Ready for me to try to overwork myself? Because I'm pretty terrible at keeping multiple stories going but this little plot bunny kept me from sleeping last night so I figured . . . okay then, I'll write you!

Oh, and sorry about this chapter being a kind of filler, but every story has to start somewhere.

"I knew you'd be back!" The Wizard's edited voice echoed darkly through the room and Elphaba flipped about, reaching for her broom – her only way out. But the Wizard darted out from behind his deceiving machine and grabbed it first, holding it away from her. "Just hear me out! I don't want to harm you."

Elphaba glared, pushing her emptiness, her sadness down and away, "Well, you have harmed me."

"I know." The Wizard looked down, "And I regret it. Elphaba –"

"Stay where you are! I am going to free those monkeys and if you try to stop me or call the guards –"

"I'm not going to call anyone! The truth is, I'm glad to see you again. It gets pretty lonely for me around here and I know," He looked deep into the broken face of the green girl, "and I know you must get lonely too."

Elphaba's eyes lit with the inexpressible anger of the betrayed, "You don't know the first thing about me!"

"Oh but I do!" The Wizard implored but Elphaba only turned away, "I know the real reason you came back here, it's why everyone comes to see the Wizard; so I'll grant their hearts desire."

Elphaba glared at the connection between the wall and the floor, "I don't want anything from you."

"Yes you do, you want to stop fighting, stop running." She turned slightly towards him, intrigued against her will, the Wizard took another step towards her, "Elphaba, you've been so strong through all of this, aren't you tired of being the strong one? Wouldn't you like someone to take care of you? Please." He extended the handle of the broom out to her and she snatched it as though it were a log in a sea of water. "Can't we start again?"

"Don't you think I wish I could? Wish I could go back to that time when I actually believed you were wonderful?" Elphaba gestured wildly at the Wizard, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! No one believed in you more than I did!"

"Elphaba, I didn't ask for this!" The Wizard gestured at the throne room, lit up like Lurlinemas, "Or plan it in advance!"

Elphaba rolled her eyes but the Wizard shook his head, "Did you plan on becoming a fugitive to help the Animals? Or a symbol of wickedness to the rest of the world?"

Elphaba looked down, the walls around her emotions already beginning to break down. The Wizard seized his chance, "You don't have to be an outcast. You can help people – and Animals from right here! Elphaba, the people would sing your praises! Your skin would be called beautiful or unique, a novelty in the land of Oz. Loved not most celebrated are the rehabilitated, you could be a hero; the light and hope of everyone who has ever made a mistake or spoken for what they believed in!"

Elphaba bit her lip, her heart yearned for acceptance, for love, for all that he was offering but her mind . . . it still saw through the Wizard's lies. She looked up into his eyes looking at her in a fatherly way and made up her mind. "Ok, I'll accept your proposition –"

"Wonderful!"

"On one condition, you set those monkeys free." The Wizard looked startled but gave her a smile.

"Done!" He pulled a lever and shrieking filled the air. The monkeys flew around in a confused jumble, knocking over furniture and banging against the windows.

Elphaba raced over to the largest window and opened it, "Fly! Fly, monkeys, fly! Chistery! Are you ok?" She checked the monkey who was standing at her feet for injuries. Finding none, she gestured to the window, "Fly! Chistery! Come on! Go!"

Chistery shook his head, clinging to her skirt until every last monkey had flown to freedom. The Wizard chuckled as Elphaba attempted to disentangle from the monkey, "Chistery is very loyal, there's no chance of you getting rid of him now."

Elphaba glared at the Wizard for a moment but Chistery hugged her and a smile lit her green face. Elphaba laughed for the first time in months and returned the hug, her happiness lighting the whole room.

The Wizard sighed in relief, giving Dillamond a kick as a warning and punishment for attempting to crawl out into Elphaba's sight. Chistery broke away from Elphaba and flew up to the ceiling shrieking the whole way. The green girl covered her ears, glaring up at Chistery who ignored her discomfort.

Voices shouted from below and the Wizard cursed, "Sorry m'dear, but I'm afraid my guards will be here at any moment. The monkeys don't usually make such a racket."

Elphaba grasped her broom tighter but the Wizard gave her a smile, "I'll just have to explain –"

"Your Ozness! Are you alright?" Fiyero's voice faded out as the Gale force began to bang down the door.

The Wizard darted behind his mask, motioning for Elphaba to stay where she was. "Enter!" The deep electronic voice boomed, shaking Elphaba to her core as memories pressed to the forefront of her mind.

Fiyero and the guards burst through, guns at the ready and at the sight of Elphaba they stopped, shocked. Elphaba could only look at Fiyero though, "Oh, Fiyero . . ."

"Silence, Witch!" His expression flickered, as if he was trying to make up his mind but the Gale Force rushed forward, grabbing Elphaba and snatching her broom away. She looked to the giant golden head which was watching the proceedings with interest.

Fiyero's gun lowered until it was pointing at the ground. "Your Ozness, what should we do with her?"

The head's eyes burned red, a harsh color, "She may still be useful. Take her to Southstairs until I decide what to do with her."

Elphaba screamed, "You – You – LIAR! That's all you ever do! LIE –" Her face was a mask of anger but her eyes shone with betrayal.

"Take her away!" The Wizard gave a maniacal laugh as the green girl was dragged out the door, Fiyero trailing behind the Gale Force with looking lost.

Once outside Elphaba began to try to pull away, "Let me go! Let. Me. GO!"

The guards wrestled against her until a hardened veteran (by the medals on his uniform) raised the butt of his gun to knock her out.

"No!" Fiyero snapped out of his trance and caught the gun as it swung down to crush Elphaba. "No."

Elphaba was shocked into silence but a shriek echoed from down the hall, "Elphie!"

Glinda rushed towards her best friend only to be held back by a guard, "It's not safe, miss."

"Fiyero, what is going on?"

"They're taking me to Southstairs." Elphaba said angrily, jerking against the guards, even kicking their legs in an attempt to get free.

"That's it!" The veteran brought the gun smashing down on Elphaba's face and her eyes didn't open again.

"Fae!" Fiyero rushed to her side, trying to stem the flow of blood from her head.

"Fiyero?" Glinda's voice echoed worriedly from behind the guard, "I can't see what's going on! Fiyero!" She tried to push past her guard and succeeded only to slip in a small pool of red liquid. "Elphie?" Glinda kept her eyes on the ground, terrified of what she'd see if she looked up.

So! What do you think? Good, bad? An utter failure that I should give up on? Review! I'm dying to know what you think oh and please (If you have a facebook) could you go like my page? It would make my day, even if you don't review the story.

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