Despite talking it out, things were still tense after their fight. Elphaba and Fiyero were speaking to each other and existing in the same space, but there was a stiffness to it. Like either of them could blow up and the arguing would start over. Elphaba still liked to keep a routine. Clean a section of the castle one day and read another day. She went back to practicing magic, though some days it was difficult when all she had to go off of were her books. She also kept her promise to Fiyero to look for another way to break his curse.

Kiamo Ko wasn't short of books on magic.

One day, when she was clearing out an attic storage room and doing inventory, she found a very strange book simply labeled as the Grimmerie.

Needless to say, the spells inside were strange, complicated, yet vague in the intended effect. There were runic circles, incantations, and potion recipes. The titles were faded and in some old language she didn't know. Even the illustrations for some of the spells didn't help her understand what they were for.

Elphaba closed the book and hugged it to her chest. How odd that it wouldn't be in the library. She searched for Fiyero and eventually found him playing chess with Chistery.

"This is strange," she said.

"You're telling me," said Fiyero, throwing his hands in the air. "I'm losing to a Monkey!"

Chistery grinned as he snatched up Fiyero's bishop.

"What do you make of this?" Elphaba asked, holding the book out.

Fiyero took it and opened it to a random page.

"It's very old Ozian," he said. "My tutor taught me some, but it's been a long time. Why?"

"Just wondering why this book would be hidden away in a storage room and not in the library," she said. "I'm a little worried to try anything from it. It could either be completely useless or completely dangerous."

Fiyero looked at the cover pensively.

"But… there might also be a spell in here that could help you," she said. "I'm just… I don't know. I think I would want to study it more before trying anything."

"You think it might help?" Fiyero asked, perking up.

"I don't know. Nothing in it makes sense to me."

He stood. "But it might have something! You'll try, won't you, Elphaba?"

"Of course I will," she said. "Just… don't get your hopes up too high. I don't want you to be disappointed."

"A chance is a chance," he said. "And if it comes to it, you can always use me as a test subject. I'll just grow back."

"But what if you don't?!" she squawked.

He was quiet a long moment.

"I'm willing to risk it," he said softly.

Elphaba pursed her lips.

"Okay," she said. "But only if I can't translate them."

"Yes!" He pumped his fist and hugged her tightly.

She didn't know how to respond and just stood there stiffly until he let go.

Guess she better start studying. Elphaba took the book to the library and cleared away her books on medicine. Dr. Dillamond had sent her a list of books along with the prices, so she sent him money in return, and he sent her each book. She likely could have found them from the book shop in town, but she wanted to support him.

Elphaba grabbed every book on Old Ozian Languages she could, set up at the desk, and got to work.

~o0o~

By the time the snow attempted to melt, Elphaba had tried everything she could to translate the words in the spell book. Her friendship with Fiyero was steadier and she actually enjoyed learning how to fight, though there were aspects she still couldn't quite get the hang of.

"I don't see when I'm going to need archery skills," she huffed. "I can throw a punch now!"

"Number one, it's a good way to practice coordination," said Fiyero. "Number two, it's fun once you get the hang of it. Let me show you again."

She sighed softly and handed over the bow. He pulled an arrow out of the standing quiver and nocked it, then went into position. They had set up in the ballroom after outside proved to be too cold and windy.

"You hold it at a slight angle so you can see the target," he said. "You pick a section to focus on between your arrow and the target, taking the wind into account, in this case none. It's not about power, it's about being concise and doing the same thing each time. You take a breath, relax your hand, and let loose with the exhale."

The string rolled off his fingers and the arrow zipped through the air, landing smack in the middle of the target.

"Do another one," Elphaba said, impressed.

He grabbed another arrow and loosed it. There was a crack and the second arrow split the first, getting stuck part way. Elphaba gasped and clapped. She'd only ever read about that sort of feat in books.

Fiyero grinned and winked at her. "Best archer in the Vinkus."

"I see," said Elphaba. "You didn't really want to teach me archery, you just wanted to show off."

He chuckled and waved her over.

"You try now," he said.

She sighed and took the bow back. She made a pitiful attempt at firing and the arrow just hopped pathetically and landed at her feet, clattering loudly against the floor.

"Try again," said Fiyero gently. "Just nock it and get into position, but don't draw back just yet."

She did so and he stood behind her.

"Don't put too much tension in your arm," he said. "Hold it straight and the bow at an angle like this. Keep your body straight, widen your stance a little so you're solid."

