Author's Note: I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who nominated and/or voted for me, this story, and Raga for the 2014 Greg Awards. I'm flattered Raga was liked well enough to win a joint 2nd place for Best Original Character. So, thank you, and without further ado, I present the next chapter.

Chapter 14: Of Heirs and Immortality.

One day Elphaba woke to the realization, "It's Raga's birthday today! I've gotta get ready!"

Yes, Raga was turning 1025 that day. And she was hoping everyone would forget that fact; especially Elphaba. Elphaba however, remembered with crystal clarity and was determined to give Raga the best birthday ever. Her own 25th birthday had been a few months ago and Raga, Fiyero, and Glinda had surprised her with a wonderful party with just the family and a relatively quiet night in. Raga had also surprised Elphaba by revealing that she was Princess of Oz and her heir apparent, as well as being Princess of the Vinkus through her marriage to Fiyero.

Elphaba had been a little overwhelmed by her newfound title, but it somehow made her feel closer to Raga than ever. Still, the fact that she was and technically always had been Ozian Royalty was all a bit surreal to her. She was just plain old Elphaba from Munchkinland in her own mind, but she was slowly warming up to her title.

Anyway, she busied herself first with getting Sapreen fed and dressed, for the girl took after her mother and was an early riser. While doing so, Elphaba tried to think of what Raga might like for her birthday. It was a rather daunting task, since Raga was turning 1025 and this would be her first birthday back in Oz with family in a thousand years. "Hmm. What do you get a one thousand twenty-five year old queen?"

"Whatcha talking about, Elphie?" Glinda asked as she bounced into the kitchen.

"It's Raga's one thousand twenty-fifth birthday today and I want to give her as great a birthday as you guys gave me," Elphaba replied, sticking a spoonful of oatmeal in Sapreen's mouth.

"Oh! This calls for some Glindafication! Wait, did you say she's one thousand twenty-five? Wow! She looks really good for her age. I mean, she doesn't look a day over twenty-five!"

Elphaba froze, the spoon halfway to her daughter's mouth. She had never really thought about it before, but Glinda was right. Raga didn't look a day over 25. Elphaba soon began to have some uncomfortable feelings and was only called out of her thoughts by Sapreen's indignant, "Mama!"

"Oh! Sorry, sweetie. Mama's a little distracted." Elphaba stuck the spoon in her daughter's mouth.

After breakfast, Elphaba sought out her cousin to get some answers to some very uncomfortable questions. She found her in her study, pouring over several ancient tomes. She knocked on the doorframe. "Am I interrupting?" she inquired.

Raga glanced up. One glance told her everything she needed to know. She sighed. "No, Elphaba. You're not interrupting."

Elphaba knew her cousin guessed what she came to ask, so she closed the door and took a seat on one side of the emerald desk. Raga sighed again and ran a hand through her raven hair.

"So, you figured it out?"

"I suspect, yes, but I have no actual facts."

"I may as well tell you. Elphaba, I'm immortal."

Raga's statement wasn't really a shock. The fact that she was a thousand years older than Elphaba, but didn't look a day older than her was proof of that. What shocked Elphaba was Raga's next statement. "And so are you."

"What?"

Raga nodded. "It comes with being of the Royal Bloodline of Oz. We can still be killed, don't get me wrong, but we don't age. Also, any children you and Fiyero have will also inherit the family magic and immortality."

"But… that means…"

"You will outlive Fiyero, yes."

"Is there anything we can do? A spell maybe…"

"I've been going through every magic book in the place. There's nothing."

Elphaba looked downcast and almost utterly heartbroken.

"Well… there is one thing. If you gave up your magic, it would negate your immortality." Raga rubbed the back of her neck.

"What do I need to do?" Elphaba didn't really want to give up her magic, but she would rather live one lifetime with Fiyero, than face all the ages of Oz alone.

Just then, Raga's eyes bugged out of her head. "Oh, my Oz! How… When you said that, this new spell just appeared on the page! It says that you can keep your magic and we can grant Fiyero the immortality of the Royal Bloodline!"

"Really?" Elphaba exclaimed.

"There's a catch though. We have to take a family vote and it has to be unanimous," Raga groaned.

