AN: Thanks to all of you who are reading, and Bubble and Hiddenpoet for the Reviews! The end of this chapter is a rather brutal scene involving Mortal Kombat Characters, Sonya Blade and Shang Tsung specifically. It, unfortunatly, is crutial to the plot, so it had to be here instead of the hidden scenes. Please take that into concideration.

CK and MIM

It took their arrival in Emerald City for the city to become business as usual again. The palace servants were busy making everything perfect for the grand ball, and they had succeeded beautifully. Even Glinda was amazed at the transformation. She walked around the palace, enjoying the few moments of peace before the meetings and requests from Ozians began.

The fact that the ring Fiyero now kept in their bedroom was once in her bag hadn't escaped her thoughts. She honestly couldn't fathom or think of how the Ozmoot had retrieved it. Was she honestly vulnerable even in her own home? The thought sent a shiver up her spine. She was always told by momsie and popsicle that the Ozmoot did good things. However, she was beginning to believe she had been lied to. Glinda was grateful that the Ozmoot had decided to remove Hostick, but couldn't help but wonder what would have become of her and Elphaba if his actions were cleared by this group. Would Elphaba have been arrested and tortured yet again? Would she end up on the run again? Her walk ended where it nearly always did, the over sized balcony with the best view of the Emerald City spread below her. She sat on one of the stone benches collecting her thoughts.

()

Armet had dismissed her guards as soon as she was within the Emerald City Palace. Since Averic's disappearance, she hadn't had a moment alone, knowing that her son was getting married soon she wanted a few moments alone. She wandered the Emerald Palace, fascinated by the grand scale of it all. She was shocked to find Lady Glinda sitting on a balcony by herself. Seeing an opportunity, she approached her soon to be daughter-in-law.

"It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?" Armet asked, from the entrance.

Glinda jumped a little at the sudden voice, turning she saw that it was Fiyero's mother. "Yes, it certainly is. This balcony has the best view of the sunrise." She said, motioning Armet to come and sit. When she did, Glinda magicked her a cup of tea.

Aramet smiled as she sipped the tea. "How did you know I'm partial to black tea?" Armet asked, curiously.

"I noticed that you had a cup every morning with breakfast. My kitchen staff has ample supply on hand for the ball, should you want some." Glinda answered, with a smile, as she sipped her own Gillikin tea.

"I'm surprised. I had no idea you paid that close attention." Armet said, getting a nod.

"I always pay attention. The gift is not letting people notice you are," She said, getting a light chuckle out of the woman, "How is the search for Averic going?" Glinda asked out of curiously.

"He's vanished without a trace. I honestly expect that we will never truly know what happened to him." Armet said, sadly.

"I'm sorry." Glinda said softly.

"Don't be. What he did to you was reprehensible, and unforgivable. I am truly sorry, Lady Glinda." She said, formally.

"Please, just Glinda. There's no one else around, no need for formalities." Glinda said, getting a nod from the older woman.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a few moments, before Armet finally spoke up. "I've heard rumors that you are planning to marry Fiyero the day after the ball."

"Yes, that is the plan." She said, nervously.

"Do you love him?" Armet asked.

"Very, very, very much." She answered.

"He confronted me before he left the Vinkus about you. He loves you, Glinda. Enough that he even stood up to me, and he never has before. Seeing and hearing all about you two on the tour, I'm inclined to believe that I've misjudged you, Glinda." Armet said as she gently took Glinda's hand. "You have my blessing." She said.

Glinda released a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "Thank you, Armet. It means the world, truly. I know Fiyero will be thrilled."

"You are welcome, my dear. I've seen my son grow up so quickly, and I'm inclined to believe his new maturity is directly related to his relationship with you and Elphaba. You both bring out the best he is, and I am honored to have you as a part of my family." Armet said.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Glinda hugged Armet fiercely. "Thank you." Glinda whispered.

"Come, let's go to breakfast. If Glinda the Good misses breakfast, people will talk." Armet said.

