In light from the dark, there came a spark/
carried me down with a loving heart
Where do we end
Love never far
Home is all I wanted
Never do we part
~o0o~
Elphaba screamed and jerked her arms up to shield her face. Her heart was trying its best to escape, and her knees seemed to have been replaced with jelly.
That was much scarier than the bus.
Fiyero was sitting up, both he and his driver were stunned.
"I think I need to lie down," she gasped and collapsed.
The grass was soft and the soil was rich. Elphaba breathed it in deeply. Okay. It was fine. It wasn't the first time she was accidentally killed and her clock just reset.
Guess there was a sunny side to every situation, wasn't there?
"Hey, Miss, are you alright?"
Fiyero leaned over her.
"Are you hurt?"
Her wrist had a dull ache and her head was killing her, but other than that…
"I am not—in need—of medical—assistance," she panted. "Just—catching my breath."
She laughed shakily.
"My driver didn't hit you, did he?" Fiyero asked.
"No. It was a piano," she said.
"Sounds scary," he said. "Where'd it happen?"
"Mm… just outside the arts district," she said. "Someone is trying to move a piano into their apartment. Someone shoved me for being in their way and I suppose the people moving the piano had never seen a green person before."
"Go figure," he said.
A crowd had gathered and were whispering.
"Elphaba, what are you doing lying on the ground?" Nessa demanded.
"Oh… you know… saw Fiyero Tiggular and fainted," said Elphaba. "Like any sensible girl."
"Hi there," said Fiyero, smiling charmingly at the crowd.
"Oh, he's so dreamy!" one girl swooned.
"Honestly, Elphaba, you're making a spectacle," Nessa scolded.
"The ground is comfortable, but if it will make you happy..." Elphaba eased herself into sitting up. She gagged slightly and pressed a hand to her mouth as her brain sloshed around.
She needed to be more careful.
"Here, let me help you," Fiyero said, helping her to her feet. "Huh!"
"What?"
"Nothing, you're just tall," he said and tipped his head. "Have we met?"
She shook her head. "No. Sorry, I'm having an off day."
She made a show of looking around.
"Did you drop something?" Fiyero asked.
"Yeah, my brain. Have you seen it?"
He laughed, "No, it's probably somewhere with mine. I haven't seen the damn thing in years."
Elphaba clicked her tongue. "Well, hopefully it turns up."
He stuck out his hand.
"Fiyero."
"Elphaba," she said, shaking it.
"Hello, there!" said Galinda.
Like yesterday, Elphaba was shoved to the side. Thankfully, this time, she had the carriage to grab onto for support. She winced and jerked her head to the side, working out the stiffness in her neck with a loud CRACK!
"Oh, shit! Are you okay?!" Fiyero exclaimed.
Elphaba nodded. "Just stiff."
He relaxed.
"So, what do you do for fun around here?" he asked.
"We were going to study," said Boq, popping up between him and Galinda.
"Depends on the day for me," said Elphaba.
"And what's on the agenda today?" Fiyero asked.
"Let's see," she said. "I was thinking of wandering aimlessly around Shiz for a few hours, sit in the park, grapple with my self-loathing, dinner with myself, I can't cancel that again, and then I'll wallow in self-pity."
"Well you can't miss the wallowing," said Fiyero. "Any chance a party could be in the mix?"
"I suppose if I move the wallowing to eleven, I could still have enough time to stare at the ceiling and continue my descent into madness."
"Groovy," he said and winked. "See you there."
"Master Tiggular!" Madame Morrible boomed. "Allow me to welcome you to Shiz University!"
Elphaba was tugged aside by Galinda while Morrible gave a long-winded speech.
"Don't think Fiyero is actually interested in you, Artichoke," she said.
"Yeah, you're beneath him," said ShenShen. "He would never associate with you."
Boy would they be surprised.
"Miss Elphaba! I'm so glad you're here," said Morrible. "I have assigned you to be Master Tiggular's tutor and assist him in getting up to speed with our curriculum. Please show Master Tiggular around campus and to his classes to collect his makeup work."
"Of course, Madame Morrible," said Elphaba.
"Wonderful! I leave you in her capable hands, Master Tiggular. Good day!"
Elphaba watched her leave.
