yay! i finisheda chapter! victory dance ahem... anyway...

Shiz:

Fiyero:

Fiyero sat at his desk, thinking. He stared down at the letter before him.

Elphaba,

Why did you have to go? We all miss you here. I miss you… Everything's changed now that you've left. Nessa won't talk about you, Crope and Tibbett just aren't themselves (you know, cross-dressing and playing cruel tricks on people), Glinda started applying herself, and she's going out with Boq. Do you hear that? GLINDA IS GOING OUT WITH BOQ , and you're not here to mock them with the rest of us. Okay… this next part is going to be hard. Elphaba… I don't think you understand how much I miss you. There's no escaping my feelings for you.

Damn it… now it's getting corny. How can I write this without sounding like a complete idiot to you? Oh well…You'll never read this anyway.

He balled up the letter and threw it over his shoulder, then threw his pencil down on his desk. He slumped down in his chair, closing his eyes and making a face in frustration. He really did care for Elphaba. He felt as if he couldn't live happily without her. He opened his eyes and stared at his desk drawer. He opened it carefully and pulled out the charred paper that Elphaba had given him that day under the willow. Suddenly, he looked around. He felt as if he were being watched… He shrugged to himself and stared back down at the paper.

Elphaba loves Fiyero… Elphaba loves Fiyero… Elphaba loves Fiyero…

The words played in his head, over and over. Damn it, Fiyero. You can't keep living like this.

All of a sudden, he had an idea. He put the paper gently back into his drawer, and ran to Shiz's main office building, past Avaric, who was surrounded by a crowd of trashy girls.

Boq and Glinda:

Boq lay upon Glinda's bed as she did her Literature homework at her desk. He studied the spackled pattern on the ceiling to keep himself entertained.

"Ughh!" Glinda exclaimed. She furrowed her brow and flipped furiously through the pages of 'of Mice and men'. "This is the most terrible book that I've EVER encountrified."

"What makes you say that?" Boq asked as he turned to look at her.

"They are completely understating the intelligence of Mice compared to humans. I mean, they make them look worse than the big oaf of a man, What's-His-Name!"

Boq laughed. "Who are you, and what did you do with Glinda? The real Glinda wouldn't even touch the book, let alone analyze it."

"Well, I guess analyzing comes with actually reading the book." She shrugged.

"So, where does actually reading the book come from?" Boq asked, teasingly.

Glinda threw a glance to the empty half of the room and immersed herself back into her homework.

"Oh. Sorry." Boq mumbled. He stood and stretched out his legs, walking to the window. He squinted.

"What the…?"

Glinda turned to look at him. "What is it?"

Boq began to laugh. "Fiyero. He's running through the campus like a madman! And damn he's fast…"

"What?" Glinda exclaimed. She jumped up and rushed to the window. Sure enough, there was their favorite Winkie, dashing across the grounds towards the main hall.

"What is he doing?" Glinda giggled as Boq casually put an arm around her.

"I have no idea." He replied, shaking his head.

"Should we go after him?" Glinda tilted her head up to look at him.

"Nah." Boq waved his hand dismissively. "He needs the exercise. He's been keeping himself cooped up in his dorm lately. Fresh air will do him some good."

He was about to pull Glinda into a kiss, but the door opened before he could act. In rolled Nessarose followed by Nanny. Glinda wrenched away from Boq as gently as she could.

"Oh! Nessa. Where've you been today?" She asked politely. Nessa gave her a measuring look.

"It's Sunday, Glinda. You know that I always go to church on Sunday." She replied coldly. "Do you mind"-she gestured at Boq-"I have a bit of a headache."

Boq shifted uncomfortably. "Oh, sorry." He mumbled. "I guess I'll be going now. Have a nice day and feel better Miss Nessarose, Nanny." He looked at Glinda to follow him out, which she did. She closed the door behind them after wishing Nessa well, and bidding hello and goodbye to Nanny.

