This is definitely a good chapter guys. 52 chapters already written for this story, so be expecting a lot of updates from me soon!

Tell me what you think about Bolynda and Morrible--oh, wait, I guess you'll have to read it first. ;D

What are you doing still reading this useless bold heading?! Go on and read the chapter already! XP

-Essence

Chapter 36

Frynda stretched on the grass, blinking sleepily as night settled in around her. She heard scuffling as Mantu made a small nest of dried grass for himself a few feet away from her.

"Must you make so much noise, Mantu?" she asked him.

"I'm sorry," the elf apologized. "I'm normally accustomed to sleeping in softer material than this."

"Well, you better get used to it," muttered Frynda, "'cause we've still got a ways to go to the Animal Village."

"Animal Village? We're going there?" Mantu exclaimed, his voice high-pitched.

Frynda turned on her side to face him, propping herself up on one elbow. "Yeah. You have a problem with that, Mantu?"

She said it in such a way that Mantu couldn't bear to voice his fears, so he kept quiet and shook his head.

"Good," Frynda said, moving so she rested on her back once again. She gazed at the nighttime stars above her for a few moments before speaking again.

"The stars are bright tonight."

Mantu looked up at the sky, allowing a smile to pass on his elfish face. "They are, aren't they? I love the stars."

"Who doesn't?" Frynda sighed.

"Why don't you make a wish upon a star?" Mantu asked her, turning his head to see the girl's outline against the dim light the stars provided.

"A wish upon a star? Why?"

"In my clan, whenever someone makes a wish on a star, it will eventually come true."

"That's bogus."

"Just try it, Frynda," Mantu told her. "It never hurts to try."

Frynda rolled her eyes and stared up into the night sky. She could see the numerous bright, pulsating stars and the purple swathes of faraway galaxies mixed together to make a beautiful scene. The half-moon didn't dampen her view as she scanned the night sky, trying to locate a single star that stood out from the rest. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't. She would only lose the star she managed to find.

Frynda let out a frustrated sigh. "I feel ridiculous."

"It's not ridiculous, Frynda. It's a matter of believing. Do you believe, Frynda?"

"Believe what?"

"Believe in yourself?"

Frynda closed her eyes. The elf was asking her a question she herself didn't know the answer to. She shook her head and opened her eyes again.

"Alright, alright, I'll make the stupid wish."

"Good girl. Soon you'll find that sometimes believing in yourself could make all the difference."

Frynda furrowed her brows at the elf's cryptic words. She turned her head but Mantu had already fallen asleep. Her mouth opened in a yawn and she stared once again at the sky above her.

Believe in myself? she asked herself. How can I believe in myself when I don't even trust what I feel?

For a few minutes she just lay there, silently counting the stars. She quickly gave up and closed her amber eyes.

If I were to listen to this crazy elf and make a wish, she asked herself. What would I wish for?

Her heart already knew the answer, but wasn't sure if her mind could comprehend it.

I would wish for love.

She looked up at the sky one last time before curling into a ball as she succumbed into the dark world of sleep.

***

Bolynda watched as Morrible leaned back on the large chair she was sitting on. The woman was staring back at her, her steely gray eyes searching the blue girl.

"What are you looking at, fish face?" Bolynda spat at her.

"Is that the best you can come up with? I've heard better ones from my former students at Shiz. I have to say, I'm disappointed in you." Morrible smiled as she saw the blue girl narrow her eyes and look at the ground.

Morrible laced her fingers together. "I don't know what the Emperor saw in you, Bolynda."

"Apparently what no one else saw in you," sneered Bolynda, her mouth curving up into a wicked smile as she saw the older woman's face grow red with hot fury.

"You think you can hurt me with mere words, witch?" Morrible asked her, seething. It seemed Bolynda hit a sore spot in the woman.

"Yes, I believe I can," the Zoian woman said. "I mean, look at you. Who would want to kiss you? Seriously, I mean…who would want to kiss a fish…on the mouth?"

Morrible's nails made a searing sound as she got up, towering over Bolynda.

The blue girl's smile grew wider, knowing she was getting somewhere with Morrible. "And look at your hair! Wait; is that even real hair…?"

"That's quite enough of that, young lady," Morrible hissed.

