Chapter 35: The Beginning

The souls of the lingering creatures stretched up to the ship as it took to the air and soared over the Ozian landscape. The Land of Oz held within her, her own magic that reached to its core as deeply as the great magic reached out to the Narnian, but it was a magic that all came from the same place. Aslan knew as he traveled back the way they had come that there would be a time, far in his own futures in which he would return to Oz. He traveled all throughout creation whenever he was needed and though he may visit or roam through Oz again the people of Oz would not know him for a long time.

As the ship flew away from the Emerald City and followed the land downward toward the Quadling marshes Aslan and the beings who called Narnia home, felt the magic of the land breathing in the breath that was to one day save them. There was a calmness that had come over the sleepy world and a true awakening was about to begin. This journey to Oz had whipped out the oppression and the greed, turned the Emerald City into a center for change rather then the ruling oppressor it had been associated with, and one day Oz would know a return to peace and unity among the people.

Kiamo Ko was left abandoned once again. The sign that it stood for, as a beacon for the Winkies, was no longer needed. Fiyero and his followers had taken from the castle all that had been a sign to them of the rich history they had, had in Oz, and the treasures and documentations would soon be reunited with a past that many of the people were anxious to learn and be apart of.

For Galinda the escape was bitter sweet. She had known goodness and beauty in Oz, and it had held hope and promise for her, for most of her life, but she had also known greed, corruption and captivity while Oz fell into despair. As the ship flew from the cities center and moved on toward the southern mountain Glinda found her way, with her sisters by her side, to the upper decks of the great flying ship and she saw the land she had traveled from above in a completely different light. She met Elphaba, Fiyero and Aslan on the upper decks and watched as the sun cast its healing glow over the newly reborn country.

"Is it really my duty to leave Oz in such a state?" Glinda asked as she walked to Aslan. "I could have helped to set things into motion, to bring peace to the countries and the peoples of Oz, but here I am fleeing the land of my birth."

"You are not fleeing, my child," Aslan said as he looked deep into her sorrow filled eyes. "The path for you has been set, not by you or by me or by any of the men, women or children that live in Oz, but by the great creator. I walk along the path that I have been set on and know what is to come because I am a part of the great one. The deep magic calls out to you, it always has, and it is your destined path to walk along the sun kissed shores of the Narnian coast. It is your true home. It has always been written that you, Galinda, would return just as your sister has to the land from where she was created. Narnia came in the beginning, and so the beginning for you must be in Narnia."

"But I still feel like I am abandoning Oz." Glinda said.

"You've not abandoned it. You have done all that you were told to do and more. You have put in place the trusted and just men and women who will rule together and build Oz back up. You must understand, however, that you needed to leave to bring about this peace. With you still present in the land it would bring with it the doubt and the fear of the past that you have known. The people of Oz know you as Glinda the good, but also as the woman who fell to the armies of the rebellion and a person who has lost the trust and the prestige that you once had. With you out of Oz the people now have a story of your greatness, of your grace and your protection. They know that there is a land away from Oz where peace and harmony rule and they know the injustice that they will feel for being left behind, but as a chosen one of Narnia it is your duty and your destiny to return and leave behind you the legacy that has begun to write itself in the land of Oz." Aslan stated. "Your name will be known for a very long time in Oz as the generations to come tell of how your goodness brought them out of their slavery and cleared those who were innocent. They will speak of Elphaba for certain as a woman who came to reclaim her true identity, but they will know you for much longer as the one who had accepted the witch as the person she had always been. You, Galinda, truly are good, and have worked for good, but you had been corrupt and by giving up Oz to a government and leaving it behind to be reborn in a completely different situation you have learned and taught the people of Oz how to truly be good."

"You will feel a bond with Oz forever." Elphaba said as she stood beside her friend and sister.

"I felt more of a bond to you than I ever felt to Oz." Glinda smiled. "At least now I know why. I will miss Oz and the good times we had once known but I will never forget how if first treated you and the people around me. I hope that in Narnia I can learn to be a part of something greater rather than just a selfish spoiled woman."

"The selfishness will not find you in Narnia." Aslan said. "You are reborn and will soon find yourself in the land that made you and nurtured you. There is a call for you to return to the place of your origins and it will be by the waters of the Narnian coast that you will learn the true nature of your being. You will once and forever more truly be Galinda, as the women of your ancestry have been and carried your magic throughout creation. There is much for you to learn and many creatures that are longing to show you the way. You truly will be a part of something much greater."

The mountains loomed before them as the gentle breeze that they had borrowed from Sofala lifted them high up into the sky. Over the mountains the expanses of the world took the new travelers away into great imaginings and hopefulness. There was adventure and prosperity promised to them in the Land of Narnia. There was a life awaiting them and comfort knowing that their people were with them and their history awaited them. Galinda watched over the people as they began to feel the shift from despair and agitation to hope and excitement.

Dragons of the wind and the clouds flew with them out of Oz and into the land between known as the great mountains. There they were greeted by even more of their kind coming from within the rocks and forest and soon, as the glint of the water showed itself far off in the distance the sound of the waves played on the wings of the dragons that joined them from the waters edge. Malinka bought to the travelers the protection even of the phoenix that dwelled within her fires. The fires of the dragons and the fires of the great bird tied the lands, winds and waters all together and gave to the dragons the power that had always been known to be their defence. All dragons, the ones of earth, wind and water, have the ability to breathe fire and from the fire the phoenix is born.

