Elphaba watched her sister as she followed her down the stairs. She was acting more like her old self. It made her feel good to know she was in a better place than she had been earlier. They would still have a talk about what happened with the lieutenant at some point but it was nice to know it didn't have to be now.

Breena looked at her over her shoulder. "Staring is overrated."

"Depends on what you're staring at." Elphaba grinned. "Things seem to be going well between you and Addena."

"That they are."

"It's strange, isn't it? Feeling something so intense for someone else?"

"More like scary." Breena shook her head. "I have no idea what Addy sees in me."

Elphaba nodded. "I wonder the same thing about Glinda sometimes. Then I look into those blue eyes and it doesn't matter. I'm just glad she sees it."

"I tried to give Addy an out upstairs."

"By an out do you mean you tried to push her away?" She sighed when her sister nodded. "Bree, why would you do that?"

Breena gave her a look. "We're not exactly normal, Elly. I wanted to give her the chance to walk away knowing there wouldn't be any hard feelings."

"More like you tried to convince her you didn't care and then would have been devastated if she actually left."

"Exactly."

"Obviously she didn't."

"No," Breena grinned. "She kept pushing until I cracked and then told me if I ever tried anything like that again she'd kick my ass."

"Good for her." Elphaba smiled. "She sounds like my kind of woman."

"Hands off sis. You already have an Upland of your own."

"Speaking of Glinda, do you think Addena would mind if I used her nickname for her? I think Linny fits her perfectly."

Breena's grin stayed in place. "I'm sure Addy wouldn't mind. And you could call Glinda 'hey you' and she'd be thrilled."

Elphaba chuckled. "She would not."

"Oh yes I would." Glinda giggled as they both jumped. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Yes she did." Addena spoke up from behind her. "And Elphaba, I would be honored if you called her Linny."

"You should feel special, Elphie." Glinda smiled at her sister. "She doesn't even let Momsie and Popsicle use her nickname for me."

"I do too."

"Do not. I remember you pouting when they tried."

Addena sighed. "That's when I was a kid."

Glinda shook her head. "It was the last time we were all together. I believe that was Lurlinemas last year."

"Just go." Addena hurried her along.

Breena looked at Addy once they joined them at the bottom of the stairs. "How long were you two back there?"

Addena shrugged as she slipped her hand into Breena's. "Long enough."

"You changed clothes so it couldn't have been that long." Breena eyed her new pink outfit. "You just couldn't stand wearing black, could you?"

"It's not her fault." Glinda put her arm around Elphaba's waist. "Neither one of us looks good in black."

Elphaba followed suit by wrapping her arm around Glinda's shoulders. "But I thought black was this year's pink."

Glinda shook her head. "That was so last year, Elphie."

"Yeah Elly, what were you thinking?" Breena's smile faded when they reached the living room and the Wizard, Betak, Fiyero and Lion all turned to look at them.

Addena instantly picked up on her unease. "Bree?"

She gave Addy's hand a reassuring squeeze before letting go and stepping forward. "I know what I said upstairs was pretty shocking and you're all entitled to your own opinion about what I did. But it doesn't make me a different person. And if I found myself in a similar situation again I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing."

"Of course it doesn't make you a different person." Betak looked at the others in the room through narrowed eyes. "And no one else thinks so either, do you?"

Breena smiled. "Betak, I love you, I really do. But you can't bully them into feeling the same way you do."

"I wasn't bullying anyone." The munchkin huffed.

"Yes you were." Breena contradicted her.

"She doesn't have to bully me." Lion spoke up. "I know you'd never bash my brains in."

Breena couldn't stop herself from chuckling. "Thanks for the vote of confidence Lion."

"Aw, shucks." He waved her off bashfully.

"Frankly I think you did the right thing." Fiyero was lounging on the couch next to Betak, his feet up on the coffee table. "Like Addena said, he wouldn't have hesitated to shoot you too. Ow!" He glared at Betak as she smacked him on the leg. "What? I'm telling her we're good."

"And I'm telling you the table's not a foot stool."

"I could never think badly of you. Either of you." The Wizard ignored them, looking at his daughters lovingly. "You're my little girls."

"How touching." Yackle's voice dripped with sarcasm as she walked into the room. "I hate to interrupt but we really need to get busy if you two want to stop Elpahba's vision from coming true."

"You lead, we'll follow." Breena gestured for her to go back the way she came. "And thanks everyone, your support means more than you know."

"Not so fast." Addena reclaimed Bree's hand as she started after the old woman. "I'm proud of you. What you just did took guts."