"Oh, I'm not done yet." Bolynda was enjoying this immensely. "I haven't even begun on your clothes yet. I mean, talk about so twenty-five centuries ago…"

"Shut up!" Morrible screeched. She quickly grabbed Bolynda's ear as if she was a mere child. "I will not stand for your stupidity any longer! Shut your mouth or I will shut it for you!"

"Go ahead," Bolynda dared her, looking up at the woman with blazing aqua blue eyes. "It's not as if what I said isn't true. Just ask anyone who has eyes."

Morrible made a growling sound.

"What's wrong, woman? I'm still talking here."

Morrible just let go of Bolynda's ear and walked stiffly back to the desk.

Bolynda let out a low chuckle and raised a brow. "I see someone's scared of a little blue girl. Why don't you just take me back to prison again? It seemed like a fine place to put the Emperor, so why not me?"

"You will not be going anywhere," Morrible muttered. "You are not going anywhere near Fiyero again."

"No!" Bolynda cried, her cockiness suddenly forgotten. "I have to see him! You bitch, let me go!"

Morrible's eyes shadowed as she pulled out the bottle of poison she had kept in the drawer of the desk. She cackled as she saw Bolynda's jaw drop at the sight of the bottle.

"N-no, y-you wouldn't—"

"Oh, I would, dearie. And as long as you keep that up, you would only be so much closer to Fiyero's death."

Bolynda just stared at her, her eyes blazing wildly with her silent fury.

"The only reason I didn't kill you already is that you still have some use to me."

"Is that what you do for a living? Use people?"

"Ah-ah-ah!" Morrible told her, one of her nails tapping the bottle's cap. "Keep those comments to yourself or your new lover will die just like his friend."

Bolynda just spat at her.

"And keep your saliva in your mouth, please. I don't want any unsightly stains on my new office's carpet."

Bolynda wanted more than ever to read the woman's mind, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get past the barriers the woman has set up in her mind, guarding her thoughts. She looked down at the ground as the sound of knocking came into the room.

"Come in," Morrible chimed, quickly placing the bottle into the drawer of the wooden desk once again. A uniformed man was at the door, his eyes bulging at the sight of Bolynda tied to a chair.

"Y-y-you said he wouldn't d-d-die," the man stammered.

"Accidents happen, dearie," Morrible sighed. "I'm afraid the spell Fiyero's been put under is too much to handle for the moment."

"Did he really k-k-kill Avaric?"

Bolynda wanted to scream, but the threat of Fiyero's death hanging over her she couldn't. She wouldn't be the cause of her new lover's death if she could help it.

"Yes, commander. I'm sorry."

"Is it safe to come in?"

"Yes, dearie. She can't do anything without her hands."

The man entered the room, still visibly wary of Bolynda. She smiled at the way she was making him tremble and her blue eyes sparkled with maliciousness as she read his thoughts.

"Why is His Ozness in S-S-Southstairs?" the commander asked, his voice shaking violently.

"Sit down, Rayne," Morrible told him, indicating to the chair opposite of Bolynda. "You're stuttering like a babbling fool."

"N-no th-thank you, ma'am," Rayne said, taking a step back away from Bolynda, who gave him a crooked smile and a wink.

Morrible shot a glare at the blue girl's direction before addressing to Rayne again. "This blue fiend told our Emperor to kill Avaric right after their little playtime session—"

Bolynda's eyes widened. Who else knows that I and Fiyero had sex?! Everyone in this whole damned land must know by now!

"—and I found the poor dear in here, poisoned," Morrible continued, dabbing at a fake tear in her eye. "There was nothing I could do but sound the alarm."

"I understand, ma'am," Rayne said. "Are you going to kill the witch?"

Bolynda gave Morrible a side-glance. I would like to see her try.

"Again, commander, patience." Morrible shook her head and sighed. "She will meet her end as soon as the Emperor's fully cleansed of her spell. His stay in Southstairs will allow them to be far enough apart so the spell could wear off. The witch needs to be alive for that to happen."

"Oh," was all the commander said, his blue-green eyes staring at Bolynda as the blue witch rolled her eyes, not believing that Morrible had told him that she had put Fiyero under a spell.

