Glinda floated tiredly into her villa. The ball was a great success and, as always, Glinda stayed a bit too long. Elphaba would most likely scold her for coming in at such a late hour.

Just like in school, Glinda thought. As she turned the lock for her room and opened the door, she heard moaning. She stopped for a second, embarrassed and unsure of what to do, but a second moan let her know it was not something pleasurable that caused it.

Elphaba was on the bed tossing and turning. Fiyero was holding her hand and looked up as Glinda entered. She went to rush to her friend's side but Fiyero's voice stopped her.

"Glinda, the door." He said calmly. She turned and locked it in a hurry, and then ran to her side.

"Fiyero, what happened?"

"She took a drink of that bottle from earlier. After, she started feeling woozy and laid down. She slowly fell asleep and started having this fit. I've tried to rouse her but it hasn't worked."

"Elphie, oh Elphie, why?" Glinda went and got a cool rag to put on her head. She slipped her hand through Elphaba's, and began to sing the song her mother would when she got sick. It seemed to calm Elphaba somewhat. Glinda sat on the bed and pulled her friend close, waiting for her to wake.

"Glinda?" Elphaba croaked and Glinda looked down at her.

"Yes?"

"Water." Glinda sprang up and poured Elphaba a glass. She and Fiyero then propped Elphaba up and slowly helped her drink it.

"Now, what exactly were you thinking?" Glinda asked sternly.

"I wanted to see what it tasted like."

"And?"

"I saw things, Glinda. I saw the Wizard and his life in the other place. I saw how he came here and his affair with my mother. I saw his despair at my death and his leaving. I saw him as he is now, and his longing to come back. He's trying every way possible. I saw cities of steel and glass wreathed in smoke. Glinda, it's a terrible, terrible place where they live."

"I hope your happy now."

Elphaba smiled. "That's not the first time you've asked me that." To which Glinda's reply was a huff.

"I think I'm going back to bed, Glinda."

"Ok, just let me get undressed and I'll join you."

"You could just do it right here."

"Why, Miss Elphaba!" and Elphaba let out a weak cackle.

"Turnabout's fair play."

"As I am aware."

Glinda smiled and drew the curtain on her bed. She moved towards the bathroom but saw Fiyero straggling.

"Oh, Fiyero, I'm so sorry. You're so quiet I forget you're here sometimes."

"It's alright Glinda. It happens. Thanks for taking care of Elphaba. She needs someone like you."

"She has you, Fiyero."

"Glinda." He said but glanced at the bed and moved them into the bathroom.

"Glinda," he started again, "I can't give her what you can."

"Nonsense, Fiyero, she loves you."

"Once upon a time, yes. But now? Glinda, I scarcely remember what love feels like. What affection feels like. Hell, what lust feels like! I've lost all biological needs and am now forgetting what it was like to have them. To feel warmth, cold, softness, wetness. All of it! I'm becoming more the Scarecrow every day and less Fiyero."

Glinda feel a chill run down her spine. She had never thought of it like that. She began to despair for her once love.

"Is there no way to change you back?"

"Spells are irreversible." Came the dead tone of Elphaba's voice from behind them and Glinda turned to look at her.

"Where'd you hear that from?" Glinda asked.

"You know. Madame Morrible."

"Oh sweet Oz! I forgot! You never completed your training! Spells merely create or change something. They can be reversed, or undone."

Elphaba was shocked. "Really? I've labored all these years assuming they couldn't be."

"Most spells wear off over time; that's why dispelling isn't covered until last semester. It rarely comes up."

"This means we have a way of bringing Fiyero back!"

"What spell did you use?"

"I…I don't remember." Elphaba balled her hands into fists. "Damn it!"

"Relax, Elphie, relax. We'll just have to find it, then."

The Grimmerie was produced and Elphaba began to flip through it quickly. Every so often she would stop and examine a spell, but then continue. Finally, she stopped.

"This is it." she said quietly.

"To Shelter those Exposed." Glinda read out loud.

"It definitely was this one. The opening is seared in my brain from when…" she trailed off.

"Well, to undo or, as I like to think, unweave a spell one must first deconstruct it. You remember how to construct a spell, right?"

"I'm a bit rusty. I remember it deals with finding the elemental magic and then joining it to the words spoken. A spell is then the stringing of these elemental functions together to create the desired effect."

