Coming to Shiz was supposed to be a dream come true for Elphaba. It was supposed be a new start for her and her sister, away from her father and away from the biased Munchkins back home. Although the people here were no different, she didn't expect to find herself in something like this. It never went through her head that she would break up with Sanevan and be interested in another. She never expected to find out about some horrible plan ordered by the wizard— someone she admired, much less find herself pretending to be the girlfriend of an arrogant jerk who was programmed to think the way the wizard wanted. Now here she was sitting inside Avaric's bedroom waiting for him to appear from wherever he had gone. She supposed he had gone to get his friend.

The sound of the doorknob being opened made her sit up in the chair she was in. The door was slowly opened and Avaric walked in, followed by a familiar Munchkin. She blinked repeatedly and rubbed at her eyes, leaning forward.

"Boq? You?" She breathed in disbelief and Avaric snorted while Boq shuffled into the room to stand beside Avaric's bed.

"Yes, me…" He said weakly, looking terrified of being in the room with her. "Last person you'd expect right?" He chuckled nervously.

She raised her eyebrows, looking him over. "You are fronting an entire resistance?"

"It's more of trying to start an entire resistance…" He said, looking uncomfortable under her scrutiny.

"Who and who?" She inquired, sitting back in her chair. It wasn't an easy thing to take in. Boq was the friend that Avaric was talking about...

"Me and Avaric, Avaric and I. Just us two…Yeah that's pretty much it." Boq smiled shyly and Elphaba gave him a look.

"Really?"

Avaric sighed in exasperation."Enough of this chitchat, Elphaba is going to see the wizard in three months, Boq."

Boq's face lit up."Seriously? That's amazing, this is good…." He said rubbing at his chin.

"It is?" Avaric asked looking between the two of them entirely confused.

"It is," Elphaba said when she realized why. "Because If I go and see the wizard he is going to make me prove my powers to him somehow, and he'll…"

"...Try to get you on his side." Boq interjected quickly.

"Yes," She nodded, a million thoughts going through her head at that second.

"But the problem is that he must already know you are powerful just by what Morrible must have said to him, otherwise you wouldn't have been invited." Avaric spoke up when he picked up what the two were talking about.

"Which means if I try to pretend..." It would be foolish to even try. Morrible had seen what she was capable of and so had many other students.

"They'll know you are hiding something," Avaric's forehead creased as he was deep in thought then he began to chuckle softly. "But even I know that you can't go play by the rules of someone else's game; especially since that game could be a lot riskier than a little pretend boyfriend…"

Boq's eyes lit up as he turned to her. "See I knew that was too crazy!"

She waved him off. "Boq, back on topic now please, tell me how you came to know this?"

Boq pursed his lips and sat on Avaric's bed. "Well… sometime around last may, which would be—"

"Around six months ago," Elphaba finished for him as he began to use his fingers to calculate how long ago it was. "I can count."

"Yes," He smiled, his face tinted pink as he dropped his hand back to his side. "And I was going to go out on a date with Pfannee—"

"—Go out on a date? With Pfannee? Galinda's conceited friend Pfannee?" She frowned in amusement. That was the most entertaining thing she had heard all day. "Are you sure the correct word isn't stalking?"

Boq sniffed and continued. "Whatever you want to call it. I was heading out of my dorm and I was wearing a blue shirt because—"

"Boq we don't need every detail." Avaric said with a roll of his eyes.

Boq raised both his hands up."Okay, okay! So I was meeting with her and I took a shortcut behind the arts building and someone had left one of the windows open. It was on the third floor and based on the position it was Mrs gre—"

"Boq…" She said warningly and Boq blew air out of his nose in frustration.

"Alright… So I noticed the window was opened and the way it was opened…"

"For Oz's sake, Boq…" Avaric growled angrily, slapping the back of his head. Boq winced and rubbed at his head. "So Boq noticed a bright yellow light reflected on the window and he went to investigate and he saw me."