"What? Getting rid of Yackle?"

Addena pulled her close. "You knew what I meant."

Breena stared into her blue eyes. "And you know better than to start something we can't possibly finish right now."

Elphaba tightened her grip on Glinda as she watched them. "You were right before. They're adorable."

"Elphie," Glinda leaned against her. "I..." She started to say she was scared but thought better of it. "I love you."

"I love you too." Elphaba whispered, "And I'll be fine," in her ear.

"You're cute couples, we get it. Now break it up and get a move on." Yackle looked at the Wizard over her shoulder. "You better come too. I think you're going to play a big part in this plan."

"Me?" The Wizard looked confused.

Breena gave Addy a peck on the cheek before pulling away. "Come on, Dad." She snagged his arm as she walked by him.

His eyes lit up. "Dad?"

Elphaba's head snapped up from kissing Glinda gently on the lips. "Dad?" Agreeing to give their father a chance was one thing, calling him dad was another.

"The way I see it, if Yackle wants him to come along we better start buttering him up. The last time we took him to the palace he got shot."

The Wizard frowned. "Let's not talk about that."

Breena patted his arm as Elphaba joined them in following Yackle. "You were protecting Elly."

"It's not the shooting I don't want to think about, it's what happened afterwards." He shook his head. "If that woman had taken either one of you away from me I..."

"You what?" Yackle challenged him as they walked into the apothecary. "Would have given her a good scolding?"

"Yackle." Elphaba's voice was a warning.

"What?" The old woman furrowed her brow. "He couldn't whip his way out of a wet paper bag."

"I most certainly could." The Wizard protested.

Yackle cackled. "Good comeback."

"Can we just get on with this?" Breena cut in before her father could respond.

"All right, all right. Don't get your panties in a twist." Yackle bustled over to the work table. "I think I should start by telling you not to be scared of Morrible."

Breena frowned. "We're not scared of her."

"Just checking," the old woman was quick to soothe her ruffled feathers. "She's been a sorceress for a very long time. She picks up on the fact that you're both young and insecure in your abilities."

It was Elphaba's turn to frown. "You make us sound like a couple of children."

"Compared to Morrible you are." Yackle pointed out the obvious. "I'm not saying this to offend you. I'm saying it because it's true. Is she powerful? Yes. Is she more powerful than you? No. But she picks up that you're new to your powers and uses it to intimidate you. He knows what I'm talking about," she tipped her head toward the Wizard. "That's how he got you to reveal you could read the Grimmerie, Elphaba."

"How would you know?" The Wizard didn't like being reminded of his past with his daughter. "It's not like you were there."

"Maybe not but people like you are all alike."

"People like me?"

"Those who don't care who they step on or hurt to get what they want."

"I..."

"Don't even try to deny it." Yackle interrupted him. "Not only did you turn the whole of Oz against an innocent young woman, you sent a child to deal with her once she became a problem."

He tried again. "I..."

"You what? You want to defend your choices?" She gestured with her hand. "Go ahead. This I've got to hear."

"I thought we came in here to discuss a spell to use on Morrible." Elphaba spoke up.

Yackled nodded. "We did."

"Then I think we're a little off track." Breena jumped on the band wagon, looking back and forth between the two older people. "Unless we're supposed to bicker her back into her cell at Southstairs."

"We weren't bickering," Yackle scoffed.

"Yes you were." Elphaba disagreed. "You were rehashing something the Wizard and I have already agreed to move past and not giving him a chance to say much of anything."

"But..."

"Bree and I are giving him a chance. You should too."

"I can't." Yackle glared at the Wizard. "It's my job to watch out for both of you. And anyone who hurts you is fair game for me to belittle, harass or..." she searched for another word to use. "Whatever else I see fit to do."

"Am I mistaken or are you the one who brought him here in the first place?" Breena asked.

The crone smirked. "Have you ever heard of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer?"

The Wizard rolled his eyes. "I've owned up to my mistakes and have every intention of doing my best to make up for them. The girls know that."

"Which brings us to you explaining why you want him to come to the palace with us." Breena looked at the old woman expectantly.

"I can't believe you're both defending him."

"Well we are." Elphaba declared.

"Fine." Yackle sighed. "He's going along to kill Nevin."

"Kill who?" The Wizard stammered.

Breena shared a look with her sister. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I keep forgetting I haven't told you everything. Sit down." Yackle motioned at the stools around the worktable.

