Misunderstood

A.N.: Thank you so much for the reviews! They are indeed very helpful in my writing. If any of you thought that I had made a mistake in the last chapter name, I appreciate you being courteous enough to point it out, but it actually ties into my story ;) Enjoy! And sorry for the Witch of the East thing. Typo.

Disclaimer: I do not own Wicked or any of the characters involved with it, with the exception of the ones that I create.

Chapter 3: Good Witch Bad Witch

Nearly a month had passed since Elphaba had returned from the dead. Things had begun to return as they were before, with her diligently studying her books and experimenting on more animals like Chistery. Nanny had easily recovered from her slight hysteria and from her fainting spell. Liir had begun to tag along near Elphie, just like when he was a little boy. But, things are not always as they seem…since she had come back, some strange occurrences had been witnessed by the residents of Kiamo Ko. As she had been improperly named the Wicked Witch of the West, nothing really out of the ordinary (in her terms) had been seen out of her before her death. However, as of late, she had noticed that her temper was the cause of some odd happenings. For instance: if one day she was in a particularly bad mood, a large storm would brew. This was no ordinary storm though. The thunder shook the stronghold and the lightening temporarily blinded everyone, but not once did a single drop of rain fall. Other times, if she found herself wishing that she had something, a trivial object, she would find that it would appear at the moment it was needed, which was very weird indeed. No one questioned why these things were happening, but she knew that it was on their minds. Even if they had asked, she couldn't have given them a viable or believable answer. These questions would have to be thought about and figured out later. Right now, there were more important things to attend to.

Although she was…content with her present settings, she found herself itching to get back on the political scene. She had not fully completed the task that was given to her before she had left to Kiamo Ko. Although she did succeed in, um, ruining Madame Morrible's corpse, she had not finished painting the big picture. She could use to her advantage the fact that nearly everyone thought that she was dead and gone, but it could also be a curse. If the Wizard (or whoever was in his place now; she wasn't fully up to date on these things) found out her existence, she would be in a tight place. On the other hand, she also wanted to talk to someone that she knew would keep quiet. Being around an old nanny and a young, awkward boy a person didn't really get much of a chance to actually have some intellectually stirring conversation. Going back to the Emerald City would be extremely risky, as well as very painful. The thoughts and memories of Fiyero had not left her in the least. Fiyero…no, I have to get over thinking of him so incessantly. Sarima and her sisters are gone now (Sarima not even letting me even start my confession and apology, the stubborn woman) so no reminder of him should remain…she knew that this was an extremely foolish statement, as she was living in the very house that he and his family had lived in for so long. She had to get away, and soon.

Glinda of the Arduenna Clan was sitting in her late husband's large mansion and thinking about the days that she spent at Shiz University. She chuckled when remembering insistent Boq. Dear old Boq, he never took no for an answer. Even when I purposefully avoided him, he found someway every single time to get to me. Or at least around me. If it hadn't been for dear Elphie, I would have never even considered getting to know him. She frowned slightly. Now there was a subject that she had not thought about for a while. Not since the widely proclaimed murder of the Witch. Oh, I wish that we had left each other on better terms. That last tussle was horrible. I should have gone after her rather than just call out to her! And now she's dead! Would I that I had one more chance at reconciliation…she got up from her recliner and began to walk aimlessly around the house.

The news of Elphaba's death had hit her tremendously hard. She had lost her husband, Sir Chuffrey, a mere few days before the news had reached the Emerald City. The death of her best friend had been nearly too much to comprehend. She had known and enjoyed Elphaba's company since their days at Shiz. Although they did not get along at first, they soon became close friends. In the period after she had left Glinda in the Emerald City all alone, she had been feeling quite angry and empty. She could not put into words the feeling that a part of her was missing, that she was incomplete in some odd way. During their last and final encounter, Glinda had felt whole and happy, like she hadn't in years. The brief meeting had been good (in the very beginning), but at the very end of it, she had found that she was being pushed away, like she wasn't wanted. Elphaba had confirmed that when she continued on her way, never turning back. Tears sprang to her eyes. If she was feeling this way, it was hard to imagine the way that the rest of Elphie's family was feeling. A great idea suddenly hit. Starting tomorrow, she would make the long journey (with the help of her magic to make it much faster) to Kiamo Ko, where she supposed that the rest of her friend's family remained, and visit them to help get some of the abounding grief out of the way.