Boq glowered still rubbing at his head."Not only you but a lot more of those little…beds? I don't know how to explain them they were literally beds with-

Avaric groaned and held a hand to Boq's mouth to quiet him. "There wasn't only me there, he saw a couple of other people."

"Do we know them?" She question and Boq nodded behind Avaric's hand. She snorted at Boq and turned back to Avaric.

"One we do and the other we don't know." He said, his eyes widening as he gasped sharply. Glaring daggers at Boq who had bit him in the hand. Avaric looked as if he wanted to slap him and Boq didn't look any different.

She gave them both a dirty look before either of them tried anything."And who were they?" She asked, snapping her fingers at them to pay attention. Boq stuck his tongue at the back of Avaric's head when he turned back to her.

These two were the people she was working with to stop the government from making everyone's mind into mush...Oh the poor people.

"Some guy I have yet to see and Milla."

Elphaba blinked upon hearing the name. "Milla?"

Boq nodded sadly, "Yeah, Milla."

Avaric seemed to lose his focus on their conversation and had laid down on his bed.

"And I made my way back down as quickly as I could. I was terrified— not only because I saw Milla shirtless, but.."

"To cut this short, this idiot here was scared but got curious, and was admirably brave for a moment when he found a way to hear what they were saying….How? I don't even think he understand how." Avaric muttered with his eyes closed.

Boq shrugged."I just walked in…"

"You just walked in?" She repeated and Boq nodded with a wide smile.

"Yeah, I walked into the building they were in and overheard what they were saying, or what Morrible was explaining to some other guy." Boq stood when Avaric kicked him off his bed. He didn't look happy but moved to stand near her.

"I overheard them say things like how they were able to take one individual with a life and completely make them over into new people. For the future of oz, for the better of oz…" Boq recited. "They need leaders to lead."

"Yes, because clearly assholes are for the better." Avaric scoffed.

"But Milla isn't an asshole, nor is she a leader. Milla follows Galinda not the other way around."

"That what we don't understand either, but I'm sure for whatever reason, Avaric is very glad that's so." Boq grinned towards Avaric, who flicked his finger at him.

"Screw you, Boq."

"If they want to create leaders for the new era of oz, then why Milla? She is a nice girl, but I've never seen her do anything on her own….unless." It had suddenly dawned to Elphaba why they would. It wasn't something that hard to understand and It shouldn't have taken her so long to figure it out.

"What?" Avaric shot up from his position and looked at her. "Do you know why Milla was chosen?"

"They don't only need leaders, they need followers as well…They need mindless sheep to follow whatever they say, no questions asked….But, Avaric, how is it that this happened to you? Or Milla? Or anyone for that matter, wouldn't your parents realize you've changed?"

Avaric smiled and chuckled softy as he scratched the side of his cheek."Oh my father knows."

That confused her."He does? Why would he allow it?"

He shrugged carelessly. "I had no other use for him anymore, so he donated my mind to his cause."

That was something she couldn't find a reason for."But why? You are his heir?"

Boq's mouth fell open as he came to realize that as well. "That's true Avaric. Why did he allow you to become this. You never told me why?"

Avaric didn't look as if he was enjoying the attention on himself. "I guess I wasn't the son he wanted, I don't know."

She raised an eyebrow."Your mother agreed to let him use you that way?"

Avaric took a few steps towards his window, looking out at the courtyard before he answered, "She's a woman and my father doesn't think woman should have an opinion."

She crinkled her nose at the ancient method of thinking his father had."Your father sounds like an ass."

Avaric laughed."He is."

"So what's the plan then?" Boq asked abruptly, facing her.

Elphaba's eyes went round. "You are asking me? I thought you were the driving force behind this resistance?"

Boq gave her half of a smile."I'm just a Munchkin who overheard some stuff…I'm not able to plan something big."

Avaric's turned his head sharply at him."You aren't just a Munchkin, you are starting a revolution."

Boq smiled at him and Avaric's lips twitched until a terrifying shout made them all jump. Avaric was the first to look out since he was standing right there. Elphaba ran over to the window, her blood running cold when she saw the cause of the scream.

