Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The rain pounded against the windows of the small inn where Oscar Diggs sat, nursing a whiskey and staring blankly at the bundle on the bed. The child inside - a girl, if the brief and furious explanation from her mother could be believed -was quiet now. 

Finally. 

She’d  spent most of the last hour wailing at the indignity of existence.

Something he was more than happy to join in on. 

The fact that she was in his room - his life - wasn’t what had him reeling. Though it certainly did. No, what really had him reeling was the fact that her skin was green. Not jaundice or sickly - dark green. It was something unnatural...magical, almost. 

Oscar’s mind, sharpened by years of selling snake oil and fantastical lies, recognized a challenge when he saw one. The child’s skin was the kind of detail that would mesmerize a crowd but alienate a small, judgmental town like the one he was currently stuck in. 

The woman - the mother, if she could be called that - had been clear. 

She’s your problem now. 

He’d protested, but he could barely get a word in before she was out the door, slamming it with a note of finality. 

And now he had a child. 

He tipped his glass back, draining it in one swallow. 

“I’m not equipped for this,” he muttered. 

The thought of raising a child - a green child, made his stomach turn. He could con kings, sell rain to the desert, but fatherhood? That wasn’t something he could pull off with a quick slight of hand. 

A knock startled him from his thoughts. He instinctively reached for the revolver he kept in his coat, a habit from his less-than-honorable dealings in the past, and crossed the room cautiously. He glanced back at the baby, before opening the door a crack and peering out. 

Standing in the dim hallway was a...bear. But he couldn’t be sure. He was still getting used to the talking animals bit of Oz . The figure was hulking, covered in thick brown fur, with sharp eyes peering out from beneath the brim of a well-worn hat.

“Uh...hello...madam...er...bear.”

“Good evening, Mr. Diggs,” she greeted, her tone soft and polite. “My name is Dulcibear. May I come in?”

Oscar blinked and stared for a moment, before clearing his throat. “Uh... sure.”

He stepped aside, and pulled the door open. The bear, Dulcibear, ducked slightly to fit through the doorway. Once inside, she straightened, brushing water off her fur and turning to look at him with an expression of quiet determination.

“I understand you’ve recently come into possession of a child,” she said, her voice calm but firm.

Oscar glanced over her shoulder at the bed where the bundle was still resting. “What’s it to you?”

“I used to work for the child’s mother,” Dulcibear explained. “A position I left when I learned of her and her husband's plans for... disposing of the infant. When I heard she’d been given to you, I thought I might be of assistance.”

Oscar nearly laughed. “Assistance? Lady -er, bear -do I look like the kind of man who knows how to raise a kid? No, I'm planning to leave her at the next orphanage and being done with it.”

The bear turned to look at the bed, before turning back to him and narrowing her eyes slightly. “And yet, you haven’t. That tells me you’re at least somewhat reluctant to abandon her completely.”

Oscar opened his mouth to argue, but no words came. 

She had him there. 

The bear hummed and crossed the room, peering down at the child.  The bundle shifted, and a tiny green hand emerged, waving aimlessly. 

Dulcibear’s expression softened. “Hello again, little one.” She held a paw out, catching the child’s hands with one of her toes. “She’s special, Mr. Diggs. Not just because of her color. There’s power in her. I felt it the moment she was born.” She looked over at him. “And I suspect you’ve at least sensed it as well.”

Oscar hesitated. He’d certainly felt... something. A strange energy in the room, like static electricity, when he first held her. But he’d dismissed it as nerves and whiskey.

He stared at bed for a long moment. 

The bear was right. 

There was a part of him that balked at the idea of abandoning the child. 

She was his.

“So what, you’re offering to play nanny?” 

“I’m offering to help,” Dulcibear corrected firmly. “To teach you what I know about children. But make no mistake, Mr. Diggs - this child is your responsibility. She is yours to raise and love as all children should be. And if you’re as great and powerful as you claim to be, you won’t abandon her.”

Oscar stared at her, caught between indignation and something that felt uncomfortably like...shame.

He sighed and shook his head. “This isn’t going to be easy,” he muttered. “Fine. You’re hired. But I can’t promise this is going to end well.”

Dulcibear smiled, a surprisingly gentle expression for such a fearsome face. “It rarely does, Mr. Diggs. But that’s no reason not to try.”

Oscar nodded slightly, and fixed his gaze on the child again. 

His child. 

His unexplainable, powerful child

A feeling settled in his gut that the world - this world - wasn’t ready for her, and he doubted that they ever would be. 

“What are you going to call her?”

The question caught Oscar off guard. 

He hadn’t even considered a name. 

“Name...right...” He stepped closer to the bed, and looked down at the bundle. He hadn’t managed to get a good look at her earlier, with all the wailing. Her hair was soft and curly, her cheeks were round, her nose was small, and her eyes were a bright green. “It needs to be extraordinary,” he muttered. “Nothing plain.”

“Hmm.” Dulcibear tilted her head slightly. “Plainness might help her through life. She’s already going to-”

“No,” Oscar said firmly. “No. She needs a name that will propel her into the world and help her defy all expectations. Her name must reflect her extraordinariness.”

“That’s a tall order.” Dulcibear looked around the room, until she noticed the small bookshelf in the corner where Oscar’s books were lined. Her gaze fell on an ancient tome bound in cracked leather, its title stamped in faded gold. The Legends of Oz. “Open that book. There should be a name in there that you could use.”

Oscar nodded, and reached for the book, immediately flipping through the pages. 

He skimmed several stories of mythical creatures and great heroes, but nothing stood out to him. 

And then he found it. 

“Elphaba,” he murmured. 

“Elphaba,” Dulcibear repeated softly. “Hmm.” She looked back at the baby. “I know her story well. She was a powerful enchantress who is both feared and revered in ancient Ozian lore. She was said to have been a guardian of balance, a force of nature who wielded both creation and destruction.” Dulcibear hesitated for a long moment. “She was known for her green flames.”

“It’s perfect.” Oscar snapped the book shut. “Elphaba.” He tossed the book aside, and looked at the baby, who was drifting off to sleep. “Elphaba.”

“It suits her,” Dulcibear said. 

“Elphaba,” Oscar said again, still getting used to how it sounded. 

The baby stirred at the sound of his voice, her green eyes blinking open. 

“Elphaba,” he murmured. “Elphaba Diggs. She’s going to be extraordinary and change the world. I know it.”

. . . 

5 years later

. . . 

The light of the setting sun streamed through the heavy velvet curtains of the study, casting long shadows over the room. Maps, blueprints, and sketches littered the large oak desk, an organized chaos that only Oscar could navigate. In the corner, a model of a grand city gleamed faintly in the waning light, its towers reaching skyward. 