"Let them talk. I'm getting to know my mother in law." Glinda said.

"Spoken like a true Vinkan." Armet said with a chuckle as she sipped her tea.

()

Jessie had made Elphaba's plate, a little surprised when she asked for breakfast in their room. With the help of the servants, she carried it all upstairs. After setting it up, she pulled out Elphaba's chair.

"Thanks, Jess. I just didn't feel like dealing with anyone today." She said.

"I know how you feel. I'm glad this damn tour is over. Maybe now things will settle down." Jessie said hopefully.

"I wouldn't count on that. One of the reasons I hate Oz. Things never seem to settle down. It goes from one adventure to the other." Elphie said.

"Sounds like life with Sonya. A few days of peace and quiet, followed by complete insanity, and back again." Jessie said, chuckling.

Elphaba smiled before sighing heavily, "There was another reason I wanted to talk to you. How was your talk with Doctor Dillimond?"

"It was great. I like him, Elphie. He's a sweetie." Jessie said.

"Yes, he is. Did he happen to mention anything about the Ozmoot?" Elphaba asked, curious to if they discussed that.

"Not exactly. We talked about you. The Ozmoot had nothing to do with it." Jessie said, somewhat honestly. She didn't want to lie to Elphie, but she also didn't want to tell her the extent of the conversation.

"Well," Elphaba said, before cutting and taking a bite of the omlette in front of her, "He spoke to me about it. Jessie, he wants me to join the Ozmoot, and replace him on the council." She got out as quickly as possible, before she lost her nerve.

"He wants you to join the Ozmoot?" Jessie asked, genuinely confused.

"Yes, apparently he can choose his replacement, and he would like it to be me." She said.

"Elphie, you said it yourself, they are bad bad bad news." Jessie said, worriedly.

"I know, but he is right. With me and Fiyero on the council, we would have a strong alliance." Elphaba said, thoughtfully.

"I don't care about alliances or anything else. I don't want you in danger." Jessie said, point blank.

Elphaba leaned in, kissing her softly. "I won't be, I promise." Elphaba said, blushing. It felt so good to be loved like this, it still overwhelmed her at moments that Jessie worried about her safety so much.

"If it's what you really want to do, then I won't stop you. Please think about it, Elphie. I love you too much to see anything happen to you." Jessie said, suddenly not feeling very hungry at all.

"I told him that I would talk to you, and I'd think about it. I haven't given him an answer yet, and he said he was in no hurry for one." Elphaba said softly.

"Do you think you could make a difference there, Elphie?" Jessie asked.

"I do. I think that my presence there would give me a chance to really change Oz, without having to deal with as much of the political stuff that stands in my way as Elphaba the Wise." Elphaba said.

"Then don't let me stop you." Jessie said defeatedly before kissing her head.

"You're not stopping me from doing anything, Jessie. This is a decision that we should make together." Elphaba said.

"Baby, would you stop me if I had a chance to correct things? Even if it meant I were in danger?" Jessie asked softly.

Elphaba stopped eating as she thought about that. "It might sound and be selfish, but yes I would. Jessie, you mean more to me than anything. Just the thought of loosing you to your past..." Elphaba silenced her voice, trying to still it. From everything she had heard of Jessie's past, the thought of Jessie facing it alone terrified her. She knew that if Jessie went back to that world by herself...she would probably die. That thought alone terrified her.

"It's not selfish, but I guarantee you would." Jessie said, truthfully.

"Maybe, but I don't want to have to find out." Elphaba said, as they finished breakfast.

Jessie got up, pulling Elphaba in closer. "Why don't we practice dancing until they come get us. I need the practice." Jessie said, changing the subject. Jessie knew if the opportunity to fix her past presented itself, she would take it. Somewhere deep inside, Elphaba knew the same thing and that's what scared her most.

