Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked. Never have and never will.

WOUNDED

Glinda Arduenna of the Upper Uplands felt a twinge in her stomach as the first rays of morning sunlight invaded her room. Clamping her eyes shut like a vice to block the impending sunlight, she groped around herself to pull bed sheets over her head. Upon locating the fabric with her left hand she tried in vain to pull it upwards, only to discover that her husband Sir Chuffrey lay sprawled across it. Opening her eyes slightly she looked at his bloated form in disgust. Lying flat on his back, he resembled a beached whale, a defenseless giant slowly being crushed to death by its own girth. Glinda could taste water in the back of her throat as she looked at his gouty feet. She was reminded of their lovemaking—no she wouldn't call it that. She scoffed. She wouldn't even go as far to call it sex. She knew he married her for his own gain. At their wedding she had signed a contract to be his possession, his trophy, his slave.

And yet despite all of this, Glinda did not fight it.

What else is there for me out there? At least he gives me what I want; I have a great mansion to live in, lavish clothes, and infinite food. The Ozians still love me. I'm Glinda the Good. She rationalized. Thoughts like these filled her mind nearly every morning, as if she had to convince herself that it was worth waking up.

But today was unlike the other 364 days of the year. Today the hole in her heart would grow a little bit bigger.

This hole had been growing for nearly 5 years now. The duty that called upon Glinda on this day acts like a tremor widening the fissure. This morning, as she looked at her fastidious husband, she felt her heart wrench within her chest. Today would not be an easy day.

Today marked the fifth anniversary of the slaying of the Wicked Witch of the West.

Glinda quietly stepped out of bed and padded over towards the balcony window. On her way to the door she pulled a single rose from a nearby vase. As she opened the doors she was greeted with a gentle spring breeze, which felt like a lover's caress dancing across her cheek. Thumbing the velvety petals of the rose, she absently stared off into the distance. Her reverie was short lived when the bells began to chime as the clock struck 7 o'clock. Sir Chuffrey belched and grumbled as he slowly awoke.

"Glinda my darling, come help me out of bed" came a gruff voice from inside the bedroom. Grimacing, Glinda hastily ripped all the petals from the rose and threw them into the air.

The wind gently carried them off over the trees towards a silent watcher, waiting in the woods, who had been patiently spying on the young sorceress' balcony.

"Are you ready to greet your public dearest?" Croaked Sir Chuffrey as Glinda stoically helped to rotate his large frame into a position that allowed his bloated feet access to the floor.

"Yes my dear husband. I am as ready as I'll ever be." She lied. The pain in her heart didn't subside. She sauntered to her enormous closet and made her way through the jungle of dresses. Way in the back of her closet, isolated from all of her other dresses, sat a solitary blue dress. Her heart lurched within her chest as she lifted the gown off of its mannequin. Quietly standing in front of a mirror she stripped out of her nightclothes and put on the dress. Gazing back at her was an empty shell. Even without makeup, Glinda would still be considered nearly flawless, however to Glinda, she looked hollow. She looked how she did, when it happened. When the hole in her heart first formed.

Every year, when the Ozians celebrated the anniversary, Glinda celebrated by wearing the same dress she wore on that fateful night. It was her own subtle tribute to the person who had once filled the void in her heart.

Glinda applied make-up to her face to mask the sadness that had drenched it. She grabbed her crown and wand and walked toward the balcony for a second time.

"Don't you wish to take the carriage dear?" snorted Sir Chuffrey while struggling to button his cuffs.

"No, I would much rather go by bubble. Especially on a day like today." And with that Glinda too, was carried by the placid wind over the trees toward the town square.

"Fellow Ozians." spoke Glinda in a majestic voice with her hands held high in the air. "Today we remember the events that took place exactly five years ago. A reign of evil and terror came to an end that day."

She felt that familiar lump in her throat as she vomited out the words.

"Let us be glad, let us be grateful. Let us rejoicify that goodness could subdue the wicked workings of you-know-who." The words continued to fall out of her mouth like a faucet that someone neglected to turn off.

"Isn't it nice to know, that good will conquer evil. The truth we all believe will by and by outlive a lie." She continued on her annual speech. Regaling the Ozians with stories about the Witch's past, and eventual demise, she further fueled the furor of the crowds. "I urge you all," she began, "as I have urged in years past, learn from the wicked. Learn how to love one another and commit acts of peace and beauty." The words continued to choke her, until she noticed a shadowy figure that stood out amongst the crowd. As she continued her speech her eyes remained fixed upon this individual. She could feel a cosmic connection forming as the empty words seeped out of her mouth.

The dark figure held a fist up to their hooded face, and blew rose petals off of their palm. Wafting daintily in the air, the petals flew across Glinda's supple face, gently caressing her cheek. At this touch, an unexpected sense of courage sparked within her. She swallowed hard and spoke to the crowd in a wavering voice; though weak it still bore the courage of a lion.

Glinda then said something she had never said at anniversaries past:

"Please, carry her within your hearts and memories. Never forget the wicked. She was human…just like you and I."

All of a sudden the crowd began to stir.

"WHAT!?"

"But Glinda, no one mourns the wicked!"

"That green demon!? No one even lays a lily on her grave!"

"No one cries that she won't return!"

The shouts continued to come, and were unrelenting in the pain that they inflicted on Glinda. She was cornered. She couldn't turn and run now, she had to do something. "But by saying such things doesn't that make all of you just as wicked as the Witch you all loathe?" she shouted.

"Hahaha! Good one Glinda!" The crowd burst into fits of laughter.

One individual jumped up onto a nearby bench and shouted, "Let's celebrate!" Music began to play and many began to dance with merriment in the streets. In a sickening display, some of the citizens tossed water from buckets skyward and danced in the very poison that ended the Witch's life. Tears scalded Glinda's eyes as she watched them.

Glinda saw the mysterious hooded figure disappear amongst the celebrants. Glinda stepped down from her podium and quietly moved about the crowd, shaking hands, accepting adoration, kissing babies, signing autographs…the usual for Glinda the Good.

"Supposedly, valuables that she took from her victims are still there!" Came a male voice.

Glinda quickly turned her head to see seven men huddled close together near a signpost.

"In the castle? Can we even get in there, let alone close to it?"

"They say that her soul is stuck in limbo, and blindly haunts the corridors in search of the body!"

"Are you kidding me, don't tell me that you believe all of that nonsense. She's dead; there is no such thing as a ghost. Now, we can penetrate the tower where she lived and take the lot! With everyone hating her so much, how could taking from her be a crime?"

Glinda couldn't believe what they were saying. Stealing from the dead! I can't believe how terrible my citizens are! She continued to listen.

"When should we go Rex?"

It became apparent who the leader was. "I say we go tonight." He said calmly.

"Tonight! Are you kidding?? This is too short notice!"

The leader continued. "With all of the celebrations going on in the city, no one will think to guard the path to her castle. It's the perfect opportunity. What say you men?"

A collective "aye!" erupted from the group.

"So it's settled. We leave tonight. Bring plenty of extra sacks to fill. After tonight, we'll be rich!"

Elphie's tower! I have to try and stop them! Glinda turned and began to run back towards her manor. She ran as fast as her legs could take her, until the hooded figure she saw earlier stepped out in front of her. They collided and tumbled to the ground.