1Boq had to wonder how he let himself get talked into this. After all, his plan had been so simple. Stand out in the rain, rust until he couldn't move and spend eternity regretting the screwed up mess his life had become. But he just had to run into the Wizard and had to fall for his line about redeeming himself by trying to take down Morrible. Why couldn't he have stuck to something for once and told him to go away? Why did he have to, yet again, be a follower rather than a leader?

Because he wasn't leadership material. Never had been, never would be. And as long as there were people like the Wizard in the world he would bow to their wants and needs like a good little boy.

The realization didn't come as a surprise, but it hurt just the same. Who in their right mind would want to admit something like that to themselves?

"Excuse me for a moment, my boy. I have some business to attend to, if you know what I mean."

The sound of the Wizard's voice drew him out of his thoughts. He started to look in his direction but noticed he was about to step in a puddle and quickly drew his foot back, throwing himself off balance. He stumbled backward a few paces, his arms windmilling in an attempt to keep his body upright.

"Doesn't a day like today make you glad to be alive?"

Boq mentally scoffed as he regained his balance.

"Bright sun. Blue skies. Birds singing. It's spectacular, absolutely spectacular."

He had to wonder if the older man wasn't losing his mind. Being cooped up in the ramshackle thing he called a cabin for so long made Boq realize just how much like everyone else the former ruler of Oz really was.

"You might try answering once in a while. It lets a body know you're still around."

Boq rolled his eyes. He had never understood some men's need to talk while they were, as the Wizard had put it, 'taking care of business.' Why couldn't they just do what they had to do and pick a more opportune moment to carry on a conversation?

"You know them."

He almost jumped out of his skin when he heard the unfamiliar voice. That was nothing compared to his urge to flinch when he saw the old hag standing in the middle of the road staring at him.

She narrowed her eyes. "At least you know of them."

"Know…" He tried to hide the quiver in his voice. He had hoped traveling with the Wizard would be different than his time spent with Dorothy, but obviously it didn't matter. You were bound to run into someone or something truly frightening at some point. "Know who?"

"Them." The woman emphasized the word.

"I…"

"You should also try speaking up." The Wizard interrupted as he reemerged. "I couldn't hear a word you just said." He stopped short when he saw the woman. "Hello. And who might you be?"

"Yackle," the woman answered.

"Yackle." The Wizard said it as if he were experimenting with the name. "Peculiar name. I'm..."

"We don't have time for that." The hag waved off his comment as she eyed them. "You know them." She pointed. "I can smell it."

The Wizard shot Boq a look but all the tin man could do was shrug.

"I've been looking for you. We have to go."

"Looking for us?" Boq pointed back and forth between himself and the Wizard.

Yackle furrowed her brow. "Not so much you as him but the two of you is what I got."

"Why would you be looking for us?" The Wizard frowned. "We weren't even together a few days ago."

"Which is why I didn't find you until now."

Boq mirrored the Wizard's frown. "You aren't making much sense."

"I don't have to." Yackle chastised him. "Let's go."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

The Wizard shared another look with the tin man at the answer she gave. "We're just supposed to follow you?"

"Yes."

"Why should we?" Boq questioned.

"Because I said to."

The tone of her voice would have sent a shiver down his spine if he still had one. "Uh..."

"How about we try to reach a compromise." The Wizard stepped in. "You tell us who it is you're looking for and we'll see if we can help you out."

"How many times do I have to say it?" Yackle growled. "I'm looking for them."

"Them who?"

"Them!"

"This isn't getting us anywhere." The Wizard sighed. "Maybe you should go your way and we'll go ours and..."

"No. We have to go together. The truth will out."

"The truth will what?" Boq had regained enough composure to rejoin the conversation.

The woman suddenly looked toward the sky. "It won't be long now."

Boq followed her gaze, half expecting to see another house hurtling through the air. "Until what?"

"I can't tell you that." Her indescribable eyes sparkled. "It would ruin the surprise."

"Oh, well if it's a surprise, lead on." The Wizard gestured for her to start walking.

"What are you doing?" Boq looked at him in disbelief as Yackle set out.

"Humoring her."

"Why?"

"Did you really want to hear any more of her babbling?"

"No."

"Then I guess we have another traveling companion."

Boq frowned. "You can't be serious."

The Wizard sighed. "She's a harmless old woman. A bit on the loopy side, but harmless none the less. What's it going to hurt for her to join us?"

"I…" Boq looked at the old woman's retreating form. "You…"

"That's what I thought."

"Keep up." The old woman yelled over her shoulder at them as she hurried along the road. "We don't want to be late."

"Late for what?" Boq muttered.

"You're asking the wrong man, my boy." The Wizard clapped him on the shoulder. "But I have a feeling we should do as she says." He grinned. "She's pretty spry for an old thing, isn't she?"

