A/N: Hello Wicked Fans! Someone of have probably read my other story called You and Me: The Untold Story, which I'm still working on, by the way. But this idea pop into my head after watching this really cool horror game called Until Dawn. If any of you have watched Youtubers play the game or play game yourself, you can probably get the idea of what's going to happen.

Anyway, this is once again an AU. This time Elphaba knows that she's the Wizard's daughter and lives under his care. Nessarose was never born because Melena left Frex after Elphaba was born. You have your favorite pairing, namely Fiyeraba. But since this is mostly an OC centric fic, there will an OC/OC shipping. Not with the first two OCs that make a appearance. Nope. Nadda.

Enjoy!

The Invitation

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

Jo watched as the dots of braille are imprinted on the piece of paper in front of him with such eased. His fingers danced across the buttons with such skill like he's been using a typewriter like this for years. Technically, he kind of has. He could feel a smile curling up his lips when he saw how neatly ordered the dots are. To most people, using a typewriter like this would be difficult since it was actually used for the blind. Thankfully, his eyesight is good so he can see all his mistakes and go back and fix them.

He didn't realize all the loud noises his typewriter was making. He was so wrapped up in his writing he didn't pay attention to anything else around him. Maybe if he did, he would've heard the window clicked before it slid open. He probably could've heard the footsteps coming his way if he weren't so focused on finishing the page in front of him.

He only realized he wasn't alone in the room when he felt a ginormous hand being placed on his little shoulder in comparison. Looking down on his shoulder, he acknowledges how the fingers were uneven; the index finger was the largest and its sizes went down like it was in order from big to small. Each finger was rangy, hardly any meat on them. The nail was also a gruesome sight to behold. They were long, sharp at the tips. They were a sickening brown color, probably from all the stains of their victims.

Jo could feel himself smirking and rolling his eyes. "Wendy, you know I'm too old to be scared by that anymore."

There was hiss that sounded irritated. I wasn't trying to frighten you, is what he would imagine her saying. But the fact she sounded annoyed said otherwise.

Jo lets out a small laugh before he turned around in his seat to face his best friend, Wendy.

Wendy wasn't exactly human, as many people could tell. Her face did hold some small humanly features and her figure did require her to use her two legs most of the time. But those were just small traits that not a lot of people usually see because they only see the bigger traits that definitely show that she's not fully human. One of those traits were her height. Wendy was unnaturally tall, probably around eight feet. She could barely walk through the room without hitting her head on the ceiling, so she had to hunch her back in the one of the most peculiar position. Looking at it now, she was like a cat in its threatening position but Jo knew that she didn't feel currently threatened.

The other thing was her figure. Someone in the group thought that Wendy was walking skeleton, and Jo could agree. She was entirely spindly. There was no meat on her in any shape or form. She was literally all skin and bones. Her stomach was so sunken in you would've thought that she would be starving by now. She actually was, in reality. But she told Jo she endures it for him. It didn't make him feel alright about it, but he knew he couldn't change Wendy's mind because she was more stubborn than him. Still, he could tell that she was desperate even when she didn't show it. Her sickening gray skin told him but that, but Wendy had argued that her skin was natural for someone like her.

Then there were the traits that the people would see right above her human qualities. Her nails were long and sharp, seemly ready to kill anything that gets in their way. Underneath her dry, chapped lips are rows of razor teeth sticking out like a scary predator. Each tooth was stained from her previous victims, giving her an uneven, dirty smile when she ever does smile. The ears that are on the sides of her head had a sharp point, which gave her an almost elf-like impression if she were more human.

To everyone, she was the perfect definition of a monster.

To Jo, he just saw someone who had been wrongfully punished.

When Jo sees Wendy, he doesn't look at all the things that make her a monster. Instead, he saw all the things that make her human. Her nose wasn't just some nostril holes like the pictures he saw of her kind. No, it was like a button. Something you would see on a normal human. But the biggest thing he saw her about her were her eyes.

Though they were milky white and showed no signs of life, Jo could tell that she was once human before. He could faintly see a pupil and an iris that were blended in the whiteness. Jo knew that she was human before whatever happen happened, the fact her eye shows some human qualities speaks for itself.

Wendy turned her head in the direction of the typewriter and the pile of paper that were on the desk. Are you almost done? She probably asked, giving the fact her purr sounded curious.

Jo gave his work a side glance. "Barely," he said with a shrug. "I only have twenty pages to go, and you know how long it took me to do all the others."

