"Not much of a wizard I'm afraid," Oscar admitted with a sheepish smile. "But yes. At one time I was known to the people of this good nation as the Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
"But you…you left Oz," Selky protested.
"I tried," the old man informed her. "But apparently it's harder to get out than in. I'm not quite sure how Dorothy managed." Selky stared in disbelief at the person before her. In all technicality Oscar was her grandfather. She sat back down with a thud, trying to take all this in. "Are you going to turn me in to Glinda?" he wondered bitterly, clearly not caring if she did.
"It would be more appropriate to turn you in to Elphaba," Selky hissed. Her response to any negative situation was hostility.
"Elphaba?" The broken man's eyes sprang to life at the mention of that name. "Elphaba's alive?"
"And ruling Oz," Selky replied. Tears rolled down Oscar's suddenly bright face.
"Oh my Lord," he whispered. "Could you take me to her?"
"No." The teenager's response was quick and final. "I'm not ready to go back. Get someone to give you a ride to the Emerald City. You'll find Elphaba in the palace." At that moment Selky stood and marched towards the entrance to the cave.
"You're leaving?"
"The storm's letting up," she explained. "And I'm not sure I want to hang around the man who dictated Oz for so many years." Oscar flinched and her tone softened. "I've got nothing against you as a person, but right now you've got your business to attend to and I've got mine." And with that the young girl departed, disappearing into the night sky.
***
Elphaba was at a loss. She continually muttered a finding spell but the results, a spark of light in the direction of the person she sought, were obscured by thick clouds and blinding rain. A growl of frustration twisted its way out of her throat. Where was she? Where would an upset teenager run to be alone? The green girl suddenly remembered how similar she and Selky were. Where would she run if the situation were reversed? Shiz.
***
Curyn was awakened from her peaceful slumber by the sound of something scratching on the outside of her window. Shrieking, due to a hibbie jeebie inducing book she'd read earlier, the blonde jerked out of bed. Moments later she was able to identify the figure hovering outside her window as nothing more menacing than Selky. Still shaking Curyn opened the latch and her very wet roommate spilled in. "What happened?" the strawberry blonde wanted to know.
"I ran away from home," Selky replied, getting to her feet and setting the broom against a wall. "Well from the palace anyway."
"Why?"
"What's it to you?" Curyn's cheeks darkened as she realized that her words had implied concern.
"Nothing," she snapped. "I was trying to be nice."
"Trying being the operative word," Selky growled, collapsing onto her bed. "I'm not in the mood to deal with you so please be quiet." Time stretched thin the space between them.
"Are you ok?" The only response Curyn received was a barely intelligible grunt. More silence. "Thank you."
"For what?" Selky demanded.
"For keeping my secret the other day," the blonde explained. "And for tutoring me." Curyn understood that Selky was hurting right now. She also understood that someone as hostile as her roommate would only open up if she exposed herself first. "I'm sorry I was always so mean to you," Curyn continued, forcing herself to go on. "I guess I was just jealous."
"Jealous?" Now Selky was sitting up on her bed, eyes curious and wary.
"Of you and Corusca," Curyn told her. "You two were so close and I'd never had a real friend. Even my parents hate me; they've tried to marry be off at least ten times." She let the words hang there. Selky could see the olive branch she was being offered; the question was whether or not to take it. A thousand snarky comments ran through her head, all of them having found their origin on Curyn's tongue. Animals are stupid, the witch probably tricked them into thinking she was framed or something. Your opinion is unwanted here; why even express it. Good riddance.
"I suppose your loudly voiced opinions on the subject of Animals stemmed from this same jealously?" Selky questioned, trying to keep her tone neutral. She was still undecided.
"No," Curyn admitted, looking down. "Those opinions stemmed from airheadedness. I never did like to think; it was easier to just accept was the Wizard and Morrible were telling us."
"When did that change?"
"When you punched me in the face actually," the blonde told her with a wary grin. "I suppose you could say it knocked some sense into me." The raven haired girl smiled.
"Sorry about that." Both girls looked away, unsure how to go on. Though the moment was jerky and awkward a bridge had been crossed, if only a small one. Just at that moment green fire smashed the door open. Elphaba whirled into the dorm and promptly captured Selky in a tight embrace. Curyn was rather baffled to see Oz's fearsome ruler hugging her roommate in such a gentle, caring way. She was equally puzzled by the tears running down the green woman's face. The reunion was sweet but brief. A second later Elphaba drew back and cast her daughter a very stern look.
"If you ever do that to me again I will personally see to it that you are grounded until you die," she snapped fervently. "We had half the Gale Force searching for you." Selky's eyes widened.
"B..but why?"
"Because you disappeared into one of the biggest lightning storms I've seen in years," the green woman growled. "And we were worried."
"But after what I said…" The surprised teenager trailed off. She could find no trace of fury in Elphaba's eyes. "I'm sorry."
"You're forgiven," Oz's ruler assured her. "Now if Miss Curyn will excuse us I'm taking you home."
"There's something I've got to tell you first," Selky insisted, grabbing the green woman's hand. "I landed in the woods before I came here…the Great Gilikin Forest I think and well…I found the Wizard."
Duh duh duh duh…the drama bomb has been dropped…oh snap! What will happen now that the cat (or Wizard in this case) is out of the bag?...well we all know Elphaba's reaction will be quite violent whatever it is…