Chapter 1: Prologue/Chapter One
Chapter Text
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 Text
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.
Chapter Text
Chapter Three
Elphaba
To Elphaba’s annoyance, the boy who nearly crashed into her wasn’t a quick visitor. No. Apparently he was a new student. It seemed as though Elphaba was the only one who wasn’t aware of who he was.
The next morning, Galinda had woken up unreasonably early to stress over her appearance and practice flirtatious expressions in the mirror. After nearly an hour of trying to fall back asleep while Galinda huffed in the background, Elphaba gave up. She rose quickly, got herself ready, and went to the campus for an early breakfast.
There seemed to be more students up and around at this time, whispering with each other, occasionally about her, but now their thoughts seemed to be focused on something else.
“Did you see him yet?”
“No. It’s probably too early, isn’t it? But I don’t want to miss him!”
Elphaba figured whoever they were talking about, it didn’t matter. After eating by herself, she waited until a familiar face entered: Boq. She quickly approached him.
“Who is everyone talking about?” Elphaba demanded.
Boq looked around for a moment, puzzled, then nodded in realization. “Oh, yeah. Today’s the day that new student is supposed to be here.”
Elphaba could hardly care less. “Why is everyone so interested?”
“Well, he’s royalty. I think his name is Prince Fiyero Tigelaar, prince of the Vinkus. I heard my roommate talking about it, he was planning on trying to impress him.”
Recalling her encounter with the man in the woods last night, Elphaba had a sinking feeling that she had already met this Prince Fiyero. “Oh. I see. That’s what Galinda was doing.”
Boq quickly turned. “W…what?”
“She was getting ready at Unnamed Godly hours,” Elphaba explained. “She’s probably trying to get with him, too.”
Boq’s eyes widened, then he cleared his throat. “Oh. Right. I see. Well…if you’ll excuse me.” He hurried away. She didn’t know what he would try to do, but she hardly saw the point in trying to gain Galinda’s attention.
So. Prince Fiyero Tigelaar. She recognized the last name, remembering that a long line of Tigelaars had ruled over every one of the Vinkun tribes, all of Winkie Country. It was one of the few royal lines left in Oz, seeing as how most other regions had accepted the rule of the Wizard and the Emerald City. She supposed that it was historically interesting, although she knew the real reason everyone was interested. Elphaba was never one for gossip, but her obsession with reading had led her to stumble upon stories of a scandalous prince who was Oz’s most eligible bachelor.
In other words, nobody really cared who he was other than the few things they knew. He was single, he was rich, and allegedly attractive.
Elphaba didn’t see the appeal. He was just a young man like all the rest. Perhaps more annoying, and a little wittier in his remarks about her appearance. Clearly Ozians were displaying their small-mindedness once again in regards to him.
Elphaba continued her day as she did any other. Her final class of the day was cancelled, so she decided to go to the library to spend her free time.
Walking along an open balcony on the second level, Elphaba stumbled upon the arrival of the prince.
A horde of students were in the entrance courtyard, gathered along the walls to watch the new student arrive. Prince Fiyero walked a bit ahead of his Horse with something of a swagger, hands in his pockets, his expression casual, as if he didn’t notice everyone staring. He wore a different outfit than the night before, with an elegantly embroidered jacket, and his Horse’s saddles were packed as if he had just arrived.
Which, of course, wasn’t the case. Elphaba had seen him last night.
Elphaba rolled her eyes and continued on her way. Her thoughts lingered on Fiyero for a moment more, but then shifted back to her focus.
In the library, Elphaba searched until she found books that might aid her in creating a cure for the Animals: Mammal Anatomy, Encyclopedia of Known Potion Ingredients, and Plagues, Pestilences, and Diseases.
Elphaba was on her way to exit the library when she noticed Nessa sitting by herself at one of the study tables. Elphaba hesitated, shuffling the books in her arms, then went to sit next to her.
Nessa glanced up. “Hello.”
“Hi. Is it okay if I sit here?”
Nessa nodded politely, but Elphaba thought she saw a flash of annoyance in her sister’s eyes.
Well, Elphaba couldn’t say that she hadn’t been trying. Unsure what to do or say, Elphaba eventually flipped open her encyclopedia and started scanning the table of contents.
After a few minutes of working in silence, the library grew louder than usual. A small group of students had entered the building, some pretending to look busy, but mostly waiting at the entrance. A few moments later, Prince Fiyero Tigelaar entered, closely followed by Galinda.
Brilliant. So Galinda had already managed to capture the prince’s attention. Elphaba hoped this didn’t mean Galinda would be rising earlier every single day.
