A.N. Here's an AU wherein Elphaba rescues Chistery pre-Wizard. R&R my loves!

"Chistery!'' Her voice was an angry hiss, whistling through her clenched teeth and provoking a muffled whimper from the Animal she was so vexed over. ''Chistery, come out this instant or I swear I'll -'' She dared not finish the sentence, giving merely a sigh of brewing fervor in place of the missing ending.

The young witch threw down the bed sheet, leaping off of her stomach and onto her furiously pacing feet. Her nails scratched across her scalp, then fell to toss pillows and blankets off Galinda's mattress, her side of the room just as destroyed by the growling green blizzard. Where was that damned Monkey hiding?!

The entire dorm was flipped upside-down, cabinets and drawers lay on the floor, all the furniture pulled out of their spots, cushions tittering precariously on armrests, it appeared as if a tornado had gone through the linen closet and a bomb had set off in the bedroom.

Elphaba, despite her vigorous effort, was at an utter loss; and boy, was she upset. How she had let something like this happen she could say no more than she could swallow. But no matter her pride's wounds, there was a monkey - possibly a Monkey, she would adamantly insist - loose in the apartment and the apartment was a mess.

But it wasn't her fault, in - vast - retrospect, Elphaba would say many times later that evening, her pique making her desperate for understanding. She had to bring the Monkey, Chistery, back with her - had she not, the poor Animal would have been the trembling victim of inhumane, damaging experiments. Any with a good heart to feel pity, anyone with ears to hear the cries and with eyes to see the pain in their faces couldn't walk away and pretend all was perfectly well in the world. Or at least she couldn't.

Stalking out of the bedroom, Elphaba yanked and jerked her skirts, righting her dress. Her knees were sore and her back ached from crouching underneath the bed for so long, her hair mussed from vexation. And she was sweating, frustrated to the point of tears if crying was something Elphaba did. Cupping her mouth, the green girl called out for Chistery again, pausing to listen for a sound, movement, or another wimpy reply from the Monkey. Nothing stirred, except for her shadow, and Elphaba floated into the kitchen in attempt to sneak up on the Animal if it was out of hiding.

Softer, gentler, she crooned the Monkey's name, smiling as she remembered her mother smiling before... - ''Chistery, my sweet, where are youuu?''

She could hear the clock in the small parlor tick-tocking, and her own agitated breath, but that was it. ''Don't be scared.'' Stupid thing. Why is it afraid of the one who saved it from some horrible fate?

''I won't hurt you, Chistery, come out please.''

Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock -

''Chistery, come out.'' Tick-tock, tick-tock, breath Elphaba, calm yourself, ''My friend,''

Tick-tick-tick-tock -''Chistery?'' Tick - ''Chistery,'' Tock - ''Chistery come out right now!''

The terrified shriek of the beast clashed with the roaring of the witch. A door slammed. And the frantic clacking of claws scuttled off, leaving Elphaba to whirl about on her toes as she tried to locate the Monkey, jumping here then swinging her entire body there in arrhythmic fits of redecision.

Her foot slid, knees cracking in sudden pops as she lurched backwards, flailing her arms, squeezing her eyes shut, clenching her teeth - just before she hit the floor small hands grabbed underneath her arms, hooking around and clutching at the fabric of her frock. The weight of Elphaba was too much for the delicate fingers, and they both went down, this time with a safer, slower, bonier landing.

"Get off Elphie!" Galinda groaned, pushing the already rolling emerald witch away. "I hope you're happy I caught you because it cost me my hairdo."

Elphaba sat down, her legs pulled up and her fingers tugging her dress over her knees, tresses of her raven hair swept over her face. She scowled faintly, watching from across the quaint kitchen as Galinda patted down her yellow mane. One of her heeled shoes had fallen off, lying on its side by in front of her, and one of her legs was bent in towards her. Her stockings had slipped down, her necklace pendent hanging against her back, the bodice of her dress haphazardly tilted, revealing a crease of her blue -

"Stop staring at me, I know I look like shit." Galinda whined, snapping Elphaba out of her trance and snapping her gaze back up to her pouting face. "I did just save your life though, if you hadn't forgotten. Help me," Galinda demanded suddenly, and the clumsy, jade-skinned roomie was on her feet, clasping hands with the blonde and hoisting her back onto her feet.

Indifferently, Elphaba mumbled "Sorry," and ran away to continue her hunt.

