Guarding Those We Love and Live For 3/?
Title: Guarding Those We Love and Live For 3/?
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Gelphie/Soriku
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words that you will read in this post...all hail Maguire, Squeenix and the rest of the gang.
Finally, after a long absence, we now continue the adventure with Glinda, Elphie and the Keyblade Trio. Thought I died, huh?
As the spires came into view, Glinda’s smile turned from the usual bubbly grin into a more serene, distantly happy one as she guided the bubbles down to a lawn where they popped gently, leaving all of them softly on the ground.
Well, not all of them landed gracefully.
Elphaba, still dour, was sitting cross-legged in the bubble and when it popped, she ungracefully flopped over on her face in the thankfully dry and soft grass.
Kairi giggled at the sight, while Glinda walked over, an impish smirk firmly in place as she offered her hand, saying, “That’ll teach you to run away from me and not at least send a letter.”
“Honestly Glinda, are you STILL bitter about that?” Elphaba muttered, brushing blades of grass from her face and placing her hat, which fell off, back on her head, unpleased as ever.
“Well, are you willing to apologize?”
“I already did.”
“I mean REALLY apologize.”
Elphaba sighed and bent down to eye-level with Glinda and looked her square in the eyes and said, holding her hand, “Listen, Glinda-I did what I needed to as to keep you and the others safe. The Wizard was going to kill anyone associated with me, so I left and made it look like that girl had killed me. I am very, very sorry about the deception, but it was necessary for your sake.”
Nodding and falling quiet, Glinda kept massaging Elphaba’s emerald palm as her cerulean eyes met the warm chocolate of her friends. Her heart skipped a beat, but she looked down, hiding the blush that was flooding her creamy cheeks as she whispered, “I should have gone with you that day.”
“The past is the past, my sweet,” Elphaba said, her voice butter-soft, “Even I learned that we cannot do anything about what has already happened. You made your choice, I made mine. I don’t think either of us made the right decision, but it happened nonetheless.”
“You were probably happier than I was; I had to act cheery as he grabbed more and more power. He had the nerve to come back after the Dorothy incident! I thought I could breathe again, but when he came back, well…I wish he hadn’t, that’s all I can really say.”
Smiling and looking back at the others, she said, “We can talk about this over a drink at the Peach and Kidney, alright?”
Nodding, Glinda lifted her face, the blush thankfully fading as she announced to the three, “Welcome to Shiz University, learning center of Oz and my alma mater.”
“And almost mine,” Elphaba piped in.
Sora looked around and said, “Y’know, this kinda reminds me of Hollow Bastion in a way. You know, like the area around Merlin’s house?”
Riku nodded and said, “I think you have a point here, Sora. Shut up, though-let ‘em give us the tour.”
Glinda laughed as Sora scowled and said, “Okay…” as she turned and pointed to a tall building in the distance. She squinted and then said, “If I am correct, that would be our old dormitory, Crage Hall.
“Oh, the insanity that happened in those hallowed halls,” Elphaba groaned with a smirk.
“You know it,” Glinda returned with a matching smirk.
Bells rang out clearly across the quad they walked through; class had apparently ended and groups began to flow out of the academic buildings in droves. Elphaba’s face went a very pale green as she looked frantically for a tree and climbed up it, concealing herself in the foliage.
Several students came up and bowed, calling out, “Lady Glinda! It’s an honor to see you on campus-who are these people?”
Glinda announced, reclaiming her distantly regal air, “These would be friends from another realm, such as Dorothy; their names are Sora, Riku and Kairi and please make them know why Shiz is legendary for its hospitality.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they intoned, smiling to the others and continued to walk. As soon as the groups cleared, Elphaba hissed from the tree, “I cannot believe I forgot the school schedule!”
“Elphie, I told you-I’ll vouch and you’ll be FINE.”
“Somehow I am less than reassured,” she whispered sardonically.
“Fine, don’t accept my help, green bean…” she sniffed, moving toward Crage Hall.
Elphaba slinked down fluidly, marching up to Glinda and grabbed her by the hair and growled, “Green Bean? You have not called me that in eons, Glinda-should I start calling you by your old name, then? Maybe Miss Galinda, does that sound good?”
Breathing heavily, she adjusted her hat and sighed, kneeling down beside Glinda and saying wearily, “I am terribly sorry, Glinda-this place…brings out the worst in me.”
“So that means I befriended the worst of you?” Glinda asked sagely.
Nodding, Elphaba muttered, “It would seem so-though there is not much difference between the best of me and the worst of me; if there was, I would not be hiding in trees and covering my greenness from all of Oz.”
