(AN: Things have gotten even more complicated than before. With my laptop taking advantage of every second to un-plug itself and power down on me, I've had to find other means to write my stories and update them. Hopefully some of you are still reading my stories and might want to review.)

(Here's a new chapter for this one. Borrowed some lyrics from an actual song, so let me state that I don't own BLS, that belongs to Zakk Wylde.)


No Sleep 'Till Dixxi

When the new week started, Elphaba was surprised and a little shocked at the sudden inundation of people flocking to her and Galinda. She was used to people running away from her in terror, screaming or making snide comments about vegetables. Now they were walking up to her, saying they enjoyed her singing and couldn't wait for People of Oz to play in their town.

Elphaba was a little annoyed at all the fame, it made classes a chore to concentrate. But she enjoyed it all together: it was a little taste of what Oz-wide fame she would enjoy once she was the Wizard's Vizir. That was her main goal, after all: this band was just a side-project she did with her friends for fun. Though she valued the ability to preach equality through her lyrics, it would be her political position as Grand Vizir that would make the real change. To her, this all meant very little.

Others, however, were basking unashamedly in this fame. Fiyero seemed back to his usual self, Galinda was back on speaking terms with Shenshen and Pfannee, and even some of Avaric's old swagger had returned. Now he was calling People of Oz his band, and saying that it was his idea and that everything about the band came from him, that the others were just tools who played along with what he told them to do. To this, Elphaba just rolled her eyes and tried to get back to studying.

Let him think it's that way, she thought. I've got a career planned out for me, unlike the rest of them.


About the middle of the week, Elphaba made her way to Lakely and Oakes as usual. More time for band practice. Once more, Avaric was not present, and nor was Fiyero. Galinda was wearing her white uniform, leaning upon the seat of her drum kit, with the fuzzy pink sticks in her hand. At the keyboard Ramon was standing next to Milla, who was sitting with her knees together. The Raccoon was giving her several pointers on keyboard playing.

"Where are Fiyero and Avaric?" Elphaba queried.

"They said they had something to attendiate to before practice." Galinda answered, throwing up one of her sticks into the air before grabbing it between three fingers.

"Here," Elphaba said, handing her notepad to Ramon. "Some new material."

"Delightful!" Ramon commented, as he began flipping through the pages. Some of them were loose and slipped out as he skimmed through the notebook. Milla picked up one and looked it through, her mouth suddenly dropping open.

"Miss Elphaba," Milla gasped. "This is amazing! I didn't know you wrote so well."

"It's a gift, I guess." she returned, shrugging. She didn't need compliments from shallow Milla, one of Galinda's 'crew.'

"Um, excuse me," Ramon stated.

"Hmm?" Elphaba turned to the Raccoon.

"Just a thought I had here," He held up the notebook, turned to a certain page. "This line here: 'In this river, all shall fade to black. In this river, there's no coming back.'"

"Yes?" Elphaba queried.

"Well, correct me if I'm wrong," he continued. "But you're not a Unionist, are you?"

"If I had a choice, I wouldn't be."

"What do you mean?" Milla asked. "Of course we have a choice."

"I don't." Elphaba answered. "My father made certain that Nessa and I were raised strictly Unionist." She turned back to Ramon. "What are you getting at, Ramon?"

"Well, it may be nothing," the Raccoon continued. "But I was under the impression that Saint Aelphaba vanished behind a curtain of water."

"But she's a Lurlinist saint, isn't she?" Milla asked.

"From what I've discovered," Elphaba returned. "Unionist ministers assimilated many of the saints and holidays from Lurlinism to make them more appealing to the people."

"Either way," Ramon continued. "You're named after Saint Aelphaba, are you not?"

Elphaba nodded meekly.

"Well, then, I would think carefully about making a religious stance either way." Ramon said. "We don't want to alienate potential fans by taking one side or another."

"It's not about Saint Aelphaba!" she retorted. She walked over to a side of the room, sitting down with her arms wrapped around her knees, bent up under her chin. Galinda left the drum-kit and plopped herself down next to her friend.

"What's wrong?" she queried.

Elphaba shook her head, refusing to say either way.