Oscar leaned back in his chair, swirling a glass of brandy, while scanning the plans. He’d tasked himself with an ambitious mission - building a city unlike any other, built to last, a testament to his greatness. 

And it would be great - the greatest thing he’d ever created. 

But something was missing—a unifying idea, a symbol that would make it unforgettable.

The echoes of laughter drifted through the open window, pulling Oscar from his thoughts. He set his glass down and moved to the window that looked over the garden. 

Elphaba was chasing butterflies across the gated yard. 

Her green skin caught the light, making her glow against the foliage. She wore a patched dress Dulcibear had sewn for her, the fabric a riot of mismatched colors that only highlighted her brightness.

Oscar couldn’t help but smile. She was so vibrant, so alive, so... her .

It hadn’t taken long for her to worm her way into his heart. 

By the end of their first week together, he was picking her up as often as he could, and talking to her about the plans he had for Oz. She proved to be an excellent listener - as long as she wasn’t hungry or tired. 

Dulcibear sat on a bench nearby, knitting and keeping a watchful eye. The bear had become more than a caretaker over the years. She was family - the steady anchor to Oscar’s chaotic storm. And while Oscar had stepped into fatherhood as best he could, he relied on Dulcibear’s patience and quiet wisdom that had filled in the gaps he couldn’t.

Oscar lingered at the window, watching her, his mind churning. She didn’t yet understand the world’s cruelty—he had shielded her from it as best as he could. But he knew that protection wouldn’t last forever. The whispers started early on and still existed, despite Oscar’s firm attempts to squash them -  rumors of the Wizard’s green-skinned daughter, of her strangeness, of what she might become.

He clenched his teeth and turned back to his desk.

Maps and blueprints spread before him, detailing the city that would be grander than any Oz had ever known. It would be a monument to his power and genius, a place where no one would ever be able to challenge him. 

A place where they wouldn’t want to challenge him. 

He picked up the glass of whiskey again, and took another drink. 

The city needed something more than grandeur. It needed meaning - a purpose. Something to make it unique. Something-

“Of course.” He turned back to the window, and watched as Elphaba stacked garden stones into a crooked tower. 

The sunlight caught her skin, causing  it to shimmer. 

A memory surfaced—one of the rings he wore that had been a gift from a grateful Munchkin craftsman. 

An emerald.

Emeralds. 

The idea struck him like lightning. 

The city wouldn’t be made of stone and steel. No. it would be made of emeralds. It would shine green under the sun, a beacon that mirrored his daughter’s uniqueness. It would be her sanctuary, a place where she wouldn’t have to hide, where her skin wouldn’t be a mark of shame but a symbol of pride.

“Elphaba!”

She looked up at him, and tilted her head. “Yes, Papa?”

“Come here, my little monkey!” 

She dropped the stones, knocking the tower over and darted towards the paved path, disappearing from his view. Moments later, she burst into his study, her chest rising with breaths. “Did you see how fast I ran?”

Oscar swept her into his arms. “I did. How’s my little architect?”

“It fell over,” she admitted. “But I’ll build a new one tomorrow.”

“That’s my girl.” He walked her over and sat her down on the desk. 

She immediately reached for the nearest blueprint, and tilted her head as she studied it for a moment. “What’s it going to be?”

“It’s going to be a city.” Oscar pulled the chair closer to the desk and sat in front of her. “A city like no other. And guess what?"

"What?"

"It’s going to be green, just like you.”

Her eyes immediately lit up. “It is?”

“It is. I’m going to build the city completely out of emeralds. They'll will be everywhere. The streets, the towers, the walls. It’ll be the one place in the world where no one will be able to say that you don’t belong. It will be your city, Elphaba. Your home.”

Her face lit up with a smile that made Oscar’s chest tighten. “Really? The whole city will be for me?”

“Well, not just for you,” he said, giving her hair a slight ruffle. “But you’ll always be from where it all started.” He cupped her cheek, and stroked her skin with his thumb. “And you will forever be its heart.”

She launched herself into his arms, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. “Thank you, papa,” she whispered. 

Dulcibear appeared in the doorway. “A city of emeralds, hmm? That’s ambitious.”

Oscar grinned at her over Elphaba’s shoulder. “I’ve always been ambitious, Dulci. You know that. The Great and Powerful Wizard has to be, remember?"

“Hmm.” She approached the desk, and peered down at the blueprints. “Just make sure your ambition doesn’t outrun your sense.” 

“Oh I won’t. Not this time. This time I’m going to do it right, and make it last.” 

For her. 

Chapter Text

Dear Diary, 

Today’s my 21st birthday. 

It feels strange, writing that. Twenty-one. I don’t feel different, really. But everyone else seems to think it’s significant - especially father. He’s been planning this party for months, and no amount of protest on my part could dissuade him. He's insisting that it's tradition, though what tradition we're following is beyond me. He's calling it a milestone that deserves to be celebrated. 

Of course, when the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz decides something, there’s little room for argument.

I told him I didn’t need a party. That I’d rather spend the day here, in my tree, with my books and the breeze. He smiled and said, “I know, monkey. But this isn’t just for you. It’s for the people. They need to see you.”

That’s the crux of it, isn’t it? They need to see me.

Father and I have an understanding. He is the face of Oz—the beloved, shining, all-knowing Wizard - and I am the magic that sustains it all. He tells the stories, gives the speeches, and dazzles the people with his showmanship. But behind every miracle, every impossible feat, is me. My hands. My power.

I don’t mind. I’ve never been comfortable in the spotlight, and father knows that. But tonight he’s insisting. 

I- 

“You’re supposed to be getting ready.” 

Elphaba looked up from her diary to see Dulcibear standing at the base of the tree with her arms crossed over her chest. She looked back down at her diary. “Let me guess, he sent you out to find me.”

“Your guests will be arriving soon, Elphaba.”

“His guests.”

“They’re here for you.”

“They’re still his guests.”

“Elphaba-”

“I don’t need a grand ball, Dulci." She closed her diary, and looked at her nanny. "I’m perfectly happy right here.”

“I know, little one,” Dulcibear said gently. “But he’s not. This is important to him, Elphaba. He wants the world to see how proud he is of you.”

Elphaba raised an eyebrow. “By parading me around like some kind of prize?”

“By celebrating you,” Dulcibear corrected. “You’ve grown into an extraordinary woman, Elphaba. Smart, powerful, compassionate. This is his way of showing that.”

Elphaba remained silent for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of her book. “I don’t belong in there, Dulci. I’ve never been comfortable with people staring at me, whispering behind their fans. And don’t tell me they don’t. Father’s words and decrees can only go so far.”

“There are those that love you, Elphaba. Yes, the ones that stare are the loudest, but the ones that don’t are the sturdiest. Tonight will be fun if you allow it. It’s time that you stepped out from your father’s shadow, and let the world see you for what you are. Your father is ready if you are.”