The mythical creatures, things the Winkies had only heard about in stories, were now alive to them as their journey progressed over the mountains. Some of them were shocked and some of them amazed by what they had seen so far and what they were learning. The idea that the land of Narnia was filled with such mythical creatures was frightening and yet they saw the way that all of the living creatures had been connected. They also learned to see in the ones they had once judged the promise of the great future as well as the want to know their stories.

Elphaba and Galinda, along with their sisters, had been swamped with questions as the Winkies began to trust in the one they had only ever known as the wicked one. They had seen the errors in the ways and their eyes had been opened to the corruption and greed that had dominated life in Oz. Elphaba was pleased to tell her story. She was happy to have with her the beings she had once tried to save and though the monkeys that flew were really and truly meant to have been that way, their final colonies within Narnia would not thrive until much later and Elphaba found within the Grimmerie the spell that had awakened the creatures of her past. Aslan had opened the eyes of the Animals that had for so long been captured and tortured in Oz and they too were happy and very interested in what lay before them in the promising future. Elphaba was happy to tell all that she could and brought the Kings and Queens into much of the conversations.

Lucy, Susan, Edmond and Peter were amazed at the things they had seen. They had opened their hearts and their minds to the Ozians and saw first hand the corruption that was running ramped throughout the land. It broke their hearts knowing that Animals were free in Narnia and that creatures no matter how stranger of mythical lived in peace together. They were the voice of conviction for those opening the doors to the new world. The kings and queens knew their history and had learned everything they could about Narnia and were able to tell tails of bravery, fear and peace to those who traveled with them. Even though they had not been able to do much while visiting Oz, they knew now that their duty was to welcome the stranger and clothe those who had left everything behind them.

"Narnia will be better with the Winkies and the Animals in it." Lucy said as she walked with a small group of Winkies.

"You are so filled with hope," Galinda smiled.

"You must be, when the things that dreams are made of come true before your eyes." Lucy smiled.

"I believe you are right, my queen." A Tortoise said as he moved along the deck. "I am very pleased to finally know freedom. I have lived a long time, you know, and I have seen many things in my time, but I have known fear, discrimination and hatred for too long. I simply want to know peace."

"And you shall know it, and love as well," Lucy smiled, tears in her eyes, as she bent over and kissed the Tortoise on the top of his head.

The Tortoise grinned and moved along with Lucy for quite a long time, talking of peace, freedom and the love to be found in Narnia. Galinda was enraptured by the idea of such innocent pride and joy over something so genuine and good. She knew at once that the ideals and the plans that had been put into motion for her were those of true, unconditional love and she vowed in a moment to do as she had seen represented in the kings and queens.

The days passed quickly in the journey because much time was spent talking and answering questions, but much time was also spent marvelling at the sights that came to be seen. The mountains and their creatures were spectacular and dazzling for those had and had not seen them before. The giants were frightening and friendly all at once and Elphaba flew among them on her broom promising a return visit with many more of the Narnians another time. The grass lands and the great forests brought the dryads and the centaurs out en mass to see the flying ship and everyone seemed to stair at one another and ask all of the great and powerful questions.

Finally the ship was brought down in a location deep in the forest. The dryads danced and the armies of people that had pledged their time and efforts to Fiyero, their prince, gathered in the courtyard of the dazzling castle that had been restored. All of the creatures were excited and felt the pull of the land, so the doors of the ship were opened and the planks were set out to bring forth the refugees from Oz.

The little village was dazzling; the castle a beacon of light and the welcome of the Narnians was the light in the darkness of their journey. All had come to pass as Aslan had spoken and finally they had returned to the dream that had been laid out for them.

Lila, Alba and Fleur rushed through the crowds of people, with throngs of Dryads and sprites following them. The news of the spirits returning to Narnia was great and had happened smoothly. Happiness radiated from all that were home and welcomed into a new land.

Aslan walked quietly among the people as they reached out to touch him and feel his magic among them. He went to Elphaba and to Fiyero while the celebrations of their return began to take off in the small village.

"I have one thing left to ask of you, Prince Fiyero," Aslan said as he caught Fiyero's attention.

"I am your servant." Fiyero said bravely. "I will do all that you wish and all that you say."

"I wish only that you are happy here and I want you to know that it is time for you to take you place as the rightful king of these people. Take Elphaba as your wife, and make your home here with her and the people will follow you. That is my wish for you Fiyero." Aslan said.

"It will be done," Fiyero smiled as he unconsciously reached out and took Elphaba by the hand.

"Are you leaving, Aslan?" Elphaba asked.

"I cannot stay in one place for very long; it is part of my journey through creation, but you will see me again, dearest Elphaba, so do not be sad." Aslan said. "I will be with you very soon, for I foresee a very blessed event in your future and I would not miss it."

"Then we will anxiously await your return." Elphaba said as she leaned in and wrapped her arms around Aslan's massive neck.

"I know that you will," Aslan laughed and then vanished among the crowds of people.