Every Part of You

by 11glacierfreeze11 (cam133cam)

Summary:

Elphaba Thropp and Fiyero Tigelaar were different in just about every way possible. Elphaba was a hard-working student, scientist, sorceress, and just about everything else. Fiyero was a prince who did nothing but socialize, flirt, and party. Or so it seemed. When the two of them form an unlikely connection, they find they have a lot more in common than they once thought. What could possibly tear them apart?

What would be the price of keeping that love alive?

Fiyeraba Frankenstein Fic

Notes:

Hello!

I'm back and with more angst. Also more fluffiness. This takes place in Oz, sort of meshing the Musical and Movie worlds together with some book references, but most importantly, this is heavily inspired by Frankenstein, so Elphaba is going to be a bit different. Part one is all of the meet-cute stuff, seeing how the world starts out differently, a bit of foreshadowing, and all of the good stuff. Part two is where the more unsettling stuff will begin.

I'll be uploading three times a week, so pretty fast! Part one will be throughout September, part two will start in October for spooky month.

POVs will be listed at the beginning of each chapter or shift.

Thanks for reading!

Chapter 1: Prologue/Chapter One

Part One

Prologue

Glinda

 

The Emerald Palace basement was the only part of the building that wasn’t green. Dark stone made up the walls and floors, devoid of any daylight.

Glinda the Good walked down the dark halls of the Emerald Palace’s basement, holding herself in a sophisticated and composed manner. She had settled on a simpler dress for this visit, a dress in tones of blue, green, and purple, with a small white coat over it. 

Glinda reached the prison’s entrance, nodding to the two guards by the door, who let her pass. Only two or three torches lit the area, with no lights in the cells. The stone floors looked as though they haven’t been cleaned since the palace was first built. Glinda made a mental note to improve the prison as one of her changes.

The very last cell was one modified with a very specific prisoner in mind. The bars were enchanted to keep in magic, there was no window or any form of a potential exit, and the space was only large enough for one person. A simple wooden bench was all the prisoner had.

And yet Glinda had the feeling that the prisoner could escape any time she wanted.

The Wicked Witch of the West didn’t even look up at her visitor. Her long black hair was undone, falling around her face. Her black dress and long white coat were stained with mud and grime. Chains were around her feet, binding her to the wall. She held a small loaf of bread in her hands, but it was uneaten.

“Elphaba,” Glinda said, her voice full of practiced diplomacy. “It was Elphaba, correct? Elphaba Thropp?”

There was no response.

“When’s the last time you’ve eaten?”

Glinda watched the prisoner fumble the food between her hands. The green fingers broke off a crust of bread, bringing them to her mouth, and that was all she ate. 

“Just now,” Elphaba muttered, her voice full of dry sarcasm.

“Elphaba,” Glinda said, more gently, this time. “I have never truly agreed with the Wizard. I thought I did, but once I learned of his plans, I tried to fight back. And now he is gone, and Oz won’t be the same as he operated it.” Glinda came closer to the bars. “Elphaba. He is not the one deciding your fate. It’s me.”

Elphaba let out a quiet scoff. “Nothing I say will matter. You’ve always hated me anyway, haven’t you?”

Glinda bit her lip, considering. “Not always,” she finally said. “I know more than you might think. And I would quite prefer to spare you from execution. Your speaking may help lessen the severity of your sentence.”

There was no humor in Elphaba’s demeanor anymore. She leaned her head against the stone wall. “Or make it worse,” she muttered. “I’ve done…so many terrible things. Things that other people don’t forgive me for.”

Glinda looked away for a moment. Perhaps that was true. But… “You’ve turned yourself in, haven’t you?” She asked, looking back. “Out of guilt? Justice?”

Elphaba weakly shrugged.

“Then that has to account for something, doesn’t it?” Glinda said. “And I myself know that not…all of…the rumors are true.”

Elphaba let out a long sigh, rubbing her face. 

“Elphaba, I know we’ve never gotten along,” Glinda admitted, a pang of guilt in her chest. “But I’m not here to talk about any of that. I know you’re not as horrible as they say.”

