Madame Morrible angrily pushes the curtains aside. "Did you hear what I said?" But she sees no one in the room. She quickly moves to the only other exit of the room. As she pulls open the door, she sees a guard lying unconscious on the ground.
"No," whispers Madame Morrible.
"Ma'am, we need to speak to the Wizard," says a guard rushing in. "There are intruders here, we need to secure the palace."
"Oh really?" asks Madame Morrible sarcastically. "You mean the Wizard who's been kidnapped?" Or ran away, Madame Morrible bitterly thinks to herself. She feels her panic rising because now she needs to come up with a new plan.
"Madame, ttthat can't be? Hhhhow did this happen?" the guard stammers.
"He's our Wonderful Wizard, why would anyone want to kidnap him?"
Meanwhile, Madame Morrible is forming a plan. How to get Elphaba more on her side. She knows, of course, that Elphaba won't work for her right away. "Let's think about this. Who stands to benefit the most if the Wizard can no longer pass his good laws to protect Oz? And who just captured one of the leaders of those rebels?"
"What?" the guards say in unison, flabbergasted.
"Yes, gentlemen," Madame Morrible now sounds much more confident. "That little spoiled princess we just captured is one of the leaders of the Animal rebels spreading across Oz. Thanks to Elphaba, we captured Galinda, but we didn't account for the Animals, who slyly kidnapped our beloved Wizard."
"But how?"
"He's the most powerful man in all of Oz."
Madame Morrible sighs impatiently. "Figure it out yourselves."
The men look at each other. "Maybe the Wizard was so busy protecting Elphaba that the Animals knocked him out," says one man, doubt clear in his voice.
The other guard nods. "That actually sounds logical. The whole act with Galinda was a diversion."
"Exactly, men. If you don't mind, I'll go now and search for our beloved Wizard."
"Of course, Madame, we'll make sure our men reach the infirmary. Maybe we should also interrogate Galinda?"
Madame Morrible nods. "That's a good idea, maybe that Wicked Witch will reveal something." She hurries off. She needs to find out what happened to Oscar and she must get Elphaba on her side—those are her two priorities.
The men remain confused. "Wicked Witch?"
The other man shrugs. "I don't find her wicked at all. I think she's more good, and the green one is the Wicked Witch, but I guess we're not allowed to say that."
"I think it's a strange story. Could the Wizard really have been kidnapped?"
"I don't know, but Madame Morrible is our leader now, and I don't want to make her angry, so I'll do what she says."
The men try to wake the unconscious guards and tend to the wounds they can.
XXXXX
Madame Morrible takes a deep breath before entering Elphaba's room. There are a few chairs in the room, but otherwise, it is bare. Elphaba is pacing and mumbling. The guards outside her door have not disturbed her. "Elphaba, dear, how are you?" she asks in her sweetest voice.
Elphaba glares at her, but inside she feels betrayed, empty, and hurt. ''Where is Galinda? I need to talk to her; this must be a misunderstanding.''
"Dearie, you need to calm down first and listen to me."
Elphaba shakes her head and tries to walk past Madame Morrible. Madame Morrible uses a simple spell to push her back against the wall.
Elphaba looks around, bewildered. "What the—?"
"You are going to listen to me," says Madame Morrible sternly. "Our Wizard has been kidnapped by Galinda and her Animal friends."
"What?" Elphaba blinks several times. She shakes her head and tries to escape Madame Morrible's hold.
"I'll release you only when you're calm and have heard everything."
Elphaba looks at Madame Morrible angrily after she convinces her after several attempts that she cannot break free. Defeated, she lowers her head and nods towards Madame Morrible.
Madame Morrible smiles with satisfaction. She actually expected more from Elphaba, but can also imagine how defeated she must be. She is really just a weak girl. Madame Morrible thinks meanly.
"It was a shock for me too when I found out. I immediately went to look for our great leader, but I only found an unconscious guard. I suspect Galinda was a diversion, and the Animals took the poor defenseless Wizard."
"But why?"
"Out of jealousy, of course."
"What?" That's not right. Elphaba thinks immediately. But a voice in her head tells her that Madame Morrible is right. Galinda has lied about everything.
"Galinda has been jealous of your powers from the beginning."
Elphaba looks down at her hands, defeated.
