Elphaba had begun to drift off, the pain from her wounds catching up with her, when the sound of angry footsteps brought her back. She looked up to see that it was Fiyero, and he began to undo her restraints.

"You have set yet another plague upon me. Because of you, my son lies dead."

"That is not my doing."

The green woman was free, and Fiyero grabbed her by her shirt, throwing her to the ground. "You wish to free your people and Oz from my reign? Then the time has come for us to have our final duel."

"Fiyero—"

The ruler of Oz delivered a swift kick to her ribs, cutting her off. "You have no say in this, Munchkin. One of us will die, so get to your feet and draw your sword."

Elphaba used the wall to help her stand, and Fiyero threw her sword at her feet. The green woman leaned over, picking up the weapon before straightening up. Fiyero lunged at her, and she was just able to raise her sword in time, blocking his own weapon from cutting into her. Her wounds from before had weakened her, and she found herself losing the deadlock.

Kumbricia, give me the power to survive this… if not for me, then for Galinda and our child.

The green woman managed to push Fiyero away, and she thrust her arm out, sending him flying backwards with a wave of energy. The once emerald prince turned and fled up the stairs, knowing she'd have more of a chance outside the confines of the dungeon.

"Elphaba!" Fiyero shouted after her, charging up the steps. "Face me like the man you used to be!"

The green woman turned just as Fiyero swung, catching her arm. Elphaba put a hand to the wound, trying to lift her sword with her now injured arm, but Fiyero hit her in the stomach with the hilt of his sword, knocking her down.

"There was a time you could have defeated me so easily, and now look at you. You think you can kill me, Elphaba? And what if you do? Will you be better for Oz? A Munchkin woman?"

"You brought Oz to this state, Fiyero. You let your envy and hatred of me consume you, and now your son is dead at your own hands!"

The ruler of Oz swung at her, catching her across the face. Elphaba put a hand to the new wound, looking back at Fiyero.

"What will you accomplish by killing me? It will not stop Kumbricia; she will find another to take my place. My people will continue to fight for their freedom."

"You have been a thorn in my side since the day you were born. The Wizard always preferred you… everyone did. I was older, yet I had to live in your shadow. Once I kill you—"

"It will solve nothing! It won't bring your son back… and it won't make Sarima love you any more. She is all you have left…"

"Enough! I will kill you, then I will resume my duties as the ruler of Oz. The Munchkins will remain in slavery… and the Emerald City will be built, no matter how many must die in the process!"

Fiyero raised his sword for the final blow, but a call of "Elphaba!" stopped him, and both turned towards the voice.

"Galinda…"

"Ah, the water girl. Come to see your wife… for the last time." The ruler of Oz raised his sword again, but Galinda threw herself at him, grabbing onto his arm. Fiyero shook her off, and the blonde hit the floor.

"No!" Elphaba started to get up, but Fiyero put another wound in her leg, forcing her back down.

"Even in exile, you lost nothing. Now it is your turn to feel loss. You will watch your wife die, and then you will be next."

Fiyero advanced on Galinda, and Elphaba got to her feet, thrusting out her hand and sending Fiyero flying with a blast of energy. The green woman ran to her wife, her leg throbbing. She grabbed Galinda's arm and ran upstairs, running to her old bedchambers and slamming the door, locking it behind her.

"Oh, sweet Oz… Elphaba…"

"It's not as bad as it looks," the green woman said as Galinda helped her sit on the bed. "Why did you come?"

"I was worried about you. Shell said you came here… what were you thinking?"

"I had to end this…"

"And look how well that's turned out! Elphaba, please… I can't lose you."

"Elphaba!"

The two looked up at the shout, and Galinda clung to her wife. Elphaba forced herself to her feet, holding her sword out.

"I will not let Fiyero harm you… or our child."

Sarima emerged from her bedchambers, seeing Fiyero charging up the stairs, sword drawn. She knew he meant to end this, and with nothing else to lose, the brunette moved in his way, stopping.

"Fiyero, you have to let this go!"

"Out of my way!"

"How many more have to die, Fiyero? Your mother, your son… is it worth all this?"

"Elphaba caused their deaths!"

"No, your hatred for her did!"

Fiyero held the sword at the queen's throat. "Unless you wish to join her, move. I am not above taking your life."

"Go ahead." Sarima's eyes shone with tears. "You have taken everything from me… my life is a mere ghost of what it once was. I have nothing left…"

For a long time, Fiyero had known that Sarima never belonged to him. She had merely been a vessel to carry his child, but now… the fact that she would rather die than live with him… it was more than the final straw. With a yell, Fiyero grabbed his wife before tossing her down the staircase, continuing on to the closed door of Elphaba's room.

"Elphaba!" The ruler of Oz gave the door a kick, forcing it open. He found Elphaba standing there, sword out, Galinda behind her. "Enough running. The time has come for us to finish what we started."

"Yes… it is time."

Fiyero lunged forward, and Elphaba blocked. The ruler of Oz thrust his fist into her stomach, causing her to double over. He brought the hilt of his sword down on her back and Elphaba collapsed. Fiyero stood over her, giving her a kick to turn her over. He thrust his sword down through her shoulder, missing her heart by inches, and the green woman let out a cry of pain as she was pinned to the floor.

"I have suffered long enough with you alive, Elphaba," Fiyero growled. "I am going to kill your wife, and then you." Fiyero pulled his sword out to deliver the final blow, and just before he could bring it down, Elphaba grabbed her own sword, thrusting it up and through her brother's stomach. The ruler of Oz stopped, sword still raised, his gaze fixed on Elphaba. The green woman pulled her sword out, and Fiyero fell to his knees.

"How…" Her brother collapsed, and Elphaba felt his spirit finally leave his body. She let out a sigh as she leaned back, one hand going to her shoulder wound.

"Elphaba!" Galinda rushed to her side, pressing her hands over the bleeding wound. "You killed him…"

"I had to… to protect you…"

The blonde's hands were turning red with blood, and she grabbed a cloth, pressing it to the wound. "At the cost of your own life?"

"You're carrying our child… and I had to fulfill my duty to Kumbricia."

Galinda shook her head. "Kumbricia… you've done everything she asked, and now she has abandoned you."

"No… there is still one more thing… I must do."

Six months later

"… and let it be forever known that from this moment on, the people of Oz are all free; none shall be slaves to any, nor shall man rule over man."

A great cheer rose up from the assembled, and Galinda wrapped her arm around the green woman's, smiling up at her.

"So many… how am I to govern them all?"

"You'll find a way…"

Elphaba looked down at her wife and the bundle she held in the crook of her arm. The green woman brushed back the blanket, revealing their sleeping daughter. She smiled, picking her up and kissing her forehead. Elphaba had gone from the emerald prince, to a Munchkin slave, to an exiled woman who was Kumbricia's chosen, and now the mother of the next ruler of Oz.

"Has the time come? Has Kumbricia spoken to you?" Galinda asked.

"Yes." Elphaba held their daughter up, watching as her eyes fluttered open. "She shall be named Ozma, and she shall rule over this great land. Oz will prosper under her name."