Chapter 35
By the next morning, Elphaba had figured out what had happened to Izzy and how she managed to completely disappear into herself. Zara had agreed that it was a special but dangerous talent and that somehow, they needed to be able to help her friend control it. Semir offered to help in any way that he could even though he really had little idea of what was going on.
"You think I can do that?" Izzy asked after breakfast as the group retreated to the courtyard. Elphaba had explained that the teenager's disappearing act was quite similar to when the green woman used to freeze an entire room full of people. Problem was Izzy internalized it.
"I know you can. If I can learn how to stop freezing people, you can learn to stop heading into your own head. It won't be easy, but I will teach you. We'll have help from Zara, Semir, and of course, Derya," the Princess winked. They had managed to reach the courtyard and Izzy took a seat at the outdoor dining table.
"So why do we need to do this outside?" The teenager wanted to know.
"Well to be safe. Truth be told, you might react differently while we do this," Elphaba was trying to be delicate.
"You mean like catching something on fire?" Derya piped up.
"Yes, or an explosion. I once destroyed a shed back in Munchkinland because my attempt to control my powers went haywire," the green woman admitted. She didn't mention what happened when her father figured out it was her.
Izzy's eyes went wide, and she suddenly became nervous. Elphaba could see that she was unsure of herself and perhaps a building up of self-confidence would help too. The Princess gave her a quick hug before instructing,
"Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and calm your mind. Tune out everything but the sound of my voice." Izzy nodded and did what she was told.
"Good. Now what do you feel? Can you feel the magic flowing through you?" Elphaba asked.
"I can feel it. It is very strong," Izzy admitted.
"That's good. You need to tune your body to it. Do not give into it. You need to show it, that you are the boss, not the other way around," the Princess told her.
"How do I do that?" Izzy wanted to know.
"Whatever it is trying to get you to do, you must remain firm. Tell it no. The magic will obey if it knows that you aren't just going to roll over. You know how in class, you have to say the words to a spell? This isn't much different, except that you don't need an actual spell to have a conversation of sorts," Elphaba explained. Izzy just nodded. She was more powerful than anyone had realized at first. Elphaba and Zara were still more powerful but at the moment, the girl might have reached Derya's level, making her at the same level or just above Glinda.
They had fallen into silence, just letting Izzy concentrate. Elphaba kept an eye out, to make sure that she hadn't fallen back into the situation she was in before. Confident that she wasn't, the green woman put her hands onto Izzy's shoulders. She could feel the raw, untrained power, coursing through her friend's daughter.
"All right Izzy open your eyes. How do you feel?" Elphaba wanted to know.
"Not as nervous but I don't feel overly confident," she said.
"You won't, not right away. I'll work up exercises for you to do and talk with your teacher. Perhaps, we can channel that into something where you can tease your mother about how powerful you are," the green woman smirked.
"Channel it to what?" Izzy asked.
"Well, your mother can create bubbles. No one else can do that, not even me. That's why I have a broom. My powers have a tendency of being destructive, but I can also read the Grimmerie and perform its complicated spells. Maybe you will be able to create bubbles or become a better healer or anything else that we can find that you excel at. We'll get this sorted, not to worry. Now you go find your family. I know they want to talk to you," Elphaba said. Izzy nodded, got up from the chair and hugged the Princess. She then took off for the Palace with Derya.
"You really think we can help her?" Zara asked, watching them go.
"Absolutely. Now, I think it's time you and I had a talk about your powers while your brother makes sure your father isn't getting himself into trouble," Elphaba said.
"What's Dad up to?" Semir was confused.
"If I know him, bugging Amir for seconds," she chuckled. They all laughed before the young Duke headed inside to find his father.
Two days later, Glinda, Balfour, Khalil, and Ozma stood in front of the citizens of the Emerald City. Only the four knew what was coming next and Glinda looked as though she was about to pass out. Truth was, no one knew what was going to happen once the whole world knew. Glinda was about to open her mouth when someone in the crowd shouted,
"Look!" Bonescraper, Feilong, Jiahao, Shufen, Bao, and Hua had filled the skies. Coming in just above the top of the Palace was Kelebek with Elphaba on her back. Altan, Lale, Bahadir, Filiz, and Iskender were right behind her; the King, Queen, and Crowned Prince of the Vinkus, riding on the backs of the majestic creatures.
"Well at least we have a quick escape," Glinda cracked. Balfour leaned over and kissed her forehead. Glinda took a deep breath and started by saying,
"Good people of Oz…."
To Be Continued…