Till Forever Falls Apart

by Klueless

Summary:

“Galinda dear,” her popsicle’s voice came through the door and Glinda’s eyes widened. She hadn't been called Galinda in a long time. It had been so long that she didn't even remember when she'd last been called it. It felt distant, like from another life entirely. “we’re leaving in two hours! Get ready!”

Glinda looked back at the mirror with wide brown eyes, not trusting herself to speak. She remembered those exact words from her popsicle… on the morning of her first day of Shiz.

***
or: Gelphie time travel fic

Notes:

TW: Implied character death

Chapter 1

Grief, pain, regret, anger. 

 

Out of all the complicated emotions that tangled in Glinda's gut, those were the strongest. 

 

When she stood in front of the Munchkins, celebrating the death of the only friend that mattered, they burned through her veins making it a struggle to breathe. 

 

When she repeated the news to the rest of the Ozians, she faced celebrations too, all different in their way of celebrating and none quite as bad as Munchkinland, but the experience was draining nonetheless. When Glinda got back to her room, she felt like a shell. 

 

The grief drowned her, leaving her ragged, screams haunt her, and the appearance of a familiar black hat waiting for her on the desk with its owner no longer there to don it sends her over the edge. 

 

Glinda barely slept that night despite her exhaustion. She didn't think she could ever close her eyes again — much less sleep — without seeing green eyes, emerald skin, and dark hair. 

 

***

 

The anger fades over time and Glinda is left in a state of despair without it. The anger gave her a reason to get up in the morning and with it gone, she found it infinitely harder to be Glinda the Good. 

 

She persists, a final promise keeping her moving through the day, no matter how hard it was. 

 

The most surprising thing was the magic she discovered. She practiced it, bearing with the Ozdamned book that Elphaba had given to her in her final moments. 

 

She read the scribbled notes — the scrawling handwriting undoubtedly her Elphie’s — in the margins so many times she had them memorised. 

 

She tried learning the words of the Grimmerie and she tried casting the spells. But no matter how much her magic grew, she knew it would never be as good as Elphie's, it would never be enough, she would never be enough. 

 

***

 

The years passed, both too slow and too fast, and Glinda, at the ripe age of 34, barely recognises the woman that stares back at her in the reflection. 

 

Heavy bags underlined her eyes, the beginnings of wrinkles tugged at her face, worry lines and frown lines most prominent, her golden hair had lost much of its lustre, and her eyes looked empty when they weren't filled with grief. 

 

Worried glances and whispers passed between her handmaidens and the staff of the palace. The calculating eyes of council members bored down at her. She couldn't show weakness otherwise her position could easily be grabbed from her. 

 

She didn't have any friends that she could look at without feeling the crushing weight of guilt. Chistery refused to visit the palace — understandably so — and the rare few times he did, Glinda knew he was incredibly worried. Her act came to her almost like second nature now and she knew, from the look in his eyes, Chistery did not believe her when she said she was fine. Sometimes she didn't know who she was trying to convince more. 

 

Dr Dillamond slowly regained his speech and was reinstated to teach. The old Goat went back to it happily. Glinda visited him at times and she could tell that even he was worried about her. It was a lot more subtle, but she could feel it whenever she visited him for tea. She could see it in his eyes, sense it in the way he danced around the topic of Elphaba and Fiyero, feel it in his hesitant movements around as though he'd set her off at any moment. 

 

The thought was laughable. After everything Dr Dillamond had been through, he was worried about her . 

 

Feldspar was forlorn without his rider, but despite Glinda’s many offers, he refused to leave the stables, refused to leave her. She saw so much of Fiyero in his mannerisms and way of speech it hurt. She took him out for rides whenever she could make time, made sure he was fed and treated well. Many saw it as a kindness, as her mourning her fiance, and though it may have started out like that, the Horse’s friendship mattered a great deal to her.

 

The most complicated of the lot was Boq. The Tin Man had confessed who he was after Dorothy had left and Glinda had shut him out after lashing out at him, anger and bitterness fuelling her actions. The underlying layer of guilt over everything that had happened to him because of her didn't help.

 

He'd been the most vocal about his hatred against the witch and Glinda could still see him spurring on the angry mob of witch hunters. She blamed him almost as much as she blamed herself. 

 

He'd tried apologising to her multiple times and she never could accept it. Maybe one day, she thought, but she didn't see the day coming anytime soon.

 

Glinda, despite her packed schedule, spent so much time missing someone who had died long ago. No matter how many people loved her as Glinda the Good, they would never come close to filling the gaping hole left in her chest by Elphaba.

 

Glinda spent all her time mourning the Wicked. 

 

***

 

Time did not heal, Glinda discovered. 

 

Time only made the pain and heartbreak grow. 

 

It happened slowly. 

 

Glinda experienced the occasional migraines, intense fatigue, pain that seemed to flare up out of nowhere. She continued with her life as though they didn’t exist.

 

When Glinda took ill though, she was rendered useless. After collapsing during a meeting, she was forced to the bed, strictly forbidden from engaging in her duties. 

 

Glinda received many gifts from well wishers — flowers, notes, baskets of assorted foods, and a variety of other things. Chistery and Dr. Dillamond, putting aside their dislike for the palace came to visit her and Glinda assured them she would get better soon. 

 

She didn’t like how they both looked at her almost mournfully. 

 

She wondered distantly how Feldspur had reacted. She’d have to meet him after she got better to ease his worries. 

 

She ignored the part of her that wished she didn’t get better. 

 

***

 

Glinda hated bedrest. She could barely do anything and she was under the hawk-like watch of at least one member of staff or the doctor at all times. 

 

She’s not allowed her work and she’s barely allowed to know what is going on in the council meetings or in Oz. They fear it will stress her out. In her opinion, she was more stressed lying in bed doing nothing all day. 

 

Inactivity also allowed the thoughts she’d been so desperately trying — and failing — to keep at bay to creep in at a higher intensity. 

 

Her thoughts automatically seemed to shift to Fiyero, to Nessa, to their charmed little circle at Shiz, and most of all, to Elphaba. The way her green eyes glittered when she laughed, the nicknames she slowly started calling Glinda a few months into their friendship, dark braids hanging loosely around her shoulders, verdant hands gripping hers. 

 

Why Miss Elphaba… you’re beautiful. 

 

Glinda had meant it, Elphaba had been the most beautiful thing Glinda had ever seen. Even now,nothing and no one could compare. The grass and the leaves weren’t the right shade of green. The colourful flowers couldn’t compare to the poppies Elphaba sometimes — upon Glinda’s insistence — placed in her hair. The birds chirping in the morning could never be as melodious as Elphaba when she was humming something under her breath thinking no one would hear her — Glinda did. Every single beautiful memory of Elphaba flowed through her mind. 

 

And, like it usually did, laughs transformed into screams as Elphaba melted right in front of her. 

 

As usual, she barely slept and when she did, she was haunted by ghosts. She could never seem to escape them, not during daytime or during her fitful sleep. 

 

One day, when sleep evaded her and her maiden, who was supposed to be watching her, dozed peacefully in a chair, Glinda tiptoed out of bed and snuck out onto her balcony. 

 

Cold air rushed to envelop her, making her break into a fit of coughs. 

 

When they finally subsided, Glinda looked up at the western sky, watching the glittering stars and the moon, hoping, praying for something she knew would never come. 

 

*** 

 

Her condition had taken a turn for the worse. Panic hung in the air of the palace, suffocatingly. It was almost tangible. 

 

Glinda knew what would happen to her despite the doctors trying their hardest to cure her. 

 

Glinda, unlike everyone else, wasn’t afraid. She was relieved. 

 

She’d be joining everyone, joining Elphie, wherever she was. And that was all Glinda had been hoping for ever since that day twelve years ago. 

 

So while everyone else seemed to preemptively mourn her, Glinda accepted her death with open arms. 

 

***

 

When Glinda opened her eyes blearily, all she saw was pink. She groaned and sat up, rubbing her tired eyes, ridding them of sleep. 

 

Sleep? Pink? 

 

The memories hit her, the pain that came with them crippling. 

She’d died, hadn’t she?

 

She remembered her death, she remembered closing her eyes and the world fading to nothing. But here she was now, in a room she recognised. Her old room felt like it was from another life entirely. She supposed, in some way, it was. 

 

How was she here?

 

She slowly got out of bed, making her way to the vanity at the corner of her room and almost jumped when she saw her reflection. 

 

The girl that stared back at her was young. She had a smooth, unblemished face, brown eyes, and long golden hair. She looked nothing like the 37 year old, grief stricken woman she remembered herself to be. She looked like she was 19 again. 

 

Banging on her door interrupted her examination of herself. 

 

“Galinda dear,” her popsicle’s voice came through the door and Glinda’s eyes widened. She hadn't been called Galinda in a long time. It had been so long that she didn't even remember when she'd last been called it. It felt distant, like from another life entirely. “we’re leaving in two hours! Get ready!” 

 

Glinda looked back at the mirror with wide brown eyes, not trusting herself to speak. She remembered those exact words from her popsicle… on the morning of her first day of Shiz. 

 

“Galinda?”

Glinda swallowed, answering in a voice that was a lot more youthful than she remembered hers to be, “Y-Yes, popsicle.” Her voice shook despite her best efforts. 

 

A pause. 

 

“Everything alright, dear?”

 

Glinda steeled her nerves this time, preparing herself before answering. “Yes popsicle,” she called in a cheery imitation of Glinda the Good. “I’m just so excited!”

 

When footsteps receded with a slight chuckle, Glinda looked back at the mirror with slowly dawning horror. 

 

She pinched herself, barely wincing at the sting. 

 

This was real . 

 

Glinda didn’t know whether she wanted to laugh or cry or scream. 

Chapter 2

Her parents’ worried glances were persistent. She could feel the two pairs of eyes constantly glancing at her and back at each other. She did not comment on it. 

