Elphaba and Fiyero were the first couple to sneak into the hideout, being the most dangerous to be discovered. They tried to walk slowly, though with all the adrenaline, it was very difficult not to sprint to the supposed safety. She opened the door, fighting the urge to slam it shut behind her. Looking around she discovered the safehouse was a little apartment, decently sized enough to not arouse suspicion when several people came to "visit."
Boq and Nessa were next as with her new mobility, she was not easily recognizable. Her sister was having a little trouble walking having never done so before, but Boq took care of her quite well. Apparently whatever quarrel existed between them, he was still devoted to her, proof in the soft glances and unnecessary touches. Elphaba smiled. Her sister would be fine.
They sat in the living area on the couches there, nervously waiting for Glinda or capture, whichever fate held for them tonight. Reclining against Fiyero, Elphaba struggled to remain calm. His gentle touches were reassuring, but she just couldn't relax.
Nessa was the one who finally broke the tense silence. "I can't believe you're really here. I never thought I'd see you again. Father's been sick with worry." Elphaba scoffed unpleasantly; Father was not worried about her as much as the reflection on him. Her sister continued unabated, "I was worried. Where did you go? You just left. You didn't even say goodbye."
Again came the familiar guilt, but she had nothing she could say to make it better. Fiyero was the one who answered for her, sensing her loss of words, "She had to do what she had to do." She didn't want to face the emotional scene her sister would create at their reunion, so she snuck off to the privacy of the bathroom.
Splashing some water on her face, she heard his words to Nessa through the door, "I know it's hard to accept. It took me some time as well, but it's so much easier to forgive her when she's back."
Nessa's voice was that of a spoiled child, "She's just so selfish. She never thinks of anyone else's feelings."
"You know she just wanted to protect you. It's who she is. Can't you tell from how she risked her life to save you tonight?" For such strong words, he was so gentle about it. Elphaba cracked the door open to spy on them, still not trusting that the worst was over.
After a moment, Nessa seemed contrite. "You're right. I've just missed her so much. She was the one I depended on, and then she was gone. If it weren't for Boq, I don't know what I would have done." He nodded understandingly as Nessa continued, "It was more than just missing her help, you know? She's my sister. I love her."
Fiyero traded, "Trust me, I can sympathize."
Elphaba could see Nessa had stopped sniffling, and she took that as a sign to return. Entering the room, bashful and hesitantly, she suddenly felt like everyone was going to mob her with a group hug. She did want Nessa to feel better, but she just hated all the awkward emotional drama. Couldn't it just be enough that she had to go, and now she was back?
Glinda, with perfect timing as always, chose this moment to enter. She ran to Elphaba, pulling her into her arms. "Oh Elphie!" The two girls held each other, grateful to be together at last. Then Glinda turned, locked the door and came to greet the others. Boq merely nodded, and Nessa and Glinda shared a polite hug. Elphaba tried not to be jealous as Fiyero pulled Glinda into a tight hug, kissing her cheek and patting her back. After all, they had been extremely close, enough to pass off as engaged. She didn't doubt either of their devotion for her though, not being stupid enough to miss all the proof.
Then Glinda returned to Elphaba. "I was so afraid I'd never see you again." Glinda grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly, and Elphaba smiled widely at her friend.
She had missed Glinda more than anyone. Sitting arm and arm on the couch, they caught up amicably as if they were not hunted by evil forces.
Finally, Fiyero was the one who refocused them. "So…where do we go from here?" The mood darkened, and somber again, the group looked from face to face for some revelation. There was none to be found.
Glinda shook her head, "Well, you can't go back to where you were staying, and Nessa can't return to the governor's manor as it's been crushed." The story of Elphaba's life…there was always no going back.
Nessa's voice was shaky with this realization when she turned to Boq, "What are we to do then? Where are we going to go?" He obviously had no answers, shaking his head with opened mouth and shrugging helplessly.
Fiyero was surprisingly calm for the intensity of his words, "I don't think we can go on running any longer. It seems no matter how far we run, they always find a way to drag us back." Not us, me, she thought morbidly. It was her fault they were all in this position.
Glinda seconded this, nodding, "You can't hide either. They won't stop until they've found you. After the Monkeys' release, I'm afraid Madame Morrible is out for blood." Her eyes glanced guiltily toward Elphaba, and yet again she was struck with how this was all her fault.
Sighing, Elphaba stood up. "It's time to end this. I should never have dragged you all into it. I'm sorry. They'll leave all you alone if they have me." She certainly hadn't done any good as it was, terrorizing Oz and her friends with her own stupid principles. Perhaps it was time she grew up and accepted her shortcomings. Some things she cannot change, and hadn't she had enough time to try? "Then you can all have the lives you were meant to have."
Fiyero stood up, grasping her arm. "Absolutely not. That is not an option. Not even close!" They all stood up, rallying around her at this, and outnumbered, she reflected at Nessa's words. Perhaps she was just selfish, but how could she watch her friends suffer for her mistakes?