Her stomach dropped in dread as she saw her sister covering her mouth, with Sanevan nearby seemingly trying to calm her.

"Oh no." Boq cried out beside her, running out of the room. Elphaba was about follow but was held back by Avaric when he wrapped his arms around her.

"No, you can't… If you-" Elphaba kicked her foot back.

"Let me GO!" She yelled trying hard to remove herself from his grasp.

"THEY CAN'T SEE YOU ELPHABA, STOP AND THINK ABOUT THIS!" He yelled holding her back. The only thing she was thinking was that she needed to go to her sister. Elphaba felt her entire body flare up and she pressed her hands back on his sides.

Her sister…if Morrible got her sister….

"ELPHABA, STOP—" and he suddenly fell back. His grip on her slipping, giving her enough time to scramble out of arms and run, but not before checking back.

Avaric was on the floor with his eyes closed, not moving. Elphaba's eyes darted between him and the door. Her sister was outside and could be in danger.

Avaric lay unmoving on the floor.

Her sister could be seen by Morrible.

She could have killed Avaric and Boq was already going after Nessa.

She stole a quick glance outside the window and Boq had already started to move Nessa away. She was safe for now.

Elphaba painfully turned around and kneeled next to Avaric, checking to see what sort of harm she did to him. She found no physical harm on him, and she wondered what she had done to him. She raised raised her hands over him and let them hover, hoping something would happen. The warmth spread through her hands, yet nothing occurred. She bit her tongue and dropped her hand on his shoulders and a moment later Avaric began to gasp, his eyes darting around the room.

"Oh thank goodness." She sighed in relief brushing her hair away from her face but quickly grew worried at the blank expression Avaric had on his face.

"I saw.." He mumbled. "I think I saw pieces of my life."

Elphaba merely looked at him as pushed himself to a sitting position.

"I saw a younger me dancing with her and I saw us riding bikes." Avaric smiled a little. "So the key to me remembering is your magic Elphaba, try it again!"

Elphaba's eyes widened as she stood away from him, her hands fisted to her sides."You are crazy I thought I killed you! I'm happy that you witnessed your own life but I'm not sure my magic is the answer to you remembering."

"It is, don't you see!" He said gleefully, moving to stand. Elphaba immediately held her hand out to help and Avaric took it.

"I see that everything about your old self and your new self revolves around a certain someone, a certain blonde that might be able to bring back more of that past…"

His smile slipped as he stood, shaking his head. "That wont be possible Elphaba, I'm not letting her get into this and she wouldn't want to anyway."

She didn't let him turn away from her."Avaric, she is going to have to get into this, whether she wants to or not. She is a natural leader they are going to try—"

"She has magic…" Avaric cut in straightening his shirt out.. "They can't touch her, but they can harm her."

"I don't understand why magic has anything to do with messing up someones mind. If they wanted to they'd do it."

"Because a human with magical tendencies have minds that work differently than ours. Almost as if your own magic protects it."

Elphaba was silent; her magic was not something she knew a lot about. For most of her life it had only been a curse her father hated. Even in sorcery, Morrible never told her the origins of magic, just showed her spells.

"Did you ever try to figure out why you had those weird powers before you came to Shiz?" Avaric wondered, rubbing at his eyes.

"Not really." She admitted and Avaric grunted.

"Well get to reading, there is a lot of studies on humans and magic, little information about it really, but a lot of studies….And Galinda will not be a part of any of that, the more oblivious she is to this the better for everyone."

"No, " She argued. "The more oblivious she is the easier it will be to manipulate her into doing what they want. Galinda isn't stupid but she is naive…Popularity is very important to her."

"She isn't going to be a part of this." Avaric said more firmly.

"That isn't our decision, remember?" She countered sharply. "It's hers Avaric….You may want to keep her away from all this but it's not helpful at all. Just think outside of your testosterone filled reason to protect her."

Avaric turned his head away, turning red. She didn't know if it was from anger or embarrassment.

"Galinda is a smart girl, a bit empty-headed, but smart. She can keep it a secret, I know she can do that."

"How would you possibly know that? Aren't you two just barely getting along?"