"And there's something else." Madame Morrible lets a silence fall for dramatic effect. She's debated for a long time whether to play this card, but she's sure this is the right way to get Elphaba on her side.
Elphaba looks at Madame Morrible expectantly.
"Galinda has been keeping a big secret from you. She knew that the Wizard is your father, which is why she had him kidnapped, to hurt you."
Thankfully, Madame Morrible is still holding Elphaba with her magic, or she would have collapsed. She can't feel her legs. Her head is spinning from the information. Dozens of conflicting thoughts and emotions swarm inside her. 'No,'' Elphaba screams, breaking free from Madame Morrible's spell. Madame Morrible steps back in surprise. ''How?'' she wonders. She looks at a very confused Elphaba who is panting, with tears in her eyes. She shakes her head. "That can't be."
The chairs are all overturned on the floor. Madame Morrible quickly casts the spell again, so that she has Elphaba in her grip. She has to stay focused, she thinks worriedly. Madame Morrible shakes her head. "I don't know the details either, but Galinda told me herself. The Wizard remembered your mother."
Elphaba shakes her head. "No, you're lying." No, her whole life she has dreamed that Frex would not be her father. No, the Wizard her father? That can't be. Madame Morrible is lying. She tries to get out of Madame Morrible's spell again, but she still can't. She slowly goes mad from everything that happens.
"No, I'm telling the truth," says Madame Morrible sternly, suppressing the urge to slam Elphaba against the wall. "It's Galinda who's been lying to you for months. I only tell the truth. I'll protect you. I don't know how it's possible. But it's Galinda's job as your best friend to tell you right away. I got the impression that the Wizard had no idea of your existence. But Galinda somehow found out and deliberately lied to you. Are you really mad at me for telling the truth?
Elphaba shakes her head. "Yes... No.. I mean, this is a nightmare. This can't be true." Every instinct tells Elphaba to flee, but she can't escape, which only heightens her panic. Madame Morrible is right. If Galinda knew that the Wizard was her father, why had she never said anything? Why does she still stand up for Galinda? she wonders. But somehow she still feels something for Galinda. Subconsciously, the nice memories come to the surface. Laughing together or giving each other advice. That felt so real. Galinda couldn't have made that up, could she? Elphaba thinks desperately.
"Elphaba, Galinda isn't to be trusted. She and those Animals have been plotting against you for a long time. You saw the proof yourself. She lied to you. Now, I need your help to save Oz from this disaster."
"No, it's not true," Elphaba whispers, almost crying. She doesn't want to believe that her best, her only friend, betrayed her. She knows Galinda has lied, but that the Animals could devise such a plan? No, it doesn't seem real.
"It is true, Elphaba. It's time for you to prove yourself. It's time for you to rise as the most powerful woman in Oz." One I can control, thinks Madame Morrible. She sees that Elphaba still isn't fully convinced. "Elphaba, think of what people will say about you when they hear that you're the greatest hero in all of Oz. You could stand next to the Wizard. Everyone will celebrate in your name. All you have to do is listen to me now. You must stop believing in that traitor, Galinda. You must use your powers for good."
"Me? What should.. What can I do?" she asks, bewildered.
Madame Morrible feels proud. This is almost too easy, she thinks. "You must recite a few spells for me. Then we can track down all the Animals and question them to find out if they have the Wizard. Maybe we can create some spies?"
"Spies?" Elphaba asks, horrified.
"You're right, that's not a good word," Madame Morrible quickly says. "Think it over calmly. I'll have a servant take you to your room and bring you some food. You'll always have a guard with you for your own safety." She releases Elphaba and leaves the room. "Don't let her out of your sight. I don't trust her to roam the palace alone."
"Yes, Madame."
Madame Morrible nods, satisfied.
"Madame?" a hesitant voice speaks behind her. "Is it true that the prisoners, together with the Animals, kidnapped the Wizard?"
Madame Morrible can hardly contain her smile. It was so easy to spread lies. "Yes, it's true. That's why we must now attack all the Animal villages so we can get our great leader back."
The guard nods, relieved. "That green girl and you are going to do that?"
"That's the plan."
"Thank Oz. We'll keep a close eye on her."
