Prologue

The wind swept through her long, dark hair as she travelled into the blackened sky. She could feel the ends of her cloak dancing beneath her feet, and the rim of her pointed hat flapped in the breeze. She tightened her grip on the broomstick and continued into the night, flying high above the Land of Oz. She closed her piercing brown eyes and took a long, deep breath. For the first time in a while she was able to relax – she actually had the chance to think. It seemed all too long ago that she was able to just sit down, clear her head and think. So much had happened in such a short amount of time, she owed it to herself to unwind and take in the cool air and the seemingly endless space around her while she could.

The moonlight cast a nonchalant glow against her lean shape and body, but her green skin was still inevitably visible, even in the shadows. The woman had been the unnatural colour since birth and all her life she'd always deemed herself a curse, resenting anybody who ever judged her pea-green skin. "Unlimited," she concentrated on being positive; "my future is unlimited."

Elphaba Thropp sighed. Her eyebrows creased, and she opened her mouth to allow the fresh air to cool her insides and to dry her lips. Stopping to exhale, she watched the specks of light zoom passed below her as she soared over the tops of lengthy rivers and the vast forests. They resembled nothing more than tiny crumbs in an empty bowel of fruitcakes at this height, and she loved it – she felt free.

Elphaba continued to fly through the air aboard her broomstick for what felt like hours. The woman with skin the colour of emeralds had been alone before – in fact, she hadn't been in contact with a single person for over four years up until tonight, but right now she didn't mind it. She knew exactly where she was headed, and she didn't care however long it took to get there.

She'd just flown from her late father's residence where she'd made her first proper appearance in almost half a decade. Her sister Nessarose had recently become the new Governor of Munchkinland – a position their father held until his untimely demise – and Elphaba had hoped for forgiveness after being absent from her sister's life for such a long time, and so unexpectedly too. But the attempt failed.

"After he learned what you'd done," she recalled what Nessarose had told her of their father, "how you'd disgraced us. He died of shame... embarrassed to death!"

Truth be told, Elphaba truly regretted her decision to abandon her sister that eventful day a few years ago. It was a mistake, but she didn't exactly have time to think it through either; thatwas an impossible task, especially considering how it all happened.

As the breeze whizzed by Elphaba, she couldn't help but reflect back on the events that had led her to this night. She kept remembering the term everybody back in Oz used to refer to her now – the "Wicked Witch of the West" or something. Apparently you get named such things when you try to be a good person these days. Sure, she was hurt. Yes, she felt mocked. But regardless, it didn't bother Elphaba anymore – she'd given up trying to please everyone, and as much as it pained her to realize it, her efforts were evidently worthless up against the rest of Oz. It was just too hard now.

"I have done everything I could for you, but it hasn't been enough." Elphaba remembered the last thing she'd said to her sister before fleeing, "And nothing ever will be."

Elphaba had an unhappy childhood, growing up only with her sister and their father. Their mother died giving birth to Nessarose, a death that probably could've been prevented if it weren't for their father's attempt at avoiding the new baby from "coming out green". When their mother was carrying Nessarose, their father made her chew milk flowers so that the unborn wouldn't arrive the same way as Elphaba. But the milk flowers had defected and it resulted in Nessarose being born a cripple with tangled legs. As a result, Nessarose was confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Exactly how Elphaba was born with green skin remained a complete mystery, but their father still made sure he did everything he could to assure it never happened again – his preference between the two daughters evident from the beginning. A pair of silver, jewelled shoes was among the many gifts he'd given Nessarose to make up for his wrong-doing because he was the reason she could never walk.

It was due to her father's "preferential treatment" that Elphaba was so excited about attending Shiz University, which was located in the northern province of Oz. She had always been enthused by education, and always longed to learn new things. So, being given the chance to go to Shiz University was a dream come true for Elphaba – even if it was with her sister's best interests at heart.

"I'm only sending you to this school for one reason." Elphaba's father told her.

"I know. To look after Nessa."

Despite being overwhelmed by going to school, the reaction from other students about Elphaba's presence wasn't at all inviting. Everywhere she went people would stare at her, making faces and whispering cruel comments to one another.

