After The Rain Goes, There Are Rainbows... (*Will WE*) Find (*Our*) Rainbow Soon??? (Or, The Adventures of Pinocchio and Thumbelina and Dorothy [-And Snow White])

Little did any of the Gale siblings know, ...but right then at that very moment, there was not just a flock of faeries but *a FAERIE COURT* not far off in the distance! Performing not only Magic, but turning the leaves from green to gold, red, brown, and rust- from dewy to dry! As in, *changing the seasons*! -A Faerie Court complete with a king and queen... *and WIZARD*!

A Wizard by the name of 'Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Issac Norman Henkle Emmanuel Ambroise Diggs' who was both also much concerned and smiling to himself as he listened to the following conversation between two fellow parents while riding along on a regal green-blue-and-purple dragonfly with slim silvery wings.

"*Oh*!! Oh, my- Corbert- don't look now, my dear husband, but *our sons* are MISSING again!"

"So they are... I think Cornelius feels a bit silly about riding that white butterfly we gave him. Possibly Peter, as well."

"*Well*-! Why should they feel 'silly'??"

"It doesn't quite make The Impression on the young ladies or fellow gentlemen, I suppose, Tabitha love."

"And what about *the impression on THE COURT*??! Corbert, my love- *it is the autumn today*, and we have begun The Golding of the Leaves! Which means they should BE HERE! *They'll HURT themselves*...!"

"Tabitha..."

"(deep, heavy sigh) I just hope that Cornelius isn't out *BUZZING the vales* on that wretched common bumblebee! He's the *CROWN prince*, for heaven's sake...!"

"(fond laugh) Tabitha my dear, have you forgotten what it's like to be sixteen?? -And besides, ELPHABA'S with them, given the non-sight of *her broom*."

"Hmm- yes. There IS *that*, I suppose... And *she IS* the eldest of the three, and therefore *the most responsible*... But she can be *JUST AS bad* as our boys, and you know it, Corbert!"

(Maybe Oscar SHOULD HAVE taken offence... but he didn't. Instead, he both agreed and felt proud. After all, *he* hadn't been such a Holy Joe/goody-two-shoes in his youth, either...!
Why, compared *to HIM*, Elphie -his beautiful little emerald- was AN ANGEL! As a child- as a teen herself, and now as a young *WO-man* with power even greater than his own...!)

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Meanwhile, Elphaba Margaret Cynthia Oscara Idina Azkedillia Theodora Karis Diggs, (illegitimate) daughter of The Wizard and known as 'the Wicked Witch of the West' for her sharp tongue and strong defense towards any who needed help (but especially young animals and children), who was not only green-eyed but *green-SKINNED* and often clad in black if not dark or jewel-toned colors, was resting her own wings for the moment/saving her faerie dust and riding her trusty twiggy broom that acted like a mute horse- watching carefully and fondly after the two faerie princes as THEY took a joy-ride/played truant from 'school'.

"*C'mon*, Elphie! Race with us! Don't be such a stick-in-the-mud, even if you have to be on baby-sitting duty!"

'Elphie' grinned. Big and toothy and white-as-white and- well, WICKED. She gripped both her long elegant fingers and legs around her broom-handle- as in, tighter than before. (Not TOO MUCH, but *just enough*.) Called back to Peter, "You want to race, eh?? *Well then, EAT MY DUST*, my pretty- and your not-so-little brother, too!"

Then she put in an extra bit of power into her other mode of flight... and zipped right off. Like a green-and-black dragonfly on the hunt after a meal- or a striped GREEN tiger, at that. (HAD she been hunting like the hunters in some of Papa's stories, she would have sung a song, she felt that pumped full of excitement and adreniline...!)

"Wha-??! HEY- *no fair*! We didn't do one-two-three-GO yet!"

Elphaba just laughed in response as her long long *VERY curly* black hair and matching long sweeping cloak flew out from behind her and whipped in the wind along with her skirts (the former from underneath her signature crooked pointy black hat, which also had a long flowing very dark green scarf wrapped and tied around the brim). No- CACKLED. "*Catch me if you caaaaan*, Peter Pan and Prince Corny...!"

