Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked.

Chapter 6: The Ballad of Glinda Upland

Glinda was taken to the hospital as soon as the ambulance arrived in the shipyard. The doctors were able save her but Glinda is still passed out for two weeks. Fiyero stayed by her side worrying that Glinda will be gone. As she is slowly regaining consciousness, Glinda woke up. She look around and saw Fiyero sitting by her side with a grim look on his face.

"What happened?" Glinda croaked.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Fiyero asked in a low tone.

"What?"

"The doctors told me that you visit here every week for the past six months and they were worried when you didn't check in two weeks ago. What is wrong?"

"I... I've been having heart problems since I started my role as ruler of Oz. It is due to the stress of the job and my last goodbye to Elphie."

"But your heart problem is getting worse now since Elphaba's murder."

"That's right. Along with recurring nightmares I have and dizziness during work time, I'm no longer well enough to rule a country."

"Then resign Glinda. Leave your post so you have time to take care of yourself."

"I can't. I won't stop til I find the killer. Since Elphaba's death, the people of Oz is getting worse." Fiyero then got up in anger and headed towards the door. "Where are you going?"

"Finishing the job for you. And by the way in case if you're asking, I didn't tell your family about this. I called Jo, but she told me she's busy." Fiyero said as he left the room.

In the Emerald Mirror building, Reeta Zif got back from vacation and went back to work. As she is working on a new article, Mr. Cook came up to her desk with a folder in his hand. "Reeta, good thing you're here. Here's your new story." Mr. Cook said.

Reeta looked at the folder and seemed confused about it. "What is this?" she asked.

"Photos from two weeks ago. Glinda Upland suffers a heart attack during her work."

"What am I suppose to write about?"

"Interview her and while you're done with that, do anything to destroy her."

"But why would I do that? Glinda has done good to Oz more than the Wizard and she has perfect good record. What's there to destroy about her?"

"Geez, Reeta you ask too many questions."

"That's because I am a reporter. It's what we do."

"Do this or you'll regret it." Mr. Cook said as he return to his office. Reeta scoffed and grab her things for her interview with Glinda.

After taking check ups from the doctors, Glinda is told to get back to bed to rest. But Glinda took out the hospital robes and put on her clothes that Fiyero left for her and discharged herself out of the hospital. The doctors saw Glinda leaving and try to stop her.

"Miss Upland, you can't leave right now. You need some rest." one of the doctors said.

"Don't worry, you'll see again next week during my weekly check up. Thanks for everything though." Glinda remarked and left the hospital. As Glinda is about to enter the palace, she was met by Reeta Zif. "What is it now?" Glinda said.

"I just wanted to say how are you feeling now?"

"How did you know about my time at the hospital?"

"Vinkus shipyard workers reported it."

"I don't know what hell you're paying at-"

"No no. I don't want to ruin you. My boss wants to ruin yours, not me."

"What do you want?"

"How about we make a deal."

Fiyero arrived in the Vinkus jail and asked permission to see the old woman, who was arrested for theft. The authorities lead Fiyero to the interrogation room which the old woman is already in there. Fiyero slowly grab a chair and is ready to question her.

"Okay, first things first-"

"Is my dog okay?" the old woman said.

"You're dog is fine." Fiyero replied, "We send him to one of your close relatives. Now, what is your name?"

"Agnes Bobbin." she replied.

"Okay Agnes, what were you doing on Thursday night?"

"Walking with my dog. I always stay up late and walk my dog in the forest in the dead of night since he's comfortable walking at night?"

"What were you doing with Wicked Witch's broom?"

"When I was walking with my dog. I saw a body laying down in the middle of the road. I took a closer look at it and realized it was Elphaba. I noticed that the broom is placed very strangely like someone is trying to make Elphaba's death look like a suicide."

"Wait, hang on. How do you know about Elpha- I mean the Wicked Witch."

"It's because I was the midwife who delivered her. And I know your's and Glinda's investigation, Fiyero. I was the most trusted woman in all of Oz til that horrible event happened."

"What happened?"

"It was the media. Tells the people that I do inappropriate stuff and it ruined me. I got fired as a midwife and no would ever talk to me ever again. That's the reason I act very strange to people whenever they see me."

"That's really sad. A promising life thrown away by false accusations. I am really sorry for what has happened to you. And thank you for helping me."

Agnes hold Fiyero's hands and tears are falling from her eyes "Thank you very much. I can see why Elphaba really likes you."

In Emerald City, Glinda is working calmly on her office on her first day back from the hospital. After working for about an hour, Glinda is starting to get depressed. Just then Evella knocked on the door which made Glinda a little bit more happy.

"Miss Upland?" Evella said.

"Evella, it's nice to see you again. Please do come in." Ev

Evella entered the room and sat on a chair. "Why are feeling sad Miss Upland?"

"Please, just call me Glinda for now on. I'm feeling sad because I don't know if I should continue this job. On one hand Oz is at peace when I rule the land. But on the other hand, it's been affecting my health negatively. I don't what to decide."

"Why don't we ignore what makes the job good or bad and think of something else. Ask yourself how do you really feel about the job? Don't think about the pros and cons, just think if this is right for you or not."

