The late spring was always bound to be stressful for the Shiz students, who at that time would face their final exams. That particular year, there were a few factors contributing to the stress – at least for Elphaba. Most conversations she had those days were sure to revolve around one of two topics. And while she didn't really mind discussing the upcoming rally, she was quickly getting fed up with the constant more or less inappropriate questions about her relationship with Fiyero; with the countless innuendos, jealous looks and suggestive smiles.

"Yikes, bad timing?" Fiyero asked, walking into the cafeteria on the day of the rally and leaning down to kiss Elphaba on the cheek. Nessarose pulled an embarrassed face, although it wasn't clear if it was a reaction to Fiyero's public display of affection or to his question.

"We've had a bit of a disagreement again," she said sheepishly, glancing at Boq, who stubbornly avoided her eyes. "That's all."

"Ah. Just like in that joke. Two Politics majors walk into a bar—" Fiyero tried to ease the tension, but paused under Galinda's glare.

"Speaking of which," Nessarose said, clearing her throat, "I'd better be going. I don't want to be late for our final… Or would you like me to wait for you, Boq?"

The Munchkin seemed surprised at the offer.

"Um, if you don't mind," he said. "I'll be done in a second."

"Just don't forget about tonight!" Galinda called after them as they were about to walk away, and Elphaba looked at her, knitting her eyebrows.

"What's tonight?"

Galinda looked appalled.

"What do you mean what's…" She stopped and turned red when she saw both Elphaba and Fiyero barely hold back laughter. "Ha, ha, Elphie. Very funny."

•••

"Hey. Everything okay?"

Galinda's head shot up at the unexpected question. She'd been convinced she was alone, waiting behind the stage in a room slowly filling with Animal-supporting guests; and Shilah's sudden appearance next to her made her jump in surprise.

"Sweet Oz, you frightened me," she chuckled. "I didn't even hear you. You really know how to blend in."

Shilah smiled with the corner of his mouth, sticking his hands into his pockets.

"Nervous?"

"A little," she admitted, tilting her head to the side. "I'm just worried that no one is going to take me seriously, you know?"

"They will," he assured, his dark eyes carefully studying her face.

"I don't know, Shilah… I mean, who am I to inspire any respect? What if all they're going to see is just a perky, overconfident blonde? I'm not really good at anything. I'm not smart like you, or powerful like Elphaba… I'm just—"

She stopped abruptly, looking down at Shilah's fingers gently closing around her wrist. His skin was warm, rather rough against her soft, perfumed hand; and yet she found the sensation strangely fascinating.

"You're just brilliant," Shilah said, calmly but firmly. "You have an incredible way of connecting with people, something that makes them want to trust you, to back you up; and you are a natural leader."

"That doesn't count, Shilah," she protested. "These are not real skills. It's not magic or any special power. It's just charisma."

"That's true," he said, smiling slightly. "And why do you think it is that we call charismatic people charming?"

Galinda couldn't seem to find an answer.

"Don't sell yourself short, Galinda," Shilah added. "You have enormous potential. Don't waste it by doubting yourself."

She glanced down at their hands again.

"Thanks, Shilah," she said with a grateful smile. "I'll do my best."

•••

An enthusiastic wave of applause greeted Galinda as she confidently entered the stage.

"It's good to see me, isn't it?" she chirped into the microphone. "No need to respond, that was rhetorical."

The audience laughed slightly. To call them a crowd would be a bit of an overstatement, but given the nature of the event, the turnout was still quite good. There were even quite a few Animals to be seen: a young Tiger in the corner, a shy Gazelle by the door, a group of Raccoons at one of the tables; and despite everything going on, they still seemed to fit in with the rest of the audience.

"Dear guests," Galinda announced from the stage. "Many of you certainly remember our dear history teacher, Doctor Dillamond. I myself have many fond memories of his classes; of his patience and kindness, even despite my feebly structured essays."

She chuckled as some of their fellow students – led by Nessarose and Boq, who had seemingly made up from that morning's fight – backed her up with applause.

"He was the last Animal teacher at Shiz. Almost exactly a year ago, he, too, was forced to resign after the new anti-Animal regulations. Now, I would like to make my own personal contribution to the cause of the Ozian Animals, and to commemorate our dear Doctor Dillamond – who, as you may remember, always had his own way of pronouncing my name. Therefore, in solidarity and to express my outrage, I shall henceforward be known no longer as Galinda, but as simply… Glinda."