“Elphie, you’re being a twit…get up-I’m going to have you talk with the NEW headmistress; she is nothing like Morrible, so don’t give me that horrified gape.”
“I really DID rub off on you…sounding so…authoritative. I like it,” Elphaba observed, getting up slowly and smirking.
“Shut up…you are acting just like me, so I suppose we’re even,” she sighed, walking faster toward the looming building.
Falling silent, but giving an intense, defiant look that gave Sora the impression that she was not yet defeated, Elphaba followed. Her hat hid most of her face as she folded her arms, successfully hiding most of her skin and not looking completely conspicuous.
They went into the headmistress’s chamber and a young, severe looking woman sat at the desk and rose, giving a short hug to Glinda.
“Lady Glinda, a pleasure as always. Your letter was…interesting, to say the least. I was under the impression, as was the rest of Oz as you know, that Elphaba Thropp was slain by Dorothy of Kansas coming on one year prior. But now you say that one of the most legendary students of Crage Hall has returned very much alive? I ask pardon for this, but even coming from you that is far-fetched,” she said respectfully.
“Then I suppose you should start believing in the impossible, headmistress,” Elphaba said in a calm, icy tone that sent shivers through Kairi’s spine, “I am very much alive, and very interested in cleansing Oz of this less-than-savory reputation I have earned over the years. Unless this intention, too, is doomed to failure.”
The headmistress went pale as she coughed loudly and said, in a failed attempt at composure, “Miss Elphaba, it is a curious…honor to be able to meet you in person. Erm, what can I do to assist you on this venture?”
“Well, seeing as we have guests that as yet remain nameless to you, I suppose you can assist us by becoming acquainted with all of the guests, and not simply the most infamous of reputation.”
Gesturing to the three, the pregnant silence cued Sora to announce, “I am Sora, this here’s Riku, and the girl is Kairi…we’re all from another world and were sent here to solve some problems having to do with some creatures called Heartless that came here recently.”
The headmistress’ eyes flashed at the mention of Heartless and asked curiously, “Enlighten me on the appearance of these heartless…”
“Well, they’re usually black or dark blue, with glowing eyes and they take a lot of different shapes, but they always have a spiky heart design somewhere on them.”
The headmistress nodded, falling silent for a moment and then got up, speaking in a soft voice, “Fortunately for us, these Heartless have not yet reached Shiz, but most unfortunately for Lady Glinda, it appears they have reached Gillikin and are spreading.”
Glinda’s face fell as she breathed, “Please tell me Frottica hasn’t been taken…”
The Headmistress’ face moved side to side sadly. “I am terribly sorry, Lady Glinda.”
“Are the arrangements in order?” she asked tersely, visibly fighting tears.
“Yes-your old room has been cleared and readied for your sleeping during the stay. Also, the students have been informed that Miss Elphaba has returned from the dead and that in the strictest sense, they are not to inform anyone. I hope this is to both of your liking.”
“You TOLD THEM? Pardon me for finding the lunacy in that decision,” Elphaba hissed, “Seeing as my role in the Wizard’s latest power grabs could lead to disaster for Shiz, I feel that any knowledge of my presence is at best a security risk.”
“Miss Elphaba, I would advise you to trust me-we have ensured that the students and their families are compliant with this request and have been extremely well…compensated for their efforts,” the Headmistress stated evenly.
Taking a long sigh, Elphaba turned around and left the room, muttering, “Whatever you say.”
Sora muttered, “Sheesh, she’s awfully moody,” and looked out of the room, seeing Elphaba stumble, retching.
Glinda had begun to silently cry; tears flowed down her face as Kairi moved in to comfort her.
“It’s alright-we’re here to help, Glinda; Sora, Riku and I are all really good at beating Heartless,” Kairi cooed soothingly.
“I’m not frightened about my hometown, Kairi; I’m frightened of what could happen to Elphaba. She has never dealt with this sort of stress very well-she bottles things up all too frequently. I need to find her-alone-and talk some sense into her. You three may explore Shiz at your leisure.
The three nodded, Sora choosing now to say, “I think she was barfing back there, just to let you know…”
Kairi wrinkled her nose and Riku lightly punched his friend’s arm, growling, “Way to go, genius.”
Glinda blanched and ran off, dropping her wand and tearing off her tiara.
“Elphie, get back here this instant!!” she shouted, seeing the fleeing form of her friend in the distance. Elphaba turned around and stared, tears burning her whole face, as she growled through grated teeth, “THIS is why I did NOT want to come here, GA-linda.”