"What's the problem? Don't you want Fiyero to have immortality?" Elphaba asked.

"I do, but there's another member of this family eligible to vote. Oscar."

"My blood-father?"

"I'm afraid so. I'd have to bring him back to Oz and we'd have to somehow convince him to vote for Fiyero to have immortality."

"That shouldn't be too hard."

"Just one problem. Oscar is not immortal and never can be unless he commits an act of true selflessness, without the thought of reward. Do you really think he is gonna vote to give Fiyero immortality?"

Elphaba's heart sank. "No. Well, looks like we're back to plan A."

"Wait! Elphie, you can't give up your magic! You just can't!" Glinda exclaimed as she and Fiyero burst into the room.

Raga groaned. "I really need to start putting up spells against eavesdropping."

"Glinda! Fiyero! How much of that did you hear?" Elphaba demanded.

"Enough. Fae, you can't give up your magic. I won't let you. We don't need your father to vote for my immortality. Fae, I love you, but I don't need to live forever. We can still have a great future together, even if you will outlive me." Fiyero had a determined gleam in his eyes.

Elphaba loved the way his eyes sparkled when he got that look, like twin sapphires. However, she shook her head. "But I can't live without you and I doubt we will ever convince my father to vote for you anyway."

"You never know until you try. Come on, Elphie! Just give it a shot," Glinda said.

"I agree with Glinda on this one, Elf. We have to at least try," Raga agreed.

Elphaba sighed. "I'm so sorry all this had to happen on your birthday, Raga. I wanted to make your day special. Now, I've effectively ruined it."

Raga smiled and pulled her cousin into a hug. "You could never ruin my day, little Elf. And to be honest, this is the best birthday I've had in a long, long time. You know why? It's because I'm here with my wonderful, loving family and not all alone in the Badlands. And you know what? We will find a way to convince Oscar to vote for Fiyero's immortality."

Elphaba smiled. "I'm so happy you are my family, Raga. You've been such a blessing to me. Thank you."

Raga smiled back. "You're welcome, little Elf. Now, let's bring back the 'Not So Wonderful Wizard of Oz.'"

Raga summoned a green portal and concentrated a moment. A few moments later, Oscar Emery found himself landing unceremoniously on his backside in an emerald green study.

"Welcome back to Oz, Oscar. Welcome to the True Emerald Palace," Raga said, at once becoming the gracious host.

"Who are you? Where in Oz am I? What…" Oscar caught sight of Elphaba and turned white as a sheet. "Oh, my Oz! You! You're… you're…"

"Dead? I'm afraid not, my dear Father. A simple bucket of water isn't nearly enough to kill me. And I now know everything, thanks to Raga here."

"But… how? What… what is the meaning of all this? I am Oz! The Great and Terrible!" The former Wizard was quite flustered, but apparently hadn't given up on his claims to power.

Everyone in the room laughed.

"I'm afraid, my dear cousin Oscar, that I am 'Oz the Great and Terrible.' Actually, I am Ragaleana Emeraldin, Ruling Queen of Oz. You see, your father was Gorson Emeraldin, the younger brother of my father, King Valos. He was banished from Oz and stripped of his ability to use magic for creating the Green Elixir, which caused my greenification. That is why you have no powers. However, you did pass them on to Elphaba, who, since she was born in Oz, is fully able to use them," Raga explained.

"This is all very fascinating, but how do I know this isn't a trick?" Oscar demanded.

Raga summoned a skrying portal and showed Oscar a scene from his past. Oscar was convinced.

"Alright, so my family history is much more… complicated than I thought. I doubt you brought me here to tell me all this and send me back home."

"No. Oscar, Elphaba has married Fiyero Tiggular and wishes to grant him the immortality that comes with our bloodline. To grant this request, you and I must both unanimously vote to do so. I vote yes, to grant Fiyero immortality. What say you?" Raga looked expectantly at Oscar.

Oscar stared wide eyed for a few minutes. "I-immortality? You mean, like… live forever, immortality?"

"Yes, Oscar. Well, actually it's more like eternal youth, but enough of that. What is your vote?"

"Hmm. I suppose I don't have it?"

