Chapter 2
For someone who asked to be chosen, when it was her turn to choose, Glinda hesitated. Glinda couldn’t abandon her desires. She desired fame, to be accepted, to be celebrated. She desired her too. Her green skin, the freckles on her face. Her eyes that spoke more than her lips. The way her lips curved when she smiled, even how defensive she gets.
She was so defiant. So brave. It scared Glinda. She faltered. She was trying to figure out why she faltered at the last moment. All she needed to do was take her hand, and it would be set in stone. They would’ve been unlimited.
Now, she was working with Madam Morrible and the Wizard. It was a dream come true—yet so horrible. Glinda felt that she had been too shallow. The applause, the smiles, the endless praise—all of it hollow. None of it was hers.
She saw Fiyero now and then. They’d chat or just pass each other. He’d shake his head, she’d look down. Even he couldn’t find Elphaba. The thought always weighed heavily on her. At night she would sob, look out the window, and call out to her Elphie. Nothing would happen.
“Have I changed for good?” Glinda asked the mirror. She felt like a doll shown off in public. Her glittering blue gown she wore was perfect, and suffocating. Today, she was going to surprise Fiyero with their engagement but, she didn’t plan it. Why would an engagement even be a surprise?
“Fiyero,” She approached him looking down. “I’m sorry.” She walked away before he could respond.
She stood in front and began, “Ladies, and gentlemen,” her voice was steady, she tried to make it sound like she was excited. “It is with great joy that I announce…” she looked at Fiyero for a moment. “...my engagement to Captain Fiyero Tigelaar.”
Her eyes stayed on Fiyero as he approached her. The crowd erupted in applause. Glinda’s smile widened, but inside, she was crumbling. He raised his glass, playing the part. His heart wasn’t on this.
He leaned close and whispered, “I’ll be back,” he ran, gone, leaving her alone amidst of the people.
“He’s just getting me a drink, he’s thoughtful,” Glinda assured. She addressed the crowd again.
“To happiness,” she said, her voice faltering. “To…choices.”
She slipped away from the party. She found a room with a balcony and closed her eyes. The air offered relief. She leaned on the railing as she opened her eyes to stare at the stars.
“Elphie,” she whispered, the name escaped her lips like a prayer. “Where are you?”
Glinda would often recall the moment. The way their eyes lingered on each other. Elphaba’s eyes were pleaded with her. The way Elphaba’s lips felt against hers, it was so short, but at least she could relive it in her mind countless more times, and if only, she had a bit of courage.
Glinda scoffed. She was not that girl.
Behind her, the door creaked open. She turned to see Fiyero, his expression offered sympathy.
“Quite the announcement,” he teased. “You didn’t get on one knee.”
“Yes,” she replied, forcing a smile and looking down. “Quite.”
He joined her at the railing, staring out into the night. “This isn’t what you want, is it?”
Glinda paused, the smile fading. “Does it matter?” it was a whisper. “What I want doesn’t matter to them.”
Fiyero let out a bitter laugh. “Doesn’t it?” He turned to her, his gaze searching. “Glinda, if you’re doing this for me…don’t. I don’t need saving. We can go find her together, we could run and–”
“Maybe I do want this,” she cuts him odd, tears pooling in her eyes. “Maybe this is the only way I can cope.”
He reached out, brushing a tear from her cheek. “You’re stronger than this. You don’t need the Wizard. And you don’t need them.”
“And what about her?” she asked, her voice breaking. “What if I need her?”
Fiyero didn’t answer. He simply stepped back, giving her space. “Then find her.”
“I can’t leave everything behind if it’s not a certainty that she’s not–”
“You can’t or you won’t?” Fiyero clarified, disappointment was evident in his tone. “Elphaba done it, she dropped everything she wanted. She could have had this.” He gestured at the place.
“Why can’t you?” He said softly, before turning and walking away, leaving her alone once more.
There was a commotion. Guards were yelling to get as much water as they could. Glinda started running towards where the Wizard would be. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floors. As she opened the door, the sight in front of her made her freeze.
Her eyes landed on Fiyero, his gun aimed at the Wizard. But it was the figure near him that stole her breath. Elphaba. Alive. Glinda’s body moved before her mind could catch up. She ran to Elphaba, throwing her arms around her, desperate and clinging as though holding her could keep her from vanishing again.
“Elphie, you shouldn’t be here,” she whispered, her voice trembling. She didn’t dare let go. “Why are you here? Why now?”
Elphaba hesitated, her arms wrapping around Glinda with a gentleness that felt like an apology. “I had to,” she murmured. “For the animals.”
They pulled apart slightly, and Glinda was disappointed with the answer. Her gaze shifted to the Wizard and then to Fiyero.
“What are you doing?” She approached him.
Fiyero’s jaw tightened. “We’re leaving,” he said firmly, his free hand reaching for Elphaba’s. “Together.”
“Elphie,” Glinda’s voice was breaking, “you don’t have to do this. Stay. We can fix this. Together.”
Lingering eyes, silently pleading, hoping against hope that she’d stay. For a moment, it felt like a parallel. She saw the look of sadness in her Elphie’s eyes. She had made up her mind long before she could ask.
Elphaba’s gaze softened, but she didn’t move. When Fiyero grabbed her hand, the decision was made. Glinda could only watch as they turned to leave. Their eyes met once more. It was just the door that her eyes lingered on. Then they were gone, and Glinda was left standing there, her arms empty. All she could do was look at them.
The door opened again, and it was like a joke that Madam Morrible had entered instead. “This is unacceptable,” she declared, her voice cutting through the air. She turned to the Wizard. “We need to act swiftly. If we can’t catch Elphaba, we must draw her out.”