()

Munchkinland was working with a mule in the field behind his small shack. He couldn't believe that idiot Hostick. If he had just been patient the judge would have surely signed the paper. The judge was on their side, after all. All he had to do was be patient, and the mutant would be in Southstairs at this moment. Now she was preparing for this cursed ball. He was advised it would be a very good thing for the Ozmoot to be there in force, but he couldn't have followed that order if he wanted to. He couldn't be in the same room with that freak. If they were, then she would know, and that would be the end of everything he had worked so hard for. Not to mention he was disgraced. A munchkinlander and an Earthling, a woman Earthling at that. How incredibly disgusting. He shook his head.

"So it's her relationship you object to?" He heard from behind him.

"Among other things, yes. It's unseemly, distasteful, and a disgrace to Oz." He said, spitting on the ground.

"Most in Oz have far larger concerns." She said, with a tired shrug.

"It's unseemly. The unnamed God would be disgustified by this." He said, emphatically.

"I would imagine the Unnamed God has far more important things to worry about. Munchkinland, you're missing a great ball. One that would allow you to strengthen your contacts. As it stands, most of yours have long died. You're loosing your influence." She said.

"You no nothing of my influence." He scoffed, walking away from her.

She watched him with interest, not liking where this had the potential to go. Perhaps she needed to look into a replacement for him quicker than she had originally anticipated.

()

Shang Tsung was greatly irritated. He broke out of his meditation even more frustrated than before. Wherever Raiden has hidden that pathetic lapdog was shielding her. That annoying god was a real thorn in his side. Perhaps it was time to visit sweet Sonya again for some answers.

The smells were always the same; blood, sweat, and sometimes sex. The sounds of screams of agony echoing around the island as servants and enemies alike were tortured for the slightest infraction. Sonya herself was among them, usually. In the three years since her attempt to kill Shang, she was nearly always in one of these cells. Her joints ached horribly from the constant pressure that had been applied to them in the past fourty eight hours. She was hanging in the center of the room her hands and feet bound together, leaving her looking a lot like a bow.

Shang had tried to break her for three years, and she still wouldn't surrender. She wouldn't give the bastard the satisfaction. She watched the door to her cell open, steeling herself. She fully expected it to be another of Shang Tsung's shadow priests, but this time, found herself face to face with the evil bastard himself.

"It never needed to be this way, Sonya." He said, softly.

"You chose this, not me." Sonya said, her voice scratchy and hoarse, but more than that weak. Entirely too weak. Perhaps she was approaching death again. It had happened more times than Sonya could count in these three years. Each time she was on the brink of death, Shang used his dark magic to bring her back for another round of torture.

"No, sweet Sonya. It's you who chose this. When you conceived of that plan. Did you honestly expect Tarek to help you? He's my captain for a reason. He played your lapdog to perfection. The fool believed she could save you with his help." Shang said, laughing at the look of shock on that mongrels face when he destroyed her knee.

"Speaking of Jessie, how's the search going? Three years now she's evaded you." Sonya said, a smirk on her face.

Shang did not care for that comment and shoved her, causing her body to move, and adding even more pressure to her separated shoulders and hips. "I'll find her, and I will kill her. Then I will kill that pathetic son of yours. Your God daughter I may keep alive. She would be a good addition to my Harem."

Sonya cried out in pain at the added pressure to her strained shoulders and hips. "Stay away from them, Shang." She said, more strength in her voice than even she knew she had when she heard the threat to her family.

"Or what, dear Sonya? It's not like you can stop me." He said, landing a hard kick to her stomach. She screamed in pain, swinging again, as the wind was forced out of her, "Perhaps I should change my order, bring them now, and kill them." He taunted her, before leaving. The sound of the door closing signified she would be like this for at least another day.

Sonya could feel her weakness coming on as the pain continued. It wouldn't be long now, then she could see her not so little boy and the strong woman raising him. She closed her eyes and began to embrace death, at least she would no longer be in pain.

Shang sensed her soul fading, he re-entered her cell. With a chant he healed her completely. "You didn't expect to escape today, did you, Sonya?" He said, laughing as he walked out.