Elphaba’s next words were asked in a haunted whisper. “But what if I am?”

Glinda hesitated, her heart full of pain. “I’ve heard of some of the good things you’ve done, too. From…from Fiyero.”

At the sound of his name, Elphaba stiffened. She quickly looked away. “When?”

Glinda sighed. “How about you tell me, and I’ll tell you. And…maybe talking about it will help you more than you think.”

Glinda waited for Elphaba to respond. She needed to discuss with her council soon on Elphaba’s fate, but she didn’t want to do so without receiving the entire story. She laced her fingers together while she looked expectantly at the prisoner.

After a moment’s pause, Elphaba finally spoke. “Why don’t you come back later, when you have some more time. And perhaps some water. It’s…a long story, if you wanted to know everything.”

“I do,” Glinda assured. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

“I’ll try to remember it all,” Elphaba said, leaning back against the wall with a sigh. “But in case you thought anything otherwise, this story is not a cheerful one.”

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter One

 

 

 

Eighteen Years Ago

 

Frexspar

Frexspar was conversing with two merchants, discussing a matter of important business, having no idea what was currently happening in his basement. 

“I do hope you’ll continue to use our roads for travel,” Frexspar said, pouring the two men a drink. “And I will get to work on the shorter route straightaway.”

“I would hope so,” one of the men said, taking his glass. “I would suggest it is done sooner rather than later. Munchkinland is not an easy place to travel around, you know.”

“I am aware,” Frexspar said. “Don’t worry. I’ll be sure to send a message the moment we conclude our discussion here.”

The man sneered. “Good. I do not want any more of my time to be wasted by these setbacks. Such foolishness on your part is…” The man trailed off, sniffing the air. “What is that?”

Frexspar inhaled deeply, then recoiled at the smell of rotting vegetables.

“I would hope that is not your cook,” the man said disgustedly.

Frexspar wracked his brain to think of an excuse, but before he could open his mouth, a distant booming sound shook the house.

The merchants yelped, one dropping their drink. “What are you playing at, Governor Thropp?”

“I…I must’ve…”

The man angrily grabbed his hat, storming out of the room with his companion. “If we are to ever meet again, it most certainly can’t be while your own mansion is a cursed, squalor jungle!” 

The two men were gone in an instant.

Frexspar stayed in his office, attempting to control his breathing, but when another boom shook the house, he stomped to the basement stairs.

Frexspar opened the basement door to see young Elphaba sitting on the floor happily, surrounded by a room full of multicolored plants he had never seen in his life, bright red stems twisting as they continued to thicken, several of them reaching to the ceiling.

Elphaba turned to him with a grin, her bright green skin covered in soot. “Look at this! I made these plants grow all by myself!”

Frexspar’s mouth fell open. “I…how…”

“Oh, it was easy!” Elphaba picked up her book, flipping through its pages. “See, I just got angry, and then one of the plants grew. So then I put some fertilizer on them, and a few of these,” she held up a jar of liquid, “because the book said it makes plants grow faster. So then I added extra, and some evian powder, and then I ran around and got angry again and…look! I wonder what kind they are, I’ve never seen–”

“Elphaba, enough!” Frexspar shouted.

Elphaba’s smile fell. “But…but I–”

“Just…stop, Elphaba!” Frexspar yelled, a hand clutching his hair. “You just…I don’t even know. Did those plants just crack the ceiling?” 

Surely enough, the plants were still growing. There were already cracks in the plaster spreading across the ceiling, most likely responsible for the earlier explosion, and the damage was still continuing. A small chunk from the ceiling broke away and onto the floor, with the hole raining dust onto Frexspar’s jacket.

“Enough of this! No more reading, no more potions, no more experimenting, no more magic! You need to stop!”

Elphaba’s shoulder hunched inwards. The plants suddenly stopped their growth, now beginning to shrivel.

Frexspar looked at the plants, letting out a grand sigh. “And didn’t I tell you to watch over Nessarose?”

