My buddy "Denpa Wave Chick Saki" co-wrote this with me. Enjoy!

"Galinda you have more dresses than there are, or ever will be, people in Oz. How can you say you have nothing to wear for the winter ball?"

The blonde in question poked her head out of the closet, glaring at Elphaba. "Well excuuuuuusse me, Miss Thropp. This is the final party before winter break. It is very important that I look my best as always. Wait. What am thinking? A green bean like you would have no idea what I'm talking about." She disappeared back into the closet, rifling through all of her dresses again.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "No I suppose I wouldn't, seeing as I'll be wearing exactly what I'm wearing now. Stylish, is it not? I hear frocks are so in. You should wear one too. You'll look so amazing. Perhaps you could start a new trend."

Galinda shuddered at the thought of wearing a frock. "Absolutely not. I have no doubt at all thatI would look great. But I wouldn't subject anybody else to the horrors of a frock like that."

"Horrors? My goodness, someone does love to be dramatic don't they?" Elphaba sighed. "Miss Galinda, the ball is in five days. Must you really stress over it now?"

"It's not being dramatic. That thing is hideous." She pulled out another dress and added it to her pile of possibilities. "And yes, I must stress about it now. A decision like this one must be made slowly so as to prevent any rash last minute decisions that might go horribly wrong."

"Galinda, you're the heiress to the throne. Everyone knows who you are, so I doubt that your outfit will affect your standing. And based on what you own, could it even be possible to make the wrong decision?"

"I would bet my title that if I wore a frock as hideous as yours, I would never hear the end of it for as long as I live."

"Well, I would hate to see you lose that, so I won't match your bet." Elphaba sighed as she leaned against the wall. "Your knee appears to be healing well."

"Yes, it is. Although I don't see why I still need this blasted brace. It feels fine. Why can't I take it off? It's so much harder to find an outfit when I also have to worry about it being long enough to cover the stupid brace."

"The brace keeps your knee stabilized so that the ligament heals properly. If you take it off early, it could shift and heal incorrectly, which would result in an even worse injury."

Galinda grumbled under her breath. "...still think it's stupid..." She threw another dress onto the possibilities pile.

"It's for your own good." Elphaba eyed the pile. "Miss Galinda...isn't this pile a little large? I mean, you needn't throw out half your closet only to later decide that you plan on buying a new dress. And that usually happens, which results in me having to hang everything back up."

"Well that is your job, isn't it? So stop complaining."

"Simply stating facts. Why not wear the same dress you wore to your birthday ball?"

"As amazing as that dress is, it's too fancy for this ball. The Ozdust is a much less formal event. But I still must look fabulous nonetheless."

"Of course. What was I thinking?" Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Surely there is something you'd like me to do besides standing here watching you and making satirical comments."

"Yes. You can leave me alone."

"Miss Galinda, you know that won't happen. We've discussed this: As your bodyguard, I cannot leave your side. Are you, perhaps, suffering from short-term memory loss?"

"I know that. But I can dream, can't I?"

"Perhaps, except for the fact that you are awake, and cannot be dreaming."

"It's called daydreaming. Now, please just stop talking. Go sit on your bed and read or something. Whatever it is you do for fun."

"I am sitting on my bed and I am reading, thank you. I can multi-task you know. I'm talented like that."

"Well, then stop talking to me."

"That's harsh," Elphaba said, but she remained silent as she heard the blonde continue to rummage around her closet.

About thirty minutes passed before Elphaba said, "That pile has taken over your bed. Is there anything left in your closet?"

Galinda threw a glare her way. "I'm done taking things out of my closet. Now I have to go through this pile and narrow it down."

Elphaba stood and approached her. "Perhaps you could make my life easier and give me the dresses you turn down so I can hang them up now instead of later?"

She shrugged as she started sorting through the pile. "Do what you like."

I'd like to tell you my mind, the green woman thought, but she instead said, "Yes Miss Galinda."

Galinda threw dress after dress towards Elphaba, and very slowly the pile began to go down. Her knee started to ache after standing for so long, so she sat on the edge of her bed and continued sorting.

Elphaba hung the dresses up as they came, and she noticed when Galinda sat down. "Are you sure you'll be all right at the ball?"

