Alternatively:

But through lies, betrayal, and misunderstandings, things had changed in peaceful Oz.

With the construction of the yellow brick road, not only did fortresses come out of the Emerald City and highly respected visitors...at the end of the day, it was a messenger from Governor Nessa who hurried to the little house in Munchkinland.

The red cross was painted for all to see that they could get medical help here, the wooden door was always open, and inside, the young nurse wanted to treat herself to some peace and quiet after this exciting day.

Until the knocking and hasty entry made her jump out of her chair to see who it was.

“The governor would like you to come to the private hospital area, a patient in urgent need” came the brief explanation from the man in the gray uniform, enough to make her grab her bag and rush with him to the large building.

Is it about Nessarose? I can't help you she thought as she recalled the countless conversations.

She hoped that with her knowledge she could get Nessa to leave, but that was not possible; perhaps the wizard himself could accomplish it.

But she was only a nurse, had learned what the books had to offer and produced a few of her own potions, but she was no witch.

Following the gray uniform, it was unusual for them to use the servants' entrance so as not to be seen by everyone.

The wooden interior of the mansion was warm but quiet, too quiet for a place where political matters were discussed.

Something was wrong.

Walking down the hallway, they came to a smaller, secluded area with few windows and little access from the outside.

“Miss Governor, how can I help you?” she asked when she saw Nessa at the door, a look of concern and fear on her face that told her something even worse had happened.

She had seen her as a friend just a few weeks ago, a study partner at Shiz University, but since all the hatred and chaos, something seemed to have broken between them all.

The friends they once were seemed like a dream they would never dream again.

The dark-haired woman came over to her, seeming to search for the right words. “There was an accident, my sister's fault...please make sure he doesn't suffer” came the request, which was supposed to be neutral, perhaps even cool, but she heard the uncertainty in her voice.

For a brief moment, she placed her hand on Nessa's shoulder, “I'll do my best. You take care of your duties during this difficult time” it sounded more like an order than a suggestion, something the dark-haired woman seemed to understand as she turned to attend to her tasks.

With a nod, Thropp rolled past her, presumably back to her private quarters so that the other could do her best. Sending the uniformed man away, she entered the room.

She had been here many times before, a small infirmary large enough for a handful of patients, but she saw only one.

In the rather sterile and bright room, sporadically furnished with dark wood, she saw Boq lying on the bed.

What was neutrality and professionalism in the face of suffering love?

How could she remain calm when the man she loved, who loved her, lay there completely exhausted?

Rushing to him, she uttered a stunned, “Oh, Boq! What happened?” when she saw his trembling, twitching body. His gray uniform seemed to have fused with his skin in some places, his fingers were covered in tin, he seemed to be in increasing pain.

His ice-cold hand reached for hers with a strength that almost frightened her, “My...my heart, she destroyed it, she-” he began as a wave of new pain pierced him and he clutched his chest as if the tin were spreading further and further.

She quickly took the stethoscope out of her pocket and held it to his chest as best she could, given the tin fabric.

Her own heart was beating far too fast, a roar in her ears as she tried to hear his... but there was no heart.

There was no heart.

There seemed to be no life in him.

Seeing her frightened expression, he gave her the hint of a smile, his hand clasping hers. “Is it that bad, my honey cake?” he asked, and she pressed her ear to his chest, but no matter how long she listened, she could not hear a heartbeat.

Even now, in this dark hour, he had tried to cheer her up with his reassuring manner, regardless of the consequences.

“The Governor said it was Elphaba” she tried to explain to herself why their former friend would do such a thing, just because Boq had revealed his feelings that he didn't love Nessa? Could honesty have done this to him?

But the redhead shook his head weakly, his red, frizzy curls seeming to turn grayer and grayer, all life seeming to drain out of him more and more.

“Witches! Both of them! I can no longer have love, a body without a heart, without life” he wailed and seemed to try to get up as his body lost more and more of its original form.

To stop him, all he needed was a simple push, which sent her off balance, away from him, stumbling backwards, she held on to the table as best she could to keep from falling.

Fear struck her when she realized that this magic could not be undone; she was powerless.

Watching him try to find his bearings, the fire glinting off the metal as he clung to his rage, “Revenge on the witch... she took everything from me” he said, moving awkwardly toward her.

Each step clattered, tin clanking together, and his face was almost completely covered.

Her heart pounded with fear and worry, but she stood her ground, not backing away from her love. “I'm still here, my heart beats for us, please, Boq” words of hope that barely touched his mechanical interior as he slowly and gently placed his hand on her cheek.

His coldness was unpleasant, not normal, but the eyes she looked into, the soul's reflection, were still his. “Revenge is now my task, but you will forever be the feeling of love” he confessed, and tears blurred her vision as she realized he was saying goodbye.

With the magic, he now had something else, not a normal life, he had something to cling to so as not to lose himself completely in rage.

The tin fingers wiped the tears from her cheeks as she placed her own hand on his chest, where she could hear the whirring of his now mechanical insides.

Standing before her was now a Tin Man, not the red-haired, kind-hearted Boq from Munchkinland. The only thing she had left was the knowledge that he once was, that he still was, as she kissed his metal lips.

Warmth met cold as she pulled him close one last time, his tin arms closing around her as gently as possible as he allowed love one last time.

As love blossomed in the tin man for the last time, she was the only one who knew that he had a heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~