"Why?" Elphaba's tone was suspicious.

"You're all making me nervous standing around like that." Yackle pointed at the stools again. "Now sit." She waited until they were settled to speak. "I've been doing some research."

"Really?" Breena's voice dripped with sarcasm as she took in the stacks of books in front of her.

"Yes," her effort was lost on the old woman. "I kept thinking about Nevin and his mysterious illness so I did some digging. Have you ever heard of the living death potion?"

Breena nodded. "Someone asked Mom to make it once. She got really mad and kicked them out of the house. I tried to get her to tell me what the potion did and she told me never to talk about it again."

"With good reason." Yackle picked up one of the books. "It puts a person in a coma and turns their brain to mush."

"Mush?" The Wizard echoed the word.

"Technically it destroys all higher brain function, leaving the person in a vegetative state. They're alive with no hopes of ever waking up." She read from the text.

"No wonder Mom was so upset."

Elphaba frowned. "Why would she do that to her own son?"

"To take over as ruler of Oz. People adore Glinda, so when she denounced Morrible they turned against her even worse than they turned against you Elphaba. No one cared that she was in Southstairs. And no one would have listened to a word she said once Nevin released her without his help."

"You mean he brainwashed the guard and the council into accepting her as his co-ruler?"

Yackle nodded at Breena's question. "And then used the potion on him so she would have all the power for herself."

It was the Wizard's turn to frown. "But wouldn't that break any spell Nevin cast?"

"His spells last until the person he cast it on completes the task he gave them or he dies."

"So Boq is no longer under his spell because he stabbed me?" Elphaba was trying to keep everything straight.

"Yes."

"And you want the Wizard to come with us so he can finish Nevin off and free the Gale Force from his spell so they won't listen to Morrible anymore?" Breena joined in.

"Exactly." Yackle grinned. "You girls catch on quick."

"There's just one problem." The Wizard paused for a moment. "I can't kill that boy."

"You won't be."

"Is he still breathing?"

Yackle sighed. "Yes."

"Then I'll be killing him." The Wizard stood. "I can't do it."

"Morrible killed him, you'll just be putting him out of his misery. You can do that."

"No I can't."

"Yes you can."

"No I can't!"

"Let me put it to you this way," the crone locked eyes with him, her voice threatening. "You can and you will."

The Wizard held her gaze. "I can't and I won't!"

"Fine. I guess the girls can hold off the Gale Force and try to cast the spell on Morrible at the same time. I mean, that's worked so well for them in the past."

He frowned. "I didn't think of that."

"And if one of them gets hurt Breena can use her healing power." Yackle pursed her lips. "I just hope they can get out of the palace with Morrible once the spell is cast. Otherwise the guard is likely to turn on them and try to get their precious Morrible back. They're trained to be loyal to their ruler, aren't they Breena?"

"Now wait just a..."

"And Southstairs will be out of the question. No one there will lock up the leader of Oz. I guess the girls will just have to keep Morrible with them. They can all go into hiding together."

"Hiding?" The Wizard's frown deepened.

"Did you miss the part where I said the Gale Force would try to save Morrible? She might not have powers but she'll still be in power." Yackle looked at him like he was dumb. "Not that it matters. I'm sure Addena and Glinda will go with them. They can take turns making sure the ropes holding Morrible so she doesn't turn on them are tight and live happily ever after while everyone in Oz mourns poor Nevin in his comatose state. After all, it's what he deserves for trying to rid the land of someone as wicked as Elphaba and people like Breena who associate with her. He's a hero."

"Stop!" The Wizard bellowed. "I'll do it. Just tell me what it is you want me to do and I'll do it!"

Breena turned to Yackle. "Maybe we should..."

"No!" He interrupted her. "She's right. This is what I can do to help and I'm going to do it. Morrible has to be stopped."

"But if it's going to upset you," Elphaba left her statement open ended.

"He'll be fine." Yackle scoffed. "It's not like we're asking him to suffocate him or drive a dagger into his chest. All he has to do is slip this into the boy's mouth and let nature take it's course."

The Wizard looked at the contents of the vial she held out to him. "What is it?"

"Oxvine root." Breena answered. "It stops a person's heart instantly." She looked at Yackle. "And it's extremely rare. Where did you get that?"

"It doesn't matter. I have it and he can use it." Yackle shoved it into the Wizard's hand. "Keep it safe. Now, as for you two and your spell," she rifled through the pages of the Grimmerie. "Here you go." She turned it so the girls could see it.

