*Wipes away cobwebs, blows off dust, and coughs* Wow… um… hi! Yes, I know it's been 3 years since I've updated this story. I honestly didn't realize how long it's been. But I WILL finish this story!

As the days turned into weeks, the Wizard's condition still didn't improve. The people were beginning to get worried. What was happening to their Wizard? Was he alright? Would he ever wake up?

Elphaba had become more of a recluse, which many understood. Galinda constantly tried to cheer her best friend up, but to no avail. She tried everything from makeover offers (which sounded more like threats), to bringing her favorite snacks to her room. Once she realized that nothing was going to work, she eventually gave up and ended up sitting at Elphaba's window seat, merely watching her from a distance as she laid in bed.

Fiyero also tried, on many occasions, to get Elphaba to talk to him. He would go to her room and try to talk to her, but it was mostly a monologue since Elphaba barely responded. Not seeing the point of a one-sided conversation, Fiyero started bringing food, but Elphaba still continued to ignore him. Eventually, he decided to give Elphaba the space she clearly wanted and settled for the minimal reports Galinda gave.

Instead, he focused on trying to find and capture the Wicked Witch. With the Wizard unresponsive, the Witch seemed to be busier than ever. She was carrying out multiple attacks, but every time they thought they had her, she would escape. At one point, Fiyero stopped reading through each individual report. There was just so much on his shoulders.

Almost two months later, Elphaba was walking through the halls. She was trying to lay low and search for the Grimmerie, but also knew she wasn't treating her friends very nicely. Galinda and Fiyero were only trying to help her, as were most of the maids, and she knew her snippy attitude did little to encourage their help. She walked into the portrait gallery and stopped in front of the portrait of her mother. She sighed, taking in features she hadn't seen in years.

"What would you do?" she whispered softly.

"Your Highness!"

Elphaba turned and saw the castle steward hurrying over to her. "Yes?"

The steward bowed. "Your presence is requested in the throne room."

The green girl bit her lip, but nodded and followed him out. Once they got to the throne room, Elphaba noticed Morrible casually leaning against her father's throne, while her father's advisors sat around the roundtable. The press secretary immediately straightened and curtsied to the princess, but Elphaba got a bad feeling in her stomach.

"Your Highness, this is regarding your father's condition," one of the advisors said.

"Then why are we in the throne room?" Elphaba asked.

"This is regarding a… regime change," another advisor said. "Since we don't know how long His Ozness will be… incapacitated, we must ask you to take the throne, however temporary."

Elphaba blinked. They wanted to make her queen… now. While she understood why, and that it was just for the interim, they still wanted to make her queen… now. She glanced over at Morrible, who had an unreadable expression on her face, and silently decided to confront her on it later. "Very well."

"We have the interim instatement scheduled for tomorrow."

Elphaba blinked. Tomorrow? She had a –

"Is there something wrong, Your Highness?" Morrible asked, a little too sweetly.

"No, not at all," Elphaba said, trying to keep her voice from wavering. "Tomorrow is… fine."

"Very good. It is settled, then."

The advisors all bowed. The princess nodded and dismissed them before hurrying out of the throne room. She needed some air. As she passed a closed door, she slowed down to a halt. She slowly turned and reached for the handle, opening the door and slipping inside.

She found herself in the royal treasury. Her eyes wandered around the room, but stopped when she saw the coronation crown on a pedestal in the corner. She slowly approached it and gently ran her fingers over the jewels. The last person to wear this crown was her mother during her coronation. Even though it wasn't officially hers yet, she could still feel the weighted pressure of the responsibility on her head.

She turned away. She had to remain focused. She had to stay on track. She had worked so hard to set this plan into motion, she couldn't give up on it now. Not with so many innocent lives at stake.

She didn't know why, but her feet took her from the treasury to a room that felt foreign to her. She didn't realize where she was going until she stopped and her brain had a chance to catch up. She reached for the handle and slowly pushed the door open.

Her father was still the same. She slowly approached him and took his hand. "What happened to you?" she whispered, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"I wondered when you would come."

The princess whipped around and stiffened.

"Though, it sure took you long enough, dearie."

"Madame Morrible."

"It's been so long since you've visited your poor father."

"What have you do to him?" Elphaba hissed.

"It's very bold of you to assume that I did something to him."

"Did you?"

"Of course I did."

The green girl rose. "You committed treason?!"

"Treason would be killing him. He's not dead yet."

"Morrible, I demand you fix this or else –"

"Or else what? You're in no position to make demands, dearie. Not when I can tell all of Oz how their beloved princess is also Oz's biggest terror."

Elphaba froze. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb. I know you're behind the attacks. I know you're the Wicked Witch."

The color drained from Elphaba's face. "It's was you. You stole the Grimmerie."

"'Stole' is such a strong word, and inaccurate in this case."

"You went in my bedroom."

"I did knock before I entered."

"That's not the point!"

"You're right. It isn't. The point is that you will keep your mouth shut and do what I say, or we make your father's rest less like a nap and more permanent. Even though I'm sure the people of Oz would love to find out who's the reason for all this panic and terror."

"The Ozian people would never believe you."