"Is it about Fifi?" Elphaba shook her head again. "Is it about Avaric? Did he say something hurtifying again?"

"No, Galinda, he didn't!"

"Then what's bothering you?"

Elphaba sighed, turning away from the others and walking off by herself, towards the exit of Lakely and Oakes.

"Elphie, wait!" Galinda called back.

But Elphaba did not wait. In fact, once she was outside of the doors of Lakely and Oakes, she ran as fast as she could back to Crage Hall. She didn't care who saw her, she had to be alone right now. Bounding up the stairs, she threw open the door to her and Galinda's apartment and almost flew onto the bed, throwing her face into the pillows.

The tears shortly followed.

Of course her song wasn't about Saint Aelphaba. It was about something more important, dearer to her than a saint who was nothing more than a statue in a shrine in Elphaba's eyes. Even though she saw the band as a 'side project' of no importance, she had poured her heart into that song: it was about her mother dying, and the pain of losing someone. And they equated it with nothing more or less than a silly religious icon!

She realized that she had forgotten the notepad with the lyrics on it. How stupid of me, she thought, to leave that precious book to their wandering eyes. She never kept a diary, because there would be no need to be 'remembered' once she was with the Wizard: she would be immortalized in a way that a few pages of self-centered whining could never accomplish. But the way they ravaged the song with their scintillating opinions made her upset, and she didn't want them to get their hands on what else she had written.

Without even trying to dry off her eyes, Elphaba reached under her pillow, then bolted out the door. She ran as fast as she could back down the steps and across the lawn, trying to get to Lakely and Oakes before they found it. She did not even watch the white-clad figure in front of her until she collided with her, sending them both sprawled out on the grass.

"Elphie!" the blond said, swinging herself up into a sitting position. "What in Oz's name is wrong with..."

"Where is it?" Elphaba shot back, sitting up from her fall.

"What, Elphie?"

"My notebook! Where is it?"

Galinda very sheepishly brought the notebook from behind her back. Elphaba snatched it out of her grip with one hand, not even saying 'thank you.'

"I saw you left it behind and thought I'd bring it back to you." Galinda stated.

"Like I believe that." Elphaba sighed.

"Honest, Elphie!" she begged. "I liked the lyrics Ramon read, but I think we judged it too soon!"

"Did you?" Elphaba returned harshly. "Do you think I'd pour my heart and soul into something I don't give a damn about?"

"I'm sorry, Elphie!"

She sighed, looking away from the little blond before her. She looked so silly, sitting there with her legs spread-eagle upon the grass, the result of their collision. For all of Galinda's silly quirks and childish behavior, Elphaba just couldn't force herself to say no to her.

"It was about my mother, that's all." she admitted.

"Elphie, I'm so sorry."

"It's no big deal, because you'll never have to see it again."

"No! That's a splendiforous song! I'd be thrillified to see us play it live!"

Elphaba turned to Galinda. "Do you really mean that?"

"Of course."

Elphaba rose to her feet and held her hand out to Galinda. The little blond reached up and took her friend's hand, who lifted her up to her feet. Galinda dusted herself off, looking down at her stockings.

"Ah, phooie!" she pouted.

"What's wrong?" Elphaba returned.

"My stockings have grass-stains all over them!" she whined. Her lower lip shot out and, from her downcast expression, Elphaba feared that Galinda was going to start crying in front of her - and over just a few grass-stains?

"It's not that bad," Elphaba returned. "We can just go back to your room and get some new stockings, okay?"

Galinda nodded, following Elphaba back to their room.


In their room, Galinda was plowing through her wardrobe and the thousands of clothes she possessed. Elphaba sat meekly on the edge of her plain bed, waiting for Galinda to finish her crusade for clean, fashionable clothing.

"I have a hundred pair of stockings and panty hoses," Galinda commented. "And I can't find even one that matches this outfit!"

"Can't you go without?" Elphaba asked.

"I only went without at the OzDust ballroom!" Galinda stated. She stood up from the mess she made and plopped onto the bed.

"I have a spare pair," Elphaba said. "If you want."

"Let me see what you got."

Elphaba opened her suitcase and took out the only other pair of stockings she had: plain, sheer black ones. She tossed them at Galinda, who held them out to her scrutiny.

