Thank you to heatqueen for reviewing. Your theory seems to have a hole in it; has Glinda never died in a Gelphie? I'd say at least half of Gelphie's are angst.

Thank you to ScientificHooligan for reviewing. How's your head?

Thank you to for reviewing. It was quite mini.

Thank you to Frottica Arduenna for reviewing.

Thank you to RavenCurls for reviewing. More like muscle cramping. Nessa would have been a twist, but no, Nessa is dead. And I'm glad it…helped?

Thank you to MyLittleElphie for reviewing. Glinda's fine is she? I'll guess you'll have to wait and see. Most people would think that Elphaba's…outspokenness would not be a good thing, and for Fiyero, well, one Elphaba's enough, don't you think? Lol. But seriously, I guess he likes Glinda as Glinda, and Elphaba as Elphaba. As for Cherrystone: I have no idea where it came from. His megalomania took on a life of its own but it was probably the adrenal rush from the upcoming fight. To get into duels you have to have a certain amount of arrogance. He probably didn't think it out much.

Thank you to LillyFae for reviewing. Pfannee is that character you keep pulling for, but keeps making poor choices. Very Faith-esque.

Thanks to Varia for reviewing. You're giggling at poor Glinda getting zapped? You monster. ;)

Thank you to chinaluv for reviewing.

Thank you to Cosntanz L. for reviewing.

Thanks you to just me for reviewing.

Thank you to nursejoy7 for reviewing

I think that's the most reviews I've ever gotten for a chapter before. I'll makes sure to kill beloved characters more often. No wonder George R.R. Martin makes so much money.

Three-ish chapters to go. One will be an epilogue. There is a sequel planned, though I won't write it for many months. However, I could post the first chapter if you wish. I'll keep putting this is my AN to see what you all want.

As always, read, enjoy, review. Comments and Critiques are welcome, by review or pm. Thank you.

9/26/14

The Commander of the Home Guard, Ess Tee, wiped blood out of his eyes. It was flowing freely from a shallow cut across his forehead. He looked around once more to confirm what his previous observations. The rioters and rebels that had attacked his regiments moving through the City were fleeing. He wiped the blood away again and went amongst his soldiers.

Many were in injured and quite a few dead. As he was helping getting the wounded organized and moved under guard, a messenger rode up. It was the brazen lieutenant that had brought him the messages during the battle for the south gate (officially named the Munchkin Mousehole). The man saluted sharply but did not dismount.

"Report." The Commander barked.

"You were right. Jinjuria engaged those at the Shiz Gate. The long guns there are keeping her honest but only because she doesn't want to waste her ladies in a frontal assault. She'll be bringing her own soon enough and then they're in trouble."

"I agree, Lieutenant. How's your mount? I need to know the situation at the Mousehole."

"Already been to the south gate, sir. There's some real nastiness in the center of the City between rioters and the Gale Force that caused me to go through Mennipin; so I did a quick detour to assess their situation. The Tinman's forces are still in disarray, but they're regrouping quickly. By the afternoon they will be able to push hard against our forces there."

"Then there's only one option to victory."

"Which is?"

"A bait." The Commander answered softly.

"What?" the man asked, confused, but the Commander had turned from him.

"Captain!" he yelled, and a young man came over.

"Sir!"

"Take your squad south to the men at the Munchkin Mousehole. They are to hold their position for now, but the moment the Tinman advances they are to retreat into the City and bar the Gate behind them. Do you understand?"

"Sir!" the man replied and took off. The Commander motioned for another.

"Get everyone and everything of importance out of the Barracks and to the Gale Force's near the Palace. Do you understand?" the Commander asked and the man nodded. He saluted and left. The Commander finally turned to the lieutenant.

"Lieutenant, go to the forces at the Shiz Gate. Their orders are to retreat at all possible haste and to seal the Gate behind them. They are then to make for the Law Courts Bridge and fortify that. Do you understand?"

"The orders, sir, but not the plan!"

