I don't own Wicked.

I go over and get Glinda out of her room and explain what happened. After she finishes yelling at us ("I can't believe you could be so stupid! Liir, I told you specifically not to come! And you, Elphaba; you're supposed to be DEAD! Even without the green, I could still recognize you if I look closely!") she hugs all of us so tight we nearly smother.

When we're finally let go, I stand up and take Alaric from Liir. "Fiyero, Liir, stay here with Glinda. Make sure Alaric and Freidle didn't have any friends. I'm going to find the rebels."

"What are you going to do?" Glinda asks, eyeing me with a touch of concern.

I smirk. "Oh, nothing. I won't hurt them...permanently."

To make a long story short, I terrify the scoundrels out of their wits when I show up on a broom with Chistery in tow, Alaric in my hand and the Grimmerie held in the other. I show them Alaric and tell what I did to Freidle and do a few tricks—turning their table into a pig and chairs into goats—before they promise to behave and leave Glinda alone. I expected more trouble, but on the other hand I'm not complaining. So, that being taken care of, I leave Alaric with them and head back to theEmeraldCity.

Dawn is just beginning to light the sky when I land back on the balcony. Fiyero, Liir and Glinda are waiting for me. After I explain what happened, there is silence as we sort of stare at one another, and suddenly I realize that when we leave, Fiyero and Liir and I will never see Glinda again.

Glinda thinks of it too, and when she speaks her tone is hesitant, timid. "You could come visit every once in a while. Or you could even come back—I mean, I'm sure nobody remembers you, Fiyero, and Elphie isn't green anymore..."

"We can't," Fiyero says softly, taking her hand. "If people saw us with you, it would raise questions. And some of the guards I ran into on the way here almost recognized me. I was lucky they were given that sleeping draught."

"And if someone saw me using magic..." I let that speak for itself. Everyone knows the only people with strong magic in Oz were me, Glinda and the Wizard (even though his was all a hoax). "It's too dangerous."

"We can't just leave her!" Liir pleads, giving my old friend a hug. "We're all she has!"

"No, Liir." Glinda's voice is soft as she puts an arm around him, holds him for a heartbeat and then gently pushes him away. "Elphie and Fiyero are right. They can't stay."

"Come with us," I urge, grabbing her free hand. "There's nothing for you here. You're not happy, are you?"

"Well, it's what I always dreamed of. And they need a leader."

"You didn't answer my question." I look her in the eye, and as I knew she would, Glinda slowly shakes her head.

"I haven't been happy for twelve years," she admits softly.

"You're too smart to lie to yourself like this." Fiyero squeezes her hand. "Back in Shiz maybe, but not now. You're not happy and you know it. Why stay?"

Glinda doesn't answer, but I see it in her eyes. "You're afraid. Glinda, don't be. The last time you were afraid, I became wicked, remember?" She flinches, and I feel badly for bringing that up, but I know she feels even worse for abandoning me. "Please." I hesitate, wary of opening myself up, and then take the plunge. "Don't leave me again, Glinda."

Her arms come around me and she hugs me tight. I embrace her back, and then Fiyero pulls Liir close to him before slinging his other arm around both of us. We stand like that for a long time, and even as I feel Glinda trembling against me, I know what decision she'll make.