Fiyero strolled close to Galinda, briefly glancing over the library’s features. When his eyes fell on Elphaba, his mouth quirked into a smile and he gave her a little wave. Elphaba rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her book until he walked past.
Elphaba glanced at Nessa, noting that her sister was like everyone else and couldn’t help but watch Fiyero out of the corner of her eye.
Or maybe that was just because Fiyero was starting to make a scene.
Fiyero and Galinda briefly walked around the remainder of the building, and Fiyero was now sitting on top of one of the tables, practically stepping on the books resting on the bench. He was having an animated discussion with Galinda, then started involving those listening.
“All I mean is that life is a lot less painful if you stop focusing on school all the time,” Fiyero was saying. “Stop thinking so hard!”
“But it’s forbidden to go off of campus after hours.” Boq was there as well, and he didn’t seem pleased. “Not to mention the Ozdust is notoriously scandalocious.”
“Even better!” Fiyero spread his hands, gesturing to everyone around him. “Come on, live a little! Life’s too short to put all of your energy into ridiculous things like thinking.”
Galinda giggled. “Well, I suppose it depends, doesn’t it?”
“On what?”
“If you’ll be available for a dance,” Galinda said, tilting her head in just the right way.
Fiyero responded with a wink. “So I’ll be seeing you all there, then? Perfect, we’ll meet up and start sneaking out around eight.”
Elphaba let out a long sigh as the group of students began to disperse, chatting to themselves, making plans. “Can you believe this?” she said to Nessa. “A prince shows up and suddenly the whole school has to indulge his wants.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Nessa said, somewhat dreamily. “He did have a point though, didn’t he? Life’s too short to spend all of this time working.”
Elphaba frowned. She couldn’t agree less.
When Elphaba went back to her dorm, she was irritated to see that once again, Galinda was fussing over her appearance in front of the vanity mirror.
Elphaba withheld a sigh and started unloading the contents of her bag onto her nightstand.
“Elphaba,” Galinda called.
Elphaba froze. They rarely spoke to each other, at least, not willingly. “What?”
“I have a surprise for you!” She called in a sing-song voice.
Elphaba hesitantly moved closer, instantly cautious.
From behind her back, Galinda revealed…a hat.
Elphaba hadn’t quite seen anything like it before. The black hat had a wide rim that would frame the forehead, with the crown of the hat pointing upwards in a somewhat cone-like shape.
“For you,” Galinda announced.
Elphaba blinked. “What?”
“It’s a gift,” Galinda proclaimed.
Elphaba hesitated. “Why are you giving me this?”
“Oh, you know I have too many hats,” Galinda said. “Why not give one to you? And, more importantly…I think it would look lovely, especially when you wear it to the party tonight!”
Elphaba nearly laughed. “What? Why would I be going to that?”
“Oh, come on, the entire school will be there,” Galinda said. “Don’t pretend like you don’t want to.”
That was exactly why Elphaba didn’t want to.
“Here,” Galinda insisted,” shoving the hat into Elphaba’s hands. “It’s the perfect style to go with you. And I’ll see you there, alright?”
Elphaba didn’t know what to say.
Galinda gave one last dazzling smile before gracefully exiting the room.
Elphaba turned the hat in her hands. She cautiously approached the mirror, looking at her reflection for a moment, before placing the hat over her head, adjusting the wide rim to reveal more of her eyes.
Elphaba looked…different. Perhaps…in a good way. The hat was tall and bold, and at the moment, it was the most distracting thing about her, not the fact that she was green. It fit nicely, and was in a color that Elphaba always liked.
And…it was a gift.
Galinda had given it to her, allegedly out of the goodness of her heart. Elphaba wasn’t sure if she trusted that, but still. It was a kind gesture.
Perhaps Galinda really could be good–occasionally.
Elphaba smiled a little, daring to hope for a moment. Looking at her reflection once again, she took off the hat and set it on her nightstand.
She’d wear it tomorrow.
Elphaba certainly wasn’t going to the Ozdust tonight. Even if she wasn’t busy with her own experiments, she wouldn’t be interested in going. What would she even do? Stand around the corners? Try and find whatever non-alcoholic beverages were being served? Or Oz forbid…dance? No, that certainly wasn’t her. Why go in and say hi to two or so people before leaving again? That would be the only reason for going. And none of those people would want to spend more than a few seconds with her, anyway.
The choice wasn’t much of a choice. She wasn’t going.
But maybe…Elphaba would still show her appreciation for Galinda in another way. She’d wear the hat tomorrow during school, just so that Galinda would know that Elphaba liked the gift.
