Hello dear readers, I've decided to leave the outcome of this story entirely up to my readers, so you all, have the honor of deciding on how this story shall continue. What I ask is this, should this story be written as such, or as a series? Please let me know in a review. Thank you, and a big thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter. Absolutely loved reading all of them, they made my day. Big hugs and kisses to you all
Galinda remained crumpled on the ground, Fiyero's arms wrapped protectively around her, as her body trembles violently, both in pain and horror. This wasn't her Elphie, this wasn't the girl, the woman, whom she remembered, who she befriended back at Shiz. This wasn't the same person who she cared for, and loved deeply.
The voice wasn't hers; her appearance was different, almost demonic like. There was such darkness, such rage, swirling within her, it wasn't her, this was a dream, a nightmare that she could not wake from, and yet here she stood, the woman, the witch, who walked into darkness, forsaking the light.
Tears swam within Galinda's eyes as her heart cracked just a little bit more. This wasn't her Elphie; this wasn't the same person who she had walked side by side, silently guiding her through the shadows, and into Heaven's bliss. The girl, who held the world within the palm of her hands, who possessed the purest light she had ever seen; the purest soul, that's what Galinda had called it, for Elphaba's soul was the purest she had ever seen.
An icy cackle filled the room, chilling not only the blonde's heart, but the other occupants as well. The room grew dark, and a strange, winter's breeze swept through the throne room, making goose pimples rise on everyone's flesh.
Lithe, blonde curls billowed out, making the white witches hair dance around her, making her look more, like an angel from heaven. The soft laces of her dress float on the edge of the phantom breeze, as if seducing an unseen entity.
Instinctively, Fiyero presses the petite blonde against his warm chest, his arm, tightens around her slim waist, and eyes narrowing as he watches, waiting. For what, he wasn't exactly sure. The situation was perilous, if not frustrating beyond words. For if he was dealing with Fae back at Shiz, the threat of an attack against the blonde, would be non-existent. Yet with this Elphaba…well he just couldn't quite shake the doubt from his already troubled mind. And that alone, kept the Prince on edge.
Closing his eyes, Fiyero allowed his senses to take over, as the gentle hum of magick, danced within the air. Though he didn't possess any magickal ability, he could still feel her magick, and she was far more powerful then before, made worse, of course, by having absorbed the spells from the Grimmerie, there was no telling to the extent of her power now. And that one simple truth scared the ever loving Shiz, out of Fiyero. She was unstable, like a bomb just ticking away the minutes, before igniting, and decimating everything and everyone, in its destructive path.
Though in his mind, he knew he had to do whatever was necessary, in order to protect the petite blonde shivering uncontrollably in his arms; he still, could not ignore the ache pulsing deep within his heart for the green witch. For Fiyero wanted nothing more, than to run up to his Fae, envelope her in his arms, and hold her close, willing the darkness away.
"Your lies are coming undone Wizard…you may have pulled the veil over the eyes of your fellow Ozian's…but not us…we know all and see all" laughs Elphaba.
Elphaba stands before the great Wizard, the umbrella's tip, half tipped on the floor, slender emerald fingers curl around the ebony handle, as the green witch shifts her weight to the side making her slender body balance pre-carelessly on the edge of her umbrella. Her dark, ebony eyes glare menacingly back at the Wizard, daring him to make a move. Her raven tresses billow around her, almost like angel wings dancing majestically in the light, winter breeze, and the brim to the witch's hat sits slightly slanted on the top of her head, casting a half crescent shadow to falling across her face, darkening her appearance.
"You've taken the spells from the Grimmerie what more could you possibly want!" roars the Wizard. For the first time, since his reign, the Wizard was scared. This power, this darkness, was much stronger than he had anticipated, for it was highly unstable, and very volatile.
The old man's heart pounded within his chest as his tired, eyes stared back into the ebony abyss, swirling like violent tides, within the green witches eyes. The air crackled with unfurled power and rage, the air thinned, making it almost impossible to breathe. One wrong move and all hell would break loose.
A wicked smile, slide across the green sorceresses seductive lips, making her look menacing, yet exotic. "The spells from the Grimmerie don't hold a candle to the power locked within the pages to the Book of Arycetia. Now where is it! Give it to me or else" hisses Elphaba.
"Or else what?" replies the Wizard, trying yet failing to keep his voice tight, and the fear from showing within his eyes.
Fiyero watched from his vantage point, as the tip of Elphaba's boot, smacks the tip of her umbrella, making it flip up towards her outstretched fingers. In a twirl of ebony silk, the metallic point of her umbrella, points menacingly at Thistle, trembling beside the Wizard.
"Do not underestimate my powers Wizard" threatens Elphaba.
"You have no power here" replies the Wizard, his lips tighten as a strange ebony mist, swirls from the tip of the umbrella.
"You wish to test me?" smirks Elphaba, before relaxing her stance. Her eyes flicker to the ground, as she smiles a wicked smile. "Very well then…a demonstration of our power"
Fiyero and the others watch tensely, as Elphaba's lips move in silent invocation. Slowly, her ebony eyes once again flicker up to glare back at Thistle.