"I'll be fine," she almost snapped at her. "I already told you that it's feeling alright."

"Alright. No need to snap Miss Galinda. I am merely watching out for your safety, which is my job, might I remind you?"

"Yes, yes. I know that. Just hang the dress up, will you?" She threw another dress at the green woman.

Elphaba caught it and moved to hang it up. "Miss Galinda, when you find the dress you want, why would you even pull out all these others in the first place?" She shook her head. "I suppose it doesn't matter...your class is going to start soon."

"Because pulling them out allows me to see all of the options together instead of having to rummage around and trying to find the others to compare them each time." She set down the dress she was holding and went to brush her hair and get ready for class. "I am most definitely not looking forward to Horrible Morrible's class today..."

"You never are. I told you, if you hate it so much, just drop it and tell your father it's not for you. For once, have a spine Galinda."

"It's not the subject that I have a problem with. I happen to like studying magic much more than I thought I would. It's the teacher that I don't like."

"Or maybe it's just you. After all, your magic hasn't improved much since we arrived."

Galinda ground her teeth. "My magic has improved quite well, thank you very much." She grabbed her book bag and headed for the door.

Elphaba followed her. "I beg to differ. You still can't levitate a chair." The blonde ignored her and kept walking. "I will take your silence as agreement with me. You know, perhaps sorcery really isn't for you."

Galinda whipped around to look at her. "You know what, little miss know-it-all? You always ask me why I yell and get mad at you so much. Well, did ya ever think that's it's your own fault? You're the one always pushing me to the limit because you don't know when or how to just shut up!"

Elphaba blinked, and then sighed. "You're right...it's one of my flaws. I'm sorry." She directed her gaze down and remained silent. The blonde turned back around and continued down the hallway to her class. Elphaba followed her, moving to stand in the corner when they arrived.

The rest of the week passed without too much sarcasm or yelling and soon enough, it was Friday night, with only a few hours left before the dance. Galinda stood over her bed, looking down at her options. Over the past few days she had managed to narrow it down to two possible dresses.

Elphaba sat on her cot, watching the blonde. "For Oz's sake, Galinda, just pick one! You've been staring for thirty minutes!"

Her eyes never left the teal and purple dresses. "You pick one for me."

Elphaba stared at her. "You...you actually want me to choose?"

"Don't give me that look. Just do it, already!"

Elphaba was taken aback, but she stood, approaching the bed and looking down at the dresses. "They're both lovely..." She picked up the purple one and held it out to the blonde. "H-here."

Galinda frowned and wrinkled her nose. She picked up the other dress. "The teal one it is." She muttered a quick "thanks" as she headed for the bathroom.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. She had figured something like that would happen. She gave herself a silent congratulations on choosing the one she liked less. "Miss Galinda I was almost flattered for a moment there."

Galinda slipped the dress she had been wearing off and slid the teal one over her head. She looked at herself, admiring the way it shimmered and flowed in the light. It kinda reminds me of water. It's pretty. She left the bathroom and sat at her vanity. "No need to be flattered. I simply knew that by whatever you picked, I would be able to judge my reactions. And then I would know which one I truly wanted to wear but didn't know it consciously."

Elphaba blinked. "Do my ears deceive me? Did I actually hear you using your brain? Do you actually know how to use it?" Elphaba clapped a few times. "Bravo, Miss Galinda. I am impressed."

"You can stop it with the sarcastic comments, Miss Thropp. I have a chore for you."

Elphaba paused. "Have you? Let me hear it then. Don't leave me waiting in suspense."

"I need you to go and find me a few stems of white lilies."

"And where do you suggest I find these flowers, Miss Galinda?"

"Oh, I don't know. The flower shop, perhaps?" She set about putting on her makeup.

"Wait...you mean leave you alone to go into town?"

"Yes. Or at least go find somebody to go get them for you."

An idea suddenly hit the green woman. "I'll be right back." She ran from the room and headed out to the greenhouse across campus. After some searching, she found the lilies and took a few, leaving the greenhouse to return to Crage Hall. She set the flowers on Galinda's vanity. "There you are. Pray tell, what do you need these for?"

