A/N: For some reason, I really like this scene in the show. No idea why. But I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I'm leaving for another vacation on Thursday (going to see Wicked! HECK YES!), and won't be back until next Tuesday the 10th, so I probably won't put up any more chapters of this until I return.

Disclaimer:

There once was an authoress named Fae

Who sat writing fan fiction all day.

But no matter what she dreamed, or how much she schemed,

She still didn't own Wicked. But someday…!

It's been a long time since I've written. Years, in fact. I never would have guessed that being wicked would be so much work! I fly around Oz on my broom, avoiding the Wizard's guards (that's another advantage of flying – no one can capture me!) and doing my best to help Animals who are being pressured to give in to all the new restrictions. Truth be told, I suppose I've been trying to find Doctor Dillamond, but thus far I haven't seen him.

Once I left the Emerald City, the Wizard and Madam Morrible lost no time in demonizing me to the masses. Some of the rumors they've spread are so ridiculous, they're downright laughable. For instance, I apparently have a third eye that never sleeps. (Yes, I know – it was news to me, too.) I'm supposed to be able to shed my skin just like a snake, which can probably be chalked up to my green skin. And here's the best one – I laughed out loud, really laughed, for the first time in weeks when I heard this. They say that my soul is so unclean, I can be melted by pure water! Isn't that the most ludicrous thing you've ever heard? If touching any water would melt me, then how in Oz's name do they think I keep clean? What do they suppose I drink? I mean, honestly, people are so empty-headed, they'll believe anything!

In all the madness, I abandoned this diary for quite a while. I never know from day to day where I'll spend the next night. I never know when I'll have to pack up and leave at a moment's notice. I never know when my work will take me away suddenly for days and sometimes even weeks at a time. But I finally dug it out of my satchel again today because I wanted to record my first meeting with my sister since that ill-fated trip to the Emerald City so long ago.

I had decided that I couldn't go on as I was doing much longer. I needed provisions, a place to stay, and I went to the only people I could think of that might still give them to me. I flew back to the Governor's Mansion in Munchkinland, stashed my broom in a clump of bushes along the side of the house, and then snuck inside through the open first-floor window of Nessa's bedroom. I wanted to talk to her first before I talked to Father – if I could get Nessa on my side, she could convince Father to help me. He could never refuse her anything.

No one was in the room, so I quickly climbed into the gigantic wardrobe Nessa needs to store all her clothes. It was stifling, wedged as I was behind layers upon layers of every fabric imaginable. But I wanted to see before I was seen. I wanted the element of surprise on my side.

I heard the door of Nessa's room open, and then the familiar squeaking of her chair's wheels on the wooden floorboards. Through the crack around the edge of the wardrobe door, I could make out a person dressed all in silver pushing her.

"Will there be anything else, Madame?" the man inquired formally. I was surprised to recognize the voice of Boq, the Munchkin boy Nessa had become so devoted to after he asked her to the dance at Shiz – at Glinda's urging, of course. What was he doing here?

"I've asked you to call me Nessarose, remember?" I could hear the smile in Nessa's voice, the one she puts on when she's trying to charm someone.

But Boq remained polite and distant. "Yes, Madame." I saw him bow deeply, and then heard his receding footsteps going down the hall.

"Boq..." Nessa called after him, but he was already gone.

This was the moment I had been waiting for. I could be alone with my sister. Perhaps I shouldn't have frightened her so. But I've always had a flair for the dramatic, so I spoke from inside the wardrobe. "Well, it seems the beautiful only get more beautiful," I began, causing Nessa to let out a small scream, "while the green just get greener." I pushed open the wardrobe doors and stepped out into the room. "I'm sorry, did I scare you? I seem to have that effect on people." Then I smiled, trying to make up in a small way for the fright I had just given her. "It's good to see you, Nessa."

Nessa, however, did not seem in a mood to forgive me for my theatrics. "What are you doing here?" she demanded coldly.

"Well, there's no place like home," I offered with a shrug. Nessa was unmoved by the witty remark, however, so I sighed deeply and confessed, "I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I need Father's help. I need him to stand with me."