"Ugh," she groaned. "Black? Haven't you got any other color?"

"I'm wearing my blue stockings right now, so no." Elphaba returned.

Galinda sighed in frustration again.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Galinda sang out.

"It's Milla." the wee voice called from the other side. "Can I come in?"

Galinda bounced off her bed and walked over to the door, flinging it open.

"I don't know if you've noticed," Milla said. "But Fiyero and that Raccoon are outside, climbing the wall."

Elphaba groaned in frustration. "I'm gonna push him off the wall!"

"Elphie!"

"Your boyfriend needs to stop sneaking into Crage Hall!" Elphaba returned. "We're gonna get caught!"

"Not if you don't keep quiet!"

The window was pushed open and the three ladies saw Fiyero and Ramon crawl into the building. It was Fiyero who had spoken. Galinda threw the black stockings back to Elphaba as the young man and the Raccoon took seats on the floor.

"Sit up here, Fifi!" Galinda said, patting a spot of her bed next to her. Fiyero complied, much to Galinda's satisfaction.

"What's so important that you had to follow us into Crage Hall and get us all in trouble?" Elphaba asked.

"We have wonderful news!" Ramon stated. "I think you should tell them, Fiyero."

"Tell us what, dearest?" Galinda queried.

"Oh, just a little something like..." Fiyero said, beating around the bush to keep his audience eager. "...a show at a little place called Dixxi House."

Galinda squealed and Elphaba gasped.

"Not the Dixxi House, the closest town to Shiz!" Milla queried.

"The same!" Fiyero added.

"When?" Elphaba asked.

"Later this May."

"And how are we getting there?" Elphaba asked.

"I've chartered a wagon train to take us there." Fiyero said. "That's why I wasn't at practice today."

"Oh my Oz!" Galinda squealed. "This is the bestest news ever!"

"What kind of venues do they have at Dixxi?" Millia asked.

"Oh, they have several." Ramon said. "A lot bigger, actually, than the Philosophy Club."

Elphaba smiled. This was definitely a step-up. She couldn't wait to play their next biggest show.

"Yero, I'm surprised!" she commented. She then rose up and grabbed his collar. "Now get out of here before we get caught!"

She herself was surprised that she could have touched him again and yet had her insides not going to jelly. Fortunately, she grabbed only his collar and not any of his flesh. That made her a little more comfortable.

"Well, okay then." he said with a smirk. He and Ramon left, and Elphaba and Galinda did not get into the least bit of trouble.


The days flew by and soon April was half-way over. Madam Morrible had not yet heard back from the Wizard, and told Elphaba to remain patient and continue "making good", and that she would not go unnoticed for much longer. Elphaba believed it, and held true that the Wizard would see to Madam Morrible's letter as soon as he could: after all, he must be a busy man, what with his duty to make Oz wonderful.

During those days, Elphaba noticed that Galinda became increasingly more moodified than usual. Her only solace was the drum-set, which she seemed to be playing with a renewed vigor and strength, especially when Elphaba was around. Pfannee and Shenshen had gone back to wherever in Upper Gilikin they lived, with the promise to come to every show to cheer Galinda and The People of Oz on from the front-row.

As the spring semester came to a close, Elphaba also noticed that there were not many people who were staying over for the summer semester. She had written a letter to Father, explaining that she was doing "abroad work" for the head-mistress of Shiz. It was a bold-faced lie, but she knew how he'd respond if he knew the truth. He told her bluntly to 'stay out of trouble', more like a weary refrain from one who thought that Elphaba and trouble were the best friends ever. Elphaba sometimes wondered if he would even miss her if she just up and left one day.

Of course he'd miss her - who else would take care of Nessa? But she couldn't take her sister with her, she had to go back to Munchkinland. So she bade Nessarose good-bye and made sure that Father had hired the best nannies and governesses in Munchkinland to take care of Nessarose while her elder sister was off doing Oz knows what in Upper Gilikin.

A devious smile came across Elphaba's face as the thought of her sudden freedom.