"Bright? She's phosphorescent!"

"It seems the artichoke is steamed."

"Maybe he saw green and thought it meant go."

Elphaba still cringed at the thought of these remarks.

On her first day at Shiz, she'd made an immediate rival in Galinda Upland, who was spoiled and popular. With long, curly blonde hair, the girl was adored by nearly everyone, as opposed to Elphaba who was detested and misunderstood from the moment she stepped foot into the school.

Madame Morrible, the headmistress of Shiz who specialized in weather and Sorcery, had decided that Nessarose would share accommodation with her, as to provide the best care for the young, wheelchair-bound child, as by request of their father. And since he made no arrangements for Elphaba to stay anywhere, Galinda had inadvertently offered to share her private suite with the green girl – a mistake that furthered the loathing between them.

Angry and protective over her younger sister, Elphaba insisted she take care of Nessarose during their time at the school, but Madame Morrible refused. This accidentally triggered Elphaba's then-uncontrollable powers, magically bringing her sister back into the room to the shock and surprise of everybody around. Elphaba was never able to manage her magic – her power seemed too strong for even her to handle. Why? Nobody knew.

"Something just comes over me sometimes. Something I can't describe. I'm sorry."

"Never apologize for talent," Madame Morrible smiled, "talent is a gift!"

An impressed Madame Morrible, who took note that Elphaba's talents may be of use to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, promised to give Elphaba private Sorcery lessons that semester – a privilege she'd since denied Galinda from undertaking, which had made the blonde envious.

Doctor Dillamond, a Goat and Shiz University's only Animal professor, taught History during Elphaba's time at the school. In one class, an anti-Animal slogan had been vandalized onto the back of his blackboard; those words were now painted in Elphaba's mind forever – "Animals should be seen and not heard". The vandal was never caught.

After dismissing the class, Doctor Dillamond was able to confide in Elphaba that something was causing the Animals of Oz to lose their ability to talk. Intrigued, it was from this moment that Elphaba realized the world was not as jovial as she once thought.

"If something bad is happening to the Animals then someone has to tell the Wizard. That's why we have a Wizard!" Elphaba was inspired by the Wizard of Oz, a man to which she looked up to and thought of as being so great and wonderful.

Later that same day, Fiyero Tiggular, a genuinely handsome young man, a Prince of the Vinkus whose reputation in Oz was renowned as quite "scandilicious", had waltzed into her life, arriving at Shiz late in the year. He immediately made an impression on the other students. Carefree, shallow and rebellious, he organized a party at the Ozdust Ballroom in the Upper Uplands for everybody to attend in an attempt to stop them from learning.

Elphaba remembered what she'd heard Fiyero once say. "I happen to be genuinely self-absorbed and deeply shallow." He, in fact, was just that – superficial and more.

While preparing for the dance party that night, Galinda came across a "hideodeous" black pointed hat in a box, which was given to her by her grandmother. Knowing that the hat was unsightly, and in an attempt to get revenge for taking her position in Sorcery class, she gave it to Elphaba, who was under the impression that the hat was a genuine gift.

"You deserve each other, this hat and you," Galinda had smirked, "you're both so smart. You deserve each other, so here – out of the goodness of my heart."

Just before the party, Galinda also convinced a small Munchkin boy named Boq to take Nessarose to Fiyero's bash, more to avoid unwanted attention from Boq than out of any desire to be kind. Boq had been totally in love with Galinda since the beginning of the year, and was naïve enough when it came to anything she asked him.

"I'd do anything for you, miss Galinda!"

But Boq didn't know that Nessarose had a crush on him, and she became so overjoyed to be invited to the party by him that she asked Elphaba if there was any way to repay what she'd perceived as Galinda's kindness for getting Boq to ask her out. At the dance, Galinda was surprised by the appearance of Madame Morrible, who gave her a training wand – apparently Elphaba had insisted Galinda be included in the Sorcery seminar; a return gift for giving her the hat and for helping her sister. However, Elphaba arrived to the dance wearing the hat Galinda had given her, only to be ridiculed and laughed at. Nevertheless, she defiantly proceeded to dance alone without any music. Feeling extremely guilty, and seeing Elphaba in a new light, Galinda joined Elphaba on the dance floor, marking the start of a new friendship between the two.