Elphaba looked towards the palace, where she could hear the sounds of the ball being arranged and set up. “Do you remember when he first brought me here?”

Dulci sighed, and nodded. “I do.”

“I remember thinking how wonderful it all was. The towers, the spiers, the grand hall...the green of it all. He built it for me.”

“He did.”

Elphaba looked at her nanny and old friend, and sighed. “He’s really that excited about this, isn’t he?”

“He is,” Dulcibear said with a nod. “And he’s hoping you’ll humor him. Maybe even dance with one or two of the suitors he’s lined up.”

Elphaba groaned, leaning her head back against the tree trunk. “Don’t tell me he’s trying to marry me off.”

Dulcibear laughed. “Not quite. But he wouldn’t mind if you took an interest in someone. He wants you to be happy, Elphaba.”

Elphaba snorted. “I’m not interested in courtship or suitors or any of that nonsense. I have far more important things to do.”

“I know you do,” Dulcibear said. “But tonight isn’t about work or politics. It’s about celebrating you. Maybe give it a chance, even just for a little while.”

“So, you’re saying that I can sneak out at some point in the evening?”

Dulcibear laughed softly, and shook her head. “Let’s get you to the part first, before we start talking about sneaking out of it.”

Elphaba studied her friend for a long moment before finally relenting. “Fine. But I’m not promising more than one dance.”

“That’s all anyone’s asking,” Dulcibear said with a satisfied grin. “Now, come down from there. We have work to do to get you presentable for tonight.”

. . . 

Elphaba loved every aspect of the palace, but her favorite room was  her private dressing room. It was a quiet sanctuary tucked away from the bustling preparations of the palace. She could hear the distant hum of activity—servants scurrying, musicians tuning their instruments, and the occasional echo of her father’s booming voice as he issued last-minute instructions.

“He’s using the head,” she muttered. 

“You know how he loves that thing.” Dulcibear stood and pushed the door close, allowing a comforting quiet to fall on the room. 

The heavy velvet curtains were drawn, muting the evening light and cocooning the room in soft shadows. A full-length mirror stood in the corner, its ornate gold frame reflecting the dark gown draped carefully over a nearby chair.

“Are you sure you don’t want one of the dressers?” Dulcibear asked. “They’re practically lining up in the hallway, you know.”

Elphaba snorted, and shook her head. “Absolutely not. The last time they got near me, I ended up looking like a gilded doll. I’d rather avoid the fuss.”

Duclibear chuckled softly. “Alright, little one. But you are letting me near that hair of yours. We can’t have you going in looking like you’ve fallen out of that tree of yours.”

Elphaba smirked. “Fine. But no fancy braids or ribbons. Just something simple.”

“Simple, I can do.”

Elphaba turned to the gown, running her fingers over the fabric. It was a deep, shimmering black, the kind of black that seemed to absorb light and reflect it back as a subtle iridescence. She’d chosen it herself, much to her father’s dismay. He’d tried to insist that it was far too dark, but she had stood her ground and won him over. 

As usual. 

She lifted it from the chair, and held it up to herself. “It’s perfect,” she murmured.

“It is. Now hurry up and put it on. The clock is ticking.”

Elphaba slipped behind the screen to change, carefully pulling the gown over her head and smoothing the fabric down her body.

It was perfect. 

She stepped out, and immediately grinned at the smile on Dulcibear’s face. “Do you like it?”

“You look very beautiful, little one,” Dulcibear said softly. “You’re going to turn every head in the ballroom.”

Elphaba opened her mouth to retort. 

“And not because of the color of your skin,” Dulcibear added before she could. 

Elphaba closed her mouth, and stepped in front of the mirror. “It’s just a dress, Dulci,” she said softly. 

“It’s not just the dress, Elphaba. It’s you.”

“Hmm.” Elphaba tilted her head slightly, as she studied herself. 

She’d given up wondering the reason for the green of her skin. Given up searching every spellbook in the whole of oz for a spell to reverse it. She’d even given up wishing the greenness away. But there were times that she longed to fit in with the world around her. Times when she got sick of the initial shock on faces when the eyes of strangers landed on her -sick of her father’s decrees that she be loved and accepted. 

“You went down the hole again, didn’t you?”

Elphaba shifted her gaze to the reflection of Dulcibear standing over shoulder. “Maybe,” she whispered. 

Dulcibear pushed her down gently into the padded chair, and began to run her claws through Elphaba’s braided hair. “I’ll be with you tonight, if you want,” she offered softly. “You can stand by me. I’m sure even Chistery would come in if you asked. You know how quickly he’d jump at the chance to spend the evening as your plus one.”

“I’ll be fine,” Elphaba said. “I can’t hide if father expects me to dance with suitors, now can I?”

“I can talk to your father. He’ll listen to me. I’ll tell him that what you need is close, familiar companionship. Not strangers.”

Elphaba reached over her shoulder, and placed her hand on Dulci’s paw. “I’ll be fine. It’s you who taught me that we cannot hide. We must face the world, head on, right?”

Dulcibear smiled softly. “Right.” She patted Elphaba’s hand, and set to work tying Elphaba's hair into a knot around itself. “There we go. Just like you like it.” She fluffed the ends, before laying it down Elphaba’s back. 

Elphaba smiled and applied a bit of makeup - some tint to her eyelids, cheeks and lips. 

“Ready?”

Elphaba nodded, and stood. “Time to face the music.”

. . . 

“Presenting Her Royal Ozness, The daughter of the Great and Powerful Wizard -  Elphaba Diggs!”

The heavy double doors of the grand ballroom opened with a low, resonant creak. A hush swept through the room, and all eyes turned toward the sweeping staircase at the far end of the hall.

Elphaba stepped onto the balcony, the train of her black gown trailing elegantly behind her. The shimmer of the fabric caught the light from the emerald chandeliers above, giving her a  look of being cloaked in starlight. For a moment, the sheer weight of so many eyes on her threatened to overwhelm her, but she drew in a steadying breath, squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. 

The hall was silent for a long moment. 

Elphaba’s heart crawled into her throat and started to pound. 

Her eyes searched the crowd until they found her father standing in the center of the ballroom, a beaming smile stretching across his face. He held a glass of sparkling emerald wine aloft and called out in a voice that echoed through the hall:

“To Elphaba, the light of my life and the pride of of all Oz!”

The room erupted in cheers, every guest raising their glasses in her honor.

Elphaba took another breath, allowing her father’s words and pride to wash over her and give her the strength she needed to raise her hand and wave. 

The applause swelled, filling the room with a thunderous energy.

Her father stepped up to the bottom of the grand staircase and held his hand out expectantly. 

Elphaba took the cue, and descended the stairs as gracefully as she could, while not tripping over the hem of the dress. 