He guided her gently, keeping one hand on her elbow so she wouldn't hyper-extend it, then placed his other hand over her hand on the string. Her heart skipped a beat and she ignored it.

"Draw it back," he said. "Not too much, just so your thumb touches your jaw, that's your anchor point. Now let the string roll off your fingers."

The arrow sped through the air, hitting the target. It wasn't even close to a bulls-eye, but she still hit it.

"Much better," Fiyero praised.

Elphaba felt her cheeks warm and handed the bow back.

"I think I need a break," she said, flexing her fingers. "Here I thought I was in shape."

"It takes different muscles to do this," he said.

"So, you like archery?" she asked.

Fiyero nodded. "Way more than any other training and it was the only one I felt like was… fair."

"Fair? How so?"

"Sparring and sword fighting is fine, but there's still this whole deal where my opponent is afraid of killing a prince or even besting him," he said. "So I could never trust if it was my own skills or if they were just holding back to let me win. I felt that less so with archery. You either hit the target or you don't and anyone I ever met was too competitive to throw a match."

"I can see that," she said. "Munchkinland mostly focuses on farming but there are always things going on during festivals. Horse racing, polo, chicken chasing."

"Chicken chasing?"

"Yes, you wear a blindfold and get into a pen with a few other women and then you let a chicken or a duck loose in the pen and you try to catch it."

He laughed. "Sounds like fun."

"It's fun to watch," she agreed. "And, of course, there's the usual competitions to see who has the best vegetables, bakes the best pies, and has the best livestock. I once submitted a pie and I won the blue ribbon, but when I came forward and said I baked it nobody believed me. Father was angry, too."

"For what?!" Fiyero demanded.

"Embarrassing him?" She sighed and shook her head. "I don't know. I could harness the moon and stars and he still wouldn't be happy."

"What sort of pie was it?" Fiyero asked.

"Apple-huckleberry," she said.

"That sounds delicious."

"I'll make you one when you're human," she said. "How's that sound?"

"I look forward to it," he said, tweaking her braid.

After getting tea, Fiyero joined her in the library. She was used to him hovering over her shoulder by now while she worked.

"So, made any progress?" he asked.

"No," she sighed. "It's been months and all I can pick up are words here and there that don't actually help me translate the spell. Maybe it's some unknown dialect. I think we may have to start going spell by spell and writing down what happens in a second book."

"Well, isn't that how many great wizards created spells?" said Fiyero. "Just trying stuff and seeing what happens?"

"Yes," she said. "But I'm worried. I don't want to cause trouble."

Fiyero took her hands.

"I promise you right here and now," he said. "I am not going to get angry at you for using magic. We're in the mountains, this is an enchanted castle, and the town is a safe distance away. You can experiment. Alright?"

She bit her lips and nodded.

"Well, I guess the place to start is from the very beginning," she said.

"A good place to start," said Fiyero.

Elphaba smiled and turned to the first page.

~o0o~

"Itchita copita meleka mystica!" said Elphaba, pointing a finger at Fiyero.

"Oh! Oh! I feel something happening!" he said and touched his head. "Am I growing hair?"

He was growing hair. Black as night. It sprouted on his head and face and hands. He shivered and shuddered, then bent backwards. He shrank down and down until the fur shed off in a puff. Elphaba tipped her head. He looked like himself… but also like a cat. Wooden limbs and a pumpkin head with a cat's face carved into it.

Elphaba stared at him, then grabbed her pen and made a note.

"Number sixty-one: spell to turn subject into a cat," she murmured.

Fiyero looked at himself and groaned.

"I couldn't even be a real cat?" he huffed. "It wouldn't be ideal, but at least I would be flesh and blood!"

"Sorry, Fiyero," said Elphaba. "There is one good thing though. The fairy's curse on you means that all other spells are temporary even though the spells in this Grimmerie appear to be permanent on other subjects."

"I really don't want to hear a bright side right now," he said, his new tail made of a vine flicking irritably. "Try something else."

"Oo-tay Ah-tay Nomus Gomus!"

A garden gnome appeared in the pile next to the others she conjured.

"Stop casting that one!"

She tittered and looked at the next spell.

"Ah May Ah Tay Ah Tum Ditum," she chanted, repeating it twice as most of the spells in the book required.

Fiyero looked down at himself, then back at her.

"I don't feel any different," he said.

They both poked around the room to find what it could possibly have done. Elphaba paused, hearing something rattle. She looked at the spell again, then screamed as something ripped through the air straight at her.

A broom landed right in her hand, humming with energy. Elphaba furrowed her brow and turned it over.