"You'll see." Galinda picked up the flowers, giving them a sniff and a small smile. While Elphaba had been gone, she had finished with her hair and makeup. She took the smaller lilies and wove them into her hairdo, also putting the largest flower behind her ear. She stood up and moved in front of her fullbody mirror. She gave a little twirl, watching the skirt flow around her with a smile.

Elphaba watched her. "You look...quite lovely tonight."

"I know, right? I love this dress. It reminds me of the ocean..."

Elphaba's expression changed. "I wouldn't know...having never seen the ocean, so I'll take your word for it."

Galinda shrugged, not bothering with her reaction. She continued admiring herself for a few minutes before she was interrupted by a knock on the door. She motioned at Elphaba. "You get it."

Elphaba nodded before she approached the door and opened it. Her eyes narrowed. "Oh...good evening Master Fiyero." She didn't move out of the doorway.

The blonde's face brightened at the sound of her boyfriend's name. "Miss Thropp, let him in, already."

Elphaba stepped out of the way reluctantly, her glare still on Fiyero. Fiyero strode into the room with a cocky smile. He did a slow turn in front of Galinda to show off his outfit. "Do you approve?"

Galinda giggled and looked over his outfit. He was wearing a simple black slacks, white shirt, black tie, and black jacket outfit. She motioned for him to do another spin. "I do approve. You look dashing as usual."

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "If you two are going to be disgustingly cute at least warn me."

Fiyero took Galinda's hand and bowed down, giving it a kiss. "And you look ravishing tonight as always." He kissed his way up her arm, leaving Galinda with a blush.

"Dear Oz...must I separate you two again?"

"You will do nothing of the sort, Miss Thropp."

"Then shouldn't you be heading for the dance instead of making me nauseous?"

"The dance is not for another 3 or so hours. We're going to dinner beforehand." She stuck her tongue out at Elphaba as she went to gather her things into her purse and then take Fiyero's arm. He led her out the door and down the hallway.

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "But of course..." she threw her cloak around her shoulders before she followed the two

Fiyero took Galinda to the fanciest restaurant in town and, after Fiyero checked in his coat, they got a table out on the terrace. Galinda gave a little giggle. "This is so romantic, Yero. Thank you so much."

"It was the least I could do for the most beautiful girl in all of Oz." He took her hand, bringing it to his mouth for a kiss.

Elphaba stood off to the side, watching them. She bit back her sarcasm though she would have loved to say something. The green woman sighed and looked out at the setting sun. "It's going to be cold tonight..."

Before she knew it, their dinner was done, and Galinda was arm in arm with Fiyero as they went to retrieve his jacket. "This truly was delightful, dearest."

Elphaba followed them, but a sudden feeling of uneasiness settled over her. Something...something wasn't right. It was right then and there that Elphaba knew that going to the Ozdust was a bad idea. She grabbed Galinda's arm. "Would you excuse us for a moment?" she said before she dragged the blonde into the ladies' bathroom.

Galinda pulled her arm away. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she hissed at her.

"You can't go to the dance tonight!"

"Why is that? Because there's going to be a bomb there? Because you don't want to go? Because you know I'll actually be having a good time? Tell me why!"

Elphaba ran a hand through her hair. "Because I just have...a bad feeling that something awful will happen!" In a move that was very uncharacteristic, she grabbed Galinda's hands and looked into her eyes. "Please...please don't go tonight. Something is going to happen. I can feel it!"

Galinda stood looking at her in shock only for a second before pulling away and walking to the door. "No. I will not let you ruin my night of fun just because you have a 'bad feeling.' It's ridiculous! Nothing is going to happen."

"Galinda please! You don't understand!" Elphaba lunged forward and grabbed her. "I don't know how or why, but I just...know that something will happen. Please, you can hit me all you want, but please don't go!"

"Let go of me!" She yanked herself away. "Nothing you say or do will stop me from going to this dance and having fun!" She opened the door and left the bathroom, heading straight for where they had left Fiyero behind. The blonde took his arm and led him from the restaurant hurriedly. "Let's go, Yero. We'll be late for the dance."

