Elphaba pried at the girl's fingers, but they wouldn't budge. Already her left side might've been granite for all it moved. If she didn't break this grip, would the paralysis reach her lungs? Her heart? She had to find a way free.

The Wizard sauntered an arm's width away. How she longed to grab him by the throat, but fighting Calypso took every ounce of her energy.

"Little trouble?"

"She's resisting," the girl ground out. She sagged, but the prickles rebounded.

A grunt came from behind, Gadsden, maybe. Elphaba stiffened, "Leave them alone."

"And you'll surrender?"

She scowled.

"Come now. Doesn't surrender sound better? All this struggle, for nothing."

The paralysis inched to her lips, freezing her tart response before she could give it, but it must have showed in her eyes.

He dropped the cajoling smile. "Well, perhaps you'll feel differently. I can be 'persuasive' as well."

An oafish guard prodded Mira forward, a swollen lip doing little to enhance her sullen expression. "Shouldn't have killed Rho, then. He's the only one she cared about."

Elphaba shut her eyes. Idiot. Didn't she know you don't tell the enemy anything? What if Avaric wasn't dead?

He wasn't. He couldn't be. Please.

"Oh, I don't know. She might surprise you." The Wizard flashed a patronizing smile. "But we'll never know until we try."

Mira scoffed. "Good luck." The girl had the self-preservation instinct of a yappy little dog.

But she had bigger problems. A swell of ice froze the rest of her, and she couldn't move even a toe, as if she were encased in an invisible steel cocoon.

"I think," Calypso panted, wilting, "I have her."

The girl puddled on the ground, but the Wizard didn't spare a second glance. His wolfish grin landed on Elphaba, and he strutted so close she could drown in the scent of his aftershave. "How wonderful."

She recoiled, the whole half-inch she could.

"Now, now. Don't worry. Once you and Calypso switch, why, we'll have you rehabilitated in no time." The Wizard patted her arm. "No more of this little Resistance. You know where they are. And they trust you now. I control you, and well, it's easy as pie, don't you think?"

Her curses stayed trapped by her frozen lips.

"I'll take your silence as acquiescence."

He shed his jacket, and Calypso gripped his hand, wobbling to her feet. Elphaba flexed. Nothing. No. She had to find some way to escape. She had to move. Break this paralysis. She couldn't be used by the Wizard. Not again.

"Quick, Caly. Before she wriggles away again." He ticked a finger back and forth. "Fool me once, sweet pea…"

Her eyes flung all the hateful profanities she couldn't say.

A sharp pain stabbed through her. She gasped. Her eyes watered. The prickles turned to needles, and she twitched like a bug helplessly tortured.

"Your Ozness, I-" Zephyr. Even from behind, she knew the voice. "Is she…"

Hatred bled through the pain, buzzing her rapid pulse in her ear and swallowing his voice. This was all his fault. Her, Avaric, the whole damn Resistance.

Her vision blurred. The room washed in light, flickered. She would have rocked back, had she been able to move. A raw, scraping screeched through her mind. She clawed at it with all she had. No. No more.

Her muscles locked in a convulsion, rattling her teeth. Still she held on, barely, slipping to keep grip. Slipping. Oz, so hard to hold on. The prying, scraping, thundering pain roared at her now. She buffeted, an ant against a tornado, but clung on.

"You'll kill her!"

The familiar voice floated around her, but she daren't spare even the thought to place it. A cry. Was it hers? No. Not hers. The tornado set fire, and Elphaba sank.

Through the pain, the deafening, horrible pain, reverberated the Wizard's voice. Far away, like a half-remembered echo. "Yes," it hissed. "It worked."

Terror and despair flooded her. The pain ebbed, but the aftershocks still lingered through her, aching and sore. She'd failed. Oh, Oz, she'd failed. The voice grew to a whisper, to a voice, to a thought.

She lifted her eyes, the world spinning. "Linked?" She flinched at the word sliding through her thoughts. Not hers. Her stomach roiled.

His grin spread, so smugly triumphant she could almost taste it. With the link came his thoughts, his memories. Plans, disgusting ideas, thin rationalizations. He needed magic, and he needed control. And he'd taken them both from her.

But he wouldn't keep them.

She squared her shoulders. She sent a spiteful smile and flared all her hatred at him, all her rage. His smile faltered, but the wave of pain rebounded in a cascade of agony, spilling white hot through her skull.

"Careful, doll. What's mine is yours."

She absorbed his condescension with an arched eyebrow. "Good. Then what's yours is mine." She ripped at the connection with all her strength, though it might as well be tearing off her own limbs. Her right fingers twitched.

