Chapter 10: Love Conquers All

"No, you can't do this!" Glinda cried out in angst. "Fiyero, please have mercy on Elphaba."

"I am showing her mercy! If I had my way she would burn at the stake. Now enough stalling! Dump the bucket on yourself already!" The Prince shouted, his eyes burning with hatred.

Elphaba let out a sigh before grabbing the bucket with a shaky hand. She could feel a single tear burning down her green face as brought it up the pail towards her in a motion to throw it.

"Elphie! Don't do this please!" Glinda was nearly crying now.

Elphaba gulped. "I'm sorry, my sweet, I do what I do now to insure your safety." She went to throw the water on to herself, but stopped halfway. "This isn't water!" She spat.

"What are you talking about?" Fiyero snapped.

"It smells funny," The green woman answered, as she brought her nose close to the bucket to take another quick inhale. "Oh, yeah, this is not water. Did you piss into this pail or what? Elphaba added in a disgusted tone.

"Let me smell," Fiyero growled, as he walked up to the green witch.

"Here smell for yourself," Elphaba said, as she held out the bucket out. The Prince missed the craftiness in the Witch's voice. Just as Fiyero's face was only mere inches from the bucket Elphaba slammed the pail against his face.

"Ah! My eye!" Fiyero screamed, only to have Elphaba violently crash the bucket a second time against his face.

With that second hit the Prince fell down to the ground in pain. The green witch then poured out the water from inside the bucket on him. She did this to show Fiyero that she had tricked him before kicking the crossbow away. Her brown eyes darted to where King Frederick was trying to make a run for it.

"Not so fast." Elphaba declared, as she set a spell upon him.

Within a few moments he was knocked to the ground like his son. The King let out a scream as he held his broken wrist. It was clear that King Frederick was going nowhere. Elphaba was catching her breath when she realized a smaller body was pressing up against her own in a tight embrace.

"Elphie, you're okay!" Glinda exclaimed, in joy. The green witch pulled away slightly, so she could stare into the Princess' blue eyes. She then cupped a pale cheek and kissed Glinda with much passion.

When they finally parted Princess Glinda let out a blissful sigh before Elphaba said, "Let's get these two back to your castle. They have a trial with their names all over it."

...X...

When the two women returned, to the Upland castle, Elphaba stood before the King Galal and Queen Larena.

The great Upland King bowed his head towards the green woman, and cleared his throat before speaking. "You are certainly not the wicked, evil, and heartless daughter of Maleficent that the legends spoke about."

"Truly heartlessness and evilness can descend on even the unexpected," Queen Larena added, as she eyed King Frederick and Prince Fiyero who were being held by the royal Gale Force guards.

"I do admit that I never thought, in a million years, a 'Wicked Witch' would be the one to save my daughter," King Galal replied. A grin was beginning to form upon his face. "But I couldn't be more grateful green one."

"Her name is Elphaba,"Glinda said, as she took her love's hand.

"Elphaba, of course." The Upland Kind corrected himself, as he stood up. "Elphaba for the rescue of my daughter, Princess Glinda, you may have anything in the kingdom. Gold, land, name it and it is yours."

"To be honest, your majesties, the thing I want most of all is Princess Glinda's hand in marriage. I mean only if she wants me. Will you marry me, Glinda my love?"

The blonde maiden answered by wrapping her arms around her green love. "I can think of nothing better than being your wife."

Suddenly a black crow flew into the castle, and made a few circles above the crowd of Ozians. No one noticed the black bird but Elphaba.

"Oh, no," the green witch whispered.

Just then a great puff of purple smoke filled the air, and when it cleared stood, the Dark Witch, Maleficent. She looked less intimating, for she leaned against her golden scepter, in a way like she was nursing a wound, and when she did move it was very slow and well paced.

"Mother, you're alive!" Elphaba exclaimed, in joy, she went to embrace her, but Maleficent held up her hand to stop Elphaba from getting any closer. Her eyes were cold, and her mouth was pressed together tightly like she was suppressing a wild scream of some kind. Elphaba pulled back in rejection and disappointment at her mother's reaction to her.

