Chapter 9
The Wizard sat in his office with a contemplative expression. He gazed at his nails, the green paint had long since started to come off, now there were only a few blotches left. A part of him wanted to redo it, but he knew it was too late for that.
Elphaba wouldn’t forgive him anytime soon. Not that Oscar could blame her, he had been pretty harsh on the blonde. He couldn’t ignore the twinge of guilt he felt for tormenting the innocent girl. Which was why he had immediately sent the healers to the blonde while she was locked up in a room.
The Wizard desperately wanted to speak with Elphaba. He hated making her upset. His last attempts to talk with her were met in stone cold silence. Elphaba was furious at him for what he did. And the Wizard couldn't blame her. But it had to be done, she needed to be punished. And Oscar knew a simple grounding wouldn't get his message across.
He couldn't let Elphaba leave him. He just couldn’t, she was the only person he cared about. The Wizard would rather have Elphaba hate him forever, no matter how much it hurt, than for her to escape and he never sees her again.
So, as difficult as it was to see Elphaba cry for her friend, it was a necessary evil in Oscar’s eye. Now Elphaba would know not to try and escape him again.
The news wasn’t obvious. More gradual that they found out over time. It started when Nessa didn’t see Glinda or Elphaba in history, or at lunch, or in the library. She had gone to Boq and Fiyero to see if either of them knew where the two girls were, but both men were as clueless as she.
Nessa had a terrible feeling that something bad had happened.
The next Friday, she finally finds out what.
It’s all over the news. Animals lost all rights in Oz. The ones that hadn’t run away or hadn’t been incarcerated (like Dr. Dillamond) were publicly enslaved or executed if they spoke out. Nessa had previously been indifferent to the treatment of the animals, but after seeing in the news how cruelly they were being treated, she found herself utterly revolted by how supportive the human citizens of Oz were of the treatment of the animals.
Then Fiyero remembered that Elphaba had said something about speaking with her father over the treatment of the animals, and Nessa put two and two together. Elphaba was at the Emerald Palace, and Glinda was likely with her.
“We have to do something.” Nessa says firmly one evening as she, Boq, and Fiyeroa all hang out in their secret clearing. “The treatment of the animals isn’t right, and ‘m willing to bet that Elphaba and Glinda are being confined in the Emerald Palace for speaking out.”
“What makes you think that?” Boq frowns.
“Because Elphaba had mentioned something about speaking with her father in person about the animals.” Fiyero answers before Nessa can.
“Right,” Nessa nods, “And everyone in Oz knows how infamously firm the Wizard is with his rule. He hates being questioned. He’s probably keeping Elphaba in the palace so she can’t speak against him and the treatment of the animals.”
“But what about Glinda?” Boq questions, anxiously picking at the grass. “She never really spoke out like Elphaba did.”
“No, but she went with Elphaba to the palace,” Fiyero points out. “Maybe she’s there as a…a bargaining chip or something. To keep Elphaba compliant?”
“Would the Wizard really do something like that to an innocent girl and his daughter?” Nessa says doubtfully.
“I don’t know,” Fiyero shrugs. “I know it’s far-fetched and we don’t really understand what’s going on. But I do know that Elphaba and Glinda need our help. They’re at the Emerald Palace, and we need to get them out.”
“I mean-- are we really sure they need our help?” Boq asks hesitantly.
Nessa and Fiyero frown at him, then speak at the same time without meaning to.
“Yes!”
“Alright,” Boq raises his hands in surrender. “So…what’s the plan then?”
“This is…” Fiyero explains the plan with a determined look.
None of the three knew what was going on. All they understood was that something bad was happening in Oz, and if they wanted to find out what and see if they could solve things, they would need Glinda and Elphaba. Especially the princess.
It had been about a month and a half now, since Elphaba was trapped in the Emerald Palace again. In that time, the only person she got to speak with was her father. And even then those conversations were short and cold as Elphaba didn’t want to even look at him.
When she did speak, it was to question Glinda’s condition and to make sure her friend was okay, or to plead with him to let the princess see her. Of course, the Wizard always denied her the request of seeing Glinda.
The Wizard had Elphaba resume her homeschooling studies since he had no intention of returning her to Shiz. So Elphaba was miserable, loney, and bored. She missed her friends dearly, and desperately wanted to be with Glinda. It felt cruel to be torn away from the blonde after finally getting to kiss her.
Glinda is constantly on Elphaba’s mind. The blond was all she could think about. Elphaba hadn’t seen her since the torture, and she coudln’t get Glinda’s pained screams out of her head. She constantly tried to go and see Glinda, but she was always caught when sneaking out of her room and just locked back up. It was quite frustrating, considering Elphaba hadn’t even been allowed out of her room.