Through the haze, she noticed his smile slide into a frown. Fear wormed through him. She didn't let up. "Stop it, you idiot. You'll kill us both."

"Deal." Her eyes locked with his. Her fingers slid down. The thought came of Calypso, and the rain. That bastard. He'd had her send the rain.

Call it now, his voice urged, demanding. Bring the storm.

No! She wrenched harder away, and he burst in a sharp, "Stop!" But she didn't. She couldn't. One life for a species. Better hers.

Though the waves of agony ripped at her resolve, she dug her hand for her dagger. He knew her thoughts, too. He reached for her. Even this close, she couldn't keep the dagger on target. If he got the dagger, it'd be over. She was too weak to stop him.

She had a second, if that. She flung it toward Mira without thought. After it left, she let herself hope the girl got free, scooped it up.

The Wizard turned, but she'd drenched him in pain, too. Good. Hazily, she saw Mira break free, struggle for the dagger. Hazily, she saw the Wizard block, too slow. The guards' reactions, too unprepared. And then the Wizard fell back into her, a dagger blooming from his chest.

The wound cut like it was her own.

She crumpled. The world spun. Went black. A faint noise came, moaning or howling or crying, but for the life of her, she couldn't trace it.

Then the pain swelled, covered her. She drowned in it. Swallowed and choked on it. It swirled and whorled and churned over her, through her, inside her. It flooded away the filth. Flooded away sound and sight and feeling. Flooded away her thoughts, her worries, her memories. This is all that had ever been, all that ever would. Only pure, perfect agony.

She floated away. Away from the voice, and the pain, and herself.

To nothing. Lost.

"Fae."

Where was she?

"Come on. Get up."

She drifted toward the voice. The pain oozed back, dull and achy.

"Get off her!"

Lips drew over hers and forced a breath in. Her eyes fluttered, but a warm hand covered them. Zephyr? His voice came soft by her ear, his fingers gentle on her cheek. "Good. Knew you were tougher to kill than that."

No retort came to her. Only throbbing misery.

"Stop it!" She rallied her aching muscles. The room spun. She set her head down, too exhausted to care.

"She's dead," Zephyr announced. She didn't argue. With how she felt, it might not be a lie. "Take the others, and send for the doctors. Quick, if you don't want the Wizard to die, too."

Her heart sank. If the Wizard still lived, she'd died for nothing. All of this, everything, for nothing.

Footsteps and scrapes promised a struggle. She mustered a halfhearted attempt to move, but Zephyr's hand held her firm. The noises settled. After a beat of silence, he stood.

"Better get out of here," he warned, and even the low murmur made her head pound. "Before someone feels the need to check."

"Why?" she rasped. She squinted up at him. "Why protect me?"

His face softened. He slipped to the door and nodded at the window. "Don't try for another."

She scowled, or tried to. This didn't change anything. He'd still lied and betrayed and murdered…Avaric. Was he dead?

She pushed up, but before she could draw breath, Zephyr was gone. Weak, she managed to sit up.

The room showed no real signs of the struggle, no broken furniture or windows, only bodies strewn about. Calypso lay nearest, unseeing eyes wide. Both the Wizard and Avaric faced away. Were they alive? Either of them?

She should check the Wizard first, and stab him through the heart just to be safe. But she drooped to Avaric's side. "Rho?" She shook him. "Avaric."

He didn't respond. She watched his eyelids for movement. Nothing.

A raw, hot spike of rage blazed through her. Not Avaric. He hadn't deserved this. Sure, he acted like an ass sometimes, but he'd done his part. More. It wasn't fair.

Tears spilled on his face, and she wiped at them with a sharp hiss. She bent to him, eyes closed, and pressed her forehead to his. "You'd better be faking."

She was too late. If she'd been faster, maybe. This was all her fault. No, he shouldn't have tried to protect her. Oz, why didn't he leave things alone? Why didn't he just breathe now?

"Damn it, Avaric. Stop being such a-" She slammed a fist into his gut, and he groaned.

She jerked back with a gasp. He twitched a hand toward his stomach, "Ow."

She blinked at him.

"Huh? Why'd you hit me?"

Alive. He was alive. She half-fell onto him, arms flung around his neck. "You are in such trouble," she huffed. She caught him in a frantic kiss. "If I didn't love you so much, you big lout-"

"Whoa, hey, slow down there, Thropp." He flopped forward, a hand rubbing his eyes. "Love? That's, uh, moving a little fast there, don't you think?"

She leaned back.

"I mean, don't get me wrong. You're a good lay and all, but-"

She glowered at him. "You're not funny."

