Glinda knew she was in over her head the moment she saw the beast. It was a six legged, lizard like monster, with razor sharp teeth the size of her forearm and beady red eyes. Still, she didn't have much of a choice. Help was more than thirty miles east, and the town was in danger of being completely demolished unless she acted fast.
"Hey!" She yelled, capturing the beast's attention while drawing her blade. The monster grumbled, lowered its head, and sneered. "This isn't your home. Leave or I will make you."
A shiver raced down the beast's spine causing a prickly frill to raise about its head. A foul breath of air escaped its nostrils. The monster lunged, talons ready to tear her to pieces. Side stepping, Glinda arched her blade towards the thigh of the beast. It grazed the leathery skin, drawing a large pink gash across its flesh.
Hissing in pain, a large tail flicked about catching Glinda in the side. Tumbling backwards she staggered to her feet in time to deflect a hungry bite. She punched the monster clean across the snout and slipped her blade across its nose into its eye.
Yellow oozed across the monster's face but Glinda miscalculated how far she'd plunged the weapon into its skull. Her sword was stuck and a large paw racked across her body. She could hear sections of her armor tearing open. The force of the hit was winding and she was tossed aside with ease. 
Hungry to draw blood, the beast pounced, tail swishing behind it like an excited dog. Snapping jaws threatened to eat Glinda up, but she wrestled its mouth open fighting off a gag at its foul breath. Arms shaking, she tried to keep control of its head but the monster was nothing but muscle. Her hands slipped, the beast's jaws snapped shut over her arm.
A cry of pain forced its way from her chest as she was shook about like a chew toy. But then the beast froze. It's eyes dilated as panic set in. Something was wrapping the beast up-an invisible force. It's head jerked violently to the side, the sound of bones snapping rang in Glinda's ears, and she was dropped shortly after. The monster fell over in a heap of dust unmoving.
"Magic," she hissed, eyes full of fire ready to pounce on the person responsible when she too froze.
Across the way, no more than thirty feet was a girl dressed in black, weary from travel, pointed hat somewhat wilted, and green skin vibrant against the blood stained yellow road. Silence settled between the two. Glinda broke it first. "Great, this thing gives you hallucinations when it bites."
"Glinda?" The question was weary, afraid.
"This is going to be a pain until it wears off," the blonde sighed, struggling to pull her sword from the beast's skull. "Come on!"
"Glinda, it's me."
"Yeah I know, and I'm a flying monkey." The sword released but the force sent Glinda straight to her butt. In an instant someone was pulling her to her feet.
"Don't be foolish." The voice was stern now, and Glinda felt her heart stop albeit momentarily. She pushed the girl away and held up her blade.
"Who are you?" The blonde demanded. Her eyes were fierce but her expression was one of confusion.
"Glinda it's me. Elphy."
"She's dead," Glinda frowned, her sword still poised for an attack.
"No-I...I know that you think that. That everyone does, but I'm not. It's me. I'm here." Elpheba insisted, nervously eyeing the sword that could gut her.
"Tell me one thing only Elpheba would know," Glinda demanded.
"Your mother's middle name is Meredith." Elpheba replied. "Your father's is Raphael. They sign your letters with those names so the media won't know it's them. So no one takes the letters from the mail."
A flash of recognition morphed the blonde's features, but her expression turned to one of uncertainty and pain. "How?"
"It's a long story," Elpheba sighed, her own posture relaxing as Glinda hesitantly sheathed her sword. "You've changed. A lot."
"Time is brutal," Glinda frowned.
An awkward silence settled over them again.  
"You're hurt." Elpheba noted the gouges torn into Glinda's armor and the bloodied scratches on her pale skin. "I could-"
"I'm fine," Glinda replied harshly. "I don't need magic."
Elpheba nodded, albeit confused, and shifted from foot to foot. "Listen, I-I need your help."
"Sure." Glinda nodded. "This makes sense. My dead friend is talking to me. Alright, let's roll with the punches I suppose. You want my help, you walk with me back home and you tell me what the hell happened to you for the past three years."
"Okay," Elpheba nodded, hands nervously holding the strap of her satchel. "How far do we have to go?"
"30 miles," Glinda explained, "it'll take until night fall. I hope you haven't grown soft after all this time."
"Me? Never," Elpheba smiled faintly, "I walked all the way here didn't I?"
"From where?"
"The perimeter," the witch replied, moving carefully to match Glinda's stride.
"That's far," the blonde noted. "You spent two weeks traveling just to ask for my help?"
"It's important."
"It must be, in order to resurrect yourself from the dead," Glinda muttered. "We can't go into the city or they'll kill you on sight. We go to the central camp."
"Camp?" Elpheba asked.
"A lot has changed in three years," Glinda reminded.
"So it seems."