Her father closed his hand around hers, and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You look beautiful, monkey,” he said softly.

Her smile widened slightly. “Thank you, papa.”

He led her onto the floor, where the guests had formed a wide circle to give them space. 

The music shifted to a slow, elegant waltz.

Taking her arm in his, her father began to promenade her around the ballroom, his presence commanding as always. They moved together in a perfect rhythm, the crowd parting effortlessly before them.

“She’s stunning,” someone murmured as they passed.

“Every bit the daughter of the Wizard,” another said.

“You’re stealing the show.” Her father spun her out and back in. 

“That was the plan, wasn’t it?”

“Exactly.” Her father spun her out again, this time releasing her completely so that she twirled into the center of the room. 

Her dress fanned out around her, before she came to a stop, breathless and laughing softly. 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please join me in wishing my daughter and heir a wonderful happy birthday.”

“Happy Birthday,” the room chorused. 

The music shifted into a more lively tune prompting couples to move to the dance floor to dance, and others to break off and talk amongst themselves. 

Elphaba sighed. 

The hard part was done. 

Now she just had to get through the rest. 

“Elphaba.” Her father approached her, and pulled her into a hug. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, father.”

“Now, I want you to dance tonight. No standing on the edge of the floor. This night is for you, so you're going to participate and enjoy yourself?”

Elphaba laughed, and rolled her eyes. “Fine.” 

“Excellent. Here. Uh...” Her father looked around before pointing to a young man and gesturing him over. “This is Ervic from Gillikin. Ervic, this is my daughter, Elphaba.”

Ervic’s gaze swept over her, before he smiled, and offered his hand to her. “Would you honor me with this first dance?”

“Oh, very nice,” her father praised. “Very nice.”

Elphaba sighed, and accepted his hand. “I suppose I must.” 

Ervic pulled her out to the floor, and began to sweep her confidently through the steps. “You must hear this often, but you’re absolutely enchanting,” he said, guiding her into a twirl.

“Not as often as you probably do,” she quipped dryly. 

He laughed at that, and dropped her into a dip. “Oh, you have no idea.” His gaze flicked to her lips. “Imagine what we could do together.”

“Okay.” Elphaba forced herself up. “Thank you for the dance.”

Her next dance partner was far less confident. His nervous energy was palpable as he fumbled through the steps, his eyes darting to meet hers, before darting away again. 

“You’re very graceful,” he stammered, nearly stepping on her foot.

“Thank you,” she replied evenly, expertly steering him back into rhythm after another misstep. 

The dance ended without incident, and he bowed deeply, relief written all over his face.

Her third partner was a young man with spectacles and an air of quiet intelligence. Unlike the others, he seemed more interested in conversation than impressing her with his footwork.

“I heard you’ve studied ancient Ozian magic,” he said as they swayed to the slower rhythm of the song. 

“I have,” she said, intrigued despite herself. “Why do you ask?”

“I intend to study it as well, at Shiz.”

“Oh. I see.”

“I find it all very fascinating—how it’s woven into the fabric of the land itself.”

“Yes, it is,” Elphaba replied coolly. 

Her next suitor was a soldier in a crisp green uniform. He was quiet, his movements precise but unassuming.

“You dance well,” she said, finally breaking the silence between them. 

“Thank you, Miss Elphaba,” he replied. “Though I imagine you’re used to much grander partners.”

“Not at all,” she said. “You’re doing just fine.”

“1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.”

Elphaba did her best to keep her expression neutral as her current partner marched her through the steps. 

“1, 2, 3.” His foot, despite the fact that he was looking down, suddenly came down on hers. 

“Oh.” She stumbled into him, wincing as pain flared through her leg. 

He paused in his movements and glanced up at her. “Sorry.” He looked back down again. “1, 2, 3.”

A moment of reprieve came, and Elphaba took it. Her father was busy talking to diplomats, and no suitor was lining up for her. She weaved her way through the crowd until she reached the banquet table at the edge of the room. Its surface was laden with golden platters of food, silver bowls of exotic fruits, and at the very center, the pièce de résistance: her birthday cake.

The cake was magnificent—a towering creation of emerald-green icing and delicate sugar flowers. Its tiers sparkled in the light, and the faint scent of vanilla and citrus wafted through the air.

Elphaba glanced around, ensuring no one was watching, before she grabbed a fork and knife and carefully eased a piece of the side onto the fork and into her mouth. 

“I saw that.” 

“Um uh.” Elphaba dropped the utensils and turned sharply, nearly tripping over the hem of her dress. 

Standing behind her was a young woman with a familiar cascade of auburn curls and a mischievous grin.

“Avalon!” Elphaba placed her hand over her racing heart. 

Avalon crossed her arms, feigning a look of disapproval. “Stealing your own birthday cake? Honestly, Elphaba, where’s your sense of decorum?”

Elphaba laughed and flung her arms around her friend. “I can’t believe you’re here! I’ve missed you!”

“Did you really think I’d miss your big day?” Avalon hugged her back. “I got in just this afternoon.”

“I didn’t think you’d make it.” Elphaba looked around the room. “Come on.” She grabbed Avalon’s hand and began to weave through the crowd to a quieter area. “What have you been up to?”

“Just partying girl, you know.”

Elphaba’s foot suddenly came down on something decidedly not the smooth ballroom floor. A sharp intake of breath and a slight stumble followed.

“Oh. Oh, your foot!”

The young man grunted in pain, but still managed to steady Elphaba. 

“I’m so sorry,” Elphaba said. “Are you...” She met the man’s gaze - a pair of startling blue eyes, and nearly lost her train of though. “Uh...are you alright?”

“I’ll survive, your Ozness.” His gaze swept over her, and a slight smirk pulled at his lips. “The fault was entirely my own. I apologize.”

“I’m fairly certain stepping on someone’s foot is my fault, not theirs.”

“Not if they were standing in the way,” he countered, his smile widening. “Though I must admit, I don’t mind being stepped on if it means getting your attention.”

Avalon snickered softly beside her, and Elphaba shot her a warning glance before returning her focus to the man. “I’ll keep that in mind next time,” she replied. 

“I’ll make sure to wear sturdier shoes,” he quipped, inclining his head in a slight bow.

Elphaba smiled despite herself. “Are you always this quick with an excuse?” 

“Only when it comes to beautiful women with sharp wit,” he replied without missing a beat.

The comment caught her off guard, and she felt the immediate flush of her cheeks. Before she could think of a response, he stepped back, the smirk still on his face. “Well, I won’t keep you and your friend.” He nodded his head to Avalon, who managed to hide her smirk behind her fan. “Though, I do hope that you save a dance for me later this evening.”

“Uh...” Elphaba licked her lips, and cleared her throat. “I think I could save a place for you on my dance card.”