She shrugged lightly."Maybe, but I know when I can trust someone and when I can't."

Avaric turned to her slowly, grinning at her."Are you sure? You are trusting me here."

Avaric was really not making this easy on her."I know, and I can trust you because you care for Galinda."

His smile slowly fell."That's the only reason you trust me?"

"Pretty much." She admitted seeing no point in lying to him. The reason she listened to anything he said was because he made it apparent that he some schoolboy crush on Galinda that made him want to protect her at all cost.

"And if she doesn't want to listen to me?"

"She already doesn't want to listen to you," She told him.

"I'd bet she'd listen to Sanevan."

She glared at him for bringing him up at all. She was content not thinking about him because thoughts of him led to confused thoughts of Fiyero and her sudden affection for him. She hardened her jaw, angry that she was now thinking of them instead of focusing on the matter on hand.

"How about we go sister is out there and I have to make sure she is alright." She snarled him as she went to the window.

He met her underneath and they sped off, looking to where Boq had taken Nessarose. Sanevan was no where to be seen and Elphaba could only assume he had grown scared and gone to his room. She didn't think Boq would take her sister anywhere near campus for fear of Morrible finding out she had recognized him. It didn't take long to hear her sister's voice screaming at Boq.

"No! Boq, he is dead, he died and my father—

"Nessa, please quiet down." Boq whispered trying to do his best to quiet her as Elphaba found them. Nessa noticed her, looking distraught.

"Fabala, Fabala you were right he is alive! I saw him but how is that possible?"

"Nessa," Elphaba shushed her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't know who saw you notice him but I told you not to react that way."

"I didn't believe you," Nessa said shakily, "I thought you were just going insane after he died!"

"Well, as you clearly saw he isn't dead, Nessa it's really important for you to act like you have never seen him before."

Nessa looked down and cupped her face between her hands and looked back at her."Can I be updated on what's going on? He was dead—Elphaba why is Avaric's arm around your shoulders?"

Elphaba shrugged his arm off never noticing that he had placed it there.

"Not here, let's go somewhere quieter." Elphaba didn't trust talking about anything here in the open. It was only a matter of time until one of them heard the metal contraption whirling its gears nearby and that was the last thing they needed at the moment.

"Now. Let's go now." Elphaba grabbed the handles of her sister's wheelchair and pushed it forward, towards the gravel road.

"Where are we going?" Nessarose asked quietly.

"We can go have lunch at the Cafe in town, you need to eat something after that scare and so do I." She told her, her stomach grumbling almost in reply.

Nessarose said nothing else as they went on their way.

Avaric had actually run ahead of them and found a carriage to take them into town, getting them to the Cafe shortly after.

They entered the Cafe, it was lonely at that hour as most of its clientele consisted of University students and older couples who came by when the day was just beginning. They found a spot where Nessa's wheelchair fit and a waiter came to them soon after.

"So?" Her sister asked once the waiter had written down their orders and left.

"Elphaba here is my girlfriend and Sanevan is no longer the guy you once knew." Avaric said matter-of-factly .

Nessa didn't seem to buy it, frowning at the two of them."I'm not in any joking mood."

"Neither is he." Elphaba replied briskly. "As far as anyone is concerned Nessa, Avaric and I are together, As for Sanevan—"

"So it's true then? I heard someone talk about that as I was leaving class I didn't think that was serious..." Nessa paused, her mouth falling open a tiny bit. "What do you mean as far as anyone is concerned?"

The waiter chose that moment to return, handing them each their chosen food. Elphaba took her biscuit and took a bite out of it, needing something to calm her stomach. After taking a drink of her coffee she resumed their conversation, "It means that if someone asks you about the two of us you are going to tell them we really are together."

Nessa stirred her tea with a straw, blowing air into it to cool it down. "So you two are not together?"

Avaric sat back and took a quick gulp of his soda."We are and we aren't." He answered smacking his lips and grabbing the plain piece of bread that Boq had been picking at, Boq frowned but didn't protest.