Gasping at the severity of her tear-burns, she dove in for a tight hug, burying herself in the embrace as she sobbed, “I’m sorry! I-I thought this would help…just shows I’m still the idiot you left on the carriage…”
“The idiot that night was ME, Glinda. I should have never left you; I should have never done many things I did. I will bear the burden of my decisions for the rest of my life, but you don’t have to. I have some perverse second chance after Dorothy killed my doppelganger…” she spoke, staring intently into her friend’s eyes and trailing off at the end.
“You know, she still feels that she needs to be forgiven for what she did. I spoke to her shortly after her second visit here. She couldn’t get the visions of ‘you’ melting out of her head, the poor girl.”
Closing her eyes and taking a steadying breath, Elphaba slowly sighed, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough forgiveness for my stupidity. After Nessa died, the last reminder of who I was on Oz disappeared-I thought you had truly become the Wizard’s lackey and gave up that moment.”
Coughing softly, Glinda said in a choked breath, “Elphaba Thropp, you GAVE UP on something? Pardon me for saying this, but that is quite honestly impossible!”
“Oh it’s very possible, my pretty,” she murmured, “I just need an exceedingly good reason to. Losing everything was definitely a reason.”
“But you still have me, don’t you?”
Nodding, Elphaba sighed and said, “Let us get reacquainted with our old room, shall we?”
Smiling, Glinda pulled out a bottle of oil and applied some on her hand and gently rubbed Elphaba’s burns. “Honestly, Elphaba-you never were good at taking care of your appearance-those burns will leave horrendous scars!”
“I suppose I have you to do it in my stead once more,” she intoned dryly, smirking and wincing at the tenderness of her burn.
“No more crying for you; I’ll have none of this burning nonsense, water allergy or no. If I must gather all of Oz, I swear I shall make you happy before this visit is over.”
Mock-saluting, she laughed and as they walked in, she answered, “Don’t worry Glinda; as long as you are around, I’m rather sure that you will tease at least one smile out of me.”
“I would hope for more than THAT.”
“I’m rather tired-let those three children fend for themselves.”
“How very maternal of you,” Glinda moaned sarcastically.
“Mothering is your job. I’m too beautifully tragic to make a good mother, remember?”
By now I hope you know my usual panhandling for comments/critiques...if not, well, ask someone who has...
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Gelphie/Soriku
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words that you will read in this post...all hail Maguire, Squeenix and the rest of the gang.
Finally, after a long absence, we now continue the adventure with Glinda, Elphie and the Keyblade Trio. Thought I died, huh?
As the spires came into view, Glinda’s smile turned from the usual bubbly grin into a more serene, distantly happy one as she guided the bubbles down to a lawn where they popped gently, leaving all of them softly on the ground.
Well, not all of them landed gracefully.
Elphaba, still dour, was sitting cross-legged in the bubble and when it popped, she ungracefully flopped over on her face in the thankfully dry and soft grass.
Kairi giggled at the sight, while Glinda walked over, an impish smirk firmly in place as she offered her hand, saying, “That’ll teach you to run away from me and not at least send a letter.”
“Honestly Glinda, are you STILL bitter about that?” Elphaba muttered, brushing blades of grass from her face and placing her hat, which fell off, back on her head, unpleased as ever.
“Well, are you willing to apologize?”
“I already did.”
“I mean REALLY apologize.”
Elphaba sighed and bent down to eye-level with Glinda and looked her square in the eyes and said, holding her hand, “Listen, Glinda-I did what I needed to as to keep you and the others safe. The Wizard was going to kill anyone associated with me, so I left and made it look like that girl had killed me. I am very, very sorry about the deception, but it was necessary for your sake.”
Nodding and falling quiet, Glinda kept massaging Elphaba’s emerald palm as her cerulean eyes met the warm chocolate of her friends. Her heart skipped a beat, but she looked down, hiding the blush that was flooding her creamy cheeks as she whispered, “I should have gone with you that day.”
“The past is the past, my sweet,” Elphaba said, her voice butter-soft, “Even I learned that we cannot do anything about what has already happened. You made your choice, I made mine. I don’t think either of us made the right decision, but it happened nonetheless.”
“You were probably happier than I was; I had to act cheery as he grabbed more and more power. He had the nerve to come back after the Dorothy incident! I thought I could breathe again, but when he came back, well…I wish he hadn’t, that’s all I can really say.”
Smiling and looking back at the others, she said, “We can talk about this over a drink at the Peach and Kidney, alright?”