The corner of his lips lifted in a grin. "I like to think I am."

"You're the only one."

She shoved herself to her feet, and he held out a hand. "Hey, come on, I was just kidding." He flashed a cajoling look that said he knew far too well how often it worked. "Thought I'd lighten the mood."

She crossed her arms. He struggled to his feet on his own.

"You know I love you, too."

She rolled her eyes, and made her way to the Wizard.

"I'm fine, by the way. Thanks for asking. I guess you handled things fine without me." She frowned. Oh, of course. He didn't know what happened after he'd passed out. "I think she just knocked the…not wind, but something out of me."

Better not to deal with it now. He'd only overreact. "Well, Sleeping Beauty, while you were out, some of us actually had work to do." She toed the Wizard's side to topple him back.

No movement. Still, Avaric hadn't moved either. She bent down, a finger to his neck. No pulse. She waited another ticktock. Two.

"He's dead."

"What, seriously?" Avaric knelt beside her. "We actually got the son of a bitch?"

"No, you passed out. But the rest of us still managed to get it done."

He nudged her shoulder. "Come on. I said I was sorry." He kissed her shoulder. "I'm incredibly privileged to know you. I couldn't deserve you in a hundred years."

"Shut up already." She yanked the dagger out and plunged it back into his chest. A precaution, but an abundance of caution seemed a fantastic idea about now.

She stood. He pulled her to him and tipped her chin to face him. "I hadn't planned to say it over the Wizard's corpse, but," he bobbed his head lower to meet her gaze, "I love you. Desperately."

"I said, shut up already." She shoved away from him and ducked her head to hide her flaming cheeks. "How about we focus on getting out of here alive?"

"And not just because you're as incredible in bed as I am."

She barked a laugh.

"See, can't stay mad. You love me."

"Bragger." She led them toward the door. Where would they have taken the others?

"Yep. But you love me anyway."

"Not if you keep this up."

He looped an arm around her waist. "Fine. How about we can discuss a nice warm bed waiting at home?"

"Focus."

His nose traced her jaw. "I am." Damn it, no. She wouldn't be drawn in this time. They'd just risk their lives like normal people, and save the sex for somewhere safe.

Mira and Gadsden burst in at a full run. "See. She's alive."

"Great. You're a genius. Now shut up and run." He caught Elphaba's arm, dragging her towards the window. "Can you run, or should I carry you?"

Avaric frowned. "Why wouldn't she?"

"Calypso killed her."

Elphaba looked away from his sudden scrutiny. "Thanks for that."

"Look, no offense." Gadsden threw up the window. "But now's not the time to catch you up. We've got to go."

They clambered through it to the ground below. Gadsden swung out last, and he hit the ground with a smooth roll.

"Come on."

A flurry of voices came from the window. He waved a hand, motioning them to flatten against the wall. Luckily the Wizard's body drew some attention from their escape. They took advantage, racing toward the maze, before the guards pursued.

"How'd you get free?"

Gadsden shot her a look. "You aren't the only ones that can fight, you know."

"You fought Zephyr?"

"He didn't follow." Mira wound around a hedge. "Thought he stayed with you."

"No." Elphaba slowed and looked back toward the castle, but Avaric caught her elbow.

"No you don't. We're getting you out of here so you can explain that little died comment."

She wanted to argue, to go find Zephyr and kill him, or thank him, or whatever she ended up doing. He'd saved her, but did that redemption forgive everything else?

Avaric dug in his heels. He knew her too well.

She supposed it didn't matter. No Zephyr, no dilemma.

"What are you standing around for? Let's go." She whirled the corner, and smacked into a broad chest. What the hell?

The guard jerked back, and his hand clutched her wrist. Of all the luck, they had to literally run into the first guard they'd seen outside.

"Whoa, who are you?"

She thrust a fist before she formed the thought. Not diplomatic, but effective. He let go. His eyes narrowed on her.

"Hey! Stop them!"

A group ran up from behind, and the guard in front spread his arms wide, blocking the narrow exit.

"For the love of Lurline," Avaric snapped. "Can't we just skip the fighting one day?"

She popped the man in his jaw. But before she could run past, he slammed a hand to her side. She stumbled. He blocked her path.

The others had reached them. Chaos fell in a rain of punches and parries. Finally her assailant gave her an opening. She snapped a kick to his crotch. He howled. His hands pulled down reflexively, and she punched him in the nose. It broke with a sickening crunch.

He crumpled.

"No!" Mira screamed. Elphaba whirled to see her on the ground, Gadsden slumped against her with a red stain stretching over his side.

Avaric grunted, and shoved at the pair on him. "Fae!"