“...yes, but Nanny said she–”

“Oz, I don’t even care,” Frexspar muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. “How am I supposed to clean this?”

“I can try to–”

“Don’t you dare,” Frexspar commanded. “You’ve caused enough damage already. Now go to your room, and if I ever see you do anything like this again, you’ll be lucky if I ever let you touch a book or plant again!”

Elphaba

Elphaba sat in the middle of the floor of her room. The door was closed and locked from the outside, as if that would stop her. But Elphaba didn’t feel like leaving today. 

Elphaba absentmindedly toyed with the pencil beside her, but her journal was untouched, left on an empty page. She had hoped to record the success of her experiment, but her motivation for doing so was nonexistent. 

She wondered if she should try her experiments somewhere else. Outside, perhaps. Deep in the forest where the only ones to see her would be the apple trees and occasional birds. Maybe they would love more plants. Once Elphaba learned to stop the explosive effects, that was.

Or maybe she should listen to her father. Maybe she should stop. But why should she? There didn’t seem to be anything wrong with it. After all, she was just trying to make something wonderful. Why didn’t he see that, too? But every time she tried to show him what she had done, or given him a gift, he would tell her to go away. 

Maybe he would never care.

Elphaba sighed and put away her journal, then scooted to her stack of books deemed appropriate by her father. She immediately pulled out her favorite: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She flipped to the center page, gazing at the illustration.

The Wizard had magic. And he made inventions, too. He even loved green. And everybody loved him. What made her any different?

Elphaba’s finger traced the outline of the Emerald City. She would get there, one day. She would make things that people would love, too.

She would meet the Wizard eventually.

No matter what.

Fourteen Years Later

 

Elphaba

Shiz was smaller than Elphaba expected.

Elphaba, with her bag slung behind her, her schedule in hand, stared up at the looming floors and vine-draped walls of the school. Shiz University. Apparently one of the most esteemed colleges in all of Oz. It was no Emerald City University, but it would have to do. For now, anyway.

Elphaba glanced back down at her schedule. She frowned at the number of classes, specifically remembering that she had requested more, but she had apparently exceeded the credit limit. Particularly, sorcery wasn’t on the list. Evidently she had not made it into Madame Morrible’s seminar. 

The other issue was that there was no room assignment. She heard catches of other conversation amongst students, excitedly speaking of roommates, so they must have received theirs. Although Elphaba wasn’t fond of the idea of roommates, she also didn’t want to sleep on a stone floor. Oh well. She might as well ask.

Elphaba crossed the courtyard to find Nessa. Students who saw her quickly gave her a wide berth, clearly staring at her. Elphaba smirked and tried to stare at them right back, but there were too many. She had expected this. She had already made “the speech” when she first arrived. She wasn’t seasick, didn’t eat grass, didn’t know why she looked the way she did, and had always been green. And surprise, surprise, it did nothing to lessen the stares. 

Elphaba found Nessa sitting in her wheelchair, frowning at her own schedule. 

“Did you not get a room assignment, either?” Elphaba asked.

Nessa glanced over her shoulder at her sister. “No. Did they not get our request?”

“Apparently not. Just our luck.”

“The Shizstress is over there,” Nessa said, pointing to a woman speaking with another student. “We could ask.”

Elphaba nodded and followed behind Nessa as Nessa wheeled her chair forward. The Shiztress saw them coming, clearly evident by her initial kind expression at Nessa and then the discomfort at seeing Elphaba.

Elphaba waited beside Nessa. “Excuse me,” her sister asked. “We didn’t receive room assignments.”

“Oh, oh, my,” the Shizstress said, focusing entirely on Nessa. “Yes, Miss Nessarose, correct? The Governor’s daughter?”

“And Miss Elphaba,” Elphaba added. “The other daughter.”

“Erm…yes,” the woman said, deliberately avoiding her gaze and digging through her papers. “Aha! Yes, Miss Nessarose, I have you here. You have a private suite directly across from my own for easier accessibility and care. Yes, why here,” the Shizstress went behind the wheelchair to move Nessa. “I’ll bring you there myself!”

