Note: I do not own any of these characters. They are the property of Gregory Maguire.

The tiktok led Elphaba down a long, green corridor. She had walked its length freely long ago. Now she traveled its grandeur a prisoner and a warrior. She held her head high in defiance. When they came to the massive double doors the tiktok left her alone.

"ENTER!!" a deep voice boomed.

"Oh please!" Elphaba thought. "Is he still using that tired old act?" She pushed the doors open and entered the mouth of the beast. "Honey, I'm home!" she shouted sarcastically, her rich voice reverberating in the vast space.

"Elphaba, it's nice to see you haven't lost your razor-sharp wit." the Wizard responded.

"What do you want with me? Haven't I suffered enough?" she asked.

"Want? Why, nothing my dear child. Can't a lonely soul, such as myself, simply have a pleasant conversation with an old acquaintance?" he said.

"Hahahahahahaha!" she cackled. "We have nothing to say to each other. I almost gave you a second chance but you proved to be just as rotten as before. You want to destroy anything that is a threat to your 'power'. That's why you imprisoned Dr. Dillamond. That's why you continue to hunt me." Elphaba said icily.

"The truth is I have something to confess. I didn't even realize it myself until Glinda made it all clear to me." the Wizard told her.

"What does Glinda have to do with this?" asked Elphaba suspiciously.

"On the day you supposedly melted she came to me with a small, green glass bottle. She told me she had only seen one other bottle like it. She had been in this room and I had offered her a drink from it. She told me it was your mother's and you kept it to remember her by. It was then that I realized...I'm you father Elphaba."

"No. You're lying. That's impossible." She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Is it? Think about it Elphaba. Why else would you have such power? The Grimmerie came from my world. That's why you can decipher it with such ease. You are a child of both worlds."

Elphaba could only stare at him in total shock. How could this monster be her father? Did that mean that somewhere deep inside she was evil too? Could everything she'd fought against her whole life be what made up her very core? No. She was better than that. Why else would she care so much about stopping the Wizard's treachery? He may be her father but she was nothing like him.

"You may be my father but that doesn't mean I am going to stop my campaign against you."

"I didn't expect you to. I was hoping we could reach an accord."

"Right. Because that worked so well the last time."

"Hear me out."

"I've heard you out before and quite frankly I'm through with words. They are nothing but empty vessels of false hope." She turned to leave.

"Forgetting something?" the Wizard asked. He held out the small green bottle. "Just to show there are no hard feelings."

She considered him for a moment before closing her hand around the surprisingly cool glass. "Thank you," she whispered before exiting the throne room.

Safe outside the palace Elphaba breathed a sigh of relief. That had gone surprisingly well. She was still reeling a bit from the news the Wizard had divulged to her. The Wizard was her father. Elphaba was about to mount her broom to find her companions when she heard a familiar voice call her name. Fiyero, Boq, and Glinda came running up to her. Fiyero lifted her off the ground and twirled her around.

"Thank Oz you're safe!"

"I told you I could take care of myself," she said matter-of-factly.

"So what happened? I want to hear every detail." Glinda gushed.

Elphaba recounted the events that had taken place only moments earlier.

"Wow!" Boq exclaimed. "Your father is THE Wizard of Oz? That's quite an honor."

"It would be if he hadn't done some horrible things in the past." Fiyero reminded him.

"I still have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind but I think things will start to get better." Elphaba told them.

"I'm glad to hear you say that," Fiyero said to her, "because there's something I want to ask you."

What is it?"

He removed a small box from his pocket and got down on one knee. Inside the box was a beautiful ring with the most brilliant emerald Elphaba had ever seen.

"When you walked away with that tiktok I realized how empty my life would be without you. I don't want to lose you. Will you marry me?"

Her hands flew to her mouth. She was at a loss for words. "Of course I will!" she shouted as she circled her arms around his neck.

"I had a feeling you were going to say that," he grinned.

A raging sea of emotions roared deep within Elphaba. Joy, uncertainty, anxiety, and hope funneled through her veins making her head reel.

"Are you all right Fae?"

"I'm fine I'm just overwhelmed by all of this."

"Oh Elphie! I'm so happy for you! You deserve each other." Glinda exclaimed as she wrapped her best friend in a bone-crushing hug.

"Now where have I heard that before?" Elphaba teased.

"Must you always have a sarcastic comment on the tip of your tongue?" Glinda sniffed, mildly put off.

"I find it quite endearing actually." Fiyero piped in.

"Thank you. At least someone appreciates me."

"Ok children. Enough immaturity for now," said Boq.

"You're right. We've lost a lot of time. We really need to hurry if we hope to make it to Kiamo Ko before the road freezes." Fiyero agreed.

"We'll never make it if we walk." Elphaba said. She held her broom level with her waist and motioned to Fiyero. "Get on."

"You're going to fly?" he asked incredulously.

"I told you I worked things out with the Wiz...with my father. I only have a tiny nagging in my brain because I'm not used to trusting people. And quite honestly, I fear snow more than I fear him at the moment."

Fiyero nodded and positioned himself on the polished wooden handle. Elphaba quickly sat in front of him and prepared to take off. She turned to Glinda, who had formed a bubble around Boq and herself, and said, "You ready?"

Glinda simply nodded and rose gracefully into the air.

"Hang on," she warned Fiyero.

He clung to her midriff tightly and braced himself. The broom ascended rapidly under her skillful control. Fiyero had never flown before in any vessel and he found the experience thrillifying. He felt so weightless and free. He could see why Elphaba enjoyed flying so much.

Elphaba was in autopilot. She had made this journey many times before. She concentrated on the cool wind rustling her long, midnight hair. She loved the deep, soulful sound it made as it rushed passed her ears. It made her feel alive. She wanted to shout out loud. She had missed this most of all when she had to hide out. Up here, no one could tie her down. No one could tell her what to do. She controlled her destiny. Not some foolish old Wizard, even if he was her father. Kiamo Ko was not too far off. Elphaba swallowed hard and she could feel Fiyero tense behind her. This was it. Could she face a part of her past that was more painful than water?

Glinda and Elphaba descended on the grounds of Kiamo Ko. Glinda's appearance was immaculate as usual but Elphaba looked as if she had been through a tornado. She quickly smoothed her hair as a result of Glinda giggling in her direction.

"You still look beautiful." Fiyero whispered as he kissed her ear. She smirked at him in a half-pleased, half-disbelieving fashion. Boq turned to face Elphaba.

"You sure you want to do this?"

Elphaba nodded grimly. Her features looked set in stone as she strode over to the main doors and pushed one open.