Author's note: To my undying shame I realized my last chapter had some errors in it. I went back and corrected them. Also, since I felt the last chapter was bit...weaker than I liked, here's the next. It's about two pages longer than normal.

I hope you enjoy.

Elphaba did not recognize this part of the City. It was less Emerald, and more a sickly green. The houses and shops were ill kept and the streets were strewn with refuse. She glanced around wearily.

"Glinda…."

"Hush, Sarima. We're here on business." She said in her 'Good' voice. She strode purposely down the street, glancing at the doors until she stopped in front of one. She knocked a few times and a bedraggled Quadling woman opened the door. She saw Glinda and curtsied.

"My lady."

"Maygon, how many times have I said that is not needed?"

"Every time, my lady."

"How goes everything?"

"Well enough."

"Are you getting what you need?"

"More than we deserve, my lady."

"You deserve as much as possible."

"Yes, my lady. We are very grateful."

"Are any of the children in?"

"No, my lady. They are off at school."

"Oh yes. I quite forgot how having school every day was. How's the help?"

"Willful, but good. It's nice to see young men and women give back. Well, give back at least as much as they have to." She laughed and Glinda laughed along with her.

"Well, that's good to hear. If you need anything, please contact me."

They walked back to the carriage in silence. Once inside, Elphaba began to question Glinda.

"What was that all about?"

"That's an orphanage. As Throne Minister I set up orphanages and schools for the children of the Emerald City. After I abdicated, they began to cut off funding. Now I support them entirely."

"How do you pay for it?"

"Sorcery seminars, speaking engagements, charity balls, that line of beauty products I told you about early. Along with some good business investments I've done well enough to keep them going. It's close though."

"Your momsie and popsicle help?"

"I can't believe you still remember that. Yes, mother and father helped a bit. They invested my dowry for me, and after Fiyero disappeared allowed me to control it. Father also manages the businesses, as it would be inappropriate for a lady of my stature to do so.

"Women: they can rule Oz, but still not run businesses. Still second class citizens."

"I'm working on that; why do you think I've been sending children to school? It takes a lot of time, though."

"I also don't see any Animals in the City."

"Like I said before, fleeing to Munchkinland in droves."

"Or poor. I'm assuming you haven't fixed that."

Glinda's face darkened. "No, that's one of my greatest mistakes. Soon after I was Throne Minister, an earthquake hit the Emerald City. The less well constructed buildings were hit hardest. I sent out the Home Guard to help, but they took it as clearing the ghettos and pulling down the slums. By the time I realized what they were doing it was too late. They had moved them all somewhere, and I never could get a definitive answer. That's part of the reason I built the orphanages and schools. I also used some money to build good apartment buildings that would have cheap rents. After abdication, the government tried selling them to the slum lords of the city. I managed to get my hands on them before that through some…unethical methods." She shrugged at Elphaba's face. "Right? No. Least wrong? Yes. And now their rents are still cheap."

"Did you punish them?"

"Who?"

"The Home Guard."

"Oh. Yes. To the extent I could. All of the lower personnel claimed following orders; it was how they previously handled cases so they didn't think anything of it. The leader, a man name Cherrystone, was sent to the east to be out of the way. He caused trouble there, so I sent him to the south, and finally north to Gillikin. The barons there keep him in line. He is still agitating for war against Munchkinland, though."

"Sounds like he got off easy."

"You have to understand, if I would have tried anything I would have been tossed out in a heartbeat. It isn't like now where there's a Hall of Approval and everything. It was bad times, and I did not have the support I do now."

"Is that what all these philanthropic actions are for? Building support?"

"No, they're honestly about doing good. But I learned something in my time as Throne Minister. It isn't the court that keeps the Minister in power, nor the bankers, the industrialists, the high society. That's all the pomp of it. It's the people. It's them." She said quietly, motioning to the window. "They keep the power. The Wizard understood it. Get them to back you, and you'll be able to do anything. They are fickle, though, which is both a curse and gift."

She laughed lightly and Elphaba noticed how tired her friend looked. She reached across the carriage and squeezed her hand. Glinda looked up at her expectantly.

"You're amazing, Glinda." Elphaba said, and Glinda brightened with the compliment.

"You really mean it?"

"Of course. Look at all you've done here: the people love you. And you've made this slice of Oz better."

"Thanks. That means a lot, coming from you. You never lied to me, except that once."

"And I'll never lie to you again."

