Dusk slowly set in, ushering out the day as it beckoned in the night. She should have been back to camp by now, but walking always helped her think… and Ozma only knew how rambling her thoughts had been of late. So she ended up further away than she intended. Not that she was afraid of the dark or couldn't more than take care of herself if something came up. After all, she was Elphaba Thropp, the Wicked Witch of the West. There were just certain things she tried to avoid. Like…
Her breath caught in her throat as the sun dipped lower, casting the horizon in an array of pinks. The same shades Glinda had used in their dorm room at Shiz.
Glinda. Just thinking the woman's name tore at her heart.
She turned away, mentally kicking herself for being so childish. She was a grown woman for crying out loud. She should have been able to watch a sunset without turning into an emotional basket case. But today, of all days, she also should have been able to cut herself some slack. It was a year ago, almost to the very moment, that she 'died.'
And what a year it had been. She left Kiamo Ko with Fiyero fully intending for them to start a life together. But it didn't take long to realize that wasn't going to happen. Their relationship, which had been all heavy petting and a few intense make out sessions before his transformation, was non existent afterwards. He blamed it on his being a scarecrow but she knew that wasn't it at all. The problem wasn't him, it was her. Her heart belonged to Glinda. If she was completely honest with herself she knew it had since the very first time she laid eyes on the blonde. Admitting it to herself by telling Fiyero the truth was the final nail in the coffin of their floundering bond. He walked away without so much as a goodbye.
Not long after he left she stumbled across what she so lovingly referred to as the underbelly of Oz. A whole network of Animals and people she had knowingly and unknowingly helped escape the tyranny of the Wizard. A group desperately in need of leadership as they struggled to rebuild their lives and help others achieve the freedom they now enjoyed.
They welcomed her with open arms. Everyday brought new problems and challenges, but she basked in it. She was finally somewhere where no one judged her for the color of her skin or the family she was born into. They simply admired her for taking on the Wizard and respected what she had to say. It was like coming home to a family she never knew she could have.
All that and she still would have traded it away in a heartbeat to see Glinda again.
She closed her eyes, willing herself to stop. Fiyero had been right. It was too dangerous for Glinda to know she was alive. She would never forgive herself if something happened to the blonde because of her. So, as she had done so many times in her relatively short life, she buried her feelings and hoped they didn't resurface too often to torture her… Like today.
"An Oz note for your thoughts."
Elphaba jumped when she heard the voice, shocked to see Fiyero standing beside her.
"Sorry." He smiled. "I didn't mean to startle you."
"Yes you did." She half heartedly grinned.
"OK, maybe I did." His smile faded as he looked at her. She seemed so lost. "Are you OK?"
"Sure." She shrugged. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"You don't have to pretend with me, Fae." He used his nickname for her. "I know today can't be easy for you."
She looked at her shoes. "You're right, it's not. But I'm muddling my way through."
"That's my girl." Fiyero put his arm around her shoulders.
Unbeknownst to her, Fiyero had been welcomed into the underbelly too. A few months after their split they were thrust together on a mission to free a menagerie of animals being held captive not far from the Emerald City. Things were beyond awkward at first, but then they were forced to watch the other's back when a Gale Force squadron showed up. Knowing they could still rely on one another went a long way toward rebuilding the friendship they shared before they were a couple. She suspected he still had feelings for her, but she didn't dwell on it. If it ever became an issue, she would deal with it. Until then she was just glad to have someone around who knew her before she became the wicked witch.
"What are you doing out here anyway? Checking up on me?"
"No." He was quick to answer. "I just saw how late it was getting and thought I would give you an escort back." He sighed when he felt her staring at him. "Fine. You're right. I came to check on you."
Her grin was a little more sincere this time. "Thanks."
"Anytime."
Madame Morrible.
Her steps faltered as an image of the former press secretary filled her mind.
"Elphaba?" Fiyero frowned.
And a Gale Force officer. No, not just any officer… The captain of the guard.
"Hey."
A lavish room at the palace.
Fiyero turned her to face him, gripping her shoulders. "Fae?"
Glinda's shocked expression at seeing their former head mistress.
"Elphaba?!" He gave her a not so gentle shake.
The look of righteousness on Morrible's face as two Gale Force guards seized Glinda.
"Damn it Elphaba, you're starting to scare me!"
"I…" She struggled to form a thought. "I'm…" Her knees started to buckle.
"Whoa." Fiyero tightened his grip on her, helping her to a tree stump where he promptly sat her down. "Are you all right?"
"I think so." Her voice was little more than a whisper as she leaned forward, putting her head in her hands.
"What in the name of Oz was that?"
"I'm not sure." She took a deep, steadying breath. "But I think it may have been a vision."
"A vision?" He frowned. "Since when do you have visions?"
"I don't. At least I never have before. Well, once maybe."
"Which is it?"
"I don't know." She sighed. "When I first started at Shiz I had this… I'm not sure what to call it. Daydream? Peek inside my overactive imagination? It was about there being a celebration throughout Oz for me after I met the Wizard. In a warped kind of way it came true."