"That's impossible." Nessa shook her head emphatically.

I would not, could not allow myself to believe her. "No. No, it's not. Not if you ask him. He'll do it for you, Nessa, you know he will…"

"Father's dead," she informed me flatly, her face betraying no emotion.

"What?!" For a moment, I felt as though I'd been kicked in the stomach. I had never been close to my father, but still, it was a devastating blow. I had thought I was prepared for any argument, any situation… but not this.

"He's dead," Nessa repeated, still in that frighteningly emotionless voice. "I'm the governor now." After pausing a moment to let the news sink in, she asked cruelly, "Well what did you expect? After he learned what you'd done – how you'd disgraced us – he died... of shame. Embarrassed to death."

I couldn't be sure whether or not she was telling the truth. Finally I frowned, and my voice was as cold as hers when I said, "Good. I'm glad. It's better."

"That's a wicked thing to say!" It didn't escape my notice that Nessa placed special emphasis on the word 'wicked,' but I decided to ignore the jab.

"No, it's true," I contradicted. "Because now it's just us. You can help me, and together we can – "

"Elphaba, shut up!" she snapped harshly. I drew back, surprised and hurt. What had happened to the sweet little sister I knew? "First of all, I can't harbor a fugitive. I'm an unelected official." (I had to admit, I saw her point there.) Then her eyes narrowed, and she continued, "And why should I help you? You fly around Oz, trying to rescue animals you've never even met, and not once have you ever thought to use your powers to rescue me!"

"Nessa – "

"No, Elphaba! You listen to me! All of my life, I've depended on you. How do you think that feels? You and this hideous wheelchair! People pity me, because they think that's what I want. But the only thing I really want is a chance to walk, run, dance, live like a normal girl!"

I sighed tiredly. "Nessa, there isn't a spell for everything! The power is mysterious. It's not like just cobbling up a pair of..." Suddenly, an inspiration struck. I pulled the Grimmerie out of my satchel. "Wait…"

"What are you doing?" Nessa demanded as I began to chant a spell. "What does that mean?" Then suddenly her tone changed from annoyed to frightened, and she gave a cry of pain. "Argh! My shoes! It feels like... like they're on fire! What have you done to my shoes???"

She lifted her skirts to reveal those wonderful silver shoes that Father gave her on our first day at Shiz. Before our eyes, they turned from silver to a fiery ruby red. Then suddenly, as if drawn by an invisible force, one of her feet was pulled forward, beyond the footrest of her wheelchair, and planted itself firmly on the floor. The other followed. And like magic, my sister was jerked upright, and she stood on her own for the first time in her life. Her knees began to wobble, and she collapsed in a heap. I quickly ran to give her a hand up, but she shook her head and gasped, "No, don't help me!" I stood up and stepped back slightly, and she struggled to her feet on her own.

Tears of joy streamed down both of our faces as I watched her take her first wobbling steps across the room towards me. "Oh, Nessa, at last!" I laughed, wiping my eyes. "I've done what I should have thought to do a long time ago. My powers have finally done something good!"

Nessa had been getting closer and closer, growing more sure of herself with every step she took. She finally reached where I was standing, waiting for her with my arms open wide. But instead of embracing me, my sister brushed past me as though I wasn't even there, as though I had not just granted her her lifelong dream. I watched, trying my very hardest not to feel slighted, as she tottered over to her desk, where she grabbed a small bell and began to ring it violently. "Boq! Boq! Come quickly!" she shouted.

My joy vanished in an instant. "No! Nessa, wait, nobody can know I'm here!" I pleaded. But it was too late. The sound of approaching footsteps was already coming down the corridor towards us. I watched helplessly as Nessa ran to sit back in her chair, stifling a giggle, and turned it so its back was to the room.

I dashed for the cover of the wardrobe, hoping to make it back into hiding before Boq arrived. But it was too late. My fingertips had barely touched the wardrobe door when he entered the room, and I was caught out in the open. "What is it, Madame Governor?" he asked automatically. Then he saw me standing there. His eyes widened, and an expression of such intense hatred came over his face that I instinctively backed away a step or two.