May first rolled around the corner, and a long line of dusty, weather-beaten wagons appeared along the cobble-stone streets of Shiz early that morning, ere the rising of the sun. Elphaba Thropp, an early riser and a light-sleeper at that, saw the arrival early as she sat by the window with a book - Ozma: Savior or Tyrant? - on her lap. A look of pleased surprise shot across Elphaba's face and she walked over to the other side of the room.

The pink side.

"Galinda, wake up!" Elphaba said. A noncommittal groan came from beneath the sea of blond hair propped atop a dozen throw-pillows.

"Come on, Galinda! Rise and shine!" Elphaba gave her room-mate a gentle nudge.

"Leamme alone, Momsy!" Galinda muttered drowsily. "Popsicle said I could sleep in today!"

"It's your room-mate!" Elphaba added, striking Galinda playfully with her one, bland-looking pillow. "Wake up!"

Almost the moment she hit Galinda with the pillow, an all-too familiar rapping was heard at the glass window. Elphaba scurried over and saw Ramon standing on the outside window sill.

"I say," the Raccoon began. "I'm sorry to disturb you, ladies, but Fiyero sent me to tell you that the wagon train has arrived. We leave at seven o'clock."

"What time is it now?" Elphaba queried.

"Three past six." Ramon stated.

"Okay, we'll be right down." Elphaba returned. "What about our instruments?"

"Oh, Fiyero, Avaric and Boq went down to Lakely and Oakes to pick them up."

Elphaba nodded, and Ramon darted back down the side of the building. It was amazing just how high he could crawl across a veritable flat surface. Elphaba then turned back to Galinda.

"Wake up, sleepy head!" she nigh shouted. "We've gotta pack."

"Pack?" Galinda queried, her blond curls all a tangle about her head. "Where are we going?"

"Where else? Dixxi House!"


Since Elphaba was up already, and since she would take the least amount of time in the bathroom, she went first and let Galinda pack her things. She moved about very slothfully, and was, as usual, taking a lot of stuff that she didn't need. It seemed like she did not get very much packing done before Elphaba was done in the bathroom, already throwing her traveling clothes on: her white-blouse and blue-skirt school uniform. She didn't have much - just the blue under-skirt frock, the blue jacket, blouse and skirt for her uniform (and matching beanie), the white blouse and her dress clothes, all of which were black (aside, of course, from under-garments). Galinda slowly sauntered towards the bathroom while Elphaba began double-checking everything in her suitcase. She stuffed the tall-peaked hat, the one Galinda gave her that night before the OzDust Ballroom dance, in with the clothes. Even though it had been the butt of a cruel and painful joke, Elphaba liked it for what it was. Next, of course, came a travel case for her glasses. Her vision was not so terrible that she relied on her glasses like an Illswater fish relied water, but she had trouble seeing things from afar without them. Lastly she placed into the suitcase the little green bottle from out of her hand.

A curious desire came over Elphaba to try some of the mesmerizing green liquid out. Just a small drop wouldn't kill her.

Or would it?

Galinda began singing loudly from the bathroom, though Elphaba would rather not know what she was doing in there. Probably painting her nails or doing something painful to her hair that would make it look pretty later on. As much as Galinda was like an innocent little 'cream-puff', Elphaba had to admit that she had some courage to endure all the painful things that young women, like Galinda and Elphaba's sister Nessarose, did to themselves to look pretty.

Maybe just a little bit?

"Hey, Galinda?" Elphaba queried. "While you're taking your time in there, mind if I help you with your packing? I'm already done."

"That would be splendiforous!" Galinda sang from the shower. Usually she did not like packing by herself and had Pfannee and Shenshen, or some other friends from long before, accessorize all her things if she needed packing.

"Now," Elphaba called back, as she began rummaging through a single suitcase. "I'm thinking less is more, okay? You don't want to carry a lot of stuff and then be stuck carrying it all."

"Oh nonsense!" Galinda returned. "Milla and Biq can help me with my luggage."

"But they've got their own luggage." Elphaba returned. "Plus, how many of these outfits are you actually going to wear?"

