The young monkey's panicked cry still echoed through the stone chamber.

"Master! Oz is in ruin!"

Chistery turned toward him, alarm tightening his voice. "Calm yourself, lad. Do tell us everything."

The young one gulped air. "It's Madam Morrible. She's escaped her prison. She's unleashed her magic on the Emerald City—torn apart the palace, taken hostages. Glinda has been locked away, stripped of her powers. The people… they're terrified. And she's using it. Using them."

Elphaba stood frozen, her hands trembling. "Morrible…?"

The monkey nodded gravely. "She's grown more dangerous than we imagined."

Something inside Elphaba shattered.

"I trusted that woman!" she screamed, her voice shaking the tower walls. "She was the only one who ever saw past my green skin. The one who taught me the magic I know now. And now she's hurting the people I love!"

Her knees gave out, and she collapsed into Fiyero's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. He held her close, gently stroking her hair as he whispered soothing words into her ear.

"We'll stop her, Elphaba. We'll put an end to this together. You're not alone."

"I can't go back," she choked out. "They still think I'm wicked. If they see me, they'll think I'm helping her."

Ozma stepped forward, her voice calm and steady. "Then I will tell them otherwise. They will listen to me—I am their rightful ruler. And I will make sure they see you for who you truly are."

Chistery dropped to one knee. "Please, Master. Oz needs you. If you don't go back—if you don't clear your name—everything will be lost."

Elphaba stared at him, the desperation in his eyes echoing a voice from the past.

"You must let me help you, Elphie… Please, clear your name…"

Glinda, years ago. Begging her to clear her name the same way Chisterly was now.

Elphaba blinked away the memory, wiped her tears, and stood tall. "You're right. It's time."

The journey to Oz was long. Days turned to weeks, And then months. But at last they arrived, and were horrified by what they saw.

The Emerald City burned.

Flames curled around once-glorious towers. Smoke blotted out the skies. Ozians screamed and scattered through the streets as shadows swept over them. Elphaba stood at the edge of the chaos, her cloak whipping in the wind, eyes narrowed with purpose.

Chistery fluttered beside her. "Master, what shall we do?"

Elphaba didn't hesitate. "First things first—we find Glinda, free her, and restore her powers."

They wove through broken streets and ash-choked alleyways until they reached an alley full of Ozians being held against their will. As they wondered the alley lined with cages, barred by twisted iron and spells, they found her.

Glinda.

Her dress was in tatters, golden hair knotted and wild, her usually radiant face pale with fatigue. But when she saw Elphaba standing before her, magic glowing at her fingertips, her eyes filled with something brighter than hope.

The door burst open, the enchantment broken. Glinda surged forward, throwing her arms around Elphaba, holding her like a sister thought lost.

"You're alive," she whispered. Then she pulled back, her voice suddenly sharp with anger. "You led me to believe you were dead! I had to stand by while the Ozians celebrated my best friend's death. And worse—I had to pretend to be happy with them. Do you know how awful that is?!"

Elphaba lowered her gaze, guilt flooding her. "I know. And I'm sorry."

Glinda drew in a breath, eyes shining with restrained fury. "None of this would've happened if you'd just stayed. If you'd cleared your name like I begged you to. Faking your death might be the most wicked thing you've ever done."

Elphaba winced. "I thought I was protecting you. I didn't realize I was abandoning you."

Glinda turned to the others. "I'm afraid I won't be much help. Morrible has stripped my powers from me."

Ozma stepped forward, serene and glowing. "Then allow me."

Glinda turned, stunned. "Princess Ozma?! I thought you were missing!"

"She was," Elphaba said. "We freed her."

Ozma smiled warmly. "Elphaba and her companions were kind enough to free me from the tower that held me these many years. Now take my hand."

Glinda reached out. As their fingers touched, a golden light bloomed between them. In an instant, Glinda's body pulsed with restored power, her eyes widening with awe as magic surged back into her veins.

Together, she and Elphaba turned toward the chaos.

The battle was swift—and beautiful.

Winds answered Elphaba's call. Light poured from Glinda's staff. Together, they shattered chains, freed hostages, and turned Morrible's illusions to dust. Winged Monkeys flew overhead, guiding frightened Ozians to safety. Ozma stood tall, her presence calming the people.

In one shadowed alley, Elphaba found a young woman caged behind a wrought-iron gate. She looked to be no older than Elphaba was during her first year at Shiz. She had dark brown hair and wide eyes, frightened but brave. As Elphaba broke the bars, their eyes met, and the woman gasped.

"You… you're the Witch…"

Elphaba paused. There was something hauntingly familiar about her. The shape of her face. The way she stared with wonder and fear all at once.

Could it be her?

Before she could ask, a dozen Ozians rounded the corner—and froze.

Their eyes widened, not at the destruction, not at the flames, but at the woman in green who stood at the heart of it all—not causing chaos, but stopping it.

The silence stretched.

Elphaba sighed, brushing soot from her cloak as she turned to face them.

She had some explaining to do.