Elphaba gave the rim of the hat a final pat before turning to her bag.
Now.
Time to get started.
Chapter Text
Chapter Four
Elphaba
Elphaba wasn’t sure what time Galinda came back from the Ozdust. Elphaba thought that she had stayed up late herself reading through her books and starting to find places to collect ingredients, but when she made it back to the dorm, Galinda was still gone. What Elphaba did know was that she was woken up once again by Galinda’s early rise with getting herself ready. Galinda did seem considerably tired, muttering as she dabbed makeup over the bags under her eyes–as if anyone would dare to point them out.
Elphaba tossed and turned for a while before she finally was able to doze off for a brief moment, waking up when Galinda was gone.
Elphaba stretched and rose out of bed, getting ready for the day. When running her hand through her closet, she hesitated. She organized her clothes in rotation, so she could cycle through what to wear. Most of her clothes were a black or dark gray she paired with a Shiz jacket, but she had a few pristine white skirts and coats so she could easily identify spills in her work. She had a few other semi-formal items in the back of the wardrobe, untouched.
If she was going to wear Galinda’s hat today, maybe she should try to make more of an effort.
After a few minutes of internal debating, Elphaba decided on a navy blue top with a long laced black skirt. She redid her braid, combing the strands of her hair neatly back. For added care, she also decided to put in a pair of dangling dark blue crystal earrings. To finish off the outfit, she placed the hat over her head.
Elphaba looked at her reflection in Galinda’s vanity mirror. She looked…a little different. Maybe even somewhat fashionable. The hat really made her seem much taller than she was, but if anyone would know about fashion, it was Galinda. Hopefully Elphaba wasn’t making a mistake with the rest of her outfit choices.
But looking at herself like this…it made her stand up a little straighter, removing her slight slouch. It made her want to look a little more…nice. Not pretty, she would never be pretty. But a little more sophisticated, perhaps. A little less like a freak, maybe.
Maybe Galinda was right. Maybe she really was trying to help.
She slung her bag over her shoulder, committed to carrying herself with more purpose throughout school today.
Elphaba knew something was wrong the moment she entered the dining hall. Students seemed a little more lively, chatting with each other, presumably about last night’s events. Some were missing, probably sleeping in from the occasion, but nonetheless, the atmosphere was a little different.
But that wasn’t what made it…wrong.
More faces tilted her way than usual. And their expressions showed something worse than confusion or horror: amusement. Several of them were withholding laughter.
That wasn’t exactly a new response. Elphaba was used to people in the past laughing at her. But today was different. There was more of that than usual.
The more people arrived in the hall, the more she noticed it. Now she heard actual laughter, saw multiple people pointing Elphaba out to their friends. And they weren’t exactly pointing at Elphaba, but rather…what she was wearing on her head.
That hat.
Her first few classes weren’t much better. Every single time she entered the room, students would give a snort of amusement and point her out to the others surrounding them, who would hide smiles. Once, on the way out, Elphaba caught a glimpse of the margins of someone’s notes, which had a sketch of a girl with pointed ears and sharp teeth wearing a triangular hat. The girl who drew it showed it to her friend, and the pair burst out into laughter.
Elplhaba’s expression remained neutral, but she felt her ears burning. She dug her nails into her palms.
Hilarious.
By the time lunch came around, Elphaba didn’t bother going into the dining hall, knowing there would be more people in there than ever. She should have brought a sack lunch today. But Elphaba now resigned herself to skipping food and found one of her favorite places to sit: a ledge in the building that had enough room for a person to sit if they jumped high enough. It was on one of her favorite buildings to look at, as if the building was all carved from a single block of stone. Statues or ornate carvings were often in the walls, but at the back of the building where she was, she didn’t need to worry about touching any of them. The only nearby ornament was a statue of the founder of Shiz at the corner of the building.
Elphaba set her bag beside her on the ledge. She considered taking off the hat for a moment, since it was doubtful that anyone would see her, but left it on.
Elphaba reached into her bag and pulled out one of her notebooks. She flipped through some of the back pages for a few minutes, reading over her notes from the previous night, occasionally adding a few. Until she heard a voice.
“That’s genius.”
Elphaba whipped her head up, worried for a moment that someone somehow knew what she was working on. But as she looked down to see who was talking, it was only Fiyero Tigelaar.
Elphaba frowned. “What?”
“That little ledge,” Fiyero said. He leapt up beside her, catching the ledge and pulling himself up. He stood on the ledge next to her, leaning against the wall. “This is a genius place to hang out.”