"You are letting people believe you two are together but you really aren't, but why?" Nessa looked confusingly at the two of them.

"To stop people questioning why we are together talking peacefully."

Nessa blinked, clearly more confused than before. "And Sanevan?"

Elphaba placed her coffee back on the table a little too hard."Nessa they tried to change him and they sort of failed, but you don't know him, you never met him, you have never seen him before now, is that clear?" She said seriously. Her sister needed to stay away from him, she didn't want her near him now that he was unable to control himself.

"But why?"

"Nessarose, this is serious, you can't let anyone at all know." She said more firmly. Avaric groaned beside her, kicking her leg underneath the seat.

"Just tell her." He said, and Elphaba kicked him in the shin. He hissed in pain and went to rub at his leg.

Elphaba made sure that the waiter was nowhere near them. If anyone heard what she was to say she could end up being called a traitor or a terrorist.

She leaned forward. "The wizard is working on making Oz better," She whispered."That means removing those of us that are different..."

Nessa's face scrunched up.

"...They plan on making Oz a purer place, less Animals, less Quadling's, less Munchkins…Normalizing the people seems to be quite important in this new Oz that they want. We can't let him do what he wants."

Nessa's mouth twitched as she tried to find her voice."This has to be a joke?"

"It isn't a joke Nessa." Boq spoke up calmly. Nessa jerked her head towards him, her hands pulling away from the fruit salad she had been slowly eating.

"Boq, you can't be serious..."

"I'm not Nessa, and you can't say a thing either because it's important not to…I-I don't want anything to happen to you." Boq finished softly, his face flushing.

"You don't?" Nessa said in mild shock, smiling warmly at him.

"He better not." Elphaba muttered and Avaric nudged her slightly, telling her to be quiet.

"So what do I do?" Nessa looked at Boq and then at her, frightened. "Other people saw me scream, Elphaba."

Elphaba took her sister's hand to comfort her."If anyone at all asks, you saw a bee and you make up a story of how they frighten you."

"Ok, " Nessa nodded slowly. Elphaba stood and pulled on Avaric's hand.

"Nessa, Avaric and I need to go do something urgently, enjoy your meal. Boq wont leave your side."

She stared at Boq expectingly, Boq who was occupied with holding his sister's other hand didn't register her words until moments later, "I wont." He agreed a little too late.

Nessa looked between the two of them suspiciously."Where are you guys going?"

"Later Nessa, just get some sugar in you ok?" She gave her sister a warm smile and Nessa smiled back.

"Ok, Fabala, take care." Her sister responded and she nodded.

"We will." She told her as Avaric dropped some bills on the table.

Elphaba pulled Avaric out, when they were a few feet away from the Cafe, Avaric turned to her."What is so urgent? I was still eating?"

"Galinda." She said simply.

"Elphaba." He growled warningly.

"Avaric."

"She hates me and wouldn't want to be in the same room with me." He protested.

That didn't matter at all. Elphaba was going to talk to Galinda, but she wanted him to tell her what he knew first. Maybe if she read his letter it would persuade her that it wasn't any joke.

"We'll both talk to her."

"She can't stand the sight of me."

"Start off with that letter." She answered, smiling at Avaric's expression.

"You read my letter?" He said accusingly.

"You left it in plain sight." She replied, it was her only excuse. Avaric huffed and shook his head. "You think she would listen to anything that comes out of my mouth?"

"Don't say anything. Keep quiet and let her read the letter."

"How do you suppose she stays in a room with me and you in the first place?"

"By not telling her you are inside, and not letting her out until she listens."

Avaric shook his head. "That's absolutely crazy."

"It's a plan then, go get that letter and wait outside our window, I'll gesture for you to come in when I'm ready."

"She knows magic, and you know magic. Is it a safe idea to lock me in there with you guys?"

"What's the worst that can happen?"

"Many things."

AN: Do I have to put a warning when future chapters are going to be darker? Because this is probably the only warning I'm putting in for the rest of the story. Nothing smutty or raunchy, or anything of that sort...Just a warning that things might get a little grim.

Thanks for reading!