The carriage stopped and Glinda set her posture. She was back being Glinda the Good, and that saddened Elphaba deeply. She wondered if there would ever be a time when the girl she knew, Galinda, would be able to be herself again. The carriage door opened, and they both got out. They were met by a well-dressed Vinkun woman.

"Good day, my lady. It is an honor that you have graced us with your presence." She said.

"You're craft is known city wide, and it is my honor to be able to shop here." Glinda replied.

"You do me a great service, my lady. Shall we go inside?"

They followed the woman into the store. It held exotic dresses, scarves, and veils the like of which Glinda had never seen, and Elphaba only briefly.

"Wow. So pretty." Glinda said amazed, then realized she had said that out loud (and in her normal voice). She looked embarrassed but the Vinkun owner merely smiled.

"Thank you my lady. That has to be the most honest, and best compliment I have ever received."

"I'm happy; it is well deserved."

"What may I help you with? Your appointment only said clothing."

"I was looking for my lady-in-waiting. She's an Arjiki princess, a cousin of my late fiancée." Glinda said, and paused for a moment to bow her head in remembrance. The Vinkun woman bowed her head, kissed her own hands, and then held them skyward. Glinda then continued. "She has taken a vow not to be seen by anyone but family. However, her wardrobe is insufficient for this not only in quantity but also quality."

The Vinkun woman nodded and turned to Elphaba. She said something in Vinkun and Glinda inwardly blanched. She had not thought that might happen. Elphaba, however, responded in kind; after a short conversation, the Vinkun woman nodded her head and turned back to Glinda.

"The princess has told me the details of her vow, and of her preferences. However, she says that since she serves you she will acquiesce to your judgment."

Glinda practically squealed in glee but caught herself. She was Glinda the Good right now, not Galinda after the Ozdust. She nodded respectfully, and they went about exploring the store. Elphaba inwardly groaned because she knew how Glinda was when shopping, and doing a makeover in particular. Soon, the private back room reserved for them was filled with different scarves, veils, tunics, dresses, and slippers of every different color, shade, and shape. Glinda could barely contain herself. Dress up was still one of her favorite things, and dressing up Elphaba was the best dress up she could play. At last, she had finished canvassing the store and they were ready for the modeling.

"My lady, the princess Sarima's vow states that only family can see her." The owner said and Glinda scowled. It would be just like Elphaba to bar her from the best part out of spite.

"She is family." Came Elphaba's voice and Glinda smiled. "She is the widow of my cousin."

"But they were never married."

"Souls may marry in a way law and society does not recognize, but that doesn't make it any less true."

"Yes, princess."

"Thank you for your services." She grasped the Vinkun woman's hands and kissed them through the veil. "We shall send for you if we require more." The Vinkun woman looked flustered, nodded, and left.

"What was that?" Glinda whispered.

"It's the most respectful way of saying thank you." Elphaba responded.

"Why the reaction?"

"Because it normally goes up the societal chain, not down it. By doing it I placed her above me for a moment."

"Oh, wow. I thought you didn't know much about Vinkun customs?"

"Just enough to get by."

"I see. Shall we get to it?"

"If we must."

The closed the door to the private dressing room, and Glinda produced her training wand (from where Elphaba had no idea). She quickly flicked her wand and then stashed it away again. Elphaba removed the veils over her face.

"What was that?" Elphaba asked.

"Sound proofing spell."

"Where'd you pick that up from?"

"Courtesan witch." Glinda replied nonchalantly, and Elphaba looked at her askance.

"And why were you cavorting with a courtesan?"

Glinda's face lost its happy glow. "When you and Fiyero left I was heartbroken. The only remaining true support in my life was gone. To get by, I began to lose myself in…companionship. Men; women; it didn't matter. As long as they were mine, even just for that night." Elphaba looked aghast. Finally, Glinda could no longer hold it anymore and burst into a fit of giggles.

"Were you joking? That's not funny!" Elphaba yelled.

"Only because you couldn't see you face. Really Elphie, me tramping about? Please."

"So where did you meet this witch?"

"Sorcery seminar, same as Marianne. All witches crave more spells. And all want to learn from Glinda the Good! Honestly, I learn more from them then I could ever by myself. You see, as long as they bring with them one spell I do not know the seminar is free. My spell book has gotten huge! I'm thinking of splitting it into a two volume set."

"But why do they come to you? Most witches are educated."

"They are. But not at Shiz. Or by Morrible, who's still one of the best witches around. And none have access to the Grimmerie."

