(For anyone who is wondering, I am going to be using quite a bit from the movie Wizard of Oz. The story came from a mix of the book and the musical, but the movie will be playing a big role as well.

Special thanks to xMegxGiryx for helping me get this puppy going!

And now for the disclaimers, which I hate: I do not own the book and musical Wicked, or the movie The Wizard of Oz)

Chapter 1: The Emerald Orb

Fiyero stumbled through the dark forest, tripping over the roots and logs with his straw-filled legs. The man-turned-scarecrow cursed loudly as he wobbled and fought to gain his balance and leaned against a thick tree.

"Damn it!" he hissed snatching up a clump of hay that had fallen out of a hole in his pant leg. "At this rate I'll get to Kiamo Ko by next winter!" Something shifted in the bushes behind him and Fiyero pushed off the tree, his legs quivering as he hurried away. "If the straw-eating animals don't get me first!"

As he stumbled on, a smile appeared on Fiyero's face as he thought back to a slightly similar situation involving a dark forest, but it had been more than just him.


"I don't like this forest," Dorothy whispered, grabbing the Scarecrow and Tin Man by the arms. "It-it's dark and…creepy."

"Of course I don't know," Scarecrow tried to fight the fear in his voice. "But, I suppose it'll get darker before it gets lighter.

Dorothy turned to Tin Man, her eyes wide. "Do you suppose we'll meet any wild animals?"

Tin Man thought for a moment and scanned the dark trees surrounding them. "We might."

At that, Scarecrow whirled around to face the Tin Man. "Animals that-that eat straw?"

"Uh, mostly some," Tin Man said in a matter-of-fact tone. "But, mostly lions, and tigers, and bears."

"Lions?" Dorothy repeated.

"And tigers?" Added Scarecrow.

"And bears." Tin Man finished.


Fiyero smirked at the memory as he jumped over a log, reminiscing the girl who had helped give Oz a change of pace. Whether it was for good or for the moment, he did not know. All he cared about now was reaching Kiamo Ko to see if his plan had worked.

Finally after stumbling and tripping for hours on end, a large castle rose up from the edge of the forest. Fiyero sighed and scrambled up the steep cliff of rocks, but froze as a rock he had grabbed wobbled in place. Now did he wish he had the Tin Man's ax to aid him in his climbing. But he was on his own and he needed to get to the castle.

Rocks fell and crashed against the ground as Fiyero continued to scale the cliff, gripping the stones in his straw-gloved hands. Reaching the top, Fiyero turned around and began climbing down the face. Just as he stepped down, a large rock slipped from place and the scarecrow let out a yelp as he lost his balance and tumbled down with the rock.

Thankfully the impact didn't hurt his body and Fiyero thanked the fact that he was made of straw. A pebble hit the ground by his hand and he looked up to see more rocks falling down to him. Fiyero scrambled up and raced across the drawbridge as the rocks crashed down. Reaching the large heavy door, Fiyero grabbed the iron handle, pulled open the door, and sprinted inside.

The room was just as it had been left after the skirmish, a heavy metal chandelier lay on the stone floor with small cracks fissuring from the impact. Just as Fiyero closed the door, a low rumble of thunder echoed outside and he sighed in relief. Even though fire was the last thing he wanted to encounter in his state, rain was not very friendly to straw either.

Fiyero hurried down the hallways and across the bridge that led to a tower with a pointed roof. Lightning flashed across the sky and he increased his speed to avoid the oncoming rain. Sliding to a halt, the scarecrow found himself in the small rounded room where Dorothy had thrown a bucket of water on the Wicked Witch of the West.

A black pointed hat stood in the center of the room, standing straight up like a black flag to mark the spot where the Witch had met her demise. Or, Fiyero thought as he approached the hat, so they thought. Kneeling down, he lifted the hat from its spot and held it tightly, hoping that the story Glinda had told the citizens of Oz was not true.

Running his hands along the floor, Fiyero scanned the cracks until he found a small line that did not fit the placement of the stones. Fiyero followed the line as it cut a small square in the floor and slid his fingers down the line.

"Elphaba," he whispered and banged his fist on the trapdoor.


The banging woke Elphaba from the dazed sleep she had fallen in after she had gone through the trapdoor to fool everyone into thinking she had melted. The space was small and cramped, making it not all that easy for her to move around. Slowly, the green witch reached up to the square door and pushed it open to reveal a familiar, if slightly altered, face.

"Fiyero!"

Elphaba thought her heart would leap from her chest with the joy that filled her body as she stretched out her arms. Taking the hint, Fiyero reached down and pulled her out of the hole and set her gently on the floor, only to pull her into a tight hug. Elphaba wrapped her arms around Fiyero and held onto him, afraid that this was only a dream, but she knew it was real. Fiyero was here, with her, and alive.

Fiyero felt Elphaba shudder in his arms and he couldn't hold back the smile as her body shook with sobs. "Elphaba," he whispered, leaning back and keeping his arms tight around her. "It worked."

