A/N: A special shout out to Ultimate Queen of Cliffies, who nominated me for the Greg Awards! Everyone please check out Fae'sFlower's page for voting.
Chapter 13
The boulders that had been encasing the Wizard exploded showering everything within a fifty foot radius with hot fragments. Avantador shielded Elphaba while the soldiers at the wall ducked for cover.
"A good trick but it will not be enough," Oscar smirked before raising his hands toward Elphaba. The magic in them crackled and he shot another ball of lightning at her. Avantador brushed it aside, sending it back the way it had come, nearly striking the man who sent it. He quickly followed it with fire from his mouth. The Wizard got the protective bubble up just in time as the flames singed the ground.
"We could do this for eternity and nothing would be any different," the Wizard pointed out, not taking down his protective bubble.
"So what would you suggest?" Elphaba eyed him, her hands crackling with the magic that flowed in her body. She was more powerful than him and he knew it. Between creating the storm as cover, enchanting the Flying Monkeys, and using the protective bubble, he had to be feeling the effects on his body.
"A truce to discuss my terms," Oscar said.
"A truce?" Elphaba gave him a look, knowing what his terms would be; he wanted to rule Oz and that was all there was to it. Then she had an idea.
"I'll agree to your truce on two conditions, we meet down outside the Palace walls and Fiyero joins us," she told him.
"Agreed, provided he leaves that trusty rifle of his inside the Palace," the Wizard said. Elphaba nodded and turned to the dragon, who was giving her a confused look.
"Please fetch Fiyero for me," she smiled slightly and gently touched his cut, to which Avantador raised an eye.
"As you wish, Princess," he bowed his head and then watched her kick off of his hand with her broom. Avantador then went to the window where Fiyero had been commanding the troops from. The view of the dragon's head and the Palace walls blocked the Prince from the Wizard's sight.
"You may not bring your rifle, Prince Fiyero," the dragon told him whilst pointing to his cut at the same time. The Prince nodded, hiding the dagger that he had used to make the blood oath, behind his back. He then hopped onto the dragon's hand.
"I'm ready," Fiyero gave Avantador a wink before he was lifted up and then transported to the other side of the Palace walls.
"Good to see you Prince Fiyero. Another miraculous recovery on your part, I see," Oscar smirked, realizing for the first time, the rings on their fingers. He had yet to take down the protective bubble, afraid that Elphaba would zap him.
"Your daughter is very powerful but you already knew that," Fiyero was curt.
"She must be if she convinced you to marry her," the barb was tossed and Elphaba clenched her fists.
"I love her and I asked her to marry me. She is Princess of Oz but also of the Vinkus, so I suggest you think twice before opening your mouth again," Fiyero snapped his fingers and in an instant, hundreds of rifles could be heard cocking, as the men on the walls took their positions.
"Duly noted," Oscar nodded.
"Let's get on with it. What do you want and why should I not have Avantador eat you?" Elphaba asked, done with the little pleasantries.
"I want what was mine of course. To rule Oz and to have the daughter I never knew at my side," the Wizard offered.
"The last time you tried to rule Oz, you almost let Morrible run the show. She would have a world plunged into darkness before letting all citizens of Oz be free. Since you went along with it, I would hardly be inclined to let you be anywhere near a position of power. On top of that, you would not have sicked the Flying Monkeys on me if you really wanted me by your side," Elphaba raised an eyebrow, not fooled by his silver tongue.
"Think of what we could do together! The two most powerful beings in all of Oz!" Oscar started.
"Great responsibility comes with power! You have given me no inclination that you are willing to be responsible!" Elphaba fired back.
"I must earn your trust, I understand," he gave a slight nod.
"You must earn all of Oz's trust, not just my own and your little display here has done nothing to further that trust. You will surrender to the Vinkus and be held for trial. If and only if you are found not guilty will I ever even consider your proposition," Elphaba told him. Oscar was losing his patience and he lunged at her, his fingers wrapping around her neck. In that moment, his protective bubble disappeared and Fiyero sank the dagger into his back.
To Be Continued…