Through the Park and Into the Land of Lipstick

Disclaimer: Give me a moment to get over the horrible fact that, no; I do not own Wicked yet!

A/N: Okay, I know so far this has been pretty un-plotted, but I swear, it's going to get a little more, story-ish. Promise. Thank you all of those who've reviewed, I'm really encouraged by it. So here it goes, third chapter.

Galinda dabbed the arnica on a cringing Elphie. "Elphie, I still don't understand how a little walk with Dodo-"

"Toto, Galinda, it's Toto."

"Whatever. Now as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted, I still don't understand how a little walk with Toto could end up with you so bruised you could barely walk, and with twigs tangling your lovely hair." She said this as she pried out something more along the lines of a branch, out of her roomie's hair.

"Galinda, we went through the park."

"Yes dear, I understand THAT, what I don't get is how a sweet walk through the park could turn into…this." She turned Elphie to face her so she could look at the black eye Elphie sported.

Elphie tugged herself away from her roomie and sighed. "Galinda, I said THROUGH the park, and I mean THROUGH the park. Toto didn't bother watching for where the roads end and where bumpy ground, god-forsaken rabbit holes, and low hanging branches begin. I think he was following the stupid rainbow."

Galinda stared, puzzled for a couple moments before regaining her composure and pulling Elphie's hand to rest in her lap. "Elphie, what is with these big, scary, red, welts across you hand? They look painful." She stroked the green hand gently.

"He pulls a lot, trying to make me drop the leash. I don't know why, I guess it's a puppy thing."

"Maybe he just doesn't want to be kept as a pet. Maybe he wants to be free." Galinda offered, placing Elphie's hand back on the green girl's lap.

"Since when did you start talking like that? There's no inner message here, puppies just like to pull!" the old Elphie stirred, her sarcasm and edginess coming back at full throttle.

"It was just a thought." Galinda decided not to get mad at her roomie just then, Elphie deserved some peace and quiet. So the blond just blew a kiss to her and left the dorm room.

Toto trotted up to Elphie, but cringing when the girl raised a hand to pet him. "You act as if I beat you." She commented, but she lowered her hand again. Toto had definitely changed since Elphie had brought him back to meet Galinda, he had a suspicious air to him; and he was more solitary, not so quick to greet the girls anymore.

Elphie eased herself to the floor, and put her arms by her side, inviting the dog to come and lie down on her. Toto just sniffed her foot for a second, made a dog-grimace, and scampered off. Elphie remained where she was, almost rooted to the spot.

"I think the label 'Man's Best Friend,' doesn't apply here." A voice from her doorway sounded. Elphie spun around, remembering to late that she had the pain equivalent of being taken down in a wrestling ring.

"Fiyero!" Elphie blushed when she thought about how pitiful she looked just now. "Toto and I were just bonding." She gave a shaky smile, trying to stop her eyes from watering because of the pain.

"Yes, bonding of the incompetent sort. Look at you Elphie; you're all banged up. You shouldn't be trying to play with this terror. Just get in bed, wrap yourself in sheets and I'll tell Ms. Jang that you're feeling sick and can't come to Physical Education."

Elphie stared at Fiyero, he had just combined being nice, using the word incompetent, and showing he would risk being responsible for her. That was the sweetest thing he had ever done for her. "No, Fiyero, I can make it to Gym. I'm not that beat up." She tried to get up, only managing to fall forward. She would have crashed except Fiyero swooped in and caught her, steadying her until she had regained her balance.

"No, you're staying here. And no more ifs, ands, or buts. Stay." And he gently lowered her to the bed. "Sleep." And then turned around, and exited through the door, shutting it after him.

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Elphie exited the bathroom a couple days later to find Galinda, Shenshen, and Pfannee all huddled in a corner, trembling as Toto, hackles raised, stood his ground in front of them. Galinda held a tube of lipstick as her weapon, swinging it back and forth furiously to keep Toto away. Toto had obviously tried to lunge in, because, on his snout was the red lipstick, smeared and looking oddly enough like blood.

"Help us Elphie!" Galinda shouted from her corner and screamed when Toto took chance of her pause to leap in and glower at her. "I was just closing the window, and he bit me! I have no idea why!"

"Maybe he preferred the cooler air." Elphie guessed, not reading too much into that matter because she was already too involved reading a book by Billy Shakes.

"Elphie! Call Do—I mean Toto off!"

"Toto, come here boy." Elphie murmured in a distant voice. Toto decided to ignore her and continued to hassle Galinda.

"ELPHIE!" Galinda shrieked as Toto came in close again. "PLEASE!"

"UGH! Fine! Toto, I will spank you if you don't stop this instant!" She threatened the little dog. Toto backed off immediately. "Good boy." Elphie concluded and went back to reading.

"Of course he'll listen to the artichoke!" Pfannee whispered mutinously. "I'd listen to her too if she threatened to touch me, what if she passed on whatever 'thing' she's got and I turned green?!"

"I agree. Galinda, let's go somewhere else to paint our nails." Shenshen said imperiously.

"No thank you." Galinda answered icily. "I think I'll stay here with Elphie."

Shenshen and Pfannee scuttled out of the room, each casting nervous glances at the dog, afraid he might try to attack again.

"Elphie, I'm sorry, those too are just a little shaken, they didn't mean what they said."

"Um-hm." Elphie replied, too engrossed in her book to say any more.

A/N: So here you go, hope you all like it. And also, I know I'm shooting these storied out pretty fast, but I might not be able to continue this pace, just letting you guys know.