Nodding, Glinda lifted her face, the blush thankfully fading as she announced to the three, “Welcome to Shiz University, learning center of Oz and my alma mater.”
“And almost mine,” Elphaba piped in.
Sora looked around and said, “Y’know, this kinda reminds me of Hollow Bastion in a way. You know, like the area around Merlin’s house?”
Riku nodded and said, “I think you have a point here, Sora. Shut up, though-let ‘em give us the tour.”
Glinda laughed as Sora scowled and said, “Okay…” as she turned and pointed to a tall building in the distance. She squinted and then said, “If I am correct, that would be our old dormitory, Crage Hall.
“Oh, the insanity that happened in those hallowed halls,” Elphaba groaned with a smirk.
“You know it,” Glinda returned with a matching smirk.
Bells rang out clearly across the quad they walked through; class had apparently ended and groups began to flow out of the academic buildings in droves. Elphaba’s face went a very pale green as she looked frantically for a tree and climbed up it, concealing herself in the foliage.
Several students came up and bowed, calling out, “Lady Glinda! It’s an honor to see you on campus-who are these people?”
Glinda announced, reclaiming her distantly regal air, “These would be friends from another realm, such as Dorothy; their names are Sora, Riku and Kairi and please make them know why Shiz is legendary for its hospitality.”
“Yes, ma’am,” they intoned, smiling to the others and continued to walk. As soon as the groups cleared, Elphaba hissed from the tree, “I cannot believe I forgot the school schedule!”
“Elphie, I told you-I’ll vouch and you’ll be FINE.”
“Somehow I am less than reassured,” she whispered sardonically.
“Fine, don’t accept my help, green bean…” she sniffed, moving toward Crage Hall.
Elphaba slinked down fluidly, marching up to Glinda and grabbed her by the hair and growled, “Green Bean? You have not called me that in eons, Glinda-should I start calling you by your old name, then? Maybe Miss Galinda, does that sound good?”
Breathing heavily, she adjusted her hat and sighed, kneeling down beside Glinda and saying wearily, “I am terribly sorry, Glinda-this place…brings out the worst in me.”
“So that means I befriended the worst of you?” Glinda asked sagely.
Nodding, Elphaba muttered, “It would seem so-though there is not much difference between the best of me and the worst of me; if there was, I would not be hiding in trees and covering my greenness from all of Oz.”
“Elphie, you’re being a twit…get up-I’m going to have you talk with the NEW headmistress; she is nothing like Morrible, so don’t give me that horrified gape.”
“I really DID rub off on you…sounding so…authoritative. I like it,” Elphaba observed, getting up slowly and smirking.
“Shut up…you are acting just like me, so I suppose we’re even,” she sighed, walking faster toward the looming building.
Falling silent, but giving an intense, defiant look that gave Sora the impression that she was not yet defeated, Elphaba followed. Her hat hid most of her face as she folded her arms, successfully hiding most of her skin and not looking completely conspicuous.
They went into the headmistress’s chamber and a young, severe looking woman sat at the desk and rose, giving a short hug to Glinda.
“Lady Glinda, a pleasure as always. Your letter was…interesting, to say the least. I was under the impression, as was the rest of Oz as you know, that Elphaba Thropp was slain by Dorothy of Kansas coming on one year prior. But now you say that one of the most legendary students of Crage Hall has returned very much alive? I ask pardon for this, but even coming from you that is far-fetched,” she said respectfully.
“Then I suppose you should start believing in the impossible, headmistress,” Elphaba said in a calm, icy tone that sent shivers through Kairi’s spine, “I am very much alive, and very interested in cleansing Oz of this less-than-savory reputation I have earned over the years. Unless this intention, too, is doomed to failure.”
The headmistress went pale as she coughed loudly and said, in a failed attempt at composure, “Miss Elphaba, it is a curious…honor to be able to meet you in person. Erm, what can I do to assist you on this venture?”
“Well, seeing as we have guests that as yet remain nameless to you, I suppose you can assist us by becoming acquainted with all of the guests, and not simply the most infamous of reputation.”
Gesturing to the three, the pregnant silence cued Sora to announce, “I am Sora, this here’s Riku, and the girl is Kairi…we’re all from another world and were sent here to solve some problems having to do with some creatures called Heartless that came here recently.”
The headmistress’ eyes flashed at the mention of Heartless and asked curiously, “Enlighten me on the appearance of these heartless…”
“Well, they’re usually black or dark blue, with glowing eyes and they take a lot of different shapes, but they always have a spiky heart design somewhere on them.”
