"Would you slow down?" Addena groused.

"I can't. We have to get to my room." Glinda said, practically running.

"I'm serious." Addena grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop in the middle of the hallway. "Breaking your neck won't help Elphaba or Breena. And neither will making me keel over from a heart attack." She leaned forward to try to catch her breath. "Have you been training for the Ozian marathon or something?"

"We need to go."

"Glinda…"

"Dena, I don't have time for jokes right now. We have to get the Grimmerie."

"Fine." Addena straightened up before gesturing dramatically with her hand. "Where you lead I shall follow."

Glinda sighed. "Dena."

"No time for jokes means no time for chit chat either, right?"

"I didn't mean to upset you."

"Who's upset? I just thought maybe we could talk as we made a mad dash for your room but obviously I was mistaken. You can fill me in on things like why everyone thinks you were kidnapped, what the former press secretary to the Wizard is doing trashing our parents room and when you fell in love with the Wicked Witch of the West later." She ticked the topics of discussion off with her fingers as she spoke. "Oh, and your welcome for me saving your life a few minutes ago."

"I didn't say thank you did I?" Glinda felt horrible. She had to help Elphie but she didn't want to hurt her sister in the process. "I'm sorry, Dena. You know I love you." She pulled her into a tight embrace. "Thanks."

"I love you too. And you're welcome." She returned the hug. "I'm just glad you're all right."

"And I'm glad you paid attention in your 'how to bring people back from the dead' class at medical school." Glinda pushed away to look at her. "Still friends?"

"We're not friends, we're sisters." Addena drank in her features. "And please don't talk about your being dead. It's something I'd rather not think about."

"OK. It kind of creeps me out too."

Addena grinned. "Let's go get your book."

Glinda took her hand as they started walking again. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Don't call Elphie the Wicked Witch of the West anymore."

"I…" She was taken aback by the request. "You really love her, don't you?"

"With all my heart." Glinda got a dreamy look on her face. "I can't stand that so few others see her the way I do."

"How's that?"

"Kind. Compassionate. Loving. She's amazing, Dena. She really is. She doesn't deserve to be hated."

Addena pursed her lips. "There's a lot more to her story than anyone knows, isn't there?"

"You have no idea." Glinda sighed.

"Give me the highlights."

"What?"

"You know, like we used to do when we were in school and would go out with our friends. No gory details, just the high points."

"All right. But where to start?" She thought about it for a second. "Elphie never really used magic before she came to Shiz. She always could, but she was already green and didn't want to draw any more attention to herself."

Addena nodded. "Completely understandable."

"But she slipped up our first day on campus and had a very public display of what she could do. Madame Morrible realized how powerful she was and arranged for her to meet the Wizard. She took me with her and when we got to the palace The Wizard asked her to prove herself by performing a spell out of the Grimmerie."

"But no one can read the Grimmerie. That's what makes it so mysterious."

"Elphie can."

Addena's jaw dropped. "Get out!"

"She thought she was helping the Wizard's monkey servant but…"

"Ended up giving it wings." Addena finished for her, still in awe.

"Yes, she did. But she didn't mean to." Glinda was quick to defend her love, wanting her sister to understand. "She would never willingly hurt an Animal. That's why she agreed to see the Wizard in the first place, to defend one of our professors who lost his job because he was a goat."

"Calm down, Linny. I'm not passing judgment here. It's just, coming from a magical family and finding out someone can read the Grimmerie…" She shrugged. "It's a lot to absorb."

"Oh." Glinda looked relieved. "I was afraid you were still buying into the lies Morrible spread when she was the press secretary."

Addena shook her head. "Not at all. But what did Elphaba ever do to her to make her say such horrible things?"

"She realized the Wizard had no real powers."

"He didn't?"

"None." Glinda confirmed. "He wanted to use Elphie to gain control of Oz."

"But he was already in control."

"Not really. See, there's a group of men known at the Merchant's Council who hold the real power. They used him and I both as spokespeople, but they make all the decisions."

"Why doesn't anyone know about them?"

"Because they prefer to stay behind the scenes. That way if they rub the public the wrong way they're not the bad guys."

"Wow." Addena sighed.

"I know." Glinda sympathized with her overwhelmed sister. "Elphie thought the Wizard wanted her to help him continue his persecution of the animal community so she stole the Grimmerie and ran. But she knew too much. The Wizard left it up to Morrible to make sure she was caught and she turned the public against Elphie by calling her wicked. She was good at her job, I'll give her that." She was on the verge of tears. "Everyone thinks Elphie is evil."

Addena wrapped an arm around her waist. "I don't. And I'll never use the 'w' word where she's concerned again."