Elphaba scowled, tilting her notebook’s pages away from his line of sight. “I’m not ‘hanging out.’ I’m just sitting here.”
“Right.” Fiyero looked around the ledge, suddenly stepping away to place his feet on the ledge of a windowsill. Elphaba nearly gasped at his recklessness, even though it wasn’t too high of a fall. After scooting across the window’s edge, he made it to the corner of the building where he grabbed the staff of the school’s founder, halfway leaning in the air.
Balancing his foot on the edge and his hand on the staff, he turned to her with a grin. “Now who’s hanging out?”
“I…you…what are you…” Elphaba was unable to form proper words. “I…that was a terrible joke.”
“Thanks.”
“I mean…get down from there! Who knows how old that statue is?”
Fiyero shifted his weight to look at the base of the statue, giving a sideways shrug. “It says only about twenty years.”
“Still! That is an incredibly valuable piece of property! You can’t just–”
“Alright, alright,” he said, swinging back, walking across the windowsill and back onto the ledge. Plopping down to sit next to her, he gave that stupid grin again. “You could have just said that you wanted to sit next to me.”
“I…augh, stop that!” Elphaba snapped, her frustration burning her face. “I didn’t ask for that either!”
“This is a nice spot, though,” Fiyero admitted, looking around. “A little out of the way, but not too rebellious or dangerous.”
“Shouldn’t you be organizing another party or something?” Elphaba grumbled.
Fiyero shrugged. “Too soon. Got to miss the party a little, first.” Turning to face her again, he gave a little smile. “Shame you weren’t there. I bet you’d be quite the party animal.”
What was it with this boy and him saying incredibly stupid things? He really needed to stop that. Elphaba never knew what to say. Instead, she settled on glaring at him. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“True, I suppose.” He offered her a tilt of his head. “I’m Fiyero, by the way.”
“I heard.”
Fiyero smirked. “Flattered you’ve heard of me. And your name?”
“Elphaba Thropp,” she said. “And don’t pretend like you haven’t heard of me, either.”
Fiyero blinked, his smile faltering. “What do you mean?”
Elphaba gestured to her face. “I’m the green girl.”
“I knew that already.”
“But no doubt you’ve heard people talking about me like a freak in a circus,” she protested. “So stop acting like you’re trying to make a formal introduction.”
To her surprise, Fiyero shrugged. “And I’m the famed prince you’ve probably heard that is incredibly charming. And we’ve already been formally introduced. I believe me and my friend nearly ran you over. Sorry about that, by the way.”
Elphaba squinted at him. He was still sitting there. Talking to her. He wasn’t even flinching when looking at her. Maybe he was still too distracted by her ridiculous hat. Maybe he just wanted another laugh.
But. He just apologized. And he didn’t seem to care about the obvious problem with her.
Which was ridiculous. Everyone cared.
“Anytime you want to trample something, my offer still stands,” Fiyero said, now leaning back against the wall. “My Horse friend is a riot.”
“I’m good, thank you,” Elphaba said, wrinkling her nose.
Fiyero smirked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you’re trying to figure out if an awful smell is coming from me.”
“I am not,” Elphaba huffed. “I am just not fond of your…whatever your whole deal is.”
Fiyero gave an exaggerated pout. “Wow. Right to it, huh?”
“I’ve been told I’m blunt,” Elphaba admitted dryly. “But forgive me, I’m not used to people talking to me for this long, especially when they keep saying stupid things. And I am already having quite a miserable day and am in the middle of doing something, so I’m not that interested in hearing any more from you.”
Fiyero’s face fell, and for once, he didn’t immediately quip back at her.
Elphaba looked away, angry at herself, and examined her book as if she were very busy.
“What’s wrong?” He finally asked.
Elphaba shook her head. “Nothing, really.” It was only a partial lie. “It’s how things always are.”
To her surprise, Fiyero nodded. “It happens. Sometimes things are miserable, and there isn’t a reason.”
Elphaba’s eyebrows furrowed, and she turned to face him.
But Fiyero was already looking away. “Well,” he said, putting his hands on the ledge. “Since you’re in the middle of something, I’ll stop bothering you with stupid things. That will probably help you.” He leapt down.
“Oh.” Elphaba didn’t expect him to leave her alone so easily.
He gave a final smile and a small wave. “See you around, Elphaba.”
Elphaba watched him disappear around the corner, pausing only to look at the statue of the founder for a brief moment before leaving. Elphaba shook her head with an exasperated smile.
Well.