 

After she’d woken up in her younger body, she’d taken an hour to get ready and another to deliberate. She couldn’t exactly panic and blurt out to her parents that she was actually from the future and this wasn’t her first time doing this. She was sure if she did say that, she certainly wouldn’t be going to Shiz and she couldn’t afford that.

 

She knew her reactions were far more muted than they expected of her and her silence uncharacteristic. Unlike the first time, Glinda did not trust herself to speak. Instead her mind wandered as they neared the docks. 

 

If Glinda was asked to rank the most meaningful days in her life, this one would be quite high in the list, if not the highest. Meeting Elphaba Thropp had changed her for good. Sure, there had been hostility that started on the first day and lasted until that fateful night at the Izdust ballroom, but even then, no one brought Glinda to life quite like Elphaba.

 

A younger Glinda — like the one she’d been the first time she made this trip — would have probably rationalised the feelings she had for Elphaba as a friendship. Now, she knew she loved her. A love that had ended up killing her. 

 

The Gondola bumped against the docks and Glinda’s breath hitched. On quivering legs, she stepped out of the boat, her throat threatening to close up. 

 

“Darling,” her momsie had her plastering on a smile and turning. “It’s alright to be nervous, but you’ll do great!”

 

Glinda couldn’t tell them that she felt like she was going to collapse because today was the day everything started, setting off a chain reaction of events that would haunt her for the rest of the second life she’d been given. She couldn’t tell them that the thought of seeing a younger Elphaba — one who hadn’t broken completely by this cruel world yet, one who still had hope shining in her eyes, unlike during her final moments, one who looked at her like she was a stranger — was debilitating.

 

So instead she just widened her smile and whispered a, “thank you.”

 

The two embraced her tightly and Glinda relished in the hug. She hadn’t realised how much she missed her parents. 

 

“Oh, I’m gonna miss you so much.” Her popsicle said. 

 

“Be good.” Momsie murmured into her ear. 

 

Good. 

Glinda wasn’t sure she knew what the word even meant anymore.

 

They released her and bid their farewells. Glinda stared at the retreating gondola. She knew she couldn’t drag them into her mess, but it wouldn’t hurt her to keep in contact with them. 

 

“My parents don’t even know I left.” 

 

She jumped at the familiar voice, spinning around, unable to cover up the shock in her face in time. 

 

“I’m Boq, from Munchkinland,” he introduced and all she could think about was the fact that he hadn’t looked like this in years. His red hair hung in a mess of wild curls, his skin quite peachy in its shade and a tilted, awkward smile on his face. Nothing about him was tinny. She supposed she should have been expecting it, but her thoughts were so lost in Elphaba that she’d barely spared the Munchkin a thought. He was the one member from the charmed circle that hadn’t died, but he was also the one Glinda couldn’t bring herself to forgive. “ I know we don’t really know each other, but-” 

 

What was it she’d said the first time? Oz, she could barely remember. 

 

He was staring earnestly at her after whatever he’d said and Glinda almost missed the Tin Man. At least he wasn’t still in love with her. 

 

Luckily, she was saved from answering when another familiar voice called, “Galinda!” She was suddenly glad for Pfannee and Shenshen as they rushed to her, each grabbing one of her arms and dragging her away, chattering into her ears the whole time. 

 

She didn’t pay attention to them and she didn’t need to because they seemed to be able to talk a mile a minute amongst themselves. 

 

The student choir begins to sing, their voices drowned out by the sudden shift in the atmosphere. Glinda is acutely aware of the sounds in the crowd this time. The gasps, the dropping of suitcases, the whispers, and the scattering of feet. From the corner of her vision, she sees people gawking and pointing

 

She’s here. 

 

The choir finishes; Glinda barely hears them over the pounding of her pulse. She turns, holding her breath in anticipation. When her eyes landed on green, her heart slammed against her ribs so loudly she wouldn’t be surprised if everyone in the crowd was able to hear it. She didn’t care about everyone else in the crowd though. 

 

Elphaba stares at her and Glinda can’t do anything except stare back. 

 

Elphaba was standing in front of her in all her green glory. She was much younger, though that is to be expected. Dark braids were pulled into one big braid that hung over her shoulder, her glasses stood on her nose. Her cheeks were full, not sallowed yet from hunger, and green lips were pursed as she gazed at Glinda. 

 

She was even more beautiful than Glinda remembered her to be.

 

“What? What are you staring at? Do I have something in my teeth?” If seeing her had her heart slamming, hearing her again made Glinda want to collapse on the spot. 

 

Quick, answer her!

 

But Glinda’s mouth refused to move, only focused on the fact that Elphie was here and she was alive. By the time she’d worked up the courage to open her mouth, Elphaba had already moved on, addressing the crowd. 

 

“Fine, let’s get this over with. No, I am not seasick. No, I did not eat grass as a child. And yes, I’ve always been green.” 

 

Glinda wanted to scoff now. It hadn’t registered to her the first time around how ridiculous the notion of any of those things turning someone green was. Elphaba’s eyes turned to meet her, green eyes staring almost expectantly, as if she was waiting for Glinda’s answer. 

 

“Elphaba! Elphaba Thropp!” The crowd parted and Glinda felt annoyance shoot through her. She’d had the displeasure of meeting Frexspar Thropp one time and no man had quite infuriated her like him. The girl next to him, sitting in a wheelchair, made her breath catch in her throat. The last time she’d seen Nessa… 

 

The thought made her want to burst into tears. 

 

Although Glinda wanted to stay and observe the interaction, she was soon dragged away by Pfannee and Shenshen, the two once again chattering away in her ear as they led her towards the quad. 

 

Just the sight of silver hair and long, patterned robes billowing behind a tall frame sent Glinda into a panic. 

 

She wasn’t ready to face her yet. 

 

She didn’t think she’d ever be ready to face her old mentor again. Even during her final years as Glinda the Good, some of her nightmares consisted of the sorceress despite the woman being locked away in Southstairs. 

 

Madame Morrible addressed them, eliciting chuckles due to her comment. There was a time where Glinda would have given her arm and a leg for the woman’s attention and a spot in the sorcery seminar. Now, knowing what it was like to have both those things, she wanted to be as far away from the sorceress as physically possible. 

 

Remarks and degradations rang in her ears as phantom claws dug into her shoulder. 

 

Glinda could barely focus on the world around her as panic threatened to consume her. She was vaguely aware of the students getting up from their seats and she followed in movements that were mechanical. 

 

Her thoughts of the sorceress were interrupted by a commotion, one she knew quite well. Glinda arrived just in time to watch Nessa wheel away, Elphaba staring forlornly after her. 

 

Even at this age, Elphaba’s magic was impressive. It was better than anything Glinda could produce. Just like the first time, the quad was in a state of ruins. Her eyes caught the area in the wall where the stone image of the Wizard had cracked off, revealing the mural of Animal professors. Glinda didn’t know how she’d missed that the first around, but she made note of it now. 

 

“Magic is merely the mind’s attempt to wrap itself around the impossible.” Madame Morrible’s voice rang out clearly, drawing everyone’s attention to her. Glinda was once again struck with the desire to run as far away from the woman as possible. “Yes, that was me. To prepare you to expect the unexpected here at Shiz. And speaking of the unexpected…” 

 

Glinda’s urge to run was overpowered by her even stronger desire to keep Elphaba as far away from the sorceress as possible. Her feet moved quickly, ignoring Pfanne and Shenshen’s protests. 

 

“Which of you young ladies will volunteer to share with-” 

 

Glinda got there just in time to raise her hand. “I do! I volunteer!” She exclaimed. 

 

“Thank you, dear.” Morrible regarded her for moments that seemed to stretch forever. “That is very good of you.” 

 

The irony of the words coming from the woman made Glinda want to vomit. 

 

“And you,” she turned to Elphaba. “Miss…”

 

“Elphaba.” Elphaba supplied. 

 

“Miss Elphaba.” Morrible smiled at the girl and Glinda wanted nothing more than to pull Elphaba far away from her. 

 

“And you are?” She turned to Glinda. 

 

“Gl- Galinda.” Glinda said. She’d have to get used to calling herself Galinda again. 

 

“Miss Elphaba, you can room with Miss Galinda.” 

 

The two once again stared at each other. Elphaba’s features were so unbelievably soft as she gazed at Glinda. Glinda wanted nothing more than to wrap the verdant girl in a tight embrace and never let her go. 

 

“You,” Madame Morrible called over her shoulder, breaking their locked gazes. “come with me.”

 

Both Elphaba and Glinda remained rooted to the spot and Glinda hoped it would remain that way. 

 

“Miss Elphaba,” Madame Morrible said and Elphaba startled. “I’m talking to you.” 

 

“Y-Yes Madame,” Elphaba stuttered, casting one last look at Glinda before disappearing with Morrible. 

 

Glinda wanted nothing more than to stop her, but she knew she couldn’t interfere here. This was how Elphaba came to stay at Shiz. A part of Glinda wondered if Elphaba would have been better off at home in Munchkinland, but promptly dismissed the idea at the thought of Elphaba and Frex alone together without Nessa to act as a sponge for Frex’s attention. 

 

She decided that their room would be a much better place to wait and panic. Her feet carried her, almost instinctively to the suite. Even after all these years, she still hadn’t forgotten her way to the room and she certainly hadn’t forgotten the room. 

 

Her room in the Emerald Palace had always felt wrong, empty. It was almost humorous how a younger her would have done anything for the private suite while the older her would have done anything just to have the green girl with her again, sharing a room. 

 

Glinda entered the room to find her luggage all with the stylised ‘G’ on them arranged, taking up the entire room. 

 

That would have to change. 

 

Glinda got to work, moving the suitcases and her vast array of items in a way that made it much fairer to Elphaba. Of course, there were too many items to divide the room completely in half, but Glinda tried her best. While she worked, her mind wandered back to the decision she’d made on the Gondola. 

 

She would do anything in her power to change Elphaba’s fate, to save her life and Glinda would follow through, even at the cost of her own. 

 

Now all there was to do was wait. 

