Chapter 22
Overture
AN: The last two chapters were mainly flash backs, events which happened not long after Elphaba disappeared from Shiz University, and before Galinda and Fiyero went to the City of Emeralds in search of a way to save their friend. Sorry for the confusion. In both earlier chapters, Fiyero is still in human form, he had not been transformed yet into the Scarecrow. Okay, shout outs yeah! Big shoutout to L8lytnwer! Congratulations! And good luck to you! Thank you so much for the shoutout and the wonderful news! Ravencurls, thank you so much for reviewing, yours made me laugh, and I absolutely love reading your reviews! ComingandGoingByBubble…yikes that's all I can say. Thank you for your wonderful review, and don't worry, it wasn't hard to understand. I hope that helps, sorry again for any confusion. Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! They were wonderful to read! Keep sending me your reviews and any questions you may have in regards to this story. Thank you all again for staying with this story! Big hugs to all of you!
Galinda, the Scarecrow Fiyero, the citizens of the City of Emeralds, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion watch as silence reigns over the city, all eyes remain glued to the emerald witch still bathed in flames of rage. Her raven hair billows within the fire, dancing within the twisted flames, small tendrils of her ebony skirt dance around her; a shadow of darkness mirroring within the rage of hells fire.
Slowly, Galinda places a delicate hand on Fiyero's straw shoulders; fingers curling against the fabric as the flames slowly start to dissipate back into the depths of hell.
The sound of straw crackling fills her ears. Wincing, she loosens her grip, before flashing the former Prince a sheepish smile.
"Sorry" mouths Galinda.
Smiling, Fiyero's cloth hand rises up and pats Galinda's, a small smile tugs at his stitched lips. The sun gleams within his eyes, making the sparkling sapphire almost glow within the firelight.
Flashing the White Witch one last reassuring smile, he turns his attention back to the dancing flames, his eyes narrow at the emerald Witch glaring back at him. And stilling his nerves, the former Winkie Prince of the Vinkus, steps towards the flames.
His heart jackhammers within his chest as he approaches the Witch. Her towering form, the acid bubbling within her veins sends cold shivers to run down his spine. His eyes flash towards the flames dancing towards him, licking lustfully at his straw filled cavity.
Elphaba stood towering as the flames around her, slowly fade back into the darkness surrounding her. Small flickers of embers danced and twirled around her, tangling within the silken tendrils of her layered skirt, before twisting up towards the vanishing horizon.
Her dress was black as midnight, the layered skirts twirled in the heated breeze, revealing the exotic cut of her leg. Violent bruises marred her legs, echoing the horrors the witch endured, hours before within the shadows of the Mountain of Stone.
The bodice was made of fine leather, Nightshade Orchids stitched in delicate designs on the bodice, and a thin layer of silk trailed behind her, lithely dancing against the broken ground.
Overhead, gray clouds rolled in, an icy chill; a kiss of winter, swirled around her, making her raven hair billow in the grayish black skies. Thunder rumbled, making the ground tremble and quake beneath her leather heels.
Her dark ebony eyes glared like daggers back at the Good Witch. Her conical hat sat askew on her head, making the thin rim grace over her forehead, and casting a dark shadow to fall over her eyes, darkening her appearance.
One emerald hand clutched tight to the handle of her umbrella, the other, held tight to the broom's handle, cracking and splintering the wood beneath her slender fingers.
The fear lifts; like a veil of darkness from her eyes, the rage growing dim like a flame ignites, racing through her veins like lava carving through the Earth.
Her heart, once pulsing lightly within her chest pounds, her blood boils as every event, every horror she had endured, suffered through, the war, the battles she's survived rise to the surface.
"Elphaba!" roars Galinda.
An evil, acidic smile tugs at the emerald witch's slender lips. Gracefully, Elphaba half-turns to the side, her head cocked towards the ground. The rim of her conical hat is pulled down over one eye, making the one uncovered, glare maniacally back at the White Witch of the North. The wind rises, taking with it a few loose strands of raven locks to billow around the emerald witch.
"How dare you show your face here" growls Galinda. Her eyes narrow as she takes a threatening step away from Fiyero. One hand reaches out towards the Scarecrow, silently warning him to stay back, the other, rests in a loose fist by her side.
"Dare?" queries Elphaba, raising an elegant eyebrow up at the White Witch.