"Well," Galinda called out. "The pink party frock I'm wearing on-stage, but I'll need something fancier for the next show. It's such a fashion no no to wear the same dress twice, or be a copy-cat. So the matching silver-sparkly heels gotta go with it. Oh, must bring my earrings and my necklace...the ones that match the pink frock. I'm sure they're labeled on the box. I guess the yellow dress can go with, so the yellow heels as well. And don't you dare let me forget my pink-beaded hand-bag, or the yellow one that goes with the yellow dress! I will kill myself if I forget those!"

"Why do you need two hand-bags, Galinda?" Elphaba sighed.

"Two?" Galinda laughed. "Who'd only bring two? I need one to match each one of my outfits! The pink-beaded one goes with the party frock and the yellow one goes with the yellow dress. I keep all my stuff in it: my mirror, my lipstick, my eye-shadow, my powders, my brush, my mascara and any loose change I might need. It's worth my life!"

Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"Well don't take too long, okay?" she returned. "It's six fifteen and you're still not ready yet."

"Don't rush me, Elphie!"

A knock sounded at the door. Elphaba walked over and opened it up. Milla was standing in the doorway, wearing a simple blue traveling dress with a blue jacket lined with white stripes.

"Here," Elphaba said to Milla, pointing to the large stack of clothing by Galinda's wardrobe. "You're a girly girl. Arrange Galinda's stuff for her while I get mine packed onto the wagons already. And please, for Oz's sake, only pack what she needs, not everything she asks for."

Milla nodded a little sheepishly, and Elphaba departed the room, taking her suitcase with her. Once she was gone, a very perturbed Galinda ran on tip-toe out of the bathroom, green refreshing mask on her face, her hair bound beneath a towel and drying nail-polish on her fingers, and almost screamed with fright.

"You better not leave out my make-up or so help me Oz, I will strangle you!"


A fully dressed and packed Elphaba made her way out of Crage Hall and toward the long line of wagons arrayed out in front of the building. The sun was peaking its golden head from the tops of the Madeleines across to the east, shedding just enough light to see. An odd assortment of people were gathered here, from Munchkin farmers, Glikkus miners, travelers from Upper Gilikin and the Emerald City, as well as several dwarves as well. Elphaba saw the tall Winkie prince and the brash Gilikin brat loading the instruments onto one of the wagons. Boq sat on the side-lines, rejected from his various offers to help. When he saw Elphaba, he gave his usual cry of surprise at seeing her. This got the attention of the other two.

"We're not gonna wait for the ladies, artichoke!" Avaric said as he tossed one of the drums to Fiyero, who was up on top of the wagon, making sure everything was assembled properly.

"Don't mind him!" a voice called out cheerfully. Elphaba saw Ramon poke his black-snout out from the side of the wagon. "He's cranky because he had to wake up early."

"Wouldn't our 'handsome prince Fiyero' also be grumpy?" Elphaba asked with much sarcasm. "After all, he's the 'scandalacious' prince who sleeps during the day, isn't he?"

"Hey, it wasn't my idea to wake up this early, Elphaba." Fiyero said. "The lady who runs this wagon train said she'd pass through Shiz briefly between six and seven. Says she won't pass through here until the fall, or next year, likely." He looked back at Crage Hall. "Say, is Galinda up yet?"

"She's taking her sweet time getting ready." Elphaba returned.

"Good." Fiyero said. Though why he said it, he did not know. It surely wasn't by thought, for he didn't feel like thinking at that moment. It just sort of came out...naturally. Like it was the right thing to say.

"Good?" Elphaba asked. "I thought we were on a tight schedule."

"It's not even six thirty yet," Avaric returned. "Don't get your damn panties in a wad."

She made a rude gesture in his direction, though he did not see it.

"What about Ramon?"

"What about me, Elphaba?"

"Is...you know..." She didn't know how to say it. After all, how do you ask if someone is 'okay' with letting an Animal on their wagon train while in the presence of an Animal? She knew all about prejudice the 'normal people' had against those who were different, and she knew how it would definitely hurt him. "Well, I mean...is the owner...or driver...of the wagon train...uh..."

"I've already asked." Ramon answered, divining her question. "She said that as long as they pay, she doesn't matter who rides her wagon. Amoral and indifferent, I might state, but it's better than some."