After the dance party, Galinda and Elphaba spent hours chatting in their dormitory. Elphaba revealed to Galinda that her father hated her because of her green skin and that he'd forced her mother to eat milk flowers to ensure that Nessarose was not born the same. A little green bottle filled with green elixir was the only item she was allowed to keep of her mother's.

Moved by a desire to help her new friend, Galinda decided to give Elphaba a makeover to make her "popular", evoking emotions within Elphaba that she'd never felt before.

The next day, evil Ozian officials – the Gale Force – had taken Doctor Dillamond away to be captured by an unknown leader. The new History teacher arrived, bringing the day's new topic of observation with him – a frightened lion cub that was locked in a cage. The teacher told that Animals kept in cages will never learn to speak. Outraged, Elphaba cast a spell that caused everybody to go into involuntary gyrations, and together, Elphaba and Fiyero stole the lion cub and set it free in the woods. A hint of romance between the two, Fiyero left, embarrassed. It began to rain and Elphaba took refuge under a bridge, regretting that it would be impossible for someone like Fiyero to love somebody like her. Soon afterward, Madame Morrible found Elphaba and announced that she'd received a letter, granting Elphaba an audience with the Wizard of Oz.

At the railway station, Galinda and Fiyero saw Elphaba off to the Emerald City. Galinda complained to Elphaba that Fiyero's affections toward her seemed to be fading, so in an attempt to impress him, Galinda announced that she will change her name to "Glinda" in honour of Doctor Dillamond's persistent mispronunciation of her name. Fiyero didn't even seem to notice and, feeling bad for Glinda, Elphaba invited her along to see the Wizard too.

"I don't even think his perfect anymore and I still want him!" Glinda spoke of Fiyero. "This must be what other people feel like. How do they bare it?"

After "one short day" of sightseeing in the bedazzling Emerald City, Elphaba and Glinda finally met the Wizard. He immediately revealed his true self to them – his enormous Wizard head simply a visual effect for the fellow Ozians – and he invited Elphaba to join him as his personal assistant. As a test, he asked that she give his monkey servant Chistery the ability to fly using the Grimmerie, which was a large, leather-bound ancient book of spells and enchantments.

Elphaba recited the chant as if it were second nature, demonstrating her innate magical talent and successfully giving Chistery wings – by saying the spell she was proving her rarity, as nobody had ever been able to read from the Grimmerie before, and she hadn't realized she was being tricked into doing so. The Wizard revealed an entire cage full of monkeys who also now had wings because of Elphaba's spell, and remarked that both Elphaba and Glinda could make good spies to report any subversive Animal activity in Oz. Grasping at the fact that she'd been used and that the Wizard actually had no power of his own and cannot read the book himself, which was why he needed her help in the first place, Elphaba ran away with the Grimmerie, pursued by the palace guards and followed closely by Glinda, whose gullibility made her more liable to fall for the Wizard's plans if it hadn't been for Elphaba stopping him.

Elphaba and Glinda ran into the tallest tower of the Emerald City where they witnessed Madame Morrible, who'd become the Wizard's press secretary, declaring to all of Oz that there was an "enemy who must be found and captured" and that Elphaba was now a "wicked witch" with an "outward manifestorium of twisted nature". This created fear and panic among the citizens, giving everybody a misinterpretation of this woman with green skin.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Elphaba decided to use the same levitation spell she used on the Wizard's monkey to enchant a broomstick to fly and she tried to convince Glinda to join her in her cause against the Wizard. Glinda refused. Leaving behind the only friend she ever had, Elphaba rose into the sky on the broomstick, promising to fight against the Wizard with all of her power.

"So, if you care to find me," Elphaba remembered shouting, "look to the western sky!"

Many years had then passed and Elphaba's exploits had earned her the title of the "Wicked Witch of the West".

