Obligatory Disclaimer: None of the characters from Wicked belong to me.

Standard Gelphie Disclaimer: This story depicts love between two women, though it is not graphic. If that offends you, then it's best if you move on to something else, and I am truly sad for you.

This story is a sequel to Recovered. While it isn't totally necessary to have read the first story, a lot of background will be lost if you don't. In other words, I'm not responsible for your impending confusion should you decide not to. ;-)

The Renegade Complex

Chapter 1

The citizens of the Emerald City had been nervously going about their normal routines as much as they could over the last few days. The unsettling weather and land shakes had everyone on edge, in spite of the fact that Tanon, representative of Glinda the Good, had initially reassured them that there was nothing to be afraid of. The problem was, Tanon hadn't been heard from in the last couple of days, so no one was really sure what to believe. It was easy to let one's imagination run wild when such frightening times emerged. Rumors had spread that Madame Morrible had escaped, and regained her ability to manipulate the weather with the intention of exacting revenge on those who had condoned her incarceration in the first place.

The inhabitants of Oz, fickle as they were and in spite of the fact that they had seemed to have their confidence restored by Tanon's explanations about the strange weather , pushed the borders of hysteria due to the silence that followed his initial reassurances. Some Unionists felt that they had somehow angered the Unnamed God, and sought atonement for their perceived iniquities. That morning, news that Glinda would be coming to address the masses regarding the strange weather had eased a bit of the tension. However, there was still the lingering insecurity as to what news she might bring. They needed answers. For all, the answer was arriving in the form of a pink bubble making its way through the Emerald City.

"LOOK, IT'S GLINDA!" a man yelled as he pointed out the bubble transport. Quickly the citizens of the Emerald City rushed to where the bubble was headed, at the steps of the former Wizard's palace.

Excited whispers could be heard as everyone waited for Glinda with nervous anticipation. Glinda settled her bubble at the top of the steps, and materialized before the awed crowd. She smiled, straightened her sparkling, pink dress and made her way to the edge of the top stair.

"Fellow Ozians, we have all been through a trying and fightening time. I know you have all been confusiated by the events of the past few days, and I must confess that I didn't help matters. I hope you'll forgive me when I tell you my reasons." Glinda bowed her head in a most humble manner.

In the crowd, a tall, red-headed woman made her way closer to the base of the steps, as the crowd murmured with confusion at Glinda's opening statement.

Glinda noted the anxious whispers, and for the first time, she felt a twinge of nervousness speaking in front of the large gathering before her. She cleared her throat, then continued with her explanation. "As you know, the Grimmerie, a magical book of spells, was stolen from my residence more than one year ago. We had no evidence pointing to the perpetrator of the theft, but that didn't mean we had given up on the search. A few days ago, the distant storm we all witnessed was the first definish sign of the Grimmerie we had seen."

The crowd started muttering again. The tall red-headed woman reached the base of the steps. She eyed Glinda skeptically, crossing her arms and throwing daggers with her eyes at the diminutive blonde.

"As we had determined that the storm was indeed the work of an enchantment from the Grimmerie, it was all too clear what we needed to do. In the wrong hands, the Grimmerie is a dangerous and potentially lethal weapon with the power to destroy. I had no choice but to try to recover the book, and see it safely back to my home in Gillikin. Only then would all of Oz be safe."

The crowd looked around nodding approvingly at one another. The red-head kept her arms crossed. She was unconvinced.

"So my fellow Ozians, I must sincerely apologize for asking my trusted right hand man to try and curb your fears by telling you there was nothing to be afraid of. The truth is, if I had failed in my mission, there was much to be afraid of."

The crowd let a small, collective gasp escape.

Glinda's nervousness heightened, but she didn't show a hint of it. Seeking to quell the fears of the crowd she continued. "Now people, I said IF I had failed." She smiled broadly. "I am here to tell you that as we speak, I couldn't be proudlier at the fact that the Grimmerie is back in my possession, stored securely at my home in Gillikin, and the man who stole it is safely in custody."

