A Visit

[Glinda Upland]

Upon safely sending Ellie off to school, Glinda decided to take a much needed "vacation." She always alerted people that she was going to an "undisclosed location" for "security reasons." However, it was not her own security she was in fear of. Every year Glinda snuck away for a few weeks to Kiamo Ko to visit Elphie. It was nice not to be "Glinda the good" but instead just be "Glinda" and spend time with a friend, a real, true friend.

Upon arriving, as always, Glinda, walked up to the monstrous structure and knocked three times to let Elphie know it was indeed her. Then, she waited, impatiently as ever, to see her friend who had been gone from her site for one whole year.

[Elphaba Thropp]

Chistery quietly opened the door and let Glinda in. Elphaba had to be careful, especially now. When Chistery came and told Elphie Glinda was there, Elphaba ran to her and gave her an enormous hug. She hadn't seen her friend in almost a year.

"I missed you so much!" Elphaba said. They couldn't go on this way, it was just... too much.

"How are you? How's Ellie? Is everything all right? Did anyone see you?

[Glinda Upland]

She gave her a warm embrace. "No one saw me. Don't worry. I'm always careful." She stepped back and pointed to her baby blue velour suit, little white tennis shoes, and hair in a pony tail. "I even traveled low key. No one would ever suspect Glinda the Good to look so normal!" She giggled. "Ellie's fine. I just left her at Shiz. She's under the care of a forth year student or sorcery. I gave her the heads up to stay AWAY from Mombie, and she was happy. She's staying in our old room..." Glinda beamed.

[Elphaba Thropp]

"Really..." Elphaba said. "Our old room. It's been years..." Elphie thought about their time together at Shiz. Glinda's side of the room...well looked like a palace. And her's... well always covered with books.

"Thank you" said Elphie. "I actually took a peek. I still have that Crystal ball you know. Though ever since that Dorothy girl saw her aunt in it I've been careful how often I use it. Never know who might turn up. I think you should keep an eye on Ellie's new roomate. She... well she reminds me of you actually. But she's OBSESSED with you. She may start poking around once she finds out Ellie and you are so close, and we both know Ellie's not a very good liar. Well, actually I'm sure you know better than me..."

Elphie hated that she and Fiyero hadn't been able to raise Ellie themselves. But they couldn't deny her the chance to live a normal life. Though how normal it could ever be with the powers Glinda told her she posessed...

"Oh, and she already got in a tiff with Mombie. Something about minoring in Gale tower. How they had the nerve to name a tower after that squeely little brat.." Elphie said, then laughed.

"So, how's everyone dealing with the news that the Scarecrow's dissapeared from the Emerald City? Who's going to take charge? Any word on the search for Ozma?"

[Glinda Upland]

"No word. No nothing. Of course, their first recommendation was...me..." She sighed. "I said no. They said, please. I said no. They said we don't have anyone else...I said...temporarily..." She shook her head. "I start next week, and I hate it." She laughed a little at herself. "You know me. Always have to help however I can!"

"And yes, I forget your magical self," she teased, "you can keep an eye on her whenever you like. And yes, I was already planning to make a stop back by Shiz when I left. I know the girl she's rooming with. She's from the upper uplands. Her parents I know pretty well, they are architects in the Emerald City. I do worry a little about her, but I think Ellie can take care of herself. She's strong, Elphie." There was a sadness in her eyes, "she's so much like you."

[Elphaba Thropp]

"No Glinda, I think it's a great idea. You know why... Fiyero had to leave. We need someone in power who's...well good. Especially with Mombie and the Nome King doing... whatever they're doing. Just be careful."

Elphie almost started to cry. Ellie was so much like her - and it made her sad. She had wanted to spare Ellie from the pain she had gone through. She knew how, well...certain character traits, though wonderful could get you into trouble.

"You were so good to take care of her" Elphie said.

Elphie waived her hand and a table and two chairs appeared. Elphie waived her hand again and a beautiful tea service appreared.

[Glinda Upland]

She sat down and smiled, adding a little sugar to the tea before taking a sip. "You never forget how to entertain. Too bad you don't get many visitors..."

[Elphaba Thropp]

Elphaba laughed out loud. Fiyero and Glinda were the only people who could still make her laugh.

"So, how are things on the outside? Still as crazy as ever?"

[Glinda Upland]

"Insanity and rediculousness still ensues. And your daughter..." She shook her head. "I should have exposed her more earlier on, but I loved having her around! Going to Shiz scares her to death. I think i'm going to go visit before too long."

[Glinda Upland]

"She thinks she will be seen as Wicked because she's special. Truth is, I'm not sure I can tell her it's not true. But if I had just let her out more, made her exposed to more people...maybe she could handle this a little better..."

[Elphaba Thropp]

"It's not that. It's her powers. The reason I couldn't really handle it was because of my skin color. No one ever looked at me as normal. But with her... everyone will think she's normal until her powers start showing themselves. If only there were some other explination that could be pawned off on them. Like that the Wizard, or someone "good" had similar manifestoriums of power..."

[Elphaba Thropp]

"Maybe you should try to make her over a bit like you. I know you've tried, and it's just not her... but if you made her. If she acted all cute and popular people might be more quick to forgive... certain things..."

But she was getting ahead of herself. Part of the reason they had decided to send Ellie off to Shiz was to help her choose what path she would ultimately take. Hers, or Glindas...

[Glinda Upland]

"Elphie, I've tried. I've tried and tried and tried! This is the child who ripped a bow out of her hair and tried to eat it..." She shook her head but laughed a little too.

"She's a good kid. If people could see what I see in her....if they could have seen what I saw in you...."

[Elphaba Thropp]

"We just have to come up with a good story, so people don't get suspicious. Something to explain her powers and her looks...that doesn't involve me..."

[Glinda Upland]

"You know we could tell half the truth....everyone loves your husband...they don't know he has anything to do with you..."