Note from me: Thanks again for the AMAZING reviews! You guys give me ideas and keep me going!

Now I'm taking a break from Fiyero for a bit after the first half of this chapter for reasons you'll get by the end of this chap. This chapter will be focusing on Elphaba more, and expanding on who exactly Panthea is.

And yes, I am perfectly aware of how short it is, but I have the rest of the story planned out, so this is sort of a filler chapter. And sorry it took so long to update!

This chapter is dedicated to ElphabaROCKS , who reviewed Secrets and chapter 3.

DIACLAIMER: I OWN NONE OF THE CHARACTERS OR LYRICS IN THIS STORY! =) Except Panthea. She be mine. XD


A soft breeze blew through the willow tree, causing some of the tendrils to blow carelessly into Panthea's face. She woke with a start, and found that she couldn't get back to sleep. She curled up against the tree trunk to await morning, when she would go back to Fiyero to interrogate him for more information.

She found herself counting the seconds until the sun rose.

She missed Fiyero.

Why?

Because she was lonely.

Humans were a complete mystery to her. She had only known one- Elphaba, but she felt Elphaba wouldn't be much help in teaching her about the rest of them. It made her feel scared and angry to think of her own race simply as "them" but the truth was that she had no clue about people. They scared her. That was why she was so bad at dealing with them. Sure, she could hold her own for a few minutes, but after that, she was helpless. Animals were different than people. They were less brooding, and much easier to read. Life around them was so simple . . . so easy.

Fiyero, and people in general were all new to her. Sure, she knew how life for them worked, school, college, then off to wherever, but she didn't know the feeling of it all. She found herself desperately missing Elphaba, and Fiyero.

But luckily she didn't judge on looks. After all, she was a mess. Her strawberry blonde hair was tangled and awful-looking. Her dark gray dress, tattered and worn from the years of use, and a bit shorter than it should be because of how long she had worn it, was now stained from her rolling around in the grass. Angrily she started tugging at her mess of hair. She had never been concerned with her looks, she never had need to, but now she felt very self-conscious. It disturbed her deeply.

"I had a feeling I would find you here again." Panthea glanced up at Fiyero and looked back at her lap.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I don't feel like talking right now." Fiyero cracked a smile, probably for his own benefit.

"I don't believe that," he said softly, sitting in front of her, "From what I've seen of you, you always have something to say." She was in no mood for jokes.

"You think I'm a brat. Asking questions I have no right to ask, interrupting, and you know what, I think I am!" Fiyero looked taken aback.

"Now just wait for-"

"So I'll just shut up then. Since that's what the whole world wants me and my friends to do."

"Panthea, I wasn't trying to-"

"And another thing! The reason I was pounding you with questions is because I care about Elphaba, and her well-being. I want to help her."

"I want to help her too," Fiyero said quietly.

"But no one wants to help me!" Panthe screamed, standing up in anger, and banging her head on a branch. Cursing, she sat down, rubbing her head. "I have no clue how to deal with you, or anybody else! I was raised with Animals, and I come here, pretending to know how all of this works but I just don't understand! I'm helpless here, just like the Animals!"

"Where did this all come fro-"

"That's it. I can't do this. She'll have to send someone else," Panthea said in arush, pulling out a small sheet of paper. "Eleka fugio, eleka tae, nahmen teembo, nahmen sae!" she chanted, and her form was replaced by a small violet petal.

She appeared right outside of the Emerald City, to her distaste. She would've preferred to be where she had last seen Elphaba, but of course, she messed up. Breathing hard, she started walking away from the city.

Fiyero and Elphaba, thinking of them made her heart sting, but she just knew they were perfect together. Elphaba had told her many cautionary tales about boys, using different names, but now Panthea put together the pieces.

Doing that, she felt better. She walked on, away from the city, when she saw a flicker of light.

A campfire?

Curious to see who was camping out so close to the nice and warm Emerald City, she tip-toed to peek at who was there. Her eyes popped open at who she saw.

"Miss Elphaba?" The woman at the campfire jumped, picking up her hat and broom. "Miss Elphaba, it's me!" Panthea said, stepping forward. Elphaba looked at her for a moment before relaxing and sitting down.

"Oh, good. How was your mission?"

"I thought it was a favor," Panthea said, smiling broadly, "And I have loads of juicy gossip for you."

"I'm not one for gossip," Elphaba said calmly, "Though I would love to hear your intel."


Though she knew she appeared calm, Elphaba was a wreck. Going to Munchkinland had been a very bad idea, as Panthea had said, but not for the reasons her apprentice had been thinking of. She had just found out of her father's demise and her sister, well, was very disturbed and Boq was, not himself anymore. Nothing, as usual, had gone right.

But for some reason she couldn't focus on that. Panthea had new of Fiyero. Her sharp wit seemed dulled, and her mind hazed.

"Well," Panthea began smiling, "He's a nice guy. I see why you love him." Elphaba coughed.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Elphaba pursed her lips, attempting to drum up a smart reply.

"I don't know what you're talking about," was all she could choke out. Panthea blinked, not falling for Elphaba's poorly kept charade.

"Look, Elphaba, as much as I want to tell you what is going on, I think that is something you need to find out for yourself."

"No!" Elphaba gasped.

"Yes," Panthea insisted, "Just do it for me. By the way, can I call you Elphie?"


As Panthea slept soundly nearby, Elphaba contemplated what Panthea could've meant with her slanted comments. Evading, evading. She was good at it. And it annoyed the hell out of her.

Her thoughts drifted back to Fiyero, and everything that had gone wrong. She was fairly sure that there was much left unsaid between them, and she knew Panthea knew something she didn't.

She had sent her back there to find out how he felt, but Panthea was being dramatic and not telling her. So much for that.

She had to get to the Emerald City. She had to see Fiyero with her own eyes.

"What's it with you and bad plans all of a sudden?" Panthea cried. Elphaba sighed. She had a feeling the teen wouldn't soon forget her failed plan at Munchkinland.

"This happens to be tactful and brilliant," she replied.

"Freeing the Flying Monkeys? Elphaba, are you insane?"

"Do you doubt me?"

"Of course not! It's just-"

"What?" Panthea's angry face suddenly twisted into a huge, knowing grin.

"You want to see Fiyero again!"

"What? Of course not! If the Monkeys were being held in Quadling County, I would go there. This happens to be a coincidence."

"Sure, sure."

"I'm serious, Panthea. Don't test me." Panthea sighed.

"Fine, but I'm going with you."


For the first time in her life, Panthea felt pretty. Elphaba had pulled her hair up in a braid, and her face had been covered with a sparkling powder that Elphaba had acquired. She wore a long purple dress, made from the old cloak she had, and Elphaba's old heels.

She stood in the corner of the ball, watching over the guests, making sure they all stayed where they were supposed to be. Her eyes danced to where Fiyero and Glinda danced. Glinda was the portrait of happiness, but her eyes weren't even on Fiyero. Fiyero looked . . . well, the only word Panthea had for him was fake.

She watched the dancing, and kept close to the door. Her eyes darted nervously around.

What's taking Elphaba so long?

"Guards! Guards!"

Oh crap!


She knew she had to get out now, but Elphaba needed help. She pushed her way through the panicky crowd with great difficulty. Time was running out.

Elphaba held her broom firmly in her hands as she awaited the Gale Force. When they came running, she stood firm, ready to fight with all of her magic abilities.

But then something happened that swept her powers away, that made her still with utter shock. Her body shut down as she stared into the eyes of Fiyero for the first time in years.

"I don't believe it."