Hello, all! No, I haven't dropped off the face of the planet In fact, I just got back from Wicked! And I felt inspired so I wrote this drabble. It's musicalverse. :)

Assistance as Needed

Madame Morrible is nothing if not clever. An impressionable, innocent girl sharing her room is not something to be taken lightly.

She'll mold Nessarose carefully, one step at a time.

"Nessarose, dear," she asks, "would you come here for a moment?"

The wheelchair-bound girl complies, wheeling herself towards the headmistress.

"Yes, Madame," she asks in a refined tone. Father had always taught her to speak lightly.

"Have you, by any chance…heard of the Animal conspiracies?"

"…Not that I'm aware of."

Morrible clucks. "Not to worry! I happen to know quite a bit, my dear. You see, some Animals are unhappy with the way Oz is being run. They wish to change things."

Nessarose processes this information, nodding. "And how is that bad? I'm sure if they conducted themselves honorably, they would…"

"But that's the point, dear child. They are nothing but honorable. The Animals lie and deceive those around them, drawing you in and never letting go."

"T-that's horrible!"

Morrible smiles and nods. "Yes. It is. And one day…we will all have the power to change it."

She takes her leave. Nessarose is alone, thinking over what has been said.

Have…the power…for change…How wonderful!

In a day, Morrible returns. Again, she beckons her near.

"You remember what we discussed yesterday, dear? About the Animals?"

"Yes, Madame. I do. You said we could have the power to change it…"

"Well, it's not just the Animals that are the problem. It's Ozians as well. People unhappy with their way of life, with what the Wizard has offered them."

"That doesn't seem fair. The Wizard gave everyone a living! That in itself is worth gratitution!"

Morrible grins. "Not everyone thinks the same way we do, dearie. Some even conspire with the Animals, plotting to overthrow our wonderful Wizard."

"…I see," Nessarose states, biting her lip in thought.

It seems such rebels are connected. Perhaps we could find them all at once and put an end to it…

"Is there a way to stop them?"

But Morrible waves her off. Too much in one day could ruin the whole plan.

"Another day, dear. I'll tell you another day…"

Nessarose nods and waits for tomorrow to come, mulling over what has been said.

By morning she is there already, greeting Morrible pleasantly.

"Madame. Would you tell me a way to stop these conspirators," she says. A trace of ice has formed on her tone.

Morrible thinks. "I suppose the first thing to do would be to gain power. Power is our lifeblood. If you don't have ties to the government, the citizens won't notice you. Without power you have nothing, you are nothing."

"I understand. If you're just a student like me, teachers pay you no mind. But your can order the other teachers around as headmistress."

"Right. The second thing would be to inform the people. If you have a position of power, they will listen to your every word…" Morrible paused here, gazing wistfully at the ceiling.

"That makes sense. And then," Nessarose said excitedly, "they'd do what you said! Right?"

"…Only if you use the proper leverage," Morrible said, raising a finger in warning.

"…Leverage? I'm afraid I don't understand…"

"The most important thing is to make the public fear you, for fear controls all. Once they're sufficiently afraid…no one will dare question your ways. Have a tongue of fire and a heart of ice, Nessarose. They will get you far…"

"…Thank you, Madame," Nessarose states coolly. "I will be off to my room, now…"

She wheels away slowly.

Power...It will be mine, someday. I must make the most of it. After all...Fathers don't live forever...

The seeds have been sown, Morrible thinks. It's only a matter of watching them grow.