Chapter Text
Elphaba POV
The sounds of busy feet echoed in Elphaba's ears. The entire city was buzzing with anticipation.
It has been six months into her reign and an engagement celebration was finally happening.
The rebuilding of Munchkin Land didn't take as long as she expected, and now was a perfect time to celebrate before Nessarose and Boq returned home.
Elphaba walked the city with Glinda and Christery.
"Brodcasts of your speech will be shown to the entire city and different businesses have been paid to offer free services and food for the day." Glinda said, keeping in step with Elphaba.
"How are the guards doing?" Elphaba asked as she watched the banners be hanged.
"They are well, Your Ozness. They are on rotation so everyone can enjoy the celebration." Christery responded.
"Make sure no one is overworked. That includes you, Christery. You must have some fun sometimes." Elphaba said.
"I find happiness in keeping you safe, my Queen. I am an old soldier stuck in his ways." Christery said with a smile.
Elphaba smiled and sighed.
"As long as you enjoy the celebrations even for an hour. Celebrate my happiness with me."
"I will, Your Ozness." Christery said.
A crash was heard and Elphaba saw flowers falling from a balcony.
As the flowers fell, bubbles began to surround them.
The flowers were floated back to their original place.
Elphaba glanced over at Glinda.
"Getting better at using your magic without a wand?" Elphaba asked, a smirk trying to escape.
"I must. I can't let myself fall behind you and Nessarose. I couldn't bare it." Glinda said with a laugh.
They finished their rounds around the city and headed back to the palace.
Elphaba had paperwork to finish.
Since the battle in Munchkin Land, it has been hard to placate public opinion.
Munchkin Land citizens have been dealing with a lot of mistrust and it has been affecting their exports.
Elphaba has tried having Glinda calm everyone, but she has not been able to make much progress.
As Elphaba sat in her new office, she looked over her new proposal.
She was to implement Boq's new crops into the market.
He had figured out a way to make crops last and stay fresher for longer.
This would appeal to more rural places in Oz and help people who are having food difficulties.
Elphaba knew that these new crops could improve Munchkin Land's reputation and were a perfect place to start building back the trust Melena broke.
As she made the final touches, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter." Elphaba said.
"Hello, Your Ozness."
Elphaba instantly felt embarrassment wash over her.
"You don't have to call me that, daddy. It's so embarrassing." Elphaba said as she looked up at her father.
Her father laughed.
"It is only proper, my little emerald. Everyone will be calling you that for a long time." He said as he sat down across from her.
"Yes. Everyone else. Not the people closest to me. The only one I haven't been able to stop is Christery. He said a soldier of the crown cannot take such liberties." Elphaba said, exasperated.
"Christery is proud of his station. Don't fault him too much. I came to talk about the wedding preparations." Her father said.
"You mean the engagement celebration tomorrow?" Elphaba asked.
"No. The actual wedding preparations. Glinda has been running around Oz like a mad woman. She has been planning both weddings while still doing her actual job. I'm afraid she's going to collapse any day now."
Elphaba rubbed her temples.
She had told Glinda to delegate different wedding preparations to different people so she wouldn't get overwhelmed.
"I've already spoken with her about this. She hasn't taken my advice." Elphaba said.
"It is time to make her. For her own good. She is hiding it well, but she won't hold on for much longer. I'm pretty sure I saw her wearing flats. In all the years I have known that girl, I have never seen her out of heels." Her father said.
"That is concerning. I'll speak to her and provide her with a team." Elphaba said.
"Good. I have been speaking with Fiyero as well. He is to be King Consort soon and I have been brushing him up on his new duties once you marry." He said.
"He has been meeting with the royal tutors. Why are you assisting him?" Elphaba asked.
She knew her father was up to something.
"He is marrying my daughter. I have to make sure he knows what that means. I may not be king anymore, but I am still going to make sure you are protected." He said in a serious tone.
Elphaba smiled.
"Thank you for still looking out for me, daddy, but Fiyero has more than proven himself."
"I'm also a bit bored. Retirement is still something I'm getting used to." He said.
Elphaba laughed. She knew her father had something up his sleeve.
"Just enjoy the celebration tomorrow and then I'll find you something to help with. Your council is always accepted, daddy."
Her father said goodnight and left Elphaba to her work.
Six months seems like such a small span of time as a Queen.
Elphaba was thrust into country relations in turmoil and political maneuvers that she had to learn.
She was finally finding her footing and moving forward with her wedding.
Nessarose and Boq would marry first in Munchkin Land and then Elphaba and Fiyero in the Emerald City.
Elphaba stared out at the setting sun.
She always felt like she was standing atop the world from this office.
The entire city was visible and people were putting the final touches on their stores and homes.
This view always reminded Elphaba that she was a Queen for the people.
She would protect Oz and its peace.
It was her duty, but also a promise she made herself.
She would not let power take her over.
The people of Oz have given her all their trust and Elphaba was going to make sure she didn't let them down.
She would start with the new crops and make sure no one in Oz went hungry.
It was the first big step in her reign.
She learned many lessons from war.
She will never have the loyalty of all her subjects.
Many things can go wrong at any time.
But most importantly, she learned to trust those who did care.
The war was won because of everyone's help.
Her engagement and wedding would solidify her in the hearts of the people and show them how much she wants to share with them.
Elphaba would make sure that her people remembered how much their Queen cared for them.
Elphaba and Fiyero were the future of Oz and their children after them.