Authors note: It appears I cant stick to the only updating once a week thing. Here's the next chapter. It has a lot to do with how Glinda views things, and what I view as Elphaba's major fault. Reviews are welcome. They might make me write faster, though I don't know if that's really an incentive considering the pace I'm writing now.

Thanks, and enjoy.

Glinda paid for her purchases (or rather, a retainer did so) and all the boxes were promptly shuttled out. To Elphaba, it seemed they bought half the store. Elphaba herself was wearing a new cream under tunic with dark blues and reds at Glinda's insistence. It was certain the store owner would not have to worry about sales this year. As they exited the store there was a large crowd of people looking in her direction. Elphaba clenched her jaw. She knew this would be her first test.

The crowd was made up of all classes of people: high born, artisans, lower class, poor. At the front stood a group that even Elphaba could tell were journalists. Glinda floated to them, a smile on her face, and began to greet a each one. They shook her hand and bowed respectfully. Afterwards, Glinda began to move out and about the common crowd. Elphaba wearily followed.

"Now, what can I do for you gentleman?" Glinda called sweetly without stopping her interactions with the crowd.

"We were wondering your thoughts on…."the reporter trailed off as he had seen Elphaba. Though she was shorter than usual due to her lack of customary boots, in her veils she cut and impressive (and intimidating) sight.

"Hm?" Glinda inquired and turned. "Oh, you met my new lady-in-waiting Sarima. She's a Vinkun princess here to learn more about the Emerald City and our ways."

"How good of Glinda to help show such a poor barbaric creature civilization." Someone in the crowd said, and there was a murmur of agreement. Both Glinda and Elphaba felt a stab of annoyance at the attitude but neither said anything.

"Yes? Was that all gentlemen?" Glinda asked as she went back to greeting the crowd members.

"No." one said. "What are your thoughts on this new hostility by Munchkinland?"

"Meaning?"

"They raised the food prices again."

"Well, it is their food. However, it could be because the Minister levied an import tax on all their goods that aren't food. That makes them harder to sell."

""What about them controlling Restwater, the most stable water source in Oz?" asked another

"I'm sure we can come ot some agreement. Military force is hardly necessary and is so…uncivilized. We can surely do better."

"What a about the rumors of the Minister imposing check points between the countries of Oz?" said a third.

"That's just a silly rumor. Why would the Minister do that? I mean, really, telling me I'd need papers to pop up to Frottica to see my parents? That would be ridiculous."

"What about all those rumors regarding the Wicked Witch of the West?" one asked, and Elphaba tensed.

"And what would those be?"

"That she wasn't really a green witch, but a Munchkinland sympathizer"

"You know, I had the same thought the other day. All these tales of the issue of Dorothy have become so confusified. I confess that I myself, when thinking on it, have started to wonder. I assumed she was the girl from my youth, but that girl had no sorcery talent and certainly wasn't a secessionist at that time. Though she did disappear after a couple of years."

"So what are you saying?"

"I'm saying we need some reliable testimony, to which I think I may have a lead on. But, that's all I can say for now." She waved goodbye, and Glinda got into the carriage followed by Elphaba. Glinda continued to wave goodbye through the window until the carriage had pulled away. As the crowd dispersed, two men leaning on a wall watched the carriage depart intensely.

"Pth." spit one. "Filthy appeaser. Her bleeding heart doesn't have what it takes to rule Oz."

"Agreed, but the mob likes her. Her silly opinions are causing the Minister trouble, though."

"What do you make of the tall one?"

"Couldn't tell under all those clothes."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant. The woman likes her hopeless causes, I'll give you that."

"I don't know. Something about her puts me on edge."

"You're always on edge. Miss Sparklypants' opinion of the Wicked Witch of the West is staying the same.

"Yeah. Makes me wonder what she's getting at."

"Maybe she's stupid enough not to misremember."

"I wouldn't put it past her. All heart and no brains, that one."

"But man, the looks.

"True. Come on. Let's go report to the commander."

Glinda was still looking radiant while Elphaba began to sag from exhaustion. Running through the woods she could do; working in a garden all day she could do; but shopping and meeting people was the most taxing thing to her. Glinda, on the other hand, always drew energy from social activities.

"Sarima." She said, and Elphaba broke her reverie.

