Disclaimer: I don't own Wicked.

"Is she going to be okay? Please tell me she'll be okay," a worried voice said.

"Elphie, she's wearing your robe…and it looks like she was bleeding! And a lot! Elphie, do something!" a frantic voice spoke up.

"She'll be okay. She's a tough kid," another one said, trying to reassure the other two. Ellie felt herself being brought into arms and she was being held when she finally came to. Her brown eyes opened, and they met Elphaba's. Green arms helped her into a sitting position, and she scooted closer to the bony woman for comfort. Her body ached, and she didn't really know why it did. Her arm burned, though, but it seemed to have stopped bleeding at some point. "What happened to you, my pretty?" Ellie clung to Elphaba's black attire and shook.

"It was her…" she mumbled. "It was a ghost, but not just any ghost. It was mama's. She hasn't moved on. She followed me to Oz," Ellie trembled.

"What? You know that ghosts aren't real, my pretty. It just isn't rational."

"I thought the same thing about magic, but that's real. Ghosts are real, at least mama's is. She said she'll come back to haunt me again, but she didn't tell me when," Ellie cried into her aunt's chest, feeling safe in her arms.

"Okay, okay, just calm down," Elphaba said and rubbed her back soothingly. She then lifted her up and put her on Nessa's lap, knowing that she'd probably want her mother. Nessarose wrapped her arms around Ellie and rocked her, telling her that everything was going to be okay.

"Last night, I woke up and heard her crying, the ghost I mean. I tried to wake you up mommy, but you wouldn't. I don't know why, but you just wouldn't. Or you couldn't. And the same thing. I tried to wake up you, Elphaba, and you too, Glinda, but you two just didn't. So, I put on Elphaba's robe and left the suite. Then, I found Dorothy and we talked, and she didn't like where I live now, with you guys, and she made my arm bleed. Then she chased me, then she told me she'd haunt me later, and then I blacked out," Ellie explained quickly. "You believe me, right?"

"It seems a bit farfetched, but you did bleed. I'm going to have to believe you, Elena," Nessa said and kissed the top of her daughter's head.

"Let me see your arm," Glinda said and pulled the robe's sleeve up Ellie's arm. Needless to say, Ellie was completely shocked when a scab or scar, or something wasn't there from last night.

"But how is that…" Nessa trailed.

"Possible?" Glinda finished.

"Are you sure what happened to you wasn't some weird dream, my pretty?"

"I'm one hundred percent sure. More than that, at least I think. But my blood is on the robe, so it must have happened. How else would it have gotten there?" Ellie tried to reason with herself more so than her caretakers.

"It doesn't really matter what happened, as long as you're all right," Glinda smiled.

"I guess so," Ellie said. "I'm sorry that you found me like this. I shouldn't have got up out of bed. I should have stayed."

"Well then, next time if you hear a ghost crying as you put it, don't go following it, Ellie," Elphaba said.

"I know. I won't do that again," she promised.

"How about we go back to the room and skip breakfast. Would you like that?" Nessa suggested.

"Yeah. I would."

Nessarose was able to maneuver her wheelchair back to the suite without any assistance with Ellie sitting on her lap. Of course, Ellie felt bad about that, but she didn't trust herself to walk, and her mother didn't seem to mind. After all, Nessa wanted to be more independent and she was proving that she could do things herself, except reach things that were out of her reach. Even if she didn't want to admit it, she had her limits.

Ellie got dressed and ready for the day. She stared at her arm, wondering why she didn't have any evidence of being cut. She just hoped Dorothy wouldn't come back again. Or if she did, she hoped it would happen in like ten years because that seemed very far away from the twelve year old. "How come all this weird stuff happens to me?" she pondered.

"I don't really know, honey."

"I wish I could just have a normal life," Ellie sighed and plopped on the bed next to Nessarose.

"Elena, you're a Thropp. Thropps just don't have normal lives," her mother said.

"Of course. I should have known. But do you believe me about the whole ghost thing?"

"I think it's possible, yes, I believe you. You must have been bleeding last night, but there's not a scratch on you," Nessa said and inspected her arm.

"I was. I don't know what happened," Ellie said.

"Well, I'm just glad that after the whole ordeal you seem to be all right." Suddenly, there was a knock on the door which made Ellie jump. Her mother went over to answer it, and saw it was Brac, the Tiger that was Ellie's friend. "Hello Master Brac," she greeted.

"Hello Miss Nessarose. I was just wondering if Ellie is okay. Lady Glinda seemed to be a bit worried about her."

"She's okay right now," Nessa smiled.

"Would she like to come for a walk with me on the deck?"

"Ellie, would you like to go on a walk around the deck with Brac?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I would," Ellie said and grabbed her hat, placing it on her head, and grabbed her bag with her art supplies in it.

"Be back in time for tea!" Nessa shouted as the two ran off towards the deck.

