Disclaimer, *filler text here*

The sanctuary was beautiful, it looked like a paradise one might only see in a childrens picture book. To describe all its features and buildings would take forever, each person was lead to their own apartment in a fashion that reminded dorothy of how she and her friends were welcomed into emerald city during her first visit to oz. however, she was led to melody's hut with alex to have her wrist looked at. A proper, minor healing spell was put upon it, but it didn't bring down the swelling, or stop the pain for that matter. For that she was given a spoonful of foul tasting medicine that reminded her of the mist she would exhale when she was really overflowing with energy. She coughed and wheezed as it went down her throat.

"that should bring down the swelling, but I'll still have to bind it." melody said stepping around alex and going into a cabinet.

Pulling out a wrap of cloth bandage, she immediately set to work binding it tightly.

"come tomorrow morning you should be completely healed." Melody said sweetly.

"thank you." Dorothy said smiling, and curtseying.

"pleasure, and your majesty?" Melody said.

"yes?" dorothy enquired.

"you may want to think about a change of clothes, that outfit, does not suit you at all." She said.

Dorothy looked down, she knew melody was right, but at the time this seemed like the best option. Zinnia giggled and led the two of them off . eventually they reached a more lavish looking building. Walking inside they found, to their surprise, not just mr. teak, but mrs. Teak and Annabella, as well as aislynn.

"glinda insisted ace come along since she is your charge." Mr. teak said adressing this.

"theres a curtain over there for you to change behind ms. Gale, your associate took the liberty of picking out some rather simple outfits for you to wear." Marsinta said coming in behind them.

"And by associate I assume you mean maddie?" Dorothy asked curiously.

"Guilty." Madeline said appearing in the room causing everyone to jump and alex to growl, grasped in one of her hands was the scepter.

"Maddie would you stop doing that, at least while were here!?" dorothy shouted now becoming a bit annoyed.

"sure, sorry, alex, calm down." Madeline said handing the scepter to dorothy and removing her gloves.

Immeidatly the scepter pinged delightedly at being back in dorothy's hands again. But much to dorothy's surprise, didn't do much else.

"well, we'll leave you guys alone." Zinnia said vanishing with her fellow members.

"I should go back to my apartment, rather nice place isnt it?" Madeline asked.

"oh it's the most beautiful place I've seen, I hope to eventually see more of it." Dorothy said walking over to the changing screen, taking alex's sword from around her waist as she did so.

Behind it were a few variations of her usual outfit, including the jean dress she had been wearing that morning. She decied, as she sat down to untie the work boots, not to let a completely unsoiled outfit. As she slid the boots off and quickly changed. She emerged and walked over to alex. Who was now laying on the floor, his sister sitting in front of him, they seemed to be having a staredown.

"neither of them have blinked for over a minute now." Mr. teak said looking at his watch.

Annabella blinked first, giggling she leaned forward hugging him tightly. Dorothy smiled and walked over to them, the scepter following close behind. She sat down next to him.

"did it hurt?" dorothy asked.

"did what hurt?" Alex asked turning to look at her.

"turning, into a wolf?" dorothy continued worriedly.

"Oh, this, of course it hurt, the beast wasn't letting me win without a fight, and I lost, it was all I could do to get out of there, away from you guys, and someplace where I couldn't do any harm." He said.

"no I mean actually taking the shape." Dorothy said.

"oh yea that hurt too, the part of it I can remember." Alex said sighing.

"they said you will have lost yourself when the beast burst forth." Aislynn said.

"yes, the last thing I remember, before the truth pond, was screaming." Alex said shivering a bit.

"what was it like?" Annabella asked curiously.

"as I fled from you guys, it was like a fire, building up inside me, ready to burst out, the beast screaming for me to let it go and take over, when I got to the edge of the wood I gave in, it felt like I was burning every part of me screaming for relief." Alex said gulping, "it was agonizing, turning into this shape, and for a moment I was certain I would just die right there, then suddenly, as if from a dream, I'm waking up in the waters of the truth pond, being helped out by Finley and his crew, and looking at my reflection in the water once I got my bearings." He continued.

"It must have been rather jarring to see yourself like that in the water." Aislynn said.

"not really, once I saw my reflection I remembered what had happened." He replied.

"I wanted, so much to go after you, to chase you, but instead, they put me in the vault." Dorothy said leaning against him, her cheek rubbing against his fur.

"yes, I figured they might." Alex said.

"and you know what was in there?" dorothy asked.

"I'm sure you'll tell me later." Alex said sighing.

"why not now?" dorothy asked curiously.