"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here. Especially after what you did to Fiyero…the Tin Man and the Lion" snarls Galinda.
Fiyero's breathe hitches, and his body tenses. Never, had he ever seen Galinda this upset. It frightened yet excited him, for he knew that just like him, she too had had enough of the Wicked Witch's reign of terror.
A crack splints across his heart, as images of earlier flash within his mind. The cruelties, the horrors Elphaba endured by the hands of the Gnome King, the tortures, the rapes paled in comparison to the maniacal nature in which he had destroyed, and shattered the last strands of his loves soul.
Pain tingles within his straw body, remembering the baby, the innocent life cut short by Hell's hatred, its nightmare but a shell to the echoing chasm, splinting and cracking within both Fiyero and Elphaba's soul. For it wasn't just her baby, but his as well; a child made from love's silk, and yet met a violent end, by the hands of Darkness.
Slowly, Fiyero takes a step towards Elphaba, but a gentle hand grasps hard onto his straw fingers, making them crackle and snap beneath her grip.
His eyes flicker up to stares dumbfounded into raging cerulean. The words once edging on the tip of his tongue vanish beneath the flames of rage. Silently, Fiyero pleads with the White Witch to step down, before the Darkness extinguished her Light.
Sensing his eyes upon her, Galinda's head snaps back, the flames of coal fire burn bright within her eyes, making Fiyero shrink back in fear.
"Don't" is all Galinda says, her voice rises just above the whistling breeze, before she snaps her attention back at the emerald witch, the bane of her hatred, and the cause to this hellish existence called life.
"Why are you here! No one wants you here! Nor neither welcomed nor needed!" roars Galinda.
Anger rises within Fiyero's heart. Though he knew, and understood all too well, to the origin of her hatred, it was still, none the less, not warranted, considering…
Shaking those thoughts away, Fiyero takes a step towards Galinda, his cloth hand stretches towards her trembling shoulder.
The Lion, seeing what the Scarecrow was up too, roars, shaking everyone around him. The silver chain dangling from the collar of spikes twists and dances in the ember filled breeze; flickering within the last dawning rays of the sunset.
"You heard her Goodness…be gone! Before my teeth sink into your blackened heart!"
The Tin Man, who too had been standing idly by, steps forward. The ax resting placid against his shoulder swings forward, and lands with a loud clank against his metal arm. His silver eyes glare evilly back at the emerald witch.
"Or my ax" hisses Boq.
"The Heartless and the Cowardly taking a stand against the Wicked? How interesting?" cackles Elphaba.
Angrily, Galinda slams her staff on the ground.
"The only heartless one here is you!" snaps Galinda.
"Careful your Goodness. You may have the Cowardly, the Heartless and the Brainless standing by your side, but even they are no match for my power" snarls Elphaba.
"Return to the Darkness Elphaba…there's nothing for you here…no one here has any room in their hearts for a wretched being like you" sneers Galinda.
"Your not strong enough to cast me away Galinda the Good" sneers Elphaba darkly. Angrily, Elphaba slams the tip of her umbrella against the emerald ground.
"Perhaps not, but the Wizard, his Press Secretary and I are" threatens Galinda, her voice icy and dark.
"Don't make me laugh!" cackles Elphaba. "The Wizard is as useless as a whore in a house full of gay men! And the Press Secretary's powers cannot match my own, nor can yours. Your powers are mediocre at best…a tickle, a nuisance"
"Wretch!" screams Galinda.
Roaring in rage, Galinda points her staff at the emerald Witch. The crystal snowflake on top glows white, before white lightning zip lines through the air, striking Elphaba directly in the heart.
Galinda watches maniacally, as Elphaba's body is hurled back, and crashing into the ground, she skids, leaving a deep trench in her wake, before smashing into a nearby building.
Fiyero and the others wince in pain, at the sound of bones cracking, and breaking beneath the violent impact made by her body hitting the solid emerald structure.
An acidic smirk tugs at the sides of Galinda's lips as the dust and rubble rise up in the air. Slamming her staff to the ground, she gracefully turns back to face the citizens surrounding her.
"Be hold Citizens of Oz! The Wretched shall always fall to the Divine!" Roars Galinda.
An uproar shattered the silence surrounding the center of the city. Everyone cheers, all except the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. For each have yet to tear their eyes away from the place where dust still dances within the light breeze. Small stabs of sunlight try, yet fail to pierce through the veil of Earth spinning like delicate snowflakes within the air.