Elphaba nodded, feeling a little ashamed at having spoken as much as she had.

"Uh," she said, deciding to change the subject. "Do we have everything on there?"

"Yep," Fiyero returned. "We've got the drum-set, the amps, the keyboard, the microphone and your PA. My stuff and Avaric's are already in. Ramon says he doesn't have much, so we're just waiting on you girls."

Elphaba passed her suit-case up to Fiyero, who deposited it among the other bags.

"Which wagon are we riding in?"

"Fiyero and I have pooled our considerable resources together," Avaric said with pride, trying to sound important and sophisticated. "And acquired three wagons. No need to worry your green head about that." Elphaba made a face at him.

"I've got this wagon for the stuff," Fiyero said, indicating to the one he was in. "Me, Av, Boq and Ramon are in one and you ladies can be the in the other.

"Where are we going to sleep?" Elphaba asked.

"Ask the head of the wagon train." Fiyero said, pointing toward the front. "She's that way."

Elphaba walked off in the direction Fiyero had indicated, with Avaric walking after her. He wasn't trying anything, it seemed. He had something else on his mind.

At the head of the wagon train was a middle-aged woman in very rugged, weather-beaten clothing.

"E-Excuse?" Elphaba asked. The woman took one look and almost jumped off her wagon in shock.

"My, my, there!" she coughed. "No sense in scaring ol' Oastie Manglehand half-to-death like that! You'd be without the best guide in all 'a Gilikin, that's for sure!"

"Miss Manglehand," Elphaba began. "Where are we sleeping?"

"We camp every night," Oastie returned. "Where we sleep is wherever we're at at the time."

"Pardon me," Avaric interjected, trying to sound a little more important. "I was just wondering if I could ride in a separate car than the other band members."

"Huh? What's that?" Oastie queried. "Didn't the wild boy say you only needed three?"

"Yes, yes," Avaric returned. "But I will not ride in a carriage with...a Raccoon!"

"Then you gotta pay for the extra cab." Oastie answered flatly.

"Pay?" Avaric cried out. "This is outrageous! I shouldn't have to pay when I've already paid for riding on this train of vagabonds and brigands."

"If you want another car, boy," Oastie said flatly. "You pay for it. Otherwise, you can walk for all I care. And watch what you say about my wagon train! Vagabonds and brigands indeed!"

Elphaba tried hard to supress a smile. So much for Avaric's considerable resources if he wasn't going to pay up for another wagon. Elphaba walked over to Avaric and playfully teased him.

"Don't worry," she smiled. "I'll make sure Ramon won't bite you."

"Go jump off a cliff, cabbage." was his answer.


It was almost seven by the time Galinda and Milla emerged from Crage Hall, five suitcases between the two of them. Galinda only carried one small one, whereas Milla had two heavy ones in each hand and two beneath her arms - all of them belonging to G. Upland. Fiyero and Avaric double-timed the packing of the last packages and sent the ladies off to their wagon while the four gentlemen made their way to theirs.

"Oh, isn't it wonderful?" Galinda squealed. "We're going on tour!"

Elphaba nodded, a little sickened by Galinda's usual spastic behavior. She turned to Milla and received an awkward smile from her.

Once the hour struck seven, the wagons kicked off and Shiz began rolling past them.

Next stop, Elphaba thought. Dixxi House!


(AN: Sorry it took so long to update this. Hopefully you like it)

(There is a reason for Fiyero acting all "responsible" with this band, I just haven't revealed it yet. Any other ideas or thoughts that might work for later chapters? Please, submit them in your reviews - if you're still out there, reviewing.)

(Still mainly musical-verse, but have incorporated book elements to flesh it out [feel like I've said this before]. Oatsie is such an element.)

(In regards to an unpublished story from Wicked that I originally was working on, I have decided to incorporate the other elements into this story, but keep The Trials of Boq and Nessa separate, which I shall upload once I have gotten more done with some of my other stories. Who wants to read TToBaN?)

(Btw, title does not come from Beastie Boys' "No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn." There's plenty of other songs/live albums that begin with those three words, like Motorhead's "No Sleep 'Till Hammersmith". It's a usual live thing, and therefore thought it might work)