"Thanks." Glinda leaned her head against Addena's shoulder.

"Don't mention it." She watched her sister for a moment. "You loved her before all that happened, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Then why weren't the two of you together?"

"Because we were both naïve and stupid and scared. I gave her up for the life I thought I wanted. And she let me think she was dead to protect me from everyone in Oz, knowing they would turn against me if they knew the truth."

"She loves you too." Addena was developing a new respect for Elphaba.

Glinda nodded. "And we're together now. That's all that matters."

"So you weren't kidnapped."

"Not by Elphie."

"Were you by someone else?" Addena's tone was joking and she almost smiled until she saw the look on her sister's face. "Who kidnapped you?"

"Morrible and Nevin." Glinda said the names like they left a bad taste in her mouth.

"Nevin?" Addena frowned. "Isn't he the new Gale Force Captain? The one who took over when you disappeared?" Glinda nodded. "He's Morrible's son?" She wrinkled her nose when her sister nodded again. "Who in their right mind would… Never mind. I don't even want to know." She shook off an imaginary shiver. "Why did they kidnap you?"

"They were going to throw me in Southstairs and make it look like I disappeared so they could rule Oz. Luckily Breena was there to get me away from the palace."

"Breena?"

"Elphaba was worried about me after she went into hiding, so she asked her to come to the Emerald City to keep an eye on me." Glinda thought about sharing her suspicions with her sister but knew now wasn't the most opportune time. "They're cousins."

"Really?" Addena narrowed her eyes, picturing the two women in her mind. "I guess there is a family resemblance now that you mention it. But how did Breena know what Morrible and Nevin were up to?"

"She was one of my private Gale Force guards."

"What?!"

Glinda couldn't help but grin. "She glamoured herself into a man and joined the guard to watch over me."

Addena chuckled in admiration. "Talk about taking a request seriously."

"I'm glad she did. Otherwise I'd be locked up in Southstairs."

"And she took you to Elphaba."

"No, actually Elphie had a vision about what was happening to me and…"

"Hold it. Elphaba has visions?" Addena whistled. "That's some pretty serious magic."

"Tell me about it." Glinda shook her head. "She had one on our way here and fainted. But don't tell her I said that. She refuses to believe she could do something as girly as faint."

Addena smiled. "I think I'm going to like her."

The corner of Glinda's mouth turned up. "I know you will."

"So finish your story." Addena encouraged her by gesturing with her hand. "What happened after the two of you hooked up again?"

"There's not much else to tell." Glinda shrugged. "Breena managed to flag down Elphaba when she was on her way to the palace. Since then it's been all fights with the Gale Force and brushes with death."

"I asked you not to talk about that." Addena glowered.

"I was referring to Elphie's, not mine."

"Her too?"

"She was stabbed in the chest. If Breena hadn't been there to heal her she would have…" Glinda swallowed hard, tears swimming in her eyes. "It was awful. I almost lost her before I could tell her how I felt."

Addena tightened her grip on her sister. "Then we won't talk about that either." She added, "Your life sounds like one of those sappy plays Mom used to drag me to when Dad refused to go," hoping to lighten the mood.

"As long as it doesn't become a tragedy." Glinda pulled away as her old room came into view. "Finally." She hurried forward.

"Damn." Addena made a face as she followed Glinda inside. "I forgot how pink this room is."

"At least it's not purple like yours."

"Mine hasn't been purple since I was twelve." She bantered back.

"Lavender is still a form of purple." Glinda grinned. "I've missed talking to you like this."

"I've missed you too. Now let's get your book and…"

"Yes, let's get the book."

They both turned when they heard Morrible's voice to find her standing in the doorway.

"Don't look so shocked to see me dearies." Her tone was mocking. "You were chatifying away loud enough for half of Oz to hear you. All I had to do was follow the sound of your voices to find where you'd gone." She looked at Glinda. "And thank you for filling in the details of your escape from the palace. It had me quite flummoxed. That Breena was a talented girl though, wasn't she, changing herself into a man and posing as a guard."

Addena frowned. "Was?"

"Yes, as in past tense. You see, I dealt with her."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Glinda looked past the older woman, hoping to see Elphaba and/or Breena coming up the hall.

"Just what it sounds like." Morrible followed her gaze, clicking her tongue. "I'm afraid they won't be joining us. They're, shall we say, otherwise indisposed."

The Uplands shared a look. Glinda rolled her eyes toward the wardrobe, letting her sister know it held the Grimmerie. Addena didn't nod, but Glinda knew her message got across.

"What the hell does that mean?" Addena returned her attention to their guest.