A flicker of a shadow flashes within the dust and mica, before fading back into the darkness, making Fiyero's heart twist within his chest.
"I wouldn't be so sure" mumbles Fiyero.
A roar, and suddenly a burst of crimson flames erupt from the ground, spewing embers and liquid fire to rain down upon the heads of the citizens.
Cries of panic, of pain fill the air, as the Ozian people run in every direction, desperate to escape the flames of rage from igniting their clothes, and setting them ablaze within the ebony night.
Desperate and frantic to restore order, Galinda tries yet fails to gain the attention of the citizens, and quell their fear, yet, during the melee, and the screams, her voice breaks above the dim. Her dark cerulean eyes flash from one direction to the next, trying to catch the eye of a citizen, or an ally
"Enough!" roars the dark voice of the Witch of the West.
Scared, Galinda's body stiffens. Rigidly, she turns back around to face the fountain of flames rising high into the star filled night. The silver moon now hovering high within the ebony night fades beneath the flames of vengeance, the stars one by one extinguish beneath its silent wrath.
Her eyes widen at the towering form of her former best friend. Mechanically, Elphaba steps out of the flames, the embers dance around her within the icy breeze, taking with it, a few loose strands of raven locks. The skirts of her dress now torn and ripped, billow around her, casting eerie shadows to splay against the buildings.
"YOU!" thunders Elphaba.
Galinda's body goes rigid, as Elphaba points a menacing finger at her.
A flash of ebony light and the white Witch finds herself trapped inside a crimson bubble.
"Elphaba!" screams Galinda as she desperately pounds her fist against the bubbly sides.
"Shall we go for a ride? After all, what image wouldn't be complete if our favorite white Witch didn't come and go by bubble" cackles Elphaba.
"Fae!" roars Fiyero.
But his words fade beneath the frightened screams of Galinda as she's hurtled through the air.
Fiyero couldn't help, but wince, every time Galinda's body slammed hard into a building, leaving a bubble-sized crater in its wake. True, she was surrounded within a bubble, its elastic shield, was still no match, against the cold steel of the emeralds. For every impact, her bones cracked, her skin tore, splitting open with each violent impact, and bruised. Her dark blue dress tore and ripped at the seams, leaving behind small, frayed pieces of glittering silk. Her once bountiful curls hung loose around her, caked in blood, and dirt.
With each cry of pain, the sound of skin tearing, blood splattering on the walls and the streets cracked the Scarecrows fragile heart even more, until fissures of crimson darted across the thin layers.
How could this nightmare have consumed them all? When did this chaotic nightmare even begin? And how in Oz, would they all be freed from its hellish confines?
Slowly, his eyes dart to the side, where the Cowardly Lion cowers within the shadows. His massive paws covering his eyes, and the chain lying on the ground rattles with each tremble cascading down his body.
His eyes dart again to find the Tin Man struggling to keep himself upright, and away from the geyser of water, spraying towards him from the now half destroyed fountain. His mighty ax gleams in the silver moonlight, the blade thirsting for the blood of the Wicked Witch.
A scream and Fiyero's eyes once again darts back towards the billowing flames encompassing the City of Emeralds. Elphaba, lost in the madness, sways her body to an unheard melody. Her fingers unfurled, twists and dances lithely within the ebony silk of the night. As she does, the crimson bubble imprisoning the Good witch collides with a large building, toppling the entire structure on top of Galinda's body.
Determination gleamed within his eyes. His fear dins deep within his soul, seeing the crumpled mass of blonde and blood lay on the ground of the slipper surface. Her once glittering dress is tattered and in pieces, revealing large gash wounds, and blood to stain her oleander flesh.
Narrowing his eyes, Fiyero strides with purposeful steps towards Elphaba, who's back faces him. Her long raven hair dances around her, tangling with the silken ends of her long cape. The folds of her hood, rest against her broad shoulders.
Reaching towards her, he places a gentle, yet firm cloth hand on top of Elphaba's shoulders. Angrily, he spins her around, till her dark ebony eyes stare back into his own.
"That's enough" snarls Fiyero.
"Don't touch me!" roars Elphaba. Violently, she tears herself free from Fiyero's grasp, but in the process, tears her dress, revealing the humps of her breasts.