“Wait a minute–” Nessa protested.

“She’s fine,” Elphaba said. “But what about me?”

“I’ll take care of it in a moment,” the Shizstress said, continuing to push Nessa. “Don’t worry, Nessarose, your father was very clear in his concern…”

“Hey, let go!” Elphaba demanded. The Shizstress continued to ignore her. Fuming, Elphaba dodged around the scattering of students to make it in front of Nessa. “Let her go!”

Wind burst from Elphaba in a circular blast. Students all around her shrieked as the intense wind caused them to stagger back, the Shizstress included, who was screaming loudest of all.

Nessa had been unaffected by the burst of magic, staring at Elphaba in shock. 

Elphaba looked around at the people knocked over. “Sorry!” She called out. “Someone just didn’t know proper boundaries!”

“Elphaba!” Nessa cried, aghast.

“Well, it’s true,” Elphaba said. “You hate being pushed without asking and you told her to stop.”

The Shizstress had gotten to her feet, her hair wild, staring at the two of them mutely.

“I asked you to try and control yourself, didn’t I?” Nessa insisted. “Oz, Elphaba, I just…I just wanted to be seen as normal for once.”

Elphaba looked away. “It wasn’t even that powerful,” she muttered lamely. “I’ve seen Munchkinland breezes with larger gusts.”

Nessa didn’t say another word as she pushed herself out of the courtyard. The Shizstress scurried away.

Elphaba stared at the ground. Brilliant. She was already ruining her sister’s precious reputation. 

Today was not going how Elphaba had hoped. Of course. Why should she have been allowed to hope in the first place? First, Shiz hadn’t seemed like the esteemed school Elphaba had hoped it would be. After all, she was only allowed to attend since it was where Nessa was going. Then there was the obvious example of the entire campus shrieking when they saw her, but that was hardly anything new. Then she didn’t get all of the classes she wanted. Even worse, she hadn’t been accepted into the sorcery seminar. And then there was making her sister even angrier at her.

Elphaba scowled, pacing. What a brilliant start to a brilliant year.

“Excuse me.”

Elphaba sharply turned. “What?!” She shouted, ready for the next terrible thing to ruin her day.

Her emotions lashing out with her voice, a burst of magic came from her fingertips before she recognized it. A large, ceramic pot housing a fern several feet tall launched itself forward, smashing against the wall next to the one who had spoken to her.

The older woman gasped and stepped back, avoiding the ceramic shards. A cloud of dirt had landed over her robes.

With a start, Elphaba realized who this woman was, recognizing her from the school brochures. Madame Morrible. The dean of sorcery herself.

“Oh my Ozness, I am so sorry,” Elphaba stammered, hesitantly stepping forward. “I…oh my, I’m sorry, that just happens sometimes…”

Madame Morrible was an older woman with silver hair and a hardened expression. Still watching Elphaba, she reached out to brush the dirt off of her robes. Her robes were shimmering with embedded glitter, standing out against the dark red color.

Elphaba bit her lip. Was she going to get expelled before school even started?

Morrible examined Elphaba as if she were a statue. Morrible tilted her head. “What is your name?”

Elphaba nearly forgot it herself. “E…Elphaba Thropp, Madame.”

The corners of Morrible’s mouth curled upward, a faint smile. “Elphaba.” 

Elphaba stood where she was. Morrible was going to tell Elphaba’s father, wasn’t sure? Or perhaps find some way to immediately get Elphaba to leave the school.

Morrible turned, facing the students who still lingered to watch the unfolding drama. “Which one of you would like to–”

“Madame Morrible!” With clicking heels against the stone floor, Galinda hurried over, her hand raised. 

Ugh. Galinda. She had been one of the first people Elphaba had run into, and after screaming in disgust, then acting sorrowful about Elphaba’s “condition,” had muttered to a friend that Elphaba was "fluorescent." 

“Thank you, Galinda," Morrible said. “That is very good of you.”