 

Glinda hated waiting

Notes:

Stop making eye contact every 5 seconds ffs

Chapter 3

Glinda felt crazy, mourning a woman who wasn’t even dead yet in this timeline. 

 

She almost started to believe that she’d imagined it all and that Elphaba wasn’t going to come when the door opened with a click. Glinda jumped up, relief rushing in at the sight of green skin and dark hair. 

 

“Hello,” Glinda said timidly, sounding like a shy schoolgirl. “I’m Galinda Upland.” She held her hand, deciding to add, “of the Upper Uplands.”

 

Elphaba gazed at the hand offered to her like it was a foreign object. After a few painstaking seconds, she took it. “Elphaba.” She offered. No last name. Not that it was a surprise after everything her last name represented. 

 

Glinda broke out into a grin, shaking the hand. If she was given a second chance, she was going to do it right. “Hi,” she said softly. “I have a feeling we’re gonna be great friends.” 

 

Elphaba’s eyes widened and her hand jerked out of Glinda’s. Glinda ignored the pang in her chest. “I-I have to go. Bathroom.” Elphaba said curtly before shuffling over to the suite bathroom and slamming the door behind her. Glinda heard the click of the lock sliding in place and sank to her knees, her legs finally giving out underneath her. 

 

What had she done wrong?  

 

A shaky breath tore out of her, her chest shuddering with silent tears. Elphaba Thropp was there. She was just a couple of feet away from Glinda behind the bathroom door. And she was also dead. Her Elphaba was gone and here she was starting all over again. 

 

Glinda’s chest seized at the thought and not even a whole day since she’d made her decision was she doubting her ability to do it.

 

***

 

Glinda awoke blearily, her head aching. She turned, nestling deeper into the blankets, closing her eyes once again. She’d get up in a while, whatever work she had could wait. 

 

Her eyes shot open, the events of the day rushing back in in quick succession. 

 

Last she remembered she was on the floor in the middle of a panic attack before she must have passed out. She didn’t know how she ended up in her bed. 

 

The next thing she noticed almost sent her spiralling into another panic attack. Elphaba wasn’t in the room. Cold claws of panic sunk into her heart sending icy fear hurtling through her veins. 

 

Elphie! 

Glinda’s head turned frantically, searching the room she knew to be empty multiple times over as though hooping the green girl might magically appear. Glinda tiptoed over to the bathroom, trying the door. It swung open. Closing it harsher than she wanted to, the noise made her flinch. 

 

“Oh,” came a startled voice. 

 

Glinda turned, her shoulders slumping with relief. She resisted throwing herself at the green girl, giving her a tight smile instead as she quietly closed the balcony doors behind her. 

 

“I- I didn't realise you were up.” Elphaba said quietly, her face tilted so Glinda couldn't see it. “Are you okay?” 

 

Glinda didn't remember the girl being this shy and uncertain, especially not on their first day when Elphaba had her walls built high. Slowly, Glinda had broken through to the parts of her that could be that soft and vulnerable, but even then it was rare to see.

 

“Yes,” Glinda said, plastering on the brightest smile she could. “couldn't be better. I was just a bit tired from the journey.”

 

Elphaba nodded. “Okay,” she said, tone suddenly curt before she brushed past Glinda, heading to her bed. Glinda stared after her, surprise flooding her. She’d thought things were going fine, good even. 

 

She opened her mouth. Shut it. 

 

As much as she wanted to ask Elphaba what was wrong, she realised how poorly received the question might be and she didn’t want to give the older girl any reason to avoid her. 

 

She glanced outside at the setting sun, visible through the glass balcony doors which remained noticeably intact and undamaged. The sun sank, slowly disappearing over the horizon, taking its light with it. 

 

When the sun had disappeared and the moon was up in the sky, Glinda decided to take another risk. “Would you like to join me?” She asked. “For dinner.” 

 

She nervously watched the girl’s unchanging expression, her palms suspiciously clammy at the simple offer. Silence seemed to stretch on for hours and the air around Glinda was tinged with the anticipation emanating from her. 

 

“No,” she answered; the response, once again, frustratingly curt. 

 

“Oh,” Glinda said forlornly, her heart sinking. She should have known things wouldn’t be so easy. “no problem.” She smiled. “Some other time then?”

 

“I wouldn’t count on it.”

 

Glinda didn’t eat dinner so well that night. 

 

She sat sandwiched in between Pfannee and Shenshen who, like the first time around, couldn’t stop talking about ‘the strange green girl’. They consoled her thinking her despair had to do with her unfortunate rooming situation. 

 

“I just don’t get why you would volunteer.” Pfannee said for what felt like the millionth time that night. His dark brows pinched dramatically. 

 

Shenshen nodded along animatedly. “Exactly. I mean, she’s a freak.”

 

Glinda shot her a warning look. “She’s actually a very nice person. Maybe you two would realise that if you spent less time gossipping and more time interacting with the people you gossip about.” 

 

The two paled. “We only meant-” 

 

“I know what you meant.” Glinda hummed, pushing a piece of lettuce around with her fork. “I just don’t want you talking badly about Elphaba, okay?”

 

They didn’t reply and Glinda gave them a meaningful look. “Okay?” 

 

They quickly nodded, Pfannee’s glasses almost falling off in the process. “Okay.” They chorused. 

 

“Wonderful!” Glinda exclaimed

 

The night ended and Glinda had barely touched the contents of her plate. It wasn’t unusual for her not to eat properly or at all. In fact, over the past few years, it had become a common occurrence. She’d only started eating again because she’d been forced to due to her illness. It made her want to puke. 

 

Elphaba hadn’t addressed her again and Glinda didn’t risk initiating another conversation. She didn’t think she could handle another rejection. She didn’t know how much more she could handle in one day. She still wasn’t sure this wasn’t some dream that she’d soon wake up from — in a world where Elphie was still dead and she bore a responsibility that threatened to drag her beneath the waves and sink her. 

 

Sleep didn’t claim her until late that night and when it finally did, nightmares plagued her sleeping hours, except this time, they were worse. 

 

***

Elphaba was avoiding her. That much became clear when they were a week into Shiz and Elphaba was more reclusive than ever. There were just a few words exchanged between them and most of Glinda’s went ignored or replied to in singular words or phrases. The distance between them felt too large to bridge and Glinda was starting to lose hope of ever befriending the girl.

 

Glinda even half heartedly considered starting a rivalry with her again just so she’d open up a little bit more. It was obviously a terrible idea that was discarded almost immediately, but Glinda was exhausted and it had been a long week. 

 

Not slipping up that she was, in fact, a time traveller from a future where nothing made sense was harder than she thought it would be. Every once in a while she would drop a reference to an event that hadn’t even happened yet and would quickly scramble to correct herself at the confused expressions on everyone’s faces. Adjusting back to Galinda after being Glinda for so long was a lot weirder than she imagined it could be. Going through classes again was terrible, assignments were worse. Building a social life again while trying to give Elphaba a good reputation felt a lot like her time as Glinda the Good — she was good at it, but it was draining in a way that nothing else could be. 

 

One bonus was that she was far better at most of her subjects, especially history. Her time as Glinda the Good had seen her poring through multiple history and political books; it still exhausted her to think about.

 

Many parts of the campus felt tainted. There were too many memories in these halls. It was the whole reason she avoided going back to Shiz in the future — past? — even when she was called for an address. Too many bittersweet memories haunted the hallowed halls of the university. It was a place tainted by a time that was far too innocent for Glinda to be able to handle. Whenever she visited Dr Dillamond at Shiz, she felt the loss more acutely than ever. 

 

The case remained unchanged even now. Even when Elphaba was here and alive , even with all her friends there, even with Nessa and Boq and even Pfannee and Shenshen, the place still felt haunted. She knew it was silly. She finally had a second chance and here she was mourning her first. She had a chance to fix everything . So why was she not happy about it? 

 

She knew why. She had a second chance but everything was different. It wasn’t hers. This wasn’t her Elphie, nor were the rest her friends. Perhaps in another life, a different Galinda could have lived this and truly have been happy , and Glinda wanted so desperately to be happy. 

 

It barely ever came without the pangs of sadness and separation following almost immediately after. 

 

Glinda was grateful for the second chance. But a part of her wished she had just died. 

 

***

Glinda kept a mental note of all the events, both major and minor, that were to come. Every single detail that made up her old timeline. It wasn’t like she could easily forget anyway. 

 

There were already things that were different. 

 

The school’s treatment towards Elphaba was significantly better. Pfannee and Shenshen remained skeptical about her roommate, but shut their mouth about her, at least when Glinda was around. Dr Dillamond liked Glinda well enough which Glinda was glad for as she’d grown to care about the old Goat. 

Elphaba’s treatment towards Glinda, however, remained passive at best, stony and cold at worst. Glinda didn’t know what she was doing wrong, but there must be something because Elphaba wouldn’t needlessly try to avoid her. Right?

 

Glinda had tried multiple times to befriend the green girl and there were times, Glinda thought, when she’d seen the girl’s features soften before hardening and smoothing out. 

 

Glinda wasn’t willing to give up though so she kept trying with whatever opening she could find. The constant rejection hurt more than Glinda was willing to admit.

 

One day, well into the second week, Glinda saw her chance when she caught Elphaba between classes. A bag was slung over her shoulder and a book was in her hands. Elphaba stared wide eyed at Glinda as if she wasn’t expecting her to be there. 

 

“Going somewhere?” Glinda nodded at the bag. 

 

“Just the library,” Elphaba answered. “Can I…?” Elphaba gestured to the door which Glinda was blocking. 

 

Glinda’s feet shuffled to the side before an idea struck. “I’ll join you.”

 

Elphaba paused, green hand wrapped around the doorknob. “You really don’t have to do that.” 

 

“Oh, but I do…” Glinda scrambled for a valid reason to go with her. “Because I need a book.” 

 

Elphaba looked her up and down. “You need a book?”

 

“Yes.” 

 

Elphaba looked like she wanted to argue, but she didn’t seem to find anything because she simply, reluctantly nodded.

