Isabelle had been living in Oz for a few weeks and was adjusting to life there fairly well. Life was calm and easygoing for her, which was a welcome change. Glinda seemed to avoid direct questions about her mother, so Isabelle had not brought up the subject in a few days. In a way, it almost seemed painful for Glinda to even hear Elphaba's name. So, out of courtesy, Isabelle would wait patiently until Glinda was ready to talk about it.

In her time living at Glinda's home, Isabelle had discovered the garden. Roses were in every color and shape imaginable. Somehow, she always felt content sitting amongst the flowers, facing the waterfall that was near the house. She would sit there and think about her life here and back in Kansas. Here in Oz there were people who accepted her for her color. She was closer to her family history. But most of all, here in Oz she was closer to Raiden. In the past few weeks, she had gotten to know him and found him a compassionate person. They shared childhood stories and dreams for the future. He was truly a person that she wanted to talk to.

One day, Isabelle found herself in the garden, as she so often did. The noises from the waterfall were soothing to her ever-stressed mind. She sat in a chair and relaxed her tensed muscles. For the first time in her life, she was wearing a sleeveless shirt, revealing her green shoulders to the radiant rays of the sun. The warmth from the sun soaked into her skin and she sighed in contentment. Her thoughts were consumed with Raiden, as they often were. Though she would never admit it out loud, she was falling for him. His gentle eyes were stuck in her mind as she closed her eyes to think of him, until a soft hand touched her shoulder from behind. Isabelle opened her eyes to see Glinda standing beside her, smiling.

"Glinda, I did not realize that you were in the garden otherwise I would have left you to your privacy. I am so sorry," Isabelle apologized.

"No, it is quite alright. I know you enjoy the garden. It is a quiet place to come and think about someone," Glinda replied, knowingly raising her eyebrows.

"I have no idea of what you are speaking about," Isabelle said, trying to dodge Glinda's glances.

"Darling, you are in love. I have seen that look more than one time in my life. This whole time I've been watching you and Raiden bond and get to know each other and he is happier now that I have ever seen him. And you are glowing like a woman in love," Glinda said.

All Isabelle could do was smile because she knew that Glinda was right, she was in love. Raiden made her happy. No matter what she was feeling, he could always make her smile about anything.

"Yes, it is true. I have fallen in love with your son," Isabelle confessed, smiling.

"I had a feeling. Your mother had that same look for a boy we went to school with. His name was Fiyero," Glinda said.

"Really?" Isabelle asked, her ears tuning in on the mention of her mother.

"Oh yes. Though she would deny it to me, I knew she was in love. Oh how I wish you could have known her. Elphie was a wonderful person," Glinda said.

"I want to know my mother so desperately. I know so little about her, but I wish to know more. You are the only one who has truly seen the true side of my mother," Isabelle said, her eyes pleading with Glinda.

"I suppose the time has come for me to tell you about her. The reason I waited so long is not only is it painful for me to tell, but I wanted to wait until you were settled here in Oz before I told you the truth," Glinda explained.

"I understand, Glinda. She was your friend and it will be painful for you to tell it. If you wish to wait a little longer, I can wait patiently until you are ready," Isabelle offered.

"No, you are her daughter and you deserve to know what happened to your mother. I will not take that right from you," Glinda declared. "Besides, I've had years to grieve for Elphie. I think that telling everything to someone would be good for me because it would no longer be locked in my heart."

"Alright," Isabelle said. "Tell me everything."

Glinda proceeded to tell Isabelle the story of how she met Elphaba at school. She told her how they went from reluctant roommates to the best of friends by a simple act of kindness. Isabelle learned of her aunt Nessarose and her disability. The story progressed further to the point where Glinda was telling of their visit to the Emerald City.

"When Elphie and I arrived in the Emerald City, we were astonished by the sights and sounds of the city itself. Everything in sight was green. I had never seen Elphie so mesmerized by anything. It was as if the city were meant for her. Then came the time for us to meet the Wizard. Both of us were so excitified by the thought of meeting the real Wizard of Oz. Neither of us could contain our giggles. However, that all changed when we met the all-powerful Oz himself," Glinda said.