"The plan is to pull our enemy to where we have the advantage. In the field they can bring better numbers but the City will be a mill that slowly grinds them until they are nothing. Do you understand now?"

"Yes sir. But what about those outside our perimeter?"

"Most of those areas are not under our control anyway; those that are can take care of themselves quite well. Now go!"

The Lieutenant did not bother to salute again as he turned his mount and sped off. The Commander took a deep breath and surveyed his remaining fighting force. He quickly developed and discarded a multitude of plans until he had one that he thought could work. Going over to the area where those that were injured but still well enough to fight, he called them to attention. He did not take notice of the sky beginning to darken.

"Soldiers of the walking wounded, I have a task for you. I need you to go to Oz Deer Park and fortify the area. The Tinman's men will be coming through there later today, and we need to stop them. Who's the ranking soldier here?"

"Me, sir." Said a young captain. The Commander recognized him from the battle. He had held most of his men together through sheer force of will. He would do well.

"I do not know you, Captain, except through the moments of valor I saw when I arrived. I'm glad to know this important mission will be entrusted to you. As the Home Guard come through the Mousehole, get them to help with the fortification. Get the long guns on the Ozma embankment and get our sappers down to the bridges across the Canal. Make sure they have detachments with them."

"What are the sappers to do, sir?"

"They are to destroy the bridges. Luckily for us, most are wood except for the one by Mennipin, and leave that one alone. The residents there have more retainers under arms than even the Home Guard. The only other two stone bridges go around the Park and we will fortify those."

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now get your men moving." The Commander ordered. As the men turned there was a crack of lightning and rain began to batter them. The Commander heard the muttering of the men around him, so he loudly said, "Well, at least we don't have to worry about fire now!"

There were soft titters but the Commander would take it. He looked over at all his men once more.

"Keep that powder dry! We don't want any performance issues; just like in the bedroom!" He called out and that one got more laughter. Confident he headed off the depression of morale, he got everything in order and walked out in front of his remaining soldiers.

"Now, comrades, there seems to be a bit of a ruckus going on near the City Center, and the Gale Force tripped into it. Since they're useless for anything else besides scaring small children and kidnapping politicians' loved ones, we have to go pull their asses out of the metaphorical fire. I know what you're thinking; do we really have to? The answer is yes, because were professional soldiers and our job is to keep our side alive while killing all of the other. Plus, it will be a great chance to hold it over the heads of those pretty boys for the next hundred years. Let's take a light stroll." He finished and headed off at a light jog. The remaining Home Guard followed him without wavering.

The thunder of boots following him lifted the young Commander's spirit. Though the situation was tenuous, right now he felt as though he could take on all of Oz and win. He shook his head to get his mind back to the present but it was still wandering when the sight of Home Guard running towards him sobered and sharpened it. The Commander pulled up and motioned for those behind him to do the same. His quick glance showed they had stayed in formation.

"Comrades, where are you running to?" he called out. At seeing their leader and their fellows behind him, the fleeing men slowly stopped. They mulled around, looking everywhere but towards him. "Comrades, I asked where are you running to? You can't be running from something."

The men looked more ashamed until one finally spoke.

"Sir, it was…she was dead….the rain." He stuttered. The Commander strode right up to him and looked him in the eye. The man turned his gaze away.

"You'll make your report properly, private." He snapped, and the tone seemed to strengthen the man. He straightened up and looked at his commander.

"Sir, I don't believe it myself, but we saw her. We all saw her."

"Who?" the Commander asked irritably.

"The Witch." He whispered and a shiver went up the Commander's spine. He suppressed it.

"What Witch? All the witches, besides Glinda, are dead. What Witch?"

"The Wicked one. She was there and she made it rain, and she walked in it. Sir, she's back from the dead and water does not hurt her." He ended with a tone of horror.

The news hit the Commander like a blow. The Wicked Witch, the scourge of Oz was alive. If he could capture her, he would be hailed as a hero and possibly secure a position at the head of all of Oz's army. However, his pragmatic side quickly reasserted itself. He had to make sure his side came out victorious, hero or not.