So when she’s summoned to the dining hall to eat dinner with her father, Elphaba is wary and confused.
Two of the winged monkey guards lead the princess down the hallway to the dining room. One opens the door for her. The princess slowly steps inside, anxiety rolling off her in waves.
Sitting at the farside of the table, at the head, is her father. He appears relaxed, but Elphaba knows him well enough to be able to tell when he’s hiding something.
“Sit, please.” the Wizard says calmly, gesturing to the seat on his right. Where Elphaba always sits.
Reluctantly, Elphaba makes her way over to him and stiffly sits down. She stares at the plate of food in front of her, but makes no move to eat. She has no appetite, something that has grown increasingly more common since being stuck back here.
“Please eat something, darling.” the Wizard says quietly, looking at her with a concerned look.
Elphaba feels a spark of anger when she sees his worry. She doesn’t want his pity, not now that she knows his true colors.
“I’m not hungry.” Elphaba lies quietly.
“Yes, you are.” the Wizard pushes her plate closer to her. “I’ve seen the poor eating habits you’ve developed as of late. You mustn’t starve yourself.”
Elphaba still doesn’t eat, she just gazes at the plate with a despondent look.
The Wizard sighs quietly. “If you eat all the food on that plate,” he starts quietly. “I’ll let you see your friend after.”
Elpaba’s head snaps up, looking at him in surprise.
“Really?” She questions in a quiet and disbelieving tone.
“Yes, my emerald.” the Wizard nods, “Really.”
Elphaba’s hand twitches for the fork. She hesitantly picks it up as if it might come to life and attack her. Oscar watches as she reluctantly starts to eat.
After a few minutes of silence, Elphaba hesitantly asks what has been on her mind since she received the summons for dinner.
“Why am I here?” she asks quietly.
“I wanted to make sure you actually eat something,” the Wizard answers calmly. “I know you’ve been skipping the meals the servants brought you. It’s unhealthy.”
“I don’t care.” Elphaba whispers.
“I do,” the Wizard snaps, his tone harsher than intended. He immediately feels guilty when he sees Elphaba’s flinch. His heart ached to see his daughter fear him.
“I care,” he says in a quieter, more apologetic tone. “About you, and your health. I won’t have you wasting away in your room.”
Elphaba bites her tongue to keep from speaking. She doesn’t want her father to change his mind and not let her see Glinda after dinner. But the Wizard has always been excellent at reading her, and knows Elphaba has questions.
“You may speak, my dear.” he sighs. “I’d never punish you for that.”
“Then why am I locked up again?” Elphaba frowns at him. “What is this punishment for?”
“For trying to run away,” the Wizard shrugs as if it’s obvious. “Not for speaking your mind. I quite like hearing what you have to say.”
“You weren’t happy when I mentioned the animals,” Elphaba mutters bitterly, but Oscar catches her words.
“That’s different.”
“How so?” Elphaba challenges.
“I’m only doing what needs to be done, as always.” the Wizard says firmly.
“How can animal oppression possibly be what needs to be done?” Elphaba’s voice rises in volume with her suppressed anger. “Or torturing Glinda?”
“So that’s her name…” the Wizard hums.
“I literally introduced her to you!” Elphaba says incredulously.
“I was distracted!” the Wizard defends himself. “And to answer your question, the oppression of the animals is just nature. Natural selection if you will. The stronger species will always dominate the weak. Animals were made to be ruled over.”
Elphaba almost bends the fork in her hand from anger.
“Where I come from,” the Wizard continues.” The best way to bring people together, is giving them a real good enemy. Hence the animals. It is just what needs to be done to maintain order in Oz.”
“You mean to maintain your control over Oz.” Elphab says coldly.
The Wizard narrows his eyes, his gaze menacing. “You’ve never had a problem with this before.”
“I didn’t know the full extent back then.” Elphaba growls.
“I knew school was a bad idea,” the Wizard sighs under his breath. “This is why you won’t be returning, my love. You’ve been given false ideals and doubt towards me, I can’t have that.”
The Wizard quickly keeps speaking before she can interrupt him. “I’m not trying to make you miserable by keeping you here, dear. I’m simply doing what’s best for you. One day, you will understand.”
The Wizard stands up from his seat, wiping his hands off on the napkin by his plate.
“Now, I have work to return too. Once you finish eating, Chistery will take you to see your friend, Glinda.” He gives her a warning look. “Don’t try anything, darling.”
The Wizard leaves the dining room, leaving Elphaba alone with Chistery, who stands quiet as always in the back.