“That’s very kind of you.” He nodded his head to both of them, before disappearing into the crowd. 

Avalon immediately grabbed her arm. “Who was that?”

“I have no idea,” Elphaba replied, her gaze fixated on the back of his head. 

“Well, you’ve got to find out,” Avalon said with a grin. “He was practically preening for you.”

Elphaba gave her friend her best deadpan look, trying desperately to ignore the strange fluttering in her chest. “I’m sure it was nothing.”

“Oh, I bet you are.”

Elphaba shook her head and grabbed Avalon’s hand again. “Come on.”

Two more suitors followed, once Elphaba rejoined the dance floor. 

One that performed an attempted high kick, before sliding down to the ground with his legs split a part, and the other that shimmied forward and backward, encouraging Elphaba to do the same. 

“You are a beautiful dancer,” an older man said as he led Elphaba through a dance that involved him leaning the two of them towards the ground in measured beats. 

“Oh, why thank you so much,” Elphaba managed. 

“Like a deer or a chipmunk in the forest.”

“Woodland animals are a lovely thing to be compared to. I happen to be friends with several.”

A hand suddenly tapped the man on the shoulder, causing him to pause in his movements and turn to look at the stranger Elphaba had stomped on. 

“May I?” The man asked. 

The older man bowed his head to Elphaba, and walked away. 

Elphaba stepped into the dance frame with the stranger, relief immediately washing over her. “Your timing is impeccable. Thank you.”

The man inclined his head, and began to lead Elphaba through the dance. “You’re welcome, your Ozness.”

“Elphaba. I like to be called Elphaba.”

“Mm.” 

“And you are?”

“Fiyero Tiggular," he winked, "of Winky country.”

“Well, I’m very glad to see that my clumsiness hasn’t affected your dancing. I’m sorry, again, for stepping on your foot.” 

“You can step on my foot any time,” Fiyero said. “Besides, these boots were big to begin with, and the swelling has helped me fit into them.”

Elphaba laughed, feeling an immediate rush of heat to her cheeks. “Well, then, I’m glad to have been of assistance.”

“Hmm.” He spun her out. “Forgive me if I’m wrong, but after watching you this evening, you seem...less than thrilled with all of this.”

“You’re very observant.”

“And you’re clever,” he said. “A dangerous combination.”

Elphaba didn’t know how to respond to him. Every word from his mouth, his tone of voice, the way his eyes twinkled in the light of the ballroom was having an effect on her that she’d never experienced before. 

She wasn’t sure she liked it. It was too disarming. 

“My father insists on celebrations,” she blurted out. 

“I see.”

“I’d rather be in a tree reading, or a classroom studying.”

His eyebrows raised slightly. “I see.”

“And from your tone of voice, you disagree with that.”

“Well I believe that life is too short to be spent in classrooms or with my nose in a book. I’d rather be dancing.” He spun her out again, and then adjusted his hand so that she spun back in with her back to his chest and his arm wrapped around her waist. “I’m quite good at dancing.”

Elphaba’s heart pounded in her chest. “Yes,” she agreed through breaths. “You are.”

The music ended and she immediately stepped away from him. “Thank you, for...that.”

He inclined his head to her. “Any time. I hope to see you again soon, Elphaba.”

She stared at him silently for a moment, before managing to find her voice. “I would also like that.”

He smiled again, and reached for the hand. 

She pulled back slightly, but he gave her a reassuring look, before pressing a kiss to the back of her knuckles.

“Happy birthday.”

And then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd. 

Elphaba stared at her hand. Her skin was tingling where his lips had pressed, her cheeks were warm, and her heart felt like it might beat out of its chest. 

This was new. 

She wasn’t this girl. 

She’d never been this girl. 

And yet...he had looked at her like she was. 

Chapter Text

Elphaba sat cross-legged in her study, absentmindedly twirling a quill between her fingers, her mind half on the text before her and half on the looming departure to Shiz. The floor around her was covered in open books and scattered pages of notes. 

She’d never left the city before, and the thought of doing so, filled her with a combination of nerves and exhilaration. This would be her first time stepping out from underneath her father’s shadow, and although she knew it was more than time that she did so, the thought of it terrified her. 

It was unsettling either way. 

Shiz. 

The best school in all of Oz. 

Her father had hired every best tutor within the whole of Oz, to give her the best education offerable, and had been prepared to keep doing so, but Elphaba had made the suggestion that it would be better for her to go into the world and spread her wings. 

It was time. 

Her father had tried to argue that it was too soon, and that there were too many uncontrollable factors, but Elphaba had made the argument that she could hide forever. She needed the chance to stand on her own two feet and face the world as herself and not as just his daughter. 

A soft rustle of feathers broke through the silence of the room. 

“Elphaba.”

She looked up to see Chistery perched on the windowsill, his dark blue wings folded neatly against his back. His amber eyes, always so expressive, studied her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

“Chistery.” She smiled at him. “Come in.”

He hopped down gracefully, and stepped towards her.  “You’ve been here all day,” he said, his voice soft but teasing. “I’d have thought you’d be packing.”

Elphaba snorted, closing the Grimary that sat before her.

“I haven’t been able to bring myself to do that yet.”

“You leave in two days.”

“I am well aware of that.”

Chistery stepped closer, his wings fluttering slightly. “What’s scaring you?”

“Scaring...” Elphaba scoffed softly, and shook her head. “My father...has decreed that all of Oz love me. But...we both know that he has a certain blindness when it comes to me and my...” She looked down at her hands. “I’ve never been naive enough in believing that every citizen of Oz would blindly accept my father’s decree.”

Chistery nodded, and folded his arms. “I know the feeling,” he said softly. 

“I know you do,” she whispered. Elphaba looked down at the Grimary. “I don’t know if I’m ready.”

Her eyes stung with the admission. 

But it was true. 

“You’ve been ready for years, Elphaba,” he said warmly. “You’re easily the most brilliant person within all of Oz. Shiz will be lucky to have you. Anyone who says otherwise will deal directly with me.”

Elphaba laughed weakly, and brushed her fingers across her cheek. “I’m not sure I’ve ever told you this, Chistery, but you’ve been one of the best friends I’ve ever had.”

His expression softened, as he reached out to gently place a hand on her arm. “You’ve been the best thing to happen to any of us. You gave us freedom, Elphaba. Wings, quite literally.”

Her eyes flicked to his wings, and a familiar pang of guilt re-surfaced. The spell she had cast from the Grimary, one of her earliest attempts at transformative magic, had been unstable. She hadn’t intended for the monkeys to grow wings, but the accident had been irreversible.

The damage was done...the pain inexcusable. 

“There’s that look again. You carry too much weight on those shoulders of yours.”

“Have you met my father?”