Boq didn't answer. He was too busy wondering what kind of mess he had gotten into this time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Breena heard Fiyero saying something and almost stepped out of the dressing room to see what it was but stopped just short of opening the door, knowing if she did she would be back in the wagon and on her way to Munchkinland. Why? Because as much as she hated to admit it, she was scared. Scared for Elly and Glinda. Scared of the Grimmerie falling into the wrong hands. Scared of using a spell she had never tried before to travel across Oz. But most of all she was scared Betak would never forgive her for not helping her bury Milynn.

The old woman meant the world to her. Not only was she her surrogate mother, she was her sounding board, advice giver and confidant all rolled into one. But Elphaba was her cousin. Her flesh and blood. And as much as she loved Betak she loved Elly more. Milynn would have understood her decision so hopefully Betak would too.

She turned toward the mirror, more determined than ever to get to Elphaba in time to warn her.

"That's what it all boils down to... time." She whispered the words to herself as she drank in her reflection. "It's now or never, Thropp."

She took a deep breath, giving her power a chance to flow through her for a moment before she pictured what she imagined Upland Manor looked like in her mind and said, "Leno hac itaque illac."

The mirror rippled almost as if it were beckoning to her. She cautiously started foward, easily slipping through the silvery surface… And into a room at Upland Manor.

At least she hoped it was Glinda's childhood home. What she could see of her surroundings was pretty fancy, but the Upper Uplands were infamous for huge houses. She needed to have a look around to make sure she was in the right place. Her foot meet with nothing as she stepped out of the mirror, throwing her off balance and spilling her to the floor.

"Who's there?"

She froze, cursing her luck. Of course she couldn't have been in an empty room. That would be too simple. Maybe then she wouldn't have to explain her sudden appearance to someone she'd never met before.

"I said who's..." A dirty blonde stepped out of a nearby doorway, her voice trailing off when she saw Breena. She instantly screamed.

Breena was too caught up in the fact the woman was naked to do much of anything until she saw her run across the room to the fireplace to grab a poker.

"I don't know who you are, but you picked the wrong house."

"Wait." Breena held her left hand out in front of her as she scrambled to her feet. "I can..."

"You can get out, that's what you can do!" The blonde hurried toward her, bringing the poker down on the exposed wrist.

"Ow! Shit!" Breena hissed in pain. "You broke my arm!"

"I did?" The woman looked concerned for a moment before her face hardened again. "I mean, that's right. I did. And there's plenty more where that came from!"

Breena gingerly cradled her throbbing arm against her body. "I'm not here to hurt you."

"Damn straight you're not." The blonde snarled. "Now do I have to show you what else I can do with this, or are you going to leave?"

"Is this the Upland house?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm afraid I can't leave."

"What do you mean you can't leave?"

"I'm Glinda's friend and I'm here to..."

"Yeah right." The woman chuckled sarcastically. "She might be Glinda the Good now but I know my sister."

"Glinda is your sister?"

"What if she is?"

"That's great. She's on her way here to..."

"Now I know you're lying." Sapphire eyes narrowed. "She's been kidnaped by the Wicked Witch of the West. What possible reason could that vile creature have to bring my sister here?"

"First of all, Elphaba's neither vile nor a creature."

"Elphaba." She frowned. "Who's Elphaba?"

"The woman you and the majority of Oz insist on calling the Witch."

"You mean she has a name?"

"Doesn't everyone?" Breena said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

The blonde shook her head. "I know what you're doing. You're drawing me into some pointless conversation so I'll let my guard down and you can take this poker from me." She tightened her grip on the steel weapon. "Well it won't work."

"No, I'm trying to explain what I'm doing here so you'll put that damn thing down again before you hurt yourself."

"I'm not the one with the broken arm, am I?"

"That was a lucky shot. And you don't know your sister as well as you think you do. Not only is she my friend, she's Elphaba's too. As a matter of fact they're..." Breena realized what she was about to say and closed her eyes. "Look, just tell me where Glinda's room is and I'll be out of your hair."

"I don't think so." She gestured with the poker.

"Stop pointing that thing at me." Breena took in the shapely body again. "And put on some clothes."

"Put on some clo..." The woman looked down at herself and blushed.

"You didn't even know you were naked, did you?"

"Of course I did! I was trying to get dressed when I was rudely interrupted by someone breaking into my room."

"I didn't break in." Breena frowned, mumbling, "I came through the mirror."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Will you at least put that robe on?"

"Does my being without clothes bother you?"

"No. I'd just hate for you to catch a cold."

"Riiight." She drew out the word as she picked up the robe draped over a nearby chair and quickly slipped it on. "There." She knotted the tie around her waist. "Is that better?"

"Much. Now if you'll show me where Glinda's room is I'll..."

"What a wonderful idea."

The blonde turned when she heard the new voice, poker raised. It slipped from her hand as a tornado like whirlwind came through the open window, stopping in the middle of the room where it slowly morphed into an older, heavy set woman.

"Glinda's room is where I'd like to go too." She smiled encouragingly.

"Morrible." Breena growled her name.

