I know we're a bit confused about who the spirit is, but that will be explained in the next chapter.

The next morning, Glinda had not shown up for breakfast. Though worried about her, the Wizard, Morrible and Fiyero all understood. The blonde had not gotten the easiest start at the palace, and no matter how comfortable they tried to make her, something else always happened that made her feel worse.

"Miss Glinda?" the Wizard asked, knocking on the blonde's door with a steaming cup of tea.

"Come in," came a soft reply.

The Wizard opened the door, seeing Glinda sitting in a chair, her legs pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped her knees.

Glinda looked up at the Wizard and quickly assumed a more lady-like position. Her eyes were red and puffy and her face was tearstained, evidence that she had been crying.

"I would ask if you are alright, but it's obvious that you are not," the Wizard said gently, slowly entering the room.

Glinda forced a small smile and sighed. "You would be correct."

"What's bothering you, Miss Glinda?"

The more Glinda tried to relax in the Wizard's presence, the more she stiffened. "It's just… I always have the feeling that someone is watching me, spying on me. Like… a ghost. I know it's ridiculous, but…" She looked up at the Wizard and was somewhat surprised not to see him laughing at her. After she had said something so ridiculous as to being stalked by a ghost, she would have at least expected a chuckle from the older man.

"My dear, this palace is very old. I wouldn't be surprised if a ghost or two from the past still lingered here," he said tenderheartedly, but not without a slight sob.

Galinda nodded. She decided not to tell the Wizard about her nightmare. At least, not yet. "I believe I'm feeling a bit better now," she said as the Wizard handed her the teacup. She took a delicate sip and sighed, feeling the warm liquid run down her throat.

"I'm glad, Miss Glinda. And, if you ever feel like talking…"

"Thank you, Your Ozness," the blonde smiled.

The only time Glinda felt truly peaceful was when she was with the Wizard, even though she couldn't shake the feeling of someone watching her. She would try her hardest to enjoy herself, but every time she looked over her shoulder, no one was there, but the uneasy feeling still was.

Over the next week, the blonde continued to be plagued with nightmares. She woke up in the middle of the night screaming and, on more than one occasion, successfully woke up half the palace.

"Miss Glinda!" Salmya exclaimed as she ran in the room.

Glinda was sitting up in her bed, clutching her sheets to her chest. Sweat glistened across her forehead and her breaths came out ragged.

Fiyero rushed in after, followed by the Wizard and Morrible. "Glin, are you alright?"

Unable to form words, the blonde simply whimpered softly, clutching the sheets tighter.

The Wizard slowly stepped into the room and approached the shivering blonde. He sat down on the bed next to her and slowly collected her into his arms. The blonde stiffened, but slowly relaxed as she felt the Wizard gently tightly tightened his grip around her.

Once they sensed that they were no longer needed, everyone left the room, leaving the Wizard and Glinda alone.

"Don't fear, child. Nothing can harm you now," the Wizard whispered.

The corners of Glinda's lips tugged into a soft smile as she rested her head against the Wizard's shoulder. He must have had to quell his daughter's numerous nightmares. And now, he must feel the need to redeem himself after he lost her.

"Fresh dreams," she heard the Wizard whisper before she fell back into a deep sleep.

Elphaba growled as she angrily paced around her room. She couldn't believe that her father was trying to replace her. And to make matters worse, he was trying to replace her with his magic grand vizier.

Malky was laying down on a mat near the window, chewing on a toy and completely obvious to his mistress' emotions.

"How dare he! First locking me in a tower as a child and now thinking that he can forget about me and replace me. I'll show her. He will not forget about me. If Mother…"

Elphaba trailed off. Her mother. Biting back tears, she slowly sat down on her bed. Her mother had done everything she could for her ever since the day she was born.

"Oscar."

The Wizard sat on the edge of their large bed, clutching his wife's hand. The queen was nine months pregnant and very sick. She was due to give birth any day and the palace doctor said that if she didn't get better, both she and the baby would die.

"I'm right here, Melena," the Wizard said gently, stroking the back of Melena's hand.

The queen smiled softly and rubbed her belly. "Do you think it's a boy or a girl?"

The Wizard knew what she was trying to do and smiled back. "I don't know. As long as he or she is healthy, I couldn't be happier."

Melena smiled and coughed lightly. "Me too." The queen's eyes slowly closed and she shifted her weight, trying to get comfortable. "It's your fault I can't get confortable," she whispered to her large stomach.