She gave an exaggerated bow and the audience, initially confused, began to applaud.

"And now," Galinda—Glinda—said, smiling sweetly, "I would like to give the floor to our first speaker tonight—"

The rest of her words was drowned by a sudden clatter in the crowd. A group of guards was making their way to the front of the room, and one of them – presumably the unit's leader – entered the stage and whispered a few words into Glinda's ear. Her face went pale, but she held her chin high.

"With all due respect, there is no ground on which you can order us to disperse," she said proudly. "This is a purely educational gathering, which in no way violates—"

"Hey! Let me go!"

The young Gazelle by the door was now struggling against one of the guards, who had her arm in a forceful hold.

"You'll be coming with us," he shouted. He tried to drag the Gazelle towards the door, but met an obstacle in the form of Shilah, who appeared in front of him seemingly out of nowhere, blocking his path. The guard's face contorted with disgust; he spat angrily on the floor.

"Out of my way, Quadling trash!" he growled, and when Shilah crossed his arms and stood his ground, the guard, with no forewarning, punched him right in the face.

That was the final stroke. The room erupted with protests and outraged screams as the crowd turned into a crazed mass stirring with adrenaline and anger and fear, vibrating with the need for action, the overwhelming will to do something, and—

"STOP! In the name of goodness, stop!"

It was as if time had suddenly stopped as Glinda's voice, firm and commanding, cut through the commotion, drawing all eyes to her face with an almost magnetic force. For a split second, she herself seemed surprised by the impact of her words, but she promptly gathered herself and began speaking again, her tone and presence oozing authority.

"You," she said, looking sharply at the guard standing next to her, "have arrived here unwarranted and violently disturbed a peaceful gathering; which, considering the Ozian Code, paragraph four hundred seventy eight, subpoint seventeen, is to be considered a diplomatic convention. Between our guests, there is the crown prince of the Vinkus, the future governor of Munchkinland, multiple representatives of the Gillikinese aristocracy, and—" she added with a stern look, "—a visiting professor from Quad, who, according to the Gillikinese Bill of Rights, section one hundred and twelve, subsection five, is guaranteed safety and protection under the duration of his employment. A guarantee which your men have disgustingly violated by assaulting him just a moment ago. You must understand by now that you are indeed in considerable trouble. I suggest you retreat before things get any more dire for you; and allow each and every person present to peacefully leave this venue." She paused for a few more seconds and added, her voice almost threatening: "And I suggest you do it right now."

The guard opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again; then, finally, looked over at the crowd and gestured at the other guards.

"We're out," he managed a weak command and the guards, one by one, began to leave the auditorium, accompanied by piercing, silent stares.

"Well," Glinda sighed deeply, "this has been… fun. Although I know we have all been looking forward to everything we've planned for tonight, I believe it would be better for all of us to meet on a different day, under more fortunate circumstances. Thank you all for being here tonight. Please, take care of yourselves. I sincerely hope we can meet again soon."

As the guests slowly began to disperse, Glinda walked off the stage, looking like she was seconds away from fainting. She smiled weakly, however, when she was greeted by her peers' murmurs of appreciation.

"You're the best, Gal—I mean, Glinda!"

"I thought we'd be in trouble, but you really showed them!"

Rahi, an enthusiastic first-year Munchkin majoring in Law, cleared her throat.

"Glinda…," she said hesitantly. "What you just pulled off was amazing, but you do know that what you told that guard was… well…"

"A bunch of nonsense?" Glinda supplied with an embarrassed chuckle. "Let's just say I was hoping he wouldn't know that." She smiled, but her face took on a look of concern when she noticed Shilah's rapidly swelling eye. "Oh, sweet Oz! Are you okay?"

Shilah started mumbling something about how he was fine and it was not a big deal and he'd survive, but Glinda wanted to hear none of that. She grabbed his hand and began leading him towards the door.

"Let's get you fixed up, you heroic fool. Come along, Elphie!" She looked back over her shoulder and her face took on a concerned look. "Wait. Has anyone seen Elphaba and Fiyero?"