"Comrades, you have done us a great service today." He started and there were murmurs of confusion. "You have brought us news that the great enemy of Oz, the Wicked Witch, has returned."

"However," he continued, "you have also done a great disservice. You ran from your duty. Most would consider these actions to balance themselves out; I, however, do not. You have stained the honor of the Home Guard by fleeing. I will give you a chance to redeem it. You will be the tip of my spear as we take the fight to the rebellious Munchkins."

"And if we don't?" asked some anonymous Guardsman. There was a buzzing of anger from behind the Commander, and he smiled ferally.

"Then, my dear comrades, your stain on our honor will be purged with you." He replied icily. The men behind him took aggressive postures and the broken Home Guard took a step back. Slowly, unsteadily, they began to coalesce into a formation. The Commander barked and the pace quickened. "Good. Now, fix your bayonets and your minds. We go to help the delicate flowers of the Gale Force."

"Yes, sir!" the two groups responded.

The Commander started towards the City Center but a pounding of hooves caught his attention. His Guard had muskets trained on the horseman before the Commander recognized him (something he was proud of) and told them to stand down. His spitfire lieutenant was hanging limply over his seat. The Commander worried at first he was wounded but a quick check told him it was simply exhaustion. The man did not salute as he tried to catch his breath.

"Sir, the Shiz Gate has fallen…The Ginger General threw her girls at them the second the long guns fell silent…They spiked the guns but they couldn't bar the Gate…They're in the City and heading for the Palace." he managed to choke out. The Commander quickly moved forward and grabbed the man.

"Did they fall back to the Law Courts?" he asked urgently.

"No…time….They're fighting a running battle…but they're pretty much broken."

The Commander wanted to swear at the news, but knew he had to hold it together. His soldiers were looking at him to see his reaction, and their morale hung by a thread. He helped the lieutenant off his mount, and made one of his junior officers see after him. Turning towards the collected Guard who were staring at him intently, he smiled grimly.

"Comrades, I will not tell you that the situation is not dire, for it is. We have our enemy running unchecked inside the City. However, all is not lost; we still have our arms and we will defend our City." He said, staring at their grim faces. They had begun to set in resolve, and now he knew he had to build them up.

"We are not the Gale Force. We are not for keeping the people of the City under control. We are the Home Guard. What we do is in our name." he said and his voice began to rise. "We are the defenders of this City, the greatest Oz has to offer. We are what keeps the other nations of Oz from taking our place. Why? Because they FEAR us! They know that even combined they could not beat us! And now the Munchkins have seem to have forgotten this, so we have to remind them. For our homes!"

"Our homes!"

"For our City!"

"OUR CITY!"

He turned his soldiers and headed for the Palace. All present could feel an ominous energy in the air, but they did their best to ignore it.

"Glinda!" Elphaba yelled and dropped to her knees next to the blonde. Glinda's clothes were still smoldering from the strike. Elphaba gently patted them out before tenderly rolling her over. The blonde's eyes were closed and Elphaba could not tell if she was breathing.

"Glinda." Gasped Pfannee in horror as she dropped her wand. Her hands went up to cover her mouth and she sank to the cobblestones. Still mindful of the crowd, she could hear the swell of angry voices coming from it.

"How very unexpected." Came Morrible's drawl. Elphaba's head shot up and she glared at Morrible. "I never would have pegged her for the heroic type. Oh well, it saves me the job of killing her."

Elphaba's fists clenched and she bared her teeth as rage bubbled within her. The volcano that spewed forth from her heart could only be described as hatred. She hated Morrible more than anything else that ever existed. Her mind focused solely on ending the woman that plagued her. A rattled gasp caught her attention and she looked down to Glinda. The blonde's lips had parted and Elphaba leaned low. It was faint but she was breathing.

"Now, Miss Elphaba, it is time for you to follow your friend. You have caused me enough trouble as it is. Adept! Help me eliminate this garbage."