"*'Corny'*???!! Ohhhhh, we'll *show YOU*, you wicked old witch...!"

(But Cornelius was LAUGHING as much as he was indignant and 'angry'-sounding. It was only all in *good fun*, after all!)

After flying hard and fast for a good fifteen-to-eighteen minutes (Cornelius on Buzzby, Elphaba on her broom, and Peter via his wings), Elphaba suddenly stopped short with wide-blown eyes and a both thudding and *fluttering* heart. Why??? -Because just then, she heard *the SWEETEST* MOST BEAUTIFUL voice singing softly on the wind. Dreamily, wistfully, and lovingly all at once...

~"When all th' world seems a hopeless jumble,
And the raindrops tumble all around,
Heaven opens a magic lane...

When all th' clouds seem t' darken up the skyway,
There's *a RAINBOW HIGHWAY* t' be found-
Leading from my windowpane
To *a place b'hind the moon an' sun*;
Just a step *BEYOND the rain*..."~

Cornelius and Peter and Buzzby stopped short themselves. They weren't AS enchanted as Elphaba, but they were still certainly intrigued. -Meaning for once, Peter stayed quiet as a mouse even though he himself was burning with 'satiable curtiosity' as he, his brother, and their bodyguard who was also the *Court WITCH* and (Magic) Grand Vizier-In-Training flew forward- flew toward the sweet rich clear sound of a beautiful girl's voice singing. A lullaby, from the soft gentle sound of it... Or possibly an 'I Want...' song- (Maybe it was *both*; who knew??)

*ALL THREE faeries* peered in through the stained-glass window that was open a crack... and when the one with emerald-green skin and forest-green eyes yet black black hair who was also partially Wiccan as well as Fae flew over to the crack so as to get a closer better look, her jaw dropped, her eyes widened further, and she just barely bit back and swallowed down a soft-yet-sharp gasp of wonder, awe, amazement, and disbelief.

~"Somewhere over th' rainbow,
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby...

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Skies are blue-
And th' dreams that you DARE t' dream
*Really do* come true..."~

Not only standing but DANCING before her, was a young girl who was not exactly what one would (usually/normally) call 'beautiful' yet still possessed a very certain and great style of prettiness and loveliness, but *very very small*!! As in *HER'S AND PAPA'S size*! Not just 'petite', but *TINY*...!

A very pretty girl about Cornelius's age who, though small and delicate, was not dainty and willowy like the other teeny lass with long long strawberry-blonde hair, but a fairly good-sized farmgirl complete with blue-and-white-checked gingham dress worn over a white short/puff-sleeved cotton blouse trimmed with a slightly darker shade of blue and thick dark red-brown pigtail braids tied off with/by just-as-blue ribbons. A most fetching girl whose big forget-me-not blue eyes sparkled like sapphires or stars with kindness and good humor as well as intelligence, if not-

Elphaba did another double-take when she saw that the pretty little girl with plaits, rosy cheeks and lips, a selkie's voice, and wearing both blue gingham and *blue RIBBONS* also had on *ruby-and-silver slippers*!! Slippers fit for a PRINCESS rather than those of a plain simple farmgirl that sparkled like yellow diamonds, embers of blood, and/or thorny stars on her even-smaller-than-Cinderella feet over her blue cotton socks...!
The AUDACITY- *the IMPERTINENCE*!!! -*NOT*. They- actually rather suited her, to Elphaba's mind, even if Peter wrinkled his nose and Cornelius furrowed his brow in confusion. Heck- *she WAS* a princess in 'the Wicked Witch of the West's' eyes! Perhaps had even been one in a past life; she had the bearing of such as much as a dairymaid or village girl...