"Such language." Morrible shook her head. "Young ladies shouldn't…"

"Skip the lecture, you're not my mother. Thank Oz," Addena made a show of being relieved.

"There's not need to be rude."

"I'm being truthful, not rude. Now tell us what you did with Elphaba and Breena."

Glinda inched her way toward the wardrobe, trying her best not to attract Morrible's attention. Her first practice wand was with the Grimmerie. Just a few more steps and she could open the wardrobe door, grab it and…

"I killed them."

The earth stopped turning as Glinda looked at her. "What did you say?"

"I killed them." Morrible repeated herself. "Surely you didn't think those Gale Force dolts would be enough of a challenge for me to slip by them unnoticed."

"You're lying."

"No, Glinda, I'm afraid I'm not. I can give you a play by play if you'd like to hear it."

Addena didn't like how pale her sister had become. "Why don't you…"

"They were holding their own, blocking my spells and knocking the guards around." Morrible spoke over her. "They worked incredibly well as a team. I could have taught them so much in one of my seminars at Shiz. But I digress."

"Glinda?" Addena tried to get her attention but she seemed to be mesmerized by what the older woman was saying.

"They used that magnificent transportation spell to get rid of the guards right after you left the room. Luckily I remembered the shielding spell, what did you say her name was? Breena? I tried the spell she used to protect you from the wall debris when I arrived and it worked." She looked at the elder Upland. "I meant to apologize for the unfortunate mess I made. Tell your parents to send the repair bills to the palace and I will be sure to compensate them."

"Shut up." Glinda's words were barely audible.

Morrible cocked her head. "What's that dear?"

"I said shut up!"

"But you haven't heard the best part of the story yet. How I waited until Elphaba and her sidekick were concentrating on the guards to hit them with one of my specialities." Morrible's voice rang with pride. "A mini tornado. It really was a sight to see."

"SHUT UP!!" Glinda glared at her.

"Now, now Glinda. There's no need to…"

"Agito!"

Morrible's words stuck in her throat as she flew back down the hallway.

Addena watched her go. "How did you do that?"

"Breena taught me." Glinda's voice was flat as she opened the wardrobe, shoving some clothes on the bottom aside to reveal the Grimmerie and her practice wand.

"You don't believe her, do you? You don't think they're… That Elphaba and Breena are…"

"Let's go." She took her sister's hand again and started out of the room only to stop in her tracks when she saw Morrible walking toward them.

"I'm afraid you can't get rid of me that easily." She smiled menacingly as she threw her hands out in front of her.

The resulting gust of wind knocked them back into the room. Addena's right knee hit the edge of the bed, causing her to flip over the mattress and land on the floor on the side opposite the door. Glinda flew into her vanity, yelping when her still tender shoulder slammed into the mirror. They were both too stunned to do much of anything as Morrible came back in the room.

"Give me the book, Glinda."

"Never." The blonde tightened her grip on the ancient text.

"Very well." Morrible started to draw back her hand only to have her arms pinned behind her by Addena.

"Get out of here!"

Glinda looked at her sister. "I can't…"

"Do you really want to see what she's going to pull out of her bag of tricks next?" Addena raised her eyebrows. "I didn't think so. Just…"

Morrible shifted her weight, throwing Addena off balance enough that she freed her arms. She shoved the older girl roughly to the floor. "You pups are starting to get on my nerves." She reached for Glinda. "Now give me," her hands closed around the back cover of the Grimmerie, "the book!"

"No!" Glinda struggled with her, ignoring the pain in her shoulder as they played tug of war.

Addena found herself nose to handle with Glinda's old wand. She quickly picked it up and wasted no time pointing it at Morrible, saying the first thing that came to mind. "Back off!"

Morrible tightened her grip when she felt herself being shoved backward. Glinda did the same thing in the hopes of breaking the other woman's hold. Unfortunately the Grimmerie wasn't build for such abuse. The binding gave way, leaving each of them with half of the book.

Morrible somehow managed to stay on her feet and started to lunge toward Glinda again.

"Don't even think about it!" Addena kept the wand trained on her.

The older woman sneered, looking back and forth between them. "I guess part of it is better than none." She laughed as a whirlwind engulfed her.

"Wait!" Glinda started to reach for her.

"No!" Addena grabbed her sister and pushed her back against the vanity, afraid she would be pulled out of the room by the whirlwind. She held her in place as Morrible crashed through the wall, her laughter echoing around them long after she disappeared.

"Are you all right?" Addena stood up as soon as she was gone, barely waiting a second to ask again. "Glinda, are you all right?!"

"I…" She stammered as she looked down at the remains of the Grimmerie in her hands. "What are we going to do now?"

Addena pulled her into a hug, wondering the same thing herself.