The baby gave a light kick in response. Melena chuckled and allowed her husband to help her sit up as he fluffed her pillow.

"Is that better?" he asked as he helped her lay down again.

"Yes, thank you," Melena whispered as she drifted off to sleep.

"I won't let you die, Melena. I won't," the Wizard whispered, kissing her forehead. "I promise. You and our child will both make it."

A few hours later, a light knock came from the door. "Your Ozness," Salmya said, slipping into the room. "The doctor is here."

"Send him in."

Salmya nodded and looked behind her. An older man, a few years older than the Wizard, walked in and bowed. "Your Ozness."

"Have you found anything?" the Wizard asked, rising to his feet.

"You will be very pleased that I have found something," the doctor said, pulling a small, green vile out of his pocket. "This is a very rare herbal medicine, made from verde leaves and pinlobble root."

"It will save both of them?" the Wizard asked, looking back at Melena, who was still sleeping peacefully.

"Yes, sir. It will. It's very potent and is said to cure all illnesses."

The Wizard looked beyond relieved as he gently shook Melena awake. "Melena? Melena, the doctor is back and he found a cure."

The queen moaned and groggily opened her eyes. "O-Oscar?"

"It's alright, my love. You will be better soon," he said as he helped her sit up.

The doctor poured the mysterious green liquid into a glass and mixed it with a bit of water. "Drink this, Lady Melena."

The Wizard helped his wife drink the medicine. Melena coughed and tried to spit out the awful-tasting liquid, but her husband prevented her from doing so.

"It will make you better, my love," he whispered soothingly.

Melena looked into her husband's eyes and drank the rest of the medicine. Moaning, she laid back down against the pillows. "That tasted awful."

The Wizard chuckled and kissed her nose. "I'm very proud of you, my love."

The next morning, the color had returned to Melena's face and she requested that she get up and take a brief stroll.

"I'm feeling much better. The medicine helped," she insisted when she saw the skeptical look on her husband's face. "Please. I've been stuck in bed for Oz-knows-how-long and I could really use the exercise."

"Alright," the Wizard finally conceded and helped his wife out of bed.

A few hours later, after eating breakfast, the royal couple went on a brief stroll through the gardens. Melena smiled as she felt the wind whip through her dark brown hair and the warm sun on her face. It was a beautiful, breezy, early October day. It was still warm and the leaves were slowly starting to change color.

The couple talked about many things as they walked, from reviewing their baby names to when the baby, if it was a girl, would start meeting eligible young men. Melena recommended eighteen, while the Wizard wanted to wait until she was thirty. Melena laughed, then stopped short.

"Melena?" the Wizard asked, concern evident in his voice. "Are you alright?"

"Oscar, I…" Melena licked her lips. "I think my water just broke."

A contraction seized her body, all the confirmation they needed. Melena double over in pain and clutched her husband's hand. Trying to stay calm for his wife, Oscar waited until her contraction was over to hurriedly help her back to the palace and into bed.

"Don't worry, Your Ozness," the midwife said as she examined Melena. "She is in the very early stages of labor. The baby probably won't be born until late this evening."

"Oscar, please stop worrying. We'll be fine," Melena said, squeezing her husband's hand.

Unable to form words, whether from fear or excitement, the Wizard simply nodded and squeezed back.

A knock on the door interrupted their moment and the Wizard turned. "Enter!"

"Pardon me, Your Ozness," Salmya said, slowly peaking her head inside. "But Lady Melena's aunt is here to see her."

"Send her in, please," Melena smiled.

"Of course, My Lady," Salmya nodded, disappearing from sight.

"My dearest niece," an older woman said as she rushed into the room, her robes flying behind her.

"Aunt Majorie, thank you for coming," Melena smiled as she greeted her aunt.

"Nonsense, my dear. I was planning to come anyway to see how you were feeling. I had no idea you were already in labor."

Melena smiled, but grimaced as another contraction hit her.

"Breathe, my dear."

"Excuse me, Madame Morrible, but would you prefer to stay in the North Wing or near the parlor?" Salmya asked, appearing for the last time.

"The North Wing, please," Morrible said. She turned back to her niece and smiled. "It has such a lovely view of the gardens."

Melena tried to laugh, but it came as more of a cry. Her contraction subsided and she calmed down. "It does, doesn't it?"