"What did you see this time?"
"Madame Morrible and the Gale Force Captain having Glinda arrested."
"Morrible?" Fiyero shook his head. "Now there's a name I could have done without hearing."
Elphaba nodded. "I know. That's what worries me."
"Why? She's in jail. And Glinda is the ruler of Oz. Why would anyone in the Gale Force arrest her?"
"I don't know. I could see flashes of what was going on but I couldn't hear anything."
Fiyero knelt beside her. "I don't think this is anything to worry about."
She looked at him. "You don't?"
"No. Remember what day it is? You're upset and thinking about Glinda. Something was bound to happen."
"But why Morrible?"
"Who knows?" Fiyero dismissed the question as he slipped his arm around her waist to help her stand. "You're still too pale for my liking. Let's get you back to camp."
"Miss Elphaba!" Chistery swooped in for a graceful landing beside them. "A messenger just brought this for you. It's from the Emerald City."
"The Emerald City?" Elphaba's brow creased as she pulled away from Fiyero to take the piece of parchment the monkey offered.
"We just got a report yesterday." Fiyero frowned as he watched her read.
"Great Oz!"
"What?"
Her hands shook. "It's Morrible."
"Morrible?" He snatched the parchment, reading it for himself. "This is impossible. How could she have escaped from Southstairs?!"
"I wish I knew." Elphaba thought for a moment. "Chistery, please go get my broom for me."
"Your broom?" Fiyero echoed her words. "Where are you going?"
"Where do you think? To the Emerald City."
"What?!" He looked at her like she was crazy. "You've got to be kidding!"
"Far from it."
"Stop and think about what you're saying."
"I am. First I have that vision and then we receive word that Morrible escaped from prison." She shook her head. "It's too coincidental."
"Don't move a muscle, Chistery." Fiyero gripped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "You can't go back there, Elphaba. It's too dangerous."
She stared into his eyes. "Do as I say, Chistery."
The winged monkey looked back and forth between the two of them.
"Chistery?" Elphaba's tone was questioning.
"Yes, Miss Elphaba." With that he was gone.
"Are you completely insane?" Fiyero's turned away from her to pace. "You don't know that this has anything to do with your vision. Going back there is suicidal!"
"You're acting like I'm going to get caught."
"You're supposed to be dead, Elphaba! Not to mention you're the only green person Oz has ever seen!! Do you really think no one will realize you're there?!"
"Well, it is the Emerald City. I can blend in."
"Elphaba!"
She rolled her eyes at his frustration. "I'm not stupid, Yero. I'll be careful."
"That's not the point!" He growled the words. "Why can't you just send word to your contact in the palace to keep an eye on the situation? Then you can go if something happens."
"What contact?"
"The one you sent to keep tabs on Glinda."
"I didn't…"
"I'm not stupid either, Elphaba. I know you've been getting reports other than the ones you let me see."
She started to say something more but thought better of it.
"You trusted whoever it is enough to send them in the first place. Surely they can handle that small task."
"I know she can, but she could be in danger too."
"She?"
Elphaba shook her head. "Let's just say I can make it to the city faster than one of the monkeys and leave it at that."
Chistery chose that moment to appear with her broom. Elphaba took it, giving him a loving scratch on the head before turning back to Fiyero.
"I have to go."
"No you don't."
"Yes I do. I have to make sure Glinda is safe."
"To hell with Glinda!" Fiyero gestured angrily with his hands. "I'm not exactly proud of how shallow I was when I came to Shiz, but compared to her I was an ocean! She ridiculed you endlessly. And even after the two of you supposedly got so close she turned her back on you and became a pawn in the Wizard's game."
"Fiyero…"
"You weren't with her. She was at that bastard's beckon call! And what, exactly, has she accomplished since taking over?"
"That's not fair. There has been a lot of unrest…"
"You trusted her to pick up where you left off and she hasn't!" Fiyero spoke over her. "I don't understand how you can still call her your friend."
"She's not just my friend!!"
"I don't understand whatever it is you think you feel for her either."
She clinched her jaw. "You're right, you don't understand."
"Obviously not." He sighed. "But I do know this. I can't let you go."
"Let me?" Elphaba chuckled humorlessly. "What are you going to do, take away my broom and send to me to my room without dinner?"
"Elphaba…"
"I'm not asking your permission. I wouldn't even if I had to. I walked away from her once, Fiyero. I can't… No I won't do it again. Especially when she could be in danger. She needs me."
"What about the rest of us who need you?"
"You've never needed me. As for everyone else, they'll still have you."
Fiyero sighed. "I can't believe this is happening."
"Well it is. But don't worry, I'm doing the right thing."
"No you're not!"
"Yes I am." She kissed him on the cheek. "Keep everyone safe while I'm gone." With that she climbed on her broom and pushed herself away from the ground.
"Damn it Elphaba." He watched her go. "You don't deserve her, Glinda. You never have."