Chapter 4

Faba

"So, what are you gonna do, Elphie?"

"How 'bout it, Faba?"

Elphaba closed her eyes and tried to block out the pounding on the door. "Open the door, witch! In the name of His Supreme Ozness!"

Elphaba's eyes flew open. She turned to Glinda. "You know what? I need a consistent nickname. It's Faba now."

Glinda was very confused. "W-what does that mean?"

"It means," Faba said, opening the Grimmerie, "that I'm starting a new life today, a life where I don't take any shit from anyone."

"Um, that's great, Faba," Lukas said. "But what exactly are you planning on doing?"

As a response, Faba started chanting. "Ahven tatay, ahven tatay …"

Glinda went berserk at this. "Stop! That's what started all this in the first place! That hideous levitation spell! Stop!" Faba stopped, startled. "Well? Where are your wings? Maybe you're not as powerful as you think you are."

Faba sighed. "You're right. I just …"

"Whoa!" Lukas exclaimed. "Check that out!" The girls looked to where he was pointing and both gasped as they saw a broomstick floating towards them.

"Sweet Oz!" Glinda squealed.

Faba rushed over and grabbed the broomstick. "This won't fit all three of us, unfortunately. Lukas, tell the guards you have nothing to do with me, and meet us at the western border of the EC. Glinda, get on!"

"What?! Elphie! I-I mean, Faba! You can't possibly …"

"Come with me. Think of what we could do – together. The three of us – we'll be unlimited! Glinda, we'll be living the dream!"

Glinda thought hard for a moment. No. She couldn't. She wasn't that strong. "Faba, you're trembling." She grabbed a black blanket that was hanging on a hook in the attic and wrapped it around her green friend. "Here. Put this around you."

Faba's eyes narrowed. "You're not coming?"

Glinda shook her head, too ashamed to speak.

"Lukas," Faba said, turning to the Black Bear. "Take care of her."

"No, Faba!" he protested. "I'm coming with you!" He wasn't too keen on riding a broomstick, but Faba needed his help.

"No, it's too dangerous! Especially for an Animal!"

There was more pounding. "Fetch the battering ramekin!" the leader of the Gale Force cried desperately. Faba backed away from her friends, knowing that this was it.

"I hope you're happy," Glinda said, now unable to stand without Lukas' support.

"You too."

"Be careful, Faba," Lukas warned. "I'm glad you wanna help us, but don't get yourself killed in the process."

"I'll try."

As Faba mounted her new broomstick, the Gale Force burst in. "There she is!" the leader exclaimed. "Don't let her get away! Get the Bear too!" The soldiers, a little afraid to touch Faba, restrained Glinda and Lukas, despite both of their protests.

"It's not them!" Faba yelled. "They have nothing to with it! I'm the one you want! It's me!"

"Faba!" Glinda shrieked.

"It's me!" And the Wicked Witch of the West flew into the air for the first time. Some of the Gale Force soldiers fell on the floor in utter shock.

"Go, Faba," Lukas whispered, in awe at his high school friend.

Faba cackled in exhilaration. "Boys, go back to your Wizard, and tell him that neither you, nor him, nor anyone in all of Oz is ever gonna bring me down!" Glass shattered as she zoomed out of the window, free and weightless.

"Wow!" one of the soldiers breathed. "She's wicked!"

Glinda was in shock. "I don't understand … she's gone … Lukas, we need to go back downstairs. I might throw up. Seriously." Lukas could see that she was right. Glinda was going as green as Faba.

"Boys, may we go to the closest trash can?" Lukas politely asked the officers. "The lady here is suffering indigestion."

The leader stepped forward. "Either of you conspiring with the Wicked Witch?" he asked suspiciously.

"She's not wicked!" Lukas shouted, not thinking. "I-I mean, no, we're not conspiring."

"Good."

After Glinda disposed of her lunch in a public trash can, Lukas decided to take her back to her hotel, the Ozma Suites. But on their way, they were accosted by Madam Morrible. She feigned sympathy for Glinda. "Oh, Glinda dear!" she exclaimed woefully. "I am so devestrated for you! She was your best friend, wasn't she? Well, I hope to offer some consolification for you. After all, since the Witch so rudely refused the Wizard's job offer, I would like to ask you if you want it. Grand Vizier of Oz, Miss Glinda, does it appeal?"

"S-sure," Glinda answered weakly. "W-when do I start?"

"Why, as soon as you graduate, of course!" Lukas longed to dig his claws into her cheerful face, but he wasn't going to do Faba any good in jail. And oh yes, he was going to help Faba any way he possibly could! If only he could find her …

By nightfall, Faba was far away from the Emerald City. She was in a largely unpopulated area of the Vinkus, so she knew that it probably safe to stop for the night. She found a pretty nice cave but unfortunately, no food. Well, she had stuffed herself at lunch, so a meal could wait until the morning. Lunch. She and Glinda had ordered Glikkish noodles and potato strips at an upscale EC restaurant. It seemed like a million years ago, and she already missed Glinda. And Lukas. And Nessa was probably dying of embarrassment. But Faba had made her choice.

You choose and then everything changes.

You risk it and fall off the cliff.

You choose and there's no turning back,

No turning back,

No turning back!

And you wonder, "What if?"

What if?

It surprised Faba how easily she slept on the cave floor.