A/N: Hello, dears! Here's another one for you. Took a bit longer than expected, and it was originally supposed to be longer, but I figured it'd be too long, and it'd have taken longer to update. So, what the hell. More to look forward to next time, I suppose!

I tried to make this as accurate as possible. Of course, I don't own any Harry Potter or Wicked characters!

Enjoy!

"Attention! Halt, in the name of the Wizard!"

"No, stop! Let me go!"

"I'm sorry it took us so long to get here, Miss."

I stare at the woman in front of me. I knew she was angry, but this? "I can't believe you would sink this low, to use my sister's death as a trap to capture me?!"

"No, I never meant for that to happen!" Glinda insists, but she is interrupted by a new voice as he lands in the middle of us.

"Let the green girl go!"

Fiyero, no. Why is he here? Did he follow me?

"I said let her go! Or explain to all of Oz how the Wizard's guards watched while Glinda the Good was slain." He demands, turning his weapon on Glinda.

"Fiyero, no-"

"Let. Her. Go."

After only a moment's hesitation the guards release me. "Elphaba, go, now." He says, tossing me my broom and my hat.

"No, not without you."

"Hush, now! GO!" He screams, giving me no choice but to obey his wish.

As I run, I can still hear them. Everything inside me screams to turn around and go back, but Fiyero's look of hope that I would survive stops me. I have to hope against the odds that he knows what he is doing.

"Seize him!"

"No, wait! What are you doing? Stop it! In the name of Goodness, stop!" I can hear Glinda screaming, too.

"Don't you see? He was never going to harm me. He- he loves her."

"Take him out to that field there!" No!

"No, wait!"

"Put him up on those poles 'till he tells us where the Witch went!"

"No, don't hurt him, please don't hurt him!"

"Fiyero!"

"FIYERO!"

I wake screaming his name at the top of my lungs, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Oh…"

It was so real; like I was there, back in Oz reliving the hellish moment that I left him with those guards. It was almost a sense of Deja vu, knowing I'd seen it before and wanting to do something differently, but I couldn't. I was doomed to repeat the same mistake, and I left him there to die.

I try to take several deep breaths, but my heart rate doesn't decrease. I lean forward until my head is leaning against the bed sheets.

"Oh, Fiyero I am so sorry."

Don't you see? He was never going to harm me. He loves her.

Glinda's words haunt me again even when I'm awake. I wish he hadn't loved me; if he loved her instead, he would've been safe. I couldn't protect him like Glinda could have. I had magic on my side, but even trying that wasn't enough to save him from what I can only imagine was a terrible death in that field.

With shaking hands I pull back the sheets and get out of bed. I know I won't be able to go back to sleep tonight. Instead, I make myself a cup of tea, busying myself with making it rather than calling Pipsy. Besides, it's the middle of the night; and I'm sure the elf is asleep. I sit on the couch by the fireplace outside my room, staring at the fire with the cup of tea in my hands.

The dreams started over a week ago. They're always memories. Memories of all the terrible things I did in Oz, all the people I hurt without meaning to. Nessarose was the first one, the night she took the Grimmerie and changed Boq into the Tin Man.

"Elphaba, do something!"

"I can't. You can't reverse a spell once it's been cast!"

"Then what are we going to do?! This is all your fault! If you hadn't have shown me that old book!"

I can still hear her screaming at me, and I shake my head to make it go away. I may not have been the one to steal Boq's heart with that spell, but I was the one to turn him into what he was. It was to save him, but it didn't matter, and of course Nessa never told the truth about what happened that night. After all, I was the one that showed her the spell book. So in the end, I suppose Nessa was right.

I close my eyes, focusing on the warmth from the fire. It's been months since I escaped Oz, and yet these dreams are just starting now. Part of me almost thinks it's a punishment; that they're haunting me for everything I've done, even here. I know it's ridiculous, because I've never been one to believe in such nonsense. If anything, it's my own guilt that's causing this. I don't know how to make it stop, either.

I open my eyes and look down at the cup of tea I have resting on my lap, now cold and untouched. I sigh, deciding to heat it so that I can finish it before getting a very early start to my day. I suppose I'd better get used to some sleepless nights.

Thankfully, the next day is Saturday, so I don't have to worry about teaching for a few days. I've been up since four o'clock this morning with more nightmares, and couldn't fall back asleep. I did what grading I had left, but unfortunately that also means I have nothing left to occupy my time.

"Mistress?"

I flinch, jumping about two feet in the air from my spot on the couch. I look over by the door to see Pipsy with a tray levitating next to her, looking up at me sheepishly.

"Pipsy? What are you doing here?"

"Pipsy is sorry to disturb you, Mistress. Pipsy was concerned when she learned you weren't at breakfast, and when you didn't go to lunch, well…"

The elf trails off, looking more and more uneasy by the second. My brows knit together, confused. I look at the clock on my wall. Oh my, is it really one o' clock?

"Oh. Oh I didn't realize…" I look back at the elf, and suddenly the tray next to her makes sense. "Is that for me?"

