Title: Burning Brightness

Author: Angel Leviathan

Disclaimer: Wicked, characters, concept, etc, aren’t mine.

Spoilers: Most of the musical.

Notes: For Nikej. Musical-verse, not book.

-

She thought she had known her. She never presumed to believe she could ever anticipate her actions, but she really thought she had known Elphaba. Now Glinda was left with everything she had ever told herself she wanted, with an ache in her heart along for the ride. She had done the right thing in helping Elphaba get away. She could never have talked her down, never have controlled her. Just like she could have never gone with her.

Glinda had all the power that she had desired since she was a little girl. She had never been downtrodden, she had always been the popular one, able to manipulate everything and everyone into whatever she wanted. She had tried to change Elphaba. She had thought it was for her own good. But for her good…? Or for the good of Glinda herself? Now she had wealth and fame and adoration, everything she had ever wanted. During some moments, she wished she had never met Elphaba. Then she wouldn’t know how fake everything she had was.

Elphaba was unpredictable. Glinda could never keep up with her. What hurt the most was that she knew, deep down, that Elphaba was a better person than she was. She stood up for what she believed in. Yet now it was herself being hailed as ‘good’ whilst there were groups out there screaming for Elphaba’s blood and declaring her ‘wicked’. Her green friend really did some good in the world. And what did she do? Smiled and shone and lied her little heart out to keep up the front.

She was weak. That was what it all came down to. She liked to be safe, never step outside her comfort zone. Elphaba had been outside that zone, and look what she had brought. It was easier to take orders and comply and tell everyone what they wanted to hear. Have everything handed to her on a plate. All for lies. All for nothing. Elphaba was brave. She fought even when it hurt. Glinda couldn’t fight. Even with support. She wasn’t strong enough. She just couldn’t risk losing everything. She had been a spoiled, bratty little girl and now she was a spoiled, selfish young woman.

Glinda had never been able to figure Elphaba out. She liked to think she knew her better than anyone in the world. But nobody knew the self styled ‘witch’ better than herself. She adored Elphaba as the best friend she had ever had. But she made her feel like the worst person ever to live. She would give up the gowns and the parties and the riches just to get her back. The brighter she shone, the dirtier she felt. She needed someone to ground her and tell her she was a ridiculous, blonde fool.

She couldn’t fight.

And Glinda knew her weakness wasn’t going to cost her, but Elphaba.

Stupid, impetuous, brave, ridiculous, wonderful Elphaba. She wanted to solve the puzzle.

It was just too late.

Fin