The headmistress nodded, falling silent for a moment and then got up, speaking in a soft voice, “Fortunately for us, these Heartless have not yet reached Shiz, but most unfortunately for Lady Glinda, it appears they have reached Gillikin and are spreading.”
Glinda’s face fell as she breathed, “Please tell me Frottica hasn’t been taken…”
The Headmistress’ face moved side to side sadly. “I am terribly sorry, Lady Glinda.”
“Are the arrangements in order?” she asked tersely, visibly fighting tears.
“Yes-your old room has been cleared and readied for your sleeping during the stay. Also, the students have been informed that Miss Elphaba has returned from the dead and that in the strictest sense, they are not to inform anyone. I hope this is to both of your liking.”
“You TOLD THEM? Pardon me for finding the lunacy in that decision,” Elphaba hissed, “Seeing as my role in the Wizard’s latest power grabs could lead to disaster for Shiz, I feel that any knowledge of my presence is at best a security risk.”
“Miss Elphaba, I would advise you to trust me-we have ensured that the students and their families are compliant with this request and have been extremely well…compensated for their efforts,” the Headmistress stated evenly.
Taking a long sigh, Elphaba turned around and left the room, muttering, “Whatever you say.”
Sora muttered, “Sheesh, she’s awfully moody,” and looked out of the room, seeing Elphaba stumble, retching.
Glinda had begun to silently cry; tears flowed down her face as Kairi moved in to comfort her.
“It’s alright-we’re here to help, Glinda; Sora, Riku and I are all really good at beating Heartless,” Kairi cooed soothingly.
“I’m not frightened about my hometown, Kairi; I’m frightened of what could happen to Elphaba. She has never dealt with this sort of stress very well-she bottles things up all too frequently. I need to find her-alone-and talk some sense into her. You three may explore Shiz at your leisure.
The three nodded, Sora choosing now to say, “I think she was barfing back there, just to let you know…”
Kairi wrinkled her nose and Riku lightly punched his friend’s arm, growling, “Way to go, genius.”
Glinda blanched and ran off, dropping her wand and tearing off her tiara.
“Elphie, get back here this instant!!” she shouted, seeing the fleeing form of her friend in the distance. Elphaba turned around and stared, tears burning her whole face, as she growled through grated teeth, “THIS is why I did NOT want to come here, GA-linda.”
Gasping at the severity of her tear-burns, she dove in for a tight hug, burying herself in the embrace as she sobbed, “I’m sorry! I-I thought this would help…just shows I’m still the idiot you left on the carriage…”
“The idiot that night was ME, Glinda. I should have never left you; I should have never done many things I did. I will bear the burden of my decisions for the rest of my life, but you don’t have to. I have some perverse second chance after Dorothy killed my doppelganger…” she spoke, staring intently into her friend’s eyes and trailing off at the end.
“You know, she still feels that she needs to be forgiven for what she did. I spoke to her shortly after her second visit here. She couldn’t get the visions of ‘you’ melting out of her head, the poor girl.”
Closing her eyes and taking a steadying breath, Elphaba slowly sighed, “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get enough forgiveness for my stupidity. After Nessa died, the last reminder of who I was on Oz disappeared-I thought you had truly become the Wizard’s lackey and gave up that moment.”
Coughing softly, Glinda said in a choked breath, “Elphaba Thropp, you GAVE UP on something? Pardon me for saying this, but that is quite honestly impossible!”
“Oh it’s very possible, my pretty,” she murmured, “I just need an exceedingly good reason to. Losing everything was definitely a reason.”
“But you still have me, don’t you?”
Nodding, Elphaba sighed and said, “Let us get reacquainted with our old room, shall we?”
Smiling, Glinda pulled out a bottle of oil and applied some on her hand and gently rubbed Elphaba’s burns. “Honestly, Elphaba-you never were good at taking care of your appearance-those burns will leave horrendous scars!”
“I suppose I have you to do it in my stead once more,” she intoned dryly, smirking and wincing at the tenderness of her burn.
“No more crying for you; I’ll have none of this burning nonsense, water allergy or no. If I must gather all of Oz, I swear I shall make you happy before this visit is over.”
Mock-saluting, she laughed and as they walked in, she answered, “Don’t worry Glinda; as long as you are around, I’m rather sure that you will tease at least one smile out of me.”
“I would hope for more than THAT.”
“I’m rather tired-let those three children fend for themselves.”
“How very maternal of you,” Glinda moaned sarcastically.
“Mothering is your job. I’m too beautifully tragic to make a good mother, remember?”
By now I hope you know my usual panhandling for comments/critiques...if not, well, ask someone who has...