"It's not your choice to make," Glinda said softly. "We've all have a right to decide." Elphaba looked at her intently, finding it odd that Glinda would be the one to talk of choices, but Glinda refused to meet her eyes. She was, of course, right. Elphaba owed her friends too much of a debt to blindly ignore their wishes. As Fiyero would say, she had done enough deciding for everyone in the past. Her friend continued, "You can't just surrender like that. You already know it's not right." Damn her cursed goodness. Elphaba could see why they had added it to her friend's title.
At this, she relented, knowing she could not win arguing with them all at once, not with Fiyero's eyes and Glinda's words against her. They all stared at her, and she felt like a petulant child being reprimanded. She sighed, and nodded. Fiyero cupped her cheek gently, "Good, because I forbid you to be a martyr." She smirked at his commanding voice, as if he could ever command her. "But you are right…it's time this was over."
"Then we fight." Everyone turned to stare at Glinda, shocked that she would be the one to say it.
The strong words from Glinda's mouth struck a nerve in Elphaba's heart. How much had changed in these two lives that the vicious rebel would seek peace while the society queen would seek a war? Turning to her friend, the latter said to the former, "What's right is right. You taught me that. I'm just a slower learner. You've always been so much smarter than I've ever been. I should have gone with you the first time you asked. I'm sorry."
She clasped her friend's hands. "No, I'm sorry. Look how far you've gone, and I haven't accomplished anything except misery for those I care about. I'm just brash, stupidly clever. You're the smart one…the good one."
Glinda smiled at her friend, "I've heard it said some people…," but Boq interrupted her.
"Not to interrupt this little love-fest, but how exactly are we supposed to fight? There's only five of us."
Elphaba took control now, in her element once the decision to fight was made. "Well, we may be few, but we are very talented. Fiyero, do you remember their defense plans from when you were Captain of the Guard?" He nodded. "Glinda, could you find a way to get us inside?" She looked hesitant, but nodded.
They held council, discussing options and defense strategies, weaknesses and strengths. After a while, she let them talk, trying to clear her head. It felt as if the right way was just waiting in her subconscious to reveal itself, as if destiny had taught it to her in advance.
"That's it!" Everyone looked at her suddenly having been caught up in an argument about catapulting sheep or some such nonsense. She set up the plan, piece by piece, visualizing each part falling into place, each variable that could undo it and each precaution to counter it. It all made such sense. The puzzle came clear, and in that moment of clarity, Elphaba allowed herself to feel hope.
This was the answer all along. She was right to stand, but she couldn't overcome the Wizard by herself. Ah, the mistaken arrogance of youth. The lone wolf is always being hunted; it is the pack that does the hunting. This time would be different. She wasn't fighting alone.
Fiyero called Mercus, asking him to bring everything they would need and giving him the address. When the knock came at the door, Elphie prayed it was their old friend and not their undoing. Glinda opened the door, and when her eyes met Mercus's, their attraction was clear even to someone as socially clueless as Elphaba. She smiled for her friends' happiness, sharing a meaningful glance with Fiyero. The new couple stood in the door until Fiyero coughed loudly to bring their attention to the dangerous still-open door.
Blushing, they came inside, finally shutting the door to the night outside. Fiyero introduced them formally, fighting a wicked smile and winking behind their backs at Elphaba. Mercus cleared his throat, eyes nervously avoiding Glinda, and asked, "So what's the plan?" They all turned to look. "Well you needn't look so surprised. When have I ever been known to miss a good fight?" Fiyero laughed heartily, and the others smiled though they didn't get the joke.
Elphaba briefed him quickly until his soft chuckle grated on her nerves, still a little raw with all the uncertainty and heightened emotions of the last few days. "What exactly is so funny?"
His laugh grew, but he finally managed to contain it enough to say, "Who would imagine such a ballsy, tough-as-nails general would come in such a pretty package? You look so sweet, and then you plot cold-blooded murder. It's like a cuddly killer bunny." His laughter infected the others, and it only increased as her eyes narrowed. She didn't get it. She wasn't cuddly, and she was far closer to a viper than a bunny.
She glared at Fiyero, mid-guffaw, and he stopped short at her piercing glare. He cleared his throat nervously, then said to the others, "Not funny guys. Seriously." They only laughed harder at him, obviously a little terrified of her, and even she couldn't fight a smile at his attempt to get back on her good side. He took it in stride, "Hey, I know who I have to sleep with tonight…I'm not that much of an idiot." They laughed until tears came to their eyes.
She kissed Fiyero forgivingly, snuggling into him as she smiled and shared with her friends. So this was what it meant to be surrounded by friends and family. This was what it meant to be home.
She shook the sentimental thoughts from her head to focus on the task ahead of them. There was much work to be done.