It also very much warmed Elphaba's heart to the point of melting that she was singing to two other little-little beings seated before her with their arms wrapped around their knees who must be her elder and younger siblings- the slightly elder just-as-lovely girl with a long swoop of hair the color of her ex-best friend Glinda's and a dainty delicate figure as mentioned before dressed in a simple pretty peasant-style blue and white *and GREEN* dress with matching *NON-jeweled* slippers and a headband (plus a strand of white violets loosely wrapped around the base of her ponytail), and the other a comely adorable young lad with a flop of jet-black bangs to match/correspond with his own long locks, freckles, thin build, and a funny odd yet cute and charming nose a shape between elongated and 'button' clad in green and white embroidered in either blue, golden-yellow, red, or purple topped off with a hair-ribbon of his own (this one half-pulling his own long hair back) and black leather 'Mary-Jane' slippers. Both of which shared the girl with ruby slippers' rosy cheeks, face-shape, hair-style, fair skin-tone, and (sort of) slender form and mouth-shape... Possibly the same sweet sweet voices, as well, she could sense...

~"Someday, I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where th' clouds are far b'hind me...
Where troubles melt like lemon-drops
Away above the chimney-tops-
That's where you'll find me...!

Somewhere over th' rainbow,
*Bluebirds fly*...
If BIRDS fly over the rainbow,
Why, then- oh why can't I...??"~

Elphaba sighed softly to herself as she listened, one long just-as-green-nailed hand pressed over her heart and the other over her mouth. -Then, she *COMPLETELY melted* when she heard *all three of them* sing what was apparently a much-loved well-known song together. (Meaning Cornelius was just as smit-struck *by SOUND* as well as Sight- though not Peter.)

%~"If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow,
-*Why, oh why,
Can't I*...???"~%

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In fact, Elphaba was *SO smitten* and overcome with wonder and beauty that she didn't pay attention to where she was- and in *NOT doing so*, leaned TOO far against the cracked-open window and *gave into* Gravity rather than defied it. As in, she *FELL*. Down- down- down-!!

%"*Elphie*!!!"% the two faerie princes cried in alarm and concern, flying towards her right then and there as Buzzby buzzed sharply on the window-sill.

They needn't have worried (that much), though- Elphaba was smart, and therefore caught herself justintime. Used *her WINGS* to keep herself aloft even if not her broom (which was thankfully still intact) rather than landed either hard and painful on the wooden floor or into a knitting-basket.

%"PHEW!! *Thank goodness*...!"%

'You can *say THAT* again,' the witch-faerie said to herself wryly as she got her bearings back and dusted off her long black dress. '*Both things*...!'

"O-*Oh, dear*!! OHMYGOODNESS! Are- Are you-?? Are you alright, Ms. or Mrs.???!"

Elphaba sharply looked up- and was both amazed and perplexed (and not-so-secretly very very pleased and happy) to see that while her possibly slightly shyer more easily-startled siblings had understandably run and hid at the sight and sound of *STRANGERS* in their home, the pretty pretty dark auburn-haired blue-eyed girl with plaits and ribbons in her hair conversely wearing blue-and-white farmgirl gingham and sparkling glimmering ruby-and-silver princess slippers, meanwhile, was *NOT hiding along with them*- but instead standing tall, proud, curious, and (mostly) unafraid.

She STARED at Elphaba with a capital 'S', yes- but for once, such a thing didn't make the witch-faerie feel either uncomfortable or annoyed, much less ashamed/mortified. Because like as not, she would have been Staring at Princes Cornelius and Peter just as much, giving she had most likely never seen either a faerie or a witch in her life! (In *REAL life*/*Outside of storybooks*, that is.) Also, while she *looked at* Elphaba's green green skin and long sharp darker green nails plus her pointy black hat, matching old-fashioned dress and long sweeping cloak, and twiggy broom, she seemed to *see WITHIN*. Into Elphaba's heart and soul...

*Now, THAT*?? Made her blush. As red to pink as any other 'normal' person as she tried to play the sudden electrically-charged situation off with a bit of good humor rather than Sarcasm, keen sparkling bespectacled dark emerald eyes meeting and locking with wide innocent *BEAUTIFUL* pale(ish) sapphire ones. "What?? What is it? What are you staring at?? Do I have something in my teeth?"