Galinda’s smile was pasted onto her face. “Um. Yes?”

“Elphaba, you can room with Miss Galinda,” Morrible said. “She was very kind to offer, and after all, she has her own private suite with plenty of room. You were in need of a room assignment, yes?”

“Yes,” Elphaba muttered. Perfect. Galinda was her roommate. Perhaps that was her punishment. Galinda looked equally shocked and horrified. 

“Now that that’s settled,” Morrible said, gesturing for Elphaba to walk with her. “Let’s talk. I saw your display of magic there, and I would be honored to accept you into my seminar this semester.”

“This semester?” Elphaba asked, put off by Morrible’s pleased expression. Elphaba scurried to keep up with Morrible’s elegant strides. “I thought I wasn’t accepted.”

“Yes, I do not teach it every semester,” Morrible said. “Until I saw your skills. Elphaba, you cast real magic, without a wand or incantation. I would like to tutor you privately.”

“Privately?” Elphaba was unsure of the mounting joy growing in her chest. “I…Madame, are you sure? I’ve been told my entire life that my magic needs to be kept under control. I nearly hurt you with it.”

“It must be controlled,” Morrible admitted. “But you must practice to properly harness it. Why, Miss Elphaba, I see a bright future ahead of you! Perhaps even with the Wizard himself!”

Elphaba stopped in her tracks, her eyes wide.

Morrible smiled at Elphaba's reaction. “Magic is all too rare these days. You should not be surprised that your skills are more than valuable. You have great potential.”

“I…I just…” Elphaba stammered, unable to resist the growing smile on her face. Her? And the Wizard? 

“In fact, I think I shall write to the Wizard,” Morrible said. “Tell him of you in advance. With a talent like yours, I am confident you will be able to work alongside him one day if you work as you should. Perhaps sooner than you think.”

Morrible gave a knowing smile at Elphaba’s expression. “I will give you time to think. In the meantime, I will see you after classes are over tomorrow. You’ll be making good, Miss Elphaba.” As Morrible went to leave, she put a hand on Elphaba’s shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod.

Elphaba continued to stand there. Students and hallways were stretched out before her, but she didn’t recognize them. To her, Elphaba was all alone in a field of poppies, walking on air.

The Wizard. And Elphaba. Working together. Sooner than she thought.

Perhaps she didn’t need the Emerald City University after all. Perhaps this would be the true place where Elphaba would be able to prove herself. 

Her joy began to give way to anxious planning. She certainly had to be ready to prove herself. The Wizard was skilled at magic, yes, but many other things. Elphaba needed to make sure she was even ready to hold a conversation with him. She needed to study twice as hard in all of her subjects. Politics, yes. Science, definitely. There most certainly wasn’t an invention class or club, so Elphaba would have to make do in studying the Wizard’s inventions. Alchemy? Why not? Something to make herself more useful.

But in the meantime, Elphaba let her plans slide for just a moment, and allowed herself to entertain the idea of all of her dreams coming true.

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

 

Elphaba

Elphaba was somehow simultaneously the happiest and the most stressed she had ever been in her entire life.

Weeks passed into months, not quite in a blur, but in a jagged routine. Classes took up most of her day, but she still had time left over. She considered joining other clubs or study groups, but decided she could be more productive on her own. Those clubs and groups were probably much happier without her, anyway.

Most of her classes were child's play to her, requiring nothing, but some intelligence and follow-through (which couldn’t be said for most of her classmates, who were seriously lacking in the intelligence department). The only thing that made her school life particularly difficult was the level of homework she received. It was her own fault for signing up for so many courses, but her work was usually never truly difficult. Nothing she couldn’t handle.

One of her easiest, yet most enjoyable classes, was History. The professor, Dr. Dillamond, was a Goat. She knew most of the course material, but the reason she loved it was because of the professor himself. He had more information on Animal History than she had ever learned. Although he didn't discuss Animal rights in class, he was more than happy to educate her outside of class hours. 