Pipsy smiles a bit now, "Yes Mistress. Pipsy thought you might be hungry." She walks closer, bringing the tray with her and levitating it onto the table in front of the couch.

"That is very thoughtful of you, dear. You didn't have to do that."

"It was no trouble. As Pipsy said, she was just concerned. Food is important, Mistress."

I smile slightly, "You're right. And please, call me Minerva. I'm no one's Mistress, Pipsy."

"Okay, Miss Minerva. Please, eat." Pipsy says, but she makes no move to leave. I guess she wants to stay to make sure I eat like I'm supposed to.

I do as I am told, reaching for the food on the tray. "I am sorry for worrying you, Pipsy."

Pipsy watches Miss Minerva while she eats; making sure it's enough to sustain her.

She nods at her apology. "It's alright, Miss Minerva. Pipsy just wanted to help and make sure everything was all right. Pipsy hopes she did not upset you." Pipsy looks down.

"Of course not!" Miss Minerva says quickly, looking down at her. "This was very kind of you, Pipsy, and I'm very grateful to you. I'm sorry I wasn't in the Great Hall. I've been distracted today."

Pipsy noticed that Miss Minerva's eyes dropped from hers at the last statement. When she looked closer at the professor, Pipsy could see that she looked paler than normal and had dark circles under her eyes that were not there a few weeks before. Pipsy wondered if Miss Minerva was getting enough sleep. It certainly didn't look like it. She looked exhausted.

"Are you alright, Miss Minerva?"

The professor looked surprised. "What? Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Pipsy is sorry, Miss Minerva. You look tired, Pipsy didn't mean to upset you."

"I'm not upset dear, don't worry. You're very observant. Thank you for your concern, I just didn't sleep well last night, that's all."

She puts her plate back on the tray, looking back at Pipsy. "Thank you for bringing me food. I do appreciate it very much."

"No thanks necessary, Miss Minerva. Pipsy was happy to be of help." Pipsy reached up to take the tray off the table. "If you don't want to go to dinner this evening, just call Pipsy. She'll gladly bring food to you."

Miss Minerva smiled at her, "Thank you dear. I'll call you if I need you, I promise."

Pipsy smiled at the professor, and with a snap of her fingers, she was gone.

I don't go to dinner; I decide to take Pipsy up on her offer of bringing me dinner in my rooms. I don't have the energy to be around all those people and put on the charade today. I know I'd fail if I even tried. I'm just so tired. I haven't been able to sleep for more than a couple hours at time. Briefly I think about going to Poppy to see if she has something to help me sleep, but no, I'm sure she's busy. After all, it's my problem, and I don't need Poppy to start being concerned about me. I stay up for as long as I can, but when I start falling asleep on the couch, I figure it's time to try sleeping. Hopefully I'm too tired to dream.

I hit the ground softly, looking around but seeing no one. I smile a bit at my success. I'll free those monkeys and with any luck no one will know I'm here until it's too late.

"I knew you'd be back."

I jump, spinning around to find none other than the Wizard a few feet from me. Shit. Of course I'm not that lucky. What was I expecting?

"Well you're the omniscient one." I quip, pulling myself together quickly.

"I may not be omniscient but I know you."

"You don't know the first thing about me!" I snap.

There's silence for a moment, then I sigh. "Look I've tried not to harm anyone but I'm starting to get angry, and I can't be held responsible for what I might do if you don't tell people the truth."

"I knew you wouldn't hurt anyone, you love Oz too much. I love it too. That's one thing we have in common." He smiles at me, gesturing between the two of us and coming closer.

"You've been so strong through all this, Elphaba, aren't you tired of being the strong one? Wouldn't you like someone to take care of you? Can't we start again?"

I stare at him for a few seconds, trying to figure out if he is being sarcastic or not. He must be kidding! The shock gives way to my anger again.

"How? Turn back the clock? How do I go back to that time when I believed in you? Some magic father who came down from the sky and made everything all better. No one believed in you more than I did!" I yell at him, getting close enough to poke him in the chest. I can't stop my voice from betraying the hurt I feel.

The Wizard, I'll admit, is excellent at distracting someone. He starts into a monologue about honesty and being roped into being the "wonderful Wizard of Oz", getting caught up in the glamour of it all. I scoff. Everything coming out of his mouth is completely ridiculous and I stop listening half way through. I jump to attention, though, when he says that I, the Wicked Witch, could be just like him and earn the love of the people of Oz.

"Excuse me? What did you say?"

"At long, long last receive your due long overdue. Elphaba, the most celebrated are the rehabilitated!" He grabs my hand and pulls me with him to the other side of the room, spinning me. I pull away quickly when we stop, crossing my arms and shaking my head.

"There'll be such a whoop-ti-do...a celebration throughout Oz that's all to do with you!" He says, putting a hand on each of my arms. I can't help but smile at his declaration; almost immediately I am reminded of the vision I had back at Shiz University. A celebration all to do with me...

"It does sound wonderful!" I admit, smiling.