"Actually, it doesn't. Ruling Oz doesn't feel right for me. It made me depressed all the time. I will resign by next week."

"So who will be the new ruler of Oz?"

"I don't know. Finding a new ruler will be very hard."

"Maybe I can step in?"

"You want to do the job?!" Glinda asked and Evella nodded. "I don't know if this is right for you though."

"I've seen you work all the time and it's like a desk job except you travel a lot and go to meetings. I can handle it."

"Are sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure of it Glinda."

"Then it's settled, you will be the new ruler of Oz."

"Thank you." The two got up from their chairs and shake hands. While shaking hands, Evella saw an old picture of Elphaba and Glinda in their Shiz days. "It's a shame that she has to die so young." Evella said.

Glinda looked at what Evella is looking and knows what she mean. "I know. I thought that melting was enough, but murdered, it's really sad."

"I know that you two are friends and didn't mean it when you call her 'Wicked Witch' to the public. Don't worry I'm the only one in your staff that knows this."

"Well it's nice that I can have good talk about Elphie with someone else."

"Oh that reminds me, the Tin Man send you message saying he found something in the forest."

"Then I have to go to the forest then." Glinda ran out of the palace and walked to the forest. When she arrived, Glinda found Boq waiting outside the forest. "What have you found Boq?" she asked him.

"I did some digging and found this." Boq showed her a knife with dry blood on it.

"What is this?"

"It's just a regular knife. I found it near the spot where she was murdered. Someone must have buried them after the murder."

"Boq this is great. With this knife, we're just about find who killed Elphaba."

"Listen Glinda, I'm sorry for what I did. And I'm sorry for vowing to kill her. It's just that I don't know that she's was trying to save me. It seems the public opinion got a hold of me."

"You are forgiven, Boq. You have done well to forgive yourself. Now if you excuse me, I have some important issues to take care of." Glinda said as she walks aways

"Wait where are you going?"

"Ending this scare once and for all."

Glinda walked back to Emerald City and went to the Emerald Mirror building. She waited until night fall so no one would see her. When she entered the building, she finds Reeta Zif the only one still in the building. The two went to a desk to do an interview they agreed on.

"You must understand that if you do this, there's no turning back." Reeta said.

"It doesn't matter. As long as people get on with their lives and have some dignity left in me, it will be fine."

"Okay let's begin shall we. What is your connection with the Wicked Witch?"

"First off, her name isn't the Wicked Witch, her name is Elphaba Thropp. And she was my best friend."

"When did you first meet her?"

"At Shiz University. We were assigned as room mates together. At first we hate each other, but we grew closer together."

"Was she really jealous when you were granted an audience with the Wizard?"

"No she wasn't jealous. In truth, Elphaba was the one that was granted an audience with the Wizard? I just came along with her to Emerald City."

"But what made her the Wicked Witch?"

"When we arrived at Emerald City, Elphaba was asked to show the Wizard her magical abilities. She was tasked to make a monkey flies, but she gave it wings. When she sees the monkey in pain and learning the Wizard wanting to use it as a spy, Elphaba went against the Wizard. That's when the Wizard declared Elphaba her Wicked Witch. In truth, there was no Wicked Witch, just a framed woman for rebelling against the Wizard's policies."

"And what about her sister?"

"Nessarose's not a Wicked Witch either. She only had issues with being abandoned that lead her to create harsh laws for the Munchkins."

"Is she still your friend?"

"Yes. The reason I say Wicked Witch to the public so they won't know I'm not against her. It was her final wish to me that I don't clear her name, but I'm doing it now so people will stop hating her already."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, the Wizard is Elphaba's biological father. He had an affair with her mother and she drank one of his green elixers which made her green. When I found a bottle in Elphaba's hat, I showed it to the Wizard and recognized it. He shocked that he would try to kill his own daughter that I told him to leave Oz and never came back."

"Thank you, I'll make sure this go in the papers and all over Oz tomorrow."

"But how?" The people will not believe it if it's just one paper."

"Don't worry, I will send this all of my friends in the press and we'll get them to believe. You see, we're supporters of Elphaba for a long time. We joined the press just make sure that Elphaba gets good publicity, but it didn't work since our sources aren't good enough. But thanks to you, we have a good source."

"Wow I never thought you had it in you. But how will you explain it to your boss?"

"I don't care. I already done my job in here already. But will keep me anyway if he founds out how this story sells a lot."

"Thank you for doing this. You are forever in my debt."

"You're welcome."

In Vinkus, Agnes got released from jail a day earlier for good behavior. The police gave her back her dog and went back to her trailer. When she returned to her trailer, she got a lot of clothes, food, and money around her house. Agnes left her trailer with her dog and a backpack and left Oz since she thinks it isn't safe to live anymore.

Glinda arrived back in the palace and worked all night to check the knife Boq found in the forest. When she looked at the marks on the knife, Glinda knows where the suspect came from and who it's belong to. "Of course. It all made sense now!"

The killer will be revealed in the next and final chapter. Go to the reviews section and say who you think killed Elphaba.