One if by Land, Two if by Sky

by Aerohead

Sequel to Entertaining Destiny A group of Shiz students find themselves in the middle of a coverup in Oz, and must find out what's going on before something bad happens. Though they must make sure not to kill each other, first. [COMPLETE]

13. The Darkish Cloud Has Lifted

Title: One if by Land, Two if by Sky

Author: Aerohead

Email: in my profile

Website: In my profile

Pairing: Fiyero/Elphaba, Fiyero/Glinda, Glinda/OC, OC/OC

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer/Dedication: For L. Frank Baum, Gregory Maguire, Stephen Schwartz, and Winnie Holtzman who own this idea that I'm extending. Thank you for giving me the first part. This is also for everyone in the OibLTibS RPG, so Sheika belongs to F-kun, Destin belongs to Tori, Riley belongs to Nessy, and Kade and Noelani belong to Cree.

Warning: spoiler for the ending of the musical Wicked, but that's pretty much about it.

Genre: Romance, adventure (book/play amalgamation)

Summary: Seventeen years after the "death" of the Wicked Witch of the West, a group of Shiz students must come to terms with their differences in order to help inform Oz about the truth behind the lies. If they can work together.

Author's Notes: This is the last chapter of OibLTibS. It's so sad! Anyway, thank you to everyone who reviewed, and because of feedback from friends also, there will be a third continuation of this story, however, it will not come out as fast as this has in the past. I would also like to add more Animal characters in the next part, so if you have any ideas as to a different type of creature (mammal, if you please), then please either email me or tell me in your review. Thank you so much!

Chapter Thirteen: The Darkish Cloud Has Lifted

It had been nearly two months since the incident with Diggs. The man – now, actually, a frog due to Nissa's misinterpretation of the spell she had read – had been taken by Glinda to the Emerald City, where his punishment had been decided upon. No one was actually quite sure what the punishment was, but it would not be dealt out until after Glinda had figured out a way to turn him back into a human, which was taking longer than anticipated because her spell expert had, reportedly, sent a letter saying that being turned into a frog was too good for Diggs, and she was not going to help Glinda with that.

The weather had turned cold, and the Lurlinemas decorations were beginning to be hung around Shiz, the green lights illuminating the grounds as the sun started to dip into the western sky earlier and earlier.

Term would be over soon. Only one more half-year, and then they would be sophomores. The idea seemed somewhat daunting, and for the most part, it was kept at the back of any topic brought up. Of course, half-term didn't come without its hardships, and one was Professor Timin's essay on segregation and why it was an important issue.

"'There is segregation in this school, and no one is aware of it. Men and women are kept in separate dormitories, eat separate meals, and study in separate libraries. The only coed interaction is during classes, when the males and females of our great learning facility must work on tests and papers such as this one, instead of getting to know one another. The women's learning facilities, such as Crage Hall's library, is shotty, and in great need of repair, though no one listens when the female students complain. For thirty years, this has been going on, and it must stop.' Well, does it sound a little too...preachy?"

She looked around at the blank stares she was receiving. They were in University Station, sipping tea and trying desperately to either find or refine their topics for History, but no one had expected that.

Fabala stood slowly, leaning over to Nissa. "How in Oz did you manage to write that?" She asked.

Nissa shrugged, sitting down and blushing. "It was just something that was bothering me. Every time we want to study, we have to sneak into Briscoe Hall's library, and I'm sick of it."

Kade shook his head. "I never would have guessed...from an Upland?" Nissa kicked him under the table, and he smirked up at her. "Yes, Nissa, dear?" he asked.

She scowled at him. "What are you writing about?"

He blinked. "What do you think? I'm writing about the segregation between Animals and Humans in Oz. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm the only Animal student here, and I heard that in next year's batch of freshers they'll only be one or two Animals – one a girl, one a boy." Kade shrugged. "Possibly, at least. It's just so idiotic to have a segregation system when that segregation no longer exists; has been out of existence for nearly eighteen years!" Black paws flew into the air in his exasperation, and Fabala pet him on the back consolingly.