Wendy's lips gave a little twitch. She could understand all the time and effort he's been giving to his braille novel. She knew that he didn't get a lot of free time so he used every moment he could get to finish a chapter. She didn't like him exhausting himself, especially considering the circumstances. But she could hardly do anything about it but just be by his side.

Jo had only moved his gaze away from Wendy for a moment before he suddenly sees her rawboned arm reaching for the pile of papers out of the corner of his eyes.

"Hey!" He quickly slapped her hand away, making her recoil like she was a child that just got her hand caught in the cookie jar. "I told you, no spoilers. Even for you, Wendy."

Wendy gave an irked chatter. Sometimes even a beast like her can act like a little child.

Jo would've laughed at her expression if it didn't suddenly die in his throat. What came out was a gag. Like someone had stuck a spoon down his throat and left it there. Before he could say anything a sudden wave of pain washed over his stomach. He screams as he topples over to the ground, his arms wrap securely around his middle.

He couldn't focus on anything else but the pain. It was horrible, stabbing sensation like someone kept stabbing him with a knife over and over again. His vision began to get blurry, he could vaguely remember Wendy's screeches of terror and being lifted up to his bed. Jo could only scream in pain as the feeling kept getting worse and worse. For a moment, he thought he was going to die if Wendy didn't suddenly force his mouth to open all the way and pour the familiar taste of sheep's milk down his throat.

In the midst of drinking, Jo could feel himself relaxing. The cool feeling of the sheep's milk hitting his stomach caused the pain to dull down. After a few more gulps, the pain had finally left and Jo could feel his breathing return to normal. He looked up at Wendy, who was holding him down on the bed with one hand and using the other to hold the jar of milk that she's forcing him to gulp down.

Jo gave Wendy a nod, telling her that he was okay. He could see Wendy relaxing instantly as she took the jar off his mouth and put the cover on. Jo turns his attention towards the ceiling as Wendy puts the jar back in its usual place and returns to his side by sitting on the edge of the bed, her blank eyes staring at his direction in concern.

He sighs, out of breath from his whole episode. "I guess I overdid it again, huh?"

Wendy gave him the expression where she lifts an imaginary eyebrow. That's an understatement.

Jo rolls his eyes. "I'm fine, though, Wendy. You know the only time where I get an episode more than one time a day just means I'm having a really bad day."

Wendy grumbles. Doesn't make me feel any better, he imagined her saying.

Before Jo could say anything on that, a knock on the door caught their attention. Wendy snapped her head towards the old thing at inhuman speed and snarls at the person behind it. He knew that Wendy was only making sure that he wasn't bothered by anybody in the midst of recovering from his episode.

He patted her arm, feeling the flappy rubber skin underneath his palm. "It's okay, Wendy." This made her calm down, but she still kept a wary eye. "You can come in, Wendy isn't going to pounce on you or anything."

The door opened, slowly because the person behind it had heard Wendy's snarl and was afraid that she really might pounce on them. The door had finally opened all the way to reveal a young woman with her raven hair in a French braid. Jo instantly knew who it was, one of the new female dancers. The one who wasn't really used to Wendy's presence.

"E-Excuse me, Master Jo?" The poor thing stuttered, her eyes kept glancing at Wendy's disfigured form. "Master Colpin had sent me to inform you that you and…"

"Wendy," Jo confirmed as he lifted himself up to a sitting position.

"Y-Yes," she nodded, not saying Wendy's name. "Master Colpin had sent me to inform the two of you that we're having a gathering. He said it's very important."

Jo couldn't help but feel curious. Why would this gathering be very important? He'll have to see when he gets down there. "Okay, tell him Wendy and I are coming."

She nodded and was about to close the door when she suddenly stopped. "Also, Colpin has told me that… Your friend must wear her disguise when you come down." With that, she shut the door and they could hear her footsteps scurrying off.

Jo shot Wendy a confused glance, who gave him a curious look in return. They knew what the lady meant. Wendy usually wore a disguise whenever they were in public or when Jo was performing. Since not everyone was used to Wendy's deformed state and strangers will probably order her to be taken away, Jo and the rest of Glikkun's Palooza did everything they could so that Wendy didn't look frightening to others.

After a few weeks of searching, they had finally found the perfect disguise for Wendy. She was given an old, worn-out, brown cloak with sleeves so that no one could see her body. A pair of gigantic, black gloves that were able to hide her disfigured hands. Thankfully, her nails never shredded the old thing. The last thing was a mask. Since people could always take a peek at what was under her hood, Jo decided that she would have to wear a mask.