In fact…Elphaba could say that the professor had perhaps become…a friend.

Well, Elphaba could only assume they were friends, since she hadn’t made many (or any) in her life. But Dillamond had a similar love for knowledge and research, and the two kept up with each other’s ideas. And despite being a professor, Dillamond, too, was something of an outcast. Not many students were fond of the fact that he was a Goat, occasionally making offensive remarks behind his back. Elphaba didn’t care, nor did Dillamond care about her complexion. She was grateful for his company, and found herself always looking forward to his classes and tutoring sessions.

Unfortunately, that was just about the only social highlight she received. Nessa was just as cold to her as she had been on the first day. She was even more distant than she had been at home, now preferring to spend all of her time away from her sister. Elphaba occasionally tried to make small talk whenever they ran into each other, but Nessa would answer her questions as briefly as possible before leaving.

Madame Morrible was a mixed bag. Elphaba wasn’t fond of the way Morrible always watched Elphaba’s powers, and was even less fond of Morrible’s constant encouragement, even when Elphaba was doing quite badly. And most of her homework involved…sitting by herself, breathing deeply, and trying to clear her head. What kind of work was that? Not work at all! Still, Morrible was kinder to Elphaba than others, just with a strange insistence that Elphaba put most of her focus and energy on sorcery. Elphaba had protested her explanation being that the Wizard wouldn’t care just about magical powers, but the promise of one’s intellect, as well. Morrible had lessened the pressure, but Elphaba had the feeling she disapproved of Elphaba’s lack of total commitment to magic.

And Galinda…Galinda was a nightmare. Everything about her was intolerable. Elphaba knew she would loathe that girl from the moment they met, but Galinda always found new ways to surprise her. The obvious examples were the way Galinda had her horde of friends, partied every other night, laughed at Elphaba in class, and always fawned over fashion choices (and mocking Elphaba’s lack of such). Then there was Galinda’s flippancy with study. Or perhaps it was the fact that she claimed to be a good student, when in actuality her methodology was socializing with professors instead of actually learning. And even worse was the room space. Why did Galinda need so much room for her needless clothes and accessories? Elphaba needed room for all of her own books, cauldrons, boards, bottles, and tables. And then there were simple things, like the sound of her voice. Every time Galinda started to speak (mostly to herself), Elphaba couldn’t wait for her to shut up. And so, so, so much more about her was irritating. 

Luckily, after a few weeks, Elphaba didn’t need to interact with Galinda much, for one of the nicest gifts she had ever received was presented to her.

Dr. Dillamond and Elphaba had grown closer, with Elphaba requesting more tutoring sessions just to hear more unheard history and requesting books for her to read on her own time. Dr. Dillamond learned of Elphaba’s other studies (and space management crisis) and had offered Elphaba his spare office. He had said that he rarely used it, since it was designed for a human, and that Elphaba was allowed to spend as much time there as she pleased, and to place in it whatever she wished.

Elphaba had been close to shedding a tear, even though she had never done so before. Instead, she allowed herself to run around the empty office space with giddy, childlike laughter before moving in all of her equipment.

Once all of Elphaba’s materials were inside…it truly began to feel like home. 

When she wasn’t in class, Elphaba was in her study. And when she wasn’t in her study, she was sleeping (although sometimes she fell asleep on her study table instead of going back to her shared room). Most everything inside was hers. She was free to do her homework there, read, write, draw, sew, and most importantly, continue her experiments.

Her alchemy class was almost laughably easy, everything she had already known. So instead she practiced mixing her own brews and creating her own magic items. She was much further ahead than that silly professor–whom she doubted had ever made a potion in his life–and learned much more on her own. Still, she went to class and did her work. It was minimal effort.

Between her classes’ workloads and the time in her study, Elphaba didn’t have much time for anything else. Not that there was much else to do. Or anyone to do it with.

Elphaba had Boq in one of her classes. Boq was the closest person she had that could possibly be considered a friend when growing up. Other than an occasional ‘hey,’ helping him answer a question, or sitting near him during class, they rarely interacted.

