Chapter One

Glinda awoke the next morning feeling completely refreshed and rejuvenated. The last time she could remember feeling so wonderful, she had been a student at Shiz. Glinda didn't know why the nightmare of Elphaba's final moments hadn't haunted her dreams the rest of the night, for the first time since she had lived the moments herself. It was as if Elphaba, from the afterlife, had given Glinda's subconscious a good kick and a lecture to move on. Elphaba... Something tugged at Glinda's mind. There was something she had to remember- something about Elphaba… I'm here… That was it! Right as she fell back to sleep, Glinda swore she heard Elphaba's voice. Not just in her mind, but out loud.

But that's impossible. The dead can't speak. Yet…she was so sure she had heard Elphie. Oh Oz, was she finally going crazy? All those years ago at Shiz, Elphaba had always told her that she was going to one day completely lose her mind. Glinda had brushed it off as teasing, but what if Elphaba had been right? Maybe she had, had a vision and never had the time to tell her. Perhaps that was why her nightmare had gone into remission.

Now Galinda Upland, you mustn't think that way. You were just dreaming, she told herself and pushed all thoughts of hearing Elphaba's voice away. She only had a few short hours before she was to address the citizens of Oz and thinking about Elphaba was not going to get her ready. So she began the grueling process of preparing herself for the public eye. First a bath, then the setting of her trademark curls followed by powder, lip color, dress, accessories—Glinda went through all the motions automatically now, barely paying attention to what she was actually doing as she tried to remember what she was going to say. Finally, she stood before her full length mirror to examine her work. She looked perfect, as always. Her carefully made-up face didn't show any of the emotions currently coursing through her. That was always one of her special talents. 'Glinda the Good—at hiding the truth.'

Glinda once again glanced in the mirror but this time she noticed something that she hadn't before- her dress, the tiara…they were the same things she had worn the last time she saw Elphaba those two long years ago. Glinda stared blankly at her reflection and absently smoothed down the beaded, light blue material that made up the gown. It had been one of her favorites but she hadn't worn it since that horrible day. She could never bear to wear it but at the same time, she didn't have the heart to get rid of it. Still she stared, unable to drag herself away from the mirror. The dress sparkled softly and Glinda felt like it was almost mocking her. "You're the only friend I ever had…" Suddenly all Glinda wanted to do was tear the dress off. She couldn't wear it- not today of all days. But a knock at her bedroom door interrupted her before she had the chance to change. Glinda gave permission to enter and turned away from the mirror. A timid-looking maid stood in the doorway. "Lady Glinda, it is almost time for the ceremony to begin."

Glinda took a deep breath, trying to pull herself together. The young maid was right...and she would have no time to change. She would just have to wear the gown and hope that the ceremony went quickly. She thanked the maid before picking up her wand and going downstairs, acknowledging the servants she passed in the halls with a simple nod. Once outside, Glinda summoned her bubble. Quickly the swirling pinks and purples of the bubble surrounded her and she was off to the center of the Emerald City. Glinda looked down over the shimmering green streets, remembering her first time there with Elphaba. They had been so happy… her copy of the picture they had taken during their day there was hidden away along with all the other mementos of her friend.

Glinda always thought about that day while she traveled over the Emerald City. At times, the memories had been so painful to her that all she wanted to do was step out of her protective bubble and go hurtling to the ground. It was at those times that she reminded herself that Elphaba had been counting on her to do everything she hadn't been able to. Glinda wasn't going to let down Elphaba's dying wish for her own selfish desires for the pain to end.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Glinda saw the crowd gathered in the square of the city. The citizens began to cheer when they spotted the bubble making its descent, going lower and lower until it hovered just above the small stage that had been set up for the honored guests who could not come and go by bubble. Glinda smiled and waved at her adoring fans, but inside she was breaking. She took a deep breath before beginning her speech. "Fellow Ozians…"

He watched as she made her speech from above. Her golden curls dazzled in the bright sunlight that also made her light blue gown shimmer with an almost ethereal glow. She was more breathtaking than ever. He hadn't seen that gown in such a long time. Had it really been two years? Yes, it had been two years since she last wore it- the day that Wicked Witch supposedly got what she deserved. The thought of the Witch lit a rage within him more powerful than any emotion he felt since the incident. She had ruined his life; he only wished he had been the one to end her's. Well, now he would get his chance. She was alive. He had seen her, flying away from his love's room. No doubt there to bewitch her again. He had been stunned. After all, she was supposed to be dead. But he knew it was her. She was always a clever witch; she must have found some way to escape. But not this time. This time, he would get his revenge… and his precious Glinda.

"Hail! Hail! They're dead!," A foppish young man yelled. "Glory to Glinda the Good! Protector of Oz!," cried another. The end of Glinda's speech was met with thunderous applause and cheers. She hadn't expected anything less. After all, it was a crowd that had been craving the blood of the witches and now that they had what they wanted, they needed to be sated with talks of how Oz was a better place for it. She glanced down at the stage below her. Two of the four 'witch hunters' stood there, to give their own speeches about the anniversary.

Dorothy had obviously been sent back to where she came from. As much as she wanted to, Glinda couldn't put the blame on the poor girl who had done the actual deed. She was just a child who was unceremoniously dropped into a strange place. She had been used and fooled just like the rest of Oz. Though, unlike the rest of Oz, she had not had time to make her own decisions on Elphaba. No, Glinda never blamed Dorothy.

The other missing member of the party- The Scarecrow- had not been seen since the week after the initial celebrations. No one knew what had become of him. Glinda wasn't particularly concerned over it as she had barely met the straw man. He had seemed to avoid her at every ceremony. Not that Glinda had ever made a real effort to speak to him either.

The final two members of the party waited on stage for their turns to speak. The Lion stood with his 'courage' pinned to his chest though his courage seemed to have deserted him in his current situation, standing in front of thousands of Ozians. That badge had certainly not done anything for his fear of public speaking. Next to him, The Tin Man stood proud and tall with his metal chest puffed out. Glinda never really cared for the man. He had been the only one of the quartet who truly seemed to want Elphaba's blood. His speeches, even now, were filled with such rage and vindication that they instilled a tiny bit of fear in her. She could only thank Oz that he had never been elected into office. And the way she caught him looking at her sometimes... Just the thought could send a chill down her spine. No, it wasn't just the thought. He was watching her right now. His cold eyes bore into her, almost as if he stared hard enough he could see right through her dress. She suppressed the urge to gag, pulling her own eyes away, only to notice the eyes of every single Ozian in the crowd were on her. Why were they all staring at her? Was she supposed to speak? Suddenly, she felt the overwhelming feeling of suffocation. Her heart began pounding and the image before her seemed to waver. Her head was swimming. She needed to get out. After quickly making some poor excuse to the crowd, Glinda jetted away.

It took all her focus to keep her bubble afloat and she barely had enough to spare to navigate. Nausea crept into her stomach and stayed there like a brick. Her head pounded. The world outside of her bubble spun crazily like someone from above had stuck a spoon into it and began to stir erratically. Then the spinning changed. Top to bottom instead of side to side. Glinda barely had time to realize she was plummeting to the ground before she hit it and all became dark.