It was nearly midnight when Fiyero finally told the exhausted driver to pull into a village. This time he used his princely money to invest in a finer quality inn. Galinda was practically asleep on her feet and Elphaba's complaints about her wrinkled dress were getting unbearable. As soon as the Winkie unlocked their room his blonde partner-in-crime stumbled onto the couch and promptly began snoring. Luckily there were too beds in the next room, so Fiyero didn't have to choose between extreme awkwardness and the floor.
Elphaba slipped into a silky, blue nightdress with little complaint before dropping off. Her kidnapper, on the other hand, took some time to ruminate on the day's happenings. There had to be some trigger for his captive's random mood swings. So far Elphaba had made two reappearances that Fiyero knew of. First when he told her how beautiful she was, and second when Galinda was nearly fell asleep against the Winkie's side.
Could the trigger be strong emotion? Love and jealousy? Fiyero blushed at the former of his theories. It was horribly arrogant to assume that Elphaba loved him just because he loved her. But wouldn't that explain things? By now several hours had been sacrificed to his ponderings and sleep was stalking the Winkie's every thought. Fiyero's eyes slid slowly closed.
"Yero!" Elphaba cried into the darkness. Her voice sounded tight with fear.
"What's wrong?" Fiyero called, lighting an oil lamp on the bedside table. The formerly green girl was shaking violently and her eyes were huge.
"I had an awful nightmare," she whimpered. Instinctively the Winkie moved to her side.
"Are you ok?"
"No," Elphaba sniveled, latching on to him. "I'm scared." Fiyero gently pulled the trembling witch into his arms and leaned them back against the headboard.
"It's ok," he told her gently. "It was just a dream."
"But it felt so real," she sniffled into the Winkie's chest. "Everything was just the way I remembered it except…except there was more. And it was awful."
"It was just the way you remembered what?"
"Going to the Emerald City," Elphaba explained. Fiyero's heart flared with hope. He turned the thin girl's face towards his. Her eyes were shining, melting into the deep, chocolate wells he used to drown in.
Abruptly the Winkie became hyperaware of just how close Elphaba's face was to his. Those eyes were pulling him in and he was powerless to stop them. Suddenly Fiyero was kissing her. She responded with earth shattering force, passionately deepening the kiss. When they broke apart for air both parties were panting. Elphaba's eyes shone like diamonds.
"I remember," she whispered, her nose still resting against Fiyero's. "I remember what happened in the City." Suddenly the witch's gaze filled with horror. "Sweet Oz what did they do to me?"
"What happened Fae?" Fiyero demanded. "Tell me before you forget."
"I went to the wing of the Emerald Palace where they do the beautification magic," she began, gaze growing foggy with hidden memories. "One of the appearance sorcerers took me into a room and asked me some questions. They were about things that had nothing to do with my degreenificiation or looks. Instead the man wanted to know my opinions about everything; mainly Animals and the Wizard. Then, after it was all over, he smiled this creepy grin and told me that, due to some concerning rebellious tendencies I would have to be fixed."
Here Elphaba stopped to take a deep, shuddering breath. "Obviously I was confused and asked what he meant, but the sorcerer just said that I shouldn't worry; that almost everyone who gets beautification magic has to have some modification done to their mind. Then I tried to leave. He blocked the door but I freaked out and my magic stunned him. Eventually, though, some guards caught me and…and…" She sighed in defeat. "I don't remember anything else. Just a lot of pain."
Fiyero's jaw clenched as he subconsciously held the thin girl closer. How dare they? Elphaba gasped all of a sudden. "That's why you're taking me to the Emerald City isn't it?" she realized.
"Yes," the Winkie answered. "But clearly we can't ask them for help."
"You could ask the Wizard," Elphaba suggested. "Maybe he doesn't know that his appearance sorcerers are doing."
"No, Fae," Fiyero growled. "I am not letting those people near you."
"I don't want to be like this forever Yero," the stubborn witch persisted. "You and Galinda have to find a way to get those sorcerers to fix me."
"But Fae…" Already he could see her eyes getting flatter as sleepiness took over. She was slipping away. "Fae stay with me," he snapped, cupping her cheek. "Come on don't leave me."
"I'm so tired," Elphaba yawned, her eyes flickering closed. "Just let me sleep." Moments later the formerly green witch had collapsed onto his chest. Smiling fondly Fiyero settled down onto the bed. He certainly couldn't risk waking her.
/
Galinda Upland got the shock of her life when she stumbled into the next room of the hotel suite to find her best friend in bed with her ex. Elphaba's head was resting on Fiyero's chest while the Winkie gently stroked her hair as she slept. It took him awhile to notice that their tender moment was being spied upon. "This isn't what it looks like!" the prince cried in a hushed whisper. His cheeks were on fire. "She had a nightmare and couldn't sleep…"
The blonde grinned at his embarrassment. "It's fine Fiyero," she chuckled. "I know you aren't nearly as scandelacious as the tabloids would have us believe."
Smiling gently Fiyero shifted the sleeping witch off his stomach and rolled out of bed. "I got Elphaba to talk about what happened," he informed Galinda, face darkening. "You're not gonna believe what they did to her."
/
"They said they had to fix her because she's rebellious?" the blonde screeched in indignation.
"Shh!" Fiyero hissed. "Not so loud."
"Sweet Oz I can't believe they'd…oh Elphie." Galinda looked close to tears.
"Elphaba wants us to take her to the Emerald City," Fiyero explained. "She thinks that the Wizard may not know what his sorcerers are doing to people."
"But he's in charge of the appearance sorcerers," the blonde pointed out.
"I know," he sighed. "But there's no other way to fix her permanently. We've got to either get the Wizard to help us or find a way to make the appearance sorcerers reverse whatever they did."
"Why would the Wizard help us?" Galinda questioned. "We're just a bunch of college kids." The Winkie rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know," he sighed. "But we've got to at least try and help Elphaba."
So the truth finally comes out…but how will our heroes find a cure?
Keep reading (and reviewing) to find out!