Other than one major event.

Elphaba had caught Boq talking with Galinda, possibly much louder than he intended. He had offered her his pencil when there was already clearly one sitting on her desk. She had batted her eyelashes at him with a fake sweet smile and gave it back. Boq seemed flustered despite the clear uninterest on Galinda’s behalf.

Dear Oz, it was nauseating to watch.

After watching a few more interactions like this, Elphaba felt like she owed Boq a helping hand. She waited until after class, stalling Boq a little to be away from the students, before she confronted him.

“Do you like her?” She bluntly asked.

Boq had sputtered and turned bright red. “I…well…what makes you think that?”

“Your rather pronounced hyperpigmentation whenever she’s around, for starters.”

If possible, Boq seemed even redder.

“Boq,” Elphaba said firmly. “Look. I think you’re a nice boy. Which is why I’m telling you this. Galinda is not the one to be obsessing over.”

“I’m not obsessing!” Boq protested. “Look, everyone thinks she’s pretty. It’s nothing special. Just…maybe she’ll notice me, too.”

“I doubt she notices more than her own reflection,” Elphaba scoffed. “It better just be a little crush. Galinda is not the one for you.”

Boq’s brows furrowed, finally seeming legitimately angry. “Why?”

Elphaba folded her arms. “You’re too good for her.”

Boq’s mouth fell open in shock. “Elphaba!”

“Just being honest.”

“Well, you can stop it!” He insisted. “Galinda is so much nicer than you think, she’s so good.” He must have noticed Elphaba’s annoyed expression, because he shouldered his bag and scowled. “And next time, I’ll ask if I ever need relationship advice. Although it most certainly won’t be from you.” He left.

Well.

Elphaba was bitter about that conversation for the rest of the day. Galinda was clearly a vain blonde socialite hypocrite, why didn’t everyone else see that? It wasn’t relationship advice, it was just the truth. She was only trying to help. And just because Elphaba would never be in a relationship didn’t mean that she shouldn’t have any opinions about them.

But she learned her lesson. It wasn’t really any of her business, she supposed. Her and Boq continued their brief interactions after that, never mentioning what was said before.

But soon there was something much more serious to worry about, anyway.

About two months into the semester, Dr. Dillamond decided to do a lecture on Animal History. Elphaba paid attention in earnest, trying to ignore other students’ lack of interest. Although she knew most of the information from what Dillamond had taught her, she took diligent notes.

Until the board was turned around and the horrendible words were shown. ‘ANIMALS SHOULD BE SEEN AND NOT HEARD.’

Elphaba wasn’t sure if she’d been angrier about anything else in her entire life.

Dillamond dismissed the class quickly afterwards.

Elphaba stayed behind to speak with him. Dillamond seemed dejected, no longer curious about who had done such a thing. He must be used to similar occurrences. But Elphaba was furious on his behalf. She looked at the board, adjusting her glasses as she squinted at the chalk which formed the long, tall words.

Who would write this? And why would they? Was there an Animal dismantler at their own school?

Dr. Dillamond confirmed that it was still the case. History was unfolding right before their very eyes, and unless something was done…Animals would fade away completely. 

And for once…Elphaba felt like there was something more important to her than reading and guessing how problems should be solved. 

Now…they needed to be solved.

Elphaba had met with Dr. Dillamond that night, away from the main building, further on campus grounds at an old meeting hall. Dillamond helped fill her in on current events. Animals were being shunned, being stripped of their rights. Elphaba had known most of these things, but it was eerie to learn how fast these problems were occurring.

But Dillamond shared with her the most haunting news of all: Some Animals were losing their ability to speak.

How could grown Animals just…forget how to speak? And apparently lose part of their minds as well, as if reverting back to animals instead of Animals.

The concept was disturbingly intriguing. 

Although Dillamond said it shouldn’t be her concern, Elphaba vowed to help in whatever way she could.

After the meeting concluded, Elphaba thought to herself. 