Four years to the date of Elphaba's runaway, Glinda, who was now working for the Wizard and Morrible Morrible, held a press conference to announce her surprise engagement to Fiyero, much to Fiyero's genuine surprise. Madame Morrible had further praised Glinda for staying put when Elphaba flew from the Emerald City that night, which resulted in nothing more than the citizens of Oz looking up to Glinda "to raise their spirits" now – a feat Glinda wasn't proud of, but one she couldn't resist; her selfish trait of constant popularity got the better of her. She was now somewhat like royalty in Oz, and it was too late to turn her back on that.

Several rumours about Elphaba had also surpassed in the four years, which only made Fiyero more determined to secretly search for her.

"I hear she has an extra eye that always remains awake!"

"I hear that she can shed her skin as easily as a snake!"

"I hear her soul is so unclean, pure water can melt her!"

At the same time, Elphaba had arrived at her father's residence in Munchkinland seeking refuge, reluctantly going to ask her father for help when Nessarose had revealed that he'd died. Nessarose refused to help hide a fugitive – her own sister – even after everything Elphaba had ever done for Nessarose, and she criticized Elphaba for not using magic to help her overcome her disability. To tone down her feelings of guilt, Elphaba enchanted Nessarose's jewelled shoes and turned them from silver to ruby red, enabling her to finally walk. She did this to prove that she wasn't trying to distress Nessarose by leaving when she did.

Boq, who was now Nessarose's servant, was summoned and upon seeing that Nessarose no longer needed his services, he revealed that a ball was being held for Glinda and Fiyero's engagement that night. He wanted to go tell Glinda that he loved her before it was too late, but a furious Nessarose took advantage of her new superiority and cast a mispronounced spell from the Grimmerie on Boq, which caused his heart – one that was devoted to Glinda, rather than Nessarose – to shrink. While Elphaba attempted to save him from certain death, Nessarose reflected on how her obsession with Boq had led her to repress the Munchkins of Oz and their rights. Nessarose only grew angrier.

Elphaba managed to save Boq and his heart by turning him into a man made out of tin. Nessarose, who was horrified with her sister, laid the blame on Elphaba and declared herself the "Wicked Witch of the East" to oppose her sister. Elphaba then fled, disappointed in Nessarose, and flew into the sky to return to the Wizard's palace in the Emerald City to free the rest of the winged monkeys.

After so many years away, Elphaba had returned at last, and she wasn't going to allow more Animals to be locked up by the Wizard – a man on whom she now despised.

"You'll find that the Wizard is a very generous man." Madame Morrible had lied, "If you do something for him, he'll do much for you."

Elphaba blinked, tears had swelled in her eyes. How could she be so naïve to actually think the Wizard could ever help her?

She quickly shook her head, dazed. She'd almost forgotten that she was still flying above Oz, lost in a reminiscent state-of-mind. So much had indeed happened in recent times, and Elphaba was never going to forget any of it. As she flew closer towards the Emerald City, her mind boggled as to what she'd do when she faced the Wizard again. If anything, she felt like she could attack him right there and then – she absolutely hated his cruelty towards the Animals. She couldn't understand how anybody could hurt these creatures and reduce their rights just because they're different from anyone else – a fact Elphaba knew all too well.

The Emerald City got nearer and its green glow shone brightly in the dark night. It even appeared that the surrounding sky was tinted green too. Elphaba couldn't help but smile at the sight – even though she had other intentions against the people inside the building, the City itself was so pretty, it made her feel warm inside.

"Nobody's pointing, nobody's staring," she recalled saying to Glinda when they'd come to the Emerald City a few years ago, "for the first time, I'm somewhere that I belong."

Elphaba launched at the tower she knew belonged to the Wizard's palace and edged her broomstick closer to the cement wall. She took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come. By entering the palace she might as well be committing suicide. It was a risk she was willing to take.

Carefully stepping off her broom, she shimmied across the rim of the building until she was able to slip through an open window and into the Emerald City without anyone else noticing.

After a moment, a loud, booming voice erupted from inside the chamber.

"I knew you'd be back."