Disclaimer: Not mine, nor will it ever be. They belong to Maguire, Schwartz, Holzman, and Platt.

A/N: The chapters of this story are told from a third person outlook, but delves alternately into the tales of Elphaba and Fiyero, with the exception of the second scene. I will try to stick to the mind of one character each chapter after this one.

Elphaba’s flight was erratic. Nessarose wasn’t anything like she was back at Shiz. Instead of the naïve, sweet young Nessarose, there was a harsh and unforgiving Madame Governor who abused the munchkins under the statement that she cared for them.

She had to be the Wicked Witch once again. It was her least favorite role to play, so she spent her time avoiding the guard instead of playing up the reputation. It’s not like she would be caught if she did. She memorized the spells for that.

She had to be the Wicked Witch to save Boq. Unfortunately, for the cause of saving his life, she had to destroy his body. He needed to live without a heart, and she couldn’t get a human body to live without it. She had made him into a tik-tok, only without the need to be wound. She heard her sister yelling that it was her fault once again. She realized that she had been who she hated to become then.

In her frustration with herself for having done such a thing, she couldn’t concentrate on hiding during her flight to the City. It was hard to decide why she wanted to go. Thinking back, the idea sparked her right after Boq wanted to go to Glinda’s engagement ball… to Fiyero. Was that it? But which one did she want to see, her best friend? Or the man she dreamt of every night because she refused to face her infatuation during day?

A Gale Force scout, posted in Munchkinland for reasons not related to the Witch, saw her flying irregularly, and took the quickest path to the Emerald city, knowing she would not come until she believed it safe.

The giant head of the Wizard looked at the scout. “The Witch, you say? Where was she?”

“Over the Yellow Brick road, about a quarter of the way from the Governor’s Mansion to the City. She was flying erratically, and I don’t know where she is headed, but I fear she may try to ruin the ball.”

The wizard thought for a moment. “Have the ball changed to the room closest my throne room. If the Captain objects, let him know that the orders come from me, and they should not be questioned.” The scout nodded, as he turned around, the Wizard shouted for him to wait.

“Yes, your Ozness?” the scout asked.

“I have one last task for you. Go into the cage, and kill the goat. If the witch comes, he’ll be a danger to my plans. For good measure, get rid of the body.”

The scout nodded and quietly entered the chamber filled with caged animals. A single gunshot came out a moment later, causing the monkeys to chatter and howl at the noise.

Elphaba’s plans to spy on the ball were changed, to say the least. In her poor need to try and stay hidden, she came to the palace just as the ball ended. She only saw the couple celebrated that night for a moment, leaving the room for bed. They seemed quite pleased.

Well, Fiyero always loved to dance, and Glinda loved to be near Fiyero, so they had to have been happy. Without a cause, she paced the ceiling trying to come up with some new reason to enter the palace. After all, she came all this way, risking detection for a good portion of the last leg.

She found herself half-heartedly muttering the levitation spell, and she had the idea, free the Monkeys. And besides, hadn’t she used that as an excuse to leave for the city when she spoke to her sister? She quickly found herself in the throne room, knowing that was the location of the cage last time. She searched all over for a switch, a false stone, something that would open the cage.

“I knew you’d be back,” came the booming voice of the Wizard head. Elphaba turned around startled. The Wizard had simply grabbed the magnifier from the Head’s setup. He stood next to it smugly.

“I’m freeing the monkeys,” she said. “There’s nothing you or your stupid Gale Force can do about it.”

He shook his head, finding a seat. “That’s not why I’m here. I won’t stop you. I’m here to give you a second chance. A fresh start in the eyes of Oz.”

Elphaba stood there, somewhat interested in what he suggested. He used her willingness to still be there to tell of his own story. He said he was wonderful simply because that is what he was called when he got there. She gave her thoughts occasionally, but he always turned the words back at her. They were more alike than they seemed. About the only thing the two disagreed on was Animal Rights.

“I’ll make you Wonderful,” he said. “Enchanting, if you wish.”

“That sounds… great,” she said. “I accept your proposition.”

“Wonderful!” he replied mirthfully waving his hands gleefuly.

“Under one condition,” she added right after, surprised he found a space to interject. She did have a cause to be here, no matter how young it was. “You set those monkeys free.”

He nodded and flipped the switch. She saw the monkeys flying through the air and laughed jovially at her small victory. She gave up her freedom for theirs, but if her time wandering the world meant anything, perhaps giving up her freedom would allow policy to change.

“Welcome to my court, Elphaba.” He extended his hand. She took it, letting him shake her hand wildly. “I don’t want it getting out that you’re on the right side until I want to. You’ll stay in the private halls of the palace until a ball. I’ll send people to give you a new wardrobe, and a member of the Gale Force to protect you at all times.”

There was another similarity. He seemed just as talkative as he had been in her youth, before she had to deal with her title. But still, she did this to help the Animals.

If only she knew one had died to make sure she got that far. Her former teacher and inspiration, Doctor Dillamond.