"Boq..." I began, hoping I might be able to talk some sense into him.

"What are you doing here? You stay back!" he glared. Snatching up a small knife from Nessa's desk, which stood by the door, he came towards me slowly.

"Boq, it's just me. I'm not going to hurt you."

"No! You're lying! That's all you ever do! You and your sister! She's as wicked as you are!"

"What are you talking about?" I wondered, now thoroughly confused.

"I'm talking about my life," he clarified bitterly. "The little that's left of it, anyway. I'm not free to leave Munchkinland. None of us are. Ever since she took power, she's been stripping the Munchkins of our rights... and we didn't have that many to begin with! And do you know why?"

Before I could answer, Nessa's chair suddenly turned itself around to reveal my sister sitting in it. "To keep you here with me," she told him. "But none of that matters anymore. Look!" And she pushed herself to her feet and stood there, looking him right in the eye.

"You did this for her?" he asked me incredulously. Some of the fear and anger began to leave his face, and he lowered the knife slightly.

"For both of us," Nessa corrected him.

"Nessa, this changes everything," Boq said softly, closing the distance between himself and my sister to take her hands in his.

"I know," she nodded, the note of excitement in her voice obvious. I could tell what she was thinking. Finally she was whole, finally she would be good enough for him.

But unfortunately, Boq's reaction was exactly the opposite of what she had hoped for. "Listen, Nessa… you don't need me anymore. Surely now you won't mind if I leave here tonight."

Nessa's forehead creased in a slight frown. "Leave?" she echoed uncertainly, as though trying to find a way to interpret the word so it wouldn't have to mean what she was afraid he was saying.

"Yes. You know that announcement we saw in the newspaper about Glinda's engagement ball?"

"Glinda?" repeated Nessa. She could no longer mistake his meaning. I detected the slight change in her tone that meant she was growing angry, and I wanted to warn Boq not to go any farther.

But the poor, stupid boy couldn't read the danger signals. "Yes, Nessa, that's right," he persisted. "I have to go appeal to her, declare my feelings one more time before I lose the chance forever. Oh, Nessa, I lost my heart to Glinda the moment I first saw her. You know that."

Nessa was now dangerously calm. "Lost your heart? Well, we'll see about that..."

This could only end badly. "Nessa, let him go..." I begged her, terrified at what she might do. My sister is not easily provoked, but once it's roused, her temper is even worse than mine. I've seen what she's capable of at such times, and I didn't care to witness it again now.

"Did you think I'd let you leave me here flat?" Nessa was now advancing on Boq menacingly.

Boq finally began to grasp what a dangerous position he'd put himself in. "Don't come any closer!" he warned, brandishing the knife he still held, but his voice was shaking.

"You're going to lose your heart to me, I tell you!" Nessa snarled. "I don't care if I have to… I have to…" Her gaze fell to the carpet, where I had left the Grimmerie after enchanting her shoes. A demonic smile crossed her face, and I saw in an instant what she meant to do. I dove for the book, but a split second too late – Nessa got it first. She opened it and began reciting the first spell she saw. "Ah... Tum... Tah... Tae..."

"Nessa, stop! It's dangerous!" I pled desperately.

Boq shot me a terrified look. "What is she doing?!"

"You're pronouncing the words all wrong!"

"I'm warning you, don't try to stop me, or I'll – "Suddenly, Boq let out a bloodcurdling shriek. His eyes were suddenly wild with pain, and he began to clutch at his chest.

"Nessa!" I screamed again, frantically trying to get her attention.

Jarred out of her frenzy, Nessa looked up. An expression of horror came over her face as she realized what she had done. "Boq! What is it?"

"My heart…" he managed to choke out, then gave another awful scream. "It… it feels like it's... shrinking!"

Nessa turned to me, half-crazed with fear. "Elphaba, do something!"

"I can't!" I groaned. "You can't reverse a spell once it's been cast!"