"I'm so sorry." Glinda began. "I didn't think that she had the nerve to be so rude."

Boq half-smiled. "It's okay. Really."

"Still, I feel bad that she treated you so badly."

"It's fine. No big deal." He draped an arm around her shoulders and they began to walk out of the dorm.

"What should we do now?" Glinda asked. "I forgot my homework in the room…"

"Do you want to go see what Fiyero was up to?" Boq suggested. "I think he went to the main hall…"

"Let's go!" Glinda grabbed him by the elbow and dragged him along.

They walked into the hall just a Fiyero stepped out of Madame Morrible's office. He stopped when he saw them and waved, smiling.

"Hey!" He called to them. "What're you two doing here?"

"Well, we saw you sprinting across the greens to get here, so we figured that we'd come and see what was so important that you had to run to get here." Boq answered. He looked curiously at the tribal boy, who was now blushing at the blunt description of his earlier actions.

"I came to adjust my schedule." He said honestly. "I'm filling it up. Completely."

"Why?" Glinda inquired. "I thought you liked having only two classes a day." Boq nodded in agreement. "And having a life" He added.

"I did. But something's been bothering me lately and I want to resolve it before it's too late."

"What are you talking about, and how will fixing your schedule do anything to help?" Asked Boq, who was as confused as ever.

"I can graduate at the end of this year." Fiyero explained. "Then I can go deal with my-erm- problem."

Both Glinda and Boq raised their eyebrows at him. He could see the question they were asking in their minds: 'What problem?'

"Don't worry about it." He said hastily. "I'll explain before too long. I've gotta go. I need to get supplies for my extra classes tomorrow."

He dashed out of the hall, leaving the couple, still confused, before they could ask any more questions.

The Emerald City:

Elphaba woke early enough to see the sun rise over the Emerald City. The sky was tinged with awesome shades of orange and pink, contrasting with the greenness of the city. She gazed dreamily at the array of colors reflecting off of the roofs of the sparkling city. A thump broke her concentration. She looked around, but no one was there.

"Naytala?" She called. "Is that you?" No answer. She walked softly over to her cracked door and pulled it open. "Hello?" She tried again. She stepped warily out of the door. Suddenly, a streak of brown brushed past her. She spun around to face the intruder. Her eyes darted across the room. A brown, tabby cat sat calmly in the center of the room cleaning itself. Elphaba relaxed. Paranoid over a cat… that's mature. She thought.

"What are you doing here?" She asked softly. She walked slowly toward the animal—or was it an Animal?- and knelt down. "Can you talk? What's your name?"

The cat looked around the room, it's tail flicking nervously, then looked Elphaba straight in the eyes.

"I-I'm Malky." He whispered. He leaned in closer. "Is it safe here?"

"Yes. Why? What's going on?" She asked urgently.

"It's the Wizard. He's made another law against the animals. All of us- the Animals- we…"

"Go on" Elphaba urged. "I'm here to help." She put a comforting hand behind Malky's head. He sighed heavily before continuing.

"Have you heard of this new invention? The Cage?"

Elphaba's eyes widened. "No! He can't be-- I thought-- but he can't have had enough time!"

"Something changed. It must have. He's starting with every animal in the Emerald City, then extending outward. You're with the Resistance. You have to help us! Please!"

Elphaba opened her mouth to reassure him that she would do all she could to help, but the door opened at that moment, and he darted into a corner.

Naytala sighed as she trod into the room. "Okay. Time to talk." She tossed her cloak, making it land on the door corner.

"Not now!" Elphaba hissed at her. Naytala threw her a questioning look.

"We have a guest." She said more nicely. "Come on. She's okay. She's on our side."

Malky stepped from the shadows and eyed Naytala, who eyed him back.

"You're talking to a cat?"

"Cat." Elphaba corrected. "With a capital 'C'. It seems our Wonderful Wizard has decided to move in smaller steps, so he can work his plan faster."

"When did this happen?" Naytala put a hand to her mouth.