 

“This is terrible,” Glinda groaned, head falling onto the biology book. “what even is any of this ?”

 

Elphaba chuckled, warm and light, and the sound nearly stole Glinda’s breath away. “You don’t have to read any of that, you know?” 

 

“I know,” Glinda groaned once again. “But I want to.” 

 

“Sure doesn’t look like it.”

 

“Elphi-Elphaba!” She internally winced at the slip.

 

And maybe she imagined it, but a small smile that tugged at green lips was quickly hidden by the large hardcover tome. 

 

Glinda smiled to herself, a newfound determination fueling her. 

 

Progress.

Chapter 4

The first thing Glinda noted upon entering the room was that Elphaba looked troubled. The second was the coin that lay on the table seemingly forgotten. 

 

Glinda worried at her lip, wondering if she should just back out and come at a later time or if she should ask the girl what was wrong. 

 

Her instincts to comfort the green girl won over her desire to give her the space she seemed to want and she found herself asking, “What’s the matter?” 

 

Elphaba jumped, looking at Glinda. “I…” She glanced away hesitantly. “It’s nothing.” 

 

“Elphaba,” Glinda said, approaching carefully. “I know you may not like me and that we may not be friends, but you can talk to me. I promise I can keep a secret.”

 

Elphba’s brows furrowed skeptically as she gave Glinda a suspicious once over. “ Right.”

 

Glinda huffed, rolling her eyes. “Fine, I’ll leave you alone.” 

 

“No wait,” Glinda stopped in her tracks, hope blooming in her chest. “I’m sorry,” Elphaba sighed. “I’m not used to this.”

 

“Used to what?”

 

Elphaba’s eyes remained on Glinda for a moment too long. “It doesn’t matter. I’m having trouble with this coin here.”

 

Glinda had a feeling she knew where the conversation was going to lead. The coin was something she’d struggled with for years — far longer than Elphaba had — before moving on with her magic. She could still hear Madame Morrible’s voice in her ears admonishing her with insults that echoed too loudly in the empty domed room in the Emerald Palace. 

 

Still, Glinda tilted her head curiously, furrowing her brows to enact confusion. 

 

“It’s for my sorcery seminar. I’m supposed to lift it with magic.” She explained. “But no matter how hard I try, it just doesn’t happen.”

 

“Maybe,” Glinda started. “you just have to give it a push. Your magic and your emotions are tied. You’ve spent so long suppressing them that they don’t come out unless it comes to extreme cases.” 

 

“How do you know that?”

Glinda straightened, alarm shooting through her. Once she’d started talking the words flowed from her mouth and she hadn’t even realised what she was saying until she’d said too much. “I-I’ve done a lot of research on magic.”

 

“No, not that. About me suppressing my magic?”

 

Shit. 

 

“Lucky guess,” Glinda shrugged, praying that the other girl would buy the weak excuse. 

 

Elphaba stared at her through narrowed eyes for a few moments before shaking her head and turning her focus back to the coin. She didn’t say anything more and Glinda assumed the conversation was over. She tried to ignore the sting and returned to the door, leaving the room and closing it behind her.

 

Elphaba didn’t say a single thing as she left. 

 

***

 

Try as she might, Glinda could not forget the day Dr Dillamond got sacked and the events that led up to it. The main event was the day the hateful message had been scrawled across the chalkboard for everyone to see. 

 

The stars twinkled and the crickets chirped as Glinda moved quietly to the History classroom. After leaving the suite, Glinda had spent the night wiling away her time in various places around the campus, waiting for the clock to strike midnight. 

 

Very few students lingered about the campus and even they looked to be packing up or heading back to the dorms. No one spared Glinda a second glance. 

 

The halls of the building where the classrooms were located were eerily quite and dark, only the sliver of silvery moonlight gave Glinda a clue of where she was going. She was partly glad for the darkness as it made it easier to sneak around, but she also wished she had proper lighting to guide her way. 

 

Part of her worried she might bump into the person who wrote the message. She had a sneaking suspicion she knew who it was and she did not want to have that encounter. 

 

Despite her worries, Glinda reached the classroom without incident. The door looked as unassuming as ever. It didn’t help the anxiety that roiled in her stomach. When she tried the door, it was locked. Of course, it was foolish of her to hope otherwise. 

 

Glinda contemplated using her magic to break in, but ultimately, she decided against it. Magic was unpredictable and Glinda wasn’t sure she had a proper handle on hers yet. Worse, magic left a trace and she did not want anything to be traced back to her. 

 

She removed her hairpin and her curls came undone, cascading down her back once again. Bending down so the lock was eye level with her, she furrowed her brows. Fiyero had once shown her how to break into a locked room on a night much like this one, except then they were breaking into the kitchen. 

 

She didn’t fully remember how he’d done it, the memory hazy with time. Bits and pieces of his demonstration floated in her brain and Glinda carefully tried to recreate the steps she remembered, inserting the hairpin and twisting it in all the ways she could think of how. Eventually, just when she was about to give up, the lock gave way with a click and the door swung open quietly. She looked around carefully, ensuring the absence of people in the hallway before she slipped inside. 

 

The classroom was darker than the hallway outside and it took Glinda’s eyes a while to adjust. She moved to the light switch and quietly flicked it on. 

 

The room looked exactly the same as she remembered it, nothing seemed disturbed or out of place. The board at the centre of the room faced her almost mockingly. 

 

She crossed the room with light footsteps to meet it, rounding it with trepidation. Her heart pounded in her chest and her blood roared loudly in her ears making it impossible to hear anything else. 

 

She almost didn’t want to look at the board, didn’t want to see the hateful message written across it in large red letters. She stared at the ground stubbornly, her eyes refusing to move from the scuffed wood and her mind racing. 

 

What would she change by erasing the message? Would things be better or worse? 

 

The sound of footsteps outside made Glinda jump. She stood frozen on the ground and her eyes finally faced the board. Surprise injected itself into her veins when the board that stared back at her was scrawled not with the hateful message she was expecting, but with dates and events that she vaguely recalled reading about. 

 

She was too early.

 

The footsteps grew dangerously closer and Glinda frantically scanned for a hiding place. Somewhere she would not be found, but the room offered nothing that would prove too effective. She ducked behind a desk, hoping that whoever came into the room wouldn’t think to look there. 

 

She held her breath for what seemed like an eternity when the sound outside stopped. Then it started again. Glinda’s brows furrowed as the sound grew fainter and fainter, eventually fading into the background. 

 

Glinda waited for a few more clock ticks for the steps to return, but it never came and when she exited the classroom, no one awaited her in the hallway. 

 

She walked back to her room, her mind echoing with a single question.

 

What had just happened?

 

***

The next day, she walked with Pfannee and Shenshen to the history classroom, her mind heavy with sleep and questions. Exhaustion weighed heavy on her, the few hours of disturbed sleep she'd managed to get not enough to sustain her. Anxiety and confusion gnawed at her stomach and she wondered if anything had changed or if the scene would play out exactly as it had the first time. 

 

She took her seat and barely paid attention to what Dr Dillamond was saying, simply nodding absentmindedly when the Goat mentioned her progress. 

 

“Um actually,” Pfannee interrupted before Dr Dillamond could continue. “It’s ‘Ga-linda’, with a ‘Ga’.”

 

“I apologise,” Dr Dillamond said. 

 

Glinda shot Pfannee a look, her attention finally back in the class. She supposed she should have expected this, but her mind was too preoccupied to even consider the other events of the class. 

 

“No, it’s fine,” she assured the professor hurriedly. “You can call me Glinda if you want, I really don’t mind it.” 

 

Murmurs broke out across the class and confused glances were exchanged. She could practically see the gears turning in their heads. Dr Dillamond shot her a grateful look and she smiled at him. 

 

Dr Dillamond cleared his throat. “Settle down, class.” He said. “Settle down.” 

 

The murmurs died down and everyone turned their attention back to the professor who moved around to the mechanism of levers near the board. He talked about the great drought and how it affected the Animals, how Animals became a race to blame in Oz. Glinda, of course, knew all of this due to having studied the period intensively in order to understand exactly how to change people’s opinions on Animals in her time, but she still listened with rapt attention. She didn’t want to repeat the same mistakes she had made the first time around. 

 

When the time came for Dr Dillamond to flip the board, Glinda watched with bated breath as the board flipped. She let it out only when the same thing she'd seen on the board last night faced her. The dates and the events were a sight for sore eyes and Glinda finally let herself relax. 

 

The questions that gnawed at her would eventually catch up to her, but at the moment, relief flowed through her and she could think of nothing else for the rest of the class. 

 

The questions came after she exited the class. 

 

“What was that in there?” Pfannee hissed. 

 

“What was what?”

 

“Uh…” He pitched his voice in an imitation of her. “You can call me Glinda, I don't mind.”

 

“Oh that,” Glinda swallowed. “You're welcome to call me that too.” 

 

“B-B-But-” Pfannee sputtered. “Y-You..”

 

“I need to get to my next class so if you have nothing else to say…” She watched him open and close his mouth repeatedly, the movement resembling a fish before he eventually gave up and shook his head. “Wonderful! I'll see you later.”

 

***

 

When she got back to her room that evening, Elphaba, who was scribbling away in a book, looked up immediately. “Hi,” she said softly. 

 

Glinda, confused by suddenly being addressed , but too happy to question it replied, “Hi.”

 

“That was nice, what you did back there. For Dr Dillamond.”

 

“Huh? Oh, that. It was nothing.” Glinda cursed internally for how terribly prepared she was for this conversation. She hadn’t expected herself to stumble over her words this much. 

 

“It wasn’t nothing. It meant a lot to Dr Dillamond, I could tell.” 

 

Glinda smiled. “I really did mean it.” She said softly, Elphaba’s green eyes seemed to hold her in place and she couldn’t seem to look away. If Glinda didn’t know any better, she’d think the green girl had spelled her. Desperate to look away from those beautiful eyes that haunted her, she asked. “How was Sorcery today?”

Elphaba hummed. “I took your advice. It worked. Thank you and… I’m sorry.” 