Then Boq began to collapse. I quickly ran for Nessa's now-empty wheelchair, getting it behind him just in time to catch him before he fell to the ground, and wheeled him over to the window as Nessa turned on me.

"Elphaba, do something! This is all your fault!" she shouted. "If you hadn't shown me that horrendible book…"

"Hush, will you?" I snapped. I decided it would be best not to waste time pointing out that she was the one who had started this whole mess by trying to cast a spell on him in the first place. "I have to find another spell... it's the only thing that might work."

Then Nessa's anger seemed to evaporate, and she subsided into gusts of tears. "Do whatever you have to, Elphaba, only save him, please!" she sobbed. "Oh, Boq, please don't leave me! I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you! Everything you said was true – I really am the Wicked Witch of the East!"

As she wept, I went over and knelt by the wheelchair where the now-unconscious Boq sprawled. I quickly scanned the pages of the Grimmerie, looking for anything that I could use to help him. Finally I found the one spell that might be able to do something. They were both going to hate me forever for using this spell, but it was the only way I could save his life after what Nessa had done to him. It was decided, then. I had no other choice. I chanted the words as quickly as I could, and watched them take effect. I had done it – he was going to live.

I wheeled Boq back over, but made sure to turn the chair so that my sister couldn't see into it. "He's asleep," I replied to her questioning look.

"Well... what about his heart?" Nessa demanded tremulously.

I sighed, suddenly feeling exhausted and very drained. "It's all right. He won't need one now." Slipping the Grimmerie back into my satchel, I continued, "I have to go to the Emerald City. What happened to those monkeys is my fault. I've got to set them free."

"You're not going there to save the monkeys," she snarled. "You're going to find Fiyero!" Her accusation hit me like a slap in the face, and I recoiled in shock. Could it be true? I hardly had time to ponder it before she continued bitterly, "But it's too late." I narrowed my eyes, and without a word I turned towards the window, intending to go the way I had come. Nessa's eyes widened, and she lurched forward and grabbed me desperately by the arm. "Elphaba, please don't leave me!"

With a heavy heart, I shook off her hand and laid one of my own on her shoulder. "Nessa, I've done everything I could for you, but it has never been enough… and nothing ever will be."

"Elphaba… Elphaba, wait! Elphaba!"

But I wouldn't stay another clock-tick. I didn't want to be there when they discovered what I had been forced to do. Without another word, I slipped through the open window, landing lightly on my feet outside. I collected my broom from the shrubs where I had left it, and a moment later I had left the Governor's Mansion behind.

And not a moment too soon, either. As I soared off, I heard my sister shriek, and then Boq's screams joined hers. I'm sorry, I thought, squeezing my eyes shut tight for a brief second against the overwhelming feeling of helplessness. But it was the only way… By turning Boq into a man made of tin, I had counteracted the spell Nessa had used. I had saved his life. And I had probably earned myself the eternal enmity of both Nessa and Boq in the bargain.

But, as they say, it's no use crying over spilled milk. What's done is done. I can't afford to dwell on things I can't change. I have to decide what my next move is going to be. Boq said something about an engagement party being held for Glinda. I wonder who the lucky man is? (I'm only being slightly sarcastic… all right, maybe a little more than slightly…) Probably Fiyero, if Glinda hasn't completely lost her knack for getting whatever she wants.

I meant what I told Nessa about wanting to find some way to free all those poor monkeys that I mutilated with that levitation spell back when I met the Wizard. It's something I've wanted to do ever since I left the Emerald City all those ages ago, but until now, I've never been able to see a good time to do it. They're caged in the Wizard's throne room, and I highly doubted if he'd ever leave long enough for me to get in and let them loose. But it just occurred to me that this big engagement bash for Glinda might be just the opportunity I've been looking for. With everyone's attention focused on the bride-to-be and her oh-so-fortunate fiancé (once again, I say that with only the mildest sarcasm, honest!), they'll all be too distracted to notice little old me crashing their party. If I can get in undetected, I may just have a chance of succeeding.