"As you said, Miss Elphaba, your day is completely booked," said Galinda. "I would be more than happy to show His Highness around."
"Oh, I never intended to take him on a tour," said Elphaba. She gestured. "Ozdust is that way. Shiz is on the West Side, just follow the canal back."
"Aww, you're just gonna ditch me?" Fiyero pouted, doing a very good impression of a kicked puppy.
"Uh…" she pretended to think about it. "Yes."
"You are coming to the party, right?"
"Oh, Fiyero, she's not interested in that sort of thing," said Galinda. "She's not popular."
"Hey, everyone is invited to a Fiyero Tiggular party," said Fiyero. "Pops, jocks, freaks, and geeks. All are welcome to worship the party gods."
"Okay," said Elphaba. "I'll go."
A pin drop would have been deafening in the silence that followed.
"Groovy," said Fiyero with a bright smile.
"You remind me of a puppy I once had," she said.
"Oh yeah? You remind me of my cat."
"I guess I'll see you at the party to dance above life or whatever it is you call your philosophy," she said.
"And what philosophy is that?" Galinda asked, trying to pull Fiyero's attention back to her.
While he explained, Elphaba left and wondered if she should buy a new dress for the party.
The party was a bust. Elphaba spent most of the night being ignored or laughed at. Fiyero chatted with her when he took a break from dancing, but his card was so full she didn't have a chance to dance like an idiot in front of him.
Why she was so disappointed about that, she wasn't sure.
So she decided to not go back and just explore Shiz to find something to do with her time. Fiyero said learn a new skill, but what could she even pick up?
In her wanderings, she managed to find the Academic Library of Sorcery. It was a little hole in the wall type place and she was surprised Morrible didn't list it as a research location for her.
Then again, their lessons seemed to be purely practical over theoretical, but if Elphaba was going to become a great sorceress one day, then it might be best to read up more on advanced theory. She had the basics down, it was time to dive deeper.
She studied and practiced. She needed to get better at her magic. Most seemed to agree that it was better to start small and work your way big.
There still wasn't much on time magic. Just divination and what little is known of the Time Dragon.
Elphaba expanded her spell repertoire and was proud of herself in that aspect, but she wanted to stop the time loop.
She tried every single spell she could find to break a curse. In the academic library she found an ancient tome, learned old Ozian to translate it, and started working through the spells, finding one that seemed to be exactly what she needed.
Time was running out on this loop, so she needed to cast it now.
She chanted the spell and performed the motions depicted. Right before her eyes, everything started moving in reverse. The windows flashed between night and day, the books started looking slightly younger and people passed by in a blur until it all came to a standstill.
Elphaba frowned and looked around. She headed over to the librarian whom she recognized as the one she met every day, except he was at least twenty years younger.
He jerked away from her, crashing into the book return cart.
"When am I?" she asked.
"Y-You're in the Academic Library of Sorcery—"
"When?"
"Ah… Twenty-Sixth of Spring, 3101 Y.O.L.O."
"Interesting."
It would be less than two years before the Wizard arrived and the Ozma Dynasty ended, leaving Year of Our Lady Ozma behind and starting with Year 1 of Dynasty of Oz, or D.O.
The spell did say it was a one-way trip. It wasn't like she had much for her in that future anyway. Maybe she could start over here.
"Into a cat," she said, waving her hand.
Her skeleton shifted, her body shrank, fur sprouted from her skin. The whole act was painless, which surprised her the first time she did it. She would have thought shapeshifting would be horrifically painful. Theoretically, she could turn into anything, but there were four animals forms that were easier to shape into, one of them being a cat. Each form she was black with a greenish sheen when the light hit her just right.
Darting out into the city, she looked around.
How awful… the Wizard wouldn't even have arrived to end the Great Drought. Shiz was a completely different place. The trees were brown and dead-looking, a thin layer of dust seemed to cover everything, and many buildings were boarded up with signs that read, "Left Due to Drought."
There had been a huge migration out of Oz. Those who were desperate enough to leave everything behind to cross the Deserts or the Deadly Sea to Outer Nonestica.
Suicide Canal was nearly empty with just a pathetic trickle soiled with leaves and dirt. A very skinny squirrel sipped at it. The grass was brown and patchy with some hearty weeds soldiering through.