"I'm sorry Madame," Pfannee's voice came back shakily, "But I have exhausted myself for the time being."

"Always useless when I need you the most." Morrible replied disgusted, and returned her attention to Elphaba. "I guess I'll have to take care of you myself."

"I know how you hate to do your own dirty work." Elphaba growled.

Morrible did not respond but simply flicked her wand. Lightning arced towards Elphaba. Her first instinct was to dodge but she realized Glinda may be struck again; something Morrible must have counted on. Elphaba reached out with her own magic, hoping to divert the lightning, but it was an unknown to her. She managed to deflect most of it but a bolt still struck. Every nerve in her body burned and a scream tore from her own throat. Her legs gave way but she did not move from in front of her lover.

"Your foolish desire to protect others has always been your failing." Morrible chided smugly. Elphaba looked up at the comment but could not see her as her vision was hazy. "It will now be your doom."

Elphaba tried to gather magic for a counter but she heard Morrible begin to speak the words again for the lightning spell. The hair on her body rise. Suddenly, her vision changed as if someone had slipped her glasses on. Instead of sharper eyesight, however, the currents of magic in the world came into focus. Elphaba realized that since Cherrystone's amulet caused her spell to backfire her magic senses had been dulled. Now they returned full force.

The strands of magic reached out for her from a roiling area of darkness. Elphaba pulled them apart and she heard the lighting conjured by Morrible fizzle out. The crowd, which had continually grown louder, now hushed. Morrible called the other elements to her aid but Elphaba pulled apart the strands of magic as they were woven. Morrible's spell frequency increased as she grew more frustrated, but it actually allowed Elphaba to pull them apart easier due to their rushed construction. Soon, Morrible stopped trying and they were at a stalemate.

"I must say that I am impressed with your technical skill. I've never seen one so talented at counter spelling as yourself; a surprise for certain since you used to use much of your innate strength to brute through magic."

"Only fools stay the same." Elphaba growled. Her normal vision was slowly returning but her magical senses overlaid it with rich colors and scents.

"I know, Miss Elphaba, that you are too weak to make any sort of offensive. You are focused solely on the defense. In a sorcerer's duel that may be enough to win the day, but I have other resources to call upon. Home Guard, come! Arrest the Witch." Morrible cried out.

Elphaba heard the shuffling of boots and knew she only had seconds to act. Something from her side gave her strength, and she drew upon it. She muttered her spell and a large white wall of magic shot up from the ground and quickly grew to encircle the magical combatants. The crowd stepped back from it.

"Very impressive." Morrible growled. "I did not think you had the magic left in you. But now you shall be mine. You cannot sustain the warding spell and fight me at the same time."

Dark tendrils more sinister than Elphaba could have imagined snaked from Morrible. Elphaba knew this spell; it was a magical binding. She reached out and slapped them down, but more curled towards her. The power at her side flowed into her but also felt as if it was obstructed. Without thinking her hands dove into her satchel and withdrew the Grimmerie. The magical fount rushed into her as she made direct contact.

The Grimmerie blazed gold, red, orange, blue, green, yellow, purple, and a multitude of other colors Elphaba could not describe. Its power gave Elphaba the strength to fight Morrible and maintain the warding spell. As she directed the power through herself she felt as if her insides were on fire. She grew worried of being consumed by it. However, she had to end Morrible's threat once and for all, no matter the consequences.

The magic tangled, danced, intertwined, and wreathed between the two witches. It grew so tumultuous that flickers of light and electricity began to appear. The ball continued to grow and great arcs of magic began to tear through the fabric of the physical world. It slowly brightened even as it darkened. The magical light of the warding spell was soon eclipsed by the ball in between the two witches. The crowd held their breath as they heard the two incant and decant spells at rapid speed.

Both witches felt it as the stalemate was broken. Slowly, subtlety, the ball of energy began to move towards Morrible. Elphaba, her body burning from the inside out, pushed harder and faster. Her mind focused solely on her goal of eliminating her foe.