Elphaba followed her with a sigh. She knew that this feeling had to mean something, seeing as she'd never had it before. She knew there was nothing she could say to change Galinda's mind. All she could do was hope she was wrong...

By the time they reached the Ozdust ballroom, Galinda's mood had lightened a little and she smiled at all of her friends as they passed by to find a table for them to sit at. She looked around the dance floor with a giddy smile. "Oh, Yero, this is going to be a great night."

Fiyero agreed, leaning down to give her a kiss. "Well, here's our table." Galinda set down her purse and took his outstretched hand. "Would you care to dance, my lady?"

Galinda grinned and did a small curtsy as best she could. "I would love to." She let him lead her out onto the dance floor.

Elphaba stood back, watching them. The feeling was not going away as she had hoped, but only increasing. She had to get Galinda out of here...no matter what the blonde would do to her later. Elphaba didn't like this ominous feeling. She waited for the first dance to finish before she approached the blonde. "Miss Galinda, I hate you press the matter, but please...you need to leave."

Galinda glared at her from where she was standing in the arms of her boyfriend. "Absolutely not. I am having a great time and will not leave until I feel like it."

"Galinda please! You need to trust me! Something awful is going to happen, I just know it! We need to go before whatever that is happens!"

"I don't care! Nothing is going to happen! Don't you get it? Your feeling was wrong! Now, leave me alone!"

Elphaba took a step back, but then her hands formed fists. "No...not this time." She grabbed Galinda's arm. "I am not wrong! Something will happen, and I'm not going to just stand by and let it! You are coming with me back to your room right now."

Galinda yanked her arm away. "NO! I will not let you ruin my night! I'm sick of it, and I'm sick of you always ruining everything for me!" She quickly turned to her boyfriend. "Fiyero, be a dear and go get us some punch, please? I'd rather you not have to see this." A wide-eyed Fiyero nodded his head and scurried away. He had never seen the blonde quite so livid before.

"I am not trying to ruin anything! I am trying to do my job, Galinda!"

"Well it's not your job any longer! Consider yourself fired!"

Elphaba was taken aback by that. "You...you can't fire me, because I quit! I am so done putting up with all your shit, Galinda!"

"And I'm tired of you ruining my life! So just leave!"

Elphaba felt her anger boiling over. "FINE!" She slapped the blonde across the face, hot tears forming in her eyes. "That's for 18 years of making my life a living hell!"

Galinda put a hand to her cheek in shock. "Bitch!" She backhanded her as hard as she could. "I don't need you! I'm done with you!"

"Good, because I'm done too!" She turned and started to leave, but turned back. "Mark my words, Galinda, you will get in trouble one day, and I won't be there to save you! You'll only have yourself to blame!"

"I hate you!" The blonde turned and stormed out the building.

Elphaba had expected to feel somewhat...empowered at being "free," but she didn't. In fact she only felt worse. The green woman turned, the ominous feeling only growing. "Ozdamn it, Galinda..." she muttered before she took off, starting to search for the blonde. "Galinda!"

After leaving the ballroom, Galinda didn't really have anywhere in particular she was heading for. She just knew that she had to get away from Elphaba. Somehow she ended up collapsing on a bench in the nearby park in frustration, rubbing her aching knee. She sat there for a few minutes, thinking to herself. Oh, she infuriates me so Ozdamn much! Why? Why did I ever get stuck with her? Why me! She suddenly felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned to the person thinking it was her boyfriend come to comfort her. "Fiyero I-" She barely had time to realize that these men were definitely not Fiyero before one of them swung a punch at her face. The blow knocked her off of the bench and onto the ground. Not even another second had passed before there was a body pinning her down to the ground. She felt a hand stroke down her face and body, and she shuddered in disgust and fear.

The man on top of her got real close to her face and she could smell his reeking breath. "Well, well boys. We got ourselves a pretty one here." When Galinda felt another hand lifting up her skirt, she panicked and kneed the man in between the legs. The man howled in pain and rolled off and away from her. The next few seconds for her were all a blur. All she remembered was quickly scrambling to her feet and taking off in a dead run away from the men. She soon realized, however, that they were chasing after her and quickly catching up. The blonde wasn't too familiar with this part of town and had no idea where to go. She tried to make a quick turn into the park gardens, quickly finding an alleyway to dart into, but before she got far, her knee suddenly gave out and she collapsed to the ground. Before she could even get up, she was trapped, with the four men surrounding her. One of them grabbed her hair from behind, using it to pull her to her feet with a yank.