Elphaba went by Shiz. Was Madame Morrible a teacher yet? What would happen if Elphaba revealed herself?
The pavement was hot on her paws and the air was dry and held a charge.
A laugh made her pause. It sounded so much like Nessa's. She stopped and looked at a cluster of girls in the Shiz Uniform.
One girl in the center attracted all the attention. She was the most beautiful of the bunch with olive skin and curly brown hair done in a short bob. She wore a white hat to shield her freckled face from the sun.
Momma?
Elphaba slowly approached.
"Oh! What a funny-looking cat!" one of the girls gasped.
Elphaba's heart beat fast. Would she be chased off?
Melena knelt down and held out her hand with a gentle smile. Elphaba pressed her cheek into her hand, a purr rising into her chest.
Momma…
"What a sweet little cat," Melena cooed. "I'm sorry I don't have anything for you sweetheart. Times are hard for us all."
She would be married to Frex this time next year. It was arranged, but they knew each other. Momma would never finish college.
Melena straightened up and headed off with her friends. Elphaba stared after them, then returned to her human form.
"Melena!"
She turned and screamed. The other girls did, too.
"Please, you have to listen to me," said Elphaba. "Don't—"
"Get out of here, freak!" one girl shouted.
"Stop!" Elphaba raised her hands and all projectiles froze. "Melena, listen to me. I come from the future. Don't chew the milk flowers!"
"Pardon?"
"Please, whatever they say, they won't work like you want them to!"
The clocktower tolled ten o'clock. A crowd had gathered.
"GET OUT, FREAK!" a man shouted, throwing a stone at her.
Elphaba staggered back and looked at her mother who was still staring at her, stunned.
Working her jaw, Elphaba spread her arms and clouds formed in the sky. Thunder rumbled over Shiz and it began to rain.
Cheers rose up from those who hadn't seen Elphaba. Those who had lowered their projectiles in astonishment.
She used this distraction to run. She had to find a way to save her mother. Maybe she would never see the future with her mother, but she would save her. She had to.
Elphaba slowed her running once she was sure she wasn't followed. By that time, people were running out of buildings to turn their faces up to the rain. She'd go back. Find a way. She was a powerful witch now, she could destroy every milk flower in Munchkinland. Spread word they were poison. Team up with the Wizard when he arrived in two years.
Someway… somehow.
Elphaba panted heavily and dragged her fingers through her hair. Momma was right there.
She could save her.
Taking a deep breath, she headed off to find a place for shelter.
She stepped back from the carriage careening towards her. The storm was gone, replaced by a beautiful day with lush, green grass under her feet.
No. No, no, no. It was a one way trip, wasn't it? Could this curse really be more powerful?
Elphaba looked around and saw Nessa still in her chair and chatting with two girls from her class. Did she even change anything?! She ran to her sister.
"Nessa!" she gasped, grabbing her shoulders. "Please tell me I saved Momma! That she's alive!"
Nessa jerked back and scowled.
"Honestly, Elphaba, is this some kind of twisted joke? Momma died because you were green."
"No!" Elphaba jerked her hands back. "Maybe I just didn't have enough time. I should go back and try again!"
She would try again and again. However many times it took, she would try again.
She took off at a sprint to get back to the library. She knew the book, she knew the spell.
"Move, move, move! Make a hole!" she shouted, barreling through Fiyero's adoring fans.
A foot stuck out, sending her sprawling.
"Watch it, Beanstalk!" Avaric jeered to laughter.
Elphaba scrambled to her feet, barely noticing a hand on her arm before taking off once again.
Once she got back to the library, she found the book, cast the time spell again, and found the librarian, heart sinking to find him a young man. Still an apprentice, she guessed.
Shit! She went back too far,
Twenty-six hours later, she stepped back from the carriage.
She went to 3000. 1885. 2563. 2920. 562. 1771. Over and over again, never in the same time twice, but she couldn't seem to get back to that exact moment or find her mother again.
No matter what she did, nothing changed. She got chased by angry mobs in most eras, sometimes she was captured and locked up to await her fate, whether it was execution or experimentation.
But nothing changed and she stepped back from the carriage careening towards her.