"The book!" Morrible yelled.

Elphaba sneered inwardly. Morrible may have figured it out but it would do her no good. A tug came for Elphaba, but she resisted. The ball of magic pushed back against her and she had to balance the pulling and pushing forces. She did well for a few moments but inevitably slipped. The Grimmerie shot out of her hands and into the waiting arms of Pfannee.

Both witches disengaged their might from the energy ball and took a deep breath. Morrible's was one of victory while Elphaba's was one of despair. Her body felt like a hung out husk. She had very little strength left and wondered how even much of her own self was left. Not that she had the chance to contemplate it long; Morrible's push came quickly and fiercely with Pfannee's help. Elphaba was only glad neither had unlocked how to use the Grimmerie to boost their power. Elphaba did not even know how she did it.

The green witch stood tall as she sang against the pair. The duo was a wall of force, pushing, pushing, pushing her back. It was nothing new to Elphaba; it felt as if it was a manifestation of her entire life. She pushed back as she had her life; upright, resilient, and ultimately futilely. Her despair grew as the bundle of magic approached and darkened. Elphaba knew when it made contact, her body would be torn apart by the force. The magic and the City grew darker still, as if the ball was sucking in all that was good in the world as it encroached.

A ray of light seemed to break through the wall of darkness, and the scent of roses washed over Elphaba. She did not need to turn to look; her senses told her enough. A honeyed voice chanted the words of power to push back against the tide of darkness. The crowd, once silent, began to climb to a steady roar. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw the one person Elphaba knew it had to be step up beside her. She blazed with golden light as if she was the sun itself. To Elphaba, it felt as if in this moment she was the spring from which goodness came. It was Glinda.

The witches all felt the tide stop and turn back. Slowly it crept back to its spot of equilibrium but from there would not budge. The sky darkened as the magical clouds Elphaba had summoned spiraled upon themselves over the maelstrom of magic and were slowly drawn down into it. The warding wall tilted and flared, resisting the maelstroms pull until finally it shattered and was too drawn in. The force became so strong it began to sunder the cobblestones beneath it.

All the witches were exhausted but with Glinda's reinforcement the opposing pair knew there was no hope. Another pushing match ensued and the ball hardened into almost pure magical energy, ripping the air and ground where it touched. However, it began to slowly slide towards Morrible and Pfannee. Victory seemed close.

It was not meant to be. Elphaba's body, hollowed from channeling so much power, collapsed in on itself. She fell to the ground and did not move. The magical maelstrom halted, and began to drift back towards Glinda. She braced against it but knew it was impossible.

"Elphie, please get up." Glinda begged. Her own body was screaming as her overwrought nerves strained with everything they had.

"Can't…too…much." Elphaba gasped and her eyes fluttered close.

"It's not, Elphie, please. We can do it."

"No….can't. Too…much…"

"Not for us. There's nothing we can't do together, Elphie. We're-"

"Unlimited." Elphaba breathed.

Elphaba got to her knees and looked up at the maelstrom. She reached out to it but the magic seared her senses. It was too strong for Elphaba to take hold directly. Instead, she reached out to Glinda and channeled herself through her. Glinda felt Elphaba's emptiness and panic strike her. In spite of her own exhaustion, she routed some of her own magic to Elphaba. As it entered, both witches felt as if had stoked the furnace within. The magic blazed hotter and Elphaba came back into the fight.

The two witches, however, had lost much ground. The maelstrom was closing on them and now seem determined to suck their magic (and them) into itself. The two witches had to resist the pull, and push back at the same time. The slowly felt their own feet slipping even as they began to reverse its path. The more magic they poured in, the stronger the pull became.

A sense of déjà vu came over the two women. They began to feel as if they were becoming pulled from their bodies and towards each other. Their…essences?…continued to draw closer. Vertigo washed over them as the two met and they felt as if they were each other, but still the same. The maelstrom they had been pushing no longer seemed as a wall of magic but a component of parts.