How lame can you get? she thought bitterly. I don't even know how to put anyone under a spell, much less a man like Fiyero. The only spell I have him under is my love spell. And I didn't even need words for that one. Just my body and womanly charm.

She smiled at this, reminiscing on the brief affair she had with Fiyero before Morrible's voice interrupted her thoughts with a cough.

"Commander, did Corporal Vancor tell you about my generous offer to temporarily rule Oz in the Emperor's absence?"

"Yes," Rayne said, forcing his eyes to peel away from Bolynda's blue skin and refocus on Morrible. "I have already called an emergency meeting with the local Ozian population to deliver this news. They should be gathering in about a half an hour so due to the rain."

"I will take care of that right away," she said and clapped her hands. "There, the rain should've stilled by now."

Rayne cocked his head, not sure just what happened. He shifted his weight uneasily, very aware of Bolynda's aqua blue gaze on him.

"This is wonderful!" Morrible said, clapping her hands together happily. "I shall get ready now. Is there anything else, commander?"

"Well, I have one question…"

Bolynda rolled her eyes, trying to keep herself from gagging aloud.

"Who is the new captain of the guard?"

"Naturally it would be you, dearie," Morrible said. "But we mustn't jump into anything before our Emperor fully recovers now, commander."

"Of course not!" Rayne quickly said. "Is there anything else you would like of me, ma'am?"

"Call me Morrible, please," the woman chuckled. "Ma'am is my mother's name. In fact, I've heard of someone I would like to get in touch with that you happen to know personally."

Rayne was utterly confused at her words. "Who…?"

"Your brother."

Rayne suddenly shook his head. "No. You don't want him. Please, anyone but Razaf."

Bolynda looked up at the familiar sounding name. She remembered Razaf when she had first been put into a cell with him in Southstairs. She remembered his piercing green eyes with a shiver. What would Morrible want with a man like him?

"I want Razaf here, Rayne. Do you understand me?"

"But—"

"Now."

Rayne gulped and nodded. Without further hesitation, the commander turned around and exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"Wait till you meet Razaf, Miss Bolynda," Morrible said. "If you thought you were rebellious, think again. This man has tried to kill Fiyero and came quite close, actually. Let's see if he's up for a second try."

Bolynda just kept silent, her eyes dropping to the floor as the tears finally fell down her face.

***

Glinda buried herself further into Adagio's side, trying the keep herself warm as the night chill swept through the grassland.

"She's taking too long," the blonde muttered. "I should go look for her."

"That's not a good idea, Glinda," Adagio told her, his voice laced with drowsiness. "I wouldn't be able to find you two in the dark. My eyesight isn't as great as my other senses."

"I won't go far," Glinda assured him.

"Hah, right," the Horse snorted. "Just don't leave, okay?"

"I could take care of myself." Glinda couldn't help but be annoyed with the friendly Horse. Why did everyone have to be protective of her when she's old enough to take care of herself and then some?

"If you leave then I have a certain green woman to look forward to answering to when she comes back. I, for one, am scared of Elphaba if she finds out you're gone…and I value my life too much."

"She won't kill you, silly," Glinda told him.

Adagio snorted again. "Right. She'll torture me and then kill me."

Glinda let out a frustrated sigh and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'm worried she's gotten into some trouble and I won't be there to help her."

"Relax, Blondie," Adagio told her soothingly, using the nickname he had affectionately given her. "There's nothing here but us."

"How are you so sure? You just told me you can't see well in the dark."

The Horse hesitated, knowing the blonde had a point. He sighed and shook his head. "You just have to trust me."

Glinda just let out an inaudible reply and absentmindedly played with one of her blonde curls, watching it as it bounced back into place before she pulled at it again.

Adagio flicked his ears nervously, not sure if he should trust himself.

Glinda needs my reassurance now, he thought. She doesn't need me to start freaking out too. I gotta be brave.

He furrowed his brows and an uneasy silence came upon them. The only sound was the occasional chirping of a cricket and the rustling of the grass as the wind sifted through it.

"What was that?" Glinda asked again after what seemed like the millionth time.

"Bug."

Glinda jumped again at a swishing sound behind her. "And that?"

"My tail."

Then there was a crash and Glinda screamed. "And THAT?"