Madame Morrible nods. She also makes a mental note that she needs a secretary because she's getting so busy she'll soon lose clarity. She must stay focused on finding Oscar and gaining Elphaba's trust. She quickly relays all her demands to the palace's head servant. Then she speaks with the captain of the guards, an old man who's about to retire. She gives the orders to lock up as many Animals in cages as possible.
XXXXX
Elphaba remains sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. She rhythmically bangs her head against the wall. She can't believe what has happened. Not only has she been betrayed by her best friend, but she also just found out that the Wizard—her idol—is her father. She doesn't understand how it's possible. Of course Galinda knew too, Elphaba thinks bitterly. What should she do now? She can't believe Galinda kidnapped the Wizard; it can't be true. The Animals are a peaceful people. They would never resort to violence. Something about all of this feels wrong, but Elphaba has no choice but to follow Madame Morrible.
"Maybe I should talk to Galinda?" Elphaba says out loud.
"Yes, of course I'm going to talk to the person who lies about everything?" Elphaba contradicts herself.
"Great, now I look completely crazy, having a conversation with myself." Elphaba mumbles
Elphaba jumps in fright when someone forcefully opens the door.
"Thank Oz, Elphaba, I've found you. Quickly, we need to go downstairs to rescue Galinda. You won't believe what they're saying about her," says Boq, panting.
"Boq, what are you doing here?"
"There's no time to explain. But you and Galinda need to flee as soon as possible. We'll figure out a plan later."
Boq grabs Elphaba's hand and pulls her along.
Elphaba pulls away from Boq's grip. ''What are you doing here? I'm tired of everyone telling me all sorts of things without a proper explanation, first Galina, then Madame Morrible, then I'm told the Wizard is my father, now you? What in Oz is going on?'' Elphaba screams like a maniac. She quickly screams what has happened, while she tells her story she shouts a few times that she can't believe it.
Boq quickly looks out into the hallway. Fortunately, there is no one to be seen yet. He is surprised that there were so few guards. But now he is mainly concerned about Elphaba's state and her volume.
''Elphaba, I don't know what has happened. It all seems very frightening to me, but now you have to go. We have to get to Galinda, to free her.''
Elphaba looks angrily at Boq. ''Were you even listening?''
No, Boq thinks. "Of course, but there's no time now. We can talk about it later, when it's quiet." Frustrated, Elphaba lets herself be carried away. Tears spring to her eyes. What is happening, has everyone gone mad?
Boq quickly opens a door and leads Elphaba downstairs. "Galinda!? Galinda?!" Boq yells as he runs through the dungeons.
"Boq, is that you?" a voice calls back.
Boq breathes a sigh of relief. ''Easy Galinda, we'll get you out of here.'' Boq says as he examines the lock.
''We?'' Glinda asks, she quickly sees Elphaba standing behind Boq. Her heart starts beating harder in her chest.
''How did you get past the guards?'' Glinda was so happy when she heard Boq. She doesn't understand what's going on, but she wants to leave as soon as possible. She gets a cold shiver when she sees Elphaba's expression. She feels all her hope slipping away.
''It was actually quite easy.'' Boq says with a tired grin as he stabs the lock with a screwdriver. Most of the guards are listening to Madame Morrible's stories and the other part is either unconscious or already in the sickbay.
With a click the lock opens. Satisfied he looks at Galinda, who looks worriedly at Elphaba. He hears Elphaba say something as he turns around, he falls to the ground and everything goes black.
''What did you do to him? asks Glinda worriedly, immediately falling to the ground next to Boq. "Boq? Boq?" Galinda calls out in panic. "Elphie, what happened?"
"You have no right to call me Elphie. You lost that when you lied to me. When was that? Oh yes, from the very beginning."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," Glinda tries to interject. Part of her is glad that Elphaba is here, so she can apologize. But she also knows that Elphaba's Emotios are still so raw, still so vulnerable. She hopes that Elphaba is able to listen to her. She takes a deep breath and prepares herself for the worst. She knows that she shouldn't attack right away.
"Shut up," Elphaba says angrily, starting to pace again. I have to think. It's all happening too fast. I'm going crazy. I have to think. Elphaba mumbles. "It can't be real."
Glinda follows Elphaba with her eyes for a few seconds as she sits over Boq with concern. She's afraid that everything has become too much for Elphaba.