A pang of pain slices across his heart, seeing the bruises marring her flesh, the tops of her breasts, her arms beneath the lace, and her neck.
Unconsciously, Fiyero drew Elphaba into his arms, and pressing her rigid body against his, drinks in every facet, every detail of her face, and every inch of skin visible beneath her dress. It was this closeness, which allowed Fiyero to see for the first time, the large, violent bruise still throbbing on her cheek.
"What has he done to you?" whispers Fiyero. Absently, he brushes a loose strand away from her face, and tucks it behind her ear. His fingers linger for a brief second, before lithely tracing the slender slope of her jaw line, before cupping her bruised cheek.
"Get off of me" growls Elphaba.
"Please don't break away…don't run from me Fae…tell me please" pleads Fiyero. Gently, he rests his forehead against hers, drinking in her intoxicating scent.
"Yero…please" quivers Elphaba, her voice was soft, laced with pain, and broken innocence.
"Fae…come back to me" whispers Fiyero.
For a brief second, Fiyero's lips hover mere inches from Elphaba's. Both hands now cupping her face, tenderly pad along the apple of her cheeks, before tangling within the sea of ebony silk. His dark, sapphire eyes stare pleadingly back into flickering ebony and chocolate.
Elphaba's eyes close automatically, as the feel of Fiyero's hot breath, washes over her skin, making her shiver and her lips to quiver. Slowly, her fingers rise up, and cup either side of Fiyero's cloth face. Her long fingers gently pad down the cloth that now replaced his skin; a small shiver of regret, skips across her heart.
Galinda at this time, slowly, weakly raises her head off the ground. Blood drips from a large gash split across her forehead. Small strands of golden hair stick to her face, staining it in crimson gore. Dirt smears across her cheek, mixing in with her blood.
Jealousy percolates within her heart, seeing the two former lovers holding each other so intimately. Didn't she know, did she not realize that he was no longer hers!
Wincing, Galinda weakly rises back to her feet. Her dark cerulean eyes never leaving the sight of the two, holding each other, each ones lips but a whisper away from touching.
"No…FiFi…get…get away" yells Galinda. Her voice though, squeaked in both weakness and in pain, barely rose above a whisper. Painfully, she watched as the two slowly started to close the gap between them.
"Please Fae…let me in" whispers Fiyero.
His breathes turn heavy as Elphaba's lips are but an eyelash away. He could almost taste her; her scent was driving her mad. He had to capture those lips, to claim them as his own, wash away the filth, the after taste of that vile bastard, who had dared abuse the woman who held his heart within the palm of her hand, who possessed a piece of his soul, and hers to him.
"FiFi" whispers Galinda, her voice cracking as the raw emotions flood her cracking heart.
Did he not love her? Did he not care? Was the night the two shared meaningless?
"FiFi!" cries Galinda.
Weakly her legs give beneath her, making the White Witch crumple to the ground. A cry of pain slips past her quivering lips as her knees scrape against the pavement, making them bleed.
The physical pain was bearable, the pain pulsing within her heart soon became excruciating. For Galinda, her small, vapid mind simply couldn't, wouldn't wrap around the fact screaming back at her with Chao's Mirror that the love the Prince felt was always for Elphaba, and never her. And that one truth, made the Witch's heart split that much more.
"FiFi" cries Galinda.
Yero
Slowly, Fiyero's eyes open. What he sees, steals his breath away, for the darkness swirling within Elphaba's eyes fades, revealing the swirl of chocolate, and gold dust, dancing majestically within her large, innocent orbs.
"Fae" whispers Fiyero gently.
"Please, don't hurt me" whispers Elphaba through quivering lips.
Unconsciously, Fiyero winces as the words slip free from Elphaba's quivering lips. The pain, the tortures she endured come to life, dance like phantoms spells before his eyes.
Images of that day, that night, when like an angel, Langwidere appeared, and with her magick, pushed back the veil which had left him blind for long.
His heart quivered within his chest at the haunting image, Elphaba's dead eyes staring out into emptiness, as the Gnome King raped her body, within the pool of her crimson blood, the baby, the life dwelling within, slowly slipping away into the folds of Chao's Fire.
On that night, Fiyero had traversed through many emotions. Anger, hatred, sadness, revulsion, pity, glee, disgust, love, sympathy, and remorse, for all flashed like a raging storm within his heart. But, amongst the vast sea of emotions, remorse, thundered within his heart, remorse over the baby that he and Elphaba had created, and now lost at the hands of the vile Gnome King.