"Yes, my lady?" Elphaba responded appropriately, and Glinda giggled.

"I quite like the sound of that." She replied wickedly. "Anyway, I've been thinking."

"Are you feeling well?"

"Hush." But she smiled anyway at the familiarity of the game. "If you're going to play a Vinkun princess you are going to need to know the customs. We were lucky today. I never thought she would speak to you in Vinkun, let alone you be able to respond."

"I came to the same conclusion. Good thing we have Fiyero."

"True. But if you are to believably play a Vinkun princess I'm tutoring, you have to start learning some social etiquette."

"I did learn that. I chose to ignore it."

"I'm talking dancing, small talk, manners."

"I see no reason to be someone I'm not."

"And who is that?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, Elp-Sarima, that the entire time I've known you, you've let other people define you: green freak, outcast, protégée, Wicked Witch. What have you chosen to define yourself as?"

"The world hasn't exactly given me the luxury."

"I know. But now you have a chance. Let me help you."

"Aren't you trying to define me yourself right now?"

"I guess you're right. You can choose to be whoever you want. You want to be a recluse, fine. You can simply take this new opportunity given to you, and do the same with it as last time. But tell me this? What happens you change Fiyero back, and the world allows you to walk through it again freely? Are you going to hide and push the world away?"

"It worked before."

"I wouldn't called be constantly angry at the world working."

"It's not my fault. They fear and hate me."

"True. So the choice is yours; do you reflect back that fear and hatred, or do you give back love and compassion?"

"Never been really good at those."

"That's where you're wrong, Elphie. I've watched you for years. No one I've met feels as much as you do. No one I've met can inspire feelings in people like you can. You've gotten down inspiring fear really well, and not because of your skin. When you let it out, that passion you have is hotter than dragon's fire, and up until now most of it has been anger. However, I've seen you love too; me, Fiyero, Nessa. I've felt that fire just as hot. It makes people drawn to you; look at Nessa, Fiyero, me, Doctor Dillamond, and the Animals you've saved."

"I can't fake that, Glinda."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to channel it. Like I said, you're good at fear and hate, now try love and compassion. Learn how to shape it to move other people. Right now, you bottle it up until it bursts out. Like your magic used to."

"And how will learning all this social etiquette help?"

"Because it will teach you social skills. Frankly, yours are lacking. These people will give you the chance to interact normally; well, as normally as possible. They will look at you with fear, awe, and condescension, but they will be open to you because they believe you can be an asset to them. They'll try to use you for their own ends; you'll find ways to resist, and possibly use them."

"It sounds like you want me to become you."

Glinda laughed. "Oh no! You could never be me. I go for the angelic. You, you need to go for commanding. I draw a room to me; you must learn to dominate it. I float; you must stride. I grace the places I go; you must seem to own them. "

"You've given this a bit of thought. That actually sounds rehearsed."

"Maybe a little. One is always looking to better their image."

"Let's say, for the sake of argument, I agree. Once again, how does becoming a socialite help this?"

"Like I said before: social skills. You're social skills currently consist of yelling at people who look at you, and arguing with everyone about everything. Not exactly friendly. By learning some etiquette you can get people to look past your appearance and engage you, whether shrouded in veils or green."

"I didn't like this the last time we did it; I'm not exactly happy about it now. Plus, my disdain for shallow people has only grown."

"I'm not asking you to like anyone you socialize with; Oz knows I don't! I'm just asking for you to interact with them. This is a chance at a new life. I want you to thrive in life like you deserve rather than merely survive it like before. Or not survive, if things go the same as before. It might be real this time." She stopped and looked at Elphaba expectantly, but Elphaba looked out the window with no response. "Please, Elphie, for me. I couldn't bear to lose you again." When she got no response, she sighed. "It is your choice. I won't force you."

Elphaba thought long about it. She hated the idea. It smacked of the kind of trickery that the Wizard did. She also despised the thought of not saying what was needed. But, something dragged her to it. The idea, the possibility, of a normal life was too attractive to be dismissed. Her rational side knew it was a fool's dream and that it would only hurt worse when it came crashing down around her. But then again, what did she have to lose? She thought of only one thing.

"Glinda." She finally said, "I hate this idea. But you're right. This could be my last chance at a normal life. I'm going to take it."

Glinda squealed in glee at that and hugged Elphaba.