The mask was the only thing they had trouble finding. Apparently, Wendy's human side decided to show up and she became very picky about the mask she wanted to wear. It was a difficult process since Wendy snarled at all the masks Jo described to her on what they look like. A few people had given up on her before Jo finally found a mask that she liked.

It was gray, not gray like her skin, it was more of a light color. It had the design of a normal human face with eye holes so that Wendy wouldn't have any difficulty seeing - well, at least her eyesight wouldn't be as bad as it already its. The mask had worked for a couple of years, but Jo could see that it was slowly starting to break apart since the thing was already old when he bought it. As he watched Wendy put the mask on, he saw that a piece of the mask had broken off and he could see her milky eyes along with her gray skin underneath the mask.

"You know something, Wendy?" Jo suddenly asked after Wendy got her mask on and turn to his direction. "I think you need a new mask," he could feel himself sighing when he saw Wendy wine, she really was a child. "Don't look at me like that. I know you don't want to have people seeing your face either."

There was a huff, but Jo didn't take the time to understand it as he made his way towards the door. He opens it but stops to turn around and face Wendy. Jo could feel himself smirking when he sees Wendy trying to put on her gloves. "You know for someone who's not human anymore, you still act like a girl."

There was another huff before Wendy finally got her gloves on and began to make her way towards him. Jo laughs as he imagines the look on her face as he grabs her gloved hand and leads her out of the room.

The walk down wasn't difficult since Wendy had gone through this area before so she knew where she's going. But Jo still had to hold her hand in case she might miss a step and fall down, and he knows how she will get if that happens.

Thankfully, they made it down the stairs with hardly any problems. The two of them walk right into the dining room where they see many members of the Glikkun's Palooza together. There was Babyface sitting on a table with his fellow Puppies - who suddenly began to whimper when they saw Wendy coming in. The band was on stage as always, their instruments in hand as if they were performing before they were suddenly stopped by a commotion. The Animal Master was there near the bar, along with the new dancers - the one who came to get Jo and Wendy was there as well.

They finally found Colpin, the leader of the Palooza, talking with a woman they had never seen before. He was pretty much an average man with an average height. His short, messy, black hair was gently hidden underneath his night cap. Jo could definitely tell that he had just been awoken from his sleep since he was in his sleepwear, even his chinstrap beard hasn't been trimmed yet.

As Jo walked closer, Wendy making sure that she was right behind him, he could see the lady more in detail. She was wearing a lavish green dress with a gold trimming. Around her neck was green, fur scarf to match her dress. Her platinum-blonde hair was puffed and pulled back, giving her an impression that she was some snobby upperclassmen. However, after seeing her wrinkly old face covered in an endless amount of makeup Jo was quickly reminded of an old fish he saw at a pond a few days back. When he told Wendy about this comparison, she let out a chortled chuckle. He could only hope that didn't make her hungry at the thought of fish.

Colpin's eyes suddenly meet his own dark eyes across the room. "Ah, there he is!" It was Colpin's sudden announcement of him in the room that caused the Fish Lady to turn her steely gaze towards him. If Jo wasn't afraid of her before, he certainly was now from the way she looked at him like she was judging him.

It didn't help that Wendy could sense his uneasiness and he could faintly hear a snarl coming from her throat. Whenever he felt uneasy around other people he's, it leaves a very bad impression on Wendy's part. She will immediately assume that they're a threat to him and be cautious around those people every clock tick. While he's grateful for how much she cares about of him, it did get a little annoying since those people might not be that bad but they will be judgmental of Wendy because of her attitude towards them.

Jo watched as Colpin gestured for him to come over, ignoring the way Wendy growled once she saw that motion. He squeezed her glove-covered hand to calm her down as he leads her over to Colpin and the Fish Lady, ignoring how she tensed upon realizing that they're going near her. Jo shot Colpin a look before gesturing his head towards the tense Wendy. The man gave him an apologetic look but didn't say anything until the two were at his side.

"Madame Morrible," Colpin addressed the Fish Lady - Jo is still going to secretly call her Fish Lady. "I would like to introduce our own little Chim Dancer, Jo." He turns his gaze back to Jo. "Jo, this is Madame Morrible. The Wizard's Press Secretary."