"Correct. To reverse a spell you must deconstruct the words to find the elemental magic, and then counter string them to the original spell."

"Most of this is old magic. I doubt it will be easy."

"I never said it would be. But it's possible."

"I guess I'm going to have to brush up on my sorcery first."

"Don't worry, Elphie. I'll help. I graduated first in my class for sorcery."

"Glinda, there was only the two of us."

"Don't be a downer. We'll start tomorrow."

"Why not now?"

"Because we need to sleep."

"Good point. Goodnight, Fiyero."

"Good night, Fiyero."

"Goodnight ladies."

When the morning came, Glinda was up with it. She had cleared her schedule for the day so her plan could commence without any issues. Glinda could barely contain herself; today was the start of her new life, a happier one. She bathed (and forced Elphaba to do so since she had gotten out of the habit) and then gathered the materials needed for her project. She called Elphaba, who was finishing braiding her hair, over.

"Now, Elphie. This may take a long time. Possibly years. So I don't want you getting frustrated."

"Ok."

"However, I can't keep you hidden in her forever. No matter how good a cuddler you may be," Elphaba glared and blushed at that, "it's too risky. The staff will begin to talk about me keeping my room locked. So, I need some way to have you around without people knowing it's you."

"That's going to be difficult."

"I agree. To take that into account, I started my plan yesterday. This will help." Glinda said, and showed her a jar.

"What's that?"

"Make up. The kind actors wear for the mime shows. This should cover you well enough. Sit please."

"I don't think make up will work. It has a tendency to rub off."

"Yep. However, I know a setting spell that will keep it from smearing or rubbing off for a few hours."

"Wow. That must be…useful."

"It takes a lot of work to look this good." Glinda replied and took out a brush. She began applying it to Elphaba's face.

"Glinda, I've seen you in nothing, and you look amazing no matter what."

"I can't imagine when you may have seen me in nothing, Miss Thropp, unless you've been peeking under the covers while I sleep!"

Elphaba blushed violet. "You know what I meant!"

Glinda cackled, again imitating Elphaba's own. "I know. You're just so adorable when you blush. Now quiet." There was silence for a few seconds. "And I'm rather proud of my setting spell. The patent has made me some good money."

"You made it?"

"Of course. I do have a Masters in Sorcery."

"Wow. I didn't know."

"Anyway, the make-up is the last line of defense."

"What's the other lines?"

"Didn't I say quiet? The other lines are clothes. Layers of clothes. I'm going to drape you in veils and clothing that cover all but your eyes."

"And how will you explain your new veiled attendee?" Fiyero asked, since Elphaba was forbidden to speak.

"She is a cousin of my dear departed fiancée. She wears the veils out of some Vinkus tradition."

"There isn't any Vinkus tradition near that." Fiyero replied.

"You think anyone in the Emerald City knows that? Half of them couldn't place the Vinkus on a map." She finished Elphaba's face and neck and stood back. Before her was a perfectly normal colored Elphaba. Glinda of course had not forgotten the supplemental makeup, so she looked exquisite.

"Oh my. So pretty." She said and brought a hand to her mouth. Fiyero stared.

"Can I see?" Elphaba asked hoarsely. Glinda got a mirror and brought it to here. Elphaba looked at her reflection and tears began to well up in her eyes. "I look like Nessa…and my mother." She sniffed.

"Elphie, don't cry! I haven't been able to cast the spell and you'll ruin it." Glinda said softly, and brought a tissue to Elphaba's eyes.

"I don't care." She replied but let Glinda blot away the tears anyway.

"I told you before; you're beautiful." Glinda whispered to her, and Elphaba nodded. Glinda produced her training wand and set Elphaba's makeup.

"Now! For the next part!" she said cheerfully, hoping to chase away the painful moment, "Clothes. Underdress. Pants, Gloves, boots, overdress, veils."

Glinda layered each onto Elphaba as she said them. Being Glinda, it was a lovely combination of purple, blue, and gold. Not inconspicuous, but with Glinda, to dress inconspicuously would make one conspicuous (or so she thought).

"Well," she asked Elphaba, "what do you think?"

"I look ridiculous."

"Says the girl who flew around on a broom with a pointed hat and cloak."

"I think it looks good." Said Fiyero, and Elphaba glared at him.

"See? Now, the fun part."

"What's that?

"Shopping."