Somewhere
I Belong
Chapter 3
Meeting Destiny
AN: Thank you all so, so much for all the wonderful reviews! Really! You guys are what makes writing this story and all the others a joy. Thank you! Special shoutouts go to: Fae the Queen, woodland95, RavenCurls, TheHappy3611; and I knew you would enjoy the human taco part! Lol. Elphaba-WWW, Elphaba'sGirl, NiatheWickedLover, and of course L8lzytwner! Thank you all so much! You guys rock!
I hope you all enjoy this new chapter, and a new chapter for this and the others will be coming soon! Thank you all again and God Bless!
Aeryella nervously paced the grounds, worry etched on her delicate features. Her hands writhed against her chest, and her dark, chocolate eyes stared glassy, down at the ground. A whispering breeze wisped past her, catching a few loose strands of her long, raven hair in the silent currents of the icy western breeze. Her long ebony cloak billowed out around her, the soft edges rippling like a sea of silk sweeping against the ground, before lifting high towards the heavens.
"Well this is quite a sight to see!" came a cackling voice. Startled, Aeryella spun on her heels, her eyes darkened, growling she threw her hand out towards the darkness, dark electrifying blue and ebony crackled at the tips of her fingers. "Whoa!"
A woman leaning casually against the edge of the doorway leaps forward and throws her hands out in front of her. Her dark brown eyes stare terrified back at Aeryella.
"Bonileea!" cries Aeryella shocked. Slowly, she lowers her hand, the crackling lightning slowly extinguishes into the darkness, a plume of silver smoke rises from the tips of her fingers. A wave of her hand and the smoke fades away. "I could have blasted you into next weekend!"
"Nah" laughs Bonileea. Aeryella watches as Bonileea's fingers thread through her long raven hair. A flick of her wrist, and she tosses her raven curls over her shoulder. A giggle and she saunters in, her dark chocolate eyes boring into the elder Sprytes. "You couldn't hit me with a ten foot pole"
"Wanna bet?" growls Aeryella. Oz, she hated it when Bonileea, or any of the other Sprytes here challenged her skill. She wasn't given leadership of the Sprytes for nothing…she had skill, and she had proven more than once since joining the Resistance.
"Oh simmer down there before you cause yet another cave in" giggles Bonileea. Oz, she loved getting Aeryella upset, but she hated the consequences. Considering the last time, the High Elders made her repair the damage done from their last bantering argument, which totally wasn't any fun at all! Repairing half the corridors of the Underground without the use of your magick, or help from the others really sucked! Plus, she cracked a nail in the process!
"You're the one who decided not to stop" growls Aeryella, an acidic smirk tugging on the tip of her lips. Bonileea didn't know it, but she had sat back in the shadows, lounging and popping bits of popcorn in her mouth as she watched her friend repair the decimated corridors.
"Don't remind me" groans Bonileea. "So…whatcha doing?"
Despite herself, Aeryella couldn't help but giggle at her friend, for she stood, head titled to the side, her big chocolate eyes staring wide back at her.
"I decided my room was in desperate need of a groove" replies Aeryella sardonically. Her features harden as she stares back at her friend, emotionless, her lips half pulled into a frown.
"Oh can I help!" squeals Bonileea excitedly.
"Oz" sighs Aeryella. Rolling her eyes, she slaps the palm of her hand against her forehead at the younger Sprytes antics, for though she was skilled in the art of Earth Magick, she could still be very much a child. Pulling back, she watches as Bonileea jumps up and down in front of her, smacking her hands together. "Don't you have something better to do than annoy me?"
"Nope" giggles Bonileea. A growl and Aeryella turns away, the ends of her cloak billow out behind her. Frowning, Bonileea steps up next to the Elder Spryte. "Areyie…what's the matter?" gently, she rests the tips of her fingers on Aeryella's shoulder.
"I'm worried Bon…it's taken far too long for him to return from a simple recon mission" sighs Aeryella turning away. Trembling, her arms rise and wrap tight around her chest, a shudder and she steps away. She knew it was silly to fret over Atlas's safety and yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't keep the fear permeating within her heart, at bay. It consumed her, like the metallic waves of the crimson tide, crashing and obliterating anything in its path, washing it away; a handprint faded, melted away into the moonlight.