"No."

"And I can't get it?"

"No."

"And he would be forever young and strong and handsome, while I would lose the rest of my hair, get even older, and eventually die?"

"Yes."

"Why should I vote for him to have all that? What's in it for me?"

"You would make your daughter eternally happy," Raga said simply.

Oscar looked from one face to another. Finally, he observed Elphaba and Fiyero. He sighed when he saw how happy they were together, how their eyes lit up whenever they met the other's gaze, how they glowed with happiness at each other's touch, how they kissed with passion… Finally he was snapped out of his reverie.

He looked at Raga, his face hard. "I vote no. I am a born member of this family and I was cheated out of my powers and eternal youth, so why should I bestow it upon another?"

Raga sighed. "I figured as much. I cannot and will not attempt to buy your vote, but seeing as you are family, you are welcome to stay, Oscar. If you wish."

Oscar's eyes lit up. "Yes! I would like that very much."

"But know that I am ruler of Oz. You have no authority what-so-ever here and you never will and if you cause trouble, I will send you back to Earth in a heartbeat." Raga's eyes and voice were harder than stone and Oscar knew she would keep her promise.

"I won't cause any trouble. I promise!" he said.

Raga smiled. "Good. Now, if Elphaba is willing…"

Elphaba took the hint. "Oh, yes. Father, would you like to meet your granddaughter?"

Oscar's eyes shot wide. "I have a granddaughter? You mean you two actually… Oh, wow!"

Elphaba and Fiyero smiled as they led Oscar to the nursery. Oscar was astounded by his little granddaughter. Sapreen however, was shy of the strange old man her mother and father introduced her to.

"Father, this is Sapreen, your granddaughter," Elphaba said, holding her daughter.

"She looks just like you. Well, minus the green. And she's got her daddy's eyes. Hey, cutie, I'm your Grandpa." Oscar smiled at Sapreen.

Sapreen however, preferred her mother's arms and shrank away from Oscar's touch. Oscar was a little hurt, but figured the tyke just needed some time to warmup to him. He left the nursery to explore the Palace a bit.

As Oscar walked the emerald halls, he remembered the stories he had heard of this place. His father had told him many bedtime stories about a palace of emerald where wishes came true. Oscar had been enthralled by them and they had been his inspiration to build his Emerald City. Now, Oscar realized that the stories his father told him were about this place, the True Emerald Palace. Suddenly, he bumped into a Monkey.

"Hey! Watch where you're… Chistery? Is that you?"

Chistery was stunned speechless. Oscar Emery was the last person he ever expected to see and here he was, wandering the halls like he owned the place. The Monkey screeched in rage and grabbed the man by the collar. He then leapt into the air and held his former master about twenty or so feet in the air.

"How does it feel to be the helpless one, Master?" Chistery hissed.

Oscar's eyes shot wide. "You're talking?!"

Chistery grinned. "Yes. Her Majesty the Queen and Her Highness Princess Elphaba helped me regain my powers of speech."

"Chistery! Set him down!" Raga's voice commanded.

Chistery obeyed, but it was clear he was unhappy about it. Oscar brushed himself off as soon as he was released.

"Thank you, Raga, but I could have handled this rouge Monkey. Be gone, you disobedient creature." He waved his hand dismissively.

Raga rolled her eyes. "You don't command him, Oscar. And you, Chistery. Just what do you think you were doing?"

"He tortured me! And the others when he was in power!" Chistery exclaimed.

Raga sighed. "Oh, Chistery. I know he did horrible things to you and the others, but he is my cousin, so you will extend him the same courtesy you would any guest."

Chistery bit his lower lip, but nodded.

"Good. Now, let us all at least try to get along. Chistery, you should go tell the others what I just told you. And you, Oscar, at least attempt to keep out of trouble."

Both Oscar and Chistery at once apologized to each other and left Raga standing alone in the great hall.

Raga sighed. "This is gonna be a long day."

Author's Note: I am by no means done with this story, but I might not make my regular update deadline. I caught some sort of illness on the last day of my fall semester, so I'm rather out of it and that makes it hard to think. I will try to get the next chapter done and to my betta reader in time, but no promises. Sorry.