He had learned later that night; when Langwidere had appeared before his bedside, and urged him to follow her once more into the blackened depths of hell.
Slowly, the two faded into the shadows, watching in silence as a dark figure wandered aimlessly through the empty courtyard surrounding the Mountain of Mysts and Shadows. The Gnome King, prodding the fingers back with an ebony spear in one hand, a long chain clenched tight in the other.
By the moon's light, Fiyero was able to make out the emerald collar fastened tight to the figures neck, the chains clenched within his hand dangled from the collar.
With a sneer, the Gnome King pulled the figure down to the ground. As she tumbled, Fiyero and Langwidere noticed the small bundle of cloth, clenched tight within her arms, blood soaked, and glistening within the silver moonlight.
"Here…bury it" snarls the Gnome King as he jerks the chain, choking the figure.
"No" whimpers the figure.
"Elphaba" whispers Fiyero, hearing the voice, he slowly starts to step out of the shadows, but a firm hand reaches up, and pulls him back into the shadows.
Growling, the Gnome King beats the figure with the chains, making her back bleed.
Thrashing around, the hood of her cloak falls, making the figures raven hair tumble down her blood soaked back. Her lackluster emerald skin, glows eerily in the moonlight.
"Stop!" cries Elphaba.
"I SAID BURY IT HERE!" roars the Gnome King, before thrashing the chains against her back once more.
Slowly, Elphaba takes the bundle once pressed protectively against her chest, out from beneath her cloak. Her dark, ebony eyes fill with tears and her body quakes, as she takes in long, deep, shuddering breathes.
"I…I can't. Please…please don't make me do this" pleads Elphaba, her voice was meek, and filled with pain.
"I SAID BURY THAT FILTHY THING NOW!" roars the Gnome King, before striking Elphaba hard across the face with the chains.
Falling to the ground, Elphaba unconsciously presses the bundle against her chest, protecting it from the chains striking her body, tearing her flesh, and bruising her flesh.
A trembling emerald hand reaches out, before falling to the ground. Cries split the air, as she digs into the Earth, the dirt sticking beneath her nails, tearing the flesh.
"Fae" whispers Fiyero.
A whimper, before Elphaba pulls back and rests on her hunches, for the hole she had been digging was finally finished. A low breath slips past her quivering lips. Absently, she presses the blankets against her chest, as crystalline tears spill from her eyes.
Growling, the Gnome King presses his foot against her beaten back. Pushing her down, the King presses the point of the spear against her back, piercing her skin.
"THROW IT AWAY!" roars the King.
"No!" screams Elphaba in both pain and fury.
Roaring in frustration, the King slams the spear deep into Elphaba's shoulder. And though her screams fill his heart with elation, he silently curses her beneath her breath. For the injury done to her shoulder, the pain too slices through his own shoulder, drawing his own blood to poor down his body in crimson tides.
"DO IT OZDAMN YOU!" roars the King, before kicking her hard against the ground.
"No!" screams Elphaba in pain.
Losing his patience, the King falls to his knees. His one hand grasps hard onto her head, his fingers curl around her hair, before violently yanking her head up off the ground. His other hand, throws the spear to his side, before reaching down and curling around Elphaba's arm. With a hard yank, the King forces her arm up into a gruesome position.
Screams of pure agony shatter the silent night, skipping across both Langwidere and the Prince's heart, making them both crack within the echo.
"Do it, or I will" threatens the King.
"You won't touch him" seethes Elphaba. Unconsciously, she tucks the bundle beneath her body.
"No, I won't touch it. I'll burn it to ashes instead and piss on its charred remains"
"No" whispers Elphaba.
"Then bury that thing and be done with it, or I will"
Slamming her head to the ground, the Gnome King slowly rises back up to his full height; his dark eyes never leave the sight of the Witch's body trembling violently beneath him.
Weakly, Elphaba rises, her legs tucked beneath her tremble violently. Slowly, she pulls the bundle away. Her eyes remain transfixed, at the baby swathed within the bloodstained blankets.
Tears spill from her eyes. Closing them, she absently presses the bundle against her chest once again, holding it close, and whispering one last goodbye. Her trembling lips lower, and kiss the top of the baby's bloody head.