Glinda’s mind raced, her emotions a storm of anger and despair. She spoke without thinking, her voice icy. “Her sister,” she said. “If Elphaba thinks her sister needs her, she’ll come.”
Madam Morrible’s eyes gleamed with approval, it was the first time that she seemed happy with Glinda, and the Wizard nodded, already scheming. Glinda turned and left the room, her chest tight. She hadn’t meant it. Had she?
“Nessa,” Glinda whispered, as she looked at the scene. “Oh, Nessa.” Her voice trembled, and her vision blurred with tears. She could only look at her as she was filled with guilt. Did she cause this?
The sound of hurried footsteps made her turn, and there she was. Elphaba. Glinda could only step back as she ran to her sister.
“You,” Elphaba hissed, she had turned to Glinda. “You let this happen.”
Glinda stepped back, her hands trembling. “Elphie, I didn’t mean for—”
“Don’t call me that!” Elphaba’s voice cracked, her grief turned into rage. “You have no right.”
“I did choose you,” Glinda blurted out, desperation in her voice. “I chose you, Elphie, but—”
“Not all the time,” Elphaba interrupted, her words a dagger. “Not when it mattered.”
“And I suppose Fiyero chose you just at the right time?” Glinda’s voice was rising before she made a realization. “Did you two… kiss?”
Elphaba’s silence was answer enough. Glinda was in disbelief. She took another step forward, her voice was shaking. SLAP.
“How could you? After everything… how could you?”
Elphaba’s eyes flashed. “You think this is about him? You think any of this is about him? You don’t understand anything, Glinda.”
Their argument escalated. They pulled at each other until, suddenly, they were inches apart. Glinda’s breath hitched as Elphaba’s hand reached for her face. The argument led to something different. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, it was as if they were back on the train. The outside world was forgotten.
But before their lips could meet, guards marched towards them.
“Stop!” one of them yelled, misinterpreting the scene. “She’s harming Her Goodness!”
Elphaba pulled away as Glinda tried to speak, to explain, but the guards were already moving.
Fiyero, like a knight in shining armor, came to Elphaba’s aid, he tried his best to stop them from reaching her but Elphaba hesitated.
“Go,” Glinda mouthed to Elphaba.
Fiyero turned to her, his eyes hard. “You think you’re helping? You’re not. Stay out of this, Glinda.”
Elphaba nodded at Glinda, and ran leaving Fiyerobehind. The guards had surrounded them, and Fiyero was being dragged away, his struggles were useless against that many guards. He was bound to somewhere.
Glinda’s protests fell on deaf ears as they hoisted him up, his body limp but his spirit seemed unbroken. His eyes softened when he saw that Glinda genuinely cared. He flashed a weak smile hoping she’d understand that he doesn’t blame her.
Glinda was dragged away by the guards, there was nothing but pain in her eyes. How was she supposed to serve the people like this?
She felt like a ghost. Just passing time by.
Glinda was unsure what to do. Panic coursed through her veins as she rushed down the stairs, nearly tripping over her own feet. She followed one of the flying monkeys, her heart pounding, and it led her to Elphaba.
Elphaba stood with her back turned, her posture rigid. When she finally glanced over her shoulder and saw Glinda, her expression hardened. “Go away,” she said flatly.
“Elphie, please,” Glinda implored, stepping closer. “They found you. Just let the girl and her dog go. You can’t go on like this, they’re just shoes.”
Elphaba turned fully to face her. “Look at me,” she said, more hurt than mad. “I’ve become exactly what they said I was.”
Before Glinda could respond, a flying monkey handed Elphaba a letter. Her hands trembled as she read it, her face crumpling. “It’s Fiyero,” she whispered. “He… he’s gone.”
Glinda’s breath caught. Shock and devastation washed over her, but Elphaba’s reaction was different. Something in her seemed to break. She looked at Glinda with a hollow gaze and said, “It’s over. I’ll surrender.”
“Elphie,” Glinda followed her as she turned to leave, her voice trembling. She was trying not to cry. “You can’t do this. You can’t give up.”
Elphaba paused, then gently took Glinda’s hands. “You can’t be found here. You must go.”
“No—” Glinda begged, shaking her head. “I’ll tell them what really happened. I’ll fight for you.”
“No!” Elphaba’s grip tightened. Her voice softened, but her resolve was unshakable. “You don’t have to. You have your path, Glinda. Don’t let me take that from you. I’m not someone you can choose now.”
A silent understanding passed between them. Elphaba handed Glinda the grimmerie, her touch lingering. “Keep it safe,” she said quietly. “Learn how to read it.”
“I’ll make sure they treat you well,” Glinda promised, clutching the grimmirie tightly. “I’ll fight for your freedom.”
Elphaba only smiled sadly, her eyes full of guilt.
The sound of guards approaching shattered the moment. Elphaba pushed her into hiding. Through the chaos, Glinda’s eyes found Elphaba’s one last time. Lingering eyes. She found a pair looking at hers too.
And then it happened. Glinda watched in horror as the love of her life melted before her eyes. Her heart screamed for her to look away, but she couldn’t. Tears streamed down her face as the scene unfolded, and when it was over, she was left with nothing but silence. Now, it was truly goodbye for good
When it was clear to come to see, Glinda stepped forward, her movements mechanical. She picked up Elphaba’s hat, her fingers brushing over the brim. One of the monkeys approached her, placing a small green bottle in her hands.
It was time for reform. Just as Elphaba would have wanted.
Back in her home, Glinda sat alone with the grimmerie before her. The world outside celebrated her as Glinda the Good, but inside, she felt hollow. If good always won, why does she feel like she lost a thousand wars?
Many people loved her but only one person mattered.