Get ready for the curveball of the century!
The rest of the week leading up to Glinda and Fiyero's induction ball was very uneventful. Glinda continued to privately tour the palace, trying to discover its secrets while avoiding Fiyero at the same time. Fiyero knew that the blonde was trying to avoid him and he knew why. He didn't know exactly what he did to upset her, but whatever he did, he was sorry for it. He didn't mean to hurt her. He just… wasn't in love with her. It was nothing she did, they just grew apart, as couples sometimes do.
That evening, Glinda sat at her vanity as Salmya helped her get ready for the ball. Her gown was a beautiful shade of light emerald green, with spaghetti straps and a three layered skirt. Large green flowers were sewn onto the bodice of the dress. Salmya had curled her hair and styled it into an elegant up-do.
"You look beautiful, Miss Glinda," Salmya smiled, putting the finishing touches on Glinda's makeup.
"Thank you," the blonde smiled, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
A knock and Fiyero entered, wearing a crisp, clean, emerald green Gale Force uniform. He smiled softly at the blonde. "Hi."
Glinda turned around and forced a small smile. "Hi."
"It's almost time. Are you ready?"
Glinda nodded as she rose to her feet and followed the prince out the door.
"Ah, Miss Glinda, Master Fiyero, you've arrived," Morrible said as the two descended the grand staircase. An assortment of mixed voices could be heard from within the ballroom and Glinda gulped down the lump in her throat. "We're ready for you now," Morrible said, stepping behind them. "Remember, heads up and smiles on."
"Announcing the guests of honor, Miss Glinda Upland of the Gillikin and Prince Fiyero Tigulaar of the Vinkus," the herald announced as the guards opened the large ballroom doors. Glinda took Fiyero's arm as they walked in to a thunderous applause.
The Wizard was standing on a stage, applauding with everyone else. Guards were stationed all around the room, giving Glinda a slight feeling of uneasiness, even though she knew they were there to protect them.
The ball went off without a hitch. Glinda and Fiyero were the center of attention and they made small take with a lot of the other Ozian officials. Some asked them about their time at Shiz, others seemed more interested in their personal lives. Most of the younger men, the sons of the officials and other upper class families, tried to flirt with Glinda. The blonde carried herself with the utmost decorum and class, giggling and entertaining their questions.
Once the dancing began, all of the young men immediately asked Glinda to dance with them. She smiled as she danced with young man after young man.
"Attention, friends!" the Wizard announced from the stage. He motioned for Glinda and Fiyero to come up onto the stage. Fiyero helped Glinda up and swiftly followed her. "We are gathered here today to inaugurate our new magic grand vizier and captain of the royal guard."
The crowd cheered and the Wizard nodded to Glinda and Fiyero, who moved to kneel before him.
"Do you, Glinda Upland and Fiyero Tigulaar, promised to help govern and protect Oz to the best of your ability and to strive for the advancement of this country? Do you promise to make decisions that will be for the better of the people and to be completely honest about your minds when instated?"
"We will," Fiyero and Glinda promised in unison.
"Then, by the power vested in me, I herby declare you Glinda the Good of Oz, Royal Grand Vizier and Captain Fiyero Tigulaar, Captain of the Royal Guard."
The guests cleared and clapped as Fiyero and Glinda rose to their full height. Glinda was beaming, wiping away tears of joy. Fiyero was equally as happy, smiling down at the blonde.
A painful crack was heard throughout the ballroom and for a moment, time slowed down. Everyone looked up as the large, crystal chandelier threatened to fall. Screaming, they cleared the ballroom, terrified for their lives, leaving Morrible, the Wizard, Glinda and Fiyero in the ballroom. A guard appeared and escorted the four out a door on the stage. Once the last person was out, the chandelier's cables gave out and it came crashing to the ground. Glass and crystals shattered everywhere, a thick cloud of smoke filled the room. Glinda screamed and buried her face in Fiyero's shoulder. The prince quickly wrapped a protective arm around the blonde. The Wizard stepped away from the door, but Morrible remained frozen, fixing a hard glare at the door as if she could see right through it.
"Are you alright?" Fiyero whispered to the blonde, gently pulling away and stroking her hair.
"I… I think so," Glinda nodded, biting her lower lip, fighting the tears threatening to fall.
The guard began to quickly lead them down a dimly lit hidden passageway that led to the main part of the palace. After he inquired if they were hurt, Glinda shook her head and quickly excused herself to her room, and Fiyero followed close behind her.
"Are you alright, Oscar?" Morrible asked, placing a hand on the Wizard's shoulder.
The Wizard shrugged her off, but nodded. "Y-Yes, I'm fine. E-Excuse me," he said, swiftly moving past his press secretary and walking back towards his office.
Morrible watched as the guests left, whispering and gossiping about the chandelier. Once the last of them were gone, she made her way back to the ballroom and nodded to the guards to move out of the way. They obeyed and she pushed open the large, double doors. The old woman took one look at the shattered remains of the chandelier and growled. Turning, she marched back out and up the stairs. It was high time she paid someone a visit.
Glinda hurried up to her room and slammed the door behind her. She was so shaken up. She could have been hurt. Others could have been hurt. Surely, they checked to make sure the chandelier was alright. So, what had happened? Why did it suddenly fall? What was going on?
"Miss Glinda?" Salmya asked, knocking lightly on the door.
"Not right now, please," Glinda called, wanting to be alone.