"Oh for Ozsakes just do it already" grumbles the King.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you…Syphire" whispers Elphaba.
Gently, she presses a tender kiss to the baby's forehead, before gently laying him within the shallow grave of dirt and mica. Her emerald fingers rise up and press against her lips, before pulling away once more in a silent kiss.
"Cover it" growls the King.
Nodding, emerald fingers stained in blood and dirty quiver, as they slowly push dirt and rock back to fill in the makeshift grave. With each rainfall of Earth, fresh pearl tears dance down emerald cheeks, burning and searing the flesh beneath, leaving violent welts in its wake.
Fiyero watches silently, his heart twisting within his chest as the baby he hardly knew, is buried deep within the Earth.
Once finished, the Gnome King reaches down and yanks on the chains, making the collar around Elphaba's neck tighten, chocking her.
Gasping, Elphaba falls to the ground, her emerald fingers stained in blood and dirt, reach up and grasp onto the edge of the collar.
Sneering, the King kicks the emerald witch onto her back. Kneeling before her, his thick fingers curl around the fabric of her bloodstained dress. Laughing, he rolls the ends of her skirt up to her waist.
"Good girl" grumbles the King, before forcefully pressing his lips against her own.
Elphaba lays limp beneath the King, as he thrusts himself hard into her. A solemn tear, slides down her cheek, as the King rapes her body on top of the makeshift grave of her newborn son, buried a few inches beneath the ground.
Slowly, her empty, soulless eyes rise up to stare absently up at the twinkling stars darting across the ebony sea.
"Fae" whispers Fiyero, before a myst of lavender and ebony encompasses around him. Slowly, the image of Elphaba and the King fades before his eyes, and the familiar cold, empty walls of the Emerald Palace once again rise before him.
"Why…why didn't you let me save her! To stop him from-!" yells Fiyero as he whips around to glare maniacally at Langwidere, who cowers before him.
If you fled this world, my Mistress would be broken both inside and out" replies Langwidere.
"I doubt there's any love, pulsing within her blackened heart" sneers Fiyero.
"Are you truly blind?" asks Langwidere, cocking her head to the side.
"I beg your pardon?" asks Fiyero.
"She tried to save you…by drinking away the pain" replies Langwidere.
"For Ozsakes! Speak what you wish to speak and be done with it!" snarls Fiyero.
"If she didn't love you then she wouldn't be so heartbroken over losing the infant!" screams Langwidere.
"And yet your Mistress condemns me to this hellish existence!" snarls Fiyero, as he angrily points at his straw body.
"She did it to save you" whispers Langwidere.
"By cursing me!"
"If she hadn't turned you into a Scarecrow, then the Gnome King would have sent his Legion out to hunt you down and kill you! Forcing her to watch as his men tore you to pieces!" barks back Langwidere.
Roaring in frustration, Fiyero spins on his heels. Storming over to a heavily ornate table, Fiyero clenches his fists, before slamming them down on the crystal surface.
"Feel better now?" snickers Langwidere.
"It doesn't matter anymore" replies Fiyero, ignoring the jab. "Nothing does. What's done is done…and there's no changing that" replies Fiyero.
A small smile tugs at the sides of Langwidere's lips. Slowly, she steps towards the former Prince, and reaching out, gently places a comforting hand on his straw shoulder.
"There was no way neither you nor my Mistress could have prevented the burial…it was going to happen whether the two of you liked it or not" soothes Langwidere.
"He still should have received a proper burial…with the both of us laying him to rest within his grave, his body in a coffin" replies Fiyero gently.
That night left Fiyero hollow inside, empty. A blanket of ice wrapped around his body, making him shiver almost violently throughout the night. The images of Elphaba being forced to bury the remains of her child, then being raped on top of his grave haunted him, tearing at his heart.
So as the two stood toe to toe, noses barely touching, and lips but a whisper away, the all too familiar ache, the pain once again echoed across his heart, making his eyes flood with tears.
"Fae…I'm so sorry you had to go through that alone" whispers Fiyero.
Startled, Elphaba's eyes snap up to stare wide back into Fiyero's. "What…what did you?"
"I'm sorry for what that man made you do" replies Fiyero.
"How do you?" asks Elphaba.
"I was there…I watched in silence" whispers Fiyero.
A cry slips past quivering lips. Tears spill from her eyes, burning her flesh.
