Chapter 9: Witch in Shining Armor

When Elphaba and Glinda made it downstairs, they were met by group of Ozians who had come to comfort the King and Queen after hearing the Princess' fate. Everyone was clearly stunned when the saw who came down the stairs.

"Princess Glinda is awake, but The Wicked Witch has taken her as a hostage!" One Ozian shrieked in terror. The royal Gale Force guards wasted no time surrounded the green woman, and pointing their spears at her.

"Don't be fearful! She means you or myself no harm. Her name is Elphaba, and she's a hero. It's because of her I'm no longer in my forever sleep," Glinda said, as she took the green witch's arm, and led her away from the guards up to her where her parents sat.

"Do you mean to say this woman, this Wicked Witch, awakened you?" King Galal questioned in shock.

"Yes, it was Elphaba's kiss that awakened me, not Prince Fiyero's kiss. If you, for some reason, don't believe my words then ask the noble three fairies. Madam Morrible, Nanny, and Yackle all witnessed my awakening by Elphaba's lips. The Upland King and Queen turned to the three fairies for confirmation.

"Princess Glinda's words ring true," Yackle proclaimed.

"It was a Witch's kiss, not a Prince's kiss that saved our beloved Good Witch," Nanny added.

"Elphaba is a truly a hero," Madam Morrible piped in.

"This is insane!" A great shout came forth. It was Fiyero. His eyes were angry as he stormed forward. "This disgusting green skinned woman is a Wicked Witch! A daughter of Maleficent and you are treating her like savior!"

"That is because she is a savior, you twit!" Morrible growled at the Prince.

"Princess Glinda is only awake because of Elphaba. You didn't do squat," Yackle turned to face Fiyero. "The only reason why you didn't get killed by Maleficent is because we aided you."

"Surely King Galal and Queen Larena, won't stand for this," Fiyero said, as his gaze rose up to look at the Upland King and Queen.

King Galal gazed at Glinda and asked, "Who do you love my daughter? Do you love a Prince? Or a Witch?"

"I love Elphaba," Princess Glinda answered, with out hesitation. "To be completely honest, I have no feelings towards Prince Fiyero. I choose Elphaba."

"I can see that Elphaba not only saved my daughter, but has won her heart as well. Well as long as my daughter is happy then I am happy," The wise King Galal replied.

"Same here," Queen Larena added, as she gave a wide grin to her daughter.

"No!" Fiyero screamed, as he pulled Glinda away from the green woman and placed a dagger to her throat.

"Elphie!" Glinda cried out.

"Glinda!" Elphaba shouted in fear for her love.

"You're all mad! All of you! Well I won't let Princess Glinda fall to a Wicked Witch. Don't anyone move! I would hate to harm the Good Witch's elegant neck," Fiyero snarled, before dragging Glinda out of castle.

Once they were outside a carriage was waiting for them. King Frederick sat as the carriage driver. As soon as Prince Fiyero pushed himself and Princess Glinda inside the coach they drove off.

"Sweet Oz, we should have let Maleficent eat Prince Fiyero," Nanny growled.

"I second that," Yackle said, with a nod of her head in agreement.

"Oh yeah," Madam Morrible added, with a sigh.

"Do not fear King Galal and Queen Larena. I will bring back your daughter," Elphaba said, her voice strong and determined.

Before anyone could say another word the green woman took off to get her magic broom, so she could go after Prince Fiyero and save Princess Glinda.

...X...

"I don't know what you think you're going to gain by this," Glinda spat at the Prince from inside the carriage.

"I'm saving you from a terrible future," Fiyero retorted, with hardly a second glance. "You're learn to love me. You aren't safe around that Wicked Witch."

"Elphaba didn't put a dagger to my throat and kidnap me," Glinda shot back.

"Silence! Before long you will be singing my praises among other things," Fiyero answered, as he pulled the Good Witch close to nuzzle his face against her hair. He then laid a firm kiss upon her neck.

Glinda met Fiyero with a hard slap to his cheek as she shouted, "Don't you dare touch me!"

Prince Fiyero gave her a sneer as he answered, "Trust me, you're learn to love me...all in good time."

Suddenly the carriage seemed to jump. Almost like it had been rammed in the side. Both Prince Fiyero and Princess Glinda nearly fell off their seat as result of the pounding against the coach.

"What in Oz was that?" Fiyero questioned, only to have it happen again. "Father, what is going on out there?"

"It's the Wicked Witch! She has found us and she keeps hitting us while she's on her magic broom!" King Frederick shouted.

"Curse that Wicked Witch! Try to lose her father!" Fiyero yelled back.

"I'll do my best son!" King Frederick answered.

"It looks like the Wicked Witch has turned into a Witch in shining armor," Fiyero muttered under his breath just loud enough for Glinda to hear.

Every time another intense hit was delivered the carriage, it seemed to slow down a bit. It wasn't long before the coach stopped all together. Fiyero slowly opened the carriage door with great caution.

"Father? Father, where are you?" Almost on cue King Frederick toppled down from on top of the carriage with a loud thud. Fiyero leaped out of the carriage to help his father up.