"I've apperently not eaten since I transformed, ive been running most of these passed couple of days, I'm a bit tired and could use a nap." He said yawning.

Dorothy smiled and got to her feet.

"you deserve it, after saving me like that." Dorothy said sweetly.

"no matter what I become, what I am, I will always love you dorothy, but you seem to have an odd habit of finding yourself in the dumbest andor dangerous of situations." Alex said curling up.

" says the man who tried to attack a giant wolf, with a sword." Dorothy said teasingly.

"I saved you, don't knock it." Alex said before tucking is face under his front leg and closing his eyes.

Dorothy smiled and turned her attention to aislynn, taking what the tribunal had told her when they first met them an idea popped into her head.

"I assume you guys will be fine without mine and ace's company for a bit?" dorothy asked curiously.

"why, where are we going?" aislynn asked.

"to find that library, I'm sure you'll like what they have, you're like a sponge." Dorothy said smiling.

Meanwhile back at castle garrison.

"well, at least they're safe." Elphaba said still slowly removing the old cloth from the umbrella.

"why are you being so careful about that elphaba?" Nessa asked curiously.

"trying to get each piece off whole, without any bits left over, easier said than done." Elphaba said.

"it is done." Came father time's booming voice as he appeared in the room.

"what brings you back?" the jester asked curiouslfry.

"the great book of records." He said.

"what about it?" rose asked coming into the room.

"with the help of glinda, the pages were sucessfully rewrote you back into history to fit the truth, it will be ages before everyone's memories revert, but you two are now completely back in oz's history, possessed by the power of one of my artifacts, cursed as a punishment, the witches took over elphaba and nessarose, leaving very little of them behind." Father time said.

"Hmm, no need to give an announcement of an official pardon, or an explanation, you two are officially off the hook." The jester said smiling, "you know, apart from still having to be asociated with me and the ridicule we've all brought upon ourselves." He added

Father time grinned and In less than a clock tick, was gone.

"you know something, that explains quite a bit, I forgot she was in possesion of that book." The jester went on.

"but she hasn't used it in years, she has that book that lets you know what the truth is too." Nessarose said looking over her wand.

"I know, and the truth hurts, but you know who she gave it to?" the jester asked.

"dorothy?" Elphaba guessed.

"yep, keeps it in her beside table in the emerald city." The jester said before managing to cut himself on a piece of metal.

"I'm honestly bothered by the fact that you know that." Elphaba replied.

"why wouldn't i know it? I used to try and purposefully wind her up, appearing and dissappearing when it was mostly inconvenient for her, and intentionally trying to get glinda to break." The jester said bandaging his hand.

"you know, there are simplier ways to wind glinda up than to just play games with her." Elphaba said.

"well you would know." The jester said chuckling.

Back in emerald city.

Ozma, who had been watching what she could in the crystal ball, was content with the fact that they were at least safe. As the crystal faded she turned to find ellie standing behind her, causing her to jump. Ellie giggled.

"you seriously didn't hear me come in?" ellie asked curiously.

Ozma shook her head, once she had regained her composure and caught her breath, she walked over to the throne and sat down. She wanted to go after them, she knew she could get into the sanctuary if she fully desired to, as queen she did have a right. But she knew it wasn't what she should do.

"you know, I'm quite fond of her, and alex's is kind of growing on me as well." Ozma said sighing.

"I know how you feel, its really the only thing glinda and I have in common, wanting to hold on to dorothy and never let her go." Ellie replied.

"what about alex?" she asked.

"he's not bad, not how he used to be, he and I settled most of our differences for dorothy's sake, but he's perfect for her, and as Madeline and jack have made quite apperent, they're meant to be together." Ellie said walking over to dorothy's throne and sitting upon it, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hands.

"well, something they mentioned, since I over heard benton talking to glinda about it…" was as far as Ozma got before ellie turned to cut her off.

"I know, and i have a guess as to where it will bring us, dorothy wont be too fond of it though." Ellie said sighing.

"I mean, he wont do anything that could risk her harm, but you really think he would do that?" Ozma asked curiously.

"if he felt it was necessary not just for him, but for his families sake, the same way he ran from them before he changed, then yes, I really think he would." Ellie said sighing.

"still, not many people can say they attacked a fully grown kalidah and walked away from it without a scratch." Ozma said changing the subject.

Back at the sanctuary.

As the rest of the afternoon rolled into evening, dorothy found herself sitting in a corner of the tribunal's grand library, the scepter floating idly next to her while she was snacking on a bowl of grapes while she watched aislynn talk to mercer about some of the books. A few of them were written in fairy language which Mercer refused to tell either of them about. She assumed that was because they werent members of the tribunal or such. However mercer was impressed by aislynn's thirst for knowledge. At around 6 however Marsinta showed up.

