The Space Between: Beginnings

23. Walls Crumble Down

Elphaba walked down the central street of the Isle of the Lost. Of late, with her own children gone, she had a lot of free time. And she had been using that time to tutor the younger children on the Isle. They all wanted to be good. To make a difference. Break free from Maleficent- arguably a tall order, but who was Elphaba to complain?

She herself had gone against a dangerous tyrant, and these children wanted to bring down another one, who just happened to be her friend. If she could even call her that. She wanted the new generation to achieve their dreams, even if the entire world insisted on seeing them as evil.

In fact, the entire 'tutoring' thing was merely a cover for what they were really doing. She and Jafar had started a little club for those who wanted to do good, but without adopting the morality and sugary optimism of the so-called heroes. In other words, as Freddie Facilier had said, they were the 'Anti-Heroes Club'. Promoting villainy on the cover, but working against it deep down. It had just started with three people- Elphaba herself, Jafar and one of the newer villains on the Isle, the self-defence instructor at Dragon Hall, Mother Gothel's daughter, Cassandra. As the club had grown, Elphaba and Cassandra had taken charge of recruitments.

As much as Elphaba hated to acknowledge it, despite their age difference, she had warmed to Cassandra. And Cassandra definitely had a thing for her. Even if she didn't know Elphaba's real name, for in the Club, Elphaba was mainly known as 'Fae'. Her old codename, from her Resistance days. It felt the same, yet different, for this time, the so-called tyrant was her first friend in this prison.

At that moment, she was going to meet one of their newest recruits: Archdeacon Frollo's adopted daughter, Claudine. She knocked at the door of the bell tower, and it opened to reveal a slim thirty-something girl with short dark hair and grey-green eyes, dressed in a maroon and grey outfit with black gloves. Elphaba smiled and said, "Hello, Cassandra. Seen Claudine?"

"Yeah. She's gone to get some stuff," Cassandra replied, an adoring look in her eyes as Elphaba came in. "You know, Fae, I guess you'll clinch the deal for her. I mean, you are the literal personification of the definition of an anti-hero."

"Cassandra, I'm almost double your age, remember? You need to stop sounding like you've got a crush on me. 'Cause that's going to turn into an entire conversation on our feelings. And I don't do touchy-feely. At least I haven't since-"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Cassandra apologised, looking at the floor.

"Cassandra, come on. There's no need to apologise," Elphaba replied, playfully smacking Cassandra on the shoulder.

Cassandra smiled a bit, but her smile faded as she remembered something. She sighed, "You know, Fae, I don't think anyone else here understands what regret is."

"You know I do," Elphaba replied, gently. "It's still after me. Like a lousy little pest."

"You know what I mean. Sometimes I wish the entire Moonstone problem was just another awful nightmare-"

"But it really happened. You can't undo it," Elphaba replied, almost despondently.

"I...I just wish I could meet her again. I wish she would forgive me for all this. Though I don't think she will."

"Cassandra, it's alright. You loved her. You tried your best to protect her, and were always pushed aside for her sake. It takes courage to stand up to your enemies, but true courage is when you can stand up to your friends, look them in the eye, and tell them that they were wrong. And when that time comes, just remember that all you have to do is the next right thing."

"Um, Miss Cassandra, is there anything- oh Miss Fae, I didn't know you were coming too! Oh my gosh, this is so exciting!" a jade-eyed ginger of about eleven squealed as she came out of another room. Elphaba smiled and said, "So, you must be Claudine."