"I see my reputation proceedifies me." Morrible eyed her. "I'm afraid the same cannot be said for you."

"It's better to keep a low profile." Breena gestured with her right hand. "Agito!"

"Whoa!" The blonde's eyes got huge as the older woman flew across the room, landing safely on a sofa. "You did magic without a wand!"

"Yes she did." Morrible took her time climbing to her feet. "You must be the other witch Master Boq told my Nevin about."

"Witch? You're a witch?!"

Breena ignored her question, concentrating on the former press secretary instead. "It seems you were wrong about my reputation."

Morrible grinned. "Indeed. But I hope you don't think parlor tricks will keep me from the Grimmerie."

"The Grimmerie? Ancient text of magic Grimmerie? What makes you think something like that is here?"

"You haven't a clue, do you dearie?" Morrible eyed the blonde. "Why don't you leave this discussion to those of us in the know?" She flicked her finger, knocking the girl backward.

"Hey!" Breena did her best to catch her, wincing at the strain on her left arm.

Morrible sneered. "It figures you would be soft, like Thropp."

"Caring about other people doesn't make you soft."

"Oh really?" She narrowed her eyes. "We'll see about that."

"Watch out!" Breena put herself between the blonde and Morrible as a gust of wind came at them. It hit hard, throwing them across the room where they landed in a tangled heap.

"Ow." The blonde moaned as she sat up. "She packs quite a punch."

"You can say that again." Breena clinched her jaw as pain shot through her body. "I'm Breena by the way."

"Addena." The other woman grinned.

"Absentis!" The spell hit Morrible square in the chest, lifting her off her feet and throwing her into a table near the sofa where she landed before.

"I guess your punch isn't too shabby either."

Breena raised an eyebrow in response as she stood, offering Addena her right hand.

"Is your arm still the only thing broken?" Addena quipped as she accepted the help.

"How touching. You're bonding." Morrible spoke as she climbed to her feet unsteadily. "Too bad you won't be around long enough to get to know her better." She threw another gust of wind, slamming Breena into the wall behind the duo. "Now why don't you show me which one is Glinda's room."

"Not so fast." Breena staggered to a standing position.

"Stubbornness isn't always an admirable trait." Morrible gestured at her again, driving her back against the wall. "Perhaps I should..."

"Maybe you should shut up and leave her alone!" Elphaba spoke as she and Glinda flew through the window.

"Thropp." Morrible smiled as they climbed off the broom near Addena. "Hold on a tick tock. I'm not quite done with your friend."

Breena groaned as an unseen force crushed her harder against the ungiving wall behind her.

"Stop!" Elphaba frowned. "Agito!"

Morrible flew through the air, landing on the table she's already destroyed. The instant her feet hit the ground her hold on Breena broke.

"Oh!" Glinda scrambled to keep Breena from hitting the ground, giving her sister a grateful look when she helped. "It's good to see you again, Dena."

"Never one for a dull entrance are you Glinda?" Addena grinned. "When did you trade your bubble in for a broom?"

"Breena?" Elphaba looked at her anxiously.

"I'm all right." Breena assured them.

"Sure you are." Addena starting running her hands over her.

Breena furrowed her brow. "What are you doing?"

"Checking you out." She caught the look on the woman's face. "I'm a doctor."

Glinda nodded when Breena looked to her for confirmation.

"You're going to need one." Morrible threw a gust of wind, knocking the three of them down. "And you." She turned to Elphaba. "I've been waiting to do this." She looked outside where a storm cloud had formed. "You've been a thorn in my side for long enough."

"Elphie?" Glinda was the first to recover.

"It's time for you to die." Morrible finished her thought, gesturing toward the cloud. Lightning shot from its depths, coming to rest in her hand. "Goodbye Thropp." She hurled the lightning at Elphaba.

"No!" Glinda jumped to her feet, throwing herself at her lover.

Elphaba was too distracted by the blonde blur slamming into her to even try to deflect Morrible's assault. She took the bulk of the impact as they fell to the floor.

"I think it's time for you to go." Breena glared at the older woman. "Amitto."

Addena cocked her head when Morrible disappeared. "I bet that comes in handy."

"Glinda?"

They both turned when they heard Elphaba's panic stricken voice.

"No. Glinda, wake up." She was cradling her love's limp form in her arms. "Glinda!"

"What happened?" Breena went to them. "Did she hit her head or something?"

"I..." Addena swallowed hard when she spotted the scorch mark on her sister's shoulder. "I think the lightning hit her."

"Heal her." Elphaba reached up, grabbing one of Elphaba's hand. "Please."

"Heal her?" Addena frowned.

"I'll explain later." Breena lowered herself to her knees next to her cousin. "All right, Glinda. Let's..." She frowned when she got a closer look at the woman. "I don't think I can help her."

"What do you mean you can't?" Elphaba snapped.

"She's... Elly, she's not breathing." She met her cousin's gaze. "I can't heal the dead."