Slowly, Bonileea's hand lowers. Her fingers curl, the tips of her nails press against the palm of her hand. A breath and she steps next to her friend.
"You shouldn't worry about him…he's strong Areyie…he can take care of himself" consoles Bonileea, though inwardly, she too, had grown worried over Atlas's long absence. Aeryella was right, for it had never taken him this long, to return from any recon or mission assigned to him. "He's after all…one of the strongest mages we have on our team" chuckles Bonileea.
"That's not the point Bon" growls Aeryella. Angrily, she shakes the younger Sprytes hand off her shoulder before turning to face her. "Theirs untold dangers out their…threatening the land…sweeping through and eviscerating all who stand in its path…some of our strongest warriors have fallen to its power…and it's only a matter of time…before it's coils reach the safety of the Underground and beyond" Slowly, Aeryella turns away from Bonileea, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"They all know the dangers…they know of the Coming Silence…each and every one of the members here are prepared to sacrifice their lives…if only so the dawning of the coming liberation can come to fruition to those who still have not yet experienced life here in Oz"
"And what if that day never comes!" cries Aeryella as she turns to face Bonileea, fear sparkling in her dark, chocolate eyes. "What if all that we've been fighting for…will be for not…what if all that we've been fighting for…all that we've sacrificed…were in vain…have we been fighting a losing battle? Have all we've been doing…is delaying the inevitable?" with each word, her voice grows softer, until it was but a whisper, lost within the currents of the midnight breeze.
Fear took hold of Atlas's heart, stealing his breath. Weakly, his trembling fingers reached up and caressed the pale woman's slender cheeks. Ice tingled at the tips of his fingers, as he traced the elegant slope of her cheek, down to her pale lips.
Atlas…
"No!" screams Atlas. His arms tighten around Elphaba's pale, limp body. A roar and he lifts her out of the frigid waters. Sheens of glistening crystal drops rain down from Elphaba's body, rippling down the edges of her torn dress, and splatter back into the misty pond. A cry and he runs to the river's edge.
Growling, Bonileea storms over to her friend, her dark eyes cloudy; a thunderstorm, cresting just on the horizon. Enough was enough! Yes at times things seemed hopeless…but they couldn't give up, especially not now! Not when their Savior has finally arrived.
Reaching out, she grabs hard onto Aeryella's shoulders, and with a flick of the wrist, spins her around until dark chocolate stared shocked back into darkened hazel.
"You listen here young lady and you listen well...weare not giving up…not now or ever! The Fate of our people…of our cause has not yet been determined…the final hand has not been laid down on the table…the chapter has not been written…nor has the final dawn of the sun set on our destiny…I haven't given up, nor has the others" growls Bonileea.
Gently, Atlas laid Elphaba's lifeless form down onto the soft ground. Falling to his knees, his hand reaches up and cups her chin. Her skin felt cold, like ice, yet soft as silk. The emerald of her flesh had faded to a lackluster green, and the scent of Death wafted from her frozen body. Pain flickered in his eyes, for the horrors of the past, were slowly crashing in around him, the barriers he had long since forged in order to protect his broken heart, were slowly crumbling away, and he, helpless to stop it.
"Mariela" whispers Atlas brokenly.
Atlas
"Bon" whispers Aeryella.
"I know it's hard Aerie…you just have to keep the faith…you can't give up…not now…not when were so close…cause if you give up…then the rest of us will…we fall together remember…each member…we all go as one…now and…"
"Forever" smiles Aeryella softly. Slowly, her hand rises and threads with Bonileea's. "Thank you"
A quirky smile lit Bonileea's face. Gently, her fingers fold over Aeryella's, the tips brushes against the tips of her knuckles. A giggle and she tilts her head to the side.
"That's what friends are for!" exclaims Bonileea. A squeal and she launches herself at Aeryella. Her arms open and wind tight around the elder Sprytes slender waist.
Caught off guard, Aeryella stumbles, and her eyes widen. Inwardly, she cursed herself, she should have known better than to have not expected this. After all, it's Bonileea, the "hugging" Spryte after all. Slowly, she allowed her body to relax. A smile and she winds her arms around her friend.
"How silly of me" giggles Aeryella.
