Once Upon A Tick Tock

Glinda told the story of how she and Elphaba had met, how she had died and how difficult it had been loosing her best friend. Gabrielle listened to the story with open mouth.

"That would make a great story to write down. Would you mind if I pen it down on a scroll?"

Glinda smiled at Gabrielle.

"You are a scribe?"

Gabrielle didn't know the word. But it sounded like their word for Bard.

"I'm a Bard. I write and tell stories. I always keep track of the adventures Xena and I have. It makes great stories to tell."

Glinda was stroking the Grimmerie, she wasn't sure she wanted her lives story written down. The pain was still too fresh for her. She caught Gabrielle looking at the Grimmerie.

"What is that?"

Glinda looked at the Grimmerie.

"This? This is te Grimmerie."

Glinda said as if that was enough information. Gabrielle looked confused. Xena decided to stay out of it. When people started talking about scrolls and writing, she lost interest pretty soon. She was a woman of action.

"What's a Grimmerie?"

Glinda was shocked. They never heard of the Grimmerie? Well, perhaps it didn't exist in this place. That was always a possibility.

"The Grimmerie is a book of magical spells. Page after page written in a language dead to the world. Only a few people can actually read it. It belonged to the Wizard, then it was Elphie's and when she died, I got it. I've been studying it, whenever I get the courage for it."

Gabrielle held out her hands.

"Can I see it?"

An image flashed in Glinda's mind of when she asked Madam Morrible if she could touch the Grimmerie and she had said no.

"If you are careful with it, you can look at it."

Glinda handed the book over to Gabrielle. Xena looked at the book.

"It doesn't seem all that special. It just looks old."

Glinda snorted, which startled her.

"The Grimmerie is more powerful than you can imagine. And don't judge a book by its cover. I mean, look at me. I look like a very sweet and beautiful woman, right?"

Xena and Gabrielle nodded.

"But there is much more to me then the eye can see."

Glinda waved her wand. A bubble started growing and growing until it was big as Xena. Glinda pushed the bubble forward and it enveloped the two women with an audible pop. Gabrielle looked surprised.

"Won't it break?"

Glinda shook her head. She waved her wand and the bubble started to rise. Gabrielle grabbed on to Xena as her feet left the ground. Xena wrapped her arms around her.

"Don't be frightened. It's perfectly save, I promise you."

Glinda guided the bubble over her head, over the trees and brought it back to the ground again where she settled it down gently. As soon as their feet touched the ground, the bubble popped and sparkles and butterflies emerged. Gabrielle gasped.

"Glinda, that's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

Glinda smiled and laid her hand on Gabrielle's arm.

"Thank you very much. Now, would you say I was capable of great magic when you would look at me?"

Both the blonde Bard and the dark haired warrior shook their heads.

"When I saw you first, I thought you were just a little girl that drowned. You are not much bigger then the children in this country,"

Xena explained. Glinda was a little offended by the comment. She might not be that big, but she surely wasn't a Munchkin.

"In the land of Oz our smallest race are the Munchkin. They are even smaller than I am."

Gabrielle and Xena looked surprised. People even smaller than Glinda? It was hard to fathom such a thing, but they had no reason to disbelieve the blonde enchantress.