A/N: I apologize this took a little longer to get written. It's been a rough week at work.
Disclaimer: I don't own Heroes or Wicked.
(Open on Arthur's office at Pinehearst. A dark shape floats up to the window. With a flick of his fingers, Sylar opens the window from the inside. He floats into the room and starts going through the desk.
He can't seem to find what he's looking for, so he goes to a filing cabinet. As he does so, another shape emerges from the shadow. It moves quickly and locks the window again.)
Arthur: (in the loud Wizard's voice) I knew you'd be back.
(Sylar quickly jumps away from the cabinet and turns to face the window.)
Arthur: (in his regular voice) Hear me out. I never meant to harm you.
Sylar: Well you have, you have harmed me.
Arthur: (stepping forward) I realize that, and I regret it. Gabriel...
Sylar: Shut up! I'm stopping your experimentation with this formula! And don't try to interfere, or call the guards...
Arthur: I'm not calling anyone. The truth is...I'm glad to see you again. It gets pretty lonely around here. And I know you must get lonely too.
Sylar: You don't know the first thing about me.
Arthur: Oh, but I do. I do know you. I can't explain it exactly. You know what I mean? (taking a seat at his desk) Gabriel, you've been so strong through all of this, aren't you tired of being the strong one? Wouldn't you like someone to take care of you? Please, help me start again.
Sylar: (hurt) Don't you think I wish I could? That I could go back to the time when I believed you really were wonderful? The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Nobody believed in you more than I did.
Arthur: Oh, my dear boy...
I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS OR PLANNED IT IN ADVANCE;
I WAS MERELY BLOWN HERE BY THE WINDS OF CHANCE.
I NEVER SAW MYSELF AS A SOLOMON OR SOCRATES.
I KNEW WHO I WAS: ONE OF YOUR...DIME A DOZEN MEDIOCRATES.
THEN SUDDENLY I'M HERE: RESPECTED, WORSHIPED EVEN,
JUST BECAUSE THE FOLKS IN OZ NEEDED SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN.
DOES IT SURPRISE YOU I GOT HOOKED, AND ALL TOO SOON?
WHAT CAN I SAY...I GOT CARRIED AWAY,
AND NOT JUST BY...BALLOON...
(He gets to his feet, a small smile forming.)
WONDERFUL,
THEY CALLED ME WONDERFUL.
SO I SAID, "WONDERFUL? IF YOU INSIST.
I WILL BE WONDERFUL,"
AND THEY SAID "WONDERFUL";
BELIEVE ME, IT'S HARD TO RESIST.
(He does a little dance around the office.)
'CAUSE IT FEELS WONDERFUL:
THEY THINK I'M WONDERFUL.
HEY LOOK WHO'S WONDERFUL:
THIS CORN-FED HICK!
WHO SAID IT MIGHT BE KEEN
TO BUILD A TOWN OF GREEN
AND A WONDERFUL ROAD OF YELLOW BRICK!
(He steps toward Sylar.)
See, I never had a family of my own since I was always traveling, and I guess I just wanted to give the citizens of Oz everything.
Sylar: So you lied to them?
Arthur: Only verbally. Besides, they were the lies they wanted to hear. Gabriel, where I come from we believe all sorts of things that aren't true...we call it history!
A MAN'S CALLED A TRAITOR
OR LIBERATOR.
A RICH MAN'S A THIEF
OR PHILANTHROPIST.
IS ONE A CRUSADER
OR RUTHLESS INVADER?
IT'S ALL IN THE LABEL WHICH IS ABLE TO PERSIST.
THERE ARE PRECIOUS FEW AT EASE
WITH MORAL AMBIGUITIES
SO WE ACT AS THOUGH THEY DON'T EXIST...
(Sylar rolls his eyes. Arthur steps back, going back behind his desk.)
THEY...CALL...ME...WONDERFUL;
SO I AM WONDERFUL.
IN FACT, IT'S SO MUCH WHO I AM, IT'S PART OF MY NAME!
AND WITH MY HELP YOU CAN BE THE SAME...
(Sylar looks at him, intrigued.)
AT LONG, LONG LAST RECEIVE YOUR DUE
LONG OVERDUE.
GABRIEL, THE MOST CELEBRATED
ARE THE REHABILITATED.
THERE'LL BE SUCH A WHOOP-DEE-DOO!
A CELEBRATION THROUGHOUT OZ,
THAT'S ALL TO DO WITH YOU!
(He gestures to the distance, as if revealing the future.)
WONDERFUL, THEY'LL CALL YOU WONDERFUL!
Sylar:
(daring to smile) THAT DOES SOUND WONDERFUL!
Arthur:
TRUST ME, IT'S FUN!!!
Both:
WHEN YOU ARE WONDERFUL,
IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL!
WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL!
Arthur:
ONE, TWO AND...
(He goes to put a hand on Sylar's shoulder. But the other man takes a step back, raising a hand.)
Sylar:
Wait!
I'LL ACCEPT YOUR PROPOSITION.
Arthur: (masking disappointment) Wonderful!
Sylar:
ON ONE CONDITION.
Arthur: Yes?
Sylar: Stop the use of the formula. Let everyone go that you've experimented on. I'll...help you from now on.
Arthur: (smiling) Done.
A/N: Hmmm...why do you think Arthur wanted to touch him? Also, the idea of a singing dancing Arthur is seriously making me giggle.