Elphaba skimmed the spell. "I can read this one."

"Of course you can. It's only a power stripping spell."

"Only a power stripping spell she says." Breena mocked her as she looked at the book too. "Seems simple enough."

"It is." Yackle agreed. "Her powers will vanish when you finish, you throw her in Southstairs and get on with your lives."

Elphaba looked at her sister. "It almost sounds too easy."

"It will be easy once you actually get to Morrible." Yackle confirmed. "But there is still one problem we haven't addressed." She paused dramatically. "Who will take over when she's gone?"

"She's right." The Wizard pursed his lips. "Someone will have to step in, otherwise Oz will fall apart."

"Don't look at me." Elphaba held her hands out in front of her. "I'm the Wicked Witch of the West, remember? And don't automatically assume Glinda will do it either."

"She never really ruled anyway." Breena shook her head. "The people love her but she was just a buffer between them and the council. Throwing that kind of responsibility on her wouldn't be fair."

"I agree."

Yackle raised her eyebrows at the Wizard. "Are you volunteering for the job?"

"Not necessarily."

"So you're not saying no."

He sighed. "Would you just stop?"

"Once upon a time you liked being in charge. Think of how happy all those Ozians would be if their beloved Wizard was back in the palace."

"It's not fair to push this off on him either." Breena tried to step in.

"But he's the most qualified for the job." Yackle persisted. "And what's he going to do when this is all said and done? Spend all his time with the two of you?"

The Wizard sighed. "I'll do it."

"Can we just concentrate on Morrible and worry about this afterwards?" Elphaba didn't hear him.

"Oz is already in shambles, Elphaba. We have to have some kind of plan in place." Yackle reasoned with her.

"I'll do it." The Wizard repeated himself.

"She's right, Elly." Breena spoke at the same time. "The rug was already pulled out from under everyone's feet when Glinda disappeared and they were left with Nevin and Morrible. They deserve better this time."

"I'll do it!"

Yackle glared at the Wizard. "There's no need to yell. All you had to do was say so in the first place."

"Are you sure about this?" Breena looked at her father.

Elphaba did too. "It's a lot of responsibility. And you shouldn't feel obligated to do it."

"I don't. At least not in the way you're thinking of." The Wizard gripped Elphaba's shoulder. "I wronged more than just you before. The people need me."

"See, that wasn't so hard." Yackle looked at the girls. "Everything is in place. The rest is up to you."

Breena nodded. "Then I guess we should get going."

"We should." Elphaba agreed. "The mirror spell?"

Breena continued to nod. "The mirror spell."

"Really?" The Wizard looked back and forth between them. "After what happened last time?"

"You'll be fine." Yackle reassured him as they all got up and started out of the room. "You're in the best possible hands."

The Wizard let himself be led along. "It's not them I'm worried about."

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Morrible?"

She looked up when she heard her name. "What is it?"

"You have a visitor."

"A visitor?" Morrible echoed the young officer's words. "Who could possibly be here to see me?" She mumbled to herself before waving him off. "Tell them to go away."

"I would have, but..."

"There shouldn't be a 'but' involved when I tell you to do something."

"And normally there isn't." The young man defended himself. "But I know you'll want to see him."

"Oh really?" Morrible's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Yes," he stepped aside to reveal the visitor.

"You." Morrible spat the word. "What do you want?"

The visitor took an unsure step into the room as the guard left. "I need to talk to you."

"Need to?" She scoffed. "I hardly think so. Leave." She turned her back on him.

"But..."

"I said leave!"

"I know where to find them!"

Morrible's back straightened. "Excuse me?"

"I know where to find them." He repeated himself.

"Is this some kind of trick?"

"No."

"You honestly expect me to believe you're just going to offer them up to me on a silver platter?" She turned back to him. "Again?"

Boq swallowed hard under her intense stare. "There's nothing for me there." He looked away, not wanting her to see the sadness in his eyes. "There's nothing for me anywhere."

Morrible regarded him for a moment. "What do you hope to gain by doing this?"

"Revenge. Elphaba and the others..." His voice trailed off. "Let's just say they need to be dealt with."

"And I'm the woman for the job."

Boq nodded. "The only one."

"That's it?" Morrible narrowed her eyes. "There's no other motivation?"

"I thought maybe..."

"Spit it out boy."

"Glinda." He finally met her gaze again. "I want Glinda."

Morrible smiled at the hatred she saw in his eyes. "Welcome aboard." She slipped her arm around his metal shoulders. "Let's have ourselves a talk."