She could see the expressions defacing Galinda's visage merely by the sound of her voice, the feminine but unlady-like sigh of exasperation, the almost begrudging forgiveness. "Alright, alright you twisted my good heart with your pitiful-ness. Please don't go off and sulk. I thought we were past all that jazz. You're welcome, though... What are you doing anyways Miss Elphaba that had you dancing around in there like a - OH MY GOD WHAT DID YOU DO TO - OH MY GOD MY BED! Elphie?! Elphaba look at me! HEY! Don't you dare ignore me, missy, what did you do?!"

Trying not to cringe, Elphaba picked up her aggressively discarded blanket and started on folding it, keeping her back to the rampaging Uplander. Something soft smacked into the back of her head, and she was thrust forward from the shock. Whipping around, Elphaba's mouth dropped open to yell but before she could squeak another pillow was flung at her: only this time she ducked, shielding herself with the squared sheet.

"Elphaba." Reluctantly, she lowered the sheet. "My bed, Elphaba; what did you do to it?"

A pleasant redness had lifted on Galinda's cheeks, her voice smooth but icy cold as it had never been before. When Elphaba didn't reply, working seamlessly to cover up anything that might've been showing on her verdant features, Galinda set her hands on her hips and walked over to her closet. Her spiteful eyes leaving Elphaba's, Galinda yanked open the doors and slid her jacket off her shoulders; the light caught the jewel in her backward necklace, her blade bones jutting as she shook her arms out of the sleeves.

"Chistery," Something whispered in an almost ponderous air.

Galinda screamed, her jacket slipping from her fingers and she jumped back, clawing at Elphaba's reflexive embrace and pointing desperately at the stout woven basket. "Oh sweet Oz, what is that - foul thing?! No - Elphaba don't go over there, it's so scarifying - it's horrendous - wh... Why are you laughing at me?"

"It's - it's just Chistery, Galinda," Elphaba bent into the closet, her arms scooping up the hairy ball, and she turned around to show her friend he was good-natured and peaceful, and just as startled as her. "See? I was searching for him, that's why the room's a mess. He's a Monkey. Or at least I think he is. He only says his name though."

As if to vouch for the green girl's words, Chistery pawed at his mouth and mumbled quietly, "Chistery,"

"A Monkey?" Galinda's hand was palmed out over her chest, her wide eyes a little moist from fright and her mouth slightly agape.

Elphaba nodded, dipping her head to regard the little creature with a smile.

"Why is a Monkey in our dorm, Elphaba?" The conviction, though this time less accusing, was back in her tone, and Elphaba lifted her head. "Madame Morrible will detentionify us for centuries if she finds out there's an Animal in our dorms, you have to get rid of it -"

"What?" Elphaba barked, cradling the Monkey closer to her. "I can't toss him out! How would you like it if I 'got rid of you'? One would think Dr. Nikidik would've gotten the message the last time I protested his disgusting - s-scene - that experimenting on Animals and animals is completely unnecessary and cruel - but today I heard students in the corridor talking about this poor little one. Look at him, Galinda, he's shivering; I can't throw him out the door and let God knows what harm him, Galinda, that would be in-"

"Inhumane, yeah I know. But Elphie," Galinda pleaded, slinking closer. "We're dead meat if that Monkey -"

"His name is -"

"Chistery, whatever, listen to me Elphie. Morrible will chomp our boobs off if - if - if she sees Chistery; animal or Animals are not allowed here."

On the wall in a separate room Elphaba could hear the clock tick-tocking it's merry way, and in that instant wished more than ever to smash its face with a rock. But she daren't move.

The two girls stared back at one another, and after a long heated silence, Galinda moaned her defeat, crossing her arms. "Fine then, but I hope you know what the consequences of your actions are. What are you going to do, then? What's your plan for little ol' Chistery?"

For some impalpable reason, a smile broke out on Elphaba's face like an infectious rash, and Galinda seemed to catch it too for the blonde beamed back, her hand unwrapping from beneath her bust to trail her fingertips along the groove where ear and head melded together. "Chistery," the Monkey cooed, practically purring as she scratched his tiny skull.

"Well... He certainly likes your shoe basket."

Galinda sucked in a shocked breath, her jaw hanging slack in mock reproach and she gave Elphaba's shoulder a light shove. Amid the two women sharing twinkling laughter, Chistery squawked his name over and over, grinning wide and ugly, but undeniably adorable.