Maybe the prince wasn’t as bad as he seemed. At least he didn’t visibly laugh or shudder at her. Or maybe he was just good at hiding things.
After all, what he said implied that he wasn’t exactly as he seemed. Maybe even the dazzling Prince of the Vinkus had shadows trailing behind him.
Chapter Text
Chapter Five
Fiyero
So far, Shiz seemed like most of the other schools Fiyero had attended.
Perhaps the architecture was nice, and the more open layout of the campus. Fields and forests and a few rivers were close by, some encroaching onto the grounds. The Ozdust was close by, in the closest city to Shiz. Those things could be considered nice.
But everything else was about the same.
The constant attention. The looks. The attempts to cling to him as if they were flies drawn to honey. So he might as well try to make the most of it.
Fiyero was busy chatting with some other students he had found, one of them blushing excessively. The other two simply just..enchoed everything he said, instead of having real insights of their own. They just kept saying what a fun night they had at the Ozdust, plans to do it again, talk of how school was boring. The usual conversation topics.
“Fiyero!” A bubbly voice floated towards him, and in a flash of glitter and golden blonde, Galinda was by his side, daintily clutching his arm.
Fiyero grinned and nudged her. “Hello.”
“I’ve been looking for you all day!” Galinda protested. “So far we don’t have any classes together!”
One of the students Fiyero had been talking to, Crope, chuckled. “You and Galinda are together, then?”
“Oh, yes,” Galinda immediately chimed in. “Instant match.”
“Instant,” Fiyero agreed, noticing the blushing girl from earlier muttering something about needing the restroom before hurrying away.
“Well, you two do seem like the perfect couple,” the other friend, Tibbett, agreed.
“Oh, you’re too kind,” Galinda said with a dreamy giggle.
Fiyero looked at Galinda with a smirk.
Yes. Shiz was definitely the same.
The last person that Fiyero had dated was a girl named Sarima. She was also from the Vinkus, which gave them instant common ground and made them hit it off quickly. Sarima prided herself in organizing parties and hangouts, and Fiyero was the life of such. But she had been a little intense, hinting that they would always be together. ALWAYS. Luckily, it had taken minimal effort to break up with her, since Sarima’s last party had gotten a little wild and Fiyero was left with most of the blame. He was expelled from school, and although Sarima had promised she would write, Fiyero never told her where he would be going next. He hoped he never saw her again.
And now, it was Galinda. She had been incredibly forward with her flirtations, and Fiyero was finding it enjoyable to help her and her friend group lighten up a little. Galinda was also very pretty, but in terms of anything that could be considered a relationship, that was just about it. Fiyero had kissed her last night, but hadn’t felt anything from it other than the brief hormonal rush of kissing someone new. It had lasted…less than a second. Like everyone else had felt. It didn’t fill him with anything more than that, not helping much. But Galinda had been all giddiness and excitement, saying how perfect they were together.
Right. Perfect. He wondered how long it would last this time.
“What class do you have next?” Galinda asked him.
Fiyero shrugged. “Already forgot. I’d have to check again.”
“Ooo, check now! Check now!” Galinda nudged him.
“Ah, can’t believe I have to go to classes today,” Fiyero sighed as he reached in his pocket and unfolded his schedule. “I’d rather skip, but I figure I should go to all of them at least once.”
Crope seemed surprised. “Do you even pass any of your classes?”
“Only the minimal amount,” Fiyero relented. He scanned over his schedule. “Ozian History, with Doctor Dillamond.”
“Oh! No way! That’s my next one!” Galinda practically squeezed his arm. “We finally have a class together! And Pfannee and ShenShen have it, too! Oh, this will be perfect!”
Fiyero let out a long sigh. “As long as the professor doesn’t expect us to actually pay attention.”
“Then let’s go there a bit early,” Galinda insisted. “We can chat for a bit before we’re forced to shut up. Come on, you can sit next to me!”
Fiyero reluctantly followed Galinda to the history class. At least it was something to do to pass the time.
The classroom was mostly empty, except for a few students sitting in the back and chatting. The professor didn’t seem to have arrived yet.
Fiyero noticed a distinct black pointy hat poking up from a desk in the front row. Emerald hands were examining pages of notes. Fiyero looked at her for a moment, wondering if he should speak to her–but then decided she’d find him annoying, so he would leave her alone. He didn’t want to ruin her day further.
Galinda guided Fiyero to one of the back rows, where he was reunited with two of her closest friends, now in a classroom setting.
Pfannee gave a fluttery wave as Fiyero approached. “Good to see you again.”