"What happened last night? Lady Glinda seemed to be pretty worried," Brac said as they walked along the deck, passing the occasional first class passengers whom could be a bit snobby. Ellie went on explaining to him about Dorothy's ghost and how nobody else could wake up. "That's awesome that you're the daughter she was looking for! And it's even cooler that you saw a ghost! But it sucks that it scared the living daylights out of you."

"I wish she would just leave me alone," Ellie sighed and sat down on a bench, followed by Brac.

"Oh, umm, Calix says he wants you to meet up with him tomorrow night after dinner at the ladder, you know, the one we went down last night," Brac explained.

"I don't think I should be getting into any mischief anymore. It's only causing trouble for my mommy, Elphaba, and Glinda. Please explain to him that I just can't, but I will write him. I just need his address," she said.

"Well, okay. I'll let him know later. I guess this means you won't be joining us tonight?"

"What's going on tonight?"

"Major party down in third class. They're so much better than the ones we have to go to."

"I don't know about that," Ellie said, although she did want to see what a real party was like.

"I'm not going to make you come, but maybe tonight at dinner if you want to go, just give me some kind of signal or something?" Brac suggested.

"I'll think about it." Ellie thought about the offer for the rest of the day. She had to sit through boring tea parties and walking the deck with a few other women, where she was unable to speak her mind. She attended lunch just as the day before, and was bored to death and was forced to eat fish. She didn't really like fish all that much, but to be polite, she forced herself to eat it. Luckily, Elphaba was discreetly cutting up an apple under the table and split it with Ellie.

Finally, she was able to have some fun before dinner. Elphaba had taken her to the bow of the boat and held her in place as she stood on the rails. They didn't see much other than ocean, but it was still a breathtaking scene. She didn't feel as if they were moving, but when she looked down, she saw how fast the ship was really traveling. "Elphaba, I was invited to a party tonight," Ellie said. She wanted at least some advice.

"What kind of party?" Elphaba questioned and rested her chin on Ellie's head.

"There's one in third class tonight. But I don't know if I should go."

"I trust your judgment. If you want to go, then go. Just be back at a decent time, and no alcohol. And don't do anything stupid."

"But I don't know if I want to go," Ellie said. "I don't want to cause you any more trouble."

"Just go," Elphaba said. "What's the worst that can happen? You dance too much and your feet hurt? Go ahead, I'm sure it'll be fun."

"But what if something happens?"

"I doubt it will," Elphaba assured her. "And I know you want to go. Don't worry about me, Glinda, or Nessa. Just think about yourself for once."

And at dinner that night, Ellie tapped Brac's leg with her foot, indicating that she was going to go to that party. So, they did the same thing they did the night before; Ellie faked being tired and Brac pretended to escort her to her suite. Once they were up the stairs, the two broke into a run, descending down the ladder, and finding their way to the party. The music could be heard, so they just followed the sound of it. Finally, they entered the corridors and rushed to where the music was coming from. Ellie felt a bit claustrophobic in the third class hallways because they were incredibly narrow. "I think this is it," Brac said and opened the door. The music was loud, but rather good. She held onto Brac's furry arm so that she didn't get lost because there were so many people in such a small place. And of course, there were drunks.

Brac led her deeper into the crowd. "You guys made it!" Calix exclaimed and brought them over to a table where people their age were hanging out. Ellie felt out of place in her light blue evening wear and heels. The third class passengers were wearing simple clothes that didn't require a corset. Ellie had just begun to wear one, and although it made her feel more grown up, she knew she didn't really need it. In fact, she barely had any breasts! "I was afraid you weren't going to come, Ellie. Brac told me everything. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone else what happened. Secret's safe with us."

"Thanks," Ellie smiled. She looked over to the band playing and noticed they weren't hired professionals such as the ones in first class. Instead, they were average people who had brought their instruments with them. Ellie thought they played rather well, and the music was upbeat, not the classical music she had been forced to listen to.

Brac had wandered off and was dancing with another Tiger about his age. Her fur was white instead of orange, but possessed the black stripes every Tiger had. "Care to dance?" Calix stood and extended his hand to hers.

"Oh, I don't really know how to dance like that," she said as she watched the other couples dancing quickly and closely together of all ages.

"Then I'm going to have to teach you," Calix said and pulled her up. His hand was firm at the small of her back, and she felt his chest against her. She never noticed how much taller he was than her. He was more than a head taller than her, and a year older. She hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. He clasped his free hand in hers, and he led her as they danced.

Ellie was enjoying herself so much that she had forgotten about the ghost and all of her troubles. She laughed, she danced, she twirled, and she was dipped. No wonder Glinda loved dances so much! At one point, Calix lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist and dipped her again. She loved it! She knew she was only twelve, but the thing was, most girls got married in four to six years, and marriage was a close future unless she went to a college or something.

"I probably should get going. I'm sure it's rather late. I don't want to worry anybody," Ellie said. She didn't want to go, but she knew she had to.

"Then let me escort you back to your stateroom."

"I'd like that."