"Master Fiyero sent me to make sure you were alright."
Glinda sighed and slowly walked back to the door and opened it. The maid was standing on the other side, giving the blonde a soft smile. "Are you alright, Miss Glinda?"
The blonde nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit shaken up, I suppose. Surely someone would have checked to make sure the chandelier was alright."
Salmya stayed silent, not knowing if she should say anything or not. "I'm sure it was just an accident."
"Chandeliers don't just fall, Salmya," Glinda sighed, rubbing her temple. Suddenly, she stopped and whirled around to face the maid. "You know something, don't you?"
The maid stumbled back, obviously not expecting such a question. "I…"
"Salmya, tell me. You know something. What is going on?"
"It's nothing, miss. I'm sure the servants just didn't check well enough. I'm so sorry your ball was ruined. But come, you must be exhausted."
Salmya quickly helped Glinda out of her gown and helped her prepare for bed. The blonde was surprisingly agreeable, only half awake and barely registering what was happening. Once Glinda was in her nightgown, Salmya tucked her in and sighed peacefully. "Fresh dreams, Miss Glinda."
"I know you're in there! Open up the door this instant!" Morrible shouted as she banged against a door. She tried to turn the knob, but found the door to be locked. "Open up!"
Silence.
Growling, Morrible continued to pound. "You and I need to have a discussion right now! Open up this door!"
Still silence.
Stepping back, Morrible flicked her wrist and the door flew open and she walked right in. "This is completely unacceptable. Never in my life have a seen such a horrendible display of behavior."
The figure that was on the other side on the door of the bed turned around and smirked. Her long, raven hair flowed down her back like a waterfall. Her facial features were sharp and defined and her chocolate brown eyes twinkled with mischief. But her most defining feature was her emerald green skin, which seemed to glow in the moonlight streaming in from the window. "Why, Auntie, to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"
"Don't you start with me," Morrible growled.
"Whatever do you mean, Auntie?" the green girl asked sweetly.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Elphaba Melena. That stunt you pulled in the ballroom with the chandelier."
"I haven't left this tower," the emerald girl said, rising to her feet. "I'm forbidden to do so. And even if I was not, I'm magically trapped here, thanks to you."
"I know it was you."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Don't question me! You used your magic!"
Elphaba smirked, sensing she was getting on her aunt's last nerve. "Well, it has been growing, but I doubted that you noticed."
Morrible huffed and forced herself to calm down. "Well, you've had your fun with your last companion."
"She was hardly fun. I've liked some on the other once better. And wouldn't you agree that once a person is past the age of eighteen, they no longer need a governess, which was what she really was?" Elphaba challenged.
"But now it's high time you learned how to be a proper princess and future queen," Morrible continued as if she wasn't interrupted. "Your twenty-first birthday is coming up-"
"So glad you remembered."
"And you must stop behaving like a juvenile school girl."
"Forgive me for wanting to have a bit of fun."
"Fun? Fun? You call having the chandelier crash during the ball 'fun'? Guests could have been injured!"
"I take it that none were, or else you would have opened with that statement."
"Elphaba Melena, I have had it up to here with you!" Morrible growled, gesturing with her hand above her head. "Now, I promised your dear mother, Oz rest her soul, that I would turn you into the proper ruler you are destined to be."
"Don't you think that would be rather difficult considering the fact that probably no one remembers who I am or that I'm still alive?"
Morrible was about to respond when a soft bark and a light tug on her robes interrupted her. She looked down to see a little, white terrier puppy pulling at her clothes and wagging his tail, clearly wanting to play. Sighing, she picked up the puppy and held him away from her as he tried to lick her face. When she spoke again, it was much softer. "Elphaba, please. I'm trying. We're all trying."
"We? Who is 'we'? My father obviously isn't trying! If he was, he wouldn't have locked me away in here after Mother's death and refuse to visit," Elphaba said as she took the puppy from her aunt and stroked his fur. "And no, sending me a puppy, which I know wasn't even from him, doesn't make up for anything."
The green girl's sudden change in demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the older woman. She reached out to touch her arm, but Elphaba pulled away.
"I'm sorry," Morrible whispered before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
Elphaba flopped back onto her bed, her arms sprawled out to her sides. The puppy jumped out of her arms and moved to lick her face.
"She's not sorry, Malky," Elphaba whispered, turning her face to look at the puppy, who still looked like he wanted to play. "She's never sorry. And neither am I." She waved her hand, creating a chew toy for Malky to play with. She held the toy in front of the puppy's face, a small smile gracing her thin lips as she teased him. "It can't be my fault, can it? Father wouldn't have locked me away if Mother's death wasn't my fault, right?"
Malky barked and finally got the toy. He jumped off the bed and ran away, promptly tripping over his own feet. He settled in his little doggy-bed and clewed on the toy.
Elphaba smiled at the sight. "She wants to turn me into a 'proper princess'? Let's see her try, shall we?"
The picture of Glinda's ball gown is on my blog.
I love how everyone thought that Morrible was going to be evil. I actually contemplated it for a while planning this story, then thought that Elphaba would have enough problems without 'evil Morrible'
So, this is the part where 'Barbie, the Princess and the Popstar' comes in. I based Madame Morrible off of "Aunt Amelia". So, no, she's not evil. Annoying and prudent, but not evil. Virtual puppies and chocolate for everyone who reviews!