"You'd be surprised what people will believe. Though, there's one thing I don't understand. Why are you fighting against your own father?"

Elphaba's fingers curled into fists. "The Animal bans aren't the right way to solve this problem."

"And I assume having a sit-down-fireside-chat with him wouldn't have worked?"

"But I wasn't committing the terror acts. I was just helping the Animals. I don't know how…" Realization dawned on her. "That was you. You're the one who set fire to that village in the Southern Vinkus."

"You're good at this, Your Highness."

Elphaba felt sick. Her father's press secretary had actually orchestrated the murder of hundreds of innocent people. She steadied herself against the bedpost, her breathing becoming labored.

"You were there too, dearie."

"I was trying to help the Animals there. All those people… all those lives lost… the Animals aren't the problem. You are. You're twisting my deeds to make it seem like –"

"I'm the press secretary. It wasn't that hard to spin a few tales." She waved a dismissive hand. "Now, you listen, dearie, because here's how this is going to work. As much as I've loved using you, your Wicked Witch stunt has to end. It's interfering with my plans."

"What plans?"

"That's none of your concern. While you're the interim ruler, you will do everything I say. If you don't, your father will stay in his suspended state, I will expose you as the Wicked Witch. Don't forget; I have the Grimmerie."

"You can't even read it!"

"I know enough to work my way through the rest. It's really not that difficult."

Elphaba set her jaw. Morrible was playing dirty. Was this her plan all these years as she served under her father? Was this the end goal?

"But enough doom and gloom for now. I believe the people deserve a celebration. And I know just the type. You will accept Captain Tigulaar's marriage proposal."

"How did you know about that? Leave Fiyero out of this!"

"I have my ways of figuring things out. And he's the captain of the royal guard. He's been a part of this since the start. Lady Galinda, on the other hand –"

"Fine, Morrible. Fine! I'll do whatever you want. Just leave Galinda alone."

"Pity. I could've used Lady Galinda's pretty face, but I suppose your royal one, though green, will have to do."

The princess roughly brushed past the press secretary and hurried back to her own room. This had turned into a dirty game she wasn't fully comfortable playing. Her identity as the 'Wicked Witch' was supposed to remain her secret, and so was the Grimmerie. Now that she lost both, she had to come up with a new plan. A plan that would require even more secrecy and stealth.

As much as she really did want to marry Fiyero, she knew the reason Morrible specifically requested it. Marrying Fiyero kept her in the palace, under more watchful eyes. She wouldn't be able to sneak off without someone noticing. She had to play her cards just right.

No matter what, she would get out of this with those she loved still by her side. Two could play at this game.

Elphaba couldn't muster the strength to get out of bed the following morning. Galinda had tried, and failed, to rouse her friend, and not even makeover threats could get her out of bed. Elphaba felt bad for ignoring her friend, but she had to think. Morrible now had leverage over her, which was something she wasn't used to. There had to be a way she could save her father, continue to help the Animals, and take down Morrible at the same time.

Formulating a plan, she got out of bed, washed, and dressed in a simple dark blue dress before making her way down the halls.

"Your Highness," Galinda curtsied, holding a breakfast tray. "I didn't know you were –"

"I can't talk right now, Glin," Elphaba huffed dismissively as she hurried past her.

"Elphie, wait!"

"Later!"

She finally reached the door she wanted and knocked slightly louder than she normally did.

"Come in."

She opened the door and slipped inside. "Captain."

Fiyero looked up and quickly stood when he saw who it was. "Your Highness. Shouldn't you be getting ready for the instatement?"

"I need to tell you something," she whispered, approaching his desk. She took a breath and looked him square in the eyes. "I will marry you."

Fiyero blinked at her. Out of all the things he was expecting her to say, that wasn't one of them. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. "Why?" he finally managed to get out.

"Why? Because you proposed."

"No, I mean… why are you accepting now? And like this? I understand if this is one of those times where things sound less awkward in your head, and then you say it out loud, and it doesn't come out right, but is this what you really want?"

"Yes."

The captain came out from behind his desk and gently took Elphaba's hands. He gazed into her eyes, searching for something he hoped he wouldn't find. "No." Biting his lip, he turned away.

"No?"

"This isn't what you want."

"Yero, I –"

"Right now. Fae, you're going through so much, and I don't want to rush or pressure you."

Rushed and pressured was exactly what she felt, but Fiyero was not the cause of those feelings. But this was part of her plan. She had to do it. "I'm ready now."

"Your Highness, there you are!"

Both of them turned at the new voice. "Lady Galinda!" Fiyero gasped.

"You have to get ready now." The blonde's respectful tone was laced with tightness as she looked at the princess through slightly narrowed eyes. She was clearly still upset about being pushed away.

Elphaba wordlessly left without looking back at the captain. Galinda tightly pressed her hands together as she exchanged a glance with Fiyero before following her friend out. The captain exhaled sharply as he sat back down. He had no idea what just happened, nor why Elphaba had approached him like that, but pushed that out of his mind as he finished his last bit of paperwork before having to head to the ceremony.

Little did he know that Elphaba's surprise visit wouldn't be the only surprise heading his way.

How do we think Elphaba will combat Morrible's plan?