The two women began to move the maelstrom by manipulating different parts of it. As Morrible and Pfannee would push, the pair would spin or pull it, thwarting the attempt. The maelstrom continued moving further from Glinda and Elphaba until it began to bear down on their foes. The pair resisted, but Pfannee slipped and then so did Morrible. A single push and both would be annihilated in the resulting magical explosion.

Elphie, we can't. sang Glinda's voice in Elphaba's…head?

Sure we can.

No, it is wrong.

After all they've done?

Even then.

They'll come after us again.

No, they won't. Elphie, please.

Elphaba let out a groan of frustration as the maelstrom chewed through the space separating the two witches. Finally, Elphaba and Glinda grabbed the ball of magic. It was as if they were wrestling an Alligator, but they managed to shape the strong magic into a spell. Dark clouds thundered and took shape overhead; darker and heavier than any had ever seen. There were murmurs of anxiety, but soon the clouds drifted off to the east. Elphaba watched them go, and then turned her attention back towards her foes. Morrible glared back haggardly and Pfannee lay panting on the ground.

"Never had the ruthlessness needed." Morrible scoffed. Elphaba shook her head.

"No, I don't. But I am not stupid. Glinda?" Elphaba asked. They were slowly starting to feel themselves drift apart and Glinda was getting uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

"Of course." She replied and the two began to weave another spell.

"A binding spell? You think you can do such a thing to me?" Morrible snarled. The two witches did not respond and the spell settled over Morrible. They felt her try to fight it, but they were too powerful and she was too weak. The Weather Witch sagged afterwards.

"You may find that one a bit different than the others you know." Elphaba said, slowly walking towards her. "That one does not have all the little outs a normal binding spell has. It can only be undone by those who cast it."

"You've think you won, but you haven't. Guard!" she yelled. "Arrest them!"

"I don't think so." Came a cold voice.

Elphaba looked to the crowd and noticed it had grown quite large. To her shock, it was not just Emerald City citizens; there was a large body of females holding weapons with a redhead who seemed familiar leading them, and to the south was the Munchkinland Militia with Boq at their head. The voice had come from a section predominately made up of Home Guard, Gale Force, and Emerald City citizens. Elphaba also noticed the purple of the Royal Ozian Guard and some Emerald Palace Guard in their green and gold.

"Shit." Was all she could say. They were all staring at the scene, and there was no way she was going to escape this time. Not unless she found a broom. Glinda, she noticed, had walked over and scooped up the Grimmerie and Pfannee's wand. Elphaba realized she had done all of that without the aid of her wand. Needless to say, Elphaba was dumbfounded.

"What did you say?" growled Morrible.

"I said I don't think so." The man said again as he strode towards the four women. Elphaba noticed he had a ranking Home Guard uniform on; Pfannee recognized him as the man she had passed on the road back to the Emerald City all those months ago; Morrible knew him as the Commander of the Home Guard. Glinda had no idea who he was.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Throne Minister Morrible." He said loudly and in a clear voice. "You came into your position by a coup from former General Cherrystone and the Gale Force. I am here to inform you he is dead, and as the ranking officer in the Emerald City I am in command of the forces herein. As you have come here through illegitimate means, and you have taken acts against innocent citizens including Throne Minister Glinda up to and including use of military force, I am placing you under arrest until you can be tried for your crimes."

Morrible's screams of horror were drowned out by the cheers from the Emerald City section. She began to protest and the Commander- no, General- of the Home Guard motioned his hand. Two men came up and bound her wrists behind her. He then held up his hand for silence. It slowly calmed.

"There is an old law in the City that allows those who thwart assassination attempts to cast immediate judgment upon their assailants without trial. As is obvious in this situation, you have done so against Glinda the Good and Elphaba Thropp, Eminent Third Descending." He continued and there were murmurs from the crowd. The Munchkinlanders looked nervous at the implications of Elphaba being their hereditary governor. "Do either of you wish it?"

"I acquiesce my right." Glinda said clearly and there were sighs across the crowd. The General of the Home Guard nodded and turned to Elphaba.

