"I used a spell to kill someone."

The words echoed through Breena's mind as the room erupted in a chorus of denial. What the hell was she doing? They weren't supposed to know. No one was ever supposed to know. Just listen to them, all so quick to jump to her defense. How were they going to react when they found out it really happened?

"Hey!" Fiyero yelled, forcing everyone into silence. "All this talking isn't getting us anywhere. Let's just give her a chance to explain."

Breena swallowed hard as everyone looked at her expectantly. What was she supposed to say?

"Bree?" Hope shone in Elphaba's eyes.

"I..." For a split second she thought about lying but knew she would never get away with it. "It's true." Her heart broke as her sister dropped her gaze.

"No it's not." Betak shook her head. "You wouldn't do something like that."

"Yeah," Lion agreed. "You act all tough but on the inside you're just a big softie." He waved the thought away with his paw. "You wouldn't hurt a flea."

"But I did!" Breena clinched her jaw, willing herself to calm down. "I appreciate the fact you're all willing to think better of me, but I did it." Her voice was softer when she spoke again. "I killed a man."

"How?" Elphaba looked up again, clearly confused. "When?"

"That day at the cavern when... when Milynn... when she..." She damned the tears swimming in her eyes.

"Bree?" Addena put her hand on her arm.

"I went out to check on Leto, remember?" She pulled free, afraid of what she would see if she glanced at the blonde. "I found him talking to a Gale Force lieutenant. He was going on and on about how he was living a lie and all he wanted was his family's money back. I realized he was the one feeding information to Morrible and Nevin and I…" She sighed. "I froze. I just stood there while the lieutenant gloated about Nevin going back on their deal and how his troops had the cavern surrounded. The next thing I knew he shot Leto in the chest."

"The bastard deserved it," Betak spat.

"But it wasn't your fault." Glinda was quick to add. "You didn't kill Leto."

"No, I killed the lieutenant."

"What?!" Lion jumped, shocked by his own outburst. He blushed sheepishly. "Sorry."

Breena ignored him. "Something came over me. I got so..." she searched for the right word, "angry doesn't do it justice. I didn't even think about it. I just opened my mouth and this spell came out of nowhere and he..." She closed her eyes, wishing the scene would quit replaying itself in her head. "He literally fell over dead." She took a ragged breath. "I killed him."

A heavy silence followed her admission.

"I wasn't going to tell any of you. I know it's selfish, but I didn't want you to know. I thought maybe if I pretended it never happened it would go away." She chortled. "I was so stupid."

Elphaba couldn't take it anymore and reached for her. "It'll be all right."

"How can you say that? I killed someone, Elly."

"Bree..."

"Don't." She backed away from her sister. "Just don't, OK? I..." A single tear made its way down her cheek. "I'm evil."

"Oh for the love of Oz you are not." Yackle spoke up before anyone else could.

"Really?" Breena contradicted her. "What's the first rule of witchcraft? 'In it harm none.' I more than harmed someone, I killed him."

"Yes..."

"And you said the only way I could read that spell was if I did something awful with my powers." Breena interrupted her. "It doesn't get much more awful than killing someone."

"But..."

"There aren't any buts. I did it." Breena pointed at her chest. "I killed him. Not anyone else. Me." She chuckled drily. "I'm no better than Morrible."

"Don't say that." Addena pointed at her. "Don't you dare compare yourself to that woman. You're nothing like her!"

"Addy..."

"She's right." It was Yackle's turn to interrupt her. "And before you say it again, I think we've already established that you killed the lieutenant."

Breena looked at her in disbelief. "How can you be so nonchalant about all of this? I tell you I killed a man and you act like it's no big deal."

"Because it was a Gale Force guard. It's not like you took Lion out back and bashed his brains in."

"She wouldn't do that." Lion's tail twitched. "You wouldn't do that, would you?"

"Of course not." Addena glared at the old woman. "I think the point she was trying to make is that Bree didn't kill an innocent." Her eyes softened as she looked at Breena. "You took out a man who wouldn't have hesitated to do the same to you if he was given half the chance."

Breena avoided her gaze. "That still doesn't make it right."

"No, it doesn't. But it doesn't make you evil either." Yackle raised her hand to keep her from speaking. "It's like your girlfriend said, you did it out of necessity not spite."

"Girlfriend?" Lion looked back and forth between the two women. "You're a couple?" He grinned. "That's great!" His face fell when he realized Fiyero and the Wizard were staring at him. "I know that's probably not what I should be concentrating on, but it's exciting. They're so cute together."

"Thanks Lion." Addena gave him a half hearted smile.

"It doesn't matter why I did it." Breena argued.

"Stop being so damn stubborn and think about it for a minute." Yackle growled. "Do you remember what I told you about your powers being bigger than you and your sister? You were understandably shocked when you learned the truth about this Leto character. And you knew everyone else was in danger. You were being pulled in a dozen different directions. I think your powers sensed what was happening and provided a solution to your dilemma."