"My loyal crow as just informed me, not too long ago, that you were the one to rescue Princess Glinda," Maleficent spat, at her daughter.

"Awkward," Yackle whispered under her breath.

"Well is it true?" The Dark Witch asked in a sickly sweet voice that would chill any spine. Her eyes quickly narrowed when her green skinned daughter didn't answer. "ANSWER ME!"

"Yes, it's true!" Elphaba shouted back, as she moved in front of the golden haired princess to protect her. Just in case her mother did try something. "I love Princess Glinda mother. I've loved her for awhile...for years. You could say I fell in love with her the first time I laid eyes on her. I want to marry her." Silence gripped the room and no one dared to move must less breath until the Dark Witch spoke.

"This is insane," Maleficent breathed. "How can you love her? I should turn you into a grasshopper and step on you!"

"Mother, please try to understand! I mean haven't you ever been in love?" Elphaba questioned, she was determined to make her mother understand.

That seemed to hit a cord with Maleficent, for her eyes softened and the anger in her eyes seemed to vanish immediately.

"Yes, I have been in love, but it was a long time ago, and it was in another world...in another time you could say. But it was never meant to be."

Elphaba could tell that her mother was having a difficult time speaking about this pass love of her's, for she saw a single tear fall from one of her mother's eyes. She had never seen her mother, the Dark Witch, cry before.

When the loyal crow saw this, he flew down, perched himself on Elphaba's shoulder, and nudged her forward. The green witch took the hint and approached the Dark Witch with extreme caution. When she saw close enough, Elphaba wiped the lone tear from her mother's face despite the pain from the liquid.

"I love Princess Glinda," Elphaba replied softly but in a strong voice. "It was my kiss that awoke her. Fate has destined us to be together." Glinda joined her green love, took her hand, and squeezed it gently to give her support.

"Maleficent, I'm in love with your daughter. I know you don't have positive feelings for me, for you were the one that came up with this very plan to murder me. But I love Elphaba with all my heart. She makes me so happy."

"And does this Princess Glinda made you happy?" The Dark With asked, as her gaze feel upon her daughter. The Wicked Witch was shocked to see her mother's face was relaxed and at ease. It seemed like Maleficent was having a change of heart. Elphaba could only pray she was.

"She does mother. I want to spend the rest of my life with her." Elphaba could feel the words coming from her mouth with such power. She was determined to make her mother understand completely. The Dark Witch then lifted the Elphaba's pointed black hat up slightly, and kissed her daughter on the forehead before turning to King Galal and Queen Larena.

"Well what do you two think about this?" Maleficent asked the royal Upland couple.

"I think we have a wedding to plan," King Galal declared, after a few seconds.

Queen Larena's emerald eyes began to twinkle as she added, "I think we're going to be in-laws."

"Here me Ozians!" King Galal shouted, as he stood up. "Let this message go out though all of Oz! This Elphaba, daughter of Maleficent, is a hero. She has saved my daughter as well as this kingdom. Let the this glorious news be spread Elphaba will marry my daughter and this kingdom and Maleficent the Dark Witch are uniting in peace!"

The Ozians, in the castle, gave a voiceful cheer at the sound of this peace announcement between the Dark Witch and the people of Oz. Then suddenly the royal band began to play a slow and gentle tune.

"May I have this dance?" Elphaba asked the golden haired Good Witch.

"Of course," Glinda replied, as she let the green woman escort her out towards the dance floor. Elphaba gave her mother a smile before turning her attention fully on her future wife.

Maleficent gave a nod to her daughter before pulling back slightly to watch them. After a minute or so someone came up to the Dark Witch.

"You look so happy," Nanny commented, as she noticed the grin on the Dark Witch's face, as she watched her daughter and Princess Glinda dance.