 

“What are you apologising for?” 

 

“For everything,” Elphaba answered, an indecipherable look passing through her eyes. “For the way I’ve treated you so far and for ignoring you yesterday after you tried to help me. I’m not used to people being nice to me.” 

 

“Oh,” Glinda was taken aback by the confession. She hadn’t expected that much from Elphaba, especially after so much silence between them. A smile stretched across her face. “That’s okay. I really do want to be your friend though.”

 

Elphaba’s brows wrinkled. “Why?”

“Why?” Glinda repeated, aghast. She wanted to grab the older girl and scream at her about exactly how wonderful she was. “Because you seem… good. ”

 

A sharp inhale sounded from Elphaba. “I’m not, believe me.” She said bitterly. 

 

“I don’t.”

 

“What?”

 

“I don’t believe you.” Glinda declared, marching over to the desk. “You just have to prove it to me.” 

 

“That is a strange way to go about it.” Elphaba chuckled. 

 

“Is it working?” 

 

Green lips tilted into a smirk as she shook her head. “Alright, Miss Upland, I’ll be your friend.”

Chapter 5

Glinda tapped her foot against the floor nervously, the repeated motion providing a sense of calm. 

 

Elphaba paused, pen hovering over a page. “Is there a problem?” She asked. 

 

“No,” Glinda replied absently before shaking herself. “Do you… have anywhere you need to be?”

 

Elphaba looked up from the book, setting her pen down on the table and turning to face Glinda with a noticeable furrow in her brows. “No, why?”

 

Glinda shook her head. “Nothing.”

 

She couldn’t tell Elphaba about the Animals’ secret rendezvous in Dr Dillamond’s quarters without giving herself away. If that was even happening now that the words hadn’t made an appearance on the board. She had to assume it was and if that was the case, she wanted to be present for it. 

 

She’d gone over many options over the months she’d been at Shiz. She’d considered keeping Elphaba as far away from the conflict involving the Animals as possible until she found a way to solve it herself. She knew that wouldn’t be possible. 

 

One way or another, Elphaba was going to find out what was happening in Oz. This time, Glinda wanted to be with her, helping her every step of the way. 

 

She remembered that night on the train when Elphaba had quietly told her about what was troubling her.

 

“Dr Dillamond told me not to tell another soul.” Elphaba mused, turning in the small bed to face her. There were multiple beds, multiple rooms even, in the train, but Elphaba and Glinda had chosen to stay in one room together clustering together in the bed that was only slightly larger than Glinda’s bed in their suite at Shiz. 

 

“Oh.” Glinda said, face falling as the girl quietened at the professor’s name, her expression growing more troubled. 

 

“But I trust you,” Elphaba continued after a while. 

 

“Elphie-”

 

“I trust you more than I trust anyone.” 

 

Glinda felt her heart crack a little at the words because she knew they weren’t true. She trusted Fiyero more than she trusted Glinda. Otherwise she wouldn’t have picked him when it came to saving the cub. Still, she gave a comforting smile. “What is it?”

Elphaba had proceeded to tell Glinda all about that night after the incident. About the Animals, about how they were being silenced, about how she wanted to help them, and about Fiyero. 

 

Glinda had to force a smile towards the end as she recounted the tale. She had always known. Ever since the Lion cub incident, deep down, she had known about the two of them. She had lived in denial, thinking she could continue with her life ignoring everything that was wrong with it. That was always her problem. 

 

Even now, she wanted to be happy for Elphaba and help her with Fiyero when he did come, but the intense jealousy that consumed her at the thought of the two together seemed to possess her, wrapping its green fingers around her heart and squeezing. 

 

“Now that you mention it,” Elphaba said, glancing outside. “It’s getting quite late. Maybe I should head to bed.”

 

Glinda startled at that. “O-Oh of course, but…” She scrambled to find something, anything. “I left something.”

 

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. “You left something?”

 

She nodded, humming in agreement. “In the quad. I left a book.”

 

“You can go get it in the morning.”

 

“But what if it's gone by then?” 

 

“Glinda,” Elphaba sighed. “It's late. You can't go now. I'm sure it will still be there tomorrow.” 

 

“Elphaba, please come with me. I'll owe you.”

 

“I'll come with you.” Glinda smiled. “Tomorrow” Her smile fell. 

 

She glanced outside, worrying at her bottom lip. If they didn't go now, she would miss her window. “Elphaba that book is important to me. It's from my parents.”

 

“Fine,” Elphaba relented. She stood up and joined Glinda as the blonde rushed to the door with a speed that had the green girl wondering if she was even human. 

 

The chilly night air wrapped around the two girls and Glinda found herself regretting not wearing a jacket. They walked under the stars in silence that was tangible. Both girls seemed to be lost in their own thoughts, almost unaware of their surroundings until a shadow darted past them. 

 

Glinda stared after Dr Dillamond for a moment before realising it was him. She heaved an internal sigh. She hadn't missed it. 

 

“Is that… Dr Dillamond?” She asked, turning to look at Elphaba who also stared after the retreating Goat. 

 

“Yes,” Elphaba breathed. 

 

“What is he up to this late?” 

 

Elphaba glanced back at her. “It must be personal. Come on, let's go find-”

 

“Let's go after him.” Glinda cut in at the same time. 

 

Green eyes widened. ‘But what about your book?”

 

“We can get it on our way back. Besides, this is much more scandalocious.”

 

“I'm not sure I want to be-” 

 

Elphaba wasn't allowed to finish her sentence as Glinda quickened her pace, dragging the green girl along. She didn't give her a chance to speak, ensuring that she followed the Goat to his quarters. They stopped right outside the door when the deep voice of Dr Dillamond was heard clearly through the door. 

 

“We Animals are now being blamed for everything that goes wrong.”

 

The girls shared a glance then, as silently as they could, inched closer, peering in through a window.

 

The room contained multiple Animals — a worried looking Piebald Deer, a small Monkey, and a disgruntled Snow Leopard — along with Dr Dillamond, all looking deep in thought. The Animals listened intently to whatever Dr Dillamond had to say. “Forced from our jobs. Told to keep silent.”

 

Glinda hadn't seen it the first time around and she wondered if anything was different. She supposed it would be due to the outrage sparked by the words, but she had no way of confirming. She was so deep in her thoughts that she almost missed the next part. 

 

“This is much bigger than some anonymous note.”

 

Her eyes widened. She looked over at Elphaba who also sported an expression of shock and mild horror. Elphaba, however, never looked at her, transfixed on the scene in front of her with brows furrowed in concentration.

 

“We can still converse in private. Thank Oz.” Said the Deer. 

 

Dr Dillamond shook his head. “A dear friend of mine-”

 

“A Deer?”

 

“A Cow actually, has been speaking out at protests. She wrote to me, asking to meet at a cafe. She said it was urgent.”

 

“What did she say?” The Snow Leopard asked. 

 

“She never showed, and no one has seen her since.”

 

Glinda tried to think back to the multiple Animals that had been released after the Wizard's rule came to an end. There were so many Cows she couldn't possibly know if Dr Dillamond's friend was one of them or if she had met an unfortunate end. 

 

The Deer spoke up again, making Glinda pay attention. “Many Animals have gone missing or are actually leaving.”

 

The Monkey chirped in, “Yesterday, a Badger acquaintance, a solicitor, was sacked, just for arguing a case.” 

 

“At least he can still argue.” Dr Dillamond's voice was low. 

 

“What do you mean?* The Snow Leopard’s bristled. 

 

The professor launched into an explanation, listing Animals who were being sacked or forbidden from their jobs and those who were losing the ability to speak. 

 

Glinda couldn't help the guilt that wormed its way into her stomach. She knew the severity of the situation better than most because she had witnessed all of it. She had played a hand in it even. No amount of Anti Animal laws repealed or provisions made could make up for the initial damage she'd had a hand in causing. 

 

Watching the Animals in the beginning was much worse than the distance she had kept as Glinda the Good. It tied into the despair she'd witnessed from Animals when she'd actually visited and talked to them after the Wizard's rule came to an end. They didn't have homes or food, most could barely speak, they had spent so long in dark cages or in slums or on the run that they had a lot of trouble adjusting to society again. Even brilliant minds like Dr Diamond had been reduced to shells of themselves, resembling their animal counterparts. 

 

This was the beginning and it was horrible. 

 

Towards the tail end of her thoughts, Elphaba stumbled, her foot finding a twig. A snap echoed loudly through the stone of the Animal quarters and all the Animals fled through a small door at the back. 

 

Glinda instantly went to steady Elphaba who stood on shaky legs. The green girl leaned into her touch. 

 

The vision . She realised.

 

There was a shuffle of movement and the door opened. Two rectangular pupils peered at them through glasses. “Miss Elphaba? Miss Glinda? What are you doing here?” 

 

The girls stood frozen under his gaze, Elphaba still situated in Glinda's arms. 

 

The Goat shook his head. “It's alright. Quickly, come inside.”

 

The pair sprung apart at his words, hurriedly following the professor inside. Glinda's cheeks burned and she didn't dare to look at Elphaba. 

 

Glinda took the time to look around his room realising she'd never been there before. It was a cozy, simple space with accommodations made for Animals. Even then she noticed things that would inconvenience Animals. She had spent so long during her time as throne minister trying to figure out how to make life comfortable for them that she could notice the problems almost immediately. 

 

Dr Dillamond set a cup of tea down in front of her and she gratefully took it. She took a sip, smiling into the cup as she remembered her tea sessions with the professor in the past (future?). 

 

Elphaba and Dr Dillamond conversed in low tones and Glinda tuned into their conversation, setting her cup down. 

 

“You'll find if you make it discouraging enough, you can keep anyone silent.”

 

Glinda nodded, humming in agreement. “It's been happening since the great drought.” she said, drawing the attention of her companions. “People want someone to blame for their problems rather than trying to fix them so they found an entire group. A group that was a minority, one that was different. This is years worth of damage that can't be fixed easily.” Her tone took on a more careful and distant approach as her mind wandered to the future. “This system needs to be torn down and rebuilt again before this country can truly begin to heal.”

