Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: So Zani's got questions for you to answer in regards to certain chapters. Actually, they seem more like questions to get you thinking in regards to this story. Hear your thoughts/theories and all that. Notice also, how she uses 'Elle' or lack of in these first three chapters when saying things like 'she took this as her opportunity' vs. 'Elle took this as her opportunity'. I think Zani decided to play with your heads when she wrote this one.

She also has... 'do not post next chapter until reader theories/answers have been read to see who is closest'... Okay... and...?

Anyway, here we go:

Who exactly do you think Elle is? Is she really Elphaba? Or someone else entirely?

And why does Fiyero seemed so obsessed with her, after only knowing her for really only a few minutes?

What do you think the feeling in her stomach was- butterflies from a romance of a past wiped clean, the embers of a romance long thought dead, or something else?

A/N: Written: 2010. Found: 2018- Licia

"Elphaba."

The man turned as the crowd gathered around him, throwing out questions and comments. A few feet down the street, Glinda came out of the bookstore she'd been in, upon seeing the crowd gather. She moved closer, a book held tightly in her grasp, her gaze locked on the thing the man was waving around.

"We did it! We found her! We finally found the Witch!"

Fiyero felt his heart flutter. Alive... his beloved Elphaba... she was alive!

"Where was she?"

"Is she with you?"

The man laughed. "Fellow Ozians, this is all that's left of the Wicked Witch of the West! This, some remnants of a black skirt and a puddle of green!"

Fiyero couldn't catch his breathe, and Glinda, directly across the street and down several blocks, and partially hidden by the growing crowd, felt her heart constrict in horror.

"What about the Grimmerie?" Someone cried, and the man turned to him.

"We searched, but could find no such book! Either it got swept away by the storm, or melted right along with her!"

Cheers began to rise from the crowd, cheers of joy and celebration, praise for the witch hunters who had returned with good news. The Witch who had terrorized them for so long- the vile, evil, green Wicked Witch of the West- was dead, at long last! Finally, after so many years of fear and terror, some good news!

Noticing that Fiyero was preoccupied, she took this as her opportunity, and ducked behind him, disappearing into the crowds that had gathered. Not that she had anything against the man, but after being so close to him, and feeling that strange sensation in her stomach, she felt it was best to get away while she had the chance, lest he try to kiss her or something. He probably wouldn't have, but still, she didn't want to take any chances.

Besides, how was she going to figure out her way around the City if she had a minder, who clearly looked at her as child, because of her age and the fact that she looked younger than she actually was? She was eighteen, an adult, not a child. She could do things for herself. Just because she was eighteen, didn't mean that she couldn't take care of herself. She had come to the City to make her own way, and make her own way she would do, no matter how long it took. She'd start in the City, and then, once she was well known, she would go somewhere else- perhaps somewhere over the fabled rainbow- and pay her dues wherever she ended up, before returning to the City a star. Yes, that sounded like a perfect plan.

"Elle? Elle!"

She stopped, freezing momentarily at the sound of his voice. A moment passed, before she glanced behind her, and then bolted, dashing through the streets, holding tight to her book bag, her cape flying out behind her, teasing those who she passed by.

"Elle! Wait!"

She didn't glance back this time, didn't stop to think, didn't look at all as to where she was going. She just kept running. It seemed like her entire life had been spent running- running from Nest Hardings and her childhood, from the expectations of everyone around her, from other peoples' desires for her and plans for her future, and from a past she no longer remembered, a past that had never existed, a life that had never existed. A life and person that Fiyero seemed to think she was and had.

Keep running, you can't let him catch you. God knows what he'll do if he does.

She dashed across the street, not caring who she cut off or ran into.

"Elle!"

God, doesn't he give up? She took a deep breath. He did say he was Captain of the Gale Force, whatever that is. He probably chases after people for sport.

Suddenly, the edge of her cape caught around something; she was yanked back, and after a moment, she reached up, quickly undoing the knot as it started to choke off her air. It fell away, leaving her free to continue down the street. She ignored the few calls asking if she was all right, if she needed help, heading for... well, she wasn't sure where she was headed. Anywhere Fiyero couldn't find her, anywhere she could escape the tingling tightness in her stomach she'd felt at his touch. She dared a glance back, but didn't see him; that didn't mean she stopped, however.

She glanced to the side; she could see a gate, and the forest beyond it. It was in that moment that she made a split second decision.

If she could make it to out of the gates to the forest, she could disappear, hide, allow her racing heart and thoughts to calm before returning. The gate, and the forest beyond it, were her sanctuary. She could recoup, gather her thoughts, plan her next move... yes, that would be perfect, now if she could just reach the gate-

She didn't bother looking, to see if anyone was coming; she didn't wait before stepping off the sidewalk. She only knew that she had to get away; the sooner the better. She didn't hear the carriage wheels, or the horse's hooves coming down the street, finally able to maneuver through the bustling crowds celebrating the demise of the Wicked Witch of the West.

But suddenly, time seemed to stand still, as she dashed into the street.

"Elle!"

She turned, hearing his voice, her mouth dropping open in shock at the sight of the carriage coming towards her. Like a deer in headlights, she froze, too surprised to move. She couldn't get her feet to work properly; they refused to move, no matter how she mentally willed them too. What made it worse, was the fact that she couldn't speak, couldn't cry out; it was as though her vocal chords were paralyzed from fear. She couldn't move, she couldn't speak, and he was getting closer... what the hell was she supposed to do now?

The horse reared back on its hind legs, and finally, she screamed; her cry mixing with the horse's whinny as she finally was able to get her legs to move.

But she wasn't fast enough.

The horse ran her over, knocking her to the ground, hooves barely missing her head. She covered her head with her arms, peeking up to see the wheels of the carriage coming directly for her. A scream that could have echoed through all of Oz escaped her throat, and she buried her face in her arms, waiting for the wheels to come crashing over her.