" Elphie, At least reassure me that Boq is okay?" Glinda doesn't know which is worse, an angry Elphaba or a silent one. She feels uneasy.
Elphaba looks briefly surprised. "Yes, the spell only lasts five minutes." Then she continues pacing. Glinda is glad that Elphaba at least reacted.
"Why did you do that?" Glinda stands up and crosses her arms.
"Because I wanted to talk to you."
Glinda knows it's a dangerous strategy, but she has to get Elphaba's emotions out first, before she can continue.
"Elphie, I'm sorry I lied to you. You have to know that I only lied about my identity."
Elphaba stops. "No, you also lied about our friendship. You lied during the incident with the Stag and the Lion. Was that your idea too," Elphaba's eyes widen. Stag and Lion, they're both Animals."
Glinda has no idea what's going on in Elphaba's head. But she knows she has to stop it.
"I didn't lie about our friendship. You mean a lot to me. I'm even willing to step out of the world, so I could be with you."
Elphaba shakes her head. "Oh, now we should be grateful, that you want to stop lying?"
"No, stop putting things in my mouth. You're better than that. Come on, throw out what you need to throw out, then we can move on.''
Elphaba throws her arms in the air and turns around. Then she growls and turns back to Glinda. ''Do you think it's that easy? You betrayed me.''
Glinda's heart breaks. She had a suspicion, but hearing it is a lot more painful. ''I'm sorry.''
''Are you sorry? Are you sorry? Well, that helps me a lot.'' Elphaba start pacing
Glinda feels that Elphaba hasn't thrown everything out yet. She feels that Elphaba is holding back some emotion. It's taking too long for her feeling. "Can't we do that after we get out of here?" Glinda asks in a panic. She wants to leave as quickly as possible. She has no idea what Madame Morrible is planning, but she doesn't want to stay and find out. ''Come, give me your hand, and we'll carry him out of here. He helped us, we can't leave him here.''
Elphaba stops pacing and turns to Glinda. "Most of the guards are unconscious. Probably your and your partner's doing." Elphaba says slowly
"Partner?"
Elphaba looks at Boq, then back at Glinda.
"He's not my partner."
Elphaba laughs sharply. "Do you really think I believe that? Do you really think I believe Boq snuck into the palace all on his own? He must have done something to the guards. He knew where you were. You two are working together." Elphaba finally makes the connection between Boq and Glinda; it seems so logical. ''Oz, you're such a liar''
"No, Boq and I aren't working together. I don't know how Boq managed to get in. You have to believe me." Glinda feels that Elphaba is deeper in her emotions. Of course Elphaba feels hurt and betrayed. But she has to say that too. They have to talk it out and Glinda can only hope that they will come out as friends. But her feeling tells her that it will be more difficult. She knows that with her actions, she has betrayed her best friend. It hurts her too. She has probably ruined her only chance in life. She still has to explain it to her parents.
"Believe you? Yeah, sure, let's play a game on how to believe someone. Let me think. Oh yes, friends tell the truth. That was one of your rules, wasn't it?" Elphaba spits out angrily.
"Elphie," Glinda whispers, "let me explain. We got an assignment from the Wizard."
Elphaba laughs sharply again. "Oh yes, you also forgot to mention that the Wizard is my father. You're such a great friend." Elphaba says sarcastically.
Glinda swallows. That's all the proof Elphaba needs to believe Madame Morrible was right. "So Madame Morrible was right," Elphaba whispers, defeated. She had still hoped that Galinda didn't know anything.
"I had a suspicion," Glinda says quickly. "I had a suspicion, but I had no proof. I didn't know, Elphie."
"Stop," Elphaba screams. "Stop with your lies and tell the truth for once in your life."
Glinda grabs the bars. "I am telling the truth. I didn't know about your father. The only thing I know is that Madame Morrible cannot be trusted. You mustn't trust her."
"And I should trust you?"
Boq starts to groan. "What happened?" he asks, rubbing his head.
"Yes, I'd like to know that too," says a voice behind Elphaba.
Elphaba turns around in shock and sees Madame Morrible standing there with a few guards behind her. Glinda helps Boq to stand and takes a few steps back.
XXXX
A/N A cliffhanger and the fight is not over yet. I will try to write again as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone who leaves a review and who reads the story. I am grateful to everyone.