Now *the younger girl* blushed as she ducked her head and both clasped and wrung her hands together- and it was as becoming as it was *ADORABLE*. "Oh- Oh, no! It's just- um... F-Forgive me for sayin' this, but- You're-"

Elphaba looked up and down herself with her hands held out, and then gasped as though it had just occurred to her, "*Green*? *Why, YES*- I AM!" Then she added (again, more in Good Humor than actual sharp Sarcasm), "No, I *am NOT* seasick- NO, I did not *eat grass as a child*; *NO*, I did not eat *TOO MANY green vegetables or apples* as a child... and *YES*- I've ALWAYS been green."

"Wh- What?? Oh, no! I mean, sure- th' greenness is A LOT... But- But what I meant t' say is that you're, um, well- B-*BEAUTIFUL*. V-*VERY beautiful*..." the little-little girl stammered, her clear sweet adorably-twangy voice thick with awe and wonder and honesty.

Elphaba dipped her own eyes and blushed again- this time a little more pink than red. She had admirers same as the princes, sure- but they were all either too intimidated or too shy to actually pay court to her. Either secretly, semi-secretly, or completely in public... "Even though... I'm GREEN and *a WITCH*?"

"*Even though*," the girl smiled sweetly with an extra twinkle of her 'baby-blues'. "An' only *BAD witches are *UGLY*- um, if'fen y' know what I mean..."

*Awwww*- that was very sweet! And SO TRUE- *TOO true*, even... Elphaba shyly sweetly smiled back. "Why, thank you! And *I do indeed*, my little pretty... I'm quite alright, by the way; but thank you for asking."

"Um... M-My name's 'Dorothy', 'signora'. D-'Dorothy Frances Danielle Gale'," the girl said with a sudden nervous hard swallow as she swept a curtsy.

"'Dorothy'... What a *PRETTY name* for a pretty girl..." Elphaba tried and failed not to sigh happily. Then she curtsied herself as she said, "My name is Elphaba. 'Elphaba Margaret Cynthia Oscara Idina Azkadeillia Theodra Karis Diggs', in full. YES- *really*."

Dorothy's -DorothyDOROTHY*Dorothy*; what a not just 'pretty' but *BEAUTIFUL* name!!- mouth fell open, and her hands flew up to cover it as her eyes blew wide. "*Oh my goodness gracious*! What an AWFUL LONG name you have, Miss Elphaba! Lovely, 'f course, don't get me wrong- but *LONG*...!
"Are- Are you *a PRINCESS*?? M-Most princesses have very long names, so I've read..."

SHE thought that *Elphaba* was fit/worthy to be a princess, despite her own non-stereotypical Princess looks??? *What. A. SWEETHEART*...!! 'As good as she was beautiful', indeed-! Elphaba laughed soft and fond and blushed again as she shook her head. "No, no, Dorothy my pretty- that is very sweet and kind of you to say so, but I am not a princess. I'm just the Court Wizard's daughter and bodyguard/babysitter to the *faerie PRINCES* Cornelius and Peter plus a Grand Vizier in-training- a *noblewoman*, at most, though I'm not quite sure whether or not I'm officially a duchess, marchioness, earl's daughter, viscountess, or baroness...
"It's *PAPA'S fault*, just so you know- he gave ME an 'awful' long name because *he himself* has one. 'Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Issac Normal Henkle Emmanuel Ambroise Diggs', in case you're wondering."

Had Dorothy not been so taken with Elphaba's dark verdant beauty and voice as rich and smooth and sweet as syrup, she would have inquired about the faerie court- *and A LOT*! -But as it was, right now, she could only whistle, "*Phew*...!! Really??? I'm sure I dunno WHAT his own mama 'n papa were thinkin', givin' him such a long name...!"

"Well, personally? My father can be a little *proud and vain* at times, and surely either one or both his parents were the same- so, it only stands to reason..." Elphaba whispered conspiritally with a small shrug.

Dorothy giggled in reply, the sound more like water over stone than small silver tinkling jingling Christmas-or-Yule bells- causing Elphaba's heart to both warm and flutter.

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Meanwhile, the faerie princes had flown over to both introduce themselves and apologize for the sudden scare and startlement...

"Hey- wait! Come back, please!"

"We're sorry! We didn't mean to frighten you!"