"Of course, my daughter is getting married. It makes my heart soar because I have never seen her this blissful before," Maleficent answered, as she fixed her black cape.

Nanny moved from one foot to the other, like she wanted to say something of great importance. After a moment of two she gathered enough courage to ask.

"You said that you were in love once, but you never said who. Are you going to declare your secret love's name?"

Maleficent turned to face the fairy eye to eye. "Do you really think I'm going to tell you?"

"Oh, come on, you can tell me. I won't say I word. I swear on the Unnamed God," Nanny pleaded.

"First of all, I don't believe in the Unnamed God, and second you don't even know who the person is, so there's no point."

"All the more reason for you to tell me. Tell me, we're buddies now, so you can trust me." This Nanny was a persisted one the Dark Witch gave her that.

"I never said we were buddies." Maleficent retorted.

"Whatever, just tell me....please!" Nanny was whining now.

"Okay, okay, but only if you promise not to tell a soul. You hear me?" Maleficent growled, as he eyes narrowed in a manner that was threatening.

"I won't tell. You can trust me. Besides, I have such a bad memory I'll most likely forget with a few minutes," Nanny admitted.

Maleficent chortled lightly before leaning down, and whispering the name of her secret love in Nanny's ear. The Dark Witch then turned away and headed off to an area that would give her a better view of her green daughter and her daughter's future wife.

Nanny just stood there trying to make sense of the name Maleficent had just whispered into her ear. "Maleficent was right. I have no idea who she is. I don't think I even have heard that name before. Arora...Arora...nope never heard of it. It must be an old fashion name."

Nanny was to busy fussing over the name to hear Maleficent whisper, "Those fairies fought over the color of your dress. Merryweather made your dress blue. Flora made it pink. If I had won those years back you can be sure Arora, my dear, I would have made your dress black."

All of the Ozians watched as Elphaba and Glinda danced. Their eyes never leaving each other. After a moment two they began to sing together, "I know you. I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam. Yet I know it's true, that visions are seldom what they seem. But if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once the way you did once upon a dream."

Maleficent then noticed Fiyero was frowning at the scene. The Dark Witch wouldn't take such an insult and whispered to her loyal crow. The bird nodded his head and flew above the Prince. Within seconds something dropped down and landed on the Prince Fiyero's shoulder, and a second was to follow that found its place on Fiyero's head. By the smell Prince Fiyero knew what had hit him.

"Ick," He growled, at the sight of the bird droppings.

Maleficent grinned as a result and called her crow back. "Good boy," she cooed, as her eyes focused back on the happy couple. Chistery then flew down to join his mistress. He had watched everything from a safe distance, and now decided it was a good time to join in on the celebration. Especially now that the Dark Witch was in approval of it.

Once the two women finished the dance, Elphaba leaned down and kissed Princess Glinda on the lips with a gentle passion.

"I love you, my Princess, my Good Witch," Elphaba said, as she cupped a pale cheek.

"And I love you, my Elphaba," Glinda returned, as she pulled the green witch close to start up another kiss.

"What do you think will happen now?" Madam Morrible asked, the other two fairies.

"Don't be dull, Madam, they are going to be married and live happily ever after," Nanny answered with a wide grin.

"I can't wait to see what their children look like," Yackle added, with smile of her own. "With such powerful magic to help they will no doubt have children. Besides Elphaba and Princess Glinda both have such wonderful qualities. It will interesting to see which ones get passed on."

Elphaba and Glinda weren't paying attention to the fairies conversation. They were content sharing another kiss before starting up another slow paced dance.

This time the Ozians were the ones who loaned their voices to the music as they sang, "I know you. I walked with you once upon a dream. I know you, the gleam in your eyes is so familiar a gleam. Yet I know it's true, that visions are seldom what they seem. But if I know you, I know what you'll do. You'll love me at once the way you did once upon a dream."

The End

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed another AU Wicked fairytale story. I enjoyed writing it, and thank you to everyone for all your feedback!