The whole of Oz was holding its breath, waiting for some unseen threat. The air was deathly still. There was no sign of life anywhere. Even the moon seemed to turn in on itself. The three friends cast no shadows that would betray their movement. Glinda shuddered.
"Is it always this creepy at night?" she thought.
She looked at Elphaba who was leading the troop. Her face was rock solid, her brow furrowed in deep concentration. Her lip twitched slightly and Glinda knew she was nervous. That always happened when something was worrying her. She gently laid her hand on Elphaba's shoulder in an encouraging manner. Elphaba gave her a half smile and continued to move through the courtyard. Fiyero kept watch in the rear to make sure they weren't being followed. Elphaba stopped suddenly.
"Get down!" she hissed.
They all ducked behind a large rose bush. A tiktok was marching through the courtyard followed by five Gale Forcers. Elphaba's eyes narrowed and blazed with intense hatred.
"I knew it!" she thought to herself. "We got to Glinda just in time."
She glanced back at Fiyero and mouthed "I told you so." Fiyero couldn't believe what he was seeing. Elphaba hadn't had a foolish nightmare. She had had a vision of what was to come. He was glad he had listened to her. They could hear the soldiers attempting to break in. Elphaba motioned for them to follow her. They crept out of the courtyard in utter silence.
They reached the outskirts of the city just as day began to break. The sky was ablaze with life. Blood reds, sunflower yellows, and pumpkin oranges swirled in a never-ending vortex.
"It's amazing," Elphaba breathed.
She had forgotten how beautiful the world could be. She had grown accustomed to the dark, colorless gray haze that seemed to surround her and dull her senses. The Great Kells loomed forebodingly in the distance.
"Home is a four day journey from here," Fiyero told Glinda. A cold wind whistled past them. Elphaba shuddered fiercely.
"There's a storm coming. I can feel it."
"We'd better hurry and find shelter for you then," Fiyero said.
On the horizon a huge blanket of clouds was rapidly advancing.
"There's nowhere to run for cover. The clouds are moving too quickly!" Glinda cried.
Splat! A gigantic raindrop landed squarely on Fiyero's head. Plop! The rain was falling harder now.
"Fiyero!" Elphaba cried. Her face was twisted in pain. "It hurts like hell!" she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Everyone huddle together," Glinda said.
She pulled her wand from her pocket and waved it around them. A pink bubble formed, shutting out the stinging rain. Elphaba trembled on the smooth floor of the bubble. Glinda produced a white lace handkerchief from her other pocket and handed it to Elphaba.
"Thanks," she replied weakly.
She began to dab the wetness from her vibrant skin. The rain beat a soothing rhythm on the surface of the bubble. Fiyero cradled Elphaba in his arms. She soon fell fast asleep, her worn out body sagging against Fiyero's.
"So how are things with you and Sir Chuffrey?" Fiyero asked Glinda. Glinda sighed and looked away, her eyes shimmering with moisture.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."
"It's ok. It's just that I have no connection with him. It was a marriage for wealth and social status. He's always away on business, and he's old enough to be my father." Glinda chuckled a little and said, "Who would have thought that Glinda the Popular would end up being so unhappy while the green outcast..." She trailed off and looked from Elphaba to Fiyero. Fiyero lowered his head. "I am happy for you both. Really," Glinda said.
"Looking back I realize popularity isn't everything. And just between you and me, I was always jealous of Elphie."
Fiyero's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You?" he exclaimed.
"She was a little awkward when she was younger, but she blossomed into a beautiful, exotic young woman. And she always had gorgeous hair. I wish I had hair like hers."
"So that's why you used to treat her so horribly," Fiyero said.
Glinda nodded sadly. "I truly regret all the mean things I said and did to her."
"I'm sure she forgives you. She would never have come to see you if she hated you," Fiyero commented. He reached out and held Glinda's hand. "Stop beating yourself up. It's all in the past now."
Glinda gave him a small smile. Elphaba stirred in her sleep.
"She looks so peaceful when she's asleep," Glinda remarked. Fiyero nodded in agreement.
"Look the storm is over." Glinda removed the bubble as a rainbow stretched across the clear blue sky.
"How long have we been sitting here?" Elphaba asked groggily.
"About an hour," Fiyero answered.
"How are you feeling?" asked Glinda.
"A little stiff, but much better. Thanks again for your help. Maybe I should start traveling by bubble," said Elphaba.
The three friends exploded in a fit of laughter at the thought of Elphaba floating around in a pink bubble.
"In all seriousness, I could teach you how to conjure a bubble for occasions such as sudden rainstorms," Glinda offered.
"It would be a good skill to learn just in case. But right now we should continue on our way. The sooner we get back home the better," replied Elphaba.
They traveled day and night only stopping to eat and nap. They reached the cave at nightfall on the fourth day. As they came closer, Elphaba could sense that something was wrong.
"We shouldn't go in there," she said.
"What's wrong Fae?"
"I don't know. I just have a bad feeling."
"I'm going to take a look," Fiyero declared.
"Fiyero be careful" Elphaba pleaded.
"I will be," he said before giving her a quick kiss.
He crept slowly toward the cave. He could hear a fire crackling inside. He peered between two rock peaks and couldn't believe what he saw.
"Boq?" he inquired incredulously.