"Glinda! You haven't!"

"Oh, sweet Oz, Elphie, no! I haven't given them any spells out of the Grimmerie. However, it contains a much more elemental magic. It's much more…raw. Powerful. And dangerous. But, by finding where the elemental magics can be substituted for the sorceric magics, I've been able to improve spells. Of course, they all think it's me doing it through sheer brilliance, "Glinda tossed her hair, "but it really just got everything started. Now, though, I don't need the Grimmerie. I could practically right a sorcery focus myself!"

Elphaba reached out and grabbed Glinda's shoulders. "I'm so proud of you."

"You mean it?"

"Yeah. You've grown so much as a sorceress. To think, Morrible didn't think you had it in you."

"Well, I couldn't let you show me up."

Elphaba laughed. "Glinda, I have several innate advantages."

"True. But fashion sense is not one of them. Now, no more stalling."

Elphaba did groan this time because she knew now came the endless parade of trying on clothes. Glinda forced her to strip out of everything but her under tunic, and then went about directing her about what to put on with what.

"No, not the purple. Try with the red and black."

"That looks good. Oh, what about the cream?"

"Blegh. Teal was a bad choice."

After having exhausted the combinations (and Elphaba) Glinda instructed her to switch under tunics.

"What?" was Elphaba's response.

"Yeah. That blue is your best base color but it doesn't work with everything. Switch to the cream one. That'll be better for warmer days."

"Glinda, I'm sure its fine. And I really don't want to take off my under tunic."

"Why? It's not like you don't have undergarments on." There was a pause. "Right?"

"Look, I didn't exactly have much clothing on the run and in the wild-"

"Miss Elphaba Thropp, are you telling me that the last couple of days you've been running around with no undergarments? How scandalacious!"

"Look, it's not like I particularly need them."

"What?" Glinda said, and doubled over in mirth. "How can you not need them?"

"I'm not exactly you who looks like they're trying to smuggle two Oz melons in her dress."

"No, but if you keep it up the girls will no longer be defying gravity." She retorted, and then fell to the floor laughing.

"That's not funny!"

"It's hilariafying."

"Not even."

"Oh come on Elphie. You can just turn around. You are wearing bloomers, yes?"

"Of course. That's just good hygiene."

"Well, then you can just turn around and switch tunics. I promise I won't peek."

"I know your promises." Elphaba replied with a smile but turned away anyway. She grabbed the bottom of the tunic and brought it up over her head. Glinda took the time to admire the flexing of her shoulder muscles. As she stretched out fully, Glinda noticed the muscles along the ribs and hips, but then her gaze was drawn to a dark green stripe just under the shoulder. She also noticed several others, more faded.

"Elphie, what's that mark under your shoulder?" she asked.

"My get aways weren't always clean Glinda." She replied quietly.

"Oh my Oz. Did it go all the way through?"

"No." She said, and reached to grab the cream tunic off the hanger. "Unlike the one on my right thigh."

Glinda's eyes were drawn there and she saw a deep green scar. "What was it?"

"Musket shot." She fluffed out the tunic, and went to put it on. She froze when small hands made contact with her back. "Glinda." She said huskily.

"So many." The fingers explored around her green back and then up the arms. "Your life was so hard, and I guess I never really understood. These really tell me." They fingers crawled down the forearms and over the knuckles. "So rough and hard."

Elphaba could feel Glinda pressed against her, her breath warm against her back. She suppressed a shiver. "That's more from the work of making a house and tending fields." She replied with a slight smirk.

"Still." The hands turned from exploring with the finger tips to caressing. "Your skin is softer now since you've been bathing, but there are points of roughness." Up the arms and back to the shoulders. "And the muscles. They feel like steel wrapped in silk." One hand went up, to feel the chords of Elphaba's long neck; the other curved around to feel the hard stomach. Elphaba tensed.

"Glinda." She repeated, deeper this time.

"Such a hard life. Such a strong girl. But I won't let the world hurt you anymore. I'll make it so you don't have to be so strong, so hard." Glinda said quietly and then Elphaba felt the light brush of lips between her shoulder blades. She became completely rigid, and relaxed when the light soft touches of Glinda withdrew, but was slightly disappointed also. To cover up it up, and to get a hold of herself, she quickly threw the tunic over her head. In the rustling she missed Glinda take a deep breath.

"There." Elphaba said, trying to make her voice return to normal, and succeeding for the most part. "Now what else do you want me to try on?" Glinda's smile was as broad as could be.