As the first rays of sunlight started to peek over the hills and seep into Munchkinland, Nessa was awakened from her sleep by their warmth on her fair skin. The brunette opened one eye wearily and made to sit up, only to be met with an intense pain in her chest. She gave up on her sitting attempt, and when she saw that she was lying on the grass beside a house, she remembered everything that had happened.

"All right, boys, our orders are to tear this house down," she heard a voice say. Nessa froze, hardly daring to breathe.

"It seems such a shame to tear it down," another voice said. Nessa debated over what to do. Should she reveal herself? Would they help her?

Not likely. They were celebrating your death, remember?

Nessa didn't like the fact that she was hearing a voice in her head that sounded remarkably like Elphaba, but at this moment, she decided that the voice was right. But how would she escape? It wasn't like she could just get up and walk away.

Nessa turned and started dragging herself across the grass. She soon reached a wooden fence, and managed the squeeze underneath it, ending up in a field of corn. She figured that the stalks would be tall enough to hide her from the Munchkins, but even so, she still had nowhere to go.

The brunette dragged herself farther across the dirt, and soon stopped, her injured body screaming at her to stop.

"Nessa?"

The brunette lay still, hoping that whoever had said that wouldn't come looking for her. Perhaps they would believe that their eyes were just playing a trick on them, and would move on.

"It is you. You're alive. But how?"

Nessa realized the voice was coming from above her, and she looked up to see Fiyero looking down at her.

"How should I know? All I know is that one minute, I'm handing out awards for perfect attendance, and the next, I'm coughing up blood and everyone's singing about my death."

"Elphaba tried to save you. When she saw the house in the sky, she came as quick as she could."

"And how would you know that?"

"Well, I… we were…"

"You were with her?"

"Yes."

"That's odd, because I thought that you and Glinda were getting married and—" Nessa saw that the prince's face was turning red. "Oh. So it's like that then."

"Never mind that. You have to tell Elphaba that you survived."

The brunette snorted. "And just how do you suppose I do that? It's not like I can just get up, walk up to her, and say 'Oh, Elphaba, I'm actually alive. Sorry for the scare.' I can't even get up!"

"This is all true… perhaps if you located Glinda—"

"Glinda? Ha! She was in on the celebration with the rest of the Munchkins! She was just as happy to see me dead as the rest of them. She even gave my shoes away to that wretched farm girl!"

"Well, what else did you expect, Nessa? She's Glinda the Good, she has to keep up appearances. Can't soil her perfect reputation."

"Why do you seem so bitter about that?"

The prince didn't reply. "Look, Glinda wouldn't turn her back on a friend. Find her, and she'll help you."

Nessa shook her head. "Fiyero, you mean well, but what you're saying can't be done. I can barely move, and even if I wasn't injured, I wouldn't be able to do anything anyway. My legs are useless to me."

There was sudden rustling noise, and Fiyero's head snapped up.

"Gale Force soldiers. You have to get out of here, Nessa."

The brunette didn't need to be told twice. She started crawling, despite her tortured body's protests. She hadn't gotten far when she found herself staring at a pair of green boots. She swallowed hard and looked up at the guard standing in front of her.

"And what is your business here?" the guard asked.

"I-I'm very injured, and I was trying to find help," Nessa said. She expected the guard to alert the others, or kill her right there, but to her surprise, he kneeled beside her, setting his weapon down.

"What happened to you?" he asked in a much gentler tone.

Nessa was taken aback. He didn't recognize her?

"It… it was the witch."

"Of the East?"

"Yes. I came here to hide from her."

The guard looked away, then looked back at the brunette. "You don't have to be afraid anymore. The witch is dead."

"O-oh really?"

"Yes. She can't hurt anyone anymore."

"Well, that is certainly a relief."

"Tell me, what is your name?"

"Melena," Nessa said, using the first name that came to her mind.

The guard smiled. "Melena. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

Nessa felt herself blushing and she looked down. "And you?"

"Oliver."

Nessa looked back up at him and smiled, but a sharp pain in her chest made her wince.

"You need help," Oliver said. He put his hands underneath her body gently, and lifted her off the ground. Nessa clung to the front of his uniform.

"Oliver, are you ready to leave?" another guard called.

"Yes," Oliver replied.

Other guards approached and Nessa held her breath, expecting them to instantly recognize her and give her true identity away.

"And who is this?"

"Another one of the witch's victims. She needs medical attention."

"All right. We'll take her back to the palace then."

The guards started walking again, Oliver bringing up the rear.

"Don't worry, Melena. You'll get the help you need at the palace," Oliver said.

Nessa could only nod weakly. She knew what was waiting at the palace… and the Wizard wouldn't be fooled as easily as his guards.