 

Her companions listened intently and she didn't miss the shock in their expressions at her insight. 

 

“Quite right, miss Glinda.” Dr Dillamond nodded, his expression grim. 

 

Elphaba stared at her with a strange, unreadable look mixed with shock. 

 

The room descended into silence as they pondered upon the events of the night. It was broken by the Goat clearing his throat. “It's getting quite late, girls. It's time for you to be heading back. And listen to me, you mustn't tell another soul what you've seen and heard here tonight.” 

 

Glinda nodded, giving the Goat a small smile which he returned. “Oz bless you, Dr Dillamond.”

 

Elphaba joined her, repeating the sentiment in a low murmur before the two left into the chilly night. 

 

They walked in silence, lost in their thoughts and barely aware of their surroundings. 

 

Glinda knew what was coming next, but still found herself unprepared when the blue Horse almost ploughed into them. She and Elphaba stumbled back, tumbling to the ground in an undignified heap. The Horse reared before falling on his four feet again. Glinda cursed under her breath — a rare occasion — standing up and brushing the dirt off her dress, wishing she'd worn something less expensive. 

 

A voice calmed the Horse and Glinda stilled at it. She hadn't heard that voice in years, ever since the owner had been dragged away by guards in green to be beaten to death. His screams were the last she heard of him and they lived on in her mind, haunting her almost as much as Elphaba's. 

 

“I didn't see them.” Feldspur grumbled and Glinda didn't know whether to smile or cry. 

 

“Neither did I.” dismounted the Horse.  I'm so sorry, miss. We didn't see you there. You must have…” His blue eyes lingered on Glinda before falling on Elphaba. “blendes into the foliage.” 

 

Glinda rolled her eyes at that. 

 

“Is this how you go through life? Just running amok and trampling everyone in your path?” The annoyance in Elphaba's voice was clear. 

 

“No. No, sometimes I'm asleep.” Fiyero looked desperately as though he was trying to contain a laugh, his handsome twisting into a playfully charming look. 

 

“Alright here we go. No, I'm not seasick.”

 

Fiyero was quick to reply. “Neither am I.”

 

“No, I did not eat grass as a child.”

 

“Oh you didn't? I did.”

 

“And yes, I have always been green.”

 

“And the defensiveness, is that a recent development?”

 

His face displayed boyish amusement and Elphaba's expression was that of pure annoyance as they stared at each other. Glinda felt invisible. Still, she didn't interrupt. 

 

Finally, Elphaba just hummed and picked up the fallen lantern. Her hand fell into Glinda's, their fingers intertwining. Glinda felt her cheeks warm as Elphaba dragged her along the pathway. 

 

“I'm off for some more trampling.” Fiyero called after them. “May we offer you a ride?”

 

“No thanks. Get stuffed.” 

 

When Glinda looked over at Elphaba, she saw green lips quirking ever so slightly. 

 

Glinda wondered if she ever stood a chance. She knew she didn't. 

Notes:

Yes, I'm still alive and surprisingly, so are they.

Chapter 6

Glinda didn't know how he'd found her. But when she glanced behind his tall form to see Pfannee and Shenshen giggling and snickering, she had no doubt how. 

 

“Fiyero, this is Galinda.” Pfannee introduced. “The friend we were telling you about.”

 

Fiyero looked at her, eyes widening in shock before the expression smoothed over into a charming smile. “We meet again.” 

 

Glinda was honestly surprised he remembered her presence at all with how focused he was on his banter with Elphaba. She gave him a tight smile. She hadn't expected to see him again so soon and she was heavily unprepared for what seeing him during broad daylight would do to her. 

 

His blue eyes twinkled with mischief, the blue diamond patterns inked onto his dark skin poked out above his collar, and a smirk was set on his face seemingly ever present. 

 

“Glad to see you’re okay.” He said.

 

She would admit that seeing the bewildered look on Pfannee’s and Shenshen’s faces had a little bit of satisfaction creeping in. “Hmm yes,” She looked him up and down. “no thanks to you though.”

 

He feigned an exaggerated wounded look and Glinda couldn’t help but giggle. She had missed him more than she would care to admit. 

 

“I’m sorry, you two know each other?” Shenshen interjected.

 

“Yes, we were acquainted last night.”

 

“I guess you could say we ran into each other.” Fiyero winked at her. “Although we haven’t properly been acquainted. Fiyero Tigelaar, Winkie country.” 

 

“Pleasure to meet you. Galinda Upland.” Then she hastily added. “Of the Upper Uplands.” 

 

He glanced at her friends who hadn’t moved, watching the exchange intently. “I’ve heard.” 

 

“Oh, I’m sure you have.” 

 

“And how is your friend doing?”

 

Glinda’s smile dimmed just a little, barely noticeable to the untrained eye. Right. She had to remember what she was here for. She couldn’t get too carried away or that could cost her everything. 

 

“She’s doing great. She’s actually waiting for me to get back. I just came here to grab a book. You should come say hi.”

 

“I’m not sure she’s fond of me.” Fiyero winced.

 

Glinda rolled her eyes. “Nonsense. You just made a bad first impression.”

 

He didn’t protest so she turned on her heel and headed back to the table where Elphaba and Nessa waited. Elphaba had her head bent, a cute little furrow in her brows indicating her focus while Nessa’s book lay completely forgotten on the table as she stared across the library, a dreamy look in her eyes. Following her line of sight, Glinda caught sight of the object of her attention and turned her attention away once again, pointedly ignoring the boy who only seemed to have eyes for her. Honestly, she didn’t know what Nessa saw in Boq. 

 

“You’re ba…” Elphaba trailed off when she spotted the man behind Glinda. “And so are you, I see.” She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Glinda, making the blonde’s heart flutter like a leaf in the wind. 

 

“Good to see you got back safely, Miss…”

 

“Elphaba.” Glinda filled in for him when Elphaba didn’t respond. 

 

“Do you ladies happen to be free tonight?” 

 

“Not really, no.” Elphaba said.

 

“Doing what?” Glinda asked, confused. She didn’t know the green girl had any plans for the night.”

 

“Studying.” 

 

As expected, the response elicited an eye roll from Fiyero. The Vinkan prince strolled up to Elphaba and snatched the book out of her hands, silencing her protests with a finger to her lips. The girl looked absolutely livid. If looks could kill, Fiyero would be a puddle on the ground. “I guarantee you, this cannot be as fun as what I have planned for tonight.”

 

“And what do you have planned for tonight?”

 

“Ozdust ballroom. Ever been?” Glinda froze. Once again she knew it was coming, but wasn’t prepared to hear it. The Ozdust ballroom had been the reason for the greatest thing in her life. Her friendship with Elphaba had started there with a single dance that still resonated deeply within her soul. That was the night everything had changed. She spared a glance at Elphaba. This time, she wanted to do it right. This time, she would do it right. 

 

Yes. “Can't say I have.”

 

“Then I have a proposition for you.” He glanced at Elphaba. “All three of you, of course.”

 

Glinda resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Do you, now?”

 

“I do, yes. I'd like to take you out tonight.”

 

Glinda had been expecting it. That doesn't mean she had to like it. Glinda gave him a right smile, her patience with the man running thin. “Well, I have other plans for tonight and-”

 

“Yes, I heard. Studying.” He sounded bemused. 

 

Taking a deep breath so as not to snap, she replied. “No, just other plans.” 

 

“Like?” He prompted. 

 

Sweet Oz, did this man ever give up? “I mean, I'd love to go. Just not with you.”

 

“What?” The synchronised shock from all of her friends both amused and annoyed Glinda. Did she really seem that predictable? 

 

“Yes,” She glanced at Elphaba then turned back to Fiyero. “Perhaps you'll have more luck with them.” She turned the speechless man to the horde of lovesick girls who seemed to have gathered, shooting the prince glances or just blatantly staring at them. 

 

“Umm Galinda,” Just when Glinda thought it couldn't get worse. She rolled her eyes, plastered on a smile and turned to the redhead. 

 

“I was wondering if you'd save me a dance.”

 

“Boq,” He unconsciously leaned closer at his name, eyes expectant. “As I just told Fiyero, I already have a date?”

 

“You do?” His face fell. 

 

“You do?” Pfannee and Shenshen echoed. 

 

“Yes,” she flipped her hair. “now if you'll excuse me.”

 

She grabbed Elphaba's hand and all but dragged her out of the library, saying a quick goodbye to Nessa who sported a knowing smile. Fiyero's announcement rang out behind her as they exited into the bright morning sun. 

 

“What was all that about?” Elphaba asked. She wore a dumbstruck expression as she stared at Glinda in disbelief. 

 

“Fiyero seems great, I just have someone else in mind.”

 

Dark brows furrowed. “Who?”

 

Oz, she was dense. Glinda had half a mind to grab her by the shoulders and shake her. Between Fiyero, Boq, and her friends, Glinda's patient had run thin. “You, you idiot.”

 

The dumbstruck expression deepened. “Me?” 

 

“Yes, you.”

 

“You want me to go to the Ozdust ballroom with you? As a date?” The green girl said slowly. Her disbelief was tangible. 

 

Glinda hesitated. She wanted this to be a date. Oz, she wanted it so terribly her heart ached. But she knew what, or rather who, Elphaba wanted and that was not her. Just because she wasn't willing to lose this one night with Elphaba didn't mean they had every night. “As friends,” she said softly, reminded of the time that munchkin girl had asked if they were friends. Her intonation of the word was very similar then. 

 

Something flickered in Elphaba’s eyes, but it was gone before Glinda could figure it out. “Why?”

 

“Why what?”

 

“Why did you reject Fiyero for me? ”

 

If only Glinda could tell her she was worth a thousand Fiyeros, that Glinda would choose Elphaba, her Elphie, over Fiyero everyday. That she loved her. 

 

But she couldn't so she settled for, “I simply wanted to go with you, Elphie? Is that so bad.”

