AN: This is my first attempt at Wicked fanfiction, and is a collaboration between MagicalIrishMusician and I. She also turned me onto the musical, and I am enternally grateful to her for it. At any rate, please read and and comments/suggestions are welcomed and encouraged!

CK

"Glinda the Good will see you now." The guard announced to the fidgety girl in the Shiz university uniform. She stood slowly, shakily, straightening her skirt. She was prepared for this meeting, a small manila folder in her hands. As she walked into the large office, she couldn't help but feel a bit daunted, as most were when meeting the emissary for the long missing great Wizard. From behind her desk, Glinda flashed a warm, welcoming smile.

"Welcome, please sit." She said, bubbly and excited as always, as the girl did as instructed.

"Thank you so much, Miss Glinda."

"No, just Glinda." Glinda corrected her, smile never fading, "Marcelline, isn't it?" Marcelline's jaw dropped.

"You know my name?"

"Yes, I've read your school file quite carefully. You were recommended for this internship by Professor Grimes. He thinks quite highly of you and your sorcery skills." Glinda said, matter of factly.

"Yes, ma'am. He says I'm the finest student he's had in a long time. Since you studied there, in fact." Marcelline noticed a slight break in that smile. Everyone knew the story, it was never made secret. The crack quickly vanished, before Glinda spoke again.

"Yes, that's what he tells me. I certainly hope you live up to those high expectations. Did you prepare the questionnaire I sent you?" Glinda asked, getting a nod. Marcelline laid it on her desk.

"I hope that's OK?" Marcelline said, nervously, as Glinda looked it over. She nodded approvingly.

"Excellent! Welcome to the Emerald City, Marcelline! I look forward to working with you and seeing those skills myself. You'll be my personal assistant. The guards will show you to your suite." Glinda said, distractedly, as one of the guards came in.

"Sorry to interrupt, but you're needed for a meeting with the city planners." He said, shifting slightly. No one liked interrupting Glinda, even if necessary.

"Tell them I'll meet with them tomorrow, and give my sincerest apology for the delay. I'm in need of a few hours to myself. Make sure I'm not disturbed, Franc, and please show our new assistant to her suite."

"As you wish." He said, leading Marcelline out. When the doors closed, Glinda let out a long sigh, collapsing farther back into the chair. Opening the desk, she got out that hat. That hideoteous hat her grandmother had sent her so many years ago. She had kept it close since Elphie died. She now found herself clinching it tightly to her chest.

It had been so long since anyone had even mentioned her; Glinda would have thought it was forgotten all together. Even she tried not to think of it. The misunderstood green girl she had treated so horribly at first and grew to love like a sister.

Twenty years had passed. Twenty years of keeping that secret safe. That the Wizard these Ozeans believed to be their savior was a fraud of infinite proportions. That the green girl everyone feared and loathed so much was as much a victim of him and Madame Morrible as the rest of them. That the Wizard himself had organized and planned the horrible atrocities her dear friend was blamed and chastised for. The façade was as hard to maintain as her public one.

Glinda the good, Emissary to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Executing his infinite wisdom and continuing his work to unite all the people of Oz in his absence. If anyone knew the truth, it would destroy the good work she had done in his absence. Restoring the freedom of animals to speak. Reversing the hatred he had implanted into their minds. While she took sole credit for it, it was her friendship with Elphie that inspired it. She couldn't save her friend, but at least she could keep her true memory alive.

It ate away at her every day. Elphie was nothing like that horrible image she had help build, or at the least never spoke out against. Fiyero was right, and Glinda knew it. Elphie would never have stood by and let such horrindable lies be said about Glinda. But the scared young woman she was, she was too frightened to loose it all for anything. She went along, and that – in her mind- made her as guilty as Morrible and the Wizard combined. Had she dared to actually be the good witch they had already begun painting her as, maybe she wouldn't feel like the old bitter charlatan she had turned into in her own view. As she found herself getting older, that was still her biggest regret.

"I'm sorry, Elphie." She whispered tearfully, hugging the hat as she wished she could her friend.

()

"So how are you enjoying the emerald city so far, Marcelline?" Franc asked, walking her through the elaborately decorated building.

"It's better than the dorms." She commented, distractedly.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's very different from the university." He said, leading her to the room, carrying her bags behind him. He opened the door, revealing a nicely furnished small apartment, "I'm right down the hall, as is Glinda, the door at the end of the hall. Keep your contact pager on you at all times. It's the key to the door as well as Glinda's way of paging you. If I can be of help, let me know."

"No, I'll be fine. But thank you." She said, smiling sweetly, as he left. She carried her bag to the wardrobe. Looking around, she opened it, pulling out a small piece of paper. She went to the bathroom, and stood in front of the mirror, reciting the chant. The mirror began to swirl blue, before settling on one image. An old woman looking back at the young girl thoughtfully.

"What is the news?" She asked, hopefully.

"I'm in." Marcelline answered, getting a relieved laugh.

"Very good. Bide your time wisely, child. Remember, everything must be in place before you can begin. I've waited too long to risk loosing it now." The woman said, with an evil cackle.

"I know, mother. But I don't understand . . ."

"You don't need to understand. You need to do as I tell you to. Aren't you tired of hiding who you really are?"

"Yes, but . . ."

"Then follow my instructions, and you won't have to much longer." With that, the image faded back into the normal mirror. Marcelline sighed. She had studied and waited since her fifteenth birthday for this invitation. And still now her mother had nothing good to say.