A/N: Thanks to my four reviewers! I'm hoping to get more soon! Don't be daunted by the size of this chapter - a lot of it is the second song in the story. Obviously, it is What is This Feeling with slightly different lyrics. I wrote this chapter based on the idea that Boq would have a grudge on Fiyero for the fact that Glinda loved Fiyero. One more thing: This is NOT an entirely serious fic. Most of it is, but throughout there may be a little dry humor here and there. Nothing crazy at all, just some stuff to lighten up the mood. This chappie has a little of that. Long A/N - on to the story!

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Yero vs. Biq

Three hours later, Fiyero woke from an unremembered dream. He sat up to get his bearings, expecting Elphaba to be beside him. She wasn't. He was alone in the room. Looking down, Fiyero noticed something in between his fingers. At first it appeared to be another piece of straw, but then Fiyero realized that his eye had been drawn to it because it was a different color. Frowning, he struggled to place the twig. Then it clicked. Elphaba's broom. Sighing, he stood up. It was just like her to creep off somewhere. She would be back, he knew, in a few days at most. Still, he wished she would tell him before leaving…

He went down the passage to the entry hall. The glass lay as it had the evening before. Fiyero sighed. It wasn't as if he expected it to disappear, but he had hoped it might. As it was, he picked his way carefully through, picking out pieces of glass from his feet, and, making it to the front door, opened it. He examined the sky. There was rain in the air, signaling it had rained sometime over the night. Big clouds still coated the sky, signaling a storm later. Fiyero had just decided to return inside when a movement caught his eye. Squinting, he made out a figure behind a courtyard statue.

"Who are you? What do you want?" he called, ready to make a run for it. The figure stirred and came out into the light.

Fiyero gasped. It was unmistakably Boq the Tinman.

"You!" he gasped, surprised

"You know who I am, then. As I do you, Fiyero Tiggular." Boq said nastily.

"What are you doing here?" Fiyero asked, backing up a little as Boq drew closer. He wasn't sure how he felt about seeing an old school mate now, especially when Boq had always been jealous of the way Glinda like Fiyero better than him. And especially because Boq did not sound at all like the schoolboy he had once been – his voice was hostile, and there was a glint in his eye.

"I've risen up in the world. People in positions of power will do much for you when you help them. I am now the Official Advisor of Her Royal Goodness Lady Glinda Upland."

"Congratulotions. Now, go away."

Boq ignored this. "You're supposed to be dead."

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

"I never put two and two together," Boq said thoughtfully, "That whole time we were with that farm girl, Dorothy. I never realized you were really Fiyero – everyone had thought you'd been killed."

"Well, they were all wrong."

"What happened to Mr. Dancing Through Life?"

"I'm a new kind of guy now." Fiyero protested.

"I can see that. One made of straw."

"Well, we can't all be made of tin, can we?" Fiyero replied coolly. Boq made an angry noise in his throat.

"Oh, it seems the silver man is steamed!" Fiyero said triumphantly.

"I've been watching you. Why are you living at the Witch's castle?" Boq replied.

"You mind your business, I'll mind mine."

"You are my business right now. You've been convicted of threatening Lady Glinda, whom I now serve – who's to say you won't again?

"However you found out about that, I'm sure you can figure out that it was all a ploy. The only one I'm a threat to right now is you, Biq!"

"Tell me. Is Elphaba alive?" Boq asked delicately.

Fiyero's eyes widened. This conversation was getting onto dangerous ground. "What would give you that idea? We were both there when she melted, remember? In fact, you were the leader of the mob that did it!"

"If you're alive why shouldn't she be?"

"She saved me from my own mob by making me into a scarecrow, but now she's dead. Why would you purposefully bring up such a delicate subject?"

"Tell me the truth. I've got an army with me!"

"Where are they? I don't remember it being a habit of the Palace guards to stay out of sight while their leader has an immature word spar with an old friend," Fiyero chuckled.

"They're over the hill," Boq shot back.

"Getting old, do you mean? What, couldn't find any younger applicants?" He snorted. He was enjoying taunting Boq.

"You know what I mean, Fiyero." Boq's eyes glinted.

"Yes, Biq, but until I see this army, we're not going anywhere, and I don't care if you get caught in the rain and rust."