Chistery laughed softly. “Yes..." He thought for a moment. "Shiz will be good for you. It’ll be your chance for you to...spread your wings. You’ll be in a variety of classes and be given the chance to figure out what you want to do with your life. What you want to do, Elphaba. Not what your father wants you to do.”

Elphaba looked down at the Grimary. “I’ve already been accepted into Madame Morrible’s Sorcery Seminar.”

“Of course you were. But there’s more to life than sorcery. There’s History and Law, Economics...the world will be your to take on. Just be yourself and do what you want to do.”

“Hmm.”

“If you miss the palace too much, then there’s bound to be a spell in that book that will get you home faster than train. And we both know that I won’t hesitate to visit. You send word, and I will be there before you can say flying monkey.”

Elphaba smiled, and held her hand out to him. “Thank you, Chistery.”

He took it, and smiled warmly in return. “You are going to change the world.”

“Elphaba!”

They both turned their heads to the sound of Dulcibear calling through the door and from down the hall. 

Chistery stood. “I should return to my post.”

Elphaba stood as well and pulled him into a hug. 

His wings curled slightly around her.

“Thank you, Chistery,” she whispered.

He stepped back and looked up at her. “For what?”

“Always believing in me,” she replied softly. 

His smile returned, and his eyes twinkled. “It’s easy to believe in someone as extraordinary as you.” He bowed his head to her, before stepping back and jumping lightly onto the windowsill. “I hope to see you before you take off, but if I don’t, I’ll see you soon enough.” His wings stretched open. “Enjoy the world, Elphaba. And make sure they see you.”

“I will.”

He nodded and lept into the sky. 

“Elphaba.” The door opened and Dulcibear stepped in. “Your father is expecting a visitor from Munchkinland, and needs you down in the Great Hall.”

“What are they after?”

“Oz if I know.”

Elphaba bent down and picked up the Grimary. “Well let’s go make them happy and give them what they want.”

. . . 

The streets of the city were unusually quiet that morning, the usual bustle of the citizens subdued in the early hour. The glow of the green-tinted lamps cast long shadows as Elphaba walked alongside her father towards the train station. 

He had tried to convince her to let him escort her all the way to Shiz, complete with an official procession, grand and befitting his daughter.  

But, as usual, Elphaba had been adamant about what she wanted. 

She didn’t want the attention. 

She didn’t want to draw eyes to herself before she’d even set foot on the university grounds. 

Those would come anyway. 

She didn’t need to add a tiara. 

“You could at least let me send a royal envoy,” he grumbled. 

“No.” Elphaba looked at him. “I’m not going as the daughter of the Wizard. I’m going as myself.  A student and nothing more. That’s what we agreed on.”

Her father huffed, and adjusted the brim of his hat. “We agreed because you backed me into a corner.”

She smirked slightly, and straightened her shoulders. “Exactly.” She looked over her shoulder at Duclibear who was trailing behind with a basket of food in her hand. Her old nanny had packed enough food for Elphaba to eat for at least three train rides. 

“You know, I wouldn’t have to make that big of a deal of it.”

“Father-”

“I could just walk you to the courtyard and talk to the headshiztress-”

“Father-”

“To make sure that she knows how special you are.”

“I don’t want to be special. I don’t want to be treated any differently than any other student. Everyone will already know who I am anyway. There aren’t any other green skinned daughters of the wizard running around.” Elphaba looped her arm through her father’s. “Let me do this, father. Please.”

He sighed, and placed his hand over hers. “Alright.” His steps slowed as they neared the train station. He didn’t say anything, but Elphaba could feel his tension and hesitation. 

“I’ll write,” she said softly. 

He stared at the train for a long moment, before tilting his head to look at her. “You’d better. If I don’t hear from you at least once a week I’m sending a guard to check on you.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“You wanna take that bet?”

Elphaba rolled her eyes, and nudged him with her shoulder. “As long as it’s Chistery.”

“I wouldn’t even have to ask him to go.” Her father sighed. “Are you sure you don’t want me coming with you? Just for the day to help you settle in.”

“I’m sure. I’ll be fine, father. I promise.”

He nodded slowly and looked down at her hand that was still wrapped around his arm. “I was so unsure about stepping up and raising you, and now I’m even more unsure about letting you go.” He raised his gaze to meet hers, and she caught a glimpse of the rare vulnerability that he kept well hidden. “You’ve been my entire world for so long,” he said quietly, his voice breaking slightly. “I’m not sure what it’ll feel like without you here.”

Elphaba’s eyes burned. 

She swallowed past the lump in her throat, and forced herself to smile. “You’ll manage. You are Oz the Great and Wonderful.”

“I might be great, but you’ve always been wonderful.”

Elphaba’s heart ached. “Oh, father...”

He cleared his throat, and brushed his hand across his cheek. “Say goodbye to Dulcibear.”

Elphaba nodded, and unwrapped her arm, before turning to face her nanny. “I don’t know what to say,” she said softly. 

“Oh, my dear. This isn’t goodbye forever. You’ll be back before you know it all grown and changed and ready to do anything.” She pulled Elphaba into a hug. “Don’t let them bring you down,” she said softly. “That goes for anyone who is going to look at you and see your differences.”

“I won’t,” Elphaba whispered. 

“Be good, girl.”

“I will.”

The train whistle echoed through the air. 

It was time. 

Elphaba’s hands started to shake with nerves.

She stepped away from Dulci, and turned to face her father, who opened his arms and pulled her into a tight embrace. “I love you, father.”

His arms tightened around her. “I love you more.”

He kissed the side of her head. “I love you most.” 

Elphaba closed her eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in his familiar scent and focusing on the feeling of his arms wrapped securely around her. “I’m ready,” she whispered. 

“I know you are.” He took a breath himself, and slowly unwrapped his arms. “Go on then. Before I change my mind and drag you back to your room and keep you there forever.” His eyes twinkled slightly. “Go.”

Elphaba nodded and turned away from him. 

Issac, the guard she had consented to accompanying her, stepped forward and nodded respectfully to her father, before grabbing Elphaba’s bags and taking them to the train. 

Elphaba followed and climbed the stairs into the train car. 

This was it. 

This was good. 

This was what she needed to do. 

She turned back, just as the train started to pull away. 

Her father stood tall, his hat in his hands, while Dulcibear waved with both paws. And though she would never confront him about it, she saw the tears on her father’s cheeks.

She also wouldn’t tell him that her own tears were falling. 

“This isn’t for good,” she whispered to herself. “I’ll come back.”

Her father waved, and she waved back. 

The train picked up speed, carrying her out of the city and away from the only home and life she’d ever known.

Into the unknown. 

Chapter Text

The train hissed to a halt at the station outside Shiz University, releasing a plume of smoke into the morning air. The platform was already swarming with students. Some were hugging their families goodbye, others were dragging trunks towards the university, and a few had already formed clusters of greetings and gossip.

