Chapter 5

Elphie

It took Elphie nagging Madam Morrible for a long time and Lukas nagging his boss for a long time, but in the end, Lukas was allowed to take a week off work to accompany the girls back to Shiz. Glinda offered up Fiyero's private suite for Lukas to stay in (she was sure "her FiFi" wouldn't mind in the least), and everything was settled.

"I got more express mail last night," Glinda said as they boarded the train for Shiz. "FiFi says he's going to pick us up! Isn't he just too good?!"

"Sounds like it," Lukas replied, cutting Elphie a look. He could be doing it for you.

She rolled her eyes. As if.

"Tickets, tickets, please!" the conductor called. "You three, tickets!" He looked expectantly at Elphie, Glinda, and Lukas.

"Here, I'll handle this," Elphie said, grabbing Glinda and Lukas' tickets. "Two humans and one Animal, though I don't see why it matters."

"Laws are laws," the conductor answered curtly, punching their tickets. "You ladies, you're in first class. And you, you're in the back."

Elphie stiffened. "Now, wait a clock tick! His ticket cost just as much as ours!"

"Hey, Elphie, it's cool," Lukas said calmly, putting a paw on her shoulder. "I'll see you at Shiz." Even though the decrees against the Animals outraged him, Lukas was not about to start a riot over a simple train seat.

But Elphie clearly was. "No, it's not cool! You're just looking for an excuse to rip people off! And yes, people! Animals are people!" She turned to Glinda and Lukas. "C'mon, let's go to our seats." Elphie then proceeded to all but drag her friends past the conductor and into the train compartment.

"Elphie!" Glinda exclaimed as they sat down. "You can't do that! You work for the Wizard now!"

"Do you WANT him not to sit with us?!" Elphie retorted angrily. "That guy was such a bigot."

"Yep, that's our world for you," Lukas said with a cynical sigh. "But the blonde chick's right, Elphie. You gotta represent the government. You made your choice."

Elphie scoffed. "And what else was I supposed to do?! Bash their heads in with that broom I saw in there?!" In truth, Lukas wasn't sure. Surely Elphie was safer this way, but would she ultimately be happier?

"You are so lucky Madam Morrible let you keep the Grimmerie!" Glinda gushed. "It's, like, THE book of magic! Can you really read all of it?"

"Pretty much," Elphie said, shrugging. "I don't know what the hell I'm saying, but yeah, I can read it." She was very nonchalant, as if reading ancient spellbooks was a common thing.

Glinda got excited. "Can you read a spell now?! Oh, please, Elphie!"

"Glin, I'm not sure that would be … well, okay." Her eagerness got the better of her as she yanked the tomb out of her bag.

"Okay, you two, get your sorcery ya-yas out," Lukas said. "But if I suddenly grow wings, I'm gonna be pissed."

Elphie smirked. "I'll try not to do that, but no promises." At that, Lukas snorted.

"Oh, great!"

Elphie eagerly flipped through the book. "'To Summon a Flame.' Neat. Not that I'd do that here. That bigoted conductor would probably kill me. 'On the Administration of Dragons.' Okay. Whatever. 'To Save a True Love …'" Elphie scoffed at this. "Corny! Listen to this spell, guys: 'Let his flesh not be torn. Let his blood leave no stain. Though they beat him, let him feel no pain.'" She gave a little cackle. "Like, excuse me while I yarf!"

Lukas chuckled. "Yeah, that's like something out of Kacmaspere!"

"I know, right?"

Glinda was thoughtful. "I thought you couldn't understand the spells, Elphie."

"Yeah, I did too, until just now when I was reading this one! The actual words are: 'elika nahmen nahmen atum atum elika nahmen,' in case you were wondering." Elphie quickly flipped ahead. "Oh! Here's a cool one! 'To Call Winter upon Water.' Shall I try it?"

"Knock yourself out," Lukas said with a grin.

Elphie was shifting in her seat excitedly. "Okay. Glinda, can I borrow your water glass?"

"It's all yours!" Glinda chirped, setting her glass down in front of the green witch.

"Okay. I got this." Elphie closed her eyes and rubbed her hands together, silently praying that Lukas would not grow wings. Or Glinda, for that matter. "Ad aquam crustalum tamen it tamentay. Ad aquam crustalum tamen it tamentay. Ad aquam crustalum tamen it tamentay. Ad aquam crustalum …"

Glinda screamed in shock. "Sweet Oz!"

"Holy shit!" Lukas exclaimed. "You sure called winter upon water, Elphie. Look!"

Elphie looked down and gasped. Glinda's glass of water was now a solid block of ice. "Oh Oz, Glinda, I'm so sorry!" She had only hoped to put a layer of ice on the water. This was the monkeys all over again.

"Hey," Glinda said. "I'm not upset. This only means you're really powerful, Elphie!" But Elphie was not sure this was a good thing.

At Shiz, they found Fiyero waiting practically outside the door of the train. As soon as he saw them, a smile broke out across his face. "Elphaba! Glinda!" he exclaimed happily before noticing Lukas. "But who's this?"

"Lukas Valentinis," Lukas introduced himself. "You must be Fiyero. Elphie and Glinda have told me all about you."

"Lukas and I went to high school together," Elphie explained. "We're old friends."

"Ah." Fiyero grinned. "Old friends?"

Elphie blushed. "Yes, old friends, nothing more." She glared at him. "You have the emotional maturity of a buttery scone, you know that, right?"

Fiyero stood up straighter in mockery. "And proud of it!"

"Lukas is going to stay with you for a week, FiFi!" Glinda exclaimed happily. "We thought you wouldn't mind." She hugged him around the neck and kissed him.

"No, of course not!" Fiyero eyed Lukas up and down. "Just don't wake me up before ten. I am NOT a morning person!"

Elphie laughed. "He really isn't. And it used to be worse. He used to be dead to Oz until two in the afternoon!" And they all cracked up at the Vinkun prince's expense.

When they got to the university, Fiyero showed Lukas to his suite. Fiyero then went to his room to take a nap, but found he was unsuccessful. So he lay awake, thinking, which was a new concept for him. Why didn't he get Elphie alone? That was his whole plan! It was because of that Bear, Lukas. He probably had feelings for Elphie as well, and a fist fight with a Bear … He would talk to her tomorrow. And everything would go perfect.