Finding Fiyero was easier said than done. She had momentarily forgotten about the guards guarding the palace. She managed to dodge them as she walked around the palace to the garden, where she slipped out through the gate. She then had to walk back around and then into the streets of the Emerald City. There were still a lot of celebrations going on, and as a result, a lot of traffic. Finally, she stumbled across the hotel and, smiling to herself, slipped inside.

"Hello," the receptionist smiled at Elphaba. "How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for Fiyero Tigulaar," Elphaba said.

The receptionist looked at the list of names and nodded. "Are you family?"

"I'm his sister," Elphaba lied, thinking that she might not be allowed to see him if she wasn't.

The receptionist nodded. "Room 214."

Elphaba thanked the receptionist and hurried towards the stairs to the second floor. She quickly found Fiyero's room and knocked on the door. When he didn't answer right away, she knocked even harder.

"Alright, I'm coming!" came Fiyero's tired voice. He opened the door a few seconds later and was about to slam it shut when he saw who it was.

"Fiyero, please listen to me," Elphaba begged, trying to stop him from slamming the door in her face. She stuck her foot in the doorway, and grimaced slightly as pain shot up her body. "Please."

"What are you doing here?" Fiyero asked. "Shouldn't you be at the palace?"

"That's not important right now. We need to talk."

"We don't have anything further to say to one another… Princess."

Elphaba flinched, and not just because anyone else could have heard him. "Then just listen to me. Please."

Fiyero was silent for a moment. He really didn't want to listen to Elphaba. But something in her voice caused him to soften. He looked at her and saw how desperate she looked. He couldn't turn her away. At least, not when she was like this. "Fine." He moved aside to let her into his room.

Elphaba flashed him a small smile before entering his room. Fiyero closed the door behind her and turned to face her. "Can we sit?" Elphaba asked, turning around to face him.

The Vinkun nodded and gestured to a small, circular table by the window with two chairs. Elphaba sat down and watched as Fiyero dragged his feet to meet her. After an awkward silence, Elphaba sighed and decided that she was the one who should start the conversation. "First, I want to apologize to you again. But you must understand why I couldn't tell you the truth. It wasn't because I didn't trust you, it was because I knew what would happen if I told you. I would have lost my one and only chance to be normal. I had the most fun night of my life, and it's all because of you."

Fiyero looked up. Part of him didn't want to believe her. How was he supposed to know that she wasn't lying again? But the other part of him said that she wasn't.

"I didn't want to completely lie to you, so I tried to tell the truth as much as I could without giving my self away. 'Fabala' is a nickname my parents call me, and I figured it was safe enough to use. I didn't mean to hurt you, Fiyero. And please don't think I was taking advantage of you. I wasn't. I just… I don't know." When Fiyero didn't say anything, Elphaba sighed and stood to leave. "I'm sorry." She was almost to the door when she finally heard Fiyero speak.

"Wait," he said.

Elphaba turned around, hope evident in her face. "Yes?"

The Vinkun turned around. "I'm sorry, too. About everything I said. I had no idea you were –"

"I know," Elphaba interrupted softly. "That was the point."

"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "And I'm sorry for the way I acted. I just…"

"I understand." Elphaba slowly walked back over to him, secretly praying he wouldn't back away. "This war changed everyone and everything."

Fiyero was about to ask how she could have possibly been affected, but held his tongue. "It did," he said instead.

Elphaba knew what he was thinking, and decided that if she truly wanted him to forgive her, she had to be open with him. "My father was constantly in meetings during the war. If he wasn't in a meeting, he was locked in his office, trying to come up with a strategy, or meeting with the leaders from the other providences. And if he wasn't doing that, he was writing a speech or talking on the radio or something else."

The Vinkun was silent for a moment. Elphaba really had been affected. Not in the way he thought, but she still lost something in the war. She lost a lot of quality time with her father. "I'm sorry."

Elphaba nodded and stood to leave once more. "Thank you. Well, that's all I had to say. Thanks for listening."

"Will we see each other again?" Fiyero asked, stopping the princess in her tracks.