More than one gaze snapped towards Elphaba as she stepped down with Isaac. 

“Out of the shadows,” Eliphaba said softly. 

“Just be yourself,” Isaac said.

Elphaba nodded, and squared her shoulders. “Right.”

“I’ll see to your bags.”

“Isaac-”

He held up his hand, stopping her protest before it got out. “I’ll see to your trunks. You get to campus. It’s either that or I can escort you there.”

“No.”

“Then I will attend to your trunks.”

Elphaba glared at him, and he stared calmly back, before she gave in. “Very well. Thank you, Isaac.”

“You’re welcome, Miss Elphaba.” He smirked slightly and inclined his head to her, before turning and walking back to the train. 

Elphaba cleared her throat and clasped her hands in front of her hands and started across the platform. 

The crowd parted for her, and every gaze seemed to follow her. Some looked at her with respect and others with shock. 

Elphaba kept her chin high and her gaze forward. 

She always knew that her father’s decrees could only go so far and do so much. 

But as long as she kept her head up, and gaze forward, then they wouldn’t be able to see how much their stairs, their judgement, got to her. 

“Oh.” 

Elphaba came to a sharp halt, just outside the courtyard,  in front of a man with a tall hat that leaned slightly to the left. 

She recognized him immediately. 

The Governor of Munchkin Land. 

“Governor Thropp.” She inclined her head to him, and even offered a smile. 

His mouth dropped open slightly as he stared at her. “You...”

Elphaba’s gut tightened slightly. He wasn’t looking at her with the awe that adorned the gaze of those  who accepted her father’s law to love and accept her. 

All he saw was the color of her skin. 

“Excuse me.” She stepped slightly to the left. “A pleasure to see you, sir.”

His gaze followed her as she stepped around him in the courtyard. 

A few students, upper classman by the looks of them, turned and stared at her. 

“She’s here,” one whispered loudly. 

“All new students have reported to the quad.” A boy stepped forward. “I can show you there, if you’d like. It’s just up those stairs.” He pointed to the grand staircase. “The orientation has only just started.”

“Thank you.” Elphaba smiled at the boy and started up the stairs. 

Applause echoed from ahead, bouncing off the stone and accompanied by the ringing of small bells. 

“...and of course the head of our history department - Doctor Dillamond.”

Elphaba stepped into the back of the Quad, where the new student body had gathered, with the line of teachers up at the front.

No one noticed her. 

“You know,” the professor, in the center of the line of teachers, continued. “Except for our wonderful wizard, true magic has become all too rare. Which is why we are privileged to have our esteemed Dean of Sorcery Studies...Madame Morrible.”

Elphaba straightened slightly as she watched the sorceress walk down the aisle of students to join the other professors at the podium. 

The entire student body stood to clap and cheer. 

Elphaba clapped along, smiling as the woman who had been in and out of Emerald City throughout Elphaba’s entire life, took her place at the platform of teachers and was greeted by the head professor.

“Welcome new students,” Madame Morrible said, once the clapping had died down. “And Congratultions on being accepted to Shiz. Whether you’ll be studying law, logic or linguification - I know I speak for my fellow faculty members when I say we have nothing but the highest hopes for...” he gaze landed on Elphaba, and she stared for a moment, before looking away. “Some of you,” she finished. “And now Miss Coddle, if you please.” She stepped to the side of the podium, and gestured for another woman to step forward. 

“I am Miss Coddle, Head Shiztress” the woman said. “And these are your dormitory designations and room assignments.” She gestured to the side of the podium where upper classroom students pulled down scrolls of information. “Good luck, and welcome to Shiz!”

The students all clapped and cheered, before immediately rushing over to the scrolls to look at their assignments. 

A few caught sight of Elphaba and stopped in their tracks. 

Some nodded their heads and hastily looked away, and others openly stared. 

A few made a point of avoiding getting too close. 

“Oh! Oh!” Miss Coddle spotted Elphaba and immediately cut through the crowd of students. “There you are! Miss Elphaba, isn’t it? Our honored guest.”

Elphaba took a step back as the woman seemed ready to hug her. “Well-”

“It is such a pleasure to have you at our school.”

Elphaba smiled politely. “It was a pleasure to be accepted here.”

“I am Head Shiztress, but please think of me as your humble servant. Whatever you need, whatever you desire, simply name it. Special accommodations? Reserved seating? A private tutor? A personal chef? I am all yours.”

Elphaba resisted the urge to sigh in exhaustion. 

She had barely been on campus for five minutes, and the favoritism had already started. 

“That is very kind of you,” she said gently. “But none of that will be necessary. I’m here just as a normal student, and I don’t require or want any special treatment.”

Miss Coddle stared at her, with a stunned expression. “Oh my dear, you must accept. Your father-”

Elphaba shook her head firmly. “My father knows of my intentions. And I insist. I came to Shiz to study. Not be put on display.”

Miss Coddle visibly wilted for a moment, before straightening and smiling in full force again. “Well...at least allow me to show you to your room. You requested a private suite, right?”

“Excuse me!” A girl with shockingly blonde hair and a very pink dress suddenly ran over to Miss Coddle. “Hi. Excuse me. There’s been a mistake.”

Miss Coddle turned to look at the girl, and gave her a sharp look of alarm. “I beg your pardon?”

“I requested a private suite, and it looks as though I’ve been given a roommate. This is completely unacceptable. I was promised a private suite.”

“Oh, well, my dear, these things do happen.” Miss Coddle tried to turn back to Elphaba, but the girl wasn’t done. 

The girl looked completely aghast at being brushed off. “Not to me.”

Miss Coddle turned and looked at the girl. “I’m afraid that there are simply no other private suites available. You and your roommate-”

“A girl named El-Elpha-”

Elphaba’s heart sank. “Elphaba?”

“Yes. Wait.” The girl looked at Elphaba, and stared at her in shock. “That Elphaba?”

“There’s obviously been some sort of misunderstanding,” Miss Coddle said, a slight hint of panic in her voice. “Excuse me while I go review the list.” She nodded to Elphaba and hurried over to the list of room assignments. 

Elphaba looked at the girl who was standing with her hands crossed firmly over her chest, and was pointedly not looking at her. “What’s your name?”

The girl turned and looked at Elphaba with a look of slight apprehension. “Galinda Upland.” She hesitated a moment. “The Upper Uplands,” she added. 

Elphaba nodded. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Galinda nodded, and forced a smile. “Likewise. I’ve heard such...fantastical stories.”

“Elphaba.” 

Elphaba turned and smiled at Madame Morrible, who was cutting through the students towards her. “Madame Morrible.” She inclined her head to her. “It is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Madame Morrible.” Galinda immediately straightened, and smiled brightly. “I am Galinda Upland. Of the Upper Uplands.”