"ah, Ms. Gale, they told me you and your charge had come here." Marsinta said smiling.

"she's been taking in knowledge like a sponge." Mercer interjected.

"Right, well, you are both to go to the grand hall, your friends and associates have already made their way there, we must discuss this plan, we do not normally have so many visitors to the sanctuary so we must plan accordingly." Marsinta said.

Dorothy nodded, grabbing the scepter with her good hand she got up. As she and aislynn followed marsinta out of the grand library and down the path towards a rather large building at the far end of the sanctuary. There were paths leading every which direction some dipping downwards appearing to go underground. There were no signposts, just markings on the buildings and had mercer not actually been outside the library at the time neither of them would have found it. as they walked along, dorothy looked down at the path, her bare feet were hitting against it but it didn't feel as she felt it was meant to. The pad was made from stones and gravel, you could see it, you could even pick some up, as aislynn observed by stopping to pick up a few before dropping them again. But it felt like walking on a smoot surface, something akin to wood, metal. It felt warm, and safe, but she knew this wasn't how it should be. Once they reached the grand hall, they found all the members of the tribunal were assembled at the head of the room. Dorothy and aislynn made their way over to the teaks where dorothy sat herself next to alex.

"so, as you are all no doubt aware by now, we don't normally have this many visitors in the sanctuary, however, i also know that no all of you wish to stay to witness the transformation in the morning, Finley and the hound respectively have made their wish to return to where they are meant to be and will be before dawn breaks." Fayth said.

"however," benton cut in, "If you stay, you must bear witness to the act which will take place at the lake tomorrow morning, and I should warn you, the sight will not be a pretty one, only one person has ever chosen to turn back before now, and that person was myself." Benton went on.

"what about the others?" Aislynn asked.

"they chose to keep their forms out of regret, or out of penance, they harmed the people they cared about in that form, some of the unlucky ended up turning their own, here they tend to stay content, free from persecution, ridicule, and disgrace." Fayth replied.

"they have their own forest here inside our sanctuary, where they live, and run free, the cursed one that struck your friend was a rogue element, something we had not forseen." Zinnia said sighing.

"If it's all the same to you then, morris and I shall return to our post back in emerald city, wait for the boss." Wendell said raising his hand.

"you will return there before the sun rises." Marsinta said smiling.

"Ms. Gale, as you seem to have an attachment to the person in question, being the wolf, I should warn you, you will have to witness him being in a great amount of pain and anguish as the transformation process will not be easy, the beast inside him will put up a fight." Benton said walking over to her, "the restorative elixir he will reawaken the beast, the collar once it is around his neck, will take in the body of the wolf and return him to what he was." He continued.

"so, I'll have to fight for control?" Alex asked worriedly.

"yes." Benton said before walking away.

"there's something you're not telling us." Aislynn observed.

"it will become clear in the morning, ms. Gale, I am aware that tomorrow is yours and the hatter's birthday, are you sure this is really how you wish to start it?" Marsinta asked curiously.

Dorothy looked at Madeline, who smiled before conjuring a cup of tea. The scepter pinged a low, dull ping. She then looked alex in the eyes. she knew he wanted her there. And she concluded that regardless of what she was to witness, she had already lost him once to this process, she wasn't going to let it happen again.

"I choose to stay." Dorothy said nodding.

"are you sure, you wont be able to turn back." Zinnia said.

Dorothy nodded again.

"well that's settled then, Aislynn or ace if you prefer?" Fayth asked.

"ace, if it pleases, I should like to stay, her aunt asked me to keep an eye on her make sure she remains grounded, at least for a bit." Aislynn said.

"which reminds me, why bring ace? Instead of dorothy's aunt and uncle?" alex asked.

"their children." Fayth said sternly

"if they came, then the triplets would have to come too." Benton said.

"and if what you say is true, then I wouldn't want them witnessing or hearing this." Dorothy said sighing.

"and that's what the hatter told us, glinda insisted on sending at least your charge along." Zinnia said smiling.

"now, Terrance, Alyssa?" Fayth said turning to them.

"We'll stay, if it pleases your, tribunal-ness." Alyssa said trying to come up with the proper tensing, "a soldier must be prepared to face anything, even this." She added.

"and if one of us stays so does the other," Terrance added.

"very well, Now, as the teaks have a young child with them, you are only here because it is custom for the victim to have family visit, but you may leave tonight if you wish not to witness what is going to happen." Fayth said refferring to Annabella.