"This Wicked Witch is more powerful than we thought," The King breathed out in fear and pain, as he held his wrist. "I can't help you fight her, son, I must have broken my wrist when I fell from the carriage just now because of the Wicked Witch."

"Don't worry, father, I'll kill that green freak. You keep an eye on the Good Witch here," Fiyero answered, as he moved his head in Glinda's direction. King Frederick nodded as he grabbed Princess Glinda out from the carriage with his good hand.

Just then a great cackle filled the air and Elphaba swooped down and landed only a few feet in front of them.

"It looks like you hurt more than your pride when you took that fall," Elphaba sneered at King Frederick before turning her attention to Fiyero. "I'm here for Glinda and, if need be, your head."

Fiyero scoffed at bit before answering, "I'm not afraid of you. Make no mistake I'm going to kill you like I did your mother."

"You didn't kill my mother," Elphaba growled.

"Her wound was deeper than you think. If Maleficent didn't die within a few seconds then she must certainly be dead now."

"Hold your tongue!" Elphaba yelled, as she sent forth a great gust of wind created by a spell. The force knocked Prince Fiyero off his feet. "I should snap you like a twig."

"Is that all you got?" Fiyero jeered, as he pulled himself up and unsheathe his sword. "Your magic is no use against my blade."

"Would you stake your life on it?" The green witch spat, as she pulled her black hat down tighter upon her head.

"Let us battle then to find out!" Fiyero declared. "I wish to see how you, a Witch in shining armor, does in combat against me, for what do you have on your side? Some childish spells and fake illusions?"

"You forgot one important thing," Elphaba answered, her voice commanding. "I also have the love from a good woman." Her brown eyes came to gaze upon Glinda's blue ones.

"Let us see how much Princess Glinda loves you when you are dead!" Fiyero yelled, as he charged the green witch. His sword pointed out ready to kill.

Elphaba threw open her arms and shouted a spell that sent certain parts of the ground rising into the air. The quick change in terrain sent Prince Fiyero flying into the air. He stopped when he hit into a near by tree with a hard smack.

"I don't wish to harm you," Elphaba noted, as she noticed Fiyero was having a hard time rising to his feet. "I only want Princess Glinda. You give her to me and you and your father can be on your way."

"I don't make deals with Wicked Witches!" Fiyero spat, as he rose to his feet and charged at the green skinned woman a second time. Elphaba shouted the same earth moving spell, but Prince Fiyero was wise to it and dodged the areas where the ground was rising. Once in range Fiyero swung his sword to take off Elphaba's head, but she ducked the attempt, and hit him away before holding her broom out in a defensive manner.

"I see you don't give up easily," Elphaba mocked.

"Neither do you," Fiyero answered, as he began to circle around the green Witch looking for an open area to strike.

"Elphie, be careful!" Glinda shouted, to her love.

"Don't worry about me, my sweet, I'll be fine," The green woman called back, her gaze was focused on the angered Prince.

Prince Fiyero then began to chuckled and within seconds began to sing very softly, "Ding, Dong, the Witch is going to be dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding, Dong, the Witch is going to be dead."

"Silence," Elphaba snarled, her eyes were narrowing in rage.

But Fiyero didn't cease. "She's going to go where the goblins go. Below, below, below, yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out."

"I said silence!" Elphaba shouted, as she turned her head away to will the song from her mind.

"Ding Dong the merry-oh sing it high, sing it low. Let them know the Wicked Witch is going to be dead!" After those words Fiyero raised his sword to deliver a mortal blow.

"Elphie!" Glinda screamed, in panic.

Elphaba heard the desperate call and pulled away just in time, so the sword blade only hit her shoulder a little bit. With a roar Elphaba commanded a spell and it swarmed over Fiyero like a tornado. Prince Fiyero let out a mighty shout as he stumbled towards the carriage. Only then did the spell stop consuming the Prince.

"Fiyero!" King Frederick called, as he let go of Princess Glinda for a minute to throw something to his son.

Prince Fiyero caught the object, which was a loaded crossbow, with ease and pointed it at the green woman. "Cease your spells and don't move or I'll fire!" Elphaba's face hardened as she defiantly took a couple of steps forward. "You might not be afraid to die, but maybe you'll feel fear for someone else." With those word Fiyero pointed the loaded crossbow at Princess Glinda.

"What are you doing?" Elphaba yelled in shock. "You wouldn't dare harm the woman you claim to love."

"Desperate times calls for desperate measures," Fiyero sneered, as he nodded his head to his father. King Frederick understanding what was being asked of him ran towards the carriage, and pulled a bucket out that was being hidden under one of the seats. Elphaba gulped nervously when se saw the bucket King Frederick had was full of water. "Throw the bucket of water on yourself, and I will not harm Princess Glinda."

"No!" Glinda shouted.

"Silence!" Fiyero screamed, as he looked back at Elphaba. "Do it and Glinda will live. Refuse and this arrow goes though the Princess' heart!"

"Elphie, you can't, please, don't do this. If you do you'll die." Glinda's voice was trembling as she spoke.

The green woman could only bow her head in defeat. She had limited options, and Elphaba knew she would do anything in her power to protect Glinda. She then whispered in a grim tone, "I....I have no choice."

Author's Note: The next chapter will be the last.