"Miss Thropp?" he asked with a strange familiarity. Elphaba was thrown off for a moment but her mind focused on Morrible. Here was her chance to make sure she was never hurt by her again; make sure no one was ever hurt by her again. It would be completely legal, too.

"What is the extant that I could sentence?" Elphaba's voice seemed to ask from far away. Glinda looked at her strangely. The Home Guard Commander gave her a slight smile.

"Everything and including death." He answered calmly.

"Elphie, don't do it. It's not worth it." Glinda urged.

"You could end her evil here if you did." Came an even voice.

Elphaba heard it but her senses were suddenly bombarded with the smell of blood, steel, and fire. She flinched away, but then steadied herself to look. A storm of colors and scents swirled as it neared her. Elphaba panicked for a moment as she thought the maelstrom had returned. Focusing her physical senses, the blinding light and scents slowly gave way to a man. He was wearing a blue doublet and a cape pinned back so the yellow was showing.

"Who are you, sir?" The General asked, his hand reflexively going towards his saber.

"And why are you injecting into our conversation." Glinda responded harshly.

"I'm not the type to be a killer, Duran." Elphaba hissed.

"Duran?" Glinda asked and he smiled at her as she recognized him.

"Yes. It is nice to see you Miss Glinda." He glanced at the General. "I can't say I know you, General, which is unusual."

"Well, Master Duran-" he started.

"Just Duran."

"Well, Duran, it is not proper for you to be here."

"Well, General, as the ladies obviously have met my acquaintance and you have both the Tinman and Jinjuria coming our way," Duran motioned and the General saw it was true, "Perhaps you should go take care of that."

"Are you ladies ok with being left alone?" he asked brusquely. He had not moved but his eyes were elsewhere. They could see his face slowly harden; they knew that look as they had seen it on other military people's faces before they went into combat.

"We're fine, General. Go." Glinda said. He nodded to them and strode over towards where the two Munchkinlanders were meeting.

"As I was saying before," Duran continued, "you could end all of her evil here. She will not stop until she is dead."

"Elphaba is not a killer, Duran." Glinda replied harshly.

"Even for the woman who has tried to kill you on multiple occasions?" Duran asked.

"She failed." Elphaba replied but her voice wavered slightly.

"She's the woman who destroyed your life simply because you would not go along with her plans."

"Everyone has tried to destroy me. What's the difference between her because I won't do as she said, and others because of my green skin?"

"She's the woman who went after Glinda simply for being friends with you."

"I know the risks associating with Elphaba." Glinda retorted.

"She's the woman who betrayed Doctor Dillamond." Duran added quickly and Elphaba almost visibly crumpled.

"He's fine and it was the Wizard's doing." Elphaba replied softly.

"You think the Wizard came up with an agenda for Oz when he was here less than twenty years? The Animal agenda was her's."

"We're undoing it." Glinda tried but it sounded weak even to her ears.

"Small comfort to those who died. Like Fiyero, the man she directly ordered to be murdered."

"That was because of me." Elphaba tried.

"No, she ordered it before she found out you had something for each other." Duran replied.

"How could you know that?" Glinda countered.

"I did." Morrible interjected. "He was getting cold feet and making a mockery out of us. He would have been a perfect martyr to the cause, and would have turned you against Elphaba."

"You're not helping yourself." Elphaba snapped.

"You don't have the steel, Elphaba; never did and never will." Morrible taunted.

Elphaba clenched her jaw. She felt her hand slowly raise and then an unexpected weight. Looking down, she saw Duran had placed a dagger in her hand. She stared up at him wide eyed.

"Do it." He urged quietly.

"I can't." she replied, and Duran moved her hand so the blade sat under Morrible's chin.

"Do it." He said with the same tone.

"She doesn't deserve it." Elphaba said again but her hand did not move. It took everything in Elphaba's power to not move it forward.

"Did Nessa deserve it?" Duran asked evenly and something snapped inside Elphaba. Her eyes dilated.