Glinda quickly hurried to pack, careful not to bring anything too elaborate or fabulous, which was very hard for her. I wonder what it will be like seeing them. I wonder if her old nanny is still around. At least I'll be sure to know one person, if that is the case. She grinned. Even though this is going to be a most bittersweet reunion, I can hardly wait for it! I'll finally get some sort of closure, some sense of it. She grabbed what she called her "commoners" clothing and threw it into the carpet bag. I wish tomorrow would come sooner…her head snapped up as she had another great idea. She packed the rest of her clothing and hurried to get the necessary food and water. It only took her a few more moments before she was ready to set off. "Kiamo Ko, here I come!" She walked out of the front door into the courtyard, and vanished.

Elphaba had begun to prepare for her departure. But one thing had puzzled her, since the night that she and Nanny had shared that highly spiritual talk. Nanny had mentioned Yackle rather than the Kumbric Witch. She hadn't realized it at first, but nonetheless it was somewhat annoying to her now. Nanny is very old now. She probably meant to say the other rather than Yackle. A persistent feeling told her that this was not the case. Who really knows? I will just have to pay a visit to Yackle once I arrive. She went off in search of her broom. She looked up and down, all over the castle, inside and out. It was nowhere to be found. Then, her memory came crashing back to her. That girl! Oh how I hate her! The thing that I need to make the way faster and she took it from me! First she comes here under the pretense that she is going to murder me and has her friends come with her. Then as I'm trying to undo the whole situation, she corners me and apologizes for killing Nessa?! A storm started to brew. That little…her anger was flaring dangerously high. Already she could hear the distant thunder and could see the first bright flashes of lightening. I need my broom. As soon as she had thought that, she heard a small thud on the ground. What now? She was completely thrown off. Her broom had materialized and was leaning against the wall. "Oh my…" The broom quivered and came slowly across the room to her. There was no mistaking it. This was the broom that Dorothy had taken from her to the Emerald City.

There was too much to pack! She needed her books, documents, Chistery (who was nowhere to be found once again), far too many things to mention. The storm was also coming nearer and rearing its ugly head. I hate today. Lightening flashed, and thunder boomed. Even if I was all ready and packed, there is no way in Oz that I would be traveling in this storm. It would be suicide! Elphaba decided to take a much needed break, and went downstairs to the entry hall. She sunk down in her favorite chair in front of the fireplace, drinking in and savoring the luscious warmth. Her eyes became droopy, and she dozed off…

She was back at Shiz. Boq was there, pesky as ever. He was asking her if she could set her up with Galinda. "I'm not sure if I could convince her to come out of Shiz with me, Boq. I know that she really doesn't like me very much at all, and wishes even less to be seen with me in public." He looked desperate. He was starting to break out in a sweat in his effort to meet up with Galinda. "Elphie, may I call you Elphie? Please just try once. I'll forever be in your debt." He bowed his head. It looked absolutely pathetic. She rolled her eyes. "Don't call me Elphie again…but…I will consider trying to get her to come out. For my sake, so you won't pester me again." A loud banging suddenly entered her dream. She shook herself, and was fully awake. It must have just been the dream. She stretched, but heard it again. That's strange. No one ever comes up this way. She walked over to the door, and the banging continued.

As she got there, a voice was to be heard. It was drowned out by the thunder and the wind, but it sounded feminine. Why in the world would a woman be coming up to these remote parts? Of course, I could be mistaken. It could be a small, less than masculine man. She couldn't blow her cover just yet, though. Luckily, Liir was just coming down the stairs. "Do me a favor, will you? Go and open the door for me." Liir was disgruntled, and complained quite a bit in the process, but he obliged anyway. She was just turning around as he opened the door and let the person in. Judging from the way that he responded in speaking to them, it was indeed a girl. "I'm so sorry for barging in like this, but this is Kiamo Ko, is it not?" Elphaba recognized that voice. She froze in her steps. "I am looking for an old woman named Nanny. Does she live here? I come trying to make peace with her family. Her former charge was a very dear friend of mine." The Wicked Witch tried to move once again, but her legs would not obey her. She heard footsteps behind her. No it can't be. "Excuse me, do you know where Nanny is? I really do need to find her." Don't you dare answer Elphaba. Don't you dare. This isn't the time or the place for this.. Just walk away. Plain and simple. Just walk away. "Miss?" The footsteps ensued again, and came in front of her. "I'm looking for…oh Lurline." The Wicked Witch of the West and The Good Witch of the South were face to face.