 

“No I suppose it isn't." 

 

If only she knew. 

 

“Come over early Miss Elphaba.” Glinda said seriously. “I have to get you ready.”

 

A rare laugh could be heard from the green girl's lips to passers by who turned their heads to stare at the girl they'd never seen or heard laugh before. “We live in the same room, Miss Galinda.”

Notes:

Fiyero shall not be white on my watch!

A bit of a shorter chapter, but I wanted to write the Ozdust in a separate chapter.

I'm tired rn, but I'll reply to ch 5 comments when I can

Chapter 7

There was something exciting about getting ready with Elphaba. After she'd graciously turned Pfannee's and Shenshen's grumbled offer to help her get ready, she'd immediately grabbed Elphaba and dragged her back to their suite to start getting ready. 

 

“It's at midnight.” Elphaba had grumbled to which Glinda had replied. “It's never too early to start getting ready.”

 

Of course they hadn't actually started until the sun started making its slow descent and the sky turned orange. Glinda had then spent half an hour rummaging through her expansive wardrobe and throwing multiple dresses around. She had the perfect dress for herself, she just needed to find one for Elphaba. 

 

At last she produced it with a flourish. 

 

“I didn't think you owned anything that dark.” Elphaba remarked as she took the dress in. 

 

“I'm full of surprises.” In truth, she had picked it up when she’d gone to town the other day. It was in a dress shop she'd visited and she'd secretly bagged it and tucked it away in her closet. 

 

“Galinda, this is a little too… I can't wear this.”

 

The gown was quite similar to what Elphaba had worn to the Ozdust the first time around except less modest. Elphaba ensured to cover as much of the green as possible. For her, the dress Glinda had chosen might as well have been her walking around naked. The sleeves were short, ending just above the elbows and the neckline was sheer mesh, flowers and vine like patterns snaking across it. It was a beautiful dress and Elphaba would look beautiful in it. If only she trusted herself to wear it. 

 

“Isn't it beautiful, Miss Elphaba?” Glinda gave her a look, one that her Elphie had never been able to refuse. 

 

Elphaba eyed the dress, a look of longing and uncertainty in her eyes. Then she glanced at Glinda. The blonde saw the exact moment her resolve broke and she smiled a triumphant smile. 

 

They bickered all the while they helped each other with the outfits and laughter rang out at the end when Elphaba tightened her corset a little bit too much. She went to loosen it and perhaps it was wishful thinking, but Glinda felt her hand linger for just a moment too long. 

 

For just this moment, Glinda could pretend like she was a normal college girl with no responsibilities and that there wasn't the impending threat of losing everything that got closer with every clock tick. Just for this moment, she was a giddy college girl getting ready for a dance with her crush. 

 

“Now,” Glinda patted the chair at the vanity, giggling a little as she helped Elphaba into it. “your hair.”

 

Elphaba raised a single eyebrow. “What are you gonna do with it?”

 

“Trust the process.” 

 

Elphaba sighed and turned her attention to the mirror. Glinda tutted disapprovingly. “Eyes closed.”

 

With another sigh, the green girl closed her eyes and waited patiently for Glinda to work her magic. She worked the braids into a simple updo, leaving the bun looser than it was the first time and letting a few strands fall out. 

 

For the final finish, Glinda nervously moved to the box where past her had hidden away the hat. Spotting a pink poppy at Elphaba's bedside table, Glinda couldn't resist grabbing it. Tucking the flower into Elphaba's hair and lowering the hat onto Elphaba’s head, Glinda leaned back to admire her work, to admire Elphaba. 

 

Oz, she was beautiful. 

 

“Can I open my eyes now?"

 

Glinda blinked herself out of her reverie. “Yes,” she placed hand on Elphaba's shoulder and leaned closer to whisper. “open your eyes, Miss Elphaba.”

 

Elphaba's breath hitched as she took in her appearance and for the first time in Glinda had forgotten how long, she felt pride bloom in her heart. “I look…”

 

“Beautiful.” Glinda finished for her. 

 

Elphaba reached up to touch the brim of the hat almost reverently. Her eyes welled with tears. “You think so?”

 

Glinda's heart clenched, ached, with longing, regret, grief, guilt, and so many other feelings she couldn't even name and she forced back her own tears which threatened to spill over. 

 

“I do.” She replied softly. 

 

***

Glinda wasn't a stranger to lavish parties. Quite the contrary, she was very familiar with them. Unfortunately so, especially towards the end of her life when parties seemed to be there every corner she turned before she fell ill. She'd been to multiple ballrooms, danced and twirled and smiled and waved, made conversations with people she could barely keep track of and stayed even when she would much rather be in the quiet of her room. 

 

But Ozdust would always be sacred to her, particularly this night. They arrived at the club what some people would call fashionably late. Some people, not including Elphaba, spent the entire gondola ride harping about how late they were. She wondered if the first time around, the green girl had just kept quiet or if the poor rower had gotten stuck listening to it. She tried assuring the girl that it didn't matter, but her words didn't seem to have any effect. 

 

All eyes turned to them the moment they stepped foot on the stairs. The music continued in the background but that didn't stop the girls from hearing the whispering and murmuring that broke out across the ballroom. All eyes were on them and she could feel Elphaba’s nervousness beside her. She grabbed the girl's hand and squeezed it. She could feel the slight trembling that passed through her hand. 

 

Glinda felt a wave of nervousness that she pushed away immediately. She needed to help Elphaba. 

 

They descended the stairs. At that point, people were pointing at Elphaba — at her hat, at her exposed arms, at her — and laughing. It made Glinda's blood boil. 

 

Elphaba had her eyes downcast, the brim of her hat, hiding her face in shadow. 

 

“Hey,” she said. The girl didn't look up. “don't listen to them, focus on me. Elphie, look at me, please.”

 

She finally looked up, the shine of tears in her eyes. Glinda felt her heart squeeze once again. She could do this. 

 

“It's just me and you.” 

 

The rhythm slowed and the judgement never really faded, it was just pushed to the back of her mind until all she could see, hear, and feel was Elphaba. The music leaked into their little circle and Glinda held her hands facing inwards, one above the other, just over her stomach. An invitation. 

 

The dance was something Glinda would never forget. Not the first time around and certainly not the second time around. Their limbs flowed as freely as their emotions. Glinda let the tears leak down her face, not bothering to stop anything. They circled each other in their intricate dance, the steps coming naturally to her. The music picked up and more people were joining in and suddenly Glinda couldn't resist it anymore. She threw herself into those green arms, wrapping the other girl in a long embrace. For the first time since Kiamo Ko, she had Elphaba in her arms and she hugged her like she was trying to absorb her, maybe she was. Elphaba returned the embrace with equal fervor.

 

When they finally pulled apart, it was because Fiyero had approached them. “You came!” He exclaimed. 

 

“I did say as much this morning.”

 

“And here I was thinking you bailed.”

 

“Actually, we are going to bail now.” Glinda looked at Elphaba. “Unless you want to stay.”

 

Fiyero spoke before Elphaba could reply. “Oh no, it is far too early for that. I mean you haven't even gotten drunk.”

 

That was how she found herself and Elphaba dragged unceremoniously over to the bar where they were administered with shots. 

 

“Doctors orders,” Fiyero winked as he tipped his glass back

 

“Pretty sure the doctor would order against alcohol.” Glinda's doctor certainly had when she had gotten a bit too dependent on it. He'd never been able to fully stop her. 

 

When a warm buzz took over her and her head felt just a little mushy and her tongue a little too loose, Elphaba grabbed her before she could go for another shot. “I think it's time we head back.”

 

Fiyero didn't protest this time, winking at them and standing. “You ladies enjoy the night then.”

 

Glinda felt her cheeks heat up and turned away from Elphaba. Why did Fiyero have to sound so vulgar? 

 

The gondola ride back was silent and so was the walk back to their suite. Their hands remained firmly in the other's the whole way and only left when they had to awkwardly shuffle for the key. 

 

Elphaba barely managed to kick off her heels before she collapsed face first onto her bed. Glinda had forgotten how much of a lightweight she was. 

 

She flipped around with a smile on her face that could only be described as stupidly large. She looked at Glinda like she was the most ethereal thing in the world and Glinda felt her breath hitch as she looked back, not willing to look away from the witch. 

 

Elohaba cocked her head to the side, brows furrowing slightly. “May I ask you something, Miss Galinda?” She said her name like she was testing it out for the first time. Her words slurred just a little bit. “And will you promise to tell me the truth?”

 

Glinda would give her anything she wanted and though nervousness crept into her veins, she nodded. 

 

Elphaba frowned. “Well I can't really say this without sounding crazy, unless you are really… I mean, it's insane honestly. Why would you- I mean how-”

 

“Elphie,” She interrupted the other girl's rambling. “what is it?”

 

“See, stuff like that right there really makes me believe…”

 

Confusion and nervousness weighed on Glinda along with a hint of annoyance. “Stuff like what? Makes you believe what?”

 

“You called me ‘Elphie’” She finally said. 

 

Glinda hadn't even realised she had done that. It happened instinctively. “I did.” She said slowly. “It's a nickname.”

 

“Glinda,” Elphaba said, sitting suddenly. “You're my Glinda, aren't you? 

 

 

Notes:

So for those of you who called it, congratulations!

Glinda really saw Elphaba's arms one time and decided it was a national treasure to be displayed.

They're so down bad for each other, someone please shoot them.

I typed this entire chapter out on the phone during psych so please forgive whatever could be wrong with it.

Next chapter will be Elphaba's POV.

Chapter 8

Elphaba couldn't remember how long it had been. No one ever came to her humble dwellings out in the woods and the only contact she had was from the Animals in the nearby village. Fiyero did most of the socialising. 

 

After the “melting”, the two had escaped to this corner of Oz on the outskirts of the Vinkus, lying right before the Impassable Desert. There they had found a village where Animals who had escaped the Wizard's rule found a life. Some of the newer Animals knew of her, some even served with her in the rebellion so it wasn't long before she had settled in there. 