“I’m surprised I haven’t left yet,” Fiyero said with a smirk as he sat down.
“Oz, I am still so tired!” Galinda said, sitting next to him. “I mean, what fun, but I also had to get up so early!”
“Maybe I’ll catch up on sleep in this class,” Fiyero said, causing the others to laugh. “Is it anything good?”
“Not really,” ShenShen said with a dramatic sigh. “That old Goat just rambles and rambles about the old days. He’s a bit of a downer, too. Way too serious.”
An Animal professor, huh? Fiyero was a bit surprised Shiz still had those. Feldspur had been telling Fiyero that the Animal situation wasn’t getting much better in recent days, and it was getting rarer to find an Animal in any kind of power.
“Oh my Oz, look at that!” ShenShen suddenly said, pointing in front of them. “I can’t believe she’s still wearing it!”
Fiyero turned, noticing that she was pointing at Elphaba.
“She’s been wearing it all day,” Pfannee reasoned. “Maybe not a good opportunity to take it off yet.”
“Oz, still, I would get it off as soon as I could! It’s hideocious!”
Galinda pursed her lips.
“And so tall,” Pfannee agreed.
“At least take it off for class,” ShenShen continued. “I pity anyone who has to sit behind her. They won’t even be able to see!”
Fiyero looked at Elphaba with a frown. Sure, it was a little unusual, but did it really warrant that reaction?
After a few more minutes, Doctor Dillamond finally entered the room and called for silence. Yes, he was a little old, but he seemed to be quite well-spoken. He intoned his voice, making the lesson seem more like an engaging story rather than boring facts. Not that Fiyero was paying that close of attention. He had no idea what was going on, having arrived late to the semester.
Dillamond asked a question, and a green hand shot in the air. Elphaba confidently answered instantly the moment Dillamond looked at her. A few other times he did this, and he was already looking at Elphaba, as if the two were having a conversation instead of in a classroom.
“Ugh, we get it, you know the answer,” ShenShen muttered. “She is such a tryhard.”
Fiyero wrinkled his nose. Did Elphaba and ShenShen have some kind of rivalry he didn’t know about? She seemed to be excessively rude to her.
“Do you have a problem with her?” Fiyero couldn’t help but ask.
ShenShen smirked. “I mean, who doesn’t?”
The class finally finished. Fiyero had actually managed not to fall asleep. Elphaba was staying behind, talking with Dillamond, and Galinda and her friends were already standing up to leave.
Fiyero spoke with them for a moment, then managed to peel himself away from Galinda, promising to meet up with her later, but without making any actual plans. He hadn’t seen much of his private suite yet, having arrived so late, and he actually wanted to spend a moment alone before going right back to be around others all the time.
A few classes later, another of which having Elphaba there, where he managed to give her a passing nod, and received one in return, and the day was done. Giving passing smiles and waves to everyone who looked at him or spoke with him, he finally managed to make it back to his room fairly quickly.
Fiyero closed the door behind him and immediately plopped his bag down without any care of where it landed. He walked past his living area, to his bed, and instantly collapsed against it, letting out a long breath of relief.
Well. He did it. He survived his first official day of school.
Oz, how was he supposed to continue this the next day? And the next? And the rest of the semester, possibly the rest of the year? He was exhausted just thinking about it.
Well.
Then he shouldn’t think.
Fiyero rubbed his face, resolved to get some food before he slept off the rest of the day.
The next day, Galinda found him after one of his classes before lunch break, preventing him from being alone for a moment. Instead, she insisted, he sit with her and her friends.
Sitting with Galinda’s friends in the dining hall was just about what he expected. More of the same.
“The food here is surprisingly decent,” Pfannee said. “Everything is fresh. But of course, perhaps a prince such as yourself is used to more refined tastes.”
“Always,” Fiyero agreed. “But I’ve gone through military training as well. And I can assure you, no food can possibly be worse than stale crackers.”
“Oh my, military training,” ShenShen said, not being discreet at all in eyeing Fiyero’s arms. Fiyero felt Galinda’s hands squeeze his bicep slightly.
“Oz! You guys, look!” Pfannee suddenly said.
Fiyero turned around. Elphaba had just entered the cafeteria, her hat still on her head, and her entrance was made quite clear by the fact that everyone moved away from her as she walked, and how they were pointing at laughing at her.
Fiyero instantly lost any appetite he had.
They all just…laughed. Several of them weren’t even trying to hide it. They were being incredibly obvious in pointing her out to their friends, making jokes with each other, and just…staring.
Fiyero was used to receiving pointing and staring himself, but the way they all looked at Elphaba was just…cruel.