"Is it a come to life spell?" Fiyero asked. "But then… why a broom? Why not a chair or any of the books?"

"I don't know," she said. "But I'll find out what's up."

The broom launched itself upwards, dragging Elphaba along with it. She held on for dear life, screaming as it flew around the room in circles.

"Help!" she cried.

"Let go!" said Fiyero.

"Are you mad?!"

"Trust me!"

Elphaba braced herself and unclenched her hands. She crashed into something, but her fall was broken. Fiyero staggered backwards, having caught her, and collapsed. Elphaba rolled with the momentum, head over heel. She toppled into the bookcase and stopped on her back with Fiyero's head on her stomach and her feet sticking straight in the air.

"Who turned out the lights?" Fiyero asked from under her skirt.

Elphaba dropped her head back and caught her breath. She watched as the broom spun in circles above them.

"Well, you're back to normal," she panted. "Thanks for the catch."

"Anytime."

She eased him off her lap and scrambled to her feet before picking him up and inspecting him for damage.

"I'm fine," he said. "You're not hurt are you?"

"No, I'm not," she said. "But I think— EEK!"

Something grabbed her waist and she whirled around to see his body still groping around to find his head.

"Sorry about that, it has a mind of its own sometimes," he said.

Elphaba rolled her eyes and placed his head in his hands. He fixed himself up and got his clothes from the pile on the floor.

There had to be a better way for him to wear clothes.

"There we go," she said, stuffing the last handful of straw into his chest.

The broom returned to Elphaba. She tentatively took it and studied it.

"Fiyero… I think maybe we should stop," she said. "Whatever this curse on you is, I think it's more powerful than the spells in this book. I… I don't think any of them will turn you human for good."

He went still for a long moment.

"No," he sighed and plunked down in a chair, small bits of straw flying out. "But there's gotta be something useful in there. And if we figure the spells out, then others can use them, right?"

"I guess," she said. "I'm sorry. I really wanted to help."

"Maybe there will be one that can turn me human again for just a day," he said. "I think I could live with that."

Elphaba pursed her lips.

"Let's just… take a break," she said. "There's time to go back through it."

"You did get your wish though," said Fiyero.

"I did?"

He gestured to the broom.

"It flies and it supports your weight. Now you aren't tied down."

She blinked and looked at the broom in her hand. Yes… she could fly, couldn't she?

Elphaba bit her lip and straddled the broom. She breathed deeply and exhaled.

"Fly," she whispered.

A wind seemed to sweep around her as she kicked off the ground. The broom carried her along towards the ceiling. She urged it left and right then down. She laughed gleefully, speeding out the open doors and through the corridors of the castle.

"Open a window!" she called out.

The one at the end of the hall opened and she burst out, soaring up to the sky.

It was the most wonderful feeling of her life! The wind on her cheeks, the cool air, nothing tethering her to the ground. She let her hair loose from its braid so she could feel the wind in it. She flew higher until she touched the clouds. Water! They were made of water! She burst out of a cloud and a goose honked in surprise.

Elphaba laughed and dove down, zooming through the trees. The broom seemed intuitive to her thoughts, moving easily. She could fly into town, she could probably fly across Oz!

Though she felt like she could have flown forever, she headed back to the castle. She spotted Fiyero standing on her tower balcony with Chistery balancing on the railing, and came in for a landing.

She touched down and stumbled. Fiyero caught her before she could face plant. Her legs felt like jelly and she was shaking from the adrenaline. She laughed and looked up at him.

"Now that was fun!" she said.

"Really? Seemed kinda boring to me," he teased. "I can tell you absolutely hated it."

She chuckled and smacked his chest.

"I'll take you with me tomorrow," she said. "I think we'll both be able to fit."

"I'd like that."

Fiyero brushed her hair out of her face and dragged his fingers through it.

"I've never seen your hair down before."

Elphaba felt a strange jolt in her stomach and stepped back. She set her broom against the wall and gathered her hair over her shoulder in an attempt to wrangle it.

"I think that's enough spells for today," she said, feeling flushed. "You know, this broom will make it easy for me to clean the hard to reach places now!"

Fiyero laughed. "Easier than lugging the ladder around."

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled.

"Exactly."

"I… I'll go get started on the clean up," he said. "Those ceramic gnomes from spell twenty-seven aren't going to remove themselves!"

He hurried to the stairs and pulled the torch bracket so he could slide down, Chistery close behind him.

Elphaba sat down and breathed deeply to slow her heart down. Adrenaline. Plain and simple.

Nothing more.