Thankfully, the two weeks past quickly. Elphaba woke up early on the morning of her twenty-first birthday and all but sprinted out of her room and down the stairs. About halfway down, she realized that she was still in her nightgown and that she should probably get dressed first. She quickly ran back up the stairs and washed and put on a simple long sleeved black dress and brushed her hair, deciding to leave it out. She ran back down the stairs with Malky at her heel. She reached for the door leading out of the tower and paused. Did the spell wear off? Could she actually leave, or would she be shocked with magic like the other times she tried to escape?

Exhaling, Elphaba reached for the door handle and grasped it firmly. She gasped, pushing it open.

"We can leave, Malky," she whispered to the puppy, who barked excitedly. Laughing she hurried out of the tower and ran down the halls, careful not to awaken anyone else. She was still barefoot, but she didn't care. She was finally free from the wretched tower and she was never going back.

She slowed down her pace as she approached the main part of the palace. She saw two guards she recognized, though they looked a bit older, stationed outside the throne room and quietly approached them.

One of the guards saw her and gasped softly before quickly bowing. His partner looked at him with a raised eyebrow before noticing Elphaba and quickly dipping into a deep bow.

"Princess Elphaba," the first guard said, slowly rising to his full height. "It's been too long."

You're telling me, Elphaba thought and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "It's good to see you again."

"Pardon me, Princess, but you don't seem to be wearing… shoes," the second guard said, awkwardly clearing his throat.

Elphaba glared at the guard, something he was clearly not used to. She had never glared at them when she was little. "Well, after being locked away for fourteen years, the last thing on my mind was footwear."

"Of course. My apologies, Princess."

"Now, I have been informed that there is a new captain of the Royal Guard. I would like to meet with him personally."

"He is in the upstairs private apartments, all the way down the hall to the right," the first guard said.

Elphaba nodded and thanked the guards before following their directions to Fiyero's room. She was surprised to find his door open. She peaked inside and saw him staring out his window, his back facing her.

She leaned against the doorframe and smirked. "Well, you seem handsome enough."

Fiyero jumped and turned around, seeing the strange woman. His instincts kicked in and he quickly grabbed his sword, pointing it at her. "Who are you, intruder?"

Elphaba cackled. "Believe me, I am no intruder. Though, I don't expect you to know who I am. No one probably remembers me."

Fiyero faintly remembered in the back of his mind Glinda saying something about a green ghost. But the person standing in front of him was flesh and blood. "You're the… ghost."

Elphaba quirked an eyebrow. "I can assure you that I'm not a ghost, Captain Fiyero Tigulaar, Prince of the Vinkus."

The captain stepped back. "You… you know who I am?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She gestured to his uniform.

Fiyero stiffened. He didn't like the fact that this random woman showed up in his private quarters and he didn't know who she was. "Tell me who you are."

"You're in no position to command me to do anything. I don't have to tell you anything if I do not wish to."

"Fifi, are you awake?" a voice called from down the hall.

Elphaba turned. "Ah, the blissful, bubbly blonde approaches." She turned back to Fiyero. "Well, it was nice having this chat with you, Captain. We shall meet again. Oh, and don't tell anyone about this. Good day." With a wave of her hand, she disappeared in a poof of green smoke, leaving Fiyero heaving and dumbfounded.

"Fifi!" Glinda smiled, bouncing into the room, but stopped. "Are you alright?"

"Wh-Wha… oh, yes, I'm fine," Fiyero said, putting his sword away. "Just a bit jumpy."

"The maids seem to be preparing for a ball of some sort. I wasn't aware that today was anything special," Glinda said as she walked into the room, the skirts of her dress sweeping against the floor.

"What's today's date?"

"October first."

Fiyero tried to remember what October first was, but nothing came to mind. "I wonder what it is."

"Well, there's to be a ball this evening, so we'll probably find out then. I wonder why the Wizard hasn't told me anything."

"Well, whatever it is, we shall find out soon enough," Fiyero smiled, offering Glinda his arm and walking her down to breakfast, the emerald woman haunting his thoughts.