Chistery takes Elphaba down the hallway to Glinda’s cell slash room. It was far nicer than the princess had expected. She thought that the blonde would be locked up in a dark dungeon deep beneath the castle. Instead, Glinda had been placed in a spacious room with a large bed and a bathroom connected. The windows were barred and the blonde was bed-bound with an IV in her arm.
Elphaba rushes to her side the moment she sees her unconscious friend.
“What’s wrong with her?” Elphaba demands, her voice tinged with concern as she looks at the nurse standing in the corner.
“His Ozness ordered we keep her under anesthetic when she wouldn’t calm down.” the nurse answers, keeping her head bowed respectfully.
“Calm down?” The princess’ voice was dangerously quiet. She clutches Glinda’s hand tightly, her knuckles pale from how tight her grip was.
“She was hysterical after the… punishment…” The nurse says hesitantly. “We couldn’t treat her injuries, so the Wizard had her sedated.”
“Why is she still sedated?”
“To stop her escape attempts…” the nurse whispers.
Anger rises in Elphaba when she finds out how her friend has been treated.
“Wake her.” Elphaba says firmly.
“We can’t,” the nurse explains, wringing her hands. “If we pull her out of sleep too early, it could be dangerous. She has to wake naturally. That's when we usually re-sedate her.”
“When will she wake next?” Elphaba demands.
“Tonight.”
Elphaba’s gaze hardens in determination. Tonight. Glinda would wake, and now that Elphaba knew where she was being kept, it was her perfect chance to escape.
“Tonight, are we sure?” Boq asks nervously as he, Fiyero, and Nessa all meet up in their hidden clearing. “Are we sure we’re ready to save Elphaba and Glinda so soon?”
“Yes!” Nessa hisses at him, her eyes shining with worry. “They need our help, we can’t wait any longer.”
Fiyero nods. “Nessa is right. We move out tonight. Everyone remembers the plan?”
Nessa and Boq nod, Nessa looking determined while Boq anxious.
“Good.” Fiyero says, his gaze firm. “Tonight, we save our friends.”
Elphaba is sitting in her room, trying to pick the lock on her door, when it’s suddenly swung open. Elphaba tenses when she sees Chistery on the other side. The mis-matched eyes of the monkey looks at her with concern. He steps back and urgently jerks his head, a clear signal to follow him. Elphaba frowns and slowly follows him.
She notices he’s sneaking around, like he’s not supposed to do this.
“Chistery…” Elphaba whispers, staying silent to not draw attention. “Are…are you helping me escape?”
The winged monkey looks at her and nods. Elphaba feels gratitude well up in her. She suddenly hugs him.
“Thank you.” She whispers, knowing he can’t verbally respond.
The monkey returns the hug, before pulling away and hurriedly leads her down the hall to where Glinda is being kept.
He opens the door just as Glinda stirs. The nurse from before is about to administer more poppy essence. She jolts in surprise when Chistery suddenly opens the door.
“Don’t touch her!” Elphaba snarls and runs for. She pins the nurse to the wall and uses the poppy essence on the nurse. The poor woman falls unconscious and slides to the floor.
Chistery slowly helps a drowsy Glinda sit up. The blonde blinks and looks around.
“Where…w-what’s going on?” She asks weakly. Elphaba rushes to her side and gently hugs Glinda.
“It’s alright,” the green girl whispers soothingly. “We're still in the Emerald palace, but Chistery is helping us escape.”
Glinda winces, hugging herself. “Everything…h-hurts…”
Elphaba’s heart aches. It seems that the torture still hurts her despite the months she’s spent unconscious.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, tucking some blonde hair behind Glinda’s ear. “I’ll do everything I can to help you feel better. But we have to get out of here first.”
“O-okay…” Glinda murmurs and allows Elphaba to gently pull her out of bed.
Chistery leads the way down the hall while Elphaba carries Glinda bridal style. She gave up on trying to help the blonde walk since she kept stumbling and they were in a rush.
They make it to the great hall near the entrance, Chistery manages to get them outside and into the Emerald City. While hiding in an alleyway, Elphaba can hear familiar voices nearby. Frowning, she gently puts Glinda down and peers around the corner to inspect the sound. She gasps when she sees Fiyero and Boq.
“What are you doing?!” Elphaba whispers harshly in surprise when she sees her friends struggling to put on guard uniforms from the palace.
Boq and Fiyero freeze, looking at her like a child caught with a hand in a cookie jar.
“Uh-- we were trying to save you…” Fiyero says awkwardly, Boq nodding.
“Oh…” Elphaba frowns, overcome with emotions she feels tears well up in her eyes. It’s been a long day. “Well…I can go back inside if that’d make you feel better…”
“Oh-- no no,” Fiyero rushes over and hugs her. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
Elphaba smiles and returns the hug. She glances at Boq when the Munchkin speaks.