Elphaba frowned. "Are you trying to say her power killed the lieutenant?"

"In a way." Yackle nodded.

Breena rolled her eyes. "That doesn't even make sense."

"Oh, but it does." The old woman continued to nod. "You were upset and in a very precarious situation. If you had left the lieutenant after he shot what's his name, he would have gone back to his troops. And if you took the time to fight him it would have taken you even longer to get back to the cavern. Then what would have happened?"

Lion leaned in close to Fiyero. "Are we supposed to answer that?"

"No," Yackle responded. "I was voicing a few of the many questions going through Breena's mind when all this happened. She wanted to get back to all of you but at the same time she knew the lieutenant had to be dealt with. Her powers kicked in to help by providing a way to get rid of him."

"Are you saying our powers can just take over whenever they want?" Elphaba asked.

"No. This wasn't any ordinary situation, was it? You were trapped, Elphaba, surrounded by men who wanted to kill you. She knew that she had to get back to you or there was a very real chance you could die. As a matter of fact, someone did die, didn't they? Would the rest of you have fared any better if those troops had the lieutenant to lead them?"

"No," Fiyero shook his head. "Their attack was sloppy. If they had been organized things would have been a lot worse." He met Glinda's eyes. "What? I didn't become the captain of the guard because of my looks."

"If Breena hadn't come along with that spell to make people disappear, we would have been toast." Lion added his two cents worth.

"Did that one come to you too?" Yackle asked Breena.

"What?" The question pulled Breena from the sea of thoughts she was drowning in.

"The spell you used when you got back to the cavern. Did it just come to you too?"

She frowned. "Yes."

"Is that what happens with all of your spells?"

"Most of them."

"What about you, Elphaba?" Yackle switched her attention to the green woman.

"Sometimes." Elphaba answered. "I've learned most of my spells from Bree."

"Which makes since considering she's was more open to her abilities growing up. See," Yackle smiled reassuringly. "The power senses you just like you sense it and provides what you need."

"But I…"

"Bree," Elphaba cut her sister off. "You can't keep beating yourself up over this. Like Yackle said, you were in a no win situation. You did what you had to do."

"Did I?" Breena finally looked at her sister. "You would have come up with some way to knock him out or something. But you never would have killed him."

"Don't be so sure about that. If you or Glinda were in danger I would do anything to keep you safe. And I do mean anything."

"No you don't."

"Yes, I do." She approached her again. "Love makes us do funny things, Bree. And whether you want to believe it or not right now, I love you. I always will."

"I…" Breena finally gave in to her emotions and started to cry. "I love you too."

Elphaba took her in her arms. "We'll get through this, I promise."

Breena responded by pulling her closer.

Glinda sniffled as she made her way over to her own sister and gripped her hand.

"Their power is kind of creepy," Lion commented offhandedly to Fiyero.

"It's more along the lines of practical." Yackle corrected him.

"What?" He had a deer caught in the carriage lights look on his face. "You…" His voice cracked. "You heard that?"

Yackle nodded, "I'm not deaf."

"It's all right, Lion." Betak patted his arm. "If the girls were paying attention they wouldn't take offense."

"I'm having a hard time getting my head around this." The Wizard looked at Yackle. "You make it sound like this power you keep describing is a separate entity."

"No, it co-exists with Breena and Elphaba. As I said before, they can manipulate it but it can influence them as well."

"Like when it made Bree heal Elphaba even though she was too weak to be doing it." Addena supplied.

"Exactly." Yackle nodded.

"Do you think that's why Elphie has visions?" Glinda joined in.

"Yes I do. Her visions serve as a warning system."

"A warning system?" Breena pulled away from her sister, giving Elphaba a grateful look when she kept her arm around her waist.

"Her visions give you a heads up on potential danger and your healing ability gives you an edge on staying alive."

"I had no idea this, whatever you want to call, ruled your lives so much." The Wizard looked at his daughters. "I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for." Yackle frowned at him. "Magic is on the rise again in Oz. You two are an essential part to the process." She glanced at Elphaba and Breena. "Just as your children will be when their time comes."

Addena raised her eyebrows. "Children?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Betak looked at Yackle like she had sprouted a second head. "Where are you getting all of this?" The munchkin advanced on the other woman. "Who are you?"

"I'm Yackle."

Betak glared at her. "That's not what I meant!"

"Then maybe you should say what you mean."

"Maybe you should just answer my question miss know it all!"

"Betak, calm down." Breena chastised her. "Yackle, she's right. I think we need some kind of explanation."

"Me too." Elphaba nodded. "How do you know so much about the Grimmerie? About us?"

"You mean you haven't figured it out?" Yackle grinned. "It's good to know I can still be mysterious."

"More like confusing," Lion mumbled.

"You've been talking in riddles since I met you." The Wizard sighed. "Try being truthful for a change."

"I'm always truthful." Yackle frowned. "Painfully so."

"Get on with it already," Betak shook her head.

"Fine." She huffed. "My ancestors wrote the Grimmerie."

