Chapter 10

I slapped my hand over Fiyero's mouth before he could ruin his new reputation. But Madam Morrible didn't seem to take Ursula seriously. "You're not the Wicked Witch of the West?" she said with a laugh. "Funny, you look an awful lot like her. Girl, come forward, please. Let's compare!"

"Fae, no!" But I tore myself out of his grip and walked towards the Palace. People mumbled in disbelief as I slowly made my way past them.

Morrible pretended to think. "Hmm. You do look similar. Except I see one miniscule little difference. You're green. She's not." I broke out into a sweat as the crowd began to laugh and jeer.

"I can fix that!" Ursula screeched. "Just wait! That's your villain, just with her skin paled and her voice gone. I took it from her, Madam!" No. She couldn't do this! We had a deal! But Ursula mumbled a few words under her breath, and immediately, I saw the green coming back onto my fingertips, spreading rapidly up my arms.

Morrible was outraged. "Stop! Why are you doing this to an innocent girl?! You wicked witch!" But then she looked at me more closely. "You do look like Miss Elphaba. Can you speak?"

With a glare in Ursula's direction, I shook my head.

"And so all the court can be rest assured, are you …?"

But suddenly there was a ripping of garments, and Ursula stood before us in all her glory. "I am Ursula, the sorceress of the seas, recently kicked out of my kingdom for trying to restore my rightful position as queen." She turned to me. "Old Triton got his way. Face it, people, Elphaba Thropp never quite figured out how to do transfiguration, as our Tin Woodman knows all too well. So, Madam, I have got your wicked witch for you. What do I get?"

Stunned, Madam Morrible struggled to speak. "You … you get an indefinite sentence in Southstairs for terrorizing the Emerald City and impersonating a wanted fugitive! And you! You are definitely the Wicked Witch of the West; I see that clearly now. You're going to Southstairs as well until we can set up a place for you to be burnt at the stake! Take them away!" Ursula thrashed about as she was led away. Another person I couldn't save.

Then, a pained voice broke through the crowd. "NO! SHE CAN'T! I LOVE HER! FAE!" I caught a glimpse of Dorothy, Boq, and the Lion all trying to hold Fiyero back before I was handcuffed and carted away by at least three Gale Force soldiers. I hated to do this to him, but I couldn't lie anymore. Hopefully, he would find someone who could really love him, and be with him, without any danger.

Southstairs! I had heard many horror stories about Oz's worst prison, but all my mental pictures of it could not do it justice. They did not bother to dig any graves; bones of humans and Animals were strewn everywhere. We approached a cell where a young man hung onto the bars, deathly pale. Manek!

"Hey Irijson," one of the guards greeted him. "Here's the Wicked Witch of the West. She's your new cellmate. This'll teach you not to be a commi!" And he thrust me in with Manek. The slam of the door was deafening.

Manek looked up at me. "I never thought you'd get caught. I think you're innocent, though. One person can't do all those evil things that they say you've done."

There were chips on the floor of the cell, so I started carving into the wall. It's me, Illinora. I'm sorry I lied to you. Long story.

His eyes widened as he took me in. "Wow! You are Illinora! So, you're the Witch?"

I nodded. My name is Elphaba.

"Elphaba." Manek thought for a moment. "It's a pretty name. Why did you disguise yourself? How did you lose your voice?"

I shook my head. I don't want to talk about it.

Manek shrugged. "I understand. The Wizard is an ass. Two weeks ago, I started a riot over Animal segregation. Why? Because it's stupid! But the Gale Force brought it down, and I was nibbed. Ma nearly died of embarrassment. But I'm a communist, and I stick to my beliefs! Are you a communist?"

I'm not sure. As long as the Animals are equal …

He launched into an explanation. "Communism is all about everyone getting the same thing, no matter what. Animals, humans, whatever. The stupid Wizard allowed some books from his world to be released, and let's just say I got a hold of one or two." He moved aside some of the chips and revealed a book buried underneath. "Here. The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx. It's a great read!"

I liked the Ozma book.

Manek smiled. "I knew you would!"

Suddenly, our cell door opened again, and the same guard came back. "Yo, Wicked Witch! You have a visitor."

/

Merry Lurlinemas, fellow Ozians!

Cheers,

Elle Dottore