Madame Morrible turned and looked at Galinda with slight disdain. “A pleasure.” She turned back to Elphaba. “Your father-”

“I’m hoping to be in your seminar this semester,” Galinda continued, completely unfazed. “Perhaps you recall my essay - Magic Wands, Need They Have a Point.”

Madame Morrible turned and looked at the girl with a look of slight coldness. “Well, dear, my seminar is unfortunately full this semester. I’ve already got someone very special that I am focusing on teaching.” She looked back at Elphaba. “I just wanted to come and tell you that I am looking forward to seeing you in class this semester. Your father has told me how far you’ve already come in your studies.”

Elphaba noticed the immediate shock on Galinda’s face as she realized that Elphaba was the student that had taken the singular spot in the Seminar. “I...look forward to learning underneath you.” She looked at Madame Morrible and smiled. “I know that there is much that I can gain from your wisdom.”

Madame Morrible nodded, clearly satisfied with Elphaba’s gratitude. “I will see you in class.” She turned, without looking at Galinda, and disappeared into the crowd. 

“Miss Elphaba.” Miss Coddle hurried back over to her and Galinda. “There has been an unfortunate mixup, and you were not provided a private suite. But don’t you worry. I will make arrangements to have another student give you theirs.”

“What about mine?” Galinda asked. “I was promised a private suite.”

“I’m afraid you’ll just have to make due,” Miss Coddle said. “With the sincerest apologies from the university. We will make sure that next semester you are appropriately accommodated.”

“No.” Elphaba couldn’t insist on no special treatment, and then allow such arrangements to be made. “It’s fine. I will stay in the room.”

“What?” Galinda asked. 

Miss Coddle looked at her in shock. “You will?” 

Elphaba nodded. “I will.” She looked at Galinda. “It’s just one semester, right?”

Galinda looked prepared to ask Miss Coddle to make the arrangements for her to have the private suite, but instead she forced a smile and nodded. “Right.”

“Oh.” Miss Coddle smiled. “Well, alright then.” She looked at Elphaba. “It is such a pleasure, again, to have you at our school.” She bobbed out a curtsey and hurried away. 

Elphaba followed her with her gaze and watched as she began to fawn over a girl in a wheelchair. 

“Excuse me.” Galinda glanced at Elphaba, and stalked away, to immediately be fawned upon by two other students. 

“I can do this,” Elphaba whispered to herself. “I can do this.” She forced herself to take a steadying deep breath, and walked to the table to get her key and the room assignment. 

“You must be the Wizard’s daughter,” the young woman sitting at the table said. “Elphaba, right?”

“I am, yes.”

“It’s such an honor to have you here. Your father is the wonderful man in all of Oz.” 

 Elphaba smiled easily, and accepted the key. “He really is.”

“Well, welcome to Shiz,” she said, sounding actually genuine. “My name is Dayla. I look forward to seeing you around.”

Elphaba nearly melted at the sincere kindness in her voice. “Thank you.” She turned and cut through the crowd and began to find her way through the halls of the dormitory. 

“Miss Elphaba.” Isaac spotted her coming down the corridor, and immediately straightened. “There’s been some sort of mixup.”

“I know.”

“You...know?”

“I’m assuming you met my roommate.”

“Indeed I have. She’s locked me out. Do you want me to-”

Elphaba held her hand up, already knowing and hating what he was offering. “I’ll knock.” She raised her fist to the door and rapped twice. 

The cover over the eyehole slid to the side, revealing a brown eye squinting out at them. 

“Oh.” The cover slid back into place, before Galinda pulled the door open. “Come in.” She looked at Isaac. “I simply had no idea that this...man was with you.”

Elphaba highly doubted that, but she kept that to herself. “You can go, Isaac.”

“Miss Elphaba-”

“You’ve done more than enough. Please send word to my father that I am settled and that I will write to him later this week.”

Isaac looked at Galinda and then back at Elphaba. 

Elphaba nodded her head firmly. 

“Yes, ma’am.” He bowed to her, and backed out of the room. 

Elphaba took a moment to look around the room, and immediately noticed that all of her luggage were nowhere to be seen, while the rest of the room was filled with pink luggage, bedding and racks of clothes. 

“The rest of my bags should be arriving shortly,” Galinda said lightly. 

Elphaba nodded slowly, in complete disbelief. “Do you really think this is fair?”

“Oh, I do not,” Galinda followed Elphaba and stepped in front of her. “I was promised a private suite. But thanks for asking.”

“Hmm.” Elphaba set her key and registration forms down, and moved towards the corner of the room. “You’ll remember that I was also promised a private suite. And since that is not happening for either of us, we’re going to have to find a way to make due.”

“I’ve never had to share a room before. But I did save you some space.” Galinda darted to the right side of the room, where a rack of clothes, and a pile of trunks were obscuring the bed. “Here it is.” She pushed some of the clothes to the side. “Ta da.”

Elphaba walked followed her slowly, already bracing for what “space” this girl had saved for her. 

Sure enough, most of Elphaba’s luggage and crates were piled behind the rack on top of her bed. 

Right.

She looked at the girl, who smiled brightly at her. “It’s nothing.”

Elphaba rolled her eyes and stepped through the clothes into the small nook that Galinda obviously envisioned was room enough. 

Galinda followed her through the rack.  “I’ve been told that roommates do these things for each other.” 

Elphaba ignored her and pulled the coverings from the windows, sending dust flying through the air. She cleared her throat and stepped through the rack in the main room, where she set to work organizing Galinda’s trunks out of her space. 

“And in return.” Galinda followed her out, completely unfazed by Elphaba's growing irritation. “Perhaps you could, um...let’s see...put in a good word for me with Madame Morrible? Deal?”

Elphaba continued to ignore her, and move her things over to her side of the room. 

“I’ve heard such fantastical stories of your magic. You have the Grimmerie, don’t you?”

“I don’t really like talking about that. Once word gets out about it-” Elphaba closed a trunk, and tried to move it, but Galinda grabbed the other side to stop her. 

“Will you show it to me?” She released her hold on the trunk. “I can keep a secret.”

“No.” Elphaba pushed the trunk to the far corner. 

She could feel her magic building in response to her frustration. 

“Fine. Be that way. But it really is selfish on your part.” Galinda followed her as Elphaba moved more of her things. “You know, I asked really nicely, and I saved this whole drawer-”

“Stop!” Elphaba’s magic exploded, causing the balcony doors to slam and the windows to crack. 

Galinda took a step back and stared at her in shock. 

Elphaba closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. “Excuse me.” She stepped past Galinda, through the rack that was still in front of her bed, and closed the dresses so that they obscured her from view. 

She sat on the bed, and massaged her forehead. 

It’d been a long time since she had had an explosion of magic like that. 

It was going to be a long semester.