 

There wasn't a day that went by where she didn't cross her mind. She would often tighten the cloak around her or read the note written on the pamphlet with the pink ink starting to fade and the paper worn over and over until a familiar burn began behind her eyes. Dreams mostly consisted of her and she would only wake up to find the bed next to her empty and a scarecrow trying to occupy his time. 

 

It didn't take long for them to end. Fiyero and her were a flash in the pan, something that would never have lasted when they both clearly wanted different things. 

 

During the early years, they had gotten into multiple fights over Glinda which often ended up with something bursting on fire and Elphaba storming out. 

 

She remembered that day clearly. Too clearly unfortunately. 

 

She'd finished a day of gardening — which she was getting better at — and headed back to the house for lunch. 

 

What she didn't expect to find was a Scarecrow who looked as though he'd seen a ghost. She expected the old friend seated beside him even less. His blue feathers dropped down and his mismatched eyes looked mournfully at Elphaba. 

 

And at that moment she felt it. Like something was severely wrong with the world. Like a piece of her was more potently missing than usual. 

 

“Chistery? What's going on?”

 

Gardening tools clattered onto the floor, her hurt thumping so wildly and painfully in her chest that it felt like it was trying to claw its way out. 

 

“You're lying.” She snarled. The fire in the pit crackled, burning stronger with each passing moment as her denial and anger grew. Fiyero stood and backed away from the pit while Chistery stood his ground, his eyes never leaving her. The look in his eyes only served to increase her anger. 

 

She wasn't dead. She couldn't be. 

 

Elphaba would have felt it the moment it happened. She wouldn't have needed Chistery to tell her because she would have known if her sweet had departed from this world. 

 

She diverted her eyes, catching Fiyero's concerned look which felt unbearable.

 

How could he be so calm right now? So accepting? 

 

He was saying something and she couldn't stand to be in his presence anymore. Ignoring Fiyero’s protests she grabbed the broom propped up near the door and took off. She needed space, she needed air, she needed to think. She needed Glinda. 

 

Looking out North in the vague direction she knew the Emerald Palace would be located, a hasty and rather irrational decision took root in her mind. 

 

They were wrong. And she would prove it. 

 

---

 

It took an entire day of flying to reach her destination.

 

She was surprisingly met with no resistance during her journey, not even when she landed on Glinda's balcony. The memory of the last time she had been there lingered in her mind and allowed herself to savour it. 

 

The room was dark and she somehow felt the grief hanging in the air the moment she entered the room. It was so strong she had to take a step back and wonder if this was the right place. 

 

She knew it was. 

 

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and the room she was met with was not what she was expecting. Drapes covered every item in the room. A choked sob escaped her at the dark drape covering the bed. She quickly covered it up. It didn't mean anything. Perhaps the room was simply abandoned and Glinda was moving. 

 

At the sound of approaching footsteps, Elphaba teleported to the balcony, pressing herself against the wall and holding a breath. 

 

“It's quite a shame.” The voice of an older woman floated through the crack in the glass door. It took everything in Elphaba to hold her tears back at the fact that Glinda had never fixed it. “She was so young too.”

 

A sob broke through the air, bordering on a wail. 

 

“There, there, Rosalind,” the older woman said. “You'll find a new job.”

 

Elphaba grit her teeth. Surely, they didn't know what they were talking about. There was the sound of shuffling fabric. 

 

“I find it strange,” the older woman said again.  

 

“What?”

 

“That she wanted to be buried with that dreadful hat.”

 

“She was quite fond of it. We all found it strange, but we never questioned it.”

 

“Now where could that book be?” The older woman mused as the sound of shuffling and moving continued. 

 

“Don't make a mess.” Rosalind tutted.

 

“It's rather rude of them to send us to fetch the Grimmerie this late.”

 

The Grimmerie?

 

“Lady Glinda would have never done this to us.”

 

“She had her faults, dear.” 

 

Elphaba couldn't take it anymore. She waved her hand, muttering the words for the sleeping spell and after two consecutive thuds, she stepped inside. 

 

The room looked much the same, except the drapes had been peeled off and thrown onto the floor. Without the musty smell of old fabric, she could smell Glinda's perfume in the air and like a woman starved, she tried to take in as much as she could. 

 

Every single thing about this place screamed Glinda despite the bareness of it. She could feel her essence in the room. 

 

But her feet were drawn automatically to the familiar ancient magic emanating from one of the drawers. 

 

She didn't even bother to pick the lock, blasting it open instead and the Grimmerie stared back at her like an old friend. 

 

Glinda had certainly done her part. Lines upon lines were written in Glinda's looping handwriting, crammed into margins and any other free space she could find. 

 

She could even feel the traces of her magic, warm unlike Elphaba’s, on the pages and she soaked it in. 

 

“Is it true?” She asked the book which hummed in her hands. “Is she gone?”

 

There was no anger left in her, no people left to snap at, and even her denial slowly drained out of her as the book confirmed her worst fears.

 

What even was a world without Glinda Upland? 

 

“How?” 

 

One simple pink word, highlighted itself in the book, appearing on the page she was on. 

 

‘Grief ’

 

A sharp inhale. “I did this?” There was no reply. “Answer me, you stupid book.”

 

More words, all pink and in Glinda's loopy handwriting. 

 

‘She mourned you. She never stopped.’

 

Elphaba didn't, couldn't, stop the tears. They flowed from her eyes and strangled noises escaped her. She should have just told Glinda. She never should have run away. She thought she was protecting her, but Glinda just ended up being another person she'd doomed. 

 

Glinda was supposed to be the exception, she was supposed to do good in Oz, she was supposed to outlive Elphaba and find happiness. Even if the thought of Glinda finding happiness with someone else made her want to die, she would rather the blonde be alive. Because this , this felt like torture, agony, yet nothing at all. Because how could anything exist in a world without her sweet?

 

“I have to save her,” she cried. Or maybe she screamed. She really couldn't tell. “tell me how. Tell me how I can fix this.”

 

The book didn't respond and Elphaba slammed her fist on the ground. “Tell me!”

 

She screamed and cried and begged and groveled. She had no pride nor shame anymore. Those things didn't matter. 

 

The book remained stubbornly closed. 

 

“I'll do anything,” she pleaded. “I-I will take her place. I will, just please, bring her back, bring her back to me.”

 

Then the pages flipped, almost like a miracle. Elphaba didn't even bother trying to comprehend what she was reading, the ancient language sliding off her tongue like butter. 

 

Then she was on a boat. People who she thought were long gone travelled with her and it took Elphaba wrapping Nessa in a long hug to realise this was real. It hadn't taken her long to figure out what had happened and she didn't know whether she wanted to thank the Grimmerie or burn that stupid book. 

 

When she'd seen Glinda again, the weight of what had happened truly sank in. She was there, as beautiful as ever, looking ethereal in the sunlight and it was better than anything any dream could have conjured. 

 

She had to restrain herself from kissing the blonde senseless. 

 

As time went, it was clear things were happening at least a little differently. At first, she assumed it was just the effects of her being different, but when Glinda was actually truly nice to her during their first meeting, she began to suspect not everything was as it seemed. 

 

Still, she knew she'd only bring doom to the other girl, so she took to avoiding her. It was simple really. If they never engaged then Glinda would never know her to mourn her. She could live her life to her fullest without Elphaba no matter how much that hurt her. 

 

She should've known she couldn't avoid Glinda forever. She'd succumbed to the girl's charms far too quickly. She thought she'd last at least a little bit longer, but with Glinda, she should have known she wouldn't. 

 

That day, she was quite exhausted from distracting a rather annoyed Morrible the entire night by bugging her with questions about sorcery and deliberately mucking up spells she'd long since mastered to keep the woman occupied the entire night. Whatever excuse  Morrible had made to try and escape even for a moment was blocked by Elphaba and she was sure the heaps of sorcery homework she'd received were a reflection of exactly how much she'd managed to anger Morrible. When she heard Glinda defending Dr Dillamond, she couldn't believe her ears. After that, she had no way out of befriending her and she would admit, she was curious. 

 

Then the night with Dr Dillamond and Fiyero happened. She'd wanted to keep Glinda as far away from that situation while Glinda seemed to fall right into it. 

 

It wasn't until Ozdust, until the hat which she'd missed so dearly was placed on her head, until the nickname ‘Elphie’ flowed from pink lips like something sacred, until their dance, and until she had a few drinks in her that Elphaba's suspicions were confirmed. 

 

Drawing courage from the alcohol, she'd finally asked what had been weighing on her mind all this time, “You're my Glinda, aren't you?”

 

Glinda stared at her, eyes wide and mouth opening and closing in a comical fish like manner. “W-What?”

 

Elphaba stood from the bed, moving to the vanity where Glinda stood frozen. “You're from the future.”

 

Glinda paled considerably. “W-What are you talking about? I-I don't- I'm not-”

 

“It's okay,” She reached to cup Glinda's cheeks and she leaned into the touch. “I'm from there too.”

 

Glinda's expression hardened and she jerked out of Elphaba's touch. “I don't know what type of sick game you're playing, but that can't be true. My Elphie-” Her voice broke and along with it, Elphaba's heart. “My Elphie is dead.” She gasped when she realised what she had said. “I mean-” She sighed, realising there was no point hiding it anymore, her shoulders slumping. 

 

Elphaba really didn't know how to go about this situation without hurting Glinda, but finally, she settled for telling her the truth. No matter how badly it went, she deserved to know. And if she hated Elphaba for it, good. She deserves it. 

 

She tried in the best words she could to explain everything. 

 

When she was finished Glinda had a far away look in her eyes. She didn't say anything, she didn't move, she didn't even seem to breathe, she just stared straight ahead, through Elphaba and she hated it.

 

Then without a word, before Elphaba could even process it, she was gone, the door closing behind her with a soft click. 

Notes:

Something something Glinda dies due to grief something something. Girl really mourned the wicked so hard, she became the mourned.

Do I have other fics I definitely need to update? Yes.

Did I still write this instead? Yes.