She rushed to his aid and barked back at Mira. "Get him to the gate."

He volleyed a series of punches at his attackers, and Elphaba swiped a well-aimed kick to knock the closest down. An elbow to the throat, and he was down for good.

A flash of metal made her heart stop. Avaric flung up an arm.

He caught the man's wrist, knocking the knife off track, but it still collided with his arm in a ripping streak. The sleeve fell away, the knife with it. He followed his momentum to send the man down, and Elphaba tossed him the weapon.

Avaric plunged it in the man's stomach, and staggered out of range. She rushed to him. "Alright?"

"Yeah. Cut myself worse shaving." But his grip on his arm made her grab the sleeve. She wrapped it in a makeshift tourniquet and hauled him toward the gate.

"Better hurry."

Her eyes flicked back at him every few steps until she hurled through the gate.

The Resistance leader waited there. She bent over, catching her breath. "Quick. They're right behind us."

He pointed to a hidden door, held open by a lanky man she vaguely remembered from the circle. But whatever her cautions, she hadn't much choice. She ducked in.

Another familiar man gripped her arms. She'd expected no less.

Once inside, the lanky man reset the door. The Resistance leader strode forward, his face blank and his eyes impassive. "And?"

"He's dead."

"No offense, but I ain't trusting you for that." His eyes flicked to Mira where she clutched Gadsden.

Her eyes flashed behind unshed tears. "He's dead, alright." She shifted her lover gently off her, and ran a soft hand over his face. The front of her shirt was smeared in red. "Those bastards killed him."

The lanky man reached for her, empathy soft in his eyes, but she yanked away. She strode toe to toe with Elphaba.

She tipped her chin back, but kept her voice soft, "I'm sorry. He was a good man."

"He was." Her nostrils flared. "You led him to his death."

She didn't bother defending herself. If Mira chose to lie, nothing they could say would save them. Not as filled with grief and rage as she was now.

For a moment, neither spoke.

"But you're not Kansas Sky." Mira took a step back. "We killed the Wizard."

The leader raised an eyebrow. "You're sure?"

She knocked away the hand on Elphaba's arm. "Yes, now get off her, Dierof. She's not a shiny new toy."

Elphaba twisted her wrists and gave the woman a nod of thanks. They released Avaric as well, and he slipped an arm around her waist. "Gadsden fought bravely. He deserved better."

"Won't bring him back to life, will it?" Mira slunk back to him and cradled the body. "But the Wizard is dead. Finally."

"He's really dead?" The lanky man leaned in.

She crossed her arms, "You think we're lying?"

"No, it's just hard to imagine. What now?"

"I guess there's no need for a Resistance now," Dierof said, a hand rubbed through his hair. "Anybody want to go get some coffee?"

Avaric smirked. "Cue the sunrise and mood music, huh? Somehow I don't think it's that simple."

"No, Morrible will fill the vacuum, and things will probably get worse before it gets better. But it's a start." Elphaba linked her fingers with Avaric's. "A fresh start."

"I don't think we get those." Mira's heartbreak felt too achingly familiar. Her only words of comfort were for herself.

Not Avaric. He was alive. She was alive. And the Wizard was dead.

"There's no place like home." The corn exchange looked so foreign, like she hadn't seen it in months. She led him up the stairs. "Come on. Let's go to bed."

"Why, Fae, how forward." He flashed a grin, fiddling with the bandage on his arm. "Did you only say you loved me to get in my pants?"

"As if it's that difficult."

He batted his eyes. "What exactly are your intentions, miss?"

"I intend to get some sleep, and if you don't annoy me too much, you're welcome to my floor."

His lips pressed tight to suppress his mirth. They both knew it wasn't her floor he'd be sleeping on. She was too tired to argue away. She shut him up with a kiss. "Mm, keep that up, and I might let this dying thing go."

She patted his cheek. "I see you're learning."

"At times." He pinned her in as she unlocked the door. "Anything else you feel like teaching?"

"I might be persuaded." She tugged him toward the bedroom by his belt. "And I've heard you might have some talent in that area."

"My pants, I hope." He stiffened at her word choice, but she didn't back down.

She flashed a smile. "Precisely."

They curled up together, and after a long, exhausting night full of soft kiss, fierce lovemaking and tender nursing of cuts and bruises, she rested her head on his chest and listened to the lull of his slow, steady heartbeat as he slept. Tomorrow would have its problem, no doubt, but tonight she let herself live in the peace and hope of a new day.

AN: It took me 4 years, but I finally finished it. Thanks to all who stuck with me, and please let me know what you think of it.