“Uh…guys?” Boq says anxiously. “What’s in the sky?”
Elphaba and Fiyero pull away from each other and look up. The princess’ gaze darkens when she sees flying monkeys.
“My father’s personal guard.” She sighs in frustration, rushing back to Glinda with Fiyero and Boq hot on her heels. Chistery has remained by the blonde’s side. “They’ve realized we’re gone.”
“We must hurry.” Fiyero says, picking up Glinda then huffing in surprise whenElphaba takes her from his arms and holds the blonde tightly in her own arms.
“Right, Nessa is waiting in the carriage by the train platform.” Boq nods and leads the group through the maze that is Emerald City.
Madame Morrible walks down the hallway with an urgent pace. She reaches the Wizard’s room and knocks firmly.
A moment later, he opens the door while tying an emerald colored robe around his waist. He frowns at his colleague.
“What is it?” the Wizard frowns, his voice thick with sleep.
“Elphaba and Glinda are gone.” Morrible says in a grave tone.
“What?” the Wizard snaps, now fully awake.
“Yes. And Chistery helped.”
“That damn, filthy animal.” the Wizard snarls angrily. He glares at Madame Morrible. “Send the guards out. No one will rest until my daughter is brought back here. Go!”
Madame Morrible nods, remaining composed despite the fact that the Wizard’s wrath is something she definitely fears.
Madame Morrible walks into the great hall where guards, monkey and human, are waiting for orders. The news of Elphaba and Glinda, along with Chistery’s treachery, have spread like wildfire through the Emerald Palace.
Morrible claps her hands twice to get their attention, the sound firm and commanding, and loud like thunder. Everyone looks at her as she speaks in a menacing voice.
“If you want to do yourselves some good, and keep your families safe--” she threatens. “You’ll find the princess! No one rests until she is brought back to his Ozness!”
The human guards rush out while the monkeys fly away, all in search of Elphaba.
Boq, Fiyero, Chistery, and Elphaba carrying Glinda all rush through the city. They hide from the guards, sticking to the dark alleyways. Eventually, they make it to the train station. They reach the carriage Nessa is supposed to be waiting in to drive them away, only to find it empty.
“Where’s Nessa?!” Boq’s voice cracks in worry for his girlfriend.
“Freeze!” a male voice shouts from behind them. The friends turn around to see themselves surrounded by palace guards, humans and monkeys. Nessa has been handcuffed and restrained by a female guard.
“Go!” Chistery shouts, speaking for the first time in years.
Elphaba’s eyes widen in surprise as the monkey attacks the guards with surprising viciousness. Boq runs forward and grabs the handle of Nessa’s wheelchair, pulling her to the carriage. Fiyero picks up Glinda and helps her in the carriage whileBoq helps Nessa to the reigns before getting in.
“Elphie!” Glinda shouts, seeing that the princess tries to rush forward to help Chistery. “Hurry!”
“But--”
Fiyero interrupts her by pulling her on board the carriage.
“We can’t help him!” He says, holding her back from jumping to help the monkey. “We have to go!”
“No--!” Tears well up in her eyes as the horses run forward, pulling the carriage away and out of Emerald City. The last thing she hears is Chisery’s pained cries as he’s dragged back to the palace.
The Wizard watches with a dark and thunderous look as a brutally beat up Chistery is dragged in his office in chains. His eyes narrow dangerously when he sees his former head of guard forced on his knees in front of him.
“Ah, my old friend.” the Wizard says in a frighteningly calm tone. He stood and slowly walked up to the monkey. “You shouldn’t have helped my daughter escape.”
Madame Morrible enters the office ten minutes later to find the Wizard standing over Chistery/’s body, which had been brutally torn apart.
The Wizard calmly wipes off some blood from his suit lapel and steps over the monkey's body, unphased by Madame Morrible’s look of horror and disgust.
“Any luck on finding her?” He asks, far calmer now.
“I-- no, your Ozness.” Madame Morrible stammers, her fear gripping her tightly. One wrong move and she could end up like Chistery.
“Hm,” the Wizard hums, returning to his seat behind his desk. “Unfortunate. Put upa reward and have it set through all of Oz. I want my lost princess found and brought back to me, alive and unharmed.”
“Yes, sir.” Madame Morrible whispers and turns to leave.
“Oh, and Morrible?” the Wizard calls out.
She turns and looks at him, shivering at the sinister and deadly look in his eyes.
“If you fail me again, you will end up just like our former friend here.” The Wizard gestures to Chistery’s mangled corpse.
“I-I understand.” Madame Morrible bows her head and promptly rushes out of the office, her heart pounding. She needed to find Elphaba, no matter the cost.