"It's a pleasure to meet the Chim Dancer, himself." Madame Morrible said, although her face didn't match her words. She gave a quick glance to the hunched figure of Wendy. "And who is this?"

"Uh, this is Wendy," Jo said quickly before Colpin could say anything. "She helps me with my performances. You could say that she's my assistant."

Madame Morrible narrow her eyes at the area where Wendy's face is supposed to be under the hood, probably trying to find out why she's even wearing the hood in the first. She eventually dropped it and turned back to Colpin. "I assume everyone has finally arrived, then."

"Yes, Madame." Colpin nods his head. Jo was beginning to wonder what was going on. Why would the Wizard's Press Secretary, someone very important, visit them? They were just gypsies trying to make it through life with the little money they could earn from the talents that they have.

"Good," Madame Morrible turned her attention towards everyone else in the room. "Attention fellow members of the Glikkun's Palooza, it is my pleasure to inform you all that the Wizard himself has invented you to stay at the Emerald City."

At once, the entire Tavern exploded into excited chatter. Jo, himself, could feel his own excitement coursing through his veins. Wendy, however, didn't understand what the whole fuss was about and jerked her head left-and-right when she heard so many noises all at once.

"Wait!" The Tavern was silenced by the Animal Master himself, whose dark eyes was staring at the Fish Lady in suspicion. "Why would his Ozness request for us? Simple beggars off the streets. What's in it for us?"

Hearing this destroyed the cheerful mood. Their once bright faces turned into suspicious glances, like years of turmoil had caught up with them and it revealed itself right behind their eyes. Seeing this made Jo deflated, his once hopeful expression gone. He suddenly felt a long-sleeved arm being wrapped around his shoulder, giving him a backward hug. Jo almost smiled at the gesture Wendy was using to cheer him up.

"I can assure you all that this is no scam," Morrible tried to reassure them, but the suspicious look in their eyes didn't fade. "The Wizard has heard of your recent comeback and the many positive reviews you had received. He had personally requested for your service, despite your previous history."

If someone were to drop a pin right now, you could've heard it. Those words left an uncomfortable silence amongst the entire Tavern. The newcomers giving each other worry glances. None of them had been a part of the Glikkun's Palooza's old history, they were just replacements for the old members who quit after things were changing. In fact, Jo, Wendy, and Colpin were the only ones that were from the original Glikkun's Palooza since it was the only place they had left. Jo had subconsciously wrap his arms around himself, suddenly feeling self-conscious around everyone else. He could hear Wendy growling softly as she remembers what the old version used to do and tighten her grip on him.

Thankfully, Colpin was the one who broke the silence. "Permit me to speak, Madame," he begins in a polite tone. "But, what is that his Ozness wants with us?"

The old fish turn her gaze towards him, her previous words seemly had no effect on her expression. "I'm sure you are all aware of the engagement of the Wizard's daughter, Princess Elphaba Melena Diggs to the Crown Prince Fiyero Tiggular of the Vinkus," Jo did remember hearing something like that, he and Wendy were walking down the village when they overheard women gossiping at a nearby café. "Well, the Wizard has decided to throw an engagement party in celebration. We have all the necessary requirements when it comes to decorations and guests, but the last thing we need is the entertainment. I just so happened to be nearby when I found all of you."

Nobody said anything after that. Jo could tell that they really wanted to go to the Emerald City, Oz, even the Emerald Palace. But years of being ridiculed for their position in class has taken it's toll on them. He was actually surprised that he, out of everyone here, wanted to go to the Emerald City even though he had the most traumatizing experience out of them all since he was a part of the original group. He knew that Wendy wouldn't be interested herself because she wasn't human around the time where the Wizard was in power. So she has no idea who the Wizard is and what the Emerald City even looks like.

Surprising everyone, even himself, Jo was the one who broke the silence. "Well, I for one want to go to the Emerald City," the eyes are staring at him, but he continues on. "We never had any opportunity like this, you guys," he was addressing to all the performers in the tavern. "This could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing, and you're going to just throw it away? Six years ago, we all promised that we would change the Glikkun's Palooza for the better, and this could be our biggest achievement. We've been asked by the Wizard himself to perform at his daughter's engagement party! I'm sure there isn't a soul in Oz that wouldn't deny something like this."

"You will also be rewarded greatly if you were to perform." Madame Morrible cut in, unknowingly helping Jo's intentions.