Breakfast was a silent affair. The Wizard was strangely quiet, hardly touching his food. Morrible ate her food, but looked extremely worried. Glinda glanced between the Wizard and Morrible, debating on whether or not she should ask them what was bothering them.

The Wizard excused himself and left, more than half of his breakfast uneaten. He walked down the hall to the gallery. When he got there, he noticed that the door to the other gallery was slightly ajar. Someone was in there. He hurriedly ran to the door and slowly pushed it open so he could see who it is. He gasped softly when he saw a tall figure with long, raven hair and a black dress looking up at one of the paintings. Her emerald green fingers lightly brushed against the painting and she inhaled deeply.

"Do you remember when you used to play in here?" the Wizard asked softly, stepping into the room.

Elphaba jumped and gasped, seeing the last person she expected to see. Her father didn't look that different. Maybe a few pounds heavier and a slightly more wrinkled face and greying hair, but other than that, he was the same. Her face immediately hardened. "What are you doing in here?"

"I saw the ajar door and I thought you would be in here," the Wizard said. "You weren't at breakfast this morning."

Elphaba stepped away from her father. "Yes, well, I had suspected that you had developed a routine, and I didn't want to interrupt it."

The Wizard stopped. "I… I know you probably don't want to speak to me right now, but… I… how are you?"

Elphaba narrowed her eyes. "Stop pretending to care. You never cared."

"I admit, I made a terrible mistake that you will probably never forgive me for, but…"

"But? But? There is no 'but'! I needed you after Mother died and you… you… you weren't there!" Elphaba sobbed.

"Fabala, I am so sorry. I was so overcome with grief, I know that's not an excuse, and I wasn't thinking then, and for a great while after that."

"Fourteen years. I've been locked in that tower for fourteen years and not once have you ever thought to see how I was doing. You never cared. You tried to use Glinda to replace me. You… you never even said goodbye! I woke up alone and locked in that tower! You. Never. Said. Goodbye!"

The Wizard stopped. "How do you know about Glinda?"

"I was magically locked in a tower, not living under a rock."

"I was never using Glinda to replace you. No one could ever replace you, Fabala."

"Don't call me that!"

A long pause passed between the two. "You reminded me so much of her," the Wizard whispered, looking at his daughter through his tear-filled eyes. "Every time I looked at you after her death, I saw her in every part of you. It made me miss her even more. I couldn't bear to look at you without breaking down. I felt that I couldn't be a good father to you after your mother's death."

"You could have at least tried. You never even bothered to try."

"I know. And I'm sorry. But, Fabala," the Wizard said, ignoring the glare his daughter gave him. "I never stopped loving you."

"You're not sorry. Stop lying! Nothing you do or say will ever make up for what you did to me!" Fighting tears with every fiber of her being, Elphaba stormed past her father and out the gallery, slamming the door behind her.

"Fabala," the Wizard whispered, feeling the rush of air from the slammed door. A single tear slid down his cheek and he quickly wiped it away. He would see her at the ball that evening, hopefully she would have calmed down by then.

All of the maids were too busy to answer Glinda's questions when she asked what the ball that evening was for. The Wizard still didn't tell her anything, and neither did Morrible. Fiyero looked a bit pale and when Glinda inquired as to what was wrong, Fiyero just shrugged it off and said it was nothing. Never in her life had the blonde felt this out-of-the-loop. She wanted to know what was going on.

Before she knew it, evening came and the doors were opening for the guests of the ball. Salmya wasn't there to help her, but Glinda figured that she was too busy with the ball preparations. One of the younger maids came instead and helped her into a pink ballgown with thick straps and beautiful flower designs. She curled her hair and styled it into an elegant bun and helped her with her makeup.

"You look beautiful, Miss Glinda," the maid smiled when she had finished.

Glinda smiled at her reflection. "Thank you."

"Can I come in?" a voice asked, knocking at the door.

"Come in, Fifi," Glinda chirped, recognizing the voice.

Fiyero came in, wearing his Gale Force uniform. "Hey, Glin. Do you know what this ball is for?"

"I know just about as much as you do," Glinda said as she stood up.

"I know nothing about this."

"Neither do I."

"Well, I guess we'll find out," Fiyero smiled, offering Glinda his arm and walking her down the steps to the ballroom.