"Galinda!" Elphaba called as she ran through the town. "Galinda, where are you?"

Galinda cried out in pain. She grasped at the hand holding her, trying to stop it as tears streamed down her face. She struggled harder when she saw one of the men moving towards her. The blonde recognized him as the one she had kneed between the legs.

"Bitch! You'll pay for kicking me!" He swung his arm and landed another punch across Galinda's face. She cried out in pain again.

Elphaba heard the familiar cry and followed it to an alley by the park, where she found a group of men and- "Galinda!" Elphaba felt her instincts take over as she leapt in, punching the man that was holding Galinda and forcing him to release her. She grabbed the blonde, looking into her eyes. "Run Galinda! Get out of here!" She pushed the blonde away as she turned and kicked one of the other men who was approaching her. "RUN!"

Galinda didn't move, staring wide eyed at the green woman in a stunned silence.

Elphaba punched another man before she turned to look at the blonde. "Remember your promise! Go now!" A man jumped her from behind and Elphaba grabbed his arm, flipping him over her head and slamming him into the ground. "RUN!" she practically screamed.

The blonde stumbled back a few steps before turning and fleeing the scene. She ran as fast and as far as she could away from there, not even knowing where she was going. She finally stopped herself, gasping for breath. What the hell am I doing? I can't just leave her there with them alone! She took off running again, this time back towards the Ozdust ballroom. She stumbled and fell a few times, but quickly got up and kept going as fast as she could.

Elphaba meanwhile was doing her best to hold the men off, lashing out at them when they came at her. But when the green woman was suddenly grabbed from behind in a way that pinned her arms, Elphaba knew she was in trouble. She kicked at the man who approached her, which resulted in her being slammed into the ground. Elphaba staggered to her feet, only to feel a punch make contact with her face. She fell back down and heard the men laughing. Then came the rain of kicks and punches. Elphaba covered her head as best she could, screaming in pain when she felt something heavy smash her left ankle and shatter the bones. A kick to the ribs silenced her.

Somewhere along the way, after another fall, Galinda tore off her knee brace. "Damn thing! You're getting in the way!" She threw it away and continued running, faster this time because of the mobility the brace had restricted. When she finally got back to the ballroom, she quickly found Fiyero and told him everything. "I feel horrible! She's going to get hurt, and it's all because I was stupid and didn't listen to her! We have to get help!" Fiyero gave her a nod and jumped into action. He quickly found a few of his bulkier friends and they all set off after Elphaba.

Elphaba could see spots dancing in front of her eyes as she struggled to remain conscious. Another kick, this time to her face, sent her sprawling onto her back. Elphaba weakly raised her hands, trying to protect herself in such a vulnerable position.

When the group finally found Elphaba, she was being beaten the four men. Something inside of Galinda snapped and she couldn't stop herself from stepping in front of the group, screaming at them, "Leave her alone, you bastards!" Fiyero quickly grabbed her and pulled her back behind him before turning to the guys, him and his friends ready to fight. The guys glared at Fiyero before noticing his muscular friends standing behind him. They took off, running away from the alley.

Elphaba groaned and tried to roll onto her stomach. She coughed, sending red spots onto the ground beneath her.

As soon as they were gone, Galinda rushed over and collapsed at Elphaba's side, gently turning her face up to look at her. "Elphaba, can you hear me? Are you ok? Elphaba, please answer me!" Tears started streaming down her face again.

Elphaba could hear Galinda's voice as she fell onto her side. Her chest screamed in pain with every breath and she tried to look at the blonde. "I'm sorry...I couldn't...protect you..."

Galinda shook her head vehemently. "No! You did protect me! Everything's going to be alright, ok? I promise. We're gonna get you some help." Elphaba didn't reply as her eyes closed and she slipped into unconsciousness, Galinda's face being the last thing she saw. The blonde turned to nearly scream back at Fiyero and his friends. "Somebody get a doctor!"