns around to see a blushing Elphaba standing a few feet from her. The green woman has really learned how to walk quietly with those clunky army boots that she loves to wear. The blonde didn't even feel a presence next to her. She has to work on that. She does not like people sneaking up on her. The blonde gives a hard swallow at seeing her wife so soon. She doesn't know if she is ready to talk to her.

"I…uh…thank you." Glinda mumbles over her words as she picks up the can. A frown appears on her face at her roses had be crushed under the weight of the watering can. It still amazes her how something can be killed so fast and unexpectedly. She inhales slightly when she feels her wife's body now mere inches from her body. How the good witch wants to melt into the warm body and make up with Elphaba but her pride still stings to apologize first. So Glinda keeps quiet to watch a green hand hover over the broken roses. The green woman felt bad that she made the blonde damage her roses beyond repair. She is hoping that with what she is about to will sway her wife to listen to what she has to say.

"Let me fix it." Elphaba whispers as she uses her magic to restore the rose to their former glory. She smirks slightly at hearing the gasp when Glinda sees her roses restored. It's the perfect time to strike.

"Glinda…I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Elphaba looks to her. She realizes Glinda only did it to protect her from harm by the Wizard's hand. After probably getting her ribs broken by Ares does Elphaba appreciate it. She isn't in pain anymore.

"I…just…I just wanted to make sure you were safe." Glinda replies as she sniffles before looking up to the green woman. Elphaba moves a hand up until it cups a moist, pale cheek. She knows she would have done the same thing to ensure Glinda's life doesn't end before its time.

"I know. I understand now. Will you forgive me for being narrowed minded?" Elphaba asks as she reaches behind her and plucks one of the roses before bringing it up between them. Glinda gives a giggle before she grabs the stem carefully then brings the petal to her nose to inhale the scent. She knows she can't be mad at her wife for long especially when the green woman is being all sweet to her.

"Hmm…I could forgive you." The blonde replies coyly while she twirls the stem between her fingers. Her hear melts when she sees the bottom green lip jut out in a pout and the brown eyes shift into the cute, puppy dog eyes. Oh, Elphaba must have picked it up when the blonde use to use it on her to get what she wants.

"Please." Elphaba pleads. The good witch gets closer to her with her blue eyes darkening love. Elphaba stoops slightly with her fingers lightly dancing across the blonde's hips. The air is crackling with the intense energy between the two of them.

"I can forgive you." Glinda whispers before she moves her head up until pinks lips capture the waiting green ones. Elphaba gives an internal happy sigh when she feels the warm lips on hers. It's nice to know they can still kiss and make up. She gives a slight frown when the blonde pulls away after a few seconds. She wanted more kissing.

"To make up for it you have to help me garden." Glinda says with a smile. Elphaba blinks her eyes slightly at the request. She has never garden in her life. Mostly because water would be involved in some way and that's when water still burned her skin. Elphaba wouldn't deny her wife right now so she nods her head. She would love to do it and learn from the master.

"All right."
Glinda picks up the watering can and hand it to the waiting green witch. Elphaba grabs it before looking to her wife with a huge smile. She is happy the two of them made up. They will enjoy their peace and quiet before they go back into the chaos that is Oz.

You all knew that they would have kissed and make up in the end. Those two will always get back together no matter what, in my opinion. The next chapter will have a guest character appearance. Won't say who as I will let you guess who it is. Lol. The next chapter will be updated on Tuesday. I will see you on that day. Until then!

DWK