The Escapee

Disclaimer: No. I Don't Own Wicked. It's a torturous fate I've been forced to endure.

A/N: Okay, Here's Chapter four! Whooo!! Um, just saying again, thank you all my reviewers! I'm really enjoying writing my first fanfiction because of you guys. Sorry if it's not that funny.

"Miss Elphaba? What is the meaning…?" Doctor Dillamond addressed his finest student, putting down his morning political papers that had been filling his belly so nicely. "I'm sure you're aware we don't bring pets to the classroom." He said gently.

"Says the talking goat," Pfannee whispered to Shenshen who giggled.

"Sir, he is on a leash, I do not think he will cause any problems." Elphie replied, face blank.

"But I'm not concerned about problems, I'm concerned why you feel the need to bring him to my class. I certainly don't want to have to send you away without a good reason. Now, please tell me why you have a dog with you." Doctor Dillamond tapped his hoof, waiting for a reply.

"Well, he was trying to jump out the window, sir." Elphie said, her cheeks turning steadily redder. "And I thought I could prevent him from hurting himself by bringing him with me. Miss Mabey allowed it."

The Goat fixed his stare on Elphie, taking in all he saw. He could see the embarrassment of telling him all this, he could find the frustration at the dog for not cooperating, and he could see the despair at having the dog try to jump out the window and convincing herself it was because he hated her. All this he could find by how the young girl stood with one of her legs shyly rubbing the back of her other leg; he could tell by the way her eyes looked a little glassier than before; and by how she kept running the hand that didn't grip the leash through her hair.

"Maybe he just wants to be free. Some animals are-"

"Don't say it!" Elphie whispered, fiercely staring at the Goat. "He doesn't want to leave me, he wants to stay with me forever, and he will!" she tugged on the leash, and stormed to the seats, sliding in next to Fiyero.

"The dog that thought he could fly. Interesting." Fiyero commented, and patted Elphie's back sympathetically. Elphie just shrugged him off, and opened her notebook.

It was hard to take notes that day. Behind her, Avaric poked his with his pencil, delighting in when she whipped around and he appeared to just be scratching Toto's rump. Nessa was next to her, and she kept fidgeting so she could lean in closer to Boq who sat next to her. Boq looked miserable and kept inching away, which is why Nessa had to keep inching closer. Galinda chatted with Pfannee and Shenshen in the back, swapping a bottle of blue mascara that Pfannee had gotten from the market, and a gorgeous black hair tie that Shenshen had gotten as a present from her grandmother. Fiyero kept shooting glances at Elphie, and Toto just sat there, looking mean and moody. Once or twice Toto let out a whine and glanced at Elphie like he expected her to do something; Elphie had no idea what this unspoken command could mean.

"Miss Elphaba!" Doctor Dillamond said at last when Toto let out a series of loud yelps. "I'm sure you are aware you are disrupting your fellow students!"

"What students?!" Elphie fired back, clearly close to tears, "All I see is a bunch of slackers who think there's nothing better to do in class than trade hair bands and mascara! If you think this is a class Doctor Dillamond, you should get your eyes checked!" She stood up and barreled through the rows of students who glared at her.

"Elphaba!" Fiyero called out to the quickly escaping green girl and co. (the still yapping Toto.) "Don't leave!" And he clattered up out of his seat and rushed after her.

"Mister Fiyero! Sit down at once!" Doctor Dillamond shouted, obviously dismayed at the havoc that was unfolding before his very eyes.

Elphaba paid no attention to the long string of chain reactions that had occurred because of her leaving, she just ran out, into the blustery wind. The wind tugged her clothes and Toto's fur, making sure she got the full impact of how much trouble she'd be in later. Toto howled at the indignity of being pulled along like this, and tried snipping the leash, but Elphie just tugged it away from him.

"Stop it you crazy little dog! Stop it right now!" She screamed at him and tried aiming a kick at the little dog. Toto dodged, and then when Elphie had turned away again, he leapt forward and dug his sharp little teeth into her ankle.

Pain spread up through her veins, making her crumble to the ground in a heap of trembling green limbs. She felt woozy and she slowly began to loosen her grip on Toto's leash. The dog, taking his chance, pelted away.

Toto scurried through Shiz, his speed to the fastest he could go. He ran until he reached a wide stretch of meadow, and in the center of this meadow swayed a large balloon. He racked his brain for any ideas of what it was, but came to the conclusion that it would at least get him away from the green horror. He sped up to the basket below the balloon and made a huge leap. His front paws just hooked themselves on the side of the basket, and h pulled himself up until he flopped to the floor of the balloon. He was protected from the wind here, and he was happy he had finally escaped the green horror. Thoughts flew through his brain, showing him his possibilities. He couldn't stay here, someone would find him; and he couldn't go back to the green horror; he couldn't walk any longer, he was too tired so he was almost positive he was out of options. But then he glimpsed the rope connecting the balloon to the ground. He would fly away.

Slowly, he climbed the side of the basket until he was close enough to bite the rope. He slipped backwards, as the twang of the rope rocketed off. He waited, and then, ever so slowly, he felt the ground start to drop away beneath him and he knew he was airborne.

From below, he heard the cried of palace people as they flooded out of the large, pointy castle, bellowing on their horns. But Toto ignored them and just eased himself to his side, much like when he first came to Elphaba and Galinda.

He traveled for many days, as he couldn't control the height/distance the balloon went. But eventually below him, a large sweep of land came into view. It was pretty barren, and dull looking without much excitement to be seen, but it was a place to land. And Toto wasn't going to pass it up.

He looked around the balloon basket, searching for something to make the balloon go lower. He saw a rope, anchored to the side of the balloon, and he bit it. But it only made the balloon go higher. Frustrated, Toto jumped about in the basket, yapping his silly head off. This was probably the best thing he could've done. The jumping around forced the balloon to tilt ever so slightly, but this little tilt ended up carrying him towards the ground.

A/N: I'm kind of leaving it at a cliffhanger, sorry. There's going to be one or two more chapters, just so you know. Also, don't forget to review if you like it! Also, a special thanks to TryDefyingGravity, for sticking with me the entire time and reviewing for every chapter! Happy dance in honor of TryDefyingGravity.