They were quiet, except for the sipping of tea. The small history group finally gave up nearly an hour and a half later, when Fabala shook her head. "I can't write anymore. If I do, this will turn into a glorified rant." Kade nodded his approval, and Nissa just shrugged; she had been done for the better part of the last half hour. Packing up their things, the trio started out of the small shop and into the train station, going to the quickest exit back to the University. The faux Time Dragon statue far off on Ozma Towers chimed seven at night, and Kade stopped short, making the girls walk into him. "Please, next time, give us at least a two second warning." Fabala groused, before pulling away from him.

He ignored her, and instead grabbed a copy of The Ozmapolitan, scanning the headline quickly, before passing it to Fabala. "I think you should read this."

"Why, it's not like...sweet Oz!" Fabala said, staring at the bold-faced headline.

Nissa, curious, stood on tiptoe to see over Fabala's shoulder. "What is it? It can't be anything terrible, can...it...?" She stopped short, staring open-mouthed at the newspaper.

Good Witch Denounces Wicked Witch Celebration

By Hafwen Mahdis

In a shocking announcement this morning, Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, fiancé of Lord Bromley of Dixi House, and currently a resident of both the Palace at the Emerald City (formerly the Wizard's Palace eighteen years previous) and Neverdale, has, for the first time in seventeen years, denounced the annual celebrations of the deaths of the Thropp sisters, commonly referred to as the Wicked Witches. It is a usually overlooked point that Glinda was childhood friends with Elphaba Thropp, the Witch of the West, and lost her first fiancée, Fiyero Tigalaar, to her. While the announcement comes as a shock, Miss Dorothy Gale, the woman who, as a child defeated both Witches, has stated that (con't pg. 10)

The three looked at each other, before almost simultaneously grabbing for the newspaper and flipping to page ten.

"Where is it...where is it...ha!" Fabala pointed to the rest of the article, next to a snapshot of Glinda standing proudly on a balcony in the Palace overlooking the central hub of the Emerald City.

Wickedness Celebration not Condoned by Glinda (con't from pg. 1)

..."Although Glinda has gone through a change of heart, the rest of Oz knows how wicked these women were, and although I, unlike Glinda, did not know them personally, I would not want to stop the festivities because someone so terrible used to be my friend. People change, and not always for the better." Glinda explained in her speech this morning that she 'wants to make Oz a more understanding place' and because of 'unexpected events that have recently occurred' she wants to stop the 'hate ritual' that goes on within our society once a year. Ozma, our princess, seems to agree with her, as does the Tinman, who initially started the uprising against the Wicked Witch of the West years ago. Glinda, now forty-seven, says that she has seen the error in her not stopping the celebration seventeen years ago, and wishes Elphaba were alive for her to apologize.

"Go, Mom." Nissa muttered as Fabala refolded the paper, placing it inside of her history book.

"My thoughts, exactly, except for the 'mom' part." Kade said, as they started back up toward Shiz. Fabala shook her head.

"We fix one problem in Oz, and the rest goes to pieces." She said quietly. She turned to Nissa, and pulled the girl back.

"Fabi! What?" Nissa cried. Kade turned, but Fabala shook her head quickly, and he nodded, before trotting along in front of them. Fabala put a finger to her mouth to indicate Nissa to be quiet, and the girl acquiesced, but not without a small pout.

"Listen, Nissa..." She started, at a loss for words. Nissa looked at her skeptically.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Uh...Nissa, would you like to stay at Kiamo Ko with Aran and myself over the summer holidays? With the renegade actions your mother is taking, I have a feeling she will be indisposed, and there's always room in that drafty old castle."

Nissa put a hand over Fabala's mouth to make her stop rambling. Fabala blinked, before scowling at her, and Nissa had to keep herself from laughing, before she nodded. "I'd love to." She said.