What could have stopped Animals from speaking? Something in their brain chemistry? Some sort of disease? It couldn’t possibly be an evolutionary matter, the cases were much too quick for that to be true. There must be a specific cause, something making this happen.

Maybe Elphaba could find out what. Or maybe if she couldn’t find out what…maybe she could find something to prevent it.

After all, her alchemy professor knew seemingly nothing, and all of her potion-making textbooks were outdated. 

What a better experiment to begin work on than this? 

Some kind of cure to help Animals retain their ability to speak.

Elphaba left the meeting hall, new books on Animals and a lantern clutched in her hands as she made her way across the campus grounds. She was not in high spirits, but in energized ones. Her mind raced with different hypotheses and ideas. She started noting ideas of where to begin looking.

Perhaps her spinning thoughts was why she didn’t register the Horse and the rider barreling right towards her.

Elphaba only heard galloping hooves a split second before it would have been a painful mistake. An absentminded Horse and his rider were coming right toward her, oblivious.

Elphaba screamed as she leapt to the side to avoid getting trampled, falling in the bushes painfully.

“Whoa!” She heard a male’s voice. 

“Did not see her!” Muttered a much older, deeper male voice, presumably the Horse.

“Neither did I!”

Elphaba cursed to herself as she struggled with the bushes, pulling herself out of the poking twigs.

“Excuse me miss,” she heard the young man say. “So sorry about all of that, you must have…”

Elphaba turned, adjusting her glasses and finally looking at him. 

The young man was possibly older than she was, but still young, perhaps a student himself, but she had never seen him around. His tanned skin and elegantly messy styled hair shone in the moonlight, but the lighting of the night made it unclear if his hair was brown or blonde. His clothes seemed expensive, even though it was nothing more than a white shirt, vest, and pair of brown slacks and boots. 

Just great. She knew his type.

But more than her looking at him to try and get a sense of him, Elphaba knew that he was looking at her.

“...must have…blended with the foliage,” he finished awkwardly. 

Elphaba scowled at him, brushing off her hair to get rid of remaining leaves. “Is this how you go through life? Trampling anyone in your path?”

The young man continued to stare, finally getting his shocked expression under control. “Um…no. Not always. Sometimes I’m asleep.”

That drew a sharp laugh out of her. “What a convenient excuse.”

"Just the convenient truth,” he countered, watching her with amusement.

Elphaba squinted, studying him. He hadn’t made the usual remarks yet. “Well, you haven’t accused me of seasickness yet. You’re doing better than most.

The man’s brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”

Elphaba sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Let’s just get it all out of the way. No, I’m not seasick–”

“Nor am I–”

“No, I didn’t eat grass as a child–”

“You didn’t? I did.”

“No, I do not scientifically know why I am this way–”

“What way? Talkative?”

“And yes, I have always been green,” she finished, waiting for him to make another stupid remark.

He didn’t disappoint. “And the defensiveness? Has that always been there, or is it a recent development?”

Elphaba’s nose wrinkled. Behind them, the Horse was silently wheezing with laughter. The young man smirked, tilting his head as he looked at her.

And surprise, surprise, “the speech” had done nothing once again. He was still making fun of her. Not that she expected any different. It was just irritating, as it always was.

Elphaba sighed. “Okay, great, nice to meet you, thanks for almost killing me, and I hope you have a great story to tell your friends that you met a green girl.” She turned on her heel to walk away.

“Wait,” the young man called. “I’m up for some more trampling. May we offer you a ride?”

“No thanks,” Elphaba called back, not bothering to look at him.

“Hey, wait!”

Elphaba sighed and stopped, hearing his quick footsteps behind her. “What?”

He caught up, stopping beside her. “You forgot your lantern.” He offered it.

Elphaba looked at the gesture for a moment, more surprised than anything that he had bothered to give it back. Maybe trying to catch another look at her. 

Elphaba didn’t touch it. She snapped her fingers together, creating a small ball of flames floating above her palm to light her own way. She caught a glance of his eyes widening in surprise, but didn’t look back as she walked away.

Notes:

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