All but one in the crowd applauded at the news. Glinda curtsied, relieved that there was no seeming backlash from the crowd for having initially lied to them about the severity of the storms and what they meant.

"Glinda, who was responsible for stealing the Grimmerie?" a man in the crowd yelled out.

"Well, I must tell you, it's someone you are all familiar with. The Grimmerie was stolen by Baraq of The Glikkus."

The crowd gasped again.

"But don't worry." Glinda continued. "As I have already stated, he is in custody, safely tucked away in the underground cave prisons of Southstairs. There is no longer any reason to fear him. So now, fellow Ozians, if there are no more questions, we will put this all to bed, and speak of it no longer."

As no one had anything else for Glinda, the crowd began to slowly disperse, delivering praise and accolades to Glinda as they departed. All, that is, but the red-head who made her way over to the object of her disdain.

"Well, if it isn't Glinda the Good, finally gracing us with her presence once again."

Glinda turned to see who was addressing her, then rolled her eyes and breathed a sigh of disgust. "What do you want Phanica?"

"Now Glinda, is that any way to greet an old friend?"

"You've never been my friend. Now what do you want?"

"I just wanted to see what Glinda the Good has been up to. Your appearances have been pretty scant these past few years, but I'll say this for you, when you do make an appearance, it's always done with a quite a flourish."

"If you're quite finished…."

"Oh I'm not nearly finished. In fact, I've just begun Miss Glinda the Good."

"Are we back to that again? You bringing up my title every chance you get? It's a done deal Phanica. Get over it."

"You know that title doesn't belong to you. It belongs to me. I don't know why the Wizard bestowed that designation upon you. I had been working my way into his good graces for years before you made your way to the Emerald City. Then suddenly, out of the blue you're given the title and all the empowerment that goes with it."

"Jealousy doesn't suit you Phanica. Although you'd think I'd be used to it by now. Do you think this is easy? Do you?"

"Oh I'm quite sure that it's extremely difficult for you to endure the adulation of the Ozian masses, the constant praise and the entire hullabaloo that surrounds your very appearance."

Glinda pursed her lips and walked right up to Phanica, meeting her angry stare. "Let me tell you something little Miss 'I deserve what you have'. When I was young and immature, the praise and the adulation really meant something, but at some point, I had to grow up. You should try it sometime."

Phanica looked for a moment like she would strike Glinda, but Glinda stared her down, daring her to try.

"It's not all about the adulation and exaltations Phanica. There's serious work involved here. You try being the source of everyone's happiness. You try to have people depend on you every single tick tock of the day. You deal with the expectations, and maybe you'll find that with expectations come limitations. Limitations that prevent you from your own true happiness."

"Oh, poor Glinda! Has the glamour of government and high society already worn off?

"You don't get it Phanica, and you never will. I don't see that we have anything further to say to each other, now if you'll excuse me…"

"What? Heading off so soon? But Glinda, we've barely become reacquainted."

"Excuse me!" Glinda started to turn away, but Phanica reached out and forcefully grabbed her arm.

"Let go, you're hurting me." Glinda said angrily as she tried to pry herself from Phanica's grip.

Phanica leaned in, putting her face within inches of Glinda's. "Listen to me you fraud. There's something wrong with the story you just told. There's no way that someone like you just waltzed into Baraq's domain, recovered such an important article and waltzed right out in a matter of days. Someone helped you. Someone that you didn't mention, so either you want all the credit for yourself, or you're protecting that someone. I intend to find out which and expose you for the fraud you are." Phanica abruptly let go of Glinda's arm, turned on her heels and left.

Glinda was stunned. She felt her heart racing. If Phanica found out about Elphie, and Fiyero it would be disastrous. She needed to sort things out. She needed to talk to Tanon. Any thought of reuniting with Elphaba any time soon was now out of the question. Taking a deep breath to help calm herself, Glinda waved her wand and began her journey back to Gillikin.

In the shadows of the Wizard's palace, camouflaged by the landscaping, a pair of eyes observed with keen interest, the confrontation between Phanica and Glinda.

'This is perfect!' the hidden man thought. 'Absolutely perfect!'