With a small chuckle, Elphaba sighed and slowly pulled back from Fiyero but his arms stayed around her. "Yes, I guess it did." She smiled and ran a hand down the side of his face, her fingers playing with a stray stick of hay.

"You did your best," Fiyero covered her hand with his and wiped away her tears. "You saved my life."

Elphaba chocked back a soft sob and met his light blue eyes. "You're still beautiful."

"You don't have to lie."

Unable to hold it back, the green woman laughed and Fiyero held her in another hug. They would have stayed in the room forever, but a crack of thunder shook the roof as a flash of lightning filled the tower with a blinding blue-white light.

"Maybe," Fiyero turned his head from Elphaba to look out the window at the dark storm-filled sky. "We should find a more suitable shelter before we resume our little reunion."

Not wanting another water related incident to occur that day, Elphaba nodded and they stood. Reluctantly, Fiyero released Elphaba from his arms but held her hand as they hurried back to the safety of the castle. No sooner did they enter the building the skies opened up to release a torrential downpour that pounded the castle roof.

Fiyero leaned back against the castle wall and wrapped his arms around Elphaba as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Elphaba?" He turned his head so he could see her face. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," her voice shook from exhaustion. "It's just…" she lifted her eyes to Fiyero's, hazel meeting blue. "I wish that Glinda could know we where alive."

"No." It hurt Fiyero to say it, but he knew the risk of their survival being known would be disastrous. "She can't know that we're both alive. It's too risky for us, and for Glinda. If all of Oz found out that you faked your death…"

Elphaba was glad that he did not finish the sentence and leaned against his chest, straw rustling beneath her head. If only I could find a way to return him to a human, she thought, remembering the power of the Grimmerie. But once a spell has been cast, you can't break it.

Fiyero looked at the woman in his arms, knowing what she was thinking, and tightened his arms around her. You did it to save my life, and even though it wasn't what you where looking for, it worked. Slowly, Fiyero slid a hand up Elphaba's back and to the back of her neck. Looking up in confusion, Elphaba saw a light shine in the scarecrow's eyes and her heart suddenly began to beat ten times its normal pace. Fiyero's hand moved again to beneath her jaw and rested there and, cupping her chin, leaned down.

Just as Elphaba raised her face to meet his a window suddenly crashed open, startling them from the moment.

Fiyero grabbed Elphaba's arm and whipped her behind him, his eyes narrowed as a dark shape scrambled through the window. With a shriek, the shape slipped on the wet windowsill and tumbled to the floor, but before it made contact, two wings sprouted from the back and slowed the descent. Once the shape landed on the floor, it shook its wet body and began to move towards the couple with a strange hopping motion. As it passed by a still burning torch, Elphaba's eyes widened at the bright red jacket and black bat wings.

"Chistery?"

The flying monkey chattered noisily and hopped up to Elphaba and Fiyero. His dark brown fur and jacket where dripping wet from the rain and his tail flicked water in the air. Nestled in the crook of his left arm was a strange round shape that he held close to his chest. With an annoyed screech the monkey shook his body, sending water everywhere.

Elphaba backed away from the water and looked at Fiyero, who stared warily at the winged monkey. "I think it's best if we build a fire for him, just so he can dry off."

Fiyero nodded slowly and moved away from the monkey to a window that overlooked the mountains. "As long as he doesn't ripe me apart like the last time."

"He won't." Elphaba sighed as she made her way to the fireplace nestled against the far wall. Chistery hopped beside her, the object still tucked in his arm. As he followed Elphaba a small square envelope fluttered to the ground, catching Fiyero's eye.

The scarecrow pushed off the wall and walked to the envelope and picked it up, shaking off the water that it had begun to absorb. Fiyero turned over the envelope but saw no name written on the front, only a drawing of a dragon perched on top a clock with the hands pointing to 10:30. The details of the dragon where surprising; sharp jagged horns that sprouted from a proud head, blade-like spikes running down its spine, curved claws, and a long tail with a sharp spike at the end.

At the fireplace, Chistery waited until Elphaba had started a fire before finally setting down the round object he had been carrying. To the witch's surprise, the object was a large emerald green orb that glittered in the firelight like a precious stone. Since the monkey seemed to no longer take notice with the orb, Elphaba crouched down to look at the orb.

The exact size was hard to tell so Elphaba guess that it was around the size of a melon. A melon made entirely out of emerald, with dark and light green veins that wound like vines and shot through the surface like jagged lightning bolts. The light from the fire glinted off the orb with an enchanting gleam that almost seemed to take it in. When Elphaba placed her hand on the round top she found it warm to the touch and a strange sound filled her ears. It was a soft melodic sound that reminded her of a child humming.

"Elphaba?"

The witch turned to see Fiyero holding an envelope in his hand and staring at the front with a confused look on his face. Lifting the orb, Elphaba tucked it in the crook of her arm and hurried to Fiyero.