Adagio's eyes opened wide in alarm. He looked around frantically, seeing a hunched figure lope its way towards them. He felt Glinda furrow back further into his flank as the figure neared closer and closer.

***

"Relax, guys. It's me."

Elphaba dropped the hood of the cloak and smiled at them, her white teeth glinting in the moonlight as she closed in the few feet between them.

Glinda sighed in relief and Adagio visibly relaxed, his heart still beating wildly from the brief scare the green woman gave him.

"Sweet Oz, Elphie," Glinda breathed as she got up, walking over to her love. "You sure know how to sneak up on people."

Elphaba was confused. "But I wasn't trying to—"

She was cut off as Glinda kissed her vigorously, both out of relief and just love for the woman.

"I guess I should sneak up on you more often!" Elphaba laughed when they parted, both a little breathless.

Glinda smacked her arm affectionately. "Elphaba Thropp, don't you dare!"

Elphaba was still laughing as she dropped something to the ground. Adagio let out a neigh and Glinda gasped as they saw the bloody hare roll unto the ground.

"What did you expect?" Elphaba told them as she bent down, the bloodstained knife in her green hand. "It was the only thing I could manage to catch."

"I know, Elphie," Glinda said, her voice small. "But…but it's a bunny."

"A hare," Elphaba corrected her.

"It's a bunny, Elphie," Glinda whined, clearly not interested in Elphaba's clarification. She turned her head away as Elphaba worked at skinning the animal's fur away, exposing the meaty flesh underneath. "Why did you have to kill a cute little bunny?"

"It was either the cute little bunny or a snake. Take your pick."

Glinda just scrunched her nose at the mention of a snake for food.

"That's what I thought," chuckled Elphaba.

"Why is there so much blood?" Glinda asked her as she walked back to Adagio's side, who had fallen asleep as soon as he had learned Elphaba had arrived.

"My sweet," the green woman chuckled as she worked. "You must understand that there has to be at least some blood involved in the killing of an animal."

"But…"

Elphaba looked up at her, a smirk on her face. "Shall I go back to get the snake?"

Glinda shook her head vigorously, her blue eyes opening wide.

"Then it's hare for dinner tonight, my sweet."

Glinda crouched down low and warily crawled up closer to Elphaba and the bloody mess, pinching her nose at the smell. "Am I going to eat it raw?" she asked her, her voice sounding nasal from the way she was squeezing her nose.

"Of course not," Elphaba said as she finished. "I'll start a fire now right after I clean this up the best I can."

"A fire?" Glinda asked shakily, suddenly reminded of Frynda and the way she had started the wildfire. She didn't want that to happen again.

"Don't worry, my sweet," Elphaba told her, noticing the way she reacted. "This one's going to be small and controlled. I'm pretty savvy with campfires since the days I was on the run from the Wizard."

Glinda nodded, knowing the way she was acting was ridiculous. "Do you need me to gather some kindling for you, Elphie?" she asked.

"No, I actually need rocks. Good luck finding some here. Wait a second, let me give you something." Elphaba hastily wiped her bloody hands on the cloak, reached over and grabbed her satchel. She took out the Grimmerie and opened it.

"Isn't it too dark to read, my love?" Glinda asked her.

"I almost have this spell memorized. I just need to make sure of a few words. Let's see…ah, here." She leaned forward until she was practically nose-to-nose with the page of the book and squinted, trying to make out the words in the darkness.

"Okay, I got it. Gythm vintum illuminos eleka zyntos." A ball of light appeared in Elphaba's green hand and she smiled, handing it over to Glinda. The blonde took it warily, her blue eyes opening wide with amazement.

She turned to her green love, a smile appearing on her pink lips. "Elphaba Thropp, you never cease to amaze me."

"That's good, because you'll never cease amazing me either."

"Oh, how so? How could a little blonde like me amaze a witch like you who had seen just about anything about everything?"

"Don't worry, you just do." Elphaba leaned forward to kiss her love before shooing her away. "Go, my amazing love. Gather all the rocks you can find."

Glinda nodded and turned away before Elphaba could see the faint blush that had appeared on her face.

I'm amazing, she thought happily as she walked into the night, the ball of light illuminating her way.

Elphaba Thropp thinks I'm amazing. Oh sweet Oz, how I love her.

I love her so much.