"Exactly!" Jo pointed out before he turned back to his fellow members, his face softening. "Look, guys, I get it. We all been through a lot, some more than others," they didn't have to know who he was talking about when he gave a glance towards Wendy's hunched figure behind him. "But isn't that why we joined this group? To not give up on life? I don't know about all of you, but I am not giving up an opportunity like this. So, if anyone wants to come with me to the Emerald City, raise your hands."

He lifted his hand up in the air as he waited anxiously for some type of response. When he didn't see any hands lifted in the air, not even Wendy's, he began to doubt himself. He had no idea what compelled him to start talking, anyway. You do know, that tiny voice in the back of his mind argued. You don't want people to push you around anymore. You want to prove everyone that you're not just some toy to play with.

He believed that tiny little voice, but he still kept his hand up. The eyes were still there, and they were beginning to overwhelm him. Jo was suddenly five years old again, waiting with trepidation for the horrible things to come but the eyes won't stop staring at him. He knew that things were different from back then, but the fear and scars were still there. His hand suddenly felt clammy, sweating with anxiously. The foreboding feeling was suddenly winning and he felt the urge to put his hand down.

Then something amazing happened.

A Puppy rose his right paw. And like that, his siblings followed after him. Seeing that his little assistants are raising their paws, Babyface eventually raise his own hand. One by one, the band raise their own hands, paws, and hooves. The female dancers raise their hands after them. The Animal Master looked like he wanted to object, but he reluctantly caved in and raise his hand. Colpin had risen his own hand by then, giving the raven-haired boy a small smile.

That left only one person.

Jo slowly turned around to look at Wendy, her head in his direction so he assumed she was looking at him. He gave her smile even though he knew she couldn't see it. Although he would rather have her come with him to the Emerald City, Jo wouldn't mind if she didn't. She had sacrificed so much for him. She had stayed to make sure that he was never harmed like the night she had broken free again. She endured every one of his episodes for him. The only way that Jo could think of repaying is by giving her the freedom she deserves.

She raises her gloved hand.

Probably sensing his awed expression, Wendy slowly lifted her head up until only he could see the broken part of the mask behind the hood. The milky eye that's looking at him narrows as if to say, If you think I'm going to leave you alone then you got another thing coming. This actually made a small laugh escape his throat. Even if she decided to leave, Jo won't lie that he won't miss her company a lot. She's been looking after him for as long as he can remember and it would be weird without her by his side. Jo didn't even realize he was holding his breath before he saw the expression in Wendy's blank eyes.

He really didn't know what he would do without Wendy.

"Then it's settled," Madame Morrible said after everyone had put their hands down. "You all will be arriving at the Emerald City by tomorrow. I would suggest getting a good night's sleep tonight before the carriages arrive in the morning. I bid you all a good night."
With that, the old Fish Lady went out of the Tavern. This gave the Glikkun gypsies a chance to celebrate.

"Eins, Zwei, Drei!" Cried the lead guitarist of the band before he and his bandmates began to play the Glikkun's Palooza theme song. At once, a bright and cheerful tone filled the whole Tavern. The way the trumpets blew and how the drums blew gave the music an excited feeling that made everyone inside the tavern dance. The Puppies had begun to hop around Babyface, who try to do a few dance moves but they ended up being awkward hand gestures. The Animal Master was already up on his feet and dancing with the other female dancers. Colpin eventually joined in, doing some of his own funny dance moves.

Jo could feel his face nearly splitting in half from the huge grin he's wearing. Never before had he ever seen these people so happy in his entire life. It was amazing, how one person could bring them all together and forget about the darkness in the world. He probably would've gone and do his own dance if he wasn't suddenly lifted off the ground by a familiar bony arm being wrapped around his waist.

"Wendy!" He shouted, but the humanoid female didn't let him go and began to spin around. Wendy had recognized the music that's filling her sensitive ears was joyful, which means that the people here are celebrating. If the people here are celebrating, then that would mean Jo must be extremely happy about something. If Jo was happy, then it gives Wendy a reason to be happy.

Despite his previous protest, Jo could feel himself laughing as Wendy swings him around in her arms, her own version of dancing. He didn't worry about her dropping him, she knew her own strength. It was then Jo realized how wonderful things are going to get. They all finally found a job where they can earn more than just sustaining themselves. This performance for the Wizard will earn them a name throughout Oz. Not only that, but Wendy will finally get the chance to experience the Emerald City. Possibly the only place that she never knew about when she was still human. Giving Wendy that chance gave Jo hope in his heart.

Things were going to get better.