"Excuse me?" Betak's expression was bemused. "I could have sworn you just said your family wrote the Grimmerie."

"They did." Yackle confirmed. "My great great something aunt and two of my cousins gathered the spells and copied them onto the pages."

"But you can't read it?" The Wizard frowned.

"No. No one in my family has a magical bone in their body. That's why we were chosen to create the book."

"Why was it created in the first place?" Elphaba fired off the next question.

"Because once upon a time magic wasn't taboo like it is now. As a matter of fact there were several very powerful families in Oz. But that kind of power has a way of corrupting and a couple of those families decided it gave them the right to rule over others. They started using their powers to get what they wanted. The other families formed an alliance to stop them and an all out war developed. It wasn't until non-magical folks joined the fray that the good guys gained the upper hand. When they did it was decided that magic would be outlawed until it could be handled more responsibly. My family gathered the spells and put them in the book. After it was completed it was enchanted so no one could read the text and my family members were killed."

Lion audibly gulped. "Killed?"

"It was the only way to insure the content of the book wouldn't be corrupted. Other members of my family were given the responsibility of keeping the book safe until the right person, or in this case persons, came along to claim it."

The Wizard continued to frown. "And who decided who the right person would be?"

"The book." Yackle said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Somehow the enchantment was set to sense when someone worthy of knowing the secrets it held came along."

"Someone like Elphie." Glinda looked at her lover proudly.

"But why did the Wizard have the book?" Betak's attention was still on Yackle. "Shouldn't it have been with your family for safe keeping?"

"It was." Yackle growled.

"I believe I can answer your question better." The Wizard spoke up. "I won it from an old man in a card game not long after I landed in Oz."

"That old man was my brother. He was the keeper of the book. But he didn't believe that anyone would ever be able to read it, so he didn't take the job too seriously. He didn't even tell me about losing it until he was on his death bed a few years later."

"You said you can't read the book, right?"

Yackle nodded. "Yes."

"Then how did you find what you were looking for a little while ago?" Betak kept hammering at the older woman.

"There are pictures associated with each of the spells. I can't read them but I need to know which is which so I know what it does."

"Why?" Lion looked confused.

"Because I'm supposed to help whoever can read the book."

"So you're a walking reference guide to the Grimmerie." Breena nodded. "I guess that makes sense."

"Where were you before?" Betak wasn't giving up. "When Elphaba was on the run with the book, where were you?"

"Hoping it would resurface. By the time it was revealed to the public that the Witch... no offense Elphaba, had the book it was too late. She was dead and I assumed it was destroyed with her."

"How did you find us then?" Elphaba furrowed her brow. "If you thought I was dead and the book was destroyed, how did you track us down?"

"The news broke that you were very much alive and were responsible for kidnapping Glinda. I knew you had ties in Munchkinland so I took a shot and headed in that direction. The closer I got, the more I knew about you and Breena. I have no idea how, but by the time I actually found you I knew everything there was to know about each of you." She gave Breena a pointed look, "Well, almost everything. I guess the power you share wanted me to be able to help with more than just the book."

"Apparently." Elphaba looked down at the part of the Grimmerie she was still holding. "So, there are spells in here that will help us defeat Morrible?"

Yackle nodded. "All you have to do is decide if you want her dead or alive."

"Alive." Breena was quick to answer. "I know she's a monster, but I for one would feel better knowing I wasn't responsible for any more deaths."

"She despised Southstairs." Glinda presented a solution. "I was always getting complaints from the guards about her. She would hate to be sent back."

Elphaba shrugged. "Then Southstairs it is."

"You'll want to strip her of her powers." Yackle took the book from Elphaba and flipped through the pages. "It's not in this part."

"The rest is still down in the apothecary. I'll go get it."

"Why don't we all go get it? The three of us can discuss the ins and outs of the spell while everyone else gets back to whatever it was they were doing before you fa…"

"Blacked out." Glinda spoke over her.

"I don't faint." Elphaba clarified.

"Right." Yackle winked at her. "I'll meet you downstairs." She waved her hands at the others. "Let's go people. Show's over."

"Bree, why don't you get cleaned up?" Elphaba gave her a gentle squeeze, knowing her sister needed a moment alone. "I promise I won't let Yackle start without you."

"That's a good idea. Although if I showed up like this I might scare Morrible." Breena chuckled as she looked down at her shirt.

"Yeah well it scares me too, so change it."

"I will. And thanks, Elly." Breena gave her a grin. "For everything."

Elphaba grinned too. "Any time." She moved to join Glinda and Addena at the top of the stairs. "I think she could use a pep talk from someone besides me."

"I know she could, I just…" Addena sighed. "I'm not sure she'll want me around right now."

"She wants you around, Dena. Take it from someone else who has to deal with the Thropp moodiness."

"Hey." Elphaba put on a hurt expression.

Glinda giggled. "Come on, Elphie." She took her by the hand and led her down the stairs.

Addena watched them go before taking a deep breath and turning around to face Breena.