"Last night. We have a few spies in the castle." He explained. "The Mice, they listened in on a meeting between the Wizard, his Press Secretary, and the Captain of the Guard."

"These spies" Elphaba started. "They've been tracking me, haven't they?"

"Tracking, in the best sense." Malky replied, with a small grin. "It's not everyday that a green girl stomps out on the Wizard after voicing- in his presence- how unjust the Animal Banns are. We figured that it would be in the best interest of the Animals' future to keep watch on you."

Elphaba rolled her eyes and turned to Naytala.

"So, when do you go running off to tell Master the vile news?"

"Now." Naytala responded. "And both of you are coming with me."

Elphaba and Malky stared at her in shock.

"But—I…I'm—" Elphaba sputtered.

"Green. Yes. Yes, I can see that." Naytala finished. "And you're bound to have to reveal that to Master anyway. The sooner the better, right?"

Elphaba glared at her, resisting the urge to hit her. Hard.

"But I" Malky said, "am still wanted by the Wizard. Along with the rest of the Animals in the Emerald City! I can't go!"

"We'll hide you somehow. Or even better, pretend you're a cat. Now come! Both of you!" Naytala ordered. Elphaba opened her mouth to protest.

"You, don't even start with me. I, for one, know that I can hold the green thing over your head right now. And I will." Naytala said sharply.

Elphaba glared at her again, her mouth twitching with anger. Naytala met her gaze just as intensely. Malky's ears twitched with anticipation, unable to deal with the tension.

"Please. Don't fight now!" Malky insisted. "There's no time!"

Naytala kept her stare on Elphaba for another moment before turning to Malky.

"He's right." She admitted quietly. "Come on. You can wear your hood, Fae."

Elphaba nodded briefly, grabbing her cloak.

"Let's go then."

The three embarked to the Resistance headquarters with Malky hidden in the folds of Elphaba's cloak. The streets were filled with the clamoring of people trying to get to work on time. Looking more closely, Elphaba saw many more animals (quite possibly Animals) hidden in the crowd than normal. Hiding from the Wizard, no doubt. She thought to herself.

The others seemed to notice also. Malky was squirming uncomfortably in Elphaba's arms and Naytala was beginning to walk faster. She leaned in closer to Elphaba.

"Get to the side of the alley." She whispered. "Where there aren't many people, or things to run into."

Elphaba nodded, to show that she heard, and did as she was told. They stopped, upon Naytala's silent request. She whispered something under her breath and her fingers began to glow in Elphaba's magical sight. Naytala touched Malky, then Elphaba, then herself. Elphaba looked at Malky and gasped. He seemed to be disintegrating before her eyes, and then he was gone. She could still feel his weight in her arms. She continued to stare down into her seemingly empty arms. The tips of her fingers were beginning to disappear, then her palms, her sleeved arms… She too, became invisible.

"Naytala!" She whispered. "What the hell are you doing?"

She didn't respond. Elphaba used her Sight to focus in on the magic that consumed her. She could now see the outline of her form and Malky's in a blue-green light. The color of Naytala's magic. She turned her gaze to the crowd, and found Naytala just a few feet away. She shifted the light-form Malky into one arm, and caught up with Naytala.

"Wait next time" Elphaba muttered. She heard Naytala sigh, annoyed. They remained silent for the rest of the journey to the headquarters. Naytala traced the red grafitti letters on the wall, opening the door. They slipped inside. Naytala stopped them once more and lifted the Invisibility spell. Elphaba gave her a wayward glance.

"How do you know that spell?" She asked.

"Later." Naytala said, waving the question away. "We have things to take care of."

They walked into the cave that was the main meeting room. It was dark and quiet.

"Master!" Naytala called. The word bounced off of the walls for a few moments before being interrupted by footsteps.

"Who's calling me?" A voice rang out. "This had better be important. I don't need any more distractions."

He came into view, holding an oil lamp. He raised it up to see their faces. Or, rather, what he could see of them.