"I want to stay, if dorothy and ace are going to see this through, I'm going to stand by them as well as my dear brother, the same way he would for us." Annabella said smiling.

"are you sure Annabella, it might not be enjoyable." Alex asked.

"I don't care if its enjoyable, you're family, and family should stick together." Annabella said walking over to her brother.

"how touching, Mr. and Mrs. Teak?" Fayth asked.

"are we really going there?" Alex asked.

"we have to offer the option, dorothy is perfectly capable of taking care of your younger sister, you know that." Zinnia said smiling.

"we're staying, come hell or high water I'm not turning my back on my son ever again." Mr. teak said standing strong.

"and if my husband stays, then so do i." Mrs. Teak replied.

"so, its all settled then who stays, who leaves, the seamstress will be done with the collar in a few hours, so all that will be left to do, is wait for morning." Melody chimed in.

"Well then, i ask that all but two of you return to your apartments, refreshments will be awaiting you there, Dorothy, Alexander, I request that you stay." Benton said sternly, "the rest of you can go." He added.

Everyone wanted to question it, but were too afraid to. Aislynn took Annabella's hand and walked with her and the teaks out of the grand chamber. Once dorothy and alex were alone with the rest of the tribunal, Fayth walked over to them.

"Dorothy, are you sure you want to stay?" she asked, "absolutely positive? Because you cant turn back from this, it will be painful." She continued.

"is this really what we're questioning? Her loyalty?" alex asked curiously, beginning to growl.

"okay, calm down, we just have to be sure, because she's going to have to be the one to put the collar on you." Fayth said worriedly.

"what? Why?" dorothy asked.

"I assume, this has something to do with that bargain you made." Alex said, "I don't approve of you doing that, I would NEVER ask you to do something like that." He added.

"but you would do the same if it were her in your place." Melody said smiling.

"anyways, not quite, your parents and sister have a familial bond with you, and blood may be thicker than water, but you two, have something greater, but, I'm sure something was going on your mind, just before you changed." Benton said smiling.

"you mean, my last concious thought? Before the truth pond?" alex asked curiously.

"yes, your thoughts, were loud enough for me to hear them." Zinnia said sighing.

"your last thought, was of someone you care about, whom you would go great lengths for just to see smile, to protect." Benton and fenrir said in unison.

Dorothy looked down at alex, who was trying hard not to meet her gaze. She was touched that the last person he thought of was her, but it put her this predicament.

"Dorothy, I didn't mean to, I was saving you, that's what mattered to me, the comfort that you…" was as far as dorothy got before alex clamped a hand over his muzzle.

"alex, that doesn't matter to me, it cant be helped now, you couldn't have known, but I don't want to hurt you." She said turning his face gently to meet his eyes.

If he could have smiled he would have, he snorted. As dorothy lifted her hand from his face he looked her in the eyes and spoke.

"Dorothy, if this is what has to happen, don't think of it as hurting me, think of it as hurting the beast, no matter what you do, you could never hurt me." Alex said, his voice becoming calming to her.

Dorothy smiled, she squatted down and pressed her forhead to his.

"then we'll be back in eachothers arms soon." Alex replied happily.

"well, if its truly settled, then you understand, your act of love is what will break the form on him." Benton said.

"if he had thought of his father, or his mother, they would be asked to do it, but he thought about you." Marsinta said.

"and that is a greater power than you think." Mercer added.

"now, run along you two, best be getting your rest, big day for you tomorrow." Fayth said smiling.

Dorothy nodded and held her hand out, the scepter immediately flew to it. pinging happily. The two of them left the grand hall and started back on the path.

"dorothy, can I just say something?" he asked curiously.

"anything you want." Dorothy said smiling.

"I'm sorry, for running away like that." He said, "I'm sorry I didn't properly say goodbye." He added.

"you did what you thought was right." Dorothy said softly.

"I did, but I hurt all of you in the process, I thought, if I stayed long enough to say goodbye, I might not be able to leave, and the beast would have won." Alex said sighing.

"you chose the path that would keep us safe, that would keep them safe, but you knew I would follow you too the ends of the earth and back." Dorothy said.

"and that's why I love you, but its also why I had to run, you saved me from myself, from becoming my father, and I've saved you from danger." Alex said sadly, "I couldn't look back, I wanted to so badly, to hold you close, but the beast would have hurt you." He added.

"the beast is part of you, they've made that perfectly clear." Dorothy said as they reached the apartment, Madeline sitting in the doorway with a cup of tea.

"you're going to have to be very brave then." Madeline said sighing.