Slowly, Bonileea pulls away, the softness in her eyes remains, but a small frown, pulls at the tip of her slender lips.
"What's the matter?...Boni-" starts Aeryella, but stops as something washes over her. Her body stiffens, and her eyes widen. Something was wrong, for she could feel it in her heart. "Oh no" whispers Aeryella softly.
"You felt that too?" whispers Bonileea, her eyes shift towards her friend, the same fear sparkling within.
"Yes" shivers Aeryella. Turning, the elder Spryte steps away, the tips of her fingers brush past Bonileea's, leaving behind a trail of stardust. Slowly, her hand rises and fists against her chest, as she stares off into the distance. "Some things happened"
"Atlas?" asks Bonileea, as she steps closer, fear quaking tight within her heart.
"No…not Atlas…the Other" replies Aeryella, her voice dark, and low.
"Should we-"starts Bonileea, but a loud crash silences her. Startled, she turns, and her eyes widen, for standing a few feet away, was Atlas. Fear shimmers in his dark, emerald eyes, and he was shaking. The color in his face was drained away, and his clothes from the waist down were soaked. "Atlas!"
Both Bonileea and Aeryella sprint towards Atlas, shaking violently before them. A stumble and his legs buckle beneath him. A grunt and he crumbles to the ground. His arms unconsciously wrap tight around Elphaba's limp form.
"I…I tried to help her" mutters Atlas to himself. His eyes were wide, and empty, and his lips quivered. The color in his face drains away as pearls of crystal rain drip down the strands of his wheat gold hair.
"Atlas" whispers Aeryella softly. Falling to her knees, her hands reach out and softly touch Atlas's. A gasp, and he jerks away from her touch.
"I…I tried to save her…I tried!"
"Atlas!" cries Bonileea, fear quaked in her heart, for never had she seen Atlas this unglued. It was as if he was a vacant shell, void of life. He was here, and yet he could not see beyond the haze clouding his vision. Closing her eyes, her hand rose and quivered in the air. Forgive me…
"Bonileea!" cries Aeryella.
Slap
Both Sprytes stare wide eyed at Atlas, kneeling before them, his eyes wide as saucers.
A pregnant pause, and slowly Atlas's body relaxes, the color in his face returns, and the light within his eyes returns. Slowly, he turns, a soft, weak smile pulling at the edge of his lips.
"Thanks…I needed that"
"What happened?" asks Aeryella gently.
"I went to the Great Gillikin Forest…I searched for her…but I couldn't" stammers Atlas, his voice growing soft, yet heavy with tears.
"Where did you find her?" Gently, Bonileea cups her hand over Atlas's, her dark chocolate eyes stares warmly back into fractured emerald.
"At the embankment…near the edge of the Sea of Mysts" croaks Atlas. "She…she wasn't breathing"
Both Sprytes eyes drop down towards the woman, nestled tenderly in Atlas's arms. She was pale and shivering violently in his lap. A few strands of raven hair clung to her sweat beaten forehead, a small, whispery breathes escaped her quivering lips.
"She's breathing now" whispers Aeryella gently.
"Atlas…did you?" asks Bonileea softly.
"Yes" nods Atlas weakly. Slowly he turns and faces Aeryella, the horrors of the past few hours apparent on his face, breaking the elder Sprytes heart all the more. "The…what you taught me…it…it worked…it brought her back"
"Atlas…" starts Aeryella, but stops as the tips of her fingers lightly brush against Elphaba's forehead, sweeping away a few loose bangs. "She's burning hot"
"Fever…that's why" starts Atlas.
"Follow me" is all Aeryella says. Rising to her feet, she turns and rushes out of the room, Atlas and Bonileea hot on her heels.
"What happened to her?" asks Bonileea, her eyes trailing down the emerald witch's body, taking note of the numerous wounds, and bruises covering her bare flesh.
"I don't know" is all Atlas can bring himself to say.
"I'll go fetch the Doc" turning she runs down a separate corridor, leaving Atlas alone with his thoughts. Slowly, his eyes drift down to Elphaba's still face. A pang, ripples across his heart, watching her struggle to breath. Pain flickered across her face, as a soft whimper slipped past her cracked lips.
"Just hold on…please" whispers Atlas. Gently, he nestles his head against Elphaba's forehead.