"Naytala. Fae." He acknowledged. "And…?" He looked down at the brown cat at their feet. Malky straightened himself up.

"Malky." He announced.

Elphaba could have sworn that the Master's eyes widened, but she couldn't see his eyes or face very clearly.

"A Cat!" He exclaimed excitedly. Elphaba rolled her eyes.

"You're pretty sharp aren't you?"

He glared at her. "Fine. What are you here for?"

Naytala stepped forward. "It's the Wizard. He's put his dreadful plans into action early."

"What!"

Malky nodded his head. "It's true. The Mice heard him talking to his Press Secretary and Guard Captain." He repeated for the Master. "He's trying to round up all of the Animals in the Emerald City. Once he gets all of us and make sure that every last one of us is turned into an animal, he'll expand."

The Master began muttering to himself nervously, rubbing his forehead. For a while, he seemed completely unaware that Naytala, Elphaba, and Malky were still in the room.

"Call a meeting." Elphaba said, cutting into his thoughts. He looked up, surprised.

"Yes, yes. A meeting." He said .His once rich and powerful voice sounded older. Meek.

He rubbed his eyes and squared his shoulders, regaining composure.

"Naytala, make sure that all of the other members know that there is a mandatory meeting tonight. We'll be training and working harder than we have in the last 5 years put together." He warned. "And Malky? Gather your Animal friends if you can. The more conspicuous, you know, like Leopards, can be hidden down here for safety and more common ones, like you, can be used as spies."

Malky set his brow determinedly and nodded sharply, like a salute.

"And Fae? You work as hard as humanly possible to find the green one."

"She wants to know what you want her for." Naytala cut in. "And I think she has right to know."

Master threw a curious glance at Naytala then shifted it over to Elphaba.

"She" He began, "Could be the answer to our prayers, so to speak. From what we've heard, she's very well educated, determined, and a rebel. As proved by her earlier actions. She obviously cares enough for the Animals to run out on her little friend and the Wizard. With his prized book, might I add." He smirked before continuing. "Speaking of the book, if we can get our hands on that, we might be able to stop the Wizard for good. It's a gigantic spell book. It's bound to have something that we can use against the Wizard."

"You're getting off topic." Elphaba pointed out. "What do you want her for?"

He scowled. "If we could get her to join the Resistance, she'd be the only one that's been inside of the Emerald Palace. The rest of us have been turned away by the guards for wanting an 'appointment with the Wizard'. We need someone who knows the rough layout of the palace. Even if it's a few halls, the smallest bit helps. She'd probably become our tactics advisor. Happy?"

"Just flattered." Elphaba answered. Naytala nudged her and gave her a look.

"Fine!" Elphaba exclaimed. "I'll tell him tonight, alright?"

Naytala smiled, satisfied.

"We're done here for now. See you tonight." Naytala said to the Master with mock happiness. She patted his cheek and led Malky and Elphaba out of the headquarters, leaving the Master dazed and confused.

They stepped into the streets, where the sun was shining brightly. Malky pranced off to find the Animals, leaving Naytala and Elphaba alone.

"Go back to the exchange." Naytala ordered. "I'll be back a bit before the meeting and we'll talk about your little secret then. Got it?"

Elphaba rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Just knock before you come in, like a normal human."

"I knocked before." Naytala retorted.

"Yeah. With your foot, through my door."

"Yeah, yeah." She said dismissively. "Go home. I have work to do."

Elphaba obliged, buying herself a few pastries on the way back. Her first actual meal in a few days. She sat at her table and picked at her meal, saving the rest for later.

She looked around, bored, and realized how little she had to do for the rest of the afternoon. To keep herself occupied, she cleaned the thick coat of dust off of everything until only the floor was left. She scanned the room for something to clean the floor with. Her eyes fell on the broom in the corner. The one that the old crone had given her.

yeah, so once again, thanks to tristessa the crazy emo, annibelle white, and lorelei (ireland lorelei).