An idea popped into Elphaba's head and she turned around. "Will you stay until tomorrow night?"

"Why?"

"My father is hosting a ball at the palace to celebrate the end of the war. And I want you to come with me."

"Don't you need an invitation to get in?"

Elphaba smiled and waved her hand, making a green envelope appear in her hand. "Here," she said, handing it to him.

Fiyero looked at the invitation in her and took it. "Thanks."

Elphaba smiled. "So… I'll see you at the ball?"

He was still looking at the invitation, but nodded. "Maybe."

Elphaba nodded, knowing it was the best she could do that that point, and let herself out. Once she closed the door behind her, she exhaled softly. That went better than she anticipated. Fiyero had spoken to her. They seemed to clear their air between them, but she could still sense a bit of tension. Hopefully, the ball would get rid of that.

Elphaba walked back to the palace and snuck in the same way she snuck out. She climbed the tree, trying not to make as much noise as possible and slipped inside her window. She quickly undid her spell and slipped back into her nightgown. Once she made sure she got rid of all the evidence that she had been out, she slipped back into bed.

The next morning, the princess woke up early to the sounds of birds chirping out her window. Yawning, she pushed herself up and stretched. She got out of bed and went to her wardrobe to pick out an outfit.

Melena and the Wizard were already seated for breakfast when Elphaba came down, wearing a short sleeved, simple dark blue dress with a bow in the back.

"Good morning, Fabala," the Wizard smiled as Elphaba sat down.

"Morning," Elphaba said, picking at her food.

"Are you alright?" Melena asked, giving her daughter a worried glance.

"I'm fine. I just didn't sleep well last night."

"If you feel ill, you don't have to attend the ball tonight," the Wizard said.

Elphaba continued to pick at her food, but eventually ate a forkful of eggs. "I think I'll be fine by then."

The royal couple exchanged a look, but let the subject drop. The day past quickly for them and soon, it was time for the ball. Elphaba looked at herself in the mirror as two maids helped her with her dress. She wanted to enjoy herself, but she didn't know how the night was going to go. Everything could end up a complete disaster. What if Fiyero was still a bit mad at her? What if he didn't show up? She could lose Fiyero forever, and she didn't want to think about that.

"You're all ready, Your Highness," one of the maids smiled.

Elphaba snapped out of her daydream and looked at the maids through the mirror. "Thank you."

The two curtsied and quickly left. Elphaba continued to stair at her reflection in the mirror. The dress was a dark lavender color with short, puffy sleeves and a bit of white lace and a bow on the front. She fiddled with her skirt for a bit, feeling more nervous than normal.

"Fabala?" the Wizard asked, knocking on the door. "Are you ready?"

The princess turned around and nodded at her father. "Yes."

"You seem nervous," he said as he stepped into the room.

"I'm fine."

"Is the dress too tight?"

"No. The dress is fine."

"Elphaba, if you don't want to attend tonight…"

"I'll be fine, Father. Really," Elphaba said gently, giving her father a small smile.

The Wizard didn't look convinced, but nodded as he offered his daughter his arm and walked out of her room with her. The two met Melena at the top of the grand staircase.

"You look beautiful, Fabala," the queen smiled.

"Thank you, Mama. You look beautiful, too," Elphaba smiled.

Melena smiled and the royal family went down the stairs together. As they walked down, Elphaba's nerves began to ebb away and she realized that the night could go well after all. She could talk to Fiyero and try to clear the air with him. But then there was also Glinda? How was she going to explain things to her? She had grown to like the blonde and didn't want her to be hurt by all of this. She wasn't even sure the blonde would still want to be friends with her after she found out the truth.

"And now, announcing the royal family, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Queen Melena, and Princess Elphaba!" the herald announced as the ballroom doors opened.

Everyone bowed or curtsied and applauded as they entered. Elphaba, Melena and the Wizard smiled politely and waved to everyone before making conversation. Elphaba was barely paying attention as she scanned through the crowds in search of a familiar face. She looked and looked, then the realization dawned on her.

He wasn't there.

Cliffy! Elphaba's dress is on my blog. The next chapter will be the final chapter!