"Ohhhh- I see... *Tsk, tsk, tsk*! -There; see? No more sword!"

%"Now will you please come out?"%

Thumbelina was instantly charmed by the elder prince's handsome face and princely profile (and shimmering wings)- Pinocchio, on the other hand, admittedly felt a small flutter, but not a full-out flapping of wings paired with a clenched squirming MELTING stomach on again catching sight of the younger one's friendly comely face topped off with deep brown eyes and a warm beaming smile. Both of which sparkled and glimmered as much as his own iridescent golden wings...

"Wh- What are you staring at??"

"Well- Well, *say something*, will ya??"

%"Y-You- YOU-! Oh! *You're ONE OF THEM*!"%

"Ahhh- I beg your pardon, young master and miss??"

"(happy, delighted, disbelieving giggle)! Why- Dorothy, 'Nocchi, and I thought we were the only ones *OUR size* in the whole world...!"

"But- But *you're NOT*!"

"...NOPE! You're sure not! Gee- isn't that *GREAT??"

"Yes- *WONDERFUL*... And what might *YOUR name* be, fair maiden??"

"Oh! Ahh- my name is... 'Thumbelina', good sir."

"*'Thumbelina'*... Ohhh- it's a *LOVELY name*!"

"Oh- ah, thank you."

"I'm- I'm... 'Cornelius'."

"Coooor-ne-lius... (giggle)! Well, THAT'S a funny name! *Oh*! I- I mean, it's PERFECT!"

('*Girls*...!' Peter both scoffed and chuckled to himself as Thumbelina [and wasn't *THAT a funny name*, even if pretty!!] laughed but did her best to stifle it, not wanting to seem rude or insensitive.)

"Who might YOU be, little doll??? 'Nocchi', wasn't it??"

"(soft, shy, happy laugh) Actually, m-my name is 'Pinocchio'! N-'Nocchi is just what my sisters call me for short. H-Hunk, Zeke, 'n Hickory, too."

"'Pinocchio', huh?? That's a nice name. *CUTE name*, actually! Me?? I'm just plain old 'Peter'."

"'Cute'??? *Oh, gee*-! Th- Thanks, I s'pose, 'Signorino' Peter..."

"I GUESS you're welcome, little-little Pine-Eye."

"(loud barely stifled merry laugh)!! G-Gee, *you're funny*, Peter...!"

"Heh-! So I've been told every now and then, 'Nocchi... Mind if I call you that as well as your full name?"

"Uh-uh! G-Go right ahead...!"

"Um... Tell me about the faerie court. Is there- *a prince*??"

"Well, yes..."

"He must be terribly handsome...!"

"Oh- *he IS*!"

"*Strong and brave*..."

"N-None like him!"

"I would LOVE to meet the prince...!"

"Oh, I'll- I'll tell him..."

"Oh- why, thank you..."

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Elphaba flew closer and closer to Dorothy until they were practically nose-to-nose...

"Dorothy, my pretty..."

"Y-Yes, Miss Elphaba?"

"Would you- Would you like to-?? -Do you trust me?"

"What??"

"*Do you trust me*???"

"-Yes..."

"*Then JUMP*- *come with me*."

Dorothy took hold of Elphaba's outstretched hand- didn't just climb but indeed *JUMPED onto* the broomstick once the witch-faerie had clambered back on herself. Held tight onto Elphaba's waist and pressed against her back.

"You ready, my sweet??"

"Uh- Uh-huh! Yes- *I'M READY, Miss Elphaba*!"

"*Then HOLD ON TIGHT*, little Miss Dorothy Gale..."

The broom slowly rose into the air- higher and higher until it was level with the window... and then shot straight out it like a shooting star.

(All throughout, Toto and Figaro slept as deep and sweet and sound as before- both having long been lulled to Dreamland by their younger pets' sweet beautiful voices and sensing that they -their charges- were still safe and sound themselves despite having met *STRANGERS* whose sweet flowery-yet fresh green foresty scent made the grown-large cat's and still-small dog's funny wee black noses wrinkle and caused them to almost sneeze in their sleep because it tickled them like flower pollen would in the spring...)