We're being summoned here suspiciously often lately, Elphaba thought warily, entering the Wizard's throne room; Glinda right by her side. Or am I just being paranoid?
The guards standing by the door let them in, bowing respectfully, and when they entered the throne room, they were immediately greeted by the Wizard.
"Good morning!" he said cheerily. "Thank you for coming. Looks like we're only waiting for Madame Morrible now."
As if summoned by magic, Morrible entered the room just a few seconds later. Her emerald-and-gold robe fluttered around her in an almost dragon-like manner; the illusion made stronger by her razor-sharp nails and large leather purse hanging down from her arm.
"Your Ozness," she said, her voice fake and sickeningly sweet. "Miss Elphaba. Miss Glinda."
"Ah, Madame! Perfect timing. Let us begin!" The Wizard cleared his throat. "Doubtless you can imagine why I would summon you here. We all can see it. Times are changing. And with the changing times, we, too, must change."
Elphaba and Glinda exchanged a quick look.
"Madame," the Wizard continued with a slight bow towards Morrible, "you have been my loyal supporter for many years. I truly appreciate your dedication, and especially your work as my press secretary."
"Oh, it has been a pleasure to—"
"However, new days are dawning. People no longer look at the world like they used to. They need to be treated and spoken to in a different way. You have no doubt noticed how much your image and credibility have… well, deteriorated lately. I regret to say it, but the Ozians simply don't want to put their trust in you any longer. And, as long as you're my official representation, your poor image equals my poor image."
"Your Ozness—"
"Madame, I'm afraid I must ask you to step away from the public eye for the time being. I mean you no offense, but for now, until we know how best to handle the current situation, I think it's best for all of us if Miss Glinda takes over your responsibilities."
Morrible looked like she was about to explode. Elphaba had never before seen her so boundlessly enraged; her nostrils were flaring, her face flushed, and one of her eyes twitched angrily.
"Her?" she yelled. "You think this giggling little floozy will do a better job than me?!"
"Now, Madame—"
"You're nothing without me. Nothing at all! You are a fraud! A pathetic, useless fraud!" She reached into her purse, and, as the Wizard moved towards his throne, shrieked: "Not so fast, you coward!"
In her hand, she held a tiny silver pistol, which – seeing the Wizard take another few steps to the side – she aimed at Glinda.
"Aren't you just so fond of her," she hissed. "Would be a pity to watch me shoot her, now, wouldn't it?"
Both Glinda and the Wizard raised up their hands in surrender, making Morrible erupt into hysterical laughter.
"That's what I thought. You and your sentimental man act," she scoffed. "Now. You will call the guards and you will tell them to arrest Miss Glinda for crimes against Oz. Try any trick, and your precious little princess ends up with a bullet through her chest!"
The Wizard, whose forehead was covered with sweat, nodded frantically and started slowly walking towards the throne, Morrible's watchful eyes flickering between him and Glinda until the mechanical golden head came to life, its eyes glowing.
"GUARDS! GUARDS!" The two door guards entered the room almost immediately, raising their spears. Then, in a sudden prophetic flash of light, Elphaba knew what was about to happen mere seconds before the Wizard uttered his next words: "ARREST HER! ARREST MADAME MORRIBLE!"
Without thinking, Elphaba flung her body forward, pushing Glinda out of the way. She felt a sudden searing pain, piercing through her chest right beneath the collarbone. Her vision went blurry as the room started to shake, sending chunks of plaster raining from the ceiling; and she didn't initially realize it was her magic that made walls tremble.
"What are you doing?!" shrieked Morrible, struggling against the guards who had snatched the little pistol out of her hands. Although no longer armed, she managed to shake them off of herself; sending them flying across the room with a powerful gust of wind.
"Oh, didn't I ever mention?" she said, cackling madly. "Weather is my specialty!"
She raised her hands up in a claw-like motion and Elphaba felt the room sizzle with gathering electricity. Fighting the pain, she gritted her teeth and took a defensive stance, gathering all the power she could find in any corner of her body and mind; focusing her energy as a bolt of lightning emerged from Morrible's hands. The cold, bright flash of light shot across the room, then, with a deafening thunder, met the invisible barrier right before Elphaba's face; splintering all around. Elphaba was thrown backwards and barely held her ground, but she quickly forced her trembling hands back into the fighting position.
"You foolish girl!" Morrible's voice was hardly human as she prepared herself for another strike. "Do you think anyone will accept you but me?! You're a freak. You're a disgusting anomaly, a mistake of nature! You are a monster!"
Elphaba felt anger boil in her veins. Focus, Elphaba. Focus! She's counting on you to lose your temper. Don't give her that power! She thought about the people in her life who truly mattered. Her little sister, her best friend, the man who loved her against all odds. She thought about all her friends, all the people who had come to accept her, all the lives she'd fought to save. And instantly, the storm she felt inside calmed down. She looked Morrible dead in the eyes and noticed something change in them; and a second later, the magic shield she'd created was once again struck by a lightning bolt, sending sparks flying around.
"I am a lot of things," she Elphaba said through gritted teeth. A sister, she thought. A friend. A lover. A fighter. A protector. "But I am not a monster."
Morrible was now clearly losing her composure. Her hair flew wildly around her face, and moments later, another lightning bolt flashed into Elphaba's face.
"I am not a monster," she repeated, keeping her feet planted tightly on the ground. "But I am a witch. And I won't. Let you. Hurt. Anyone I love. Ever. Again!"
Her hands were shaking and the pain she felt, now radiating through her entire body; grew stronger with each passing second. And then, just as she thought that was the end of her – something happened. A loud crash, a flash of light, a smell of something burning; then Morrible's eyes grew wide in surprise as she stumbled backwards and fell. Before Elphaba heard her body hit the ground, her own knees buckled under her and everything around faded into darkness.