"Presenting the Royal Grand Vizier of Oz and Captain of the Gale Force, Miss Glinda Upland and Fiyero Tigulaar," the announcer said as the ballroom doors opened.

The guests clapped politely as Fiyero and Glinda entered, but the applause died away almost as quickly as it began.

"Madame, what is this ball for?" Glinda asked once she saw Madame Morrible, who was wearing extravagant green robes.

"You shall find out soon enough, dearie," was all that Morrible said.

While Glinda waited, she mingled with the other guests. She looked over and saw Fiyero talking with his older brother, and they were both laughing. She saw the other leaders from the providences of Oz, including the Governor of Munchkinland and his daughter, Nessarose. Glinda quickly went over to her and the two were soon deep in a conversation about their summer vacations and their plans for the future.

Suddenly, the sound of trumpets filled the ballroom and everyone quieted down.

"And now, presenting her royal highness, Princess Elphaba Melena Renalda Diggs, Crowned Princess of Oz," the announcer said as the doors opened.

Everyone gasped and applauded. Glinda turned and blinked, all of the color draining from her face.

"Glinda, are you alright?" Nessa asked, looking up at the blonde.

"She's… she's…" Glinda whispered. Not only was the Wizard's daughter alive, but she was green. Millions of questions swarmed in her head and she faught the urge to faint.

Nessa beamed, unaware of her friend's uneasiness. "I know. The princess. I've heard about her, but never dreamed I would actually see her with my own eyes. Though, I didn't picture her with green skin, but it seems to suit her. Not in a bad way, of course."

"Wait… this is her introduction ball?" Glinda asked.

Nessa looked surprised and nodded. "You didn't know that? You're the Wizard's grand vizier. Surely he would have told you."

"He didn't," Glinda said, directing her attention back to the princess.

Elphaba slowly walked in, wearing a dark red, off the shoulder, evening gown with a long skirt and black, beaded patterns on the top. Her hair was half-pulled back in an elegant bun, with the rest of her raven locks flowing down her back like a waterfall.

Glinda turned to look at Fiyero, who was biting the inside of his cheek. She slowly went over to him. "She's…"

"Green," Fiyero finished in a whisper. "Is she the…"

"Yes, but she's not a ghost anymore."

"I realized that. I've seen her."

Galinda's eyes widened. "When?"

"She… she came into my room this morning. She didn't introduce herself, but she knew who I was."

Glinda nodded slowly and looked around. If anyone felt any disdain towards the Princess' emerald skin, they certainly didn't show it. Even if they did, she's the Princess of Oz. They can't challenge her.

Glinda decided to try and distract herself by mingling more, but all people seemed to want to talk about was the princess.

"She looks beautiful, doesn't she?"

"Her skin is very exotic. I wonder if she was born that way."

"Her skin seems to glow in the light."

"Her dress is gorgeous."

"Her hair looks so silky."

After a while, Glinda had enough and quietly excused herself and returned to Fiyero's side.

"Ah, Captain, we meet again," a voice said, startling the both Glinda and Fiyero. They turned around and saw Elphaba standing behind them, a half-smile, half-smirk on her face.

"Princess," Fiyero bowed. Glinda followed his lead and curtsied. "I…"

"No need to apologize for earlier," Elphaba said, waving it off. "I admit, my visit was a bit unorthodox and unannounced. That was my fault."

Fiyero wasn't sure if he was supposed to say anything, so he nodded.

Elphaba turned to Glinda. "And you must be the new Magic Grand Vizier, the Miss Glinda I've heard absolutely nothing about."

Glinda blinked. "Y-Yes."

"Well, you must be very good if you managed to get a job here. And no need to look so worried. The chandelier won't fall this time."

Glinda stiffened. The princess knew about the chandelier? Or was she the one to cause it to fall in the first place?

"Well, I'm sure we shall see more of each other, whether we want to or not. Enjoy the ball." And with that, Elphaba walked off.

Glinda frowned and turned towards Fiyero. "What's her problem?"

Fiyero shrugged. "I know about as much as you do."

Elphaba and Glinda's dresses are on my blog.