"What in Oz is she-" starts Galinda, but her words die as a loud hiss of pain, slips past Thistle's lips.
Horrified, Galinda and the others watch as Thistle lets out a roar of pain, before doubling over, his thin arms wrapping around his trembling torso.
"Thistle!" Screams Galinda.
Thistle light skin shifts, sprouting ebony fur, his face elongates, and his nose smashes against his face. The sound of tearing fabric, bones breaking and snapping into a new formation fills Galinda's ears. Another scream of pain and great ebony wings burst from Thistle's back.
"Oh my Oz!" cries Galinda.
Thistle, the once humble servant to the Wizard stands before them, not as a man, but as a beast, a Monkey, with great wings glistening in blood. The light of recognition fades, leaving a haunted look, to glimmer within his empty orbs.
"What in Oz did you do to him!" screams Galinda.
"He…along with any one else wishing to challenge my power has been changed into my servant…now give me the book…or shall I transform your precious Galinda the Good as well?" threatens Elphaba. Delicately, Elphaba rests the umbrella against her shoulder.
"You wouldn't dare!" roars Fiyero.
Quirking an eyebrow, Elphaba lets out a small chuckle, before lowering her gaze back down to the floor. An icy smile, slides across her face, before her eyes once again flicker up, to glare at the Wizard.
A small gasp, slips past the Wizard's withered lips at the gleam, sparkling within Elphaba's dark, ebony eyes. His hand, which had remained placid by his side, tightens into a fist.
"Elphaba" growls the Wizard.
"Don't tempt me Wizard…the Book…or your precious Galinda suffers"
"I don't have it" replies the Wizard.
"Wrong answer" smiles Elphaba darkly.
A sadistic smile, slides across Elphaba's face, as she points an elegant finger towards Galinda. A spark flashes within her eyes, before Galinda is violently ripped out of Fiyero's arms, and thrown against a far wall.
Fiyero, the Wizard and Morrible flinch at the sound of bones cracking beneath the full force in which Galinda's body connects with the hard emerald walls.
Slowly, Galinda slides down the wall, and crumples to the ground. A small trail of blood smears the wall where her back and head had once touched.
With an icy cackle, Elphaba once again mutters the spell. Fiyero's heart pounds against his chest, as he watches Galinda writhe on the ground in pain.
White, oleander fur slowly rolls over her body, covering her skin, her delicate fingers curl, as her legs shorten and bend. The back of her dress bubbles, as the sound of bones cracking, re-forming and tearing through her flesh echo within Fiyero's ears.
"The Book!" snarls Elphaba, spinning back around to face the Wizard.
"No…Don' . .Her!" pants Galinda
"Surrender the Book of Arycetia, and I stop the spell!" snarls Elphaba, before slamming the tip of her umbrella on the emerald floor. A resorting bang, echoes within the great hall.
Slowly, the Wizard's eyes flicker towards the White Witch writhing on the floor. A small echo of pain ripples across his heart. Galinda's face, was almost completely transformed into that of a primate, the white fur, almost consuming her entire body, the tips of white wings, begin to poke out of the back of her dress, and her body contorts, before trembling again in pain.
"Very well" quivers the Wizard.
Though he didn't want the Book of Arycetia to fall within the hands of such darkness, his heart, couldn't, wouldn't allow such horrors, too befall one so innocent, so pure.
With a heavy heart, he commanded Morrible to summon the Book of Arycetia.
"Your Wizardship!" protests Morrible. Slowly, Morrible's icy blue eyes stare pleadingly, back at the Wizard, small wisps of white powdered hair, fall into her eyes, making her look even more disheveled.
"I said!" roars the Wizard, as he spins around to glare back at his Press Secretary. Seeing the pain, the fear glisten within the old codfishes eyes, softens the Wizard's heart, making the anger once swelling within his chest, to vanish. "Summon the book"
"Very well….your Ozness" whispers Morrible in a defeated tone.
With a flick of her wrist, a book appears before her. The cover, much like the Grimmerie, is ebony colored, with emerald crystals laced in a delicate design on the cover. The pages are a golden white color, and the book all but hummed in the old witch's hands.
"Here, now leave this place and never return!" snarls Morrible, flinging the book towards the emerald witch.
Grabbing it, Elphaba holds the Book of Arycetia to her chest, before tenderly running her fingers over the silken cover.
"Such magick…We can feel it…such power…it sings to us!" moans Elphaba.
"We did our part of the bargain…now you hold up your end" snarls the Wizard, as he gestures towards the half transformed witch.
With a snap of her fingers, the white fur, and the wings disappear, Galinda's body once again returns back, to its normal shape.
Lovingly, Elphaba's green fingers run down the spine of the book. But once her fingers touch the golden bracket, an emerald bolt of electricity zaps her fingers, making her pull away. Her dark, ebony eyes flicker to the bracket.
The bracket was indeed, made of pure gold, but what intrigued yet infuriated the green witch more than anything was the key hole, drilled in the center of the bracket. The cursed book was locked, and she had not the Key to open it.