Over the next view hours, Melena suffered more contractions and numerous trips to the bathroom. Finally, late that evening, it was time.

"Your doing great, Lady Melena," the midwife said from the foot of the bed. "You're almost there."

Melena moaned as the pain intensified. Morrible gently dabbed her forehead with a cool cloth while the Wizard whispered words of encouragement to her.

"I see a head!"

"Keep going, Melena," Oscar said, beginning to lose feeling in his hand.

"One more big push and you'll be parents," the midwife said, smiling at the queen. "One more big push, Lady Melena."

Melena gave it her all and soon, a cry was heard throughout the room.

"It's a… oh my!" the midwife gasped as she cleaned the baby off.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Melena asked, suddenly alarmed.

"It's a girl," the midwife reported, swaddling the crying newborn in an emerald blanket. "But… she's… green."

"Dear Oz," Morrible whispered.

"Green? How can a baby be green?" the Wizard asked.

The midwife turned and carried the baby back to the waiting parents. The Wizard gasped. His new daughter had jet-black hair, a soft, tiny nose, and emerald green skin. How could this have happened? The Wizard thought back to a few days prior when Melena had drank the medicine with the verde leave and pinlobble root. Could that have turned the child's skin green? It must have been, there's no other explanation. Did the doctor know about it? He couldn't have, or else he would have told him.

Melena stared at the crying infant in the midwife's arms. How could this be? Her daughter, whom she waited nine months to meet, had been born green. As green as the grass. A soft sob slipped past her lips as she turned away.

"My Lady?" the midwife asked, gently rocking the baby in her arms.

The Wizard was the first to outstretch his arms, wanting to hold his newborn daughter. The midwife gently handed the infant to her father. She was now sound asleep, but slowly opened her eyes and looked up at her father. Her eyes were large and a beautiful, deep chocolate color.

"She has your eyes, Melena," the Wizard whispered.

Melena slowly turned back around. Unable to form words, she focused her gaze on her lap.

"And your nose."

"Does she have a name, Your Ozness?" the midwife asked.

"Elphaba," Melena said softly, finally looking up. "Her name is Elphaba."

The Wizard smiled and gently handed Elphaba to her mother. She fussed, but quickly calmed when she felt her mother's warm body heat. She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at her. Melena laughed softly and gently stroked her nose. "Hi, little Fabala."

Elphaba blinked, looking up at her mother.

Melena laughed again. "We've waited so long to meet you."

The Wizard smiled, seeing Melena's motherly instincts kick in as soon as she held her newborn daughter. Elphaba began to fuss again and soon started crying.

"Someone's ready for her first feeding," the midwife chuckled.

"Oscar, may I speak with you out in the hallway, please?" Morrible said, walking out and gesturing for the Wizard to follow her.

"This is about Elphaba, isn't it?" the Wizard asked as he closed the door behind him.

Morrible nodded. "How did she come to possess… her verdigris?"

The Wizard shifted nervously. "I'm not sure, but when Melena was sick, right before Elphaba was born, the doctor gave her this medicine that contained verde leaves and pinlobble roots."

Morrible sighed. "So, that's what caused it?"

"I believe so."

Morrible looked the man dead in the eyes. Oscar shivered, suddenly fearing the old woman. "Oscar, how could you have been so brainless?"

"What? I'm not brainless?"

"You should have known something like that would have caused a major side effect. Something like that doesn't cure without leaving something behind."

"Melena would have died without that medicine. Both she and the baby."

"Oscar, the people mustn't know about Elphaba's skin condition. Who knows what they'll do? Some Ozians won't be accepting of a green ruler."

The Wizard looked shocked. "Then what will we tell them? They all knew that Melena was pregnant."

"Tell them that Melena gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Elphaba. We will keep her out of the public eye."

"Until when?"

"Until her twenty-first birthday, when she is of-age. No one will be able to challenge her then."

"So, basically, confine her to the palace until she is an adult?"

"It's what's best for her, Oscar."

The Wizard sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright. I'll tell Melena."

Elphaba growled as she took her pillow and ripped it in half. Malky looked up and whimpered, having never seen his mistress this mad before. Screaming, she threw the remains of her pillow at the wall. She hated everyone. She hated her father, her aunt, all of the governesses her aunt had hired since her mother died, and especially Glinda. She had to find some way to get rid of her. And it had to be quick.