Isabelle listened patiently as Glinda explained the events that happened in the presence of the Wizard. He wanted her mother to read a book called the Grimmerie. Elphaba realized when she read the book that it was not something she wanted to be a part of. Her mother realized that the Wizard was a fake and was only using her for her power because he had none.

"Elphie ran out on the Wizard and took the Grimmerie with her. She flew across Oz for the first time. Immediately they named her the 'Wicked Witch of the West' and decreed that she was a criminal. I was proclaimed 'Glinda the Good' and began working for the Wizard. Soon after I was engaged to Fiyero. I did not see Elphaba for a very long time. In that time, Fiyero did leave me for her," Glinda continued.

She explained the harsh reunion between Elphaba and herself in the cornfield after Nessa's death. Glinda also talked about the Guard coming in. Isabelle could feel herself wanting to cry as she listened to Glinda talk about the Ozian Guards capturing Fiyero so Elphaba could get away. Tears were brimming in Glinda's own eyes as she neared the end of her tale.

"The next time Elphie and I saw each other again, we knew we had to say goodbye to one another, forever. Ozian Guards were coming with a group of 'witch hunters' to hurt Elphaba. She handed me the Grimmerie and made me promise to learn to read it. Right until the end she wanted to protect me from any harm, so she hid me. I watched as the castle was stormed and they melted Elphaba," Glinda said, crying.

"They melted her?" Isabelle asked.

"Yes, with water. Everyone knew she was allergic to water, so they used it to destroy her," Glinda explained.

"How could they do that to her?" Isabelle cried out. "She was only trying to do something good!"

"I know darling, but the Wizard said she was wicked and all of Oz believed it. I think that only two people truly knew the real Elphaba. That was me and Fiyero," Glinda said.

"Is Fiyero my father?" Isabelle asked.

"I would not doubt it. He was the only one Elphaba ever loved, so it would make sense that he would be your father," Glinda stated.

"You said that there was a castle, where my mother lived?" Isabelle asked.

"Yes, but I'm sure it's abandoned by now with stories of it being haunted by the ghost of the 'Wicked Witch' told by the villagers," Glinda replied.

"Do you think that some of my mother's things could still be there?" Isabelle asked.

"Perhaps, I do not really think that someone would want her things, so they are probably untouched. Why do you ask?" Glinda said.

"I just thought that maybe I could travel there and maybe get something that belonged to her so that I would at least have something to connect myself to her," Isabelle explained. "I would take Raiden with me so that no one would harm me."

"Do you think that it would help you to go there?" Glinda asked, concerned.

"Yes, I need to say goodbye to her in my own way. That is, if you do not mind me going there," Isabelle replied.

"No, I do not mind. You need to say goodbye to your mother too," Glinda said. "The castle is located in the Vinkus. Raiden knows where that is, so you shouldn't get lost on the way there."

For a moment there was an awkward silence between the pair before Isabelle asked, "Do you really think that I'm like her?"

Glinda smiled, brushed Isabelle's stray hairs off her forehead and said, "In so many ways."

Later, after dinner, Isabelle had a moment alone with Raiden. In that moment she decided to ask him to come with her to the castle.

"Raiden, can I ask you a question?" she asked.

"You can ask me anything," he replied.

"Would you mind coming with me to the castle where my mother died so that I might find something that belonged to her?" she quickly asked.

"Of course," he replied coolly.

"Really?" she squealed in delight and hugged him around his neck. "You are so sweet. Thank you. This means everything to me."

"So, when are we leaving?" he asked.

"Tomorrow morning at first light. Your mother said it is located in the Vinkus, wherever that is. She said you would know where it was," she answered.

"Oh, that is a good bit of traveling. It's more than three days away on horseback," he said, smiling.

"Well, all the more time for us to be together alone and uninterrupted," she replied, flashing a smile towards him.

This trip would bring many things for Isabelle. First, she was determined to find something to connect her to her mother. Secondly, it was time alone with Raiden. Lastly, she hoped to find some shred of evidence that her father was alive. It would perhaps answer her last remaining question.

A/N: So, this is probably the last chapter for a week at least because I will be at my grandmother's all weekend and then I'm leaving for colorguard camp Monday morning. Enjoy, review, and leave me nice messages to come home to next week.