"What is it?"

Without speaking Fiyero held out the envelope to show Elphaba the strange drawing on the front. "What is that?"

"A dragon."

The scarecrow gave her a look. "I can see that. What I meant was what does it mean? A dragon sitting atop a clock?" He then noticed the orb she was holding. "What is-"

"I don't know." Elphaba held up the orb for Fiyero to see and its surface caught a flash of lightning. "I've never seen anything like it before, at least," she paused. "I don't believe I have."

Fieryo looked at her and narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I think," Elphaba whispered, lowering the orb. "I may have seen it in a book somewhere, but I can't remember where." She turned around to face Fiyero and looked from the envelope to the orb. "Have you opened that?"

Turning the envelope in his hands, Fiyero opened it and pulled out a thin piece of paper. The writing was faint and hard to read but they where able to make out the words:

Power of…Dragon. Great importance…safety of Oz…must be protected…entrusted…Elphaba…the West.

The moment Elphaba had read her name she felt a chill run down her spine and she looked at Fiyero. "Someone knows we're here."

"Maybe," Fiyero said quickly, pointing to the writing on the paper. "This must have been written either before or right when the people came here to-"

"Kill me." Elphaba finished and her hand unconsciously tightened on the orb. The light hum filled her ears and Elphaba looked down at the object, its emerald surface matching the color of her skin. "What is this thing? I might have seen a picture of it in a book once, but,"

A gloved hand fell on the top and Elphaba looked up into Fiyero's eyes. "Whatever it is," he whispered. "Someone obviously wants you to watch over it."

"Apparently," Elphaba said quietly. "But, why me?"

FIyero shook his head but kept his eyes on the green woman in front of him. "I don't know."

A warm sensation filled their hands and they looked down to the orb Elphaba held and jumped as it began to tilt towards her.

"What in Oz?"

Fiyero gave a sudden yelp as the orb's temperature grew hot and he jumped back as it gave a lurch, causing Elphaba to drop it in surprise.

"Sweet Oz," Elphaba whispered, her face registering pure shock as they watched the orb shudder. The veins surrounding it began to pulse with a faint green light as the orb stared to roll about. Chistery, who had been perched by the fire, screeched and jumped onto the shelf above the fireplace.

A crack of thunder suddenly echoed through the room as a fissure shot through the emerald surface. Elphaba jumped out of the way of the rolling orb and Fiyero grabbed her and held her as they watched. The orb cracked again and suddenly bumped into a bucket that sat by the fire, and stopped. With a sudden jerk, the orb shot into the air as if it had been kicked and landed with a splash in the wooden bucket.

Chistery chattered with excitement as they watched the bucket shake violently, water sloshing over the edge. With a final jump, the bucket stopped moving and Elphaba and Fiyero stared at it with stunned expressions.

"What in Oz was that?" Fiyero whispered, waiting for the bucket to explode or catch fire, or something.

Elphaba shook her head and stared at the bucket. "I don't know." Just when she thought of approaching the bucket, a sudden noise came to her ears. A very faint chirp had bubbled from the mouth of the bucket.

Taking a breath, Elphaba stepped from Fiyero's arms and, despite his protests, made her way across the room to where the bucket innocently sat. Another chirp came from the wooden object as she neared it, making her stop. Suddenly, a splash of water shot from the surface as a tiny creature broke through and the moment Elphaba realized what it was, she froze.

Soft emerald down covered the creature's tiny body and it shook itself to be rid of the water, looking like a waterlogged cat. A long thin tail flicked side to side as its ruby colored eyes looked around the room with curiosity. A line of small onyx black bumps ran down the spin to the end of its lizard-like tail and two more bumps sat behind its pointed ears. The creature turned its head to Elphaba and the ruby eyes widened as it took in her green skin and looked at its own emerald-colored body. With an excited chirp, the creature placed a paw on the edge of the bucket and it toppled over, spilling water all over the stone floor.

Fiyero approached Elphaba from behind and stared at the creature, as it lay spread-eagle on the floor. "Is that?"

"Yes," Elphaba said as she watched the creature fight to stand on its weak and wobbly legs. "A baby dragon."

(So, there you go! Elphaba and Fiyero are reunited, and become the unexpected parents of a baby dragon! This might seem random now, but I promise there is a reason for my madness behind the dragon.

Alrighty, I'm gonna need a bit of help with the little bugger. I already have a name for it, but I'm open for ideas on how it's power will turn out. A fire breather? Magic user? Weather controller? I'm open for suggestions! I hope this chapter wasn't too painful to read…

I will say right now that school decided to up the ante with homework for m., Figures, and right when I start a new story! I don't know how often the updates will come, and when, but they will come. A cookie to anyone who can guess the significance of the time on the clock.

For my Heart of Swan fans, don't worry, I'm still working on that one and have not given up on it.

Okay, that's enough ranting on my part. Please review and tell me what you think of this. See ya in the next chapter!)