Spinning around, Elphaba points the end of her umbrella at the Wizard's head.
"Where's the Key!" snarls Elphaba.
"Key what Key?" questions the Wizard.
In the background, Fiyero, having used this moment, crawled towards a sobbing Galinda. Tenderly, he takes her trembling body into his arms, and holds her close. His hand gently traces the slender curvature of her cheek, as his dark, sapphire eyes stare worriedly back into tear filled cerulean.
"Are you alright?" whispers Fiyero.
"Yes" whispers Galinda.
"Do not play games with me Wizard…the Book of Arycetia is locked and you are the only one who possesses the Key needed to open it. Now where is the Key?"
"It's not here" replies the Wizard in a cool voice.
"Then you better find it…or else heads will roll!" roars Elphaba.
"The Key is hidden" replies Morrible.
Elphaba's dark eyes flicker towards her former mentor. Weakly, the old witch rises back on her stubby feet. Her large, fat fingers lightly run over her hair, pushing the loose strands behind her ears, before brushing off the dust and dirt from her dress.
Limping, Morrible waddles over to the Wizards side. Unconsciously, the Wizard reaches out, and grasps firmly onto Morrible's hand, stabilizing her, and preventing her from falling over.
"The Book of Arycetia is too powerful…even for you Miss Thropp…the power it holds would consume you…destroying you from the inside out" warns Morrible.
Throwing her head back, a dark laugh escapes out of Elphaba's emerald lips. The laugh, so dark, chills the air, making everyone shiver in both fear and horror.
"Unlike you pathetic mortals…We do not fear this power…it's because of weaklings like you, that the Book had been sealed to begin with"
"Do not underestimate the powers of the Book. Arycetia herself…feared the power which she had instilled within its pages…you know as well as I…the legend of Arycetia"
Whilst distracted, the palace guards, having heard the screams, assemble within the Throne room, both above in the great balcony, and below. Each pointing a spear, cross bow, sword or rifle at the emerald witch, waiting with a hair trigger, for the wicked witch to make a move.
Fiyero's arms tighten around Galinda, both in fear and anticipation. He didn't want, no, he didn't desire to see Elphaba taken down by the guards. Yet he also didn't want to see Galinda hurt any more than she already was. It was a catch 22. Protect a girl whom he cared nothing for, the ruler; albeit a fake ruler to the land of Oz, and his less then desirable Press Secretary, or protect the one who held possession over his heart.
"A child's fairytale made to warn naughty little children to not be selfish, and hunger for power" laughs Elphaba.
"No…Arycetia was real…she was the most powerful of all Sorceresses Oz had ever seen. She became consumed with power…so much so, that she began to steal magick from the creatures of Oz, and seal what she stole, within the pages of a book. The power, became too much and it destroyed her, rotted her from the inside out until there was nothing left. The Elders of Oz, sealed the book with the Crescent Seal, preventing any from opening its pages, and releasing the darkness imprisoned within" recites Morrible, her dark eyes glaring back at Elphaba, daring her to make a move.
"Arycetia was a fool…too weak and foolish to harness its power" snarls Elphaba.
"And you're not?" questions Morrible.
"No…We aren't" laughs Elphaba darkly.
"Then you're just as big a fool as Arycetia"
"Wrong" smiles Elphaba.
Her eyes locked on Morrible, she raises a finger up towards the White Witch. With a flick of her wrist, Galinda is once again ripped out of Fiyero's arms, and slammed against the walls. A dark force presses Galinda's petite body against the wall, making her bones crack. Tides of ebony magick wrap around Galinda's throat, choking the very air from her lungs. Slowly, Elphaba's fingers curl into a loose fist, making the ebony binds slowly tighten.
"The Key…or I asphyxiate your precious Galinda the Good"
"Don't do it!" chokes out Galinda.
Snarling, Elphaba clenches her fist, making Galinda gag before loosening her fist, allowing the blonde to suck in small wisps of air.
"The Key!" snarls Elphaba.
"No Fae!" screams Fiyero.
Turning, Elphaba's ebony eyes glare back at Fiyero. Smiling, Elphaba points the end of her umbrella at the Prince. In a flash, a rip tide of dark electricity shoots out of the tip of the umbrella, zapping the Prince, and sending him toppling to the ground, writhing in pain.
"The Key!"
The Wizard, having run out of options, sighs, before quirks a silver eyebrow, silently signaling to his men, to attack, and bring down the emerald witch.
Fiyero and Galinda watch helplessly, as the entire Gale Force, converges on the Emerald Witch, their weapons of death, pointed squarely at the witch's heart.
"Elphaba!" roars Fiyero.
Alright, so here's the next chapter. Sorry for the delay, but a review had left me a bit baffled. In all honesty, this was not the original direction for which this story was supposed to go. Elphaba wasn't supposed to turn out like this, but when writing chapter 3, I was writing a completely different outcome, when whatever inspiration I had, just faded away, leaving me staring at the page. I had deleted it and started again, this time, going in a different direction. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter; the next one will be up soon, and please review. Review is love and I would really love to hear your thoughts on this story, and answers to the question posted above. Thank you.