Gently, Fiyero wiped the tears away with his thumb. His other hand slowly slides down to the small of her back.
Leaning forward, Fiyero very tenderly presses a kiss to Elphaba's forehead.
"Fae…I'm so sorry about the b-" starts Fiyero.
"No!" screams Elphaba.
Rage unfurled ignites within her body. Her hands once cupping around Fiyero's cheek lowers down to his chest. With a roar of rage, she pushes the straw man violently away from her, making him stumble before falling to the ground in a straw-filled mess.
"Don't…don't you dare mention that!" snarls Elphaba.
"How dare you hurt the Scarecrow!"
Whipping around, Elphaba's eyes narrowed at the sight of the Tin Man standing a few feet away, struggling to lift the Good Witch off the floor.
"Ah Boq…so good to see you again…your looking well" cackle Elphaba.
"I will kill you Elphaba Thropp!" snarls the Tin man.
"When you're ready…come and get it" cackles Elphaba.
"Leave the Scarecrow alone…he never did anything to you!" roars the Lion, attempting yet failing to force courage into his quivering voice.
"The Scarecrow…ah so none accept the bubbly blonde recognizes the true identity to the Scarecrow…interesting" laughs Elphaba.
"What do you mean?" asks Boq confused.
"Why Master Chopper, certainly you of all people should be able to recognize an old classmate when you see one?" queries Elphaba, her voice dark and acidic.
"What games are you playing Witch" sneers Boq.
"No games… I assure you. Come come now I'll be a sport…look him square in the face and tell me that you don't recognize him"
With a wave of her hand, the Scarecrow is half hoisted up in the air; his straw legs remain limp on the ground. His arms hang over an invisible force holding him. With graceful steps, Elphaba stands next to the Scarecrow. Her emerald fingers reach down and tangle within the mess of straw and cloth, and with a hard yank, forces the Scarecrows face up till his shimmering sapphire eyes stare back into silver blue.
"Look deep Master Chopper, search your memories, for the answer lies deep within the shadows of your past" hisses Elphaba.
"I don't" starts Boq.
Rolling her eyes, Elphaba steps away from Fiyero's side. Magickally, he remains frozen in the air, his head, unable to move, remains upright, staring back at the Tin Man.
Standing in front of Fiyero, Elphaba's emerald fingers reach down and curl around the thin fabric of her ebony skirts, and in a mock bow, lowers her head, allowing her raven tendrils to spill down her shoulders.
"May I present to you…the Crowned Prince of the Vinkus...and once self-proclaimed Dancing through Life student of Shiz University" proclaims Elphaba.
"Fi…Fiyero?" whispers Boq shocked.
"D…do I know you?" asks Fiyero.
"Ah, the brainless Prince can't even recognize a former student either…tut tut tut dear Prince…well, I suppose custom permits me to introduce you too…yet again" sighs Elphaba.
Turning, she takes an ungraceful bow to Boq, before lifting an emerald hand in the Tin Man's direction.
"May I re-introduce to you, Boq Chopper, formerly from Munchkinland…former student of Shiz University, and once and still is obsessed with the woman who all Oz knows as Galinda the Good, and former boy toy of the Governor to Munchkinland"
"Boq?" asks Fiyero.
"I…I don't believe it! What happened to you!" squeals Galinda.
"To make a long story short, I left Shiz to become Nessa's personal slave. Alone, I watched as her sister tore Munchkinland apart" growls Boq.
"But…how did" starts Fiyero.
"Elphaba" replies Boq dryly.
"Fae?" whisper Fiyero.
Slowly, Fiyero turns to once again face Elphaba, who stands but a few feet away, an insane glint, sparkles deep within her ebony eyes.
"Fae…why?" whispers Fiyero.
"I have my reasons…stay out of my life!" growls Elphaba.
"Fae…I know what you're going through…the pain, the torments the King of the Gnomes puts you through night after night!" tries Fiyero again, hoping beyond hope, that he may finally reach her, and end this nightmare once and for all.
"You couldn't possibly" snarls Elphaba as she steps back, both her hands remain loosely fisted by her side as her hair dances within the flickering embers twirling lithely within the midnight air.
"Fae…what happened to you…and the ba-"
"Enough!" roars Elphaba. Angrily Elphaba's arms fly to the sides, gesturing for the conversation to end.