"Nessa."

"She killed Nessa; it was her storm that brought Dorothy's house down."

"Elphie, this won't bring Nessa back." Glinda pleaded.

"Do it." Duran urged louder. "She murdered your sister. Nessa never did anything to her, but she killed her simply to get to you."

Elphaba's hands began to tremble. She could see her dear sister there with her smile on her face, before all the grief that was caused by Elphaba actions. Her sweet Nessarose, helpless and alone as the house landed on her. Elphaba was not under the illusion Nessa had been a beloved ruler, but she had not done anything to deserve being murdered. Her face was wet with tears that fell unchecked.

"Elphie…"Glinda started but she could not find the words. It was ultimately in Elphaba's hands.

Elphaba's hands shook more as her breathing began to deepen. Soon it came in ragged half breaths. Elphaba strained, her muscles flexing under the dress, but no motion was taken.

"Why, Nessa?" Elphaba sobbed, but no one answered. "It doesn't make sense. Why can't I…? Why, even after everything? She doesn't deserve to live, so why can't I do it? Damn it!"

Elphaba turned away and threw the dagger down. It rang off the cobblestones and with that the spell holding everyone was broken. Elphaba fell to her knees and Glinda fell with her, wrapping her in arms. Elphaba's loud sobs echoed across the quiet courtyard and no one dared move. Though she was deemed wicked, the scene had played out in their own lives often enough for them to feel sympathy for her. After a long while, her choked cries degenerated into sniffles, and she looked up at Duran.

"You think me weak." She said hoarsely but the disgust was there. Glinda glared up at him in warning. Duran simply smiled sadly down at them.

"No; I think you strong. It is easy to take life; especially when we can fool ourselves into thinking it is justified. It takes a much stronger person to preserve it, even when the person is not worthy of the consideration. That strength is why I chose you."

"Chose us? For what?" Elphaba snapped angrily.

"For whatever you choose. I simply exist to offer my assistance in whatever endeavors you undertake. For I know, with all my heart, they will always make the world a better place than it was." He finished with a genuine smile.

"Weak willed foolishness." Morrible spat. "Only those strong enough to discard-"

She abruptly stopped. It may have been the sword tip at her throat (still covered in some blood) but perhaps it was the cold look in Duran's eyes as he smiled.

"To kill is easy, Madame. Perhaps you notice the blood on my blade? It is from your pet Gale Force Commander. See?" he replied and showed off his trophies. Morrible blanched. "Had I the authority, I would end you now. However, I do not. Your life is in Miss Elphaba's care now. It would be wise to remember it."

Duran then glanced over their shoulders and saw something. He sheathed his sword, fixed his hat, and gave them a smile.

"My ladies, I have to be going. If you need me, you know how to find me. But Miss Glinda," he said and took something out of a pouch. He tossed it to her and she caught it ungracefully. "Try not to lose it this time. It took a lot of work for me to recover it."

"I'll do my best." She responded distantly. Her opinion of the man had shifted ever so slightly into the more dangerous column.

"Thank you. Now, I believe it is time for Her Goodness to appear as three very serious looking people are coming this way. Until next time, my Goodnesses." He said and with a twirl of his cape he strode away. The crowd parted for him and he disappeared among them.

Glinda glanced over her shoulder and saw he was indeed right. She also noticed the crowd becoming more restless. Taking a deep breath, she focused her magic on Pfannee's wand. Light leapt from her hand, and the wand slowly grew until it was the full staff she often carried when she was Glinda the Good. The light crept up and over her body, transforming clothes and cleaning grime until with a burst of wind, light, and rose petals, Glinda the Good stood in their midst. She had chosen her most popular gown, the bubble gown, for the occasion. Fixing a smile to her face, she turned to meet the delegates, but almost faltered as one stepped up to her.

"M-Milla?" she stuttered at the woman with the red General's cape.

"It is nice to see you again, Miss Glinda. But most call me Jinjuria now." She said with a smile.