And yet Elphaba was holding her head high as if she didn’t hear any of the laughter, although she must. She walked over to the food line and started loading up her plate, expertly unfazed.
“She’s still wearing that hat!” Pfannee said. “Oz, now that’s just gross! I think she genuinely likes it!”
Fiyero couldn’t hide his discomfort. “People have different tastes in fashion.”
“But she clearly has none,” ShenShen agreed. “Oz, Galinda, I thought your granny was bad, but the green bean is on an entire different level!”
Galinda gave a small smile. “I know.”
“I can’t believe you have to live with her!”
Fiyero sharply turned to Galinda. “Wait…Elphaba is your horrendible roommate?” At the Ozdust, one of the conversations was that Galinda had to move aside all of her roommate’s belongings to get ready. Her friends agreed that her roommate was horrendible, and that Galinda was bravely putting up with her.
“Yes, that’s her,” Galinda admitted.
“I couldn’t sleep if the green bean was there,” ShenShen said.
“The green bean?” Fiyero said incredulously.
“Hm, you’re right,” ShenShen said. “Too unoriginal. Maybe asparagus?”
“Galinda used the artichoke,” Pfannee said. “That was a good one! Because she gets steamed at everything.”
“Ugh, I know,” ShenShen muttered. “You know, the other day, she started yelling at me for no reason. For no reason! Well, I had accidentally spilled my fruit puree in class, and she started getting all mad at me as if it was my job to clean it up. It isn’t my classroom! And it wasn’t my fault for spilling it, it was an accident!”
“Oh. My. Gosh. Someone tell her to calm down, but it sure isn’t going to be me.”
Unable to take it anymore, Fiyero frowned at them. “Why are you being like this? Why, what has she done to you?”
The pair stared at him in shock for a moment. “Well…she’s just mean to everyone,” ShenShen sputtered. “I mean…she always acts like there’s a stick shoved up her rear.”
Galinda stared back and forth between them, noticing the tension. “Come on, you guys,” she quickly said. “Let’s change the subject. You don’t need to be that mean.”
“What? Galinda?” Pfannee said with a gasp. “We’re not being mean! We’re just trying to help you! We all know how awful and a horror she is, and how you have to deal with her all the time!”
“And besides,” ShenShen added in desperation. “Wasn’t it your idea to give her the hat in the first place?”
“What?” Fiyero turned to Galinda, who had finally let go of his arm. “Is that true?”
“Well…” Galinda hesitated, chewing her bottom lip. “Yes, but you just don’t know her, okay?”
Fiyero’s mouth fell open.
“Right,” ShenShen agreed. “Give it a bit, you’ll see. She’s disgustifikied, I mean, other than the obvious reason, of course.”
Fiyero shook his head in disbelief. “I mean, she’s a little abrasive, but I don’t think she’s that bad.”
“You met her?” Galinda asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
Galinda watched him guiltily for a moment. “Look…okay, I admit giving her the hat was a little rude. But I didn’t think she'd actually wear it around! I thought, just at the Ozdust, that was it, but–”
“You gave her the hat so she would wear it to the Ozdust?” Fiyero asked with a disgusted laugh. “Seriously?”
“Well, no! Well, yes. This is sounding so wrong, I just–”
Fiyero shook his head. “Whatever. Keep doing and saying whatever you want, but that’s not for me.” He stood from the table, leaving his meal uneaten.
“Wait, Fiyero!” Galinda protested, standing up to desperately clutch his arm. “Look, this is just–”
Fiyero pulled his arm away from her. “I don’t want to hear it.” Before she could say anything else, Fiyero left.
Seething in silence for a moment as he left the cafeteria, he ran into a few other students who tried to stop him to talk to him. He gave a brief wave and a quick answer before dodging around them.
There wasn’t exactly a place without a lot of people around…except, perhaps, the back of the old architecture building.
Fiyero made it there, looking to the ledge, hoping to see her there, but Elphaba was nowhere to be seen. With a sigh, he pulled himself on the ledge to sit alone.
Fiyero wasn’t entirely sure how he felt. Angry. Confused. Irritated. All of those were obvious. But there was something else, too. Something he didn’t know how to describe.
Maybe it was the way he saw everyone pointing at her. Maybe it was the way Galinda’s friends talked about Elphaba behind her back. It was cruel and senseless, yes. But somehow…it felt…familiar.
The watching. The pointing. The gossiping.
Of course, it was entirely different in Fiyero’s case. His attention was positive. Elphaba’s was not.
And for what? All because of…her skin color and a hat?