"Trust me it's fun!" He runs around the room, pulling levers that turn on multiple colored lights before coming back to me.

"One…" The Wizard offers me his hands, and I take them.

"Two…" He pulls me into a waltz pose.

"Three!" He yells, waltzing with me around the room. I can't help but laugh and soon the room is spinning, spinning, spinning...

"Wait, wait!" I yell, stopping us and pulling away from the Wizard, trying for a moment to make the dizziness go away.

When it stops, I look at the Wizard. "I'll accept your proposition-"

"Wonderful!"

I hold up a finger, "On one condition. You set those monkey's free."

He hesitates for a moment before smiling. "Done!" He pulls another lever, and a hidden cage opens. The monkeys fill the room quickly and I laugh in delight.

"You're free! Fly! Fly!" I yell, pointing them toward the exit. I look around the room and see a creature under a blanket.

"You, under the blanket, get up now-" I reach for the blanket.

"Uh no, wait!" The Wizard tries to come forward to stop me, but it's too late. I pull the blanket away and gasp. No!

"No it can't be... Dr. Dillamond!"

"We couldn't continue to let him speak out…" The Wizard speaks hesitantly.

I stare at my once proud professor, now cowering on the floor on all four paws, wearing no clothes or glasses. He looks like a regular goat.

"Dillamond, are you alright? Don't be afraid. It's me, Elphaba. Don't you remember?" I ask quietly, praying he understands. Then suddenly-

"Baaa!"

I flinch. Oh, no. Please, no. "Can't you speak?" I plead desperately.

"Baaa!"

I feel the unbearable sting of tears as my heart breaks. I see the Wizard move out of the corner of my eye, and my gaze turns to him. Suddenly all I feel is blinding, crippling anger. He did this. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I can't believe I almost let him fool me; rope me into his scheme! I hate him. God, I hate him!

"You and I have nothing in common." I declare, voice shaking with grief and anger.

"I am nothing like you, and I never will be, and I will fight you till the day I die!"

"Guards! GUARDS!"

I wake up screaming, grabbing at the air before I realize where I am. I look around, finding myself on the couch in my living room. The small part of the blanket that isn't on the floor is wrapped tightly around my legs, as if I was fighting in my sleep. Chest heaving, I try to take a few deep breaths to calm myself.

"Ugh," I bury my head in my hands for a moment.

"M-Miss Minerva?"

I straighten up quicker than normal; turning sharply in the direction the voice came.

I must look frightening, because Pipsy backs up quickly. I force myself to soften my expression, though my shoulders are still tense.

"P-Pipsy? What…?" I look over at the clock. "Pipsy, it's three in the morning! What in the world are you doing up?"

"P-Pipsy… Pipsy w-was…" The poor elf stutters over her words.

"It's alright, Pipsy. I'm not angry, if that's what you're worried about."

She almost immediately relaxes, looking gratefully at me.

"Pipsy is very sorry for scaring you, Miss Minerva. After Pipsy saw you yesterday, Pipsy was concerned about you. Pipsy was keeping an eye on you, and Pipsy heard you screaming… Pipsy thought that maybe something was wrong…" She says quietly, coming closer.

I stare at her for a few moments. I wasn't aware that she could tell that much from those few minutes she spent with me. Enough to be looking out for me? No one's ever done that. How did she even hear me? I feel awful for waking the poor thing up and scaring her, but another part of me is moved.

"Well… Thank you, Pipsy. The fact that you came to make sure I was alright is… surprising, but nice of you. I am very sorry for waking you at such a terrible hour."

"No, no Miss Minerva, please don't apologize! It is alright, Pipsy was just glad to find you unharmed. The screaming scared Pipsy, she thought you were in trouble."

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Pipsy." I tell her honestly, thoroughly embarrassed.

"It is alright, Pipsy is sure." She comes closer, stopping right in front of me, but she doesn't touch me. "Are you alright, Miss Minerva?"

The earnest look in the elf's eyes surprises me. What is going on? "Yes, of course dear. It was nothing, just a nightmare."

The elf looks at me in the eyes for a moment or two, and I can't help but stare back. I almost wonder if she can sense how my heart's still beating erratically in my chest. I start to ask if she is okay when she finally speaks.

"Alright, Miss Minerva. Whatever you were afraid of, it can't hurt you anymore, Pipsy promises. She won't let it."

I stare at her for a moment, my mouth opening then closing again. I swear it's like this creature can see right through me. In any other situation it would completely unnerve me, but now I find myself nearly on the verge of tears because of this wonderful elf's kindness.

Pipsy's eyes move from mine to stare at the ground. I reach out and take her hand, and Pipsy looks down at our hands before looking back up at me, her expression changing from earnest to shocked.

"M-Miss Minerva?"

"Thank you, Pipsy." I say it as earnestly as I can. Obviously I succeeded, because Pipsy smiles at me.

"You are welcome, Miss Minerva."

A/N: Thank you for reading! PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed already, I love you all!

Until next time...

~Neve