"And I don't care if you get struck by lightning and catch on fire."

"I want to see this army of yours." Fiyero persisted, seeing that Boq was getting angry. He wished he had that old gun about now!

"Okay, fine, there's no army, just the Lion." Boq admitted reluctantly.

"Oh, I'm sooo scared! Save me, save me, there's a Cowardly Lion on the lam!" Fiyero said sarcastically.

"You should be scared. He's got courage now, and he's been appointed Captain of the Guard, a position you failed to fulfill." Boq snarled meanly.

Fiyero clenched his fists, but changed the subject delicately as he noticed the Lion coming out to stand beside Boq. No use being torn apart… "You wanted to know where 'Mr. Dancing Through Life' was right? Well, let me grace you with a new song.

The trouble with Boq is,

He always tries to teach the wrong lesson

Believe me; I've seen enough of him to know-˝

"No!" Boq shouted angrily, leaping at Fiyero. Fiyero dove, and soon they were involved in a wrestling match with the Lion as spectator. Finally, they both backed off, breathing heavily and angrily.

FIYERO: What is this feeling, so sudden and knew?

BOQ: I felt the moment Glinda loved you!

FIYERO: My 'pulse' is rushing!

BOQ: My 'head' is reeling

FIYERO: My face is flushing

BOTH: What is this feeling?

BOQ: Fervid as a 'flame'

FIYERO: Does it have a name?

BOTH: Yeeeees!

BOTH: Loathing!

Unadulterated loathing!

FIYERO: For your face!

BOQ: Your voice!

FIYERO: Your clothing

BOTH: Let's just say

I loathe it all

Every little trait however small

Really only makes me hate it all

With simple utter

Loathing

There's a strange exhilaration

In such total detestation

It's so pure, so strong!

Though I do admit it came on fast

Still I do believe that it can last

And I will be loathing

Loathing you my whole life long!

LION: My dear Boq

You are just too right

And I know this scarecrow just isn't too bright

He's so brainless, he's so stupid

I don't mean to show a bias

But Boq, you're like Cupid!

Poor Boq forced to converse

With someone who truly has to be the worst

I just want to tell you

I completely concur

I share your

LION: Loathing!

BOTH: What is this feeling, so sudden and new?

LION: For his face, his voice his clothing

BOTH: Giving me a whole different view

LION: Let's just say
BOTH: My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling

LION: I loathe it all!
BOTH: Oh, what is this feeling?

LION: Every little trait, however small.
BOTH: Does it have a name…?

LION: Only makes me loathe it all
BOTH: Yes…

ALL: Ahhh!!

LION: ...Loathing!
BOTH: Loathing!

LION: ... Loathing!
BOTH: There's a strange exhilaration

LION: ... Loathing!
BOTH: In such total detestation

LION: ... So strong!
BOTH: It's so pure, so strong!

BOTH: Though I do admit it came on fast

Still I do believe that it can last

LION: ...Loathing
BOTH: And I will be loathing, for forever

LION: Loathing... Loathing... Loathing you!
BOTH: Loathing, truly deeply loathing you

LION: ...Loathing unadulterated loathing!!!!
BOTH: My whole life long!!

"And now if you'll excuse me, I've got a lot on my list today. Let's see…Glinda's heart to win, my revenge to take, and oh, yeah – your life to ruin! I'm booked." Boq smirked.

"I can't get hurt by a Lion, or anything else. I'm straw, remember?"

Boq smiled slyly. "But you can get hurt internally, right? Say, if something happened to someone you love?"

Fiyero's eyes widened. "What have you done to her?" he asked, his fists clenching.

"Nothing. Yet. I know she's alive, and I know where she's going. I'll have my revenge on her, and then I'll come back and finish with you. You won't survive long, Fiyero, oh so great Winkie Prince. Better make the most of the time you've got left. Soon, I will be the Ruler of all Oz!" With that, Boq and the Lion ran behind a cobwebby fountain, and before Fiyero could follow them, there was an explosion sound, and smoke came from that place. Boq and the Lion were gone.

Fiyero's face was as pale as a Scarecrow's could get. "Oh no! I have to warn Elphaba!"

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A/N: Yes, the song was a little...off. I admit, it is not the best one in the story! But what'd you think of the rest? Review - I'm gonna wait for ten before I post again!