It wasn’t right.
After a while of brooding by himself, Fiyero decided to find Elphaba. She deserved to know, at least.
He had poked his head back in the dining hall, but she was already gone. There was still plenty of time before class, so she wouldn’t be there yet. She wasn’t in the other place he had found her…where else would she be? Where would a girl like her spend her free time?
Probably the library.
Fiyero was pleased to see that his guess was correct. Elphaba was there, sitting at a long table by herself. A stack of books were on either side of her, and she was adjusting her glasses as she read over one of them.
“Elphaba!” He called.
Elphaba glanced up at him, scowling, she put a finger to her lips as he approached. “Be quiet. What?”
“There’s something you should know,” he said. “Can you talk for a minute?”
Elphaba closed her book, irritated. “What?”
Oz, she really was abrasive. But maybe that was because of what everyone else had done to her. He gestured to the table. “Can I sit here?”
Elphaba hesitated, but nodded.
Fiyero sat across from her, nervously drumming his fingers on the table. He had wanted to be honest, but now he wasn’t sure how to say it. How exactly do you tell someone something like this?
“It’s…it’s the hat,” he said. Elphaba tilted her head. “I heard about it from Galinda. Apparently she only gave it to you to try and get you to show up to the Ozdust in it. She wasn’t being nice, she was just trying to make fun of you.”
Elphaba lifted her eyes up, looking up at the brim of her hat.
“Her and her friends have been laughing that you’re still wearing it,” Fiyero explained. “I don’t know what she’s said to you, but behind your back she does not have good intentions.”
Elphaba let out a small huff. “You think I haven’t seen people laughing about it?” She asked. “Or whispering about it? Or making stupid doodles about it?”
Fiyero’s eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Well, I mean–”
“Of course I know people think it's ridiculous,” Elphaba said. “I’m not an idiot.”
Fiyero frowned. “Then…why do you wear it?”
Elphaba was silent for a moment. She shrugged. “Spite.”
Fiyero stared at her, letting out a laugh of disbelief. “You really don’t give a twig what anybody thinks of you, do you?”
Elphaba looked away. Instead of making a dry quip in response, her voice was quieter. “Of course I do,” she muttered.
Fiyero felt a stab of pity in his chest. Her words were sincere, this time. And although she didn’t elaborate, he knew what she meant. Maybe that’s why she continued to wear the hat. If she took it off because of the people laughing at her, then they would know that they got to her. But this way, she was acting as if she was doing it all on her own. That their scorns didn’t matter to her.
But of course it did.
Of course they do.
Fiyero didn’t know what to say, so he didn’t say anything. He just looked at her, trying to show his care in his eyes. If no one else, at least he cared.
Elphaba set her jaw, setting her voice back to its cold tone. “Some girlfriend you have there.”
Fiyero shrugged. “Not for long. I’m going to officially break up with her later.”
“Oh.”
Fiyero nodded. It wouldn’t be his shortest relationship, that was for sure. But if Galinda was the type of person to do that, no matter what noble reasons she claimed to have, he didn’t want to be around her. And certainly not her friends.
Well, he wasn’t that disappointed. With his luck, he most likely wouldn’t remain single for long. Maybe he could try to prevent a relationship a little longer this time. Especially if most people at Shiz were going to treat Elphaba like this.
Fiyero’s sincere front to Elphaba didn’t last long. Maybe he should lighten the mood. He gave her a smirk. “I bet you’re happy about that, huh?”
“Not really,” Elphaba said. “Galinda’s going to be even more unbearable in our dorm. But I suppose I’m happy about you seeming to show moral backbone.”
“No, I meant about me being single,” Fiyero said, propping his chin on his arm. “Gives you more of a chance.”
“I…w-what, you ridiculous…you,” Elphaba sputtered. “Don’t even joke about that, fool!”
Fiyero raised his hands defensively, but he was grinning at seeing the darker green shade rise in her cheeks. “If you say so.” He stood from the table, giving her a parting wave. “See you later.”
Still blushing, Elphaba furiously turned back to her work.
Fiyero was still smiling a little as he walked away. Well, he didn’t exactly make her smile, but at least he lightened the mood a little. A good flirtatious remark was always effective at quickly changing the subject.
And Elphaba was cute when she blushed.
Fiyero shook his head at the thought. She wasn’t his usual type. She seemed to be much more smart, studious, and serious. And sarcastic. And maybe another word that started with the letter “s.”
But still. It wouldn’t hurt to try and be friends with her. She was enjoyable to be around.
And she deserved someone who cared.