Turning, her dark, maniacal eyes scan over the horrified and frightened faces of the Citizens of Oz. A small, wicked smile tugs at the sides of her lips.
Gracefully, she turns to once again face the Prince.
"What was it you used to say back at Shiz?" asks Elphaba. Gently, she brings her fingers up to stroke at her chin, her dark ebony eyes stare heavenward.
"Oh yes" replies Elphaba, snapping her fingers. Smiling, Elphaba flashes Fiyero a wicked smile. "Go down to the Ozdust…we'll meet there later tonight, we can dance till its light" sneers Elphaba, before turning to once again stare at the crumpled form of Galinda.
With a flick of her wrist, Galinda's limp body rises from the ground; her dark cerulean eyes stare wide back into dark ebony. Unfurling her fingers, Galinda's arms magickally rise up to her side.
"Find the prettiest girl…give her a whirl" Twirling her fingers, Galinda's body magickally starts to twirl in midair.
"Stop it Fae!" screams Fiyero.
Cackling, Elphaba watches gleefully as Galinda's body twirls in a sickening motion high in the air, before plummeting once again down to Earth; a sickening smack resounds throughout the center of the City, as her body slams into the ground.
"How beautifully wicked" cackles Elphaba.
Like a marionette being controlled by invisible threads, Galinda's body dances and twirls magickally in the air, before once again being slammed into the ground.
"I could do this all day!" cackles Elphaba.
"Let the blonde girl go!" Roars a familiar voice in the crowd.
Turning on her heels, Elphaba' s eyes narrow at the sight of the Wizard and Morrible, slowly stepping out of the wall of Ozian's.
"Your Ozness" replies Elphaba sarcastically, before bowing sloppily, "how Good to see you again"
Rising, Elphaba's dark, ebony eyes flash over to the towering form of Madame Morrible, standing rigid by the Wizard's side. Her dress was of a deep crimson color, with gold designs sewn deep into the thick material. The neck of the dress rose high, to the height of her ears. The sleeves were long, and had the same intricate design as what was on the bodice. Three loops connected to the ends of the sleeves wound around the fat Witch's thick fingers.
"Miss Thropp" sneers Madame Morrible.
"Codfish" mumbles Elphaba.
Bristling, Madame Morrible makes a move to throw a spell at the Witch, but the Wizard's gentle touch still the old blow fish. Growling, Madame Morrible gestures wildly to an unseen figure hidden beneath the crowd.
Slowly, one by one, the citizen part, reveals a young girl of eleven to make her way towards the center of the City. Her dark, blue eyes stare back at the witch, fear sparkling deep within her orbs. Her long brunette hair is plaited and split into two corkscrew pigtails, held together by white and blue checkered cloth. Her dress was short, ending an inch below her knees, and matched the same strange design of the bows in her hair.
Hung loose over one pale arm was a wicker basket, the other, held a small, yet strange animal covered in black fur and black, empty eyes.
"And who is this?" hisses Elphaba.
"Dorothy Gale…the People's hero" replies Morrible proudly.
"The people's hero…bah!" snarls Elphaba. Gracefully she spins on her heels and walks away. "How pathetically poetic to send a mere child to kill a witch like me" laughs Elphaba.
"This child is more than capable of bringing down a witch I assure you" sneers Morrible, a wicked smile sliding across her withered lips.
"Oh and how do you propose she does that? Stare at them to death?" laughs Elphaba.
"Looks are deceiving Miss Thropp, you of all people should know that" laughs Morrible.
Stopping in her tracks Elphaba whirls back around, her dark, ebony eye glare back into her former Head Mistress's eyes.
"What in the Devil are you talking about?" growls Elphaba.
"She's powerful Miss Thropp…powerful enough to take down a witch…after all, she's already rid Oz of one" laughs Morrible.
"Who?" quivers Elphaba, fear skips across her heart, for there was only one other witch, aside from her and Galinda.
"Miss Thropp" smiles Morrible.
"I?" replies Elphaba confused.
"The former Governess of Munchkinland" finishes Morrible.
"Nessa" whispers Elphaba.
"Don't believe me…just look at her feet" laughs Morrible.
Elphaba's eyes flicker down toward the girl's feet. Sure enough, the ruby slippers she had enchanted now remain fixated on the girl's feet.
"I" starts Elphaba.
"All cheer, for the Wicked Witch of the East is dead!" roars Madame Morrible.