Misunderstood

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

Chapter 12: Dear Old Shiz

The next morning when Elphaba awoke, Fiyero was gone. Thinking nothing of it, she got up and looked around for some breakfast. Finding none, she grew slightly agitated and anxious. Five minutes later, Fiyero walked through the door.

"Where were you? Did you get any food? I'm starving." Elphaba immediately asked him.

"Yes, sorry I didn't want to wake you this morning when I set off. You were in a pretty deep sleep." He said this with a grin.

Usually she didn't sleep very well, so this is why that comment was made. She punched him lightly in the arm. He brought a bit of juice, bread, some ham, and a little bit of fruit. They both sat quietly, enjoying their small but enjoyable breakfast. When it was done, Elphaba decided to get to the more important things at hand.

"So I was thinking about the visit that I'm going to be making to Glinda. I can't exactly be waltzing in there glowing so phosphorescently. Do you think that you could procure some makeup for me?"

"Elphaba I've never seen this side of you before."

"What are you talking about Fiyero?"

"I can't believe how vain you're being. You've been Glindafied!"

This only garnered him another hit.

"Oh, alright. I'll see what I can do. I'll get something so that you'll just look dark. That way, you can walk around in broad daylight and you won't be all that noticeable."

She nodded her thanks and sent him on his way. As soon as he was gone, she turned to look around at the small surroundings. It was a small kind of hut, with two cots, a tiny table, big enough only for two. There were also two small wardrobes, if one wanted to call them that, and one looking glass. She was suddenly startled by something jumping onto her shoulder.

"What in the name of Oz!"

She threw it off and started chanting a spell when she looked closer and recognized it.

"Malky? Oh goodness it is you!"

She picked up the small white cat and hugged it tightly. It hissed at her, never remembering this side of Elphaba. She let go of it and was just content to let it sit next to her on her small but cozy cot. Had Fiyero found the cat she wondered? Or was the cat really her familiar and had found her? She decided that with the current circumstances, that the latter was most likely more probable. Am I really a Witch now? I was called it before and I called myself it, but am I really one, through and through. So many things I wonder these days. I wonder how things are going with Glinda. I hope all is well. It will be a nice surprise to see her. She grinned when she thought of the expression that her best friend would have when she would see her. Elphie got back up and started pacing around again. I hope Fiyero gets back soon. I want to get out, feel the sun on my skin, walk around freely, and talk with out feeling inhibited, if only for a little while. It will be nice to get out and see Glinda. Malky followed right behind her, sometimes circling between her ankles. It made her laugh out loud.

"What are you laughing at?"

Fiyero was leaning on the doorframe with a paper bag in his hand. Elphaba slightly blushed, embarrassed at having been caught at having fun with a cat.

"I got you the makeup. I can help you put it on if you-"

"No, no it's ok. I can do it by myself. It will only take me a bit of time and then we'll be ready to leave."

She went over to the looking glass. By the time she was done applying it, she looked completely different. Her skin was a lovely dark color, and her brown eyes accented it beautifully. She felt normal for the first time in her life. They set out, and for the first time no one stared at her. She was grinning the entire time on the way over to the Chuffrey estate that Glinda had shared with her late husband, Sir Chuffrey. For the first time, no one is making any comments about me. No one is staring at me. I'm completely normal. I'm loving this!

At the front gate, she asked that to be announced as a long time friend from Shiz. The guard led her in to a pompously decorated front room, and Shenshen came out to greet her.

"I'm sorry Miss, but Miss Glinda is not in today."

This puzzled Elphaba a little.

"Well, do you know when she will be back in? It is extremely urgent that I see her."

Shenshen's face fell.

"No miss. I'm afraid that Miss Glinda has been missing for quite some time now. We have not been able to locate her, and a search will be under way shortly. Until then, please be very patient with us. Thank you and good day."

With that, Elphaba was ushered back outside, where Fiyero stood waiting.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

Elphaba's face had contorted into one filled with grief and fury and worry.

"Glinda's gone missing. I know just who took her. I have to find her, and fast. I have to before they do anything to her. Oh this is all because of me!"

Fiyero shook her a bit to get her back to her senses. He did this until her eyes cleared significantly.

"Fiyero I have to find her. This cannot go on. I will find her. Come with me. Starting tonight, we are going to look, find, and break Glinda out of what ever hell she is in right now."

With that, Elphaba took off storming down the street, back down to their hut that they shared.

A.N.: Sorry this was so short! I have a lot of work to do…because I got cast as Elphaba in a rendition of Wicked that my acting class is doing! Yay! So I'm sorry if these are shorter and take longer to put up. This chapter name refers to when Elphaba says she is a dear friend from Shiz. Enjoy!